News

Greek Parliament Approves Austerity Measure Despite Protests; Demonstrations Temporarily Banned Thursday in Athens

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s Parliament passed an austerity measure bill on Wednesday despite rallying outside the building and a Tuesday strike that drew over 16,000 protestors on to the streets of Athens.

A Greek municipal worker carries a Greek flag draped over his back during a demonstration in Athens on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Yahoo News)

After a narrow vote of 153 to 140, the Greek Parliament passed the public sector reform bill which may cause thousands of civil servants to lose their jobs by 2014.

Under the newly-enacted bill, over 4,000 state employees will be dismissed from their posts this upcoming year; including teachers and municipal police officers. Another 25,000 workers will be placed into a “mobility pool” by the end of the year. Workers in the mobility pool will face decreased wages coupled with forced transfers or outright dismissals. In addition, the plan’s goal is to see an additional 15,000 workers cut from public payroll by the end of 2014.

Government employees have been occupying city buildings this week to protest the austerity measures. On Tuesday, thousands of public servants walked off their respective jobs to participate in a 24-hour strike, assembled by Greece’s two main labor unions.

“We will resist all those whose wrongheaded and dead-end choices have led the Greek people into poverty and wretchedness,” stated a spokesman from the labor union, Gsee.

Tuesday’s strike temporarily closed tax offices and governments services. Athens’ hospitals were reduced to emergency staff, and public transportation was suspended. Flights in and out of Athens were suspended from noon to 4:00 PM, as well. A police spokesman has stated that Tuesday’s gathering of over 16,000 protestors in Athens was “entirely peaceful.”

During Parliament’s vote on Wednesday, thousands of additional protestors gathered outside of the Parliament House, only to return home bitter and outraged.

The government, led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, has stated it has no choice but to adopt the budget cuts and enforce the measure. In order for Greece to secure the first installment of $9 billion in loans, the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund mandated a showing that the Greek government is committed to fiscal change.

In response to the protests in Athens this week, Greek police have banned public protests in Athens on Thursday, while German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is visiting the city.

Ban on Demonstrations

As Germany has been one of Greece’s biggest lenders in recent years, Schaeuble is one of the EU’s most outspoken advocates of tougher austerity measures in Greece.

But many feel that the complete city-ban on demonstrations is crossing the line.

“This action is fascist and undemocratic…” a spokesman for a Greek leftwing political party has stated.

The two labor unions responsible for Tuesday’s 16,000 person demonstration have stated they have no plans for an encore on Thursday.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Greece to Sack Thousands of Public Workers – 17 July 2013

BBC News – Greek MPs Back Public Sector Cuts Amid Protests – 17 July 2013

Ekathimerini – Greece Approves Scheme to Fire Thousands of Public Workers – 17 July 2013

Yahoo News – Greece Bans Protests During Schaeuble Visit – 17 July 2013

New York Times – Greece Hit by General Strike to Protest Austerity – 16 July 2013

 

 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returns to the Middle East to discuss Israeli Palestinian peace

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

AMMAN, Jordan – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made his sixth trip to the Middle East yesterday in order to resume peace talks between Israel and Palestine.  Since taking office on February 1st, Kerry has made it his mission to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary John Kerry discussing negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (photo courtesy of Gulf Today)

It has been unofficially reported that countries represented at the peace negotiating meeting include Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.  Kerry met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday and today planned to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said that Kerry scheduled the meetings to “provide an update on Middle East peace” and that “the Secretary would not be going back to the region if he did not feel there was an opportunity to keep making steps forward.”

Kerry has repeatedly stated that a point is nearing where Israeli and Palestinian officials will need “to make hard decisions about jump-starting the moribund peace talks.” The necessity of such a meeting is pressing as the United Nations General Assembly will address Palestinian statehood issues in September.

In June, Kerry spent nearly four days involved in extensive diplomacy working to end a three-year impasse between Israel and Palestine stating, “with a little more work, the start of final status negotiations could be within reach.”

Two advisers, Frank Lowenstein and Jonathan Schwartz, have been in the Middle East for the past couple of weeks to consult with both Israel and Palestine.  Remaining gaps to be resolved appear to be Israel’s failure to release Palestinian prisoners and refusal to agree to preconditions.

Kerry stated, “Through hard and deliberate, patient work, and most importantly through quiet work we have been able to narrow those gaps very significantly. We continue to get closer and I continue to remain hopeful that the sides will soon be able to come to sit at the same table.”

Palestine, who obtained “nonmember observer state” status in the U.N. last year, has made it clear that they will seek further recognition as a state and membership in the International Criminal Court if diplomatic progress is not made.

After the meeting, the Arab delegates issued a statement saying, “The Arab delegates believe Kerry’s ideas proposed to the committee today constitute a good ground and suitable environment for restarting the negotiations, especially the new and important political, economic and security elements.”

However, U.S. officials have reduced expectations that any sudden breakthrough or announcement on resuming direct Israel Palestine communication will occur as Kerry did not plan to visit Israel or Palestine on this trip.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera – Kerry to hold secret Middle East peace talks – July 17, 2013

Gulf Today – Kerry wins AL support for bid to restart ME peace talks – July 17, 2013

National – Kerry returns to Jordan for Mideast peace talks – July 17, 2013

New York Times – Kerry Returns to Middle East in Bid for Peace Talks – July 16, 2013

Egyptian Military Falls Short of Its Agreement to Allow Morsi Supporters to Peacefully Protest the Ousting of President Mohamed Morsi

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Thousands of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi have rallied in the streets of Cairo and across the country, largely following Friday prayers beginning on July 6. Prior to the breakout of pro-Morsi protests, the Egyptian military had said that it will guarantee supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the overthrown president the right to peacefully protest and the right to free expression. However, this announcement came as the military had been rounding up Muslim Brotherhood officials.

Egyptian military forces clash with protesters. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the nation’s first democratically elected leader, was forcibly removed from office on Tuesday July 2. In the two weeks since his ouster, the streets of Egypt have been filled with both pro-Morsi and anti-Morsi protests. President Morsi’s removal from office followed days of mass protests, largely organized by the Tamarod [Rebel] movement. Protesters accused President Morsi and the Brotherhood of failing to address the country’s economic concerns, which were a catalyst to the 2011 revolution, as well as consolidating political power and supporting an overwhelmingly Islamist agenda without the support of the majority of the Egyptian people.

Egyptian judicial authorities have opened up and an investigation into accusations that former President Morsi and 15 other Islamists that had allegedly had insulted the judiciary. The investigating Judge Tharwat Hammad has imposed a travel banned on them all. Many of the senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested are being held in Torah Prison in Cairo, the same prison housing deposed President Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood officials have reportedly been arrested in since the coup.

While the ousting of Morsi was met with cheers of support from protesters in Tahrir Square and across Egypt, many of whom participated in the uprising that led to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, the coup is a reminder of the historic power of the Egyptian military complex, which has at the heart of the Mubarak regime. The Coup has left many Egyptian holding their breath as Egypt’s future hangs in the balance.

The Military issued statements promising to allow for a peaceful transition to democracy after the establishment of a transitional government. Chief Justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as Egypt’s interim president, just hours after Mohamed Morsi was forced out of office in a military coup that occurred as a result of massive protests against his presidency.Under the transitional government, the nation’s constitution will be temporarily suspended, a “strong and competent” civilian Technocratic government will be installed though the transition processes and the Supreme Court is expected to pass a law setting standards for a parliamentary election and to prepare for both parliamentary and presidential elections.

Despite the military’s roundup of Muslim Brotherhood officials the interim president has promised to preserve the right to free expression in Egypt. He has said that the freedom to protest and to publicly express political beliefs is at the heart of the new Egypt, a right won on the streets of Cairo in 2011. However, in the weeks since that statement was made, Egyptian police forces have clashed on the streets with pro-Morsi demonstrators leaving several demonstrators dead, including seven protesters who were killed overnight in Cairo during a pro-Morsi rally that resulted in clashes with police forces. The killings came as US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns visited Egypt, marking the first time a high ranking US official to visit the region since the Coup.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Seven Dead in Cairo Clashes – 16 July 2013

CNN International – Deadly Clashes Strike Egypt as New Government Takes Shape – 16 July 2013

Al Jazeera – Living in Denial: US Policy & Egypt’s Military Coup – July 15, 2013

Al Jazeera – Pro-Morsi Supporters Stage Cairo Protest – 5 July 2013

Al Jazzera – Top Judge Sworn In as Egypt’s Interim President –5 July 2013

BBC – Egypt Army Permits ‘Peaceful Protest’ Amid Morsi Anger – 5 July 2013

CNN International – Morsy Supporters to Protest His Ouster, Arrests of His Allies – July 5, 2013

CNN International – Coup Highlights Egyptian’s Military Role – July 3, 2013

Ethnic Clashes Erupt in South Sudan’s Jonglei State

By Erica Smith 
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa 

JUBA, South Sudan — Fresh clashes have erupted between rival tribes in South Sudan’s Jonglei state, South Sudanese officials said Thursday. Officials did not give information on the number of causalities. South Sudan army spokesman Col. Philip Aguer reported that the violence has erupted between the rival Lou Nuer and Murle tribes in Pibor county which is also hosting a military assault against a rebel group led by renegade colonel David Yau Yau.

South Sudan army troops (photo courtesy of UN News Centre

Col. Aguer said that the South Sudan army had not been given orders to intervene in the clashes because they are communal difficulties that should be handle by civilian authorities, such as the police. “If there are two communities fighting how do you separate them with firearms?” Aguer asked. “Since these are civilians fighting civilians we think it is the (civilian) authority that should come up with a decision.”

The United States Embassy in Juba was quick to condemned this line of reasoning and issued a statement calling on government and army leaders to urge armed youth to lay down their weapons. “We are deeply disappointed the SPLA did not establish a posture appropriate to defend civilians in vulnerable areas, despite advance warning of the mobilization of armed youth which has led to the current violence,” the statement said. “The lack of action to protect civilians constitutes an egregious abdication of responsibility by the SPLA and the civilian government.”

The United States Department of State further called on South Sudan to “…meet its obligation to ensure the safety and security of all civilians, and to protect and respect their universal human rights regardless of their background or ethnicity. The Government also has an obligation to hold accountable those individuals responsible for the violence and who have committed human rights abuses – including members of the security forces – through transparent judicial processes that respect the rule of law. We continue to encourage the parties to the conflict to implement the resolutions agreed at the All Jonglei Peace Conference, and to work toward peace, reconciliation, and tolerance.”

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also expressed deep concern about the reports of ethnic violence. “The mission calls on the leaders of all Jonglei communities and their youth, as well as on national and state authorities, to exercise maximum restraint and urgently engage in reconciliation efforts.” UNMIISS is trying to verify reports of violence and asses population movements through the use of aerial reconnaissance flights but their effectiveness is hampered by inadequate air assets.

South Sudan celebrated its second independence anniversary last Tuesday.

 

For further information, please see:

All Africa — South Sudan: Amid Reports of Fresh Clashes in Jonglei State, UN Mission Urges Restraint — 12 July 2013

Reuters — U.S. expresses ‘deep concern’ about South Sudan violence — 12 July 2013

Sudan Tribune — US condemns violent attacks in South Sudan’s Jonglei state — 12 July 2013

US Department of State — On-Going Violence in Jonglei State, South Sudan — 12 July 2013

Fox News — Fresh round of ethnic clashes erupt on South Sudan’s Jonglei state, death toll not known — 11 July 2013

Washington Post —Fresh round of ethnic clashes erupt in South Sudan’s Jonglei state, death toll not known — 11 July 2013

UN Peacekeepers Killed in Darfur Ambush

By Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Seven UN peacekeepers, all Tanzanian, were killed in an attack in Darfur by an unidentified rebel group, while seventeen people were injured, Sunday at 9:00 am.  This has been the worst single attack in Sudan for the past five years.  Many blame government-linked militia for this ambush.

Peacekeepers with the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) (courtesy of AFP)

The peacekeepers were part of the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which started in 2007.

“We don’t have any doubt that the act was done by government militia, because militiaare deployed in Khor Abeche area,” said Abdullah Moursal, spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Army’s Minni Minnawi faction.  “This area is completely under government control.”

The authorities denied suggestions from local sources that the attack appeared to have been planned and carried out by government-linked forces.

However, a humanitarian source expressed doubt that rebels would have carried out the attack on UNAMID.  “When people are killed, probably it’s more militia,” he said, asking for anonymity from AFP.   “The only thing they will do in future is to make sure they stay safe, rather than investigating anything.”

But UNAMID chief Chambas blamed inter-ethnic fighting for most of the violence.

The attack occurred when police and military personnel were on patrol, moving between bases.

Spokesman Christopher Cycmanick said the incident happened as the peacekeepers were on patrol about 16 miles west from a second base in South Darfur.  Mr. Cycmanick told the BBC a large group of armed men had attacked the peacekeepers and there had been an intense exchange of gunfire. He said it was not yet known who the attackers were.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon was outraged about the killings.  Ban sent “deepest sympathies” to the families of the dead and the Tanzanian government.

“The secretary general was outraged to learn of a deadly attack on peacekeepers in Darfur which occurred this morning,” said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

“The UNAMID team came under heavy fire from a large unidentified group. Following an extended firefight, the patrol was extracted by UNAMID reinforcements”, a statement from WORLD said.

About 50 UNAMID members have now died in hostile action since the mission began in late 2007. Before Saturday’s attack, six peacekeepers had been killed in Darfur since October.

An estimated 300,000 people have been displaced by violence in Darfur this year; more than in the last two years combined.

 

For further information, please visit:

The Daily Star — Militia behind deadly Darfur peacekeeper ambush: rebels — 14 July 2013

WORLD — Seven UN peacekeepers killed in Darfur ambush –14 July 2013

KBC — UN peacekeepers killed in Darfur — 14 July 2013

BBC News — UN peacekeepers killed in Sudan’s Darfur — 13 July 2013

msn news — Seven peacekeepers killed in Darfur ambush  — 13 July 2013

Yahoo! News — Seven peacekeepers killed in Darfur ambush — 13 July 2013