Despite Announcement of Future Releas, Fate of 45 Detained UN Peacekeepers Remains Unclear

By Kathryn Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Wednesday the Fijian military announced 45 UN peacekeepers who were captured in Syria’s Golan Heights in August will be released this week “without preconditions.” At a Wednesday morning news conference in Suva, Fiji’s military chief said the Fijian government had been told by U.N. headquarters in New York that the Nusra Front had agreed to release the peacekeepers later this week. However, the fate of the detained soldiers remains unclear.

This undated file image of the detained Fijian peacekeepers was attached to a statement released Aug. 30 on a militant website. the peacekeepers were captured by the al-Nusra Front on Aug. 28 (Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)

The Peacekeepers were seized by rebels loyal to the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda-affiliated rebel group. The Fijian peacekeepers had been stationed in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel where there had been heavy fighting since Syrian rebels captured a border crossing near the village of Quneitra last month. The al-Nusra Front had initially issued several demands as a precondition for the release of the Fijian soldiers, including dropping the group from the United Nation’s list of terrorist organizations. The group claimed the captured the UN peacekeepers because the United Nation’s was “ignoring the daily shedding of Muslims’ blood in Syria” and co-operating with government forces to “facilitate its movement to strike the vulnerable Muslims” in the demilitarized zone.

Shortly after Fiji’s military chief first announced that 45 peacekeepers would be released the government later tried to retract the comments, which had already been reported around the world. Fijian brigadier general Mosese Tikoitoga said three senior Fijian military officers would arrive in the Golan Heights soon to receive the peacekeepers once they were freed. The Fijian government also announced the news on social media.

Within hours of issuing the statement the messages had been deleted from the government’s social media pages and replaced with a vague statement: “All efforts to release the Fijian peacekeepers are continuing.” Fijian military officials also contacted local media outlets acting them to retract their earlier stories on the release of the Fijian Peacekeepers

Exactly what caused the Fijian government to back away from its initial statement was initially unclear. However, it is unlikely that the Fijian government was given the green light to issue any specific statement on the situation in Syria because the United Nations typically doesn’t comment on sensitive captive situations until they are resolved. Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said he had no information about the Fijian government’s statement. The al-Nusra, which typically communicates through its Twitter page, did not issue any statements on the situation on any of its social media pages.

For more information please see:

ABC News – Fiji May Have Jumped Gun on Fate of Its UN Troops – 10 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Fiji Says Syria Militants to Free Peacekeepers, Then Backs Off Comments – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Syria conflict: Fiji’s mixed messages over UN peacekeepers – 9 September 2014

The New York Times – Fiji Government Says Its Golan Heights Peacekeepers Will Be Released Soon – 9 September 2014

War Crimes Prosecution Watch Volume 9 – Issue 12 September 08, 2014

Bomb Blast in Chile Train Station Speculated as an Act of Terrorism

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile – On Monday Afternoon, a bomb exploded next to an underground train station in the Chilean capital of Santiago at least ten people were wounded.

Aftermath of train station bomb explosion in Chile. Photo courtesy of Reuters

The blast occurred during lunchtime at a fast-food restaurant in a small shopping and eating plaza next to the Escuela Military metro station.  The area, Las Condes, is known as an affluent residential and shopping neighborhood.

Some Chilean officials believe that this was an act of terrorism.  Currently, no group has claimed responsibility, and the police said the attack was being investigated.

“This is an act that has all the hallmarks of a terrorist deed,” Alvaro Elizalde, the government’s chief spokesman said in remarks made to journalists outside La Moneda presidential place.  “There is no doubt.  And it has been carried out with the intention of hurting innocent people.”

He added that the government will invoke anti-terrorism laws.  Apparently, anti-terrorism laws give prosecutors additional powers to allow for harsher sentencing for persons guilty of terrorism.

“It was an abominable act, and we will apply the full weight of the law, including antiterrorist laws,” said President Michelle Bachelet.  “What happened today was horrible, but Chile is and will remain a stable nation.”

Chile has not suffered an attack of this magnitude for at least 20 years.  The country, which returned to democracy in 1990 after a 17-year dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet, is normally one of Latin America’s most stable countries.

However, there have been a few low-level attacks by anarchist groups in recent years, including one this past July.  Monday’s blast may put pressure on Bachelet to respond at a time when her popularity is drooping.  Currently her plate if full with a reform drive and Chile’s ever worsening economy.

“At 2pm local time an explosive device was detonated in the centre by the metro station, and at the moment investigations are being carried out to determine the origin,” said Mario Rozas, head of police communications.

Interior Minister Mahmud Aleuy said review of security cameras near the bomb cite revealed two suspects planting the device in a metal container, possible a trash can, outside the fast-food restaurant and escaping in a car.

Luckily, none of the injuries were fatal.  A Venezuelan man in his 30s suffered trauma to his leg and a woman had at least one of her fingers amputated.  A few other people suffered from hearing loss.

By coincidence, this week Chile commemorates the 41st anniversary of the 1973 military coup that removed socialist President Salvador Allende from power.  The events of the coup still divide the country.  Traditionally, the anniversary is a time of protests that often turn violent.

The metro was operating normally on Monday evening.

For more information, please see:

the guardian – Chile: bomb explodes in Santiago metro station – 8 Sept. 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Chile Subway-Station Blast Injures at Least Seven – 8 Sept. 2014

LA Times – Chile official says subway blast apparently a ‘terrorist act’ – 9 Sept. 2014

TIME – Suspected Anarchist Bombing Wounds at Least 10 People in Santiago – 8 Sept. 2014

8th IHLD: Nicholas Koumjian Brick

One of the highlights of the 8th Annual Humanitarian Law Dialogs is the laying of the brick in honor of Nicholas Koumjian, Chief prosecutor of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) which was held at the Robert H.Jackson Center on Aug. 24, 2014. For further information see www.roberthjackson.org

Hong Kong College Students Plan for Massive Class Boycott

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HONG KONG, China – College students in Hong Kong will boycott classes for a week. This strike seeks  to push Beijing to meet demands for democracy in Hong Kong.

According to the Hong Kong Federation of Students,  college students in Hong Kong decided to boycott their classes for a week beginning September 22nd. This was planned in reaction to the Chinese government’s decision regarding the Hong Kong election next year. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) ruled out the open nomination for the election of a Chief Executive in Hong Kong. This position is largely considered to be the actual leader of Hong Kong’s administration. Instead, it will allow only 1-2 candidates who are pro-Beijing and no other pro-democracy figures.

Besides the college students, other citizen-wide protests have already been implemented. Some Pro-democracy organizations have planned an “Occupy Central” campaign as a way of protesting Beijing’s decision. The organizers of Occupy Central announced that they would mobilize 10,000 activists to paralyze the center of Hong Kong’s financial district.

There has been several protests in Hong Kong in opposition to Chinese government’s political influence. (EPA)

“If the NPC makes such a drastic decision at this stage, there is no point for further dialogue. Why wait, then,” said one of the organizers of the campaign.

Reportedly, at least 11 higher education institutions pledged to join the boycott, including government-funded institutions such as Hong Kong University, Shue Yan University, Chu Hai College, and Hang Seng Management College. The Federation of Students is seeking other citizens’ participation including, younger students.

For example, another students’ group called “Scholarism” is planning to strike too. Scholarism formed three years ago to petition for more nationalistic curriculum in schools. The core members of the group consisted of high school students in Hong Kong. In addition to the class boycott, Scholarism holds “Citizen Classrooms” at a church where they lecture about political reform and civil obedience issues to high school students.

“Hong Kong people should fight for our own universal suffrage and democracy. Our candidates should not be decided by Beijing. We must have equal rights to vote and to be elected. Beijing’s decision does not meet this requirement,” said Chen, a 17-year-old student.

The students seem to be experiencing pressure at home regarding their activities. Lu, another 17-year-old student, said “Although I joined the civil disobedience, my family and friends have got a lot of pressure. Personally, I hope my family can understand my decision.”

Another student, Zhang, reported that his parents allowed him to join the protest, on condition that he avoid activities that disrupt his studies or could be deemed illegal. “I want to fight for democracy . . . If we don’t fight for it now, our future generations may not have the chance to enjoy a truly fair and democratic universal suffrage,” Zhang said.

Hong Kong was a British colony, but returned to China in 1997. The Chinese communist government announced that the political independency of Hong Kong would be guided by the principle of “one country, two systems.” However, some activists in Hong Kong criticize that the Chinese government is trying to extend its power over Hong Kong by affecting the territory’s democracy.

The Chinese government warned against any foreign interference with this issue. The government considers the people in Hong Kong to be in collusion with outside forces. Bejing said it will not tolerate the use of Hong Kong “as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland” of China.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera – China rebukes ‘foreign meddling’ in Hong Kong – 30 August 2014

BBC – China rules out open Hong Kong chief executive poll – 31 August 2014

South China Morning Post – Thousands of students plan week-long classroom boycott in push for democracy – 1 September 2014

The Standard – Student chiefs on move for mass class boycotts  – 2 September 2014

Voice of America – Hong Kong Students Discuss Class Boycott – 4 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Hong Kong Students to Boycott Classes If Democracy Demands Aren’t Met – 21 August 2014