|
Killers of Bangladeshi Blogger Sentenced to Death
By Christine Khamis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
DHAKA, Bangladesh –
Two Bangladeshi students, Faisal bin Nayem and Rezwanul Azad Rana, were sentenced to death last week for the murder of atheist blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider in 2013. Mr. Rana, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the attack on Mr. Haider, is currently on the run and was sentenced in absentia.
Mr. Haider was hacked to death with a machete while returning home from a public rally in 2013. Mr. Haider was known to be critical of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh. He was also one of several bloggers who called for the execution of Islamist leaders who committed war crimes in the 1971 conflict leading to Bangladesh’s founding.
Six others have received prison sentences for their involvement in Mr. Haider’s murder. Jasimuddin Rahmani, the head of Islamist extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, received a five year sentence. Ansarullah Bangla Team, which is a banned group in Bangladesh, has taken full responsibility for the killing of Mr. Haider.
The defendants’ defense lawyer, Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, plans on challenging the sentences in a higher court, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against his clients. Mahbubur Rahman, a state prosecutor, states that the evidence gathered helped to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Mr. Rahman also plans on appealing the verdict because he expected at least five of the accused to receive the death penalty.
Four other atheist bloggers who spoke out about Islamic extremism in Bangladesh were also killed in 2015, along with a publisher. Bangladesh’s government has been criticized over the past year for failing to adequately protect writers and activists.
Anisul Huq, Bangladesh’s Law and Justice Minister, has stated that investigators are working to bring those responsible for attacks on other bloggers to justice. The convictions handed down in Mr. Haider’s case mark a positive step toward confronting the increasing violence toward bloggers in Bangladesh.
For more information, please see:
CNN – Bangladesh Court Hands Down Death Sentences for Blogger Killing – 1 January 2015
Time – Students Who Killed Atheist Bangladeshi Writer Sentenced to Death – 1 January 2015
Al Jazeera – Two Sentenced to Death for Murdering Bangladeshi Blogger – 31 December 2015
New York Times – 2 Sentenced to Death in Killing of Bangladeshi Activist in 2013 – 31 December 2015
Russia Lists U.S., NATO as National Security Threats
by Shelby Vcelka
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe
MOSCOW, Russia–
NATO and the United States are among those Russia sees as its greatest threats to national security, according to a paper released and signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He accuses the organization of practicing policies of containment, intensifying military activities of member nations, expanding the alliance, and moving military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders. The paper itself was a reflection of Russia’s national security strategy, which had not been updated since 2009.
The document reflects diminishing relations between Russia and the West over the past two years. Tensions began to rise after Russia annexed Crimea and got involved in the war in eastern Ukraine. As retaliation, the West has imposed sanctions on both the Russian government and individuals aiding perceived Russian aggression.
Putin accuses the West and its allies of attempting to “maintain dominance in global affairs” leading to “political, economic, military, and informational pressure” on Russia. The paper also condemns the West for their stance on the conflict in Ukraine, stating, that it appeared the United States supported an “anti-constitutional coup d’etat in Ukraine.”
Reportedly, Putin has told his aides that he wants the West to admit that Russia has the right to intercede in its sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, without any condemnation or undue influence from NATO. He is also looking for ways to weaken the United States’ ties to Europe, and replace its influence with Russia. Through military interventions in both Syria and the Ukraine, Russia hopes to flex its military muscle and demonstrate that its needs must be met just as much as the U.S. and other Western countries.
The document repeats Russia’s criticism of the Arab Spring revolutions and other “color” revolutions in Eastern Europe, stating that the “practice of overthrowing legitimate political regimes is becoming more widespread, provoking domestic instability and conflicts.” Russia further criticizes the West by blaming the rise of the Islamic State on a “policy of double standards which some countries adhere to in the fight against terrorism.”
For more information, please see–
BBC– Russia security paper designates Nato as threat— 31 December 2015
Financial Times– Putin names Nato among threats in new Russian security strategy— 2 January 2016
Huffington Post– Putin Lists U.S. As One Of The Threats To Russia’s National Security— 2 January 2016
Reuters– Putin names United States among threats in new Russian security strategy— 2 January 2016
Recent NSA Surveillance Includes Israelis, Congress
By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America and Oceania
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America — U.S. spying programs picked up communications between members of Congress and Israeli leaders, giving the White House insight into Israel’s lobbying of U.S. lawmakers against the Iran nuclear deal. In a report first published by The Wall Street Journal late Tuesday, the U.S. reportedly continued to spy on select leaders of allied nations, despite President Barack Obama’s pledge to curb such surveillance two years ago.
The Obama administration decided against monitoring Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, but continued to monitor Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
Although President Obama had promised to curb eavesdropping on world leaders who are U.S. allies, there were a few leaders the White House wished to continue monitoring, including Netanyahu. The original reason for the stepped up surveillance of Netanyahu, according to the Wall Street Journal, was the fear that he would strike Iran without warning.
It was also discovered that Netanyahu and his advisers leaked details they had learned though Israeli intelligence concerning the US-Iran negotiations, and coordinated talks with Jewish-American groups against the deal and tried to influence votes of undecided US lawmakers. As a part of the surveillance, the NSA eavesdropped on communications between Israeli and US lawmakers amid efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran.
Specifically, the efforts of the Netanyahu government to turn legislators against the negotiations and convince them to block the emerging agreement were revealed. Before Netanyahu came to address Congress, the NSA had intercepted Israeli messages that said Netanyahu ‘wanted the latest U.S. positions in the Iran talks.’
According to the report, Obama administration officials thought the information they uncovered could potentially counteract Netanyahu’s crusade to stop the nuclear deal. Ultimately, the administration decided to let the NSA decide what to share.
“We didn’t say, ‘Do it,'” a senior U.S. official told the Journal. “We didn’t say, ‘Don’t do it.'”
Netanyahu spoke out against a potentially unsatisfactory nuclear deal during a speech to a joint session of Congress in March. The U.S. and five other world powers reached a deal with Iran in July. Netanyahu has previously criticized the United States for its spying efforts, specifically those targeted toward Israelis.
Officials said Obama insisted that keeping tabs on Netanyahu served a compelling national security purpose.
For more information, please see:
CBS News – Report: NSA recorded members of Congress with Israeli leaders – 30 December 2015
Politico — Report: U.S. spying on Israel swept up members of Congress – 29 December 2015
The Hill — US snooping on Israel also caught talks with lawmakers: report – 29 December 2015
Wall Street Journal — U.S. Spy Net on Israel Snares Congress – 29 December 2015
Armed Militiamen Stand Off With Feds In Oregon Wildlife Refuge
By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America and Oceania
BURNS, Oregon — Over the weekend, a group of armed protesters seized the remote Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Saturday after splintering off from a larger protest about ranchers’ rights in the small town of Burns. The armed occupation is being led by Ammon Bundy, an Idaho rancher whose father, Cliven Bundy, led an armed standoff with federal agents in Nevada in 2014 and who has described his supporters as “militia men.”
The FBI said in a statement Sunday that it was working with local and state police to bring a peaceful resolution to the situation.
The activists set themselves up in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 30 miles southeast of Burns, Oregon, defying the organizers of a rally and march held Saturday in support of two local ranchers who are scheduled to report to federal prison Monday to serve a sentence for arson. Protesters gathered Saturday in Burns to denounce the five-year sentencing of Dwight and Steven Hammond — father-and-son ranchers who were convicted of arson.
Prosecutors accused the Hammonds of committing arson on federal land in 2001 and 2006. The men and their attorneys argued that the fires had been set on their own property: once to prevent the spread of an invasive species of plant and, once in attempt to prevent the spread of a wildfire.
Ultimately, they were found guilty on only two arson counts, which covered the activities, namely setting fires, the Hammonds admitted to. As part of their plea deal, they agreed not to appeal their sentences. Dwight Hammond was sentenced to three months in prison and his son Steven was sentenced to 11 months, both sentences below the mandatory minimum of five years.
Although the Hammonds agreed not to appeal their sentences, the Department of Justice did, getting the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Judge Hogan’s decision and order the Hammonds to return to jail. Both Hammonds are expected to do so on Monday.
Apparently, Ammon Bundy met with Dwight Hammond and his wife in November, seeking a way to keep the elderly rancher from having to surrender for prison. The Hammonds professed through their attorneys that they had no interest in ignoring the order to report for prison.
In phone interviews from inside the occupied building Saturday night, Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, said they are not looking to hurt anyone. But they would not rule out violence if police tried to remove them, they said.
Ammon Bundy said the goal is to turn over federal land to local ranchers, loggers and miners. In a video interview with reporters on Saturday that was posted on his Facebook page, Ammon Bundy said the group is standing up against government overreach because the people have been abused long enough.
“I feel we are in a situation where if we do not do something, if we do not take a hard stand, we’ll be in a position where we’ll be no longer able to do so,” he said.
For more information, please see:
ABC News — Feds Monitor Armed Protesters in Oregon but Keep Distance – 4 January 2016
BBC News — Oregon: Armed protest at US government building – 4 January 2016
CNN — Armed protesters refuse to leave federal building in Oregon – 4 January 2016
NBC News — FBI Seeks ‘Peaceful’ End to Armed Standoff at Oregon Federal Building – 4 January 2016
The Oregonian — Militia takes over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters – 3 January 2016