Myanmar Court Sentenced Ten Activists to Jail

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – A prison court in the central Myanmar City of Thayet sentenced 10 men to jail.  Four of them are the members of the ‘National League for Democracy’ (NLD) from Yenanchaung, Chauk and Magwe of Magwe Division and seven people from Pakokku.  They were arrested in connection with last year’s uprising, and sentenced to various prison terms ranging from two to nine years by Judge Daw Soe Soe Khet this week.  Charges brought against them included inciting public disturbances, discrediting the government, and participating in public demonstrations, several of the men’s wives said.

Tun Tun Nyein, NLD Youth Wing member from Chauk in Magway Division, was given 2-1/2 years for taking part in a demonstration.  “I felt it is unfair as he is innocent. He was just following protesting monks while they were marching in procession. He is my eldest son. I feel extremely sorry to hear the sentence. Please don’t neglect and ignore my son,” mother of Tun Tun Nyein said.

Ko Htay Win, NLD member from Natmauk, in Magway Division, was given two years for taking part in a demonstration.  “Day by day, we have come to realize more and more that we will suffer when we become involved in politics,” Myint Oo’s wife, Sanda Win, said.  Her husband, she said, “has suffered for the past year, and now, after a year, they have sentenced him. I don’t know how difficult or complicated it must have been to question and interrogate him, for it took a year to come up with an answer. We had expected this right from the beginning.”

Amnesty International also reports that police in Myanmar have arrested an anti-government activist after she spent a year in hiding, and says she now faces the risk of torture.  Authorities detained Nilar Thein, known for her role in anti-government protests in 1988 and 2007, while she visited the mother of a jailed associate in Rangoon, according to Amnesty International.  Another activist, Tun Myint Aung, voiced concern and called for her release.

For more information, please see:

Democratic Voice of Burma – Eight sentenced for political activities and media contact – 12 September 2008

Radio Free Asia – Burmese Court Sentences 10 – 12 September 2008

Radio Free Asia – Burmese Activist Arrested – 16 September 2008

Mizzima – Magwe Division activists sentenced to long prison terms – 12 September 2008

Yemen Arrests 30 In Response to U.S. Embassy Blast

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen – Authorities in Yemen arrested at least 30 people suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda following the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, September 17.  Around 9 A.M. Wednesday morning, two cars carrying suicide bombers and armed fighters arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a killing four civilians, six guards and six of the attackers.  A bystander died on Thursday bringing the death total to 17; several more were injured.

The “Islamic Jihad in Yemen”, a group tied to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack.  The group has threatened attacks on other embassies including Britain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.   Tuesday, the group released a statement demanding the release of militants being held in Yemeni custody.  It stated that it would continue to attack Western interests as long as the militants were held.

Photo: President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Courtesy of AFP.Yemen_article_image

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh spoke Friday morning and vowed to bring justice to those involved in the attacks.  President Saleh stated that these attacks were not against the U.S. alone but also against the security and stability of Yemen.

U.S. President George Bush also made a statement regarding the attack.  He stated that this attack should serve as a reminder that extremists will injure the innocent to achieve their objectives, and warned Americans in Yemen to exercise caution and vigilance. 

Since the attack, Yemeni security officials have arrested at least 30 people for questioning.  More suspects are still being pursued and the investigation into the attack is still in progress.   Yemen has also increased the security measures in place at other foreign embassies and diplomatic offices in Sana’a.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Yemen Vows to Punish Attackers of US Embassy – 19 September 2008

Reuters – Yemen Vows to Find Those Behind U.S. Embassy Attack – 19 September 2008

Xinhua – Yemeni President Slams Terrorist Attack on U.S. Embassy – 19 September 2008

Al -Jazeera – Arrests Follow Yemen Embassy Blast – 18 September 2008

New York Times – Yemen: 20 Are Arrested After Attack on U.S. Embassy – 18 September 2008

Yemen Times – American Embassy in Sana’a Under Attack – 17 September 2008

BRIEF: Amnesty Urges Syria to Release Islamists Wives

AL-‘OTAYBA, Syria – State Security officers arrested Usra al-Hussein on July 31 and Bayan Saleh ‘Ali on August 4. The arrests took place in the village of al-‘Otayba, located 20 kilometers from Damascus. Both women are married to men detained due to suspicions regarding their associations with Islamist activities.

Usra al-Hussein’s husband, Jehad Diab, is detained at the US military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Jehad Diab has been at Guantánamo without any charge or a trial since August 2002. He was arrested in Pakistan in November 2001.

Bayan Saleh ‘Ali’s husband, Ahmad Saleh ‘Ali, is detained in Sednaya Military Prison in Syria. Ahmad Saleh ‘Ali was charged with violating three articles of the Syrian Penal Code, including: “forming an organization with the aim of changing the economic or social status of the state” (Article 306); “weakening national sentiment” (Article 285); and “inciting sectarian strife” (Article 307). He is set for trial before the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC). The SSSC has been known to ignore international standards for fair trials.

Since their arrest, Usra al-Hussein and Bayan Saleh ‘Ali have been held incommunicado. Syrian authorities refuse to release the location of the women, explain why they are being held, and if they will be charged. They are at great risk of being tortured or treated improperly.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Syria: Incommunicado/Torture – 15 September 2008 

Amnesty International USA – Free Wives Being Held Incommunicado in Syria – 15 September 2008

Nepal to Deport Illegal Tibetans

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KATHMANDU, Nepal – This past Saturday 106 Tibetans were detained by Nepali authorities. About 20,000 Tibetans live in Nepal, forming the largest Tibetan exiled community. Since the Chinese crackdown of the Tibetan protests in March, even more Tibetans have been crossing into Nepal.

In the 1990s, Tibetans who choose to leave their homeland were allowed to stay. However, since the new Maoist regime took over in August, the Nepali government has implemented a much stricter policy against exiled Tibetans. Tibetans are routinely checked for refugee certificates or United Nation’s documents. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) based in Nepal helps Tibetans migrate to a third country. Many migrate to Dharamsala in northern India where the Dalai Lama lives in exile.  Those Tibetans without proper documents will either be referred to the UNHCR or deported back to China where they could face sanctions by Chinese authorities.

Tibetans have demonstrated in the capital, Kathmandu, mainly outside the Chinese Consular office since the Chinese crackdown earlier this year. The new Nepali government accused Tibetans of disrupting the way of life of the Nepali citizens. Nepal has faced some political pressure from China over the anti-China demonstrations. The new Maoist Prime-minister, Prachanda, recently returned from a visit to China where he met with Chinese leaders. In China, Prachanda met with Chinese President, Hu Jin-tao, and reaffirmed his belief in the controversial One-China policy, which recognizes Tibet, Hong-Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as a part of China. Since Prachanda’s return, the Nepali government has banned anti-China protesting and the recent crack-down on Tibetans have been aimed at discouraging their protests.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Nepal to Tackle Illegal Tibetans – 13 September 2008

BBC – Tibetan Monk Speaks Out – 21 March 2008

Reuters – Nepal Says to Deport Illegal Tibetans Back to Tibet – 11 September 2008

Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women Launched in the UAE

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced yesterday that it will be partnering with the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Authority (RCA) to launch a major fund raising campaign.  The campaign will be based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the guidance of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, widow of the UAE’s founder and the president of the UAE Women’s Association.  The money raised will go into the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women and the UNHCR and RCA will direct it to projects related to refugee women and children.

The fund was created in 2003, when the former first-lady donated approximately $540,000 (US). However, it had difficulty getting off the ground when the UNHCR office in the UAE closed. 

Aimed to draw attention to the situation of refugee women and children, the campaign will last 90 days.  Its launch was scheduled during the month of Ramadan, a time when charitable giving is strongly encouraged throughout the Islamic world.  The campaign includes lectures and other events with civil society organizations, schools and the private sector.  There will also be mock refugee stations set up in malls, a poster campaign, and radio and television advertisements.  It is hoped that entrepreneurs and corporate leaders will take the most active roles.

The money raised during the campaign will help provide basic medical services, shelter, food and education to refugees from regions such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Georgia, and Iraq.  The Fund will target women and children specifically as beneficiaries.  It has already contributed to projects including the donation of sewing machines to women in Afghanistan, and a vocational education project in Yemen.  There are also plans to set up classes for children with special needs in the Lahaj district of Yemen. 

Hamdi Bukhari, the UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, explained that women and children make up over 60 percent of refugees worldwide.  He stated that this campaign is the first in a series of initiatives in the upcoming months. 

For more information, please see:

Khaleej Times – Shaikha Fatima Fund to Help Refugee Women, Children – 16 September 2008

The National – Fatima’s Fund for Refugees Relaunched – 16 September 2008

NDTV Arabia – New UAE Fund to Help Refugee Women, Kids – 16 September 2008

ReliefWeb – Fundraising Campaign Launched in Abu Dhabi – 16 September 2008

UNHCR – Fundraising Campaign Launched in Abu Dhabi – 16 September 2008