US: Revised Military Commissions Remain Substandard
(Washington, DC) – The military commissions legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law today does not remedy the commissions’ inherent flaws, Human Rights Watch said today.
Pakistan: Get Aid to Civilians Caught in Fighting
(New York) – The Pakistani government and armed forces should ensure that civilians who cannot escape the intensified fighting in South Waziristan have sufficient access to food, health care, and other necessities, Human Rights Watch said today.
Latest killings of civilians in Baghdad a ‘war crime’
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the killing of at least 155 people, mostly civilians, in twin suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad on Sunday.
The attacks were carried out almost simultaneously in central Baghdad. A truck bomb was exploded near the ministries of justice and municipalities, just before 10:30am local time. Minutes later a second attack, a car bomb, exploded just outside the Baghdad Governorate building.
In addition to those killed, at least 700 people were wounded, making this the deadliest attack in over two years.
The two ministries and the governorate are reported to have been badly damaged.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. This latest attack is similar to the one which damaged the finance and foreign affairs ministries on 19 August 2009, in which 147 people were killed and almost 500 were injured.
Amnesty International said that as direct attacks on civilians these latest bomb attacks constitute war crimes.
The organization said that if the blasts are part of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population of Iraq in furtherance of a particular organization or armed group’s policy, they also constitute crimes against humanity.
War crimes and crimes against humanity are among the most serious crimes under international law. Amnesty International said that the attacks must be stopped immediately and those responsible must be brought to justice.
Since US troops pulled out from cities and towns on 30 June 2009, hundreds of civilians have been killed by armed groups and many more injured.
This latest carnage is a reminder that the security situation in Iraq remains very dangerous. Despite this, in recent months, several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark, have forcibly returned Iraqis to central and southern Iraq.
Only last week the UK tried to forcibly return about 44 Iraqi asylum seekers to Baghdad; 10 people were allowed entry but the others were returned to the UK by the Iraqi authorities.
On 23 October 2009 the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, publicly appealed to host countries, especially those in Europe, not to forcibly return Iraqis from Iraq’s central regions because of the dangerous security conditions prevailing there.
Guinea: September 28 Massacre Was Premeditated
(New York) – An in-depth investigation into the September 28, 2009 killings and rapes at a peaceful rally in Conakry, Guinea, has uncovered new evidence that the massacre and widespread sexual violence were organized and were committed largely by the elite Presidential Guard, commonly known as the “red berets,” Human Rights Watch said today.
Sierra Leone Special Court renders final judgment in RUF case
Amnesty International said Monday’s decision by the Special Court for Sierra Leone to uphold the convictions of three former senior leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is a positive step in the fight against impunity for the worst crimes committed during the country’s eleven-year civil war.
The Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone upheld, by a majority, the convictions of Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao, former senior leaders of the main armed opposition group in Sierra Leone’s conflict.
“The confirmation of the convictions of these former RUF leaders is a positive contribution in the fight against impunity not only in Sierra Leone but also in Africa,” said Hugo Relva, Legal Adviser with Amnesty International’s International Justice Project.
“However, we need to remember that these convictions are of only eight out of the possibly thousands of people responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone during the armed conflict. Far more effort has to be made to bringing to justice others implicated in these terrible crimes.”
Although the Appeals Chamber revised the sentences for some counts, the final judgment rendered today upheld the total terms of imprisonment for Issa Sesay, who will serve 52 years in prison, Morris Kallon, who will serve 40 years in prison and Augustine Gbao, who will spend 25 years in prison.
They were sentenced for their individual criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of child soldiers, forced marriage and attacks against United Nations peacekeepers.
“Many other perpetrators of vicious crimes – including murder, rape, sexual slavery and mutilation – remain free to this day, protected by amnesties,” said Hugo Relva.
“This is utterly unacceptable and demonstrates the need for African states and others to exercise universal jurisdiction with regard to those who committed crimes under international law.”
The judgment rendered today is the last that will be issued by the Appeals Chamber in Freetown. Proceedings against Charles Taylor, former Liberian president, for crimes against humanity and war crimes are being held in The Hague at the International Criminal Court premises.
“It is essential for Sierra Leone to take steps to ensure that the legacy of the Special Court at the national level is not one of continuing impunity. The government should lift the amnesties and enact legislation to make war crimes and crimes against humanity crimes under national law in Sierra Leone,” said Hugo Relva.
Iraq: Bring Bombers to Justice
(New York) – Devastating bomb attacks in Baghdad on October 25, 2009, were an assault on the fundamental principle of respect for life, and Iraqi authorities have a duty to ensure that anyone found to have contributed to their execution is apprehended and brought to justice, Human Rights Watch said today.
Uruguay: Plebiscite Undermines Justice
(Washington, DC) – Uruguayan voters’ rejection of a move to annul the country’s amnesty law could hamper efforts to promote justice over crimes committed during the country’s military dictatorship (1973-1985), despite recent important rulings to help bring accountability for that era, Human Rights Watch said today.
Karadžic trial must bring justice to victims from Bosnia war
The beginning of the Hague trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic on Monday, is an important step towards justice for the tens of thousands of victims of the Bosnian war, Amnesty International said.
Karadžic, the former President of the Bosnian Serb Republic, was arrested in July 2008, more than 12 years after he was charged genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the conflict during the 1990s.
"This trial underscores the vital principle that where there is sufficient evidence, those accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity must be prosecuted in fair trials, whether it is by international or national courts." said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
Karadžic’s trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, was adjourned on Monday after he failed to appear at the initial hearing.
"The ICTY should be given enough time and resources to complete its important work, including the prosecutions of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadžic who remain at large" Nicola Duckworth added.
"The completion of the ICTY’s mandate is vital for victims of these crimes."
Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadžic are both accused as in their command capacity they allowed for war crimes, genocide and other charges relating to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
The trial proceeds following an important ruling by the Trial Chamber that individuals accused of such crimes cannot rely on immunities, even if, as Radovan Karadžic asserts, he had been promised immunity from prosecution during the peace negotiations.
Radovan Karadžic is charged with:
- two counts of genocide – in relation to the persecution of Bosnian Mulims and Bosnian Croats in Bosnia Herzegovina during 1992 and genocide committed against Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995;
- five counts of crimes against humanity including persecution, extermination, murder, deportation;
- four counts of violations of the laws or customs of war, including taking of hostages and spreading terror among a civilian population.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the work of the ICTY to be complemented by national efforts to investigate and prosecute the tens thousands of other crimes involving middle and lower ranking suspects that the ICTY does not have the capacity to deal with.
The organization said that while the trial of Radovan Karadžic is likely to be completed before the Tribunal closes, trials at the ICTY are not enough for the victims of the Balkans conflict.
"The international community has a duty to make sure their rights to justice, truth and reparations are realized, said Nicola Duckworth. "If not, the dispensation of justice across the former Yugoslavia may remain an unfinished task and it is the thousands of victims of the crimes who will pay the price."
Uzbekistan: EU Fails Human Rights Victims
Saudi King sets aside flogging of journalist over ‘sex life’ TV show
Amnesty International has welcomed the intervention of Saudi Arabia’s head of state, King ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz, to cancel a flogging sentence against a female journalist.
Rosanna Al-Yami was sentenced on Saturday to 60 lashes, in connection with her work on a television programme during which a man spoke about his sex life.
The Jeddah court also imposed a two year travel ban on Rosanna Al-Yami, and ordered her to sign an undertaking not to work for unlicensed media agencies.
She was charged with taking part in the production of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation’s programme, Bold Red Line, in July, as well as not cooperating with the investigations, and working for an unlicensed media corporation in Saudi Arabia. According to press reports she was sentenced only for the last charge. Rosanna Al-Yami, 22, is said to have accepted the sentence against her and will not be appealing.
"We welcome the prompt intervention of the King to safeguard Rosanna Al-Yami from flogging”, said Malcolm Smart of Amnesty International "She has been tried and sentenced in connection with carrying out her job as a journalist. We greatly deplore the court’s decision to sentence her to receive a flogging and applaud the King’s speedy intervention to set the sentence aside."
Another woman journalist was expected to be sentenced today in connection with the production of the same programme, but the King has referred her case along with Rosanna Al-Yami’s to the Ministry of Information. A man involved in the production was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, but he was released after serving his sentence.
Bold Red Line is reported to have featured four men who were said to have had sexual relationships with women outside marriage. Mazen ‘Abdel Jawad, and three others whose names are unknown to Amnesty International, are reported to have been arrested between 31 July and 5 August.
Mazen ‘Abdel Jawad was sentenced earlier this month to receive 1,000 lashes, a five-year prison term, and a travel ban for five years after serving his sentence. The three other men were sentenced to 300 lashes and two years in prison. They are all said to be appealing their sentences.
Malcolm Smart said: “we urge that all sentences connected to the programme are dropped and that all those sentenced in connection with this case are released immediately and unconditionally unless they are to be charged with a recognisable criminal offence”.