Suspects Arrested in Killings of Russian Human Rights Lawyer and Journalist

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Two suspects have been charged by a Moscow city court in the murders of a Russian human rights lawyer and journalist.

Nikita Tikhonov and Yevgenia Khasis, allegedly members of a Russian neo-Nazi organization, were charged Thursday with the Moscow murders of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova.  The chief of the Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov, confirmed that the two suspects were arrested during a larger initiative targeting domestic extremist groups.  In addition to a long record of opposing the actions of Russian security officials, Markelov, 35, had also been a the lawyer for journalist Anna Politkovskaya and worked on behalf of a Chechen family who’s daughter had been killed by a Russian Army officer.  Baburova, 25, was a student journalist.

Investigators have confirmed that it was Tikhonov who actually killed the two victims, while Khasis served as a lookout.  The announcement of these arrests, made by the nation’s top law enforcement official and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, came as the Kremlin has faced increased criticism for failing to properly investigate the continued killings and disappearances of leading human rights activists and opposition journalists in recent years.

Both Tikhonov and Khasis are members of the radical nationalist organization Russian National Unity.  Additionally, according to Bortnikov, Tikhonov has been a member of United Brigade 88, an extreme right-wing ultra nationalist organizations.  United Brigade 88 has been engaged in a campaign of anti-immigrant violence.

Tikhonov’s lawyer has commented that it was the intention of Tikhonov to kill only Markelov.  Markelov had worked in the past to obtain tougher punishments for those were responsible for the 2006 killing of a Russian anti-fascist organizer and had encouraged security officials to arrest Tikhonov.  Tikhonov, although never arrested, had been a additional suspect in that killing.  The lawyer went on to indicate that Baburova death was accidental, since he had been leaving a news conference with Markelov when the shooting took place.

For more information, please see:

AP – Two Suspects in Killings of Lawyer, Journalist Arrested – 6 November 2009

NEW YORK TIMES – Man Admits to Killing Russian Rights Lawyer, Stanislav Markelov, and Reporter – 6 November 2009

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Two Arrests Made In Moscow For Markelov, Barburova Murders – 6 November 2009

WASHINGTON POST – Russia Arrests 2 in deaths of human rights lawyer, journalist – 6 November 2009

THE OTHER RUSSIA – Suspect Confesses to Murder of Russian Lawyer – 5 November 2009

Former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner Says Deportation of Academic Lal is Unacceptable

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner, Shamima Ali, says the treatment of Dr. Brij Lal is shocking and unacceptable. Lal was threatened when he was questioned by the Fiji military, and was deported to Australia after he was questioned.

Lal is an Australian academic who was originally born in Fiji.

Earlier this week, Lal commented on the interim regime’s expulsion of top New Zealand and Australian diplomats in an interview with ABC.

Soon after, Lal was confronted by the Fiji military and questioned extensively. Lal reports that military authorities came to his house and took him to the barracks for questioning. Lal says he was subjected to intense verbal abuse, foul language and explosive anger while he was in detention in Suva.

The military gave Lal only 24 hours to leave Fiji. He was immediately deported to Australia.

Ali strongly criticizes the military’s actions, and stated: “This is like taking us back to the early days of the coup; the military taking people in and I’m not at liberty to say exactly what he went through, but he was humiliated and sworn at and belittled and threatened…”

Ali further criticizes the military’s behavior as being unacceptable: “I’m very concerned about what’s happening. We seem to be facing a deteriorating situation politically in this country. And when we thought that bridges have been mended that’s when it seems that it slipped out of our hands again. So it’s not a good place for Fiji to be at the moment.”

After Lal arrived in Australia, Lal commented that “he suffered nothing the people of Fiji don’t already suffer daily.” He returned to Australia with heightened diplomatic tensions resulting from the expulsions, which have left relations between Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand at a “new low.”

Amnesty International condemns the action taken by Fiji’s military against Lal. Amnesty reports that the military also told Lal that if he were to ever return to Fiji, he would be killed.

A researcher from Amnesty International, Apolosi Bose, says the situation in Fiji is deteriorating: “People were scared before, but the danger from Amnesty’s point of view is that Fiji’s situation will become worse as it becomes more isolated and away from all the scrutiny.”

Fiji’s immigration director, Major Nemani Vuniwaqa, denies that Lal was deported and expelled. He would not make any comments as to why Lal was questioned.

The Australian National University (ANU) is considering making a formal complaint to the Fiji government for its treatment of Lal.

Australia’s National Tertiary Education Union also condemns the actions of the Fiji military. The Union’s spokesman, Ted Murphy, says Lal’s expulsion is “a direct violation of free speech and academic freedom.”

Murphy also fears that the regime’s actions will destroy educational partnerships between Australia and Fiji.

For more information, please see:
Raw Fiji News – A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says treatment of academic is shocking – 06 November 2009

ABC Radio Australia – Fiji deports Fiji-born Australian academic Dr. Brij Lal – 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International – A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says treatment of academic is shocking – 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Amnesty critical of Fiji treatment of Australian academic Lal – 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji deports academic Lal to Australia – 04 November 2009

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