Chinese Activist Risks Jail Over Letter to Obama

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– A Chinese dissident, freed recently after spending eight years in prison, is seeking Obama’s help in gaining medical parole for two friends jailed with him for forming a political study group.

Yang Chinese ActivistYang Zili sits in an interview in Beijing, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 after being imprisoned for eight years. Yang seeks PrResident Obama’s help in gaining medical parole for two friends still imprisoned for forming a political study group. Photograph courtesy of MSNBC.com. 

Yang Zili appealed to President Obama in a letter on behalf of those who were arrested with Yang. Yang said he felt an obligation to help his friends, who are ill, and Obama may be able to raise their cases with Chinese leaders during his trip to Beijing next month.

By writing to President Obama, Yang risks being re-arrested because the terms of his parole ban him from political activities. In an interview on November 4, Yang said, “I have no choice but to take this risk because I feel I have a responsibility to help them.” He went on to say that, “If I don’t make an appeal that is particularly on behalf of these two people, they might just slip through the cracks.”

Yang was released after serving eight years of his ten year sentence for his involvement in the New Youth Study Group, an informal group of young professionals and academics that met privately to discuss democratic reform. The group was known as the “four gentlemen of Beijing.” Their gatherings indicated to many that China remained intolerant of political dissent. When Yang and his friends were arrested and given their harsh sentences, this notion was further confirmed.

While imprisoned, the other two members of the “four gentlemen of Beijing,” Xu Wei and Jin Haike, suffer from mental problems and sickness as a result of “an appendectomy that went badly,” according to Yang.

Yang and fellow-former member of the New Youth Study Group, Zhang Honghai wrote and signed a letter explaining their situation to President Obama. A copy of the appeal was emailed to the U.S. Embassy. Yang urges President Obama to persuade President Hu Jintao to give the men amnesty or medical parole. He says the study group did nothing illegal.

 In the letter Yang and Zhang plead that, “As the latest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the president of the greatest democratic country in the world, you have tremendous influence with the Chinese government and its people.” In talking about the letter, Yang states that “Whether or not this letter is effective depends on how much Obama cares about human rights in China.”

Yang and Zhang are not alone. Many Chinese, political activists and religious dissenters especially, are eager to see whether President Obama will take a stand on human rights during his first trip to China as president on November 15. Other letters express similar concerns and seek freedom for detained activists and a stronger line on human rights concerns from the administration.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo! World News – Chinese activist risks jail with letter to Obama – November 5, 2009 

Forbes – Chinese activist risks jail – November 6, 2009 

MSNBC World News – Chinese activist risks jail with letter to Obama – November 5, 2009

Sri Lanka Responds to EU Report Demands

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The European Union (EU) recently imposed a deadline on Sri Lanka’s human-rights report.  The consequences of failure to adhere to the EU deadline include a termination of trade concession worth up to $116 million dollars under the GSP Plus program.  The GSP Plus program functions to allow Sri Lanka tax-free exports to Europe on principle products such as domestic garments.  Only fourteen countries in the world currently enjoy such an economic relationship with the EU.

The tariffs cut would entail significant economic ramifications for Sri Lanka, while European countries would face minor inconveniences such as price increases for Sri Lankan import textiles.  The refusal for second-round tariffs would have the effect of eliminating thousands of jobs in Sri Lanka’s textile industry.

The Sri Lanka report to the EU must demonstrate the progress of the Sri Lankan government’s resettling initiatives for the hundreds of thousands internally displaced persons following the end of a twenty-five year war against the Tamil Tigers insurgency group.  Since the defeat of the Tamil minority’s fighting force, the Sri Lankan government has been confining scores of Sri Lankan nationals in refugee camps.  Due to the inadequacy of essential resources, dwellers in the camps, jointly funded by the UN and the Sri Lankan government amongst other groups, endure sub-human conditions.  Furthermore, recent flooding has increased the risk of water-borne diseases spreading in the camps.  Weather-worn roads have also made transportation of food and clothing to the camps difficult.  

The EU report concerning Sri Lankan’s practices include allegations of indiscriminate killing of civilians and arbitrary imprisonment.  EU officials stated that the observations made by the Sri Lankan government in its reports would be scrupulously examined before the EU can further consider the continuation of trade concessions.  The EU’s intense scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s government practices seems to stem from the Sri Lankan government’s prior failures to fulfill promises expedient resettling of internally displaced persons.  Furthermore, the international community expressed skepticism with the Sri Lankan government’s claim of conducting internal investigations in the form of a screening process to identify rebel attacks amongst the encamped civilians.

Sri Lankan officials voiced their dissatisfaction of apparent lack of clarity in some of the EU’s reporting demands.  The Sri Lankan government claims to have responded to specific human rights issues raised by the EU, although it never mentioned whether or not it compiled a full report until this morning (November 6).  The EU has yet to send its response to the Sri Lankan government.

Without the continuation of the trade concession, Sri Lanka’s textile workers will lose their business to other Asian countries such as Vietnam, India, and China.  The job cuts would be massive, and the inability to freely export garments would significantly strain Sri Lanka’s economic interests.  Considering the submission of the report, the EU suggested that it will continue discussions with Sri Lanka concerning the continuation of trade concessions.  

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Sri Lanka faces EU tariffs – 05 November 2009

Lankaweb – Sri Lanka’s observations on EC GSP Plus report handed over – 06 November 2009

Tamil Guardian –Sri Lanka hardens stand on GSP Plus – 29 October 2009

Clashes Between Police And Protesters Mark Iranian Anniversary

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

TEHRAN, Iran – On November 4 violence broke out between Iranian police and protesters still angry about the June presidential election. The protests took over a day that was to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the taking of the United States embassy by Iranian students. Iranian police beat the protesters with batons. This action represented to the first show of force by the election protesters in Iran in two months.

In addition to beatings from police, protesters suffered tear gas attacks. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the challenger in June’s controversial election, mentioned on his website that a protest on Wednesday was likely. Several hundred protesters entered Haft-e-Ti square in Tehran in order to protest the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

At the same time as the anti-Ahmedinejad protest, there were anti-United States protests taking place as well. Commemorating the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in 1979, demonstrators chanted “Death to America,” “Death to England” and “Death to Israel” outside the former embassy. This was in contrast to the anti-government protesters who chanted “Death to the dictator.” Many anti-government protesters wore green wristbands or scarves that have come to symbolize the campaign against Ahmedinjead by Mousavi.

In addition to the chants against Ahmedinejad, there were anti-Russian slogans used by protesters as well. Baqer Moon, an Iranian journalist and author, commented that there was a perception growing in Iran that what happened with the election and President Ahmedinejad was somehow helped by China and Russia. He explained that chants against Russia are used at rallies at which government officials are encouraging and taking part in anti-US chants.

Among those attacked at the protests was an opposition leader named Mahdi Karroubi. Karroubi fell to the ground because of the tear gas shot into the crowds. His supporters carried him to a vehicle, which was attacked by government supporters as it drove away. According to his son, Karroubi did not require medical attention.

The taking of the U.S. embassy on November 4, 1979 was an action by Iranian students taken in response to the U.S.’s refusal to handover Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah overthrown by the Islamic Revolution. Fifty two American hostages were held for four hundred forty four days before being released in 1981.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Unrest As Iran Marks Embassy Siege –  4 November 2009

Associated Press – Iran Police, Protesters Clash At US Embassy Rally – 4 November 2009

BBC – Iran Police Clash With Protesters – 4 November 2009

New York Times – Dissidents Mass In Tehran To Subvert An Anti-U.S. Rally – 4 November 2009

 

Taylor Accuses Prosecution of Misleading the Court

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-On Monday, November 2, 2009, Charles Taylor’s trial, for his alleged role in serious international crimes committed by Sierra Leone rebels during the country’s civil war, resumed. On this day, Charles Taylor gave testimony accusing the prosecution of misleading the Special Court for Sierra Leone. This accusation came as a result of the prosecution introducing evidence that when Taylor was Liberia’s President, he acted as a mediator between divided Sierra Leonean rebel commanders, and that he further was involved in appointing rebel leaders and providing his country as a safe haven to rebels on “the run”.

The evidence came in the form of testimony by Vamunya Sherif, a former Deputy Director of Operations in the Liberian Secret Service during Taylor’’s presidency. In January of 2008, Sherif testified that Taylor played a role as a meditator between two senior rebel commanders of Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary Front (RUF), Issa Sesay and Sam Bockarie. According to Sherif’s testimony, Taylor invited the two commanders to Liberia with the intent to help them resolve their conflict. It is alleged by Sheriff, that during this time Taylor appointed Sesay as the leader of the RUF in place of Sam Bockarie. Sherif concluded his testimony alleging that subsequent to the leadership change, Bockarie fled to Liberia where he sought a safe haven.

In response to this testimony, Taylor dismissed Sherif’s testimony as “lies”.  Taylor went on to say, “No such situation occurred where I sent for Sam Bockarie and Issa Sesay to discuss a conflict between them that will lead to the departure of Bockarie.” In additional response to the prosecutions introduction of the evidence Taylor said “the prosecution knows that no such meeting took place because they have gone through major documents that tell how Bockarie left Sierra Leone, so for them to ask that question when they know that no such meeting too place is sinister, and the prosecution misled the court.”

Taylor went on to refute other claims made by Sherif that included linking arms and ammunition exchanges between Bockarie and Liberia. For the past week Taylor has had to respond to testimonies by the prosecution’s witnesses regarding his relationship with RUF commander Bockarie. Taylor has adamantly denied many of these allegations.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Charles Taylor Accuses Prosecution of “Misleading” The Special Court for Sierra Leone – 2 November 2009

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor Accuses Prosecution of “Misleading” The Special Court for Sierra Leone – 2 November 2009

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor and Sam Bockarie Did Not Have Master Servant Relationship – 29 October 2009

Palestinians Could Abandon Two-State Solution if Settlements Continue

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, has said that Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank could force the Palestinians to reject any proposed two-state solution in future peace negotiations.

 

Erekat’s statement came during a press conference on November 4, in response to allegations that the United States was becoming lax in insisting that Israel halt all settlement construction or expansion, as required by international treaties.

 

Erekat added that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was simply encouraging more settlements when she praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer to temporarily limit settlement construction in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s plan would stop development of new settlements, though would not place any restrictions on any of the three thousand buildings already under construction in Israeli settlements. There was considerable international outcry in response to Clinton’s remarks on October 31, as Palestinians have stated that a complete freeze on settlement construction would be a precondition to any peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians. On November 4, Clinton reiterated the U.S. support for a complete settlement freeze after she met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

 

Even as political leaders continue to debate conditions for peace negotiations, confrontations between Palestinians and Jewish settlers continued in East Jerusalem. Several Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem have been issued evacuation orders, presumably to make room for incoming Jewish settlers. The Salah family, whose home is under one of the evacuation orders, has lived in the Beit Safafa neighborhood of East Jerusalem for several generations, and has remained in their home. The Salah family was attacked on October 30, reportedly by twelve settlers who were armed with weapons. Five members of the family were injured. The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights has subsequently accused the Israeli police of not adequately responding to the assault.

 

Erekat said that the alternative for the Palestinians was to re-focus on the one-state solution, “where Muslims, Christians and Jews can live as equals…It is very serious. This is the moment of truth for us.”

 

For more information, please see:

 

Al Jazeera – Settlements “End Two-State Hopes” – 5 November 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Erekat: Two-State Solution May Have to Be Abandoned – 5 November 2009

 

Ha’aretz – Clinton: Settlements Are Illegitimate, Should Be Halted Forever – 4 November 2009

 

New York Times – Clinton Backs Peace Talks Before Israeli Settlement Freeze – 4 November 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights Condemns Attack on Beit Safafa Family – 31 October 2009