War Crime Trial Against Serbian Nationalist To Resume

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – The trial for Serbian nationalist Vojislav Seselj has been scheduled to begin again in January.  This comes after the trial was suspended last year after the prosecution raised questions regarding the reliability of witnesses.

Seselj is charged with the torture and killing of non-Serbians, including Bosnians and Croatians from to 1993 while the leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS).  Seeslj was also a supporter and friend of former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milsoevic.  The war crimes for which he has been charged were allegedly committed by volunteers recruited by the SRS.

After a number of witnesses for the prosecution declared that they wished to testify on behalf of Seselj, instead of the prosecution, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia relinquished authority over the case which originally began in November of 2007.  The court was concerned at the time there may have been witness intimidation.  The case was then transferred to The Hague.

Although the would not go into further detail, the judges overseeing the case stated that “new facts have emerged which need to be taken into account.”  The court has also taken additional measures to ensure the “efficient protection of the security of the victims and witnesses.”  The protected witnesses will now be called to give testimony directly to the court, rather than allowing them to be called by either party.  The trial is scheduled to begin again on January 12, 2010.

The allegations of witness intimidation is not the first hurdle in the nearly six years since Seselj’s surrender to authorities in February of 2003.  This past July Seselj was convicted to contempt of court for publicly releasing the name of a witness whose identity was being kept secret by the court.  He was sentenced to a year and half in jail that violation.  In 2006, he commenced a hunger strike after a court failed to agree to demands his made regarding his legal representation.  Seselj has since decided to represent himself at trial.

For more information, please see:

AP – Serb nationalist’s war crimes trial to resume – 25 November 2009

JAVNO – Serb leader’s war crimes trial set to resume – 25 November 2009

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Suspended Seselj War Crime Trail To Resume – 25 November 2009

SETIMES – Seselj’s Hague trial to resume in January – 25 November 2009

ADNKRONOS – Netherlands: War Crimes trial of Serbian leader to resume – 24 November 2009

Human Rights Activist Calls for the Return of ICRC

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

JAYAPURA, Indonesia – Human rights activist, Paula Makabori, claims that the beating of the West Papuan political prisoner, Buchtar Tabuni, in Jayapura warrants the need for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to re-enter the region.

In West Papua, there have been a number of cases where democracy activists are arrested, intimidated, and face police raid. These democracy activists are claimed to have been against state emergency law and subversion articles. Tabuni is one of these activists who is said to be a “clear example of how freedom of expression and democracy are still restricted to Papuans.”

Tabuni was arrested earlier this year for his protest against the launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua in London. There were many reports that he was beaten and mistreated by the police and prison officials since he was arrested.

Tabuni claims that he did nothing more than express his opinion. He is regarded by many as “someone who struggles for the aspirations of the Papuan people.”

Tabuni was sentenced to prison for three years for provocation at Abepura, the notorious prison located in Papua’s provincial capital, Jayapura.

It has now been discovered that Tabuni suffers from bad head injuries resulting from many assaults by five Indonesian security force officials at the Abepura prison. Many activists fear that he is being denied medical treatment.

Makabori, who is a representative of the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, says that the ICRC, which was forced by Jakarta to shut its office back in April 2009, has “a role to play.”

Makabori stated: “With all the maltreatments of West Papuan political prisoners, especially those activists and student activists in Abepura and police prison, I think Indonesia’s government has to go give free access to International Red Cross to come back to West Papua to advocate these situations and also give the right treatment to all those political prisoners.”

TAPOL, a UK-based NGO which seeks to promote peace, human rights and democracy in Indonesia, states that criminalizing those who have engaged in legitimate and peaceful activities is a violation of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

Carmel Budiardjo, the founder of TAPOL, stated: “There is no justification to charge these men with [subversion]. The charges should be dropped and the men released.”

For more information, please see:
Free West Papua – Beating claims prompt calls for ICRC to return to Papua – 27 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Beating claims prompt calls for ICRC to return to Papua – 27 November 2009

InfoPapua – Social-Political Analysis – The Continuing Violence in Papua – 05 September 2009

West Papua Action – 15 Papuans face serious charges for peaceful demonstration – 04 August 2009

Ipahr’s West Papua blog – West Papua: Buchtar Tabuni on trial for subversion – 18 February 2009

China’s Tainted Milk Scandal Culprits Executed

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – The dairy farmer and milk salesman who sold more than three million pounds of contaminated baby formula in China were executed on Tuesday.

Six babies died from drinking milk contaminated with melamine, which is a chemical used in manufacturing plastic and fertilizers, and more than 300,000 children were made ill.

Milk scandalFamilies in line at a hospital in Hebei Province for ultrasonic scan to detect health problems related to drinking tainted milk.  Courtesy of AP.

Melamine is an industrial chemical with high levels of nitrogen, and can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.

The Chinese officials are hoping that the severe punishment imposed on the milk producers will bring some consolation and assurance to the angry public and milk importers, in addition to brining closure to one of the country’s worst food scandals.

Much of the tainted milk ended up in baby formula sold by Sanlu Group, a major dairy company in Northeast China.  Since the scandal broke, the company has been taken over by a state-controlled company.

Milk scandal 2 Zhang Yujun at his trial last December.  Courtesy of China Daily/Reuters.

Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were the only men to be executed among those convicted of lacing milk formula with melamine.  Additionally, 19 others were also convicted received lesser sentences.

The milk contamination struck a core with the Chinese public because although China claimed swift response to eliminating problems in food safety, this tainted milk scandal was only one in a series of product recalls and other disclosures of inadequate public health safeguards.

Despite Beijing’s efforts to regulate small and illegally run operations, a UN report said that many of China’s small businesses pose the greatest food safety hazard.  These small enterprises are often accused of injecting chemicals and additives into the food chain.

Nevertheless, China has been cooperating with U.S. officials to tighten its food safety regulations.  U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission Chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, said that “Chinese suppliers…are now on notice…that it is a mistake to depend on good intentions and a few final inspections to ensure compliance with safety requirements.”

However, the outrage over the tainted milk scandal has not yet subsided.  There are allegations that the Chinese government prevented the news from breaking until after the Beijing Olympics. 

The cover-up allegations have never been publicly investigated, and the authorities have harassed or detained parents who are pursuing lawsuits or demanding higher compensation.
For more information, please see:

AP – China executes 2 for role in tainted milk scandal – 25 November 2009

Guardian – China executes two for tainted milk scandal – 24 November 2009

NYT – 2 Executed in China for Selling Tainted Milk – 24 November 2009

Christmas Island Asylum-seekers May Face Criminal Charges

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – Last week a fight between approximately 150 Sri Lankan Tamils and Afghan asylum-seekers broke out at Australia’s immigration detention facility on Christmas Island.

The two groups attacked each other with tree branches, pool cues and broom handles.  The fighting ended with injuries for some thirty-seven asylum seekers who required medical treatment.  Three individuals were flown to Perth to receive treatment for broken bones.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans believes that the violence may be a result of frustrations amongst the Sri Lankan asylum over being held in custody.

“There hasn’t been too many problems but there has been some increased tension I think around the Sri Lankans, in particular being a bit concerned as we have had some people removed back to Sri Lanka – found not to be refugees, and obviously the spotlight on the groups that were intercepted in Indonesia,” Evans said.

Advocates for refugees claim that the facility’s overcrowded and cramped conditions created the outburst.  This combined with the slow pace of detainee processing is believed to be a significant factor in the fighting at Christmas Island.

Those individuals deemed responsible for the brawl have criminal charges brought against them.

Prime Minister Rudd noted that this may affect the status of certain refugee applications.  Whether or not a detainee may be granted a visa depends in part on whether the individual has committed a serious offense.

Approximately 1,000 asylum seekers are currently housed at Christmas Island.  The government plans to increase the facility’s capacity to 1,400 inmates.

Over the past year, many immigrants, particularly those from Sri Lanka, have tried to enter Australia.  Most of the immigrants are taken to Christmas Island to have their refugee status applications processed.

Australia takes in 13,000 refugees each year through official humanitarian programs.  A majority of asylum seekers, who arrive by boat, are eventually found to be in need of protection and may settle permanently in Australia.

Opposition officials in the government claim the Prime Minister administration has been ineffective in controlling the country’s borders.  Rudd claims that all asylum seekers will receive humane treatment but promises to take a hard-line approach to criminal gangs involved in people smuggling.

For more information please see:
Bloomberg – Australia to send team to Process Lankan Migrants, Herald Says – 24 November 2009

Monsters & Critics – Charges may follow asylum-seeker brawl, Australian Minister says – 23 November 2009

Voice of America – Australia Investigates Brawl Among Asylum Seekers in Camp – 23 November 2009

Mississippi Governor Draws Criticism Over Proposal

26 November 2009

Mississippi Governor Draws Criticism Over Proposal

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MISSISSIPPI, United States – Governor Haley Barbour has proposed to merge three of Mississippi’s historically black colleges into one beginning in the year 2011. The merger is part of the Governor’s plan to decrease costs amidst new budget negotiations.

Under the Governor’s plan, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State would be merged into Jackson State, the state’s largest historically black college. Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley state are located approximately one hundred miles from Jackson State. Their campuses would remain but under new names.

Governor cited many different reasons for merging the three colleges into one. Mississippi has eight colleges and universities for approximately two million, nine hundred thousand people. Barbour stated that the residents of Mississippi can not afford that many institutions of higher education. According to Barbour, the merger would save Mississippi around thirty five million dollars. The savings would come from cuts to administrative costs and eliminating academic duplication.

Many groups and state legislators are opposed to the Governor’s plan. The presidents of the historically black colleges are unanimously opposed to the proposal. Jackson State University president Dr. Ronald Mason stated that “Mississippi needs historically black colleges because we traditionally serve the underserved.” Some Mississippi state legislators stated that they will not support the proposal. They believe that all Mississippi universities should be subject to the same scrutiny in regards to cuts or mergers.  Representative Adrienne Wooten said, “I only know there are certain universities that are having to come forward and prove why they should remain open.”

The Obama administration has also questioned Barbour’s proposal. John S. WIlson, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities believed that cost savings should not be a goal. According to Wilson, the goal of the state should be improving the campuses’ capacity to educate more students. Wilson also believed that the Governor’s proposal may hurt the White House’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.

For more information, please see:

MSNBC – Proposal to Merge Black Schools Draws Fire – 22 November 2009

WJTV, Jackson, MS. – School Chiefs Oppose Merging Black Universities – 18 November 2009

AFRO – Proposal to Merge HBCUs Draws Fire – November 2009