BRIEF: After Many Protests, Pakistani President Sets Date for Parliament

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- President Pervez Musharraf announced today on state-run television that the newly-elected parliament will meet on March 17th.  The opposition coalition government (see Impunity Watch article here) has been putting pressure on the President to convene the parliament since it was elected on February 18th.

When the President declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution on November 3rd, he also detained judiciary leaders including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.  Lawyers have been protesting Musharraf and these detentions ever since, and at a recent rally in Rawalpindi they again called for the President’s resignation.  At this rally, Aitzaz Ahsan, the leader of the lawyers movement in Pakistan, said: “Our struggle is to make Pakistan a state where the judiciary is independent, and what Musharraf did to the chief justice is an example of how under him no judge is ever independent.”  The lawyers have also come out saying that the parliamentary elections are not enough proof that Musharraf is dedicated to democracy.  They have planned a week of anti-Musharraf demonstrations, called Black Flag Week after the arm bands protesters have been wearing.

The coalition government between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was confirmed this Sunday.  When they convene on March 17th, the coalition and their other allies will not comprise the two-thirds majority necessary to impeach Musharraf, however they will have enough parliamentary votes to undermine his authority if they so choose.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Date set for Pakistan parliament – 11 March 2008

New York Times – Lawyers Rally Against Musharraf Government – 8 March 2008

Impunity Watch – BRIEF: Tear Gas Fired on Lawyers in Pakistan Monday – 4 March 2008

Impunity Watch – BRIEF: Pressure on Musharraf to Convene Parliament – 27 February 2008

U.S. Africa Command to Focus on Preventing Conflict

By: M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) is not only comprised of U.S. Department of Defense officials, but also members of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

AFRICOM started in October, 2007 as a sub-unified command subordinate to U.S. European Command. It is schedule to be an independent combat command by the end of the current fiscal year. It is temporarily located in Stuttgarg, Germany at Kelly Barracks not far for U.S. European Command. AFRICOM will not be located in Africa., and the U.S. will not put AFRICOM offices on the continent unless it adds to the security and assistance that the U.S. can provide to Africa. The placement of AFRICOM offices in Africa would require diplomatic agreement with host nations.

AFRICOM is different from other commands because it will focus on war prevention rather than execution as discussed by AFRICOM’s commander, U.S. Army General William E. “Kip” Ward, in a recent speech.

The response from African countries has been lukewarm and many nations see it as a threat to their sovereignty. Liberia is the only one of Africa’s 53 countries that has offered to host AFRICOM. There is also concern that AFRICOM is an attempt by the U.S. to protect its interest in minerals and natural resources or that it will pull Africa into the U.S. global war on terror.

United States Africa Command – accessed 11 March 2008

BBC News – Aids, oil and Africom on Bush tour – 21 February 2008

World Defense Review – An African Security Update and Why AFRICOM Is Critical – 6 March 2008

BRIEF: Report Says State of Iraqi Women is a “National Crisis”

BAGDHAD, Iraq – On March 6, US-based Women for Women international released a report, which said that since the US-led invasion, the state of Iraqi women has become a “national crisis.”  The report interviewed 1500 Iraqi women. Two-thirds of the women interviewed said violence against them had increased since the U.S. led invasion.

The same organization released a similar report in 2004.  At that time, despite the fact that most women interviewed felt their families were not receiving their basic needs, over ninety percent were optimistic about the future.  The 2007 report found that only twenty-seven percent continued to be optimistic about the future of Iraq.

Women for Women’s CEO, Zainab Salbi, said “It has been five years since the American invasion of Iraq and while the mistakes made there continue to accumulate still no-one has stopped to listen to what this critical mass of the population, women, have to say about solving the problems.”

For more information, please see:
Reuters – IRAQ: Minister Leads Call to End Violence Against Women – 10 March 2008

Tehran Times – ‘National Crisis’ for Iraqi Women – 9 March 2008

CNN – ‘National Crisis’ for Iraqi Women – 6 March 2008

BRIEF: Zimbabwe bans Western Observers

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Elections in Zimbabwe later this month have been decreed “off limits” to Western observers.  Believing Western countries are trying to remove him from government, Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe instituted the ban.   Mugabe has been in power since 1980 when Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain. Many people believe Mugabe’s “Zanu-PF” party to be poised to win again.  The two challengers, Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai, believe the government-imposed ban indicates that Zanu-PF has something to hide.

The army, through Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga, announced it would only back Mugabe in the upcoming election, calling the other two candidates “sell outs.”  “Elections are coming, and the army will not support or salute sell-outs and agents of the West before, during and after the presidential elects,” said Chiwenga.  In addition, army sources claim that soldiers have been instructed to take leave so that they could go to rural areas and stump for the Zanu PF campaign.

Despite the ban on western observers, African countries, as well as Zimbabwe’s allies China, Iran and Venezuela, will be allowed to monitor the elections.

BBC News – Zimbabwe bans Western observers – 7 March 2008

allAfrica.com – I’ll only salute Mugabe, Not Sell-Outs – Chiwenga – 9 March 2008

Chinese Dissidents Detained and To Stand Trial for Criticisms

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer,
Asia

BEIJING, China – Chinese prosecutors have decided to try Hu Jia, a prominent dissident, on subversion charges. Also, Chinese authorities have recently released Teng Biao, a human rights lawyer, after detaining him for two days.

Hu Jia is an advocate for AIDS sufferers and Tibetan-autonomy. Hu Jia was detained in early December for “inciting subversion of state power.” Hu Jia was under house arrest prior to his December-arrest for nearly a year. He chronicled his experience in essays on the internet and videos. He also often spoke with foreign reporters.

Many local and international groups have called for his release; however, prosecutors said they had accepted the police’s case and would bring him to court. Subversion charges are typical for dissidents that are heavily critical of the Communist party, and a conviction may lead to several years in prison.

Teng Biao is a human rights lawyer and part-time professor. A few days ago, he was detained by Chinese authorities while on his way home to his family. Witnesses said he was dragged into a car with two men in the parking lot of his apartment building.

Forty-one hours after his detainment, Teng Biao was released. In statements, he reported that he was not physically harmed but was intensively questioned at an unknown location. He also stated that he was sternly warned about recent internet articles he authored. However, Teng Biao refused to discuss the incident further because officers had cautioned him against speaking out.

In an essay Hu Jia and Ten Biao together wrote an essay denouncing the Communist ruling party. The two dissidents wrote: “Is China improving its human rights record? When you come to the Olympic Games in Beijing, you will see skyscrapers, spacious streets, modern stadiums and enthusiastic people. Please be aware that the Olympic Games will be held in a country where there are no elections, no freedom of religion, no independent courts, no independent trade unions; where demonstrations and strikes are prohibited.”

For more information, please see

Impunity Watch – BRIEF: Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Reported Missing – 7 March 2008

The Jurist – China Rights Activist to Stand Trial on Subversion Charges – 8 March 2008

NY Times – Chinese Lawyer Says He Was Detained and Warned on Activism – 9 March 2008

Reuters – China Dissident Hu Jia to Stand Trial: Lawyer – 8 March 2008