Two Dead Amid Protests in Nicaragua After Allegations of Voting Irregularities

By Karla E General

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – At least two people have been killed and six others injured in Nicaragua in the days following the Sunday election of new representatives in 146 municipalities.  Official election results have placed 94 mayorships in Sandinista hands, with 46 going to the opposition party, the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC). With the majority of votes now being counted in favor of the Sandinista party, protests erupted on Monday between Sandinistas and supporters of the opposition party, the PLC.

Nicaragua’s police chief Aminta Granera dispatched anti-riot forces to the streets of Managua on Monday to contain the violent clashes between supporters and opponents of President Daniel Ortega. Opponents of Ortega’s Sandinista government are claiming the municipal elections were rigged by Ortega’s government.

Xin_23211051121405001899656_2Nicaraguan people prepare to throw stones in a demonstration to support opposition candidate Eduardo Montealegre who rejected municipal poll results by the Electoral Supreme Council. (Xinhua Photo)

Ortega has been accused of manipulating the elections and has prevented at least two groups from being observers at polling places, including the Nicaraguan civic group Ethics and Transparency, which reported a 32 percent rate of irregularities at the polling places it was able to monitor. The Organization of American States (OAS) and U.S. State Department have also denounced Ortega’s ban of OAS observers from Nicaraguan polling stations: “Unfortunately the Supreme Electoral Council’s decision to not accredit credible domestic and international election observers has made it difficult to properly assess the conduct of the election…We urge the government of Nicaragua to ensure that the official election results accurately reflect the will of the Nicaraguan people” – Robert Wood, U.S. State Department spokesman.

Ortega, dismissing the allegations of fraud against his government, stated that election observers were rightly rejected from the political process “because they are financed by outside powers.”

The PLC will likely contest the results in court.

For more information, please see:

The Associated Press – Nicaraguan Opposition Demands Election Review – 11 November 2008

BBC News – Nicaragua Election Clash ‘Deaths’ – 11 November 2008

Bloomberg – Nicaragua Election Results Provoke Clashes in Managua – 11 November 2008

Tibet and Chinese Government Failed to Make Any Progress

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Fifty-five Tibetans have received prison sentences for their involvement in anti-government riots on March 14th, according to the vice chairman of the Tibet regional government, Baema Cewang. The prison sentences range from three years to life, Xinhua reported.  It did not give details of how the sentences were handed down or what sort of trial the prisoners had received, if any.

The anti-government riot, led by Buddhist monks, erupted in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on March 14th.  The protests soon turned violent, with demonstrators burning vehicles and shops, and attacking Han Chinese living and working in Lhasa.  The March riot led to a government crackdown in the region and other Tibetan areas in western China.

The report came as representatives of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, met with Chinese officials to discuss Tibet policies and the status of the Dalai Lama.  A senior Chinese official ruled out giving Tibet the kind of autonomy that Beijing grants Hong Kong.  Du Qinglin, head of a government department in charge of the talks, says, “It is impossible for Tibet to become independent, semi-independent, or independent in a disguised form, ” and called the Dalai Lama to face reality.

The talks failed to make any progress, according to Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.  He said the Dalai Lama side should “shoulder full responsibility for that.” Although the two sides have engaged in “frank and sincere” talks, there are still “serious divergences” of opinion, according to the Chinese government.  Mr. Zhu alleged that a memorandum presented by the Tibetans contained proposals were unacceptable, such as a plan to withdraw Chinese troops from Tibetan areas.  “It clearly shows they had not given up their dream of independence,” he said. China would not accept any mid-way such as “independence, half-independence or covert independence,” he added.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Tibetans blamed for failed talks – 10 November 2008

CNN – China sentences 55 people over Tibet riots – 05 November 2008

Guardian – China reveals fresh sentences for Tibet unrest – 05 November 2008

New York Times – China Has Sentenced 55 Over Tibet Riot in March – 05 November 2008

XinHua – China says no compromise on national sovereignty, refutes Dalai’s so-called “middle way” – 10 November 2008

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