Interim PM Says Fiji Will Try to Avoid Suspension

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s interim prime minister says he will try to avoid suspension from the Commonwealth after it threatened to remove Fiji from the group if the interim government did not take steps to hold democratic elections.

The Commonwealth threatened to suspend Fiji from the group after the country’s interim PM, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, refused to restore democracy by May 2009 as originally promised. The Commonwealth has given Bainimarama until September 1st to hold elections.

In response, Bainimarama says he wrote a letter to the Commonwealth, in which he expressed his desire to hold elections sooner. He also insists that representatives from the Commonwealth visit Fiji to get a “better picture” of the political situation.

Meanwhile, Sir Paul Reeves, a co-architect of Fiji’s abrogated 1997 Constitution, was supposed to have hosted a Commonwealth team earlier this month, but that time proved inconvenient for the interim government.

The interim government proposed an alternative date of August 29th, but the Commonwealth declined because of its proximity to the September 1st ultimatum.

Bainimarama has yet to set a date for the review.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Broadcast Limited – Fiji’s Presidency and parliamentary systems to be reviewed – 23 August 2009

Radio Australia News – Fiji’s interim PM aims to avert suspension from Commonwealth – 22 August 2009

China View –  Fiji awaits Commonwealth word on suspension – 21 August 2009

More allegations of police torture in Manipur

By Michael E Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Manipur, India–  Another allegation of police violence has arisen after the family members of an NGO activist accused the police of third violent treatment.

Jiten Yumnam, an activist of the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO) and a member of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN) were arrested by the Manipur Police at the Imphal Airport on Monday.  Yumnam was on his way to a United Nations meeting on climate change being held in Bangkok when state police charged him with supporting and aiding insurgency in the northeastern region.  Kiran Mala, his wife said “We don’t even know why he has been arrested.”

NGO members and family member of Yumnam allege that the police inflicted third degree torture on Yumnam by subjecting him to electric shocks to his private parts, which left him impaired.  These allegations of torture have been denied by the police. Superintendent of police of West Imphal L. Keilun has denied the allegation, stating “There is no evidence of such an attack.  If there is proof then strict action will be taken.  But I don’t think that the police can do such things.”

This however is not an isolated event where the police have overstepped their boundaries, in July police shot and killed a young man, Chungkham Sanjit and a pregnant passer-by Rubina Devi.  Police claimed that Sanjit was killed in a genuine encounter and Devi was killed by Sanjit.  Photos of the encounter published by a Dehli based magazine show that Sanjit was dragged inside a pharmacy and killed in cold blood.  Dr. Sukendu Debbarma, Convener in a press note stated that the Manipur government, has tried to subdue voices of protest against the killing of Sanjit instead of acting against its Commandos quickly and decisively.

The North East People’s Initiatives has condemned the arrest of Yumnam, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.  They have also demanded an “immediate disbanding” of the Manipur Police Commandos, stating they “have been given impunity in all crimes they have committed against the people of Manipur.” 

For information, please see:

Times Now- Manipur protests over ‘fake encounter’– 4 August 2009

The Morung Express- Demand for unconditional release of Jiten Yumnam– 19 September 2009

Asian New International- Another Allegation of police torture surfaces in Manipur-20 September 2009

Times Now- Another police brutality in Imphal– 20 Septmeber 2009

Nigerian Militants Surrender Weapons as Part of Amnesty Plan

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YENAGOA, Nigeria – Rocket launchers, gunboats, guns and bullets were surrendered by a top militant commander and nearly 1,000 of his followers on Saturday.

The government’s amnesty plan began two weeks ago and this was the biggest move since the program’s inception.

Militants in Yenagoa, capital of the Bayelsa state, cheered and danced as they turned their weapons over to the government.

Ebikabowei “Boyloaf” Victor Ben, state commander for MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, and 25 commanders under his leadership delivered weapons to the police.

MEND, the largest armed group in the region, has said that it will not participate in the program as a group but that Boyloaf was free to surrender.  MEND has announced that it will end its ceasefire on September 15.  It has also suspended talks about an amnesty program with the government.

“In the midst of such sheer deceit, MEND will be compelled to resume with ferocious attacks on the oil industry at the end of our ceasefire on September 15, 2009,” the group said in a statement.

The event at the peace park had a red carpet laid out for dignitaries.  There were covered bleachers surrounding the park.  Boyloaf came wearing a hat that read “Bayelsa Peace Day” and spoke to the crowd.

“We have kept to our word to follow the part of peace.  The government should on its own part keep to the bargain of promises made,” he said.  He also apologized to the families who have suffered losses from the struggle.

Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, the spokeswoman for the presidential panel on amnesty, has said that the administration learned from past mistakes and the government would not pay for surrendered weapons this time.

“Instead, we are asking the boys what they want – to further their education, learn a trade, or take a microloan for a small business,” she said.

Officials admit that so far participation is disappointing.

“They are still worried about their safety, but they are now seeing the government means very well for them and that we will ensure their safety,” said Koripamo-Agary.

President Umaru Yar’Adua offered unconditional pardons to all militants who participate in the program.

For more information, please see:

AP – Nigerian Militants Give Up Weapons to Police – 22 August 2009

BBC – Nigeria Rebels Hand Over Weapons – 22 August 2009

Reuters UK – Nigerian Militant Group to End Ceasefire on Sept. 15 – 22 August 2009

VOA – Nigeria’s Amnesty Program Makes Slow Progress – 21 August 2009

Reuters – Nigeria Oil Militants Disarm Slowly – 20 August 2009

Impunity Watch – Nigerian Government Released 60 Day Amnesty Plan – 27 June 2009

Colombia’s Supreme Court Besieged by Death Threats

By Mario A. Flores
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — The President of Colombia’s Supreme Court, Augusto Ibañez, said that several justices of the Court received death threats late this week.

The presiding justice of the Criminal Division, Julio Enrique Socha Salamanca, reported that he received a letter containing intimidation and threats to his office. The letter also listed threats against an assistant judge.

Socha Salamanca immediately notified law enforcement and ordered tighter security for each of the judges and their staff.

The authorities disclosed that they had also discovered intimidation schemes against other judges of the Supreme Court, a former peace commissioner and two political leaders.

The Director of the National Police, Oscar Naranjo, confirmed that a number of Supreme Court judges and politicians have been threatened. Naranjo said the police are taking the necessary steps to safeguard the security of those in danger.

The plot involves threats to the lives of chief judge Ibañez, judge Jaime Arrubla Paucar, former peace commissioner Victor G. Ricardo, presidential candidate German Vargas Lleras and one of his staunchest supporters, Senator Rodrigo Lara Restrepo.

The Police are dealing with the threats “with utmost prudence and greatest responsibility, without underestimating them, but without causing panic, verifying all information provided,” Naranjo added. It is not known who sent the threat messages or who is behind intimidation attempts.

Judge Socha said that he planned to meet next week with President Alvaro Uribe to discuss the threats.

Supreme Court justice, Jaime Arrubla, said in an interview that several of his colleagues believed they were being followed.

“We don’t exactly know where they [the threats] come from, we only know that they exist, unfortunately they are intensifying,” Arrubla said. “It appears they want to besiege us.”

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – Police confirms threats against Supreme Court judges and politicians – 21 August 2009

The Latin American Herald Tribune – Colombian Police Probe Threats Against Judges, Politicos – 21 April 2009

Colombia Reports –  Supreme Court judges receive death threats – 20 August 2009

Japanese Women Face Gender Inequality

 

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TOKYO, Japan– The United Nations has reported that the world’s second largest economy, Japan, is ranked 54th in terms of gender equality.

UN’s Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is urging Japan to take stronger remedial measures to eliminate gender inequality, because the country’s efforts thus far have been “insufficient.”

The Committee reported that Japan has failed to address problems affecting women identified in a 2003 report and also listed provisions in Japan’s Civil Code concerning unequal treatment towards women in the labor market.  The report also criticized the low representation of Japanese women in high-level elected offices.

Japan gender inequalityUN urges Japan to do more to eliminate gender bias (Source: AP)

The UN is recommending that Japan raise the legal age for marriage for women from 16 to 18 in line with men, abolish the six-month waiting period before remarriage required for women but not for men, and allow a choice of surnames for married couples.  Furthermore, the Committee advised that Japan repeal laws that discriminate against children born out of wedlock and to impose harsher punishment for rape.

The report also reminded Japan that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Japan is a party, is binding.  The Committee’s report said Japan should recognize the Convention as “the most pertinent, broad and legally binding international instrument in the sphere of the elimination against women.”

Fortunately, Japan’s Cabinet has acknowledged that change is needed.  In the general election coming up next week, issues that were traditionally categorized as “women’s affairs” have become mainstream election issues. 

Ikuko Tanioka, the president of Chukyo Women’s University, said, “Parliament can no longer be run according to the armchair logic of old men.”  A professor at Japan Women’s University, Machiko Osawa, also added, “So much needs to change…[w]e need equal pay for equal work, pension reform, daycare reform and infinitely better support for working mothers…the underlying problem for Japan is still one of attitude.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Japanese women ‘still not equal’ – 21 August 2009

The Japan Times – Do more to ban gender bias, U.N. panel urges – 21 August 2009

Times Online – ‘We don’t count the women’ – gender inequality in Japanese companies – 8 August 2009