Palestinians Must Now Obtain Harvest Permits for own Olive Trees

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

BETHLEHEM, West Bank – On October 14, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians in Wadi Ahmed near Beit Jala from reaching their olive trees for the annual olive harvest. The harvesters told Ma’an News Agency that they went to their lands early in the morning, only to find large gates and barbed wire across the entrance to the groves.

 

When asked why they were barred, Israeli soldiers told the farmers they did not have the proper permits to harvest. Olive harvest season is central in Palestinian culture—many people take time off from work or university to help their families with the harvest. Olive harvest season is also traditionally a time of increased hostility between Israeli settlers and Palestinian farmers. With the construction of the Israeli barrier through the West Bank, many Palestinians have found themselves separated from their olive trees, some of which are thousands of years old and have been in Palestinian families for generations.

 

The farmers in Wadi Ahmed were accompanied by local and international activists, who said they believed their presence would prevent attacks by Israeli soldiers. When the farmers and the activists refused to leave the area, they reported that the soldiers screamed at them and told them “there were no crops on the trees anyway.”

 

Awad Abu Soury, a Bethlehem resident who was with the farmers, said the soldiers “invented false stories about permits needed to access lands,” and speculated that the soldiers did “it on purpose to spoil the harvest and keep owners away from their lands.”

 

Elsewhere in the West Bank, farmers near Nablus reported that Israeli soldiers warned them that if farmers bring international activists to their trees, farmers could be charged with a fine of $1700 (U.S.).

 

Palestinian police forces have promised extra protection for farmers this fall, particularly where clashes between farmers and settlers have broken out in the past. The harvest this fall is expected to be particularly low, and many farmers are concerned about harvesting all the fruit from their trees.

 

For more information, please see:

 

International Middle East Media Center – The Military Fines Local Farmers 1,700 USD if They Bring International Activists to Their Lands – 15 October 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Olive Harvesters Must Now Apply for Permits Before Accessing Lands – 15 October 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Olive Harvesters Get Security Details This Year – 14 October 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – Concerns Over Olive Harvest Increase for Families Under Threat of Settlers – 7 October 2009

 

Halima Hassan, One Of Thousands Losing Hope

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Halima Hassan, 42, a mother of five, fled her home in Hodan district of the Somali capital in 2007 after intense fighting between insurgents and government forces. Now, home is a makeshift shelter in a camp for the internally displaced within the Elsha biyaha area, 20km south of Mogadishu.

The UN refugee agency reports the number of civilian casualties is rising because of the latest upsurge in fighting in the troubled South Central region of Somalia. The UNHCR says the renewed fighting is sparking a new wave of displacement.

Local humanitarian organizations in Somalia say within Somalia during September alone, 17,000 people were displaced including 11,000 from the capital. This figure does not include the 145 people that have been killed and another 285 who were injured in heavy clashes in Kismayo, Beled Weyne and the capital, Mogadishu just in September.

Hassan is one of at least 900,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggling to survive under extremely desperate conditions in Mogadishu-Afgoye corridor. Her family used to receive monthly food rations comprising 75kg of sorghum, 10kg of beans, 10kg of porridge and 3l of cooking oil from aid agencies, but this has been cut in half due to lack of funds and insecurity.

Halima Hassan told IRIN in an interview Wednesday, “I sometimes find myself wondering how God decided to put us in this country; I know I should not but sometimes I find myself wishing I was not Somali. I am losing hope. I don’t know whether or not the situation will ever get better. Every day, I keep wondering where our next meal will come from. I struggle to make sure my children have at least one meal a day. I will do anything so my children don’t go hungry as I am the only one they can depend on. They [the warring sides] are merciless. They fire heavy weapons indiscriminately, where is their kindness? They don’t think about the weak and the mothers struggling with orphaned children. There is no peace and no food to speak of; I don’t how long we can live like this. It is very hard to explain to anyone who is not here what is happening to us. Wars end but ours seems endless. In Somalia, every new dawn brings its own problems. We can’t endure any longer what is going on here. It is better to be in a grave than living here.”

Roberta Russo, spokesperson for UNHCR Somalia, said “The main problem of humanitarian agencies is the lack of access to the needy population due to the highly insecure environment. 8 Human Rights officers have been killed this year alone.” “It is important to note that funding is also a considerable constraint on humanitarian programming throughout Somalia. The Consolidated Appeal Process is funded at only 54 percent of the estimated needs. Some sectors have received as little as 10 percent of the resources they require for adequate programming,” said the agency.

Asha Sha’ur, a senior member of civil society, said “The lucky ones may get a plastic sheeting to cover it”, despite the fact that some of the IDPs pay rent to the owners of the land. Sha’ur, who visited the camps on 28 September said, “These people are living in the most miserable conditions. It is heart-breaking. I honestly don’t know how else to describe it.” Sha’ur said the displaced had no access to clean water and sanitation conditions were bad. “Thousands of families are left with no latrines.” Sha’ur said the displaced were getting a “fraction of what they need. This is intolerable.” “No more excuses” Humanitarian agencies have to find creative ways of reaching the needy, Sha’ur said, adding: “I don’t think they can hide behind insecurity any longer.”

For more information, please see:

All Africa – Halima Hassan, “It is Better to Be in a Grave Than Living Here” – 15 October 2009

VOAnews – Civilian Casualties Mount in Somalia – 2 October 2009

Inside Somalia – Insecurity “no excuse” to neglect IDPs – 1 October 2009

Anbar Province Struck By Triple Bombing

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAMADI, Iraq – On October 11, a triple car bombing in Iraq killed between nineteen and twenty-six individuals, and injured over eighty. The bombings took place in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province. The attacks took place near the provincial government of Anbar. It is believed that the bombings were targeting a reconciliation meeting between Shi’ite-led government officials and the Sunni groups known as Awakening Councils.

The first bomb targeted individuals who were waiting outside of a municipal building waiting to claim money. Meanwhile, the second bomb went off after police and other emergency workers arrived on the scene. The third bomb went off close a security checkpoint on a road that led to the local hospital. Officials have reported that eighty percent of the individuals hurt by the attack were police.

The violence in Anbar province had been among the lowest in Iraq in the last two years. This was reportedly because many tribal leaders dropped their allegiance to al Qaeda in Mesopotamia (AQM). Those who dropped their allegiance to AQM joined forces with Awakening Councils that linked with the American military and the Iraqi government. The level in violence has, however, increased since American forces have ceded control of the province to Iraqi military forces.

The triple bombing allegedly targeted the reconciliation meeting between the Shi’ite and Sunni factions. The bombings failed to hit any of the individuals involved of the meeting. The goal of the gathering was create new election law. The rise in attacks and the inability of the two groups to come together on new laws increases concerns that the national elections currently scheduled for January will have to be postponed.

The concern for the election date coincides with a fear that insurgency in Anbar has regained its footing. Despite the previous lull in violence that the province had experienced, October has seen a number of attacks hit Anbar.  This attack is the latest in a string of recent attacks focused on tribal leaders and members of Iraqi security forces. Overall, however, violence in the country has gone down as September experienced the lowest death toll for the country as a whole since May.

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times – Iraq Bombings Target Reconciliation Meeting, Killing 26 – 12 October 2009

AFP – Triple Attacks Kill 19 In Western Iraqi City – 11 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Iraq Hit By Triple Car Bombing – 11 October 2009

New York Times – Bombings Outside Iraq Reconciliation Meeting Kill 23 – 11 October 2009

Primary Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

ARUSHA, Tanzania– On Wednesday, October 14 2009, one of the primary suspects in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide pleaded not guilty to war crime charges. The suspect, Idelphonse Nizeyimana was a former intelligence chief at the time of the genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), where Nizeyimana  will be tried, is aiming to finish its work by the end of next year. Since 1997 the court has convicted forty people for crimes connected with genocide. The tribunal said that there are eleven fugitives that they are still trying to find. Martin Ngoga, Rwanda’s prosecutor general said, “the ICTR has done a commendable job in bringing to justice those most responsbible for the genocide; those who were in positions of leadership and most importantly, those who were beyond the reach of our jurisdiction.”

Nizeyimana was one of the most sought after suspects in the Rwandan genocide. He had been a fugitive for the last fifteen years, with a five million dollar bounty on his head when he was detained in Uganda earlier this month. Nizeyimana acted as an army captain and as head of intelligence and military operations in the country, during and prior to the genocide taking place. According to prosecutors Nizeyimana gave “clear signals” condoning the attacks against Tutsis. It is further alleged that Nizeyimana not only gave orders to kill Tutsis but in some instances he also participated in the killings directly.

Some of the charges brought against Nizeyimana include an allegation that he participated in a swearing in ceremony of a regional governor that saw the new Rwandan President call on the people of the region to begin slaughtering Tutsis.  Prosecutors also allege that one of Nizeyimana’s units carried out the killing of the Queen Rosalie Gicanda, who was a historic and symbolic figure to many Rwandans.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Rwanda Suspect Pleads Guilty – 14 October, 2009

AP – Key Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty – 14 October, 2009

BBC – Rwanda Queen-Killing Suspect Held – 6 October, 2009

BBC – Profile: Idelphonse Nizeyimana – 6 October 2009

Bloomberg – Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Charges – 14 October, 2009

Iran Sentences Three Election Protesters to Death

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Fallout from Iran’s June election continues as the Islamic Republic sentenced three election protesters to death. The Iranian Students News Agency quoted a member of Tehran’s prosecutor’s office saying that the three protesters are to be hanged and are considered to be part of terrorist organizations according to the Iranian government. The Iranian Students News Agency reported on October 10 that the judgments against the unnamed detainees must be confirmed by a higher court.

Justice Ministry official Zahed Bashiri Rad is quoted as saying that the three protesters were convicted for maintaining ties to the banned monarchist group Kingdom Assembly of Iran and to the People’s Mujahedeen. Both of these groups advocate for the overthrowing of the Islamic Republic. The prosecutors claim that the accused admitted to spying, but human rights groups allege that these confessions came after torture was used.

While the names of the three condemned Iranians have not been confirmed, Rad agreed to give the initials of the convicts. Rad explained that “MZ and AP were convicted for ties with the Kingdom Assembly of Iran and NA for ties with the Monafeghin (People’s Mujahedeen).” A reformist website claimed that one of individuals to be put to death is an opposition activist named Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani.

Amnesty International released a statement urging Iran to rescind Zamani’s death sentence, which was imposed on October 8. The charges against Zamani include “enmity against God” and conspiring against national security. Zamani was also accused of illegally traveling to Iraq for an alleged meeting with a member of the U.S. military. Amnesty International USA Executive Director, Larry Cox, explained that “Zamani’s trial was a mockery of justice,” and encouraged Iran to withdraw the death sentence.

This marks the first time that an announcement was given that any of the hundreds of individuals arrested for protesting following the June 12 presidential election received death sentences. The June election was followed by mass street protests over alleged vote-rigging. Iranian authorities alleged that the protesters were sponsored by hostile nations. The opposition claims that sixty nine people died and thousands were arrested. Over one hundred prominent opposition leaders remain on trial for their role in the protests.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Iran Sentences 3 Election Protesters To Death – 11 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Death Sentences For Iran Protesters – 10 October 2009

New York Times – Tehran Plans To Execute 3 Protesters Of Election – 10 October 2009

UPI – 3 Iran Protesters Given Death Sentences – 10 October 2009