By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 12 Iran announced a new offer for the swapping of uranium for fuel. Manouchehr Mottaki said, according to Iran’s state-run broadcasting, that the Islamic Republic was “ready to exchange some four hundred kilograms of three point five percent enriched uranium in Iran’s Kish Island and received twenty percent enriched fuel.”

The United States and other country have been negotiating with Iran to have the Islamic Republic send low-enriched uranium abroad. It would then be turned into material that could be used in a reactor.

The US rejected the new proposal by Iran. A senior State Department official commented on the new plan, saying that “Iran’s proposal does not appear to be consistent with the fair balanced draft agreement proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

The original draft agreement, which was formulated in consultation with the US, Russia and France, called for Iran to exchange it’s uranium all at once. The IAEA reportedly fears that carrying out the nuclear excahnge in slow stages could lead to Iran being in control of enough uranium to make a bomb. The specific terms of the original draft agreement called for Iran to send twelve hundred kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Russia in one batch. It would then be sent to France for fabrication into fuel assemblies before being sent back to Iran. The goal would be to power a research reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes.

While Iran continues to insist that its nuclear plans are for peaceful purposes such as producing fuel for power plants, the majority of the international community remains skeptical. The senior State Department official commented that the US remains committed to the original terms of the draft agreement, but “Iran has been unwilling to engage in further talks on its nuclear program.”

In November Iran was formerly chastised for its action with its nuclear program. The IAEA’s thirty five-nation board endorsed a resolution proposed by the US, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain that criticized Iran for defying a UN security council ban on uranium enrichment. Iran was also criticized for continuing to expand its nuclear operations.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – US Rejects Iran Nuclear Offer – 13 December 2009

CNN – Iran ‘Ready to Swap Uranium For Fuel’ – 13 December 2009

Press TV – Washington ‘Rejects Iran Uranium Swap Offer’ – 13 December 2009

UPI – U.S.: Iran Nuke Offer Doesn’t Comply – 13 December 2009

On June 24, a judge of the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) delivered the verdict as the Anfal trial ended after ten months.  The defendants were changed with various crimes against humanity relating to the Anfal campaign against the Kurds in 1988.  During this campaign Kurds were systematically murdered, tortured, detained, and displaced.  The number of Kurds killed during this year long campaign ranges from 50,000 to 180,000.  During the past ten months, the IHT heard testimony from survivors detailing mass graves, the use of chemical weapons, and mistreatment of detainees.

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

RAFAH, Egypt – Egypt has begun building a barrier wall along its border with the Gaza Strip, according to the BBC. The wall would be Egypt’s most dramatic move in its fight against smuggling between northern Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

 

Egyptian officials have not confirmed or commented on the allegations, and locals in the border town of Rafah have reported that civil engineers have been bringing in earth movers and placing steel tubes at short intervals in the ground. One Egyptian official said that the engineers were installing a smuggling detection device along the border, but would not comment on any plans for a wall.

 

Smuggling has been a constant problem along the Egypt-Gaza border since Israel imposed a semi-blockade of Gaza after the Palestinian party Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2007. Since then, Palestinians have built numerous tunnels, many of which are structurally unsound. Egyptian border officials have repeatedly tried to close the smuggling tunnels, though new tunnels are built as soon as existing ones are discovered.

 

Egypt has drawn criticism from many of its neighboring countries for being complicit with Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. In addition to the new wall, critics cite Egypt’s refusal to open the border while the Gaza Strip was bombed during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 and January 2009, as well as arrests for Hezbollah supporters and blocking weapons going into Gaza.

 

The BBC reports that the smuggling wall would stretch six to seven miles along the border and eighteen to thirty meters (fifty-four to ninety feet) below the surface. Egyptian engineers are also reportedly being assisted by American army engineers, and that the fence is being constructed in the United States, though this cannot be confirmed. The wall would be bombproof, and sources say the Egyptians hope it will cut down on smuggling traffic.

 

It is unlikely, however, that the wall will completely halt smuggling into Gaza, as the Gazan economy has been crippled by the Israeli blockade and civilians have little access to goods.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Afrik.com – Egypt Building Strong Underground Wall on Gaza Border – 11 December 2009

 

Xinhua News – Egypt Denies Building Iron Wall on Gaza Border – 10 December 2009

 

London Telegraph – Egypt Digs Underground Wall to Stop Gaza Tunnels – 10 December 2009

 

BBC News – Egypt Starts Building Steel Wall on Gaza Strip Border – 9 December 2009

 

Ha’aretz – Egypt Building Iron Wall on Gaza Border to Stop Smuggling – 9 December 2009

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On December 8 five car bombings took place near government institutions in Baghdad. The car bombings killed one hundred twenty seven individuals, including many women and children. More than four hundred people were wounded in the attacks. This incident was the third coordinated attack in Baghdad since August. The attacks came after Iraqi officials agreed after months of negotiations to set a date in March for a national election.

At least three of the five bombs were set off by suicide attackers. The first bomb went off at 10:25 in central Baghdad and appeared to be targeting a police patrol. The four others followed minutes later. The bombings struck a courthouse, two colleges, a mosque and a bank. The chaos forced the locking down of entire neighborhoods, overwhelming of police and rescue workers, and filling of hospitals with the wounded.

The attacks appeared to be intended the severely damage the government’s basic ability to function. Two government institutions struck on Tuesday, the Finance Ministry and an appeals court, had recently relocated to new buildings after attacks destroyed their old offices in August and October.

The new attacks undermined the Iraqi government’s claims of improved security. Many victims of the attacks blamed the Iraqi army and police force for what took place. The Iraqi security force has been under increased scrutiny as they have taken charge of security as American forces have withdrawn from cities. Victims also linked the attacks to the lengthy political battle over the election. Candidates in the election, in turn, blamed security forces and the government for failing to protect the “heart of Baghdad.”

The attacks follow the patern of multiple bombings in the Iraqi capital. This incident marked the worst attack in Iraq since a twin suicide bombing that killed on hundred fifty five people and destroyed three government agencies in October. Also, in August, two suicide car bombs killed one hundred twenty individuals when then struck the Finance and Foreign Ministries. The United States, UN, Arab League and United Kingdom led and international condemnation of the  most recent bombings. United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon called the bombings “horrendous” and “unacceptable.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – 127 Killed in Spate of Baghdad Blasts – 8 December 2009

Al Jazeera – Scores dead in Iraq Bomb Blasts – 8 December 2009

BBC – Baghdad Car Bombs Cause Carnage – 8 December 2009

New York Times – Election Day Set in Iraq as Bombs Kill Scores – 8 December 2009

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On December 7 thousands of Iranian’s took to the streets and rallied against the government at universities throughout the country. The protests took place on Iran’s Student Day and were an effort coordinated by a number of opposition websites. The protests, which were focused on the controversial June presidential election, set off altercations between students and police around campuses. Protesters hurled rocks and set fires. Police officers and plain clothes Basij militia members were with tear gas, chains, truncheons and stun guns.

The Iranian government attempted to stop any chance of protests erupting on Student Day. The night before the protests government opponents shouted “Death to the Dictator” and “God is great” from their rooftops. Government officials attempted to kill off internet access on the eve of the protests. Additionally, authorities warned journalists working for foreign media to stay in their offices for three days. On the day of the protests Iranian authorities shut down the mobile phone network in the center of Tehran to stop opposition protesters from contacting each other.

Opposition leader, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s opponent in the disputed June presidential election, Mir-Hussein Moussavi announced his support for student demonstrations. He additionally stated on his website that the religious establishment couldn’t silence students and that they were losing legitimacy in the Iranian people’s minds. Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has also thrown his support behind the opposition, accusing Iran’s hard-line rulers of silencing constructive criticism.

Clashes erupted during the Student Day protests as thousands of individuals filled the street. According to witnesses riot police fired tear gas and Basij militiamen charged the crowd as protesters chanted. The Basij beat protesters on the head and shoulders as the crowd scattered. The protesters also chanted against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei has accused the opposition of creating opportunities for Iran’s enemies.

The protests mark the first major showing showing by the opposition in more than a month.  The BBC’s Jon Leyne claims that the main objective of the opposition is to keep their movement alive. Reports are that dozens of individuals have been arrested. The protests continued throughout the day. By nightfall a number of student groups held candlelight vigils for those arrested during the day.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Iran Police ‘Clash With Protesters’ – 7 December 2009

BBC – Iran Opposition Protesters Clash With Security Forces – 7 December 2009

Guardian – Iranian Police Use Tear Gas and Batons in Clash With Protesters – 7 December 2009

New York Times – Iranian Student Protesters Clash With Police – 7 December 2009

AP – Iran Chokes Off Internet on Eve of Student Rallies – 6 December 2009