Dutch Take Action to Force Release of Detained in Russia

October 6, 2013

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Russian officials shrugged at legal action taken by the Dutch to have 30 Greenpeace-affiliated persons released from a Murmansk detention facility. Around the world, protests drew attention to the matter.

Continued detention of Greenpeace activists sparked worldwide protests for their release. (Photo courtesy of Reuters).

In September 2013, Russian authorities arrested 30 participants in a Greenpeace protest against the Prirazlomnaya offshore oil platform. Two activists scaled the structure before their arrest. Three others barricaded themselves in the radio room and tweeted live updates.

Currently, the participants are detained in the northern Russian city of Murmansk, and face piracy charges, which may result in a 15-year sentence.

Among those arrested aboard Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise were two Dutch citizens. On 4 October 2013, the Netherlands began legal proceedings against Russia for unlawful detention of activists and crew of the Arctic Sunrise, which was a Dutch-registered ship.

“With regard to its detention of the ship, Russia invokes its authority to ensure safety at sea in the vicinity of the oil platform,” Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans wrote. “The Netherlands agrees on the importance of safety at sea, but in this case we contest the lawfulness of detaining the ship and its crew.”

Other activists aboard the ship were from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K., Ukraine, and the U.S.

Protesters have called for the activists’ release on an international scale. As a “global day of solidarity”, Greenpeace stated that it would hold up to 100 protests in approximately 48 countries. In support of 6 arrested British nationals, about 700 people protested at the Russian Embassy in London.

London protestors included Jude Law, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, and Vivienne Westwood.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said that Russia asked the Netherlands several times to halt the ship’s “illegal activity.”

“Unfortunately, this was not done,” Meshkov said. “Therefore, we have far more questions for the Dutch side than they can have for us. Everything that happened with the Arctic Sunrise was pure provocation.”

Greenpeace claimed the activists held a peaceful protest in international waters, adding that Russian authorities boarded their ship and arrested the activists at gunpoint when they saw the group drive motorboats near an oil vessel owned by Russia and ExxonMobil.

Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo said, “The activists were taking a brave stand to protect all of us from climate change and the dangers of reckless oil drilling in the Arctic. Now it’s imperative that millions of us stand up with them to defend the Arctic and demand their immediate release.”

For further information, please see:

CNN International – Greenpeace Vigil for ‘Arctic 30’ Held in Russia, as Dutch File Legal Case – October 5, 2013

Guardian – Worldwide Vigils for Greenpeace Activists Held by Russian Authorities – October 5, 2013

Reuters – Russia Dismisses Dutch Legal Action over Greenpeace Activists – October 5, 2013

Sydney Morning Herald – Shattering Conclusion to a Voyage of Peaceful Protest – October 5, 2013

Impunity Watch – President Putin States Activists Who Protested on Russian Oil Rig Are Not Pirates – September 25, 2013

Court Allows Palestine Farmers to Return to Former Israeli Settlement

October 4, 2013

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

RAMALLAH, Palestine – Palestinian farmers can now cultivate land that was the former site of the Homesh settlement in Samaria, after a ruling issued by the Attorney General’s office last week.

Palestinians remove Hebrew written by Israeli settlers on a water tank in a reclaimed area (photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

The ruling followed a June decision by the state to cancel the 1978 military land seizure order, which took land from residents of the Palestinian village of Burka for the creation of a Nahal Brigade, soon after the settlement of Homesh on the Samaria hilltop in the West Bank was created.

Since the disengagement, Homesh – and the former Samaria settlements of Sanur, Ganim and Kadim – have been closed military zones. Access had been blocked to Palestinians and Israeli settlers. Now, as a result of the court ruling, Palestinians can enter Homesh, but Israeli citizens are still barred from entering the site.

Settlers and right-wing Israeli activists and politicians have pressed to resettle the Homesh settlement over the past eight years. Over the past several years, Israeli settlers have received temporary permission from the IDF to hold certain events at the former Homesh settlement. For example, last Passover, settlers held a holiday festival. Politicians have also visited the site, including Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who visited in 2009 as vice premier, where he called for Homesh to be resettled.

The Israel government dismantled Homesh and three other West Bank settlements in 2005. The settlements were dismantled in connection with a wider withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, until the court ruling, the government refused to allow the original Palestinian landowners from the local farming community to reclaim their land.

The Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a petition by the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din requesting the closed military zone be ended and the land returned to the Palestinians. On Thursday, farmers from the village of Burka were allowed to return to their land for the first time. Some Palestinians were reluctant to attempt to return. “I’m afraid to go there because the settlers are armed,” said Hassan Ashqer, a middle aged man who owns land in the former settlement area.

Palestinian rights lawyers are optimistic that the ruling will set a precedent that shows that Israel’s settlement policy can be reversed and Palestinian landowners can reclaim their land. “Once the owners are able to take back possession of their lands…it will be the first precedent ever [in the West Bank] in which an area used for settlement activity is being cultivated again by the Palestinians.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Palestinians Win Settlement Land from Israel – 3 October 2013

Fox News – After long legal battle, Palestinian farmers reclaim land they lost to a settlement – 3 October 2013

The Daily-Beast – Court Rules Settlement Land Belongs to Palestinians, But Victory is Hollow – 25 September 2013

Jerusalem Post – A-G: Palestinian farmers can return to Homesh – 16 September 2013

Suicide Attack on Militant Chief in Pakistan

October 4, 2013

By Kevin M. Mathewson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PARACHINAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomb attack on a militant commander’s compound in the Balandkhel village of Pakistan has killed at least 15 people and injuring several others.

An injured man is carried into a hospital in Kohat following the attack on the home of militant commander Nabi Hanafi. (Photo courtesy of: Basit Shah/AFP/Getty Images)

The commander, Mullah Hanafi, has been fighting a branch of Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Some reports say Hanafi was injured in the attack and taken to the hospital, but others say it is still not clear if he was even in the compound.

Reports say early Thursday morning a Taliban suicide bomber fired shots into the compound before driving a car packed with explosive into the compound’s gates. There were also two other suicide bombers who attempted to launch a second attack but were killed by Hanafi’s men.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying five militants had targeted Hanfi because he had formed a militant group to fight them.

“Mullah Nabi had been our target and he will remain on our target list,” Shahid told Associated Press.

Most of the dead and injured are members of Mullah Hanafi’s group, however civilians were also among the causalities.

Mullah Hanafi, a veteran Taliban operative, was once associated with TTP but switched sides in early 2008 to fight them with his own militia. A local tribal leader, Malik Nek Marjaan, said the Pakistani government had been supporting Hanfi’s group in its battle against the Taliban.

The Taliban have been waging a decade-long insurgency that has killed thousands of people in an attempt to impose Islamic law in Pakistan what U.S. forces leave the country.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has pushed for peace talks with the militants in an attempt to end the insurgency. But the Taliban have demanded the government release militant prisoners and begin withdrawing troops from the tribal region before they will participate in negotiations.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Pakistan attack on ‘militant chief’ Nabi Hanafi kills many – 3 October 2013

The Guardian – Pakistan suicide bomb attack on militant chief kills 15 people – 3 October 2013

Yahoo! News – Suicide car bombing kills 15 people in Pakistan – 3 October 2013

ABC News – Suicide Car Bombing Kills 15 People in Pakistan – 3 October 2013

Times of India – Suicide car bombing kills 15 people in Pakistan – 3 October 2013

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect: The Responsibility to Protect at the Opening of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly

October 4, 2013

[scribd id=173499792 key=key-7zl4gixlhhjsxwetpqq mode=scroll]

SNHR: Major violation of Media freedom in Syria in September 2013

October 4, 2013

Prepared by Syrian Network for Human Rights:

Date of Report: 1/10/2013

Subject: documenting major violations against Media Activists in Syria.

Period covered: from 1/9/2013 to 30/9/2013

First: Introduction:

Violations against media activists continued since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution in 2011 and continues up to the present day. Government forces committed such acts continuously and systematically: direct killing, arbitrary detention, and even torturing to death. Compared to violations committed by armed opposition which showed up dramatically in the last two months. This is clearly reflected on in Syrian Network for Human Rights’ statistics and monitoring violations committed by the two parties.

23 victims including one child of media activists were killed by government forces in September, which is a new proof and further evidence that can be added to a file full of violations. At the time that armed opposition killed 1 media activist and arrested 6.

SNHR reaffirmed its condemnation of the continuous violations against media freedom, and conveys the truth of any party, regardless of the type or size disparity.

As the network actively seeks all parties to respect media freedom and to ensure the safety of media activists, with accounting involved in violations against journalists and media activists.

SNHR also underlines the need to hard and fast move for civil society organizations and bodies to press on the Syrian Government and armed opposition, and deter them by appropriate means.

Second: Major violation of media freedom committed by government forces in Syria during September 2013:

SNHR monitored during September 2013, unprecedented raise of media activists’ victims in Syria, where 23 media activists including 1 child were killed, and at least 5 were injured.

Killing children is not precedent in Syrian Government’s violation file in this field.

The bloody start of this month occurred with the murder of media activist Kinan Hasan Albalkhi, were he was killed in an ambush in Aldmair town of Damascus countryside, in 2/9/2013, and then:

Engineer and media activist Mohammad Khair Dahir Darwish during covering clashes in Damascus countryside in 3/9/2013

Media activist Mahmod Hasoon known as Kusai Alshami, correspondent at Press agency and member at Hamoria coordinating during covering events in Jobar neighborhood of Damascus.

Media activist Abdulkarim Albikr during covering clashes in Zamalka town of Eastern Ghouta in 5/9/2013.

Media activist Yousef Mohamad Alzoaabi, responsible of direct broadcast satellite, during covering events in the abandoned battalion in east of Daraa countryside, in 8/9/2013.

Palestinian media activist Fadi Abo Ajaj, killed by shell’s shrapnel in Yarmouk refugee camp of Damascus in 8/9/2013.

Media activist Mohammad Albitar during covering clashes in west of Idlib , in 8/9/ 2013

Media activist Ahmad Majed Albitar, while filming raid of Khan Alasaal of Aleppo countryside, in 8/9/2013.

Media activist Mohammad Hamid Almansour ,killed by a sniper bullet during covering clashes on Political front in Qusayer of Homs , in 9/9/2013.

Media activist Mohammad Alkhatib, killed during covering events in Qunaitra south countryside, in 12/9/2013.

Media activist Yamman Mokbil Alkhatib, killed during covering battles in Shikh Saad of Daraa, in 12/9/2013.

Media activist Mohammad Ahmad Alholo Khasarfa, member of Nawa local council, killed during covering events in Shikh Saad of Daraa, in 13/9/2013.

Media activist Mohammad Abdulrahman Alnashif, known as Mohamad Alhomsi, killed cause of shelling in Raqqa in 15/9/2013.

Media activist Mosa Bakri Hamodi, killed in Idlib, in 17/9/2013.

Media activist Khaled Ibrahim Kandah in southern Hama countryside, in 19/9/2013.

Media activist Nasr Mohamad Abo Aloion , killed in Kirnaze of Hama countryside, in 19/9/2013.

Media activist Rafat Othman Alhomsi , killed in Shaaba of Damascus countryside, in 19/9/2013.

Media activist Tarek Mohamad Alali, killed cause of sniper bullet in Tal Asan of Aleppo countryside , in 22/9/2013.

Media activist Mohamad Albalosh on the sides of Jaabadin town of Damascus countryside, killed in Idlib, in 24/9/2013.

Not for the first time child media activist was killed: Abdulhadi Alfoal 16 years old, in Doma of East Ghouta, in 26/9/2013.

Media activist Morhaf Shojaa Almodahi, correspondent at Dier ez-Zoor channel and photographer, was killed by the shelling on Khasarat neighborhood in Dier ez-Zoor , in 29/9/2013.

Media activist Noor Aldin Alhafiri in East Ghouta, in 29/9/2013.

Finally: Media activist Moomen Basel, participant in the laugh and sorrow series, was killed by shelling in Zabadani of Damascus countryside, on 30/9/2013.

SNHR also documented many injuries. The most prominent was, injury of Abo Alkhair and Abo Altaim, correspondents in Aleppo news by explosive shrapnel bullet in their foot while covering shelling in Salah Eldin area in 2/9/2013, Al Jazerra channel photographer Abu Bakr Alhaj shot by government force’s bullets in Darra Albalad, in 3/9/2013, media activist Mohamad Amin Alhalak known as Hikor injured in Saphira of Aleppo countryside in 17/9/2013, in addition to injured media activist Omar Albalkhi, office manager of Marba media office, where his feet amputated during covering battles in Daraa, in 19/9/2013.

Third: Major violation of media freedom committed by armed opposition in Syria during September 2013:

It looks that the incidents during this month is the least bloody and violent when compared with the last few months. Although dramatically violations committed by armed opposition and Islamic group as Nusra front and Islamic state of Iraq and Levant showed up against free practice of media work in Syria.

One media activist was killed and six were arrested.

The killing of Media activist Omar Diab Hajolah, known as Hazem Alaazizi, media office manager in North storm brigade, was killed by a sniper of Islamic state of Iraq and Levant in Eazaz of Aleppo countryside in Aleppo 18/9/2013.

Spanish media activist Margidnidas, correspondent at El Periodico Spanish newspaper was kidnapped by an unidentified Islamic armed group in area near to Hama city in 23/9/2013.

Hazem Dkkal, media activist, Media and relief official in the European Committee for Syrian Revolution and correspondent in channel ” Alaan.” He was kidnapped in Idleb 24/92013, by masked gunmen and then released after four days, where he was exposed to beatings and humiliation.

Many correspondents in Aleppo news have been arrested, including (Abo Okba Alhalbi, Haj Yousif, Ali Abo Jaafar) and some media activists as Abo Ahmad Madlaj: member of Free Rayan coordinating, by a FSA armed battalion in Alhalk neighborhood in Aleppo, in 27/9/2013, then released after few hours, where they exposure to beating and threaten by kill, the same brigade also ordered to arrest all activists and media activists in the same area.

Italian journalist Dominico Koiriko and Belgian Academic and writer Biar Pitshinin were released in 8/9/2013, where they were arrested by a opposition brigade in Qusayer of Homs countryside since 5 months.

Third: Attachments:

Pictures and videos of media activities that are mentioned in the report

Government’s violations:

Kinan Hasan Albalkhi:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBYml2Mll1UGtVTDg/edit?usp=sharing

Mohammad Khair Daher Darwish

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBT0pUZjVmckd0Z0k/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBR21VSHYyeldQTHM/edit?usp=sharing

Abdulaziz Mahmoud Hasson

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBZG5MemJqeGt2VU0/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBdFdXaGI2SkR2Uk0/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBbFlCaWoydXZMaE0/edit?usp=sharing