Rebels Claim Saudi Fire Hit Yemen Town

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Shi’ite rebels in Northern Yemen have accused Saudi forces of firing into a border town on October 19 in support of the Yemeni government’s offensive against them. The al-Huthi rebels, who claim they are fighting political, economic and religious marginalization, have often accused Sunni-power Saudi Arabia of fighting on the side of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Rebels issued a statement saying “the Saudi forces near the Hasama border region hit the Hasama market with heavy machinegun fire while the market was full of people.” They further stated “this reveals the increasing Saudi interference in Yemen’s internal affairs.”

A security official denied that Saudi forces have fired on Hasama and said Saudi Arabia had no role in the war. Saudi concerns stem from the fear that the conflict in Yemen’s northern province and separatist’s movement in the south will enable al Qaeda to establish a stronger foothold in the Arabian Peninsula state. Yemeni and Saudi al Qaeda militants said earlier this year that they had joined forces. Al Qaeda-linked militants have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Yemen since 2007

In an interview with Saudi-owned MBC television, Yemeni president Saleh said Saudi Arabia backed Yemeni unity but did not interfere. Saleh continued vowing to crush the rebels, who he said last week would be defeated within days and accused al Qaeda, a Sunni group, of backing the Huthis.

The fighting has and continues to displace thousands of civilians in the area. A Yemeni based UN refugee officer, Andrew Knight, said about 65,000 displaced people are in the northwestern province of Hajjah and in estimated 55,000 are still living in Sa’da, mostly in abandoned buildings, in the mountains, and on roadsides in the war zone.

For more information please see:

PressTV – Saudi Fire ‘Hits” Market in North Yemen – 19 October 2009

Reuters – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009

Khaleej Times – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009

Nigerian Government to Share Oil Revenue with Niger Delta Residents

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – As promised, the Nigerian government has proposed a deal to transfer a portion of its oil and gas revenue to the residents of the Niger Delta.

Earlier this year, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared an “oil war” on the national energy sector in protest against the lack of wealth sharing of incoming oil revenue.

The Nigerian government promised rebel groups amnesty and reform in the energy sector in return for a cease fire.  During the final moments of the amnesty offer many MEND leaders laid down their arms.  Many of the MEND leaders remained very skeptical of the governments ability to fulfill their promise to reform the energy sector.

On Monday MEND ended the 90-day cease fire and warned the oil industry to expect new attacks if they did not fulfill their end of the bargain.

In response, the government has said it has plans to transfer 10 percent of the national oil and gas revenue to Niger Delta residents as part of a broader effort to reform the energy sector.  This would allow the local residents to receive cash benefits from a version of a trust fund.

President Umaru Yar’Adua’s advisor on the oil sector, Emmanuel Egbogah, told the Financial Times that they are aiming to pass a serious of reform, which the government hopes will promote peace in the war torn area.

“Every community, whether blind or deaf or dumb, every citizen will say: ‘I own a part of this business,'” assured Egbogah.

In addition, the State-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) confirmed that discussions were being held to find ways to give a share of the oil wealth to the nine oil-producing Delta states.

In the first quarter of 2009 the oil revenue fell by 50 percent due in part to the militant activity targeting the energy sector in the Niger Delta.  Recent reports have shown that since the cease fire, the oil production is rising.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Nigeria to Offer Oil Money Back to Delta People: Report – 19 October 2009

BBC – Nigeria “To Give 10% of Oil Cash” – 19 October 2009

UPI – Nigeria in Deal with Niger Delta Residents – 19 October 2009

Opposition Officials Call on Rudd: Indonesia Should Not Be “Heavy Lifting”

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – Australia and Indonesia will discuss Australia’s immigration policy in an effort to slow the number of asylum seekers attempting to enter Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will travel to Indonesia this week, to attend the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and also to address the problem through a strategic agreement.

Reports reveal that similar to the “Pacific Solution”, implemented by former Prime Minister John Howard, Rudd’s proposal will increase aid to fund Indonesian detention centers.  The aid would also resettle asylum seekers already detained in Indonesia.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia is attempting to balance the deterrence of people smuggling while also treating asylum seekers humanely.  She notes that close cooperation with Indonesia has enabled the Australian Federal Police to disrupt people smuggling activities by bringing charges against more than forty people.

Some urge the Prime Minister to put pressure on Indonesia to sign the United Nations Convention for Refugees.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said, “We need our Government to be working with the Indonesians, with the Malaysian Government, with all of our regional neighbours in partnership, ensuring that whoever, whenever, wherever people reach and approach for asylum that they can have their claims processed fairly and have their rights under international law upheld.”

Those opposing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s administration criticized the use of Indonesia to prevent the influx of asylum seekers into Australia.

Dean of the Melbourne University law school and refugee law expert, James Hathaway, claims that the Prime Minister is using the Indonesians to keep refugees out of Australia rather than using Australia’s own resources to do so.

“Nothing in international law allows Australia or any other state party to imprison refugee claimants – directly or by paying off partner states – for the simple act of seeking asylum.”

Refugee advocates claim that the increase in Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers is a result of “life and death” not “economic” push factors, not the Rudd government’s dismissal of harsher border-protection policies imposed by the former Howard government.

Frederika Steen, a former immigration official and refugee advocate, expressed her disapproval of the hard-line border protection practices of the Howard government, which the Rudd government has dropped.

Opposition attributes the new government’s policy, which abandoned temporary protection visas and ended mandatory detention practices, to the rise in the number of asylum-seeker boats over the last year.  The Rudd government must act now, rather than simply letting Indonesia do the “heavy lifting”, says spokeswoman Dr. Sharman Stone.

This year alone, thirty-two boats carrying 1706 asylum seekers and crew members have been intercepted and detained at the Christmas Island detention facility.

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the sinking of Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (“SIEV”) X, when 353 asylum seekers, of which 146 were children, attempted to make the dangerous journey to Australia via boat.  Only forty-four individuals survived.

For more information, please see:
The Australian – Jakarta alliance hit by both sides – 19 October 2009

ABC News – People smuggling on Rudd’s Indonesia agenda – 18 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Border policies ‘ strike right balance’ – 18 October 2009

News.com.au – ‘Rudd should pressure Indonesia on refugees’ – 18 October 2009

New York Times – Australia Seeks Indonesia Asylum – Seekers Deal – Paper 16 October 2009

IDF Operations in Gaza and West Bank

On June 27, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out two operations in Gaza, one in Gaza City and the other in the southern city of Khan Younis.  The IDF states that the purpose of the incursions was to disrupt the terrorist infrastructure inside Gaza by finding and seizing militants and their weapons.  The incursions consisted of air strikes, as well a ground assault led by tanks.  The IDF claims that it “hit” 15 militants, while the media reports that 11 militants were killed, along with 2 civilians.  In addition, 40 people were injured, some in critical condition, and several dozens were arrested.  IDF reported that two soldiers were injured in these operations.

Then, early June 28, IDF went into the West Bank city of Nablus.  Witnesses stated that around 80 jeeps filled with Israeli soldiers entered the city.  Israeli troops interrupted radio and television programs and warned Palestinians to remain at home.  Again, IDF justified the incursion by stating that Nablus is a “hotbed” for terrorism and that the goal was to disrupt terror activity.  Israeli troops arrested two men suspected of being Fatah fighters and confiscated weapons.  Five IDF soldiers were wounded in a bombing in Nablus.  Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed branch of Fatah claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Both Fatah and Hamas leadership condemned Israel’s actions.  Hamas accused Israel and Fatah of conspiring to pressure Hamas in Gaza.  While Salam Fayyad, the Prime Minister of the emergency Palestinian government, viewed the aggression as Israeli attempts to undermine the Palestinian government’s attempts to end the chaos.  Abbas condemned both of these military operations; calling the IDF’s actions as “criminal”.  He added that Fatah is against violence of any kind and criticized the launching of Qassam rockets.  Recently, Abbas vocalized his desire to disband all militias in both Gaza and the West Bank, even those affiliated with Fatah.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera:  “Israeli troops raid Nablus” 28 June 2007.

Gulf News:  “Israel raids downtown Nablus” 28 June 2007.

Gulf News:  “Israeli raids stoke war fears” 28 June 2007.

IDF:  “Nablus:  an officer and soldier severely injured” 28 June 2007.

Washington Post:  “At least 14 Palestinians killed as Israeli military enters Gaza” 28 June 2007.

Al Jazeera:  “Israel launches deadly Gaza raids” 27 June 2007.

IDF:  “A summary of today’s events in the Gaza Strip” 27 June 2007.

International Herald Tribune:  “Israeli raids into Gaza leave 13 dead” 27 June 2007.

New York Times:  “Israelis kills 11 militants inside Gaza; 2 civilians die” 27 June 2007.

Kosovo And Macedonia Settle Longstanding Border Dispute

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PRISTINA, Kosovo – On Friday Kosovo and Macedonia settled a long-term border dispute that has existed since Kosovo announced its independence.  The agreement reached clearly defines a stretch of border between the two nations.  Diplomatic ties between these two countries should be established immediately following the ratification of the border agreement.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has stated that this agreement, which had been in the works for months, will “[deepen] regional cooperation and stability.”  The government of Macedonia still needs to ratify the agreement before it can go into effect.

Under this agreement, approximately 6,100 acres of land will become part of Macedonia.  Part of this land is owned by ethnic Kosovo Albanians.  It lies in the same area where other Kosovo Albanians began an insurgency against Macedonia in 2001.  The original border in this area was set up between Macedonia and Yugoslavia in 2001 while the United Nations was administering Kosovo.  In the past this area had been used by Albanian guerrillas for smuggling and gun running.

Following the agreement, U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell noted that the agreement was a positive sign.  “This agreement opens the door to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.”  Since Kosovo declared its independence from then Yugoslavia in 2008, 62 countries presently recognize Kosovo as a independent state, including the United States.  A number of eastern European nations, including Russia, have continued to refuse to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

There are still more than 1,000 international peace keepers patrolling this border area of Kosovo.

A similar border dispute still exists between Kosovo and its western neighbor Montenegro.  Negotiations have not begun.

For more information, please see:

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Kosovo Lawmakers Ratify Border Deal With Macedonia – 17 October 2009

REUTERS – Kosovo Lawmakers Back Border Deal With Macedonia – 17 October 2009

RIANOVOSTI – Kosovo says border with Macedonia demarcated – 17 October 2009

AP – Kosovo, Macedonia sign border deal – 16 October 2009

MACEDONIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCY – Report: Macedonia, Kosovo to agree on border demarcation, diplomatic relations soon – 16 October 2009

SOFIA ECHO – Kosovo and Macedonia poised for border deal – 14 October 2009