Beijing relocates 15,000 people for Olympic Games

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Beijing, China – The city’s Olympics organizing committee said 14,901 people from 6,307 households had been relocated for Olympics Game venues.  The figures are dramatically different from those provided last year by an international campaign group.  The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) said an estimated 1.25 million people had been displaced ahead of the Games, often in a brutal and arbitrary manner with little compensation.  COHRE described the situation as an “abysmal disregard” for the basic human right to housing.

However, Chinese officials said everyone who was relocated did so voluntarily, and with adequate compensation.  According to Zhang Jiaming, vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Construction Committee, “the relocation projects enjoyed the support of residents involved…All the relocated households signed the relocation agreements and move voluntarily; no one was forced our of their home.”  Zhang also indicated the average compensation per household for relocation was enough to allow some displaced resident to buy better housing and some could even afford a car with left over money.

The key issue remains for this massive relocation is the lack of transparency.  According to Nicholas Bequelin, who is a researcher for Human Rights Watch, “People did get money and were resettled, but what is important is what happened to the people who protested. Many people were taken to police stations or threatened with job dismissal.”  In addition, Human Rights Watch reports show that much of the compensation money was embezzled by corrupt local officials, many relocations were forced by using heavy-handed police tactics, and there was no opportunity to object when compensation did not match the value of people’s home.

In recent years, evictions from homes and farmland have caused widespread protests across China.  Residents are often frustrated with government’s inadequate compensation and corruption.  Last year, police were deployed to evict protesters on the construction site of the new state television network headquarters in Beijing.

For more information, please see:

AP – Beijing Olympic official says people evicted got generous compensation – 19 February 2008

BBC News – ‘Thousands’ moved for China Games – 20 February 2008

Reuters – Beijing says 15,000 relocated for Games venues – 19 February 2008

The Washington Post – China Defends Relocation Policy – 20 February 2008

BRIEF: Saudi Police Arrest 57 Men for “Flirting”

MECCA, Saudi Arabia – On February 23, the Prosecution and Investigation Commission started an investigation into 57 young men arrested on February 21 for allegedly “flirting” with girls at malls in Mecca.  The men were arrested by regular police officers after the police were summoned to the malls by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police or Muttawa.  According to the Saudi Gazette, an English-language daily, the muttawa sent 20 of its staff and policemen to Meccan malls to arrest the young men, who were transferred to the Al-Mansour Police Station.

The young men are accused of wearing “indecent clothing and playing loud music and dancing” to attract the attention of the opposite sex.  The men found innocent upon investigation will be released and the others will be referred to the court of law.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Saudi Police Crack Down on Flirting in Mecca – 23 February 2008

BBC – Saudi Men Arrested for “Flirting” – 23 February 2008

Saudi Gazette – 57 Men Nabbed for Flirting – 23 February 2008

Peace Now: Blatant Discrimination Against Palestinians

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – On February 21, Peace Now, an Israeli organization that monitors settlement expansion, released a report in which the group states that there is a clear policy of discrimination against Palestinians.  As the result of the Olso Accords, the West Bank was divided into three different areas: Area A, controlled by the Palestinian Authority; Area B, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and Area C, controlled by Israel.  In order to build private homes, expand private homes, or to build public buildings and infrastructure in Area C, a permit needs to be issued by the Israeli Civil Administration.

The Peace Now report states that between 2000 and 2007, less than 6% of building permits submitted by Palestinians have been approved.  During this period, only 91 (of 1,624) building permits submitted by Palestinians were approved, while 18,472 homes were built in the West Bank for Israeli settlers.  Also, the report states that of the 4,993 demolition orders issued to Palestinians, 1,663 were carried out, resulting in a 33% rate of demolition.  In contrast, of the 2,900 demolition orders issued to Israeli settlement buildings, 199 demolitions were carried out, resulting in a 7% rate of demolition.

Most of the demolitions have been carried out against private homes and buildings that were built illegally without a permit.  Captain Zidki Maman, spokesman for the IDF unit that oversees civil affairs in the West Bank, stated that “If Palestinians would submit request for building permits, there could be thousands more approvals.”  However, Palestinians frequently complain that the authorities reject most building requests as a matter of policy.

The status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank remains a focal point in the peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Abbas.  At the beginning of the talks, Olmert announced a settlement freeze in which no new settlements would be built, but did not limit the construction of new homes in existing settlements.  As a result, the expansion of settlements continues; evidenced by new homes in settlements such as Eli, south of Nablus, and Maskiot, in the Jordan valley.

While the IDF oversees all settlement activity and is aware of the construction, it has not approved the construction or issued permits for the construction.  Maman stated that the IDF is aware of the situation and “in the end, all illegal building is taken care of.”  He declined to say whether the illegal homes would be dismantled.

Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer stated “the Civil Administration figures clarify that the West Bank territories controlled by Israel are for Jews only.” Also, Oppenheimer said that “the data proves that the discrimination is clearly and blatantly against the Palestinian population, and the denial of permits and the firm enforcement in the Palestinian communities raises the suspicion that this is an intentional policy aimed at bringing about a quiet transfer of the Palestinians from Area C.”

For more information, please see:
BBC – W Bank Building “Bias” Condemned – 21 February 2008

Peace Now – Area C: Palestinian Construction and Demolition Stats – 21 February 2008

Yedioth – Peace Now: Only Palestinians’ Houses Demolished – 21 February 2008

Ha’aretz – Construction Continuing in West Bank Settlements Despite PM’s Pledge – 20 February 2008

Jerusalem Post – IDF Says Homes Still Being Built in Eli – 20 February 2008

YouTube – Making Maskiot: Israel’s Settlement Expansion – 20 February 2008

Reuters – ISRAEL-OPT: House Demolitions Cause Palestinians to Leave Village – 19 February 2008

Brief: War Crimes Sentences Upheld in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – In a decision handed down last year, Alex Tamba Brima, Santigie Borbor Kanu, and Brima Bazzy Kamara were sentenced to 50, 50, and 45 years respectivly for eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The crimes against the former leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Counsel included rape, terrorism civilians, and abductions. The crimes were committed during the country’s 1991-2002 conflict.

Presiding judge George Gelaga King said he found no reason to reduce the sentences noting that “Women and young girls were gang raped to death. … Sons were forced to rape mothers, brothers were forced to rape sisters” and that “Men were disembowe[l]ed and their intestines stretched across a road to form a barrier. Human heads were placed on sticks on either side of the road to mark such barriers.”

 For more information, please see:

Special Court for Sierra Leon Press Release – Appeals Chamber Upholds Sentences of Convicted AFRC Leaders – 22 February 2008

Reuters – S.Leone court upholds sentences on militia chiefs – 22 February 2008

BRIEF: Khmer Rouge Judges to Visit Genocide Sites

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Co-investigating Khmer Rouge Tribunal judges will inspect the Tuol Sleng Torture Center and the killing fields outside as part of their investigations actions. Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, will lead them through the sites and describe his past actions for the judges. He oversaw the torture center during the Khmer Rouge Regime and is alleged to be responsible for nearly 16,000 deaths.

During the Khmer Rouge regime, over 16,000 persons were sent to the Tuol Sleng Torture Center where they were tortured and then executed in the nearby killing fields. Only a handful is known to survive. The killing fields nearby are littered with numerous mass graves. Thus far, Kaing Guek Eav has not denied allegations against him. The investigations will be closed to the public; however, there is some suspicion that some of the regime’s victims will be present.

For more information, please see:

The Earthtimes – Khmer Rouge Court Judges to Inspect Cambodian Genocide Sites – 22 February 2008

Radio News Netherlands – Cambodia Tribunal to Visit KRouge Torture Centre – 22 February 2008