Journalists Prohibited from Swat Valley Pakistan

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PAKISTAN – Journalists are fleeing the northwest region known as the Swat Valley due to fighting between the Taliban and the Pakistan military.  A military-imposed curfew has caused most newspapers to stop publishing.  Human rights groups urge the Pakistani government to provide journalists with security to remain in the area and with permits so that they can report past curfew.

“Journalists love the thrill of working in ‘conflict zones’ where they can cover events which change the course of history,” says Mazhar Abbas, the former Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). “Sadly, this no longer holds true for Pakistani journalists required to cover the war in the Swat Valley where they face dire security threats,” Abbas continues. “Every other day, there is news of journalists being killed or kidnapped, or threats to their families in the war-torn areas.”

The latest military offensive has killed more than 1,000 alleged militants.  The recent fighting began in early May but has continued in Lower Dir and Buner districts since last month.  At least one million civilians have been displaced, 1,000 of which are currently in relief camps.  The military plans to attack Mingora, one of the main towns in the Swat Valley.  Mingora is believed to house at least 4,000 Taliban.

Yet there is no way to verify claims since these places have become too dangerous for journalists.

Reporters Without Borders stated that due to the lack of media presence “the Swat Valley has become a lawless area. . .  This situation is unacceptable and must be remedied by the government at once.”

Despite the devastation, the presence of military forces in the Swat Valley has restored hope to those who reside there. Afzal Khan Lala, who is known for his resistance to the Taliban in Swat, said, “The ongoing military operation has given people hope because [this military operation] is different from the past — it is restoring people’s confidence [in their government and the army].”  He continues, “In my opinion, if the operation moves forward the same way, it will not take months to [restore peace to Swat].”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Pakistan: Offensive Kills 1,000+ Alleged Militants – 17 May 2009

Committee to Protect Journalists – Briefing: Pakistani Journalists Face Taliban, Military Threats – 30 April 2009

Index on Censorship – Pakistan: Journalism is First Casualty – 15 May 2009

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty – Swat Braces for Key Battle as Displacement Crisis Peaks – 15 May 2009

Reporters Without Borders – Journalists Flee Swat Valley En Masse – 12 May 2009

Violence Against Chinese Businesses Continues in PNG

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

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – For the third straight day, protesters in Papua New Guinea have attacked and pillaged Chinese run businesses.

On Wednesday, Chinese-owned stores were targeted in the capital city of Port Moresby. Protesters attacked more stores yesterday in Lae. On Friday morning, police intervened, sending tear gas out into the crowd to stop the riot.

The violence has led many Chinese-owned stores and nationals to hire extra police and guards to protect their shops. The Chinese embassy went so far as to encourage Chinese-owned businesses to close their businesses while the violence continues.

Local resentment of Chinese-owned businesses has grown as an increasing number of Chinese immigrants move to Papua New Guinea to start their businesses.

One unnamed youth told PNG newspaper, The National, “Who is allowing these Asians to come into our country and own small businesses which should be owned by Papua New Guineans?” He added, “They are ripping us off and investing their money in their country.”

The turmoil started after 100 anti-Chinese protesters turned a demonstration into a violent brawl. The demonstrators began looting Chinese businesses, but the police did little to stop the protest.

Port Moresby police chief, Fred Yakasa, claims that the police were not responsible for the protest. Mr. Yakasa says that the violence was due to “hooligans” and not the protesters generally.

“There is nothing to worry about, as we will continue our patrols and increase presence on the streets,” Mr. Yakasa said.

Meanwhile, in Lae, hundreds of protesters attacked Chinese nationals and Chinese-owned stores, resulting in one unconfirmed death and many serious injuries.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – More violence in Papua New Guinea directed at Chinese businesses – 15 May 2009

The Age – Looting, attacks target Chinese in PNG -15 May 2009

ABC News – Violent stoushes close PNG mine – May 11 2009

New Zealand Group and Australian PM Criticize Fiji Media Regulations

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Commonwealth Press Union’s media freedom committee has passed a resolution criticizing the interim regime’s indefinite extension of censorship in Fiji.

The committee represents major media organizations in New Zealand.  Tim Pankhurst, the committee chairman, says they are aware Fiji’s interim regime is unlikely to take notice of the resolution.  Mr. Pankhurst says the committee felt it was important to condemn the actions and to stand with the journalists in Fiji who are working under the emergency regulations.

Mr. Pankhurst believes it is important to raise awareness of the regulations in Fiji to New Zealanders.

“We decided on the motion of deploring because we felt the best role that we can serve right now is to make New Zealanders aware that what’s happening continually in Fiji is not some kind of happy little coup in paradise.  Real freedoms that we take for granted are being denied and abused there,” Pankhurst said.

He also urged New Zealanders to consider what is happening in Fiji when making travel and business decisions.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has sent an opinion editorial to Fiji’s media outlets explaining why the country’s military backed regime has been suspended from the the Pacific Islands Forum.  In the piece, Mr. Rudd said Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s actions have damaged Fiji’s international standing and the reputation of its military.  The piece was provided to local media outlets this past week and has not appeared in any of Fiji’s media outlets.

The Executive Director of Fijian Civil Society Group, the Citizen’s Constitutional Forum, Reverend Aquile Yabaki, says Rudd’s statement should be available to everyone, “It’s a statement from the Australian Prime Minister.  We need to hear it.  We want to hear it.”

For more information, please see:
Pacific Islands Report – Australian PM Sends Opinion Piece to Fiji Media – 15 May 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Commonwealth Press Union passes resolution deploring Fiji censorship – 15 May 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Commonwealth Press Union says resolution unlikely to move Fiji’s interim govt – 15 May 2009

Hearing to Investigate Kyrgyz Defendants’ Allegations of Torture

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch, Reporter

KYRGYZSTAN – A hearing took place at Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court to investigate allegations of torture on Thursday.  Thirty-two defendants were arrested in October for protesting the government’s decision to prohibit the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr.  The police arrested them, claiming they were Islamic “extremists.”  The defendants stood trial in the Osh Province a month later.  Many claimed they were tortured while in police custody.

“The prosecutor’s office should have started an investigation into the torture allegations a long time ago,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Torture is a common problem in Kyrgyzstan, and the Supreme Court hearing is a chance for the authorities to make clear that the abusers can no longer get away with it.”

The Osh Province Court found the defendants guilty of charges including incitement to cause or participate in mass unrest, separatism, attempted overthrow of the constitutional order, and spreading ethnic or religious strife.  They were sentenced between nine and twenty years in prison.

The Kyrgyz Human Rights Council requested ombudsman Tursunbek Akun to conduct an independent investigation. “The gross violation of the basic right to a free trial, the mass repression of ordinary citizens, torture, and blackmail by the law-enforcement agencies could undermine confidence in the state and trigger anger against its representatives and increase radicalism in the region,” the council said.

On February 20, 2009, the ombudsman declared his intention to have the rulings reviewed.  “Torture was widely used to get testimony. There were just four actual supporters of the Khizb ut-Takhrir party (among the accused) and the rest were placed in the same category. I plan to draw public attention to this,” he said.

According to Human Rights Watch, “law enforcement officials poured hot and cold water on them, beat them on the soles of their feet, and semi-suffocated them using plastic bags or gas masks. Detainees also had to stand in their underwear in a cold room with their feet in water for up to three days, were not allowed to use sanitary facilities, and did not receive needed medical treatment.”

Human rights organizations view the Supreme Court hearing as an opportunity to further investigate the torture allegations to ensure justice.

For more information, please see:

Central Asian Online – Kyrgyzstan Ombudsman Seeks Further Investigation of Nookat Events – 02 February 2009

Human Rights Watch – Kyrgyzstan: Investigate Torture Allegations – 13 May 2009

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty – Kyrgyz High Court Hearing Appeal by Religious Extremists – 15 May 2009

Regulations on Fiji Media Will Continue Says Interim Government

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

SUVA, Fiji – Government censorship of the media in Fiji will continue, says Permanent Secretary for Information, Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni.

Mr. Leweni says the regulations will remain in place until journalists learn to follow directives from the Ministry of Information. According to regulations, journalists must first submit any reports on the government to the Ministry of Information for review.

Fiji’s interim government installed these regulations on April 10th, following the subrogation of the Constitution and the dismissal of all judicial members. Mr. Leweni says news outlets cannot expect to return to their old style of reporting prior to April 10th.

Mr. Leweni also says that the regulations have yielded “good” results, and if he were in charge, he would extend that censorship for another five years.

But such regulations have already caused one Fiji based news outlet to temporarily relocate. PACNEWS, operated by two local journalists, Makereta Komai and Pita Ligaiula, says deciding to leave Fiji was not easy.

“We would want to be in Fiji as it is in the center of the Pacific but our work as an independent news agency is becoming increasingly more difficult,” said Joseph Ealadona, the board chair of the Pacific Islands News Association news service.

He blames the media for these regulations, saying that harsher control would not be necessary if the media was not always so critical of the government. Mr Leweni claims that journalists have been irresponsible and “sensationalized” government actions.

The interim government has officially extended the regulations 30 days after May 10th.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Censorship of Fiji media could continue indefinitely, says regime – 13 May 2009

Fiji Times Online – Pacific news service to leave Fiji – 13 May 2009