Cambodia Opens Landmark Khmer Rouge Trial

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia —On February 17th, Cambodia began the trial for the atrocities of the “Killing Fields.” Former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, also known as “Duch”, faces charges of crimes against humanity. Duch, now 66, is accused of presiding over the deaths of 15,000 men, women, and children in Tuol Sleng prison over 30 years ago.

The UN-funded tribunal was established in 2006 and after much delay and controversy, the tribunal opened for the first time on Tuesday. The tribunal is to try Duch on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and premeditated murder. Duch faces a possible life sentence and the tribunal does not impose the death penalty. “This first hearing represents the realization of significant efforts in establishing a fair and independent tribunal to try those in senior leadership positions,” chief judge Nil Nonn said at the opening of the trial.

The Khmer Rouge regime killed 2 million people which nearly wiped out a quarter of the country’s population.  Tuol Sleng prison was used to extract false confessions from alleged traitors who were under suspicion of being agents of foreign powers including the CIA. Many inmates were taken to nearby Choeung Ek, an orchard now known as the “Killing Fields.” Adults were beaten to death while children’s heads were smashed against trees. “I prayed for dawn as soon as possible so that I could see this trial start,” said artist Vann Nath, one of the few survivors from the prison.

On Tuesday, the hearing adjourned after seven hours of legal arguments, which mainly dealt with the admissibility of witnesses. Duch’s defense lawyer Francois Roux complained to the court that it was “unacceptable” that Duch had been held without trial for more than nine years. After the first day of trial, Roux told reporters that Duch acknowledged the charges against him and wished to use proceedings to publicly ask forgiveness from his victims as well as all other Cambodian people.

Roux told the press, “Duch will try to explain some things, but he can’t explain all that happened. Is it possible to explain what has gone against humanity itself?”

Like most of the Khmer Rouge’s top figures, Duch lived freely for years until he was arrested in 1999. He was formally transferred to the tribunal in July 2007. Currently, Duch is held at villa along with four top Khmer Rouge leaders, who will face trial later this year.

Kan Hann, whose brother and sister died of starvation and overwork under the Khmer Rouge, came to the trial on Tuesday. “My dream has come true now as I have been waiting for the trial for 30 years,” he said.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Cambodia Killing Fields Trial Opens; The Chief Accused Expresses Remorse– February 2009

APF – Cambodia opens landmark ‘Killing Fields’ trial – 17 February 2009

New York Times – Khmer Rouge Genocide Trial Opens in Cambodia – 17 February 2009

APF – Picture of Dutch on Trial

Mexican Border Towns Protest Federal Troops Violence

By Maria E. Molina
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MONTERREY, Mexico – Hundreds of people in Mexico have blocked key crossings into the US in protests against army deployment and operations to fight drug traffickers.  Traffic was brought to a halt on a number of bridges in several border towns in northern Mexico.  The protesters accused the army of abuse against civilians. The protesters blocked bridges in Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa. Government officials claimed drug gangs, which paid people to do so, had organized the blockades and the protests.

Police chased protesters away with water cannons.  The protesters chanted “Soldiers out!” and “Stop abuse by the Federal Preventative Police!” The demonstrators also shut roads in the industrial city of Monterrey.

Mexico’s President Calderon has sent 45,000 troops and federal police across Mexico to fight drug gangs since late 2006. According to Mexican officials, more than 5,400 people were killed in drug-related violence last year.  In some parts of the country, the army has taken over the role of the police, which have often proved easily corrupted when bribed or threatened by the gangs.

Many of the protesters said border towns had become more dangerous since President Felipe Calderon sent the army in. On Tuesday, for example, ten people died and fifteen were wounded in a gun battle between federal troops and a drug hitmen in Reynosa. Human rights activists say there are legitimate complaints about reported abuses by the troops, including alleged cases in which army patrols have fired on civilians at checkpoints. Calderon, however, has Washington’s support for using the army. Bloodshed across the Mexican border has prompted some experts in recent months to issue dire warnings about Mexico’s future stability and the potential security risks to the United States.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Mexicans block US border in anti-army protest – 18 February 2009

BBC News – Marchers block Mexico-US border – 18 February 2009

Reuters – Mexicans protest army campaign against drug cartels – 18 February 2009

Pelosi says U.S. Won’t Press Allies on Guatanamo Inmates

By Gabrielle Meury
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

ROME, Italy- U.S. President Barack Obama is not expected to ask Washington’s allies to host inmates from Guantanamo prison unless they have citizens detained there, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday.Obama has ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, closed within a year, but the fate of the prisoners there remains a big question, particularly those who cannot return to their own countries.

Obama had been expected to ask EU states to take in some of the roughly 245 remaining detainees.
“I don’t think we’ll see a situation where the president will be asking countries to accept people unless it happens to be the country of origin,” Pelosi told reporters during a trip to Italy. “And then it’s up to the country’s discretion as to whether they would accept them or not.”

President George W. Bush’s administration failed to persuade its allies, in particular those in the 27-nation EU, to take in inmates who were unable to return to their home country and who the United States did not want to accept either. They included Chinese Muslim Uighurs who Washington said cannot return to China because they would face persecution, together with Libyans, Uzbeks and Algerians also seen at risk.

Pelosi recalled that Obama ordered a review process to look at the nature of the detention of Guantanamo inmates, some of whom have been held for years without trial. “President Obama has said that he will have a review of every situation, every person, at Guantanamo to establish the facts of why they are there,” she said.”When that is determined, there will be some resolution of what to do with these people, some going back to their country of origin.”

The Pentagon says some 520 detainees have been released from Guantanamo since 2002. About 60 others have been declared eligible for transfer or release but remain at the prison pending discussions with other governments. “One thing is for sure: Guantanamo will be closed and the president intends to do it correctly,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi said that the US administration is committed to a “new era of cooperation” with its allies
She added: “We have to make a judgement. … And I mean we, Italy, the European Union, the United States, NATO — all of us — as to what is in our national security interests, and we have to make a commitment that is commensurate with that but which is not … impossible to achieve.”

For more information, please see:
AFP- Pelosi pledges ‘new era of cooperation’ between US, allies-16 February 2009

International Herald Tribune- Pelosi says U.S. won’t press allies on Guantanamo inmates– 16 February 2009

AP- Officials say Italy will not take Gitmo inmates– 16 February 2009



Tongan Women Lobby For Increased Representation

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKUALOFA, Tonga– A group of more than 50 women has started lobbying for a greater voice in Parliament.  The group wants a quota of 30 percent political representation and has started a campaign to gather support to begin the quota under the new system of government being developed for 2010.  Betty Blake of the Catholic Women’s League says the group believes mixed political decision-making would lead to a more prosperous economy.  Ms. Blake said, “We feel that women have a place, they have a lot to say.  They can contribute to the development of our country economically, socially, and any other aspects of life.”  She reports that half of the male MPs support the proposal, with one objection being the possibility of all women MPs taking maternity leave at the same time.

Polotu Fakafanua Paunga from the Women’s Affairs Division of the Ministry of Education said the primary objective of today’s consultation meeting was to discuss their proposal that will be submitted before the deadline on February 23.  He said the next step will be to draft the written submission and gather signatures.  A follow-up meeting will be held next week.  The Electoral Commission requires signed submissions from the public be made by a group of at least 200 people over 21 years of age.

Only five women have entered the Tongan Parliament since 1975, including the first woman appointed as Cabinet Minister, Hon ‘Alisi Taumoepeau.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Tongan Women Seek Better Representation in Parliament – 16 February 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Tongan women lobby for 30% representation in Parliament – 16 February 2009

Solomon Star News – Tongan women lobby for 30% representation in Parliament – 17 February 2009

Tight Security in Tibet

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – China has sentenced 76 people involved in rioting during the March 14 violence in Lhasa, and detained more than 950 since last year’s deadly riots in Tibet, state media reported. The report comes at the most sensitive time in years: the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan rebellion on March 14.  The local government has launched a “strike hard” campaign to stop rebels from celebrating the 50th anniversary.

Tsering Shakya, from the Institute for Asian Research at the University of British Colombia, said: “The security setup and the preparedness of the security is on very high alert, so there is no element of surprise that the protesters could use. It is really very, very unlikely that there could be any protests like there were last year.”

The deputy mayor of Lhasa, Cao Bianjiang, said fresh unrest could not be ruled out.  He emphasizes he wanted to focus on fostering growth that would ensure stability, but exiled Tibetans were scared this would make them irrelevant. “We hope for peace and stability in Lhasa. However, some people do not want to see Lhasa enjoy economic growth and people enjoy happy life, ” Cao said.

A year after monks’ protests, Buddhist monasteries have reopened, but officials keep a very tight security.  Inside of the historic Drepung monastery, monks take patriotic education classes on Chinese law, and their Buddhist scripture studies.  Monks were kept closeted away from foreign journalists and tourists accepted government-organized and tightly controlled visits.

For more information, please see:

AP – Official: Tibetan areas closed to foreigners – 12 February 2009

BBC – Economics ‘masking China rights record’ – 11 February 2009

Reuters – More Tibet unrest cannot be ruled out: official – 10 February 2009

Reuters – Tibet’s religious life still bruised by Lhasa riots – 10 February 2009

Times of India – China releases details of detention of Tibetan rebels – 11 February 2009