Leaders Meet to Discuss Fiji’s Democratic Future

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has reaffirmed his commitment to assist Fiji’s transition to a parliamentary democracy in 2009.

While traveling to Nadi, Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Bainimarama, stopped in Port Moresby to meet with PNG Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare. Bainimarama briefed Somare on the political situation in Fiji as well as the challenges Fiji faces as it plans to hold democratic elections in 2009.

The leaders discussed the Draft People’s Charter for Change and the Peace and Progress, two controversial reforms which would amend Fiji’s 1997 Constitution. Bainimarama told Sir Michael that “basically the electoral reforms being proposed seek to remove the current race-based electoral provisions in law and replace it with a one-person, one-vote system – representing equal rights of all Fijians.”

Dispute over the drafting of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress stems from the 2006 military coup of Fiji’s Federal Government. Since that time, the ousted SDL Party has expressed growing concerns that the interim government will not make good on its promise to restore democracy. In October, a three judge court validated the 2006 coup, giving legitimacy to the interim government.

Meanwhile, a new group, known as the Movement for Democracy, has banded together to push the interim prime minister to make good on his promise to hold democratic elections. The group consists of NGOs and political parties, including the SDL party, and the National Federation Party.

Mr. Peter Emberson, a representative from the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, says that the goal of the group is to uphold the law and promote human rights.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Two years after Fiji coup, movement launched to push for return to democracy – 05 December 2008

Pacific Magazine – Bainimarama Briefs Somare On Fiji Political Situation – 07 December 2008

Journalist Gunned Down in Bihar, India

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BIHAR, India – Journalist Vikas Ranjan was shot dead on November 25 in Bihar, a northern state of India. Ranjan, 32, was killed outside his office in Rosera, located in the Samastipur district, by three armed men. The gunmen waited at the entrance of the office, shot Ranjan and fled on motorcycles. Ranjan was pronounced dead upon arrival to a local hospital.

It is alleged that Ranjan’s murder was connected to his investigations on local drug trafficking in recent weeks.

Bihar regional director of Hindustan’s sister newspaper, the English version of the Hindustan Times, said that his family had received threats about two weeks before his death. He reported them to police but did not get any protection.

“We call for the investigation into Vikas Ranjan’s murder to be immediate, thorough and transparent,” said Bob Dietz, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Asia Program coordinator. “Correspondents in remote areas should be protected from attacks made in retribution for their reporting.”

Relatives of Ranjan and fellow journalists gathered outside the hospital where Ranjan died, calling for immediate action by the police and protesting police failure to afford him protection against threats.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ordered proper police investigations into the murder. The official in charge of investigations said that three suspects had been identified and would be arrested in the next few days.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken with authorities in Assam and Manipur, two other northeastern states where killings of journalists are prevalent, asking them to effectively investigate their deaths and protect journalists.

“Ranjan was the third Indian journalist to be murdered in the past two weeks,” said Reporters Without Borders.

According to CPJ’s Impunity Index, India ranks at number 13. The Impunity Index is a list of those countries where governments have failed to solve journalists’ murders.

For more information, please see:

Committee to Protect Journalists – Journalist Shot Dead in Bihar – 1 December 2008

Hindustan Times – Hindustan Reporter Shot Dead in Bihar – 2 December 2008

Reporters Without Borders – Journalist Investigating Drug Trafficking Gunned Down in Bihar State – 27 November 2008

Tonga Capital Residents Support Continued Enforcement of Emergency Powers

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

KOLOFO’OU, Tonga– In downtown Kolofo’ou in Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital, some residents are speaking out in support of the ongoing extension of the emergency powers in the Central Business District of Nuku’alofa.  The emergency powers have been enforced since November of 2006 when riots led to the death of eight people and millions of dollars in damage.  Rioters burned down most of the major shops and businesses in town.  The emergency powers lapsed in August of this year but were renewed in September.  The renewed emergency powers give soldiers and police a wider ability to detain and arrest.

A number of people expressed disappointment and anger in the prolonged enforcement of the emergency powers.  They claim their freedom is being restricted.  But Tevita Manu Fasi, the town officer of Kolofo’ou, has told Radio & TV Tonga News that he believes the government and authorities should continue protecting  the town so the residents can live in a safe environment.  Mr. Fasi said, “I understand some people say they’re being affected in their movement and feel secluded because of the ongoing imposition of the emergency powers in Nuku’alofa but I know those people do not live here in the capital.”

Another resident, Tu’ipolutu ‘Ilavalu, claims the ongoing enforcement of the emergency powers is to ensure that everyone is safe, especially the city’s residents and businesses.  Ms. ‘Ilavalu said, “I understand that with the emergency powers some freedom is not restricted like the freedom of movement but we fear that some men trespass from time to time and they consume liquor in town, they’re people we do not know.  Such behavior never occurred in this town before.”

The Prime Minister, acting on the advice of the Minister of Police, has formed the opinion that public order in the Nuku’alofa area continues to be seriously threatened and it is necessary to keep the emergency powers in that area.

For more information, please see:

Tonga Broadcasting Commission – Kolofo’ou residents support ongoing enforcement of emergency powers – 05 December 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Some residents in Tonga capital speak out in support of emergency powers continuing – 05 December 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Anger in Tonga after emergency police powers put back in place – 10 September 2008

Unrest Escalates in Hebron

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

HEBRON, West Bank – On December 4, Israeli troops forcibly evicted nearly 200 Jewish settlers from a contested building in Hebron. The operation to remove the settlers took about one hour and involved at least 600 Israeli soldiers. At least 20 Israeli settlers and police were injured during the eviction.

According to the New York Times, evacuees were dragged out with four police officers per person. Palestinians watched from rooftops and windows while some settlers shouted at the troops, calling them Nazis. A few settlers had sewn yellow stars on their shirts. On a wall near the confrontation, Hebrew graffiti displayed, “There will be a war over the House of Peace.”

A cloud of black smoke covered much of the neighborhood as militant supporters of the colonists set Palestinian olive fields alight and torched two homes and a dozen cars. In several areas of the city, youths clashed with Israeli security forces, who responded with tear gas.

After the eviction, clashes erupted in numerous West Bank towns as settlers expressed their anger. According to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, settlers have shot and wounded three Palestinians. The Haaretz newspaper reported that settlers began to throw stones at Palestinian cars in Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron.

The contested building, which occupants had named the House of Peace, is on the road to the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives are said to be buried.  Muslims and Jews have coveted and fought over this site for centuries.

Ownership of the building has been in dispute. The settlers say that they bought the house from its Palestinian owner, but the owner claims he rescinded the deal. The Israeli Supreme Court ordered the occupants to clear the building until another court could determine ownership. The settlers refused to leave the house after the Supreme Court order.

Riyad al-Malki, the Palestinian Foreign Minister, accused the settlers of “waging war” on Palestinians and urged the United Nations Security Council to help. Robert Serry, the U.N. envoy for the Middle East, issued a statement demanding “an immediate end to the settler attacks and restraint and calm from all parties”.

The southern part of the West Bank is now designated as a closed military area in an effort to prevent further trouble from outside settlers. Now, only those who live there may enter. Within an hour of the order, cars were backed up in enormous lines at new military roadblocks.
 
For more information, please see:

Welt – Hebron Unrest Escalates as Palestinians React – 6 December 2008

BBC – Israeli West Bank Forces on Alert – 5 December 2008

Daily Star – Hebron Colonists Attack Palestinians After Eviction – 5 December 2008

Guardian – Jewish Settlers in Hebron Shoot Palestinian Men – 5 December 2008

Singapore Fines Wall Street Journal Asia

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Singapore – The High Court of Singapore fined Wall Street Journal Asia, a subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co., the amount of $16,573 for publishing articles that criticized the judiciary. This is the largest amount issued by the Singapore court for such a case.

The ruling related to two articles published in June and July and a letter written by leading opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, Chee Soon Juan.  The Attorney General issued a statement saying the published letter alleges “that the Singapore judiciary is not independent” and it “further insinuated that the Singapore judiciary is biased and lacks integrity.”

The first editorial “Democracy in Singapore” was written by Chee, which commented about his lost defamation suit brought by Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over an article that implied corruption on the part of the government.

The Attorney General further complained about another published letter to the editor that cited a report by the International Bar Association’s Right Institute on “human rights, democracy and the rule of law” in Singapore.

Among those listed as defendants were the newspaper’s publisher Dow Jones Publishing Company (Asia), Inc, international editor Daniel Herzberg and managing editor Christine Glancey. Judge Tay Yong Kwang found them guilty of “scandalizing the court.”

A Dow Jones Company spokesman said “Dow Jones is extremely disappointed with the ruling of the High Court and strongly disagrees with the court’s analysis that the editorials and letter to the editor constitute a contempt of court… contrary to what the attorney general has alleged. The Wall Street Journal Asia has not engaged in a ‘campaign’ of any sort against the Singapore judiciary. We will in the future continue to defend the right of The Wall Street Journal Asia to report and comment on matter of international importance, including matters concerning Singapore.”

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international media watchdog, has continually ranked Singapore as one of the lowest countries among freedom of press indexes. RSF condemned the ruling against The Wall Street Journal, “Another Dow Jones publication, the Far Eastern Economic Review, has also been prosecuted in Singapore … The way this company is being hounded by the government and the judicial system which takes its orders from Lee Kuan Yew and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is utterly deplorable. We urge the Singaporean authorities to stop prosecuting foreign news media.”

For more information, please see:

APF – Singapore Attorney General Sues Wall Street Journal Asia – 11 September 2008

RSF – Wall Street Journal Asia Unjustly Found in Contempt of Court – 26 November 2008

The Wall Street Journal Asia – Singapore Court Fines Wall Street Journal – 26 November 2008