Anti-Pinochet Protest Leaves Seven Injured and Nine Arrested

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile — An event in an upscale neighborhood honoring former military officer Miguel Krassnoff left seven people injured on Monday, including six police officers, as approximately 1000 human rights activists protested against the ceremony. Krassnoff has been imprisoned since 2005 after being convicted of homicide, kidnapping and torture during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

1000 protestors attended the event honoring Miguel Krassnoff. (Photo Courtesy of Santiago Times).

The event, which was first announced last week, was meant to serve as a platform to launch a book paying homage to Krassnoff and written by historian Gisela Silva Encina. Several hundred people were in attendance. The event was organized by right wing mayor of Santiago’s Providencia district, Cristian Labbe, who, like Krassnoff, was a former member of the Pinochet-era National Intelligence Directorate.

Director of the association for Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared, Mireya Garcia, believes Labbe should not have been involved in a ceremony of this particular nature. “He was elected by popular vote and as such it’s his duty to represent all residents of Providencia, not just one sector,” he said. Juan Antonio Coloma, head of Chile’s right-wing UDI party, also believed this ceremony was a mistake.

Activist Lorena Pizarro, president of a group of families of the detained and disappeared, is planning on suing Labbe if she finds that he used public funds to plan the event. “The possibility of paying homage to Miguel Krassnoff … is a product of the impunity we’re living with in the country,” she states. Despite the criticism, Labbe is still planning on seeking re-election in October 2012.

Demonstrators protesting against the homage clashed with Krassnoff supporters and police who used tear gas to control them. Many protestors threw rocks and eggs at police, and two protestors, including the daughter of a torture victim, assaulted a local Krassnoff supporter who was chanting “Long live Pinochet.” A total of nine protestors were arrested.

Krassnoff is currently serving a 144-year sentence at a special prison at an army base for crimes against humanity during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990). He was charged in 23 separate cases, and has been connected to 128 deaths or disappearances and 18 instances of torture. He has not yet expressed any remorse for his big role in the kidnappings and tortures of government opponents during Pinochet’s rule.

Krassnoff’s victims include among many others: social historian Gabriel Salazar, head of the Chilean Legal Medical Service  Patricio Bustos, Socialist Dep. Osvaldo Andrade, board member for Chile’s public television station, TVN, Marcia Scantlebury, and possibly former President Michelle Bachelet. Bachelet has stated that she believes Krassnoff was present during her torture but is not completely sure because her eyes were covered the entire time.

Approximately 3,095 people were killed or disappeared during Pinochet’s dictatorship according to a national commission.

Criticism from human rights groups regarding the event has affected some members of Chile’s current government. Despite having declined the invitation to attend the event,  Chile’s President Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera has been criticized for not taking action to stop the event from occurring. His advisor, Andrea Ojeda, who also declined the invitation, resigned after being criticized for writing “best wishes of success” in her RSVP letter.

 

For further information, please see:

ABC News – Chileans Protest Pro-Pinochet Tribute; 7 Injured – 22 November 2011

Fox News Latino – Anti-Pinochet Protest In Chile Leaves 7 Injured – 22 November 2011

NTDTV – Major Clashes in Chile over Tribute to Controversial Former Official– 23 November 2011

Santiago Times – Chileans Gather to Honor, And Shame, Former Pinochet Agent – 22 November 2011

Washington Post – Tear Gas Fired, 7 Hurt as Chileans Protest Tribute to Ex-Colonel of Pinochet Regime – 22 November 2011

Two Popular Hosts Removed From Hong Kong Show Causing Fear of Increased Control from Beijing

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HONG KONG, China – Two popular television hosts have been fired in Hong Kong causing some to fear that Chinese censorship authorities are overexerting their influence to stifle media freedom.

Two popular radio show hosts have been removed causing many to speculate that China is exerting increased influence over Hong Kong's media (Photo Courtesy of South China Morning Post).

Ng Chi-sum and Robert Chow gained popularity as the hosts of two radio phone-in shows for Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), a government broadcaster, until they were informed that they would not have their contracts renewed for 2012.

RTHK has denied that political motives played any role in the decision to remove the two hosts. They claim that the decision was made by production staff following lengthy discussions about ways in which the programs could be revamped to become more competitive.

RTHK spokeswoman, Kirindi Chan, stated that “there are no political factors here, and there was no pressure from Director of Broadcasting Roy Tang.”

Roy Tang’s recent arrival as the director of broadcasting made many speculate that he was behind the decision to remove Ng Chi-sum and Robert Chow.

Joining in this speculation was Robert Chow who stated, “it’s hard for me to believe that our new director of broadcasting had no hand at all in this decision.”

The sudden decision to remove the protestors prompted democratic legislator Emily Lau to urge Radio Television Hong Kong to hold a news conference to explain their decision.

Following criticism about the removal of the hosts, legislative councilors will discuss the removal at a meeting of the broadcasting panel scheduled to take place in December. According to the panel’s chairman, Wong Yuk-man, invitations to attend will be extended to Roy Tang, Ng Chi-sum, Robert Chow and the head of Radio Television Hong Kong’s public affairs unit, Leung Ka-wing.

Mr. Wong explains that he hopes the meeting will allow Mr. Tang to explain the reason for the removals and prevent further speculation about political motives.

Despite the fear that China’s influence was behind the decision, many believe that the decision was no more than a choice made by executives to improve their programming.  This has been supported by reports that prior to their removal, the hosts were told their positions would be given to civil servants, which neither of the men are, and that the decision was made many months ago although just implemented this week.

Since surrendering sovereignty to China in 1997, Hong Kong has seen a number of outspoken radio personalities removed from popular talk shows.

Although the terms of Hong Kong’s handover from British rule includes the promise that they would be allowed to maintain their freedom of expression for fifty years, many fear that they may prone to self-censorship to avoid anger officials and corporations in China.

 

For more information, please see:

Radio Free Asia – Popular Talk Show Hosts Axed – 25 November 2011

The Standard – RTHK Reform Still Up In the Air – 25 November 2011

RTHK – Legco to Discuss RTHK Departures – 24 November, 2011

The Standard – Bad News on the Lunch Menu a Little Hard to Stomach – 24 November 2011

Israeli Authorities Seized West Bank Land for Kibbutz

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – The Israeli authorities seized 365 acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank for Kibbutz Merivav, an agriculture community located inside Israel.  Israeli authorities have annexed land in the West Bank for Jewish settlers for decades, but the seizure of land for communities in Israel is unprecedented.

Construction of a new Israeli settlement unit. (Photo Courtesy of Ma'an News)

The Israeli authorities seized the tract of land from Bardaleh, a West Bank Palestinian village.  The village is located on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier, a combination of fences and concrete walls designed to protect Israel from Palestinian attackers.  Some Palestinian farmland remains on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier, and Palestinians will cross the barrier to tend to this land.

Although Kibbutz Merivav has tended to the land for years, Israel has just recently publicly stated the land belongs to Israel.  Palestinians fear this seizure will create a new precedent for West Bank land located on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier.  The Separation Barrier has carved into 375 acres of Palestinian territory.

Guy Inbar, the Israeli military spokesperson, assured the people that although the kibbutz annexed the land, the seizure did not intent to establish a precedent.  However, Bardaleh villager Mohammed Sawafta reported the kibbutz started scaring the villagers off the land in the 1980s while the Israeli military prevented the villagers from gaining access to the land once the kibbutz began tending the land.

The Israeli government also planned to meet with construction prospects to develop 2,230 settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem last week.  The Palestinian Authority strongly condemned Israel’s new settlement plans.  The Palestinian Authority Cabinet argued the public bids for new settlement properties “are a blatant example of Israel’s unilateral actions and noncommittal to international laws and understandings.”  The Palestinians called for the international community support to halt settlement activity and reiterated peace talks will only begin once Israel ceases building new settlements.

Throughout the Palestinian communities, this Jordan Valley land seizure dominated their news coverage.  The Israelis consider the seized land as absentee property, which Israeli authorities can allocate for settlement activities.

Research and activist against Jewish settlement in the West Bank Dror Etkes said, “Eventually, Israeli communities on the Israeli side of the Green Line will likely take land from Palestinians in the West Bank. . . .  It seems to be almost inevitable.”  The Green Line is the cease-fire line established prior to the 1967 Mideast War.

For more information, please see:

CBS – West Bank Land Seized by Israeli Kibbutz – 19 Nov 2011

Palestine News and Information Agency – Newspapers Review: Israeli Annexation of Jordan Valley Land Dominates Dailies – 19 Nov 2011

Press TV – Israel Continues to Confiscate Lands – 19 Nov 2011

Ma’an News – PA Cabinet Condemns Settlement Plans – 18 Nov 2011

Maoists Admit Role in Murder of Nun

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – Rights activists are urging the Indian government to take steps to insure that activists in the country are safe after an activist, the fourth to be murdered this year, is killed by a mob.

Maoist rebels have admitted their role in kill Valsa John (Photo Courtesy of BBC).

Sister Valsa John was killed last week when a mob of villagers, incited by Maoist rebels, of approximately forty-five people broke into her home and beat her to death. Her body was recovered by officials last Wednesday.

Although authorities were initially unsure  who was behind the murder their suspicions of Maoist involvement, following interviews with villagers and the discovery of Maoist pamphlets at the scene of the crime, proved correct on November 22 when Maoist rebels admitted that they were responsible for the killing.

John was involved in leading protests against the displacement of villagers caused by mining operations in the area that resulted in the forceful grabbing of land belonging to tribesmen.

According to rebel spokesperson, Somnath, John was killed because she had “let down the tribals” forcing them to “resort to the extreme step” of murdering her.

Some tribesmen were not satisfied with deals struck with mining organizations because they resulted in heavy loss of property and lives. This dissatisfaction prompted Somnath to assert the belief that John was “working for the interests” of mining companies.

There is also a report that John’s intention to accompany a rape victim to the police station to file a report incited the tribesmen, who wanted to pursue the matter out of court, to murder her.

Prior to the admission made by the Maoist rebels, the family of Valsa John believed that her murder was committed by a mafia-like coal organization that was irritated by John’s advocacy for the rights of tribesman against illegal coal mining.

Coal mining in India is largely owned, controlled and operated by these mafia-like organizations that mine illegally and sell the coal on the black market.

According to her family, Valsa John frequently received death threats from individuals believed to be members of a criminal gang profiting from illegal coal mining and had received such a threat just hours before her murder.  Conflict with the mining organization has been ongoing for years and led to her imprisonment in 2007.

In the past, these coal organizations have been accused of attacking and killing officials or rights activists who have objected to the exploitation of tribesmen.

Other activists killed in India this year are Nadeem Sayed, Shehla Masood, and Niyamat Ansari.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Maoists Admit They Killed India Nun Valsa John – 22 November 2011

Independent Online – Suspected Nun Killers Held in India – 21 November 2011

The Times of India – Jharkhand Nun Murder Case Cracked: Police – 21 November 2011

Amnesty International – India: Nun Murdered in Fourth Activist Killing n 2011 – 17 November 2011

MSNBC – Nun slain in India Faced Threats from Mine Bosses – 17 November 2011

Brazil Mobilizing Troops Along Paraguayan Border Leads to Escalating Tensions

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – Tensions between Paraguay and Brazil have recently soared with the mobilization of Brazilian troops along the border of the two countries.  Brazil’s movements just across from the Paraguayan state of Alto Paraná have been attributed to a Brazilian plan to impede the illegal drug shipments occurring at the border.

Brazilian troops at a checkpoint along the border. (Photo Courtesy of Merco Press)

Paraguayans view the troops in a more suspicious light and link it to the recent unrest between Paraguayan peasants and Brazilian land-owners.  The escalating and at times violent confrontations revolve around allegations of corruption in the Paraguayan government allowing Brazilian farmers to occupy land illegally.

These land disputes across the countryside have resulted in reports of shootings.  In September of this year, Brazilian police and Paraguayan armed forces were thought to have exchanged fire.  Multiple skirmishes have occurred between the Paraguayan police and the landless peasant movement.  There has also been fighting between the peasants and armed militias, which have been formed by Brazilian farmers.

Most compelling in this recent development is the reality of Brazilian troops occupying the Friendship Bridge in the border town of Ciudad de Este.  What began as sporadic occupation is now a perpetual presence by all three branches of the Brazilian forces; air force, army and navy.  Foremost in many citizen’s minds are memories of the violent war, which occurred just over a century ago, and the subsequent Brazilian occupation of Paraguay.

Alfonso Gonzalez Nuñez, head of the Paraguayan delegation to the Paralsur, characterized the Brazilian troops as “provocative military intimidation” and points out that the huge display by Brazil of both troops and equipment are in an area that is legally protected from any type of military occupation due to international treaties regulating border relations of neighboring states.

Brazil has adamantly defended its actions with the need to establish checkpoints, along the border, to stop the smuggling of drugs and weapons that go to the gangs in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero.  They refer to the mission as “Agata 2” and plan to extend it along the border shared with Uruguay.

For now the border has not been breached by Brazilian troops so a tense acknowledgement and acceptance of their presence is the Paraguayan approach.  Paraguay’s president, Fernando Lugo, a former bishop who worked extensively with the landless poor of the country, has displayed a firm stance on the matter.

“[N]ot even one millimeter of the territorial sovereignty of the country can be bothered.  If that happens, the Paraguayan reaction will be swift,” was President Lugo’s statement.

 

For more information, please see;

In Sight – Paraguay Slams Brazil’s Militarization of Border – 21 November 2011

Merco Press – Paraguayan Lawmakers Accuse Brazil of “Provocative Military Intimidation” – 21 November 2011

New York Times – Drills Heighten Brazil-Paraguay Tension – 23 October 2011

Merco Press – Brazil Deploys 7,000 Troops Along Southern Borders to Combat Organized Crime – 20 September 2011