AFP Says Presence Still Needed in Solomon Islands

By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, OceaniaSolomon Islands

HONIARA, Solomon Islands– The Australian Federal Police (AFP), who led the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in 2003, have warned that an international presence is still needed to keep the Solomon Islands secure.  RAMSI was set up after an outbreak of community violence in the Solomon Islands in 2003.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Prendergast told a parliamentary hearing, “The mission faces ongoing challenges.  While the achievements of RAMSI have been substantial, our work is far from over and our achievements do not represent at this stage an enduring state of rule of law.”  Mr. Prendergast said that while the mission has restored law and order to the Solomon Islands, the order would not be able to be maintained without RAMSI’s presence.

Mr. Prendergast continued, “As evident from the RAMSI People’s survey, public confidence in the institutions remains low and there exists collective fears of a return to inter-communal violence should RAMSI withdraw.”  He added, “More importantly, the underlying causes of the conflict remain and the economic outlook is likely to contribute to instability.”

The AFP plans to remain in the Solomon Islands for at least another five years, in which time they plan to develop the local police force and other public institutions.

For more information, please see:

Islands Business – Presence still needed: AFP – 24 November 2008

Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Presence still needed in Solomons: AFP – 21 November 2008

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia PYONGYANG, North Korea – The U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee has passed a resolution urging North Korea to improve its human rights conditions on Friday. 51 countries cosponsored the resolution, including South Korea, which is the first cosponsor. The resolution expressed “very serious concern” at rights violations in North Korea, including the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, the “all-pervasive and severe restrictions” on freedom of thought and religion, and violations of workers’ rights. However, North Korea strongly rejected the U.N. resolution. The North Korean delegation to the UN criticized the nonbinding resolution, characterizing it as politicization and double standards in dealing with human rights. According to the North Korea’s official news agency, a foreign ministry spokesman, Pak Dok Hun said, the DPRK (North Korea) resolutely rejects the resolution. He said it is based on “false and fabricated” data, adding that the hardline communist country would “firmly” stick to its system and ideology. Pak also says the resolution was “a provocation to the North’s dignity,” and South Korea “will face the dearest price” for its “treacherous act.” South Korea’s co-sponsored triggered anger from Pyongyang and worsened cross-border relations. Secretive North Korea said on Monday it would all but seal its border with the South a week before heading into talks with its neighbor and other regional powers which are pressing it to give up nuclear weapons. North Korea’s KCNA news agency said the border closure was the first step “to be taken in connection with the evermore undisguised anti-DPRK (North Korea) confrontational racket of the south Korean puppet authorities.” The tension between South and North Korean has been escalating since President Lee Myung-bak took office in February. President Lee promises to invest heavily in the impoverished North on condition it moves to end development of an atomic arsenal. For more information, please see: AP – Report: North Korea rejects UN rights resolution – 22 November 2008 Jurist – North Korea protests proposed UN General Assembly rights resolution – 22 November 2008 KBS – UN Committee Passes Resolution on NK Human Rights – 22 November 2008 International Herald Tribune – North Korea rejects UN human rights resolution – 24 November 2008 Washington Post – North Korea prepares to shut border with South – 24 November 2008

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PYONGYANG, North Korea – The U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee has passed a resolution urging North Korea to improve its human rights conditions on Friday. 51 countries cosponsored the resolution, including South Korea, which is the first cosponsor.  The resolution expressed “very serious concern” at rights violations in North Korea, including the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, the “all-pervasive and severe restrictions” on freedom of thought and religion, and violations of workers’ rights.

However, North Korea strongly rejected the U.N. resolution.  The North Korean delegation to the UN criticized the nonbinding resolution, characterizing it as politicization and double standards in dealing with human rights.  According to the North Korea’s official news agency, a foreign ministry spokesman, Pak Dok Hun said, the DPRK (North Korea) resolutely rejects the resolution.  He said it is based on “false and fabricated” data, adding that the hardline communist country would “firmly” stick to its system and ideology.  Pak also says the resolution was “a provocation to the North’s dignity,” and South Korea “will face the dearest price” for its “treacherous act.”

South Korea’s co-sponsored triggered anger from Pyongyang and worsened cross-border relations. Secretive North Korea said on Monday it would all but seal its border with the South a week before heading into talks with its neighbor and other regional powers which are pressing it to give up nuclear weapons. North Korea’s KCNA news agency said the border closure was the first step “to be taken in connection with the evermore undisguised anti-DPRK (North Korea) confrontational racket of the south Korean puppet authorities.”  The tension between South and North Korean has been escalating since President Lee Myung-bak took office in February. President Lee promises to invest heavily in the impoverished North on condition it moves to end development of an atomic arsenal.

For more information, please see:

AP – Report: North Korea rejects UN rights resolution – 22 November 2008

Jurist – North Korea protests proposed UN General Assembly rights resolution – 22 November 2008

KBS – UN Committee Passes Resolution on NK Human Rights – 22 November 2008

International Herald Tribune – North Korea rejects UN human rights resolution – 24 November 2008

Washington Post – North Korea prepares to shut border with South – 24 November 2008

UN to Examine Political Situation in Fiji

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – United Nations Delegates arrived in Fiji today to begin a five day fact finding mission in hopes of facilitating Fiji’s uncertain path to establishing a more democratic and accountable government.

The UN discussions will focus on the political turmoil currently plaguing Fiji’s interim government. Last month, a Fiji High Court legitimized a 2006 military coup of Fiji’s Federal Government. The ousted SDL Party has expressed growing concerns that the interim government will not make good on its promise to restore democracy. Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has yet to relinquish power or hold democratic elections.

UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon dispatched the UN team which arrived in Fiji on Sunday. UN Political Affairs official, Tamrat Samuel was chosen to head the team.

The Fiji Times reports that the aim of the UN dispatch is to find “a mutually agreeable way forward on the political situation in Fiji.”

For more information, please see:
ABC Radio Australia – UN, Commonwealth to dispatch missions to Fiji – 21 November 2008

ABC Radio Australia – UN officials on research visit to Fiji – 24 November 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Party hails UN visit – 24 November 2008

Police Target Transgender Community in Bangalore, India

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGALORE, India – Police evicted more than 100 working class transgender people, also known as hijras, last week. Human Rights Watch and other groups believe that these acts are part of a bigger scheme by police to actively cleanse Bangalore of transgenders, basing their campaign on incidents reported in national newspapers. The news reported that a gang of hijras kidnapped children, castrated them and forced them into prostitution. Police allegedly arrested the perpetrators.

“Of course, all reports of child abuse should be thoroughly investigated,” said Dipika Nath, researcher in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program at Human Rights Watch. “But authorities are also responsible for sorting out fact from prejudice – and there is no excuse for targeting an entire community for retaliation.”

Following the news stories, the police inspector of Bangalore issued a notice to about 40 homeowners requiring them to evict all hijras occupying their homes. The police targeted the Dasarahalli neighborhood, a place known for having a large number of hijra inhabitants. Almost 100 hijra residents lost their homes, some lost their security deposits, and some lost their belongings.

Hijra victims stated that claims by the police are unfounded and the reported kidnappings are being used as justification for the evictions. Police say that it is the homeowners that are evicting their tenants. However, the leading national newspaper, The Hindu, obtained a copy of the eviction notice served upon the hijra tenants by the police.

“Because of prevailing myths that hijras habitually kidnap young boys, reports of the arrest of two hijras on criminal charges are a convenient excuse to target the entire community without arousing public outcry,” said Nath.

Last month, police arrested five hijras in Bangalore and charged them with extortion. The hijras were beaten and sexually abused. Forty-one human rights defenders were also arrested for protesting their arrest.

On October 20th, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Bangalore was quoted by a national newspaper, Daily News and Analysis, as calling for a “drive against the city’s eunuch menace.” “Eunuch” is a derogatory term for hijras.

For more information, please see:

The Hindu – Hijras Face Further Harassment – 13 November 2008

Human Rights Watch – India:  Stop ‘Social Cleansing’ in Bangalore – 18 November 2008

Times of India – Conflicts Surface Over Sex-Change Racket – 12 November 2008

UN & Commonwealth Sending Officials to Fiji

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji– The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon is sending what he is calling an exploratory mission to Fiji this week.  The mission will be headed by Tamrat Samuel from the UN’s Department of Political Affairs in New York.  Moon said in a statement that he has conveyed to the interim Fiji Government that there is a mutually agreeable way forward with the political situation that came out of the military coup in 2006.

While in Suva, the UN will meet a broad range of national stakeholders and international actors.

The Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma has announced that they will be sending senior Commonwealth political official Juliet Solomon.  Solomon will be visiting Fiji in response to a request from the interim prime minister for support in facilitating a dialogue forum.  Ms. Solomon will hold consultations with the interim government, political parties, civil society, international partners and other stakeholders.  The Commonwealth is especially interested in working with the Pacific Islands Forum and the UN in helping Fiji find a political future.

Fiji is currently suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth following the military coup in 2006.
For more information, please see:

Radio Australia – UN, Commonwealth to dispatch missions to Fiji – 21 November 2008

Radio New Zealand International – UN sends official to Fiji – 21 November 2008

Pacific Magazine – UN Secretary General Sends Envoy to Check On Fiji – 21 November 2008

Commonwealth Secretariat – Commonwealth Visit to Fiji Islands – 20 November 2008