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Hazare Leaves Prison, Begins Protest
By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch, Asia
NEW DEHLI, India – In continuance of the battle between the Indian government and Anna Hazare, the seventy-four year old man was taken into custody by police Tuesday, just hours before the beginning of Hazare’s next hunger strike over the recently proposed anti-corruption bill.
Although Harzare’s public hunger strike was thwarted, Hazare began fasting in prison. Hazare’s has been relentless in protesting the bill, while some have defended the government’s actions calling Hazare’s protests dangerous and undemocratic.
Officers in plain clothes picked up Anna Hazare from a house in Delhi and drove him away in an unmarked car, fellow activist Akhil Gogoi told the AFP news agency. Police explained that Hazare was arrested because he intended to defy prohibitory orders.
Police had given Hazare regulations that had to be followed if a fast was to take place. Included in the list were: the fast should be limited to three days, no more than four to five hundred people were allowed to gather, and parking must exist for an unspecified number of vehicles.
Following Hazare’s arrest, many supporters rushed onto the streets to protest. India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram responded telling reporters, “This government is not against democratic and peaceful protest. But that right must be exercised subject to conditions laid down by authorities charged with the duty of keeping law and order and public peace.”
Tuesday evening government officials ordered Hazare to be released from prison. However, Hazare refused because his discharge would be contingent upon him agreeing to abide by government regulations during future protests.
Feeling pressure from the world and a peaceful march, which included over ten thousand people, the government was willing to strike a deal with Hazare.
Hazare’s arrest and the march dominated the local television news networks capturing how citizens feel about the current leadership of the country spurring the government to act.
Wednesday evening one of Mr. Hazare’s aides, Kiran Bedi, announced via Twitter that Mr. Hazare had accepted a police offer to limit any hunger strike and mass demonstration in New Delhi to 15 days.
The protest would be staged at the city’s Ramlila grounds, and the Indian news media reported that the authorities had relented on Mr. Hazare’s demand that no limits be placed on the number of people allowed to attend.
Because of the expected crowd size the protest was delayed until Friday so adequate preparations could be made. However, participants began arriving on Thursday. Many have purchased apparel which reads “I Am Anna.”
City workers began to repair the Ramlila grounds, which had been damaged by the recent rain storms. Metal detectors were placed at entry points, sound systems were prepared, mattresses were laid out to sit on, and a huge tent was built.
Over fifty thousand people attended the event on Sunday. Protesters chanted “Anna, you keep fighting, we are with you.” Hazare has not eaten since his arrest Tuesday and only drinks water in protest. A medical team is on site to monitor Hazare’s health.
Hazare is demanding that his anti-corruption bill be introduced to parliament on Tuesday and be passed by the end of the month. Hazare says if the bill is not passed by the end of the month then there will be an “unprecedented revolution” in the country by the people. “The government will have to either get the Bill passed (in Parliament) or go,” Hazare said on Sunday.
However, Hazare’s boldness has come under criticism. Critics point out that Hazare is attempting to dictate policy to an elected parliament.
One of the major points of contention surrounding the bill is whether or not the prime minister can be investigated for corruption.
Hazare demands that the prime minister fall under the umbrella of the bill, while the government says if the prime minister were to be investigated, the government would be shaken.
Hazare’s counter-argument is if the prime minister is corrupt and no investigation is done, then the danger to the country would be far greater.
Aruna Roy, leader of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) and one of India’s most famous social activists, described Hazare’s recent actions as “ill-advised.”
She explained “We must assert our rights. But to get rid of these institutions would be a great disaster for all the people in this country. We must make these democratic institutions work for us and they must work for us.” Roy continued, “anyone who says my view should be the only view is wrong.”
Since Roy’s remarks Hazare and his supporters have appeared to reduce their demands from absolute passage of the bill to negotiations. Arvind Kejriwal, a man close to Hazare, told supporters, “we are in favor of discussion, we want to ask the prime minister whom should we come to talk to, and when and where.”
The government has begun to show signs of compromise as Prime Minister Singh said he was open to dialogue about the bill. Furthermore, a majority party lawmaker has sent Hazare’s bill to a parliamentary committee for consideration.
Hazare plans to continue his protest throughout this week.
For more information, please see:
DNA — Congress paralysed in face of Hazare-tsunami – 21 August 2011
Reuters — Under pressure, Anna Hazare may tone down demands – 21 August 2011
The Times of India — ‘Anna shouldn’t undermine democratic institutions’— 21 August 2011
The Times of India — Give us our Lokpal Bill or quit: Anna warns government – 21 August 2011
New York Times — Indian Anticorruption Leader to Leave Jail – 18 August 2011
The Times of India — Won’t back down till Lokpal Bill is passed, says Anna Hazare – 18 August 2011
The Times of India — Anna Hazare escalates war with govt, refuses to leave Tihar Jail – 17 August 2011
BBC – India anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare detained – 16 August 2011
LIBYAN REBELS ADVANCE INTO TRIPOLI, HOPING TO INITIATE GADDAFI’S ‘LAST STAND’
By Adom M. Cooper
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
TRIPOLI, Libya–Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is standing firm to his claim of staying entrenched in Tripoli until “the end,” as opposition fighters clashed their way towards the capital to support rebels who entered the city on Saturday evening. After being met with sporadic and seemingly farce resistance, rebels blasted into the Libyan capital on Sunday evening, complete with street celebrations by residents hailing the end of Gaddafi’s 42-year reign.
The fighting spilled into Sunday morning in several central and eastern neighborhoods. Witnesses reported that rebel flags were raised over some buildings, perhaps a sign to hope that change might really be on the horizon. This recent swing of battles comes just 24 hours after forces loyal to Gaddafi utilized heavy machine guns and mortars to deal with lightly armed opposition forces and protesters who were expressing their disgust with the status quo in the streets.
In an address to the nation, Gaddafi refused to surrender and guaranteed to emerge as the victor. He also called on all of the Libyan people to come from all regions to “liberate” Tripoli.
“We will not, we will not abandon Tripoli to the occupants and their agents. I am with you in this battle. We do not surrender and, by God’s grace, we will emerge victorious. Today we must take over Tajoura. I fear, if you let them, they will destroy Tripoli.”
Just as Gaddafi was delivering his promise to never surrender, rebel fighters made significant advances in several key regions. They advanced ten kilometers from the western region of Zawiyah, capturing the town of al-Mayah. This acquisition placed the rebels within several kilometers of Tripoli’s suburbs. Simultaneously, more rebels made their way to other locations to the south and east, Gharyan and Zlitan.
An Al-Jazeera correspondent conducted an interview with a Tripoli resident in the Abu Sita neighborhood named Youssef. He expressed these sentiments concerning the rebel advances on Sunday afternoon.
“We are waiting for the revolutionaries to come to conquer Tripoli, because we don’t have weapons to defend ourselves. Gaddafi troops are using heavy artillery and heavy weapons, and we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next two to three hours.”
Late Sunday evening, rebel officials reports that two of Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam and Saaid, have been arrested by opposition forces in Tripoli. The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo confirmed this report of their capture. Moreno-Ocampo also said that the court has indicted Saif al-Islam for torturing and killing civilians.
Moving into the early hours of Monday, the rebels pushed further and made their way to Green Square, which they renamed Martyrs’ Square. Celebrations began to pile up as thousands of Libyans entered the streets and waved rebel flags, appearing to salute each other over a victory that was not completed.
Gaddafi gave an audio broadcast to his nation late on Sunday, urging them to “save Tripoli” from the rebels.
“How come you allow Tripoli, the capital, to be under occupation once again? The traitors are paving the way for the occupation forces to be deployed in Tripoli. Get out and lead, lead, lead the people to paradise.”
Libyan Information Minister Moussa Ibrahim reported that since fighting in the capital began around noon (10:00 GMT) on Sunday, the battles had claimed 1,300 lives and left some 5,000 wounded.
“The city is being turned into a hellfire.”
The National Transitional Council (NTC), the governing body of the rebels, issued a mass text message early on Monday morning.
“We congratulate the Libyan people for the fall of Muammar Qaddafi and call on the Libyan people to go into the street to protect the public property. Long live free Libya.”
There is surely a resurgent feeling of hope inside Libya that the 42-year reign of their leader is finally coming to an end. Aref Ali Nayed, an ambassador in the United Arab Emirates for the NTC said that the opposition forces were dubbing Sunday “Day 1” to signify that a new era in Libya has already begun. But the search for the Libyan leader still continues.
More battles occurred early on Monday after tanks left Bab Aziziya, Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli, to try and quell the impending rebel assault. The location of the Gaddafi himself is still unknown and it is believed that he is attempting to rally his forces for a final defense. One can only hope that more of the thousands of civilians inside Libya will not have to pay the ultimate price for a regime transition that desperately needs to occur.
For more information, please see:
Ahram-Gaddafi’s reign crumbles to its demise as rebels seize most of Tripoli and heir-22 August 2011
Al-Jazeera-Libyan rebels in ‘final push’ for capital-21 August 2011
BBC-Scenes of joy as Libya rebels enter centra Tripoli-22 August 2011
CNN-Gadhafi regime appears to be ‘crumbling’ as rebels advance in Tripoli-22 August 2011
The Guardian-Libya:rebel forces reach heart of Tripoli-22 August 2011
NYT-Jubilant Rebels Control Much of Tripoli-22 August 2011
Syria Continues Suppression of Dissenters in Defiance of World Leaders
By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria – The international community escalated its pressure on embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday. Numerous countries, including the United States, and the European Union issued statements calling for him to relinquish his post after his use of violence against protesters drew worldwide scorn. But even in the face of such opposition, Syria continued its efforts to suppress opposition. Armed forces opened fire on a demonstration in the southern Dara’a Province Friday; at least 18 were killed, including soldiers who refused to fire.
This new insistence from world leaders comes on the heels of a United Nations report on Assad’s use of force against dissenters that was released on Thursday. While the investigators were not allowed into the country, they were able to obtain witness accounts of incidents that have taken place in Syria since March of this year. In addition to descriptions of individual events, the report takes note of the security forces’ modus operendi in crushing opposition to Assad’s government. Though Syria has repeatedly called the protesters “terrorist armed groups” and similar phrases, the report indicates that participators in the rallies made a point of indicating that they were unarmed. Despite this, the forces indiscriminately shot to kill civilians, including women and children. Torture was also used.
U.S. President Barack Obama was one of several world leaders to issue a statement calling for Assad to resign. “The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way. His calls for dialogue and reform have rung hollow while he is imprisoning, torturing, and slaughtering his own people,” Obama said. “We have consistently said that President Assad must lead a democratic transition or get out of the way. He has not led. For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.”
Obama also announced that he and the European Union had imposed new sanctions against the Syria, including the freezing of assets and a ban on importation of Syrian petroleum.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on the matter. “We urge the Syrian regime to stop all violence immediately, to release all prisoners of conscience and to allow free access to the United Nations for an independent assessment of the situation,” their statement said.
Later Thursday, the UN announced that it would send a humanitarian team to Syria to investigate, having been promised full access. The country’s UN ambassador and President Assad both promised that military operations had stopped. But Friday, a new rally was snuffed out, as armed forces again fired at demonstrators. Gunfire was reported in several provinces. Today, CNN reported that the Syrian government took steps to clean up evidence of violence at one of the crackdown sites the humanitarian team was to visit.
SANA, Syria’s official news agency, issued a press release today that reiterated Assad’s stance that the Western world, with particular emphasis on the United States, was interfering in the country’s internal affairs. The release, which cited several legal scholars within the country, considered these actions to be in violation of the UN charter. With regards to President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, it called these conspiratorial efforts to take control of Syria a “return to the colonial mentality to save themselves,” making reference to the two politicians’ declining approval ratings.
For more information, please see:
CNN — Source: Syria ‘whitewashing’ bloody crackdown before U.N. team arrives — 21 August 2011
SANA — Intellectuals and Jurists: Foreign Interference in Syria’s Affairs Disrupt Reform, Show Failure of Conspirators — 21 August 2011
Al Jazeera — UN report slams Syria’s use of force — 19 August 2011
New York Times — Syria Said to Fire on Protest in Defiance of Global Rebuke — 19 August 2011
BBC News — Syria unrest: UN to send humanitarian mission — 18 August 2011
BBC News — Syria unrest: World leaders call for Assad to step down — 18 August 2011
British Prime Minister’s Office — Joint UK, French and German statement on Syria — 18 August 2011
White House — President Obama’s statement calling for Syrian President Assad to step down — 18 August 2011
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — Report of the Fact-Finding Mission on Syria pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-16/1 — 17 August 2011