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Lawmakers Demand Full Report Following State Department Human Trafficking Decision
By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America — U.S. lawmakers expressed concern Tuesday about whether the State Department’s annual global report on human trafficking may have been watered down due to political considerations and vowed to demand a full accounting at a Senate hearing this week. Last week, the U.S. State Department gave Malaysia, Cuba and Saudi Arabia upgrades from the lowest tier in its annual report on modern slavery.
The State Department denied that the country-by-country ratings in the latest report had been politicized.
A Reuters examination, based on interviews with more than a dozen sources in Washington and foreign capitals, showed that the State Department was pressured into inflating assessments of 14 countries in this year’s report. Analysts in the anti-trafficking office disagreed with U.S. diplomatic bureaus on ratings for 17 countries, the sources said.
The annual report examines 188 governments for their performance in the previous year in fighting exploitation, whether for sex, domestic labor, or work — from construction and fishing to farming and mining. Saudi Arabia, Cuba, and Malaysia were moved from Tier Three to Tier Two on the U.S. list of offenders because of their efforts to improve, according to the annual report on human trafficking.
The analysts, who are specialists in assessing efforts to combat modern slavery, won only three of those disputes, the worst ratio in the 15-year history of the unit. Among the countries that received higher rankings than recommended by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons were Malaysia, Cuba, China, India, Uzbekistan and Mexico.
Human rights groups called for an investigation into why strategically important countries such as Malaysia, China, Mexico and Cuba were upgraded from the list of worst offenders in human trafficking.
With regard to Cuba, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall said Cuba had made progress in combating sex trafficking. But she said concerns remained over the country’s failures to address forced labor.
“The Government of Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.” reads the report. The report uses the same language for its assessment of Malaysia.
The US also decided to remove Malaysia from the list of countries failing to address human trafficking, a decision criticized by human rights groups. Critics have noted the importance of Malaysia’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership as a possible political factor which may have had influence over the State Department’s decision.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 18 Senate colleagues wrote Secretary of State John Kerry this month opposing an upgrade in ranking.
“The administration has turned its back on the victims of trafficking, turned a blind eye to the facts, and ignored the calls from Congress, leading human rights advocates, and Malaysian government officials to preserve the integrity of this important report,” Menendez said in an e-mailed statement Monday. “They have elevated politics over the most basic principles of human rights.”
For more information, please see:
Reuters — Lawmakers to demand full accounting on human trafficking report – 4 August 2015
BBC News — Cuba removed from US human trafficking list – 27 July 2015
Bloomberg — U.S. Upgrades Malaysia, Cuba in Human Trafficking Report – 27 July 2015
Politico — U.S.-Cuba relations get another upgrade – 27 July 2015
USA Today — Malaysia, Cuba upgraded on human trafficking report – 27 July 2015
Washington Post — U.S. drops Cuba and Malaysia from human trafficking blacklist – 27 July 2015
Misunderstanding Islam on the Use of Violence – M. Cherif Bassiouni
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.
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.
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