Israel and Hamas Declare Ceasefire

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 18, Hamas announced an immediate ceasefire by its militants and allies.  The ceasefire was announced by Hamas’ deputy chief in Syria, Moussa Abou Marzouk.  In addition to immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, Hamas also demanded, “the opening of all the crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid, food and other necessities.”

Hamas’ statement followed Israel’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire on January 17.  On January 18, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert clarified Israel’s conditions of the ceasefire.  “If the firing continues, the IDF is prepared. We’ll know how to act without hesitations as required… The ceasefire decision leaves Israel with the freedom of power to respond and resume its military activities should the terror organizations continue firing… The ceasefire is fragile and must be examined minute after minute, hour after hour.”

In announcing the ceasefire, Olmert said that Israel has achieved its goals and that Hamas had been defeated – Hamas was badly damaged both militarily and in terms of government infrastructure; rocket factories and dozens of smuggling tunnels had been destroyed.  The success of the ceasefire depended on Hamas and Israeli troops would remain in Gaza for the time being.  According to Olmert, if Hamas held fire, the military would “consider pulling out of Gaza at a time that befits us.”

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Israel rebuffed international calls for a timetable for withdrawal.  “We can’t talk about a timetable for withdrawal until we know the ceasefire is holding,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.  “If Hamas entirely ends its rocket fire on Israel, Israel will consider an IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” Olmert declared.  However, if that did not occur, he added, “The IDF will continue to operate in order to protect our citizens.”

The Israeli ceasefire went into effect at 2 am on January 18.  Israeli military kept up its assaults during the hours leading up to the ceasefire, and carried out more than 50 air raids overnight.  In addition, Israeli drones and helicopters were heard throughout the night and Gaza residents report that they heard troops and tanks in the streets.  Thus, despite the ceasefire going into effect, many Palestinians fear that fighting may resume at any moment.

While Israel claims that Operation Cast Lead diminished Hamas’ capability to launch rocket attacks from Gaza, in the 24 hours leading to the ceasefire, over 30 rockets and mortar rounds were fired into Israel from Gaza.  In addition, the ceasefire was subjected to an early test, with several rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel.  Israeli military responded with retaliatory air strikes. 

In addition, at least one Palestinian has been killed since the ceasefire went into effect.  Palestinian medics report that a 20-year-old man was shot near the southern town of Khan Yunis.  According to witnesses, the young man was a farmer checking on his farm.  Israeli army report that the young man was shot because he was approaching lands that the Israeli ground troops occupied.

Since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead, it is estimated that 1,203 Palestinians have been killed and over 5,000 injured.  It is estimated that nearly 400 of those killed were children and 100 were women.  Estimates are expected to increase as the ceasefire allows Palestinian medics and rescue teams to begin searching for bodies.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Dozens of Bodies Found in Gaza Rubble as Truce Punctured – 18 January 2009

Al Jazeera – Clashes Follow Israeli “Cessation” – 18 January 2009

BBC – Hamas Announces Ceasefire in Gaza – 18 January 2009

BBC – Israel Declares Ceasefire in Gaza – 18 January 2009

Guardian – Analysis: Israeli Ceasefire Offers Respite, But Little Has Changed – 18 January 2009

Ha’aretz – Hamas Announces Cease-fire in Gaza, Gives IDF Week to Leave – 18 January 2009

Ha’aretz – Israel: No Timetable for IDF Gaza Exits Until Militants Halt Attacks – 18 January 2009 l

Xinhua – First Palestinian Shot Dead After Israel’s Unilateral Ceasefire – 18 January 2009

Yedioth – Olmert: If Shooting Continues, We’ll Respond – 18 January 2009

CNMI Lieutenant Governor Charged with Bribery

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SAIPAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – The United States has charged CNMI Lieutenant Governor, Timothy Villagomez, with allegedly accepting bribes as part of a plan to cheat the government out of thousands of dollars.

Lieutenant Governor Villagomez is charged along with two co-defendants, James and Joaquina Santos. The Santoses allegedly offered Mr. Villagomez $15,000 in exchange for the government purchase of a cleaning chemical called Rydlyme.

The couple’s plan was reportedly to cheat the government by facilitating needless business deals like the purchase of Rydlyme for the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

Meanwhile, the CUC executive director, Anthony Guerrero, is currently charged with wire fraud, conspiracy, and theft of federal funds.

Unlike Guerrero, who entered a guilty plea agreement, the Santos have pled not guilty.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – New bribery charge against Lieutenant Governor in CNMI – 18 January 2009

Pacific Daily News – New Charges in CNMI Case – 16 January 2009

Reporters Without Borders Support London Protest Over Killing of Sri Lankan Journalist

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SRI LANKA – A demonstration is set to be held on January 15 protesting the death of lead journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge.  Reporters Without Borders supports the protest stating, “We urge the government to react quickly to end the climate of impunity in Sri Lanka and we urge Londoners to join the rally in memory of the murdered journalist, to condemn repression and the critical situation for journalists in Sri Lanka.”

The demonstration is organized by Wickrematunge’s colleagues with support from various organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, and will be conducted outside of the prime minister of the United Kingdom’s home.  Protestors will be denouncing the killing of Wickrematunge and urging for the protection of journalists and press freedom.

While driving to work in Colombo, Wickrematunge was shot by four men on motorcycles.  Shortly after, he was taken to the Kalubowila hospitall where he died.  His death occurred only two days after a grenade attack on a private television studio in Colombo.

Wickrematunge was known as a controversial journalist who was said to be extremely critical of the Sri Lankan government.  He founded the newspaper, The Sunday Leader, with his brother in 1994.  The Leader constantly received threats and were targets of violence for speaking out against corruption, war, terrorism, organized crime and human rights violations.

His final editorial was published after his death on January 11.  He knew that he was being targeted by the government since he was in the midst of writing on a controversial story, stating, “When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me.”

Approximately 4,000 protestors demonstrated in Colombo on January 12 calling for justice over Wickrematunge’s death.  They shouted against the government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Meanwhile, the government denies any involvement and stated that it is continuing its investigation.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Dying for Free Speech in Sri Lanka – 12 January 2009

Reporters Without Borders – Reporters Without Borders Backs London Demonstration in Protest at Murder of Leading Editor – 15 January 2009

Sri Lanka Guardian – The Death of a Journalist – 15 January 2009

Egypt Allows Doctors into Gaza

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAFAH, Egypt – On January 13, Egypt opened the border crossing at Rafah to allow medics and humanitarian aid to cross into Gaza.  Eleven doctors from Greece, Ireland, and France had been waiting in Egypt since early in the crisis to aid injured Palestinians, but were denied passage through the Rafah crossing.  The crossing is the only passage into the Gaza Strip that is not shared with Israel.

A group of nine doctors was allowed through to assist physicians already working at Nasr Hospital in Khan Yunis, a city over the border in Gaza.  However, before the doctors were allowed to cross, each was required to sign forms releasing Egypt from all liability.  Buses left from Egypt early in the evening on January 13 carrying the physicians, as well as 50 EMTs.  They returned later that evening with 42 injured Palestinians. 

However, on January 16, there were reports that Egyptian officials at the crossing were denying access to medics, humanitarian aid and the press.  A 26-person Greek medical team was denied access to Gaza.  According to members of the team, they were denied for national security reasons but were given no details.  A senior official at the border said that any foreign medical assistance must be coordinated with the Egyptian Red Crescent in order to be allowed through the border crossing.

The press has also been denied access to the area.  Neither Egyptian nor Israeli authorities are allowing media personnel into the region, even with appropriate documentation.  According the Malaysian reports, the guards at the crossing, which consists of two gates, allow media through the first gate but retain their passports, without which they cannot pass through the second gate.  Thus, media members are forced to turn around and wait in Egypt until they are allowed full passage.  As Egypt has been allowing some medical personnel to cross, many reporters have been getting some stories from doctors and medics when they return to Egypt.

Egypt held a press conference on January 12 at which it handed out a 16-page packet of information defending its position on the crisis and outlining its stance on the border crossing.  At the conference, Egypt stated that it does not want to express support for Hamas, but does want to aid the civilians living in Gaza.

For more information, please see:

Inner City Press – With Gaza Still Shelled, UN General Assembly Meets, Egypt Keeps Out Doctors, Fatah Complains of Cash, UN Takes Sides – 16 January 2009

Relief Web – Egypt-Israel-OPT: Confusion at Rafah Border Over Who Can Enter Gaza – 16 January 2009

San Francisco Chronicle – Barred Foreign Doctors Finally Cross into Gaza – 13 January 2009

The Star – Prevented From Revealing the Truth – 13 January 2009

The National – Egypt Defends Its Gaza Policy – 12 January 2009

Press TV – Rafah Crossing Still Closed to Medics – 12 January 2009

Fiji Faces Possible Suspension in Face of Natural Disaster

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – If Australia has its way Fiji will face the real possibility of being suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum.  The decision will need to be endorsed by the leaders of 15 Forum Island Countries when they meet in a special session in Port Moresby at the end of the month.  The suspension will be a consequence of “failure to meet the faithful and unconditional undertaking the interim Fijian Prime Minister made to his colleague leaders.”

Stephen Smith, Australian foreign affairs minister, stressed Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s inactions at a media briefing, “He made it clear to the Foreign Ministers Ministerial Contact Group, of which I am a member, when he went to Fiji in the middle of December last year, that he wasn’t proposing to hold an election on timetable.”  Mr. Smith continued, “Consequences have to flow as a result of the failure of the Interim Prime Minister to meet the faithful and unconditional undertaking that he gave to his colleague leaders.”

When asked whether the current emergency situation in Fiji brought on by severe floods and a possible prolonged cyclone weather would affect commitments for national elections, Mr. Smith said, “I don’t think Commodore Bainimarama had the floods in mind when he gave a faithful and unconditional undertaking in October 2007 that he’d hold an election by the end of March this year.”  The floods and cyclones in Fiji have been described as the worst natural disaster in 50 years or more.

Economist Satish Chand, a leading Pacific expert at the Australian National University who grew up in Fiji, believes the disaster will make Fiij’s suspension less likely, “Such natural disasters can be catalysts bringing people together, bringing them to their senses, and I hope this will happen now, bringing together Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, though this requires Bainimarama to take the first step.”

Despite strained relations with Fiji, both Australia and New Zealand have committed humanitarian assistance through the Fiji Red Cross.  Mr. Smith said, “Can I also indicate that we are of course very concerned for the welfare of those in Fiji who’ve been adversely affected by the torrential rain and floods in Fiji.”

For more information, please see:
The Australian – Fiji rides a tide of sympathy – 17 January 2009

Islands Business – Fiji suspension still on – 15 January 2009

Solomon Times – Fiji Faces Suspension from Forum – 15 December 2008