Sadr Orders Militia to Stand Down

By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers to cease hostilities, ending six days of violence in Iraq.  Sadr directed his Mahdi Army to cooperate with the Iraqi government’s efforts to maintain security, but did not tell them to give up their weapons.  In exchange for an end to the violence, Sadr demanded that his followers be released and given amnesty.  Sadr also used the statement as a rallying cry against the US forces in Iraq, calling them the “armies of darkness.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki targeted Sadr’s followers in an offensive launched last week aimed at improving security in the country.  The Maliki government hoped to weaken Sadr’s influence, both politically and militarily, but the plan appears to have backfired.  The offensive has been widely seen as a failure.  It is now Maliki, not Sadr, who appears to be politically and militarily weak.

The cease-fire itself shows Sadr’s strength.  Before he launched the offensive, Maliki claimed that there would be no negotiations.  After Sadr offered the ceasefire, a Maliki spokesman described Sadr’s statement as a “positive step.”  Instead of weakening Sadr’s influence, the recent violence has allowed him to solidify his base, both politically and militarily.

For more information, please see:

Time – How Moqtada al-Sadr Won in Basra – 1 April 2008

Reuters – Baghdad Green Zone Hit by Mortars – 31 March 2008

Washington Post – Sadr Tells His Militia To Cease Hostilities – 31 March 2008

Two Officials in China Sentenced to Death

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

CHONGQING, China – Wen Qiang, a 55-year old former Chinese police chief, was sentenced to death in a gang corruption case for taking about $2.4 million from Chongqing crime syndicates in return for his promise to provide legal protection. Within 24 hours of Wen’s sentencing, a 54-year old banker, Wang Yi, was also sentenced to death for taking bribes.

Wen’s story has been the biggest in a series of related gang prosecutions in the south-western city of Chongqing. Wang’s tale, though a bit less sensational, has caused a similar reaction now that his conviction and punishment have been handed down.

In Wen’s case, back in August 2009, investigators were looking for 469 suspects from 14 different gangs. Even then, when Wen was acting as the director of Chongqing’s judicial bureau and a former police chief in the city, he was under internal investigation for suspicion of protecting criminals. In late summer of 2009 when intense investigation was instigated, Liu Guanglei, a member of the standing committee of the city’s Party Committee and team leader of the operation, told the Chongqing Evening News that gangs were involved in “prostitution, gambling, drugs and guns”, and that their crimes included murder and kidnapping.

Wen was detained last August and accused of protecting gang operations masterminded by his sister-in-law, Xie Caiping, 46, known as the “godmother” of the Chongqing underworld. Xie was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in November for running illegal casinos and bribing government officials.

 The death ruling by the Chongqing No 5 intermediate people’s court passed sentence on Wen. When testifying about the money and its origin, Wen told the court much of the money he had accepted was for “birthday and new year” gifts. In addition to being found guilty of taking bribes, Wen was also found guilty of raping a university student in 2007 and 2008, according to a news report by Chongqing News. Wen remained silent throughout the trial on Wednesday and kept a straight face when the death sentence was delivered. He can appeal the sentence, but it is not likely that the court will reverse.

However, Wen was not alone – the court found a ring of corrupt Chongqing officials. More than 3,000 people, including 14 high-ranking government and police officials, have been arrested. Chongqing’s Communist party boss, Bo Xilai, said last month the crackdown was not over, and 500 or 600 cases “still haven’t been broken.” Even Wen’s wife was sentenced. She received eight years in prison for taking bribes in exchange for protecting gang members, according to Chongqing News.

In a comment to China Daily, Pan Jinggui, a law professor at the Chongqing-based Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said, “The verdict has sounded an alarm to all police officials – cherish, don’t abuse, the powers given to you.” He went on to say that, “It also reflects the government’s determination to fight corruption and has restored the public’s confidence in the judiciary.”

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Former Chinese police chief sentenced to death in gangland case – 17 April 2010

The Times of India – 2 top officials get death over graft in China – 17 April 2010

China Daily – Chongqing hails death for biggest fish– 17 April 2010

Journalist From Breakaway Moldovan Region Charged With Treason And Espionage

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TIRASPOL, Transnistria – An independent journalist from the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria was arrested in Tiraspol on Wednesday and charged with treason and espionage by the Transnistrian government.

The Transnistrian government is alleging that Vardanean has been spying on behalf of the Moldovan government.  In the past, Ernest Vardanean’s writings have often been critical of the federal government of Moldova, as well as the unrecognized government of Transnistria.  A notable target of his criticism is Transnistria President Igor Smirnov.

The arrest of Vardanean has brought swift condemnation from a number of international NGOs.  The joint statement, which was supported by the Center for Independent Journalism, the Moldovan Journalists’ Union and the Center for Journalist Investigations, declared that “the pressures upon some Transnistrian journalists, including by justice, are not unusual things for Transnistria.  We qualify the actions of Transnistrian secrete services as a new act for intimidation of Transnistrian journalists.”  The NGOs also called on the governments of Russia and Ukraine to pressure the Transnistrian authorities to release Vardanean.

Moldova’s President, Mihai Ghimpu, also condemned Vardanean’s arrest.  Ghimpu suggested that it was undertaken on the orders of Igor Smirnov, who has served as President of Transnistria since it gained its current autonomy in 1991.  “Tiraspol wants to remind the world about Smirnov and his self-proclaimed republic.”

Following an insurgency with the Moldovan government in 1990, the breakaway Transnistria region has operated independent of the central government.  It is not currently recognized as an independent nation by the United Nations or any nation other than Russia.  Unlike the rest of Moldova, the population of this region is largely ethnically Russian.

If convicted of all charges, Vardanean faces up to twenty years in prison.

For more information, please see:

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS – Does arrest signal campaign by breakaway region against pro-Moldovan journalists? – 15 April, 2010

MOLDOVA POLITICOM – Transnistrian journalist Ernest Vardanean accused of treason and espionage – 14 April, 2010

BBC – Moldovan authorities, media worried about arrest of Dniester journalist – 13 April, 2010

JURNAL – NGOs defend journalist Vardanean, arrested in Tiraspol – 13 April, 2010

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Moldova Condemns Arrest of Journalist In Transdniester – 13 April, 2010

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Transdniestrian Journalist Charged With Treason – 12 April, 2010

Macedonian Law Criticized for Not Protecting Homosexuals

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

SKOPJE, Macedonia – This week the Parliament of Macedonia adopted an anti-discrimination law, but failed to include a provision barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. This statute has drawn the criticism of the European Union and some human rights groups, including Amnesty International.

The law was passed by 62 of the 120 members of the Parliament on Thursday April 15. It bars and creates penalties for discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, and religion. The opposition party protested the exclusion of similar protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons in Macedonia.

After the legislation passed, the EU immediately asked Macedonian legislatures to reconsider or otherwise amend the legislation.

In particular, the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, pointed to the EU framework which requires that national standards for anti-discrimination align with minimum standards.

These standards, under the Charter of Fundamental Rights adopted in the Lisbon Treaty, require that any “recently enacted antidiscrimination legislation will need to be amended in order to include explicit prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual discrimination.”

Even though Macedonia is not a part of the EU, and therefore not required to change the law, it is currently part of the accession process and seeks to join the EU in the next round of enlargement.

In addition to violation European law, human rights groups claim that Macedonia’s law does not comply with international law. Amnesty International, specifically, claims that protecting citizens from all forms of discrimination constitutes a legal obligation under various human rights treaties that Macedonia has signed on to.

The Macedonian opposition has seized on this issue to point out impunity issues in the nation. They claim that conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has a long record of antagonism towards homosexual Macedonians. They also claim that the new law is a deliberately “discriminatory anti-discrimination law”.

Moreover, EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, claims that he sent a letter to Mr. Gruevski, which has been an ignored to continue domestic discrimination against citizens that are homosexual.

Documented instances of discrimination against homosexuals during the Gruevski administration have included job discrimination, humiliation in public places, and harassment by police officers.

For more information, please see:

ASSOCIATED PRESS – New Macedonian rights law fails to protect gays – 16 April 2010

BALKAN INSIGHT – Macedonia Press Review, April 16, 2010 – 16 April 2010

EU OBSERVER – EU rejects Macedonia anti-discrimination law – 16 April 2010

Same-Sex Partners Granted Broader Visitation Rights

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States-Another victory was won by gay-rights advocates in their campaign to gain equal rights.  In a memorandum to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), President Barack Obama mandated that a majority of hospitals allow partners of homosexuals the same visitation rights as heterosexual couples.

President Obama wrote that there was a major problem in America where patients are denied access to those who most care for them by hospitals.  Normally, hospitals only allow those people related by blood or marriage to visit a seriously ill patient or make medical decisions for that person.  This issue particularly affects homosexual Americans.  President Obama wrote “gay and lesbian Americans are often barred from the bedsides of the partners they may have spent decades of their lives.”

According to the memo, the Secretary of HHS, Kathleen Sebelius, is directed to develop rules to enforce hospitals to “respect the rights of patients to designate visitors.”  The memo also directed the Secretary to begin developing rules allowing patients more freedom to choose who should be their medical proxy.  Additionally, hospitals must honor power of attorney and health care proxy documents already created by couples.  The new rules will apply to those hospitals that receive funding from Medicare and Medicaid.  The procedures for creating new rules within agencies can last many months.

Opponents of the gay-rights movement criticized the mandate as granting special rights to homosexual couples.  They see the mandate as intruding upon the fundamental principle of marriage: Marriage is between one man and one woman. Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council stated “the memorandum undermines the definition of marriage.” Nevertheless, many opponents of gay-rights support a person’s choice of who they want next to them during a health crises.

Supporters of the gay-rights movement applauded the mandate issued by the President. David Smith of the Human Rights Campaign stated, “We see this as part of our ongoing effort to encourage the administration to take action where it has authority to act.”  Despite support for the homosexual community, the Obama Administration has been criticized by others as moving too slow on bringing equality to homosexuals.  They believe that the President has not followed through on his campaign promises.

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times-Obama orders most hospital to grant gays visitation rights-16 April 2010

MSNBC-Obama Agenda: Same-Sex Visitation-16 April 2010

Washington Post-Obama extends hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners of gays-16 April 2010