BRIEF: US Report Inspires FHRC Ire

SUVA, Fiji — The United States Department of States has issued pointing out a number of human rights violations in Fiji.  The report cited human rights violations including: poor prison conditions, discrimination against women, sexual exploitation of children, government corruption, religious strife and the deaths of three, uncharged police detainees (Nimilote Verebasaga, Sakiusa Rabaka and Tevita Malasebe).

Doctor Shaista Shameem, the chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, has publicly stated that the FHRC has no intention to replying to the report, because the United States is in no position to stand in judgment on the state of human rights in Fiji.  In her scathing remarks about the United States, Shameem criticized the US for the War in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and “racism in every sphere of the US Government.”  She also said that that many Fiji non-governmental organizations were bought off for the report with “tin badges and a handshake.”  She concluded her statement by saying that, “No one wants the USA to be the guardian of human rights for the rest of the world – it’s like asking Dracula to guard the blood bank.” 

The US Ambassador to Fiji, Larry Dinger, said that the purpose of the report was not to criticize Fiji, but to encourage it to improve.  He admitted that the United States does not have the most sterling record, but stressed that, “[the US] system encourages criticism from others; if Shaista Shameem wants to criticize the US, she is welcomed to do so and she could source lots of US critics in doing so . . . [W]e attempt to improve our performance thereby and similarly we hope that other countries will improve their performance to the kind of criticisms that comes in the human rights reports.”

For more information, please see:

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Dinger: improve from US report — 13 March 2008

Fiji Village — No one wants US as guardian- FHRC — 13 March 2008

Fiji Times — Mind your own, Shameem tells US — 13 March 2008

The Age — Fiji hits back at US human rights report — 13 March 2008

Fiji Times– US should tell Fiji how they’ll deal with human rights violations in Iraq: Shameem — 12 March 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — FHRC: We won’t bother to reply — 12 March 2008

Gay Iranian’s Asylum Request Denied

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Netherlands’ highest court, the Council of State, rejected an asylum plea by a gay Iranian teenager trying to escape potential prosecution in his home country.  Mehdi Kazemi, 19, says he will be arrested and executed if he is returned to Iran because he is gay.

Kazemi traveled to Britain in 2005 to study English.  While there, his former boyfriend in Iran was executed for sodomy.  Legal papers claim that Iranian authorities questioned Kazemi’s boyfriend about sexual relations he had with other men and, under interrogation, named Kazemi as his partner.

After learning about his boyfriend’s death, Kazemi applied for asylum in the UK.  In a letter to the UK Home Secretary, Kazemi said, “I did not come to the UK to claim asylum.  I came here to study and return to my country. But . . . my situation has changed.  The Iranian authorities have found out that I am a homosexual and they are looking for me.  I cannot stop my attraction towards men . . . I was born with the feeling and cannot change this fact . . . If I return to Iran I will be arrested and executed.”

After the British government denied Kazemi’s appeal, he fled to the Netherlands.  Dutch immigration authorities are more lenient with gay Iranians and afford them special status in asylum claims because of Iran’s hard line against homosexuality.

The European Union’s Dublin Regulation of 2003 holds members of the EU to an agreement that an application for asylum submitted in any EU country will be handled by that country alone.  The regulation seeks to ensure than an asylum seeker is not redirected from country to country simply because no one will take responsibility.

The Dutch Council of State abided by the Dublin Regulation and declined to hear the asylum request.  Kazemi’s last option is to ask his lawyer to request an “interim measure” that would allow Kazemi to stay in Europe until future notice.

“If anybody signs his deportation papers and says, look, he’s got to be deported to Iran, that means they have signed his death sentence,” said Kazemi’s uncle Saeed, who asked to withhold his last name over safety concerns.

For more information, please see:
Associated Press – Dutch Court Nixes Gay Asylum Seeker Bid – 11 March 2008

BBC – Gay Iranian Man Loses Asylum Plea – 11 March 2008

CNN – Gay Iranian Teen Loses Asylum Appeal – 11 March 2008

Radio Netherlands Worldwide – Dutch Court Rejects Appeal by Gay Iranian Man – 11 March 2008

The Times (London) – Gay Teenager is Facing Gallows as his Asylum Bid is Rejected – 11 March 2008

Zimbabwe’s businesses to go to “indigenous” Zimbabweans in front of March 29 elections

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal
   
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Legislation passed last September to give 51% control of all businesses to black Zimbabweans has been signed by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.  The law defines an “indigenous” Zimbabwean as any person who, “before the 18th April, 1980, was disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the grounds of his or her race, and any descendant of such person.”  This corresponds to the date of Zimbabwe’s independence from white rule

The law is complemented by another plan to give black farmers, who have resettled on previously white-owned land, farming equipment and cattle.  Many of Mugabe’s critics see these plans as a political scheme to support his political backers and win public favor.  Many have in mind Mugabe’s previous redistribution of land from whites to blacks, where the most valuable land was given to prominent figures in his government and party, the Zanu-PF. 

This law, promoted by Mugabe as part of his campaign theme of “economic empowerment,” comes ahead of the March 29 elections, which many are predicting will be hotly contested.  Already, many are questioning how free and fair these elections will be, as reports of kidnappings and torture against opposition candidates are prevalent.  Africa News is reporting the disappearance of Edison Muwengwa, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.  Many believe he has been abducted by Zanu-PF militias, as threats by party members in the past few weeks have been directed at Muwengwa and his family. 

Furthermore, while the government’s strict media and security laws have been relaxed by means of a constitutional amendment, Zimbabwe Democracy Now (ZDN), a South Africa-based civil society organization, is accusing the government of being unresponsive to calls for abiding by the rules governing elections, which were agreed to by both major parties.   The agreement reached was to provide for equal media access, voter education programs and the monitoring of elections by an independent body.  However, the Daily News, one of Zimbabwe’s most popular independent newspapers remains banned and ZDN claims that state-run media are refusing to accept their advertisements. 

Amidst all this, civil society organizations, including ZDN, have been urging members of the Zimbabwean diaspora to return home to vote in the elections.  Organizations in South Africa, where an estimated two million Zimbabweans have settled, have been running billboards and “Rock the Vote” concerts to support their campaign.  While some are responding to these calls to vote, many do not have the resources or are in the country illegally and fear deportation back to Zimbabwe if caught.  While an International Organization for Migration study found that most native Zimbabweans desire to return home in the future, the current economic crisis makes this unlikely in the near future.  This month’s elections will be seen as one indicator as to Zimbabwe’s future and the return of its expatriates.

For more information, please see:

CNN.com – Zimbabwe: Blacks to control firms – 10 March 2008

Chicago Tribune – Zimbabwe’s Mugabe orders black control of businesses – 10 March 2008

NY Times – Zimbabwe Seeks ‘Indigenous’ Control of Companies – 27 June 2007

IRIN – SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE: Go home and vote, NGOs urge expats – 12 March 2008

africanews.com – Zimbabwe: MDC candidate goes missing – 11 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Zimbabwe: Government Violating SADC Guidelines on Elections – 11 March 2008

impunitywatch.net – BRIEF: Zimbabwe bans Western Observers – 10 March 2008

Zimbabwe’s businesses to go to “indigenous” Zimbabweans in front of March 29 elections

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal
   
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Legislation passed last September to give 51% control of all businesses to black Zimbabweans has been signed by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.  The law defines an “indigenous” Zimbabwean as any person who, “before the 18th April, 1980, was disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the grounds of his or her race, and any descendant of such person.”  This corresponds to the date of Zimbabwe’s independence from white rule

The law is complemented by another plan to give black farmers, who have resettled on previously white-owned land, farming equipment and cattle.  Many of Mugabe’s critics see these plans as a political scheme to support his political backers and win public favor.  Many have in mind Mugabe’s previous redistribution of land from whites to blacks, where the most valuable land was given to prominent figures in his government and party, the Zanu-PF. 

This law, promoted by Mugabe as part of his campaign theme of “economic empowerment,” comes ahead of the March 29 elections, which many are predicting will be hotly contested.  Already, many are questioning how free and fair these elections will be, as reports of kidnappings and torture against opposition candidates are prevalent.  Africa News is reporting the disappearance of Edison Muwengwa, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.  Many believe he has been abducted by Zanu-PF militias, as threats by party members in the past few weeks have been directed at Muwengwa and his family. 

Furthermore, while the government’s strict media and security laws have been relaxed by means of a constitutional amendment, Zimbabwe Democracy Now (ZDN), a South Africa-based civil society organization, is accusing the government of being unresponsive to calls for abiding by the rules governing elections, which were agreed to by both major parties.   The agreement reached was to provide for equal media access, voter education programs and the monitoring of elections by an independent body.  However, the Daily News, one of Zimbabwe’s most popular independent newspapers remains banned and ZDN claims that state-run media are refusing to accept their advertisements. 

Amidst all this, civil society organizations, including ZDN, have been urging members of the Zimbabwean diaspora to return home to vote in the elections.  Organizations in South Africa, where an estimated two million Zimbabweans have settled, have been running billboards and “Rock the Vote” concerts to support their campaign.  While some are responding to these calls to vote, many do not have the resources or are in the country illegally and fear deportation back to Zimbabwe if caught.  While an International Organization for Migration study found that most native Zimbabweans desire to return home in the future, the current economic crisis makes this unlikely in the near future.  This month’s elections will be seen as one indicator as to Zimbabwe’s future and the return of its expatriates.

For more information, please see:

CNN.com – Zimbabwe: Blacks to control firms – 10 March 2008

Chicago Tribune – Zimbabwe’s Mugabe orders black control of businesses – 10 March 2008

NY Times – Zimbabwe Seeks ‘Indigenous’ Control of Companies – 27 June 2007

IRIN – SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE: Go home and vote, NGOs urge expats – 12 March 2008

africanews.com – Zimbabwe: MDC candidate goes missing – 11 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Zimbabwe: Government Violating SADC Guidelines on Elections – 11 March 2008

impunitywatch.net – BRIEF: Zimbabwe bans Western Observers – 10 March 2008

Zimbabwe’s businesses to go to “indigenous” Zimbabweans in front of March 29 elections

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal
   
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Legislation passed last September to give 51% control of all businesses to black Zimbabweans has been signed by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.  The law defines an “indigenous” Zimbabwean as any person who, “before the 18th April, 1980, was disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the grounds of his or her race, and any descendant of such person.”  This corresponds to the date of Zimbabwe’s independence from white rule

The law is complemented by another plan to give black farmers, who have resettled on previously white-owned land, farming equipment and cattle.  Many of Mugabe’s critics see these plans as a political scheme to support his political backers and win public favor.  Many have in mind Mugabe’s previous redistribution of land from whites to blacks, where the most valuable land was given to prominent figures in his government and party, the Zanu-PF. 

This law, promoted by Mugabe as part of his campaign theme of “economic empowerment,” comes ahead of the March 29 elections, which many are predicting will be hotly contested.  Already, many are questioning how free and fair these elections will be, as reports of kidnappings and torture against opposition candidates are prevalent.  Africa News is reporting the disappearance of Edison Muwengwa, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.  Many believe he has been abducted by Zanu-PF militias, as threats by party members in the past few weeks have been directed at Muwengwa and his family. 

Furthermore, while the government’s strict media and security laws have been relaxed by means of a constitutional amendment, Zimbabwe Democracy Now (ZDN), a South Africa-based civil society organization, is accusing the government of being unresponsive to calls for abiding by the rules governing elections, which were agreed to by both major parties.   The agreement reached was to provide for equal media access, voter education programs and the monitoring of elections by an independent body.  However, the Daily News, one of Zimbabwe’s most popular independent newspapers remains banned and ZDN claims that state-run media are refusing to accept their advertisements. 

Amidst all this, civil society organizations, including ZDN, have been urging members of the Zimbabwean diaspora to return home to vote in the elections.  Organizations in South Africa, where an estimated two million Zimbabweans have settled, have been running billboards and “Rock the Vote” concerts to support their campaign.  While some are responding to these calls to vote, many do not have the resources or are in the country illegally and fear deportation back to Zimbabwe if caught.  While an International Organization for Migration study found that most native Zimbabweans desire to return home in the future, the current economic crisis makes this unlikely in the near future.  This month’s elections will be seen as one indicator as to Zimbabwe’s future and the return of its expatriates.

For more information, please see:

CNN.com – Zimbabwe: Blacks to control firms – 10 March 2008

Chicago Tribune – Zimbabwe’s Mugabe orders black control of businesses – 10 March 2008

NY Times – Zimbabwe Seeks ‘Indigenous’ Control of Companies – 27 June 2007

IRIN – SOUTH AFRICA-ZIMBABWE: Go home and vote, NGOs urge expats – 12 March 2008

africanews.com – Zimbabwe: MDC candidate goes missing – 11 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Zimbabwe: Government Violating SADC Guidelines on Elections – 11 March 2008

impunitywatch.net – BRIEF: Zimbabwe bans Western Observers – 10 March 2008