Afghan Suicide Bombing Kills Twenty

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan- On Thursday a suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded market in a restive district of southern Afghanistan, killing up to 20 people in the deadliest attack in four months.

The bombing which occurred in the Dihrawud district of Uruzgan province comes as attacks by the Taliban militia increase in frequency. Afghan army General Abdul Hameed, commander of national forces in Uruzgan said, “This was a suicide bomber on foot who detonated himself at the gate of a money exchange market.” He added, “Up to now, 20 civilians have been killed and 13 wounded,”

The bomb could have gone off prematurely as the bomber waited for a military or police convoy to attack, said a deputy police commissioner.

In early September, 22 people were killed by a suicide bomber outside a mosque in eastern Afghanistan, and at least 43 died in an attack in Kandahar in August just days after President Hamid Karzai returned to power, following a fraud-tainted presidential election.

In another attack in the neighboring province of Helmand, a police officer was killed and five others were injured, NATO and Afghan authorities said.

Although there has been no immediate claim of responsibility, both attacks bore the hallmarks of the Taliban.  In the Helmand attack, an explosive-packed car was responsible for killing the police officer and injuring four others.  “According to initial reports one Afghan police officer has been killed and four wounded in a suicide-vehicle IED strike in Musa Qala,” NATO’s International Security Assiatance Force said.  Abdul Salem, the district chief of Musa Qala, confirmed the attack.

Innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire between insurgents and Afghan and Western troops have borne the brunt of the violence.

A UN report released on Wednesday said the number civilians killed in violence in 2009 was higher than in any year since the Taliban were removed in 2001.  The UN Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) reported that civilian casualties rose by 14% in 2009 compared with 2008. In total more than 2,400 civilians were killed in 2009. The report also said that 67 percent of civilian deaths were caused by Taliban attacks, while international troops and Afghan security forces were responsible for 25 percent.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Suicide Bombing Kills 20 in Afghanistan Market– 14 January 2010

Associated Foreign Press- Afghan Market Suicide Bombing Kills 20 : General– 14 January 2010

Los Angeles Times- Afghanistan Suicide Attack Kills 20 – 15 January 2010

Indigenous Radio Shut Down in Ecuador

By Sovereign Hager

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SUCUA, Ecuador-Radio Voice of Arutam, the primary radio station broadcasting to the Shuar indigenous community in the Amazon region, was taken off the air last week for violating Ecuador’s Broadcasting Act. The government contends that the station violated Article 58 of the Act when it allegedly incited violence during protests against the government in October 2009.

International rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch have denounced the government’s actions. the Committee to Protect Journalists referred to the government shut down as “nothing but an attempt to intimidate the media into silence.”

The community was protesting to protect their “Plan of Life,” against government proposals that would allow their territory to be used for mining without their consent. A teacher and community member died during the protest after he was shot.

The Shuar have pledged to continue their legal battle in the courts, arguing that they provide a community service by airing messages in their own language to a poor community where TV and electric power are almost unknown.

The station argues that even though Arutam was issued a commercial frequency license, they acted as a community service station allowing thousands of their people to communicate with others through the use of a simple message. For example, to notify family members that one has arrived safely at a destination after traveling by car, canoe, or by foot. The Shuar use the radio station, known as “the voice of the jungle” to pass along this information.

Thirteen other radio frequencies have been taken off the air. The government also shut down a television broadcasting company for violating a rule prohibiting false information that could lead to social disturbances.

In the first instance, the station allegedly made a false report that the government’s electoral commission had a “clandestine center” where voting results were manipulated. The second offense was an allegedly false report stating that people on the island of Puná would not be able to fish for six months because of proposed exploration for natural gas.

The Arutam plan on taking their case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights if the court decision stands. They have also pledged to broadcast clandestinely.

For more information, please see:

The Guardian-Power Versus the Press-8 January 2009

Global Voices-Ecuador:Radio Voice of Arutam Taken Off the Air-14 January 2010

The Huffington Post-Media Battles in Latin America Not About Free Speech-17 January 2009

Chemical Ali Receives Fourth Death Sentence

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On January 15 Ali Hassan al-Majid was sentenced to death by hanging by an Iraqi court. Saddam Hussein’s senior aide, also known as “Chemical Ali,” was convicted of ordering the gassing of the Kurds in the Iraqi town of Halabja in 1988. The attack killed an estimated five thousand people and took place near the end of the Iran-Iraq War. This marked the fourth time that Majid has been sentenced to death.

During the 1988 attacks, Iraqi jets swooped over the small north eastern Iraqi town. The jets proceeded to spray Halabja for five hours with a deadly cocktail of mustard gas and Tabun, Sarin and VX, all nerve agents. The was part of Iraq’s Anfal campaign, which Majid was in charge of overseeing. Most of the five thousand Kurds that died were women and children. Majid said “thanks be to God” as the sentence was being read.

Majid was a close cousin of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. He earned his moniker from ordering the poisonous gas attacks in a campaign of bombings and mass deportations that killed over one hundred eighty thousand Kurds during the 1980s. He received his first death sentence from these attacks.

“Chemical Ali” received his second death sentence in December 2008 for war crimes committed during a 1991 Shi’ite uprising in southern Iraq that proved to be ill-fated. His third death sentence came in March 2009 for the 1999 murders of dozens of Shi’ites in Sadr City and Najaf.

It is not clear when Majid will ultimately be executed. Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that it woudl take place soon. Dabbagh told Reuters that “it will not take a long time for Hassan al-Majid to receive his just punishment for the crimes he committed against the Iraqi people.” Despite the wishes of Iraqi authorities, Majid still has the right to appeal to the sentence.

Majid’s first execution was due to be carried out by October 2007. It was ultimately delayed so as not to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Majid was first captured in August 2003, five months after US-led forces invaded Iraq.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Iraq’s ‘Chemical Ali’ Sentenced to Death – 17 January 2010

Al Jazeera – ‘Chemical Ali’ Sentenced to Death – 17 January 2010

BBC – Fourth Death Sentence for ‘Chemical Ali’ – 17 January 2010

Reuters – Iraq’s “Chemical Ali” gets 4th Death Sentence – 17 January 2010

DR Congo: 3.5 Million Euros in Aid for Refugees

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo – The United States and France are providing a total of 3.57 million euros (5.13 million dollars) in aid for refugees in the Republic of Congo, according to diplomatic sources.

The US Embassy in Brazzaville announced a 4.6 million dollar (3.17 million euros) grant.  The grant is supposed to help the World Food Program (WFP) “provide assistance to the refugees” who have fled from fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Brazzaville and soon after announced that France will also be helping the WFP “in the distribution of food aid.”

“A grant of 200,000 euros will be paid to the Acted association (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development), which will distribute kits consisting of tarpaulins, mosquito nets and cooking tools intended for 1,500 households (9,000 people),” said France’s statement.

Ethnic clashes broke out last November over farming and fishing rights.

According to the UN Refugee Agency it began registering the more than 100,000 refugees in order to give aid agencies a better idea of the numbers and needs of refugees.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, said that many fled quickly and with little or nothing.

“The needs are great because most of these people are sleeping rough,” he said.  “They occupy either public buildings in the Republic of Congo or public spaces.  So, there is a greater need for organized accommodation for these people.  Last week, we were calling for more sites to be allocated by authorities in the Republic of Congo for basically setting up organized refugee sites in that country.”

A team of 50 people will be handling the registration, which is taking place along the Oubangui River between the two Congos.  This presents a challenge because many of the refugees are accessible only by boat.

“The majority of the refugees are in the areas that we can only reach by boats along the Oubangui River,” said Mahecic.  “Now the water levels are gradually receding and we are running against time to complete the registration within the two months.  That would be by the end of February before the dry season sets in and the rivers will become just to low to navigate.”

Meanwhile, the UNHCR is continuing to provide emergency assistance, including blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and plastic sheeting for shelter, to the refugees.

Brazzaville fears that the humanitarian issue could turn into a major security issue because of the high numbers of people and weapons that have crossed the border.

For more information, please see:

AFP – US and France Provide 3.5 Million Euros for DR Congo Refugees – 15 January 2010

SOS Children – Refugees From Democratic Republic of Congo Swamp Aid Agencies – 15 January 2010

UNHCR – UNHCR Begins Registration of DRC Refugees in Northern Congo – 15 January 2010

VOA – UNHCR Begins Registration of 100,000 Refugees From DRC – 15 January 2010

Xinhua – Refugees Overwhelm Humanitarian Agencies in Republic of Congo – 15 January 2010

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah Urges UN to Act on “Fragile” Somali State

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

UNITED NATIONS, New York – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah told the Security Council Thursday that the crisis in the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation which has been devastated by factional fighting and without a functioning central government since 1991 can no longer be ignored.

“To prevent the situation from deteriorating further, and spilling over into the region and further afield, we should join the dots. In Somalia the international community still has some good cards [including the current Government]. It should play them right,” Mr. Ould-Abdallah stated.

This, he said, will allow the international community to overcome two main challenges, beginning with the “absence of a concrete commitment and a determined international policy towards Somalia and its present leadership. “Continued hesitation and the absence of effective action have encouraged the extremists and, at the same time, weakened the Government,” he noted.

Secondly, he said that despite a massive consensus of support for the Transitional Federal Government from the international community, that backing has yet to be translated into the necessary material assistance.

Somalia is considered the typical case of a “failed State,” a top UN envoy told reporters. “We believe that with the situation we have now, we have moved from a failed Stated to a fragile State – a State which needs to be nurtured, supported to be able to carry out its responsibility at home and abroad, including in the region.”

Mr. Ould-Abdallah said, that the county’s Transitional Federal Government had made significant progress, despite repeated armed assaults by externally funded extremists attempting to overthrow it. Citing the Government’s accomplishments, he said they included establishing its authority in Mogadishu, the capital; drawing up a budget; recruiting and training security forces; and keeping its political legitimacy over violent and extremist groups.

The Council should send a strong and clear signal to the extremists by strengthening the Government in a practical manner, he said, calling on the international community to provide more vigorous moral, diplomatic and financial assistance.  “Assistance delayed is assistance denied.”

It had become imperative to work more closely with IGAD, the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, he continued.  The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) deserved, as an emergency matter, support through troop allowances increased to the international level, the timely disbursement of those allowances, and payment for lethal equipment.

The Council should also vigorously address the role of the spoilers, he said.  A clear and effective message, backed by concrete action, would demonstrate that those who funded the extremists -– “creating misery for innocent civilians, violating international law, including through recruitment of child soldiers and threatening peace and stability of the region” -– would no longer enjoy impunity.  “The protection of civilians is an obligation long ignored in Somalia,” he noted.

He said those recommendations would be implemented more effectively once the United Nations family working on Somalia operated in an integrated and harmonized manner.  There was a need to accelerate the move by the Organization and the international community to Mogadishu.

“To help the Somalis, especially the victims, we have to be with them,” he stressed.  Failure to intervene actively to restore stability was already threatening the effectiveness of the international community, in addition to costing vast amounts of resources.  Failure to act decisively could only lead to a dramatic increase in that cost.

For more information, please see:

UN News Service- Government Needs More Coordinated, Effective Support – UN Envoy – 15 January 2010

All Africa- Secretary General’s Special Representative, Briefing Security Council, Calls Somalia ‘Global Crisis’ That Can No Longer Be Ignored – 15 January 2010

The Star Online- Somalia is Moving From Failed to Fragile State – 15 January 2010

Relief Web- Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Breifing Security Council, Calls Somalia ‘Global Crisis’ That Can No Longer Be Ignored – 14 January 2010