A Voice for the Voiceless

Iraqi Prime Minister Vows to Find Culprits Behind Parliament Member Assassination

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki vowed, in a statement on October 9, that the perpetrators of the bomb attack that killed Parliament Member Saleh al-Ogaili would be brought to justice.  Al-Ogaili was killed Thursday in a bombing that also killed two of Al-Ogaili’s bodyguards and injured three others.

Iraqi police state that the bomb that killed Al-Ogaili was attached to a motorcycle and went off when the MP’s motorcade drove past.  Al-Ogaili died in the hospital soon after the attack due to severe head wounds.  He was buried on October 10 in the city of Al-Najaf.  The MP is known for being radically anti-American, and a member of the Sadrist party.   Following his assassination, several anti-American protests have been held.

It has also drawn a response from both the Iraqi and the American governments.   The US military has denied any involvement in the attack.  The commander of US forces in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, , and US ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, have both condemned the attack.

The Iraqi government has taken a very strong stance in response to this attack.  Prime Minister Al-Maliki traveled to Al-Najaf where he made a public statement vowing to find those involved in this attack.   Al-Maliki said in his statement that the government “reaffirm[s their] determination to get at the hotbeds of terrorism and crime, and arrest and prosecute the killers and bring them to justice.”

Iraqi president Jalal Talabani also made a statement on October 10, condemning those responsible and calling on the people of Iraq to come together against such crimes.  He declared,”All Iraqis, including its political powers, are called on to be unified to ward off all the attempts of planting fight and alienation among Iraqis’ components.”  He also called Al-Ogaili a martyr, and said that those who committed the crime are enemies of the Iraqis.  

For more information, please see:

The Australian – Bomb Kills Anti-US politician Saleh Al-Ogayly In Iraq – 11 October 2008

AFP – Anger Against US Mount As Iraq Shiites Bury Slain MP – 10 October 2008

Xinhua – Iraqi President Condemns Assassination of Shiite Lawmaker – 10 October 2008

BBC – Iraqi MP Killed By Roadside Bomb – 9 October 2008

BBC – Iraq PM Vows to Find MP’s Killers – 9 October 2008

The New York Times – Roadside Bomb in Baghdad Kills Shiite Legislator – 9 October 2008

Ethnic Violence in India’s Assam

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

GUWAHATI, India – In the northeast state of Assam, India, violence erupted between Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh and Bodo tribal groups on Friday resulting in almost 50 people dead, 500 homes set on fire, and more than 85,000 displaced and seeking housing in government relief camps.  Twenty-one thousand paramilitary officers were deployed to the three districts that have been affected in addition to the already-imposed curfews and shoot-on-sight orders.  More than 15 of the killings were done in police firings.

The conflict has arisen from a history of the local tribes’ fear of being overrun by Muslim immigrants. Almost half of Assam’s population are Muslim settlers.  Analysts claim that the clashes were sparked by a student movement campaigning ainst the immigrants.

Despite the history of tension between Muslims and Bodo tribes, state officials blame the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for fueling the violence.  NDFB is a Christian rebel group that wants independence and secession from India.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, a minister supervising security and relief measures, says that the NDFB has implemented a plan of “ethnic cleansing” in order to “drive out all the non-Bodos from the area.”  Moreover, in 2005, the NDFB entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in New Delhi, though it has never renounced its independence struggle.  It claims that the government has neglected their welfare, ignored development of the region and flooded it with immigrants.

Sarma stated that four cadres of the NDFB were arrested on Sunday for firing at the police with machine guns in one of the districts and that if NDFB members continue to engage in violence, then the government might have to reconsider the ceasefire agreement.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Troops Sent to Quell Tribal Clashes in India’s Assam – 6 October 2008

Assam Tribune – Death Toll 40:  80,000 Displaced:  500 Houses Burnt – 6 October 2008

Reuters – More Die as Clashes Continue in India’s Troubled Assam – 7 October 2008

Fourth Journalist Gunned Down in Thailand

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – On October 5th, another regional journalist was gunned down in Thailand. Wallop Bounsampop was the editor of Den Siam, a local newspaper in Chonburi province in the south of Bangkok. Wallop is the fourth journalist to be murdered this year.

Wallop was murdered in a motorcyle drive-by shooting when he was helping his wife at a local restruant. Two men on a motorcyle dorve by and shot at Wallop five times hitting him twice and killing him instantly.

Wallop was an active member of the district council, and he was reporting on corruption of local politicians. Some allege his murder was linked to the controversial articles written about his opponents who are scheduled to run against him in elections next month.

Only a month earlier, Jaruek Rangcharoen, a regional correspondent for the Bangkok-based Matichon Daily, was gunned down in the central province of Suphanburi. Like Wallop, Rangcharoen was reporting on local politicians. Rangcharoen’s case is still unresolved. However, police said they have a few witnesses that could lead to descriptions to key suspects.

The string on voilence against journalist in Thailand has led to a public outcry. Reporters without Borders said, “We call on the police and judicial authorities to give themselves the means to deal with it,” and “If no real progress is made in solving these four cases, more journalists are likely to be killed at a time when Thailand is still embroiled in a political crisis.”

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Fourth Thai Journalist Murdered – 8 October 2008

Interesting Times – Murder of Journalist Raise Death Toll to 4 in 2008 in Thailand – 8 October 2008

Reporters without Borders – Local Newspaper Editor Gunned Down, Fourth Journalist Murdered This Year – 7 October 2008

Fiji’s 2006 Coup Declared Legal: Ousted Prime Minister Speaks Out

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s ousted prime minister is speaking out against the judicial decision made yesterday legitimizing the 2006 military coup of Fiji’s Federal Government.

Yesterday, a three judge court dismissed former prime minister, Laisenia Qarase’s request to have the 2006 military coup declared illegal. Mr. Qarase is now calling that decision a “miscarriage of justice.”

“It will encourage future coups. I think the impartiality of our judiciary is completely gone,” Mr. Qarase said. He added, “The judgement indicates that they (the judges) were selective in the evidence they used. . . Our case was about the legality of what happened. There was no mention of that at all.”

Meanwhile, Fiji’s interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, is looking ahead, calling now for support to aid Fiji’s plans for new elections. Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum has also encouraged Fijians to unite under the common goal of restoring democracy to Fiji.

“I think the message to everybody … is that we need to move ahead with the government that is in place,” Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Professor Bill Hodge, a constitutional law expert from Auckland University, says that now that Fiji has declared the legitimacy of the 2006 coup, countries in opposition to that coup must now be prepared to recognize Fiji’s interim administration.

“I would think New Zealand, the United States, UK, will all come around and must come around to recognize a regime in Fiji,” Mr. Hodge said.

Mr. Qarase, on the other hand, says he will consult his lawyers and decide whether further action needs to be taken.

For more information, please see:
The Age, Australia – Ex-PM hits Fiji court ruling – 10 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji interim regime urges cooperation now that coup has been declared legal – 09 October 2008

Radio Netherlands –  Fiji’s 2006 coup declared legal – 09 October 2008

ABC News – Bainimarama blocking Fiji elections, says Smith – 09 October 2008

TVNZ – Fijian court dismisses coup case – 09 October 2008

Israeli Police on Heightened Alert Following Jewish-Arab Clashes

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

Wwwreuterscom
(Reuters)

ACRE, Israel – In the evening of October 8, clashes between Jewish Israelis and Israeli Arabs broke out in the port city of Acre (Akko) in northern Israel.  The riots began when a group of Jewish youths attacked an Israeli Arab for driving his car on Yom Kippur.  According to police, there was provocation as the motorist, Taufik Jamal, intentionally drove his car through a Jewish neighborhood on Yom Kippur and had the radio turned up.  Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish calendar, during which it is considered offensive to drive in much of Israel.

However, according to Jamal he was picking his daughter up from a relative’s house.  Even though it was Yom Kippur and driving is generally banned, he drove to get his daughter since it was late.  According to Jamal he drove slowly and had the radio off.  When he arrived at the his relative’s house, a group of Jewish youths began throwing stones at his 18 year old son and his son’s friend; hitting them in the face and chest.

Jamal states that he called the police, who attempted to sneak the three men out of the neighborhood.  When they were spotted by the youths, Jamal, his son, his son’s friend, and the police officers were forced to flee.  Jamal told Yedioth News, “Only now do I understand that they wanted to lynch us like the terrorists lynched the Jewish soldiers in Ramallah.”

“Rumors then spread out, namely from mosques, claiming that the motorist had been killed, prompting several hundred Arabs to take to the streets,” Mickey Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said.  Violence escalated as Jewish Israelis and Israeli Arabs clashed in the streets, throwing rocks and chanting slogans at each other.  Witnesses and police report that several hundred people were involved in the riots and that nearly 100 cars have been damaged and 30 stores vandalized.

Violence and high tensions in Acre continued into October 9 and October 10.  500 extra police officers were deployed to assist the 200-strong local force, and maintain peace in the city.  Police set up road blocks to separate the two groups.  The police have also used tear gas, stun grenades, and water cannons to disperse crowds.  Rosenfeld reports that 12 people have been detained and two protesters and one police officer were lightly injured.

Police are not only on high alert in Acre but also in other mixed areas where Jewish Israelis and Israeli Arabs live together, especially in the Old City in Jerusalem.  Acre has a high population of Israeli Arabs with one third of its 50,000 residents being Israeli Arabs.  Around 20 percent of Israel’s population are Arabs, most are descendants of Arabs who stayed in Israel after the creation of the Jewish state in 1948.  While they have full rights as citizens, Israeli Arabs (who also call themselves Israeli Palestinians) often complain of discrimination.

Avi Dichter, the Public Security Minister, said that he would ensure the instigators of the riots were arrested and blamed MPs on both sides for making inflammatory comments, with leaders from both communities accusing the other of carrying out a pogrom.  In addition, Israel  Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen called on public figures and local leaders not to fan the flames of violence.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Israeli Town Hit by Third Day of Jewish-Arab Clashes – 10 October 2008

Al Jazeera – Israeli on Alert After Acre Clashes – 10 October 2008

BBC – Israeli City ‘Calm’ After Riots – 10 October 2008

Jerusalem Post – Acre Clashes Briefly Renewed as Jews Enter Eastern Quarter – 10 October 2008

Times – Yom Kippur Riots Erupt in Acre After Arab Drives Car Through Jewish Area – 10 October 2008

Yedioth News – Akko Riots: Police Ordered on Heightened Alert – 10 October 2008

Associated Press – Clashes Erupt in Mixed Arab-Jewish City in Israel – 9 October 2008

Reuters – Jews and Arabs Clash in Northern Israeli City – 9 October 2008

Yedioth News – Arab Motorist: I Narrowly Escaped Lynch in Akko – 9 October 2008