India Investigates Gang-Rape of Danish Tourist, Calls for Judicial Reforms

By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NEW DELHI, India–Leaders of Indian ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the rape of a 51-year-odl Danish tourist.  The incident occurred near the New Delhi railway station.  AAP stressed a need for expedient court proceedings and a desire to reign in the authority of the Delhi Police, restructuring the institution under the state government.

Police investigate the crime scene where a 51-year-old Danish tourist was allegedly raped by six men at knifepoint. (Photo Courtesy of AP)

The 51-year-old was robbed and then raped by a gang of six on Wednesday afternoon when she asked for directions to her hotel.

“This is a dangerous situation, and he (Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal) has spoken to the lieutenant-governor (Najeeb Jung). Now the LG, the chief minister and the police commissioner will meet to review the rape incidents that have occurred in the last one year,” Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.

“We will also request the Chief Justice of India to take all the rape cases to fast track courts, so that the strictest punishment is meted out to the culprits,” Sisodia said.

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus. The government tightened laws on sexual violence last year after widespread protests following the attack.

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas stressed that the Delhi Police must be brought under the jurisdiction of the state government to preserve efficiency and integrity. Delhi Police are currently under the jurisdiction of the Union government.

“Delhi Police should be brought under the state government. This is an old demand of ours, so the chief minister and central government should make an effort,” Vishwas said.

He said that since Delhi Police remain under the central government, they cannot work properly.

Demanding a home minister on the state level, Vishwas said: “If any such incidents happen in Delhi, there should be a home minister, so that he can look after the Delhi affairs. It otherwise becomes a long affair which includes contacting and consulting the centre.”

The Danish woman, who came to India on January 1, went to visit a museum on Tuesday afternoon but then lost her way back to her hotel in Paharganj.  Paharganj is a major tourist city at the center of Delhi.

Around 4pm a group of men lured her to an isolated spot where she was robbed of her iPad and cash and then raped by six men, one of whom held a knife.

“She reached her hotel and reported the incident to the manager who called in the police and the investigation is now under way,” police spokesman, Rajan Bhagat said.

No arrests have been made yet, but police are questioning a number of men in connection with the attack

 For more information, please see:

Times of India–Danish woman’s gang rape: AA seeks control over Delhi police–15 January 2014

BBC News–Danish woman gang-raped in Indian capital Delhi— 15 January 2014

The Globe and Mail–Danish tourist gang-raped, robbed after getting lost in New Delhi— 15 January 2014

National Post–Danish tourist gang-raped in Inian capital after asking for directions, police say— 15 January 2014

200 Sudanese Drown While Fleeing From Fighting

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – More than 200 civilians in South Sudan have drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in the town of Malakal, an army spokesman told the BBC.

More than 19,000 people seek shelter at the UN base in Malaka (photo courtesy of AFP).

Women and children were among the victims in the disaster.

About 350,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting between the South Sudanese government and rebel forces, the UN reported.

Malakal, the gateway to the oilfield of the Upper Nile region, has been allegedly captured by the rebels.

The army spokesman denies this. Instead, the spokesman claims that the rebels have been pushed back after heavy fighting in the city of Malakal.

“The reports we have are of between 200 and 300 people, including women and children. The boat was overloaded,” Philip Aguer, another army spokesman, told AFP.

“They all drowned. They were fleeing the fighting that broke out again . . . .”

The fighting has caused many people in South Sudan to seek shelter elsewhere; hence, why so many people were on the boat that sank. However, many report that they cannot even afford to escape because they do not have the money to pay to get on the boat.

Many people use the river to escape.

One refugee reported to BBC that he had to borrow money in order to escape. He paid 150 Sudanese pounds, equally 66 dollars.

Recently, over 9,000 people have arrived at the UN base in Malakal seeking shelter. This number nearly doubles the number of people who have been seeking shelter.

Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in South Sudan are currently taking place in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

This violence stems from December 15. The clash has been between loyalists to the President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, Kiir’s former vice-president.

President Kiir is a member of South Sudan’s largest ethnic group, while Machar is from the second largest ethnic group.

The clash between the two groups has seen mass killings along ethnic lines.

The UN has reported that it estimates more than 1,000 deaths since the fighting has begun on December 15, only one month ago.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Now.media – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2013
Lehigh Valley Business – World: South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Democratic Underground – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Lebanese Republic – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014
Obuoba FM – South Sudan Nile ferry sinks with more than 200 dead – 14 January 2014

 

Iran Pledges to Begin Eliminating Some if it’s Uranium Stockpile on January 20

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – According to the White House said Sunday that the Iranian government has pledged to begin eliminating some of its uranium stockpile on January 20, marking the official start of the six-month interim deal with Iran that was announced in November of last year. That date was also confirmed by Iranian State media.

Iran Set to begin destroying some of its uranium stockpile on January 20. (Photo Courtesy of CNN International)

United States Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement that “As of that day, for the first time in almost a decade, Iran’s nuclear program will not be able to advance, and parts of it will be rolled back, while we start negotiating a comprehensive agreement to address the international community’s concerns about Iran’s program.”

As part of the agreement Iran has agreed to start eliminating its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium, used in the production of nuclear weapons, and to dismantle some of the infrastructure that is used in the enrich higher-level uranium enrichment possible. Iran has also agreed not to construct new centrifuges. This will be done in exchange for the easing of some sanctions. The deal could result in the easing of sanctions totalling about $7 billion — $4.2 billion of which, US officials say.

“The $4.2 billion in restricted Iranian assets that Iran will gain access to as part of the agreement will be released in regular instalments throughout the six months,” John Kerry said. “The final instalment will not be available to Iran until the very last day.”

Shortly after the deal goes into effect Iran will likely enter into talks with world powers in February to negotiate the future of its nuclear program. the next round of talks is being led by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the actors involved in the talks will have to address the challenge of defining an accepted scope of Iranian nuclear activity that will adequately addressed the concerns of members of the international community that Iran’s nuclear ambitions could lead the state to develop an atomic weapon.

A diplomatic sources told Reuters that the next phase of diplomacy between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany will include Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The source said that while the talks will begin soon, they will not “happen in January, because of the Chinese New Year, but it is very, very, very likely in February.”

United States President Barack Obama said over the weekend that he has “no illusions” about how hard it will be to secure a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

On Monday the Obama Administration voiced concerns about reports that Iran and the Russian Federation will enter into an ‘oil-for-goods’ agreement  to exchange worth $1.5 billion a month. Under this agreement Russia receive up to 500,000 barrels or Iranian oil per day and in exchange Iran will receive Russian equipment and goods. The White House said this deal could potentially trigger U.S. sanctions.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – US Concerned About Iran-Russia Oil Deal – 14 January 2014

The Jerusalem Post – Iran Using Opening with West To Improve Its Relations Worldwide – 14 January 2014

CNN International – Iran to Start Scaling Back Nuclear Program January 20, White House Says – 13 January 2014

Reuters – World Powers, Iran Eye February Start To Nuclear Settlement Talks – 13 January 2014

In Spite of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Denial, They Continue the Posthumous Case Accusing Sergei Magnitsky

13 January 2014 – Today, the Russian Interior Ministry issued a “denial” of a new posthumous case against Sergei Magnitsky. However, documents obtained from the court indicate that the Interior Ministry is pursuing an active case (No 678540) in which it posthumously accuses Sergei Magnitsky of the $230 million theft that he had in fact uncovered.

The Demand by Prosecutor Grin to open the criminal case posthumously and accusing Mr Magnitsky of perpetrating the $230 million theft says:

“Based on results of investigation, V.G. Khlebnikov and V.A. Markelov were brought to justice, the persons who had entered into prior conspiracy with V.N. Kurochkin, S.M. Korobeinikov, O.G. Gasanov, and S.L.Magnitsky, by deceit during September through December 2007 have committed theft of 5,409,503,006 rubles, having organized an unlawful refund from the budget of Russia of the previously paid income tax.”

 

The Decree to open the criminal case No 678540 by the Interior Ministry says:

 

“Senior Investigator …O.V.Urzhumtsev, having considered the report and materials of checks…has determined: by verdict of the Tverskoi District Court of Moscow from 28 April 2009 and 10 March 2011 which came into effect, V.A. Markelov and V.G. Khlebnikov have been recognized guilty of entering into a prior conspiracy with V.N.Kurochkin, S.M. Korobeinikov, O.G.Gasanov and S.L. Magnitsky, to have organized by deceit the unlawful refund to taxpayers… of allegedly surplus paid income tax for 2006, have stolen funds from the budget of the Russian Federation and of Moscow city, the subject of federation, in the amount of 5,409,503,006.48 rubles.”

 

Numerous complaints from the Magnitsky family that case No 678540 is based on fabricated evidence have been rejected by Tverskoi District Court, Interior Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office.

The evidence about the existence of this case was originally kept secret by the Russian authorities from the Magnitsky family. For some time, the Russian Interior Ministry officials publicly defamed Sergei Magnitsky at press conferences airing these posthumous allegations. The complaint from the Magnitsky family about this posthumous slander addressed to the Head of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Investigative Department remained unanswered.

Subsequently, the Magnitsky family learned that Deputy General Prosecutor of Russia Victor Grin in fact ordered a new case to be opened naming Magnitsky posthumously as the perpetrator of the $230 million theft after his death. Posthumous accusations are in breach of the Russian legislation and the European human rights principles defended by the European Court of Human Rights.

Russian Interior Ministry officers in charge of the second case posthumously accusing Magnitsky of the $230 million theft have included Oleg Urzhumtsev, Ruslan Filippov and Pavel Tambovtsev.

“Attempts by the Interior Ministry to whitewash what has now turning into a practice of posthumous persecution of Sergei Magnitsky are flatly in contradiction to the documents in the case file,” said Hermitage Capital representative.

For further information, please see:

Law and Order in Russia