A Voice for the Voiceless

Violence, international pressure increases in Sri Lanka

International donors have suspended aid due to Sri Lanka due to the government’s recent offensive against the Tamil Tiger separatists. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany suspended new aid because of the increased numbers of killings. 

Amnesty International has alleged that both the military and the rebels have been killing civilians in indiscriminate artillery raids.

Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission has recorded more than 100 abductions and disappearances so far in 2007. Last year, 1,000 people were reported missing. More than 4,800 people have been killed since December 2005. More than 69,000 people have been killed since the war began in 1983.

The Tiger rebel group wants a separate state with full control over its law enforcement and government entities.  But a large majority of the island’s Tamil minority want a system based on federalism and a decentralization of power.

 

For more information, please see:

Aid weapon used against Sri Lanka http://www.ft.com/cms/s/54315d20-087b-11dc-b11e-000b5df10621,_i_email=y.html

600 killed in Sri Lanka battles http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070520/ap_on_re_as/sri_lanka

Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers abducted us, say Indian fishermen http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070520/wl_sthasia_afp/indiasrilankaunrestkidnap

Moves by Sri Lanka Military Worry Human Rights Group http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/17/AR2007051702386.html?referrer=emailarticle

20 Tamil rebels killed in fresh fighting: Sri Lanka http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070517/wl_asia_afp/srilankaunrest

8 reported killed in Sri Lanka fighting http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070514/ap_on_re_as/sri_lanka

Foreign aid cut fear as Sri Lanka fails on human rights http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/275876/1/.html

Lebanese troops battle militants in refugee camp

        Fighting between Fatah al-Islam militants and Lebanese troops on May 20 and 21 resulted in the worst internal violence in Lebanon since the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990).  Street fighting broke out in Tripoli on Sunday May 20, when Lebanese troops raided a Fatah al-Islam safe house where suspected bank robbers were hiding.  The street fights led al-Islam militants to take over army posts near the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp near Tripoli.  an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Palestinian refugees live in the camp.  While Lebanese troops have not entered the camp, in accordance with a forty year old agreement with the PLO, they have bombarded the camp with artillery.

        There is great concern over the safety and welfare of the refugees within the camp.  Without food, electricity or medical supplies and with the constant bombardment, the conditions within the camp pose a great threat to civilian life.  Since the Lebanese troops are focusing the attack on the outer perimeter of the camp, the refugees have retreated into the center of the camp.  As a result, the refugees are imprisoned within the camp.  A short lived truce allowed medical organizations to evacuate 16 wounded civilians on Monday, however an unestimated number of injured civilians remain in the camp, with no access to medical care or supplies.  In addition, an estimated 25 civilians have died as a result of the fighting.

        Fatah al-Islam is a Palestinian group and is suspected to be either a Lebanses branch of al-Qaeda or connected with Syrian intelligence.  The Palestinian government has been working with the Lebanese to broker a cease-fire.  However, some within the Lebanese government are determined to destroy the group and the fighters based in Palestinian refugee camps, which they hold responsible to terrorist attacks throughout Lebanon. 

        Regardless as to what affiliation or what the group’s objectives are, this current conflict may cause the fragile Lebanese government to collapse. The government faces international and domestic criticism for their use of force within the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. If the conflict continues, Fatah al-Islam threatens to extend fighting beyond the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. If the fighting escalates, Lebanon

may be drawn into civil war, more devastating than the first.

For more information please see:

Al-Jazeera: “Lebanese Troops shell Palestinian refugee camp” 21 May 2007

Al-Jazeera:  “Clashes between Lebanese troops, rebels leave 38 dead” 21 May 2007.

AP: “Lebanese Army Pounds Palestinian Camp” 21 May 2007.

BBC: “Fighting rages in Lebanese Camp” 21 May 2007.

BBC: “Fresh Clases in Northern Lebanon” 21 May 2007.

Christian Science Monitor: “New Fight Rips at a Fragile Lebanon” 21 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “Army Steps up Shelling of Militants at Nahr al-Bared” 22 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “Palestinian factions offer to help fight Fatah al-Islam” 21 May 2007.

The Daily Star: “22 Troops, 19 Fatah al-Islam Fighters dead” 21 May 2007.

Middle East Times: “Death toll mounts as Lebanon troops pound Islamist” 21 May 2007.

Homemade Bomb Kills Six in Juliaca, Peru

A bomb made of dynamite and nails concealed in a backpack exploded in a market in Juliaca, Peru on Friday, May 18th. The blast occurred around 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. local time, officials say. The blast killed 6 and wounded 48 attending a 40 year anniversary celebration. Juliaca is just over 500 miles south of Lima, Peru’s capital, near the Bolivian border.

Officials have made contradictory statements: one claimed it was merely fireworks for the celebration, but local police have stated that they have not ruled out a terrorist attack.

The influence of Peru’s rebel group, Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) has decreased in recent years. Sendero Luminoso was responsible for massacres, bombings, and assassinations in the 1980s and 1990s. Their leader, Abimael Guzman is serving a life sentence after being captured in 1992. It is worth noting, however, that this terrorist group made their first armed attack almost to the day over 27 years ago, when it burned ballot boxes before a presidential election on May 17th, 1980.

“Homemade Bomb Kills 6, Wounds 48 in Peru” New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Peru-Bombing.html. 19 May 2007.

“Homemade Bomb Kills 6 during celebration in Peru” CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/05/19/peru.bomb.ap/index.html. 19 May 2007.

“Blast kills 6 in southern Peru” BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6673669.stm. 20 May 2007.

Zimbabwe: Poor Role Model for Progress

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

The United Nations announced Zimbabwe’s appointment to the body’s Commission on Sustainable Development, despite disapproval from the United States, European nations and human rights organizations. The commission is charged with promoting economic progress and environmental protection. Given the state of the country, opponents argue Zimbabwe is not suitable to represent the theme of the commission.

Once the “breadbasket of Africa”, Zimbabwe can’t now feed itself. The nation’s annual inflation has soared to 3,714 percent. Zimbabwe is experiencing the world’s fastest-shrinking economy. Fueled by numerous business shut downs, unemployment has reached 80 percent.

Many charge Zimbabwe’s current president for the countries poor state. Mugabe has been criticized by the West and domestic opponents for oppression and corruption. Suspicious of western influence, Mugabe’s main opposition, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), claims many of their members have been killed, tortured and harassed by Mugabe and his party.

Since 1980 President Mugabe and his political party, Zanu-PF has dominated Zimbabwe’s politics. Considered anti-western and suspicious of capitalism, Mugabe played a key role in ending white rule in Rhodesia. In 2000 he implemented a land redistribution plan in Zimbabwe which disrupted the agriculture-based economy. White-owned commercial farms were violently seized and handed to poor blacks.

Zimbabwe is suffering from massive food and fuel shortages. According to the Central Statistical Office, prices increased by 100.7 percent, the highest on record. While the nation’s consumers are forced to carry bags of currency to purchase scarce resources, President Mugabe is building a $4 million museum to display the many gifts he received during his 27 year presidency.

Mugabe’s critics argue that Zimbabwe’s appointment to such a key body in the U.N. will call into question the credibility of the organization. Despite disapproval, the commission traditionally rotates among regions of the world. This year Africa was up for the position.

For more information please see:

Washington Times – Zimbabwe president extravagant amid poor – 20 May 2007

Yahoo – Inflation in Zimbabwe hits 3,714 percent – 17 May 2007

CNN – Zimbabwe to head key U.N. body – 12 May 2007

BBC – Country Profile: Zimbabwe – 04 May 2007

China to Send Military Engineers to Darfur

China will send about three hundred military engineers for a U.N. peacekeeping force to Sudan’s Darfur region. The arrangement would further the “Annan” peace plan, an effort to place U.N. forces alongside the African Union forces already in Darfur who have failed to stop the violence. The continued bloodshed in the ethnically-mixed region was initiated when rebel groups accused the government of neglect and took up arms in 2003. The violence has since killed approximately 200,000 people and displaced another 2.5 million.

China, a primary buyer of Sudan’s oil and a member of the U.N. Security Council, has faced criticism and pressure for its Sudan policies. Although China has resisted plans to send U.N. peacekeepers without
Sudan’s consent, in an effort to balance pressures over the region China has also used its influence to urge Sudan to accept peacekeepers. In April, an envoy was sent to inspect refugee camps there.

Some critics of China’s policies have urged a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

For more information please see:

Yahoo News – China confirms will send engineers to Darfur – 08 May 2007