Ex-Congressman Arrested For “FARC Politics”

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – According to media reports. a former congressman was arrested by the Technical Investigation Team of the Prosecutor General’s Office for alleged “FARC politics.” Pedro Nelson Pardo, former representative for Guainia, is accused of having ordered the extortion and corruption of the Colombian electorate during a congressional race in 2002. It is alleged that Pardo had an agreement with the rebel group to carry out this plan.

Pardo was taken into custody in Cunday in the department of Tolima and will be quickly transported to the Prosecutor General’s Office in Bogota. Pardo will then appear before the Criminal Court after which the court will determine whether or not to award him security protection which is subject to there being charges filed against him.

Pardo’s arrest comes shortly after the Supreme Court of Colombia opened an investigation into former congressman Luis Fernando Almario for his alleged ties to paramilitary groups while in office. In that case, Almario has been implicated in the murder of Colombian politician Diego Turbay Cote. Almario was also detained by law enforcement in February 2008 over accusations of “FARC politics.” He was subsequently released in May 2009. Almario has continuously denied the allegations, claiming that he is “a victim of the [rebels].”

Last year, Colombia’s Inspector General’s Office compiled a list of charges against Senator Piedad Cordoba in relation to allegations that she collaborated with the FARC outside of the parameters of her role as a hostage release negotiator. The investigation flows from evidence allegedly found in dead FARC leader “Raul Reyes” files. The evidence is alleged to support the notion that Cordoba was involved in “FARC politics,” specifically emails that discussed issues that were not elements of Cordoba’s humanitarian aid objective.

These cases illustrate the possibility of a widespread and systematic system of corruption in Colombian politics.

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports –Ex-Congressman Captured for “farcpolitics” – 1 April 2011

Colombia Reports –Supreme Court Opens “Parapolitics” Investigation into Ex-Congressman – 24 March 2011

Colombia Reports – “FARC-Politics Charges Announced against Piedad Cordoba – 13 April 2010

Massacre in Ivory Coast Town Leaves Up to 800 Dead

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Forces Loyal to Mr. Ouattara in Duekoue, Ivory Coast. (Photo courtesy of AFP/Getty).
Forces loyal to Mr. Ouattara in Duekoue, Ivory Coast. (Photo courtesy of AFP/Getty).

DUEKOUE, Ivory Coast – The International Committee of the Red Cross (Red Cross) reports that a massacre has taken place in western Ivory Coast. The Red Cross estimates that at least 800 people were killed in this attack while the United Nations claims over 330 people are dead. During the past week violence has increased in many parts of Ivory Coast as followers loyal to president-elect Alassane Ouattara have captured parts of the country held by forces loyal to former president Laurent Gbagbo.

The massacre took place in the town of Duekoue on March 29 and left hundreds of people dead. According to Red Cross spokeswoman Dorothea Krimitas, the massacre was a result of “inter-communal” violence. The killings came at a time when forces loyal to Mr. Ouattara were sweeping through the region heading towards the city of Abidjan.

There is disagreement about who is responsible for the killings and exactly how many people died. The Red Cross is not sure whether this attack was undertaken by forces loyal to Mr. Ouattara or Mr. Gbagbo. Each side has accused the other of perpetrating the attack. Kelnor Panglun, a Red Cross spokesman who has been to Duekoue said “It’s truly horrific. We don’t have any information about the authors of these killings.” Alternatively, Guillaume Ngefa, the deputy human rights director at the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast claims that 220 people were killed by force loyal to Mr. Ouattara while at least 100 people were killed by forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo. On Sunday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Mr. Ouattara to launch an investigation into the attack.

Violence in Ivory Coast has fluctuated since the disputed November election but this past week has seen a spike in the number of people killed and injured. According to the Caritas charity website, between March 27 and 29 at least 1,000 people have been killed or disappeared. Along with these deaths, up to a million people have been forced to flee their homes since the election. This has led to a massive humanitarian crisis for both Ivory Coast and its neighbors. In Liberia, Ivory Coast’s neighbor to the west, up to a 120,000 Ivorians have crossed the border overwhelming U.N. refugee camps that have been set up.

Contributing to the violence and unrest, during the past five days forces loyal to Mr. Ouattara have successfully captured over 80 percent of Ivory Coast. While Mr. Ouattara has made gains, power and legitimacy is slipping away from Mr. Gbagbo. Reports claim several of his military generals have defected to the opposition or fled the country. Moreover, he has lost control of critical infrastructure including the Abidjan airport.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Ivory Coast: UN presses Ouattara over Duekoue massacre – 2 April 2011

CNN – Red Cross: 800 killed in Ivory Coast town – 2 April 2011

The Sydney Morning Herald — 800 dead in Ivory Coast massacre – 4 April 2011

The Times of India — UN chief presses Ouattara over Ivory Coast massacre – 3 April 2011

Goldstone Questions Findings of UN Report

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – Richard Goldstone, author of the infamous “Goldstone Report” condemning Israel for committing war crimes during its 2008-2009 offensive against Hamas, told news agencies Saturday that the study’s findings may be inaccurate. New investigations conducted by the Israeli government into alleged violations of international law by members of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) challenge the report’s conclusions that indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by the IDF was a part of a state sanctioned policy of retribution. Commenting on the findings of Israel’s investigation, Goldstone announced “If I had known what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document.

Richard Goldstone led UNHRC investigation into Israeli military practices (Photo Courtesy of CNN)
Richard Goldstone led UNHRC investigation into Israeli military practices (Photo Courtesy of CNN)

In 2009, Goldstone was appointed chairman of a U.N fact-finding mission created by the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law by Israel. The 575 page report documented various counterinsurgency strategies and detention methods and concluded that Israel had committed “actions amounting to war crimes.”

Despite quick endorsement of the report by the UNHRC, Israel strongly rejected the findings as unsubstantiated and biased against the Jewish state. Now Israel is calling for the U.N. to formally cancel the findings of the report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Goldstone’s retraction noting “[t]he fact that Goldstone backtracked must lead to the shelving of this report once and for all.” Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesperson for Hamas, however, demanded the implementation of the report despite Goldstone’s reservations.

Goldstone explained that the study’s conclusions may have been affected by Israel’s initial lack of cooperation with the UN investigation. The lack of cooperation between the investigative body and the government of Israel made it difficult contends Goldstone, to verify U.N. data and contextualize the use of specific uses of force. Goldstone further noted that since the publication of the report, Israel has taken steps to limit the use of dangerous weapons, like white phosphorus, in civilian areas.

While the evidence provided by the government of Israel suggests that certain individual members of the military may in fact be guilty of misconduct, there is no indication that the government deliberately targeted civilians for attack and detention. Government officials assured the international community that those individually responsible for violations of international law would be brought to justice but expressed that the damage from the report “has already been done.”

For more information please see:

Jerusalem Post – Moshe Ya’alon Urges UN to Retract Goldstone Report – Apr. 3, 2011

Jewish Telegraph Agency – Israel Launching Drive to Void Goldstone Report – Apr. 3, 2011

Ynet.com – Soldiers: Goldstone Damage Already Done – Apr. 3, 2011

CNN World News – Author of Israel-Hamas Report: Would Reconsider Findings – Apr. 2, 2011

India’s Sex Preference Fears Female Feticide Growth

David L. Chaplin II
Impunity Watch, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – The “Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act” banned Prenatal sex determination India in 1994. The acts prevention of female feticide, which according to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “has its roots in India’s long history of strong patriarchal influence in all spheres of life”, has been ineffective since its implementation in 1996.

Despite the banning on doctors revealing the sex of unborn children, poor implementation of the PNDT Act reflect low convictions of medical professionals found guilty, showing a lack of governmental concern.

The 2011 census recorded staggering decrease in the percentage of girls among India’s preschoolers. For every 1,000 boys aged up to 6 years old, the report counted 914 girls, a drop from 927 a decade ago.

The current ratio is the lowest ratio since India gained independence in 1947, said the preliminary census.

It’s illegal in India to abort a child just because of its sex, but such abortions happen, often aided by illegal clinics; reports Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN.

Explaining the fallout of the decreasing sex ratio, Dr. BP Mishra, psychologist in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, said, “Less number of girls in society could cause fights among communities over marriages. When there are a lot of unmarried men around, it would also lead to prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.”

The skewed sex ratio in Punjab and Harvana could have wider and more permanent social effects like rise in exploitation of women, higher crime rate, an increase in sexual diseases and depression among youth, she said.

Sociologists and psychologists in Punjab and Haryana said if the sex ratio continues to drop it will lead to chaos in society.

Dr. Mishra added that if the sex ratio continues to fall, the situation would be like “jungle raj” or survival of the fittest. “Being a biological need, the desire for sex is like hunger or thirst. If this desire is not fulfilled, it would lead to unnatural sex encounters,” he said.

“The reasons for high number of incidence of female feticide in India include a deep-rooted traditional son preference, continued practice of dowry and concern for safety of the girl child and exploitation and abuse of women and girl children,” India’s Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath told Parliament last month.

Dean of faculty of social sciences in Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, professor Khazan Singh Sangwan pointed out that marriage would be difficult for those youngsters who don’t have land, employment or businesses.

“In the absence of a job, land, occupation and even marriage this section will opt for crime. Jobless youths will try to bring brides from outside the community and state. Such situation may lead to human trafficking on a large scale,” he said.

Some Indian states have announced incentives for the birth of baby girls and have criminalized sex-selective abortions in an effort to try to restore balance, she said.

Tirath also stressed that socio-economic empowerment of women is essential to help them make informed decisions and change their mind sets.

“If this condition persists, there will be inter-caste marriages that may help in diluting the caste identity and prove helpful for national integration also.” MDU professor Khazan Singh.

Advocating strict implementation of PNDT, Khajan Singh said, “Cases of female feticide should be treated like murders. The person who opts for female foeticide should be punished but doctors should be held more responsible for this crime because they are supposed to follow certain ethics.”

For more information, please see:

CNN – India combats sex-selective abortion as gender ration loses balance – 2 April 2011

The Times of India – Skewed sex ration may lead to social chaos in Punjab & Haryana: Experts – 3 April 2011

The Times of India – National policy needed to tackle declining sex-ration: NGOs – 3 April 2011

Global Post – India Census | Boys and Girls – 31 March 2011

Libyan Woman Still Missing a Week After Accusing Soldiers of Rape

by Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Eman al-Obeidy dragged from Tripoli hotel in front of reporters; Photo courtesy NYT
Eman al-Obeidy dragged from Tripoli hotel in front of reporters; Photo courtesy NYT

TRIPOLI, Lybia– Last week, 29 year old Libyan lawyer Eman al-Obeidy ran into the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli and accused 15 Libyan soldiers of gang-raping her over a period of two days.  At the hotel, where numerous foreign journalists were having breakfast, al-Obeidy showed them bruises on her face, thighs and blood on her inner thighs.  She also had what appeared to be rope burns on her wrists and ankles and shouted to the journalists, “Look at what Gadhafi’s brigades did to me. . .My honor was violated by them.”  One hotel staffer pulled out a knife and call her a traitor while another attempted to throw a dark table cloth over her head.  A government official at the hotel pulled out a gun.  A scuffle ensued when government supporters attempted to take the journalists reporting equipment.  Several reporters were kicked and pushed to the ground and one reporter’s camera was taken and smashed.  As security dragged al-Obeidy from the hotel she yelled “If you don’t see me tomorrow, then that’s it.”

Since this incident, al-Obeidy has not been seen or heard from by anyone including her sister with whom she lives, despite the government reporting they released her on Sunday.  Immediately following her claims, government spokespersons first called her mentally ill and drunk, later saying she was a prostitute.  The government is now saying that she is in fact mentally fit to stand  trial.  Government spokesman Mousa Ibrahim says they will investigate her claims but since her appearance at the hotel, the soldiers have filed slander suits against al-Obeidy.

Al-Obeidy’s claims highlight UN peacekeeper Patrick Cammaert assertion that “It is now more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in modern wars.”  In a country like Lybia, women who are raped are considered to have lost their honor and children born to rape victims lack full legal status.  In 2006, Human Rights Watch issued a report stating that Lybia sent rape victims to ‘rehabilitation centers’ where they were imprisoned and sometimes raped by the center’s staff as punishment for bringing shame on Lybia.  Mona Eltahawy, a journalist on Muslim and Arab concerns, said of al-Obeidy’s public claims, “No one would do that unless they were raped, and especially in a conservative society.”  More recently, medical examiners have reported finding condoms and the drug Viagra in the pockets of dead Libyan soldiers, saying it is proof that soldiers are carrying out sexual assaults.

Al-Obeidy’s situation also highlights the difficulty war-rape victims have in bringing charges before the courts.  In the days following the hotel incident, lawyers and human rights activists tried to contact al-Obeidy’s sister at her home but were turned away by security forces outside of the home.  Al-Obeidy’s mother, Aisha Ahmad, says she received a phone the day after her daughter was dragged from the Tripoli hotel from a man offering Ahmad and al-Obiedy money to drop the charges against the soldiers.  Ahmad refused the money.

Ibrahim, who has claimed that journalists will be allowed to interview al-Obeidy in the coming days, said he did not know where she is, stating on Thursday, “The only place she will be other than her family house [is in a shelter]. . .Maybe she is there.”  Al-Obeidy’s family is holding out hope that she will return to them safely and have promised to support her.  In al-Obeidy’s home-town of Tobruk the family held a religious ceremony at the local mosque to show the support of the whole community.  Al-Obiedy’s mother, who says she has not been able to eat or sleep in the week since her daughter went missing, said of Gadhafi, “If I were to see his face, I would strangle him.”

For more information, please see;

Huffington Post– War’s Brutal Tactics– 31 March, 2011

NPR– Reports Emerging of Rape By Libyan Soldiers– 31 March, 2011

CNN– How One Voice Can Tell the Story of an Entire Movement– 1 April, 2011

The Globe and Mail– Rape Case Underscores Gadhafi’s Brutality– 30 March, 2011

CNN– Alleged Rape Victim to Meet With Journalists, Libyan Government Says– 1 April, 2011