Uganda Under Fire for Anti-Gay Law

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

KAMPALA, Uganda-This week saw members of the United States Congress call on Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, to dismiss a proposed legislation imposing excessive penalties on homosexuals. According to reports, the legislation mandates a life sentence for a single act of homosexuality, and the death penalty if the individual is found to be HIV positive. The congressmen have sent letters to the President informing him of the legislation’s human rights violations implications and how it is inconsistent with the “Christian spirit of love and mercy.”

Congressman Frank Wolf, a Republican from the state of Viriginia said, “We think the legislation is wrong and inappropriate. We ask that he do everything he can to either veto the bill or kill the bill.” Other congressman who joined Wolf’s letter was representatives Chris Smith, Joe Pitts, Trent Franks, and Anh “Joseph” Cao. All of these congressmen are members of the Republican Executive Committee members of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House of Representatives.

Uganda has been under fire recently by the international community as a result of the proposed legislation. Many countries who provide aid to the country, such as Sweden, have threatened to withdraw aid if the legislation is passed.  The Ugandan parliament is due to vote on the bill early next year. Currently there is legislation in place that already punishes individuals up to 14 years in jail for engaging in homosexual acts.

The Global Christian community has also called on Uganda to stop the legislation from passing. The Chief of the World Council of churches, Samuel Kobia said, “From the experience of many nations, it is very clear that if such a bill is enacted into law, it will leave a lot of room for manipulation, abuse, blackmail, and oppression of people.”

For more information please see:

BBC – Welsh Aid For Uganda Aide Despite Gay Death Penalty Plan – 23 December 2009

Reuters – Uganda Government Softens Proposed Anti-Gay Law – 23 December 2009

VOA – US Congressman Call on Ugandan President To Reject Anti-Homosexual Legislation – 23 December 2009

Insurgent Attacks Engulf Mogadishu, Killing Civilians in its Wake

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – At least 15, mostly civilians have been killed and over 30 others injured in heavy clashes between Somali militants and government forces backed by African Union troops in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

The clashes started on late Wednesday in the capital’s KM4 and Dabka intersections and Shaqalaha road, where fighters loyal to Somalia’s Hizbul Islam carried out surprise attacks on government positions, leading to heavy gun battle.

Insurgents fired mortars at government troops, prompting a heavier response of shells that killed civilians in several suburbs of Mogadishu and made residents cower indoors.

Mohammed Osman Arus, Hizbul Islam spokesman confirmed that his forces carried out attacks on government and AU troops, killing several soldiers. “We carried out attacks on their positions. I saw dead bodies of three AU soldiers with my on eyes,” he claimed. AU troops’ spokesman Barigye Bahoku, however, refuted those claims, when reached for comments.

It is believed that the Islamist insurgent attacks targeted the first parliament session held in the capital in months. The session was held in the mayor’s office for security reasons and President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had been due to attend it, officials said.

Retaliatory shelling rained down on Mogadishu’s Bakara and Holwadag neighborhoods, causing several casualties, residents said. Bakara, which is notorious for its open-air weapons bazaar, has long been viewed by the government and the African Union force AMISOM as a stronghold of hardline Islamist al Shabaab insurgents who are trying to overthrow the country’s transitional administration.

Washington accuses the rebel group of being al Qaeda’s proxy in the failed Horn of Africa state. Western security agencies say that Somalia has become a safe haven for militants, including foreign jihadists, who are using it to plot attacks across the region and beyond.

Fighting in Somalia has killed 19,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.

For more information, please see:

Garowe Online – Mogadishu Clashes Kill 15, Injures 30 – 25 December 2009

Shabelle Media Network  – Heavy Shelling Kills Three, Injures 24 Others in Mogadishu – 20 December 2009

Reuters – Mortar shell attacks kills at least 14 in Somalia – 20 December 2009

AFP – Eight killed in mortar attack on MPs in Mogadishu – 20 December 2009

Afghan Asylum Seekers Removed from Christmas Island

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia –   Australia transported thirty young asylum seekers from Christmas Island to the mainland due to overcrowded conditions at the detention facility.

Earlier this past week, thirty Afghans, most of which are reportedly boys, will be held at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation at Broadmeadows until immigration officers can process them.

Thirty-five individuals responsible for bringing asylum seekers to Australia were also taken from Christmas Island and brought to another facility in Darwin.

In addition, ten Afghan youths, who were relocated to Melbourne last September, have been released into the community.

The Christmas Island detention center has almost reached its maximum capacity, or approximately 1,432 individuals.

An immigration spokesperson for the Opposition, Scott Morrison, stated that the government must look into other facilities for holding the asylum seekers while they await processing, as Christmas Island is nearing its capacity.

“The government should be seeking to identify alternative off-shore processing options if they cannot accommodate people on Christmas Island,” he said.

The Opposition believes that the government’s actions will encourage the people smugglers, in that it will be possible for them to get these asylum seekers all the way to the mainland.

Advocates for the asylum seekers expressed approval for transferring the Afghan boys to Melbourne.  However, they did not see that there was a reason to keep the youths in a detention facility.

A representative of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre questioned the necessity of detaining youths who “fled persecution and are about to be granted protection.”

Immigration Minister Chris Evans indicated that these Afghan youths would get “priority processing” in the Melbourne facility.

The Government denied that overcrowded conditions on Christmas Island prompted the decision to move the asylum seekers.

Further, the Government indicated that relocating some of the asylum seekers is not a reflection of a shift in policy from those of the previous administration.  Opposition officials claim that the current administration’s policy is undermining the system of offshore processing.

According to acting Immigration Minister Robert McClelland, children and families were transported to the mainland in some cases for processing under the previous administration.

Although the Government claims their legal status as offshore arrivals is not affected, the opposition believes that this decision may allow asylum seekers to challenge detention in the courts on the mainland.

Approximately 1,400 asylum seekers remain in detention on Christmas Island, just over 1,200 of which are in immigration detention, 102 individuals occupy tents, and the remainder lives in the community.

For more information please see:
Sydney Morning Herald – Young refugees taken off island – 24 December 2009

ABC News – Asylum seekers moved to Melbourne – 23 December 2009

Herald Sun – Asylum-seekers relocated to Australia – 23 December 2009

12 Journalists Killed in Mexico in 2009

25 December 2009

12 Journalists Killed in Mexico in 2009

By Brenda Lopez Romero

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – The National Commission for Human Rights reported that as of today twelve journalists have been killed throughout the Republic of Mexico. It stated that eight persons considered disappeared should be added to the list of violence against reporters. Seven of the reporters had been victims of attempted killings.

The Commission stated that “Mexico has become one of the highest risks for working as a journalist.” The Commission also opened up an investigation to expedite the homicides of many of the victims, and has demanded that the government take a more proactive and efficient approach in their investigations in order to obtain justice.

The Commission reported that since 2000, a total of fifty-seven journalists have been victims of aggression with countless more in complaints of abuses against journalists. It reiterated that there are also countless more that go unreported. The Commission stated “every time there are more communicators that in the exercise of their profession, they are victims of threats, intimidations, persecutions, attempts, and forced disappearances.”

For more information, please see:

Milenio.com – Doce periodistas asesinados en Mexico durante 2009 – 25 December 2009

El Algora – Doce peiodistas han sido asesinados – 11 December 2009

Reporteros Sin Fronteras – Asesinados doce periodistas en Mindanao: “Un dia negro para la libertad de infromar – 23 November 2009

Prominent Chinese Dissident Sentenced to 11 Years

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– Liu Xiaobo, China’s most famous dissident, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for criticizing the Chinese government. 

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People Court handed down a ruling on Christmas Day saying that Liu was “guilty of inciting subversion of state power.”  In China, those found guilty of inciting others by “spreading rumors…to subvert the State power” are subject to imprisonment of no less than five years.

Some have suggested that this verdict foreshadows that other detained activists will also face harsh punishments as China began tightening its already strict stance against dissidents. 

Many believe that Liu’s sentence is a warning against other activists, including human rights lawyers whose licenses to practice law have not been renewed by the government this year.

Phelim Kine, a researcher at the rights group Human Rights Watch, said, “The fact is that Liu Xiaobo is neither a subversive nor a criminal and the severity of the verdict against him suggests that the Chinese government is ready and willing to take an unyieldingly harsh line against human rights activist in the year ahead.”

One of Liu’s attorneys, Ding Xikui, said they will be appealing the decision as there were some flaws during the trial procedure.  In fact, Human Rights Watch has criticized the Chinese government for violating Liu’s rights and for showing contempt for China’s commitment to universal human rights.

Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Sophie Richardson, added, “The only purpose of this trial [was] to dress up naked political repression in the trappings of legal proceedings.  Liu’s crimes are non-existent, yet his fate has been pre-determined.  This is a travesty of justice.”

However, appeals on political charges almost never succeed because political agenda supercede the written law in China.

Chinese officials were not available for comment, but China’s Xinhua news agency released a statement from the court which said that legal procedures were strictly followed and that the court fully protected Liu’s litigation rights.

Nonetheless, U.S. Embassy official Greg May said, “We are deeply concerned by the sentence…Persecution of individuals for peaceful expression of political views is inconsistent with internationally recognized norms of human rights.”

In addition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel responded to Liu’s sentence by saying that the Chinese government “still massively restricts freedom of opinion.”  However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has remained silent.
For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – China: Liu Xiaobo’s Trial a Travesty of Justice – 21 December 2009

Inner City Press – UN’s Ban Silent as China Sentences Liu Xiaobo and Five Uighurs to Death – 25 December 2009

WSJ – China Sentences Dissident to 11 Years for Subversion – 25 December 2009