Tribunal Starts Process of Land Restitution for Displaced Families in Colombia

By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – A Colombian tribunal has restored land stolen from 32 displaced families as part of the country’s land restitution law. Residents of Córdoba have been the target of numerous threats and intimidation. A tribunal that specializes in land restitution issues ruled on February 13th for the restitution of 405 acres of land on the Santa Paula Farm.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signing the Victims and Land Restitution Law. (Photo Courtesy of EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)

The land restitution office was created by the Victims and Land Restitution Law in 2011 which is supposed to return over 4.9 million acres to the displaced owners affected by the nearly 50 year conflict.The new law aims to return millions of acres that belonged to Colombians who have fled their homes due to violence in addition to financial compensation, all of these displaced Colombians are victims of human rights violations and infractions of international humanitarian law.

“This ruling restores victims’ ownership over land seized by one of Colombia’s most powerful paramilitary mafias, in a region where it continues to exercise influence. It is a milestone achievement for Colombia’s land restitution office and the victims who have courageously stepped forward to reclaim their land,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

Mario Cuitiva, a member of one of the families claiming rights to the farm has been the target of threats and intimidation which caused him to flee in November 2012.  Cuitivia, is not the first member of these displaced families to experience repercussions. Yolanda Izquierdo, a former leader of the effort to reclaim the Santa Paula farm was shot in January 2007. The shooter is Sor Teresa Gómez, member of the AUC, the right winged paramilitary organization that planned the theft of the land. There are 49 members of the families who have had threats made against them.

There has been debate in Colombia by how successful the land restitution law has been. The Interclesial Commission for Justice (CIJP), a NGO, has accused associates for former president Uribe in blocking land restitution. Many of those associates have links to paramilitaries and are undergoing investigation. “Officials of the government of Uribe, and persons of his entourage are engaging in actions legal and illegal [to block land restitution]. For example people were fraudulently chosen as representatives of their communities. They are businessmen or put forward by businessmen – businessmen linked to paramilitaries,” said Jesus Alberto Franco, a spokesman for the CIJP.

The land restitution office has filed an additional 80 claims to the land and are awaiting the rulings.

 

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch — Colombia: Landmark Ruling for Land Restitution – 20 Feb 2013

Colombia Reports — Paramilitaries, Uribe’s Associates ‘Blocking’ Land Restitution: NGO – 15 Feb 2013

Amnesty International — The Challenges of Colombia’s Victims’ Law – 15 June 2011

Human Rights Watch — Colombia: Victims Law a Historic Opportunity – 10 June 2011

Militants Kidnap French Family of Seven in Cameroon

By Hannah Stewart
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — On Tuesday, Nigerian Islamic militants abducted a French family of seven, including four children in northern Cameroon.  Reports state that the family has been taken across the border into Nigeria.

President Hollande condemned the abduction of French citizens while visiting Greece. (Photo courtesy of The New York Times via Bertrand Langlois/Agence France-Presse)

Reports state that men on motorcycles, armed with Kalashnikovs, intercepted the family in their car near Waza National Park and forced them to drive to the nearby Nigerian border

Waza Park, a natural wildlife reserve in the Far North Region attracts mainly foreign tourists. However, the area suffers from abduction raids by groups in Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria; these bandits often kidnap locals for ransom.

Given France’s involvement in Mali to oust Islamic rebels in the north, the risk of attacks on French nationals and interests in Africa has risen in the last month.

French President Francois Hollande, speaking during a visit to Greece, warned French citizens in West Africa to avoid putting themselves in dangerous situations.  Hollande noted that while France is engaged in a military campaign in Mali, terrorists “are not just in Mali.”

As of today, a total of 15 French citizens are currently being held in western Africa: the seven abducted in Cameroon, one other in Nigeria, and seven thought to be held in northern Mali.

Moreover, the abduction of the French family came a day after an Islamist group in Nigeria claimed responsibility for taking seven foreigners hostage at a construction site in the northern state of Bauchi.

The group that calls itself Ansaru issued a short statement about the kidnapping in northern Nigeria over the weekend, hinting at political motivations for kidnapping what Nigerian authorities say are one British citizen, one Greek, one Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino, who reportedly work for Setraco Nigeria Ltd.

This series of kidnappings have added to fears of instability and danger toward Westerners in the region.

For more information, please see:

Bloomberg – French Kidnapped in Cameroon Were Taken Into Nigeria – 19 February 2013

CBS – Militants Kidnap French Family of 7 in Cameroon, Officials Say – 19 February 2013

Chicago Tribune – Militants Kidnap French Family in North Cameroon – 19 February 2013

Reuters – Militants Kidnap French Family in North Cameroon – 19 February 2013

Syria Justice and Accountability Center: 19 February 2013

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Casualty Report – 18 February 2013

The Syrian network for human rights documented 69 martyrs , Monday 18/02/2013 all across Syria. Most of them in  Damascus and countryside ,and Idlib .Among the martyrs 1 childe , 2 ladies , 31 from free Syrian Army and 5 under torture

Damascus and countryside : 27 martyrs

Idlib : 12 martyrs

Homs : 8 martyrs

Aleppo : 7 martyrs

Daraa : 6 martyrs

Deir Alzour : 6     martyrs

Hama : 1 martyr

Hasaka : 1 martyr

 

Damascus and countryside : twenty seven martyrs including , child  , and seven martyrs from Syrian free army

1-    Haytham Diam Alalawi  – Jobar –  Damascus countryside – Free Syrian Army – Martyred through clashes with Alassad troops in Jobar-Damascushttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUTfVvurj_I&feature=youtu.be

2-    Yasine Khatar Orabi – Ras Alaain – Damascus countryside – cause of random shell from brigade 18,falled in front of his house .

3-    Mohamad Wahid Rida Albarhamji –Harasta – Damascus countryside – Free Syrian Army – Martyred in an accident on Damascus – Homs highroad while his attempt to secure some dissident soldiers

4-    Unknown martyr – Damascus countryside – burned to death by Alassad troops – his body found near to one of the checkpoint of the Air branch, difficult to indentify .

5-    Mohamad Ahmad Husain Ahmad Alrefaai – Ras Almaara – Damascus countryside affected by his wounds of a sniper bullet in Aadra a week ago relieve to Almoasat hospital

6-    Yaser Rateb Almarji – 25 years old – Aarbin- Damascus countryside – married and have a child –executed by Alassad troops at Dkhania checkpoint – Damascus countryside https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492810050776940.117507.364012203656726&type=1

http://youtu.be/uKt5UkGA68w

7-    Child Mahmod Rateb Almargi 13 years old Aarbin- Damascus countryside –executed by Alassad troops at Dkhania checkpoint – Damascus countrysidehttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492810050776940.117507.364012203656726&type=1

http://youtu.be/MPX_7JQVcf8

8-    Ahmad Riad Aataeah – 19 years old – Aarbin- Damascus countryside – 12 grade –executed by Alassad troops at Dkhania checkpoint – Damascus countrysidehttp://youtu.be/ZFK7EDHQCjM

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492810050776940.117507.364012203656726&type=1

9-    Ahmad Abdullaif Mails – 48 years old – Qara – Damascus countryside – martyred in 17-2-2013 in Alzablatani area – Damascus – by a sniper bullet

10-   Mohamad Ghaza- Dmear l – Damascus countryside – known as Abo Alqaaqaa- free army –martyred by Alassad troops bullets

11-    Sulatn Hamzah – Beat Sahm – Damascus countryside –free army –martyred by Alassad troops bulletshttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=457726534296263&set=a.298837336851851.66077.278946228840962&type=1&theater

12-    Abdo Mohamad Abo Hashish – Zabadani – Damascus countryside – free army –martyred by Alassad troops bullets in Almaimas town

13-    Hasan Mohamad Raihan – Mudera – Damascus countryside – martyred cause of random shelling on Duma http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z49hBHtr18c

14- 16-   Three unknown martyrs – Moazameat Alsham – Damascus countryside – by Alassad troops

17-   Hadwan Abdulabri – Qabon – Damascus – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops while their attempt to braking in the area      http://youtu.be/JsNa9QotgJs

18-   Moafak Abo Nidal – Darea – Damascus countryside – by a sniper bullethttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=207989919325520

19-   Abdulfatah Alahmad –Damascus – free army – martyred by Alassad troops bullet in Tal Kalba village – Idlib – by Alassad troops bullet

20-  Unknown martyr – Aadra – Damascus countryside – By Alassad troops bullethttp://youtu.be/R75OLjsXmEg

21-  Dr. Mosaab Omran Alhakim – 63 years old –Almidan- martyred under torture after his arrest in 8-1-2012 by Alassad troops

22-   Martyr Known as Abo Nimr – Hujairah – Damascus countryside –by Alassad troops in Saida Zainab

23-   Ali Yousef Omar – Alhajar Alaswad – Damascus – martyred by random shelling of Alassad troops http://youtu.be/yDKgCmIDjBA

24-  Mohamad Nadim Dawalibi – Doma- Damascus countryside – – martyred by random shelling of Alassad troops

25-   Unknown martyr – Doma- Damascus countryside  – martyred by random shelling of Alassad troops

26-   Tahseen Mohamad Abdulwahab – Aadra- Damascus countryside  – martyred by random shelling of Alassad troops

27-   Rami Khaled Shalhobe-1995 – Bit Naem- Damascus countryside – martyred by random shelling of Alassad troops .

 

Idlib : twelve martyrs including lady and seven from free army

1-    Ammar Alahmad –Hafsarjah – Idlib  –shot by forces loyal to Alassad in Harim city – Idlib

2-    Ms Obaida Jazar – Areha – idlib – affected of her wounds caused by a sniper at tannel checkpoint where she moved to Turkish Syrian border yesterday

3-    Mohamad Malek – Kafar Sajnah – Idlib – known as Abo Osamah – free army martyred in Khan Shaikhon Idlib

4-    Child Omar Mohamad Aspiro – 12 years old – Jisr Alshaghor – Idlib – cause of heavy shelling on the village

5-    Rakan Husain Karjom – 24 years old – Jisr Alshaghor – Idlib – cause of heavy shelling on the village

6-    Ahmad Abdo Karjom – 35 years old – Jisr Alshaghor – Idlib – cause of heavy shelling on the village

7-    Husain Mohamad Haj Khalf – Sarmin – Idlib – free army – martyred by Alassad troops http://youtu.be/Zw2oT7UKl6o

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.613434242003702.154146.258892337457896&type=3

8-    Yaakob Ahmad Abdulhai – 25years old – Termain Idlib – free army affected with his wounds cause Alassad troops bullets

9-    Bakri Ibrahim Deeb – Ram Hamdan – Idlib – free army – martyred by Alassad troops bullets in ALaamria neighborhood – Aleppohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUuQEDyFORk

10-    Adel Zrek – Avis –- Idlib –free Army –martyred by Alassad troops bullets in Tal Kalba village

11-     Ahamd Alissa – Saraqib –- Idlib –free Army –martyred by Alassad troops bullets in Tal Kalba village

12-     Abdulfatah Ahamd –  Tal Kalbah –- Idlib –free Army –martyred by Alassad troops bullets in Tal Kalba village

 

Deir Alzoor : six martyrs including three of Free Army

1-    Mahmod Ghanam Alismaeel – Alquraeha – Deir Alzoor – free army – martyred after being injured by ricochet through clashes with Alassad troops in the industrial zone –Deir Alzoor https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/66151_488490144519480_1113050567_n.jpg

2-    Zaher Alabdullah Alzaher – Deir Alzoor – Kharetah – free army – martyred through clashes at the radio station in ALaaeash town , in fajr Alhoria battle1

3-    Abdulrazak Alaabd Alfadaaos – Deir Alzoor – Kharetah – free army – martyred through clashes at the radio station in ALaaeash town , in fajr Alhoria battle1

4-    Mohamad Jasim Alsalim – – Deir Alzoor – free army – martyred cause of random shelling of Alkiswa Hospital – in Damascus countryside

5-    Ammar Slaim Alabdullah – Deir Alzoor – free army – martyred cause of random shelling of Alkiswa Hospital – in Damascus countrysidehttp://youtu.be/6QHX_vTKlRo

6-    Ammar Shahatha Albatran – Mahkan- Dier Alzoor – known as Moaamar Shlash – martyred under torture after arrested four months ago-his body was received today in Damascus – the martyred is deputy brigade commander

 

Aleppo : seven martyrs including five of free army :

1-    Abdulkader Alkhalaf – Sarine – Aleppo –free army – martyred through clashes at the radio station in ALaaeash town , in fajr Alhoria battle1

2-    Eng. Mohamad Hassan Allubah– Rasm Alabood – Aleppo –free army – martyred through clashes at the fences of Kobres military airport in 17-2-2013

3-    Abdulmohaimen – Aleppo – free army – in clashes with Alassad troops in Jobar Damscus http://youtu.be/1c5piK9TlUk

4-    Gaith Ramadan – 18 years old – Masaken Hanano – Aleppo – free army – by Alassad troops bullets

5-    Unknown child – Bab Alhaded – Aleppo – by a sniper bullet

6-    Said Ali Hosoa – Mnbij – free army – by Alassad troops bulletshttp://youtu.be/mSYWOQz4Q-I

7-    Noras Mohamd Bashar – 18years old – Talaarn – Aleppo – cause of random shelling .

 

Homs : eight Martyrs one lady , one detained undertorture and two of free Army

1-2-   Two unknown martyrs in TerMaala village – Homs – executed by Alassad troops , their bodies found next to Alaasi River http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-_xWCoDkM&feature=youtu.be 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzUwCLU0RZM&feature=youtu.be  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPRGXHJZqYc&feature=youtu.be

3-   Mohamad Khaled Motawiaa – Alqusir – Homs – under torture  after his arrest in 21-4-2012 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=353069254805886&set=a.276649785781167.60418.276646335781512&type=1&ref=notif&notif_t=notify_me

4-   Walid Sulliman Aajob – Homs – By Alassad troops bullets

5-   Mohamad Najm – 19 years old – Alqusoor – Homs – free army – cause of random shelling

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580325608653345&set=a.347640191921889.86336.346416255377616&type=1&relevant_count=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580333588652547&set=a.347640191921889.86336.346416255377616&type=1&theater

6-  Mohamad Zakria – Shinshar – Homs – free army martyred by Alassad troops bullets in Alsafira village – Aleppo

7-   Ms. Amina Alyousef – 30 years old – Alhola – Homs – by random shelling

8-   Ibrahim Alkarim Alrihani – Homs – Free Army – by a sniper bullet in Alqusoor neighborhood

 

Alhasaka : one free army martyr :

1-    Abdullah Rashid Mohamad – Aljkemeh village – Alhasaka – dissident solider – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops in Ras Alaain – Hasaka

 

Daraa : six martyrs including one lady and three of free Army

1-    Abdullah Mohamad Abdulkarim Masalmah – Draa Albalad – free army – through clashes with Alassad troops in Almanshia neighborhood in Daraa Albalad in 17-2-2013 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=610288208997509

2-    Ms.Turkia Aawad Ali – Almzereb – Daraa – known as Um Ashraf – martyred in Alramtha governmental hospital in Jordan , affected her wounds cause of random shelling on her twon

3-    Nawras Khaled Khalaf – Daraa refugee camp-Palestinian – executed on ground in front of the Air security building http://youtu.be/aNZ90aDGL7g

4-    Mohamad Ahmad Alsafori – Wadi Alyarmouk – Daraa – free army – By Alassad troops bullets

5-    Walid Rbeaan  – Jumlah – Daraa – free army – By Alassad troops bullets

6-    Mohamad Khamis – Ghabagheb-Daraa – known as Abo Subeh –cause of random shelling

 

Hama : one Free Army martyr

1-    Abdulrazak Ahmad Alahmad – Bredge village – Hama – free army – through the battle of liberate Tal Othamn in 17-2-2013

Russia Pushes Forward with Magnitsky’s Posthumous Trial

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe 

MOSCOW, Russia – Yesterday, Russia pushed forward with the posthumous prosecution of a whistleblowing lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, for tax evasion charges.

Russia moves forward with posthumous trial against Magnitsky. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

Magnitsky, whose name titled a new U.S. law that punishes alleged human rights abusers, died in 2009 during his stay in a Moscow pretrial detention facility. Magnitsky was jailed and charged with tax evasion after he accused high-ranking Russian officials of a multimillion-dollar embezzlement.

Despite an attempt by Magnitsky’s relatives to block a trial they believe is “inhuman and politically motivated”, a Moscow Tverskoi District Court judge ordered the appointment of a state sanctioned lawyer to represent and give ‘legal advice’ to deceased Sergei Magnitsky.

The next scheduled hearing is for the judge to determine if Magnitsky has been ‘properly notified’ of the trial and if Magnitsky provided the prosecutor with ‘confirmation of notification in writing.’

A Hermitage Capital representative stated, “The fact that this posthumous trial is going ahead, indicates that justice in Russia is turning into raw and out­right blasphemy. The only place where a notice to Sergei Magnitsky can be delivered is to his grave at the Preobrazhenskoye cemetery, and any written confirmation would need to be obtained from his corpse. There is a special place in hell for the people organizing this.”

Amnesty International believes Magnitsky’s trial is “a whole new chapter in Russia’s worsening human rights record” and is a “sinister attempt to deflect attention from those who committed the crimes he exposed”. In addition, the trial violates his human rights even in death, denying him “in particular the right to defend himself in person.”

Magnitsky’s mother, Natalia Magnitsky, sincerely requested that all Moscow lawyers boycott any requests from the court to participate in the trial as state appointed lawyers.

In her statement, she stated, “The reopening of a prosecution against my dead son without my consent and without the consent of other close relatives and against their will, is contrary to the aims and the legal meaning of the judgment of the Russian Constitutional Court… It distorts its legal purpose, violates the constitutional rights of my son, and especially in light of recent international events, is politically motivated.”

Natalia Magnitsky continued, “With the help of my son, crimes of persons occupying high positions in govern­ment were exposed, and because of these crimes, those officials have become enormously rich. These individuals, especially at the present time, are interested to compromise my son. With this purpose, they have organized this posthumous prosecution in order to obtain a knowingly unjust judgment and posthumously defame the honest name of my son.”

Conversely, lawyer, Mark Feigin, said he was interested in finding Magnitsky guilty because it would offer some vindication for the officials who were accused of embezzlement. Furthermore, lawyer, Anna Stayitskaya stated, “The purpose of the case is to acknowledge Magnitsky’s guilt and demonstrate to the world that it is defending a guilty person and the Magnitsky Act was a mistake. But Russia doesn’t understand that no one will believe the court’s decision.”

For further information, please see:

Law and Order In Russia – ‘Blasphemous’ Posthumous Trial Against Magnitsky Begins with the Forced Appointment of a State Sanctioned Lawyer to Magnitsky – 18 February 2013

The Guardian — Dead Russian Lawyer to go on Trial Next Month — 18 February 2013

The Moscow Times – Magnitsky Hearing Put Off for 2 Weeks – 18 February 2013

Reuters – Russian Court Rejects Attempt to Block Dead Lawyer’s Trial – 18 February 2013

The Independent – Russia Set for Posthumous Magnitsky Trial – 17 February 2013