United Nations Sees No Improvements in Myanmar

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – The United Nations [UN] special envoy to Myanmar reported that its last visit to the country was its most disappointing yet because senior government leaders refused to meet with them. Ibrahim Gambari, a representative from the envoy, commented, “Whereas each of my previous visits produced some tangible result that could be built upon, it is a source of disappointment that this latest visit did not yield any immediate tangible outcome.”

The only thing the UN special envoy was able to do was leave a list of UN recommendations for international monitoring that would enhance the “credibility and inclusiveness” of the democracy project the military junta says it is undertaking. The Myanmar government has begun to implement a seven-step process called “a road map to democracy.”

Critics, however, believe the plan will only guarantee continued military dominance. The “road map to democracy” calls for elections in 2010 and bars participation by Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi is a leader of the National League of Democracy, and she has been under house arrest for 18 years intermittently. During the UN special envoy’s visit, Ibrahim Gambari met withAung San Suu Kyi, and during the visit she urged that there could be no reconciliation until she was treated as partner in the dialogue.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also expressed disappointment with the constitutional and referendum process. The draft of the constitution had yet to be distributed, and there are laws prevented debate concerning it. The UN will attempt to introduce a draft statement based on its concerns and lack of progress on important issues. However, U.N. Ambassador U Kyaw Tint Swe said that “no Security Council action is warranted with regard to Myanmar.”

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to Burma and made controversial comments, which were quite contrary to the UN’s reactions. During his weekly TV program, the prime minister said, “Killings and suppressions are normal there but we have to know the facts.” He went on to praise the Senior General Than Shwe. He then went on to add, “And Senior (Gen) Than Shwe practices meditation. He says he prays in the morning … and the country has been in peace and order.” Senior General Than Shwe ordered troops and riot police to fire at peaceful street protestors, which were lead by thousands of Buddhist monks.

For more information, please see:

AP – UN Envoy Disappointed with Myanmar Trip – 18 March 2008

International Herald Tribune – UN Envoy Disappointed by Myanmar Visit – 19 March 2008

Inter Press Service – Thailand Queers ASEAN’s Burma Pitch – 19 March 2008

UPDATE: Nuon Chea Refused Bail

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Khmer Rouge Tribunal rejected Nuon Chea’srequest for bail.  Nuon Chea is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role as Pol Pot’s right-hand man during the Khmer Rouge regime’s rule of Cambodia. Nuon Chea had argued that he was not a flight risk and his safety was not in danger because he had been living for years “in peace and harmony” at his home in the jungle along the Thai border.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Pol Pot’s Number Two Loses Bail Bid – 20 March 2008

Kenya’s Legislature Approves Power-sharing deal

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor, Journal   

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan legislature approved the constitutional amendment that creates the position of prime minister and two deputies and creates a coalition between the two major parties, President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity and opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement.  In light of the disputed elections late last year that fueled ethnic conflict resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 and the displacement of 600,000, Kibaki and Odinga originally reached the political deal at the end of February.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008 names Odinga as the prime minister while Kibaki will retain the presidency.  The Act provides that the cabinet will include the president, vice president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and other ministers.  Ministers cannot be discharged without approval from their corresponding party.  The deal stipulates that the two parties will share equal power, however, if one party decides not to participate, the coalition will be disbanded.  The bill does not afford a new election in the event this situation arises.

On a reconciliatory note, both parties have agreed to investigate the violence that occurred directly after the election.  The commission will comprise of independent, international experts who will be appointed by both parties.  This comes after Odinga and his party filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court in January accusing Kibaki and his government of using force against opposition demonstrators.  The commission’s work is expected to be completed within three months.

Much of the world has supported the deal, including former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, who helped facilitate negotiations between the parties.  Both leaders had urged the National Assembly to approve the legislation.  Odinga recognized Kibaki as president and thanked him for his efforts, while Kibaki requested that Kenyans try to move past the violence of the past few months and move forward.

For more information, please see:

africanews.com – Kenya: MPs endorse amendment – 19 March 2008

BBC News – Kenya MPs support power-sharing – 18 March 2008

The Jurist – Kenya parliament approves power-sharing agreement in bid to end violence – 18 March 2008

impunitywatch.net – Kenya reaches peace deal; its government defends against allegations of planned violence – 5 March 2008

CNN.com – Kenya power deal ‘on the right track’ – 28 February 2008

Iranian Woman Escapes Stoning

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On March 17, the Iranian Judiciary Amnesty Commission released a woman sentenced to death by stoning.  Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, was convicted of adultery and had been in prison for the last 11 years, was released in the city of Qazvin.

Ebrahimi was released along with her four-year-old son whom she conceived with Jafar Kiani.  Kiani, also convicted of adultery, was stoned to death in July 2007.  Kiani was stoned to death despite a 2002 directive by judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi that imposed a moratorium on such executions. Kiani’s stoning was the first such execution to be confirmed in years.

Ebrahimi’s lawyer, Shadi Sadr, said that his client could not believe that she was pardoned.  “I cannot tell how the commission came up with this decision,” Sadr said. “Whether it was our defense, top clerics’ rulings against stoning or Ayatollah Shahroudi’s decree.”

“But you cannot deny the role of public opinion and domestic and international pressures,” said Sadr.  Sadr is a leading women’s rights activist and is campaigning to remove stoning from Iran’s law books.

According to Amnesty International, death by stoning is still legal under Iranian law.  Article 102 of the Iranian penal code states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts while being stoned.  Another article prescribes the size of stone to be used.

Sadr said that Ebrahimi and her son had returned to northern Iran to be with her family.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Iran Frees Woman Facing Stoning For Adultery: Lawyer – 18 March 2008

AGI – Iran: Woman With Death Sentence Released With Son – 18 March 2008

BBC – Iranian Women Escapes Stoning Death – 18 March 2008

News.com.au – Woman Escapes Stoning for Adultery – 18 March 2008

Amnesty International – Amnesty International appeals against planned executions by stoning – 20 June 2007

UPDATE: Tourist video captures riot in Tibet

BEIJING, China – Michael Smith, an Australian tourist, captured violence in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in video on Friday.  The video shows Tibetans smashing windows and setting fire to Chinese shops and cars, while people are heard cheering. Han Chinese, China’s largest ethnic group, operated many of the businesses targeted by the rioters.  It also shows Chinese security forces, but no clashes between them and the rioters. No deaths or injuries were seen on the video.

Smith said he “met so many Tibetan people on the streets, so many young Tibetan boys just screaming for Tibet’s freedom.”  One young Tibetan male shouted to Smith’s camera “We don’t have any freedoms.  “The Tibetan people are going crazy.  It’s absolute mayhem on the streets,” Smith said.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Tourist video shows riot, flames in Tibetan capita – 18 March 2008

CNN – Tourist films Tibet riots – 18 March 2008