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THE SITUATION IN SYRIA CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE, BUT NOT THE RESOLVE OF ITS ACTIVISTS

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria–The volatile situation in Syria has shown absolutely no signs of cooling down, as at least 11 individuals have been killed when military forces backed by tanks stormed a small town of Kanaker near the capital of Damascus.

Protesters in the streets of Damascus. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)
Protesters in the streets of Damascus. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory, based in Britain, reported that four tanks and a bulldozer entered Kanaker on 27 July 2011, while 14 other tanks surrounded the town. The raid on the city took place after electricity and phones lines were cut off in the area. This activity is merely the latest swing in the crackdown on protests against President Bashar al-Assad. Residents threw stones and set fire to tires of vehicles in an attempt to stall the advance of troops.

Rami Adubl-Rahman, a correspondent for the Syrian Observatory, reported this recollection of the raid to CNN:

“At 3AM Wednesday, Syrian security forces and army soldiers stormed Kanaker amid heavy gunfire. Some residents threw rocks at the tanks and burned their tires as many chanted ‘Allah is the Greatest’ in the west part of the town where seven tanks took positions there.”

Kanaker is located 30 kilometers (approximately 18.64 miles) southwest of Damascus.

The Syrian National Organization for Human Rights reported that military intelligence agents arrested some 300 individuals in Kanaker and took them away in 11 buses. Ammar Qurabi, a key opposition figure, leads this group.

The restriction on international journalists in Syria has made it increasingly difficult to verify the accuracy of reports given by the various human rights groups active in the country.

This recent crackdown appeared to come as a result of two organizations in France threatening to file legal complaints against President al-Assad and other members of the ruling Baath party. The two organizations, Sherpa and Transparency International France, said on 26 July 2011 that they wish the French government to make all of its findings public. They are primarily concerned with discovering if al-Assad and members of his party own any assets in France.

“The object is get an investigation open that would then identify assets that they may own in France either in their own name or through intermediaries and then to freeze them so they are not transferred to uncooperative jurisdictions.”

According to various human rights groups, more than 1,600 civilians have lost their lives and some 20,000 others imprisoned by Syrian security forces in the countrywide crackdown on the protests since March.

But these numbers are not lowering the spirits of the activists and protesters in the least. Moaz Al Sibaai, the coordinator for the Syrian activists’ network, reported to CNN that the opposition is always working to find ways to improve its work. He specifically highlighted improving communication with the media, developing secure telecommunications that cannot be hacked or tracked, and teaching how to lobby against the regime by documenting human rights violations.

“The harsher the regime is with its crackdown, the more creative we become in finding ways to cover the revolution.”

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera-Syrian troops in ‘deadly crackdown’-27 July 2011

BBC-Syrian forces kill eight in Kanaker raid: rights groups-27 July 2011

CNN-Activists: 8 slain in Syrian protest-27 July 2011

The Guardian-Syrian protesters ‘forcibly disappeared’ at rate of one every hour, say activists-28 July 2011

Journalist and Directors of Newspaper Jailed and fined in President Rafael Correa Libel Case

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – Directors and a former opinion editor of El Universo newspaper were sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday and are required to pay a $40 million dollar fine for an opinion article calling President Rafael Correa a dictator.

Libel case pits Ecuadors president against newspaper. (Photo Courtesy of CNN News).
Libel case pits Ecuador's president against newspaper. (Photo Courtesy of CNN News)

The article, which was published in February, accused President Correa of ordering his supporters to open fire at a hospital last September where he was being held hostage by the opposition party. President Correa called the negative press “baseless” and sued the newspaper for libel.

The day after the court ruling, El Universo published a quote from author Ayn Rand on a nearly blank front cover reading: “When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice, you may know that your society is doomed.”

According to the former opinion editor, Emilio Palacio, the lawsuit was meant to serve as an example to other journalists of the consequences that result from publishing anything critical of the Ecuadorian government. Palacio also believes the lawsuit was motivated by financial gain since he believes the award money will go straight into President Correa´s pockets.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, shared in El Universo´s outrage, stating that the decision constitutes a “major setback for free speech in Ecuador.” Reporters Without Borders, a France-based media watchdog, also accused the decision of being a contradiction to the freedom of expression laws set in place by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Alembert Vera, President Correa’s attorney, however, refuted the accusations and said the motivation behind the lawsuit was simply a “defense of honor” and that all the award money would go straight to the Yasuni-ITT environmental project. He plans to appeal the decision and seek the full $80 million dollars in damages he initially sought.

With international support behind them, El Universo´s lawyers are also appealing the decision, claiming that they were denied the ability to present evidence to support their case.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Ecuadorian paper reacts to libel ruling with nearly-empty front page – 22 July 2011

Univision – Ecuador libel case, jailing, draws worldwide criticism – 21 July 2011

The Wall Street Journal – Ecuador President Correa Wins Lawsuit Against El Universo Newspaper – 20 July 2011

CNN – Libel case pits Ecuador’s president against newspaper – 19 July 2011

Favela Poor Forced Out Of Homes For World Cup and Olympics in Brazil

By Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil– Preparations for hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics are in full swing.  As the Brazilian government works hard to improve the infrastructures of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro thousands are being forced out of their homes.

Berenice Maria das Neves evicted from her home
Berenice Maria das Neves evicted from her home. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

The communities that are bearing the brunt of these “urbanization” projects are Brazil’s poorest, the favelas.  In Rio de Janeiro, those living in the favelas in the Zona Norte (North Zone) and Zona Oueste (West Zone) are being relocated to make way for new roadways and new buildings.

Berenice Maria das Neves, a resident of one of the favelas leveled in Rio de Janeiro was forced out in late May.  She received a summons in the mail to appear at City Hall and once there was told her house had been condemned.  She was given a check for 8,000 reais (US $5000) as compensation and her home was a pile of rubble before she even returned from City Hall. 

She now faces the challenge of finding a new home, which will be quite the challenge as, “[w]hat use is 8,000 reais?  I’d need at least four times as much to find a house to buy” she says.

Carlos Nuzman, the chairman for the Rio Olympics organizing committee, points to the rehousing programs to justify these forced evictions.  The three programs; “Vila Nova Chocolatão,” “Growth Acceleration Program” and “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” center on the development of housing projects for low income families in the suburbs of the cities but the projects are far from the city center.  Those who do take up residence are forced to live 30 miles or more from where they work.

Human rights groups, monitoring the forced evictions in the favelas, are concerned.  Many express worries that this process is simply a ruse; that Brazil is using the World Cup and Olympics as an excuse to push the poor out of the city centers and free-up land for developers to make profits off of. 

A local councilor, Eliomar Coelho, said, “[t]his is a clear example of how the government treats the poor.  A big opportunity has been missed.  Instead of being better off as a result of the boom, these people will end up worse off.  It’s a complete violation of their human rights.”

Also disturbing, is the growing number of reports that the militia has taken advantage of the relocation situation.  These reports indicate that the militia is forcing newly relocated families out of their low-income houses and then putting the houses up for sale.

 

For more information, please see;

Global Issues –Brazil: More Community Input Needed In Relocation of Favelas – 5 July 2011

Prospect Journal of International Affairs at UCSD – Human Rights Abuses in Brazil’s Favelas in Preparation for World Cup and Olympics: Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo – July 2011

BBC News – Rio Olympics: Favela Poor Evicted as City Spruced Up – 30 June 2011

The Rio Times – Minha Casa, Minha Vida Phase Two – 21 June 2011

The Rio Times – Favelas Moved for World Cup and Olympics – 10 May 2011

MEXICAN NATIONAL EXECUTED IN U.S. DESPITE REQUESTS FOR REPRIEVE

By Erica Laster                                                                                                                                          Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, United States – The state of Texas executed Humberto Leal Garcia, Jr. on Thursday evening amid outcries from human rights organizations.  Despite the Mexican national’s conviction for the kidnapping, rape and murder of a 16 year old Texas girl in 1994, government officials argued that the United States failure to place Garcia in contact with the Mexican consulate upon his arrest violated international treaty obligations under the Vienna Convention.

Humberto Leal Garcia, Jr. denied rights under Vienna Convention. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Post)
Humberto Leal Garcia, Jr. allegedly denied rights under Vienna Convention. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Post)

Garcia’s victim was 16 year old Adria Sauceda.  Garcia was convicted of raping and strangling the young girl before using a 35 pound chunk of asphalt to bludgeon her.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations requested reprieves and clemency for the Garcia before his execution by lethal injection.   The case prompted a flurry of disputes over the United States’ commitments to international agreements and the rights of foreigners currently on American death rows.

CNN reports Garcia’s last statement before his execution as, “I am sorry for everything I have done.  I have hurt a lot of people.  Let this be final and be done.  I take the full blame for this.”  Garcia then shouted “Viva Mexico” before turning to the warden and stating “I’m ready warden, let’s get this show on the road.”  

Garcia’s appellate attorneys argued that their client’s sentence was unusual and that violations of the Vienna convention should at least have given Garcia a reprieve from death row.   They cited the 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice ordered the United States to review convictions of Mexican nationals who received the death penalty.

However, CNN reports that in a 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court requesting a stay of execution, the majority opinion indicated that “We decline to follow the United States’ suggestion of granting a stay to allow Leal to bring a claim based on hypothetical legislation when it cannot even bring itself to say that his attempt to overturn his conviction has any prospect of success.”

Diplomats and rights organizations in both the U.S. and Mexico expressed disappointment in the result of the case.  However, critics argue that the Vienna Convention is not binding upon individual states without the passage of enabling legislation by Congress.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated that this “execution will undermine the role of the International Court of Justice, and its ramifications are likely to spread far beyond Texas.”  Many believe that this will cause retaliation and reprisals against Americans abroad.

“Frankly, if we don’t protect the rights of non-Americans in the United States we seriously risk reciprocal lack of access to our own citizens overseas,” says State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland.   Nuland made clear that the Obama administration strongly opposed the outcome and is currently working to speed legislation specifically defining the rights of non U.S. citizens to consular access.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post – Mexican National’s Execution in Texas Prompts Diplomatic Disappointment – 8 July 2011

Reuters – U.S. Seeks to Limit Damage of Texas Execution Case – 8 July 2011

CNN – Mexican National Executed in Texas – 7 July 2011

Washington Post – Execution of Mexican National Prompts Concern About Impact – 7 July 2011

EGYPTIANS RIOT IN SUEZ

by Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SUEZ, Egypt–After a court upheld the release on bail of policemen accused of killing 17 people during an uprising, hundreds of family members of the victims displayed their own disapproval with the outcome. They attacked police cars and flung stones at the court building.

Protesters in Suez throwing stones at the court building and attacking police cars. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)
Protesters in Suez throwing stones at the court building and attacking police cars. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

On July 4, 2011, the same sort of displeasure was festering in Cairo when the seven officers were originally granted bail. The snowball effect has been in full swing in Egypt as anger has been mounting about the slow pace of the trials for officials and security forces of former President Hosni Mubarak.

These seven officers are part of a group of 14 facing trial over the murder of 17 protesters and the wounding of 300 others. The other seven decided to flee and are currently being tried in absentia.

Activists have called for a demonstration this coming Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, hoping to muster more then a million protesters. Tahrir Square is the nerve center for the protests that forced former President Hosni Mubarak to resign on February 11th of this year.

Since that time, only one single policeman has been convicted in more than a dozen court cases over the death of approximately 850 people in the government-wide crackdown on protesters.

The case of these police officers is just a microcosm of the increased tensions in Egypt. The management of legal proceedings against security forces who used deadly force in the uprising, killing approximately 846 civilians and wounding thousands, has only further angered the protesters desiring change.

Egypt’s opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has decided to support Friday’s planned protest. Ayman Mohyeldin, an Al-Jazeera correspondent, shared these sentiments while reporting from Egypt on the developing situation:

“Military police are here on the scene, they are trying to control the situation, but so far they have been unsuccessful in pushing the crowd back. They have been able to secure the entrance to the building in order to secure the people from going in, but the situation outside remains very tense. This situation highlights the frustration Egyptians have toward the process of justice that is unfolding.”

At the other end of the spectrum, approximately 10,000 civilians face military trials for their participation in the protests. These trials have further spit fuel onto the fire of pro-democracy activists calling for the end of the oppressive methods of Mubarak’s regime.

For more information, please see:

NYT-Acquittals of Ex-officials Feed Anger Across Egypt-05 July 2011

Al-Jazeera-Riots outside Suez security building-06 July 2011

BBC-Egyptians riot in Suez over police trials-06 July 2011

Wall Street Journal-Rage at Police Fuels Egypt Rioting-30 June 2011