A Voice for the Voiceless

Alraqqa Became the First Provincial Capital Came Under Rebel Control, Alassad Troops Continue Bombardment Alraqqa City with Scud Missiles, and Deep Concerns of Targeting Dams

On the sixth of this month Alassad troops targeted the city with two Scud missiles, the first fall south of the city , and the second one kilometer far from Almashlab area in the city, that’s makes the total number of Ballistic missiles targeted the city is 11.

In light of the inability of the international community to stop the Syrian regime from launching ballistic missiles against the Syrian, where SNHR documented through our reports until the moment at least for 73 Scud missiles we launched.

We are afraid and in a serious manner that the Syrian regime will avenge from the people of the province and the target Al- Baath and Al-Furrat dams.

In 12-2-2013, a Scud rocket hit Albaroda village, 1.5 Km away from Al- Baath dam, and another one hit Aaid protected area, 10 Km away from Al-Furat dam.

Al- Furrat, located 40 Km upstream from  Raqqa city. The dam is 60 meters high and 4.5 kilometers long and is the largest dam in Syria.

Its construction led to the creation of Lake Assad, Syria’s largest water reservoir.  The dam was constructed between 1968 and 1973 with help from the Soviet Union.

Raqqa Tand at least 1.3 million displaced people in addition to nearly half a million of its indigenous population.

Thus destruction of the dam will inundate the city’s buildings until the fourth floor and there will be no time to evacuation the city of its population, because the water will cross the distance between the dam and the city, which almost 50 miles in less than 15 minutes, the water level of the lack is 200-250 m rising from the sea – while Raqqa city rise 170 m and Dier Alzoor rise 150 m, that’s mean water will flood Raqqa up to 50 m and Dier Alzoor up to 100 m.

Then the Dam water will turn to destroy other cities on the same line, which is Ma’dan and Dier Alzoor, it will take less than 40 minutes to get there, and also Abu Kamal city on the Iraqi Syrian border.

To be mentioned that Al-Furrat dam has been liberated in 11-2-2013.

Recommendations:

Scud missile, classified by USA as a mass as a mass destruction weapon in Al Iraq case because of its ability to carry chemical weapons.

For that the International community in the maximum speed should protect Syrian from death and destructions cause using Scud Missile by Alassad Troops, almost two  Scud missile ever day.

SNHR demands international community represented by security council to maintain civil peace, in case it is not deter the Syrian regime, it will be considered as a green light, and it may led to a repeat a major disaster like Hama massacre in 1982, and hold the responsibility again to Alassad regime, security council and Arab League.

 

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الشبكة السورية لحقوق الإنسان 

Syrian Network for Human Rights 

https://www.facebook.com/syrianhr

Venezuela Accuses The West Of Assassinating Hugo Chavez

By Brendan Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – With the death of Hugo Chavez the people of Venezuela have begun their morning period. But with the Venezuelan base restructuring itself to protect the transition of power come rumors and accusations of a western based assassination.

After his death on March 5, conspiracies fly concerning western assassination attempts on his death. (Photo courtesy of Human Rights Watch)

Since his death on March 5, accusations have come from the upper echelons of the Chavez administration have been implying that the United States and Israel conspired to assassinate Hugo Chavez and destabilize Venezuela. In 2011, Chavez upon discovering he had cancer implied that he had been injected by foreign imperialistic forces.

However at this stage, giving other people cancer via injection seems highly suspect. While Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez has implied similarities to Palestinian Leaders Yasser Arafat death, even polonium poisoning does not give you cancer, and merely mimics end stages of cancer.

The assassination of a foreign leader has been denounced by the Geneva Convention, which in Article 37 of Protocol I states “It is prohibited to kill, injure or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy. Acts inviting the confidence of an adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to, or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence, shall constitute perfidy.” Beyond the rules of International Conflict, President Reagan signed Executive Order 12 333, which prohibits US Intelligence agencies from assassinating foreign leader targets.

Venezuela has since expelled two U.S. military attaches, and the U.S. has in turn expelled two Venezuelan diplomats. It seems that until the Venezuelan administration finishes their probe into Hugo Chavez’s death, tensions will rise between the two nations. Yet the possibility of an unbiased report seems unlikely, as in 2006 Chavez told reporters, “If they kill me, the name of the person responsible is George Bush,” unwilling to acknowledge the numerous Venezuelans who were economically displaced when the President altered the economic and social structure of the country.

When Hugo Chavez took power after his failed coup d’état in 2002, he seized power away from the court systems, and undercut the ability of journalists, and human rights defenders to exercise their ability to report on violations within the country. Chavez was able to use the government’s free reign to intimidate, censor and prosecute those within the country who challenged his political agenda. In September 2012, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the American Convention on Human Rights, indicating a radical decision in the face of international scrutiny.

For further information, please see:

BBC – Venezuela To Investigate Chavez Murder Allegations – 12 March 2013

Tehran Times – Assassination Of Hugo Chavez – 8 March 2013

Gawker – Could The U.S. Have Assassinated Hugo Chavez Using Cancer? – 8 March 2013

Miami News Times – Did Assassins Give Hugo Chavez Cancer? Conspiracies Fly As Groups Request CIA Docs – 7 March 2013

Human Rights Watch – Venezuela: Chavez’s Authoritarian Legacy – 5 March 2013

6,000 Dead Pigs in the Huangpu River Ignites Concerns Over Water’s Drinkability

By Karen Diep
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Today, Chinese officials released a statement that revealed the number of pig carcasses found in Shanghai’s Haungpu River, a major source of drinking water for Shanghai, was close to 6,000.  Yesterday, nearly 5,916 dead pigs were removed from the river.

Authorities retrieving carcasses from the river. (Photo Courtesy of New York Times).

Officials stated that the water quality met the government set standard and thus, was drinkable. Specifically, the Shanghai municipal government claimed that the water in Huangpu River was safe.  No contaminated or contaminated pork had been discovered in the local markets.

However, many are still skeptical.

According to the Huffington post, many residents are concerned after seeing the pictures of “swollen and rotting carcasses.”

Laboratory tests have discovered that some of the dead pigs possessed porcine circovirus, a common disease that affects pigs but not humans. Moreover, authorities are disinfecting the pig carcasses before burying them, while incinerating others.

According to BBC News’ John Sudworth in Shanghai, the general mood is of concern opposed to outrage or panic. Chinese citizens are very familiar to food scandals – oil scraped from sewers for cooking and plasticizer in baby formula.

On weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, users are voicing their concern over the dead pigs.

“Cadres and officials, we are willing to provide for you, but please don’t let us die from poisoning. Otherwise who will serve you? Please think twice,” said netizen Shi Liqin.

“This river’s colour [sic] is about the same as excrement, even if there weren’t dead pigs you couldn’t drink it,” wrote someone with the username Yuzhou Duelist.

In the state-run Global Times, the article claimed that the “pig scandal” comes amid growing concerns about China’s environment, including recent record smog levels in Beijing and water and air pollution affecting villages.

“The country’s citizens, including both ordinary people and officials, should bear in mind the necessity of protecting the environment,” read the article.

Although the cause of death is unknown, officials believe that the pigs may have come from Jiaxing, a city in the Zhejiang province.

“We don’t exclude the possibility that the dead pigs found in Shanghai were from Jiaxing. But we are not absolutely sure,” stated Jiaxing local spokesman Wang Dengfeng at a news conference. Furthermore, Jiaxing officials also believe that the pigs may have been killed by the cold weather.

Today, a Zhejiang court sentenced 46 people to jail for yielding unsafe pork from sick pigs that they had acquired and slaughtered between 2010 and 2012.

Last year, Jiaxing authorities segregated a gang that acquired and slaughtered diseased pigs arresting 12 suspects and seizing nearly 12 tons of unsafe pork.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – China Pulls Nearly 6,000 Dead Pigs From Shanghai River – 13 March 2013

Huffington Post – Dead Pigs In China’s Shanghai River Worry Residents – 13 March 2013

New York Times – With 6,000 Dead Pigs in River, Troubling Questions on Food Safety – 13 March 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India Demands the Return of Two Italian Guards Accused of Gunning Down Unarmed Fishermen

By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India – Italy denied the return of two military security personnel to India for the purpose of standing trial after the two security guards killed two fishermen off of India’s southern coast last February.

Pictured above, the two Italian security guards accused of slaying the Indian fishermen. (Photo Courtesy of News Bharati)

The two security guards were placed on the Italian tanker, Enrica Lexie, to protect the vessel at sea from pirates.  The guards encountered an Indian fishing vessel, which they described as hostile and approached the tanker in an aggressive manner.  The fishermen were unarmed.

After administering warnings to the allegedly aggressive fishermen, the two guards opened fire and killed the two fishermen off of India’s southern coast near Kerala.  The security guards allegedly responsible for the murder of the two fishermen had been detained in India except for a brief holiday when the men were allowed to return home to Italy to spend with their families.

More recently, the men were allowed to return to their home country to participate in their nation’s general elections.  The Italian government, however, issued a statement informing the international community that the two security guards would not return to India to stand trial for their crimes.

The Indian Supreme Court handed down a ruling that stated India had jurisdiction over the two security guards’ crimes and demanded the return of the two alleged murderers to stand trial in India courts under India’s rule of law.  Italy has denied India’s Supreme Court ruling, stating that the incident occurred in international waters and believes they should be tried at home in Italian courts.

Italy bases its decision to not return the security guards on its assertion that India’s court decision would violate the guards’ rights (specifically the principle of immunity for foreign state actors).  An Indian protest leader, however, believes that this decision by the Italian government will set negative international precedent that would encourage foreigners to murder innocent Indian people and escape.

A woman, identified as Dora who is the wife of one of the slain fisherman, denounces Italy’s decision and calls the entire fiasco a conspiracy against justice which needs to be exposed on the international stage.  The woman said that although the Italian government compensated the families for their losses, monetary compensation could not possibly rectify the losses suffered.

Dora demands that the Italian government return the two alleged murderers to stand trial so justice can be served.  Reports say that the Italian government paid the families of the fishermen 10 million rupees (equivalent to 124,000 British pounds).

For further information, please see:

BBC – India fishermen killings: Italian ambassador is summoned – 12 March 2013

The Guardian – India furious after Italy blocks return of marines for murder trial – 12 March 2013

News Bharati – Italy blocks Marines’ Indian murder trial – 12 March 2013

Reuters –  India summons Italian envoy over marine killings dispute – 12 March 2013

Hungarian Constitutional Amendment Restricts Freedoms

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Despite protests in the capital city throughout the weekend, Hungary’s parliament voted to pass an amendment Monday which critics say amounts to an attack on democracy.  The amendment, the fourth to Hungary’s 14-month-old constitution, will limit the ability of Hungary’s Constitutional Court to Challenge new laws as well as effectively annul all decisions made by the Court since January 2012.  Rolling back the Court’s decisions will bring back a narrow definition of marriage as a heterosexual union, a ban on sleeping on the streets, a requirement for students who accept state scholarships to stay in Hungary, and a ban on political campaign adverts in private media.

Hungarian members of parliament voted Monday for an amendment that some critics say will severely limit democratic freedoms. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

The European Union and United States expressed concern over the effects the amendment would have on the independent judiciary, the latter saying the amendment deserved “closer scrutiny and more deliberate consideration”.  The Council of Europe (an independent human rights body) urged for delays to allow legal experts time to examine the amendment, claiming the amendment “raise[s] concerns with respect to the principle of the rule of law, EU law and Council of Europe standards.”  However, members of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz ruling party remained persistent, and passed the amendment.

MP Antal Rogan declared in a speech in the chamber: “We won’t allow either any international business lobby or the political forces that speak on their behalf to interfere with the decisions of the Hungarian parliament.”

The amendment, passed by the Fidesz party, which has a two-thirds majority, says that the Constitutional Court will no longer be able to overturn laws passed in parliament with a two-thirds majority and enshrined in the constitution.  Rather, the court will only have the power to review cases on procedural grounds.  PM Orbán explained that the amendment would create an “irreversible” situation in which parliament’s role in protecting the constitution supersedes that of the Constitutional Court.

Furthermore, the president’s veto power has been removed and he will be obliged to sign amendments, except when there is an objection on procedural grounds.

“When they lay down in the constitution how those who have nowhere to go may or may not sleep on the street then we need to ask whether it’s us protesters who have gone crazy or those who write the constitution,” opposition activist Miklos Tamas Gaspar said.

The EU may decide Thursday, when heads of state are scheduled to gather in Brussels, whether to take action. Although the EU has the power to strip a country of voting rights, doing so is a laborious process.

Rui Tavares, a Portuguese MEP, stressed the importance ensuring Hungary’s new constitution remains compatible with European values: “You have to ensure that the judiciary in every member state is compatible with these values we have in the treaties.”

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Hungary amends constitution despite warning – 11 March 2013

The Independent – Hungary Erupts in Protest after PM Viktor Orbán is Accused of Assault on Democracy – 11 March 2013

The Independent – Hungary Votes Yes Over Change to Constitution Despite Human Rights Concerns – 11 March 2013

Xpatloop – EC Prepared To Enforce EU Law In Hungary – 11 March 2013