Egypt’s interim interior minister warns dispersal of all protests in the wake of one of the deadliest pro-Morsi protests

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Following the aftermath of the ousting of former Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, dozens were killed in a clash between pro-Morsi protestors and the Egyptian Army.  The attack occurred early Saturday morning and carried on for several hours.

(photo courtesy of Aljazeera)

Two sides to the details of the attack and how much carnage actually occurred have been circulated.  The government is claiming that no live rounds were used and security forces only relied on tear gas, putting the death toll at 65. However, protestors claim the army was shooting to kill.

A Brotherhood spokesman, who witnessed the shooting, stated that, “When I arrived, bullets were whizzing past my ears…Today was brutal, people were fired at with live firearms.” The Brotherhood is also claiming that the death toll is as high as 120.

Medics at a nearby field hospital reported that nearly 70% of the deaths were caused by live fire with most of the victims being shot in the chest, neck, or head by what they believed to be snipers shooting from surrounding rooftops.

Doctor Hesham Ibrahim stated, “They were mostly killed by bullet wounds especially by snipers, especially in the head.  We have nearly cut throats, just like animals.”  Other doctors claimed that they were not equipped nor have a proper facility to treat all of the wounded.

A CBS News Reporter stated, “There was blood everywhere in the morgue.  Volunteers tried futility to mop it up with rags, only smearing it across the floor.  Relatives sobbed over their loved ones.  Women shrieked. The crowd outside chanted ‘down with the military regime.’ The stench of blood and the heat of the people was overwhelming.”

Egypt’s interim interior minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, warned pro-Morsi protestors that they will all soon be dispersed from the sit-ins throughout Cairo.  He claimed that lawsuits filed by residents near the protests provide legal grounds for removal of the protesters.

Acting to ensure “the minimum losses possible,” Ibrahim spoke at a news conference on Saturday, insisting the security force’s main goal is to “prevent bloodshed.”  “We hope that the protesters come to their sense and that they put an end to these protests in order to prevent bloodshed,” added Ibrahim.

However, two leading political figures who supported the army’s removal of Morsi, have condemned Saturday’s shooting.  The highest Sunni Muslim authority in Egypt, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque, has called for an investigation, while Mohamed El Baradei, the president of the interim government, claimed that excessive force had been used.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief, has urged all sides to stop the violence.  A spokeswoman for Ashton stated, “Ashton is following with concern the latest developments in Egypt and deeply deplores the loss of life…she also calls on all actors to refrain from violence and to respect the principles of peaceful protest and non-violence.”

Should the number of 120 deaths be confirmed, Saturday’s killings will be the deadliest bout since Morsi was deposed and detained by security forces over three weeks ago.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera – Egypt official warns pro-Morsi protesters – July 27, 2013

BBC News – Egypt minister: Pro-Morsi protesters to be dispersed – July 27, 2013

CBS News – Pro-Mohammed Morsi protesters, army-backed demonstrators clash in Egypt– July 27, 2013

Reuters – EU’s Ashton deplores deaths in Egypt, urges halt to violence – July 27, 2013

Death Toll Over 100,000 in Syria Conflict

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – On Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that over 100,000 people have now been killed in the conflict in Syria.  The UN Chief appealed to all parties involved to begin new peace talks as he addressed the media before a meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry.

Heavy weaponry used in urban in areas has produced a large number of the casualties. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

“More than 100,000 people have been killed, millions of people have either been displaced or become refugees in neighbouring countries,” Ban said. “We have to bring this to an end. The military and violent actions must be stopped by both parties, and it is thus imperative to have a peace conference in Geneva as soon as possible.”

Kerry also addressed the reporters stating that he had recently spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and that both countries remained committed to a peaceful outcome.

“There is no military solution to Syria,” Kerry told reporters. “There is only a political solution, and that will require leadership in order to bring people to the table. We will try our hardest to make that happen as soon as is possible,” Kerry said.

In the past, peace conferences have been delayed because of disagreements between Russia and the US and uncertainty as to whether the all of the Syrian parties to the conflict would show up.

The announcement occurred shortly after a car bomb was detonated in the al-Siyouf Square in the Jaramanah disctrict of Damascus.  Reports have the number of deaths ranging from seven to as many as seventeen with dozens injured.

The UN death toll estimate marked a significant increase from last month’s estimate of 93,000 killed in the conflict.  The UN has stressed that their numbers are an underestimate.

The death toll is not the only startling statistic that has been released by the UN.  In May, it was reported that more than one-and-a-half million had fled Syria and another four million were displaced within the country.

While Ban and Kerry pushed for peace talks, the rebel opposition called for more military support from the US.  Opposition Syrian National Coalition president Ahmad Jarba said that the rebels have a “right to self-defense” and need further support as the situation has grown “desperate” after regime advances.

For further information, please see:

CNN – Opposition presses for weapons as Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 26 July 2013

Al Jazeera – UN: Syria death toll rises above 100,000 – 25 July 2013

BBC – Syria death toll now above 100,000, says UN chief Ban – 25 July 2013

Global Post – Syria death toll tops 100,000 – 25 July 2013

Snowden Stranded in Moscow As US Congress Refuses to Limit NSA Surveillance.

by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – Lawyers for former NSA contractor Edward Snowden said Wednesday that issues with his requests for asylum are expected to leave Snowden stranded in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Snowden requested temporary asylum in Russia last week after he was stopped from boarding a flight out of the country.

Snowden, 30, sparked a national debate about the legality and morality of secret mass surveillance programs targeted at US citizens. (Photo courtesy of NPR)

Snowden made headlines back in May when he released classified information detailing an NSA program designed to collect phone meta-data from users of Verizon’s phone service.

Snowden arrived in Moscow late last month, expecting only a short layover before traveling to South America. When Snowden arrived in Moscow on a revoked passport, however, bureaucratic measures prevented him from leaving the airport or boarding an outbound flight. Instead, lawyer for Snowden, Anatoly Kucherena, now says that he will remain in the airport until the Russian Federal Migration Services grants temporary asylum.

Back in the United States, Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a measure demanding the State Department coordinate with lawmakers in applying sanctions to Russia and any other country that offered asylum to Snowden. So far Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua have offered Snowden asylum.

The measure passed unanimously through the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday after it was included as an amendment to next year’s foreign operations bill.

This came just one day after the House of Representatives voted on a bill that proposed to curtail the NSA’s ability to conduct mass surveillance programs like the one Snowden exposed. The bill was the first opportunity for members of Congress to take a position on mass surveillance since details of the NSA’s program came to light.

The bill, which fell seven votes short of passing, saw the bi-partisan alliance of libertarian conservatives and liberal Democrats as strong proponents.

For more information, please see:

CBS News – Senate pushes sanctions on nations aiding Edward Snowden – 25 July 2013

Fox News – NSA leaker Edward Snowden stuck in a holding pattern at Moscow airport – 24 July 2013

LA Times – Edward Snowden turned back at Moscow passport control, official says – 24 July 2013

The Guardian – Edward Snowden plans to stay in Russia, says lawyer – 24 July 2013

The New York Times – House Vote 412 – Rejects Limits on N.S.A. Data Collection – 24 July 2013

The Washington Post – Edward Snowden, NSA leaker, could remain in Russia indefinitely – 24 July 2013

 

 

 

Red Cross Denounces Blockage of Humanitarian Aid to Homs

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

HOMS, Syria – Syrian armed forces are blocking the entry of food and medical supplies to civilians trapped in the old city of Homs.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed last Friday that it has been attempting to negotiate a humanitarian pause to deliver much needed supplies to the city.

The Syrian city of Homs on July 18, 2013 after reported attacks by government forces. (Photo Courtesy of Shaam News Network)

President Assad’s forces have been laying siege to the city in a heavy offensive against rebel forces.  The ICRC has warned that “tragic” consequences are possible should there not be a break in the fighting.

“We have been trying, for close to 20 days now, to bring medical supplies and other aid to the old city of Homs,” Magne Barth, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, said in a statement issued in Geneva.

“Despite lengthy negotiations with both sides, and three trips back and forth between Damascus and Homs, we have still not received the go-ahead from the Syrian authorities,” he said.

Homs was the birthplace of the revolution against the Assad government and has seen some of the fiercest fighting since that war began in 2011.  It is believed that two thousand people are trapped in the city.

The international laws of war require that the parties to a conflict provide for the rapid safe passage of humanitarian aid to civilians.

“They must also allow civilians in areas besieged by fighting to leave for safer areas, should they wish to do so. Regrettably, these obligations are not always fulfilled,” the ICRC said.

Despite the ongoing struggle in Homs, the ICRC has seen success in other parts of the country.

In what has been termed as the “Food for Freedom” deal, eighty rebels were released from the central prison in Aleppo in exchange for the safe passage of food supplies into the city.

Additionally, over the last two weeks aid deliveries have been permitted to feed the five thousand prisoners held there.  The city had reportedly been facing a severe food shortage.

The agreements were facilitated by the Syrian Red Crescent, an aid organization that works closely with the ICRC.  The two organizations have supplied food to over two-hundred thousand people this month.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Red Cross: Syria regime blocking aid to Homs – 25 July 2013

Arab News –Assad govt blocking access to needy in Homs – Red Cross  – 25 July 2013

Fox News –ICRC condemns Syria blockades – 25 July 2013

Reuters – Syrian authorities blocking access to needy in Homs – 25 July 2013