Fiji Expels NZ High Commissioner

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Following threats to expel New Zealand’s acting High Commissioner, Caroline McDonald boarded a flight bound for Auckland this morning.

Ms. McDonald, NZ’s High Commissioner, was accompanied by her husband, Simon Mark, who is also New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner. The two left this morning after 11 months of working to establish better foreign relations with Fiji.

McDonald has made clear, however, that she is still a friend to Fiji, “despite the sadness I feel,” she said.

This morning, British and American embassy cars provided a special diplomatic escort for the couple. The two boarded a 10:20 am Air New Zealand flight to Auckland.

Friends and family gathered at Nadi Airport in Fiji to see the couple off. In Auckland, several members of the media and foreign affairs personnel awaited Ms. McDonald and her husband’s arrival.

Five days ago interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced plans to expel Ms. McDonald to show the interim government’s anger over travel sanctions. Both New Zealand and Australia set travel restrictions affecting Fiji interim officials as punishment for the bloodless military coup of Fiji’s federal government in 2006.

New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister, Murray McCully, says he will meet with Ms. McDonald to discuss Fiji’s political situation in the next few days.

For more information, please see:
Matangi, Tonga – Alarm sounds again for media freedom in Fiji – 22 December 2008

Fiji Times – NZ still a friend of Fiji, says McDonald – 29 December 2008

Fiji Times – Diplomat backs democracy for Fiji – 29 December 2008

Radio New Zealand News – NZ hopes Forum will help to resolve dispute with Fiji – 29 December 2008

Taliban Destroys NATO Supplies

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Approximately two weeks ago, Taliban militants destroyed 11 trucks and 13 NATO containers in Peshawar, marking their sixth attack in 13 days.  In total, about 400 containers containing military supplies have been destroyed.

This region is home to one of a few lawless tribal districts that provide security to the Khyber Pass, a crucial trade route.  However, security has deteriorated with the rising power of the Taliban, particularly Hakimullah Mehsud, commander and lieutenant of Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the main Pakistani Taliban faction.

Pakistani citizens add to the deterioration of security by protesting U.S. missile attacks in their country and expressing sympathy towards Taliban insurgents.  Furthermore, some state that the government is doing little to stop the militants.

Kifayatullah Jan, manager at Port World Logistics, a contractor that has been ferrying NATO supplies, stated, “For us it may mean we close shop. We can’t do business if the government cannot provide us protection.”  Jan further stated that his company receives threats from Taliban militants to “stop transporting supplies to the Americans or face the consequences.”

Mahmood Shah, a retired Pakistani Army brigadier formerly in charge of security in the western tribal regions, said the government had the manpower to drive militants out of Khyber but had mounted only a weak response.  He said, “You have the chance to wake up, but if you don’t wake up now, there is a good chance you won’t wake up at all.”

Currently, the constant attacks have caused NATO to seek alternative routes through bordering nations.  NATO intends to deploy an additional 60,000 troops and tactics that include empowering the local tribes in the area to provide further security over the Khyber Pass.

For more information, please see:

Asia Times Online – Another Blow to NATO’s Supplies – 16 December 2008

International Herald Tribune – Taliban Choking a Vital NATO Supply Line – 25 December 2008

Reuters – NATO to Engage Afghanistan Tribes in Taliban Fight – 22 December 2008

Telegraph.co.uk – Khyber Pass:  Crucial for Trade and Invasion – 7 December 2008

Egypt Repatriates Eritrean Refugees

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On December 24, Egypt repatriated twenty-five Eritrean asylum caught on their way to Israel.  Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch made pleas that Egypt stay the repatriation until UNHCR could assess their claims. 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy director Joe Stork said that Egypt’s actions were “outrageous” and that they were giving Eritrean officials access to nationals fearing persecution over the UNHCR.  Egypt is required under international human rights law and refugee law to stay repatriation of people who are at risk of torture or persecution. 

According to Amnesty International (AI), the group was part of a larger group of 104 – comprised of 78 men and 23 women, including one who was pregnant.  The remainder of the group is still being held in Nakhl detention center, in Northern Sinai.  AI reported that all of those deported are likely to be held incommunicado in inhumane conditions.  They could also be subject to torture or detention indefinitely without trial.  AI also reported that there are numerous other Eritrean detainees being held in other prisons in Egypt and that none of the migrants have access to UNHCR.  UN guidelines state that asylum holders should only be detained as a last resort.

Both HRW and AI request that Egypt uphold their obligations under international law.  HRW states that Egypt should under no circumstances deport the Eritrean refugees, and that the detainees should be given access to UNHCR.  AI is calling on Egypt to ensure that all those who are claiming asylum can have their petition reviewed. 

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Egypt Repatriates 25 Eritreans, Ignoring Appeals – 24 December 2008

Reuters – Egypt Must Allow UN Access to Eritrean Migrants, Says HRW – 20 December 2008

Amnesty International – Eritrean Asylum-Seekers Deported From Egypt – 19 December 2008

Human Rights Watch – Egypt: Don’t Return Eritrean Asylum Seekers At Risk – 19 December 2008

Israeli Air Raids Kill Hundreds in Gaza

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On the morning of December 27, Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a series of massive air raids on Hamas targets in Gaza.  IAF air raids targeted “terrorist infrastructure” in Gaza and included targets from Gaza City to Khan Yunis.  According to analysts, this is the largest and most intensive air attack since the Second Intifada began in 2000.

For the first time, Israel attacked not just militants ordering or taking part in operations but members of the security forces and any buildings connected with them.  Every known police station, arms store and headquarters building in Gaza was attacked, regardless of whether they were occupied.

Israeli sources said that 50 targets were struck by 60 jet fighters in the first raid, beginning at around 11.40am. A second wave then attacked militants attempting to retaliate by launching rockets at Israel.

At least 200 people are believed to be killed; the BBC reports that 225 were killed.  In addition, the raid resulted in an estimated 400 injuries.  Retaliatory fire from Gaza killed one civilian in southern Israel.

The raids followed a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s Security Cabinet to widen reprisals for cross-border rocket attacks on Israel.  The rocket attacks began again, after the six month cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended last week.  On December 25, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, issued a warning.  She stated that Israel “cannot tolerate” continuing attacks.  This warning came after about 50 rockets or mortars were fired from Gaza.

While Israel had been warning for days of action against Gaza’s militants, the scale and intensity of the attack, code-named Operation Cast Lead, was unexpected.  Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, warned that air attacks would continue until the threat of militants firing rockets into Israel had been dealt with once and for all: “The operation will go on and be intensified as long as necessary… The battle will be long and difficult, but the time has come to act and to fight.”

The intensity of the operation and the number of casualties resulted in Palestinian, Arab, and international condemnation of Israel’s actions.  Knesset Member Jamal Zahalka, an Arab-Israeli, labeled the raid as a war crime and called for indictment of Barak, Israel’s Defense Minister, on war crimes in Gaza.  Zahalka also called for a general strike by Israel’s Arab community in protest of the operation.

Arab-Israelis across Israel rallied against the raids.  Protests also occurred in several West Bank cities and throughout the Arab world.  Egypt condemned the Israeli raids and opened its border with Gaza to allow casualties to be treated inside its hospitals. 

In Lebanon, Hizbullah called for speedy international and UN action against Israel. “What is going on in Gaza Strip is an Israeli war crime and represents genocide,” said a Hizbullah statement.  International and UN action is necessary “because silence is tantamount to complicity in this aggression.”

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said he was “deeply alarmed” by Israel’s air attack and appealed “for an immediate halt to all violence.”  Additionally, Javier Solana, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief, called for an immediate ceasefire and urged “everybody to exert maximum restraint.”  White House spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, blamed the recent violence on Hamas, yet urged Israel to “avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza.”

Despite the large number of casualties, Hamas leaders remain defiant.  Exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, called for a new uprising against Israel; “I call upon you (Palestinians) to carry out a third intifada.” He added, “Resistance will continue through suicide missions.”

 

Meanwhile, Hamas leaders and former Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh declared that Gaza would never cave to Israeli pressure, no matter how great. “We will not leave our land, we will not raise white flags and we kneel only before Allah,” he said.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Thousands Protest in Rabat Against Israeli Strikes on Gaza – 27 December 2008

Al Bawaba – Hamas Calls for New Intifada Against Israel as Gaza Death Toll Climbs to 225 – 27 December 2008

Al Jazeera – Hamas Press Conference After Israeli Gaza Strikes – 27 December 2008

BBC – Massive Israeli Air Raids on Gaza – 27 December 2008

BBC – Israel Defends Gaza Strikes – 27 December 2008

CNN – Israel Vows to Keep Up Gaza Attacks – 27 December 2008

The Economist – Hamas Rocket Attacks on Israel are Met with a Huge Air Strike on Targets in the Gaza Strip – 27 December 2008

The Guardian – Ian Black on Israel’s Hammer Blow in Gaza – 27 December 2008

The Telegraph – Israel’s Heaviest-Ever Air Strikes on Gaza Strip Kills Hundreds – 27 December 2008 l

The Wall Street Journal – Israel Strikes on Gaza Kill Scores – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – “Israeli Ministers War Criminals” – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – Mashaal: Launch Third Intifada – 27 December 2008

Yedioth – Olmert: Patience Needed on Gaza Op – 27 December 2008

Niue MP Wants Human Rights Law

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand– Terry Coe, a Niue MP, says his country will need to put human rights standards in place for all immigrants planning to live on the island nation.  Twelve Indian men were taken to Niue over two years ago after they were promised jobs and possibly land.  After reportedly paying a New Zealand Indian tens of thousands of dollars, the men were never given jobs and had to live in squalid conditions.  The New Zealand government payed for the airfare of nine of the Punjabi men being flown back to India because the Niue government could not afford it.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, Bryan Smythe, said New Zealand had no option but to pay the fares, “These nine had been left here in most unfortunate circumstances.  They had been misled when they were brought here and they were not facing good conditions at all in Niue, with an ongoing problem that needed to be resolved and this was the best way of sorting it out.”  Niue has been in free association with the government of New Zealand in 1974, with their constitution providing that New Zealand will provide necessary economic and administrative assistance.  The people of Niue are New Zealand citizens.

The Indian men had been denied transit through Auckland, which is the only airport with regular links with Niue. Mr. Smythe said three of the twelve men have remained on Niue.

Mr. Coe said that Niue signed the United Nations human rights convention and some areas need to be addressed, “We don’t have any legislation, but it’s probably necessary if you sign the UN document then you become part of that document.  And that keeps one standard throughout the world on human rights, which we should abide by.”

Toke Talagi, the Niue Premier, has said there will be greater scrutiny of any similar groups coming to the island in the future.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Niue Lawmaker Wants Human Rights Law – 25 December 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Niue MP says country will need to implement human rights standards – 23 December 2008

Pacific Islands Report – Nine Indians Stranded on Niue for Two Years – 19 December 2008

Government of Niue