Iraq Sentences Insurgents Responsible for August Bombing to Death

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On January 14 an Iraqi court sentenced eleven Iraqis to death for the planning and carrying out of a bomb attack on August 19 of last year. Among those sentenced were Al Qaeda militants. The bombings took place in Baghdad as truck bombs were used to kill over one hundred people. Six hundred people were hurt in the blasts, which were named “Black Wednesday.”

According to Ali Abdul Sattar, president of the criminal court, the eleven Iraqis “are sentenced to death for the crime they planned.” The trial of the bombers was the first that convicted suspects arrested in the wake of of three major attacks that took place in the second half of 2009.

Among those sentenced were Ishaq Mohammed Abbas, a purported leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and his brother Mustapha. Additionally, Salim Abed Jassim was sentenced to death. Jassim confessed that he received funding for the attacks from Brigadier General Nabil Abdul Rahman. Rahman was a senior army officer during the rule of Saddam Hussein.

The August 19 bombings took place minutes apart outside the ministries of foreign affairs and finance. The attacks marked the worst violence in Iraq in eighteen months and sparked outrage throughout the country from citizens concerned about how insurgents had been able to accomplish such an attack. Despite the outrage, similar attacks were able to be carried out by insurgents in October and December, where government buildings were again struck.

The government admitted that the August attacks were advanced by negligence at checkpoints that allowed the bombers to enter the capital with their explosives. A number of policemen in charge of the area were arrested on suspicion of negligence. While none of them were charged, Iraqi official say that they are still under investigation.

The attack created diplomatic tension between Iraq and Syria, with both governments recalling their ambassadors after Syria refused to hand over two alleged suspects.

Violence in Iraq dropped significantly in 2009 to its lowest level since the 2003 invasion. However, a monitoring group warned that the security gains are leveling off. Iraqi officials anticipate further bombings are expected ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Iraq Sentences 11 Men to Death Over Baghdad Bombings – 14 January 2010

Al Jazeera – Death Sentences for Iraq Bombers – 14 January 2010

BBC News – Death Sentences for Iraq Bombers Behind Huge Attack – 14 January 2010

New York Times – Iraq Sentences 11 to Death in Ministry Bombings – 14 January 2010

Gerard Jodar Campaigns for Change in New Caledonia’s Prison Conditions

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NOUMEA, New Caledonia – Gerard Jodar, the union leader of the pro-independence trade union federation Union of Kanak and Exploited Workers (USTKE), has campaigned for change in New Caledonia’s prison conditions, and now warns of a possible uprising at the Camp Est prison in Noumea because of the poor, and inhumane conditions there.

On January 14, 2010, an appeal court ordered the immediate release of Jodar, who was imprisoned in June for his role in a protest at Noumea’s domestic airport. Jodar was convicted to a one-year prison term, however, has been released after serving a 7-month prison term.

It is believed that the court was influenced by the visit of a European Parliament delegation led by the French Deputy and activist, Jose Bove. During a visit to Camp Est prison in Noumea, the parliament delegation denounced its poor condition, calling it an “unacceptable situation.”

A spokesman for USTKE, Joseph Boanemoa, says the release means that they have “succeeded in highlighting the unacceptable state of the prison…as well as underlining their right to protest.”

The incarceration of Jodar is being used by USTKE to campaign for changes at the prison, which is among the most overcrowded prisons run by France.

Jodar has condemned the terrible prison conditions in Noumea’s Camp Est prison. He says that the prison is heavily overcrowded and is full of “young indigenous Kanak prisoners living in squalid conditions.” Jodar approximates that 97% of the prisoners are young Kanaks.

The prison, intended for only 190 detainees, has 417 detainees living within its walls. For each 11-square metre cell, there are five or six prisoners.

There is no education system at Camp Est prison, and thus no way to facilitate reintegration into society.

Also, there is not enough food to feed the starving prisoners.

Jodar contrasted France’s role in “championing human rights with the ‘colonial era’ prison conditions.”

In other words, the people in the jail are being treated like “dogs,” according to Jodar.

Not only are conditions poor for the prisoners, it is also poor for the prison staff. They are significantly understaffed, and because of the poor working conditions, the guards are discouraged.

Jodar has warned of a possible uprising at Camp Est prison because of the poor conditions there, and he continues to campaign for changes at the prison.

In effect of Jodar’s imprisonment and statements regarding the poor prison conditions, there have been clashes between the working class suburb of Montravel and the Saint Louis tribal area.
The conflict has put the spotlight on serious poverty issues among urban Kanaks. Bitter discontent has emerged over social inequalities between indigenous Kanaks and neighboring Islanders, and also between French settlers and metropolitan residents.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Jodar warns of New Caledonia jail revolt – 15 January 2010

Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Australia – USTKE welcome release of union president from New Caledonia jail – 14 January 2010

Radio New Zealand International – New Caledonia court releases USTKE leader Jodar after 7 months in prison – 14 January 2010

Solomon Star – New Caledonia court releases USTKE leader Jodar after 7 months in prison – 14 January 2010

Pacific Scoop – Jailed union leader calls for probe into “terrible” prison conditions for Kanaks – 29 August 2009

Korean “Comfort Women” Hold 900th Rally

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea– Korean “comfort women,” women who were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, held their 900th weekly protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

Comfort womenVictims protest in front of Seoul’s Japanese Embassy.  Courtesy of Yonhap News.

Since this demonstration first began on January 8, 1992, victims and activists continue to gather every Wednesday.

Gil Won-ok, one of the women who were forced to serve Japanese soldiers during the War, said, “I want the whole world to know of this terrible history to prevent it from every happening again.”

These women and activists vow that they will never give up until Japan apologizes and compensates the “comfort women” for its wartime atrocities.

At this week’s rally, Kim Hak-sun, another former “comfort woman,” recalled the painful memories from her past.  She said she was just 17 years old when she was taken by the Japanese soldiers and was forced to have sex with four to five soldiers a day while being kept under watch 24 hours a day.

Kim also recalled that she was beaten whenever she tried to escape.  She said, “I still shudder when I see the Japanese flag.”

A Seoul-based rights group, The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, said, “Almost a century has passed since a number of young [Korean] women’s lives and human rights were infringed.  But the perpetrator has never acknowledged the crime.  The…demonstration will continue until the Japanese government takes responsibility.”

The U.S., the Netherlands, Canada and Australia have all adopted resolutions calling the Japanese government to acknowledge and apologize for sexual enslavement of Korean “comfort women.”

The United Nations Human Rights Council has also been urging Japan to resolve this issue, but Japan has yet to offer an official apology or enact laws to pay compensations to the “comfort women.”  In fact, Japan’s right-wing groups are attempting to delete references to “comfort women” in Japanese school textbooks.

Many of the victims have passed away without ever receiving an apology or reparations from Japan for the abuses they suffered as a result of sexual enslavement.  Out of approximately 200,000 Korean women who were taken by the Japanese military and made into “comfort women,” only 87 comfort women remain with most of them in their 70’s and 80’s.

For more information, please see:

The Chosun Ilbo – ‘Comfort Women’ Mark 900th Protest at Japanese Embassy –13 January 2010

The Korea Times – Activist From Canada Attends Comfort Women’s 900th Protest – 13 January 2010

Yonhap News – Activists, comfort women hold 900th Japanese Embassy protest – 13 January 2010

Google Resists Chinese Internet Censorship

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Internet censorship is by no means a new concept to Chinese citizens. However, recent activity, instigated a surprising decision by Google to cease cooperation with Chinese government censors, and possibly, a four-year effort to do business in China. The effort is propelled largely by U.S. business and technology communities and human-rights advocacy groups. The central concern is over China’s human rights and free speech restraints.
Google announced the decision after discovering “highly sophisticated and targeted attacks” on dozens of Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China. Google stated that it was not alone. A spokesperson of the internet corporation said some 20 other companies were also targets of cyber attacks from China.

Human Rights Watch said that Google’s decision spotlights the importance of freedom of expression, and privacy online and illustrates the persistent risk to human rights posed by governments that view the free flow of information as a threat. To this, Arvind Ganesan, director of Human Rights Watch’s corporations and human rights program said, “A transnational attack on privacy is chilling, and Google’s response sets a great example.” She went on to say that, “At the same time, this incident underscores the need for governments and companies to develop policies that safeguard rights.”

Prior to Google’s most recent announcement, a Google senior vice president, Jonathan Rosenberg, issued an online manifesto back in December that placed Google’s business and ethical interests squarely behind open information, and against censorship. Less than one month ago he posted, “There are forces aligned against the open Internet — governments who control access, companies who fight in their own self-interests to preserve the status quo,” and “they are powerful, and if they succeed we will find ourselves inhabiting an Internet of fragmentation, stagnation, higher prices, and less competition.”

High company officials at Google are not alone. A Google engineer stated in a blog that the company’s popular Gmail service, which was a target of the Chinese hackers, will henceforth employ extra encryption by default.

Google’s actions also highlight the growing dangers faced by foreign information technology firms in China where the government devotes massive financial and human resources to censor the Internet and to hunt down and punish citizens who hold views which the ruling Chinese Communist Party disagrees with.  To date, Google and other companies have acquiesced to Chinese government demands to censor information.

Jonathan Zittrain, a Harvard law professor, and a founder of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, said that Google’s action had raised the ethical bar for foreign investors across China. In a recent interview he stated, “I think every major outside firm is clearly going to have to do a reality check with itself in the wake of the Google announcement.”

Regardless of Google’s recently announced business decision, the rights of Chinese citizens to uncensored internet information continues to be a major international human rights concern, and Google’s actions appear to be one step to resist kowtowing to the government’s demands.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times – Far-Ranging Support for Google’s China Move – January 14, 2010

The Guardian – China: Google Challenges Censorship – January 14, 2010

CNN News – Google reports China-based attack, says pullout possible – January 13, 2010

American Journalist Working for Palestinian News Agency Interrogated, Detained by Israelis

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

TEL AVIV, Israel – Jared Malsin, the editor-in-chief of Ma’an News Agency’s English edition, has been detained by Israeli authorities at Ben Gurion International Airport on January 12, as Malsin returned from a holiday in the Czech Republic. Malsin is a Jewish American and Ma’an News Agency is a major Palestinian news outlet, based in Bethlehem in the West Bank.

 

After interrogating Malsin for eight hours, the Israeli Interior Ministry ordered officials not to admit Malsin into Israel and had scheduled him to be deported to the Czech Republic on a flight at 6 am on January 14. Castro Daoud, an attorney for Ma’an, as well as diplomats from the United States embassy, intervened on Malsin’s behalf and requested an injunction against the deportation. The Israeli attorney general rejected the request, but that decision was overturned by a Tel Aviv judge, who granted Malsin a hearing, scheduled for January 17.

 

Court documents revealed that Malsin was apparently deemed a security risk because of his political opinions. Interior Ministry interrogators reportedly compiled Malsin’s past stories for Ma’an, including those “criticizing the State of Israel.” The interrogators further questioned Malsin’s motives in wanting to enter the West Bank, adding that he “claimed to be Jewish,” and argued that Malsin “exploited his Jewishness to gain entry into the State of Israel.” Court records showed that among the specific reasons for detaining Malsin included “lying to border officials,” “here illegally,” and “entered into Israel by means of lies.” According to Israeli law, Jews from around the world are eligible to immigrate to Israel.

 

Malsin’s detention has provoked sharp rebukes from international press organizations, including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which called the detention “unacceptable.”

 

“Israel cannot hide behind the pretext of security to sideline journalists who have done nothing more than maintain an editorial line that the authorities dislike,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, the Middle East and North Africa coordinator for CPJ.

 

Malsin had lived in Bethlehem with his partner, Faith Rowold, for two years. Malsin had originally come to Israel on the Birthright program, and had never overstayed his visa, except for his most recent one, which was only a few days overdue. He had reportedly been told by Israeli authorities that this was not a problem. According to a colleague at Ma’an, Malsin was in frequent contact with Israeli officials, and was recently offered access to military installations in the West Bank.

 

Ma’an issued a statement saying it “scrupulously maintains its editorial independence and aims to promote access to information, freedom of expression, press freedom, and media pluralism in Palestine.”

 

For more information, please see:

 

Palestine News Network – US Editor Fights Israel For Denying Him Entry – 15 January 2010

 

BBC News – US Editor at Palestinian Agency Fights Israel Entry Ban – 14 January 2010

 

Ma’an News Agency – Tel Aviv Court Delay’s Ma’an Editor’s Expulsion – 14 January 2010

 

International Middle East Media Center – Chief Editor of Major Palestinian News Agency Detained – 13 January 2010

 

New York Times – Israel to Expel American Journalist – 13 January 2010