Protest Violence continues in Uganda

By Reta Raymond
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Unarmed protesters on April 14 dodge bullets fired in Kasangati, just outside of Kampala. Photo courtesy of msnbc.com
Walk to Work Protesters near Kampala in April (Photo Courtesy of MSNBC)

NEBBI, Uganda- Protests were staged on Wednesday, June 1 during the swearing in of newly elected district chairperson Robert Okumu of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Nebbi, northwest of Kampala. Protesters in support of candidate Estom William Alenyo lit tires to block the Nebbi-Kampala road to interfere with the procession. Police dispelled crowds using tear gas and live ammunition, and the protesters fought back using stones. Protesters complain  that Okumu’s swearing in is premature because of an unresolved election petition of the recount results in the High Court. A protester told New Vision that “we cannot allow this, Okumu wants to use illegal means to lead us when he is not our choice.” Eighteen protesters were arrested and have been remanded to prison after having been denied bail. Two were injured during the protest.

Estom William Alenyo (Ind) was declared the winner of the election earlier this year, but after  Okumu sued Alenyo and the Electoral Commission, a recount was ordered and Okumu was declared the winner on May 30.

This protest is the most recent in a string of police brutality incidents related to civil unrest in Uganda since April. In the capital city of Kampala, the activist group, Activists for Change (A4C), organized the “Walk to Work” campaign.  Protesters walked from their homes to their offices to call attention to the high fuel and commodity prices. Security forces used tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of protesters.

One of the prominent faces of A4C’s campaign, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye, was arrested numerous times, was shot in the hand, and tear gassed at point blank,which blinded him temporarily. Besigye was confined to his home for most of May, except to leave the country to receive medical treatment for his injuries.  He told reporters “I have no idea what the conditions of my house arrest are… they didn’t say for how long.” The force’s use of live ammunition and other measures were used against bystanders and protesters alike, injuring three hundred and killing at least nine, including two children.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for a probe into human rights violations which took place during the Walk to Work campaign, citing nine indiscriminate killings and other gross violations. Additionally, on Wednesday the East African Law Society (EALS) filed a lawsuit against Uganda in the East African Court (EAC) of Justice in Tanzania for the human rights violations. Vice President of the EALS, Mr. Aggrey Mwamu, told reporters that “as the atrocities were committed in Uganda, neither the EAC secretary general nor any of the five members of the Community raised concern. They all kept quiet… this is against the EAC Treaty.”

For more information, please see;

Daily Monitor – Live Bullets, Teargas as police battle Nebbi protesters – 2 June, 2011

The New Vision – Nebbi LC5 sworn in amidst demo – 2 June 2011

All Africa – Uganda: Nebbi Court Remands 18 Youth Over Protest – 3 June 2011

BBC – Uganda’s Kizza Besigye ‘put under house arrest’ – 19 May 2011

Human Rights Watch – Uganda: Launch Independent Inquiry into Killings – 8 May 2011

Twelve Dead after Israeli Troops Fire on Border Protesters

by Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Protesters gather near the Golan Heights checkpoint to commemorate Naksa Day
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather near the Golan Heights checkpoint to commemorate "Naksa Day" (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights, Israel — This morning’s protest rally along the fence that marks the border between Syria and Israel became a battlefield when Israeli forces assembled along the fence shot at the assembled protesters.

The protest was scheduled to mark the 44th anniversary of the Arab world’s defeat in the Six-Day War of 1967 against Israel, known as “Naksa Day” or the “Day of Defeat.”  In preparation for the protest, the Israeli military dug trenches and erected barbed wire at the border in an effort to stymie efforts to breach the borders.  Despite these efforts, troops opened fire when protesters attempted to breach the fences, despite several warnings to stop. Syrian state television reported that as many as twelve people were killed, with dozens more injured.

One of the injured, 16-year-old Mohammed Hasan, said, “We want on this occasion to remind America and the whole world that we have a right to return to our country.”  In commemorating the war, the rally was meant to bring the world’s eyes to the situation of an estimated half-million Palestinian refugees who lost their homes during Israel’s war of independence.  Also among the injured was Palestinian politician Mustafa Bargouthi, who told Al-Jazeera that the he was one of several people who were beaten by Israeli soldiers as the protesters peacefully approached the Golan Heights checkpoint.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagreed with Bargouthi’s assessment.  After last month’s protests resulted in hundreds of people breaking through a border fence and fighting with Israeli troop, he deployed thousands of troops to the borders as a deterrent. Netanyahu also instructed his troops to use restraint and decisiveness in facing down the protesters today. “Unfortunately, extremist forces around us are trying today to breach our borders and threaten our communities and our citizens.  We will not let them do that,” he said.

Since the shootings, the Israeli military has said that the Syrian government was behind today’s incident in an effort to distract the world from its own unrest.  Avital Leibovich, spokesman for the Israeli army, called the incident “an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria.”

Casualty counts are still unfinished.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Israeli forces fire at ‘Naksa’ Protesters — 5 June 2011

Arutz Sheva — IDF Digs Trenches to Stop Border Assaults — 5 June 2011

Atlanta Journal-Constitution — 12 dead as Israeli troops fire along Syrian border – 5 June 2011

Jerusalem Post — PM: We will protect borders with determination, restraint — 2 June 2011

Pakistani Intelligence Agency Suspected in Death of Journalist

By: Jessica Ties Impunity Watch, Asia ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistani journalist Sayed Saleem Shahzad was abducted in Islamabad Sunday night while driving from his home to a television station. On Tuesday, his body was discovered 155 miles outside of Islamabad and showed indications of torture.

Sayed Saleem Shahzad (photo courtsey of MSNBC)
Sayed Saleem Shahzad (Photo Courtesy of MSNBC)

A colleague of Shahzad, Zafar Mehmud Sheikh, described Shahzad as “an extremely critical writer” and stated that “his writings in Asia Times were not liked by many circles…he was always getting threats, direct life threats not from one side, from all sides.” Amnesty International is demanding that an investigation into the death of Shahzad include Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies. Pakistan’s main intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has issued a statement denying its involvement in the killing of Shahzad. The ISI is known for its support of Islamist militants and has been accused of detaining political activists for months or years without formally charging them. Speculation of the ISI’s involvement in the killing of Shahzad arises partially from an article in the Asia Times in which Shahzad wrote that Pakistan had freed a detained Afghan Taliban commander. According to an email sent by Shahzad to Human Rights Watch researcher Ali Dayan Hasan, he was summoned to the ISI office shortly after the article was published and was pressured to reveal his sources or retract his story. Shahzad refused to do either. In an email sent to a friend following the meeting at ISI headquarters, Shahzad stated that he was told by an official that a hit-list had been recovered from a recently arrested terrorist. The official then stated, “If I find your name in the list, I will certainly let you know.” While Shahzad interpreted the statement as a threat, the ISI maintains that the meeting “had nothing sinister about it” and that “it is part of the Wing’s mandate to remain in touch with the journalistic community…ISI also makes it a point to notify institutions and individuals alike of any threat warning received about them.” The ISI had reportedly delivered several warnings to Shahzad regarding his writings however, it is also possible that his death was the result of his writings provoking one of the various militant groups he was in contact with who felt that Shahzad had gained too much information. For more information, please see: Amnesty International –Pakistan must probe intelligence agencies as body of journalist is found – 31 May 2011 Associated Press of Pakistan – Salim Shahzad death source of concern for entire nation: ISI official – 1 June 2011 CNN – A Pakistani journalist is killed and many questions remain unanswered – 1 June 2011 MSNBC – Pakistan spy agency denies role in killing – 1 June 2011

ICC Will Try “Ocampo Six” for Post-Election Violence in Kenya

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – On Monday the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled Kenya failed to prove it was investigating the six suspects responsible for provoking the 2008 post-election violence.  The Kenyan government moved to prosecute the suspects with governmental reforms and a new constitution.  Of the twenty-four attachments the Kenya government submitted to support their case, the ICC found only three attachments were relevant. 

The ICC also wanted to protect witnesses involved in the cases and ensure the right witnesses are called to testify.  Records did not indicate Kenya has questioned relevant witnesses.  Furthermore, Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asserted campaigns in Kenya promote a “climate of fear”, which intimidates witnesses.  He stated “They are pursuing regional and political campaigns to stop the case.  Not only is this sending the wrong signal, but it is also promoting a growing climate of fear that is intimidating potential witnesses and ultimately undermining national and international investigations”.  Last year, the ICC warned the Kenyan government it would request arrest warrants for and identify anyone intimidating witnesses, including family members.  Mr. Mutula Kilonzo, a liaison of Kenya to the ICC, responded “I am surprised, because that is not true.  I am not aware of any attempt to create fear.  If anything, we are working round the clock to make sure the country goes through healing in preparation for next year’s elections.”

The charges against the “Ocampo Six”, named after Chief Prosecutor Ocampo, stemmed from demonstrations and riots that became violent following the December 2008 election.  Over 1,300 people died in the fighting, and hundreds of thousands were displaced as a result them.  This violence placed Kenya on the brink of civil war after supporters of current president Mr. Mwai Kibaki were accused of rigging the election.

Once the violence quelled, the two candidates agreed to share power.  Mr. Kibaki remained president, and Mr. Railia Odinga became the prime minister.  The men agreed to hold the parties responsible for the violence in Kenya’s courts or the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands.

In April, the Ocampo Six appeared before the ICC.  Three suspects supported Mr. Kibaki: Uhuru Kenyatta (deputy prime minister and finance minister and son of Kenya’s founding president), Francis Muthaura (head of civil service and cabinet secretary), and Hussein Ali (police chief during the violence).  The other three suspects supported Mr. Odinga: William Ruto (former minister of higher education), Henry Kosgey (former minister of industrialization and chairman of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement), and Joshua Arap Sang (reporter and executive of radio station Kass FM).

In September, the ICC will hold hearings for the confirmation of charges for the Ocampo Six.  If found guilty for their roles in the 2008 post-election violence, the defendants face life sentences.

For more information, please see:
BBC – ICC rejects Kenya bid to halt election violence probe – 30 May 2011
Daily Nation – Judges reject Kenya bid to save suspects – 30 May 2011
Reuters – Kenya government loses bid to stop Hague trials – 30 May 2011
Voice of America – Kenya denies undermining International Criminal Court – 30 May 2011

Police Arrested in Mexico for Suspected Involvement with Zetas drug Cartel

by Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Police suspected of protecting Zetas drug cartel (Photo courtesy of Fox News)

PACHUCA, Mexico – 25 drug cartel members, including a police chief, two commanding officers and seven agents were arrested this week in central Mexico for suspected ties to the notorious Zetas drug cartel. Hidalgo Mexico officials stated that several of the authorities arrested have admitted to helping the Zetas.

The Zetas gang is a drug-trafficking organization in Mexico that is suspected of forcefully recruiting young migrants to battle the Gulf Cartel for control of territory and power. Those who refuse to fight are often killed or beaten.

The arrests began on Sunday in Hidalgo state after state officers were attacked while patrolling the town of Huejutla, said Martin Vivar, spokesman for the Hidalgo state attorney general’s office. After the attack, six alleged drug traffickers were arrested and admitted to have operated in the area with the aid and protection of local police.

Concerns over police corruption have constantly plagued the Mexican police system and have frustrated efforts to control drug trafficking– allowing drug gangs to carry out their violent crimes without repercussion.

On 21 May, gang members opened fire on the Café Iguana in downtown Monterrey. A squad of eight policemen rushed to the scene but only stood by and watched as gang members began loading dead bodies in the back of a truck. The officers involved are now being investigated but only one has been arrested.

In September 2009, 124 municipal, state and federal level police officers were detained in Hidalgo after being suspected of collaborating with the Zetas.

Low salaries, an absence of resources and threats from the cartels are the most cited reasons for police complicity and overall corruption in police ranks.

“Our police do not have anything to lose,” said Jorge Domene Zambrano, executive director of the Office of Public Security for the state of Nuevo Leon, which includes Monterrey. “That’s why they are very easy to be kept by the bad guys.”

Javier Trevino Cantum, the state’s secretary general, acknowledges the problem and states that feuding off drug gangs is going to be a major challenge. The government is planning on revamping laws that will make it easier to go after drug gangs and targeting poor neighborhoods with social programs to help fend off recruitment by cartels.

For more information, please see:

CNN Latin America — Mexican police chief, officers charged with helping cartels —2 June 2011

El Universal — Encarcelan a 124 policías de Hidalgo ligados a Zetas —14 Sept 2009

The Globe And Mail — Police turn blind eye to Monterrey drug cartels — 27 May 2011

Univision Noticias — Detuvieron a 25 presuntos ‘Zetas’, diez policías entre ellos — 1 June 2011