Baghdad Rocked by Bombings

By Bobby Rajabi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On April 6, a number of bombings took place all throughout the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The bombings killed at least thirty five individuals. Additionally, over one hundred and forty people were injured in the attacks. The attack comes just two days after suicide near the foreign embassies in Baghdad killed over forty people. The bombings come at a time of political instability as the March 7 parliamentary elections left no single political group with enough votes to form a government.

There were at least seven bombings that struck residential areas throughout the Iraqi capital. According to Iraqi military spokesman, Major General Qassam al-Moussawi, the types of bombs were inconsistent, varying from homemade bombs to a vehicle packed full with explosives. The blasts targeted residential buildings that were in a mix of both Sunni and Shi’ite areas.

In the Shula district, an area located in western Baghdad, a car bomb exploded. The explosion caused an number of buildings to collapse. The collapse of the buildings, according to Iraqi security sources, killed a number of people. Zeina Kohr, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, explained that Shula “is a mostly Shi’ite neighborhood. It used to be a former stronghold of the Mahdi Army.” The Mahdi Army refers to the army of the supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shi’ite leader.

In addition to the car bomb in the Shula district, there were two car bombs that exploded in Chkook, Kahdamiya district. These bombings killed five people. Additionally, three blasts in northern Baghdad targeted apartment buildings filled with people. Another black targeted a building located in the south western part of the Iraqi capital. According to the BBC’s Jim Muir, some of the buildings targeted by bombs collapsed under the force of the blast, burying resident under the rubble.

The Iraqi elections resulted in former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi having a slim lead, but the country lacking certainty in who will form the next government. Bahaa al-Araji, a member of the Iraqi parliament spoke of the effect of the uncertainty on Iraq’s security. Araji said that the security forces lack direction as “they don’t know what will become of them.” Araji explained that the forces are “scared they will their position if government changes.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Multiple Explosions Rock Baghdad – 6 April 2010

BBC – Baghdad Shia Areas Hit By Blasts Killing At Least 35 – 6 April 2010

New York Times – Iraq Bombing Raise Fears of Resurgent Violence – 6 April 2010

Scores of Indian Police Killed in Ambush

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

CHHATTISGARH, India- Maoist rebels have killed at least 75 Indian police in a jungle ambush in central India yesterday in their bloodiest attack on security forces since their uprising began more than four decades ago.

Maoist rebels numbering up to 700 participated in the early morning attack on 82 members of the Central Reserve Police Force patrolling forests in the central state of Chhattisgarh.  Also known as Naxalites, the rebels used automatic weapons and land mines to attack the patrol, surrounding the reinforcements who rushed to the scene in the Bastar region, which is home to India’s largest iron ore mining company.

From his hospital bed, one of the seven troopers who survived with severe injuries said “It was a flash attack…I saw scores of my colleagues in a pool of blood.  Maoists were spraying bullets on us.”  Police said at least 17 soldiers were killed when the Maoist rebels blew up an armored anti-mine vehicle sent to retrieve the wounded.

P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister who last year launched a campaign against the Naxalites said, “Something has gone very wrong. They seem to have walked into a trap…I’m deeply shocked.  I’m sorry for those who’ve lost their lives.  This shows the savage nature of the [Naxalites].”

The Naxalites, who claim to be fighting for the hundreds of millions of poor farmers and landless labourers left behind by India’s recent economic growth have become a growing threat in the region, highlighted by this recent attack.  From their beginnings in 1967, they have grown into a force of about 20,000 permanent armed cadres and 100,000 militia.

Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, has described the Naxalites as the largest internal threat to India’s security.  Chidambaram vowed to defeat the rebels within three years by using paramilitary forces to help state police in Operation Green Hunt.  Critics say the campaign is futile because of chronic lack of training, equipment, personnel and reliable intelligence.

The rebels however, already appear to be stepping up their activities against the government offensive.  Last year, violence claimed 908 lives, the highest total since 1971.

Before yesterday, the rebel’s bloodiest attack was one that killed 55 policemen in March 2007, also in Chhattisgarh.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Scores of Indian Soldiers Killed In Maoist Ambushes– 6 April 2010

TimesOnline- Jungle Ambush Leaves 75 Police Dead In the Bloodiest Day in Maoist Insurgency– 6 April 2010

Guardian.co.uk- Maoist Rebels Kill 75 Indian Police– 6 April 2010


UAE Indian Death-Row Inmates Offered Legal Help

By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch, Middle East Desk

 

SHARJAH, UAE – Seventeen Indians were sentenced to death on March 29 by a Sharjah shariah court for allegedly killing a Pakistani and injuring three others in an attack last year. There is a deadline of two weeks after the pronouncement of judgment within which an appeal has be filed, officials said.

 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Indian consulate officials had visited the 17 Indian men sentenced to death by a court in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, and offered to help them with legal formalities involved in appealing against their sentences.

In a communication to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the prime minister said he had also instructed the external affairs minister and the overseas Indian affairs minister to take all possible steps in the matter to ensure a positive outcome.

An appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in UAE on behalf of 17 Indians facing death sentence there for killing a Pakistani. “We have engaged Mhd Salman as the lawyer for these Indians. And an appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in the case,” officials said.

The UAE government has already made it clear that its legal system guarantees a fair trial and the death sentence is subject to appeal and annulment by the rule of law without any interference from the parties concerned.

“We fully trust our legal system and its procedures and we are sure that it will provide and guarantee a fair trial to the convicted,” the UAE embassy in New Delhi had said in a statement yesterday. There is deep concern over the fate of these Indians, mostly from lower middle class farming families in Punjab and Haryana.

A UAE website claims, “The UAE’s tolerant, cosmopolitan atmosphere – which is most notable in the emirate of Dubai – gives resident non-Emiris opportunities to enjoy their own cultural and religious organizations.”

For more information, please see:

 

Hindustan Times – Death Row Indians In UAE Offered Legal Help: PM – 6 April 2010

The Times of India – Appeal Likely Tomorrow In UAE Against Death Of 17 Indians – 6 April 2010

SIKH Times – UAE Death Sentence Hanging Over 17 Indians – 6 April 2010

Indian Express – Govt Set To Appeal UAE Court Verdict – 6 April 2010

Karadzic Seeks Stay in ITCY Trial

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Kardzic, currently on trial for war crimes, has filed a motion asking the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ITCY) to “stay the proceedings in his trial due to resume next week on April 13.

Specifically, Mr. Karadzic claims that the trial is tainted because of “the admission of the unprecedented number of prior statements and testimonies” the “taking of judicial notice of an unprecedented number of adjudicated facts.”

Karadzic’s American attorney, Peter Robinson, contests that if the trial proceeds, it will “violate the fundamental tenets of fair criminal trials” and deprive Mr. Karadzic of the opportunity to defend himself.

The motion indicates that the ITCY Trial Chamber accepted some 1,500 facts found in previous Bosnian war crimes cases with different defendants. Moreover, written affidavits of 141 prosecution witnesses have been admitted in court, allegedly without adequate opportunity for cross examination. Without the ability to question these facts and witnesses, Mr. Karadzic says that he will not be afforded a fair trial.

This stay is another potential delay in bringing Mr. Karadzic to justice for 11 charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, and violations of the laws of war. The charges stem from when Mr. Karadzic served as the leader of Bosnian Serbs and allegedly ordering the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.

Since being arrested in 2008, Mr. Karadzic has consistently attempted to delay proceedings. For example, in October 2009, Karadzic boycotted the prosecution’s opening statements.

Also, just last week, Mr. Karadzic filed a motion to postpone the trial to allow him more time to prepare the defense. However, the ITCY Appellate Chamber refused to grant the motion and delay the trial past April 13, the day which the prosecution will call its first witness to testify.

For more information, please see:

BALKAN INSIGHT – Karadzic Files for ‘Stay of Proceedings’ in ITCY – 6 April 2010

CTV – Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic asks UN to halt trial – 6 April 2010

ETAIWANNEWS – Karadzic says trial is unfair, asks court for halt – 6 April 2010

New Zealand Judge, Family Receive Death Threats in Vanuatu

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – A New Zealand judge, who recently reported on the violent nature of Vanuatu’s police force, and his family have received death threats.

The Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), Vanuatu’s paramilitary force, has threatened the Justice Nevin Dawson, who came to the island in 2008 as part of New Zealand’s effort to provide assistance.

The judge and his family have left the island but according to spokesman Foreign Minister Murray McCully, it was for a vacation.

Although Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, told reporters several weeks ago that they did not think the judge was in danger, the government has attempted to increase the security as his residence.

As a result of the threats, a security-guard has been assigned to guard the judge’s home, throughout the day and including overnight protection.  Dawson and his family have changed their daily routines, stopped using public transportation, and even stopped dining out for fear that they would be poisoned.  This is a “favourite way of getting rid of problems” according to one observer.

Last year, a man was recaptured and beaten to death after escaping from prison, during an interrogation by the VMF.  Justice Dawson issued a report on his death, which revealed that members of Vanuatu’s police force were in serious violation of human rights and the rule of law.  The report caused many to question the role of the paramilitary force, which could also have a potentially damaging effect on Vanuatu’s political stability.

In addition, Dawson reported that the VMF had attempted to prevent him from revealing any further information through intimidation and death threats.  For instance, one VMF officer stalked Dawson at his home.

Dawson is nearing the end of his two year term on the island.  During the first threat to his safety, which occurred at the end of last year, he was offered the opportunity to leave the island, but chose to stay.

A representative from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the threats to Judge Dawson’s life were taken with “utmost seriousness”.

“There have been threats made against him and his family and we have had concerns about their safety for some time.”

The Vanuatu government finally responded to the report that initiated these events earlier this week.  Mr. Kilman said that it had respected the rule of law and that the police force had a responsibility to recapture the prison escapee, who was causing fear in the community.  He did not, however, respond to Dawson’s allegations that the senior members of the VMF committed perjury during the inquiry.

That incident is still being discussed within the Vanuatu government.

In the meantime, officials will also discuss whether the current security for the judge and his family is adequate.

For more information please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Vanuatu coroner leaves country after threats – 06 April 2010

Stuff – NZ judge leaves Vanuatu amid death threats – 06 April 2010

Sunday Star Times – New death threats to NZ judge, family – 06 April 2010