Guinea Begins Investigation of Camara Assassination Attempt

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

CONAKRY, Guinea– Just about a week since the attempted assassination of Guinea’s military leader, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, reports have begun to surface surrounding the circumstances of the assassination attempt. On Wednesday, the second-ranking official in Guinea’s military junta, Sekouba Konate, made his first public speech since last week’s shooting. In his speech, Konate addressed a number of issues, primarily those dealing with the current military divide that is said to have been the source of the assassination attempt. In his speech, Konate asks soldier across the country to remain united. He further says, “We are asking for your cohesion, the army is a family.”

Following this speech, a spokesperson for the Guinea junta, Idrissa Cherif told reporters that they believe Frances Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner was involved in a plot to kill Camara. Cherif said, “I wouldn’t say that I am accusing France entirely. I said that certain services were used to make this attempt on Mr. Camara’s life, and the regime ruling the country.” France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied the allegations and said, “We don’t want to enter into any polemics with anyone in Guinea.”

Just today however, reports surfaced that Guinea made arrests of 100 soldiers as it continues to investigate the shooting of Camara. Government officials say the detained soldiers are allies of presidential guard chief, Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, who is suspected of being behind last weeks shootings.
While the investigation continues, and Camara continues to heal from his injuries suffered from the attempt on his life, Konate will assume leadership of the country. One anonymous US official has said that the United States sees Konate as one of the better chances of bringing an end to the military divide. The official further said, “We don’t know if Camara will return to power, but in the meantime, we will hold out a hand to Konate. We believe progress can be made with Konate, in the event that Camara doesn’t return.”

For more information please see:


AFP – Guineas New Strongman Urges Army To Discipline – 10 December 2009

BBC – Bernard Kouchner Accused Over Guinea Camara Shooting – 9 December 2009

New York Times – Official Asks Guinea’s Army To Stay United – 9 December 2009

VOA – Guinea Arrests 100 Soldiers – 10 December 2009

Egypt Reportedly Building Steel Wall Along Gaza Border

    By Meredith Lee-Clark

    Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

     

    RAFAH, Egypt – Egypt has begun building a barrier wall along its border with the Gaza Strip, according to the BBC. The wall would be Egypt’s most dramatic move in its fight against smuggling between northern Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

     

    Egyptian officials have not confirmed or commented on the allegations, and locals in the border town of Rafah have reported that civil engineers have been bringing in earth movers and placing steel tubes at short intervals in the ground. One Egyptian official said that the engineers were installing a smuggling detection device along the border, but would not comment on any plans for a wall.

     

    Smuggling has been a constant problem along the Egypt-Gaza border since Israel imposed a semi-blockade of Gaza after the Palestinian party Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2007. Since then, Palestinians have built numerous tunnels, many of which are structurally unsound. Egyptian border officials have repeatedly tried to close the smuggling tunnels, though new tunnels are built as soon as existing ones are discovered.

     

    Egypt has drawn criticism from many of its neighboring countries for being complicit with Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. In addition to the new wall, critics cite Egypt’s refusal to open the border while the Gaza Strip was bombed during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 and January 2009, as well as arrests for Hezbollah supporters and blocking weapons going into Gaza.

     

    The BBC reports that the smuggling wall would stretch six to seven miles along the border and eighteen to thirty meters (fifty-four to ninety feet) below the surface. Egyptian engineers are also reportedly being assisted by American army engineers, and that the fence is being constructed in the United States, though this cannot be confirmed. The wall would be bombproof, and sources say the Egyptians hope it will cut down on smuggling traffic.

     

    It is unlikely, however, that the wall will completely halt smuggling into Gaza, as the Gazan economy has been crippled by the Israeli blockade and civilians have little access to goods.

     

    For more information, please see:

     

    Afrik.com – Egypt Building Strong Underground Wall on Gaza Border – 11 December 2009

     

    Xinhua News – Egypt Denies Building Iron Wall on Gaza Border – 10 December 2009

     

    London Telegraph – Egypt Digs Underground Wall to Stop Gaza Tunnels – 10 December 2009

     

    BBC News – Egypt Starts Building Steel Wall on Gaza Strip Border – 9 December 2009

     

    Ha’aretz – Egypt Building Iron Wall on Gaza Border to Stop Smuggling – 9 December 2009

Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize

10 December 2009

Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Prize for Peace in Norway today. Obama accepted the award after asking Congress for an additional thirty thousand troops to fight the war in Afghanistan. During his acceptance speech, Obama gave his reasons for increasing the number of troops to continue the war in Afghanistan.

In October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the President the Nobel Prize for Peace. The award surprised many people around the world. Obama had only been in office less than a year before he was awarded the coveted prize. Obama was also surprised by the committee’s decision. After being notified of the recognition, Obama stated that he did not deserve to be in the company of past Peace Prize winners. He was humbled by the selection and would use it to promote important international objectives. These objectives include nuclear nonproliferation, settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and correcting the downturn in the global economy.

Obama’s acceptance speech today focused on the current conflict in Afghanistan. Obama began his speech by saying that he was honored and humbled by being considered and recognized for the Peace Prize. He then stated that he admired past winners of the award that promoted nonviolent movements including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi. Obama then turned attention to the situation in Afghanistan. He stated that evil exists in the word and that he must defend the people of the United States against that evil, stating: “A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies. Negotiations cannot convince Al-Qaida’s leaders to lay down their arms.”

Obama’s speech also outlined his definition of just war. He stated that the use of force is not cynical, but is a “recognition of history.” He then outlined three ways in which war is just. According to Obama, when a nation acts in self defense, in helping or aiding an invaded nation, and when acting in a humanitarian capacity after a nation murders its own citizens, force could be used. Obama also stressed how the United States should act when it is faced with using force. Wars should be fought according to the “rules of conduct.” He rejected the use of practices such as torture and the murder of innocent people.

For more information, please see:

Christian Science Monitor – Left and Right, Pundits Applaud Obama Nobel Peace Prize Speech – 10 December 2009

MSNBC – Accepting Peace Prize, Obama Defends War – 10 December 2009

CNN – Nobel Peace Prize is “Call to Action” – 9 October 2009

Over One Hundred Killed in Coordinated Baghdad Bombings

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On December 8 five car bombings took place near government institutions in Baghdad. The car bombings killed one hundred twenty seven individuals, including many women and children. More than four hundred people were wounded in the attacks. This incident was the third coordinated attack in Baghdad since August. The attacks came after Iraqi officials agreed after months of negotiations to set a date in March for a national election.

At least three of the five bombs were set off by suicide attackers. The first bomb went off at 10:25 in central Baghdad and appeared to be targeting a police patrol. The four others followed minutes later. The bombings struck a courthouse, two colleges, a mosque and a bank. The chaos forced the locking down of entire neighborhoods, overwhelming of police and rescue workers, and filling of hospitals with the wounded.

The attacks appeared to be intended the severely damage the government’s basic ability to function. Two government institutions struck on Tuesday, the Finance Ministry and an appeals court, had recently relocated to new buildings after attacks destroyed their old offices in August and October.

The new attacks undermined the Iraqi government’s claims of improved security. Many victims of the attacks blamed the Iraqi army and police force for what took place. The Iraqi security force has been under increased scrutiny as they have taken charge of security as American forces have withdrawn from cities. Victims also linked the attacks to the lengthy political battle over the election. Candidates in the election, in turn, blamed security forces and the government for failing to protect the “heart of Baghdad.”

The attacks follow the patern of multiple bombings in the Iraqi capital. This incident marked the worst attack in Iraq since a twin suicide bombing that killed on hundred fifty five people and destroyed three government agencies in October. Also, in August, two suicide car bombs killed one hundred twenty individuals when then struck the Finance and Foreign Ministries. The United States, UN, Arab League and United Kingdom led and international condemnation of the  most recent bombings. United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon called the bombings “horrendous” and “unacceptable.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – 127 Killed in Spate of Baghdad Blasts – 8 December 2009

Al Jazeera – Scores dead in Iraq Bomb Blasts – 8 December 2009

BBC – Baghdad Car Bombs Cause Carnage – 8 December 2009

New York Times – Election Day Set in Iraq as Bombs Kill Scores – 8 December 2009

Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Threatened

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

MERAK, Indonesia – A group of Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic minorities have been subject to threats and oppression by the Indonesian Navy.  Approximately 250 Sri Lankan nationals have asserted an absolute refusal to leave the ports of Merak until Australia concedes to giving them asylum.

This particular group of refugees from Sri Lanka are among many more Tamils who fled from Sri Lanka to escape persecution by the government.  After the defeat of the Tamil Tigers insurgency organization earlier this Spring, the Sri Lankan government has continually mistreated Tamils, causing many of them to resort to migrating away from their home land into less hostile territories.  

Thousands of Tamils began fleeing Sri Lanka seeking asylum in Australia.  Christmas Island, a landform off the coast of Australia, has been the desired destination from refugees of many war-torn nations in the middle-east.  However, due to the abrupt influx of refugees, causing  inundation of the island with myriad, refugees, the Australian government called upon the Indonesian government to send vessels to intercept Sri Lankan goats.  

The Sri Lankan Tamils’ desire to leave for Australian territory has produced numerous human rights violations both on the Australian and Sri Lankan ends.  Human smuggling, as colored by the Australian and Indonesian governments, has created a lucrative opportunity for boat operators to exploit many impoverished nationals.  

Further issues have risen concerning the safety peoples on these boat.  In one instance, passengers on a refugee vessel have threatened to detonate their vessel if the Indonesian border patrol came any close to the ship.  

At another point, Tamils on a refugee ship escorted to an Indonesian border engaged in a hunger strike to convey their desperation for achieving asylum in Australia.   

An organization based in Australia called Refugee Action Coalition recently made statements concerning the assurance of the Tamil refugees’ well-being.  Indonesian naval vessels have slowly been approaching the Tamils’ vessels.  The Indonesian forces intend to physically remove the Tamils from their current position along the Merak port city

The Tamils, however, fear being taken off their ships under the belief of facing persecution by the Indonesian government.  They also have expressed apprehensions about being sent back to Sri Lanka, where they will face abuses from the government there.

The Tamils face a situation in which they cannot be safe in either lands, making it more significant that the Australian government grant them asylum.  



For more information, please see:

 Al-Jazeera – Sri Lanka asylum boat ‘threatened’ – 3 December 2009  

 

New York Times – Australia Puts Its Refugree Problem on a Remote Island… – 5 November 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – Rudd took Indonesia for granted over asylum seekers – 17 November 2009