By Alishba I. Kassim

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Pakistan’s 2 million refugees displaced by the fighting in the Swat Valley are now facing threats of disease as they cope with unsanitary conditions due to damaged water and sewage systems.

“There are major challenges facing the displaced and those still caught in the conflict areas. Health facilities have been damaged or destroyed,” said Eric Laroch, assistant director-general of the Health Action in Crises Cluster of the WHO. Since most of the displaced people are living with host communities, there is an “enormous strain” on the region’s health-care system the UN reported. 

Pakistan’s refugees are threatened with diarrhea, measles, and respiratory infections as a result of the strain on the health service. So far the WHO’s early warning system has been able identify and control more than 30 potential communicable disease outbreaks. However, the refugee crisis is likely to worsen. “A displacement crisis the government said would only last for weeks looks set to go on for months with no relief in sight,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty’s Asia-Pacific director. 

Pakistan’s government said that by June 30, civilians may be able to start returning to their towns and villages within a week. However, the offensive is still going strong and it is unlikely that they will be able to return soon. The recent fighting has produced the largest exodus in Pakistan since the country’s founding in 1947 and the UN said that only about a quarter of the funds it requested for the refugee crisis have been received. Meanwhile, in absence of effective aid from such agencies, hard-line Islamist charities are using this time to help the refugees and garner support. 

For more information, please see:  

Bloomberg – Pakistan’s Refugees Face Disease Threat – July 3, 2009 

Miami Herald – Pakistan Short of Aid to Resettle Refugees –  July 2, 2009  

New York Times – In Refugee Aid, Pakistan’s War has New Front – July 1, 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

WASHINGTON, U.S. – 37 U.S. Senators have written to Vietnam’s president asking for “immediate and unconditional release” of Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, a Roman Catholic priest who has been a strong advocate for democracy in Vietnam.

Father Ly is the founder of Bloc 8406, a pro-democracy movement that began in 2006.  The Vietnamese government has accused Father Ly of spreading propaganda against its communist government.

Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly (Source: AP)

However, the U.S. Senators believe that Father Ly’s trial back in 2007 was seriously flawed.  According to a human rights group, Father Ly was denied access to a lawyer and the security guards silenced him when Father Ly tried to speak during the four-hour trial.  Thereafter, he was sentenced to eight years.

In their letter, the U.S. lawmakers said, “Given these serious flaws in relation to his arrest, trial and imprisonment, we request that you…allow him to return to his home and work without restrictions to his right to freedom of expression, association and movement.”  The Senators added, “Father Ly’s arrest, trial and ongoing detention in this instance call into question Vietnam’s commitment to …fundamental principles.”

The Vietnamese Embassy in Washington did not confirm receipt of the senators’ letter, but Maran Turner of Freedom Now said imprisoning Father Ly would mean that U.S. government has placed Vietnam back on the list of “countries of particular concern” for violations of religious freedom.  U.S. did place Vietnam on this list in 2004, but removed it in 2006.

Father Ly is well known in the United States for his longstanding fight in promoting religious freedom and democracy for Vietnam, and the 63-year old priest has been jailed three times for a total of 17 years since 1970’s.

For more information, please see:

AP – 37 senators seek freedom for Vietnamese priest – 1 July 2009

BBC – US call to free Vietnamese priest – 2 July 2009

NYT – 37 U.S. Senators Urge Vietnam to Free Imprisoned Priest – 1 July 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India – The country’s second national Gay Pride march was held in New Delhi as Indian officials prepare to repeal an anti-gay law despite opposition from religious and some political leaders.  India is one of the few democracies in the world that still criminalizes homosexuality.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was drafted in 1860 by the British and criminalizes consensual sex between adults of the same gender.  Those found guilty are punishable by a 10-year jail sentence.

Spokesman for the opposition party, Sidharth Nath Singh, said, “This is a sensitive issue and warrants a debate within the Indian society at large before arriving at any decision,” and the party’s leader remarked that the government should not make changes to the law in haste, adding that India is neither Europe nor America.  India’s Law Minister also stated, “[W]e are not going to rush to any conclusion.  We will certainly take into account concerns of all sections….”

Conversely, India’s religious leaders oppose repealing the law.  Babu Joseph of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said, “[W]e are certainly in principle against legalizing [homosexuality], because that would mean the state endorsing same-sex relationships,” and homosexuality “violates fundamental norms of a family.”  India’s Muslim leaders also oppose repealing the anti-gay law saying, “Islam does not allow any unnatural act.  No Muslim in the world, let alone India, can ever support it.”

Source: Times Online

However, activists are claiming that the homosexuality law violates India’s Constitution, which guarantees all citizens right to equality and personal liberty, and the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Supporters of repealing the law also say that the anti-gay law makes it hard for HIV infected gay men to seek medical treatment.  A local NGO has challenged the law’s constitutionality with the Delhi High Court, and the ruling is expected next month.

For more information, please see:

Asian Tribune – India will repeal anti-gay law but in a hurry, says Law Minister Moily – 29 June 2009

CNN – India faith leaders: Anti-gay law must stay – 29 June 2009

Times Online – India to repeal anti-gay law as second Gay Pride is held – 29 June 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – The Supreme People’s Court of China, which has the power of final approval for death penalty cases, announced that the Court would cut down on the number of annual executions and impose more suspended death sentences.

(Source: AsiaNews)

China is considered to be the world’s top executioner.  According to Amnesty International, at least 7,000 Chinese have been sentenced to death and 1,718 people were executed in 2008, which is 72% of the world’s total number of people executed.  The exact number of executions is a state secret in China.

The death penalty applies to 60 offenses in China, including non-violent crimes like tax fraud and embezzlement.  However, after China gave the Supreme People’s Court the power to review death penalty cases from the lower courts two years ago, there have been fewer executions.  One Chinese newspaper reported that the Supreme People’s Court overturned 10% of the death penalty cases in 2008.

Murder convict being taken away to be executed in Guangzhou (Source: Reuters)

Zhang Zun, the vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court said, “As it is impossible for the country to abolish capital punishment under current realities and social security conditions, it is an important effort to strictly control the application of the penalty by judicial organs.”  Zhang added, “Judicial departments should use the least number of death sentences possible,” and use capital punishment only against “those who have committed extremely…heinous crimes that lead to grave social consequences.”

However, rights groups have been concerned because Chinese officials are alleged to have remarked that violent protesters of the riots that took place in Xinjiang region earlier this month would be executed. 

One human rights group researcher, Si-si Liu, expressed her concern saying, “We question how this kind of sentencing decision, which only courts should be eligible to make can be made by people outside the judicial system.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – China to cut down on executions – 29 July 2009

BBC – China to cut down number of executions – 29 July 2009

Guardian – China to restrict death penalty and cut executions – 29 July 2009