U.N. Commissioner Says Sri Lanka Is Failing To Investigate Civil War Atrocities Perpetrated By Their Military

By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Navi Pilay, the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently released a report on the Sri Lankan central government’s failure to investigate widespread killings and other wartime atrocities committed by their military forces during the bloody, 25 year civil war with the Tamil Tigers.

Commissioner Navi Pilay addresses the public at a U.N. conference on human rights. (Photo Courtesy of The Star)

Pilay is calling for independent, international criminal and forensic investigations to help rectify the situation in Sri Lankan.  Experts and human rights groups say that the Sri Lankan military, who fought for the central government and population majority composed mainly of ethnic Sinhalese, murdered as many as 40,000 civilian, non-combatants in Tamil territory.

U.N. Secretary, General Ban Ki-moon, set up an expert panel whose study led to the exposure of the murders by the Sri Lankan military and the statistical figures.  The Sri Lankan government, however, has rejected the reports alleging abuses and atrocities committed by their soldiers.

Pilay has also accused Sri Lanka of not implementing a system to relocate missing adults that disappeared during the latter stages of the civil war.  Disappearances of thousands of citizens have gone uninvestigated and their perpetrators have not been arrested nor prosecuted for their crimes.

The Sri Lankan central government has devised plans for some of their own official, internal investigations on the alleged atrocities committed during the 25 year long civil war.  President Mahinda Rajapaksa also said that the government never ordered attacks on civilian targets during the armed conflict.

Commissioner Navi Pilay, however, still believes that there are inaccuracies in the central government’s official investigations.  Pilay cited a video broadcasted in 2009 which allegedly showed summary executions of Tamil prisoners by central government military forces as evidence for the necessity of independent investigations into the matter.

Pilay is calling for greater transparency and impartiality in the investigation process to get to the bottom of the abuses that may have been rampant during the violent conflict.  Witnesses coming forward to testify as to the abuses carried out by the military, as well as the victims of the atrocities, also need protection in this investigatory process.

There have also been reports of new abductions as recent as 2011 and 2012.  Political activities and members of their family have alleged been abducted, tortured, and in extreme cases, killed.  The central government says that they have been looking into these alleged crimes.

Journalists from media outlets have also been harassed and attacked by the central government.  I addition, human rights activists that took part in the U.N. Human Rights Council a year ago had also been attacked in public by government ministers.

Due to these recent public abuses, Sri Lanka has come under more pressure by Western states to take a look at the human rights situation in the country.

For further information, please see:

News Daily – Sri Lankan military inquiry says army did not shell civilians – 15 February 2013

Reuters – Sri Lanka’s wartime investigation lags as abuses persist: U.N. – 13 February 2013

The Star – Sri Lanka’s wartime investigation lags as abuses persist, U.N. says – 13 February 2013

The Washington Post – UN rights chief faults Sri Lanka probe of alleged wartime abuses – 13 February 2013

Activist Creates South African Political Party to Challenge Ruling ANC

By Hannah Stewart
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa — Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, an anti-apartheid activist and co-founder of South Africa’s Black Conscious Movement, has announced the formation of a new political party to challenge ruling African National Congress (ANC), to which Nelson Mandela once belonged.  Dr. Ramphele’s party is called Agang, a Sesotho word meaning “build.”

Mamphela Ramphele speaks at the women’s jail on Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian via Stephane De Sakutin/AFP)

Dr. Ramphele, a 65 year-old medical doctor and social anthropologist, told a news conference on Monday that her party will serve millions of South Africans who desire a new beginning.  She stated her call to South Africa: “join me in building the South Africa of our dreams.”

She accused the governing party of corruption, undermining democracy, and abusing its political power.

Moreover, Dr. Ramphele confirmed at the news conference that her party will run in the 2014 elections and will campaign “from village to village.”  Her party is the latest in a string of opposition groups challenging ANC’s dominance.

The ANC, which was formed more than a century ago, has won every national election since the end of apartheid in 1994.  However, the party has been subject to increased scrutiny due to charges of corruption and poor governance.  Despite promising “a better life to all,” inequality in South Africa has only grown since apartheid ended.

South Africa faces a growing chasm between rich and poor, as well as widespread unemployment.  As such, South Africa has seen increasingly violent protests against job losses and utility shortages.  Moreover, the country is facing an education and health crisis.

Dr. Ramphele has been a fixture in South African public life for decades.  She had a close relationship with Steve Biko, a Black Consciousness activist, who died in police custody in 1977.  They had two children together.  The apartheid government banished her for seven years to the village of Lenyenye for her political activism.  There she committed to bettering the community and she started a small clinic that treated thousands of rural residents.  She has also earned degrees in anthropology and business.

After apartheid ended, she became the first black vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town.  She later became a managing director of the World Bank.

When asked how the Mandela of 1994 would feel about the state of the nation now, Dr. Ramphele said: “absolutely disappointed.”  She went on to say that, “he would be the first to acknowledge that he failed, but the fact of the matter is that failure is not a problem, the problem is what do we learn from failure?”

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Mamphela Ramphele Launches Challenge to South Africa’s ANC – 18 February 2013

The New York Times – Anti-Apartheid Leader Forms New Party in South Africa – 18 February 2013

The Wall Street Journal – Activist Seeks to Take On African National Congress – 18 February 2013

The Washington Post – Anti-apartheid Fighter Mamphela Ramphele to Form a Party to Build a “South Africa of Our Dreams” – 18 February 2013

Rafael Correa Wins Presidential Election in Ecuador, Many Fear More Media Restrictions

By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – Rafael Correa won the presidential election earlier this month by a wide margin. Correa’s win could mean more media regulations on the country.

President Rafael Correa and Vice President Jorge Glass celebrating the election results. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)

“No one will stop our revolution….We have never failed and we will never fail,” a jubilant Mr. Correa told a screaming crowd from a balcony at the government palace after the results were announced.

Correa won this year’s election he won with 57% of the vote, his closest opponent was Guillermo Lasso, a former banker who had 23% of the vote. Correa has only been office since 2007 but is the country’s longest serving President in decades with this second term. Since taking office, Ecuador’s poverty rate has dropped to 32.4%. The number of government employees has increased from 16,000 to 90,000. He has improved access to education and health care as well as improved the country’s roadways.

During Correa’s first term, he made radical changes including changing electoral law and the constitution to allow for consecutive political terms.

He has had a tough policy regarding media outlets that issues out fines and lawsuits when the outlets are critical of his government. Despite Correa’s win, many are worried that his win will threaten the free press. A specific concern is a proposed communications law, which could lead to more checks on the media.

“We hope that the confrontation and harassment of the press is over, but we hope that the confrontation and harassment of the press is over, but we see the risk of trying to control the media’s content and establish prior censorship of journalist work,” Vicente Ordoñez, president of the country’s National Journalist Union, said Monday.

Current media laws in place make it illegal for biased political reporting. Examples of these laws since May 2012 include at least eleven radio stations have been closed and Vistazo magazine was charged with an $80,000 fine after being accused of violating a political propaganda law. Violations are ruled on by a tribunal or the country’s Constitutional Court.

Corerea has had repeated problems with the national newspaper El Universo, Ecuador’s National Court of Justice ratified a decision sentencing the paper’s owners and former columnist to three years in prison for defaming the president and fined them $40 million. After worldwide criticism, Correa pardoned the journalist and waived the fine.

Other criticisms facing Correa stem from his prosecution of indigenous leaders for organizing protests against large-scale mining projects.

 

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Ecuador’s Correa Wins Third Presidential Term – 18 Feb 2013

The Guardian — Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa Says Citizens Will Be in Charge, Not Money – 18 Feb 2013

Wall Street Journal — Ecuador Election Win Seen Tightening Correa’s Grip – 18 Feb 2013

New York Times — President Correa Handily Wins Re-election in Ecuador – 17 Feb 2013

UN Inquiry Accuses Government, and Rebel Forces of War Crimes

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East 

DAMASCUS, Syria — Last Monday, investigators working in part with the UN Human Rights Council released a report for the UN Security Council, providing a list of names of the people who they suspect of committing war crimes in Syria.  Investigators said that their latest report was based on 445 interviews with victims and witnesses abroad.

Carla del Ponte spoke of the necessity of having the cases of “very high officials” determined by the International Community Court. (Photo Courtesy of The Daily Star)

The list gives the names of people who carried out orders, and also, the names of those who gave them.  Investigators urged the Security Council to ensure accountability, requesting that those suspected of war crimes be brought in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.  Investigators said that the violations included murder and torture, which were committed by both government and rebel forces since the conflict, that claimed the lives of 70,000 people, began in March, 2011.

Investigators claimed that government forces carried out shelling and bombardment across Syrian cities and villages such as Aleppo, Damascus, Deraa, Homs, and Idib, citing recent satellite pictures of the region as evidence.  The report itself stated that “government forces and affiliated militias have committed extra-judicial executions, breaching international human rights law.  This conduct also constitutes the war crime of murder.”  UN Investigators say that government forces targeted “queues at bakeries and funeral processions, in violence aimed at ‘spreading terror among the civilian population,’ and used cluster bombs.”

The report also claims that rebel forces committed war crimes in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.  The charges include murder, torture, hostage-taking, and using children under the age fifteen in hostilities.  “They continue to endanger the civilian population by positioning military objectives inside civilian areas,” the report said. Investigators also said that rebel snipers had added many additional civilian casualties.

The report noted that when compared to violations committed by government forces, war crimes perpetrated by rebel forces did not amount to the same intensity and scale.

UN Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, and a member of a UN-mandated commission of inquiry on the Syria conflict, emphasized the necessity of taking alleged war criminals to the ICC.  “The international community – and the UN Security Council – must take the decision to refer this to justice,” said del Ponte.  She said it was highly urgent for the ICC to hold hearings against “very high officials,” but did not identify them, since anonymity is part of the inquiry’s practice.  Acknowledging that they are not requiring the ICC to get involved, del Ponte, speaking on behalf of UN investigators, said “[w]e suggest the International Criminal Court.  We can’t decide, but we are pressuring the international community to act, because it’s time to act.”

For further information, please see:

Al Arabiya — U.N. Lists Syria War Crime Suspects in ‘Leadership Positions’ — 18 February 2013

Al Jazeera — UN: Both Sides Committing War Crimes in Syria — 18 February 2013

The Daily Star — Time to Refer Syrian War Crimes to ICC, UN Inquiry Says — 18 February 2013

Global Post — Syria War Crimes Suspects on Both Sides of Conflict, says UN — 18 February 2013

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Casualty Report – 17 February 2013

The Syrian network for human rights documented 73 martyrs , Sunday 17/02/2013 all across Syria. Most of them in  Damascus and countryside ,and Hama .Among the martyrs 4 children , 4 ladies , and 23 from free Syrian Army.

Damascus and countryside : 21 martyrs

Aleppo : 17 martyrs

Hama : 14 martyrs

Homs : 3 martyrs

Idlib : 4 martyrs

Daraa : 6 martyrs

Deir Alzour : 7   martyrs

Tartous : 1 martyr

 

Damascus and countryside : twenty one martyrs including , child  , four ladies , one detained under torture , and four martyrs from Syrian free army

1-    Omar Ali Alhaoari – Madera-  Damascus countryside – known as Abo Abdullah – Free Syrian Army – Martyred through clashes with Alassad troops in Jobar-Damascus

2-    Ms. Hanaa daughter of Abdullah  in Darea – Damascus countryside – burned to death after  targeting their car by Alshelka mortar .

3-    girl child Houda daughter of Nizar , in Darea – Damascus countryside – burned to death after  targeting their car by Alshelka mortar

4-    boy child Mohamad son of Nizar  in Darea – Damascus countryside – burned to death after  targeting their car by Alshelka mortar .

5-    Fuad Yhia Taha –Darea – Damascus countryside – Executed by Alassad troops on alzaitee checkpoint in Zakia town – Damascus countryside – after torturing him .

6-    Omar Azir-64 years old – Damascus – Political activist – known as Abo Kamil , martyred under torture by Alassad troops , after his arrest in 25-11-2012 from his house in Almazeh western Villa – Damascus , he is a father of three children . https://www.facebook.com/Douma.Revolution#!/photo.php?fbid=432606700153584&set=a.112197655527825.19958.111632495584341&type=1&theater

7-    Ali Alphostki – Doma – Damascus countryside –martyred affected by his wounds had three months ago cause of Mortar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMR0tzAphCY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xy81xTD8dE&feature=youtube_gdata/

8-    Yaser Saab – Doma – Damascus countryside – known as Abo Firas – Free Army – martyred affected by his wounds while doing his duty in Comeuppance battle https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=432629416817979&set=a.112197655527825.19958.111632495584341&type=1&theater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vTVxGJ_5U&feature=youtube_gdata/

9-11        Three unknown martyrs – doma – Damascus countryside – cause of rocket launcher shelling on the city by Alassad Troops near to Alsalik mosque

12- Jalal Abo Alkheir – 27 Years old –Eastern Ghota – Damascus countryside – dissident sergeant – shot by Alassad troops in Aleppo

13-Ms. Siham Orabi Subhi – Jobar – Damascus – cause of random shelling http://youtu.be/4l4aBxo2SyE

14- Saed Abo Moafak – Daria – Damascus countryside – free Army – martyred by a sniper bullet

15-Mostafa Abdulkarim Taha – Yabroad – Damascus countryside -truck driver – known as Karmo- martyred after arrested from Alhal Souqe

16-Boy Child Osamah faraj –Yarmouk refugee camp – Damascus – martyred cause of the siege on the area and lack of health care and acute shortage in medical supplies http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=458340044232787

17-18 –two Unknown martyrs – Alzahera – Damascus – found near to Alshaar square and they raised torturehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=273432712788950

19 – 20- two Unknown martyrs – Maazameat Alsham – Damascus – cause of barbaric bombing to the city by Alassad troops

21- Ms. Zaeda daughter of Saeed  in Darea – Damascus countryside – burned to death after  targeting their car by Alshelka mortar

 

Hama : fourteen martyrs including one child and six from Free Army

1-    Ahmad Aaead Alhabio – 60 years old – Kafar Zita – Hama –affected by his wounds , cause of the random selling ten days ago .

2-    Mohamad Abdulahmid Aldail – Almadiq castle – Hama – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops through battle to control Tal Abi Othman Military Base

3-    Ahmad Abdulwahid Nasrullah – Almadiq castle – Hama – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops through battle to control Tal Abi Othman Military Base https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=280487595415130

http://on.fb.me/W2SJez

http://youtu.be/U8mO70Focbo

4-    Maher Durzi Almaraai – dissident solidar – Hama – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops through battle to liberate Alquba checkpoint – Dam Road- Daraa https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609699702389693

http://youtu.be/7HFrYz_2V4s

5-    Sami Ali Alsafan-30 years old – Latmi – Hama – after storming Mork village by tanks and armed vehicles of Alassad troops through intense fire of the western entrance of Mork in Hama countryside

6-    Abdulkafi Alsaloom – Almadiq castle – Hama – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops

7-    Ali Khaled Alherdan – Swran – Hama – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops

8-    Child Mohamad Yaser Azkahi – 10 years old – Almadiq qastle – Hama – random shelling by Alassad troops .http://youtu.be/2l4R4ld8yOk

9-    Ibrahim Kasoom – Almadiq qastle – Hama – random shelling by Alassad troops

10- Anas Hamza – Almadiq qastle – Hama – random shelling by Alassad troops

11- Abdulrazak Khaled Alghabshi – Hama – known as Abo Khaled Alhamwi – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops

12- Ahmad Khaled Abdulaziz – Almadiq castle – Hama  – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops in the city

13- Khaled Mohamad Alhasian – Almadiq castle – Hama  – Free Army – martyred while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops

14- Child Mohamad Hasan Ibrahim Alqasom – 2 years old – cause of random shelling on the city by Alassad troops.

 

Aleppo : seventeen martyrs including one lady and three of free army

1-    Ms Israa Shehabi – 50 years old – Masaken Hanano – Aleppo – cause of random shelling

2-    Saad Bakri Mojber – Almashhad – Aleppo – Free Army – martyred by Alassad troops bullets

3-    Khaled Saleh Alkafi – Albab – Aleppo – Free Army – martyred by Alassad troops bullets

4-    Ibrahim Mossa Alkafi – Albab – Aleppo – Free Army – martyred by Alassad troops bullets

5-    Mohamad Khaled Aljasem – Dear Hafer – Aleppo – effected by his wound cause a sniper bullet

6-    Olaewi Ahmad Khalaf – 21 years old – Tal Hadia – Aleppo – solider martyred by a sniper of Alassad Troops while he was trying to dissent

7-    Tawfik Naanaaai – Bustan Alqasr –Aleppo –sniper shot while fire extinguishing in a truck

8-    Mahmod Mohamad Alaawesi – 26 years old – Alsalhen – Aleppo – by a sniper in Albostan neighborhood

9-12   Four unknown martyrs including lady and child – Almidan – Aleppo -by a sniper bullet in Aldaeri Alshamali neighborhood http://youtu.be/5IElzQD55MM

13-15 Three unknown martyrs including lady and child – Almidan – Aleppo -by a sniper bullet in Aldaeri Alshamali neighborhoodhttp://youtu.be/LvwKQq_5B-g

16-Husain Masho Arab –Maraa – Aleppo- Free Army – martyr while doing his duty by clashes with Alassad troops at Alkazia checkpoint at AAsan bridge http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=478335072224909&set=a.201032849955134.49634.201023143289438&type=1&relevant_count=1

17 – Ahmad Mahmod Hamdoo –Arshaf – Aleppo – third year civil engineering – Free Army – martyr through clashes with Alassad troops in Alshiekh Khudr Aleppo http://youtu.be/BzSuFL9HYZs

 

Deir Alzoor : seven martyrs including one child and six of Free Army

1-    Child Khaled Ibrahim Alabdullah – Alkharita – Dier Alzoor – cause of random shelling

2-    Abdulsatar Frim – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops

3-    Khaled Alissa Almohamad  – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops

4-    Saleh Alhasan Alwahed – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops

5-    Mohamad Almaaeof Alhasan – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops

6-    Omar Ibrahim Alswadi – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops in the old airport neighborhood https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=488334727868355&set=a.193299227371908.37088.193044387397392&type=1&relevant_count=1

7-    Qasem Hasan Alaaed – Deir Alzoor- Free Army – martyred through clashes with Alassad troops near to the radio station in Aaeash town

 

Daraa : six martyrs including three of free Army

1-    Ahmad Anwar Alakrad – Draa Albalad –Daraa – Free Army- martyred In Jordan Yesterday affected of his wounds while doing his duty through clashes with Alassad troops liberate automated bakery checkpoint –Daraa Albaladhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609638919062438

2-    Alaa Daas Almasalmah – Draa Almhata-Daraa-known as Abo Husain – free Army – martyred during clashes with Alassad troops In daraa Almhata .https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609668622392801

3-    Taha Husain Aaeash – Dum road –Daraa – martyred cause of shelling by Alassad troops on his neighborhood

4-    Mohamad Alassad – Daraa Almhata – free Army – martyred during clashes with Alassad troops .

5-    Abdullah Ahmad Alkasabra – Alhrak – Draa –free Army – martyred in Alramthaa hospital in Jordan affected with his wounds through clashes with Alassad troops

6-    Maher Darzi Almaraae – Daraa – killed by Alassad troops http://youtu.be/7HFrYz_2V4s

 

Idlib : four martyrs including one child

1-    Girl child Sumaia Naef Albasheer – 13 years old – Mishmishan-Idlib – 9th grade –martyred cause of shelling by rocket launchers of Alassad troops centered in Jesr Alshaghoor hospital – Idlib http://youtu.be/VXWkJTJ6JVE

2-    Anas Hamadah- Idlib- sniper shot – Salah Aldeen – Aleppo

3-    Jamil Radwan Janabi – Kafroma –Idlib – Killed by Alassad troops

4-    Mohamad Yasin Alomar – Alhbait – Idlib – free Army – martyred through clashes in Hama

 

Homs : three Martyrs one lady and two of free Army

1-    Ms. Safaa Aldahik – Homs – Talbisa – cause of random shelling http://youtu.be/lYjgTgTSfIM

2-    Moaead Khaled Alhusain – Alqusair – Homs – Free Army –martyred by Alassad troops bullet

3-    Bakr Abdulwahab Barouk – Alrastan – Homs – Free Army –martyred by Alassad troops bullet

http://youtu.be/OqrErs-HerU

 

Tartous : one martyr Free Army

1-    Abo Ziad Albaniasee – Banias – Tartous – Free army – martyred through clashes in Hama