Press Release: Italian Parliament Debates Response to the Magnitsky Case

May 30, 2012

Press Release
Hermitage Capital

Italian Parliament Debates Response to the Magnitsky Case

30 May 2012 – The Italian Parliament held a debate on the Magnitsky motion on Monday, giving one of the strongest condemnations yet of any European national parliament of Russia’s handling of the torture and murder in police custody of 37-year old Russian whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The Magnitsky motion was introduced by Matteo Mecacci, MP from Italy’s Democratic/Radical Party, and Chair of the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.“The Magnitsky case is a test for European politics. We are calling on European countries, and in this case on Italy, to act to stop officials responsible for the torture and murder of an innocent and corageous man, from freely traveling and investing in our nation. This is not a question of politics, is a question of human justice that needs to have an answer,” said Matteo Mecacci, MP.

Supported by representatives from five different parties in the Italian parliament, the motion calls for visa bans and asset freezes on the 60 Russian officials identified by the US Helsinki Commission for their role in the false arrest, torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky and the $230 million corruption he uncovered.

The Magnitsky motion calls the two-and-a-half year investigation into Magnitsky’s death “unsatisfactory” and condemns the posthumous prosecution launched against Mr Magnitsky.

“The proceedings initiated by Russian authorities in order to ascertain the cause of Magnitsky’s death have to date been completely unsatisfactory, culminating… in the reopening of a proceeding against Magnitsky, thus giving rise to the first proceeding against a deceased person in the history of the Russian Federation,” says the Italian motion.

“The detailed complaints which were recorded and expressed by Magnitsky himself over the course of his imprisonment have allowed accurate identification of those responsible 60 people within the Russan government…who have not to date been subject to due criminal process,” says the motion.

The motion urges the Italian government to act by imposing sanctions on the 60 Russian officials:

“To not issue entrance visas to the sixty people on the Cardin’s list in Italian territory or under Italian jurisdiction, and to identify, if any, the assets belonging to the sixty people on the Cardin’s list…and to take the appropriate measures in order to attain a substantial block on the availability of said assets.”

In addition to Mecacci, the motion is supported by Italian parliamentarians Luca Volontè, Fabio Evangelisti, Gianni Vernetti, Lapo Pistelli, Ricardo Migliori, Ettore Rosato, Marina Sereni, Antonio Misiani, Rita Bernardini, Elisebetta Zamparutti, Maurizio Turco, Maria Antonietta Farina Coscioni, and Marco Beltrandi.

During the debate, “The People of Freedom” party introduced a different motion on the Magnitsky case. It recognised that the Russian government failed to provide clear answers to the EU on the Magnitsky matter, but stopped short of calling for Italy to impose visa sanctions and asset freezes on the complicit Russian officials.

“The People of Freedom” party was launched five years ago by Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister and a friend of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Berlusconi was one of the few Western leaders who attended President Putin’s inauguration on 7 May 2012 in Moscow.

“We are calling on the Italian government not to allow Russian torturers and murders to come into Italy,” said a representative of Hermitage Capital. “We hope that personal friendships don’t get in the way of justice.”

The Magnitsky motion is now going into the consultation phase between various factions in the Italian parliament and the Italian government. It should be voted on at a plenary session next week.

For further information please contact:

Hermitage Capital
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E-mail:             info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Website:          http://lawandorderinrussia.org
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Livejournal:     http://hermitagecap.livejournal.com/

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Massive Shelling and Violent Attacks at Al-Houla Leaves 107 Dead

May 30, 2012

Al-Houla Plains Flooded with Blood

On 25 May 2012, Al-Houla plains witnessed the most brutal massacre since the arrival of the international observers in Syria. Random shelling targeted the villages and lands of al-Houla particularly the town of Taldo which lies at the western entrance of al-Houla and is surrounded by pro-regime villages.

The shelling, which lasted for 14 hours, left 11 people dead and dozens injured. Subsequently, army and security forces along with shabiha from the villages of Fulla and al-Qabou stormed into many houses at the outskirts of Taldou.

Shabiha forces carried out raids and extra-judicial executions against all residents at the outskirts of the town. Children were handcuffed and gathered with many men and women who were all subsequently slaughtered with bayonets. Shabiha militias then opened fire on the slaughtered victims, acts reminiscent of the dark ages and the law of the jungle.

The preliminary death toll of al-Houla massacre currently stands at 107 victims whose full names and photos have been documented. There remain many bodies that could not be reached and documented as yet. Among the casualties are 49 children under the age of 10 and 32 women.

WARNING: SOME OF THE VIDEOS BELOW CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES

A video showing some of the victims of the brutal shelling and massacre, including very young children.

A video showing some of those wounded from the attack.

International visitors arrive in Al-Houla following the massacre and are swarmed by residents relating what has occurred.

The mass burial for the victims of the massacre.

For further information, please see;

Syrian Network for Human Rights — Special Report on Al-Houla Massacre — 26 May 2012

Charles Taylor Convicted to 50 Year Sentence

May 30, 2012

By Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Today Charles Taylor, the ex-President of Liberia, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his crimes committed in Sierra Leone during the country’s civil war in the 1990s. The judgment handed down this morning in The Hague, Netherlands, is the first conviction of a head of state by an international tribunal, since the Nuremberg trials following World War II.

Taylor stands as his sentence is read. (Photo Courtesy of EuroNews)

Taylor’s conviction was based on the crimes he committed during his presidency which lasted from 1997 until 2003; specifically the crime of trafficking weapons to rebels in Sierra Leone in exchange for “blood diamonds.” The presiding judge said that Taylor was guilty of “aiding and abetting, as well as planning, some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history.” As the 50 year conviction was handed down, Taylor stood in front of the court with his eyes cast down to the floor.

The original indictment laid out specific crimes including conscription of children under the age of 15, multiple instances of mass rape, and sexual assault. Taylor’s provision of weapons allowed for the rebel soldiers of Sierra Leone to rampage the country, committing numerous war crimes including: rape, sexual assault, sexual slavery, murder, terrorism, and looting. Although Taylor was not convicted for these crimes, and likely never will answer for them, human rights activists were optimistic about the sentence. Ibrahim Sorie, a lawmaker in Sierra Leone, stated, “It restores our faith in the rule of law, and we see that impunity is ending for top people.”

Prosecutor’s, who originally asked for an 80 year sentence, said they might choose to appeal the sentence both to lengthen the time Taylor will spend behind bars and to broaden his responsibility for the crimes committed by the rebel soldiers in Sierra Leone. Peter Andersen, a spokesperson for the Special Court of Sierra Leone, said that the prosecution had hoped the court would find Taylor guilty of being a “superior leader” and having a direct influence on the atrocities committed. Andersen also noted that the sentence was a major step forward for the people of Sierra Leone and may help them move closer towards reconciliation.

Taylor’s defense counsel plans to appeal the sentence immediately. They believe it is clearly disproportionate and excessive, especially considering that Taylor is 64 years of age and a 50 year sentence means he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars in a British prison. Morris Anya, one of Taylor’s lawyers, noted that Taylor voluntarily stepped down from office; a fact that the court overlooked in reaching their sentence. Prosecutor’s contest this last fact, stating that Taylor did not voluntarily leave but was pushed out by an African leaders delegation and a rebel offensive; both urging an end to the bloodshed.

For further information, please see;

ABC News — Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison — 30 May 2012

CNN — Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years for War Crimes — 30 May 2012

New York Times — Taylor Receives 50 Years for Heinous Crimes in War — 30 May 2012

Wall Street Journal — Court Sentences Liberian Dictator — 30 May 2012

Body of Boy Suspected of Terrorism Displayed by Somali Forces

May 30, 2012

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The body of an unidentified boy suspected to be a member of the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, lay lifeless at the Bakaara Market last May 22, publicly displayed for everyone to see.

Somali forces use dead body of suspected Al-Shabaab member to serve as a warning. (Photo Courtesy of Shabelle News)

The killing was part of Operation Free Shabelle, a military offensive by African Union member-states aiming to regain control of the Shabelle region of Southern Somalia from Al-Shabaab, an organization known to be affiliated with the international terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

According to Abdullahi Hassan Barrise, the Somali police spokesman, the boy was spotted carrying explosives which he allegedly planned to detonate in the area. When confronted by security officers, the boy tried to escape, prompting the officers to shoot him.

In an interview with the local newspapers, Barrise said the boy was one of the youths brainwashed by Al-Shabaab. On behalf of the Somali government, Barrise called upon the boys in Al-Shabaab to “repent” of their actions in the country. However, it is unclear if Barrise intends to give lighter punishment to the young combatants who will surrender peacefully.

Barrise further urged parents to caution and restrain their children from doing “risky behavior” which may ultimately harm them.

The scene of the killing, Bakaara Market, is one of Somalia’s biggest markets. It has seen its own share of violence and arms trade through most of Somalia’s civil wars. The recent increase of security forces in the area is in line with the Somali Army’s goal to “liberate the whole Shabelle region from Al-Shabaab” under Operation Free Shabelle.

The battle for control over this region has been ongoing since the early 1990s. It was only in 2007, however, that the Somali government, along with African Union member states, moved to toughen its stance through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“Although much of the Al-Shabaab has been eliminated from the whole of Mogadishu, the Somali government forces will not stop pursuing members of the organization in other regions still under Al-Shabaab’s control,” Barisse said.

This killing of a suspected juvenile members of Al-Shabaab may continue as Barrise intends to give current members a preview of the grim fate they face should they persist with their activities. Somali government forces have been displaying the bodies of people they link to Al-Shabaab. Such incidents are on the increase of late.

For more information please see:

Risaala Media Corporation – Anood: Operations Won’t Stop Till We Liberate The Whole Of Lower Shabelle – May 26, 2012

Somaliland Press – In Pictures: Operation Free Shabelle – May 25, 2012

Shabelle Media Network – Somali Police Displays the Body of Suspected Al Shabab Boy in Mogadishu – May 23, 2012

Risaala Media Corporation – Somalia CID Boss Displays The Body Of Suspected Young Al-Shabab Fighter – May 23, 2012

Notes from Kampala: Spotlight on Sanyu

May 30, 2012

By Reta Raymond
Associate Special Features Editor

There are nearly two million known orphans in Uganda. Many of these orphans lost their parents to AIDS, or the children were not kept because they were born out of wedlock, or their parents were simply too poor to keep them. Additionally, women who give birth in Uganda have a high mortality rate. This high mortality rate is in part due to the requirement that women in labor must bring their own medical supplies needed for labor, or they will be turned away from hospitals and clinics. Often that will lead to women giving birth outside a medical facility in unsanitary conditions.

Sanyu Babies Home in Kampala, Uganda (Photo by Reta Raymond)

While in Kampala, I stayed at Sanyu Babies Home, which is the oldest babies home in Kampala. It runs on private donations and income-generating projects such as the on-campus guesthouse and craft shop. There is no government funding for orphanages in Uganda. Sanyu houses around fifty children, whose ages range from one day to four-years-old. This home has an excellent track record of getting children adopted, fostered, or reunited with their birth families. These children are often found in pit latrines, maternity wards, churches, near wells and on the side of the street. Some of the caretakers believe that some children are delivered to Sanyu to save the child from being sacrificed as part of a traditional “witchcraft” ceremony. They believe that certain beads worn around the children’s stomachs is evidence that a child has been chosen for sacrifice.

Children are generally very well taken care of at Sanyu. There, children are given three meals and two snacks per day. When the children come to Sanyu they are tested for AIDS, receive vaccinations, and are given medical treatment by the resident nurses or taken to a hospital if they require additional care. Many of the children are malnourished, have experienced trauma, or have other health problems when they are brought to Sanyu. These children, live in the equivalent of a middle-class Ugandan home.

However, Sanyu still struggles to provide medical care to the children, because it is difficult to pay their medical bills. When medical bills reach a certain level, the hospital will refuse to care for any more children. This past spring, one of the volunteer caretakers from outside Africa carried pneumonia to the home and infected many of the children. As a result of this outbreak, three children died and many were put in the hospital, which left Sanyu with some debilitating bills. Not only must Sanyu pay for the medical services when a child falls ill, but also for the medical supplies. For example, if a child needs stitches, Sanyu must bring the scissors, gauze, and thread. Therefore, the medical bills can escalate rapidly, and if they do not pay the bill for a long time, the hospital will simply refuse to treat any more of Sanyu’s children. After the pneumonia outbreak, Sanyu worried that they wouldn’t be able to pay the bill before another child would need to visit the hospital.

Sanyu is also unique because it is a somewhat transparent organization. Donors may pay hospitals, electricity bills, and vaccinations directly on behalf of Sanyu. An administrator, whose decisions are subject to a board of director’s approval, runs the home. However, recent criticisms of their financial decisions make me believe that Sanyu may not be free from corruption, which is widespread in Uganda.

Regardless, Sanyu is one of the best places for an orphaned child in Uganda to end up. Many international families, as well as local families, come to Sanyu to be matched with their potential child, and many international and local volunteers come to help care for the children. Many orphanages in Uganda are not nearly so lucky. For example, I visited another orphanage in Kampala where children were not fed one day per week, as a way of budgeting for food. At that orphanage, donations from international visitors were rare, as it is further out of the city and not well known. That orphanage housed over seventy children, with all the boys living in a two-room house without electricity. Furthermore, the children had to sleep two or three to a mattress.

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For more information on how to help Sanyu, either by donating items or money or becoming a volunteer visit: http://www.sanyubabies.com.

Additionally, a $7 donation to “Mercy for Mamas” will buy a “mama’s kit” which provides an expectant mother with all the medical supplies she will need at the hospital to deliver her baby safely and in sanitary conditions. Since Ugandan medical facilities do not provide medical supplies to treat their patients, hospitals and clinics turn women away if they do not bring the proper medical supplies necessary to deliver the baby. For more information, visit: http://www.mercyformamas.com.

Another source of information is the child advocacy blog, “A Child’s Voice.” This blog posts on a variety of issues affecting children in Uganda, read more at http://a-childs-voice.org/.