News

U.S. Troops Deployed to Somalia to Fight Al Shabaab

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

MOGADISHU, Somalia– For the first time since 1994, U.S. troops are being deployed to Somalia to help fight Al Shabab.  In 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu 18 U.S. Special Forces personnel were killed and the U.S. withdrew troops fully in 1994.  After the incident the U.S. has been involved in the country’s affairs, but hasn’t had troops in the country.

FILE - African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers from Burundi patrol after fighting between insurgents and government soldiers on the outskirts of Mogadishu, May 22, 2012.

AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) peacekeepers march near the outskirts of Mogadishu. (Photo Courtesy of VOA)

The U.S. deployment of troops to Somalia shows how the fight against Al Shabab has intensified.  Currently AMISOM peacekeepers are doing the best they can to fight the terrorist group, but U.S. troops will be able to train more peacekeepers and give training guidance.  Al Shabab is an affiliate of Al Qaeda and has a strong presence in much of the rural part of Somalia.  The group has staged terrorist attacks in the capital city of Mogadishu.

The U.S. troops will be deployed until September and will work alongside forces from the United Kingdom and Turkey to train AMISOM forces.  A spokeswoman for the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, the division deployed to Somalia, says the command will be working “inside Somalia’s borders” at the invitation of its government.  Other details were not made clear.

The U.S. intervention comes at a time when Somalia is also dealing with a record drought and humanitarian crisis.  Thousands are starving in Africa because of the drought and humanitarian assistance is needed from Somalia to Zimbabwe.

For more information, please see: 

BBC Africa – US Troops to help Somalia Fight Al Shabab – 14 April 2017

CNN – U.S. Sending Dozens More Troops to Somalia – 14 April 2017

Military Times – The Pentagon sends dozens of troops to Somalia as fight with al Shabab intenstifies – 14 April 2017

VOA – Dozens More U.S. Troops Deployed to Somalia – 14 April 2017

Two Men Face Caning for Gay Sex in Indonesia

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Human Rights watch has called on the Indonesian government to immediately and unconditionally release two men detained in Aceh province under a local ordinance that criminalizes homosexuality. On March 28, 2017, unidentified vigilantes forcibly entered a home and brought two men therein to the police on allegations of homosexual relations. The two men have been detained under Islamic Sharia law in Banda Aceh, the capital of the province.

A Sharia law official whips a man convicted of adultery with a cane in Banda Aceh, Indonesia in March 2017. Photo courtesy of AP.

The chief investigator at the facility indicated that both men have confessed to being gay and have been detained for sentencing. Under Islamic Criminal Code, the two men face up to 100 lashes for their behavior. This form of punishment constitutes torture under international human rights law.

Aceh’s Sharia law has been vehemently enforced, and the province’s police have previously detained lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people. In October 2015, Sharia police arrested two teenage girls on suspicion of being lesbians for embracing in public. Aceh’s parliament has gradually adopted stringent Sharia-inspired ordinances that criminalize activity like a woman’s failure to wear a hijab, gambling, alcohol, and extramarital sexual relations, all of which can be legally enforced against non-Muslims.

Aceh is the only one of Indonesia’s 34 provinces that may adopt bylaws derived from Sharia law. Under Indonesian federal law, the national home affairs minister has the authority to review and repeal such local bylaws. However, in June 2016, the Minister backtracked on his announced commitment to abolish any forms of Sharia law in the county.

Though international media and human rights organizations are speaking out against the government on this issue, Indonesian officials have yet to act on the matter.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Indonesia: Release Gay Men at Risk of Torture – 9 April, 2017

ABC News – 2 men in Indonesia’s Aceh province face caning for gay sex – 8 April, 2017

The Guardian – Indonesia: gay men facing 100 lashes for having sex – 11 April, 2017

Deutsche Welle – Two men may get 100 lashes after gay sex in Indonesia – 8 April, 2017 

Airbnb Host Denies Asian-American Guest Service Based on Race

By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States — An Airbnb host in California was banned from the company after cancelling a guest’s reservation at the last minute based on the guest’s race.  Dyne Suh, a 25-year old law student at the University of California, Los Angeles, recently posted pictures to her Facebook account earlier this week that showed a message conversation with an Airbnb host who refused to rent to her because of she was Asian.

A portion of the conversation between Suh and the Airbnb host (Photo Courtesy of The Huffington Post)

Suh and her fiancé booked an Airbnb residence in Big Bear Lake, California for February 2017.  After conversing with the host about adding two additional guests, Suh messaged the host to inform her that the group was close to the residence when the host started “spewing racism.”

One message from the host read “I wouldn’t rent to u if u were the last person on earth,” and another “One word says it all: Asian.”  Suh told the host that she would report the comments to Airbnb, and the host responded “It’s why we have Trump.”  The host also said that she would “not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners.”

Suh has participated in anti-Trump events in the past, however asserts that this incident was unprovoked.  She said that for her to “now have someone say something racist to [her] and say it’s because of Trump, it was [her] fears coming true.”  Suh believes that people who previously held these beliefs now feel “emboldened” to speak them.  She commented that “[n]o matter how well [she] treat[s] others, if you’re Asian you’re less than human, and people can treat you like trash.”

A spokesperson for Airbnb told reporters that the host has been permanently removed from the company.  Airbnb also wrote in an email that “[that] behavior is abhorrent and unacceptable.”  Last year, Airbnb conducted a comprehensive review of the company and found that “minorities struggle more than others to book a listing.”  This finding caused the company to implement a new policy which requires all hosts to treat all guests “with respect.”  The new policy explains that “no matter who you are, where you are from, or where you travel, you should be able to belong in the Airbnb community.”

 

For more information, please see:

Fortune — Airbnb Banned a Host who Reportedly Cancelled a Guest’s Reservation over her Race — 8 April 2017

NY Daily News — California Airbnb Host Banned for Naming President Trump as Reason to Refuse Asian-American Guest — 8 April 2017

The Telegraph News — Airbnb Host Cancels Asian Woman’s Reservation at the Last Minute, Telling her: ‘It’s Why we Have Trump’ — 8 April 2017

KTLA — Riverside Woman Denied Lodging on Airbnb During Big Bear Snow Storm Because of her Race — 7 April 2017

Taiwan Bans Slaughter and Consumption of Dogs and Cats

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan has joined Hong Kong as one of the first Asian country to outlaw the sale of dog and cat meat for human consumption. Parliament passed legislation on April 11 to outlaw the consumption, purchase, and possession of dog and cat meat. The fine for violating the law can get as steep at 8,170 U.S. dollars.

Dogs wait to be slaughtered in cages for sale as food in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Reuters.

The legislation is a direct response to the growing social pressure calling for improvements in animal welfare and increased protections against animal cruelty. The new legislation includes a provision raising the penalty for killing or abusing animals to a maximum of two years in jail and a fine of NT$2 million in Taiwanese currency.

Similar legislation had already been passed in Taiwan in 2001, which like the new legislation, prohibited the slaughter of pets and the sale of that meat. The 2001 legislation, however, failed to include a penalty for violations of the law. The new law includes strict provisions on the care and treatment of animals, as well as minimum and maximum fines and jail sentences for those found guilty of violating the law.

Rights activists are thrilled at the new measure, calling the new legislation a momentous step in the right direction for ensuring stronger animal protections. In the past, these activists argue, legislation has been too lenient on individuals accused of animal cruelty. The new law aligns to a greater global social movement for increased animal rights and protections. However, some activists warn that this measure is not enough to ensure the safety and well-being of other animals, as the legislation applies strictly to cats and dogs.

For more information, please see:

The China Post – Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to ban eating of cat and dog meat – 11 April, 2017

PRI – Taiwan bans eating dogs and cats but the meat trade is still big business in Asia – 12 April, 2017

Hong Kong Free Press – Taiwan bans the consumption of cat and dog meat – 11 April, 2017

BBC – Taiwan bans slaughter of cats and dogs for human consumption – 11 April, 2017

Zambia Opposition Leader Charged in Convoy Clash

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

LUSAKA, Zambia–Zambia opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been charged with treason after interfering with the presidential motorcade.  Hichilema was traveling in a convoy near the President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade.  Hichilema’s motorcade refused to move for President Lungu’s convoy and President Lungu’s convoy subsequently tried to overtake Hichilema’s motorcade.  Zambian police claim that Hichilema endangered the life of the President by refusing to pull over.

Zambia opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

In Zambia, treason is a severe offense and the accused cannot be released on bail.  The charge also carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.  Police chief Kakoma Kanjanga made a statement regarding Hichilema’s arrest.  “It has been established that the opposition leader disobeyed police orders to clear the way, thereby putting the life of the head of state in danger.  We have today jointly charged and arrested Mr Hichilema and five others with treason.”  Kanjanga continued by stating “I wish to reiterate that the actions by the opposition leader were unreasonable, reckless and criminal. Therefore members of the public are being warned that as police we are not going to watch such kind of behavior by any person, irrespective of their status,” he added.

Hichilema narrowly lost the Zambian presidency to President Lungu last year.  Many in Hichilema’s party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), do not see Lungu as the legitimate president of Zambia.  Tensions are rising between parties as the details of Hichilema’s arrest are reported.  Armed police raided Hichilema’s home during the night of Tuesday April 11th.  Hichilema was subsequently arrested and detained.

For more information, please see: 

Africa News – Zambian opposition chief gets treason charge for blocking presidential convoy – 12 April 2017

Al Jazeera – UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema Charged with Treason – 13 April 2017

BBC Africa – Zambia Police Hichilema over motorcade clash – 12 April 2017 

Bloomberg Politics – Zambian Police Charge Opposition Leader Hichilema With Treason – 12 April 2017