Airstrikes Kill Civilians in Afghanistan

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. and NATO air strikes in Afghanistan have increased civilian casualties, nearly tripling the number of deaths from 2006 to 2007.  Although deaths have decreased this year, current air strikes undermine international protection efforts in Afghanistan.  These include the July 6, 2008 helicopter attack on two civilian vehicles that claimed 22 lives and the August 22, 2008 bombing in Azizabad.

“Rapid response air strikes have meant higher civilian casualties, while every bomb dropped in populated areas amplifies the chance of a mistake,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Mistakes by the U.S. and NATO have dramatically decreased public support for the Afghan government and the presence of international forces providing security to Afghans.”

Human Rights Watch reported on the use of air strikes by U.S. and NATO forces and its effect on civilians casualties during situations of lack of ground support and emergency, here.  It is reported that few civilian deaths resulted from planned strikes while all deaths occur from unplanned strikes.  The report also found that the Taliban often deployed their troops in populated villages in order for civilians to act as shield from counterattacks, in violation of the laws of war.

In July 2007, in response to the high level of civilian casualties, the International Security Assistance Force declared targeting tactic changes.  Employing smaller munitions, delaying attacks where civilians might be harmed, and turning over house-to-house searches to the Afghan National Army are among these changes.  Despite evidence that there was a reduction in the civilian death toll, civilian deaths still increased on account of air strikes just this past summer.  “The recent air strikes killing dozens of Afghans make clear that the system is still broken and that civilians continue to pay the ultimate price,” said Adams. “Civilian deaths from air strikes act as a recruiting tool for the Taliban and risk fatally undermining the international effort to provide basic security to the people of Afghanistan.”

For more information, please see:

Asia Times Online – Civilians Ravaged by US-NATO Bombs – 12 September 2008

CNN – Afghanistan:  Airstrikes Kill Civilians – 05 July 2008

Human Rights Watch – Afghanistan:  Civilian Deaths from Airstrikes – 08 September 2008

Deadly Hunger Strike

By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KURDISTAN, Iran – Amnesty International released a statement over their concern for more than 50 prisoners currently on a hunger strike. The prisoners are members of Iran’s long-time Kurdish minority group.  The prisoners are protesting against torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners, and are calling for an immediate end to executions.. The protesters are also seeking better prison conditions and independent inspection of Iranian prisons by national and international human rights organizations.

The hunger strike began on August 25, 2008. Of the more than 50 protestors, 15 are being held in Sanandaj, 33 at Oroumiye, three at Saqqez, and four in Tehran. Many of the prisoners are human rights, civil rights or women’s rights activists. Among the group are teachers, journalists, and students.

The trials of these prisoners took place behind closed doors, without a defense lawyer, and, on several occasions, the prisoner was not present. Currently eight prisoners, who are Kurdish intellectuals and activists, await death.  Many of the prisoners are being held without a charge or verdict against them. Many of the victims are accused of crimes they never committed. 

The prisoners claim their hunger strike is indefinite, yet there is little indication that the Iranian authorities will answer the hunger strikers’ demands. To date, the authorities have expressed no reactions to the hunger strikers or their demands.

Families of the idividuals are asking powerful international political organizations, human rights organizations, and supporters of freedom to help these prisoners. They hope to prevent the Iranian government from killing innocent people for their political views or religious beliefs.   

For more information, please see:

Payvand’s Iran News – Iran; Prisoners of Conscience and Death Row Prisoners – 12 September 2008

Amnesty International – Iran: Prisoners of Conscience and Death Row Prisoners on Hunger Strike – 11 September 2008

The Guardian – Tehran Targets Journalists – 11 September 2008

Kurdish Human Rights Project – Iran Prisoners Mount Hunger Strike – 10 September 3008

Iran Political Prisoners Association – Defend the Rights of Kurdish Political Prisoners Who Are on Hunger Strike in Iran – 9 September 2008

Kurd Net – Iran: Jailed Kurds Begin Hunger Strike – 25 August 2008

BRIEF: Police Turn Away Accusations of Treason Among Top Fiji Officials

SUVA, Fiji – Accusations of treason against top Fiji officials went unreported because, according to a Fiji Police spokeswoman, an investigating officer was unavailable to take down the complaints.

According to police, all allegations of treason will be filed with Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni.

Among the top Fiji officials implicated, however, are Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Teleni. The allegations came from the ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, as well as the former Opposition Leader, Mick Beddoes.

Qarase told Fiji Live, that he was asked to give his statement at the Raiwaqa Police Station, only to be “turned away because an investigating officer was not available.” Meanwhile, the police said that the matter did not warrant investigation.

“We haven’t received any update on that case for now. When we do receive the complaints, it will be forwarded directly to the commissioner’s desk and it will be filed, but as far as investigations are concerned, there will be none,” said police spokeswoman Ema Mua.

Teleni was reportedly out of the country on “unspecified official business.” Mua added that Teleni’s schedule is unpredictable, making his date of return to Fiji uncertain.

For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine – Police Continue To Hold Off On Processing Treason Complaints – 14 September 2008

Fiji Live – Fiji treason files ‘only for top cop’ – 14 September 2008

Yemen Pardons Final 12 Activists Connected in April Riots

By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen – Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pardoned the final twelve political activists on Thursday, September 11.  The pardon was given after all twelve had signed agreements stating that they would not return to previous rebellious activities and that they would “abide by the constitution and operative laws in the country in addition to the national constants and not to violate them” according to Almotamar.net the official e-newspaper of the General People’s Congress of Yemen.

Among the activists held was political figure, Hassan Baoum, a member of the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP).  Baoum is currently being tried, with eight other senior YSP officials, by the state of Yemen for activities related with political protests and rioting that took place in Yemen’s Southern provinces earlier this year.  They are charged with incitement and pursuing secessionist aims.  The other seven YSP officials were among those released.  However, it is uncertain whether Baoum remains in Yemeni custody.

The continued detention of Baoum has become a concern of Yemeni human rights organizations.  There are worries that Baoum’s health is in poor condition and that continued detention may endanger his life.  The Yemen Observatory for Human Rights has criticized his detention, stating that he is being detained simply for expressing his opinion, a basic right under the Yemeni constitution.

There were other reports released Thursday stating that Baoum was later released.  AFP reported that Mohammad Al-Mekhlafi, chief of the YSP legal department, stated Thursday night that Baoum’s release was delayed by several hours because he initially refused to sign the agreement required as a condition of his release.

The Yemen Socialist Party was the ruling party in South Yemen before the unification of Yemen in May of 1990.  However, since the unification, there have been continuing unrest and periodic rebellion against the government.  In 1994 there was a secession bit by the South, and since then many Southerners complain of discrimination. 

In April 2008, there was an uprising led by the youth in South Yemen that resulted in several deaths and a strong response by the Yemeni military, including incidents where Southerners were injured or killed when Yemeni military fired rounds into the air and barricaded streets with tanks. 

For more information, please see:

Jordan Times – Yemen Activists Freed But Top Socialist Still Held – 12 September 2008

AFP – Yemen Frees Socialist Activists Jailed Over Unrest – 11 September 2008

Al-motamar.net – Presidential Pardon for Detainees Over Instigating Division and Regionalism – 11 September 2008

Reuters Alertnet – Yemen Pardons Rioters in Deal with Opposition – 11 September 2008

BBC News – Tanks Deployed After Yemen Riots – 1 April 2008

BRIEF: Solomon’s MP Rejects Claims of Withholding Tsunami Funds

GIZO, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands’ government has earmarked over two million US dollars for 3,000 tsunami victims still living in tents in Gizo after their homes were ruined in the 2004 tsunami.  Danny Kennedy, a Housing Relocation Committee member in Gizo, says Solomon Islands’ MP, Gordon Darcey Lilo, is withholding those funds.

“Every time the committee makes a decision and the papers are finalised there’s another issue that crops up,” says Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Lilo rejects Mr. Kennedy’s claims, saying the money has not been released from the government in Honiara.  According to Mr. Lilo, “It’s still sitting in the treasury of Solomon Islands. The two main reasons are that there are some who have received money from NGO’s for housing funding assistance and they have already built their houses yet they also want to have assistance provided by the government. There’re people from other islands, just for the benefit of money made available for building houses, they just came in and put their names in. These are false claims.”

Mr. Lilo has said he hopes the funds will be released soon.

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International – Solomon’s MP rejects claims of withholding tsunami funds – 12 September 2008