By Ali Sprott-Roen
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti –  In one of the most serious confrontations since the earthquake on Jarnuary 12, troops from the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) fired rubber bullets and used pepper spray on student demonstrators at Port-au-Prince University.. The students were protesting government inaction in the aftermath of the quake, many demanding the resignation of President René Préval, who they accuse of seeking to increase his power by extending mandates past the original end date.

Troops first entered the university campus calling students thieves and vagabonds, to which the students responded by throwing rocks at the troops. This led the troops to bring in larger vehicles for reinforcement and to shoot rubber bullets at the protesters. This was the first time since the quake that troops used rubber bullets against demonstrators.

Later that day, the protest escalated and spilled into Champs de Mars plaza, the internally displaced people’s camp, where thousands of Haitians left homeless after the quake live in tight quarters. Small children and a few adults with preexisting heart conditions passed out after choking on the pepper spray. At least six people were treated at the local emergency room, including, a young girl injured by a rubber bullet who required approximately 10 stitches to mend a laceration on her face.

MINUSTAH apologized for entering the school and instigating the demonstration, but made no mention of the attack on the camp nor using rubber bullets. While the UN forces claim the right to use rubber bullets if people or institutions are in danger, they admit that their actions made the situation much worse.

For more information, please see:

 

Nj.com – Violence and Rubber Bullets in Haiti at Demonstration; Pentagon Investigating Behavior of 10 U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan– 1 June 2010

Huffington Post – – United Nations Attacks Refugee Camp, Protests Mount – 1 June 2010

CNN – – UN to apologize for troops on Haitian university campus – 26 May 2010

Inter Press Service – U.N. Clash with Frustrated Students Spills into Camps – 25 May 2010

By Sovereign Hager
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

KINGSTON, Jamaica-Seventy-three people have reportedly been killed and five hundred arrested during Jamaican police efforts to capture Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Coke is a well known leader in the Kingston slums, who is wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges. Authorities intend to extradite Coke to the United States.

Amnesty International called for a thorough investigation into the violence and deaths. The rights group recognized that while authorities have a responsibility to ensure order, the current extraordinary powers exerted by the Jamaican security forces could lead to human rights violations.

A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kingston. Amnesty pointed out that even in officially declared states of emergency, international law requires Jamaica to guarantee the rights of those detained, including having their detention reviewed by an independent tribunal. Over five hundred people have been detained in the search for Coke. The circumstances of the seventy three deaths have not been explained by authorities.

The Jamaican prime minister, Bruch Golding has not yet visited his constituents in the affected area. Residents complain about arbitrary arrests and say that they do not feel safe. Coke and other slum leaders, known as “dons” are thought to occupy a void created by a lack of government services in Jamaica’s slums. There is already speculation that the government will not be able to occupy the void in authority after the dons are officially deposed.

Up to this point Jamaican slums have operated under an arrangement where politicians and dons share power. The dons provide security through extortion and control of the drug trade. They then channel some resources through the neighborhoods to build support for certain political leaders by ensuring the loyalty of their voters.

Coke is accused with trafficking cocaine and marijuana into the United States’ East Coast, allegedly causing “gangland” conflicts that have killed thousands. The government has asked at least ten other dons, like Coke to surrender in efforts to combat gang violence.

For more information, please see:

AFP-Drug Suspect Still in Jamaica: Police Chief-31 May 2010

NY Times-Jamaica Strains to Fill Void After Ejecting Gang Bosses-31 May 2010

Voice of America-Unrest Death Toll Reaches 73-31 May 2010

Brenda Lopez Romero
Impunity Watch reporter – North America desk

GANTANAMO BAY — Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, Omar Khadr’s military lawyer, was able to get some damaging testimony during his cross-examination of witnesses that indicated Mr. Khadr was abused and mis-treatmented.

An Army master sergeant, “Interrogator #2,” acknowledge that that he was aware of the Army’s field manual that cited as an example of torture “forcing an individual to stand, sit or kneel in abnormal positions for a prolonged period of time.”  Lt. Col. Jackson recounted prior testimony by a medic personnel, Mr. M, that indicated Mr. Khadr’s arms had been shackled at his forehead level.  Then Interrogator #2 stated that “[i]t could be” a similar position to that one stated in the field manual.  What set them apart was that an “air lock technique” forced detainees to stand with their arms’ straight out without being shackled and Mr. Khadr’s hands held at forehead level, not straight out, and was shackled.

If Col. Patrick Parrish, the military judge, hearing Mr. Khadr’s case is convinced that he suffered abuse prior to giving statements during interrogation, then Col. Parrish could be persuaded that Mr. Khadr was unreasonably coerced

Interrogator #2 testified that in Bagram they could play music in loud volume.  Interrogator #2’s also testified that Khdar was “sedated” during an interrogation.

When Lt. Col. Jackson asked if interrogators were allowed to use “stress positions,” Interrogator #2 stated that they were clear to use “safety positions.”

Lt Col. Jackson then asked, “Well, first it was called stress positions, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, sir,” Interrogator #2 answered.

Lt. Col. further inquired, “Is there a difference?”

“No, sir,” Interrogator #2 responded.

“Interrogator #1,” the lead interrogator for Khadr, is expected to testify for the defense and it is expected he will acknowledge threatening Khadr with rape.

For more information, please see:

The Miami Herald – Guantánamo hearing: Canadian teen was sedated when first questioned – 4 May 2010

The Star – Khadr questioned by sergeant later court martialed, court told – 4 May 4, 2010

The Washington Independent – Defense Gets Interrogator to Suggest Khadr Was Tortured – 4 May 2010