Taiwanese Civil Servants Asked to Guard Human Rights

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan – In efforts to push forward “a second round of democratic reforms” and further strengthen the country’s democracy, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou urged civil servants to be mindful of protecting human rights in the course of their duties.

Speaking at a Ministry of Justice’s training program implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, conventions both of which were ratified by the legislature back in March, President Ma asked the government employees how they would feel if their rights were violated. 

President ma

President Ma Ying-jeou.  Courtesy of AP. 

He said, “When your rights are being protected, you may not notice it, but if your rights are being infringed upon, you would definitely feel it.” 

President Ma also added, “Not only should civil servants familiarize themselves with the two conventions, they should always keep in mind that current rules and orders do not violate the two conventions.  To put it bluntly, most civil servants have no idea about what human rights are.”

At this workshop, President Ma told the civil servants that he has high expectations that public servants “contribute to enhancing the quality of Taiwan’s democracy.”

Since taking office in May 2008, President Ma has forbidden illegal wiretapping and government interference with media coverage, but he said these measures are not enough to safeguard people’s rights and reduce human rights violations.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush once praised Taiwan as a “beacon of democracy” in Asia, but President Ma remarked that while Taiwan has made progress, sufficiency of Taiwan’s democratization is questionable.

He asked, “[D]o we have a good enough understanding of democracy?  Is our judicial system independent enough?  Do we offer complete human rights protection?  Is our system of law enforcement mature enough?  There is room for improvement…to enrich our knowledge of democracy.”

The Ministry of Justice is planning to review the current laws of Taiwan ahead of World Human Rights Day in December.

For more information, please see:

China Post – President calls civil servants’ attention to human rights protection – 17 September 2009

Radio Taiwan International – Ma to push for “second round of democratic reforms” – 17 September 2009

Taipei Times – Ma calls on civil servants to be mindful of human rights – 18 September 2009

Doubts Abound After Mideast Summit at U.N.

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Water Reporter, Middle East

 

NEW YORK, United States – A day after the leaders of the United States, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, many on all sides have expressed doubts that the meeting will result in productive peace negotiations.

 

On September 23, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Despite efforts by U.S. Mideast Envoy George Mitchell, the Obama Administration was unable to secure an agreement by Prime Minister Netanyahu to freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinian negotiators have demanded a settlement freeze as a pre-condition to any peace talks.

 

President Obama has begun to change tack in his efforts to restart peace negotiations, now focusing on the status of Jerusalem, the so-called “right of return” for Palestinian refugees, and the borders of a future Palestinian state. One international observer characterized President Obama’s efforts at the U.N. as completely unproductive.

 

“We’re in a corner,” said Zakaria al Qak, the foreign affairs director at Al-Quds University. “Obama is running out of steam. He was expected to set the direction in the first six months. But now it’s the politics of no choice, of deadlock.”

 

The Israeli Prime Minister appeared to be more optimistic about the possibility of progress.

 

“The president said let’s come and resume the peace process without preconditions. As you know I have been saying that for nearly six months,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu to Israeli television.

 

Other Israelis seemed more downbeat.

 

“This is a mood of resignation, of quiet despair that there is really [no] way out of the conflict,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of Israeli pro-peace group J Street.

 

Many Palestinians have considered President Obama’s insistence on moving forward with peace talks as backing off from the President’s call for a settlement freeze. Hamas, the ruling Palestinian party in the Gaza Strip, condemned President Obama’s call to resume the peace talks without an agreement on a settlement freeze.

 

One Palestinian put a positive gloss on the situation:

 

“It is clear that Obama will not accept failure of his political investment in dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict,” wrote columnist Talal Okal in the newspaper al-Ayyam.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Netanyahu: No Peace Until Palestinians Accept Israel as Jewish State – 24 September 2009

 

Jerusalem Post – Hamas Slams Obama for Backing Down on Demand for Settlement Freeze – 24 September 2009

 

Reuters – All-round Pessimism After Dud Middle East “Summit” – 24 September 2009

 

Ha’aretz – Obama Tells UN: We Do Not Accept Israeli Settlements – 23 September 2009

 

New York Times – White House Pivots on Mideast Peace Bid – 23 September 2009

 

 

Restoring an Image

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi finds himself in an unfamiliar and unwanted position. At a time where the African continent is becoming more and more synonymous with political corruption and human rights violations, Zenawi is slowly becoming one of the faces of this image. During President Obama’s speech in Ghana, he expresses his intolerance for African rulers who try and manipulate the political process. President Obama has made it clear that he will not support governments who perpetuate “strongmanship”.

Zenawi, once lauded by the Western World as a progressive and democratic African leader is now amongst the many African rulers President Obama was speaking of in his speech regarding political corruption. In 1991 Zenawi took reigns of the Ethiopian government after 17 years of a military dictatorship. Over the years he has relied on his reputation to sustain the support of the American government. However the worlds regard for him began to decline in 2005, during Ethiopia’s government elections.

In 2005 after allegedly “fixing” the election results for his bid to remain Prime Minister wide rage and protest by Ethiopians erupted. During these protests Ethiopian law enforcement, in an attempt to break up the protests, fired gun shots into the crowd killing 40 protesters. Subsequent protests occurred with similar responses by law enforcement. This incident marked the beginning of the altered view many countries such as Great Britain and the United states had of Zenawi role as a “Democratic” ruler.

In what some call an insincere attempt to restore his image as a progressive African ruler Zenawi will be heading an African Climate change summit. More importantly his image will rest on how he facilitates the government elections in 2010. Many are concerned that Zenawis political party, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (“EPRDF) will again try and intimidate other parties participating in the election, which will only do more damage to his image.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Ethiopia: 2010 Election and Zenawis New Game – 24 September 2009

NY Times – Mr. Good Governance Goes Bad – 27 November 2005

UNASUR Fails to Reach Consensus on Arms Deals

By Ryan C. Kossler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Quito, Ecuador – South American defense officials were unable to come to an agreement on Tuesday, September 15 when they convened to attempt to defuse regional tension caused by many of the South American countries recent arms deals.  The UNASUR group of nations is seeking transparency in the region’s recent defense deals due to the exacerbation of mistrust amongst the nations.

Colombia’s recent military pact with the United States has caused extreme tension in the region, and was one of the main topics discussed during the UNASUR gathering.  After the meeting, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca said “we regret the attitude of Colombia, the intransigence of Colombia, which does not want to make transparent its pact concerning military bases.

Colombian officials say that the military pact with the United States is aimed at combating drug trafficking and that it sought the assistance of the United States because its neighbors are not doing their part to help the country combat the insurgency.  Under the military pact, U.S. forces will have access to up to seven Colombian military bases.

Venezuela’s recent arms deal with Russia was also on the table, however, Venezuela said that it would share information about its weapons deal. Venezuela said that its recent weapons purchases are for defense purposes only, however, have not provided any more information.  Venezuela accused Colombia of shrouding its military pact with the United States in secrecy. Venezuelan Vice President Ramon Carrizalez said “we have seen neither the bold nor the fine print of the accord and of course this generates worries.”

The secrecy is a cause for worry among other countries in the region as well.  Ecuadorian officials have stated that any cross boarder military attacks on insurgents by Colombia will be met with equal military force.

Along with Colombia’s military pact with the United States, and Venezuela’s weapons deal with Russia, many other countries in the region are increasing their weapons defenses.  Ecuador and Chile recently purchased new equipment in order to strengthen each of their air forces respectively, Chile is planning a weapons deal with Russia, similar to the one that Venezuela recently entered, and Bolivia is planning on purchasing new fighter planes and helicopters from France and Russia.  It appears that if tensions remain unchecked, an arms race may be inevitable, if it has not already begun, and the already troubled region may become even more troubled.

For more information, please see:

The Spectator – South American Spat – 24 September 2009

AP – Brazil’s Lula defends South America arms buildup – 18 September 2009

Reuters – South American Officials Fail to Reach Arms Deal – 15 September 2009

Gambian President Threatens to Kill Those Who Dare to Help

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BANJUL, Gambia– In Monday’s television broadcast Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, announced that he would kill “anyone who wants to destabilize this country.” Jammeh’s “exact words” in his television broadcast were, “If you think that you can collaborate with so-called human rights defenders, and get away with it, you must be living in a dream world. I will kill you, and nothing will come out of it. We are not going to condone people posing as human rights defenders to the detriment of the country. If you are affiliated with any human rights group, be rest assured that your security, and personal safety would not be guaranteed by my Government. We are ready to kill saboteurs.”

In response to Jammeh’s remarks, activists from non-governmental human rights organizations launched a campaign to have the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is currently headquartered in the Gambian capital, Banjul, removed from the country entirely. Jammeh’s threat “leads us to fear for the safety, security, and lives of ourselves and our colleagues who have to work with the… Commission,” the petition says.

Jammeh, who has ruled since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994, has been repeatedly attacked by human rights campaigners for his repressive attitude, particularly towards the media. He came under fire earlier this month from press watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which urged Jammeh to “loosen the vice” on the media after six journalists who criticized him were jailed. The journalists spent just under a month in prison after publishing critical comments of Jammeh. They were originally given two-year jail sentences but were freed two weeks ago after receiving a presidential pardon. Despite freeing the journalists, Jammeh has kept up pressure on the media by warning journalists they could still be prosecuted for being “disrespectful”.

The President never explained what might have triggered his latest outburst, but insisted in no uncertain terms that Gambians, and non Gambians arrested on saboteur related charges would be murdered. Jammeh said his administration would no longer condone what he calls “human rights activists” in the country. The President also expressed his belief that taking people to court is a waste of time. “From now on, we will kill anyone trying to sabotage this country. Don’t be fooled by Human Rights Groups. They cannot save you from dying.” the President threatened.
For more information, please see:

Freedom Newspaper – Jammeh Threatens To Kill Saboteurs – 21 September 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – Gambia president threatens death to troublemakers – September 22, 2009

All Africa – Jammeh Threatens to Kill Human Rights Defenders – 24 September 2009

Newstime Africa – Yahya Jammeh Threatens To Kill Human Rights Workers in the Gambia– September 24th 2009