President Ortega Accused by International Community of Undemocratic Practices in Nicaraguan Elections

By Karla E General
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – President Daniel Ortega has been accused of ‘undermining democracy’ in the recent mayoral elections held in Nicaragua amid allegations of fraud after refusing to allow international and local observers at the election polls.

Ortega’s party, the Sandinistas, were awarded 105 of the 146 mayoral seats in the November 9 elections, earning 19 more seats in the national government with the Liberal Constitution Party taking 37 seats and other parties winning the remaining 4. Opposition leaders claim to have lost as many as 50 seats because of corruption, and have demanded a recount of the votes as retribution: “We demand the total revision of all the electoral ballots and the voting acts in the country, with the presence of credible national and international observers,” said Liberal party boss and convict Arnoldo Aleman.

Representatives in the United States have also voiced concerns about the electoral fraud allegations. Republican U.S. congressmen Frank Wolf and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen have sent letters to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an organization providing poor countries with funding, calling for the suspension of $175 million in aid “until it is adequately demonstrated that the Nicaraguan government is committed to demonstrating progress in ruling justly, investing in people and economic freedom.” European countries are also considering suspending aid to Nicaragua.

Ortega has stated that the proposed new elections and a voter recount is “illegal,” according to the Associated Press.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times – Sandinista Fervor Turns Sour for Former Comrades of Nicaragua’s President – 23 November 2008

The Wall Street Journal – Election Fraud in Nicaragua – 24 November 2008

Finding Dulcinea – Nicaraguan Elections Marred by Corruption Dispute and Violence – 25 November 2008

U.S. Court of Appeals to Hear Arguments for Release of Uighurs

By Gabrielle Meury
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, U.S. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit was scheduled to hear arguments Monday from the Bush administration and lawyers for the detainees. The case comes as President-elect Barack Obama is pledging to quickly shut down the facility.

Last month U.S. District Judge Richard Urbina ordered the immediate release of 17 Uighurs, Turkic Muslims, into the United States because they were no longer considered enemy combatants. He criticized the Bush administration for a detention that “crossed the constitutional threshold into infinitum.” The Bush administration sued to block Urbina’s order, citing security concerns over weapons training the Uighurs received at camps in Afghanistan.  The administration claims that they cannot find another country to accept them. Solicitor General Gregory Garre wrote in court filings this past week, “This appeal raises questions of diplomatic relations and national security that are for the political branches, not the judiciary, to resolve.”

The same three-judge panel that agreed to temporarily halt the Uighurs’ release in late October will hear oral arguments on Monday. The one Democrat on the panel, Judge Judith W. Rogers, wrote a dissent arguing for the Uighurs’ immediate release. She believes that the government could point to no evidence of dangerousness. The U.N. is aligned with Judge Rogers, stating “It is our view that the United States is under international law obliged immediately to release the Uighur detainees of Guantanamo.”

The Bush administration maintains that detainees should stay at Guantanamo, as 20 percent of the 250 remaining prisoners fear torture or persecution if they return to their home countries.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press- Court to hear case of Uighurs held at Guantanamo– 24 November 2008

CBC- U.S. Appeal court to hear case of Chinese Muslims held at Guantanamo– 24 November 2008

Boston Globe- Court mulls early release of Uighurs from Gitmo– 24 November 2008

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