News

Puerto Rican Government Approves Referendum for Statehood

February 10, 2017

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On February 3, Puterto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello approved a non-binding referendum to determine whether the U.S. territory will become a state or remain a territory. To be held on June 11, 2017, the referendum will allow voters to either choose statehood or independence. If the majority of voters choose independence, a second referendum will be held in October.

Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello (Photo Courtesy of Fox News)

Governor Rossello called the referendum a “civil rights issue” and noted that “the time will come in which the United States has to respond to the demands of 3.5 million citizens seeking an absolute democracy.” Rossello also commented that “colonialism is not an option for Puerto Rico.”

Supporters of the referendum say it could help the territory overcome a decade-long economic crisis. They say it would also grant the territory more equality in that it would allow them to vote in presidential elections, and would grant them more voting powers in Congress. Statehood would also allow Puerto Rico to receive more Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Some are concerned with the way the referendum is worded. Edwin Melendez, director for the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College worries that the referendum “doesn’t leave room for any other options.” Melendez does not believe that it is evident statehood currently reflects the majority opinion.

If the U.S. Congress recognizes Puerto Rico as a state, it could receive an additional $10 billion in federal funds per year, and its government agencies would be able to file for bankruptcy, which they are not currently allowed to do under state and federal laws. Puerto Rico has held four referendums in the past that have resulted in no action from the U.S. Congress, who has the final say in any changes to Puerto Rico’s status.

In addition to the referendum, Puerto Rican legislators are expected to vote on a bill that would allow Governor Rossello to hold elections to choose two senators and five representatives and send them to Congress to demand statehood.

For more information, please see:

Jurist — Puerto Rico Governor Approves Statehood Referendum — 4 February 2017

ABC — Puerto Rico Gov Approves Referendum in Quest for Statehood — 3 February 2017

Fox — Puerto Rico Gov Approves Referendum in Quest for Statehood — 3 February 2017

Salon — Quest for Statehood: Puerto Rico’s New Referendum Aims to Repair Economic Disaster — 3 February 2017

Muslim Lawyer Shot Dead in Myanmar

February 8, 2017

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar- A prominent human rights lawyer was fatally shot outside Yangon International Airport on January 29. U Ko Ni was holding his grandson when he was shot in the head at close range. Mr. Ko Ni served as a legal adviser to Myanmar’s leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr. Ko Ni, a Muslim attorney and a member of the National League for Democracy, was returning home from a government-organized trip to Indonesia, where he attended a panel to discuss democracy and conflict resolution strategies.

Outside Yangon International Airport, where U Ko Ni, a prominent Muslim attorney and legal adviser was fatally shot on January 29, 2017. Photo Courtesy of: European Pressphoto Agency

UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee, a human rights expert, has strongly condemned the murder of Mr. Ko Ni. A suspect has been taken into custody but a motive has yet to be determined.

Mr. Ko Ni was known for speaking out against the Nationality Law, which stripped the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group, of citizenship. Tensions have risen between the Myanmar government and Rohingya in recent months. In October 2016, members of a Rohingya insurgent group attacked border control officers, killing nine. The attack led to a drawn out offensive by Myanmar’s government to demilitarize the Rohingya insurgency, an effort which persists today.

Recent concerns arose out of reports claiming that soldiers are engaging in human rights offenses. Human rights groups have received reports of killings of unarmed men, burnings of civilian homes, and even accounts of rape of Rohingya women by Myanmar soldiers. The Myanmar government has denied allegations that its military is committing violent acts against civilians. The government has denied journalists and human rights investigators access to its villages. An estimated 65,000 Rohingya people have fled into Bangladesh, where refugee camps have been established.

Despite the government’s statements, a video surfaced on January 3, 2017, that appears to show Myanmar border police beating unarmed men. Though four officers have been detained by the government, Myanmar’s leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has faced much criticism for a failure to respond more vehemently to these incidents and allegations.

For more information, please see:

NY Times – U Ko Ni, a Prominent Muslim Lawyer in Myanmar, Is Fatally Shot – 29 January, 2017

BBC – Myanmar: Leading lawyer Ko Ni assassinated at Yangon airport – 30 January, 2017

JURIST – UN rights expert condemns murder of Muslim lawyer in Myanmar – 30 January, 2017

UN – Note to Correspondents: Statement by Mr. Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser of the United Nations Secretary- General on Myanmar – 8 December 2016

HRW – Burma: Rohingya Recount Killings, Rape, and Arson – 21 December, 2016

NY Times – ‘There Are No Homes Left’: Rohingya Tell of Rape, Fire, and Death in Myanmar – 10 January, 2017

NY Times – Myanmar Holds Officers After Video Purports to Show Police Beating Rohingya – 3 January, 2017

Italy Dedicates 200 Million Euros to African Migrant Fund

February 6, 2017

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy — On Wednesday, Italy pledged 200 million euros ($215 million) to several African countries to aid in their efforts of better controlling their borders. The goal of the fund is to reduce the number of migrants who leave these countries and risk their lives traveling to Europe by preventing them from leaving their home countries. The fund also hopes to deter human traffickers and smugglers who control the migration routes from Africa to Europe.

Migrants disembark from an Italian coast guard vessel in the Sicilian harbor (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

The fund, known as the Africa Fund, will aid in the “fight against human trafficking and illegal migration” according to Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. The money will help train each nations’ security forces that control the borders, as well as pay for equipment to better monitor their borders. The funding will also be allocated partially towards Libya’s coastguard, as well as United Nations refugee and migrant agencies that can use the money to improve the living conditions of migrants in those countries.
At a press conference, Alfano further explained the fund’s goal of focusing efforts on the African countries migrants leave from, saying that Italy does not “build walls in the Mediterranean – we can’t and don’t want to do that.” Instead, Alfano emphasized the need to “strengthen the bond between solidarity and security.”
Some European leaders have suggested the possibility of financing camps in different locations on the southern shores of the Mediterranean to house potential refugees, however Alfano’s goal with the Africa Fund is to prevent exactly this. According to him, there have not been talks of setting up camps in Tunisia or Libya yet due to the lack of security in those nations. Italy is “trying to work so that there will be no need for camps.”

The majority of the funding will be given to Niger, Libya, and Tunisia, which are three major departure points for African migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italy. Other African countries can also request money to improve their border control.

Last week, the EU’s executive European Commission proposed making another 200 million euros available for other African countries to prevent migrants from leaving their home countries to journey across the Mediterranean Sea in hopes of reaching Europe.

For more information, please see:

Daily Nation — Italy Pledges 200 Million Euros to African Countries to Address Immigration — 1 February 2017

Euractiv — Italy Sets up Fund to Help African Countries Stop Migrants — 1 February 2017

European Online Magazine — Italy Unveils 200-Million-Euro Africa Fund to Curb Migration — 1 February 2017

Reuters — Italy Sets up Fund to Help African Countries Stop Migrants — 1 February 2017

Landmark Case for Transgender Man Gives LGBT Activists Hope

February 3, 2017

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China- The LGBT communities of China and Taiwan have been gaining increased attention over the past few years. Rights activists are applauding some small, yet encouraging victories, in an ongoing effort to legalize gay marriage and gain equal rights.

Activists march at a pride event in China. Photo courtesy of: CNN News

In December 2016, a Taiwanese legislative committee approved draft changes on a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The proposed amendments to Taiwan’s civil code have been sent to party caucuses for negotiation and further review. Once this process is complete, a final version of the legislation will be voted on. Though the measure has yet to be passed, it is a major step towards gaining equal rights and protections for Taiwan’s LGBT community.

China has received similar attention for a December 2016 landmark ruling in a discriminatory dismissal case. A Chinese court held in favor of Mr. Chen, a transgender man who claims he was illegally dismissed from his position at a Chinese medical clinic after only one week on the job. Though the court ruled in favor of Mr. Chen, finding his dismissal illegal and awarding him a month’s wages, it was not willing to declare that Mr. Chen’s dismissal was due to discrimination against transgender individuals.

Nonetheless, advocates are thrilled that a Chinese court agreed to hear the case. Gay marriage is illegal in China, and homosexuality was long considered a mental illness. It was only in 2014 that Chinese courts ruled against therapy to “correct” homosexuality.

Though LGBT rights are still absent in both Taiwan and China, many are hopeful that change is on the way. Mr. Chen’s case has given activists hope that a legal remedy may be possible in the future.

For more information, please see:

New York Times – On Taking Gay Rights From Taipei to Beijing: Don’t Call It a ‘Movement’ – 18 January, 2017

BBC – China: Limited victory for man in transgender dismissal case – 3 January, 2017

BNA – China: Despite Landmark Ruling, LGBT Rights Lacking in China’s Workplaces – 19 January, 2017

The Guardian – Chinese transgender man wins landmark wrongful dismissal case – 3 January, 2017

Zambian Police Banned from Marrying Foreigners

January 31, 2017

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

LUSAKA, Zambia– Zambian police have been forbidden from marrying foreigners. The Head of Police in Zambia issued a memo on Monday January 23 advising Zambian police to not marry foreigners effective immediately. This ban is put in place in order to protect the Zambian people.

Zambia police in the capital of Lusaka. (Photo Courtesy of BBC Africa)

For police officers who already have foreign spouses have to register their spouses by Monday January 29th. If they do not register their spouses they will face disciplinary action. Many are upset about this law which some are claiming is unconstitutional. However, police spokesperson Esther Katongo defended the order by saying, ““Issues of security are delicate. If not careful, spouses can be spies and can sell the security of the country’’.

She also stated that this law has always been on the books, but given the new security situation in Zambia, it is now being enforced. Action was being taken in order to ensure that police were complying with this previous requirement. Some are criticizing the move saying that instead of worrying about spouses the police should better train their officers to be more professional.

For more information, please see:

Africa Review – Outrage after Zambia police banned from marrying foreigners – 23 January 2017

BBC Africa – Zambia police banned from marrying foreigners – 23 January 2017

News Agency of Nigeria – Zambia police ban foreign wives – 23 January 2017

Vanguard – Zambia bans police officers from marrying foreigners – 23 January 2017