Foreign Workers Complain of Abuse in Cook Islands

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands – Foreign workers in the Cook Islands are registering complaints with the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Labour Office that include physical and verbal abuse, working long hours, and not being paid wages.  Labour and Consumer Services Director Helen Maunga says, “We’ve received complaints from foreign employees about their employer failing to pay wages on time, long hours from dawn til dusk, no proper safety gear, two jobs under one employment contract, improper working environment and sleep quarters – just to name a few.”

Maunga says she regularly receives complaints and inquiries from foreign workers who do not want to disclose their identities.  Because they do not want to disclose their identity, many are reluctant to lodge formal complaints.  These workers are afraid of being deported by their employers if they do formally identify themselves.

She stresses that employers that have foreign workers should comply with the applicable legal guidelines.  “The role of this office is to ensure that employers do comply with relevant labour legislations of this country.  In the past, I have seen contracts with provisions quoted from the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, Fiji and New Zealand!”

Strengthening the office is a priority for the present government especially because new Employment Relations legislation is being prepared for tabling in Parliament for the near future.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Foreign Workers in Cook Islands Complain of Abuse – 10 November 2008

Cook Islands News – Foreign Workers Abused – 01 November 2008

Nicaraguans Go To Polls Today in Election Marred by Violent Protests

By Karla E General
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The polls open today in Nicaragua as voters elect municipal leaders in 146 townships throughout Nicaragua, Central America’s poorest country with a population of 5.8 million, annual per capita income of $2,800 and an underemployment rate of 46.7 percent. Political analysts have described the municipal elections as a key indicator of current President Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista government’s approval ratings. According to Managua polling firm M&R, Ortega’s approval rating is less than 20 percent with nearly two-thirds viewing him as authoritarian.

All eyes this year are on the mayoral elections in the capital of Managua, a battle between Hall of Fame boxer Alexis Arguello and ex-finance minister Eduardo Montealegre. Arguello, viewed as the “best chance to bolster the leftist Sandinista party of ex-revolutionary and current President Daniel Ortega,” was the city’s deputy mayor between 2005 and 2007. Arguello stated last month that “[t]he Sandinistas are the only party that understands the needs of the country…We welcome anyone who puts away the bitterness, hate and personal interests to work for the community.” Montealegre, running for Managua mayor on behalf of the opposition Liberal Constitutional Party, lost the 2006 presidential race to Ortega.

The campaign trail has been marred by violent protests between Sandinista supporters and opposition parties. The conflicts have been exacerbated by Ortega barring opposition parties – the Sandinista Renovation Movement and the Conservative Party – from supporting candidates, and allegations that the Sandinista party has rigged the vote and refused to allow international observers. Opposition leaders have criticized the Ortega government for failing to invite observers from the Organization of American States and the local group Ethics and Transparency, a group that has monitored past elections. Ortega has accused the U.S. of stirring up dissent to undermine his party.

Sandinistas currently run 87 of the 153 cities and are favored to win re-election today in most of them. “Sandinista supporters will show up at the polls because they are proud of their party…But Ortega’s unpopularity is a big issue, and this could have an impact,” said Managua political analyst, Carlos Tunnermann. Vice President of the Inter-American Dialogue, Michael Shifter, stated: “Ortega is not the same revolutionary he was…Even his core supporters may find it hard to vote Sandinista if the money runs out.”

Results of the final vote are expected to be released on Monday.

For more information, please see:

The Associated Press – Nicaraguan Municipal Vote Seen as Test for Ortega – 9 November 2008

Bloomberg – Nicaragua’s Ortega Befriends Boxers, Contras as Support Wanes – 9 November 2008

San Francisco Chronicle – Ex-Boxer Runs for Mayor in Nicaragua Capital – 9 November 2008

33 Afghan Civilians Killed in U.S. Airstrike

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – On Wednesday, a U.S. air strike hit the remote village of Wech Baghtu, located in the southern province of Kandahar, Afghanistan.  The bombing resulted in the killing of 37 people, all civilians who were attending a wedding party.  Of those killed, 23 were women and 10 were children.  As Senator Barack Obama was newly elected as successor to President Bush, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan called upon him to stop civilian casualties.  He stated, “Our demand is that there will be no civilian casualties in Afghanistan.  We cannot fight against terrorism with airstrikes.  This is my first demand of the new president of the United States–to put an end to civilian airstrikes.”

A relative of the bride, Abdul Jalil, witnessed the bombing.  Jalil said that there was U.S. and Taliban fighting approximately one-half mile from his home.  Shortly thereafter, a fighter aircraft bombed the housing complex where the wedding would take place.  Subsequently U.S. troops came to the scene of the bombing and questioned villagers in search of militants.

Approximately 4,000 people have died this year, almost a third of them are civilians.  NATO and the U.S. claim that mistakes happen and even more people die as a result of Taliban terrorist activity.  U.S. forces spokesman Commander Jeff Bender stated, “If innocent people were killed in this operation, we apologize and express our condolences to the families and the people of Afghanistan.”

The increasing civilian death toll has caused tension among President Karzai and the U.S. and NATO, particularly the August bombing that occurred in the Shah Wali Kot district.  President Karzai has called for a review of reports of civilian casualties.

Senator Obama has said during his campaign that he would launch attacks against terrorist sites located in Pakistan if Pakistan cannot and will not act against them.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Karzai ‘Demands’ Obama End Civilian Deaths After Latest Incident – 5 November 2008

Fox News – 33 Killed in Alleged U.S. Strike in Afghanistan – 5 November 2008

Reuters – U.S. Strike Kills Wedding Party Goers:  Afghan Officials – 5 November 2008

PNG Puts Pressure On Fiji to Return to Democracy

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, Sir Michael, Somare, is continuing to put the pressure on Fiji’s interim government to hold elections.  Somare says Fiji will only regain its prominence in the region when they return to democracy.  His comments come a day after the Pacific Islands Forum Working Group on Fiji met in Suva, Fiji’s capital.

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, had written to the working group requesting recognition that elections in Fiji would not occur by the forum’s previously set March deadline.  He also requested that the working group recognize the recent High Court ruling that legitimized the coup.

Somare also said that democracy is also the only way Fiji will be able to implement the planned People’s Charter.  When discussing the People’s Charter, Somare remarked, “You can accept the charter, people can accept that, but to make it the constitution is very difficult.  You must have a parliament.”

Somare concluded by remarking, “So I think he’s got a big question in front of him and I’m hoping that the ministerial committee, when they meet, they will be able to come up with some answers and, of course, some understanding from him.”

For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine – Returning to the Polls Will Regain Fiji’s Prominence – 08 November 2008

Radio Australia – PNG PM continues pressure on Fiji regime – 07 November 2008

Malaysia Frees Blogger

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch, Asia

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia – On November 7th, a Malaysian court ordered the release of Raja Petra Kamaruddin, also known as “RPK”, an influential anti-government blogger for the widely read, Malaysia Today. In September, RPK was arrested for allegedly publishing material that ridiculed Islam and government authorities on his widely read website. Under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Malaysian government allowed the arrest and detention of citizens without explanation. RPK was held without trial for eight weeks.

Due to intense international pressure, the high court in Shah Alam ruled that the Interior Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, had exceeded his authority to order RPK’s detention. According to Reporters Without Borders, the Malaysian Court has not reviewed an ISA case since 1987. “We are pleased to learn that the judge who ordered his immediate release said the government had failed to give sufficient grounds for holding him,” Reporters Without Borders said.

The Press Freedom Organization added, “This is an important day for free expression in Malaysia and for RPK, who will able to rejoin his family even if the authorities are clearly still keeping him under surveillance. The ISA is now undoubtedly a major obstacle to free expression for journalists, bloggers, and activists in Malaysia.”

However, RPK still faces charges of sedition relating to his reports linking Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, to the murder of a Mongolian woman. Najib is expected to succeed the incumbent Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi.

Malaysia Today published a statement on RPK’s release and said, “The release of Raja Petra Kamarudin from ISA detention is a victory for the people of Malaysia.” The statement also criticizes the ISA, “Many others still languish in prison under the draconian ISA, including members of Hindraf and individuals allegedly involved with radical groups such as Jemaa Islamiyah.  They all deserve the right of judicial review.”

“We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished,” RPK told reporters upon his release.
For more information, please see:

BBC –Malaysia Blogger’s Joy at Release – 7 November 2008

Malaysia Today – Press Statement – The Release of Raja Petra Kamarudin – 8 November 2008

RSF – Leading Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin Finally Released – 7 November 2008