Temporary Calm in DRC

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter for Western and Central Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo – In the east part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congolese army has killed thirteen of Colonel Laurent Nkundas’s men today. The killing came as retaliation for an attack on government positions in Ntamugenga. The clash occurred 60 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Goma.

A few days ago, a UN field officer confirmed that 17 rebels and two FARDC soldiers had died in the skirmish. “There are people wounded on both sides,” said the source.

Colonel Antoine Mushimbu, leader of the army’s Sixth Brigae, reported that the troops pushed the rebels into the Bukima. After the latest conflict, the country has experienced a slight period of calm.

Presently, the Democratic Republic of Congo has deployed almost 25,000 troops in North Kivu to fight 4,000 rebels loyal to Nkunda. Most of the men claim to be protecting fellow ethnic Tutsis in eastern DRC.

Villagers suffer from the extreme violence in the region. Presently, 800,000 civilian victims are displaced by the conflict. According to Anneke Van Woudenberg, of Human Rights Watch, the government and rebel groups are responsible for the most inhumane excesses against civilians.  “Every time these belligerents fight each other, they have killed, raped and looted civilians,” said Wouedenberg.

A report by Doctors without borders details that victims of the conflict are suffering from outbreaks of Cholera in the makeshift towns. Moreover, victims’ clean water supplies are dwindling down.

For more information, please see:

News 24 South Africa –  DR Congo- 13 Rebels Killed  –    20 December 2007

The Guardian – Mission Impossible – 20 December 2007

AFP-  DR Congo troops push back insurgents; 19 dead  – 19 December 2007

BRIEF: Sikua Elected Solomons PM

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Dr. Derek Sikua was elected Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands today.  The former opposition group, now the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA), received 32 of 47 votes cast this morning.  Sikua will be sworn in tomorrow.

Sikua has only been in parliament for a year and a half, and served as education minister in the Sogavare government before defecting in November.  He holds a Ph.D. in educational decentralization and has previously served in a variety of high positions in the ministry of education.

Fred Fono is expected to be named deputy prime minister tomorrow.

For more information, please see:

Solomon Times – New Prime Minister for Solomon Islands – 20 December 2007

Islands Business – Dr Sikua is Solomon Islands new PM – 20 December 2007

Radio New Zealand International – Solomons parliament elects Sikua as new PM– 20 December 2007

The Australian – Sikua elected new Solomons PM – 20 December 2007

National Parliament of the Solomon Islands – official website entry for Dr. Sikua

For background information on the political crisis in the Solomon Islands that led to Sikua’s election today, please see the Impunity Watch articles on last month’s defections, the continuing instability, the heated arguments, and the successful no confidence motion against the Sogavare government last week.

For more information on the Moti affair, a key element of CNURA’s argument against the Sogavare government, please see the Impunity Watch reports onMoti’s appointment as attorney general for the Solomons, PNG government involvement in Moti’s escape, the Vanuatu case status, Australia’s extradition attempt and the missing PNG inquiry report, PNG court refusal to suppress the inquiry report, and Moti’s fear of assassination attempts.  The inquiry report itself was released to Dade on 28 September, and he found the inquiry to be illegal at the end of October.  The issue is on appeal in the PNG court system,barring public debate at this time.

BRIEF: Turkey Sends Ground Troops into Iraq

The Turkish military have sent ground troops into Iraq for the first time since the rising tensions regarding the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).  The Turkish military reported that the attacks were a success and that PKK bases had heavy losses inflicted upon them.

The Turkish intelligence believes that the PKK is being supported by the northern Iraqi Kurds. The Turkish military had previously threatened to strike with ground forces, but before this attack they had only sent air strikes.

Reportedly, the Turkish military was supported by American intelligence to capture the PKK members.  However, the US has denied any such support.  (BBC)  This perception of support by the Americans caused Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to skip his meeting with U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

For more information, please see:

BBC- US denies backing Turkey PKK raid- 17 December 2007

International Herald Tribune (AP)- Turkey’s military confirms ground incursion; claims inflicted heavy losses- 18 December 2007

Reuters- Iraq Kurdish leader snubs Rice over Turkey raid- 18 December 2007

Abuses Against Women in Zambia

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

LUSAKA, Zambia – Human Rights Watch issued a report yesterday accusing Zambia’s government of failing to stop the escalating violence against women and prevention of access to antiretrovial treatment for AIDS patients.  The report was based on 83 interviews conducted earlier this year of women, police, health counselors, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.   

The Zambian government was commended for its action in dealing with HIV/AIDS treatment, however the report was clear to establish that for many women an HIV positive diagnosis is the equivalent of a death sentence.  While the government has made AIDS treatment drugs free and put more than 93,000 patients on them with the help of international donors, women are still discriminated against and do not receive equal access to treatment. 

The stigma attached to HIV-positive people is still common and significantly affects women’s access to testing and treatment.  Fear of violence from their husbands lead some women to hide their medications and may even prevent them from being tested.  Many women are also left without money for transportation or food after divorce or their husband’s death due to property laws that favor men and “property grabbing” in which the deceased husband’s family seizes all his property, often leaving the widow destitute.  The result is that many women are unable to go to health clinics or afford the proper diet necessary while on medication.

Human Rights Watch called on Zambia to enact and enforce legislation on gender-based crimes and to ensure the the new constitution fully protects women’s equality.  “The Zambian government should also establish systems to enable healthcare providers, including HIV treatment providers, to respond to gender-based abuses. At a minimum, the government should ensure that healthcare providers in the HIV sector receive adequate training, clear guidelines, and support to detect and respond to gender-based abuses.”

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch News – Zambia: Abuses Against Women Obstruct HIV Treatment – 18 December 2007

AFP – Human Rights Watch slams Zambia over violence against women – 18 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Human Rights Watch says domestic violence, poverty keeps AIDS drugs from Zambian women – 18 December 2007

BRIEF: Somare Blasts TIPNG

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – The Papua New Guinea chapter of Transparency International (TIPNG) has drawn Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s ire over the past week for comments made to the press.  TIPNG board chairman Mike Manning told an anti-corruption seminar recently that a third of PNG’s budget is stolen by corrupt politicians.

Manning said that these politicians are not punished for their crimes, but are re-elected instead.  “Until we impose on people a sense of shame for doing wrong, we are never going to stop corruption,” he added.  Manning believes that the pervasive corruption in PNG is degrading the nation’s infrastructure.

In response, Somare challenged Transparency International to name names rather than make “hasty generalizations”.  He requested that if TIPNG has relevant information, that information be turned over to the police and relevant enforcement agencies.  “Otherwise,” he said, “they should stop playing power games under the guise of transparency.”

Somare and Transparency International have had some minor scuffles in the press before, most recently over the Moti affair and Somare’s alleged involvement in it.

For more information, please see:

Stuff.co.nz (AAP) – A third of PNG govt budget stolen each year – 06 December 2007

PNG Office of the Prime Minister – Name corrupt politicians, Sir Michael urges Transparency International – 10 December 2007

Pacific Magazine – Sir Michael Blasts Transparency International Comments – 18 December 2007