A Voice for the Voiceless

Iran Unveils Advanced Centrifuges

By Bobby Rajabi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On Friday April 9 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled new advanced centrifuge that will help accelerate the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment program. The unveiling of new machines has alarmed world powers including the United States who were were already fearful of the aims of Iran’s nuclear program. The centrifuges were unveiled by the Iranian President during a ceremony marking Iran’s National Day of Nuclear Technology as Ahmadinejad pulled back a white curtain to reveal the new machines.

The new, advanced centrifuge machines are capable of much faster uranium enrichment that the centrifuges currently being used in Iran’s nuclear facility. Iranian nuclear officials have praised the advancement as a step toward greater self-sufficiency. The officials are concerned that the nuclear program will suffer from the new nuclear sanctions targeted at ending all uranium enrichment activity in the Islamic republic. President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly insisted that the program only has peaceful aims such as power generation.

The details of the centrifuges were explained by Iranian official Ali Akbar Salehi in his National Day of Nuclear Technology speech. Salehi explained that the centrifuges have the separation power six times that of the first generation centrifuges Iran currently uses. He explained that experts from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran managed to design the new centrifuges and that they had passed several mechanical tests.

President Ahmadinejad’s announcement came as members of the United Nations Security Council was discussing a new round of sanctions against Iran. The rationale for the sanction is Iran’s continued refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Ambassadors from the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany all announced that the talks were productive. The ambassadors did also confirm that the meetings would continue in the coming weeks. China has been under increased pressure from the other Security Council to support the new sanctions despite their public objections.

The UN’s nuclear arm, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced in a February 2010 report that Iran had achieved enrichment levels of up to 19.8%. The report also spoke that the number raised concerns of the “possible military dimensions” of the Iranian nuclear program.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Iran Unveils More Advanced Centrifuge Machines – 9 April 2010

BBC – Iran Unveils ‘Faster’ Uranium Centrifuges – 9 April 2010

Washington Post – Iran Displays New Centrifuge For Nuclear Work – 9 April 2010

Thailand Demonstration: The Bloodiest Since 1992

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Red-shirt protesters in Thailand, supporters of ousted populist leader Thaskin Shinawatra, clashed with the Thai military force on April 10.  Thaskin was overthrown in 2006 by protesters against the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).  These anti-Thaskin political groups identify themselves with yellow attire and have successfully brought down two governments that supported Thaskin.  The group now identifies itself as The People’s Alliance for Democracy and functions as a political party without visible political activism.

The red-shirt UDD, on the other hand, has established multiple educational sessions over the past year and marched in numerous areas in promotion of their cause.  However,  on April 10th, a military effort to clear UDD red-shirts from a camp lead to the deaths of seventeen protesters and four military men.  The red-shirts were protesting the Prime Minister position held by Vejjajiva, who they assert was actually elected undemocratically.

Along with red-shirt street demonstrators, Thaskin has backing from intellectuals and proponents of democratic rule who seek to educate others on their policies.  The multiple constituencies from which Thaskin derives support comprise Thailand’s UDD, many of whom may be identified by their distinctive red attire.  Thaskin’s red-shirt supporters desire to reinstate Thailand’s populist policies framed under his half-decade of leadership.  Red-shirts also demand a state with significantly less military rule and an increase in democracy.

The ouster of Abhisit Vejjajiva from office, however, may not be sufficient to quell the political unrest consuming Thailand.  The Thai people witnessed the violence of red-shirt political protests reach tragically excessive levels, resulting in the bloodiest demonstrations since 1992.  Aside from nearly 25 deaths, well over 800 persons were injured by tear-gas and other anti-riot weapons. Despite the chaos, the red-shirts have refused Vejjajiva’s offers to hold elections within six months.  However, the red-shirts have also claimed that reinstating Thaskin would not be enough to meet their demands; they desire equal treatment of all peoples in Thailand.

Abhisit seems to have used to confusion caused by the rallying to launch propaganda against the red-shirt campaign, claiming that full investigations must go under way to place liability where it is due.  The red-shirts, however, have decided to remain resilient until the Thai government as it exists today ceases to act against their demands.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Q&A: Thailand protests – 13 April 2010

BusinessWeek – Ousting Abhisit May Not End Deadly Thailand Protests – 14 April 2010

Christian Science Monitor – Thailand’s red-shirt protests darken… – 12 April 2010

Syria and Jordan Protest Israeli Order

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria/ AMMAN, Jordan– On Tuesday, Syria chastised new Israeli military orders that they say paves the way for large-scale expulsions of Palestinians from the West Bank and warned that the new orders may lead to a policy of “ethnic cleansing” in the occupied territories.

The new rules, which took effect on Tuesday, allow for anyone caught in the West Bank without an Israeli permit to face immediate expulsion or be sentenced up to seven years in prison.  The order, if implemented in full force, could reach thousands of individuals who have moved to the West Bank, foreign born Palestinians married to West Bankers and foreigners who are in the West Bank on expired tourist visas.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official said “this decision is the adoption of the ethnic cleansing policy and a step to the mass deportation aiming at emptying the land from its people.”  The official further commented “it also constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and human rights and will of the whole international community.”

Syria has not been the only country critical of the new order.  Jordan called in Israel’s ambassador for an official protest over the same decision considering the move to be “a flagrant violation of international law and conventions” and a violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power in the West Bank.

In response, a group of Israeli human rights organizations have asked Defense Minister Ehud Barak to rescind the order’s implementation, arguing that it would “turn all residents of the West Bank into criminals.”  The Israeli government rebutted such an assertion arguing that the order makes “no change with regard to who is illegal or legal.” Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel said “these orders have the effect of turning Palestinians into criminals in their own homes, while directly undermining the efforts of Palestinians to run their own internal affairs.”

An Israeli military official denied that the order would pave the way for large-scale expulsions, indicating that its sole purpose was aimed at foreign activists.

For more information, please see:

CNN- Jordan Protests to Israel Over Expulsions– 14 April 2010

Haaretz- Jordan Condemns Israel Over West Bank Deportation Order– 14 April 2010

The Jerusalem Post- Jordan Protests Expulsion Rule– 14 April 2010

President Obama Hosts Nuclear Summit

By Stephen Kopko,

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States- For the past two days President Barack Obama has hosted many of the world’s leaders in a discussion of one of the world’s most important issues:  nuclear security.  The summit was held in the wake of the United States and Russian agreement to reduce their nuclear arsenals.  The main objective of the summit was to reduce nations stockpiles of nuclear weapons as well as to make nations more accountable for lost nuclear weapons and equipment. These “loose nukes” have the potential to fall into the hands of terrorist organizations.

Forty seven countries participated in the Nuclear Summit.  The leaders pledged commitments to better account for loose nuclear materials in order to promote global security.  Experts estimate that there is between 1,300 to 1,900 tons of weapons grade nuclear materials unaccounted for throughout the world. According to reports, some of these materials are housed in university research centers, United States missile submarines, and Russian icebreaker power plants.

The Nuclear Summit accomplished two primary goals.  First, the summit empowered nations to “clean up their nuclear arsenals” through the formation of specific plans to find and account for “loose nukes.”  Also, the summit placed pressure on nations that have failed to abide by previous nuclear disarmament commitments.

The main criticism of the Nuclear Summit was that it did not accomplish anything of substance.  The promises made by the nations in attendance were voluntary. Senator Jon Kyl stated; “The summit’s purported accomplishment is a nonbinding communiqué that largely restates current policy, and makes no meaningful progress in dealing with nuclear terrorism threats.”

Nevertheless, the summit’s proponents point to some nations actions in the wake of the summit.  For example, Egypt is in the process of criminalizing the trafficking of nuclear materials in their country.  Also, Malaysia, a country known as an easy access point for funneling nuclear materials, imposed stronger export controls.  Additionally the nations in attendance promised to cooperate with international nuclear inspectors.

President Obama admitted that the United States has not always abided by its international nuclear agreements.  However, the United States did take a step forward during the summit.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a proposal with the Russian government that would destroy plutonium that had the ability to make 17,000 nuclear weapons.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press-Nuke summit sets post-Cold War challenge-14 April 2010

Christian Science Monitor-Obama’s nuclear summit report card: incomplete, for now-13 April 2010

NY TIMES-At Security Summit, President Obama Calls For Action, Not Talk, to Secure Nuclear Stockpiles-13 April 2010

Al Qaeda in Iraq Takes Credit for Triple Bombing

By Bobby Rajabi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On April 9, a triple bombing struck the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The attack killed forty people. The bombings, located near foreign embassies in the Iraqi capital, also wounded over two hundred people. The bombings appeared to target the Egyptian, Syrian, Iranian and German embassies. The group Al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the attacks, making the announcement on the internet.

Two of the explosions that struck on April 9 were suicide attacks that went after the Egyptian consulate and the Iranian embassy. They went off within a minute of each other in Mansour, a well educated suburb on the western side of the city. A few minutes later, a third suicide bomber blew his vehicle up. The explosion took place close to the city center. A number of Iraqi guards working for foreign missions were among those killed int the blast. The Iranian, Egyptian, German and Syrians all claimed damage and injuries caused by the blasts.

Al Qaeda in Iraq, referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq (or ISI) posted on militant forums online that the blasts were the “fifth wave’ of their campaign of mass causality attacks on government targets in Iraq. The campaign began in mid 2009 according the SITE Intelligence Group. SITE is a US based group group. The statement also mentioned that all embassies and international political organizations the have dealings with the central Baghdad government were being considered as legitimate targets.

The statement also read that “the mujahedeen will not hesitate to strike, wherever (the Iraqi government) is located and no matter the level of its fortification.” In another statement posted on extremist online forums, the ISI denied all involvement six separate blasts that killed at least thirty five people on April 6. The blasts also destroyed residential buildings in the mostly Shi’ite neighborhoods.

The embassy bombings are part of a recent string of violence around the Iraqi capital that has killed roughly one hundred twenty people in a week. It is suggested that the bloodshed marks an attempt by insurgents to take advantage of the political uncertainty that has followed the March 7 Iraqi elections.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Al-Qaeda in Iraq claims Baghdad Embassy Bombings – 9 April 2010

Associated Press – Iraq al-Qaida Group Says It’s Behind Embassy Hits – 9 April 2010

BBC – Al-Qaeda in Iraq Group Claims Embassy Bombings – 9 April 2010

Press TV – Extremists Claim Responsibility For Baghdad Blasts – 9 April 2010

Washington Post – Group Linked to Al-Qaeda in Iraq Claims Embassy Bombings – 9 April 2010