KENYAN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN UGANDA


By Elly On
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KIREKA, UGANDA-Two Kenyans, a lawyer and a human rights activists, were illegally arrested and detained without due process in Uganda on September 15, 2010.

The two activists, Al-Amin Kimathi and Mbugua Mereithi were arrested at Entebbe International Airport on September 15, 2010 upon their arrival. They were taken to the headquarters of Ugandan police’s Rapid Response Unit located in Kireka, Kampala. The unit is known for brutal violations, torture, extrajudicial executions, and illegal detainment of criminal suspects.

The two activists were travelling to Uganda to attend the scheduled hearing of suspects who were charged with terrorism for bombings that took place in Kampala on July 11, 2010. The bombings resulted in death of 70 people who were taching a World Cup soccer match in Kampala. Upon arrival at the airport, the two activists were taken by the Ugandan police and never appeared to the hearing scheduled for September 16, 2010. Rwakafuuzi, the lawyer representing some of the suspects, found out that both of the activists were taken to Kireka. It is unclear as to what grounds they were arrested for.

The Rapid Response Unit, formerly known as the Violent Crack Crimes Unit, is known for its torturing and killing its suspects. In September 2009, a journalist named Robert Kalundi Sserumaga was arrested, beaten and held overnight in Kireka for making remarks about Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s upbringing. Recently, at least two suspects have died in Kirekia while being held by the agents of Rapid Response Unit. In both cases, suspects were beaten to death during interrogations for alleged theft.

For More Information, Please See:

Associated Press-Ugandan Police Arrest 2 Kenyan Rights Activists – 17 September 2010
BBC News-Kenyans Held in Uganda over Kampala World Cup Attack – 17 September 2010
Human Rights Watch Uganda-Kenyan Activists at Risk of Torture – 17 September 2010

International Committee of the Red Cross September News and Notes

Courtesy of the International Committee of the Red Cross

This month the ICRC Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada updates you on the unfolding situation in Pakistan, where millions of people remain in need of assistance due to widespread flooding.

We also take a look at ongoing operations in Iraq where the ICRC has visited approximately 70,000 detainees since 2003. In addition, the ICRC continues to assist hospitals and bring aid to vulnerable populations.

Next, we share an interview with Hernán Reyes, ICRC’s medical coordinator for health and detention, who was recently in the United States for a speaking engagement on medical ethics.

We then invite applicants between the ages of 18 and 25 to enter theICRC Young Reporter Competition and to report to the world on issues affecting young people. Lastly, we give the answer to last month’s quiz question below in the sidebar. Find out if you were right!

For more information, please see:

International Committee of the Red Cross September News and Notes

Soldiers Deployed in West Papua After Deadly Shooting


Where the death of protesters occurred in West Papua, Indonesia (Photo courtesy of the Jakarta Globe)

By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A day after the killing of two men by police, the Indonesian military deployed soldiers across Manokwari, West Papua, as thousands of residents took to the streets to protest. A woman was also injured at the shooting and remains in critical condition at the hospital.

A day earlier, Indonesian police opened fire when a dispute over a traffic accident got out of control, resulting in the killings.

In response to the deadly incident, and in rejecting allegations the police used excessive force, provincial police spokesman Wachyono said police were forced to use lethal force in self-defence when dozens of angry residents became violent after a motorist fled the scene of an accident in the city of Manokwari.

“Our members opened fire at the angry residents. They did it automatically in self-defence against people who brought knives, spears and wooden sticks,” he said.

However, Papuan tribal representative Dominikus Sorabut, from the Papuan Customary Council, said heavily armed police acted out of revenge after the mob pelted them with stones.
 
“The policeman who was hit by stones ran back to his station and came back with a troupe and acted blindly by shooting people,” he said.

On Thursday, soldiers had been deployed around important installations and at locations where crowds had been gathering.

“Our soldiers are helping the police secure Manokwari, particularly the heart of the city, crowded areas and vital installations, as requested by the Manokwari Police,” Edward Sitorus said, who is currently the district military commander in Manokwari.

“This has nothing to do with the demand by residents that all Brimob [the National Police’s Mobile Brigade] officers be pulled out of Manokwari,” he said. “We have not taken over security of the city. We are just assisting the police.”

It is widely known that Indonesia’s police are notorious for poor discipline, corruption and torture. 

They are also widely accused of serious human rights abuses against indigenous Melanesians in Papua, where a low-level insurgency has simmered for decades.

Earlier this month police killed seven people in Central Sulawesi province after locals rose up against them in anger at the death in custody of a local man who had been arrested by police for traffic violations.

It is reported that at least 32 officers have been questioned over the violence occurred earlier this month in Buol. 

Bambang, the Manokwari Police chief, was firm in his statement.

“So far we believe that our officers followed procedure. They were attempting to take control of the situation and fired warning shots. Those shots were ignored by the mob. Then, they opened fire to [stop the rioters],” he said.

“I am sure what they did was in accordance with procedure. But an investigation needs to be conducted to legally clarify matters,” Bambang added.

For more information, please see:

Jakarta Globe – Soldiers Patrol West Papua After Deadly Police Shooting – 17 September 2010

Yahoo News – Indonesia police kill two in Papua road riot – 17 September 2010

ABC News – West Papua police kill two in road riot – 16 September 2010

U.S. Gives $30 Million to Colombian Armed Forces

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

President Santos vowed to fight impunity. (Photo courtesy of Colombia Reports)
President Santos vowed to fight impunity. (Photo courtesy of Colombia Reports)

BOGOTA, Colombia—The U.S. State Department has given certification to Congress that Colombia meets “statutory criteria related to human rights.”  This disburses the last funds that the U.S. pledged to give the Colombian military, an amount exceeding $30 million.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged that despite issuing the remaining funds, impunity in Colombia remains a concern.  The State Department asked Colombia’s justice system to strengthen the fight against human rights violations.

Colombia’s Prosecutor-General’s office is in need of organization and is noted for slow response times to crimes.  The State Department encouraged the Prosecutor-General’s office to effectively investigate wiretapping and surveillance frequently conducted by Colombia’s Department of Administrative Security (DAS).

Just sworn in on August 7 of this year, Colombia’s new President Juan Manuel Santos has been making strides against criminal groups operating in the country and threatening human rights activists.  The Santos administration has started illustrating a commitment to human rights, creating a labor roundtable, meeting with NGOs and attempting to improve the relationship with the judicial system.

President Santos was pleased with the certification by the State Department and called the decision “just” in a statement posted on the presidential website.  He went on to admit that there is much work to be done for the future:  “This is good news and more than anything just because it recognizes the attempt we’ve been making against a problem that no one denies.  Everyone knows that it existed and still exists, but to lesser extent.”

The State Department released a press statement explaining that Colombia took “positive steps to improve respect for human rights in the country.  Firm direction by the government that extrajudicial killings will not be tolerated has led to a rapid reversal in this disturbing trend.”  The Department also took note, however, that “there continues to be a need for improvement.”

The money will be used to help Colombia combat drug trafficking and widespread guerilla violence.  It will also go towards monitoring human rights abuses by security forces.

Since 2000, Colombia has received over $6 billion in U.S. military and other aid under what is known as Plan Colombia.  This initiative was constructed in hopes of decreasing leftist rebels, far-right militias and the notorious Colombian drug trade.

For more information, please see:

RTT News-US Certification For Colombia’s Human Rights Record-16 September 2010

Colombia Reports-Santos welcomes ‘just’ US certification on human rights-15 September 2010

AP-US OKs $30 million in military aid to Colombia-15 September 2010