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A Voice for the Voiceless

The Syrian Commission for Transitional Justice: Regime’s Airstrikes Killed 10 Children and 5 Women in Deir Ezzor

SCTJ Statement on Deir Ezzor Massacre

On 3 September, 2014, the Syrian regime targeted many areas in the province of Deir Ezzor with heavy aerial bombardment via airstrikes. One of the strikes targeted a bus, which was carrying civilian passengers. The bus was travelling on the Damascus – Deir Ezzor highway and the outcome of the strike caused 10 children and five women to be killed instantly. Out of the fifteen victims, the following were identified:

Aisha Ahmad Az-Zou’bi

Yara Al-Omar

Noura Al-Omar

Ayman Al-Omar

Kauthar Ali Al-Mekhlef

Amina Al-Ali Al-Mekhlef

Saif Ali Al-Mekhlef

Hanaa Ali Al-Mekhlef

Ayham Al-Hassan

Marwa Al-Hamada

Marwan Al-Hamada

The Syrian regime’s continuous use of indiscriminate shelling and aerial weapons had killed tens of thousands of unarmed civilians. Furthermore, the Syrian regime, which uses these weapons against unarmed civilians, violates all international laws by taking advantage of the international community’s inaction of its ongoing crimes against humanity.

This massacre has breached once again the international humanitarian laws, which provides that civilians and civil facilities are to be protected during armed conflicts.

The Syrian Commission for Transitional Justice condemns this massacre as it constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity. Additionally SCTJ urges the international community to shed light on the Syrian regime’s systematic terrorism against civilians, and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The international community should take appropriate measures to put an end to the Syrian regime’s policy of indiscriminate shelling and targeting of civilians.

American Samoa Grants Amnesty to over 4,000 Migrant Workers

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania 

 

Pago Pago, American Samoa 

American Samoa, a territory of the United States has recently granted amnesty to 4,000 foreign migrant workers living in the territory. Prior to this new bill American Samoa had a quota system of allowing only about 350 immigrants enter a year, this bill temporary changes that limit for this year only. The territorial government of American Samoa has stated that the bill is the first step in immigration reform, which is completely unencumbered by the United States federal immigration law. The territorial government has also stated that they have had trouble with undocumented workers in the past and that mass amnesty and giving legal status helps these immigrants better contribute to society, which is better for the immigrants, and better for American Samoa.

 

Fishing Docks in American Samoa (Photo Curtesy of Lemalae)

The bill is also important to the government of the territory in providing accurate census numbers. Census information is one of the biggest factors assessed in deciding the amount of federal aide the territory gets from the United States. With a large population of undocumented workers using the local infrastructure it creates a drain on the aide money. Previously the government did not get aide money reflecting the actual number of people living in American Samoa.

The migrants granted amnesty hail from 24 countries. Neighboring Samoa had 2,845 people, 457 Tongans, 446 come from the Philippine Islands, 101 from Fiji, 96 from China, 19 from New Zealand, 17 from Vietnam and 12 from South Korea. Other nations that are represented in the amnesty group include Australia, Germany, Federated States of Micronesia, Romania, Great Britain and Taiwan.

The Minimum wage in American Samoa is lower then the federal minimum and ranges from $4.18- $5.59. The minimum wage varies in that range depending on the industry, some industries require higher or lower minimum wages according to the territorial law. American Samoa’s minimum wage is also the lowest out of all the U.S territories. The working conditions in American Samoa are reported to be poor for foreign migrant workers; government and other highly sought jobs are only given to ethnic Samoans, which limits the potential jobs for these migrant workers.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — American Samoa Grants Amnesty to More Than 4,000 — 24 September 2014 

Radio New Zealand — American Samoa Grants Over 4,000 Immigration Amnesty — 1 October 2014

PayWizard.org — Territorial Minimum Wage — 4 October 2014

Minority Rights Group International — World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous People: American Samoa Overview — 4 October 2014

 

 

Alleged Sexual Abuse At Texas Immigration Detention Center

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

 

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES of America – The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and attorneys from the University of Texas School of Law, have issued a complaint alleging ongoing abuse at the Karnes County Civil Detention Center in Karnes City, Texas.  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, (ICE), opened the Texas facility along with a facility in Artesia, New Mexico after a 500 percent increase in the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Central America last year.

A Texas Immigration Detention Center (Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post).

The detention center for families was opened in Texas just two months ago. The complaint filed on 25 September, alleges that the 500-plus-bed center has failed to provide adequate food, health and mental health services. More serious allegations revolve around numerous instances of sexual abuse of women at the center.

The complaint was based on interviews with women in the Karnes City facility. The women allege that at least three employees engaged in abuse of the female detainees. The abuse includes numerous instances of the guards removing mothers from their cells at night to engage in sexual acts, in exchange for promises of immigration help. The complaint alleges that these women were harassed and groped in front of other detainees, including children. The female detainees claim that the perpetrators referred to the women as their “girlfriends.”

MALDEF asks the federal government to close the center and find alternative ways to detain immigrants with a criminal record, while releasing those whom are being detained for no other reason than illegal entry into the United States. Staff attorney for MALDEF, Marisa Bono, made a statement regarding the allegations stating, “This is exactly why the federal government should not be in the business of detaining families.”

ICE has stated that the agency is unable to discuss the ongoing investigation, but has implemented protections in accordance with Prison Rape Elimination Act regulations. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE stated in an email “Ice has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of sexual abuse or assault,” “Accusations of alleged unlawful conduct are investigated thoroughly and if substantiated, appropriate action is taken.”

 

 

For more information, please see the following:

BALTIMORE SUN – Texas Immigrant detention Center Rife With Abuse, Groups Say – 2 October 2014.

HUFFINGTON POST – Complaint Alleges Sexual Abuse In Immigrant Detention Center – 2 October 2014.

NBC NEWS – Sex Abuse Alleged At Immigrant Family Detention Center In Texas – 2 October 2014.

REUTERS – Texas Immigrant detention Center Rife With Abuse, Groups Say – 2 October 2014.

Venezuelan Politician Found Dead

By Mridula Tirumalasetti

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela—Robert Serra, the 27- year old Venezuelan politician, was found dead on Wednesday, October 1st alongside Maria Herrera, who is believed to have been Serra’s partner. Both were murdered in Serra’s home in the working class Caracas neighborhood of La Pastora, and both died from a loss of blood. Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said the two were “vilely killed here in their house…on the ground floor lay the woman and the upper floor lay Robert Serra.”

Although the motive for the attack was unclear, the attack has been blamed on the far right opposition groups and on Colombian parliamentary groups. President Maduro said, “Terrorist groups encouraged by sectors of Venezuela’s ultra-right and Colombian parliamentary groups are behind this [effort] to bring violence to our country.” He added, “In the course of this week…We have detained four different groups that came to attack our country’s central cities, including Caracas, and fill them with violence.” Torres called the attack “a planned assassination, organized in detail and executed in the course of 15 to 20 minutes…We are not talking about a random occurrence.”

Elected in 2010, Serra was one of the youngest members of the National Assembly for the Socialist Party (PSUV) in Venezuela and the leader of the youth section of the party. The PSUV was founded by Hugo Chavez, and Serra was known for delivering passionate speeches in support of deepening Chavez’s Socialist policies.

Robert Serra, pictured above, giving a speech at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela in March 2008 (photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)

After Honduras, Venezuela had the second highest peacetime murder rate in the world in 2013, according to U.N. statistics, although some sources argue the actual statistics are much lower. The U.N. relies on figures from non-governmental organizations because of the absence of official statistics.

The Venezuelan government responded to the high violence statistics last year by introducing tough penalties for illegal weapons possession, such as sentences up to 20 years in jail. Additionally, a smartphone app was released last month. The app divides Caracas into quadrants, which lets civilians contact police officers for these specific areas directly. Also, Maduro announced an increase in funding of $47 million for a program aimed at disarming civilians and stationing military troops in high-crime areas.

Still, despite the tough regulations, correspondents argue there is a perception of insecurity among Venezuelan civilians. This argument is supported by the series of anti-government protests earlier this year, in which increased security and improving the economy were two of the main issues.

For more information, please see: 

The Wall Street Journal–Young Venezuelan Lawmaker Killed in Attack–2 October 2014

Latin America News Dispatch–Venezuelan Lawmaker Stabbed to Death Under Mysterious Circumstances–3 October 2014

BBC News–Venezuelan lawmaker Serra’s murder blamed on far right–3 October 2014

BBC News–Venezuelan lawmaker Robert Serra killed in Caracas–2 October 2014

Bloomberg–Venezuela Says Lawmaker Murdered in a Planned Attack–2 October 2014