Child Protection Campaign Launched in the DRC

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, DR Congo – The United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a child protection campaign in a war-ravaged eastern province of the African nation.  The UN mission, known by its French acronym as MONUC, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and local authorities expect the initiative, focused in north-eastern Oriental province, to sensitize the public to the rights of children and create a protective environment for them.

Using various media outlets, the campaign plans to flood the public with broadcast and published messages on children’s rights until 20 November, marking Universal Children’s Day. MONUC began the campaign yesterday in the city of Kisangani with a two-day sensitization session for 30 journalists on the rights of the child under international and national law. At the session’s opening of the mission’s interim Bureau Chief in Kisangani, Idrissa Ba, expressed concern over continuing attacks on children’s rights in Oriental province.

The Lord’s Resistance Army, led by international fugitive Joseph Kony is notorious for abducting girls and boys to use as sex slaves and soldiers respectively. The attacks also include ransacking homes, churches and health facilities; stealing food, and killing innocent civilians. These successive and constant attacks have caused widespread panic and fear as thousands remain stranded and even more vulnerable to future attacks.

In March, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that in a six month period, almost 1,000 Congolese had been murdered by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and some 750 abducted. The vast majority of those 750 children, were reportedly forced into combat or utilized as sex slaves. Idrissa Ba underscored the importance of the targeting the media in the campaign, saying that journalists “are capable of distributing messages to the general public that encourage the development of attitudes and behaviors favorable to the respect of children’s rights.” The initiative includes several other sensitization training and workshop sessions for different civil society groups, and will end next month with organized exhibitions and activities with and for children.
For more information, please see:

All Africa – UN Mission in DR Congo Launches Child Protection Campaign in Strife-Ridden Province – 8 October 2009

World News Report – UN Mission for Child Protection in the Congo – 8 October 2009

UN News Center-UN mission in DR Congo launches child protection campaign in strife-ridden province – 8 October 2009

Newstime Africa – Ugandan Rebel Group, LRA, Expands Its Terror Campaign – 28 August 2009

Charges of abuse accompany release of Iranian dissidents

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On October 7, Iraqi officials released thirty-six Iranian dissidents after they spent four months in jail. The thirty-six dissidents are members of an exiled opposition group called the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI). They were originally arrested in July during a raid on Camp Ashraf in which between seven and eleven members of the PMOI were killed. The newly released prisoners claim that they were tortured while they were the Iraqi prison.  They further claim that they are now in ill health.

The PMOI is considered a terrorist organization by both the United States andIran. The organization made its name after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 where it opposed the new regime that took control of the country. PMOI’s opposition of the Islamic Republic was violent and lead to their exile from Iran. They were welcomed into Iraq by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein where they set up their operation at Camp Ashraf. The group surrendered to U.S. forces after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The siege of Camp Ashraf came after the U.S. gave up control of the camp to the Iraqi military.  After the dissidents were taken, friends and relatives of the prisoners protested constantly outside of the U.S. embassy in London. They claimed that the U.S. needed to take responsibility for the plight of detained PMOI members.

The leaders of the PMOI called for a hunger strike in support of the members being held in an Iraqi prison. The dissidents were released from prison after a seventy-two day strike. The prisoners were returned by the Camp Ashraf which remains under the control of Iraqi officials. Upon arrival to the camp, the released prisoners were taken to the medical facility for treatment.

The political wing of the PMOI in Iran is the National Council Resistance of Iran. The political group claimed that a number of orders were made by Iraqi courts requiring that the thirty-six dissidents be released. They claim that Iraqi officials refused to honor these court orders. The officials reportedly justified their behavior by claiming that the PMOI members had entered Iraq illegally.

For more information, please see:

Al Arabiya – Iraq Frees 36 Iranians Captured In Deadly Raid – 7 October 2009

BBC – Iraq Release Iranian Dissidents – 7 October 2009

Times-Series – Hunger Strikers End Fast, Claiming ‘Huge Victory For Humanity’– 7 October 2009

UPI – Iraq Releases Iranian Dissidents – 7 October 2009

Hamas May Use Displaced Persons as Human Shields

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The Israeli Defense Forces are concerned that Hamas is constructing temporary housing along the Israel-Gaza border, effectively creating a human shield. The buildings will reportedly house Gazans displaced during the fighting last winter between Israeli military forces and Palestinian fighters in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) believe that Hamas is planning to place thousands of Gazans along the border.

 

IDF officials said that placing the homes along the border is a cover for tunnels moving from Gaza into Israel, allowing Hamas fighters to bypass Israeli security and carry out attacks inside Gaza. IDF also believes the homes would serve as obstacles if Israel decided to launch a ground assault on Gaza.

 

“This is part of Hamas’s overall strategy to use build-up areas to hide in and launch attacks,” said a senior IDF official. “This basically means that Hamas will want to use the people it places there as human shields against Israel.”

 

Both Israel and Gaza have escalated tensions along the Israel-Gaza border in recent weeks. Gaza has launched several Kassam rockets into southern Israel, as part of a strategy that Israeli media reported was approved by Hamas’s allies, Iran and Syria. On October 4, the Israeli military increased its response to such rocket attacks, bombing a suspected arms factory in Gaza. For several weeks, IDF has also targeted rocket launchers and groups Israel has deemed terrorist cells. One IDF source said that the increase in military actions was IDF’s attempt to prevent any further escalation by Hamas.

 

“We believe that we must restore the deterrence that existed after Operation Cast Lead [Israel operation in Gaza],” the source said.

 

Hamas has made efforts to prevent terrorist attacks from Gaza. On October 6, the Saudi-owned newspaper As-Sharq Al Awsat reported that Hamas had arrested Palestinians suspected of planning terrorist attacks. The newspaper reported that the arrests had been ordered by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh as part of a territory-wide crackdown on terrorist activity.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Examiner – Hamas Will Put Arabs as Human Shields at Gaza Border – 7 October 2009

 

World Tribune – Israel Sees Escalation of Violence from Hamas – 7 October 2009

 

Arutz Sheva – Hamas May Build Homes for “Human Shields” – 5 October 2009

 

Jerusalem Post – “Hamas May Put Gazans on Border to Prevent Ground Attacks” – 5 October 2009

 

Mbeki and AU Offer Plan for Darfur Conflict Solution

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia– Former South African President Thabo Mbeki spoke at an African Union (“AU”) meeting today in regards to the human rights violations that have taken place in Sudan this decade.  An AU panel led by Mbeki produced a report focused on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. Mbeki’s speech contained the substance of the report’s findings.

The commission led by Mbeki was set up after a global arrest warrant was issued for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, alleging his complicity in war crimes in Darfur. Analyst predict that the report likely will recommend a local tribunal supported by the AU, Sudan, and potentially the Arab League, in order to deal with the abuses committed in Darfur.

Critics say the AU is using this commission to avoid the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) warrant for President Bashir’s arrest. Mbeki strongly denies this claim.  The AU has however refused to honor the warrant, and President Bashir has additionally rejected the charges against him. President Bashir has claimed that the claims are only an attempt by the ICC to further their goals of colonialism.

Since 2003 the United Nations estimates there have been over 300,000 deaths in the region, and over two million have been displaced.  In all 4.5 million have been displaced and over 2 million deaths have resulted from the 21 year civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan.  However since the enactment of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (“CPA”) which ended the civil war,  there have been gradual attempts to return those who had been displaced in Southern Sudan.

One UN official expressed that the key to returning the 4.5 million who had been displaced depended on the stability of the Sudanese government.  So far the UN official has proudly stated that about 350,000 refugees have been returned.  Despite this progress concerns are still growing surrounding the violence that still is taking place in the country, and the constant influx of refugees crossing over into Sudan from neighboring countries.

For more information please see:

BBC – Mbeki Delivers AU Darfur Report – 8 October 2009

All Africa – Sudan:Inter-Ethnic Violence in Southern Region Threatens Return of Displaced – UN

Reuters – Sudan Conflicts – 17 March 2009

UN News – Inter-Ethnic Violence in Southern Sudan Threatens Return of Displaced – 7 October 2009

Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission Does Not Have the Power to Grant Amnesty

by Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Despite the civil conflicts, riots, and violence in the capital of Honiara, the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) does not have the power to grant amnesty.

The Solomon Islands has struggled with civil conflict since 1999. The country went though a period of “ethnic tension” because of the cultural differences between the Malaita and the Guadalcanal. Two militant forces from both sides fought vigorously, and during this time there were kidnappings, torture, murders, and human rights abuses.

A cease fire was called, and a peace agreement was signed. The Regional Assistance Mission for Solomon Islands (RAMSI) was invited to restore law and order in the country. Although the country has generally been more peaceful, there is still no deep reconciliation between the parties.

Recently, the Solomon Islands TRC was created to further the goal of reconciliation between the two sides and for the peaceful future of the country. The format of the TRC is similar to that of South Africa’s TRC. However, unlike South Africa’s TRC, the Solomon Islands TRC does not have the power to grant amnesty.

Amnesty International criticized the limited amnesty provision, arguing that “those who committed human rights abuses should not be protected in any way but rather face full criminal charges.” Amnesty argues that such a limitation “is at odds with the mandate of the TRC” to address impunity.

However, Daniela Gavshon, head of the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) Program, stated that the Solomon Islands 2000 and 2001 Act are unaffected by the TRC Act. Thus, those who qualify for amnesty under the 2000 and 2001 Acts will still have amnesty, but the TRC cannot grant amnesty.

Gavshon stated that the only thing the TRC can do with amnesties is recommend it.

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Truth and Reconciliation Commission do not have power to grant amnesty – 07 October, 2009

Pacific Islands News Association – Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission do not have power to grant amnesty – 07 October, 2009

Solomon Star – No power to grant amnesty – 05 October, 2009

Ministry Matters – The Solomans brace for truth – 22 September, 2009

Amnesty International – Solomon Islands: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cannot Work in Isolation – 29 April, 2009