Gay Rights March in Taipei

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan – 20,000 people from Taiwan’s gay and lesbian community took the streets of Taipei Saturday demanding that the government better safeguard gay rights and their lifestyle choices.  The marchers, shouting the slogan “Love Out Loud,” specifically asked for equal rights and recognition of same sex marriages.

This was Taiwan’s seventh annual Gay Pride Parade and attracted supporters from neighboring Asian countries like Hong Kong and Japan. 

Tung Chu-chu, the chief organizer of the march, said, “We urge the government to better protect gay human rights including same-sex unions so we can have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.” 

Another participant, Nancy Chen, added, “I hope the government will not only legalise same-sex unions but also allow us to adopt children.”  Chen said, “Even though Taiwan is becoming more open-minded towards gays, many still think that gay people can have romantic relationships but not something as serious as starting families.”

Taipei gay parade Gay rights activists in Taipei.  Courtesy of MSN.

A Taiwanese professor Ho Chuen-juei said this parade is not only to raise the voices of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, but also to fight prejudice and discrimination.

Taiwan is actually one of the most tolerant Asian countries regarding homosexuality.  Taiwan is said to have the most vibrant gay community in Asia, and its parade is the largest among the Chinese-speaking communities.

Furthermore, in 2003, Taipei’s mayor began subsidizing the annual Gay Carnival.  However, the funding for the Carnival as decreased over the years, in addition to some recent cases of suppression of homosexuals.  Also in 2003, Taiwan became the first Asian country to draft a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, but the bill still has not yet been passed.

Tung criticized the Taiwanese government for not passing the anti-discrimination legislation saying, “We love the people around us, but sometimes the society and the government don’t love us, or even see us…The government made us lots of empty promises, but so far they haven’t come through.”

Despite the government’s inaction, the organizers of the parade remain hopeful and plan to expand the parade to other parts of Taiwan next year.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Thousands march in Taipei for gay marriage – 31 October 2009

GMA News – Taiwan’s gays march for enactment of anti-discrimination measure – 31 October 2009

Taipei Times – Gay pride throngs Taipei streets – 1 November 2009

The Times of India – 20,000 march in Taipei for gay rights – 31 October 2009

Refugees Refuse to Budge, Indonesia Might Expel

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia     

 

Jakarta, Indonesia- Indonesia has stated the 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers stranded in a boat off the coast of Sumatra must either cooperate with authorities over identity checks or risk expulsion.

The Sri Lankans were caught in Indonesian water on 18 October while attempting to reach Australia.  Both nations agreed to a deal last week which would see the asylum seekers moved to an Indonesian detention center.  The Sri Lankans, ethnic Tamils who are on board the Australian vessel “Oceanic Viking” have refused to be moved to Riau Island, an immigration detention center in Tanjungpinang, said an Indonesian diplomat. “The Sri Lanka immigrants insist on going to Australia instead,” said Sujatmiko, the foreign ministry’s diplomatic security director.

The asylum seekers numbering 68 men, five women and five children, were detained by Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking, 240 miles from Padang in waters near Enggano Island.

Teuku Faizahsyah, Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesperson told the BBC that Indonesia will only be able to host the asylum seekers until they have been clearly identified.  The asylum seekers have so far resisted any efforts to get off the ship.  Faizahsyah says that if the stand-off continues, Indonesia will have no choice but to expel the Sri Lankans.

Indonesia could not force them to move to the Riau Islands’ immigration detention center because it would violate international law.  The refugees initially rejected health check-up by an Indonesian medical team but finally gave up after being persuaded by members of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry’s team.

“Today the Oceanic Viking ship is still in water around 12 miles off the Bintan District coast,” said Sujatmiko.  The permission by the Indonesian government allowing the ship to moor near Cempedak Isle expires next Friday.  Sujatmiko denied a report saying that Indonesia had received US$50 million as compensation for accepting Sri Lankan immigrants, stating the government was willing to accept the asylum seekers because of humanitarian reasons.

The deal has been seen as a prelude to a wider-ranging agreement between the two nations expected to be signed in November.  The agreement would see Australia hand over cash to Indonesia, in exchange for Jakarta ensuring that Australia-bound ships with asylum seekers on board are intercepted.  The agreement has been criticized by some in Indonesia who say it is only a way for Australia to outsource its problems to their country.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Indonesia ‘Might Expel’ Refugees  – 29 October 2009

Antara News- Sri Lanka Refugees to Budge From Australian Ship – 28 October 2009

Sri Lanka Watch- Australia Refuses to Accept SL Asylum Seekers  – 30 October 2009

Ex-Sierra Leonean Rebels Sent to Rwandan Prison

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Eight men found guilty by the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) of war crimes and crimes against humanity have been transferred from Sierra Leone to a prison in Rwanda to serve their sentences.

The prisoners were sent from the SCSL detention facilities in Freetown, Sierra Leone to Rwanda because there are currently no prisons in Sierra Leone that meet international standards.

“Amid tight security, the eight men were flown by helicopter from the Special Court compound to Lungi International Airport, where they boarded a U.N.-chartered plane for Kigali, Rwanda,” said the Court in a statement.

According to spokesman Peter Andersen, they “left shortly after 0400 GMT.”

Of the men transferred, three were from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) who were convicted in February on charges of terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, and use of child soldiers among others.  For the first time in history, these men were convicted of forced marriage and attacks against peacekeepers.

Last week, SCSL upheld former RUF Interim Leader Issa Hassan Sesay’s sentence of 52 years, RUF Commander Morris Kallon’s sentence of 40 years, and former RUF Chief of Security Augustine Gbao’s sentence of 25 years.  Three former leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Alex Tamba Brima, Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara, and Santigie Borbor Kanu and two former leaders of the Civil Defense Forces (CDF), Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa complete the list of prisoners.

The eight prisoners have been transferred to Mpanga Prison in Rwanda where they will be held in the part of the prison originally built to house prisoners convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).  Their incarceration at this facility was facilitated by an agreement made between SCSL and the Rwandan government.

Time served while held by the SCSL will be given to the prisoners as credit toward their sentences.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s trial, the last remaining defendant for the SCSL, is being held in The Hague, where it was moved for security reasons.  He is accused of controlling the RUF.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Sierra Leone Ex-rebels Leave to be Jailed in Rwanda: Court – 31 October 2009

Cocorioko – Special Court Prisoners Sent to Rwanda to Serve Their Sentences – 31 October 2009

Reuters – Sierra Leone Court Sends Convicts to Rwandan Prison – 31 October 2009

UN News Centre – Sierra Leone: Eight Men Found Guilty of War Crimes Transferred to Rwanda – 31 October 2009

UN Looking Into Guinea Violence

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched an international inquiry into the violence against Guinean protestors last month.

On September 28, gunmen opened fire on a stadium full of anti-government protestors killing 157 and wounding more than a thousand others.

Earlier this week the UN Security Council condemned the violence because Russia was opposed and Moscow was uncomfortable getting involved with the domestic politics of an individual country.  According to the UN, the inquiry will “investigate those incidents with a view to determining the accountability of those involved.”

Algerian diplomat and jurist Mohamed Bedjaoui will chair the inquiry.  Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, leader of Guinea’s military government, has said that he will cooperate with the UN’s efforts.

The inquiry team will be filled out with Burundi’s Francoise Ngendahyo Kayirwamirwa and Mauritius’ Pramila Patten.  Kayirwamirwa has previously served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and Patten is a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

Prior to traveling to Geneva and Guinea, the commission members will travel to New York City to meet with the Secretary General, said spokeswoman Michele Montas.

Guinea’s military junta warned that any sanctions imposed on the country might cause chaos in the country, warning that the international community was pushing the country into a situation “that could degenerate.”

The African Union, the United States, and the European Union have joined in imposing fresh sanctions on the junta.  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is attempting to mediate the situation and Guinean leadership has agreed to give ECOWAS priority.  Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore will be the mediator.

“The president (Dadis Camara) has said that he is putting the fate of Guinea in the hands of mediator Compaore,” said his spokesman.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said that he is also investigating.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Guinea Junta Warns Sanctions May Cause Chaos – 30 October 2009

Al Jazeera – AU Imposes Sanctions on Guinea – 30 October 2009

All Africa – Ban Announces Members of Commission to Look Into Bloody Guinean Crackdown – 30 October 2009

AP – Guinea Protestors Freed After Being Forced to Eat – 30 October 2009

UN News Centre – UN Chief Ban Launches Inquiry Into Guinea Violence – 30 October 2009

Xinhua – UN Announces Establishment of Int’l Commission to Probe Guinea Incidents – 30 October 2009

Asylum Center Expansion Is Evidence of Policy Failure

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The Australian government will increase the capacity of a Christmas Island detention facility as a result of the increase in the number of individuals seeking asylum.

As a result of the government’s plans, the detention center, which will cost approximately $40 million, will be able to hold more than 2000 individuals.

The government believes that it is necessary to increase the number of beds by approximately 50%.

It will continue to expand the center as space is needed and remains committed to a policy of mandatory detention for all unauthorized boat arrivals.

Christmas Island officials claim that careful planning of the expansion will be necessary to ensure human treatment and avoid overcrowding.

While the government claims these plans are an effort to cope with the influx of asylum seekers over the last few months, opposition officials have a different view.

They claim this is evidence of the administration’s failing immigration policies.  Expanding the capacity of detention facilities is not the answer, they claim, but rather the government must strengthen Australia’s immigration laws.

“[The Prime Minister’s] policy was a failure, it’s in chaos and it’s a shambles,” opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull stated.

Over the last several months, these policies have sparked bitter debate.  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd claims that the influx is the result of the current situations in countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.  The opposition, however, claims that the Rudd’s relaxation of the severe immigration policies inherited from his predecessor is at the root of the problem.

Rather than applying to the UN Refugee Agency, many asylum seekers will travel to Australia illegally by boat, which is encouraged by the administration’s lax policies.

This debate rages onward as seventy-eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers remain aboard a ship in waters just off one of the Indonesian islands.

Neither the government nor the asylum seekers are budging on their positions.

The asylum seekers indicated that they were being treated well but refused to disembark unless the ship went to Australia.

Indonesia will allow the ship to remain there for another week.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Detention centre expansion ‘proves policy failure’ – 31 October 2009

ABC News – Detention centre expansion confirmed – 31 October 2009

The Age – Christmas Is detention centre to expand – 31 October 2009

BBC News – Australia to expand asylum centre – 31 October 2009