Israel Warns of Gaza Invasion; 32 Palestinians Killed

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza –On February 29, the violence between the Israeli military and Gazan militants continued to escalate.  According to the BBC, 32 Palestinians were killed in night raids conducted on February 29 and early morning raids on March 1.  Yedioth News reports that “seven children, three women, two unarmed men and 20 gunmen… were killed in the IDF operation Saturday (March 1).”

The March 1 IDF operation targeted militants in the Jabaliya refugee camp.  Two children, a sister and brother, were killed when the Jabaliya refugee camp was struck.  Also, a father and his 19-year-old son, died in an air strike outside their home.  Later, two teenaged sisters were killed.  The Israeli military reports that five IDF soldiers were “lightly wounded” in the operation.

On February 29, one year old Malak al-Kafarna died of injuries sustained after a missile landed near her home in Beit Hanoun.  Hamas claims that her death was caused by an an Israeli surface-to-surface missile, which injured four other civilians.  However, Reuters reports that residents in the area state that “improvised rockets fired by militants at Israel have fallen short and landed inside Palestinian territory.”  This seems to suggest that Kafarna’s death was caused by Palestinian rocket fire.

Despite the increase in Israeli operations in Gaza, militants continue to launch rockets at Israel.  According to the Times, militants have fired nearly 130 rockets into Israel since February 26, when the violence between Israel and Gaza began to escalate.

Several of the rockets fired landed in Ashkelon, a large city located about 20km north of Gaza.  While Ashkelon is occasionally a target of the longer-range rockets, never has so many rockets been fired at it in one day.  One rocket struck a housing complex and another landed near a school and injured a student.

Following the rocket attacks on February 28, Israel’s Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilnai, stated that “the more Qassam fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves.”  In this statement, Vilnai used the Hebrew word “shoah”, which is generally restricted to describe the Nazi genocide against European Jews during World War II.

Israeli officials acted quickly to clarify Vilnai’s use of the word “shoah” and its connection with the Holocaust.  Eytan Guinsburg,Vilnai’s spokesperson, commented that “the minister used the Hebrew term ‘shoah’ which means ‘catastrophe’ and in this context does not refer to the ‘the Shoah’ – the Holocaust.”  Also, Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman, Arye Mekel, said that “Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai used the Hebrew phrase that included the term ‘shoah’ in the sense of a disaster or a catastrophe, and not in the sense of a holocaust.”

However, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak supported the underlying theme of Vilnai’s statement and stated that Israel is close to launching a full scale offensive in Gaza.  During a closed-door meeting on February 28, it is reported that Barak said that a “major ground operation is real and tangible. We are not afraid of it.”  In addition, Israeli defense officials said that preparations for a large-scale ground offensive to storm Gaza are complete.

While there is support for a large scale operation into Gaza, many Israelis fear that such an operation will lead to Israel being dragged back into a “costly, long-term military occupation of Gaza.  Also, in 2006, Israel received international criticism for an offensive operation into Gaza that resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths.  The five month incursion also failed to stop the rocket fire from Gaza.

Palestinians, both from Hamas and Fatah, condemn Israel’s recent actions.  Thousands of Palestinians throughout Gaza demonstrated against the recent air strikes.  In a rally by the Jabaliya refugee camp, a child in funeral shroud held a sign that read “They’ve killed my right to childhood.”

On February 29, former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, spoke after afternoon prayers at a mosque in Gaza City.  He told worshippers that “Gaza today faces a real war, a crazy war led by the enemy against our people.”

In addition, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, stated that Israel’s military actions “meant only one thing: the Israeli government … aims to destroy the peace process.”  Israeli Arab Knesset members called on Abbas to cease the peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert in order to create a political crisis.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to visit the Middle East next week to support the peace talks between Abbas and Olmert.

For more information, please see:
Associated Press – Israel Warns of Disaster in Gaza – 1 March 2008

BBC – New Israeli Raids on Gaza Kill 32 – 1 March 2008

The Guardian – Israeli Raids on Gaza Kill 32 – 1 March 2008

Ha’aretz – Meshal: Gaza is “Real Holocaust”; PA Threatens to Halt Peace Talks– 1 March 2008

Telegraph – Israeli Minister Vows Palestinian “Holocaust” – 1 March 2008

Times (London) – Israel Threatens to Unleash “Holocaust” in Gaza – 1 March 2008

Yedioth News – Abbas: IDF’s Gaza Operation Worse than a Holocaust – 1 March 2008 l

AFP – Thousands of Gazans Protest over Deadly Israeli Raids – 29 February 2008

Al Jazeera – Israel Warns of Gaza Invasion – 29 February 2008

Reuters – Gaza Child, Bombmaker die in Gaza Missile Strikes – 29 February 2008

Thai Soldiers Use Force and Dogs to Deport Lao Hmong

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – According to witness’ accounts, Thai soldiers forcibly removed a group of Hmong asylum seekers from their refugee camp. The Thai government, however, alleges that the group left voluntarily and should be models for other Hmong in Thailand.

Witnesses told reporters that the Thai soldiers used force and dogs in order to coax a group of Hmong asylum seekers onto trucks. The Thai soldiers arrived at 1 PM at the Huay Nam Khao Camp and began to drag refugees to the trucks. Three to four soldiers were needed for each person in order to physically drag them and then collect their belongings from the camp. One witness reported to Radio Free Asia that “Some of them [Hmong asylum seekers] hung on to bushes or small trees and had to be pulled free and thrown onto the trucks—bushes were uprooted.” However, when two young men refused to be taken away on the truck, the soldiers use even more threatening measures. An unnamed witness told Radio Free Asia, “Two young men in their 20s jumped off the trucks after they started to move. The soldiers sent dogs out to find them and they were badly mauled, and those men are now in Khao Kao hospital.”

Both the United Nations [UN] and Medecins Sans Frontieres [MSF] have serious doubts that the group removed from the Huay Nam Khao camp was done voluntarily. One of the women “voluntarily” removed was separated from her five young children. After the mistake was discovered, Thai authorities refused to send her back to the refugee camp, and instead she was sent to an adjacent facility in order to use its loud speaker. At the adjacent facility, she was to “call her children to come to Laos with her,” according to MSF National Director Gilles Isard. Kitty McKinsey, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], stated, “We have received a number of reports that call into question whether everyone actually volunteered to go back. Such returns should be strictly voluntary, conducted with dignity and in accordance with international standards.” Additionally, MSF warned that many in the camps had authentic claims for refugee status because of their physical scars from clashes with the Lao and Vietnamese military.

Despite the entirely different accounts from witnesses and doubts from the UN and MSF, the Thai government alleges that the return was voluntary. In an interview, Department of Border Affairs Deputy Director Maj Gen. Voravit Darunchoo said, “The Hmong you saw being returned to Laos this morning could be considered lucky. It was a good opportunity for them because they are the first group who wholeheartedly volunteered to go back to their country, without any kind of pressure.”

The Hmong in Thailand fled Laos after the Communist takeover in 1975. The group alleges that it fears political persecution because it fought on the side of the pro-United States Laotian government. Although the UNHCR has recognized the Hmong in Thailand as refugees and in need of protection, the Thai government regards the Hmong as migrants and alleges they have entered the country illegally.

For more information, please see:

The Nation Multimedia – MSF and UN Question if Hmong Going Back to Laos Voluntarily – 29 February 2008

Radio Free Asia – Thai Soldiers Forced Lao Hmong Back to Laos – 28 February 2008

Thai News Agency – Hmong Migrants Returned from Thailand to Laos – 28 February 2008

Thai Soldiers Use Force and Dogs to Deport Lao Hmong

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – According to witness’ accounts, Thai soldiers forcibly removed a group of Hmong asylum seekers from their refugee camp. The Thai government, however, alleges that the group left voluntarily and should be models for other Hmong in Thailand.

Witnesses told reporters that the Thai soldiers used force and dogs in order to coax a group of Hmong asylum seekers onto trucks. The Thai soldiers arrived at 1 PM at the Huay Nam Khao Camp and began to drag refugees to the trucks. Three to four soldiers were needed for each person in order to physically drag them and then collect their belongings from the camp. One witness reported to Radio Free Asia that “Some of them [Hmong asylum seekers] hung on to bushes or small trees and had to be pulled free and thrown onto the trucks—bushes were uprooted.” However, when two young men refused to be taken away on the truck, the soldiers use even more threatening measures. An unnamed witness told Radio Free Asia, “Two young men in their 20s jumped off the trucks after they started to move. The soldiers sent dogs out to find them and they were badly mauled, and those men are now in Khao Kao hospital.”

Both the United Nations [UN] and Medecins Sans Frontieres [MSF] have serious doubts that the group removed from the Huay Nam Khao camp was done voluntarily. One of the women “voluntarily” removed was separated from her five young children. After the mistake was discovered, Thai authorities refused to send her back to the refugee camp, and instead she was sent to an adjacent facility in order to use its loud speaker. At the adjacent facility, she was to “call her children to come to Laos with her,” according to MSF National Director Gilles Isard. Kitty McKinsey, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], stated, “We have received a number of reports that call into question whether everyone actually volunteered to go back. Such returns should be strictly voluntary, conducted with dignity and in accordance with international standards.” Additionally, MSF warned that many in the camps had authentic claims for refugee status because of their physical scars from clashes with the Lao and Vietnamese military.

Despite the entirely different accounts from witnesses and doubts from the UN and MSF, the Thai government alleges that the return was voluntary. In an interview, Department of Border Affairs Deputy Director Maj Gen. Voravit Darunchoo said, “The Hmong you saw being returned to Laos this morning could be considered lucky. It was a good opportunity for them because they are the first group who wholeheartedly volunteered to go back to their country, without any kind of pressure.”

The Hmong in Thailand fled Laos after the Communist takeover in 1975. The group alleges that it fears political persecution because it fought on the side of the pro-United States Laotian government. Although the UNHCR has recognized the Hmong in Thailand as refugees and in need of protection, the Thai government regards the Hmong as migrants and alleges they have entered the country illegally.

For more information, please see:

The Nation Multimedia – MSF and UN Question if Hmong Going Back to Laos Voluntarily – 29 February 2008

Radio Free Asia – Thai Soldiers Forced Lao Hmong Back to Laos – 28 February 2008

Thai News Agency – Hmong Migrants Returned from Thailand to Laos – 28 February 2008

Update on Charles Taylor Trial

By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor continued this week with the cross-examination of prosecution witness TF1-275 Foday Lansana (“Lansana”), a former radio operator for the Revolutionary United Front (“RUF”). As the examination continued,  Taylor was taken to the hospital for undisclosed reasons, where he remained a day for monitoring.  No further reports on his health were released, though it was generally understood that he was kept overnight strictly for monitoring. Though Taylor was out of the courtroom, he gave his consent to his defense counsel to continue with the cross examination of Lansana.

Defense counsel Morris Anyah (“Anyah”) conducted the cross examination of Lansana, first attacking the witness’s credibility claiming Lansana’s entire testimony was based on information he heard while imprisoned, and that “none of it actually happened.” Lansana denied this allegation, and stated that he experienced all of the things he spoke of in his direct examination.

Anyah continued to question Lansana on events, names and places that the former radio operator had testified about, attempting to establish that Lansana fabricated testimony. Most notably, Anyah questioned Lansana about his testimony relating to the “Coca Cola Factory” speech Taylor gave to the special forces, that Lansana purportedly witnessed. Anyah focused mainly on other documents, where Lansana claimed to have heard the speech over the radio. Lansana disputed this, saying he was present for the speech, but not when Taylor spoke on the phone with a correspondent at the BBC relaying the message from the speech. Prosecution documents placed Lansana at both locations, a fact the witness admitted was false.

The defense also focused their cross-examination on times when Lansana either “did not work as a radio operator or did not function well as such.” Other questions revolved around Lansana’s substandard performance and the activities of another Foday Lansana who was also working with the RUF.

After the cross-examination finished, Prosecutor Christopher Santora re-directed the witness clarifying the discrepancy in Lansana’s testimony regarding the Coca-Cola factory speech as well as other smaller details. The witness was then dismissed.

The court this week also determined that the next prosecution witness, witness TF1-362, will be examined in closed session.

Two other notable developments involving the trial occurred this week. First, Prosecutor Stephen Rapp (“Rapp”) announced that he was closing in on a 600 million dollar (400 millions Euros) blood diamond-haul that had been collected by Taylor. The prosecution would like to reclaim these assets, and “make them available to victims both in Sierra Leone and Liberia.” The funds would be used not only to pay the legal bills, but also to aid thousands of victims in the countries, intentionally mutilated by the rebels. Not all of these assets are officially in Taylor’s name, but the prosecution is working with a special team from the British government to bring them back.

Second, Varmuyan Sherif (“Sherif”), a former bodyguard for Taylor who testified earlier in the trial has gone into hiding after receiving multiple threats relating to the evidence he gave.  Rapp said rocks were thrown at Sherif’s home, and a threatening letter was sent to his brother. Sherif and his family have been temporarily relocated, until it is safe for them to return. United Nations officials and local police are investigating the threats.

Sherif testified that Taylor smuggled arms, cash and communications equipment to the militia.

Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from actions during Sierra Leone’s ten-year war, which ended in 2002. The charges against him include rape, murder, torture and enlisting child soldiers.

For more information, please see:

allAfrica.com – Taylor Taken to Hospital But Proceedings Continue – 27 February 2008

allAfrica.com – Charles Taylor Taken for Medical Attention – 27 February 2008

The Trial of Charles Taylor – last accessed 1 March 2008

Associated Press – Taylor witnesses being threatened – 28 February 2008

AFP – War crimes prosecutor has Taylor blood diamond haul in sights – 29 February 2008

Impunity Watch – Update on Charles Taylor Trial – 23 February 2008

Vietnamese Court Upholds Dissidents’ Jail Sentences

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

HANOI, Vietnam – A Vietnamese appeals court upheld the sentences of four dissidents who were sentenced in 2007 for “spreading distorted information to undermine the state.” Judge Nguyen Xuan Phat of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Ho Chi Minh City refused to reduce the sentences of Tran Thi Le Hong, Phung Quang Quyen, Doan Van Dien, and his son Doan Huy Chuong. According to Ho Thi Thuong, wife of Doan Vien Dien and mother of Doan Huy Chuong, the court refused because in giving interviews with Radio Free Asia, the four committing very serious crimes because they had defamed the government and many people had listened. The four have jail terms ranging from 18 months to 4 ½ years.

The Vietnamese government accused the four of collecting complaints of land-rights violations and giving the information to Radio Free Asia and other news organizations. The four are also accused of distributing anti-government leaflets prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The four are affiliated with the United Workers-Farmers Organization [UWFO]. UWFO campaigns for the right to form independent labor unions and defends farmers whose land has been confiscated

Vietnam news organizations have reported that the four have deliberated tried to sabotage Vietnam with lies. According the Vietnam news organizations, the four men have collected information regarding land-rights in the country and changed their contents before distributing them and uploaded the information on anti-Vietnam websites. Doan Van Dien is also accused of asking his son Doan Huy Chuong to give phone interviews to Radio Free Asia and Hoa Mai Club Radio disguised as a worker taking part in the labor strikes. Vietnam news organizations allege that Doan Huy Chuong distorted facts and falsely accused the state of repressing workers and arresting demonstrators.

For more information, please see:

Earthtimes – Vietnamese Dissidents’ Sentences Upheld – 26 February 2008

Radio Free Asia – Vietnam Upholds Dissident Jail Terms – 27 February 2008

VietNamNet – Court Reject Saboteurs’ Appeal of Sentence Cut – 26 February 2008