Rebellion in Manipur Fueled By the Military

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India –  In the northeastern state of Manipur, the army has engaged in various human rights violations such as killings, torture, use of bombs and landmines, forced recruitment and extortion.  This has caused an insurgency in Manipur against the armed forces.

For the past 50 years, pursuant to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the army has  been granted immunity from their human rights violations.  The Act empowers the military to conduct warrantless arrests, shoot-to-kill and destroy property.  More importantly, it protects them from the prosecution of serious crimes, thus allowing impunity to easily occur.

“Soldiers and police are protected by laws granting immunity and officials unwilling to hold them accountable for serious crimes,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, senior researcher on South Asia at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. “These laws perpetuate human rights abuses, which drive civilians to seek the protection of one or other armed group.”

On September 15, 2008, Human Rights Watch released their report, “These Fellows Must Be Eliminated:  Relentless Violence and Impunity in Manipur.”  This report details several cases where victim suspects are executed and tortured.  Victims also report how they were arbitrarily arrested, subjected to electric shocks, severely beaten and many have been subjected to waterboarding.

Despite various reports by the United Nations and various other human rights organizations, the Indian government has done nothing.  “The Indian government has not only ignored the pleas of ordinary Manipuris and UN human rights bodies to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, but has even ignored the findings of its own committee,” said Ganguly. “This reflects the sort of callousness that breeds anger, hate and further violence.”

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – India:  Army Killings Fuel Insurgency in Manipur – 15 September 2008

Human Rights Watch – Getting Away With Murder:  50 Years of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act – 18 August 2008

Human Rights Watch – India:  Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act – 18 August 2008

Human Rights Watch – These Fellows Must Be Eliminated:  Relentless Violence and Impunity in Manipur – 15 September 2008

Malaysia Crackdowns on Anti-Government Bloggers

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Malaysian government arrested Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, Malaysian’s top anti-government blogger, this past Friday. In 2007, the Malaysian government passed the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) to allow the government to arrest and detain citizens up to a month without explanation. The ISA has been criticized as an encroachment on free speech.

Raja Petra was arrested for allegedly publishing material that ridiculed Islam and government authorities on his widely read website, Malaysia Today. Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin’s arrest came after the government attempted to stop Internet service providers from allowing access to Malaysia Today. This was the first time the Malaysian government ordered the closure of a website.

Tensions broke out between the leader of the opposition party, Anwar Ibrahim and the Malay Muslim ruling party, who accused ethic Chinese for being power hungry. Anwar and the People Justice Party threatened to march the streets and topple the government.

Raja Petra’s arrest has stirred international attention since it was first brought up by Amnesty International. On September 20, Syed Azidi Syed Abudul Aziz “Kickdefella”, another anti-government blogger, was released. Police seized Kickdefella’s computer and arrested him on September 17 for posting “seditious” material on his blogs. He was the second blogger to be arrested after Raja Petra.

The arrests of Raja Petra and Kickdefella have not silenced bloggers. “We condemn these arrests and call for the release of … blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, arrested under the ISA on 12 September,” a blogger nicknamed RPK wrote. The People Justice Party and Anwar publicly announced “such an attack on democracy will only accelerate the further slide of Malaysia’s dipping economic and political ratings.”

For more information, please see:

AP – Malaysia’s Top Anti-Government Blogger Arrested – 12 September 2008

Guardian – Malaysia Blogger’s Arrest Creates Dangerous Precedent – 12 September 2008

Impunity Watch – Malaysian Government Silences Critics with Arrests – 16 September 2008

Reporters without Borders – Blogger Kickdefella Released – 20 September 2008

Turkey Expels Uzbek Refugees to Iran

By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

VAN, Turkey – On September 12, authorities in the Turkish town of Van delivered 24 Uzbek refugees and asylum seekers to a group of unidentified officials in Iran, where they face death threats and forcible deportation to Uzbekistan.

The refugees fled Uzbekistan for Tajikistan in the 1990s to escape religious persecution from the Uzbek government.  After moving to Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the refugees left in 2001 following the US led invasion, and moved to Iran.  There, they were recognized as refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.  In 2007, the group fled to Turkey after the Iranian government threatened to forcibly deport them to Uzbekistan.  In Turkey, they were again recognized as refugees under the UNHCR.

According to Amnesty International, Turkish security services deceived the refugees, who were not aware that the government was planning to return them to Iran.  The Turkish security services told the refugees that they were invited to the Van General Directorate of Security where Turkish authorities would distribute educational materials to their children.  However, upon arriving at the station, they were forced to board a bus and were transported a deserted area near the Iranian border.  The Turkish security agents who transported the refugees are alleged to have told them “We don’t need you here” as they forced them to enter Iran.

According to Amnesty International, Turkey has violated international law by deporting refugees and asylum seekers to places where their lives could be in danger.  There is a concern that the refugees, if forcibly returned to Uzbekistan, will face torture and other ill-treatment.  In November 2007, the UN Committee against Torture concluded a study documenting the incommunicado detention, torture, and other ill-treatment of refugees and asylum seekers that were forcibly returned to Uzbekistan.  The refugees often face unfair trials with evidence based on confessions extracted under torture and are sentenced to long prison terms where they are held under cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions.

Amnesty International is urging people to petition the Iranian government to immediately release all 24 Uzbek refugees and to prevent their deportation to Uzbekistan.

For more information, please see:

Central Asian News – Turkey Expels Uzbek Refugees to Iran– 19 September 2008

Amnesty International – Turkey: Forcible Return – 18 September 2008

Amnesty International – Iran: 24 Uzbekistani Nationals Including Children – 17 September 2008 – 17 September 2008

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