Australia Commits to join U.S in Fight Against ISIS

By Max Bartels 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania 

 

Canberra, Australia 

In response to a formal request from the United States for specific Australian Defense Force (ADF) capabilities, Australia has committed to send 600 ADF personnel to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) to contribute to the U.S airstrikes agent Islamic State militants (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. 400 of the 600 ADF personnel come from the Royal Australian Air force including up to eight F/A 18 Hornet combat aircraft as well as 200 military personnel, including Special Forces.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott was careful to state that Australia is not deploying troops for combat but instead contributing to an international effort to prevent a humanitarian crisis. Tony Abbott also said that Australia is prepared to engage in international operations to disrupt and degrade ISIS, calling ISIS a “murderous death cult”.  Abbott further stated that Obama gave him the impression that these operations would be a lengthy mission.

IW #14 Australia ISIS
The Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott announces the deployment of ADF forces to join the international effort to stem the tide of ISIS.
(Photo curtesy of The Guardian)

There is a great deal of opposition to this deployment in Australia, namely form the Green Party. The Green party leader has said that this deployment is subjecting young Australian to the dangers of an American war in Iraq and that Australia should not be involved. Others in Australia are worried that the deployment has the potential to over extend the ADF. Former ADF officer Dr. Blaxland from the Australian National University stated that a 600 troop deployment requires an 1,800 troop rotation and while that doesn’t sound like that many it raises questions about the ADF’s ability to raise, train and sustain this number of forces abroad for an indefinite amount of time.

Prime Minister Abbott stated that a final decision of whether to commit to combat operations has yet to be made.  In that wake of yet another beheading by ISIS there is significant public support in Australia for involvement in the conflict. Abbott linked the ISIS threat in Iraq and Syria to the domestic threat in Australia, stating that an estimated 60 Australian citizens had gone abroad to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIS. Abbott made it clear in his statements about the decision to deploy troops, that if left unchecked ISIS would continue to destabilize the Middle East and possibly spread beyond the Middle East to areas where a greater threat will be posed to Australians.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Islamic State: Australian Military Stretched With Deployment to International Fight Against IS Militants, Experts Say — 14 September 2014

The Guardian — Abbott: Australia to Send Military Force to Fight ISIS “Death Cult” — 13 September 2014

NBC News — Australia Commits Military Forces to Fight ISIS — 13 September 2014

The Independent — Tony Abbott Brands ISIS a “Death Cult” and Says Australia Will Send Military Force to Fight Extremists — 14 September 2014

 

Human Rights Group Calls for “End of Repression” in Thailand

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – The human rights group Amnesty International (AI) released a 65-page report about situations in Thailand under martial law since the coup on May 22. It criticized the period as a “100 days spiral of repression” and calls for restoration of civil rights.

Richard Bennett, the Asia-Pacific director of AI, commented that “the Thai authorities should end this disturbing pattern of repression, end human rights violations, respect its international human rights obligations and allow open debate and discussion.”

The report pointed out several cases of systematic oppression and human rights violations. According to the report, hundreds of civilians have suffered from arbitrary arrests, detentions, and inhuman treatment as detainees at the hands of the military. Thai courts allegedly discriminated against people depending on their political stance and denied bail in “lese majeste” cases.

A protester insisting on freedom of speech. (Getty Images)

The report included an interview with Kritsuda Khunasen, a “red shirts” member. She claimed that she was illegally arrested by the military and tortured while being detained. “If I was too slow when answering, didn’t speak, didn’t answer the question in a direct manner, or said I didn’t know, I was beaten with a fist to my face, head, stomach and body,” she said. She also reported that she was blindfolded and handcuffed with duct tape. Eventually, she was forced to make statements as interrogators guided her.

The report revealed that at least 665 Thai people, including politicians, academics, journalists, and activists, have been detained or arrested since May 22. Some of them have had no opportunity to contact their families or lawyers. The report also said the military shut down more than 200 websites and closed several television and radio stations. Most of them had held negative views toward the junta. Under the current martial law, people can be arrested when there are more than five individuals gathered together on streets. The report described the country as being in “enforced silence.”

In response to the report, the spokesperson of the junta officially denied the allegations of human rights violations. National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the formal name of the junta, announced through its spokesperson, Colonel Winthai Suvaree, that “We have never violated people with opposing political views. There has been no physical violence or threats.”

He went on to say that the detained or arrested people had been involved in situations that caused social unrest in Thailand. The NCPO also asked human rights groups to “carefully and thoroughly consider this issue so they do not become the tools of those who have hidden agendas.” They denied any discrimination in court summonses.  

Winthai Suvaree, the spokesperson of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) during his interview with Reuters. (Reuters)

The AI report concluded with several pages of a “recommendation” section. It demanded that the NCPO restore civil liberties, end the martial law, and prevent alleged torture and mistreatment. The report suggested the establishment of a new “independent complaints system” to investigate the alleged torture and mistreatment of detainees. The report also insisted that the military should not have the legal immunity provided by the interim constitution and martial law.

For more information, please see:

Bangkok Post – Regime rejects Amnesty torture, repression claims  – 13 September 2014

Bangkok Post – Amnesty International launches anti-coup report – 11 September 2014

Reuters – Thai junta tells rights group to ‘get its facts straight’ – 11 September 2014

BBC – Thai coup leaders ‘must end repression’ – Amnesty – 11 September 2014

Uganda prevents attack planned by al-Shabab

By: Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

al shabab 2

KAMPALA, Uganda

Ugandan military forces have reportedly foiled an attack planned by al-Shabab, after uncovering a terrorist cell in the city of Kampala.  An imminent attack by the Islamic militant group has been feared in recent days after the death of the leader.  Less than two weeks ago, the United States carried out a mission that targeted and killed the al-Shabab leader, along with two other companions.  This attack left the militant group calling for revenge and retribution for the attack on their organization and the death of group members.  In the wake of the call for revenge, nearby states, including Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda, have remained on high alert, concerned that a terror attack could be likely.

The target of the attack plan foiled by the Ugandan military is unknown, as well as the full scope of the plan.  The Ugandan government has urged citizens to heed the shelter in place warning, issued in the days following the death of the al-Shabab leader, and refrain from leaving the house at night.  The United States Embassy has echoed this warning, cautioning US citizens in Uganda to exercise caution during this time of heightened tensions in the region.  Busy areas and locations that accommodated high volumes of people on a daily basis may be targets, the US Embassy warns.  Such locations may include malls, local transit stations, airports, and movie theaters.

Uganda is not unfamiliar with al-Shabab to say the very least.  The nation has been involved with peace keeping initiatives that have required Ugandan troops having a presence in Somalia.  Indeed, al-Shabab carried out an attack on a sports bar in Uganda during the 2010 World Cup, killing many.  Al-Shabab has warned that all of those who maintain a presence in Somalia may be targets for violence; Uganda and Ugandans are on the list.  Retaliatory measures in the wake of last week’s events are requiring that the Ugandan government exercise vigilance to protect its people and deter attacks directed at the country or citizens.

While a retaliatory act seems likely, Uganda may have enough time to sufficiently brace itself and further explore any terror plot leads.  This is the best time to take advantage of any structural weakness of al-Shabab, as it recovers from internal tragedy and begins to implement new leadership.  Though al-Shabab may aim to carry out an attack in the coming days, it may be operationally incapable of carrying out an organized plan as the new leader attempts to pick up where the former leadership ended.

For more information please visit:

All Africa- Uganda: Government foils ‘imminent’al-Shabab terror plot- 13 Sept 2014

All Africa- Uganda: Kampala Foils Terrorist Attack, U.S. Citizens Urged to take caution– 13 Sept 2014

All Africa- Uganda: New Al-Shabab boss plans to hit Uganda- Gen Katumba– 13 Sept 2014

Aljazeer- Uganda foils ‘terrorist’ attack – 13 Sept 2014

Does the Pistorius Case Decision Serve Steenkamp’s Death Justice?

By: Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

pistorius

PRETORIA- South Africa

This week, in a tense courtroom, Judge Thokozile Masipa found Oscar Pistorius, not guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.  Instead, with regard to her death, he was found guilty of a lesser charge of “culpable murder,” which is the equivalent of manslaughter in the United States.  Some, including Steenkamp’s family, expressed that justice was not served here.

On February 14, 2013, Steenkamp went into the bathroom of the master bedroom where she and Pistorius slept.  According to Pistorius, he though an intruder was hiding in the small bathroom, took his gun, and shot into the bathroom four times through the door.  The prosecution pushed the premise that Steenkamp had locked herself in the bathroom, in an attempt to get away from Pistorius.  The prosecution brought text messages between Steenkamp and Pistroius that indicated a rocky and jealous relationship.

The defense argued that Pistorius was raised in a violent and unsafe part of South Africa and as a result, was wary and afraid of the possibility of intruders, which he claimed he believed Steenkamp was the night he shot her.  While the judge held that this particular piece of information was immaterial to the trial, she did find that he behaved negligently in shooting into the bathroom four times.

The trial’s outcome turned on the legal finding that not all of the elements to find Pistorius guilty of premeditated or common law murder, were present.  Under South African law, to find someone guilty of premeditated murder, the killer must intend and plan to kill the target, which in this case would have been Steenkamp, or whoever Pistorius claimed was behind the door.  To find common law murder, the killer must act in the heat of the moment, but lack the “malice aforethought” requisite for premeditated murder.  Under this theory, the judge would have to find that Pistroius should have known that shooting into the bathroom would kill whoever was behind the door.

While Masipa did not find these elements entirely fulfilled, she did find Pistorius guilty of culpable murder, a classification that does not require that the actor intended to kill the individual, but acted negligently, counter to how a reasonable person would behave in the same circumstance.  Therefore, the decision turned on the finding that Pistorius did not intend to kill, and did not know that his actions would lead to the death of Steenkamp, and that by shooting into the bathroom four times, Pistorius behaved negligently.

Though this decision came as a relief to Pistorius and his family, the verdict was heartbreaking for many who simply cannot come to terms with the notion that Pistorius could have shot into the bathroom without the intent to kill.  There is no minimum sentence for culpable murder, and Pistorius will be sentenced in October, pursuant to the decision reached this week.

 

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Oscar Pistorius: Minister says verdict is ‘disappointing’- 13 Sept 2014

CNN World- Judge: Pistorius was negligent, but Steenkamp’s killing was not murder– 12 Sept 2014

CNN Wrold- What’s next for Oscar Pistorius– 11 Sept 2014

New York Daily News- Oscar Pistorius murder trial: ‘I can’t believe that they believe it was an accident,’ says Reeva Steenkamp’s mother– 13 Sept 2014

New Study Suggests Fracking Is The Cause of Health Problems In Pennsylvania Town

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America – Researchers from the University of Washington and Yale University conducted a study to research the negative impact fracking has on health conditions. Since the start of the United States domestic energy surge in 2003, advocates have blamed oil and gas drilling for a wide range of medical ailments.

A Pennsylvania home is surrounded by pipes used for fracking purposes (Photo Courtesy of US News).

Fracking blasts large amounts of water, sand and chemicals deep underground in order to break apart shale deposits and ultimately extract gas and oil. The University study was conducted over a two-year period in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The study surveyed nearly 500 residents of the rural southwestern town, which is home to more than 600 active gas wells.

The study found that residents living within one kilometer of a gas well suffered twice as many health related problems than those who live two kilometers away or further. The recorded health issues include: allergies, nosebleeds, skin rashes, sore throats, itchy eyes, and respiratory conditions.

Other studies have corroborated the claims posed in the University of Washington and Yale University study. Methane and toxic chemicals were found in the drinking water in the area surrounding multiple well sites.

One Pennsylvania resident, Stephanie Tiongco recently filed a lawsuit against an Arkansas-based energy company, which has been drilling just a quarter-mile from her property. Tiongco claims that the fracking has resulted in the death of farm animals and has even caused her hair to start falling out.

A spokeswoman for Pennsylvania State’s health department stated that the agency has not been given a copy of the study before its release, and would be happy to review any data the student researchers have gathered. However, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection failed to return email inquiries regarding the study. Other departments have rejected the studies validity as a whole. Travis Windle, a spokesman for Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Coalition, states the study was “done in partnership with a local activist group, and was designed to put selective and unproven data behind a pre-determined and biased narrative.”

 

For more information, please see the following:

USA TODAY – People Near ‘Fracking’ Wells Report Health Woes – 10 Sept. 2014.

US NEWS – Respiratory, Skin Problems Soar NEar Gas Wells, Study Says -10 Sept. 2014.

WEATHER CHANNEL –  People Who Live Near Fracking More Likely To Become Sick, Largest Study Of Its Kind Finds – 11 Sept. 2014.  

WASHINGTON POST – Live Near Fracking? You’re More Likely To Report Health Problems, New Study Says – 10 Sept. 2014.