By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

BOGOTA, Colombia – Alvaro Uribe, Colombia’s outgoing President, has filed a complaint in the International Criminal Court against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.  Jaime Granados, Uribe’s attorney, has also filed a lawsuit against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

According to a statement made by Granados, both the complaint and the lawsuit stem from human rights abuses by Chavez personally and by Venezuela as a state.  The alleged human rights violations at issue focus on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) being present within Venezuela’s borders.

Last month, President Uribe presented evidence which he claimed proved that the Venezuelan government allowed FARC and ELN members to operate freely in Venezuela.

The present complaint alleges that these two guerrilla organizations are training and planning attacks in Venezuela that are meant to be implemented in Colombia and against Colombian people.  Furthermore, the complaint alleges that Venezuela is harboring Colombian guerrilla chiefs.  Venezuelan officials dispute both claims.

Uribe’s actions came as he was leaving office to make way for the new Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos.  Less than a month ago, Venezuela broke diplomatic ties with Colombia, leaving many to speculate about the strain that the complaints will put on the two nations’ relationship.  To further compound matters, Uribe’s successor has indicated that he would like to strengthen ties with Venezuela.  Colombian President-elect Santos did not prohibit Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro from attending his inauguration.

After receiving the sash to take office, President-elect Santos stated “[t]he word war is not in my dictionary when I think about Colombia’s relations with our neighbors.”

There is evidence that President Chavez wants to put an end to the diplomatic crisis that exists between his country and Colombia.  After talks with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, President Chavez stated that he was “prepared to turn the page completely and look to the future.”

Some, including Marcela Prieto Botero, of the Institute of Political Sciences in Bogota, believe that the difference in opinion between the outgoing and incoming Colombian Presidents could be more of a benefit than a problem.  Now that Uribe has put the information on the table, Santos is free to use it and press Venezuela on action without having to accept the political accountability of being the first to make the accusation.

For more information, please see;

American Chronicle – Ex-president of Colombia Files Suit against Chavez over Guerilla Support – 9 August 2010

Merco Press – Uribe Files Complaint against Chavez before International Criminal Court – 8 August 2010

VHeadline.com – Complaint Filed against Hugo Chavez at the International Criminal Court – 8 August 2010

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

POTOSI, Bolivia—Thousands of protesters in Bolivia have been holding an entire city hostage for over 10 days.  The only roads leading out of the city have been blocked by protesters who have also disrupted the rail line to Chile and begun a hunger strike.

Six thousand miners in Potosi, Bolivia, have been protesting President Morales’ policies, accusing him of neglecting impoverished citizens.  The protesters have demanded more regional investment, the creation of a new cement factory, the settlement of land disputes, and a bigger airport.  They also want certain mines to be reopened that officials have closed.

“We’re taking this to the bitter end,” one hunger striker said.  Potosi Town Council president Remberto Gareca told AFP, “This strike . . . is the people’s answer to the lies of the government.”

The southern mining city has been barricaded by roadblocks constructed of boulders, virtually holding numerous citizens and tourists hostage, unable to leave.  Over 100 foreign tourists, mostly Europeans, are still trapped and waiting to be set free.  Also held captive are about 500 Bolivians.  Potosi is a city of about 200,000 people, all of whom are in danger of being affected.

One thousand people have been stranded a couple miles north of Potosi for over a week.  One of these told AFP, “We’re cold, hungry and afraid.”  Protesters were holding dynamite to intimidate those held captive, saying they would make an explosion if anyone tried to escape.

The blockade has already sparked a shortage of food in the city.  There are concerns about tourists’ health, as Potosi has a high altitude and may cause some people to get ill.  Older people and those with existing health problems are the most at-risk.

There have been reports that protesters have threatened to blow up any bus that attempted to leave the city.  On Friday, protesters piled rocks on a local airport runway to prevent a plane from landing to aid tourists.

“Our rules are tough here,” one protester explained.  “We don’t let any vehicle through.  There are 6,000 of us.  We’re organized.”

The governor of the local district has been supportive of the protesters, even participating in the recent hunger strike.  Also participating are many regional officials, union and farm leaders.  As of yet, the Bolivian government has not moved to amend the situation.

For more information, please see:

ABC – Tourists trapped in blockaded city – 8 August 2010

AP – Protest traps tourists in Bolivian highland city – 7 August 2010

AFP – Bolivians on hunger strike, cut rail links to Chile – 7 August 2010

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to send an Iranian woman facing execution by stoning to Brazil, where she would be granted asylum.

The Brazilian President, known popularly as Lula, shares a friendship with President Ahmadinejad and was quoted as saying “nothing justifies the state taking someone’s life, only God can do that.”

The woman facing execution, 43 year old Sakineh Ashtiani, was convicted of adultery in 2006, although she denies having any extramarital relationships.  An international public campaign has been forged against the execution.  Lula is being specifically targeted as a means to stop the execution because the two leaders have developed a personal connection since Brazil undertook diplomatic efforts supporting Iran’s uranium enrichment activities a year ago.

In Brazil, citizens have held protests expressing their concern with the human rights issues that are at stake with Ashtiani’s case.  Brazilian citizens have also circulated a petition to garner support for their cause.  The petition contains more than 114,000 signatures, including signatures from many Brazilian celebrities.  Initially, Lula was not willing to intervene and claimed that Iran’s laws and decisions needed to be respected.

The United States is standing behind Brazil’s efforts and is urging President Ahmadinejad to consider Lula’s offer.  Philip Crowley, spokesperson for the Department of State, said “[i]f Brazil is willing to accept… this woman, we would hope that Iran would consider that as a humanitarian gesture.”

While Lula has previously lobbied President Ahmadinejad to free foreign prisoners when human rights issues were involved, the stoning situation marks the first time that the Brazilian President has interfered after Iranian law was applied to an Iranian citizen.

According to a recent report in the Jahan News, an Iranian newspaper, President Ahmadinejad is not entirely open to Lula’s offer.  The report referred to the Brazilian President’s offer as a “strange request” and said it amounted to “interference in Iran’s national affairs.”  Although there are reports that the Iranian Government have agreed not to stone Ashtiani to death, other forms of execution are still a reality, including beheading and hanging.

For more information, please see:

AOL News – Report: Iran Cool To Brazil’s Asylum Offer in Stoning Case – 3 August 2010

AFP – US Backs Brazil Asylum Offer For Iran Woman Facing Stoning – 2 August 2010

NY Times – Brazil’s President Offers Asylum To Woman Facing Stoning In Iran – 1 August 2010

Reuters – Brazil Offers Asylum To Iranian Woman Facing Stoning – 31 July 2010

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname—An ex-dictator and convicted drug trafficker who has been accused of numerous human rights violations has been elected president in Suriname.  On August 3rd, the new president-elect, Desi Bouterse, will take office.

64-year old Bouterse was elected by lawmakers in Suriname, a small country with less than half a million citizens.  Bouterse ruled Suriname as a military strongman after staging a coup d’etat in 1980.  He gained notoriety during December of 1982, when 15 of Suriname’s intellectuals were executed at Fort Zeelandia.  Among those killed were lawyers, journalists and trade unionists, all of whom were Bouterse’s opponents and deemed political threats.  Bouterse has since taken political responsibility for their deaths, but has pinned legal liability on a now-deceased battalion commander, Paul Bhagwandas.

Bouterse is a defendant in the murder trial, but the trial, which began in 2007, has been stalled repeatedly because witnesses have not appeared to testify.  Although Bouterse has said he will not interfere with the proceedings, he can now grant himself a presidential pardon if found guilty during his five-year office tenure.

Bouterse is also noted for what is known as the Moiwana Maroon massacre.  In 1986, the army under his command murdered villagers in the Surinamese jungle who were suspected of supporting insurgents.

Two organizations in Suriname—the Organization for Justice and Peace and the Foundation December 8, 1982—petitioned the National Assembly, asking that Bouterse’s election be found illegal.  Families of the 1982 murder victims have issued an open letter requesting the same, pointing out that Suriname’s constitution states that “a Presidential candidate shall not have conducted any actions which are in violation of the constitution.”  The families believe that at least three of Bouterse’s violations are unconstitutional:  the 1980 coup, the December 1982 atrocity, and the 1986 Moiwana Maroon massacre.

Bouterse’s reputation is known throughout the world.  In 1997, the Netherlands issued an international arrest warrant for him for smuggling two tons of cocaine into the country between 1989 and 1997.  Bouterse was tried in absentia in 1999 and has yet to serve his 11-year sentence.

Bouterse has attempted to pass himself off as a defender of the poor and has promised more jobs, affordable housing, and a computer for every child.  On Wednesday, Bouterse and outgoing President Venetiaan met for the first time in 18 years and discussed plans for a smooth transfer of power.

For more information, please see:

Democrat Newspaper – Condoners or educated mis-leaders? – 1 August 2010

Caribbean Net News – Transfer of power discussed in Suriname – 30 July 2010

Reuters – Investors cool to Suriname presidential choice – 30 July 2010

Stabroek News-The Hemisphere: Suriname’s strongman or statesman?-29 July 2010