Security Official Killed in a bombing in Beirut

BEIRUT, Lebanon – A car bomb exploded in Hazmieh, a mainly Christian suburb in eastern Beirut.  Local newspapers and television state that at least ten people were killed.  Wissam Eid, a captain in the Internal Security Force, was killed in the attack and is believed to be the target.  In his statement, national police chief, Brig. Gen. Ashraf Rifi said Captain Eid specialized in intelligence and was handling important files, including “all those having to do with the terrorist bombings’” in Lebanon.  Interior Minister Hassan Sabei said there were two previous tries to kill Eid.  No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the most recent attack in a string of politically motivated bombings since former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in 2005.  Most of the attacks targeted anti-Syrian politicians.  However, there is concern in the increasing attacks on members of the securities services.  In December 2007, General Francois El Hajj was killed in a car bombing.  Hajji was likely to next army chief.  The objective of these attacks is likely to cause further instability in Lebanese politics.

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Death at Blast Rocks Beirut – 25 January 2008

BBC – Blast Rocks Beirut Eastern Suburb – 25 January 2008

The Daily Star – Bomb Kills Security Official in Lebanon and at Least 10 Others – 25 January 2008

The Daily Star – Lebanon’s Deadly Harvest of Bombs – 25 January 2008

The Daily Star – Villagers Block Road to Syria After Lebanon Bombing – 25 January 2008

New York Times – Media Report Explosion in Beirut – 25 January 2008

Bangladesh Pardons Professors and Frees Students

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – On Tuesday, Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed pardoned three university professors hours after a court sentenced them to two years in prison for stoking campus demonstrations. Today authorities released nine students accused of inciting unrest during those same demonstrations. The nine students released were the last of the students detained from August’s unrest.

Hundreds of supporters gathered for two days before the nine students were freed. The release appears to be an effort at reconciliation. Authorities feared the professors’ imprisonments would spark a fresh wave of protests in defiance of a state of emergency.

Last August, violence erupted at Dhaka University when army soldiers allegedly assaulted university students. The government imposed curfews to suppress any further violence; however, one person died, and hundreds were hurt. TheBangladesh government has been under a state of emergency since January 2007. An interim government took power following months of strikes and riots by rival supporters of the two main political parties: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League. The interim government has promised to clean up the notoriously corrupt government and hold elections in 2008.

Amnesty International has said the professors’ pardons are not sufficient. Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said, “Charges should never have been brought against the professors in the first place. The arrest and prosecution of the Dhaka University professors is illustrative of the manner in which emergency regulations are open to abuse in cases involving the right to peaceful protest. The restrictions imposed through the Emergency Powers Rules exceed what is permissible under international law. The current rules and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association are too widely framed and are being selectively applied.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – Bangladesh Frees Nine Students after Mass Protests – 23 January 2008

Amnesty International – Bangladesh: Pardon of Teachers Not Enough Says Amnesty – 23 January 2008

Daily Times Pakistan – Bangladesh Pardons Teachers Jailed over Campus Unrest– 23 January 2008

Islamic Scholar on Trial for Terrorism in Nigeria

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria –   An Islamic scholar who is accused of having ties to the terrorist network, Al-Qaeda, has appeared in an Abuja court. The defendant, Muhammed Ashafa, was arrested in 2004 in Pakistan. He was arrested on grounds of “reasonable suspicion” of planning terrorist attacks.  Security Services in Pakistan deported him to Nigeria last year.

According to the criminal information filed against Ashafa, he is suspected of gathering information and planning terrorist attacks on residences of Americans who live in Nigeria.

Ashafa’s lawyer, Mary Obegolu stated outside the court. “If they had reasonable suspicion why didn’t they charge him in Pakistan? Where are the facts? Suspicion, no matter how great does not mean it is automatically a conviction.”

Ashafa claims that he was tortured into confessing a terrorist attack that was targeted against America. He claims to have made 20 statements to the SSS “but all were torn and thrown into the dustbin because they did not reflect the necessary ingredients of the terrorism charge.”

Nevertheless, two agents from the State Security Services testified on Wednesday that Ashafa had signed the confession voluntarily. Moreover, presently, the Prosecutor has stated the prosecution will oppose any applications to bail on behalf of Ashafa.

For more information, please see:


All Africa – Nigeria: Accused Alleges Torture By SSS – 24 January 2008

BBC- Nigeria: Al Qaesa man in Court  – 24 January 2008

All Africa – Nigeria: Pandemonium in Court as Trial of Nigerian Leader of Al-Qaeda Begins – 23 February 2007

Gazans Breach Egypt-Gaza Border Barrier

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – On January 23, thousands of Gazans crossed their southern border into Egypt.  Within hours, stores in Rafah ran out of products and many Palestinians traveled to El Arish, the closest town with shops.  The most desired products included food staples and plastic containers of fuel.  However, many cigarettes and other non-essentials were purchased as well.

Gazans were able to cross the border easily since 17 explosives went off between midnight and 2am and destroyed nearly two-thirds of the Egypt-Gaza barrier.  In some areas, militants cut portion of the corrugated metal barrier that separates Gaza from Egypt.  In other areas, Palestinians used caterpillars to widened holes created by the explosions.  Estimates of Palestinians who crossed the border vary from 50,000 to over 350,000.

Israel expressed concern regarding Egypt’s lack of control of the Gaza border.  Officials within the Israeli Defense Force called the border breach a “first-class security risk.”  They argue since anyone can leave Gaza, anyone can enter Gaza.  Defense officials believe that militants will take advantage of the situation and smuggle weapons into the territory.

However, despite an agreement with Israel to secure their border, Egypt has said that it will not use force to send Palestinians back to Gaza.  Instead, Hossam Zaki, spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, stated that the border will be closed again when all the Palestinians have returned. Also, Egyptian President Mubarak claimed that he authorized the crossing; saying “I told them, let them come in to eat and buy food, then go back as long as they’re not carrying any weapons.”

In contrast, on January 22, Palestinians protestors and Egyptian police clashed at the Rafah crossing; resulting in 60 Palestinians and 10 Egyptian police officers injured.  According to the Associated Press, several thousand Palestinian women gathered at the Rafah crossing, protesting Egyptian cooperation with the Israeli “siege” on Gaza.  Many protestors sought entry into Egypt in order to purchase necessities.  When dozens of Palestinians crossed the border, witnesses state that the police used water canons and gunfire to disperse the protestors.  However, according to an Al Jazeera report, the gunfire came from the Palestinian side of the border.

On January 17, Israel closed its border with Gaza.  This closure resulted in the fuel shortage, which instigated the border breach and the clash at the Rafah border crossing.  UN officials and humanitarian organizations warned Israel that the continuation of the border closure would result in a serious humanitarian crisis.  Israel lifted the total closure on January 22 to allow industrial diesel fuel, cooking gas, and emergency food and medical aid into Gaza.

However, the manager of the Nusseirat power plant warns that while the plant is currently operating, it may re-close at any time due to a lack in fuel supplies.  The lack in power has many implications regarding other essential services; including water, sewage treatment and hospital services.

The UN General Assembly had an emergency session concerning the situation in Gaza.  On January 22, the UN criticized Israel’s closure as collective punishment.  Currently, a resolution condemning the closure as a human rights violation is before the General Assembly.  Israel plans to boycott the resolution vote as it does not mention the rockets launched from Gaza.  According to Israeli officials, 20 rockets were launched on Tuesday.

For more information, please see:
Guardian – Palestinians Pour into Egypt After Militants Blow Hole in Border Barrier – 24 January 2008

Ha’aretz – Hamas Takes Control at Frontier as 200,000 Gazans Enter Egypt – 24 January 2008

Times – Hamas ‘Spent Month Cutting Through Gaza Wall in Secret Operation’ – 24 January 2008

BBC – Egypt Reluctant to Check Gaza’s Surge – 23 January 2008

BBC – Egypt ‘Won’t Force Gazans Back’ – 23 January 2008

The Jurist – Israel, US Boycotting UN Rights Council Meeting on Gaza Blockade – 23 January 2008

UN Human Rights Council – A.HRC.S-L.1 – 23 January 2008

Yedioth – ‘Flour? Terrorists Crossing Through Rafah’ – 23 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Angry Gazans Storm Rafah Crossing – 22 January 2008

Al Jazeera – Gazans Clash with Egyptian Police at Rafah – 22 January 2008

Associated Press – Clashes Erupt at Gaza-Egypt Border – 22 January 2008

BBC – Israel Eases Restrictions on Gaza – 22 January 2008

Ha’aretz – Palestinian Water Authority: 40% of Gazans Lack Running Water – 22 January 2008

Janjaweed Figure Appointed to Advisor Position

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Musa Hilal, the leader of the Arab militia known as Janjaweed, has been appointed as special advisor to Sudan’s Ministry of Federal Affairs.   The international community has spoken out in outrage over this appointment, as the Janjaweed are seen as one of the architects of the genocide in Darfur.  The militia is accused of some of the gravest human rights violations in the Darfur region.   

Hilal and the Janjaweed are accused of razing African villages, the murder of citizens, the raping of women and girls, and the displacement of 2.5 million people.  In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed travel and financial restrictions on Hilal and three other militia leaders. 

The Sudanese government has been accused of supporting the Janjaweed, however they have repeatedly denied any involvement and insist that the Janjaweed act on their own.  These denials are in contradition to what Hilal told Human Rights Watch in 2004.  In an interview with the organization, Hilal stated that he had always acted under orders from the government.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir defended the appointment of Hilal, maintaining that he had “contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.”  “In Sudan we don’t think the claims against Hilal are true” he said.  “The people who really commit murders in Darfur are receiving help from Europe and others.”

On Sunday Human Rights Watch labeled Hilal as the “poster child for Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur” calling the assignment a “slap in the face to Darfur victims and the UN Security Council.” 

Hilal is the third alleged war criminal to be given an appointment in the government.  Two individuals indicted by the International Criminal Court have also received appointments, with one of them being put in charge of humanitarian aid to Darfur. 

The five-year conflict in Sudan has killed an estimated 200,000 and has displaced 2.5 million.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Once again, Sudan shows its scorn for the world – 23 January 2008

Washington Post – Sudan Names Janjaweed Figure as Top Advisor – 23 January 2008

VOA News – US Gov’t ‘Deplores’ Sudan’s Appointment of Darfur Militia Leader – 22 January 2008

Reuters – U.S. criticizes Sudan over Darfur militia chief – 22 January 2008

Human Rights Watch – Sudan: Notorious Janjaweed Leader Promoted – 20 January 2008