240 Saudi Villages Evacuated Over Yemen Fighting

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’DA, Yemen – Some 240 villages in Saudi Arabia have been evacuated due to an escalation of fighting in Northern Yemen. The United Nations has reported Friday that “fighting has now spilled into Saudi Arabia, reportedly causing 240 villages to be evacuated and more than 50 schools to be closed.”

Saudi Arabia, the world’s oil exporter, launched an offensive last week after Yemeni rebels seized Saudi territory along the mountainous border from which they said the Saudis had been allowing Yemeni troops to use to attack their positions.  A Saudi government advisor said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is using air power and artillery to enforce a six mile deep buffer zone inside Yemen to keep the Shi’ite rebels away from its southwestern border.

The fighting worsens an already bleak humanitarian situation in northern Yemen, where the United Nations now says 175,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. More than 15,000 are staying in al-Mazraq camp in Hajjah province, the population of which has doubled in the past month, according to the U.N. children’s agency. “Deaths have been recorded among children in the camp as malnutrition, already a chronic problem in Yemen, is reaching alarming levels.” Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.

The U.N. refugee agency said that up to 900 people have been arriving every day at al-Mazraq which has exceeded its capacity. United Nations High Council on Refugees estimated its current population at 10,000. “The lastest sudden influx is adding more pressure on an already dire situation, and overcrowding in the camp is becoming a major concern.” UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said.

For more information, please see:

Earth Times – UN: Saudi Villages Evacuated Over Yemen Fighting – 13 November 2009

VOA – More Civilians Flee War-Torn Yemen – 13 November 2009

Reuters – Saudi Villages Evacuated Due Yemen Violence – UNICEF

U.S. Demands Bribery Court in Afghanistan

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan –  In August, the presidential election was riddled with accusations of fraud and vote-rigging. As the end of the election neared, now president, Mr. Hamid Karzai’s main rival pulled out of a run-off vote.

Many in the country believe the election was tainted by fraud allegations. In addition to facing skepticism by citizens, the nation has also come under growing Western pressure to deal with corruption.

The American ambassador in Kabul, Ishaq Aluko, has warned against a US troop surge unless Mr. Karzai takes action against corruption. Mr. Karzai has refused to make public the names of people under suspicion for receiving money for government contracts until their files had been sent to the court. He does say, however, that there is a range of corruption, some of it involving huge amounts of money.

Bribes and corruption outside of money include the buying  of cars, computers. and furniture. Other forms exist as well, including contract awards for construction or road building. Mr. Aluko says his department is serious about tackling corruption in all areas, and that he had already asked some of the current and former ministers to answer the allegations.

When U.S. Secretary of State visited the country recently, she stated, “Now we believe that President Karzai and his government can do better.” Clinton also declared that Mr. Karzai must set up a “major crimes tribunal” and an anti-corruption commission. She went on to say that, the Afghan government needs to take action against people who have “taken advantage of the money that has poured into Afghanistan” in the past eight years. Clinton made clear, though that civilian aid would not be given unless the U.S. could track the funds if it went to government ministries.

American and British officials have been particularly vocal in recent weeks in calling for Karzai to institute reforms following a messy election that took 2 1/2 months to resolve and undermined the legitimacy of a government. This is unsurprising since, Transparency International, a non-governmental organization, last year ranked Afghanistan 176th out of 180 countries on its corruption perceptions index, a poll that assesses the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. Only Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia were worse.

This is the third formal launch of a crime-fighting unit promising to tackle corruption.

For more information, please see:

Wall Street Journal – Karzai, Under Pressure, Adopts Antigraft Measures – November 16, 2009 

BBC World News – US demands Afghan ‘bribery court’ – November 15, 2009 

ABC News – Afghan ministers accused of taking bribes – November 13, 2009

Niger Delta Peace Talks are “Frank and Fruitful”

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – Formal peace talks began on Saturday between Nigeria’s main militant group and the country’s president for the first time since it declared an indefinite cease-fire last.

President Umaru Yar’Adua called the talks with the ex-chiefs of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) “frank and fruitful.”   MEND is one of the main rebel groups in the oil region.

For over three years, militants have waged a violent campaign against facilities, saying they are fighting for a greater share of the oil wealth for the local communities.

Henry Okah et Farah Dagogo represented MEND at the talks.  He said in a statement that the two hours of talks were “frank, cordial and useful.”

“This meeting heralds the beginning of serious, meaningful dialogue between MEND and the Nigerian government to deal with and resolve root issues that have long been swept under the carpet,” read Okah’s statement.

Wole Soyinka, Nigerian writer and Nobel Literature price winner also attended the talks.

This past June President Yar’Adua offered amnesty to rebels who surrendered their arms.  Even though MEND did not take initially did not take part in the amnesty, it declared an indefinite ceasefire in October to allow these peace talks to proceed.  Since the the main field commanders and thousands of gunmen agreed to the ceasefire, MEND has been severely weakened.

The government has proposed a massive infrastructure development program for the impoverished region.  Boy Loaf, a former top rebel commander, says development of the Niger Delta should start from the creeks or rebels will have an excuse to continue their attacks.

Activists warn that the former fighters could return to the creeks and resume the attacks if these talks do not quickly lead to changes in the oil-rich region.

“They should start the development from that creek because the  creek is the only hideout for our people . . . [S]o that the people can have a sense of belonging,” said Bay loaf.

The rebel activities in the Niger Delta reduced Nigeria’s oil output by almost one third, from 2.6 million barrels a day in 2006 to around 1.7 million barrels.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Nigerian President in “Fruitful” Oil Rebel Talks – 15 November 2009

AP – Nigeria Militants Start Peace Talks with President – 15 November 2009

Reuters – Nigerian Militants Say Peace Talks Start with Govt – 15 November 2009

Telegraph – Niger Delta Peace Talks Raise Hopes of Oil Boost and an End to Kidnappings – 15 November 2009

VOA – Nigerian President Holds Talks with Rebel Group – 15 November 2009

South African Mercenaries Training Guinea Troops

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea – According to an unnamed Western diplomat, Guinea President Moussa Dadis Camara’s junta troops are being trained by South African mercenaries.

Violence reported in the capital led to news that Guinea forces were being trained.

The South African government is investigating reports that as many as 50 South African mercenaries are working with the Guinea coup leaders.  So far the country’s intelligence agencies have been unable to confirm the reports, a South African senior official said.

“We have instructions that they are mercenaries who are training people of the same ethnic origin as the head of the coup d’etat,” said the Western diplomat.  “We already have more and more reports of abductions and violence in the streets of Conakry.”

The recent training has led to fear of ethnic warfare.  On September 28 Camara’s forces raped and killed more than 150 protestors in a sports stadium.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed a three-man African-led commission to investigate the incidents.  Since then there has been little violence.

International mediation is unlikely to resolve the political deadlock between Captain Camara’s National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) and the opposition.  If mediation fails the country could potentially face a new bout of unrest.  Since the September 28 violence opposition leaders have called on Captain Camara to step down immediately.

Camara shows no signs of surrendering power.

“I think it’s unrealistic.  You can’t start a negotiation by saying ‘I don’t want power,'” said Guinea Foreign Minister Alexandre Ceceloua in response to the opposition’s demands in Ouagadougou, where Blaise Campaore is leading peace talks this week.

Campaore is the international community’s last hope at facilitating peace.

President Moussa Dadis Camara took power in a bloodless coup d’etat on December 23, 2008 when longtime President Lansana Conte died.

For more information, please see:

Kuwait Times – Mediation Unlikely to Solve Guinea Crisis – 15 November 2009

UPI – Mercenaries Said Training Guinea Troops – 14 November 2009

The Wall Street Journal – Hired Guns Help Junta in Guinea – 14 November 2009

Xinhua – Guinea’s Ruling CNDD Delegation Returns After Ouagadougou Crisis Talks – 14 November 2009

South Korea to Continue Aid Despite Naval Clash

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea– Despite North Korea’s threats of “merciless military measures” after a naval clash between the two Koreas earlier this week, South Korea said they remain committed to providing humanitarian aid to the North.

The North and South Korean navies clashed by the disputed maritime border on Tuesday, leaving a North Korean ship damaged.  Since then, the two countries have been accusing each other of illegally entering territorial waters and firing the first shot.

Korea navy  South Korean ships patrolling their waters.  Courtesy of AP.

Both sides have been demanding an apology, and North Korea has threatened South Korea with military actions over this naval skirmish. 

Nevertheless, the South Korean Unification Ministry released a statement saying, “With regard to North Korea’s request for humanitarian aid…[t]here is no change in the government’s stance.”

The North had asked for 100,000 tons of food back in October.  Furthermore, farmers and leaders are pressuring the South Korean government to send rice to North Korea, especially because there is a chronic oversupply of rice in the South.

Choi Young-ok, an official from a South Korean NGO, said, “Rice is the most suitable item for resumption of humanitarian aid to North Korea as it is the main staple grain for Koreas.  The [South Korean] government’s offer of 10,000 tons of corn is not nearly enough.” 

The South had stopped sending rice aid to the North after a new administration took over earlier this year. 

South Korean Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said, “The South had spent 200 30 300 billion won each year to send the rice under the previous administrations…Resumption of such massive aid will be determined after sufficient dialogue with the North, in consideration of inter-Korea relations.”

The U.S. has asked the North not to escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula, and the UN Secretary-General is urging the two Koreas to resolve this dispute through peaceful dialogue. 

UN spokesman said, “[Secretary-General] has called for maximum restraint by both parties.  The incident highlights the need to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue and in a peaceful manner.”

For more information, please see:

The Korea Herald – Protests spread to restart N.K. rice aid – 12 November 2009

The Korea Times – Seoul to Offer Aid to NK Despite Clash – 11 November 2009

NYT – North Korea Issues New Threat After Naval Clash – 13 November 2009