By Brendan Oliver Bergh Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
CARACAS, Venezuela – Hugo Chavez’s handpicked legacy has a lot of work in front of him. As Nicholas Maduro was sworn in earlier this week he already faces immense hardships. Maduro is inheriting food and medical shortages, chronic power outages, one of the world’s highest homicide rates, potential electoral fraud and a constituency that doesn’t respect him.
New President Maduro faces allegations of electoral strong arming from opposition. (Photo courtesy of BBC)
After Chavez’s death, Hugo seemed like the obvious choice. Vice President and acting President Maduro was poised to retake the presidency as emergency elections were instated. However Maduro lacked the pure charisma that Chavez used to unite the country behind, and many thought he would face problems getting voters back in the booth. Gaffes, and accusations were levied at him by opposition aimed to discredit him and build the base of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
A former bus driver, without a college degree, the most telling story that arose from Venezuelan media, was the “very small bird” who gave him his blessing to become President. Maduro told newspapers, that after Chavez’s death a bird in Barinas communicated to him via whistling the spirit of Hugo Chavez, giving him the drive to be President.
Spirituality aside, Maduro was not able to ignite the fire in the voters as Chavez was. Unlike 60+% Win by Chavez over Capriles, Maduro officially beat Capriles by 200,000 votes, or less than 2 percent. Even before the voting had been tallied, many were calling foul play. Stories arose of uncounted votes, ballot boxes thrown in ditches and strong arming from local motorcycle gangs of “Chavistas” or supporters of Chavez.
In order to appease the frantic the dissidents within the country, an audit of the electoral process was demanded and agreed to before Maduro was sworn in, a process that would take approximately a month to complete. Opposition candidate believes there is enough evidence due to the ballot irregularities to believe he has won the election.
The audit was demanded by Capriles, backed by the United States, and urged on by Brazil and the Union of Southern American Countries, insisting that Maduro’s legacy is not shadowed by doubt. The accuracy of the audit however is another issue; many doubt whether it will produce a fair outcome considering Venezuela’s shaky past. In Chavez’ decade and a half reign, individuals were stripped of their right to free speech and due process, lowered the reach of the judiciary, and helped eliminate independent media sources.
By Madeline Schiesser Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
KIROV, Russia – The embezzlement trial of prominent opposition leader and anticorruption blogger Aleksei Navalny, 36, began last Wednesday for forty minutes, only to be adjourned for a week to give the defense more time to review the twenty-nine-volume case file. The trial, taking place in Kirov, a twelve hour train ride northeast from Moscow where Navalny and others interested reside, is the first against such a high-level opposition figure since Soviet times. Navalny established himself as the most eloquent of the protest leaders with a huge Internet following with sharply-written blogs [eng] and corruption exposes.
Posters advertising a protest in support of Navalny prior to the beginning of his trial in Kirov on Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy of the Moscow Times)
Accusing President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating the trial, Navalny claims the best outcome he can probably expect is a suspended sentence, which would still render him ineligible for public office; he had expressed an interest earlier this month in one day running for the presidency. Before heading to Kirov Navalny said, “I think it’s clear to any objective observer that I’m not guilty.” However, he continued, “I am absolutely certain that it will end in a conviction for me.”
Chief among the accusations against Navalny is the theft of 16 million rubles ($510,000) from a timber firm in Kirov, when he was working for Kirov’s governor. If convicted, the crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Regional Investigators twice looked into the alleged theft and closed the cased in Navalny’s favor for lack of evidence, only for the case to be reopened by Moscow.
Furthermore, Navalny has also been accused of stealing 100 million rubles ($3.2 million) from the now-defunct Union of the Right Cause Party, unlawfully privatizing a distillery in the Kirov region, and, along with his brother Oleg, defrauding a local branch of cosmetics maker Yves Rocher.
The images painted by the charges contrast strongly with the man who first came to prominence by exposing corruption in state-controlled companies on his blog and with published articles. Navalny went on to publicize the undeclared properties and bank accounts of government officials. Officials no fear the idea of being exposed in his blog.
Additionally, a fifth investigation was opened on Thursday, after the adjournment, as Navalny was traveling back to Moscow by the twelve-hour train. The new investigation alleges Navalny and his convinced the Multi-Industry Processing Company (MPK) into signing a disadvantageous contract with them, and then pocketing the money.
According to Political analyst Pavel Salin, investigators had been ordered to assemble an “ironclad” case. “Four charges weren’t enough, so they created a fifth,” he said; suggesting the government pressured MPK into filing the complaint.
Navalny has dismissed the charges as “ridiculous” and, believing the public to be the fairer judge, posted all the case materials online. He explained that “There are bank documents, and we show those documents to everybody: to the investigation, to the public, to everyone. And everybody, apart from the investigation… said, ‘oh God this has been totally fabricated.’ But the investigation is not interested in this.”
Should Navalny be convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Even if he receives a suspended sentence, he would still lose his law license, from which he derives most of his income, and would be ineligible to ever run for public office, as dictated by a sweeping elections reform bill recently granted preliminary approval.
Navalny is certain that the charges against him are politically motivated, designed to silence him over his criticism of Putin. Earlier this month, a spokesman for Russia’s Investigative Committee admitted in an interview that normally local authorities would have handled “banal embezzlement” investigations, but Navalny’s case became federal because of Navalny’s fierce antigovernment activities. Vladimir Markin said when someone “teases the authorities,” it attracts the Investigative Committee’s attention and the case is expedited.
Although Konstantin Zaitsev, the senior official at the court, denies governmental pressure for a guilty verdict—”If there is no proof, he will be acquitted”— Navalny’s prospects for acquittal do not look good. More than 99 percent of Russian trials end with a guilty verdict, and the presiding judge, Sergei Blinov, has issued 130 guilty verdicts and no acquittals in the last two years. Furthermore, Judge Blinov has refused to hold any preliminary hearings, which Navalny’s lawyers say is illegal.
However, Judge Blinov did grant the defense a week adjournment to better prepare, although the defense had requested a month. The trial will resume on April 24.
Russian media has portrayed Navalny’s popularity bleakly, pointing out that many people outside urban areas are unfamiliar with him. However, his core among the middle class and urban youth is strong. Nevertheless, his recognition is growing, and this trial will not only increase Navalny’s name, but send a message the Moscow is afraid of a blogger with a cult following who made himself first known attacking corruption online.
“About thirty per cent of people here have heard of him, and of those, only a few know the details of the case,” says Nikolai Lyaskin, one of Mr Navalny’s associates, explaining the political climate in the Kirov region as the trial began. “It’s not a case of being pro-Putin or anti-Putin, people have just been put into a state where they simply don’t care about politics and assume that everyone is cynical and corrupt. We are trying to tell them that here they have a chance to look at things for themselves and make up their own minds.”
Even so, as Navalny’s trial began, he received much support from opposition leaders and government critics.
“Everyone who came here today knows that Navalny is innocent of the charges that the state has filed against him. But we also know that despite his innocence, he will be convicted,” human rights leader and former dissident Lyudmila Alexeyeva, 85, told the crowd in Kirov.
Opposition lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, who was also in Kirov, condemned the trial. “I came here to support Aleksei because I think this case is political and the investigation is biased. The case is being fabricated in front of our own eyes,” Gudkov said.
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was also present in the courtroom. “There was no transgression [in Navalny’s actions], period,” he said. “It is all an order from above, it is all about politics; it is all about revenge. They just want to jail him to scare the others and, of course, to neutralize Navalny himself.”
Finally, Navalny told reporters: “We will definitely win this case. No matter what the ruling is, I am absolutely confident that we will prove our innocence and it will be clear to everybody that this is a political trial.”
BANGUI, Central African Republic – Rebel groups continue to recruit child soldiers according to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last week.
Young members of the Seleka rebel alliance were spotted patrolling near the Ledger Plaza Bangui hotel in Bangui last March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Associated Press)
Based on the UNICEF report, roughly around 2,000 children in Central African Republic (CAR) have been enlisted by various militias since last month’s takeover of the capital, Bangui.
“We have verified cases, but no precise number. What we are hearing from partners in the field is that there has been an increase in terms of the geographic scope and the magnitude of the practice. . . Children are recruited to be used as spies, porters, messengers, cooks, in addition to fighting on the front lines as well,” UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado said.
Several journalists for the Associated Press (AP) personally witnessed dozens of young boys patrolling Bangui. “They were riding in pickup trucks with other rebels and in some cases on foot patrol, always closely supervised by older, heavily armed fighters,” wrote Krista Larson, one of the AP journalists at Bangui. When approached by the AP reporters, one of the young soldiers revealed to them that he is 14 years old and joined the Seleka rebel alliance three months ago.
The UNICEF report states, however, that despite such “clear evidence of the continuing recruitment and use of children by armed groups”, Seleka officers persistently deny this practice.
In fact, the country’s new information minister, Christophe Gazam Betty, disagrees with the figures given by the UNICEF. Betty insisted that there are only about 40 child soldiers who are still with the Seleka group. “If there are combatants who are under the age of 18, there is a system in place through the United Nations,” he said. “They will be separated and picked up by UNICEF.”
Declaring it as a grave violation of international law, the UNICEF explicitly condemned the use of child soldiers.
“Recruiting children is both morally unacceptable and prohibited under international law,” said Souleymane Diabate, UNICEF’s country representative. “We have called on the new leadership in CAR to ensure that all children associated with armed groups should be released immediately and protected from further violations,” Diabate added.
The UNICEF remains hopeful that the rebels will heed the organization’s call to end the practice. In the report, the UNICEF cited previous instances where the rebel groups who make up the alliance currently in power have successfully disarmed their young members.
“Some child soldiers can be returned to their families or to other relatives. Others will be placed in foster homes where possible, though some will be given training on living independently,” Shannon Struthers, UNICEF senior adviser for emergencies, told the press as she explained the process of disarming children in CAR.
By Dylan Takores Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MANAMA, Bahrain – Protests over the Grand Prix race continued in Bahrain on Sunday when protestors set up roadblocks, complete with barricades and burning tires, in the streets leading to Manama.
Burning tires at barricades outside Manama. (Photo Courtesy of AP)
Protestors called the event a “race of blood” intended to cover up rights violations. The activists represent the Shia majority in Bahrain. They contend that the Sunni royal family continues to deny rights to the majority Shia population. At the protests, many carried signs stating, “Your race is a crime” and “No, no to the race of blood.”
Confrontations occurred in numerous Shia-inhabited villages across the country in addition to the capital. Police fired birdshot, tear gas, and stun grenades at protestors in an attempt to disperse the crowds. In response, many threw stones back at police.
Hundreds of Shia protestors attempted to overtake Pearl Square in Manama on Saturday; the same site where protests initially began in 2011. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators. Some in the crowd responded by hurling Molotov cocktails at police. The police eventually succeeded in dispersing the crowd.
Heightened security was deployed around the event to prevent skirmishes at the race. Armed guards in security vehicles slowed traffic to a single lane toward the entrance of the event and inspected each car.
Despite the numerous confrontations, the government refused to cancel the Grand Prix race. According to the AFP, the confrontations have largely been limited to the Shia villages. Crown Prince Salaman strongly contended that the race is not an attempt to cover up rights violations. It is merely a celebration of the sport.
The government and opposition leaders tried to engage in dialogues to reach a compromise, however the government remains divided on how to respond to the protests. The Crown Prince admitted that the talks are moving too slowly.
In contrast to the reformist views of the Crown Prince, officials loyal to unelected Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salaman al-Khalifa have hindered the dialogue process. The loyalists fear that any negotiations and compromises may degrade their power and influence in the country.
Our friends want guarantees, our enemies want guarantees, our people want guarantees, because everybody is afraid of something, everybody has something to lose. Well, the rebels have nothing left to lose, and as such they cannot offer guarantees. They have to be given something first. Shall we say: greater logistical support and a no-fly zone so they can actually control the territories that they liberate? Once that happens, rebels will have something that they are afraid of losing, meaning that they could now venture into the business of providing guarantees.
Death Toll:82 martyrs, including 2 women and 8 children: 28 in Damascus and Suburbs; 17 in Aleppo; 13 in Homs; 10 in Deir Ezzor; 8 in Hama; 4 in Daraa; 1 in Idlib; and 1 in Raqqa (LCC).
News
Heavy clashes in Syria near Lebanese borderThe clashes around the contested town of Qusair, close to the Syria-Lebanon boundary, had intensified over the past two weeks amid a fresh offensive by the Syrian army and a pro-government militia known as Popular Committees, backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The border region near the provincial capital of Homs is strategic because it links Damascus with the coastal enclave that is the heartland of Syria’s Alawites, a sect from which Assad hails, and is also home to the country’s two main seaports, Latakia and Tartus.
Syria opposition voices frustration with international backersOne senior opposition figure said arms were already being sent from some countries but acknowledging this at the meeting would provide cover for countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar to openly help the rebels. “The world must know if they don’t agree on our right to receive weapons this will be the last meeting the opposition attend. We will not attend any meetings after this,” he told Reuters.
Kerry Says U.S. Will Double Aid to Rebels in SyriaMr. Kerry made the announcement at a meeting with foreign ministers from 10 European and Middle Eastern nations that was convened here to decide how to help the opposition in the bitter civil war in Syria, which has killed more than 70,000 people. A portion of the new American aid, the State Department said, will help provide additional “nonlethal” supplies to the military wing of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, an umbrella organization formed in November to unite the various rebel groups that have been trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for two years.
Syria opposition must distance itself from “terrorists:” Germany“We expect from the opposition that they clearly distance themselves in Syria from terrorist and extremist forces,” Westerwelle told reporters in Istanbul at a meeting of Syrian opposition leaders and their international backers. “We are skeptical as the German government when it comes to delivering weapons because we are concerned that weapons could fall into the wrong, namely extremist, hands, but it is a matter that must now be discussed in the European Union.”
Friends of Syria call on Damascus for a solution based on Geneva communiquéU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters during a press conference that Syria’s main opposition National Coalition (SNC) had issued a declaration that focused on a political solution ‘in parallel’ of the communiqué signed June 30, 2012 under the chairmanship of former U.N.-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan. The only way for the Damascus regime is to come to the table and agree the international agreement, Kerry said. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also echoed the words of his American counterpart. “We are calling for an immediate solution based on Geneva communiqué,” Davutoğlu said. SNC’s declaration announced April 21 firmly rejected “all forms of terrorism’” and vowed that weapons it attains would not fall into the wrong hands, as a move to appease Western countries’ worries over the gaining influence of al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front. The coalition added that it would not allow acts of revenge against any group in Syria, vowing protection of different ethnicities and confessions of the country. Kerry also insisted that the declaration was foreseeing a “plural” Syria. Meanwhile, the group also agreed that future aid would be channeled through the rebels’ supreme military command as General Idris, Chief of Staff of the rebel forces, also briefed the foreign ministers during the meetings.
FBI: Aurora man wanted to join al-Qaida in SyriaAbdella Ahmad Tounisi, 18, appeared in U.S. District Court after being arrested Friday at O’Hare International Airport as he was to get on an airplane to Istanbul, Turkey, FBI officials said in a press release. Tounisi, a U.S. citizen, was charged with knowingly attempting to provide material support and resources, namely personnel, to a foreign terrorist organization, a felony.
Special Reports
Rebels battle with tribesmen over oil in Syria’s eastOne dispute over a stolen oil truck in the town of Masrib in the province of Deir al-Zor, which borders Iraq, set off a battle between tribesmen and fighters from the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda linked rebel group, which left 37 killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The fighting, which started in late March and lasted 10 days, was part of a new pattern of conflict between tribal groups and the Nusra Front, said a report from the Observatory, a British-based group which opposes Syria’s government and draws information from a network of activists in the country.
Damascus: The changing face of Syria’s capitalPresident Assad was on TV this week. He denied there was any such thing as a liberated area controlled by the rebels in Syria, but the fact is that the only contact the President’s men have with large parts of the country is through the sights of a weapons system. That even applies to districts of Damascus. The regime controls the core of the city. But much of the sprawling, impoverished ring of suburbs around it is in the hands of the rebels. That is why all day, and sometimes all night, there is the crump of artillery fire from the Syrian army’s positions directed into the concrete jungles on the edge of town. The bangs are not constant. But they are regular and steady and sometimes intense.
This leaked video shows a fighter jet attacking the Alawite village of Al-Sifsafiyeh, we can hear someone in the background near the end of the clip saying “He’s bombing us, he is a defector, son of a dog.” However, the clip, even though, it was recently uploaded on this count, and is gaining new rounds on social media sites, is actually old, and the incident was actually a pilot errorhttp://youtu.be/XdbwD7GVGiw
Home-made device used by rebels in their siege of the Kuweiris Airport in Aleppo http://youtu.be/I5XDmmphLek
