Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon March for Basic Rights

By Alyxandra Stanczak
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon– More than 6,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon protested for basic rights this weekend. The protesters gathered in Beirut and marched to the United Nations headquarters. Approximately ten percent of Lebanon’s population, or 400,000 people, is composed of Palestinian refugees. They are a marginalized group in Lebanon, often experiencing employment discrimination and insufficient public, social, education, and medical services.

Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr el-Bared, near Tripoli. Image courtesy of Fox News.
Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr el-Bared, near Tripoli. Image courtesy of Fox News.

Earlier this week, Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon, Abdullah Abdullah, urged Lebanese officials to grant basic rights to Palestinian refugees within the country at this politically crucial time. Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri has stated that while the Lebanese government has “social, ethical, and humanitarian duties” toward the refugees it could no longer ignore, the Lebanese government would not permit the naturalization of Palestinians refugees as Lebanese citizens.

Lebanon’s parliament has drafted a law that is due for floor debate within the next few weeks that will address the issues facing Palestinians within Lebanon.  Specifically, the law would legalize basic worker’s rights, such as medical care and end-of-service pay. Additionally, the law would give Palestinians the right to own a residential apartment. Though this law has support, it is expected to be fiercely debated on the floor due to sectarian concerns.

Offices in the Lebanese government are divided proportionally, with political appointments reserved for people affiliated with specific religious communities. The outdated proportion of political seats is based off the last census, which was taken in 1932. The lack of a recent census has resulted in three of the eighteen different religious sects claiming to have an absolute majority. Political power is not only divided among sectarian lines within Islam, but roughly thirty-five-percent of the Lebanese population identifies itself as Christian.

If political rights are designated to Palestinian refugees, who are generally Sunni Muslim, the Sunni sect would likely attain a higher proportion in the government. This shift in power could ultimately undermine the political influence of other religious communities.

Most of the approximately 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon reside in twelve camps under deplorable living conditions. Palestinian refugees, who are forbidden to work in certain professions under Lebanese Law, such as medicine, law, engineering, and architecture, remain mired in a cycle of unemployment and poverty.

Furthermore, these camps, which are not secured by the Lebanese Army, are often an attractive hideout for extremists and fugitives.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Palestinian diplomat urges Lebanese unity on refugee rights – 29 June 2010

Al Jazeera – Refugees march for Lebanon rights – 27 June 2010

Daily Star – Hariri calls for national unity on granting rights to Palestinians – 30 June 2010

Voice of America – Palestinians in Beirut hope for more rights – 29 June 2010

‘Trigger Happy Police’ – Kashmir’s War on its own People

By David L. Chaplin II
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KASHMIR, India – The killings of civilian protesters, most of them teenagers, have angered many in the valley.  One newspaper headline described 2010 as the “year of teenage killings” in Kashmir. 

Even the pro-India People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the government of declaring war on its own people, our correspondent reports.

Kasmir and Jammu Police holding assault rifels
Kasmir and Jammu Police holding assault rifles.

Hundreds of thousands of troops are based in Kashmir to fight a two-decade insurgency against Indian rule.

The three deaths on Tuesday mean that there have been 10 civilian deaths at the hands of the security forces this month in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The protests have been some of the biggest in two years.  The latest violence began with the death of a schoolboy on June 11.

“When incidents like this happen, when innocents get killed, people get provoked,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the leader of the Separatist Hurriyet Conference, told Al Jazeera.

Local people and the state government have blamed most of those deaths on the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

They say that in many cases the CRPF – who have been described by the state government as “trigger happy” – fired on unarmed protesters.

On Tuesday the army said it killed five militants who were trying to cross the Line of Control which divides Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.  The army said that three soldiers also died in the gunbattle on Monday night and Sunday afternoon in the Nowgam area.

Shops, schools and colleges in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley are shut on the fourth day of the curfew, the BBC’s Altaf Hussain in Srinagar reports.  The strike has been called in protest at the recent killing of unarmed civilians by police and paramilitary troops.  Five towns – Sopore, Anantnag, Mattan, Kulgam and Koimoh – and some areas of Srinagar have been placed under curfew.

Nearly 20 civilians died in clashes with security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir in June.  Many of the deaths have been blamed on the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

On Wednesday Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the security forces, saying they could not be expected constantly to show restraint when they were so often pelted with stones.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Muslim-majority Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan both claim sovereignty and have fought two wars.

The authorities have re-imposed a curfew in the northern town of Sopore, where protesters clashed with the police until late on Monday night.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Civilians killed in renewed Kashmir violence – 29 June 2010

Al Jazeera English – Deadly clashes continue in Kashmir – 29 June 2010

CNN World – 4 dead, 5 wounded in Kashmir fighting – 25 June 2010

Masked Gunmen Destroy Another Summer Camp for Children in Gaza

By Dallas Steele
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

Palestinian children under the age of 15, totaling roughly 700,000, comprise half of the total population in the Gaza Strip. (Photo Courtesy of Associated Press)
Palestinian children under the age of fifteen comprise half of the total population in the Gaza Strip. (Photo Courtesy of AP)

For the second time this summer, masked gunmen have set fire to a United Nations-run summer camp in the Gaza Strip. The site of the second vandalized camp is in the vicinity of the camp which was vandalized this past May.

The UN estimates that roughly twenty-five armed men attacked the camp between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, when children were not present. Security guards at the camp were tied up before the armed militants set about slashing plastic sheds and toys, vandalizing a swimming pool, and burning down chairs, tables, easels, and other equipment. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the attack.

As with the incident in May, no group has come forth to claim the attack. Following the attack from last month, however, it was later discovered that a previously unheard of Islamic extremist group was behind the razing of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) summer camp.  The unknown Islamist group claimed the summer camp was a corrupting influence on local children because it introduced activities considered at odds with conservative Islamic customs. It is also believed that the group objected to boys and girls going to camp together.

John Ging, the director of the agency’s operations, responded to the second attack saying: “The overwhelming success of UNRWA’s Summer Games has once again obviously frustrated those that are intolerant of children’s happiness. This is another example of the growing levels of extremism in Gaza and further evidence of the urgency to change the circumstances on the ground.”

Ging again pledged to continue to run the 1,200 UN-sponsored summer camps, which have allowed about 250,000 Gazan children to take part in such activities as sports, swimming, arts, and theater.

Hamas, Gaza’s militant Islamist ruler, condemned last month’s attack and has said it will apprehend and jail whoever carried out the current attack. BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison, however, has reported that there are those that think Hamas may be connected to the most recent attack.  They argue that an attack involving around twenty-five masked men could not be conducted without at least the implicit support of Hamas.  Hamas also runs summer camps which compete with the UN sponsored camps for the enrollment of Gazan youth. The Hamas summer camp offers such activities as horseback riding, swimming, as well as classes on Islam, but also teach children military-style marching and anti-Israel doctrine.

There are roughly 700,000 children under the age of 15 living in Gaza.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Gaza gunmen ‘set fire to UN summer camp for children’ – 28 June 2010

CNN – Militants attack UN-sponsored summer camp in Gaza – 28 June 2010

The New York Times – Vandals Set Fire to UN Children’s Camp in Gaza – 28 June 2010

Violence Against Journalists Increases In Run-up to Rwandan Election

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda-Political repression and instability are on the rise as the presidential elections in the Republic of Rwanda draw near.   Violent instability has received international attention after the shooting death of the independent journalist Jean-Leonard Rugamsbage on July twenty-forth.   Rugamsbage died instantly after being shot in the head and chest by assailants who were waiting outside of his house.

Umuvugizi Banned After Criticism of Rwandan Government
Umuvugizi Banned After Criticism of Rwandan Government

The murder of Rugamsbage is just the latest attack against journalist in Rwanda.  In February 2007, Jean-Bosco Gasasira, an editor for the independent Rwandan newspaper Umuvugizi’s narrowly survived an attack after speaking out about the harassment of journalists in Rwanda at a presidential news conference.  Now Human Rights Watch is leading an effort to bring attention to the current situation in Rwanda in order to clamp down on violence against journalists.  Africa director at Human Rights Watch, Rona Peligal, contends that in the run-up to the election “the government is lashing out to silence its opponents and critics.”

Critics of the government including Umuvugizi contend that the government is responsible for the death of Mr. Rugamsbage.   Mr. Gasasira, who recently fled to Uganda after publication of an article critical of the government caused discontent among army leadership, claims that the government maintains a campaign against journalists and is involved in this most recent attack.  Mr. Gasasira believes that the government sought to silence Mr. Rugamsbage for publishing an article linking the government with the failed assassination of Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former high ranking leader of the Rwandan army.  International organizations are currently seeking an independent investigation into this most recent murder and into violence against journalists throughout Rwanda.

Paul Kagame, the current President of the Republic of Rwanda has denied allegations that his government is behind the murder of Mr. Rugamsbage.   President Kagame told Reuters that “[t]he government of Rwanda might have its disagreements with journalists, like other governments, but we do not kill them.”   The government had already taken action against Umuvugizi, suspending the publication and blocking its website alleging that it was merely a sensationalist newspaper.   The President also reported that he requested the initiation of an investigation into Mr. Rugamsbage death.   Two men have been arrested for Mr. Rugamsbage’s death.

The upcoming election is only the second election since the 1994 genocide.  Mr. Kagame is expected to be re-elected for another term.   International organizations have expressed concern that Mr. Kagame’s re-election would lead to further suppression of freedom of press in the country.

For more information please see;

Associated Press – Rwanda Denies Involvement in Journalist’s Death – 29 June, 2010

Huffington Post – Kagame’s Rwanda Attacking Journalists and Political Opponents – 27 June, 2010

Reuters – Rwanda Repression Rises Ahead of Poll – 27 June, 2010

Irish Times – Editor of Rwandan Paper Shot Dead – 26 June, 2010

New York Times – Rwandan Editor Who Accused Officials in Shooting Killed – 25 June, 2010

Bus Crash Kills 28 And Injures At Least 44

Previous Bus Accident In Bolivia (Photo Courtesy of www.topnews.in)
Previous Bus Accident In Bolivia (Photo Courtesy of www.topnews.in)

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LA PAZ, Bolivia – At least 28 people were killed, and at least 44 were injured, when a passenger bus drove over the side of a ravine in Bolivia.  The injuries include one child being killed and 16 other children being injured.  According to police, the bus involved was carrying approximately 70 people and was traveling from Cochabamba, a central city, to the southwestern city of Potosi when it drive through a guard rail and fell 11 meters to the ground.

The accident occurred at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday in the Pongo, K’asa area.  Police commander Col. Hernan Trujillo stated that the bus’ brakes had failed causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and plunge into the ravine.

Although Roberto Gandarillas, the bus driver, claimed that he alerted the passengers about the bus’ brake failure and told the passengers to move to the back of the bus, the precautions did not prevent the injuries.  When authorities arrived at the scene of the accident, Gandarillas attempted to flee; however, he was quickly obtained and arrested.  The Bolivian police immediately tested Gandarillas for alcohol, fearing that he may have been intoxicated, but the test results have not yet been returned.

Officials also fear that the bus may have been overloaded because the bus was only equipped to hold 45 passengers.  The bus’ passengers told local authorities that Gandrillas was speeding as the time of the accident.

This accident comes only days after a separate bus accident on the same highway claimed the lives of 13 people and injured 37 others.

Leticia Costa, a passenger on the bus who was injured, remembered that she was sleeping, but woke up “when passengers began screaming at the driver to stop.”  “He accelerated even more and in one of the turns we went off the side of the road and bus hurled over the side,” Costa said.

Accidents such as this are not uncommon on the Andean region and generally involve unregulated buses traveling too quickly on poorly maintained roads.

For more information, please see:

Big Pond News – Bolivia Bus Crash Kills At Least 25 – 29 June 2010

Hindustian Times – 13 Dead in Bolivia Bus Crash – 28 June 2010

Thaindian News – 28 Dead, 44 Hurt In Bolivia Bus Accident – 28 June 2010