Volkswagen and Brazil to Negotiate Torture Settlement

November 2, 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Volkswagen and Brazilian justice officials will negotiate a settlement for the torture of Volkswagen employees during Brazil’s military dictatorship. The company is accused for allowing the torture and detention of employees who opposed the dictatorship.

Volkswagen of Brazil. (Photo courtesy of DW.com)

The Brazilian National Truth Commission, implemented by President Dilma Rousseff in 2012 to investigate allegations of crimes and other wrongdoing during the military dictatorship of 1964 to 1985, released a final report in December 2014 saying that Volkswagen collaborated with the regime in 1972. Volkswagen handed over facilities near Sao Paolo to the regime, which were then used as detention and torture centers.

Activists representing former Volkswagen employees filed a complaint in September alleging that 12 Volkswagen employees were arrested and tortured at the factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo, which is near Sao Paolo. Other employees were allegedly laid off and placed on regime blacklists.

Lucio Bellentani, a former Volkswagen employee and communist activist reported that he was taken “in handcuffs to the personnel department” where he was tortured.

Brazilian justice officials are considering using the reparation funds to build a memorial or museum dedicated to the victims of the military dictatorship – though talks are still ongoing. Manfred Greiger, a Volkswagen official has said that discussions will go on at least into 2016: “we want to look at the pros and cons of the next steps to be taken.”

At least 400 people were disappeared during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Volkswagen is the only company named in the Truth Commission’s report to conduct its own investigation into allegations.

For more information, please see:

DW – Brazil: Torture lawsuit against VW – 23 September 2015

Agence France-Presse – Volkswagen to negotiate settlement in Brazil rights case – 1 November 2015

Estado – Volkswagen negocia reparação judicial por apoio à repressão durante ditadura – 1 November 2015

TeleSur – Brazil Dictatorship-Backer Volkswagen Negotiations – 1 November 2015

DW – Report: VW negotiating torture reparations in Brazil – 2 November 2015

SNHR: The Death of 1771 Individuals in October 2015

November 1, 2015

1771_people_were_killed_in_October_2015_en

The Horrors of the South Sudan Civil War

November 1, 2015

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

JUBA, South Sudan – A report released this Tuesday by the African Union has shed light onto the unbelievable scale of the atrocities committed during the two-year civil war in the new country of South Sudan. Wide spread reports of murder, rape, mutilation, torture, and even forced cannibalism make the report a disturbing and depressing window into the short history this country has faced.

Young Dinka Tribe Warrior Photo Courtesy of the Guardian

South Sudan came into existence in 2011 when 99% of the population voted to separate itself from North Sudan. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his vice president, Riek Machar, held the new nation together for two years. Both leaders were representatives of their respective ethnic groups, the President, a Dinka, and the Vice President, a Nuer. Then, unexpectedly, in the summer of 2013 President Kiir abolished his cabinet and fired his vice president.

Kiir’s action sent shockwaves through the country and within days it had descended into full civil war between the two major ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer. This August the fighting was halted when the two leaders, president and former vice president, came together and signed a peace deal. In theory ending the civil war. However, this shocking report threatens to shatter the fragile peace between the two groups.

The report from the African Union found “sexual and gender-based violence” and “extreme cruelty” in the practices of both sides during the war. Even more alarming is the report that most of the atrocities were carried out against civilians not involved in the fighting. These atrocities include mass rape against all ages, the beating and then burning of civilians based only on tribal facial marks, and the forced cannibalism of civilians by soldiers. Places of worship, hospitals, and places of protection were also attacked.

The report from the AU ruled that there were reasonable grounds to find that war crimes were committed and human rights violated. However, the AU was not yet willing to rule that genocide had been committed, even though the lines of the conflict were drawn between two distinct ethnic groups.

A lot is still yet to be decided and resolved. The AU report gave some advice on what is to happen next with the young country. First, it stated that the government was certainly at fault for what had happened. The reports by President Kiir that the fighting began because of an attempted coup do not seem to have any basis in fact. Second, the AU suggests that neither Kiir not Machar play any role in a transitional government.

It still remains to be seen if the peace agreement formed by the two sides will be completely effective. Both sides still remain hostile against one another, constantly accusing the other of breaking the peace deal. The AU report, which was written a year ago, was only just released because of fear it would incite more violence. This still remains a distinct possibility.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Post – South Sudan report shows civil war horror: “I have seen people being forced to eat other humans’ – 29 Oct. 2015

The New York Times – Rape and Cannibalism Cited Among South Sudan Horrors – 28 Oct. 2015

The Guardian – South Sudan civil war inquiry details torture and forced cannibalism – 28 Oct. 2015

Sudan Tribune – South Sudan’s Kiir moves to take down Machar & Amum, Khartoum says accords unaffected – 23 July 2013

Syria Deeply: Aleppo’s Little Architect: Imagining a Brighter Future for Syria

October 31, 2015

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the weekly Syria Deeply newsletter. We’ve rounded up the most important stories and developments about Syria and the Syrians in order to bring you valuable news and analysis.

Aleppo’s Little Architect: Imagining a Brighter Future for Syria

Fourteen-year-old Muhammad Qteish spends weeks in his room in Syria’s war-torn city of Aleppo, gluing together small pieces of colored paper. Known around town as “the little architect,” Muhammad has spent months creating the new Aleppo, the Aleppo he hopes to help build once all the fighting is over.

Khaldoun Sinjab: A Life of Constant Struggle

From high-school golden boy to quadriplegic, from games designer to refugee, Khaldoun Sinjab has had it harder than most, but he’s not complaining. He just wants to breathe in peace. Syria Deeply spoke with Khaldoun and his wife about his tumultuous path and how he maintains such a positive outlook.

‘I Belong to Syria’ – A Young Journalist’s Return to Aleppo

Zaina Erhaim has taken the road less traveled. In London pursuing her M.A. when the revolution in Syria began, she chose to go against the stream of refugees fleeing the violence and return to use her skills as a journalist to help her country and her people.

An Eritrean Migrant was Brutally Beaten by Israeli Mob

October 29, 2015

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – Last Sunday, an Eritrean migrant was shot and then brutally beaten by a mob. The Eritrean migrant, Habtom Zerhom, was mistaken as a second attacker in an incident at a bus station in Beersheba.

Israeli security forces stand at the divide between a Jewish neighborhood and Palestinian neighborhood in Jerusalem. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

Zerhom took cover in the bus station amid the chaos. A security video shows Zerhom crawling in all fours around a kiosk when he was shot. A security guard, mistaking Zerhom as an additional attacker, ran at Zerhom and opened fire.

While Zerhom lay on the floor, a mob of people began to kick him and through things at him. The mob then rammed him with a bench, as Zerhom lay on the floor helpless. Israeli police officers and a few passers-by attempted to protect Zerhom from the mob.

Meir Saka, a passer-by who tried to protect Zerhom, told Channel 10 TV, “It doesn’t matter if it was a terrorist or not. It was a man lying on the ground that couldn’t move. I couldn’t sleep at night, from seeing him, his blood.”

According to doctors at Soroka Medical Center, Zerhom died from the bullet wound in combination with the injuries he sustained from being kicked repeatedly. One man who had participated in the mob attack told Israeli Army Radio that, “If I had known he wasn’t a terrorist, believe me, I would have protected him like I protect myself.” He continued, I didn’t sleep well at night. I feel disgusted.”

Israeli police announced that there will be an investigation to determine who was involved in the mob attack against Zerhom. Luba Samri, Israeli police spokeswoman, stated “It should be noted that the police see this in a very severe light and will not allow people to take the law into their own hands.”

The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, in response to the bus station shooting, told all licensed gun owners to carry their weapons to assist an overstretched security force. This has drawn complaints from critics, who argue that this aids to an already charged atmosphere. A Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, stated, “They are creating a mentality of lynch mobs and of course feeding the culture of hate and racism.”

Currently, there are as many as 34,000 Eritrean migrants in Israel. Israel has refused to give them refugee status, and instead classifies them as migrant workers but has not deported them because of the dangerous situation in Eritrean.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Netanyahu After Mob Beating: ‘No One Will Take Law into his Own Hands’ – 19 October 2015

Reuters – Eritrean Mistaken for Gunman Killed in Israel Bus Station Attack – 19 October 2015

The New York Times – Fatal Beating of Eritrean Prompts Soul-Searching in Israel – 19 October 2015

The Washington Post – Israel Probes Mob Assault on African Bystander Shot Amid Latest Violence – 19 October 2015