A Voice for the Voiceless

‘Yellow Shirt’ Protest Leader Shot in Thailand

Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Sondhi Limthongkul, the founder of Thailand’s “yellow shirt” protest movement was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt. The attacked occurred just days after the Thai military began a crack down on rioting protesters from the “red shirt” protesters.

The attack happened just hours before the government met for a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the recent violence due to political turmoil and measures undertaken to boost Thailand’s economy.

Sondhi is a media tycoon who owns the pro-government TV channel ASTV. Bangkok police spokesman, Suporn Pansua said Sondhi was on his way to work before dawn when at least two men in a pick-up truck ambushed his car and opened fire with an M-16 and AK-47 machine guns.

The tires and vehicle was sprayed with bullets, 84 bullet shells were found on the road near the attack in Western Bangkok. Suporn said, “Considering the nature of the attack and the weapons used, we believe it was carried out by people with expertise… We believe the attack was meant to take lives.” The driver and another passenger were seriously wounded.

Sondhi supports the current government, People’s Alliance for Democracy. Sondhi was responsible for the protests movements that shut down the airport last year to oppose the previous government. Chaiwan Charoenchoktawee, Vajira Hospital director, said that Sondhi is in stable condition after the surgery that removed a bullet from his skull.

The yellow shirts immediately labeled Sondhi’s attack as politically motivated, a claim that is under investigation by the police. Red shirt protesters have expressed anger that several of their leaders were arrested while Sondhi and his alliance were never prosecuted over the airport seizures last year.

After the attack, security moved quickly to protect Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Prime Minister had imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok since Sunday. Before this week’s riots, Abhisit’s vehicle was attacked twice by red shirt protesters. Abhisits told the media that he had decided “not to revoke the emergency degree… We have to make sure peace and order truly returns.”  For the 6th day in a row, the Thai capital remains under emergency rule.

For more information, please see:

AP – Gunmen attack Thai ‘yellow shirt’ protest leader – 17 April 2009

BBC – Thai ‘yellow shirt’ leader shot – 17 April 2009

LA Times – Thailand extends state of emergency – 17 April 2009

Obama Administration will not Prosecute C.I.A. Operatives that Conducted Controversial Interrogations of Terrorist Suspects

17 April 2009

Obama Administration will not Prosecute C.I.A. Operatives that Conducted Controversial Interrogations of Terrorist Suspects

By Maria E. Molina
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

After the September 11th attacks, C.I.A. operatives were allowed to utilize heightened interrogation methods. Just yesterday President Obama officially announced that his administration would not prosecute C.I.A. operatives for carrying out these controversial interrogation techniques on terrorist suspects.

Also, the Justice Department began releasing a number of detailed memos detailing the harsh techniques used against Al Qaeda suspects in secret overseas prisons. The interrogation methods were closely guarded secrets by the Bush administration. Yesterday’s release will be the most comprehensive public accounting to date of the interrogation program that some Obama officials have said used illegal torture.

The documents are expected to include Justice Department memos from 2002 and 2005 authorizing the C.I.A. to employ a number of aggressive techniques. The Bush administration memos authorized keeping detainees naked, in painful standing positions, and in cold cells for long periods of time. Other techniques included depriving them of solid food and slapping them. Sleep deprivation, prolonged shackling and threats to a detainee’s family were also utilized.

Among the anticipated documents are detailed 2005 memos by Stephen G. Bradbury, who acted as head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and authorized the C.I.A. techniques. The documents gave legal support for using a combination of coercive techniques and concluded that the C.I.A.’s methods were not “cruel, inhuman or degrading” under international law.

Another document expected to be released this afternoon is a Justice Department memo written August 1, 2002. The memo, written by John C. Yoo and signed by Jay S. Bybee, two Justice Department officials at the time, is a legal authorization for a laundry list of proposed C.I.A. interrogation techniques.

For more information, please see:

MSNBC – CIA employees won’t be tried for waterboarding – 17 April 2009

The New York Times – Obama Releases Interrogation Memos, Says C.I.A. Operatives Won’t Be Prosecuted – 16 April 2009

The Washington Post – On Interrogation Policies, Another Delicate Compromise From Obama – 16 April 2009

Vietnam Bans News Articles that Criticize China

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HANOI, Vietnam – A Vietnamese newspaper was shut down for 3 months over controversial articles over a territorial dispute between Vietnam and China. State media, the Thanh Nien (Young People) reported that the Ministry of Information and Communication in Vietnam shutdown the biweekly Du Lich (Tourism) for “serious violations” of Vietnam’s press law.

During the Vietnamese New Year, Du Lich ran its Lunar New Year edition, which published a series of articles supporting anti-Chinese protesters, praising them for their “pure patriotism.”

Vietnam and China have fought wars over the disputed territory of the Spratly Islands in the three archipelagos in the South China Sea. The islands are largely uninhabited and the surrounding waters have rich natural resources such as oil, natural gases, and fishing. Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have all claim sovereignty over the Spratlys.

China had announced to create a symbolic administrative region called Sansha to manage the disputed territory. In late 2007, thousands of university students held demonstrations in front of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Authorities in Vietnam accused Du Lich of publishing false information that incites violence and hatred among nations. However, the report did not specify the information at issue.

Vietnam wants to maintain friendly relations with China even though the government opposes its policy. The Spratly Islands dispute invoked nationalism in Vietnam. Thousands of protestors took the streets to protest China’s policy. However, Vietnam’s communist government generally prohibits public protests of any kind.

Communist Vietnam maintains tight control over its local media. The shutdown of the newspaper took effect Tuesday and the ministry also ordered the newspaper to reshuffle its leadership. Vietnam authorities and the ministry were not available for comment on Thursday.

Nguyen Trung Dan told the BBC that the newspaper only reflected “the people’s wishes.” Dan said, “Being a Vietnamese, I did not think twice when I approved those articles. Isn’t it a good thing to encourage patriotism among the public?”

AP – Vietnam suspends newspaper over China reporting– 16 April 2009

BBC – Vietnam paper banned over China‎ – 15 April 2009
Scotsman – Authorities shut down paper – 16 April 2009

Japanese Court Dismisses War Reparation Claims Brought by Chinese

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TOKYO, Japan – A Japanese high court turned down two damages suit filed by Chinese nationals.  According to Kyodo News reported, one case is brought by eight Chinese who were forced to work as laborers at a copper mine in Japan during World War II.  The other lawsuit filed by a Chinese woman who was forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army.

The Chinese plaintiffs in both cases were seeking apologies and financial damages from the Japanese government for the acts of slavery during World War II.   The suit, filed by eight plaintiffs in 2004, sought US$1.9 million dollars from Japan’s government and Mitsubishi Materials.  Six out of the eight plaintiffs have died and were represented by relatives.  Plaintiffs’ statement states they were among 241 Chinese were forced to work under harsh conditions at the copper mine while no wages were paid.

The other suit was filed by an eighty-three-year-old Chinese woman, Chen Jinyu, on behalf of all Chinese sex slaves for Japanese soldiers in World War II.  Chen arrived in Japan to attend the second trial at the Japanese High Court, but she left with disappointments.

Japanese High Court Presiding Judge, Watanabe Hitoshi, says that the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique does not give the individual right to claim war reparations from Japanese government.  China renounced any attempts to seek war compensation from Japan in the agreement. However, the Japanese court did recognize the female plaintiffs were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the wrongful conducts and brutal behaviors by Japanese troops.  The plaintiffs pledged to appeal to the Japanese Supreme Court.

For more information, please see:

Market Watch – Lawsuit from WWII sex slaves dismissed – 27 March 2009

StraitTimes – Court rejects WWII claim – 27 March 2009

XinHua – Japanese high court turns down lawsuit by Chinese forced laborers during WWII – 37 March 2009

XinHua – Tokyo court rejects damages suit filed by WWII Chinese sex slaves – 27 March 2009

Pacific Islands Forum Chair Calls Fiji Military Regime a Threat

Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Pacific Islands Forum chairman has stated that Fiji’s military regime is a threat to the region’s stability and must return to democratic rule as soon as possible.

Toke Talagi, Forum chairperson and Niuean Premier, has recommended that Pacific leaders force Fiji to set a date for elections ahead of the previously imposed May 1st deadline.

In addition, Talagi has condemned the recent abrogation of Fiji’s constitution and the reappointment of several Fiji ministers including interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Talagi says that such action is in contradiction to the Court of Appeal’s ruling last week, declaring the 2006 military coup led by Bainimarama illegal.

According to Talagi, Fiji’s military regime now poses a serious threat to the region’s stability.

“It is our belief that Fiji poses a real threat in terms of the stability of the region and we’d like Fiji to go back to democratic rule as quickly as possible. This is not withstanding the fact that the military regime has influenced the president to state that they won’t hold elections for the next five years,” Talagi said.

If the Pacific Islands Forum suspends Fiji from the group, Talagi says the Forum will still support the people of Fiji and offer what assistance it can.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji military actions threaten regional stability, says Pacific Forum chair – 15 April 2009

ABC News – Pacific Islands Forum head says Fijian expulsion likely – April 15 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – Pacific bloc leader attacks Bainimarama – 15 April 2009