24 Russians Detained At March Remembering Slain Activists

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Twenty-four people were detained on Tuesday by Moscow police during a rally in remembrance of the killing of an activist human rights lawyer and a prominent reporter.

Approximately one thousand marchers attended the rally in remembrance of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova.  Markelov had worked with human rights victims in Chechnya while Baburova, a journalist for the Novaya Gazeta, had published a number of articles critical of extremist Russian nationalist groups.  Both were murdered after leaving a building in downtown Moscow where they had been attending a news conference.  Protesters at yesterdays rally declared that those neo-Nazi nationalist forces were responsible for their deaths.

Leading human rights activists, including representatives from For Human Rights and the opposition political party Yabloko, were in attendance at the rally.  Russian human rights activist Gary Kasparov noted that those Russians who had been willing to speak out on human rights issues were becoming targets for extremist groups, and the government was not taking the necessary steps to protect them.

In addition to drawing attention to those responsible for the deaths of Markelov and Baburova, those participating sought to draw more scrutiny on the growing prominence of extreme nationalist groups in contemporary Russia.  Sergei Udaltsov, a human rights activist who attended the rally, noted that “we are here to say our firm “No” to nationalism, fascism, and inactivity of authorities.”

The protesters arrested were held by police on the grounds that they were participating in a march that had deviated from the permitted march route.  The city had originally denied a permit for the rally but eventually agreed to the event with certain restrictions.  Participants were not allowed to carry signs with political symbols and they could march in groups no greater than fifty people.  According to the Interfax agency the police put those who had been arrested onto buses before transferring them to another location.

Regarding the arrests at the rally, a police spokesman offered an explanation for the decision by police to arrest the protesters.  “[Those] twenty four people were detained after they tried to hold an illegal march.  There was an agreement with the authorities for a rally, but after the rally they provoked police by trying to stage a march.”

Nikolai Tikhonov and Yevgenia Khasis, members of a neo-Nazi group, were arrested in November and charged with the killing of Markelov and Baburova.

For more information, please see:

MOSCOW TIMES – 500 Rally in Memory of Markelov – 20 January 2010

AP – Moscow rally in memory of slain lawyer, journalist – 19 January 2010

DEUTSCHE PRESS-AGENTUR – 30 arrested in unauthorized Moscow demonstration – 19 January 2010

OTHER RUSSIA – 600 Participate in Memorial March for Slain Lawyer – 19 January 2010

REUTERS – Police Detain 24 At Russian Rally For Murdered Activists – 19 January 2010

ACLU Wins Case to Release Names of Bagram Detainees

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – For the first time after numerous requests, the Pentagon has released the names of approximately 645 Bagram air-base detainees.  The American Civil Liberties Union was able to secure the release of a names list, completed on September 22, 2009, after filing a successful lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act.  The ACLU was also granted partial fulfillment of their request for information regarding the detainment and treatment of Bagram inmates.

Bagram air-base, a US-run military and detention facility in Afghanistan, has been housing inmates for over five years.  It has often been referred to as ‘Afghanistan’s Guantanamo’ because of myriad issues regarding inhumane treatment, such as torture, sodomy, and other heinous acts against inmates.  The prison is also infamous for affording inmates even less civil rights than the scant liberties given Guantanamo inmates.  Nationals of Afghanistan and other surrounding nations are currently held within the confines of the Bagram complex.  Many of these individuals have no little to no knowledge as to why the US military is keeping them and have no access to the world outside air-base.

The recent refurbishment of the Bagram air-base, which included a structural expansion to accommodate a substantially greater number of US troops, brought with it the promise of greater transparency regarding the treatment of inmates.  The recent release of inmates’ names signifies an integral step towards that end, and may also give hopes of redress to those unjustly detained.  Furthermore, the victory for the ACLU could suggest that courts may inquire into whom the perpetrators of human rights violations are and impose accountability where necessary.

The list of detainees and related documents reveal some disturbing facts about Bagram detainees.  Some of the inmates are actually quite young, and though only a few, it has been confirmed that among them are juveniles under the age of sixteen.

Although the information recently released represents a significant, perhaps unparalleled movement towards transparency regarding the US and its secretive holding structures, it is still only the first stride.  The extent various human rights violations perpetrated against Bagram inmates has still not been revealed, and the Obama administration intends to appeal against the current, minimal rights given to inmates in Afghanistan.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – US releases Bagram prisoner names – 16 January 2010

Associated Free Press – Pentagon releases names of Bagram prisoners – 16 January 2010

BBC News – US releases names of prisoners at Bagram, Afghanistan – 16 January 2010

Five Detained Americans In Pakistan Complain of Torture

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, AsiaSARGODHA, Pakistan- Five Americans being held in Pakistan on suspicion of plotting attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan told a court on Monday that they had been tortured by police- charges that could add to political sensitivities surrounding the case.

They made the allegations during a hearing before a special anti-terrorism court in Sargodha.  The hearing was held in order for police to submit a charge sheet alleging that the suspects had conspired in a terrorist act, a formal legal step that brings them closer to a possible indictment.

The Americans also shouted the allegations to reporters as they were being transported from the building. Prison authorities and police denied any ill-treatment.

The five students were inside a prison van when several of them shouted “we are being tortured” within earshot of reporters, the Associated Press reported.  Senior police officer Usman Anwar, and Aftab Haanif, deputy superintendent of Sargodha jail where the men are being held, denied there had been any torture and said the defendants were receiving better food than regular inmates. Anwar said “We categorically deny that we tortured them at any stage of the interrogation…The court has ordered a medical examination that will make everything clear.”

One officer said “None of the five men said anything of the sort in the court.  As far as I know, one these men had a stomach problem.”

The students, all young Muslims from the Washington area, were detained in December at a house in the Punjabi town of Sargodha not long after arriving in Pakistan. The police have publicly accused them of plotting terror attacks, having links to al-Qaida and attempting to join militants fighting American troops across the border in Afghanistan after contacting militants on the internet.  Defense attorneys for the men say they wanted to travel to Afghanistan and had no plans for attacks.

The five were reported missing by their families in late November after one of them left behind a farewell video message showing scenes of war and casualties and calls for Muslims to be defended.  Two are of Pakistani descent, one is of Egyptian descent and two are of Ethiopian descent.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Five US Terror Accused In Pakistan Allege Torture– 18 January 2010

The Canadian Press- 5 Americans Detained In Pakistan Tell A Court, Shout To Reporters That They Are Being Tortured– 18 January 2010

Daily Times- Detained Americans Complain of Tortures – 18 January 2010

Spain Extradites “Death Flight” Pilot

By Sovereign Hager

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

MADRID, Spain-Spain has agreed to extradite an Argentine pilot accused of taking part in “death flights” in South American countries in 1976-1983. Argentina’s military regime disposed of more than 1,000 political prisoners by dumping them into the Atlantic Ocean. The court granted the extradition, with the condition that Julio Alberto Poch, the alleged pilot should not be sentenced to life in prison if he is convicted.

The Spanish judges found that the documentation submitted by Argentina was sufficient to justify Poch’s extradition for offenses that constitute crimes against humanity and are not subject to any statute of limitations. Poch was arrested in September in Valencia while working as a commercial pilot. He is a Dutch citizen.

The Spanish government detained him on an international warrant issued by the Argentine government after confirming via Interpol that Poch frequently flew the Amsterdam-Valencia-Amsterdam route for the airline Trasavia. Poch denied any involvement in the death flights.

Poch was a lieutenant in the Argentine navy during the military junta’s “dirty war” against leftists, a campaign that killed up to 30,000 people, mostly civilians. He was a part of the Naval Mechanics School in Buenos Aires, the sight of the most notorious clandestine jails and torture chambers.

Retired Argentine Vice Adm. Luis Maria Mendia admitted that he approved the creation of a plan for training navy personnel to combat the “terrorist insurgency.” This plan led to the death flights, which were operations dropping the drugged mechanics school political prisoners into the Atlantic ocean.

Argentina contacted the Dutch government in 2008, requesting Poch’s extradition, citing testimony from one of Poch’s colleagues where he told him about the death flights and had even defended the practice. It is unclear why dutch officials did not act in the Argentine request prior to Poch’s arrest in Spain.

In 2005, Argentina’s Supreme Court reversed an amnesty law protecting alleged human rights abusers from prosecution.

For more information, please see:

Latin American Herald Tribune-Spain to Extradite Argentine Accused in “Death Flights”-20 January 2009

BBC-Spain to Extradite “Dirty War” Pilot to Argentina-18 January 2009

AFP-Argentina “Death Flights” Pilot to Stand Trial-13 January 2009

Turkey Blocking Websites to Curb Freedoms

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey– Europe’s main security and human rights watchdog, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said that Turkey was blocking over 3,700 internet sites solely for “arbitrary and political reasons.”  OSCE urged that Turkey rescind these restrictions in an effort to show further commitment to freedom of expression in the country.

Milos Haraszti, the spokesperson for the OSCE, said that Turkey’s Internet law is infringing upon freedom of expression in the country and that the law should be changed or rescinded immediately.  In a statement released by the OSCE, Haraszti said that “in its current form, Law 5651, commonly known as the Internet Law of Turkey, not only limits freedom of expression, but severely restricts citizens’ right to access information.”

Haraszti then commented that Turkey, a candidate for acceptance into the European Union, was barring access to some 3,700 websites including most notably YouTube, GeoCities and some Google pages.  He acknowledged that some of the content that is being barred is in fact bad, sites which for example promote child pornography.  Yet, in the end, Haraszti said that “by blocking access to entire websites, Turkey is paralyzing access to numerous modern file-sharing or social networks.”

“Some of the official reasons to block the Internet are arbitrary and capricious, and therefore incompatible with OSCE’s freedom of expression commitments,” said Haraszti.  When asked about the OSCE remarks, a Turkish communications ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters that “Turkey provides unlimited and equal access for all parts of society.  It is above the EU average on this issue.”  The official added that “the regulations over Internet (usage) have a dynamic structure and necessary legal changes are made when problems are detected in implementation.”

Despite the official’s comments, Haraszti said Turkish law was still failing in its attempt to safeguard freedom of expression while numerous criminal codes clauses were being used against journalists who risk being sent to jail as a result.

Back in October, the European Commission’s annual report on Turkey’s progress toward EU membership said that Ankara needed to do more to protect freedom of expression and the press.

For more information, please see:

AFP- Turkey Should ‘Reform or Abolish’ Internet Law– 18 January 2010

Reuters- Turkey Blocking 3,700 Websites, Reform Needed– 18 January 2010

Times Online- YouTube Banned in Turkey After Video Insults– 7 March 2007