Malaysia Withholds 10,000 Confiscated Bibles

By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Government officials in Malaysia seized and continue to refuse the release of 10,000 Bibles sequestered for using the word “Allah” to refer to God. Officials maintain their position after announcing their plan to withhold the Bibles on Wednesday, November 4.

The Bibles were apprehended by the Malaysian customs services, and according to a Home Ministry official, the government told the importer to return the Indonesian-language Bibles last month.

 The tension stems from the use of the word “Allah” in the Bibles, which is banned by the government for use by non-Muslims in an apparent act to appease Muslims. According to the same Home Ministry official, “the publications, the Bibles, are already banned.” He declined to make further comment, indicating that he is not authorized to make public statements.

Christians in Malaysia say the Muslim Malay-dominated government is violating their right to practice their religion freely. About 30 percent of the country’s 28 million people practice Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or other faiths. The concern is that Malaysia will no longer be regarded as a peaceful nation. The Christian Federation of Malaysia, which had called for the release of all Bibles, described the seizure as “ridiculous and offensive.” The government maintains that the Arabic-origin word “Allah” is an Islamic word and its use by Christians and others will upset Muslims.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing, chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia said, “This constitutional right (to practice freely) is rendered illusory if Christians in Malaysia are denied access to Bibles in a language with which they are familiar.” 

In addition to the 10,000 most recently seized by the Malaysian government, another 5,100 Bibles, also imported from Indonesia, were confiscated in March and have not been released. There is apparently no immediate information on those Bibles or whether the publications will be released or returned in the near future.

For more information, please see:

MSNBC World News – Malaysia rejects call to release 10,000 Bibles – November 8. 2009

BBC World News – Malaysia withholds ‘Allah Bibles’ – Novmeber 4, 2009

The Jakarta Globe – 10,000 Indonesian Bibles Seized in Malaysia for Using the Word ‘Allah’ – November 6, 2009 

Associated Press – Malaysian government has refused to release 10000 Bibles – November 4, 2009

Youth Recruitment in Somalia

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Kenyan government has been accused of secretly recruiting and training youths from the north eastern region to fight for the Somali transition government against al-Shabaab.

The al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia has accused Kenyan leadership of secret recruitment of fighters amongst young Kenyan Somalis to fight the Islamist movement.  al-Shabaab Islamic administration representative Sheikh Hassan Yaqub said Kenya’s north eastern region members of parliament (MPs) are responsible for the recruitment.

“Somali MPs in Kenyan parliament are responsible for recruitment of fighters in Kenyan border towns and we are warning them,” said Yaqub.

In the last three weeks at least 200 Kenyans of Somali origin have been recruited.

Habiba Kosar, one of many parents speaking out, said her 18-year-old son is being trained in a Kenyan government security facility.

“My son was picked in the middle of the night.  He is being trained for Somalia.  We have never seen Somalia and have no connection with the country.  I just want my son back,” she said.

Parents in Kenya have petitioned the government and local leaders for return of their children.

“The parents are claiming that their sons are [being] secretly smuggled out of the town in the name of army recruitment.  It is shocking to hear that [the] Kenyan government has indulged itself in such activities which can cause [this] region great concerns,” said Mayor Mohammed Gabow of Garissa town, headquarters of Kenya’s north eastern province.

Gabow accused the government of luring young men with large sums of money because of the rampant unemployment.

Both the Kenyan and Somali transitional government deny these claims.

“This is cheap propaganda disseminated by some militia groups in Somalia,” said a spokesman.  “What I am aware of is that the Kenya government and, by extension the Kenya police, has been, and will continue to be, training Somali youths to serve as policemen in their country.”

Kenyan authorities are accused of directly supporting the recruitment drive.

Escaped recruit Sharmarke Abdi said he escaped after two weeks of training alongside hundreds of Kenyan and Somali youths.

“We were told that the United Nations was supporting the recruitment.  We were transported in government vehicles.  We began training immediately.  Some of the trainers were from Somalia,” he said.

Conflict in Somalia continues as Islamist fighters and transitional government troops keep fighting.  Most recently, two have been killed and five others injured after heavy fighting with bitter shelling.  Islamists are fighting in favor of converting to an Islamic state while the current President is heading a transitional government.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Youth Lured to Fight in Somalia – 07 November 2009

All Africa – Somalia: Fighting Kills Two, Wounds Five Others in North Mogadishu – 07 November 2009

Garowe Online – Somalia: Al-Shabaab Accuses Kenyan MPs Over Youth Recruitment – 07 November 2009

Impunity Watch – Kenya Recruiting Soldiers in Somalia – 25 October 2009

ICC Claims Strong Cases in Kenyan Post-Election Violence

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Luis Moreno Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the international Criminal Court (ICC) announced that he would bring two to three post-election violence cases to trial by next July.

Ocampo has said that he has a “strong case” against some for crimes committed during the 2007 post-election violence.  He believes speed is of utmost importance so Kenya does not experience the same type of violence during its next election in 2012.

“Everyone is worried about the next election in Kenya in 2012.  That is why I understand the importance of speed,” Ocampo said.  “I’ll go to the communities.  I”ll see the victims, listen to them.  I have to collect the evidence.  Then I’ll present my case.  Then the names will be known.  In the meantime, my duty is to make criminal records ready- who gave orders to kill.  That’s it.”

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga met with Ocampo and he told them that he would be asking the ICC’s pretrial judges for permission to launch an investigation in December.

In October, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, acting as crisis mediator, warned that there was a serious risk of violence at the next presidential election if the killings were not prosecuted.

Today, Prime Minister Odinga said that he would surrender to the ICC if Ocampo built a strong case linking him to the violence.

“I will not wait to be arrested.  I will volunteer information,” he said.

Ocampo made the decision to proceed unilaterally because the Kenyan government decided not to refer the case to the ICC.

“President Kibaki and I agreed that the prosecutor should proceed with his work and Kenya would cooperate.  We also didn’t want to show that our judicial system had failed,” said Odinga.  That’s why Kenya did not make a formal referral of the case to the ICC.

Odinga also said that the Kenyan government would fully cooperate with Prosecutor Ocampo.

“President Kibaki and I agreed that the prosecutor should proceed with his work and Kenya would cooperate.  We also didn’t want to show that our judicial system had failed,” said Odinga.  That’s why Kenya did not make a formal referral of the case to the ICC.

The current Kenyan government operates as a power-sharing entity between the Prime Minister and the President.  Both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga have agreed to cooperate with any trials, although they remain committed to “local judicial mechanisms.”

“My mandate is to end impunity of the most serious crimes,” says Ocampo.  “I will do that.”

For more information, please see:

Daily Nation – Raila Assures ICC of Kenya’s Support – 08 November 2009

Al Jazeera – Ocampo to Request Kenya Trials – 07 November 2009

BBC – ICC Seeking Speedy Kenya Trials – 07 November 2009

Reuters India – ICC’s Ocampo Says Has Strong Case in Kenya – 07 November 2009

Inquiry Reveals Corruption Within PNG Immigration Department

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinean immigration officials state that the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department lacks sufficient resources to prevent foreigners from entering the country.

As a result of an anti-Asian riot, which occurred last May, the government has undertaken an inquiry into Department practices, to determine just how a large number of foreigners received entry visas.

Last May’s riot in Port Moresby was started by a non-governmental group, who claimed that foreigners, who entered the country illegally, took jobs away from locals who would otherwise do them.

The protest sparked rioting and looting of Asian-owned stores.

The Parliamentary Bipartisan Committee has found that foreigners have been able to enter Papua New Guinea, secure employment, and start their own businesses.

Elias Woangu, the Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, stated that the government only employs thirty officers to handle visa applications.  The lack of manpower makes it difficult to monitor individuals entering and leaving the country.

Papua New Guinea is currently home to approximately 15,000 illegal residents.

The Committee found that many foreigners have been able to bribe their way into the country.  Officials not following proper procedure have accepted bribes when issuing or renewing visas and passports.

Several officers have been penalized for this corrupt behavior.

The Deputy Secretary also noted that the lack of resources has made it difficult for the department to deport illegal immigrants and other individuals who have overstayed their visas.

Papua New Guinea does not have detention centers to hold illegal immigrants.
Mr. Woangu also told the Committee that citizens have threatened immigration officials who have tried to deport illegal immigrants.  In one instance, officials who attempted to deport a foreigner, who had married a local woman, but were subsequently threatened by his in-laws.

The Committee is due to conclude its investigation in two weeks.  At that time, it will report its findings to the Parliament and make recommendations for reforming immigration, labor, and business laws.

For more information, please see:
Pacific Media Center – PNG Parliamentary Committee “Shocked” at Immigration Corruption – 07 November 2009

Radio New Zealand – PNG Parliamentary committee “shocked” at immigration corruption – 06 November 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – PNG inquiry hears claims of Asian crime – 06 November 2009

The National – PNG citizens protecting aliens, inquiry told – 05 November 2009

Radio Australia News – No monitoring of visitors, PNG inquiry told – 05 November 2009

Karzai Opponent Denounces Election Victory

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia 

KABUL, Afghanistan- In his first comments since Hamid Karzai was declared to have won the fraud-hit election, former Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah said Karzai’s reelection is “illegal” and his government a failure.  Abdullah told reporters in Kabul that Karzai’s government would lack the legitimacy needed to deal with problems such as checking corruption and fend off the Taliban. 

Article 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.”  This article also declares, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government, this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine election which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

President Karzai was declared the winner after Abdullah withdrew from a run-off election on Monday saying the vote would not be free or fair.  He contended that he was not quitting as a concession, but because he could not trust the process.

The scrapped run-off vote was originally planned for this weekend.  President Karzai agreed to the run off after hundreds of thousands of votes from the 20 August first round were discounted because of widespread fraud.  An investigation by the Electoral Complaints Commission revealed that President Karzai’s share of the vote dropped to 49.67%, below the required 50% plus one vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off.

Because the fraud which occurred in the August round affected the ability of the Afghan people to freely elect their representatives, their right to vote was diminished.  The reelection of President Karzai could be considered as not being genuine as Abdullah has alluded to since some of the population’s votes were not counted.

Abdullah said the decision of the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) not to have a run-off had “no legal basis”.  “Such a government which lacks legitimacy cannot fight corruption…A government which comes to power without the people’s support cannot fight the phenomena of terrorism threats, unemployment, poverty and hundreds of other problems,” he told reporters.

He said the election commission, which critics believed was biased towards Karzai, had exceeded its mandate.  Critics have called Karzai’s victory unconstitutional since he did not secure more than half of the vote.

Although his words were sharp, Mr. Abdullah said that he saw the flawed Aug. 20 election as finished and that he did not plan to continue his efforts to challenge the results.  He said “The process has completed itself with that final illegal decision,” referring to the IEC.  “I leave it to the people of Afghanistan to judge.”

The former foreign minister has urged his backers to remain peaceful.  He also called on his supporters to show restraint and not do anything illegal to oppose the government.  Karzai has promised his new administration will be inclusive, but Abdullah has ruled out playing a role in the administration, despite pressure for a unity government.  “I have no interest in the future cabinet of Karzai’s government and I will pursue my agenda, which is change,” he told the news conference. 

This crisis has delayed decisions by the US and NATO partners on sending more troops to fight the Taliban insurgency, in addition to paralyzing the Afghan government for months.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Afghan Election Victory ‘Illegal’ – 4 November 2009

The New York Times- Karzai’s Top Rival Denounces Afganistan’s New Government– 4 November 2009

Examiner.Com- Karzai Opponent: Abdullah Abdullah Says Re-election Was Illegitimate– 5 November 2009

United Nations- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights