Stateless Demonstrators Detained in Kuwait

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait – Human rights groups have called for the immediate release of stateless persons arrested during anti-government protests in Kuwait on Friday.  Roughly 100,000 stateless Arabs, known locally as “bedoons” or ”bidoons,” live in Kuwait and are deprived of many civil rights available to Kuwaiti nationals. In particular, bedoons are not afforded basic rights to health care, education and employment. In 2000, the government launched a large scale security crackdown against bedoons and continues to suppress bedoon dissidents who seek rights and recognition.  Although some officials have drafted bills designed to secure civil rights for the stateless population, the Parliament has continuously blocked attempts to debate such legislation. 

Riot Police Retaliate Against Stateless Protesters
(Riot Police Retaliate Against Stateless Protesters - Photo Courtesy of Kuwait Times)

Friday’s peaceful protests in the country’s capital were met with a violent response from riot police who used teargas and water cannons to disperse protestors.  Despite the participation of Kuwaiti citizens in the rallies, bedoons were singled out for arrest and detention.  The independent Human Rights Association has demand the “release of all those arrested during the events on March 11 without delay and without pressing charges against them.”  Fueled by successful oustings in North Africa and the mass mobilization of Arabs throughout the Middle East, bedoons have been increasingly vocal about their desire for civil rights in recent weeks. 

Bedoons have been stateless for over fifty years and demands for equality have historically fallen on deaf ears.  Today, the government continues to justify the suppression of stateless persons as a means to secure Kuwait from “illegal residents.”  As non-citizens, bedoons are also prohibited from possessing a driver’s license, receiving birth and death certificates and having marriage contracts attested by representatives of the State.  Despite warnings by the government to not engage in anti-government protests, hundreds of Kuwaiti’s continue to take to the streets of Kuwait City, Sulabiya and oil-rich Al-Ahmadi. 

For more information please see:

Ahram Online – Kuwait Urged to Free Stateless Detainees – Mar. 12, 2011

Kuwait Times – Bedoons State Protest for Citizenship – Mar. 12, 2011

Agence France Presse – Kuwaiti Stateless Protest for Citizenship – Mar. 11, 2011

Los Angeles Times – Kuwait: Riot Police Break Up Protests by Stateless Arabs – Mar. 11, 2011

Reuters Africa – Riot Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Kuwait Rally – Mar. 11, 2011

UNHCR: Nearly 500,000 Refugees Flee Violence in Ivory Coast

By Daniel M. Austin 
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Ivorians fleeing to eastern Liberia. (Photo courtesy of PressTV).
Ivorians fleeing to eastern Liberia. (Photo courtesy of PressTV).

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) claims nearly half a million people from Ivory Coast have been displaced by violence surrounding the November 2010 presidential election. The UNHCR figure reflects those individuals who are displaced within Ivory Coast as well as citizens who have fled the country. The UNHRC continues to press the international community for financial assistance to deal with this on-going crisis.

According to figures released by UNHCR, the number of refugees has increased to over 450,000 people. It is estimated that 88,000 people have crossed the border from Ivory Coast into neighboring Liberia, with half of them making the journey within the past two weeks.  In addition to those citizens who fled the country, another 200,000 to 300,000 people are displaced around the capital of Abidjan, while another 70,000 are displaced in the western part of the country. According to UNHCR spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, the Council has identified over 20 sites around the capital, Abidjan where displace people are gathering. The UNHRC continues to monitor these sites and is assessing their needs. It is already clear refugees in these camps are in desperate need of food and other humanitarian supplies, such as medicine.

The UNHCR is concerned with the international community’s lack of response to the deteriorating security situation in Ivory Coast as well as the widening humanitarian crisis. Reports from Ivory Coast claim the number of refugees as well as violence between the two political factions is increasing. The UNHRC claims that international attention has been diverted from the events in West Africa to the political upheaval occurring in North Africa.

According to Ms. Fleming, the response from donor nations to help finance the humanitarian effort in Ivory Coast is failing. The UNHRC established a goal of $46 million but has only received $5 million in donations. As violent conflict between supporters of the sitting President, Mr. Laurent Gbabgo and the President-elect Mr. Ouattara continues to intensify, the UNHRC is contemplating another push for donations. Ms. Fleming has urged donor nations to be more reactive to the humanitarian crisis taking place in Ivory Coast.

For more information, please see:

Albuquerque Express — Ivory Coast descending into chaos as 450,000 flee violence – 12 March 2011

BBC Africa — Ivory Coast crisis: ‘Nearly 450,000 refugees’ – 11 March 2011

Times Live – 75, 000 refugees have fled Ivory Coast – 12 March 2011

Voice of America — UN: Nearly Half-Million People Displaced in Ivory Coast – 11 March 2011

French Police Arrest Senior ETA Leaders

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

Suspected ETA members arrested in Thursdays raid. (Photo courtesy of 2Space)
Suspected ETA members Alejandro Zobaran Arriola (L, top row), Mikel Oroz Torrea (R, top row). (Photo courtesy of 2Space)

MADRID, Spain – On Thursday, March 10, French police stormed a cottage near the Belgian border and arrested four suspected members of the outlawed Basque separatist group, ETA. Among the individuals captured were ETA’s military chief and its chief explosives expert. The raid occurred two months after ETA’s senior leadership declared a formal cease fire on January 10.

During the raid, French police and members of the RAID, a French anti-terror unit descended on the village of Willencourt and arrested, Alejandro Zobaran Arriola, the suspected military chief of ETA.  He is responsible for coordinating the shooting and bombing campaigns that are carried out by ETA fighters. Along with Mr. Arriola, Mikel Oroz Torrea, who is suspected of being ETA’s top explosives expert, was also arrested. During the offensive, police seized two firearms along with forged documents.

The planning for Thursday operation began last month when the cottage owner tipped off authorities to the four suspects. The landlord contacted police after he grew suspicious of their nighttime activities. After the tip was received, local police officials determined the suspect’s car had a fake license plate. This prompted local law enforcement to contact the French anti-terror police to investigate further.

The arrests on Thursday are the second major blow to the ETA organization in the last two weeks. On March 1, Spanish police arrested four suspects in northern Spain who are allegedly connected to armed terrorist group. Spanish and French authorities have been working together to hunt down and capture members of this organization who often try to avoid detection by moving back and forth between the border regions of Spain and France,

ETA’s leadership declared a “permanent and general” cease fire on January 10, 2011. The last terrorist attack by ETA agents was carried out in August 2009. Over the past 50 years, ETA has killed more than 850 people during their struggle to establish an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southern France.

Notwithstanding the January 10 self-imposed cease fire, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has called for the total disbandment of ETA. Along with the most recent arrests, dozens of other ETA members have been arrested throughout Europe. Spanish officials believe this campaign has crippled the organization’s top leadership.

For more information, please see:

BBC News — ‘Eta military chief’ Arriola arrested in France – 11 March 2011

Daily Mail — ETA terror chief snared in daring police raid on French town – 11 March 2011

Irish Times — French police arrest senior Eta activists – 11 March 2011

Washington Post — French police arrest 4 Basque ETA suspects – 11 March 2011

ICC to investigate Gadhafi for crimes against humanity

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, on Tuesday night in Tripoli, is under investigation by the ICC (Photo Courtesy of New York Times).
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, on Tuesday night in Tripoli, is under investigation by the ICC (Photo Courtesy of New York Times).

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has been put on notice that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will investigate him for alleged crimes against humanity.

The United Nations Security Council this week adopted a unanimous resolution that referred Gadhafi and some of his sons, closest advisors and commanders to the ICC, which will investigate Gadhafi’s regime and its violent response to the anti-government protests that began in Libya on Feb. 15. The protests are aimed at overthrowing Gadhafi from a forty-one year regime.

It is the first time that the ICC, which was created in 2002 as the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal, has investigated an event as it is ongoing, and the second time it has investigated a sitting head of state. Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has been indicted on three counts of genocide by the court.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo made clear that though at this stage Gadhafi and his regime are only under investigation, “If their troops commit crimes, they could be made criminally responsible.

“The allegations are that peaceful demonstrators were attacked by security forces. During the coming weeks, the office will investigate who are the most responsible for the most serious incidents, for the most serious crimes committed in Libya,” Moreno-Ocampo said.

The decision of the UN sends a strong message to Libya and Gadhafi that violence against peaceful protestors will not be tolerated. Allegations against Gadhafi include security forces killing unarmed protesters, airstrikes on civilians and forced displacement.

Since the referral of the investigation, the ICC has already identified alleged war crimes committed by Gadhafi and his regime, including the shooting of protestors in Benghazi on February 15. Eight other atrocities have been identified.

Currently Gadhafi is in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, one of the few places where his supporters and forces maintain control. He has repeatedly vowed to fight to the death to retain his power.

The international community is quickly deciding how best to respond to the crippling situation. Mass casualties, threats of hunger and a refugee crisis are increasing the urgency for a foreign response. The White House has not proposed any imminent action. A “no-fly” zone was proposed earlier this week, but President Barack Obama’s national security aides cautioned that such a plan would likely have a limited impact.

Moreno-Ocampo has vowed that the investigation will move swiftly.

“No one has the authority to attack and massacre civilians. We have a mandate to do justice and we will do it.”

For more information, please see:

AP – Officials: No-fly zone may have limited impact – 9 March 2011

Arutz Sheva – Int’l Criminal Court at The Hague to Probe Libya War Crimes – 3 March 2011

CNN – Gadhafi faces investigation for crimes against humanity – 3 March 2011

Haaretz – ICC probing Gadhafi, inner circle for crimes against humanity – 3 March 2011

Telegraph – Libya: Col Gaddafi to face ICC war crimes probe – 3 March 2011

Human Rights Watch – UN: Security Council Refers Libya to ICC – 27 February 2011

22 Oil Workers Released After FARC Kidnapping

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia—According to Colombian officials, all but one of 23 abducted oil workers have been released by leftist rebel soldiers.  The workers are Colombian contractors who were taken against their will on Monday while working in an isolated jungle area.  They had been employed by a Canadian oil company named Talisman Energy.  The one remaining oil worker is still being held by the rebels, who are suspected guerrillas from the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).  Colombian authorities are concerned that the last hostage is being kept for use later as a human shield.

Colombian Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera reported that the kidnapped workers were released early on Tuesday morning.  They had been taken captive the previous day while searching for crude in Vichada, an eastern province of the country.  Reports have concluded that the FARC unit that probably abducted the workers was relatively small and that the workers were kidnapped from their own camp.

President Manuel Santos has initiated a military operation in order to combat kidnappings in Colombia.  In the mission, codenamed Minotaur, the Colombian army, air force, and marines have been searching Vichada province in hopes of rescuing the final hostage.  President Santos considers this operation strong evidence that his military will soon triumph over hostage takers.  “We are not going to rest until all hostages are freed and the country is free of kidnapping,” Santos vowed.  He speculated that the FARC rebels were holding onto the last hostage to use as a human shield to repel military raids.

Talisman Energy has announced that each of the contractors was working for a firm called South American Exploration that conducts seismic studies in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.  The company also reported that all of the hostages taken on Monday were Colombian citizens and the majority of them were members of local indigenous groups.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post-22 abducted oil workers freed in Colombia-8 March 2011

Guardian-Colombian troops rescue 22 kidnapped oil workers-8 March 2011

Wall Street Journal-Colombia Rebels Free 22 Oil Workers-8 March 2011