News

Putin’s European Visits Met With Gay Rights Protests

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – This past week, gay rights groups gathered in Amsterdam to greet Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Rainbow flags flew at half-staff, floats crowded the canals, and thousands of protesters waved signs.

During a protest in Amsterdam, a demonstrator holds up a picture of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with rainbow circles on his face. (Photo Courtesy of RFE/RL)

Putin visited Amsterdam to encourage the growing economic ties between Germany and the Netherlands. The Netherlands is Russia’s leading trade partner in Europe.

Amsterdam deputy mayor, Andrée van Es, claims the city appreciates trade and welcomed Putin’s visit. However, the city also supports the rainbow flag protests.

Van Es stated, “We see Russia as an important trading partner, but Amsterdam has an identity of what I call hyper-diversity… and we very much want to be able to express that, even to our important trading partners.”

She continued, “A lot of people are worried about human rights in Russia in general, but focus is very much on gay rights because of that bill.”

Recently, Putin claimed there was no discrimination against homosexuals in Russia. However, the Russian parliament passed a bill in January banning the dissemination of “gay propaganda” to minors, which includes parades, protests, and the use of the rainbow flag. The law could potentially fine offenders up to $16,000.

Although the evening started as a protest, the night quickly turned into a party. Thousands assembled across from the museum where Putin was dining. Dressed in rainbow colors, the crowd waved signs that said, “Putin go homo” and “I’m a person, not a propaganda”.

However, as many protested and partied, the city took steps to prevent overwhelming behavior. One sign said, “No gay rights propaganda beyond this point.” Another stated, “Do not frighten President Putin: keep this area human rights free.”

As a response, activists used fake police tape, which read “critical journalists not allowed”, to block off access to the museum.

One of Amsterdam’s deputy mayors stated, “We have a large gay community in Amsterdam and we want to make sure that in our city that everybody can live the way they want and be whoever they are and we want to make sure that everybody in the world knows that.”

Putin was also recently met in Germany with topless demonstrators. Women, from the Ukrainian feminist group, Femen, displayed slogans on their bare chests and backs. Furthermore, the females chanted, “dictator”.

After shrugging off the German protests, Putin stated, “I liked it. You should be grateful to the girls, they are helping you make the fair more popular.”

For further information, please see:

RFE/RL – Amsterdam Welcomes Putin With Rainbows – 15 April 2013

EuroNews – Thousands Protest Putin’s Amsterdam Visit – 9 April 2013

FoxNews – Gay Rights Groups to Protest Russia’s Putin in Amsterdam – 8 April 2013

The Washington Post – Gay Rights Supporters Gear Up to Protest Putin Visit to Amsterdam – 8 April 2013

Russia Retaliates with Anti-Magnitsky List

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Following the United States’ release of the 18-name Magnitsky List on Friday, Moscow released a corresponding list of 18 Americans banned from traveling to the Russian Federation over their alleged human rights violations.

David Addington, left, John Yoo, center, and Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller are the first three men on Russia’s new list of barred American officials, following the U.S. release of the Magnitsky list. (Photo Courtesy of the New York Times)

Among the American officials on the Russian list are David Addington, who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney and provided legal support for interrogation policies; John Yoo, a high-ranking Bush administration lawyer who wrote several major opinions on torture; and Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller and Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson, both of whom commanded detention operations in Guantánamo Bay.

The remaining fourteen U.S. officials on the list are primarily prosecutors and special agents whom Russia believes responsible for violating the rights of Russians abroad.  Most were involved in cases against convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout or recently sentenced drug-trafficking pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Those on the list are only banned from travel to Russia, an endeavor most would not normally be engaged in anyway.  Yoo merely mocked the Russian’s move, quipping, “Darn, there goes my judo match with Putin.”

The Russian list was created under the authority of the Dima Yakovlev law, which came into effect in January and also ended American adoption of Russian children.

According to an interview Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov gave to the Itar-Tass news agency, the list also contains a “secret” addendum of more names, as the U.S. list reportedly contains.

The Russian government defended its answer to the U.S. Magnitsky List, gravely explaining that its actions were merely a justifiable response.

“We would like to draw particular [attention] to the fact that, unlike the American list compiled arbitrarily, our list features primarily those implicated in torture and the indefinite detention of prisoners in the Guantanamo prison camp, as well as those involved in the abduction and removal to other countries of Russian citizens and in threats to their lives and health,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“This war of lists was not our decision, but we do not have the right to ignore such open blackmail,” it continued. “It’s time for the politicians in Washington to finally realize that it is fruitless to base a relationship with a country such as Russia on an attitude of mentorship and overt dictation.”

Moscow has maintained the opinion that the Magnitsky Act and List release by Washington directly interfere with Russian domestic issues.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Magnitsky Act an “absurd” law that “delivers a strong blow to bilateral relations,” while President Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that “the Magnitsky case should not be discussed outside Russia, it’s unacceptable.”

Despite the list war, the United States intends to continue to work with Russia on issues of mutual interest, according to White House spokesman Jay Carney.  However, Carney made clear that, “[h]uman rights is an issue that we have disagreements with [Russia] on at times and, you know, we are very frank and candid about that. And we will engage with the Russians on those issues as well as the others that we have.”

Even so, Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian State Duma’s international affairs committee, warns that the list war “will be present, possibly, for a very long time in our relations and will poison them.”

The full list (courtesy of RT) released by Moscow on Saturday is as follows:

US officials purportedly involved in legalizing torture and indefinite detention of prisoners:

1) David Spears Addington, Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney (2005-2009)
2) John Choon Yoo, Assistant US Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice (2001-2003)
3)  Geoffrey D. Miller, retired US Army Major General, commandant of Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), the organization that runs the Guantanamo Bay detention camps (2002-2003)
4) Jeffrey Harbeson, US Navy officer, commandant of Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), the organization that runs the Guantanamo Bay detention camps (2010-2012)

US officials purportedly involved in violations of the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens abroad:

5) Jed Saul Rakoff, Senior US District Judge for the Southern District of New York
6) Preetinder S. Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
7) Michael J. Garcia, former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
8) Brendan R. McGuire, Assistant US Attorney
9) Anjan S. Sahni, Assistant US Attorney
10) Christian R. Everdell, Assistant US Attorney
11) Jenna Minicucci Dabbs, Assistant US Attorney
12) Christopher L. Lavigne, Assistant US Attorney
13) Michael Max Rosensaft, Assistant US Attorney
14) Louis J. Milione, Special Agent, US Drug Enforcement Administration
15) Sam Gaye, Senior Special Agent, US Drug Enforcement Administration
16) Robert F. Zachariasiewicz, Special Agent, US Drug Enforcement Administration
17) Derek S. Odney, Special Agent, US Drug Enforcement Administration
18) Gregory A. Coleman, Special Agent, US Federal Bureau of Investigation

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Russia Hits Back at US with its Own Blacklist – 13 April 2013

BBC News – Russia Responds in Kind to US Magnitsky List – 13 April 2013

New York Times – Russia Bars 18 Americans After Sanctions by U.S. – 13 April 2013

RIA Novosti – Russia Publishes Its Answer to Magnitsky List – 13 April 2013

RT – Russia Strikes Back with Magnitsky List Response – 13 April 2013

Priest Is Expelled From Ministry For Supporting Gay Marriage

 

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – After faithfully serving the catholic church for 30 years as a priest, Nicolas Alessio was cast from the church, and expelled from the ministry. With the media ablaze with stories of catholic corruption, sex abuse and ineffectual leadership many might come to the wrong conclusion for Alessio’s expulsion. In reality he was expelled for speaking in favor of gay and equal marriage when the issue came to a vote in Argentina.

Alessio who was expelled from the ministry after publicly endorsing the concept of equal marriage. (Photo courtesy of Clarin)

When Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, there was considerable outrage from many organizations. Chief among them was the Catholic Church which has maintained its staunch disagreement and criticism of the homosexual lifestyle. Among the chief insults to the Catholic Church, Alessio was determined to have made and was actively supporting gay marriage, and when it became legalized, marrying and divorcing same-sex couples.

Documents released earlier this week indicated that Alessio was punished “by dismissal from the clerical state, through the Congregation for the Clergy,” and as thus has lost “the clerical state’s own rights and remains excluded from the whole exercise of the sacred ministry.” The Archbishop of Cordoba, Monsignor Carlos Jise Nanez apparently reported that the canonical ecclesiastical court was brought forth due to Alessio’s public statements made in favor of same-sex marriage.

Unfortunately for Alessio, his conviction is not subject to any appeal. During the course of the trial, Alessio was forbidden from publicly exercising his position as a priest, and not allowed to publicly celebrate mass, or administer sacraments to the congregation. At the canonical trial Alessio did not exercise a defense, as he believed that trial itself was without foundation, and to do so would effectively endorse their actions.

Despite being officially ostracized by the church for exercising his freedom of speech and expression, Alessio has refused to stop his work. “Over 30 years serving the people of God did not mean anything to the Catholic Church. It was enough to opine different Archbishopric getting fired. I personally do not affect me at all, because I will continue sharing the sacraments as heretofore. The faithful do not care about these official decisions.“

With Uruguay becoming the second south American country to legalize same-sex marriage, the catholic church may need to readjust their stance and position on the subject. Alessio has indicated, that despite being excised from the priesthood, he will continue to do the job of a priest, “I will have to admit they can not erase what I am: a priest.”

For more information, please see:

El Puercoespin – Argentina: The Priest Who Made The Option For Gays, Politics And His Own Son, John D’Alessandro – 13 April 2013

Info Catolica – Nicolas Alessio Ha Sido Penado Con La Dimision De Estado Clerical – 13 April 2013

La Arena – A Nicolas Alessio Took Away The Cure Condition For Demonstrating In Favor Of Equal Marriage – 12 April 2013

Aica – El Vaticano Pena Con Dimision Del Estado Clerical A Jose Nicolas Alessio – 12 April 2013

Clarin – The Vatican Began To Cure Cordoba Who Supported Gay Marriage – 12 April 2013

New Media Law Provokes Outrage from Human Rights Groups

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Despite its recent adoption by the Burundian National Assembly on April 3, Burundi’s new media law is already receiving fire from various human rights organizations.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza addressing the press at the National Assembly in Paris last month. (Photo courtesy of Eyewitness News/AFP/Pierre Andrieu)

According to the groups, the newly passed bill is an unconstitutional restriction on freedom of expression and independent journalism. Among other things, it increases penalties, reduces safeguards for sources, and bars journalists from reporting a list of topics that could be detrimental to the government.

Under one provision, journalists are prohibited from publishing news that could affect “national unity; public order and security; morality and good conduct; honor and human dignity; national sovereignty; the privacy of individuals; the presumption of innocence.” They are also not allowed to tackle issues that involve “propaganda of the enemy of the Burundian nation in times of peace as of war” and “information that could affect the credit of the state and the national economy.” Doing so would be considered illegal, especially if it were interpreted as affecting national unity or order, and could lead to exorbitant penalties.

Although the bill eliminated imprisonment as punishment, it replaced prison terms with “extortionate fines” which were substantially increased to up to 8 million Burundian francs (roughly US$5,000) – a substantial amount in the struggling Eastern African country.

Another provision of the bill requires news agencies to “rigorously check” their sources without elaborating on how to carry it out.

“This sweeping language means that topics journalists could legally cover would be severely restricted,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “They might not even be allowed to write about inflation, much less security issues or political killings,” he continued.

The Union of Burundian Journalists (UBJ) said the bill is unconstitutional. If nothing else, its main aim is to “close independent media” according to UBJ’s president, Alexandre Niyungeko. “This bill denies the freedom of expression and media, it is against the country’s constitution and other international laws such as the universal declaration of human rights,” Niyungeko added.

For the new media bill to be passed into law, the Senate has to approve it and turn it over to the President for his signature.

Reporters Without Borders released a statement last week urging the Senate not to pass the bill because it “would considerably reduce the freedom of Burundi’s journalists and media.” “What with this law and the impact of the recent Ruvakuki case, the Burundian media could be prevented from playing its role in the democratic debate,” the statement pointed out.

Reporters Without Borders discussed the same bill with government authorities last year where they agreed on several positive amendments to the law, removing a number of restrictions. However, for reasons that remain unclear, the version that was approved by the national assembly was the original draft.

 

For further information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Burundi: New Law Would Muzzle Journalists – 12 April 2013

WAN-IFRA – Journalists in Burundi and Kuwait suffer setbacks – 12 April 2013

IFEX – New law would limit protection of sources, increase fines for journalists in Burundi – 5 April

Afrique Jet – Burundi: Media bill triggers protest in Burundi – 4 April 2013

Reuters – Burundi parliament passes tough media law – 4 April 2013

Ivorian Soldiers Accused of Crimes Against the Population Face Military Trial

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YAMOUSSOUKRO, Cote d’Ivoire – The military trial against the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) began last Thursday. 33 soldiers have been charged with committing crimes against the population, including premeditated murder, voluntary and involuntary homicide, and theft.

Republican Forces soldiers patrolling the town of Dabou last August. (Photo courtesy of Human Rights Watch/Getty Images)

All 33 soldiers are accused of abusing civilians during the post-election crisis from November 2010 to May 2011. In the span of six months, at least 3,000 people were reportedly killed. Some of the deaths were allegedly linked to former President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to concede despite international recognition of the results that proclaimed his opponent, Alassane Ouattara, the victor.

After the crisis, a national commission of inquiry created by President Ouattara, in cooperation with international and local human rights groups and a United Nations-mandated international commission of inquiry, have documented war crimes and crimes against humanity by both pro-Gbagbo forces and the FRCI during the crisis.

According to the military prosecutor’s office, the first trial on Thursday involved cases related to events that happened December last year in the central town of Vavoua. Reports say that a number of FRCI soldiers who are currently under trial opened fire on protesters, killing at least five people.

However, both international and local human rights groups are not too impressed with the trial.

“The opening of trials against soldiers from the Republican Forces is an important step forward in Côte d’Ivoire’s fight against impunity,” said Matt Wells, West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). “But Ivorian authorities need to also pursue the more sensitive cases involving the Republican Forces for which victims have seen no justice, particularly the grave crimes committed during the post-election crisis.”

Civil society organizations interviewed by HRW are worried that “ongoing impunity for one side of the conflict – the government forces – risks sowing the seeds for future violence.” According to them, this is because of the sensitive nature of the cases of abuse during the post-election period — cases that not only involve large scale atrocities, but also deal with serious political, ethnic, and religious issues.

“Prosecuting people for serious international crimes can be difficult, but the lack of justice can carry high costs,” Wells added. “Chronic impunity has appeared to feed the repeated episodes of violence in Côte d’Ivoire over the last decade, with civilians paying the greatest price.”

HRW urged Ivorian authorities to strengthen support for prosecuting those implicated in the war crimes and crimes against humanity during the post-election crisis. The human rights group also demanded the government to “investigate and prosecute any soldiers involved in the July 2012 attack on the Nahibly displaced persons camp, and in the cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees in August and September.”

 

For further information, please see:

Amnesty International – Annual Report 2012 –  11 April 2013

Human Rights Watch – Côte d’Ivoire: Soldiers on Trial for Abuses – 11 April 2013

istockAnalyst – HRW: Ivorian justice lacks balance – 11 April 2013

Tamil Guardian – Trial of soldiers accused of abuse begins in Côte d’Ivoire – 11 April 2013

Yahoo News – Report: Uneven justice could hurt stability in Ivory Coast – 5 April 2013