Fiji Interim PM Indefinitely Delays Democratic Elections

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Despite harsh criticism from the Pacific community, Fiji’s interim prime minister has told the United Nations that democratic elections will not be held next March as originally promised.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the interim prime minister, addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, saying that for democratic elections to occur, he must first rebuild his country. According to Bainimarama, a democratic election system cannot coexist with the “evils of self-interest, incompetence, intolerance, and greed.”

In addition, Bainimarama claims that his duty to rebuild his country may necessarily take precedent over adhering to Fiji’s constitutional laws:

“To-date, my Government, which remains in effective control of governance in Fiji, has done all within its power to adhere to the current Constitution. We recognize that this is the supreme law of our nation. At the same time, we have come to also recognize that the very foundation, on which we have been seeking to build our nation, has been shaky and weak.”

In his address, the prime minister also criticized Australia and New Zealand for imposing travel sanctions on Fiji following Bainimarama’s bloodless coup of the Federal government in 2006. Bainimarama explained that the sanctions hurt Fiji’s progress toward building a more democratic election process.

Last month, the Pacific Forum, a peacekeeping group of Pacific Nations, threatened to suspend Fiji from the union if the country did not follow through with its democratic elections in March 2009.

Last week, Bainimarama wrote the Pacific Forum asking for reinstatement. The Forum has yet to reply.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – Deeper into the quagmire – 29 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji interim PM says he has done his best to adhere to constitution – 28 September 2008

ABC, Radio Australia – Fiji urges UN to help remove coup culture – 28 September 2008

UN News Centre – Fijian leader tells UN that planned parliamentary elections must be delayed – 27 September 2008

Musharraf Faces Charges of Human Rights Violations

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pervez Musharraf resigned the Pakistani presidency on August 18, 2008 under the pressure of impeachment from the coalition government and is now in the midst of facing charges, including treason and various human rights violations.  In May 2008, Human Rights Watch reported that human rights concerns in Pakistan included “arbitrary detention (including of lawyers and human rights defenders); lack of fair trials; mistreatment, torture and enforced disappearances of terrorism suspects and political opponents; harassment, intimidation and censorship of the media; violence against women; and discrimination against religious minorities. Since November 2007, the Government has severely interfered with democratic institutions and dissolved the independent judiciary.”

“A failure to hold Musharraf and the army responsible will only result in those abuses continuing and hamper Pakistan’s development into a full democracy,” said Ali Dayan Hasan of Human Rights Watch.

Musharraf is currently facing two criminal charges:  murder and treason.  Khalid Kwaja petitioned the Islamabad High Court to try Musharraf for the murder of rebel leader, Nawaz Akbar Bugti, which occurred at the army assault on the Red Mosque which occurred in 2006. Bugti’s death occurred while hiding out in a cave that collapsed during the assault.  A former judge stated that it is improbable that he will be convicted for this crime since he does not bear direct responsibility.

If convicted of treason, Musharraf would face serious consequences.  Musharraf himself has acknowledged that he violated the constitution by imposing a state of emergency in order to remove judges from the Supreme Court, who were in the process of ruling if he could legally serve another five year presidential term.  If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of death.

Musharraf may also face charges for the enforced disappearance of hundreds of terrorist suspects.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan:  Human Rights Watch’s Submission to the Human Rights Commission – 5 March 2008

MSNBC – Musharraf Unwinds with Tennis After Resigning; Much Speculation on Whether Ex-President Will Face Treason, Other Charges – 20 August 2008

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization – Balochistan:  The Case Against Musharraf – 22 September 2008

New UAE Visa Law Leaves Many Overseas Filipino Workers Stranded

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates – New visa laws passed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have caused many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be stranded outside the UAE.  There are reports that as many as 6,200 OFWs are waiting in Iran and Oman for new visas so that they may reenter the UAE;  some have been waiting as long as a month.

Many OFWs come to the UAE looking for work in the UAE, Oman, and Iran on a visit visa.  However, in March the government of the UAE passed new visa laws that limit the ability to renew visit visas.  Visitors seeking to come to the UAE may apply for a visit visa which is valid for up to 60 days, with a 30 day extension available.  Under the new law, after the visit visa expires, OFWs must apply for a tourist visa.  However, the visa applications can take as long as 60 days to process, leaving many OFWs without valid visas. Before the new law, visa renewals often took no more than 2 or 3 days.  Although the new law applies to anyone wishing to get a visa, many of those affected were Filipino workers.

Without a valid visa, many OFWs have been left stranded in Oman and Iran.  There are reports that as many as 5,000 people are currently stranded on Kish Island in Iran.  Kish has less stringent immigration laws allowing visitors to stay as long as 14 days without a visa, with an extension available for a fee.

Many are living in hotels, others on the streets.  Since laws on Kish forbid immigrants to stay in private homes without a visa, there are limited options.  Photos sent to the Philippines show as many as 12 people living in a single room.  Filipino government officials have said that many are not staying in hotels since many hotels require guests to leave their passports at the desk to ensure payment.

The Filipino government has asked for leniency from the government of the UAE for Filipino immigrants who are stranded, saying that the situation of the OFWs has amounted to a humanitarian crisis.  Many of those who could afford it have returned to the Philippines, but others, especially those employed in the UAE, wish the stay in the Middle East.   However, it is thought that the UAE will not allow for exceptions since the new law was announced over three months before it’s implementation.  Reports say that travel agents may be to blame for misinforming the OFWs as to the effects of the new laws. 

For more information, please see:Khaleej Times – Over 5,000 Await Visas on Kish – 28 September 2008

 

Inquirer – Travel Agencies Blamed for Stranded OFWs Outside UAE – 27 September 2008

Overseas Filipino News – Government Asks UAE’s ‘Leniency’ on Stranded Filipinos – 27 September 2008

ABS-CBN News – 6,000 Pinoys Stranded in Mideast Due to UAE Visa Snags – 26 September 2008

ABS-CBN News – Stranded Pinoys in UAE a Humanitarian Crisis – 26 September 2008

Khaleej Times – Coordinated Effort to Bail Out Filipinos Stranded at Al Buraimi – 24 September 2008

Khaleej Times – 45 Stranded at Al Buraimi Border – 22 September 2008

BRIEF: Turkish Warplanes Target Rebel Stronghold in Iraq

ANKARA, Turkey– On September 25, at least 10 Turkish warplanes launched an air strike against 16 suspected PKK targets in northern Iraq.  According to the PKK, the strike killed one of its members and wounded two civilians.  The Turkish military has not given any casualty figures for the latest raid.

Yesterday’s bombing campaign targeted the villages of Kutak, Surage and Kozala in the Qandil Mountains in Iraq.  Several homes were destroyed, displacing at least five families.  In addition, PKK claims that a school was also damaged.

According to Brig. Gen. Metin Gurak, spokesman for the Turkish military, the raid was in retaliation to the numerous attacks launched by the PKK against Turkish soldiers during the past month, which had claimed the lives of 17 Turkish soldiers.

In October 2007, the Turkish parliament authorized the military to step up activities against PKK strongholds in northern Iraq.  Over the past year the Turkish military has carried out numerous aerial raids and a week long ground incursion against PKK rebels in Iraq.  Last week the Turkish government stated it will request parliament extend the mandate by one year.  The current mandate is set to expire October 17.  According to the military, the PKK rebels regularly carry out cross-border attacks from their bases in northern Iraq against Turkish targets.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Turkish Jets Hit 16 Rebel Targets in Northern Iraq– 26 September 2008

Al Jazeera –Turkey Bombs PKK Bases in Iraq – 26 September 2008

Associated Press – Turkish Warplanes Hit 16 Rebel Targets in Iraq– 26 September 2008

BBC – Turkey Planes Hit PKK Rebels – 26 September 2008

Jerusalem Post – Turkish Warplanes Hit Kurdish Targets in Iraq – 26 September 2008

Top Economist Accuses Fiji’s Finance Ministry of “Twiddling its Thumbs”

By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – By August, Fiji’s Ministry of Finance had only spent $15 million of the $162 million allocated for the entirety of 2008. A leading economist, Dr. Biman Prasad, the head of economics at the University of the South Pacific, criticizes the spending, “This is criminal negligence or downright incompetence. While our people are crying out for good roads, reliable water supply and better medical services, the Finance Ministry was sitting around twiddling its thumb.” The comments from Prasad were given at the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions third delegate’s conference at the Suva Civic Centre.

Prasad hopes that with the exit of the interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, the 2009 national budget will include expenditure policies which will help stimulate the economy. He added, “such inertia in such a key ministry is shocking.”

Prasad says further, “Besides improving infrastructure, so much employment could have been created had the money been put to good use. The buck for this pathetic state of affairs stops with the interim Finance Minister.”

Also present at the conference was ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. Dr. Prasad highlighted the faults of Qarase’s government and said his party’s squandering of resources and reckless spending gave impetus for the coup that Prasad claims damaged the economy in 2006.

Interim Finance Minister Chaudhry has yet to respond to the accusations.

For more information, please see:

Fijilive – Economist slams Chaudhry’s policies – 27 September 2008

Pacific Magazine – Fiji Government’s Lack of Spending Criticized – 28 September 2008

The Fiji Times Online – Chaudhry exit ‘good for budget’ – 28 September 2008