Egypt to Dissolve Human Rights Organization

By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On September 4, Cairo governor `Abd al-`Azzem Wazeer issued a decree closing the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA). AHRLA is one of the country’s leading human rights organizations, and it reports on human rights violations and provides legal assistance to torture victims.

Even though Egypt is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Egyptian government has shown increasing tendency to abuse state powers to police and stifle the work of civil society organizations. Earlier in April, the government also closed Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS), which offered legal aid to Egyptian factory workers and reported on labor-rights issues.

AHRLA has appealed the decree to the Administrative Court, and a hearing will be held on October 21.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Reverse decree closing human rights organization – 18 September 2007

Reuters – Egypt to close rights group aiding torture victims – 13 September 2007

ICC Prosecutor Demands Arrests in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo is calling for the arrests of two men charged with war crimes in Darfur.  Warrants for Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and Janjaweed leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abad al-Rahman were issued by the ICC in April.   Sudan’s government has continued to assert that it is not bound by the ICC decisions.

Both men are wanted by the ICC on 51 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.  Ahmed Haroun was a minister responsible for the Darfur portfolio in 2003 and 2004 and allegedly was responsible for organizing and funding the Janjaweed militia.  As the minister for humanitarian affairs, he currently has authority of the displaced persons camps and control over the flow of humanitarian aid.  Mr. Ocampo has said that “there can be no solution     to the crisis in Darfur while Mr. Haroun remained free.”  Ali Muhammad Ali Abad al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, is accused of ordering the torture and mass rape of civilians during attacks on villages in west Darfur.

Ministers from 26 countries have been invited to attend a meeting on Friday chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare.  The meeting is intended to discuss mobilizing support for new political negotiations, deployment of a 26,000 UN-AU force, and expansion of humanitarian assistance.  Mr. Ocampo urged the international community to remind Sudan’s government of its duty to arrest those charged.  “I am concerned that silence by most states and international organizations on the subject of the arrest warrant has been understood in Khartoum as a weakening of international resolve in support of the law, and in support of the arrest…It is time to break the silence.”

Political talks are set to begin in Libya next month between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels to discuss peace and to speed up deployment of peacekeepers to the region.   The arrest warrants are not on the agenda for those talks.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Prosecutor demands Sudan arrests – 21 September 2007

AFP – ICC prosecutor presses for arrest of Darfur war crimes suspects – 21 September 2007

Sudan Tribune – ICC Prosecutor urges world to be on side of Darfur victims – 21 September 2007

The Canadian Press – Prosecutors want arrest of alleged war criminals atop Darfur agenda – 21 September 2007

Iraq: Blackwater USA Security Firm Contract Cancelled

BAGHDAD, Iraq- The Iraqi government has cancelled the contract of the security firm Blackwater USA following recent shooting deaths.  Blackwater USA is a privately contracted security company, which performs special operations for both the US government and the Iraqi government.  The eleven people were shot by an American convoy while in Baghdad.

Blackwater USA was created by Erik Prince in 1997.  According to journalist Jeremy Scahill the group is the “world’s most powerful mercenary army.”  (Dissident Voice)  Scahill’s book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, reported that the North Carolina based group employs over 2,300 full time soldiers and has immediate access to “21,000 former Special Forces troops, soldiers, and retired law enforcement agents” for special operations . . .   Blackwater “has a private fleet of more than twenty aircraft, including helicopter gunships and a surveillance blimp division.”  (Dissident Voice)  Since its creation, Blackwater has gained more than $500 million dollars in government contracts.  Blackwater has become increasingly popular with the United States Government since the September 11, 2001 attack.

There has been a dispute whether the Blackwater agents involved in the shooting actually instigated the shooting.  Blackwater and President Bush maintain that Blackwater has maintained all of the the rules of engagement that the State Department has prescribed the security agency.  The Associated Press interviewed a lawyer who was injured in the shooting.  The lawyer stated that the Iraqis were shot at right after the Americans yelled, “Go! Go! Go!” and then fired out into the crowd killing the traffic cop first. Ten others were killed including a young boy.

It is not clear what role private hired security companies should play.  It is likely that they are becoming more popular because of their less restrictive rules of engagement.  However, action by the Iraqi government is necessary to show that all armies, whether private or not must obey the rules of armed conflict.  Thus it will make nations take responsibility for their actions, instead of hiring a private firm to take care of their special work.  The rules of armed conflict must be applied to all militaries.

New York Times-  Iraq Ends Security Companies License after 8 Deaths- 17 September 2007

Dissident Voice- Blackwater Blues for Dead Iraqi Civilians- 18 September 2007

Associated Press- Survivor recalls Blackwater shootings- 20 September 2007

UN Releases Report on Ethiopia’s Eastern Region

OGADEN, Ethiopia- On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) released their report on the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The region, which borders Somalia and is predominantly inhabited by Somalis, has been caught between the clashes of the government and rebels for several months. The anticipated report comes after the UN humanitarian assessment team visited the region from August 30th to September 5th.

The report comes after the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) alleges violations of human rights by government military. The government has denied all allegations. The team visited three of the five zones in the Somali Regional State. According to the ONLF, the Fik and Warder zones are the areas where the worst atrocities were committed; the UN mission was only granted access to “routes approved by the regime.”

The report however did not comment on the claims of abuses. Yet, taking into account the deteriorating situation in the region and direct accounts of human rights abuses, the report does urgently recommend an independent investigation of those allegations.

Instead, the main focus of the report was the humanitarian and food situation. The OFLA has also accused the government of creating a man-made famine. The report expresses concerns of drastic food, drug and medical shortages that will likely reach emergency level very shortly. The region has long been extremely poor but the increased fighting between the ONLF and the government has worsened the conditions. Furthermore, the government commercial and livestock trade restrictions have only aggravated the situation. The price of food has nearly doubled.

The report calls for immediate and “impartial” food distribution to 600,000 people in the region for the next three months. The government has promised to ensure the needs of the people through its collaboration with the UN. The report further appeals to both sides to guarantee the food and medical aid reach those in need.

For more information please see:

BBC – UN Seeks Ethiopia Abuses Inquiry – 20 September 2007

Yahoo News (AFP) – UN Calls for Probe into Alleged Eastern Ethiopia Rights Abuses – 19 September 2007

AllAfrica.com – Ethiopia: UN Report Warn of Food Crisis in Ogaden – 20 September 2007

UN Releases Their Report on Ethiopia’s Eastern Region

OGADEN, Ethiopia- On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) released their report on the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The region, which borders Somalia and is predominantly inhabited by Somalis, has been caught between the clashes of the government and rebels for several months. The anticipated report comes after the UN humanitarian assessment team visited the region from August 30th to September 5th.

The report comes after the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) alleges violations of human rights by government military. The government has denied all allegations. The team visited three of the five zones in the Somali Regional State. According to the ONLF, the Fik and Warder zones are the areas where the worst atrocities were committed; the UN mission was only granted access to “routes approved by the regime.”

The report however did not comment on the claims of abuses. Yet, taking into account the deteriorating situation in the region and direct accounts of human rights abuses, the report does urgently recommend an independent investigation of those allegations.

Instead, the main focus of the report was the humanitarian and food situation. The OFLA has also accused the government of creating a man-made famine. The report expresses concerns of drastic food, drug and medical shortages that will likely reach emergency level very shortly. The region has long been extremely poor but the increased fighting between the ONLF and the government has worsened the conditions. Furthermore, the government commercial and livestock trade restrictions have only aggravated the situation. The price of food has nearly doubled.

The report calls for immediate and “impartial” food distribution to 600,000 people in the region for the next three months. The government has promised to ensure the needs of the people through its collaboration with the UN. The report further appeals to both sides to guarantee the food and medical aid reach those in need.

For more information please see:

BBC – UN Seeks Ethiopia Abuses Inquiry – 20 September 2007

Yahoo News (AFP) – UN Calls for Probe into Alleged Eastern Ethiopia Rights Abuses – 19 September 2007

AllAfrica.com – Ethiopia: UN Report Warn of Food Crisis in Ogaden – 20 September 2007