Renewed Fighting in North Yemen

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’ADA, Yemen – In northern Yemen, fighting between the Yemeni military and Shiite rebels broke a six-month old ceasefire.  According to a government official, fighting was renewed after rebels attacked military camps in the nearby Marran mountains.  The military responded with ground and air strikes on villages in Saada province, a stronghold for rebel activity.  However, rebel leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, denied official allegations and stated that the military struck first.  As a result of the renewed violence dozens of people have been killed in the past week; including 18 rebels and 29 Yemeni military and pro-army tribal fighters.

Earlier, al-Houthi warned the government to honor the terms of the ceasefire and complained of constant government discrimination and campaign of harassment.  While, al-Houthi stated that he was concerned about bloodshed, he added that they must defend themselves “against any assaults by the army.”  Currently, both sides are preparing for what al-Houthi called the “fifth war.”

In June 2007, the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels signed a cease-fire agreement, which was brokered by Qatar.  In the agreement, the government promised to free detainees, compensate victims, and to rebuild villages affected by the war.  In return, the rebels agreed to turn in their weapons and expel al-Houthi from the country.  However, both sides accuse the other of not fulfilling their obligations.

For more information, please see:
Yemen Post – Sa’ada 5th War Ruptures; 47 Killed So Far – 14 January 2008

Associated Press – 30 Killed in Renewed Fighting in Yemen – 11 January 2008

Yemen Times – Sa’ada Crisis Worsens Amid Threats of Violence – 6 January 2008

BRIEF: Two Killed at Yemeni Reconciliation Rally

ADEN, Yemen – At least two people were killed and 15 injured during a rally for reconciliation between the northern and southern provinces of Yemen.  According to a statement by official local authorities, the violence resulted from actions by “criminal elements”, firing indiscriminately into the crowd, and who were later arrested.  The official state news agency, Saba, reported two deaths and 16 injuries.

However, witnesses and rally organizers claim that the violence resulted from actions by the security forces, which had surrounded the rally.  Witnesses report that security forces used water cannons and live ammunition to disperse the crowds.  Ali Mounasser, the secretary of Yemen’s opposition socialist party, told AFP that the rally was conducted in a peaceful manner and was ending when violence broke out.

The rally, “Reconciliation and Forgiveness Rally for Southern Provinces”, was held in the southern port city of Aden.  The rally was intended to draw attention to the inequalities, especially economic, suffered by southern residents since their unsuccessful bid to break away in 1994.

For more information, please see:
AFP – Four Dead in Yemen Protest: Witnesses – 13 January 2008

BBC – Protesters killed at Yemen Rally – 13 January 2008

News Yemen – Two Killed, Some Injured in Aden Reconciliation Rally – 13 January 2008

Reuters – Two People Killed in Clash at Yemen Political Rally – 13 January 2008

Saba Net – Security Detains 11 Persons Due to Aden Clashes – 13 January 2008

After Nearly Two Months, Myanmar’s Junta meets with Suu Kyi

By Amy Glasrud
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Aung San Suu Kyi met with a senior minister of the junta on Friday, after nearly two months of no contact.  According to the Associated Press, an official said “a government-appointed liaison official, Aung Kyi, met with Suu Kyi for about an hour.”  It is unknown what was discussed at this meeting.  An NLD spokesman Nyan Win stated “that the more they meet, the better for the country.”  Reuters reported that “witnesses had seen a car leave Suu Kyi’s Yangon home, where she is under house arrest, and drive to a state guesthouse.”

The last time Suu Kyi had met with the junta was November 19th, 2007, when Suu Kyi met with regime leader Senior General Than Shwe, and it is speculated that they spoke about the junta’s preconditions for negotiations between the two parties.  Reuters stated that Than Shwe has repeatedly insisted the only path to political reform is via the junta’s own “roadmap to democracy.”  It is uncertain just how much the junta will be willing to negotiate; many critics claim that they are unwilling to work outside their own framework.

According to the International Herald Tribune, western governments and the United Nations have pressed the military to open a sustained dialogue with Suu Kyi in order to bring about democratic reforms.  Moreover, Yahoo News reported that “in December, US President George W. Bush threatened to spearhead a global campaign to step up sanctions against the country if it continued to ignore calls for a democratic transition.”  However the regime has allowed for a UN rights investigator and a UN special envoy to enter the country, but the junta has yet to make many changes.

According to Nicholas Burns of the Washington Post, the leaders of Myanmar (formally known has Burma) and their “policies are the greatest threat to Burma’s unity, stability, and prosperity.”

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets with junta – 12 January 2008

Associated Press – Myanmar’s Suu Kyi meets with junta – 11 January 2008

International Herald Tribune – Aung San Suu Kyi meets with junta representative in Myanmar – 11 January 2008

Reuters – Detained Suu Kyi meets Myanmar junta minister – 11 January 2008

Yahoo News – Aung San Suu Kyi meets Myanmar junta official – 11 January 2008

Iraqi Parliament Passes Bill Removing Ban on Baath Officials

The Iraqi government removed the ban on Baath party officials to run for public office.  The Baath party was the official party of Saddam Hussein.  The bill that may pass into law though could force many of the previously employed Baath workers into early retirement with severance packages, but some could regain their posts.

However, the highest ranking officials under Saddam Hussein would be locked out because of their previous contribution to Saddam’s rule.  It would reduce the number of Baath officials prohibited from government posts to only 3,500 from the 30,000 who were previously prohibited from working in the government.

The change is the first benchmark that would be passed to allow more of a power share of the government between the Shiites and Sunnis and lesson the tensions.

For more information, please see:

New York Times- Iraqi Parliament passes allows former Baath officials to take government positions- 13 January  2008

Charles Taylor Trial Finishes First Week

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former Liberian President Charles Taylor sits on trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for 11 counts of war crimes, including murder, rape, mutilation, and terrorizing the population for his involvement and control of the Sierra Leonean Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels.  Sierra Leone was involved in a brutal civil war throughout the 1990s, with the RUF rebels committing widespread atrocities, including their trademark “amputations” of hacking off limbs to breed terror among the citizens. 

The first prosecution witness this week was Canadian “blood diamond” expert Ian Smilie who testified that these abuses were designed to spread terror and were partially designed to allow the rebels to mine diamonds without a population around to disturb them.  These “blood diamonds” where then used to fuel and fund the war for the rebels. 

The second prosecution witness was a rural pastor, the Reverend Alex Tamba Teh who testified as to the numerous atrocities allegedly committed by the RUF.   The Reverend Teh recalled a mass murder by machine gun of unarmed civilian men and the brutal dismemberment of a civilian boy.   

The defense immediately objected to such evidence provided by the Reverend, and British Queen’s Counsel Courtenay Griffiths argued that such evidence played to the heartstrings of the world and it was unnecessary to make people relive the events.   He said that it is “not contested that atrocities were committed” but that it “is not what this trial is about.”  Rather, the defense contests the main charge that Taylor backed the RUF and Griffiths says that is what the prosecution should concentrate on. 

After hearing arguments regarding the evidence, the panel of judges led by Justice Julia Sebutinde from Uganda admitted the evidence and stated they would determine its weight later. 

The third prosecution witness to testify was a former Liberian army commander, Varmunyan Sheriff.  Sheriff testified as to the role Taylor allegedly played in the brokerage of a dispute between Sierra Leonean rebel leaders Sam Bockarie and Issa Sesay, which resulted in Sesay becoming the new leader of the RUF and Bockarie traveling to Liberia with 350 RUF fighters on Taylor’s orders.    Sheriff also testified as to the alleged control Taylor had over the RUF rebels, as evidenced by two occasions where RUF fighters were deployed by Taylor.  Sheriff further alleged that Mr. Taylor ordered him to run guns and ammunition to the RUF rebels.

The prosecution also questioned Sheriff about the treatment of civilians by the RUF, the treatment of civilians in Liberia, and the use of child soldiers.   The prosecution also sought to establish that Mr. Taylor was on notice of the atrocities being committed through questioning Sheriff about Taylor’s access to radio and television which had broadcast programs regarding the “amputations” and use of child soldiers.

On cross-examination Mr. Griffiths worked to discredit Sheriff by establishing he had formerly been a commander for a Liberian rebel group that had fought Mr. Taylor and that his groups had been armed and backed by the Sierra Leonean government.  Mr. Griffiths also alleged that Sheriff is mentally unstable and that his testimony is therefore unreliable.

Taylor is the first former African head of state to appear before the international tribunal.  His trial is expected to last at least a year.

For more information, please see:

AP – Taylor Attorney Calls Witness Unstable – 11 January 2008

AllAfrica.com – Cross-Examination of Prosecution Linkage Witness, Defense Challenges Insider Status – 11 January 2008

BBC News – Taylor faces the past in court – 11 January 2008

AFP – Lawyers at Taylor trial aim to discredit witness – 11 January 2008

Newsweek – Trials Without Borders – 10 January 2008