Violence Against Christians Increases in Iraq

By: Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – As Christmas draws near, Christians have increasingly become targets of extremist violence throughout Iraq.  While the government has condemned the attacks and promised to do more to stem the violence, the death toll continues to rise.  The Islamic State of Iraq, a militant group with links to al-Qaeda, has taken responsibility for recent attacks against Christians and declared that all Christians will be considered “legitimate targets” for future operations.

Amnesty International stepped up its pressure on the central government to protect Christian populations within the country after an attack on a Christian church in October left 44 worshippers dead.   The human rights group noted that targeted attacks against Christians have increased in recent weeks leading up to the Christmas celebration.  The group remains concerned about the prevalence of war crimes against minority groups in Iraq and notes that Christians have been forced to flee Baghdad and surrounding cities in great numbers to find refuge.  Over a third of those Iraqis who have resettled in the U.S. are Christians and hundreds of thousands more have fled to surrounding countries within the Middle East.  Up to a million Christians have fled Iraq since 2003. 

Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, Malcolm Smart fears that “militants are likely to attempt serous attacks against Christians during the Christmas period for maximum publicity and to embarrass the government.”  The government reported to have stopped another set of suicide attacks on Monday after killing 3 Libyan nationals in a house raid.  Police found suicide vests, bombs and explosive material in the house.  The presence of the three foreign militants in Iraq highlights the government’s growing concerns about the threat of violence from neighboring countries. 

For the government today, terrorism remains equally an internal and external threat to peace and security.  The rush of foreign militants into Iraq continues to be problematic for the government and its attempts to promote stability.  As the Iraqi leadership searches to create a unified and legitimate government, it must do more for the politically underrepresented Christians in Iraq.   Failure to find a comprehensive and religiously-neutral solution to this crisis may only further exacerbate religious divisions in Iraq and risks further violence. 

For more information, please see:

The National – Christmas is Not for Us, Say Iraqi Christian Refugees in Jordan – Dec. 21, 2010

Agence France Presse – Amnesty Calls on Iraq to Protect Christians – Dec. 20, 2010

Amnesty International – Iraqi Christians Fear Spike in Christian Attacks – Dec. 20, 2010

Washington Post – Grim Xmas for Iraqi Christians as Many Flee North – Dec. 19, 2010

Sudanese Leader Accused of Stealing Billions

 By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Sudans President Omar al-Bashir
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir. (Photo courtesy of TopNews).

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor has accused Sudan’s President of funneling billions of dollars in government funds to his personal bank accounts. Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC’s chief prosecutor claims the theft could be as high as $9 billion (U.S. dollar). The Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir has vigorously denied these accusations and believes the charges are an attempt by Western powers to overthrow his government.

The chief prosecutor’s claim was made public when WikiLeak’s released diplomatic cables between the United States and the chief prosecutor. The purported theft was confirmed by Mr. Moreno-Ocampo when he spoke with Reuters news agency. Although the ICC could not determine precisely how much was taken, President Bashir is accused of having stolen anywhere between several hundred million dollars to as much as $9 billion. It is widely believed that at least some of the money was stolen from Sudan’s thriving oil economy. If the $9 billion figure is correct, it would be a staggering sum, accounting for nearly 10% of the country GDP.

Additionally, it is not known where the stolen funds are located. The Wikileak’s cable claims the money is stashed in several banks outside of Sudan and possibly in Lloyd’s Bank in London. To further complicate matters, the chief prosecutor is unsure of the funds whereabouts and Lloyd’s Bank in London claims Mr. Bashir’s is not an account holder with their bank.

Outside of this most recent accusation, the ICC has already issued two arrest warrants for President Bashir. He has been charged with numerous crimes related to the Sudanese civil war and in particular, the humanitarian crisis that took place in the Darfur region. Specifically, President Bashir has been charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The indictment handed down by the International Criminal Court represents the first time a sitting head of state has been accused by this government body.  Mr. Moreno-Ocampo claims the financial dealings of President Bashir were uncovered during a thorough investigation into the atrocities that took place during the country’s seven year civil war.

According to the United Nations, the conflict in Sudan between President Bashir’s regime in the north and rebels in the south has led to over 300,000 deaths and the displacement of two million. These figures stand in stark contrast to Sudanese government figures, which claim 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

For more information, please see:

BBC –- Sudan’s President Bashir ‘siphoned off millions’ – ICC –18 December 2010

Daily Telegraph — WikiLeaks: Sudan’s president ‘stashed $9 billion’ — 18 December 2010 

Sudan Tribune -–Sudan President stashed billions in secret bank accounts, says ICC prosecutor -– 18 December 2010

VOA — Sudan President Accused of Hiding Billions of Dollars –- 18 December 2010

Update: Disputed Ivory Coast Election Prompts Fears of Civil War

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo protest at a youth rally (Photo Courtesy of Wall Street Journal).
Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo protest at a youth rally (Photo Courtesy of Wall Street Journal).

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The United States and European Union countries have imposed a travel ban on Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo, members of his family and key members of his government after Mr. Gbagbo failed to step down after being defeated in last month’s disputed presidential election.

The United States, United Nations, African Union, and European Union have all recognized Mr. Gbagbo’s challenger, Alassane Ouattara, as the winner of the country’s November 28 run-off presidential election. Mr. Gbagbo’s refusal to concede has plunged the country into violence and prompted fears of civil war.

Violence broke out on Thursday when supporters of Mr. Ouattara clashed with security forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo.

On Saturday, Mr. Gbagbo declared that U.N. peacekeepers must leave Ivory Coast because the U.N. had certified his opponent as the winner. A Gbagbo spokeswoman said on state television that nine thousand U.N. peacekeepers and another nine hundred French troops supporting them were to leave immediately. Despite this order to leave, the U.N. has vowed to continue its mission.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Sunday that over fifty people had been killed in the previous three days and that armed men had abducted hundreds from their homes in nighttime raids.

“The deteriorating security conditions in the country and the interference with freedom of movement of UN personnel have made it difficult to investigate the large number of human rights violations reported,” Pillay said on Sunday, from Geneva.

A resolution adopted unanimously on Monday by the U.N. Security Council condemned Mr. Gbagbo for clinging to power. The resolution urges all Ivorian parties “to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election.” The Council also voted unanimously to extend the deployment of U.N. troops for another six months as violence continues in Ivory Coast.

The Security Council called on all parties to recognize Mr. Ouattara as Ivory Coast’s president.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has warned that Mr. Gbagbo could face prosecution in the International Criminal Court and echoed the calls of the international community for Mr. Gbagbo to immediately stand down.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – UN warns of Cote d’Ivoire abuses – 20 December 2010

AP – UN condemns intimidation of staff in Ivory Coast – 20 December 2010

Christian Science Monitor – Death squads reemerge in Ivory Coast as president contests election results – 20 December 2010

Reuters Africa – EU agrees travel ban on Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo – 20 December 2010

Wall Street Journal – U.S. Sanctions Ivory Coast Leader – 20 December 2010

President Chavez Now Rules By Decree

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

The bill enables Chavez to rule as dictator for 18 months. (Photo courtesy of Boston Globe)
The bill enables Chavez to rule as dictator for 18 months. (Photo courtesy of Boston Globe)

CARACAS, Venezuela—On Friday, Venezuelan legislators voted to allow President Hugo Chavez to rule by decree until 2012.  The bill, which is called the “enabling law,” was allegedly passed in order to safeguard the country during emergencies; but in essence, the law gives Chavez the power of a dictator.

The overwhelming majority of “lame duck” legislators agreed to pass the enabling law.  The National Assembly voted to give Chavez 18 months of unchallenged power.  Cilia Flores, assembly boss of the United Socialist Party, said the lawmakers’ act displayed their “revolutionary commitment.”  These legislators will be replaced by newly-elected ones who are critical of Chavez and his government.  The new lawmakers, who will consist of about one-third of the National Assembly, take office in less than three weeks.

The law was supposedly a response to the recent torrential rain in the country that caused significant damage.  President Chavez held “capitalism” responsible for the terrible weather.  Now, Chavez will have supreme control over Venezuela for the next year and a half, including taxes, the armed forces, land-use, and banking.

Chavez taunted opposition members after the bill passed, saying, “You won’t be able to make even a single law, little Yankees.  We’re going to see how you make laws now.”  Chavez refers to his critics as Yankees to imply that they are U.S. sympathizers.  The president has claimed to already have at least 20 decrees planned, including requirements for media operations and an increase in “Value-Added Tax.”

Numerous human rights groups, along with the U.S. State Department and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), have criticized the “autocratic” seizure of control by Chavez.  The IACHR announced that the new law “assigns the president of the republic ample, imprecise, and ambiguous powers to dictate and reform regulatory provisions in the telecommunications and information technology sectors.”

According to Business Monitor International, the enabling law will prevent opposition members from altering “an increasingly radical policy trajectory.  This not only has negative implications for democratic legitimacy, but it also increases the threat of major political upheaval in 2012.”

Chavez has given no indication that he will relinquish any of his power, and quipped that “the empire” is attempting to thwart his “Bolivarian Revolution.”

For more information, please see:

The New American-Socialist Chavez Set to Rule Venezuela By Decree-20 December 2010

Washington Post-Venezuelan legislature grants Chavez decree powers-19 December 2010

Epoch Times-Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez to Rule By Decree-19 December 2010

United States Endorses UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, United States – United States President Barack Obama announced the decision of the United States to endorse The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on Thursday.  Adopted by the United Nations in 2007, the Declaration recognizes the fundamental rights and freedoms which indigenous people in the world are entitled to, banning discrimination against them.  Over 300 representatives of the nations federally recognized tribes were in attendance during the announcement at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

President Obama announces endorsement decision of UNDRIP at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. Photo courtesy of nativelegalupdate.com.

Obama expressed concern that “by virtue of the longstanding failure to tackle wrenching problems in Indian Country, it seemed as though you had to either abandon your heritage or accept a lesser lot in life; that there was no way to be a successful part of America and a proud Native American.”

Part of the treaty requires “free prior and informed consent” by Tribal nations before the government takes actions which significantly impact Native Americans.

The first drafts of the treaty were written over 30 years ago.  Robert Coulter, the current executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center, was part of the first versions drafted and recognized the Declarations endorsement as the first of many steps in ensuring justice for Native Americans.

Coulter indicated that, “To see the promise of the declaration become a reality, we must continue to fight for laws, policies and relationships that take into account the permanent presence of Indian nations in this country, and throughout the world.”

“Washington can’t – and shouldn’t – dictate a policy agenda for Indian Country.  Tribal nations do better when they make their own decisions,” President Obama stated.

An estimated 350 million people of indigenous background live in the world.  The United States is home to approximately two million of them.  A number of tribal leaders and rights advocates urged the U.S. to re-evaluate its policies toward Native Americans.  The last country to endorse the Declaration, the United States support was preceded by Canada in November, New Zealand in April and Australia in 2009.

For more information please visit:

Inter Press Service – U.S., Last Holdout On Native Rights Declaration, Reverses Stand – 17 December 2010

Amnesty USA Blog – President Obama Endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – 16 December 2010

United Nations Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues – US Endorses Indigenous Declaration – 16 December 2010