Israeli raids kill 9 Palestinians

On September 26, up to nine Palestinians were killed in two separate Israeli raids into Gaza.  Four or five members of the Army of Islam were killed during a strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).  Palestinian medical authorities report that four men were killed, while the Army of Islam report that five were.  Witnesses report that a missile hit the vehicle the militants were driving at a crowded intersection in Gaza City.

IAF officials report that these men were in the process of transporting several Qassam rockets.  The group was responsible for the kidnapping of Alan Johnston and believed to be the group who kidnapped Gilad Shalit, an Israeli corporal.

The second raid, a ground operation in Beit Hanoun, resulted in the deaths of three civilians and one gunman.  Also, at least twenty other Palestinians were injured, several critically.  The deaths and many of these injuries resulted from tank fire.  IDF entered Beit Hanoun to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure” in the area.

These raids came a few hours after Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, stated that Israel was “getting closer to carrying out a widespread operation in Gaza.”  For several weeks, members of the security cabinet have been discussing how to combat the frequent rocket fire from Gaza.  On September 26, it is believed that 10 Qassam rockets and 20 mortar shells were fired into Israel from Gaza.  While no injuries occurred, Prime Minister Olmert and the Israeli government are receiving a lot of pressure to react to these frequent attacks.

However, Israeli media reports that Israel ruled out military operations last month, in favor of economic sanctions such as cutting off the delivery of fuel and electricity.  Reports on the probability of a full military operation, compared to limited raids such as the two on September 26, are conflicting.  While Barak reports that full military operations are near, some Israeli ministers, such as Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a member of the inner security cabinet, claim that such an operation is the very last alternative there is.

Also, Israel has declared an indefinite closure of both Gaza and the West Bank in preparation of the Jewish holiday, Succot.  It is quite common for Israel to enforce a blanket travel restriction during Jewish holidays.

For more information, please see:
Independent- Barak says Israel is ‘close’ to Gaza Operation– 27 September 2007

Jerusalem Post- Nine Palestinians reported dead as Gaza violence intensifies– 27 September 2007

Associated Press- Israeli strikes kills 8 in Gaza, wound 25– 26 September 2007

BBC- ‘Eight die’ in Israeli Gaza raids– 26 September 2007

New York Times- Israeli strikes in Gaza kill up to 9 Palestinians– 26 September 2007

Reuters- Gaza operation is nearing-Israeli defense minister– 26 September 2007

Teenagers Beaten and Detained After Writing Pro-Tibetan Independence Slogans

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

AMCHOK BORA, China – The Chinese government has detained seven Tibetan high school students on suspicion of writing pro-Tibetan independence slogans on the walls of the Amchok Bora village police station and other buildings. The slogans called for the return of the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet.

Relatives that had last seen one of the teenagers reported he was beaten and was bleeding. The teenagers were first held in a police station in Amchok Bora, and were allowed to see their families. However, since then, the students have been moved to the town of Xiahe (Labrang). Since the move, officials in Xiahe have refused to reveal the students’ location, requests from their families to visit, or even to confirm that they are in custody. The state-controlled news media have also been silent on the case.

The names of five of the teenagers are Lhamo Tseten, age 15; Chopa Kyab, age 14; Drolma Kyab, age 14; Tsekhu, age 14; and a second Lhamo Tseten, age 15. The identity of two teenagers is unknown. The identity of the beaten teenager is also unknown. The students attend school in Xiahe (Labrang) county, Gannan prefecture in Gansa province. The Gannan is one of China’s official “Tibetan autonomous” areas.

In 1950 China took control of the Himalayan region in China. In 1959 the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled to India during a failed revolt against the Chinese government. Since then, China has refused to allow the Dalai Lama to return. He is revered as Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual authority.

The arrest of the teenagers has sparked criticism by the New York group, Human Rights Watch. Brad Adam, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said “Arresting teenagers for a political crime shows just how little has changed inTibet. Beating up a child for a political crime shows just how far hina has to go before it creates the ‘harmonious society’ China’s leaders talk so much about.”

Tension between Chinese officials and Tibet residents has grown more strained as the two parties continue to disagree over issues from cultural and religious policies, forced resettlement of Tibetan herders, environmental degradation, replacement of Tibetan cadres with ethnic Chinese ones, and increased migration of ethnic Chinese settlers to traditionally Tibetan regions.

China is a State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN of Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for children’s right to freedom of expression and demands that no child should be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or detained unlawfully or arbitrarily. If children are legally should be held as only a matter of last resort and for the shortest period of time. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also insists that while in detention, children should have the right to contact their families and have legal assistance.

For more information, please see:

BBS News – Teenage Students Held Incommunicado for Graffiti – 23 September 2007

The NY Times –Tibet: Teenagers Held for Pro-Independence Slogans – 26 September 2007

Taipei Times (AFP) – Seven High School Boys Detained for Pro-Tibet Slogans – 22 September 2007

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights –  Convention on the Rights of the Child

Voice of America – Human Rights Watch Urges China to Release Tibetan Students – 20 September 2007

Update: Monks Defy Assembly Ban, Police Attack

_44139031_burning_ap_203bYANGON, Myanmar- Thousands of monks and protesters defied government directives today and continued protesting.  In response, Myanmar military forces fired warning shots in the air, beat the monks, dragged them into police trucks, and used tear gas on the crowd.

Earlier today, the protesters had started a large march toward the city center and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda- this is where the confrontation started.  Other protester were greeted by warning shots at the Sule Pagoda.

According to hospital sources, one person was killed by the gunfire and five other injured.

The world community continues to react.  The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, called for an immediate UN Security Council meeting, stating that there will be no impunity for human rights violators.

The Canadian Press – Buddhist monks, protesters defy Myanmar junta’s ban on assembly – 26 September 2007

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Myanmar (Burma): Tear Gas Used on Monks, Dozens Arrested – 26 September 2007

BBC News – Burmese riot police attack monks – 26 September 2007

Asia Times Online – Buddha vs the barrel of a gun – 26 September 2007

Impunity Watch – Myanmar: Curfew Imposed, Assembly Banned – 25 September 2007

Ongoing Conflict in Sudan

By Elizabeth Costner

Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The United Nations Security Council held a summit yesterday, chaired by France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy, aimed at strengthening and mobilizing the international community in working with African Union representatives to map out concrete goals and a plan of action.  Heads of State and government from the 15 Security Council members, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare took part in the debate that largely focused on the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution early Tuesday morning approving a European Union-AU peacekeeping force to be sent to Chad and Central African Republic to deal with the spillover from the Darfur conflict.  The resolution, says the “multidimensional presence” of EU and UN forces should protect civilians, help the governments in Chad and the Central African Republic deal with refugees, and assist in the delivery of humanitarian aid.  The resolution authorizes the force to remain for an initial period of a year and states that the UN should plan on and create a UN peacekeeping force to replace it.

Meanwhile, efforts to get rebel leaders to agree to meet for peace talks next month have proven difficult.  On Tuesday, rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim said that he will continue fighting during the upcoming peace talks until a final settlement is agreed on.  Despite the intense international pressure to end the fighting, the rebel leaders continue to refuse to agree to a cease-fire during the peace talks.  Ibrahim stated that ceasing fire is a “termination of the resistance and revolution” and that he refused to do so until a lasting peace agreement was made.

In 2006, the three rebel groups negotiated a truce, which the government allegedly violated.  Only one of the rebel groups singed that agreement, and many in Darfur have rejected it as inadequate.  Since those talks, the rebels have split into more than twelve rival groups.

Currently, the U.S. is the only country on the Security Council that has labeled the Darfur conflict a genocide.  More than 200,000 people have died and 2 million have been displaced.

For more information, please see:

Reuters UK – Darfur rebel leader says no truce for talks – 26 September 2007

Relief Web – UN Mission in Sudan News Bulletin – 26 September 2007

AFP – US, France back peacekeeping forces to Darfur, Chad – 25 September 2007

Blooomberg – Bush, Citing Darfur ‘Genocide,’ Demands Cease-Fire – 25 September 2007

AllAfrica.com – Sudan: Echoes of Genocide in Darfur, Eastern Chad – 25 September 2007

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Brief: Syrian President issues Prisoner Pardon

On September 22, Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, issued Legislative Decree No. 56.  The decree pardoned criminals who committed minor offenses, but refrained from granted “general amnesty” to political prisoners.  The decree also pardoned prisoners over the age of 70 years and those inflicted with incurable diseases.

He came to power in March, 2000, when his father died.  During the first few years of his term, al-Assad released thousands of political prisoners.  Observers had hoped that this would be the first step in Syria moving to a more open, less oppressive country.  However, over the past year, Syria has been reverting back to repressing individual rights and Damascus has arrested several human rights advocates and political dissidents.

For more information, please see:
New York Times- Syrian pardon omits dissidents– 24 September 2007

Syrian Arab News Agency- President al-Assad issues Legislative Decree No.56 Granting a General Amnesty for the Crimes Committed Before 17.07.2007– 22 September 2007