Scholar Says Fiji Has Few Options, Attorney General Disagrees

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – A political analyst with the Australian National University, Dr. Brij Lal, who is a co-architect of Fiji’s current Constitution, believes the advice given to Fiji’s interim Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, is counterproductive.  Dr. Lal made the comments after the recent expulsion of Caroline Macdonald, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji.

Dr. Lal said that Fiji will not gain anything by punishing Australia and New Zealand, “I don’t know who is advising the Prime Minister but the advice he’s getting is really counterproductive to Fiji’s long-term interest in the region.”  He thinks Fiji sees the two countries as the principal players in the anti-interim government move.  He said, “I think this is a shortsighted view because it’s not really Australia and New Zealand but the international community that is looking for some movement on the part of Fiji to restore the country back to parliamentary democracy.”  Dr. Lal said the only hope of Fiji holding elections any time soon was if the interim Prime Minister took up the United Nation’s offer to mediate the next political forum early in the New Year.  He said, “this initiative by the UN is something the government should look at very carefully because it doesn’t have too many options left.”

Interim Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, has brushed aside these comments and has urged Dr. Lal to not make comments that are “weak on facts.”  Mr. Sayed Khaiyum said that there are a number of options available to take Fiji forward.  He said that, “while Lal claims adherence to the principle of the rule of law, he fails to recognize the ruling of the High Court.”  The ruling he is referring to is the holding that the appointment of the interim Government was valid in law and legal.

Mr. Sayed Khaiyum said Fiji “shall put in place forward-looking measures that will provide long-term stability, prosperity, equality, common citizenry and true parliamentary democracy.”  He said he thinks it appears as that Lal was “currying favor with the Government of the country of his citizenship which was Australia at the expense of Fiji.”

For more information, please see:
Fiji Daily Post – A-G slams academic’s take on Fiji – 6 January 2009

Pacific Islands Report – Fiji Scholar Says Bainimarama Acting on Poor Advice – 5 January 2009

Radio Australia – Fiji finishing 2008 on a disappointing note – 2 January 2009

Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister Plans for December Elections

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister has announced that elections will take place in December 2009.

Commodore Bainimarama met with two chiefs at an army camp for the Bose ni Turaga last month where he reportedly said that he plans to hold elections in December.

During the meeting, Ratu Peni Latianara told Bainimarama that the people of Fiji expect an answer as to when their country will return to democratic rule. In 2006, Bainimarama led a bloodless military coup of Fiji’s federal government. Since then, Bainimarama has promised to hold democratic elections, but has been sharply criticized for his refusal to set a date for those elections.

Ratu Peni said Bainimarama addressed the chiefs’ concerns, telling them that an election will be held this December.

The Fiji Times reports that Bainimarama could not be reached to comment on his alleged remarks. The permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s office, Parmesh Chand, also refused to comment, but did say that any electoral reforms would happen after the President’s political dialogue scheduled for late January.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Democracy in Fiji has announced its support today of the United Nations and Commonwealth’s joint goal to facilitate Fiji’s return to democracy.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s interim PM speaks of elections this December – 04 January 2009

The Fiji Times – Group hails political dialogue – 05 January 2009

Pakistani Journalists Subject to Violence in Tribal Areas

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PAKISTAN – In the northwest Tribal Area of Bajaur, Pakistani journalists receive threats and are subjected to violence amidst fighting between the Taliban and government forces.  A fatwa was issued against two journalists and a grenade was thrown at a press club.

The fatwa was issued by the Taliban to two journalists, Anwarullah Khan and Irfanullah Jan, accused of acting as “agents of the west.”  The fatwa was broadcasted over the radio.

The Khar Press Club building was damaged by a grenade on December 13.

Reporters Without Borders urges both the Taliban and security forces to stop the violence.  “The Tribal Areas are being steadily emptied of their journalists because of the threats and violence against them,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The Taliban groups and security forces are entirely to blame for this exodus as they display a disgraceful disregard for media freedom and safety.”

The Press Feedom Organisation also stated, “The Tribal Areas, especially Bajaur, are at the centre major international conflict but the press is in the process of disappearing there. We appeal to all parties to stop targeting journalists, who are neither the West’s agents nor Taliban supporters but just media professionals and nothing else.”

Many journalists in the Tribal Area of Bajaur have fled or are in hiding.  Only a handful continue to work.

One journalists anonymously said, “I cannot leave my home for fear of being kidnapped or killed. I am cut off from the world.”

In addition, these journalists are forced to censor themselves.

“I report less than half of what happens in my area,” a Pakistani journalist said. “We have to censor ourselves if we want to stay alive.”

Seven journalists have been killed due to the nature of their reporting, making Pakistan second to Iraq for killings related to the media.

For more information, please see:

Committee to Protect Journalists – Two Journalists Wounded in Pakistan Shooting – 14 November 2008

Newsweek – Pakistan Journalists Come Under Attack – 4 November 2008

Reporters Without Borders – Fatwa and Violence Against Journalists in Tribal Areas – 29 December 2008

Israeli Ground Troops Enter Gaza

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 3, Israel ground troops began an offensive into Gaza.  The Israeli army said the assault is intended to take control of territory from where Hamas fires its rockets. 

Major Avital Leibovitch, a military spokeswoman, said, “The objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas, in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians.”

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the ground campaign against Hamas “will not be easy or short, but we are determined”. He added, “Our aim is to force Hamas to stop its hostile activities against Israel and Israelis from Gaza, and to bring about a significant change in the situation in the southern part of Israel.”

The incursion followed a day of artillery barrages aimed at clearing the way for the 10,000 Israeli troops who had massed on the border.  Apparently, the artillery shells were intended to detonate Hamas explosive devices and mines planted along the border area and reduce the risk to IDF ground troops.

Following the incursion, Hamas remained defiant. Hamas spokesman, Ismail Radwan, said, “Your incursion into Gaza will not be a walk in the park and Gaza will become your cemetery God willing.”  Additionally, Hamas said it broadcasted a Hebrew message on Israeli military radio frequencies: “Be prepared for a unique surprise, you will be either killed or kidnapped and will suffer mental illness from the horrors we will show you.”

As the ground offensive began, the air strikes continued.  Palestinian health officials report that 13 Palestinians were killed during a raid on a mosque in Beit Lahiya.  According to the Associated Press, it is not immediately clear why the mosque was hit.  However, when explaining earlier raids on mosques, Israel stated that the mosques were being used as weapons caches.

In addition to continued Israeli air strikes, rocket fire from Gaza was also unabated.  On January 3, at least 29 rockets were fired into Israel; damaging four houses and “slightly injuring” three people.  One rocket hit on a house in the southern city of Ashkelon, causing nearby houses to catch on fire.

As Israel began its ground incursion, Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concerns regarding the heightened need to protect civilian life because of likely combat in densely populated urban areas.  HRW called on both sides to strictly abide by the laws of war, specifically the taking of all feasible measures to avoid civilian causalities.

There are reports that Israel made at least two attempts to limit civilian causalities during the ground offensive.  First, the IDF dropped leaflets over Gaza City and the border areas, which urged Palestinians to flee their homes. The warning stated, “For your own safety, you are required to leave the area immediately.”

Also, prior to firing artillery shells in Beit Lahiya, a resident reported that Israeli army called and told them to leave the house within 15 minutes.  Despite the warning, two residents were killed and five were wounded when an artillery shell hit their home.

Not only did HRW call for increased precaution but only called for increased accountability for past violations of the laws of war.  According to HRW, the IDF reported that there have been no investigations into unlawful deaths from the March 2008 Gaza operations, called Operation Warm Winter.  Also, Hamas has done nothing to hold those firing rockets into civilian areas accountable.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Israel Begins Gaza Ground Offensive – 4 January 2009

BBC – Israeli Troops Enter Gaza Strip – 4 January 2009

Ha’aretz – Barak: Gaza Invasion Won’t Be Short, and Won’t Be Easy – 4 January 2009

AFP – Israeli Army Takes War Against Hamas into Gaza – 3 January 2009

Associate Press – Israeli Ground Forces Enter Gaza in Escalation – 3 January 2009

Guardian – Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border into Gaza – 3 January 2009

Human Rights Watch – Israel: Gaza Ground Offensive Raises Laws of War Concerns – 3 January 2009

Jerusalem Post – “Gaza Will Become Graveyard for Troops” – 3 January 2009

New York Times – Israel Troops Launch Attack on Gaza – 3 January 2009

The Telegraph – Israeli Tanks Roll into Gaza to Halt Hamas Rocket Attacks – 3 January 2009 ml

The Times – Israeli Tanks Roll into Gaza to Crush Hamas – 3 January 2009

Violence Increases in Iraq Following Troop Withdrawal

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.S. and British troops withdrew from the fortified Green Zone surrounding Baghdad with the turning of the new year after the expiration of the U.N. mandate.  Iraqi forces are now responsible for ensuring the safety of the region.  Although the Iraqi defense minister pledged that Iraqi armed forces could handle the security profile, there has been a surge of violence in the area since January 1st.

On January 2, a suicide bomber acted just outside Baghdad, killing 23 and injuring approximately 110 people.  The attack was aimed at a group of Sunni tribal leaders.  The bomber entered the home of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Salih and proceeded to set off the explosives.  The meeting of the leaders was being held in a marquee on the grounds of the Sheikh. 

The meeting was held at the request of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.  Those in attendance included the leaders of Sunni and Shiite groups in the region known as the Triangle of Death, due to the violence, in hopes of convening reconciliation. 

On January 1, attacks killed three Iraqi police force members and two others in Mosul, a city about 250 miles north of Baghdad.  The UN has condemned violence in Mosul following the assassination of Mowaffaq al-Hamdani, a candidate for provincial council.  The UN said that campaign violence must not be allowed to intimidate candidates.   According to the UN secretary general’s special representative for Iraq, violence of this kind interferes with the right of every Iraqi to exercise their vote.  Al-Hamdani is the second candidate to be assassinated. 

U.S. troops have agreed to stay on in the area in order to assist with the transition; however they are to follow Iraqi orders.  Iraqi forces are officially in charge of the region and U.S. troops have agreed to leave if asked.  Iraqi generals have expressed their opinion that the Americans are not there to follow, but to supervise.  However, they believe that it is still a good first step.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post – Peacemaking Event is Attacked in Iraq – 3 January 2009

BBC – Suicide Bomb Kills Many in Iraq – 2 January 2009

Reuters – Election Friction Flares in Iraq’s Violent North – 2 January 2009

Washington Post – Green Zone Handed Off With Little Fanfare – 2 January 2009

BBC – Iraq Takes Control of Green Zone – 1 January 2009

New York Times – Attacks Occur As Iraq Takes Control of Key Sites – 1 January 2009