Uganda Calls For Urgent Assistance Toward Somali Humanitarian Crisis

By Jared Kleinman

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Chief of the Uganda People’s Land Defense Forces has called for urgent and immediate assistance for the Somalia Transitional Federal Government to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the war torn country. Lt General Katumba Wamala said that urgent support needs to be given to the government to improve the besieged government’s capacity and to deliver badly needed services to its people.

 Wamala’s statements were made following heavy clashes Monday which left at least 3 people dead and 4 others wounded in Mogadishu. The most recent fighting occurred between the AMISON backed transitional government and Islamist fighters.

 Uganda is one of two countries that have responded to an AU request for AMISOM troops to Somalia. Since responding, AMISON troops have come under constant attack by Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgents fighting to oust the Western backed government of President Sheikh Ahmed Sharrif.

 “Normalcy can only return to Somalia if the government is able to provide basic services to the people and this can be made possible if there is a public service that is equipped with the necessary knowledge and is committed to service delivery,” said Deputy Special Representative of the African Union Commission for Somalia Wafula Wamunyinyi.

 Clashes in Mogadishu have displaced more than 55,000 people from Mogadishu since the beginning of February, with many of them heading out of Somalia to neighboring Kenya, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

Hawo Sheiikh Ali, a refugee who left Mogadishu at the end of February after a mortar shell killed 15 people in her neighborhood said, “Staying in Mogadishu now is like a death sentence: you are not safe; your neighbour is not safe.”

 “I was selling tea when it hit and all of a sudden I could not see anything. By the time the dust settled 10 young boys were dead,” Ali said. “I don’t know how I survived but I did and I left. I also lost two of my sons, aged 10 and 11; we got separated and up to now I don’t know where they are.”

 Ali said she had never considered becoming a refugee, but now felt she had no choice. He said many families are continuing to arrive “almost daily”.

 For more information, please see:

 Daily Nation – Uganda Urges Immediate Help for Somali Regime – 24 March 2010

Shabelle Media Network- Heavy Clashes Restarts, Kills 3, Injuries 4 in Mogadishu – 23 March 2010

IRIN – Kenya – Somalia – Thousands Flee Mogadishu ‘Death Trap’ – 22 March 2010

 

Sarkozy Announces Plan to Eradicate all ETA Bases in France

Elizabeth A. Conger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

Photo: French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish Prime Minister
Photo: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, left, at the memorial service for Jean-Serge Nérin on March 23, 2010. / Source: Reuters/Michel Euler

PARIS, France –  On Tuesday, March 23, 2010, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced plans to eradicate all Eta bases in France. The remarks were made as Sarkozy attended the funeral of French police officer Jean-Serge Nérin, who was killed by alleged Eta members last week. Sarkozy was joined by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero at the ceremony, which took place in Melun, south-east of Paris. Sarkozy said:

“We will eradicate, one by one, all Eta bases in France. We will flush them out one by one. We will dismantle all of the support networks of this terrorist organization.”

Nérin, a fifty two-year-old father of four, was killed near Paris in an exchange of fire with Eta members. Sarkozy stated that the killing would not go unpunished, and the French police force would be “completely mobilized” in its efforts to arrest the gunmen.

The shootout, which took place in Dammarie-lès-Lys, a municipality in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, began after police apprehended individuals suspected of stealing automobiles. One person at the shootout, an unidentified twenty seven-year-old man, has already been arrested in connection with Nérin’s death, and the police are still searching for five others.

French police have frequently arrested Eta suspects in south-west France, and Eta’s  suspected military leader, Ibon Gogeascotxea, was arrested in Normandy last month with two other terrorist suspects.  The suspects, driving a car with false license plates, were detained in a joint French-Spanish sting near the village of Cahan.

Although Eta has used bases in France during much of its existence,  Nérin is the first French police officer to be killed by Eta.  Sarkozy said:

“This crime will not go unpunished . . . France, more than ever, stands side by side with democratic Spain . . . We will not allow French territory to serve as a base for terrorists and assassins.”

Eta is believed to be responsible for more than 800 deaths since the late 1960’s. The Basque separatist group has engaged in acts of violence in the effort to acheive an independent Basque state. Classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, Eta resumed attacks in June of 2007 after a fifteen month truce ended.

Eta released a statement earlier this week indicating that it was willing to take steps towards politice change in the Basque region, but did not call for an end to the armed struggle.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Sarkozy says France to ‘eradicate’ Eta bases – 23 March 2010

Irishtimes.com – Sarkozy pledges to eradicate Eta as policeman buried – 23 March 2010

Radio France Internationale – Sarkozy vows to eradicate Eta bases in France – 23 March 2010

‘Gutsy’ Human Rights Fighter and Australian Aboriginal Activist Dies

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia – One of the most influential individuals in Australia’s Aboriginal community passed away last weekend, suffering from asbestosis.

Charles “Chicka” Dixon contracted asbestosis when he was a “wharf worker”, according to the Maritime Union of Australia.  He died at age 81.

Mr. Dixon was national recognized for his work pertaining to aboriginal Australians.  He was an active participant in the campaign for the 1967 referendum on citizenship for these individuals.

Although many were aware that the activist has been sick for quite some time, learning of his death was still incredibly sad for state officials, who have offered to give him a state funeral.

Mr. Dixon was dedicated to working with the Aboriginal people of Australia for many years.  A New South Wales Premier, Kristina Keneally said that “[he] spent his life fighting for the rights of indigenous Australians.”

Another official, Bev Manton, who is the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson, noted that he “dedicated his life to fighting for basic human rights and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”  [The Torres Strait Islands are located in the strait between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea.]

Mr. Dixon, who was himself and Aboriginal person, became involved in Australian politics in 1946.

During the 1950s, Mr. Dixon was active in the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.  He also set up services for a community in Sydney.

In addition, he was one of the founding members of the New South Wales Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal Medical service.

In 1972, Dixon brought a group of Aboriginal Australians to China to speak about “their struggle for justice while at the same time shaming the federal government.”

He was the first Aboriginal individual to be appointed as one of the Australia Council’s members.

According to the National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, “Chicka was a worker, leader and activist who was determined to turn around racism and elitism and gain proper recognition for the extraordinary culture and character of his people and the great injustice done to them.”

Ms. Manton proclaimed that “[t]he Chicka Dixon story is one of Australia’s gutsiest fighters for human rights”.

The state funeral will be held next week.

For more information please see:
Sydney Morning Herald – Aboriginal activist Charles ‘Chicka’ Dixon to receive state funeral – 23 March 2010

ABC News – Aboriginal activist ‘Chicka’ Dixon dies – 22 March 2010

Sydney Morning Herald – Aboriginal community mourns Chicka Dixon – 22 March 2010

Commonwealth Games Construction Workers Endure Unsafe, Unhealthy Conditions

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DELHI, India – As India prepares to host the 2010 Commonwealth games, a multi-sport, multi-national event consisting of over 5,000 athletes and competitions ranging from table-tennis to wrestling, there have been reports stating that the construction workers building the venue for the events endure unconscionably poor working and living conditions.  The a committee of five members of the Delhi High Court has been established to investigate the matter and report on the alleged exploitation of workers.

Construction workers in India generally live and work under derisory conditions.  Employers often fail to reasonably compensate individuals for their work, nor are construction workers provided with adequate amenities.  However, unclean conditions and below minimum wages are among the least of the worries for Indian construction workers.  Construction workers often perform their jobs without proper safety equipment, regardless of the magnitude of the project.

The poor conditions for builders in such a public development reinforces the disregard employers have for the people they assigned to the Common Games venue.   Studies have revealed that numerous workers have been temporarily and permanently disabled due to the haphazard safety precautions and dearth of proper apparatuses.

Furthermore, many employers have arbitrary hired impoverished people from various Indian states to work on the Commonwealth Games stadium.  This creates myriad additional safety issues, as inexperienced and scarcely protected lay people are constantly placing themselves and others, including the more experienced construction workers, at significant risk.  .

Here have also been reports of discrimination and other issue in the payment of the construction workers and others working towards the completion of the Commonwealth Games venue.  It seems women workers have been paid lesser wages than the male workers.  Also, those who have quit working before their time was up have failed to receive timely payment for the work they did complete.

No single entity has been identified as fully liable for the poor conditions of workers in such a significant project.  Although, some have found it appropriate to impose responsibility upon the contractors charged with hiring workers for the project.  The contractors hire migrant workers on contractual terms which deprive the workers from various welfare benefits during the time they work.

Independent reports have revealed over seventy workers have died in the course of the venue construction.  However, reports have not yet revealed how and when remedies will be pursued.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – A Commonwealth shame? – 22 March 2010

ConstructionWeek – Commonwealth chief to to take up Games’ workers deaths in India – 23 March 2010

The Hindu – Workers at Games’ sites getting a raw deal -23 March 2010

As India prepares to host the 2010 Commonwealth games, a multi-sport, multi-national event consisting of over 5,000 athletes and competitions ranging from table-tennis to wrestling, there have been reports stating that the construction workers building the venue for the events endure unconscionably poor working and living conditions.  The a committee of five members of the Delhi High Court has been established to investigate the matter and report on the alleged exploitation of workers.
Construction workers in India generally live and work under derisory conditions.  Employers often fail to reasonably compensate individuals for their work, nor are construction workers provided with adequate amenities.  However, unclean conditions and below minimum wages are among the least of the worries for Indian construction workers.  Construction workers often perform their jobs without proper safety equipment, regardless of the magnitude of the project.
The poor conditions for builders in such a public development reinforces the disregard employers have for the people they assigned to the Common Games venue.   Studies have revealed that numerous workers have been temporarily and permanently disabled due to the haphazard safety precautions and dearth of proper apparatuses.
Furthermore, many employers have arbitrary hired impoverished people from various Indian states to work on the Commonwealth Games stadium.  This creates myriad additional safety issues, as inexperienced and scarcely protected lay people are constantly placing themselves and others, including the more experienced construction workers, at significant risk.  .
Here have also been reports of discrimination and other issue in the payment of the construction workers and others working towards the completion of the Commonwealth Games venue.  It seems women workers have been paid lesser wages than the male workers.  Also, those who have quit working before their time was up have failed to receive timely payment for the work they did complete.
No single entity has been identified as fully liable for the poor conditions of workers in such a significant project.  Although, some have found it appropriate to impose responsibility upon the contractors charged with hiring workers for the project.  The contractors hire migrant workers on contractual terms which deprive the workers from various welfare benefits during the time they work.
Independent reports have revealed over seventy workers have died in the course of the venue construction.  However, reports have not yet revealed how and when remedies will be pursued.

Yemen Clerics Oppose Child Bride Ban

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANAA, Yemen– A number of Yemen’s most influential clerics issued a decree on Sunday calling supporters of a ban on child brides to be apostates.  It is believed that the religious decree will deeply hurt efforts to salvage legislation that would make it illegal for individuals under the age of 17 to marry.

Currently in Yemen, the practice of having child brides is quite prevalent, due in large part to the country’s extreme poverty.  In many cases, it is tough for families to pass up on child bride prices which can easily run into the hundreds of dollars.

Last year, the Social Affairs Ministry of Yemen published a report saying that more than a quarter of Yemen’s females marry before age 15.  In February of 2009, a new law set the minimum age for marriage at 17, but it was repealed and sent back to the legislature for review after a number of lawmakers called the bill un-Islamic.  A final decision on the legislation is believed to be forthcoming next month.

One of the clerics behind the decree is Sheik Abdul-Majid al-Zindani, one of Yemen’s most influential clerics and one whom the United States has said is a spiritual mentor of Osama bin Laden.  Yet, since Yemen is currently in a fragile situation as a nation, many government officials are reluctant to challenge al-Zindani and other influential clerics for fear of losing power.

The clerics organized a protest against the legislation on Sunday by a group of women.  One of the protestors, a woman in a black veil and face robes, carried a sign that read “Yes to the Islamic rights of women.”  Another woman at the protest said “I was married at 15 and have many children now.  And I will marry my daughter at the same age if I decide she is ready for it.”

Child brides has been a contentious debate in Yemen starting three years when an 8 year old girl in Yemen courageously went by herself to a courtroom and demanded that the judge dissolve her marriage to a man in his 30’s.  The judge ultimately annulled the marriage and since that time legislators have been looking for ways to curb the practice of child brides.

For more information, please see:

Hurriyet Daily News- Yemeni Protestors Support Proposed Child Marriage Ban– 24 March 2010

The Washington Post- Top Yemeni Clerics Oppose Ban on Child Brides– 22 March 2010

The Straits Times- Women Oppose Child Marriage Ban– 21 March 2010