Brazilian Police Charged With Torturing, Killing, and Hiding the Body of Missing Favela Man

By Ellis Cortez
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil – Ten military police officers in Brazil are accused of torturing, murdering, and then hiding the corpse of Amarildo de Souza, a resident of the city’s biggest favela, Rocinha.

Rio's Rocinha favela.
Rio’s Rocinha favela. (Photograph Courtesy of Christophe Simon/AFP)

Souza, 43, was last seen by his family on July 14th, when he went to buy seasoning for the fish dinner he had bought his wife and six children. His family later learned that Souza, a bricklayer, was rounded up in a police sweep of possible drug traffickers and was taken to police headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Prosecutor Homer das Neves said that Souza, who was an epileptic, was allegedly taken for questioning, then tortured with electric shocks and suffocated with a plastic bag. Mr. Souza’s body is still missing.

Police said that Souza had been brought in for questioning and was released. The officers state they had nothing to do with his subsequent disappearance. However, a prosecutor said there was no evidence from security camera footage that Souza ever left police headquarters. There was evidence that two security cameras were turned off or burned. A court ordered the arrest of the officers who all deny any involvement.

Souza’s wife, Elizabeth, said her husband had lived in the area without any problem for 43 years. She accused the police of “pure evil” and said they had tried to coerce her into dropping the case.

The revelations are a major setback for government efforts to “pacify” favelas by using paramilitary forces to drive out drug-trafficking gangs and replace them with resident-friendly police units known as the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP).

The pacification program is a key element of Rio’s efforts to reduce crime, improve public security, and revitalize the city before the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, which are both being held in Brazil. However, favela residents have long complained that the methods used by the police are excessively brutal.

The incident was allegedly committed by members of the UPP. One of the 10 accused is the commander of the UPP in Rocinha, Edson dos Santos. It is alleged that he attempted to bribe witnesses to blame drug dealers for the killing.

Brazil’s human rights minister, Maria del Rosario, said, “what this investigation reveals is the necessity of changes so that the police are more focused, more accountable to citizens and not oriented towards criminal disregard for human rights.”

Their UPP’s involvement in Souza’s disappearance has led to protests in Rio and other cities both in Brazil and abroad. The case has drawn attention to allegations of police violence in the “pacification” of Rio’s favelas. Critics say it is indicative of a large number of disappearances in Rio and the lack of investigation into them.

For more information please see:

BBC – Brazil police charged with Rio murder over Amarildo case – 5 October 2013

CNN – 10 cops in Brazil accused of killing and hiding body – 4 October 2013

The Wall Street Journal – Police Criticized After Allegations of Torture in Rio – 3 October 2013

The Guardian – Brazil: Rio police charged over torture and death of missing favela man – 2 October 2013

US Raids Tripoli to Capture Embassy Bomber

by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

TRIPOLI, Libya – US military forces conducted simultaneous raids Saturday that targeted Al-Qaeda leaders in both Libya and Somalia.  In Libya’s capitol, American troops assisted by CIA and FBI captured Abu Anas al-Liby, a man indicted for the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

In response to al-Liby’s capture, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that Al-Qaeda leaders “can run but they can’t hide.” (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

“As the result of a U.S. counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al Libi is currently lawfully detained by the U.S. military in a secure location outside of Libya,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

al-Liby, who will be handed over to the FBI, is expected to be flown to New York where he will stand trial for his involvement in the 1998 embassy bombings.  His suspected participation in those bombings earned him a $5 million bounty during the 15 year manhunt.  In those 15 years, al-Liby traveled between Afghanistan, Sudan, and Iran, where he was detained for a number of years.

The Libyan government has denounced the military operation, calling on the US government to explain the “kidnapping” of al-Liby from Tripoli.  Many parts of Libya have fallen under control of Islamic militia groups since the fall of the Gaddafi government in 2011.

“We hope that this makes clear that the United States of America will never stop in the effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror,” said John Kerry.

Hours before the military operation in Tripoli, a US Navy SEAL team swam into the Barawe, a stronghold for the terrorist group al-Shabaab in Somalia.  The SEAL team members engaged in a fierce firefight and were unable to capture their intended target, whose identity the Pentagon has yet to release.  There have been no reports on casualties for either US military forces or military targets as of yet.

The al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the four day siege of a mall in Nairobi that began September 21.  That attack resulted in 67 casualties.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Libya, Somalia raids show U.S. reach, problems – 6 October 2013

The Wall Street Journal – U.S. Raids Terror Targets in Somalia, Libya – 6 October 2013

The Washington Times – Libya bristles at U.S. raid that captured al Qaeda militant – 6 October 2013

ABC News – US Strikes Double Blow Against Al Qaeda in Libya and Somalia – 5 October 2013

The New York Times – U.S. Raids in Libya and Somalia Strike Terror Targets – 5 October 2013

U.S. Military Launch Attack Against Al-Shabaab in Somalia

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia — U.S Navy SEALs led an early morning raid Saturday against an Al-Shabaab target in the sea side town of Barawe.  Navy SEAL Team Six swam ashore near the town in southern Somalia before members of the Al-Qaeda linked group rose for dawn prayers, U.S. and Somali officials told The Associated Press.

Al-Shabaab Militants (photo courtesy of The New York Times)

U.S. officials are reporting that there were no U.S. causalities but that the mission was not successful and was aborted. A specific Al-Qaeda suspect related to the Nairobi mall attack was the target of the raid  but was not apprehended U.S. military officials told AP.  The target is believed to have been Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, also known as Ahmed Godane, who claimed responsibility for the Nairobi shopping mall attack that killed at least 67 people.  SEAL Team Six encountered fiercer resistance than was expected and after a 15 to 20 minute firefight, it was decided to abort the mission and the team swam away. SEAL Team Six has responsibility for counter terrorism activities in the Horn of Africa.

It is believed that most of the members of Al-Shabaab living in the two story beach house were foreign fighters from counties including the U.S. and Britain.

A resident of Barawe told CBS News by telephone that heavy gunfire woke up residents before dawn prayers. Another resident of Barawe, Mohamed Bile, told The AP that  militants closed down the town in the hours after the assault, and that traffic and movements have been restricted. Al-Shabaab members carried out house-to-house searches, most likely to find evidence of a spy.

“We woke up to find al-Shabab fighters had sealed off the area and their hospital is also inaccessible,” Bile said. “The town is in a tense mood.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry stated in a press conference from Bali that the raid showed terrorists that “can run but they can’t hide”.

For more information, please see the following:

All Africa — East Africa: Terrorists ‘Can Run but They Can’t Hide’ – Kerry — 6 October 2013

CBS News — Navy SEALs go after al-Shabab senior leader in Somalia — 6 October 2013

Sky News — Al Shabaab: US Forces Abort Somalia Terror Raid — 6 October 2013

USA Today — U.S. forces strike targets in Libya, Somalia — 6 October 2013

CNN — Al-Shabaab grew amid Somalia’s lawlessness — 5 October 2013

 

 

UN Experts Begin Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria-Dismantlement of Syria’s chemical weapons has officially begun as a team of United Nations experts has moved into the country.  The destruction of Syria’s arsenal is expected to be completed by mid-2014.

UN team of experts enter Damascus to begin destroying Syria’s chemical weapons (photo courtesy of Washington Post)

The experts, members of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), are operating under the recently passed UN resolution, following international outrage at a chemical attack near Damascus in August.

Hundreds were killed in the August 21st attack in which it has been determined that the nerve agent sarin was used.  The U.S. and Western allies accuse the Syrian government of being responsible, while Syria is blaming the rebels.

The UN resolution was achieved under a U.S.-Russian agreement for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to turn over its chemical weapons for destruction.  Washington threatened military action, but was averted upon reaching the agreement with Russia.

Sunday was the fifth day that the team had been in Syria, and the first day of actually starting the destruction process.  A team of 20 inspectors began the process of disabling and destroying the weapons and machinery.

“Today is the first day of destruction, in which heavy vehicles are going to run over and thus destroy missile warheads, aerial chemical bombs, and mobile and static mixing and filling units,” stated a member of the international mission.

Responsibility of actual physical destruction of the chemical weapons falls on the Syrians, while members of the OPCW are set to oversee the process, verifying that the weapons are actually being destroyed.

This is the first time that the OPCW has been called on to monitor the destruction of chemical weapons during a conflict, which makes destruction of the stockpile more difficult as many of the sites are located in combat zones.

An OPCW official in The Hague stated that “all expedient methods would be used to render Syria’s production facilities unusable.”  He further went on to say that those methods will consist of explosives, sledgehammers, and pouring in concrete.

However, destroying combat-ready weapons will require more extensive methods.  Experts will rely on incinerating the materials in sealed furnaces at extremely high temperatures, transforming precursor chemicals, or diluting them in water.

Damascus developed its chemical program in the 1980s and 1990s, building a stockpile believed to contain mustard gas and nerve agents sarin VX and tabun.  Sunday’s expedition is just the beginning of the process of removing the estimated 1,000 tons of chemical weapons.

For more information, please see the following:

 Al-Arabiya-Chemical investigators begin destroying Syria’s stockpile-October 6, 2013

Aljazeera-UN experts ‘begin destroying Syria stockpile’-October 6, 2013

BBC-Syria chemical arms removal begins-October 6, 2013

Washington Post-Weapons inspectors begin destroying Syrian chemical stockpile and machinery-October 6, 2013

 

 

Libyan Gunmen Kill 15 Soldiers

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

TRIPOLI, Libya – Gunmen have attacked a military checkpoint south-east of the Libyan capital Tripoli, killing 15 soldiers and wounding five.

The central government has struggled to control militia groups (photo courtesy of AFP)

Two years after Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, the north African country’s fragile central government is struggling to control rival militias competing for influence in the aftermath of the conflict.

A military official said the attack was near Bani Walid, a stronghold in 2011 of supporters of Gadaffi.

“The ambush happened on the road between Bani Walid and the town of Tarhouna, where the army had a checkpoint. They came under heavy gunfire. Between 12 and 15 soldiers were killed,” said Ali Sheikhi, a spokesman for the army joint chief of staff.

It is not clear who carried out the attack, but the government has struggled to control armed groups.

Clan and tribal rivalries, as well as Islamist groups, have flourished in the absence of strong central government and Libya’s armed forces cannot fully maintain order.

Four of the wounded soldiers are in serious condition and the bodies of the 15 soldiers killed were being kept in the hospital in Tarhouna, where the five wounded were also taken, according to Lana, the state-run news agency.

The main road to Bani Walid was closed while the incident was being investigated. It was the single largest known killing of military personnel since the 2011 civil war.

The new Libyan authorities have sought to impose law and order in the country, but violence has been rampant, particularly in Benghazi, which has been the center of opposition to Gaddafi’s rule.

In June, six soldiers from an elite special forces unit were shot dead in the eastern city of Benghazi by masked gunmen. At this same time, another six soldiers were killed at a checkpoint south of Sirte.

The lack of security in Libya has also been highlighted this year by clashes in Benghazi as protestors demanded the disbandment of militias.

The army is seen as out-manned and out-gunned by a mix of armed groups seemingly pursuing different agendas, says the BBC’s Rana Jawad in Tripoli.

For further information, please visit:

BBC News – Libyan gunmen kill 15 soldiers – 5 October 2013
The Frontier Post – Libyan gunmen kill 15 troops – 6 October 2013
Fox News Latino – 15 Soldiers killed in attack on military checkpoint in Libya – 5 October 2013
iol News – Gunmen kill 12 Libyan soldiers – 5 October 2013
Reuters – Libyan checkpoint ambush kills at least 12 soldiers – 5 October 2013
The Jerusalem Post – Gunmen ambush soldiers at Libyan checkpoint, kill at least 12 – 5 October 2013