A Voice for the Voiceless

Interim Government Praised by Forum Head for Resuming Talks

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The new secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, has hailed Fiji’s interim government’s decision to resume working with the ministerial group examining Fiji’s electoral system as a positive step.  The interim government had stopped talks with the Forum in June following what it described as a lack of support from Australia and New Zealand.

While there is no firm plan for when, specifically, the talks will resume, Slade confirmed that meetings are being scheduled.  Slade went onto say, “It is in line with the conclusion of the Forum leaders and their desire as expressed in the Niue communique that this re-engagement should resume. We are now in the secretariat working closely with the authorities of the interim government to try to determine dates and the timing of these meetings.”

While the Forum is satisfied with this new move, it has publicly stated that it’s position regarding Fiji’s return to public elections has not changed in the wake of the recent Fiji High Court decision validating the 2006 coup.  The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Premier of Niue, Toke Talagi, has also echoed deposed Fiji PM Lasenia Qarase’s position that the decision will encourage the coup culture in Fiji.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited – Slade welcomes initiative – 18 October 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited – Forum stance unchanged – 18 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Forum head welcomes resumption of dialogue with Fiji interim regime – 17 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International – New Pacific Forum leader says court judgment in Fiji is not a reflection of expectations – 17 October 2008

Thai Prime Minister Labeled “Murderer” by Protesters

BANGKOK, Thailand – Anti-government protesters rallied in Bangkok yesterday, holding pictures of Thai Prime Minister Somachai Wongsawat that labeled him a “murderer.”  On October 7th, two people were killed and hundreds were injured.  Human Rights Watch released a report demanding that the Thai government examine the possibility that the deaths were politically motivated.

Prime Minister Somachai Wongsawat addressed the nation amid a political crisis between his ruling party, People Power Party, and the opposition, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).  The PAD began its street protests in Bangkok on May 25, 2008.  Prime Minister Somachai Wongsawat told the press,  “The government cannot just abandon its work and responsibility. We have many major projects coming up.”

However, Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda publicly blamed the Prime Minister, saying he should take responsibility for the violence and hinted at a possible resignation for the leader.

However, Prime Minister Somachai Wongsawat announced that he would not resign despite calls for his resignation after the violent confrontation between police and protesters .

Human Rights Watch called on the Thai government to initiate an independent and impartial investigation into politically motivated violence by both the ruling and opposition parties since the violence started last week. Some demonstrators were carrying guns, iron rods, and rocks. Rioters were setting fire to parked cars. The police have been accused to firing tear gas into the crowd and wounding many.

Prime Minister Somachai Wongsawat established a special panel to look into the incident and said he expected a report in the next 15 days. He said, “Whatever the result” of the investigation, “the government will accept it. If someone has to take responsibility, we will accept it.”

“Instead of attacking each other on the streets, the Thai government and PAD should use democratic and legal channels to end their disputes,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should only use the force necessary to protect public security, while PAD should end violence, vacate government buildings it has occupied, and disarm its supporters,” he added.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Rights Group Call for End to Thai Political Violence – 15 October 2008

International Herald Tribune – Thai Leader Shrugs Off Call to Quit – 17 October 2008

Herald Tribune –Thai Protest Marchers Call Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat a Murderer– 18 October 2008

Human Rights News – Thailand: Government and Protesters Should End Political Violence – 15 October 2008

Vietnam Silences Journalists

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HAN NOI, Vietnam – On October 15th Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Nguyen Viet Chien, a journalist for a well-circulated newspaper, to two years in jail. In 2006, Chien was one of two journalists who reported on a corruption scandal in the Ministry of Transport.  The scandal resulted in the resignation of the minister and the arrest of several high-ranking officials.

Chien maintained his innocence in court.  He stated, “With my journalist conscience, I can say I never have any other purpose in mind when writing my reports but exposing wrongdoing and fighting corruption.”

Last May, Chien and another prominent newspaper journalist, Nguyen Van Hai, who also reported on government corruption, were arrested. They were accused of “abusing freedom and democratic rights.”

Hai pleaded guilty after a two day trail.  In order to receive a lighter sentence, he accepted that he made “professional accidents” in his reports. The court freed Hai for “co-operating with investigators and showing remorse.” However, the court and sentence Hai to re-education camps for two years.

During the trial, prosecutors focused on the reporters’ conduct.  According to a leaked indictment, the reporters’ stories had “serious consequences, negatively affecting the ideology, morale and psychology of the public at a sensitive point of time,” referencing the 10th Vietnamese Communist Party Congress in April 2006.

The indictment also asserted that Nguyen Viet Chien and Nguyen Van Hai “exploited their position as journalists to write sensitive, false information… Hostile forces took advantage to attack and distort the Party Congress, negatively affecting the preparation of the congress.”

The verdict of the two trials received condemnation from abroad. The US embassy in Hanoi called the verdicts “disappointing” and Reporters Without Borders called the sentences “a terrible step backwards.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Vietnam Trial Tests Media Freedom – 14 October 2008

BBC – Vietnam Sends Journalist to Jail – 15 October 2008

BBC – Vietnamese Media Trial Condemned – 16 October 2008

International Herald Tribune – Vietnam Jails Journalists in Graft Reporting Trial– 15 October 2008

Reporters Without Borders – Newspaper Reporter’s Two Year Sentence Deals Severe Blow to Press Freedom – 15 October 2008

UPDATE: SDL Party Questions Constitutionality of Interim Reforms

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister has reiterated that changes to Fiji’s Constitution will not be made while the interim government remains in power. This announcement follows the SDL party’s decision to appeal the High Court’s decision last week validating the 2006 coup.

Since last week’s judicial decision, the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party has strongly questioned the interim government’s motives. Meanwhile, interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has clearly stated that the interim government’s focus will not necessarily be on the legality of its actions, but on whether the right results are produced.

Bainimarama claims the interim government will work to reestablish democracy, but ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, is skeptical. As head of the SDL party, Qarase says that if the interim government creates any reforms before the new election, those reforms will be unconstitutional.

In response, Bainimarama says he will create a political forum by the end of October. Qarase is receptive and hopes that the forum will facilitate political discussion between the parties.

“We have never said that we would accept reforms before the election, that is our position now. What happens in the forum, that’s another issue. We would rather wait until we get into the forum and hear other people’s views. But strictly speaking, we believe that any change to the constitution must be made by an elected parliament. That’s our key position,” Qarase said.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – SDL maintains it won’t accept changes to Fiji constitution before election – 15 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Qarase to go into Fiji political talks with open mind – 15 October 2008

Hidden Coal Mine Accident in China

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Local officials in North China hid a coal mine explosion that killed more than 30 miners three weeks before the Beijing Olympics, state media reported.  The accident occurred at 8:30 am on July 14th in Lijiawa Coal Mine of Yuxian county. Some explosives illegally stored in the pit blast off, killing more than 30 miners.  The investigation report indicated that after the mine disaster, the corpses were taken away and kept hidden in surrounding areas, where the grieving families were also taken to be paid off.  “Cash was used to keep them quiet as well as threats and other means, and the miners and their families were not allowed to reveal the facts to the outside,” said the report.  The investigation also showed that some township and county officials had collaborated with the mine owners to conceal the accident.

Chinese government has punished 25 Communist Party and government officials involved in covering up the mine accident.  Another 23 officials of various administrative departments were also under investigation.  Governor Hu Chunhua said the Hebei province has serious problems with work and food safety.  “This is a shocking case,” quoted governor Hu Chunhua.  He called on officials of all levels in the province to take a lesson from the vital safety accident.  Hebei is also home to Sanlu Dairy, company of the chemical-tainted milk powder that officials have blamed for killing four children and making many several thousands sick.

However, the investigation report did not explain why the deaths took so long to come to light. Some observers of Chinese politics said the cover-up appeared to be another instance of officials seeking to avoid recriminations before the Olympics, when they were under intense pressure to avoid accidents and protests.

A total of 3,786 coal miners died in gas blasts, flooding and other work accidents in China last year.  The Lijiawa blast was not the only recent disaster to involve suggestions of official concealment and neglect.

For more information, please see:

AFP – China probes cover-ups in mine accidents: state media – 08 October 2008

China Daily – 25 officials punished over mine accident cover-up – 07 October 2008

Reuters – China milk scandal province hid mine disaster – 08 October 2008

Xinhuan – Three officials ousted for coal mine accidents in N China – 08 October 2008