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The Atrocities of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces

September 12, 2015

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – This Friday Human Rights Watch reported that the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) significantly violated international human rights and humanitarian law. This report was based on two counterinsurgency campaigns that took place in 2014 and 2015. The first campaign was called Operation Decisive Summer and took place in February to May of 2014. The second campaign was called Operation Decisive Summer II and took place from January till June 2015.

A picture of RSF Forces (Photo Curtsey of the Human Rights Watch)

The report form Human Right Watch contained quotes from 212 victims and RSF defectors who could no longer continue what they were being ordered to do. Here is the alarming quote that opened the report:

[The government soldiers] confiscated our belongings. They took our livestock. They beat the men. And then they raped us. They raped us in a group. Some women were raped by 8 or 10 men. Seventeen women were raped together. All of us were raped. Even the underage girls were raped.

– “Men With No Mercy” Human Rights Watch

Even more worrying is that these men actually had orders to go about their occupations this way. Four of the defected soldiers said that their commanding officers had ordered them to carry out their operations this way.

The list of human rights violations is as long as it is startling. There have been instances of forced displacement of communities from their homes. There are also reports of the destruction of certain necessities needed to live, including wells, food supplies, and the plunder of wealth. Finally, Human Rights Watch has reported “systematic attacks on civilian populations,” which including torture, killings and mass rapes.

The RSF was first created in 2013 by Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir. It is part of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services and is usually sent to rebel controlled areas, such as Darfur. These horrors are sadly not a new occurrence in Darfur. The fight between Sudan’s government and multiple rebel groups has been an ongoing story for 12 years. Even though the International Criminal Court indicted president Al Bashir in 2009. Little seems likely to change without heavy influence from the outside world.

Documentation of these atrocities is certainly a necessary step. However, it is slowly becoming a record of terrible events while the rest of the world is content to let it continue. Sadly, groups set up by the U.N. like UNAMID, the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, has been relatively ineffective at providing any aid or curtailing the RSF’s practices. The U.N. has continued to blame the Sudanese government for these less than optimal results. Claiming that the group’s access has been all but denied since they tried to gain access to Thabit in 2014.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Men With No Mercy – 9 September 2015

NewWeek –Sudanese Government Special Forces Accused of Rape and Murder Sprees: HRW – 9 September 2015

allAfrica – Sudan: Background – Who Are the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan? – 9 September 2015

The Guardian – Sudan’s security forces killed, raped and burned civilians alive, says rights group – 9 September 2015

Ecuador Moves to Shut Down Free Speech NGO

September 11, 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador — The Ecuadorian government has passed a resolution which would initiate the legal procedures to dissolve the NGO, Fundamedios. The organization, which monitors and defends freedom of the press, has been critical of Correra and his government.

Fundamedios Directors Mauricio Alarcón-Salvador and César Ricaurte. (Photo courtesy of PanAm Post)

Fundamedios, or the Andean Foundation for the Observation and Study of the Media, was founded in 2007. Ecuador’s National Communications Secretariat (Secom) informed the organization that the dissolution was due to engagement in “partisan political activities.”

Secom cited two tweets including links to political blogs as the rationale behind the dissolution, saying that the organization had violated a statute which prohibited the organization from engaging in political activities.

Funamedios’ Executive Director César Ricuarte called the allegations “absurd,” saying: “it seems that for Secom political journalism equals to partisan politics.”

The Freedom House program director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Carlos Ponce, has also called the charges “politically motivated and glaring examples of the government’s lack of respect for freedom of speech.”

Other international observers, including the United States State Department, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch have expressed concern regarding the move.

Human Rights Watch said that the Ecuadorian government should “close the administrative process against Fundamedios and repeal those norms to comply with its obligation to protect the rights to freedom of expression and association.”

Fundamedios has had issues with the Ecuadorian government in the past. It went before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission to make a case against the government in 2011. The government refuted the claim, and has kept a close eye on Fundamedios ever since.

In January of 2014, Fundamedios received notice that Secom had taken over supervisory control of the organization, and also received a request for the organization’s financial information.

This past June, Secom ordered the organization to stop issuing alerts. At the time, Executive Director Ricuarte said that Fundamedios would “continue issuing alerts whether Secom likes them or not.”

President Correra is well known for his enmity towards the press. According to Fundamedios, there have been 1305 instances of aggression against freedom of expression since 2008.

Article 16 of the American Convention of Human Rights, to which Ecuador is a signatory, states that freedom of association “shall be subject only to such restrictions established by law as may be necessary in a democratic society, in the interest of national security, public safety or public order, or to protect public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others.”

For more information, please see:

Organization of American States – American Convention on Human Rights – 22 November 1968

Guardian – NGO alert: Ecuadorian government orders press freedom group to disband – 9 September 2015

Human Rights Watch – Ecuador: Media Freedom Group Facing Shutdown – 9 September 2015

Journalism in the Americas Blog – Ecuadorian government starts a process to shut down Fundamedios, a freedom of expression advocate NGO – 9 September 2015

PanAm Post – Ecuadorian Regime to Dissolve Free-Speech Watchdog Fudamedios – 9 September 2015

U.S. Department of State – Ecuador: Restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Association – 10 September 2015

Report Card of Muhammadu Buhari After 100 Days

September 10, 2015

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – September 4, 2015 marked the 100^th day milestone of Niger’s newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari became the first president to ever beat an incumbent in Niger and did so with a majority, winning 54% of the vote. At the time of the election the optimism of what Buhari would do for the troubled country was high. These expectations were fueled by lofty promises made during the campaign. He had even released his own to do list as part of his campaign. Now that we are 100 days into his presidency it is time to check and see if people still share the same optimism for their country and if Buhari has made good on his promises.

President Buhari (Photo Curtosey of The Patriotic Vanguard)

During the election Buhari published an open letter to all Nigerians titled “My Covenant.” In this Letter he outlined a rather extensive list of things he pledged to accomplish, should he be elected. All these pledges fell into ten main categories.

– Fight Corruption – Offer Better Access to Justice for Human Rights

– Fight Insurgency and Insecurity – Fight Pollution on the Niger Delta

– Celebrate Diversity – Ensure Health and Education

– Improve the Power Grid – Shift from an Oil to an Agriculture Economy

– Spur Culture – Improve Social Equality

This list is rather all encompassing and seemingly could not be accomplished in just the first 100 days. These lofty goals mixed with high expectations of the newly elected president have left many disappointed and others cautiously optimistic about the rest of his term.

Although many are disappointed about how Buharis first 100 days have faired there are some notable achievements that should be highlighted. The first goal of fighting corruption throughout Niger has been actively pursued. The Nigerian anti-corruption group, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was reinstated by Buhari and has begun what is sure to be a long investigation of the last administration. There have been many small steps in the fight against corruption but no big name convictions have been made.

There has also been noticeable improvement to the nations power grid. On August 25, the Transmission Company of Nigeria reported the nation had reached 4,810.7MW of power generation. This is a rather remarkable improvement from the average of 2,000MW the nation had experienced previously. There is still room for improvement. A nation the size of Niger will need well above 4800MW if all citizens are going to have access.

Aside form these and other improvements made with in Buhari’s first 100 days, one sticking point with Nigerians is the lack of an articulated, comprehensive economic plan. Buhari has met these criticisms by saying that damage done by previous administrations must be fixed before real economic growth can happen. This argument does makes a lot of sense. With good infrastructure, such as a rebuilt power grid and stabilized financing system, economic growth will have a much smoother path.

It seems the doubters may have some grounds to question the new administration. However, Buhari does seem to be making real change and is moving the nation in a positive direction. Hopefully these trends continue in his next 100 days.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Buhari’s first 100 days: Does Nigerian president mean business? – 4 September 2015

Sahara Reporters – 100 Days in Office: 8 Key Achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari By Chinedu George Nnawetanma – 5 September 2015

The Guardian – 100 days of Buhari: what do Nigerians really think of their new president? – 7 September 2015

General Buhari’s Public Letter To All Nigerians – April 2015

Syria Deeply: Weekly Update September 4, 2015

September 4, 2015

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the weekly Syria Deeply newsletter. We’ve rounded up the most important stories and developments about Syria and the Syrians in order to bring you on-the-ground reporting and valuable analysis.

Syrian Chef Finds Unlikely Fame and Love in Gaza Strip

When Wareef Kaseem Hamdeo fled from Aleppo back in 2012, he never imagined that he would end up in the besieged Gaza Strip. Yet, after a series of unexpected life turns, he found himself in another war zone. Eventually he achieved local fame after opening a Syrian restaurant that has become a hit with Palestinians. Syria Deeply met him at Syriana, his new restaurant, in Gaza City.

Palestinians in Yarmouk Enduring Typhoid Outbreak

The Yarmouk refugee camp – situated in southern Damascus – has been hit by a typhoid outbreak that has affected dozens of Palestinian refugees from the local population. After years of siege by the Syrian government and a recent attack by ISIS, residents told Syria Deeply that they are dying slowly as the international community fails to stop the ongoing killing in Syria.

‘Door to Hell’ Opened in Syria as Chemical Weapons Attacks Suspected

ISIS militants have been accused of using a chemical weapon during a recent attack on the Aleppo-area town of Marea, where victims displayed symptoms consistent with the use of mustard gas. Syria Deeply spoke to Médecins Sans Frontières about allegations of chemical weapons use and the broader condition for medical workers as the bloodshed presses on in Syria.

Australian PM Blocks Gay Marriage Vote

August 12, 2015

By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia — Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s conservative coalition government on Tuesday blocked its members from voting in favor of gay marriage, a politically risky move that effectively rules out a marriage equality bill passing under his government. Abbott’s ruling conservative coalition all but doomed legislation that would allow gay marriage by refusing to allow its lawmakers a free vote on the issue.

Australian PM Abbott Addresses the Media Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy of Sydney Morning Herald)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Wednesday that Australians would get a chance to vote on legalizing gay marriage if they re-elect his government next year, a promise his opponents argue is a stalling tactic to sideline the divisive issue ahead of the general elections.

Abbott effectively killed off chances of marriage equality until after next year’s elections, as two-thirds of coalition lawmakers supported his demand they vote as a bloc against such unions. But the six-hour debate exposed a divide even among Cabinet members.

“Abbott’s position is weaker now than it was just a few days ago,” said Haydon Manning, a politics professor at Flinders University in Adelaide. “He’s shored up his political base but at the cost of creating a noisy split in the ranks that may overwhelm his main message of being able to deliver good government.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott addressed the media Tuesday, outlining his decision and answering questions regarding the meeting of the full coalition party.

“If you support the existing definition of marriage between a man and a woman, the coalition is absolutely on your side but if you would like to see change at some time in the future, the coalition is prepared to make that potentially possible,” Abbott told reporters after the near six-hour meeting, suggesting a public referendum on the matter.

Abbott extended an olive branch to marriage equality advocates, offering to allow the public to vote on gay marriage in a plebiscite if his government retains power at the next election. “The disposition is that it should happen through a people’s vote rather than simply through a parliament vote,” said Abbott.

Australia has become increasingly isolated among English-speaking nations on same-sex marriage. Ireland backed marriage equality in a May referendum and the U.S. Supreme Court in June recognized same-sex unions; Abbott’s conservative allies in U.K. and New Zealand, leaders David Cameron and John Key, support marriage equality.

Despite the ruling party decision, one government lawmaker, backbencher Warren Entsch, plans to introduce a private-member’s bill to Parliament on Monday that would allow same-sex marriage. But Enstch and other supporters concede that any bill will fail because government lawmakers will not be allowed to vote freely.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who introduced a same-sex marriage bill in June, has not given up hope that the Parliament will legalize gay marriage before the next election.

“When it comes time, if he gets re-elected at the next election, you can forget about marriage equality,” Shorten said. “The choice in this country is you either have Mr. Abbott or you have marriage equality. But you can’t have both.”

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Australians to Vote on Gay Marriage If Government Elected — 12 August 2015

BBC News — Australian gays ‘will never be able to wed under Abbott’ — 12 August 2015

Wall Street Journal — Australia’s Abbott Under Fire After Gay-Marriage Vote Blocked — 12 August 2015

Bloomberg — Abbott Crushes Gay Marriage Hopes as Party Ructions Exposed — 11 August 2015

Reuters — Australia ruling party blocks members from voting for gay marriage — 11 August 2015