UPDATE: CEASEFIRE IN YEMEN HOPES TO STOP THE KILLING OF PROTESTERS BY TROOPS LOYAL TO PRESIDENT SALEH

By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANAA, Yemen–A ceasefire procured by Yemen’s vice president and Western diplomats has gone into effect in the capital of Sanaa, ending three deadly days of violence. Security forces backing Alu Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, have fired upon a crowd of protesters in Sanaa, killing as many as 25 individuals while leaving hundreds of others wounded on Sunday 18 September. Some tens of thousands of protesters calling for the conclusion of Saleh’s 33-year reign poured into the streets of the Yemeni capital several days after protesters descended upon Yemen’s main university.

Yemeni doctors treat wounded protesters at a field hospital in Sanaa. (Photo Courtesy of NYT)
Yemeni doctors treat wounded protesters at a field hospital in Sanaa. (Photo Courtesy of NYT)

The ceasefire was put into effect at 1600 local time on Tuesday September 20, although witness still reported sparse gunfire among an otherwise relatively calm change in the status quo. Envoys from the UN and Gulf Cooperation arrived on Monday September 19 to attempt to get a deal done to end the bloodshed. Roughly 24 hours later, they were successful.

Early on Tuesday September 20, heavy shelling and machine gun fire shook Sanaa. At least 26 individuals were killed and several others were injured, according to witnesses and various medical personnel. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s deputy head of delegation in Yemen, Valerie Petitpierre, shared these words concerning the continued bloodshed.

“ICRC called on Yemeni authorities, pro-democracy protesters and others involved in the violence to spare lives after scores were killed in the past 72 hours alone.”

The violence on Sunday September 18 began as the anti-government demonstrators marched down Agriculture Street, which is located on the eastern edge of a long-running sit-in protest, protected by Maj. General al-Ahmar of the opposition. The protesters said that they were attacked as they moved past the area controlled by the army’s First Armored Division, led by al-Ahmar.

The security forces reportedly used heavy-caliber machines guns and other weapons to punish the protesters for their peaceful demonstration. Sakher al-Oldany, a 20-year-old protester, said the protesters moved beyond the area protected by the First Armored Division, hoping to “escalate the rebellion against the government.”

Mohammad al Qadhi, a Yemeni journalist, said the government was using snipers to target and fire upon demonstrators from the rooftops.

“I talked to one of the protesters. He told me shots were fired on chests, legs, and other parts of the body.”

Witnesses reported that forces loyal to Saleh as well as armed civilians opened fire on protesters who left Change Square. The protesters had setup camp in Change Square since earlier this year in February, demanding regime change and marched towards the center of the city.

More than 100,000 protesters gathered on Sunday 18 September around the state TV building and government offices in Sanaa. Freelance journalist Tom Finn reported that he was able to count at least 16 bodies piled up in a mosque, most of them bearing headshot wounds.

“Most of them are under 22. I saw one that was 16 years old. There are three hospitals in Sanaa filled to the brim with the injured. One doctor said he expects the death toll will rise over 50 by tomorrow morning.”

The march was the first in several months since demonstrators had gathered outside a portion of the capital controlled by Maj. Gen. Mohsin al-Ahmar. al-Ahmar is widely recognized as the second most powerful person in the country after President Saleh and he has sided with the opposition.

al-Ahmar said that his fighters chose not to return fire after they were shelled by the Republican Guard. He cited that he did not want to give President Saleh any excuse not to sign a deal to transfer power.

The crackdown on the protesters come as Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, Yemen’s vice-president, will sign a Gulf Arab initiative to arrange for a transfer of power in Yemen “within a week,” according to a high-level Saudi official. Requesting anonymity, the high-level Saudi official shared these words.

“Within a week, the vice president will sign the Gulf Initiative in the name of the president.”

Last week, President Saleh authorized his vice-president to negotiate a transfer of power with the opposition contingents. The Gulf Arab Initiative was proposed by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and sets the path for a peaceful removal of Saleh from power, a position he has held since 1978.  Saleh fled the country approximately three months ago for Saudi Arabia, where he had been recovering from a June assault on his presidential compound.

On Saturday 17 September, thousands of protesters crashed onto the main university in Sanaa, preventing the first day of school and called for the end of Saleh’s reign. The protesters shut the doors of administrative buildings and tore down images of Saleh in the dean’s offices.  As many as six students were injured during the protests, while many others enthusiastically chanted for change.

“No studying, no teaching until the president goes.”

In other areas around Sanaa, at least 20 other schools were kept closed to students on Saturday 17 September. According to Fata Mutahar, principal of Ayesha School in Sanaa and an official with the Education Ministry, government gunmen and troops whom have defected to the opposition are using many educational buildings as outposts.

“Schools are for learning, not to serve as barracks.”

It is clear that the protests and demands for Saleh’s ouster are taking their toll on Yemen’s population, especially its youth. Until a peaceful and substantive removal of Saleh from power, the youth of Yemen should expect continued denial of their education. While many of the youth may only be able to understand that their education is the only thing at risk due to the status quo, the opposition struggles for every aspect of life.

They struggle to ensure that the future leaders of Yemen will one day read about the revolution in a history book, knowing that they were affected in many more ways than just school closings.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera-‘Ceasefire’ halts third day of Sanaa violence-20 September 2011

BBC-Yemen unrest: ‘Ceasefire’ halts fighting in Sanaa-20 September 2011

CNN-Dozens killed as international pressure mounts in Yemen-19 September 2011

Al-Jazeera-Many protesters shot dead in Yemen-18 September 2011

The Guardian-Yemeni protesters ‘fired on by troops’-18 September 2011

NYT-Yemeni Forces Open Fire, Killing at Least 15 Protesters-18 September 2011

Reuters-At least 25 killed in anti-Saleh march in Yemen-18 September 2011

BBC-Yemen unrest: Protesters wounded in Taiz-15 September 2011

CNN-Yemeni troops wound 12 protesters-15 September 2011

Vatican Decision Condemns Chilean Priest – Chilean Government Quick to Follow, Opens Investigation

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter – South America 

SANTIAGO, Chile – Archbishop Fernando Karadima was sentenced by the Vatican on March 18, 2011 for his sexual assault of minors.  He was moved into retirement far away from his community, immediately upon the release of the decision.  The Vatican stated he was to spend the remainder of his life in “prayer and penitence” for his actions.

Karadima celebrating mass. (Photo Courtesy of Media Project)
Karadima celebrating mass. (Photo Courtesy of Media Project)

The 80 year old priest was an influential religious figure in Santiago.  His parishioners were from the upper -class of the city.  Karadima was a leader and mentor to five bishops and dozens of priests.  He was accused by four men  who were former parishioners.  They claimed they were sexually molested by Karadima as young boys, abuse that began over 30 years ago.

The Vatican decision has spurred the Chilean courts into action.  Karadima has not yet been prosecuted criminally for his sexual abuse of children.  A previous investigation was started back in 2010 but was dismissed shortly after for failure to prove misconduct.  The current investigation started once the Vatican decision came out.

Karadima has consistently maintained his innocence, attributing the claims leveled against him to jealousy and the devil.  Recently he has come forward to the judge, hearing his criminal prosecution, with claims that Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz paid more than $1million US to stop publication of a book about Karadima’s abuse of parishoners. 

Other disturbing news surrounding the delayed investigation and prosecution has emerged.  Allegations have been made by Karadima’s lawyer, Juan Pablo Bulnes, that his office was illegally searched by police forces with no legal warrant. 

Bulnes wanted the transcripts of the Vatican trials, which he had refused to turn over and were confiscated in the serach, deemed inadmissible.  However, the Chilean Supreme Court ruled on 7 September that the evidence will be permitted in future trials, despite the controversial manner in which they were obtained.

The actual court proceedings against the priest ended back on July 19 and two months later there has still not been an announced verdict. 

 

For further information, please see;

The Santiago Times – New Scandal Rattles Chile’s Catholic Church – 11 September 2011

The Santiago Times – Controversial Evidence Permitted in High-Profile Sex Abuse Case – 8 September 2011

Vatican Insider – The Karadima Scandal: The Vatican Model of Justice – 1 July 2011

The New York Times – Chilean Priest Found Guilty of Abusing Minors – 18 February 2011

Update: Georgia Pardons Board Denies Troy Davis Clemency; Execution Scheduled for Tomorrow

By Brittney Hodnik
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, United States – The day before his scheduled execution, it seems Troy Davis has run out of options.  The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles refused to grant Davis clemency, deciding that he should be put to death for killing Mark MacPhail, an off-duty police officer.  Davis will die by lethal injection on September 21, 2011 at 7:00 in the evening E.S.T.

Supporters of Troy Davis protest outside of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on September 19, 2011. (Image courtesy of Reuters/CNN)
Supporters of Troy Davis protest outside of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on September 19, 2011. (Image courtesy of Reuters/CNN)

As reported by the New York Times, this is the fourth time Davis has faced the death penalty, as the state parole board granted him a stay in 2007.  In 2008, the Supreme Court stepped in just 90 minutes before his execution.  A week before his third execution, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued another stay to hear arguments from his lawyer about new testimony.  Most recently, the Supreme Court refused to hear Davis’s case when he tried to appeal directly to them to examine new testimony.

Since Davis was found guilty in 1991 for murdering Officer MacPhail, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted or contradicted their statements, according to CNN.  Furthermore, as reported by TIME, there was no physical evidence (fingerprints, DNA, weapon) linking Davis to the crime.

There is considerable doubt surrounding the case, generating support from former President Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 51 members of Congress and singer Cee Lo Green, among others, according to The New York Times.  More than 630,000 letters have made their way to the board, pleading to grant Troy Davis clemency.  In addition, hundreds of petitions have circulated, showing support for Troy Davis, his family, and his lawyers for their struggles.

Interestingly, on September 20, the Supreme Court issued an order granting a stay of execution to Cleve Foster, just two and a half hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection in Texas.  The Gulf War veteran, according to CNN, was convicted of the murder of Nyanuer “Mary” Pal, a Sudanese immigrant in 2002.  This is the third time Foster has been granted a reprieve.  These situations raise many questions about the adequacy of our legal system and the death penalty in general.

The District Attorney’s office released a statement today, informing citizens that they could not withdraw or vacate the execution order, as it was not within their power, according to WSAV News (an NBC affiliate).  The Governor does not have the power to grant clemency in Georgia, so the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles was Davis’s last chance.  The parole board had previously denied Davis clemency once before, as reported by CNN, and the board has never changed its mind on any case in the last 33 years.

“It is unconscionable that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied relief to Troy Davis.  Allowing a man to be sent to death under an enormous cloud of doubt about his guilt is an outrageous affront to justice,” said Amnesty International in a statement on Tuesday, as reported by CNN.

The board is considered a “safety valve” according to TIME, and this safety valve has failed.  Gallup polling in 2009 found that 59% of Americans would admit to believing that an innocent person has been executed sometime in the previous five years, according to TIME.  It is not as though the board had to declare Davis innocent, but rather just admit that there is some – any – amount of doubt surrounding the case.

Anne MacPhail, Officer’s MacPhail’s mother told CNN that she is satisfied with the decision and she is “very convinced that he is guilty.”  “Well, justice is done, that’s the way we look at it.  That’s what we wanted,” she said.

Troy Davis will be executed at 7:00 p.m. at Georgia State Prison September 21, 2011.  The New York Times reports that a vigil is planned for Tuesday night (September 20, 2011) on the steps of the Georgia State capital.

For more information, please visit:

CNN — Death-Row Inmate Troy Davis Denied Clemency – 20 Sept. 2011

CNN — Texas Death Row Inmate Granted Another Supreme Court Reprieve — 20 Sept. 2011

The New York Times — Georgia Pardons Board Denies Clemency for Death Row Inmate — 20 Sept. 2011

TIME — Troy Davis’ Clemency Denial: The Failure of a Legal ‘Safety Valve’ — 20 Sept. 2011

WSAV News — Chisholm: DA Does Not Have the Power to Withdraw Execution Order — 20 Sept. 2011

ICTJ In Focus Issue 7 September 2011

ICTJ in Focus Issue 7 Sept 2011