Ethiopia Accused of Using International Aid to Silence Opposition

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter,  Africa

 

Ethiopian government official at a food distribution center in Jijiga, Ethiopia (Photo Courtesy of Barry Malone, Reuters).
A government official monitoring supplies at a food distribution center in Jijiga, Ethiopia. (Photo Courtesy of Barry Malone, Reuters).

 

NAROBI, Kenya – The Ethiopian government is denying claims it used international aid as a weapon against opposition groups. A recently published report from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) finds the Ethiopian government withheld international aid, including food and micro-loan payments, from political opponents. HRW believes international aid was withheld to suppress opposition groups ahead of the country’s May 2010 election.

During these elections, the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, won all but one of the 536 seats in Ethiopia’s parliament. This result stands in sharp contrast to the last election cycle in 2005, when 170 seats of parliament were captured by opposition groups. After the May elections, opposition groups took to the streets to protest. The government moved to crush these protests, ultimately killing over 200 people in the process.

In response, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists the HRW report is inaccurate. To substantiate their claim, the government points to an investigation carried out in January 2010 by the Development Assistant Group that investigated similar claims of corruption. This investigation found the distribution process of international aid was adequate, and the appropriate safeguards were in place to allow for equitable allocation of aid. The Ministry believes these accusations are an attempt to blackmail the Ethiopian government as part of HRW’s personal vendetta against them.

Human Rights Watch claims this report was based on an extensive six month investigation, which included interviews with over 200 people in 53 villages across three regions of Ethiopia. The findings across the nations were consistent; people had been denied aid or loans because they either supported an opposition party or had views that opposed the sitting government. Consequently, food, housing, fertilizer, seeds, and micro loans were denied to opposition group supporters. Furthermore, some sources claim that disagreeing with the ruling government can also limit admission into the country’s university and even the type of employment opportunities available.

Since Ethiopia is a strategic western ally in the troubled Horn of Africa, it has been receiving generous amounts of international aid. Specifically, the amount of international aid the government receives has doubled between 2004 and 2008. In 2008, Ethiopia received over $3 billion dollars (U.S.) from the international community.

For more information, please see:

BBC Africa — Ethiopia used aid to bribe voters – Human Rights Watch – 19 October 2010.

Ezega — Ethiopia Rejects Human Rights Watch Allegations – 20 October 2010.

AFP — Ethiopia using aid to suppress dissent: rights group – 19 October 2010.

Macon — Rights group: Ethiopia denying opposition aid – 19 October 2010.

The Globe and Mail — Ethiopia using Canadian aid as a political weapon, rights group says – 19 October 2010.

European Court Condemns Russia For Gay Pride Bans

By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

STRASBOURG, France — The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that Russia unlawfully banned gay pride marches and picketing in Moscow in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Court held that Russia violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees a right to freedom of peaceable assembly, and Article 14, which prohibits discrimination in the enjoyment of the rights set forth in the Convention.

The case was brought before the court by Nikolay Alekseyev, a gay rights activist. He organized several marches in Moscow in 2006, 2007, and 2008 to bring attention to the discrimination faced by gays and lesbians. Many gay pride events were denied official permission to demonstrate. Events that were carried on anyways were usually immediately disbanded and demonstrators were sometimes beaten by police.

Yuri Luzhkov, the Moscow mayor during the time in question, was vocal about his disapproval of homosexuals. He had been on record as calling homosexuals “satanic” and his determination to prevent gay pride marches was recorded on numerous occasions. The court noted this in its opinion, recognizing that the marches and events were banned not for public safety reasons, but rather for government officials’ disapproval of homosexuality.

The Court reasoned in its judgment opinion in Alekseyev v. Russia, “The Court further reiterates that it would be incompatible with the underlying values of the Convention if the exercise of Convention rights by a minority group were made conditional on its being accepted by the majority. Were this so, a minority group’s rights to freedom of religion, expression and assembly would become merely theoretical rather than practical and effective as required by the Convention.”

The Court ordered the Russian government to pay Alekseyev just over $40,000 in damages and legal fees. The European Court of Human Rights was established by the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Russia is a party, so this decision is binding on Russia.

For more information, please see:

AP — Court condemns Moscow gay pride bans — 21 October 2010

NYT — European Court Fines Russia for Blocking Gay Protests — 21 October 2010

BBC — European court fines Russia for banning gay parades — 21 October 2010

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS — Alekseyev V. Russia, Judgment — 21 October 2010

PROPOSAL BY PRESIDENT CALDERON: MEXICAN MILITARY TROOPS TO BE TRIED IN CIVILIAN COURTS FOR RAPE, TORTURE & FORCED DISAPPEARANCES

By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Amid criticism from human rights groups and pressure from the International Community, Mexican President Felipe Calderon recently sent a proposal to the country’s Senate requesting a change in jurisdiction of civilian courts which would require that military troops be subject to prosecution in civilian courts for cases involving rape, torture and forced disappearances.

President Calderon seeks to satisfy Inter-American Court demands with his recent proposal to the countrys Senate. Photo courtesy of CNN.
President Calderon seeks to satisfy Inter-American Court demands with his recent proposal to the country's Senate. Photo courtesy of CNN.

Rights groups argue that the proposal is not sufficient to combat human rights abuses prevalent in the country.  The proposal seeks to not only address abuses, but the lack of transparency in military tribunal proceedings.

An April 2009 report by the Human Rights Watch organization entitled “Uniform Impunity: Mexico’s Misuse of Military Justice to Prosecute Abuses in Counternarcotics and Public Security Operations,” claimed that “Not one of the military investigations into these crimes has led to a conviction for even a single soldier on human rights violations,” further noting that “the only civilian investigation into any of these cases led to the conviction of four soldiers.”

Calderon’s proposed measure would make military officials liable for convictions resulting from prosecutions of alleged rape, torture and forced disappearances in civilian court. With at least 45,000 troops deployed to combat drug trafficking and the growing violence, International Human Rights Groups have expressed concern over Mexico’s failure to prosecute abuses and rights violations alleged by families of innocent bystanders killed during shootouts in the drug war.

In December of 2009, Amnesty International outlined military abuse cases, citing one case in which military officials detained 25 Tijuana police officers suspected of corruption.  The military troops allegedly placed the officer’s feet in water, applying shocks of electricity to their bodies and genitals.

Other civilians such as those in Ciudad Juarez have also complained that they have been the victims of warrantless searches in which troops dispatched to combat the drug trade steal goods and commit extrajudicial killings. Others indicate that the presence of military troops is comforting given the lack of public confidence in police as corruption is found throughout their forces.  Over 29,000 people have lost their lives in drug-related violence since President Calderon took office in December of 2006.

For More Information Please Visit:

LA Times – Mexico Seeks to Require Civilian Trials for Troops 19 October 2010

CNN – Mexican President wants Civilian Trials for Some Military Cases – 19 October 2010

CBS News – Rights Groups Rap Mexico Plan on Military Trials – 20 October 2010

Asylum Seeker Dies During Deportation

By Ricardo Zamora

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, England – Three men have been arrested in connection with the death of an Angolan national during a deportation.  Jimmy Mubenga, 46, died last week shortly after boarding a flight to his home country.  He was flying back subject to deportation orders after his application for asylum in the United Kingdom was denied.

Last Tuesday, Jimmy Mubenga, escorted by three G4S security guards, was put on British Airways flight 77 from Heathrow to Luanda, Angola.  G4S is an international organization specializing in sensitive security operations.  The U.K. contracts G4S to escort deportees to the Home Office.

Shortly after boarding his British Airways flight, a verbal outbreak prompted the guards to forcefully detain Mubenga in his seat. Several witnesses to the detention said that the three security guards who detained Mubenga complained about Mubenga’s breathing throughout the ordeal.

The Guardian reports that witnesses recalled Mubenga being handcuffed and sat between two guards at the rear of the aircraft.  At some point Mubenga began shouting and resisting his deportation and the guards restrained him in his seek despite his shouting “I can’t breathe” until losing consciousness.

Mubenga’s family has called witnesses to come forward with any other information which may assist in the investigation.

“If, as eye-witness report suggest, Mr. Mubenga was complaining of breathing difficulties, questions must be asked as to why help was not called for sooner,” Keith Vaz, chair of the Commons home affairs select committee, said.  “When removing people from the UK, human rights must be fully respected at all times,” he added.

Protests Erupt After Activist’s Murder

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Thousands protested in the streets. (Photo courtesy of Buenos Aires Herald)
Thousands protested in the streets. (Photo courtesy of Buenos Aires Herald)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Protests erupted nationwide in Argentina after the killing of a young activist.  Mariano Ferreyra, 23, was shot Wednesday while demonstrating with railway workers who demanded better pay and benefits.  At least two others were injured by gunfire, including a 57-year-old woman who is now suffering from a serious head wound.  The gunman is still unidentified.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has denied any government involvement in Ferreyra’s murder.  “Violence must be condemned by everybody,” she said at a rally at the Government House.  “We are all responsible.  I don’t want to live in an Argentina where people leave their houses armed with sticks and weapons.  I’m going to defend every demonstration, but not with sticks or guns.”

The President went on to criticize people who “believe that by repressing they show authority,” saying at another rally:  “Some were looking for a new death in Argentina; as they couldn’t achieve it in democracy, these kinds of violent groups appear.”

Opposition groups have denounced the government, accusing it of covering up the “union bureaucracy” they see as being responsible for Ferreyra’s death.

“Murder cannot be the response to a demand from workers,” Hugo Yasky, a union leader, said Thursday.

Although some members of the police force were present at the railway demonstration where Ferreyra died, no officers are currently under investigation.

On Thursday, widespread protests swept across the country as a backlash to Ferreyra’s death.  Protesters blocked roads and interrupted public transportation after a labor federation called a general strike.

Two airline companies in Argentina—LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas– are also protesting Ferreyra’s death.  Unionists from both airlines said they will stop operations from 12:00-2:00pm (for LAN) and 2:00-3:00pm (for Aerolineas Argentinas).  The protests are expected to increase flight delays.

For more information, please see:

Buenos Aires Herald-‘I don’t want to live in an Argentina where people leave their houses with sticks and guns,’ CFK-21October 2010

Latin American Herald Tribune-Union Member’s Killing Spurs General Strike in Argentina-21 October 2010

Momento24-Airline companies protesting because of the death of Mariano Ferreyra-21 October 2010

Monsters and Critics-Protests in Argentina after activist was killed-21 October 2010