Brazil ‘Outraged’ After Drug Smuggler Executed in Indonesia

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, Brazil– Shortly after midnight on Sunday in Indonesia a Brazilian drug smuggler was executed by firing squad. The execution was performed against the pleas of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and human rights group Amnesty International.

Marco Moreira before execution / image courtesy of oimpacto.com

Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira , 53, was arrested in Indonesia in 2003, after police at Jakarta airport found 13.4 kg of cocaine hidden in his hang glider.

Moreira was the first Brazilian national to be executed abroad. The nation warned that the execution would damage relations between the two countries.

Five other convicts from Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam and the Netherlands, were executed on Sunday. Each one convicted on drug charges.

The prisoners faced a firing squad in Central Java province: five were executed on the island of Nusa Kambangan and the other one, a Vietnamese woman, was executed in the small central Javanese town of Boyolali.

In a statement President Rousseff said that she was “outraged and dismayed”. “Relations between the two countries have been affected” continued President Rousseff.

“The Brazilian ambassador to Jakarta has been recalled for consultations,” she added.

Brazil is not the only country outraged by Indonesia’s actions, The Netherlands has taken action of its own and also recalled its ambassador. Foreign Minister Bert Koenders called the execution of Dutch citizen Ang Kiem Soe, 52, “an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”.

Indonesia is tough on criminals convicted of drug crimes, with some of the world’s toughest drug laws. The country resumed executions in 2013 after an unofficial four-year moratorium.

The country’s Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said “hopefully, this will have a deterrent effect”.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has previously stated that he will show no mercy to drug criminals, because they have ruined the lives of so many others.

President Widodo rejected a plea for clemency from President Rousseff on Friday. President Rousseff told President Widodo that she respected the sovereignty and judicial system of his country but as a mother and head of state she was making the appeal for humanitarian reasons.

Apparently, President Widodo stated that he understood the Brazilian president’s concern but said he could not commute the sentence as the full legal process had been followed.

Moreira said in a video recorded by a friend that he regretted trying to smuggle cocaine into Indonesia.

“I am aware that I committed a serious offence, but I believe I deserve another chance. Everyone makes mistakes.”

Brazil abolished the death penalty in times of peace in 1889.

 

For more information, please see:

the guardian – Brazil and Netherlands recall Indonesia ambassadors over drug executions  – 18 Jan. 2015

BBC News – Brazil ‘outraged’ by Indonesia drug trafficking execution – 17 Jan. 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Brazil Says Indonesia Rejected Clemency for Brazilian Drug Smuggler  – 16 Jan. 2015

Bloomberg – Indonesian Execution of Brazilian Triggers Ambassador Recall – 17 Jan. 2015

Kurdish Forces Battle Forces Loyal to the Assad Regime

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian Kurds reportedly clashed with forces loyal to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday breaking a tactical agreement between the two sides, both facing an ongoing struggle to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). The fighting reportedly broke out in the Syrian City of Hassakeh, the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Casualties were reported on both sides.  The clashes broke out Saturday after members of a Kurdish militia detained 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government gunmen after they were deployed in areas controlled by Kurds. “There has been some serious fighting today. The PYD arrested 10 soldiers and Baath party gunmen,” Observatory head Rami Abdulrahman told the press. “There is now fighting in many areas of Hassakeh.”

Assad visits troops loyal to his regime. The YPG and the government had divided Hassakeh into zones in a power sharing agreement for the region. (Photo courtesy of Al Arabiya)

The Syrian Military reportedly shelled three areas in the Kurdish region of the country on the edges of the city of Hassakeh. Nawaf Khalil, A spokesperson Kurdish Democratic Union Party spokesman said the fighting was concentrated in several areas in Hassakeh, a predominantly Kurdish city. Fighting between the two sides has been reportedly rare since the Syrian military withdrew from the area in 2012 to focus its fighting elsewise in the country. Kurdish forces have been openly deployed in the area, defending the region from insurgents, since the Syrian regime withdrew from the region. However, violence broke out when Syrian army’s soldier in the region as well as militiamen loyal to the regime took control of buildings in an area that both sides had agreed would stay demilitarized, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported.

While there were smaller scale clashes reported last May between the Assad regime forces and Kurdish Forces in the city of Hassakeh those clashes were relatively contained. During Syria’s three year civil war, Kurds have proclaimed control in parts of the northeast where Kurdish forces have defended the nation’s Kurdish minority. Approximately 200,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, according to the United Nations.

The City of Hassakeh has seen heavy violence from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) over the past several months. Last Friday, Amnesty International reported that fighters loyal to ISIS targeted and killed Arab families living and working in the farming village of al-Tleiliye in Kurdish-controlled Hassakeh province. ISIS reportedly killed 15 people included seven children. “The attacks appear aimed at terrorizing and forcibly displacing the community living in the area,” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa program director, said in a statement. The organization “fears these civilians were killed as retribution for their perceived support of the YPG, either directly or indirectly through their Yezidi Kurdish landowners, or because they were mistaken for Yezidi Kurds.”

For more information please see:

Al Arabiya – Kurds Open Front against Assad’s Forces: Monitor – 17 January 2015

Reuters UK – Kurds Battle Assad’s Forces in Syria, Opening New Front in Civil War – 17 January 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Kurdish Fighters Clash with Syrian Forces – 17 January 2015

Syria Deeply – Murder Of Arab Families in Hassakeh Points to Rising Tensions between Islamists and Kurds – 11 January 2015

 

 

Russian Investigative Committee Refuses Application from Magnitsky’s Mother to Bring to Account Those Responsible for Use of Rubber Batons on her Son in Detention

16 January 2015 – The Russian Investigative Committee has refused the application from Sergei Magnitsky’s mother to bring to account those responsible for the use of rubber batons on her son before his death in detention.

Mr Veseliev, Deputy head of section of the Main Investigative Department of the Russian Investigative Committee, stated in refusing the application that the decision to terminate the investigation was based on “the collection of gathered evidence” and “was checked by the head of the investigative body and prosecutor, no grounds to change the decision were found.” The decree does not provide any concrete ground in relation to the decision not to investigate the use of rubber batons.

The application from Magnitsky’s mother stated that the use of rubber batons was confirmed by the post-mortem medical examination, yet the investigation closed the criminal case into Magnitsky’s death without bringing to account those responsible. Her application said:

“I request to conduct a full probe by investigative means into the use of special means – metallic handcuffs and rubber batons – on 16 November 2009 at the time when he [Magnitsky] was delivered in grave condition to Matrosskaya Tishina detention center for the purpose of providing him with emergency medical care.”

Sergei Magnitsky died on 16 November 2009. Despite the conclusions from four independent expert examinations that he was tortured in detention, the Russian Investigative Committee has refused to investigate.

Russian Investigator of the Investigative Committee Andrei Strizhov, who closed the Magnitsky death case investigation, and Deputy General Prosecutor of Russia Victor Grin, the overseeing prosecutor, were both sanctioned by the US Government at the end of December 2014 for their role in concealing the legal liability of persons responsible for Magnitsky’s ill-treatment and death, in accordance with the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.

For more information, please contact:

Magnitsky Justice Campaign

Website: http://lawandorderinrussia.org

 

France Recovering Amidst International Worries of More Impending Attacks

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France – Following the recent deadly attacks that began with the shooting on Charlie Hebdo, France is actively responding. France is upping participation in the U.S.-led coalition strikes against ISIS, as well as cracking down on hate speech and anti-Semitism within its own borders.

A number of world leaders joined in on the Paris march of well over 3 million. (Photo courtesy of The Washington Times)

A massive rally in Paris involving over 3 million people and many world leaders followed the deadly rampage on Charlie Hebdo. The rally was a peaceful show of solidarity and support for the magazine, as well as a proverbial and literal stand against terrorism. The rally was not limited to Paris, although the city was the scene of the largest rally.

Charlie Hebdo chose to rebound from the attack by not only publishing the mocking edition with Mohammed on the cover, but also publishing over 3 million copies with possibly more to come. World leaders, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, were outwardly in support of promoting democratic values like free speech and promoting publication. Writers and artists around the world followed up the attacks, many that same day, with pictures mocking the terrorists and with a common theme of either resiliency or showing the absurdity of the attack on Charlie Hebdo.

France has since increased arrests on hate speech, anti-Semitism, and glorifying terrorism; at least 54 have already been arrested on these charges in the last week. 10,000 troops and 120,000 security forces have also been deployed around the country to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, mosques, and travel hubs. France is also sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East to aid the U.S.-led coalition in fighting the Islamic State.

Two new events unfolded today following the release of the newspaper. First, a wave of cyber attacks has hit France with over 19,000 websites claiming to have been affected. In recent days, some of these same sites had reported being hacked by well-known Islamic hacker groups. Second, two suspects were killed in a gunfight with police in Verviers, Belgium. The two were being investigated as suspects of an operational cell with ties to Syria, and it is believed the group was about to commit terrorist attacks in Belgium.

For more information, please see:

ABC – Two Dead as Police Raid Terror Suspects in Belgium – 15 January 2015

CBS – France hit by unprecedented wave of cyber attacks – 15 January 2015

Huffington Post – France Arrests 54 For Defending Terror; Announces Crackdown – 14 January 2015

Huffington Post – Charlie Hebdo Cover Features Muhammad Holding ‘Je Suis Charlie’ Sign – 12 January 2015

The New York Times – Charlie Hebdo’s New Issue Features Muhammad on Cover – 12 January 2015

Los Angeles Times – 3 million across France march in solidarity against terrorism – 11 January 2015

United States’ Central Command Social Media Hacked

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America – Earlier this week the Twitter and YouTube accounts for the U.S. military command, which oversees operations in the Middle East and Asia, were hacked by people claiming to be sympathetic toward ISIS. Central command is based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. The United States and coalition partners have recently targeted Islamic State forces in air strikes.

A Screenshot shows the Untied States’ Central Command’s news feed after it was hacked by ISIS supporters (Photo courtesy of Reuters).

The Twitter account read, “American soldiers, we are coming, watch your back, ISIS.” “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the CyberCaliphate continues its CyberJihad,” could be found on the Twitter feed of Central Command also. Several U.S. security and intelligence officials have stated that they are skeptical as to CyberCalpphate’s capabilities. Pentagon spokesman, Army Colonel Steve Warren, commented on the hacking, stating that the Defense Department “views this as little more than a prank, or as vandalism,” “It’s inconvenient, it’s an annoyance but in no way is any sensitive or classified information compromised,” Warren stated at a press briefing.

Media outlets, such as Reuters, reviewed some of the documents released by the hackers, and stated that no security threats could be immediately identified. Thus, it did not seem that the national security was put at risk. Accordingly, many of the released documents were easily found using a basic Google search. The intelligence community maintains that the incident was minimal and posed no threat. A former senior U.S. intelligence official stated, “Hacking a Twitter is about the equivalent of spray-painting a subway car.”

President Barack Obama was in the midst of announcing proposals aimed at strengthening the United States cyber security policies when the hacking took place. President Obama has proposed to give law enforcement agencies broader power to investigate and prosecute cybercrime. The President was addressing the recent hack of Sony Pictures, which the U.S has attributed to North Korea, and reminded the public that the United States is vulnerable in the area of cyber security.

 

For more information, please see the following:

BBC – US Centcom Twitter Account Hacked by Pro-IS group – 12 Jan. 2015.

DAILY TIMES – Apparent Islamic State Backers Hack US Military Twitter Feed – 14 Jan. 2015.

REUTERS – Apparent Islamic State Backers Hack U.S. Military Twitter Feed – 12 Jan. 2015.

YAHOO NEWS – Obama Seeks Enhanced Cybersecurity Laws to Fight Hackers – 13 Jan. 2015.