Colombian General Did Not Act Alone In Aided Paramilitary Organization

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Colombia — Last month, retired General Mauricio Santoyo, a former security chief to ex-president Álvaro Uribe, pled guilty to aiding paramilitary groups in Columbia. New evidence has also surfaced that shows that he did not act alone, supporting a theory previously put forth by representative from the 2nd  Chamber of the Colombian House of Representatives, Iván Cepeda. Cepeda claimed that this was “not an isolated incident” and was part of a “criminal structure” that included numerous officers and NCOs who operated within the Antioquia Police in the ‘90s and had links to the presidency from 2002 to 2010.

General Mauricio Santoyo. (Photo Courtesy of el Heraldo).

General Santoyo, who has been extradited to the United States for ties to drug trafficking, entered his plea before the Eastern District Court of Virginia for aiding the paramilitary organization United Self-Defense of Columbia (Spanish Acronym AUC). During his plea, General Santoyo identified at least seven other senior officers of the Colombian Army and Officers of the police, including two ex-directors of that institution.

During his confession, Santoyo confessed to receiving “substantial bribes” from the AUC in-exchange for helping them “achieve acts of terrorism and drug trafficking.” Santoyo continued by explaining that he intercepted communications that provided relevant information and then relayed that information to officers of the AUC. Santoyo then admitted that he would notify the AUC of imminent arrests against members of the organization. Most of these information intercepts were made by members of the police who were specifically employed to fight against paramilitary organizations.

Santoyo was promoted to Chief of Secuirty during Presdient Uribe’s administration. There, with several commissioned officers of the National Police, Santoyo was able to participate in activities that aided the AUC, and as Chief of Security he aided the rise of many officers who had been implicated for corruption by his confession.

Ex-President Uribe denies any knowledge about the ties between Santoyo and paramilitary groups as well as having influenced Santoyo’s rise to General despite Santoyo’s questionable past. Colombian Senator Jorge Enrique Robledo states “it’s extremely clear that if Col. Santoyo had not been a part of the President’s inner circle, had not been the chief of security at the presidential palace, the situation we’re discussing today wouldn’t have happened, wherever one looks.”

There have been attempts to link Santoyo’s illegal operations with officials and politicians from within Uribe’s government. This includes the former Minister of Defense, the current president Juan Manuel Santos, former national chief of police Oscare Naranjo and the former peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, who is now a fugitive from justice.

 

For more information please see:

El Pais – Congressman Ivan Cepeda splashed seven police officers by the Case Santoyo – 12 September 2012

The Spectador – Iván Cepeda other officers linked to scandal Santoyo – 12 September 2012

Vanguardia – Santoyo is not an isolated case, is part of a criminal apparatus: Iván Cepeda  – 12 September 2012

Global Voices – Colombia: Former General Santoyo Admits Ties to Paramilitary Group – 26 August 2012

El Pais – To help the AUC, General (r) Santoyo ‘pike’ colleagues – 22 August 2012

South Africa Struggles With Mining Labor Strikes

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa—Just today, thousands of South African miners made a vow to cripple the country’s mining industry while also bringing the country’s platinum production to a halt. This is especially crucial—as South Africa is the world’s top platinum producer.

Striking Workers at the Anglo American Platinum Mine. (Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)

This labor unrest has spread throughout the gold and platinum-producing regions of South Africa after law enforcement officers killed 34 miners while attempting to stop a violent, illegal strike held by miners demanding higher wages. Julius Malema, the former leader for the African National Congress Youth League, demanded that this strike continue until the wages for all miners are increased to at least $1,500 a month. This raise would be approximately double or triple what miners bring to the table now.

The company Anglo American Platinum, which produces about 40% of the world’s platinum, announced just yesterday that it would be shutting down its operations near the town of Marikana—where the above-mentioned killings took place—because of threats received against its workers. In a statement to the press, the company said, “In light of the current volatile situation in the Rustenburg area, where our employees, who want to go to work, are being prevented from doing so and are being intimidated by the threat of violence, Anglo American Platinum has decided to suspend its operations.”

Many of the strikers participating in this unrest were members of a radical breakaway union that was deeply dissatisfied with South Africa’s largest union, the National Union of Mineworkers. Even though this strike has been detrimental to mining companies, it has not done much damage to the overall economy of South Africa. The country’s stock market and currency have not struggled as a result of the strikes.

Although the country has not yet faced too much economic strife because of these events, the strikes reflect other problems that South Africa is up against. These problems include: the highest level of inequality of any large economy; jobless rates that reach 50% among young blacks; and finally an education system that sends out graduates who are not prepared for the jobs that the country has available.

Frans Cronje, an analyst for the South African Institute of Race Relations, noted, “The corporate world does not yet realize the seriousness of the social and economic inequalities that confront the country.”

As of today, 45 people have died since the strike began. As the strikes continue, some have begun to feel that the best way to approach this issue is to start negotiating.

 

For further information, please see:

Mining.com – Labour Leader Calls S.A. Workers to ‘Bring Mining Companies to Their Knees’ – 13 September 2012

The New Age – Strikers Vow to Cripple Mining Industry – 13 September 2012

The Globe and Mail – World’s Largest Platinum Producer Shuts Rustenberg Mines – 12 September 2012

The New York Times – South African Unrest in Mining Deepens – 12 September 2012

YouTube Video Fuels Islamic Unrest Across the Middle East

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Very little is known about the film, The Innocence of Muslims, or its maker, Sam Bacile. One thing we do know is that the anti-Muhammad film has led to Muslim protests and violence directed at American embassies in Egypt, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen.

Shi’ites burn the American flag in response to the American made film that ridiculed Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. (Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

The film was supposedly shown at one largely vacant theatre before a thirteen-minute clip found itself posted on YouTube for the world to see. For most Muslims, any depiction of Mohammed is met with scorn, but The Innocence of Muslims’ depiction of Mohammaed as a religious fraud, womanizer, child molester, and ruthless killer has particularly incensed Muslims.  The actors involved in making the video claim to have been “grossly misled” about the purpose of the film. The crew believed they were making an Arabian Desert adventure film titled “Desert Warrior.” They maintain that all of their lines were dubbed over in post-production with the anti-Mohammed content.

Bacile has since gone into hiding following the fury he evoked in the Arab world. No one in the Hollywood film community has ever heard of him or his film, which casts serious aspersions as to whether The Innocence of Muslims is actually a full-length movie or just a thirteen-minute clip. After partaking in a single interview, the Associated Press described Bacile as “a California real estate developer who identifies himself as an Israeli Jew.” Neither the California Association of Realtors nor the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles claim to have ever heard of Sam Bacile. The Israeli consulate claims that he is part of the Egyptian Coptic diaspora, but a cleric with the Coptic Orthodox Church diocese of Los Angeles denies having ever heard of him. Regardless, Bacile is connected to Morris Sadik, an Egyptian Coptic Christian in California who played the clip for his group, the National American Coptic Assembly.

Public reaction against the film in the Middle East began on Tuesday and continue to spark demonstrations at the U.S. embassies in Yemen, Egypt, and Iraq.  In Yemen, hundreds of angered Muslims have congregated at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, burning U.S. Flags and chanting “death to America” as they attempted to storm the building.

“We want to close the American embassy for this insult on prophet Mohammed,” said Abdullah Rahman Safi, echoing the protesters’ sentiments.

Yemeni troops eventually suppressed the uprising by firing tear gas and live ammunition into the air. Both Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the Yemeni Embassy in Washington have apologized to America for the attacks and have sworn to investigate the attacks on the embassy and keep U.S. foreign diplomats safe.

Similar demonstrations, involving the throwing of rocks, are taking place near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The initial protests occurred at the embassy, but police have since been able to keep protesters away from the building through the use of tear gas. So far, sixteen protesters and thirteen policemen have been wounded in the clashes. Additionally, twelve dissidents have been arrested. Egypt’s first Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, has pledged to not allow attacks on foreign embassies, but expressed some conflict with suppressing his people’s freedom of expression.

Hundreds of Shi’ites in Iraq also congregated outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad calling for the termination of the embassy in response to the film. They too burned American flags and chanted “No, no, to Israel! No, no to America! Yes, yes for Messenger of God.”

The most violent protest took place at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday night. There, demonstrating protesters were accompanied by heavily armed militants who shot gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades at the U.S. Consulate for four straight hours. Shortly after the firing began, the gunmen gained access to the building and were able to set it on fire. Many were injured and at least four people were killed, including Christopher Stephens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. He initially started working as an English teacher in Morocco, where he said he quickly realized that he “grew to love this part of the world.”

Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, said that, “However offensive this film may be it can in no way excuse such killings and violent attacks.”

While many of the Muslim protesters are upset about the movie, not everyone is convinced that the true motivation of the violence is the response to the film.  U.S. officials are currently investigating the question of whether the killings in Libya were planned to coincide with the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Al-Qaeda’s most active branch is located in Yemen. Prior to Tuesday night’s attacks on the U.S. Embassy, the country’s government announced that al-Qaeda’s “number two man” had been killed in a U.S. airstrike.

For further information, please see:

Huffington Post — U.S. Embassy Attacks: “Death to America” Chants and Flag-Burning Protests Spread to Iran, Iraq — 13 September 2012

USA Today – Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy in Yemen – 13 September 2012

Amnesty International – Libya: No Excuse for Attack on US Consulate – 12 September 2012

Guardian – Mystery Surrounds ‘Sam Bacile’, Maker of Controversial Anti-Muhammad Film – 12 September 2012

CNN – Six Things to Know About Attack That Killed Ambassador Stevens – 12 September 2012

Estimated 1.5 Million Rally for Catalan Independence

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BARCELONA, Spain – On Tuesday evening, an estimated 1.5 million people rallied in the Spanish city of Barcelona.  The rally protested Spanish tax laws asserted by the central government in Madrid.  Additionally, Catalonia seeks fiscal independence, a government bailout of tax debt, and political autonomy.

Catalan protesters hold a banner reading “Catalonia, New European State.” (Photo Courtesy of GlobalPost)

The independence rally, or march, is held annually on September 11 to coincide with National Day or Diada.  The date marks the end of the Siege of Barcelona 300 years ago during the War of Spanish succession.  This year’s peaceful rally aims to be the largest ever, drawing a crowd of some 1.5 million people from around Catalonia.

The marchers, already filling the designed route by the time the march began, carried pro-independence flags: the red and gold striped flag of Catalonia with the addition of a blue triangle and single white star, and banners with the motto “Catalonia, New European State.”

The independence movement had received limited support prior to the financial crisis.  However, polls Tuesday showed that 46.4% of Catalans support independence; double the figure in 2008 when the crisis began. However, not all Catalans offer their support.  Particularly, traditionally rural Spanish immigrants and people from other European states would be very unlikely to vote for independence.

Spurred by the financial crisis, many Catalans object to what they perceive as a disproportionately high tax contribution to the central government compared to what is returned.  Catalonia, in the north-east corner of Spain, is also Spain’s wealthiest region, representing a fifth of Spain’s economy.

In Spain, one in four people are unemployed and the economy has continued to decline for three consecutive quarters.  The Catalonia region is also struggling.  This year, it took out €13billion (£10bn, $16.6bn) in loans to refinance a maturing debt in addition to funding its deficit for the year.

A recent credit ratings downgrade has also shut Catalonia out of the debt market.  There is also concern that the Catalan government may have barely enough funds to pay its public sector employees.

In August, Catalonia requested a €5 billion (£4bn, $6.4bn) bailout from Madrid from an €18 billion emergency fund created to help regions pay off debts and suppliers of health care and other basic services.  It is believed that this is what the government owes Catalonia in overpaid taxes.

“It’s absurd that we are now having to ask the government in Madrid to lend us money that should have been ours to use in the first place,” said Luis Planagumà, a protestor from Santa Pau who traveled two hours by bus with a group of about 1,500 to join the rally.

Consequently, many Catalans want to see Catalonia gain greater fiscal autonomy from Madrid, and therefore reduce its tax contribution to the central system.  As seen from the rally Tuesday, many Catalans desire a further step as well: political autonomy.

Law student Laura Nuñez explained her confidence that political autonomy would improve the Catalan economy. “We’re economically the most powerful part of Spain, because of industry and tourism, and we contribute more than other Spanish regions,” she said. “We shouldn’t be subject to this internal discrimination.”

However, the Catalan CiU (Convergència i Unió) nationalist government may not be prepared for the idea of independence.  The CiU has governed Catalonia for 25 years, but has never pushed for autonomy.  Catalan President Artur Mas did not plan to participate in the rally.  A spokeswoman, Carme Forcadell, for the group behind the march, made clear that “[a]nyone who attends should understand that they will be considered pro-independence.”

President Mas did, however, support some of the demands of the marchers.  “Catalonia produces sufficient resources to live better than we live,” said Mas. “There is no more urgent battle or challenge than fiscal sovereignty, and now more than ever.”

However, Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy opposes fiscal independence for Catalonia.  He claims that it would achieve nothing in Spain’s overall battle against economic collapse.  Instead, Rajoy places emphasis on employment: “This isn’t a moment for big gestures like this. What we need to do is create jobs.”

At a press conference following Tuesday’s rally, Mas expressed his pride in the Catalan people, but cautioned that the path to independence would not be an easy one.  As for financial independence, Mas explained that it is part of the process of autonomy.

Prime Minister Rajoy and Catalan President Mas are scheduled to meet on 20 September.  Although this meeting will likely not bring the people of Catalonia the independence they desire, Mas’ message to Rajoy and Spain is this: “Listen carefully to Catalunya and [offer] solutions.”

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Huge Turnout for Catalan Independence Rally – 11 September 2012

Global Post – Spain: Catalonia Independence Rally Draws More than a Million (PHOTOS) – September 2012

The Guardian – Catalan Independence Rally Brings Barcelona to a Standstill – 11 September 2012

International Herald Tribune – Protest Rally in Catalonia Adds a Worry for Spain – 11 September 2012

La Vanguardia – Mas: “Todo es Posible si hay Voluntad, Grandes Mayorías y Capacidad de Resistir” – 12 September 2012

Russian Court to Hear Negligence Indictment in Magnitsky Case

Press Release – Courtesy of  Hermitage Capital
For Immediate Distribution

13 September 2012 – Today at 11 am, the Tverskoi District Court in Moscow will begin hearings on the indictment of Dmitry Kratov, former deputy chief of Butyrka detention center for medical negligence.

Dmitry Kratov, the doctor at the Butyrka prison where Sergei Magnitsky was held. (Photo Courtesy of Kyiv Post)

Kratov’s indictment absolves him from any responsibility for the complicity in Magnitsky’s torture and murder. It is signed by Deputy General Prosecutor, Victor Grin, the same prosecutor who launched the unprecedented posthumous prosecution against Sergei Magnitsky last year. This is the first prosecution of a dead man in Russian history.

The negligence case will be heard by Judge Tatiana Neverova, the same judge who refused Sergei Magnitsky’s petition about the violation of his rights when he was still alive.

“Under this case, the investigators and prosecutors have legalised the knowingly false version of Magnitsky’s death in detention allegedly on medical grounds, due to heart failure and made-up diagnoses of sugar diabetes and hepatitis. This medical version masks the cruel retribution Magnitsky fell victim of for his role in defending his client, the Hermitage Fund, and in exposing the criminal scheme secretly functioning over several years through which billions of roubles had been siphoned from the budget,” said lawyer Nikolai Gorokhov, counsel to Magnitsky’s mother.

At the preliminary hearing that took place on 27 July 2012, the Magnitsky family lawyer requested the criminal case in relation to Kratov be returned to prosecutors for a full investigation of his role in the conspiracy to falsely imprison, torture and murder Sergei Magnitsky. The judge refused his petition on the grounds that no other co-conspirators have been identified in the  investigation into Magnitsky’s death.

Judge Neverova also refused all other applications from the family’s lawyer.

A year ago, Mrs Magnitskaya wrote to the Russian Investigative Committee naming a number of Russian officials for their complicity in the false arrest, torture and murder of her son (http://russian-untouchables.com/rus/docs/D275.pdf). The investigators have refused to open a probe into those officials named by Magnitsky’s mother and have fully exonerated them.

In November 2010, Sergei Magnitsky’s mother received the Global Integrity Award from Tansparency International on behalf of her late son honoring his fight against Russian government corruption.

 

For further information please contact:

Hermitage Capital
Phone:              +44 207 440 17 77
E-mail:              info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Website:           http://lawandorderinrussia.org
Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/hvIuVI
Twitter:             @KatieFisher__
Livejournal:       http://hermitagecap.livejournal.com/

 

See a report on the Cover up of Magnitsky’s murder:

http://www.russian-untouchables.com/rus/docs/P01RUS.pdf