News

Charges Against Ethiopian Editor Renewed By New Administration

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Despite a change in administration, Ethiopian officials have renewed criminal charges against the former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct newspaper, Feteh, for allegedly criticizing former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Two articles published in Feteh. (Photo courtesy of Committee to Protect Journalists)

A judge in the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa revived three charges against Temesghen Desalegn, the former editor-in-chief of Feteh. Desalegn faces charges of defaming the government, false publication of articles, and “outrages against the constitution”.

The original charges relate to various articles published in Feteh between July 2011 and March 2012 before former Prime Minister Zenawi passed away last August, 2012. State prosecutors alleged that the Feteh articles falsely accused the government of interfering in religious affairs and discrimination against certain ethnic groups, and incited violence.

The evidence against Desalegn cited Feteh articles discussing subjects including how Ethiopians should be angry about the Government’s repressive practices; the role of the youth as agents of change and in popular uprisings in Ethiopia and abroad; and the lessons that should be learned from the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.

In the charge, the government cited two articles discussing the peaceful struggles of youth movements for political change in Ethiopia in the wake of the Arab Spring.

In addition, the government made reference to two columns criticizing the killing and imprisonment of student protesters; the massacres of ethnic minorities by government forces; and the ethnic federalism system introduced by the Meles Administration.

Desalegn was arrested on August 1, 2012, a few days after Ethiopian authorities closed the weekly newspaper and blocked the distribution of around 30,000 printed copies that contained conflicting reports on the health of the late prime minister.

With the same month, state prosecutors suspended the original charges against Desalegn without explanation. However, with the revival of the charges, Desalegn is currently facing the same charges he was facing last year.

The next court date is scheduled for March 26, according to local journalists.

Shimeles Kemal, a government spokesman, said that the charges had been renewed based on further incriminating evidence. Kemal offered no additional details.

Ethiopia, a close ally of the United States, has been repeatedly criticized by international human rights groups for legislating broad anti-terrorism legislation to punish critical journalists and opposition groups.

The Ethiopian government has denied all allegations that it is targeting journalists because of their reporting or affiliations with political groups.

However, with seven journalists currently behind bars and 79 that have fled the country, Ethiopia is the second-leading jailer of journalists in Africa after neighboring Eritrea, which has jailed at least 30 journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

 

For further information, please see:

Sudan Tribune – CPJ Denounces Politicized Trial of Ethiopian Journalist – 10 February 2013

Committee to Protect Journalists – Charges Renewed Against Ethiopian Journalist Temesghen – 8 February 2013

Amnesty International – Ethiopia: Detention of Editor Signals Continuation of Meles-era Crackdown – 24 August 2012

All Africa – Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, Feteh Editor Jailed During Trial – 23 August 2012

 

DR Congo Rebel Ringleader Arrested in Cape Town

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa—South African police today, Sunday, February 10, announced that the “ringleader” of a group of 19 Congolese rebels today faces charges of plotting a war with the goal of unseating the Congolese President, Joseph Kabila.

DRC police arrest rebel ringleader. (Photo Courtesy of News 24)

The ringleader, who the police declined to identify, was arrested on Friday. Captain Paul Ramaloko, a spokesman for the South Africa Police Service said that the leader did not fight the arrest, however, he did not offer any further details. The Captain did mention that, “he cooperated with us.”

The group of 19 individuals, including a United States citizen, also appeared before the South African court to face charges under the Foreign Military Assistance Act with their leader. The group was arrested in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province under the suspicion of running an illegal military operation. A law enforcement official said that they were actually members of the M23 rebels that have been working to overtake parts of Mali’s eastern region. The group members were not asked to enter any pleas, but rather have been ordered to return to court later this week on February 14, 2013.

These 19 individuals were arrested before their “leader” on February 5. South African prosecutors commented that the group believed that they had been on their way to a training camp, where they would learn the tactics they would need in order to wage a full scale war against the Kabila government. What the men did not know was that they were set up. The people that the group of 19 were in touch with were actually undercover police officers.

The rebel suspects asked the undercover officers for thousands of machine guns and grenades as well as missiles, cash, radios and satellite phones. In return, the group offered the officers mining rights in eastern Congo, where mining experts estimate mineral deposits worth trillions of dollars. One of the suspects is James Kazongo, a United States citizen who lives in Middletown, Delaware. He denied the charges against him and has been in contact with the United States Embassy in South Africa.

The arrested “ringleader,” Ramakolo said, is one of the main players in the plot, “in organizing the coup attempt.” He also will be expected to appear in court early this week.

 

For further information, please see:

ABC News – South Africa Police: Congo Rebel Ringleader Arrested – 10 February 2013

Business Day Live – South African Police Arrest Another Suspect in Alleged DRC Coup Plot – 10 February 2013

Calgary Herald – South Africa Police Say ‘Ringleader’ of 19 Congolese Rebels Allegedly Plotting Coup Arrested – 10 February 2013

Mail & Guardian – DRC Rebel Ringleader Arrested in Cape Town – 10 February 2013

United Nations Condemns Burning of Accused Witch in Papua New Guinea

By Mark O’Brien
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — The United Nations called on leaders in Papua New Guinea to end the practice of killing people accused of witchcraft, after a young woman was accused of sorcery and publicly killed earlier this week.

Crowds watched as a woman, accused of using sorcery and witchcraft in the death of a six-year-old boy, was burned alive in Papua New Guinea after being tortured and doused with gasoline. (Photo Courtesy of ABC News)

On Wednesday, Kepari Leniata was stripped, tortured, doused in gasoline, and set afire in front of hundreds of spectators.  Leniata, 20, was accused of using sorcery to kill a six-year-old boy in the provincial capital of the country’s Western Highlands.  The boy’s relatives carried out the public killing, and the crowd reportedly prevented police officers and firefighters from intervening.

“The case adds to the growing pattern of vigilante attacks and killings of persons accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea,” said Cecile Pouilly, a spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The U.N. human rights office in Geneva added that it was disturbed by Leniata’s killing, which came after three women and two men were accused of using sorcery to kill another person last November.  Vigilantes held the five alleged witches for nearly three weeks, torturing them with iron rods and knives heated with fire before killing them.

Rashida Manjoo, a UN investigator who visited Papua New Guinea last March, said sorcery accusations are commonly used to deprive women of their land and property.

“I was shocked to witness the brutality of the assaults perpetrated against suspected sorcerers,” Manjoo said in a statement after her visit.  “Any misfortune or death within the community can be used as an excuse to accuse such a person of being a sorcerer.”

In a statement on Friday, Amnesty International called violence against accused witches as being endemic across the country.  The human rights organization detailed a July incident in which police arrested 29 people accused of being involved in a witch-hunting gang that murdered and cannibalized suspected sorcerers.

A national police spokesperson said Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba was incensed by the investigators’ failure to make an arrest by Friday.

“He was very, very disappointed that there’s been no arrest made as yet,” said spokesperson Dominic Kakas.  “The incident happened in broad daylight in front of hundreds of eyewitnesses, and yet [they] haven’t picked up any suspects yet.”

As many as 50 people are suspected of having “laid a hand on the victim,” Kakas said.  The prime suspect is Leniata’s husband, who is believed to have fled the area.  Kakas added that he was unsure of any relationship between the husband and the dead boy’s family.

For further information, please see:

The Age — UN Demands End to ‘Witch’ Deaths in PNG — 10 February 2013

ABC News — Accused Witch Burned Alive in Papua New Guinea — 8 February 2013

International Business Times — UN: We Condemn Witch Burning in Papua New Guinea — 8 February 2013

Sky News — Papua New Guinea: ‘Witch’ Burned Alive by Mob — 8 February 2013

You Can Have Free Speech in Kuwait, Just Don’t Offend the Emir

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait– Kuwait considers itself to be in the forefront of providing human rights and freedom of speech in the Middle East. Nevertheless, if one happens to say something that would “offend the emir,” then one has committed a violation that could potentially result in a five year prison sentence.

Former member of parliament, Khaled al-Tahus was one of a many individuals and ex-legislators who have recently been convicted for “offending the emir.” (Photo Courtesy of Arabian Business)

This past week, at least four individuals, three of which were former members of parliament, were convicted in court for “offending the emir,” Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The three former parliament members were Islamists Falah al-Sawwagh and Bader al-Dahum and populist Khaled al-Tahus. Each got received a three year prison sentence with their conviction.

The fourth individual to be convicted for “offending the emir” was a youth activist named Mohammad Eid al-Ajmi. Ajmi received the maximum five year sentence for a statement he made on the popular social networking site Twitter.

The three former parliament members were all arrested in October at a protest in opposition of the emir. The protest was in reaction to alterations the emir made in the voting system just six weeks prior to the election.

In Kuwait’s constitution, it is declared that the emir is “immune and inviolable,” hence it is illegal to criticize him. Kuwait’s government has stated on multiple occasions that it is all for free speech, however, it must act against such improper statements about the emir.

Since October, twenty five people have been charged with offending the emir. Of the twenty five, six so far have had to face jail terms.

Numerous groups including the U.S. government, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and domestic groups like the Kuwait Society for Human Rights have criticized the recent behavior of Kuwait’s government with respect to free speech and freedom of association.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland stated that, “we. . .oppose laws that curb the peaceful exercise of free expression.”

Amnesty International highlighted Kuwait’s increase on restrictions and pleaded that the country protect users of social media.

Nadim Houry, the deputy director of the Middle East region for Human Rights Watch went as far as to say that, “sending politicians to prison for criticizing the ruler is at odds with official claims that Kuwait is a beacon of freedom in the Gulf.”

Mohammad al-Humaidi, the director of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights called for, “the government to expand freedoms and adhere to the international (human rights) conventions it has signed.”

For further information, please see:

Gulf News – End Jail Terms Over Offences to Rule, Human Rights Watch Says – 8 February 2013

Human Rights Watch – Kuwait: Quash Convictions for ‘Offending Emir’ – 7 February 2013

Arabian Business- Kuwait Jails Former MPs for Criticising Emir – 6 February 2013

Radical Islam – Kuwaiti Youth Gets Five Years for Insulting Emir – 5 February 2013

NHRC Investigates Teacher’s Alleged Torture of His Son

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa 

ABUJA, Nigeria – Yesterday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) began investigating a man who allegedly tortured his son.

Established in 1995, the National Human Rights Commission was established to serve as an extra-judicial mechanism for protecting human rights and raising awareness on human rights issues such as child abuse in Nigeria. (Photo courtesy of the National Human Rights Commission)

NHRC Executive Secretary Bem Angwe released a statement condemning the act as “inhuman, barbaric and wicked.”

A month ago, Mr. Christopher Ogbeun, a principal of a local government secondary school in Kogi state, found his son destroying a letter of approval from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) which authorized his school to be a center for regional examinations. Infuriated by what his son had done, he took an electric iron and burnt his 10-year old boy, Stephen.

Meanwhile, the police received a call from other family members asking for help to stop Mr. Ogbeun. When the police arrived at Mr. Ogbeun’s residence, they caught him tying his son’s hands. “If not for the intervention of the Special Ambush Squad, he would have killed the son,” said Mohammed Musa Katsina, the State Commissioner of Police.

During an interview with a local newspaper, Mr. Ogbeun explained, “when I asked him to tell me the truth, he refused, then I used the iron on him. He made me threaten him with the iron which I pressed on him.”

Stephen suffered several high-degree burns and remained in critical condition for weeks.

Since the incident, Mr. Ogbeun has been charged with unlawful detention and attempted murder under Section 325 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

According to Angwe, the NHRC has taken a serious interest in the case hoping to put an end to such acts which he described as “unacceptable in the 21st Century Nigeria.” “The action of the perpetrators of all forms of violence contradicts Section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which prohibits torture, inhuman and degrading treatment,” said Angwe.

He also told the press that the NHRC is about to hold a stakeholders’ meeting that will look into other issues of domestic violence. Stakeholders in this meeting shall include community leaders, civil society organisations, the academia and faith based organisations, who will collaborate with the NHRC in resolving cases similar to Stephen’s.

In 2003, Nigeria passed the Child Rights Law in compliance with the United Nations Universal Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, which over 178 countries including Nigeria ratified. The Child Rights Law criminalizes any form of assault and abuse on children. However, although it was passed at the federal level, the law has not been effective in several states in the country. To this date, only 16 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have implemented the law.

 

For further information, please see:

Vanguard – NHRC probes teacher’s torturing of his 10-year-old son – 7 February 2013

All Africa – Nigeria: Stop Crimes Against Children – 29 January 2013

Leadership – Stop Crimes Against Children – 29 January 2013

Nigerian Tribune – Principal inflicts injury on son over WAEC approval letter – 22 January 2013