Brutal Egyptian Riot Highlights Security Force Problem

By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt — At least 74 people were killed and hundreds more injured when fans stormed the field after an Egyptian football game on Wednesday.  An investigation is ongoing to investigate why riot police failed to stop the chaos.

A brutal riot left over 70 dead while riot police just watched (Photo courtesy of ESPN).

The Egyptian military has declared three days of mourning.

The riots highlight a deteriorating security situation in Egypt, still flailing a year after a revolution, which found Hosni Mubarak, president for over thirty years, ousted and replaced by a temporary military rule.

The fight began after an upset victory by the Al-Masry team over the Al-Ahly team.  The winning team stormed the field and began attacking players and supporters of Al-Ahly, even going so far as to chase the players into their locker rooms. Health officials said that victims were stabbed, trampled, and beaten.  There were members of the Egyptian police among the dead.

Estimates put the number of fans supporting the winning team at about 10 to 1.  This disproportion likely added to the chaos.

The incident once again thrusts the ultras, a group of organized soccer fans that played a role in the Egyptian revolution, back into the spotlight.  The ultras have rallied against military rule, and have been very anti-police.

The relationship between the police and the ultras has brought some criticism that the police had reason to allow the riot to continue as a means of revenge.

Witnesses report that there were hundreds of riot police present at the game, but rather than get involved they just stood and watched.  The security forces attempted to turn off the stadium lights in an effort to force people out of the stadium, but this did not help.

The New York Times says the rumors are “impossible to confirm,” but one player interviewed by the Guardian says he saw police urge fans to come onto the field. He also claims to have seen people with “knives and swords” in the melee.

The violence got so bad that it began extending outside of the stadium, reaching into the neighboring province of Suez.

In response to the riot, the Egyptian government has declared that they will punish those responsible, and that justice will be sought.  The Egyptian parliament has called an emergency session.

Overall, there is a growing animosity towards the police and the military in Egypt.  Since the revolution the police and security forces have been accused of not actively engaging in law enforcement.  They have taken a stand back and watch position.

The riot will likely force the military to respond to these allegations of standing back rather than doing their duty.

The governor of Port Said has since resigned in response to the riot.  The head of the Port Said security has been suspended, and the head and board of the football association fired.

There are calls for the firing of the interior minister and a purging of the police force, as many voice disapproval of scapegoating regional officials rather than attempting to fix the real problem.

At least four people have been killed in post-riot fighting, much of which has been the result of protesting against police out of anger for their preventing to stop the earlier riot.

For more information, please see:

Bloomberg — Egypt Lawmakers Criticize Police After Deadly Soccer Riot — 3 Feb. 2012

Macleans — Egypt soccer riots continue — 3 Feb. 2012

Newsday — 4 killed in Egypt clashes over deadly soccer riot — 3 Feb. 2012

NPR — Egypt Soccer Game Turns Deadly for Fans — 2 Feb. 2012

 

 

ICTJ In Focus February 2012

ICTJ in Focus February 2012

Haiti Refuses to Try Duvalier for Human Rights Abuses

By Brittney Hodnik
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Former president-dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier (a.k.a. “Baby Doc”) returned to Haiti last year after twenty-five years of exile in France.  Amid allegations of embezzlement and serious human rights abuses, it seems Duvalier will go untouched.  The investigative magistrate overseeing the case ruled that he would not face any charges relating to the human rights abuses that occurred during his regime.

Jean-Claude Duvalier faces only corruption charges, avoiding human rights abuses for now. (Image courtesy of CNN)

According to the Associated Press, Duvalier assumed the presidency when he was 19, taking over for his father (“Papa Doc”) who had an even crueler reputation.  Duvalier fled Haiti in 1985, spending 25 years in France before suddenly returning to Haiti to face charges.  Duvalier is supposed to be under house arrest, but, according to The Montreal Gazette, he roams freely throughout the country.

Both Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have documented systematic violations under Duvalier’s rule, according to CNN.  He stands accused of imprisoning and torturing Haitian journalists and opposition forces.  Javier Zuniga, a special adviser at Amnesty International said, “The cases of human rights abuses we documented in Haiti are likely to be only a small proportion of what really happened during Duvalier’s rule,” reports CNN.

After a yearlong investigation, Judge Carves Jean ruled that Duvalier would only face trial on corruption charges, as reported by CNN.  Jean suggests that the statute of limitations has run out on those abuses.

Along with HRW and Amnesty, the United Nations spoke out against Haiti’s decision not to prosecute.  “The High Commissioner has consistently reminded Haiti of its absolute obligation to investigate these well-documented serious human rights violations and to prosecute those responsible for them,” said Rupert Colville, the Commissioner’s spokesperson.

The Montreal Gazette reports Canada’s surprise that the decision did not generate more outrage.  Reportedly, the United States, France and other Caribbean nations remained silent on the decision while Canada urged Haitian authorities to reconsider the decision.  According to The Montreal Gazette, young people in Haiti are never taught about this infamous regime, and those old enough fear speaking out.

The earthquake in Haiti still overshadows many of the governmental problems the country is facing.  Many would like to see countries such as the United States condition further funding on the definite prosecution of Duvalier.  Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird reiterated its stance in support of Duvalier’s prosecution for all human rights abuses, according to The Montreal Gazette.  “It is the Haitian government’s responsibility to provide justice to its people and due process, including fair trials, for those accused of crimes,” he said.

Still others are concerned by the fact that current President Michel Martelly employs many of Duvalier’s former cronies.  The Montreal Gazette reports that Duvalier’s son too is among those serving under the new president.  Brian Concannon from the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti said, “Obviously, leaving something up to a corrupt, elitist, right-wing justice system is not going to bring justice for the Duvalier’s victims.”

According to the UN News Centre, Colville said that impunity for such serious crimes cannot be allowed to prevail.  Human rights groups will continue to fight to bring Duvalier to justice for his heinous human rights violence.

For more information, please visit:

Associated Press — Haiti Leader Says he Won’t Meddle in Duvalier Case — 3 Feb. 2012

The Montreal Gazette — Frustration Follows Duvalier Ruling — 3 Feb. 2012

CNN — Human Rights Groups Denounce Duvalier Decision — 1 Feb. 2012

UN News Centre — Former Haitian Leader Must Face Charges for Human Rights Abuses, Says UN — 31 Jan. 2012

War Crimes Complaint Against Serb Army Chief Dismissed

By Terance Walsh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor decided not to take up a complaint against newly appointed Serbian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Ljubisa Dikovic.  The prosecutor, Vladimir Vukcevic, determined there was no basis to proceed against Dikovic for alleged crimes that occurred during the Kosovo war in 1998 and 1999.

Ljubisa Dikovic, whose war crimes complaint was dismissed (Photo courtesy of RFE/RL)

The Humanitarian Law Center, the group that brought the complaint, alleged “numerous grave and massive” offenses that occurred in the region of Kosovo that was under Dikovic’s command.  The HLC cited such specific offenses as rape, execution of citizens, and looting.

Natasa Kandic, Humanitarian Law Center, president, declared, “An officer like Ljubisa Dikovic is not suitable to head the army.”

Dikovic was commander of the 37th Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslavian Army.  His brigade was deployed in the Drenica region, where many war crimes alleged against Serbian paramilitary and police took place.  One incident alleged was the massacre of 130 Kosovo Albanian men in March 1999 near the city of Izbica.  This massacre was cited in the indictment against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

Evidence for the HLC’s claim is derived from Dikovic’s testimony at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.  In his testimony, Dikovic described “terrible crimes happening.”

“First of all, we have Izbica: Dikovic’s testimony as defense witness before the ICTY is pretty clear. Not once did he deny his units were in Izbica. He said they had contact with civilians,” Kandic said.  “In other discussions, based on prosecution questions, he said that the army — his units actually — entered Izbica village. But then he said they only wanted to stop the shooting and get the civilians out.”

Dikovic’s appointment raises concerns Serbia’s relations with its neighboring countries.  Jelena Milic, director of the Belgrade Center for Euro-Atlantic studies said, “The Dikovic appointment will seriously affect regional cooperation, especially when we have in mind the current situation in North Kosovo, since we cannot rebuild trust if we have a leading man in the army with a dubious past.”

The HLC’s complaint claims that Dikovic should have prevented those crimes and even admitted that soldiers under his command committed the crimes.

Dikovic and other Serbian government officials have denied the claims out of hand.  Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac has dubbed the allegations and vouched for their falsity.  “We are absolutely at ease; the allegations are false,” he added.

“Lieutenant General Dikovic is truly inappropriately — and in some instances truly monstrously — accused for crimes he allegedly participated in by approving them or ignoring them,” Sutanovic says. “I must say that before Dikovic was appointed, we conducted all background checks in regards to his past. And [this week] we checked all claims made in this report. So I can say it is completely false.”

In response to the allegations, Dutanovic says that Serbian officials will take action against the HLC for its libelous complaint.

About 10,000 people died during the Kosovo War.  Serbia’s harsh response to an ethnic Albanian uprising prompted NATO to intervene and bomb the country until they left Kosovo.   Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008.  Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo as a independent country.

For more information please see:

RFE/RL — Belgrade Dismisses War Crimes Claims Against Army Chief — 25 January 2012

Balkan Insight — NGOs Question Serbian Army Chief’s Wartime Past — 24 January 2012

Denver Post — Rights Group Accuses Serb Army Chief Of War Crimes — 24 January 2012

RFE/RL — Rights Group Accuses Serb Army Chief Of War Crimes — 24 January 2012

Update: U.N. Declares End of Famine Conditions in Somalia

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Following a strong harvest and an upswing in aid, the United Nations announced that the famine that had plagued Somalia since July was over on Friday.  Though this is good news for a country that has seen very little of it over the past 20 years, it does not necessarily mean that the situation has improved.  An estimated 2.34 million Somalis still require humanitarian support.

The UN rates situations such as this on a five-level scale based on death rate, with “famine” at the highest level.  Friday’s declaration reduces the Somali food shortage to level four, which is referred to as a “humanitarian crisis.”  Part of the reason for this change in status is the output of the most recent harvest.  The UN reported this year’s harvest to be double the average output over the past 17 years, allowing a significant reduction in food prices.  Though the news was promising, the organization was unwilling to declare victory.

“The crisis is not over,” said Jose Graziano da Silva, the new director-general of the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, who had just returned from a visit to the war-torn East African country.  “It can only be resolved with a combination of rains and continued, co-ordinated, long-term actions that build up the resilience of local populations and link relief with development.”

Somalia remains in dire straits.  The country has been devastated by a long chain of misfortune that the BBC described as “a toxic mixture of drought, war, high taxes levied by armed groups, and rising food prices.”  Combat is a major player in the present crisis.  Al-Shabab, a militant Islamic group connected to Al Qaeda, controls vast swathes of territory in the southern and central areas, which were hit the hardest by the most recent drought.

The organization has banned numerous aid groups since November 2011 for conducting what it considered to be “activities deemed detrimental to the attainment of an Islamic state.”  On Monday, it expelled the International Committee for the Red Cross, one of the last groups permitted to continue operations, for allegedly distributing expired food.  But even before then, the ICRC had discontinued full scale delivery of food and seeds due to attacks on aid workers traveling to distribution sites.  Al-Shabab denies the claims and said the ICRC was conducting the interference on its own.

Regardless of the reason for the ban, the improving situation can easily deteriorate in a hurry, according to Mark Bowden, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia..

“The gains are fragile and will be reversed without continued support,” Bowden said.   “There are 1.7 million people in southern Somalia still in crisis. Millions of people still need food, clean water, shelter and other assistance to survive and the situation is expected to deteriorate in May.”

Areas under Al-Shabab control are in a particularly precarious position.  In addition to the newly-named “humanitarian crisis,” the area is a site of ongoing military conflict.  The group is facing incursions from Kenya, Ethiopia, and African Union forces in the capital, Mogadishu.

For more information, please see:

BBC — Famine Conditions in Somalia Have Ended, UN Says — 03 February 2012

Garowe Online — UN Declares Somalia’s Famine Over, but Declares Millions Across East Africa Still in Crisis — 03 February 2012

Hiiraan — Somali Regions No Longer Famine Stricken – U.N. — 03 February 2012

New York Times — U.N. Says Famine in Somalia Is Over, but Risks Remain — 03 February 2012

Shabelle News — UN Says Famine Over in Somalia, Emergency Remains — 03 February 2012

Impunity Watch — Al-Shabab Ejects Red Cross from Somalia — 02 February 2012