Myanmar Pardons and Releases Nearly 7,000 Prisoners, Including Chinese Loggers

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar—

 Myanmarese president Thein Sein has pardoned and released 6,966 prisoners, including 210 foreign prisoners. A statement on Myanmar’s information ministry website said that the prisoners were being released on humanitarian grounds and “in view of national reconciliation”.

Around 155 Chinese loggers, who had been detained just last week, were among those released. Most of them, arrested on suspicion of illegal logging in Kachin State in Northern Myanmar, had been given life sentences. The loggers have been deported back to China following their release, according to U Mong Gwang, a liason officer at the Kachin Independence Organization.

A freed Chinese logger. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

Kachin State borders China’s Yunnan Province and has rich natural resources including jade and wood. Jade and wood are in high demand in China, and Chinese citizens are able to cross the border from Yunnan Province to Kachin State to take advantage of those resources. This has led to resentment in Myanmar and could have been one explanation for the life sentences given to the Chinese loggers.

China is a close economic and political ally of Myanmar. Myanmar’s ties with China are important for its trade, security, and energy programs. Recently, however, there has been tension between the nations due to conflict between Myanmar’s army and a rebel militia that has resulted in the deaths of Chinese citizens living near the China-Myanmar border. China had also protested against the loggers’ prison sentences and called for Myanmar to return them to China.

President Thein Sein was elected in 2010 when military-backed civilian government replaced military rule in Myanmar. During military rule, more than 2,000 journalists, activists and politicians were imprisoned, leading to Western sanctions against Myanmar. Those sanctions were lessened once civilian rule was established. Government reform has led to a series of amnesties in which most political prisoners held in Myanmar have been released.

A general election coming up in November could be one of the underlying reasons for the prisoners’ release. Also, U Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has pointed out that the prisoners’ release occurred just days before Yanghee Lee, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, was scheduled to visit. As the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee reports on human rights and electoral reform in Myanmar.

It is unclear whether pro-democracy activists were among the prisoners released in Myanmar. Most of the prisoners released in Myanmarese amnesties have been common criminals. There are no official lists of released prisoners, so any names of those released are generally disclosed by the prisoners or their families.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Myanmar Frees 6,966 Prisoners Ahead of Polls – 30 July 2015

New York Times – Myanmar Frees Loggers From China Amid a Broader Amnesty – 30 July 2015

Reuters – Political Prisoners, Chinese Loggers Among Thousands Freed in Myanmar Amnesty – 30 July 2015

The Guardian – Chinese Loggers Among 7,000 Prisoners Released in Burma – 30 July 2015

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights – Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

 

Kosovo to Vote on Creation of War Crimes Courts

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

PRISTINA, Kosovo–

On August 3rd, the Kosovo Parliament will vote on a constitutional amendment that will create an ad hoc war crimes court to try former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army that allegedly committed crimes during the Kosovo War.  After facing escalating pressure from the United States and the European Union, officials believe that there is enough support to pass the amendments necessary for the court’s creation, after a failure to pass the amendments last month.

Kosovo’s Parliament will vote on amendments that will allow for the creation of ad hoc courts to prosecute war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo War. The Kosovo government expects the amendments to pass, following mounting international pressure. (Photo courtesy of B92.)

No changes have been made to the amendments that were brought before Parliament last month, but President Isa Mustafa is confident that the amendments will pass.  At a recent cabinet meeting, Mustafa commented, “we have to be aware that we cannot build and develop this country if we are isolated by friendly countries. Voting for these changes in parliament will bring long-term benefit for Kosovo.”  The amendments, he believes, will be good for Kosovo and maintain powerful allies and ties the country has managed to obtain.

Veterans associations are opposed to the new amendments and the creation of the courts, as they find it insulting to the struggle for freedom against Serbian control of the region.  Many major parties are also opposed, as the creation of the courts would open investigations into party members.  However, members that were previously against the amendments are expected to vote in favor of the measures as international pressure mounts.

The court structure would entail the creation of special chambers to deal with specific allegations of atrocities committed by members of the KLA.  KLA members are accused of murdering, abducting, and illegally detaining Serbs, Roma and Kosovo Albanians who were believed to collaborate with the previous Serbian regime.  New allegations of atrocities are still coming to light, as more information is being uncovered.

US diplomats have warned the Kosovo government that the UN Security Council will set up the courts if Parliament fails to ratify the amendments.  Russia, Serbia’s ally and member of the Security Council, proposed the measure to the Council to protect Serbia’s interests in the region.

For more information, please see–

Balkan International Justice– Kosovo Govt Prepares New War Crimes Court Vote— 30 July 2015

Politico– Kosovo needs to show no one is above the law— 31 July 2015

B92– Kosovo: Draft resolution on genocide submitted to assembly— 31 July 2015

Balkan International Justice– Kosovo Sets Date for War Crimes Court Vote— 31 July 2015

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty– Kosovo’s Government Urges Parliament To Set Up War Crimes Court— 31 July 2015

Reuters– Under Western pressure, Kosovo to put war crimes court to new vote— 31 July 2015

 

Peru Rescues 39 held in ‘Slavery’

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru —

About 120 Peruvian special forces successfully raided a camp belonging to group “Shining Path,” rescuing captives held there as slaves. Some of those held claim they have been captives of the group for almost 30 years.

Peruvian special forces evacuate captives. [Photo courtesy of the BBC]
The Peruvian military discovered the location of the captives after one of their numbers escaped the camp one month ago.

The camp was located in the valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers, an area known as Vraem. Over 200 tons of cocaine are reportedly produced there every year – one third of the production for the entire country. Shining Path has been known to work with drug traffickers.

39 people were rescued from the camp – 26 children and 13 adults. Some of the children were born in the camp while others were likely kidnapped from surrounding rural areas, where impoverished parents don’t report abductions out of fear.

At least one of the captives was part of a group of nuns kidnapped by the group 25 years ago.

It is thought that at least 100 people remain captive by Shining Path.

The camp was a “production camp,” where inhabitants are meant to “work and procreate.” Women held there were raped and expected to have as many children as possible, to give birth to more rebels. Both women and children were forced to work in the fields and perform domestic duties.

Peruvian Vice Minister of Defense Ivan Vega reported that those held at the camp were forced to work in fields and on farms growing food for Shining Path members.

Children in the camps are instructed in the group’s Maoist ideology. Once the children reached the age of 13, they were considered “recruits,” and eligible to participate in the group’s armed operations. The rescued children will be placed in the care of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations.

Shining Path was started in the 1960s as a communist revolutionary group. The group in its heyday had about 10,000 members. The group, whose highest goal is to overthrow the Peruvian government, waged an insurgency that left 70,000 people dead or disappeared in its wake.

The fighting between the Peruvian government and Shining Path ended in 2000. Peru opened a museum to honor those killed in the conflict just last year.

Today their numbers are much smaller and the group engages in narcotics trafficking to fund its campaign. Shining Path caused a stir in 2012 when members of the group tried started a petition to form an official political party.

For more information, please see:

Council on Foreign Relations – Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists) – 27 August 2007

The New York Times – Peru Forced to Confront Deep Scars of Civil War – 26 May 2012

BBC – Peru rescues 39 ‘slave workers’ from Shining Path Farm – 28 July 2015

Latin Post – Peru Rescues 39 People Held Captive by Shining Path Rebels, Some for 30 Years [Pics] – 29 July 2015

Peru this Week – Shining Path still holds 100 hostages in Vraem – 29 July 2015

Reuters – Peru forces raid coca region rebel slave camp, rescue 39 women, children – 29 July 2015

TeleSur – Peru: 39 People Rescued from Camp Run by Shining Path – 29 July 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – 26 Children & 13 Women Abducted by Shining Path Rebels Rescued in Peru – 30 July 2015

Voice of Sudan and Sudan Democratic Forum – Vision of New Sudan

On July 29, 2015 Voices for Sudan & Sudan Democratic Forum held a Round table Discussion Forum on the “New Sudan”, and Reflections on the Legacy of Dr. John Garang De Mabior. The discussion focused on the vison of New Sudan, ten years after the death of Dr. John Garang De Mabior, Chairman of the SLPM/A, and the current situation in Sudan and South Sudan. Please clink on the link to hear the different points of views offered in the discussion.
Roundtable discussion on the Vision of New Sudan .The video of the event.Link

Comment
Though I’d been at one point quite well informed on Sudan/South Sudan, more recently I’ve been less engaged and thus less aware of the goings-on.  Yesterday’s (July 29, 2015) Voices for Sudan (VFS) “discussion forum”, which focused on what has happened to Dr. John Garang’s vision for Sudan on the 10th anniversary of his death, was extremely informative on the current situation in South Sudan.  A variety of perspectives was offered by an impressive roster of invited speakers, incuding a former SPLA and South Sudanese elected official, other members of the diaspora, humanitarian NGOs, and USAID.  I was particularly impressed with the presentation by the Sudanese woman from Darfur Niemat Ahmadai from Darfur Women Action Group, who had a clear understanding of and ability to explain the complexities within and among all the factors impacting this very sad situation. Great job, VFS! Please continue to hold forums like this one so we can remain informed and motivated to take action.
Paulette Lee.

    Voices for Sudan Inc.

1400 16th Street N.W # 430, Washington, DC 20036.
For more info e-mail us at info@voicesforsudan.org