A Voice for the Voiceless

British Journalist Expelled from Iran without Explanation

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – A British journalist has been expelled from Iran after the government refused to renew his visa and resident permit.

Robert Tait, 43, was the Guardian’s Tehran correspondent for three years until the authorities inexplicably declined to renew his papers. Iran’s culture and Islamic guidance ministry gave no reason for its decision but said the newspaper was free to propose a new correspondent in Iran.

The Guardian report said that Tait was originally ordered to leave the country in March because officials were unhappy with his reporting. But he was allowed to stay after the Guardian successfully appealed against the March decision.

He is the second British journalist to be expelled from Iran in the past six months, and the last British journalist who worked in Iran for an English language newspaper. In July, a journalist working for a different publication was also “expelled” when his documentation was not renewed. Other newspapers mainly employ English-speaking Iranians because foreign nationals have difficulties in obtaining resident press credentials. But even for those who receive necessary documentation, they often face expulsion.

The expulsion comes amid a steep decline of press freedom in Iran. Newspapers and websites critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s hard-line policies have been shut down over the past year. Other publications have begun to self-censor for fear of crossing officially decreed “red-lines.” Moreover, several Iranian journalists have been arrested in recent months for various crimes, including publication of “lies.”

The Guardian’s editor appealed to the ministry to no avail. The ministry denies expulsion claims raised by rights groups and diplomats. The authorities also deny recent crackdown on dissenting voices and say that they allow free speech.

Tait is now back in the UK, along with his Iranian wife.

For more information, please see:

Press TV – Iran denies expelling British journalist – 6 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited – Guardian’s Tehran correspondent expelled without explanation – 5 January 2008

Reuters – Guardian journalist forced to stop working in Iran – 5 January 2008

Gulfnews – British journalist ‘expelled’ from Iran – 5 January 2008

Kenya Opposition Rejects Unity Government

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has promised more rallies and once again rejected the president’s offer to establish a unity government.  Odinga claims President Kibaki rigged the 27 December election and says that mediation is necessary, rather than a unity government, and that Kibaki cannot offer them anything ‘because he did not win the election.”

Odinga said in a news conference on Saturday “there cannot be peace without justice” and that he would only sit down for talks with Kibaki in the presence of an international mediator.  He stated they want a properly negotiated settlement rather than a coalition government.  US diplomat Jendayi Frazer flew in on Friday and has been working to broker a solution to the crisis.  A senior US official has said that both parties are prepared to meet with the African Union to find a solution.

Kenya has been a hotbed of ethnic violence since the disputed election and more than 300 people have died.  Kibaki’s Kikuyu people have been pitted against Kenya’s other tribes, which has brought chaos to this country of 34 million people. 

The violence throughout the country has forced some 250,000 people from their homes.  While the violence eased over the weekend, there were isolated ethnic clashes and police involvement in the coastal tourist town of Mombasa.  Thousands fled their homes in the countryside under fear of continued ethnic attacks.

The increasing number of displaced people who have been cut off from supplies from the country has led to a massive shortage of food.  The crisis caused shops and transport across the country to be shut down and what little food is available is now triple the price. The UN tried to help on Sunday, sending 20 truckloads of grain, pulses, and vegetable oil that had been held up by vigilante roadblocks and other insecurity.

The Kenyan Red Cross has asked for $15.4 billion in aid for those people forced from their homes due to the crisis.  The World Food Program has said it is working with the Red Cross to provide food to the 100,000 people displaced in the northern Rift valley, in the remote areas that are difficult to get food to.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Odinga rejects power-sharing offer – 6 January 2008

AP – Opposition Rejects Unity Gov’t in Kenya – 6 January 2008

AFP – US mediates Kenya crisis as opposition rejects govt offer – 6 January 2008

BBC News – Kenya food effort gets under way – 6 January 2008

AllAfrica.com – Kenya: Food, Fuel Crisis Looms Over Post-Poll Violent Protests – 5 January 2008

BRIEF: PKK’s “Desperation Attack”

The PKK used a car bomb to attack the city of Diyarbakır, Turkey, which is the capital of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır province.  The remote detonated car bomb was activated when a military caravan passed it.  The bomb injured more than 100 people and killed five people, including three children.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called the bombing a “treacherous act” that shows “the desperation of the terrorist organization.” (Reuters)

The bombing was meant to be a retaliation for the attacks that destroyed some of the PKK bases in Northern Iraq and killed over 150 of the PKK’s fighters.

Although the initial bombing was not averted, the Turkish military did disarm two minibuses that were loaded with plastic explosives, C-4, A-4, and grenades.

For more information, please see:

Reuters- Turkey PM says Diyarbakir bomb shows PKK desperation- 5 January 2008

Today’s Zaman- [TERRORISTS’ LAST GASP] New deadly blasts averted after Diyarbakır attack- 6 January 2008

Sabah Newspaper- The last flutters of terrorism- 4 January 2008

BRIEF: Need for Kenyan Resolution

NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 100,000 Kenyans have been displaced since the fighting began after the 2007 presidential election. According to a UN official in Nairobi, about 500,000 people are in urgent need. Many have sought refuge in police stations and churches but neither is equipped for the alarming humanitarian demand.

Since last weekend, hundreds have been killed, thousands are homeless and hungry and several children have died from exposure. The International Committee of the Red Cross has appealed for more than £7m of aid and the UN World Food Programme said it was struggling to get food to 100,000 hungry people.

The December 27 results, which re-elected President Mwai Kibaki over opposition rival Raila Odinga, has unleashed a wave of ethnic violence. Odinga, his Orange Democratic Movement party and his Luo tribe claims the voting was rigged and is demanding that Kibaki stand down as president and wants a new presidential election within three months. According to Alfred Mutua, spokesman for President Kibaki, Kibaki is willing to accept a re-vote only if it is ordered by a court.

Meanwhile, the mass rally schedule by Odinga to take place today was canceled after massive security forces halted the demonstration and many protestors failed to march on central Nairobi.

South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has met with both sides and reports that Kibaki has agreed to a coalition government. Also, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer arrived in Nairobi overnight in an attempt at mediation in Kenya, which was once seen as one of the continent’s most stable democracies.

Britain, the US and France have all expressed belief that the election was rigged.

For more information please see:

BBC- Kenya’s Humanitarian Crisis Grows – 4 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – Kenya Government Ready for New Vote if Ruled By Court – 4 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – US Envoy in Kenya for Talks to End Crisis – 4 January 2008

UPDATE: Kidnapped Aid Workers Released

PUNTLAND, Somalia – The two female staff workers for the Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF) were released by their abductors on Wednesday. Spanish doctor Mercedes Garcia and Argentine nurse Pilar Bauza were kidnapped last Wednesday in Bosasso while driving to a hospital.

Although the kidnappers demanded a ransom, officials claim none was paid for the women’s freedom.  According to Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, there were a lot of negotiations and persuasion. Witnesses report that the women appeared tired but in good spirits.

The women are currently in a hotel in Bosasso and hope to return to Mogadishu to continue their mission.

Their abduction occurred one day after kidnapped French journalist, Gwen Le Gouil, was released by Somali gunmen. For precaution, MSF Spain withdrew its foreign staff from southern and central Somalia on Tuesday.

For more information please see:

BBC- Two MSF Workers Freed in Somalia – 2 January 2008

Reuters: Africa – Somali Kidnappers Free Foreign Aid Staff – 2 January 2008