A Voice for the Voiceless

Iraq: 46,030 refugees return home

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

Since October 46,030 Iraqis have returned to their homes in Baghdad.  This is a significant increase from the 3,200 families that returned to Baghdad since January.  (Reuters)  The recent influx of people shows the “improved safety situation,” according to Brigadier General Qassim al Moussawi.  (Dallas Morning News)  He is a major proponent of a plan to increase troops to eliminate terrorist operations in Baghdad.

Another reason for the high return of Baghdad’s refugees is the tightened border control by Iraq’s neighbors.  These bordering nations have absorbed around 2.3 million refugees since the beginning of the war with Iraq with Syria absorbing 1.2 million refugees alone.

These bordering nations have tightened there restrictions on the Iraqi refugees.  For example, at the al-Waheed border crossing from Iraq into Syria scores of Iraqi refugees have lined up for weeks seeking to get visas into Syria.  Last month, Syria passed a rule to cut down on the number of immigrants entering the country.  The new rule only gives visas to merchants and academics.  Thus, the new number of Iraqi immigrants allowed into Syria is a far cry from the 4,000-6,000 Iraqi immigrants that previously entered on a daily basis.

In comparison, during the past year the US admitted 1608 Iraqi refugees.  (The Herald)  The European country that has admitted the most Iraqi refugees is Sweden, which has only allowed 18,000 refugees.  Yet, even these European countries have increased asylum rules to further decrease immigration of Iraqis.

The influx of Iraqis back into Baghdad is shows the increased safety.  As more Iraqis return to the area, it should improve the stability of the area.  Also, it will improve the economy and provide a better lifestyle for the people in Baghdad.

For more information, please see:

Dallas Morning News- Declining violence leads 46,000 refugees back to Iraq, government says- 8 November 2007

Reuters- Iraq says families returning home as violence ebbs- 9 November 2007

Gulf News Daily- 46,000 Iraqis return home- 8 November 2007

The Herald- Iraqis begin to return to homes they fled- 10 November 2007

Washington Post- Officials Cite Return Of Iraqis to Baghdad As Violence Declines- 8 November 2007

Ugandan Rebel Leader Otti Is Not dead

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

GULU, Uganda – Vincent Otti, who was second in command of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) disappeared for weeks after violence broke out in Uganda. Speculation arose that he was killed a few weeks ago during the violence. Earlier this week, a Uganda army spokesman, Lt Chris Magezi, confirmed to the BBC that Mr Otti and his wife and children were killed weeks ago.

Nevertheless, rebel leader, Joseph Kony has stated that the Northern Ugandan deputy leader Vincent Otti is purposively not deceased but alive and under arrest in Uganda. Joseph Kony claims that Mr. Otti was arrested for being a government spy. Otti has not yet been ordered an execution.

An LRA spokesman visiting Uganda, Martin Ojul , has denied rumors that Otti is suffering from Cholera.

Presently, Mr. Otti and Mr. Kony are two of four LRA commanders wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed during the 20 year war. Both men remain in hiding in the north-east region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A team from the South Sudanese government has been assembled to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo to report on Mr. Otti’s status.

Moreover, the OTP [Office of the Prosecutor] from the ICC is “in consultation with the Registry, is taking steps to assess the veracity of these reports (on Otti’s alleged demise) including making an official request to the Government of Uganda, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other relevant authorities for additional information”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Uganda Rebel Deputy is not Dead – 9 November 2007

AllAfrica – Uganda: IICC Probes Vincent Otti’s Fate – 9 November 2007

BBC – Ugandan Deputy Rebel Feared Dead  – 7 November 2007

Trapped Civilians

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Today, Ethiopian soldiers entered the northern town of Hodan, where insurgents regularly attack governmental soldiers and bases, and were quickly met with heavily armed insurgents. After a bloody battle involving Ethiopian tanks, machine guns and grenades, 18 people were left dead and dozens wounded. This was one of two violent clashes that took place in the streets of Mogadishu today.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have fled the capital since the fighting began late last year, however the number of refugees has increased dramatically in recent weeks as the violence and combat worsen. Those who remained in the capital are trapped in their homes, with no means of receiving police or medical assistance.  Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been unable to reach those in need due to the incessant violence, and many of the wounded people bleed to death. According to Colin McIlreavy, the MSF head of mission for Somalia, many people are forced to remain where they are and hope the violence doesn’t reach them.

Later today, Islamist insurgents dragged the dead bodies of two Ethiopian soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu, as a group of people followed chanting “God is great” and pelting the bodies with rocks. The scene was reminiscent of the failed 1993 U.S. operation in which the dead bodies of U.S. soldiers were dragged in the streets after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down.

The gruesome event was preceded by fighting in the Suqa Holaha neighborhood in northern Mogadishu. Ethiopian soldiers entered the town by the hundreds, according to a local resident, and were again met with fierce resistance.  The total death toll of soldiers today was nine. Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the fighting began. Thus far, the transitional government has been unable to gain control of the country.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica.com – Somalia: 19 People Killed 9 of Them Ethiopian Soldiers After Bloody Battle Erupts in Mogadishu – 8 November 2007

AllAfrica.com – Somalia: Mogadishu Residents Trapped By Violence – 7 November 2007

BBC- Bodies Dragged Through Mogadishu – 8 November 2007

Reuters: Africa – Somali Insurgents Drag Dead Ethiopians in Street – 8 November 2007

Minister and Newspaper Face Contempt Charges in PNG

By Sarah C. LaBelle
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

For background on the Moti affair and its effect on the region, please see theImpunity Watch reports on Moti’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 the defense minister on 28 September, and he rejected its findings last week.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Last week, PNG Defense Minister Bob Dadae released a statement rejecting the findings of the board of inquiry that dealt with the Moti affair.  (The Impunity Watch report on this statement may be found here.)  Unfortunately, it seems that these statements could for the basis of a contempt of court charge against both Dadae and the Sunday Chronicle, which printed his statements in a six page spread.

Ian Augerea, registrar for the Supreme and National Courts, said that the contempt charges would be based on making public statements “on issues that may be the subject of [an] appeal” before the Supreme Court.  The appeal in question is the one filed by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and PNG Defense Force officers Captain Tom Ur and Colonel Vagi Oala.  Augerea took out full-page notices in both The National and the Post-Courier in which he said that Dadae’s statement went against advice from the courts and could be in contempt of the Supreme Court.  He also mentioned that the chief justice is in the process of empanelling a bench to deal with the contempt issue.

Augerea warned in his notices that “All issues are under judicial consideration and therefore comments by the public are prohibited.  Continuation of publication or discussion may be regarded as seeking to influence the Supreme Court […] Any further public discussions on the Moti case is to cease immediately.”

Regarding the registrar’s statements, former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan said in support of the court, “You know, I did warn that when the government becomes so powerful, it has no respect for the separation of powers.”  Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said that the issue was that PNG laws were broken during the Moti flight, and that independent institutions, like the public prosecutor, need to conduct their own investigations.

Today, The National reported that three Supreme Court justices have been chosen to handle the contempt of court hearings, though their names have not yet been released.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report (PNG Post-Courier) – PNG High Court Threatens Against Moti Disclosure – 05 November 2007

The National – Dadae, paper face contempt charges – 05 November 2007

Islands Business – Courts bar Moti debate – 06 November 2007

Pacific Magazine – PNG Minister and Paper Could Be In Contempt – 07 November 2007

The National – Three SC judges to handle ‘Moti’ – 08 November 2007

Israeli construction in settlements

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – On November 7, Peace Now, an Israeli NGO, released a report on development of illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinians Territories (OPT).  The report stated that, according to government statistics, the settler population is now 267,500; showing an annual growth of 5.8%.  This is more than three times the annual growth of Israel (1.8%).

The settlements are viewed as a violation of international law, which prohibits occupiers from populating occupied land.  Expansion of settlements is underway, despite Israel’s claims of a “settlement freeze” and its obligations under the US-backed “road-map” to dismantle unauthorized outposts built since March 2001.  According to the report, in 34 unauthorized outposts permanent structures are being built and construction is underway in 88 authorized settlements.  Most of the large projects are being built in settlements located in the West Bank, but on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier, especially in settlements near East Jerusalem, the Ma’ale Adumim bloc, the Gush Etzion bloc, and Giv’at Ze’ev bloc

The report on the continued settlement expansions has several implications regarding the upcoming peace conference scheduled for later this month.  The settlements are a key issue for Palestinians, who want their future state to include all of the West Bank.  The settlements threaten the continuity of the West Bank, breaking it up into two portions, and will cut it off from East Jerusalem.  Peace Now’s director, Yariv Oppenheimer, said that “if you want to have a two-state solution then you can’t continue to expand settlements.”  The continued expansion of settlements makes an already difficult discussion of borders more difficult.

The report:
Peace Now – Construction in settlements continues – 7 November 2007

For more information, please see:
Telegraph – Israeli settlers increasing in West Bank – 8 November 2008

Al Jazeera – Jewish settler outposts “expanding” – 7 November 2007

Associated Press – Israeli watchdog: Settlements growing – 7 November 2007

BBC – West Bank settlements “expanding” – 7 November 2007

International Herald Tribune – Israel talks peace, but expanding settlement hurts prospects for Palestinian state – 7 November 2007

Jerusalem Post – Peace Now: settlements are expanding – 7 November 2007

International Middle East Media Center – Report: Illegal Israeli settlements rapidly expanding – 7 November 2007