Mussolini's Fallacy

Tuesday News Round-Up: Feeling like a broken record...

2008-06-10T22:47:00.000-05:00

The Daily Zim-date, Cliffsnotes Version: Pretty much the same bunk I’ve written about every day for the last two and a half months.

Full Version: The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party accused Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party of using state agencies, media, and state security forces to obstruct their campaign efforts. MDC leader and presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said that Zimbabwe is “effectively being run by a military junta,” and told a press conference that talks of a ZANU/MDC unity government are premature, despite rumors that negotiations are currently underway in South Africa.

I’m all about avoiding violence and bloodshed, but it seems a tad foolish to me to think that any kind of power-sharing is even an option with Mugabe and the ZANU thugs. Why do I say this? History, my friends. Let’s learn from it. Mugabe’s rule has a nearly-30 year record of corruption and authoritarianism—what makes anyone think he will suddenly adopt a philosophy of participatory, democratic governance?

South African President Thabo Mbeki is supposedly mediating these negotiations. Perhaps he should be replace by someone with less affinity for Mugabe, and without a history of disregarding his tyrannical policies and rantings.

In other news…more warnings were issued today regarding the dire consequences of rising food prices and shortages for struggling populations. The situation is compounded by drought in Ethiopia. Children, as is all to often the case, are the first and the hardest hit.

Somalia’s transitional government signed a three-month ceasefire with a rebel group—unfortunately, there are many such groups waging war against the weak central government, and a top Islamic rebel scoffed at the agreement.

I don’t quite know what to make of this: On his last trip to Europe, President Bush told reporters that he created the wrong impression of being a warmonger, saying, "I think that in retrospect I could have used a different tone, a different rhetoric" in the run-up to the Iraq war.

Uh-huh. Any other regrets?

What are we going to do about Bobby?

2008-06-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe is such a mess—I keep reading these articles and wondering…is anyone doing anything about this? How much worse will it get? Fourteen members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested two weeks ago on charges of “conducting activities that are likely to cause public disorder” and “distributing false information.” (They were protesting the delay in releasing the results of the original presidential election in March.) They were granted bail by a judge on Friday, but the state shows no sign of letting them free. Families of MDC officials are increasingly targets of ZANU-PF militias, and a minister lost an eye in a brutal attack on a group that attended an MDC meeting. Two of the country’s human rights lawyers fled to South Africa due to threats on their life, and following the death of 5 of their clients, all MDC activists.

The EU and US will call on the UN to send election monitors for the June 27 run-off, but Mr. Bobby Mugabe has an established pattern of not only disregarding pressure from the UN and the West, but vociferously blaming them for all of his country’s woes.

I would really, really love to know what goes on in that man’s head.

But, onwards, if not upwards. The last remaining rebel group in Burundi continues to recruit children into its ranks, despite moves towards peace and disarmament. (Taking cues from Joseph Kony, it seems.) Citizens in Burma are being arrested for distributing aid to cyclone victims. (Bastards.)

Monday News Brief: MN or Bust?

2008-06-09T12:24:00.001-05:00

In Zimbabwe, Bobby Mugabe and his ZANU-PF continue to intimidate the opposition MDC party and its supporters ahead of the June 27 presidential run-off election, adding “arrest top party officials” and “ban all campaign rallies” to their stellar repertoire of campaign tactics—which already includes setting up torture camps and blocking food aid as key strategies.

A small measure of progress was made in Sudan over the weekend, with President Omar al-Bashir and southern leader Salva Kiir agreeing to an interim government and international arbitration process over the disputed Abyei region. Over 50,000 people fled the region recently after renewed fighting between the government and southern forces threatened to re-ignite civil war.

A report by the ENOUGH Project raises concerns for renewed violence in Northern Uganda, as it documents how rebel leader Joseph Kony used the relative calm of the peace negotiation process to rearm his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Ugandan and other regional governments are considering (preparing for?) military action against the threat of a new offensive by the LRA.

Quick items: A UN team is currently in the DRC to address the on-going challenges to peace in the region. Further clashes between Islamic militants and Ethiopian and Somali troops have civilians caught in the crossfire in Mogadishu. The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission will hold hearings for its diaspora in Minnesota this week. And finally, a New York Times editorial on politics and hunger, following last week’s UN food summit in Rome.

Thursday News: A few things that have me concernicus...

2008-06-05T12:37:00.001-05:00

President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan responded to criticism from a US special envoy, accusing the US and the West of trying to “dictate” the internal affairs of his country, and asking the international community to give him a change to resolve the crises in Darfur and Abyei. Excuse me, Mr. President? Killing all of your opponents does not qualify as a legitimate policy for conflict resolution and domestic peace.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is setting up a committee, with ZANU-PF and MDC representatives, to work with police to curb violence ahead of the June 27 presidential run-off election. Because clearly it makes good sense for the people responsible for the violence to be charged with “curbing” it. The po-po have been very busy this week: They detained opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai for “rallying supporters without authorization” (if only he would have asked!), and also held a convoy of US and UK diplomats to prevent them from investigating the on-going political violence. The convoy was chased by Zimbabwe police, who then slashed the tires of their vehicle and detained them for 5 hours once they were finally stopped. The government is also reportedly preventing food distributions by international aid organizations in certain regions until after the election. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga defied a taboo by publicly criticizing Mugabe and calling a dictator.

The US called on South Africa to use its “unique position” of political leverage with Mugabe to intervene and avert further violence. South African President Thabo Mbeki has presided over such negotiations in the past, and has been accused by many of being too soft towards Mugabe. An editorial in the New York Times accuses Mbeki of abdicating his responsibility, and calls on other African governments to take his place. A civil society group also accused Mbeki of knowing about plans to transport a shipment of Chinese weapons through South Africa to Zimbabwe—delivery of the shipment, as you may remember from previous posts, was successfully thwarted by organized protests throughout southern Africa.

Rwandan rebels attacked a refugee camp in the eastern DRC, killing 6 and wounding 30 after firing indiscriminately into a crowd of unarmed civilians. The rebels, many of whom participated in the 1994 genocide, remain a major obstacle to peace in the region.

Uganda, Sudan, and the DRC agreed to join forces against the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) if their leader, Joseph Kony, continues to stall peace negotiations. The UN-led process was near conclusion in April when Kony refused to show up and sign the peace accord, presumably in protest of an International Criminal Court indictment against him. Human rights groups report an increase in the LRA’s violence activities, including the abduction of children, in the months since. Kony and the LRA are hiding in eastern DRC.

And finally…an Amnesty International report on crimes against humanity committed by the government of Burma (Myanmar) against the Karen ethnic minority.

Tuesday News: Finally broke through technical issues with Blogger, so this is a long one...

2008-06-03T10:57:00.001-05:00

Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are calling for the release of 130 prisoners from the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, ahead of the 19^th anniversary on Wednesday, June 4. HRW says the Chinese government should release the wrongfully-detained activists to uphold its commitment to improve its human rights record before the Olympics in Beijing. In other big-bad-China news, judges sanctioned attorneys who offered to defend Tibetan activists detained for their participation in protests earlier this year.

Election fun continues in Zimbabwe…and by “fun,” of course I mean violence, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and a general crackdown on all opposition to Mugabe and his government. ZANU-PF liberation-fighters-turned-lawless-thugs, the ‘war veterans,’ told civil servants that they’ll lose their jobs if they vote for the opposition. All operations of aid organization Care International have been suspended after the group was accused of campaigning for the opposition--an allegation they deny. Our good friend Bobby Mugabe is currently in Rome for a UN food summit, and is subject to international condemnation as a result. Mugabe even spoke at the summit, once again accusing Great Britain and the West of imperialist sabotage of Zimbabwe’s political and economic affairs (his favorite line of defense, it seems).

The Zimbabwe crisis is being cited by many otherwise disparate parties in South Africa as a key reason that President Thabo Mbeki should resign ahead of the end of his second presidential term, though there are certainly many other contributors to the “governance and leadership vacuum” in the country. The recent wave of xenophobic violence are also fueling the political discord, especially as civil society groups say they warned the government last year about the possibility of such violence.

The situation in Somalia looks increasingly dire, as the United Nations Security Council embarks on a 10-day, 5-nation tour to solicit support for its peace efforts. Frequent clashes between Islamic insurgents and Ethiopian troops, in the country to back the weak transitional government, are proving to be a major obstacle to peace and cease fire negotiations.

Uganda confirmed its continued presence in Darfur, despite the killing of one of its peacekeepers. For an assessment on the current situation in Sudan, and the implications of the conflicts in Abyei and Darfur, check out the Council on Foreign Relations report, “Sudan’s Interlocking Crises.”

The US accused the military in Burma of “criminal neglect,” as an estimated one million people still have not received assistance one month after Cyclone Nargis. US Naval ships, stocked with relief supplies but not yet allowed to dock and unload, will likely be withdrawn from the region soon. The leader of the junta said the affected areas would be fully opened to international relief workers, but the government is still restricting access 10 days later.

Finally, two things to keep an eye on: 1. War and conflict have an environmental toll as well as a human one--check out this article on elephants caught in the crossfire of Sri Lanka’s civil war; 2. Thailand is experiencing a bit of economic turmoil amid mounting anti-government demonstrations and rumors of a military coup.

Monday News: "Looking Ugly"

2008-05-26T12:06:00.001-05:00

The xenophobic violence in South Africa dominates my Google Reader this morning. Foreign refugees and workers are either fleeing the country or setting up makeshift camps--and are not only rejecting public apologies, but are vowing to fight back if attacked again. Local, provincial, and national governments are grappling with the best way to deal with both the displacement and imperative the end the violence and ensure long-term peace. President Thabo Mbeki, who remained silent on the growing crisis for nearly two weeks, called the violence an “absolute disgrace” in a speech marking yesterday’s Africa Day commemoration.

Newspaper editorials from around the African continent provide compelling critiques of the violence: The Monitor, a newspaper in Uganda, writes, “South Africa is looking ugly again,” and blames the ANC for creating unrealistically high expectations for change under democracy and majority rule. (Perhaps a new indicator for democratic consolidation should be the degree of skepticism citizens have towards politicians’ campaign promises.) While the editorial notes that the ANC government has made strides in post-apartheid economic growth, it also warns that, due to the massive scale of poverty, special attention should be paid to the urban poor in order to ward off disgruntlement-turned-violence.

The East African, out of Kenya, seems betrayed at South Africans’ rejection of their continental brothers and of the ideals of their own Rainbow Nation. The editors write, “The black South African is generally a bitter person, emotionally scarred by the brutal apartheid system. It could indeed take a generation or more for South Africans to recover from the after-effects of apartheid. But attacking fellow black Africans will not bring about quick healing; instead, it will alienate the Rainbow Nation from neighbouring countries to which it owes so much in the fight against apartheid.”

In Zimbabwe, our good friend Bobby Mugabe told a ZANU-PF rally that Zimbabwe will “never be a colony again,” invoking the same rhetoric he uses every time his rule is under attack. (Seriously, if you read his speeches from throughout his career, you’ll find new meaning in the phrase ‘broken record.’) The implication is that the MDC is back by Western interests, and a MDC electoral victory would amount to the reinstallation of colonialism. Mugabe also promised land to Zimbabweans living in South Africa if they return…and I’m wondering, after decades of his land ‘policies,’ if there’s really anyone left to steal it form?

Violence continues to two fronts in Sudan, with fears of renewed civil war between the North and the South, and government retaliation against Darfur for the rebel attack on Khartoum.

Uganda set up a special war crimes court with a mandate to try the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army for atrocities committed during its 20 year insurgency. LRA leader Joseph Kony has repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of an International Criminal Court indictment before he will sign a peace accord.

Slow progress, but progress nonetheless, continues in Burma, as representatives of 50 nations met in Rangoon to discuss international access and aid to cyclone victims.

Need something slightly more positive? Check out this UNICEF article on efforts to help Chadian refugee children living in camps in Cameroon.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...

2008-05-25T11:26:00.002-05:00

More election trouble is brewing, this time in Angola: Human Rights Watch issued a press release calling the country’s closure of the field office of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) an ominous sign of “growing government intolerance of human rights scrutiny and other criticism in the run-up to September’s elections.” The Angolan government claims the office is no longer necessary due to the consolidation of peace and democratization, but HRW observers beg to differ.

Former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Jean Pierre Bemba was arrested in Belgium on a war crimes indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Bemba’s militia was called on by the president of the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002 and 2003 to counter a rebellion. Bemba’s counterinsurgent strategy? Rape, torture, degradation, and looting of civilians and insurgents alike. Bemba nearly won the presidency of the DRC in 2006, but was defeated in a run-off.

A Somali news source reports attacks by Islamist insurgents against government troops in Mogadishu, as well as against suspected pirates in the coastal town of Hobyo. The waters off the coast of Somalia are notorious for pirates, despite a US naval presence, due to the 17-year lack of functioning central government.

Sudanese refugees in Uganda are resisting repatriationby the UN High Commission for Refugees following the collapse of peace talks between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The refugees fear renewed attacks by the LRA, which is currently across the border in the DRC, would force them to flee once again. The LRA is infamous for attacking, looting, and burning civilian villages throughout the region, as well as abducting women and children to become soldiers or sex slaves.

The Nation, a Kenyan publication, takes a harsh stance against the xenophobic mob violence in South Africa, accusing the government--as well as others on the continent--of fueling the violence through lack of decisive action. Citing a Swahili proverb that warns “if you fail to seal a crack, you will certainly have to rebuild the wall,” the editorial says that the South African government ignored signs that xenophobia was becoming a serious problem. South African news sources continue to assess the damage of the nationwide attacks, both material and human, even going as far as calling it “ethnic cleansing.”

MDC and ZANU-PF run-off campaigns are underway in Zimbabwe. Mugabe threatened to expel the US ambassador for “meddling” in the country’s internal affairs--he must’ve borrowed a Chinese political rhetoric book--telling supporters at a rally, "I am just waiting to see if he makes one more step wrong. He will get out." As discussed by MF in a previous post, Ambassador James McGee has braved police obstruction and intimidation to gather evidence of government-sponsored violence against civilians.

As the military government in Burma slowly acquiesces to international assistance to cyclone victims, aid workers are pressuring the junta for full access to the devastated region. While allowing international aid workers into the country, the government continues to deny American and French naval ships stocked with supplies to dock and unload.

And finally: A Washington Post article on the impact of the food shortage on UN peacekeeping efforts.

Saturday News: I love anything that uses the phrase "political gobbledygook."

2008-05-24T11:41:00.001-05:00

Zimbabwe: Morgan Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe today to campaign for the June 27 runoff election. In a press conference shortly after his arrival in Harare, Tsvangirai accused Mugabe and ZANU-PF of trying to “decimate” the MDC, but said that he is confident of victory despite the absence of a free and fair electoral process. He also called on the SADC to deploy peacekeeping forces by June 1, to quell pre-election violence and intimidation by the Mugabe’s self-described “warlike” campaign strategy. Regional activists will commemorate tomorrow’s Africa Day--which marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union--with a “Stand Up for Zimbabwe” campaign.

ZA: Xenophobic violence has resulted in the displacement of 10,000 foreigners in Cape Town, with the continuation of the attacks prompting extensive finger-pointing and fueling debates on South Africa’s political and economic dilemmas. (Scroll down about half way for the discussion of “political gobbledygook.”) The New York Times editorial board took a harsh stance towards President Thabo Mbeki, for the current crisis as well as many other presidential insufficiencies and missteps, and postures that likely-presidential candidate Jacob Zuma will not provide the “enlightened leadership” the country and the continent desperately need.

Sudan: The head of the UN mission in Sudan said the town of Abyei is “totally devastated” following clashes between the Sudanese military and the SPLM. (See previous posts for background.) In Khartoum, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir presided over a ceremony proclaiming victory after last week’s attack by Darfur rebel group JEM. In a particularly gruesome attempt to save face after the surprise attack, “he strolled past a 200-yard-long photo gallery, a grotesque display of burned and dismembered bodies, allegedly those of the rebels. Each image was underlined with the same caption in Arabic: ‘summary of failure.’” (See previous posts for background on the attack.)

Haven’t had enough? Violence is on the rise (from an already-substantial level) in the Central African Republic, and the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia continues to deteriorate.

End-Of-The-Week Highlights

2008-05-23T23:10:00.001-05:00

Zimbabwe: Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her husband are said to have objected to the use of violence to intimidate voters before the runoff election next month. The Zimbabwe Independent reports that the objections were raised to Mugabe in a ZANU-PF politburo meeting on Wednesday. Though difficult to verify, if the Mujurus did in fact express discontent over their party’s incendiary campaign tactics, it gives credence to other reports of divisions among the ranks of the ZANU-PF--a serious threat to Mugabe’s power.

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting writes that the central committee of the ZANU-PF recently replaced the director of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to ensure that the media stays “on message.” Daily soap operas and other programs have been replaced by documentaries and news coverage glorifying Mugabe.

Former Bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga was excommunicated from the Anglican Church, along with several allied priests, for continued support of Mugabe’s violent and oppressive tactics against the wishes of the Church.

MDC presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is set to return to Zimbabwe this weekend. Tsvangirai left the country in early April due to threats to his life, and a previous attempt to return was thwarted by an assassination plot. Tsvangirai has been subject to numerous beatings and detentions at the hands of Zimbabwean security forces throughout his public career.

ZA: Xenophobic attacks in South Africa are spreading at an alarming rate, resulting in a mass exodus of foreigners fleeing the violent mobs. The Western Cape province is readying a defense force to quell the attacks, which seems like a much more reasonable response than asking citizens to combat the mobs themselves. That has to be in the top ten Common Sense Rules to Good Governance: The answer to vigilantism is not vigilantism. In some places, that’s called street warfare.

Darfur: Armed men on horseback ambused a UN peacekeeping force from Nigeria, attacking the troops with AK-47’s and rocket-propelled grenades and stealing their weapons.

Wednesday News Update

2008-05-21T11:11:00.001-05:00

South Africa: Johannesburg-based Business Day writes that the tone of the xenophobic attacks on foreign migrants and refugees is increasingly one of ethnic conflict, as attackers issue a “nationality test” to potential victims.

Zimbabwe: In a new report, the International Crisis Group warns that violence in Zimbabwe is likely to escalate, perhaps even as far as a military coup to prevent opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from assuming the presidency.

Sudan: Heavy fighting between the Sudanese military and the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement continued Tuesday in the Abyei region, resulting in at least 21 deaths and over 100 injuries.

Burma: A New York Times editorial today calls for the US and France to begin airdropping aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis if the ruling military junta does not grant entry to international relief workers soon. “No one wants a confrontation,” writes NYT, “but the world cannot sit by while tens of thousands more people die.” The issue of relief delivery against the wishes of the government continues to spark heated debate in the international community regarding the principles of the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine (R2P).

Kenya: Eleven women accused of witchcraft were burned alive by a vigilante mob. A local official condemned the attack, saying, "People must not take the law into their own hands simply because they suspect someone." Such incidents relate to larger problems of gender violence and discrimination…perhaps to be discussed in another post.

Global Peace Index: Check out fellow blogger Actus Rei’s assessment of the 2008 Global Peace Index.

News for the Glasses-Half-Empty

2008-05-20T23:39:00.001-05:00

Zimbabwe: "The threats of xenophobic attacks pose less danger than the threats of persistent hunger, political violence and shortages of just about everything” in Zimbabwe, says a mother of moving her family to South Africa.

Sudan: “One of the great foreign policy risks right now,” writes Nicholas Kristof, “is that Sudan’s north-south war will start up again.” Fighting erupted in the oil-rich Abyei region, called “Sudan’s Kashmir” by the Enough Project due to its unresolved and disputed status, forcing up to 50,000 people to flee and threatening the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended over 20 years of civil war. In addition, Save Darfur continues to document reprisals by the Sudanese government against Darfuri civilians following the JEM attack on Khartoum. (See previous posts for background.) Kristof writes, “My fear is that the Darfur conflict will be remembered just as the prologue to an even bloodier war that engulfs all of Sudan.” Sobering.

Burma (Myanmar): The government said today that the country faces a severe food shortage if the rice crops destroyed by a hurricane are not replanted within 3 weeks. Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you denied both international and domestic aid to the region. Idiots.

News: What is it about Mondays?

2008-05-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

Somalia: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that over 2.6 million—35% of the country’s population—face near-famine conditions caused by the rapid increase in food prices and a regional drought. Compounding the situation, Somalia now has over 1 million internally-displaced persons (IDPs) due to the ongoing conflict between the transitional government and insurgents.
Zimbabwe: US Ambassador James McGee defied multiple police attempts to prevent his convoy from investigating post-election violence in Zimbabwe. McGee’s convoy was stopped repeatedly by police, who threatened the ambassador and other diplomats with physical violence and detainment. The MDC accused the military of plotting to assassinate its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, alleging that 18 snipers are poised to pursue a hit list of 40 prominent MDC leaders. Tsvangirai left Zimbabwe in April due to assassination threats, and canceled his return to the country this weekend, when he planned to begin his campaign for the upcoming runoff election.
Sri Lanka: Clashes between the Tamil Tigers and the military left 78 dead this weekend, as the government continues its drive to “crush” the insurgency by the end of the year. The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent state for their marginalized ethnic group since 1983, and atrocities committed by both sides resulting in a total of 70,000 deaths. Today, three Nobel Peace Laureates called on the UN to reject Sri Lanka’s application for membership for the UN Human Rights Council. Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and Adolfo Perez Esquivel oppose the candidacy due to Sri Lanka’s poor human rights record.
South Africa: Xenophobic violence is nothing new to South Africa, but the problem is rapidly worsening. Attacks on foreigners and refugees presents quite a dilemma for the still-new post-apartheid democracy, as people grow frustrated with their poor quality of life and resentful of foreigners perceived as competing for jobs and resources.
Burma: The government agreed to allow Southeast Asian aid workers into areas affected by Cyclone Nargis, but will continue to restrict those from the rest of the international community. In this video, Guardian reporter Helen Pidd describes the difficulties and risks of undercover journalism in the country.

Information is Power...or, The Power of Information (Musings on the Sunday NYT)

2008-05-19T00:42:00.000-05:00

A theme emerged from the Sunday New York Times coverage of the natural disasters in China and Burma: access (or lack thereof) to information, and its relation to power. Namely, the articles illustrate how issues of information can turn a natural disaster into a political threat to regimes bent on control and restriction.

First, Burma. (Officially Myanmar, but like many, I refer to the country as Burma because I do not recognize the legitimacy of the military dictatorship that changed the name in 1989.) The military junta continues to deny access to areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis. Two weeks after the cyclone, the United Nations estimates that only 20% of the survivors have received even basic assistance. All foreigners are banned from the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta, and even aid convoys arranged by domestic groups have been turned back at military checkpoints. As British Prime Minister Gordon Brown aptly said, the natural disaster of the cyclone “is being made into a man-made catastrophe” by the government’s refusal to render aid to its own people. The French ambassador warned that the junta’s actions could turn the humanitarian crisis in a “true crime against humanity.”

China is responding rapidly to the massive 7.9 earthquake that hit the Sichuan Province on Monday—the interesting factor here, as the New York Times discusses, is how China controls media coverage of natural disasters to the wider public, and how its attempts to control public information are starting to erode. The Central Propaganda Department forbade journalists from entering the areas affected by the earthquake, as it has done with other disasters in the past, but several journalists ignored the order, and their newspaper took great risks by printing their dispatches. Though most editors obey the orders from the Central Propaganda Department—which issues all mandates through a verbal network, and has no public address or phone number, which seems like something out of a movie about the Cold War—and the New York Times notes that those that are reporting on the earthquake stay away from politically sensitive topics, such actions by rogue journalists represent a crack in the government’s intense effort to control public information.

As the Times “Week In Review” columnist Philip Taubman writes, “A dash of openness can be a dangerous thing for an autocratic state.” Think about it—all of the best dictatorships make a concerted effort to control the media, with official media outlets promoting official news, views, and propaganda. While attempting to control domestic coverage of the earthquake, the Chinese government as allowed international press to report more freely—China tightly controls internet and other access to foreign media sources, but as Taubman notes in a comparison to Russia, small steps toward open access can set into motion “unsettling” political forces. The government of Burma is bent on restricting any access at whatever cost, but the “Public Editor” writes, in an explanation of the frequent use of anonymous sources in Burma and Zimbabwe, that international and local reporters go to extreme lengths to sneak into and report on the disaster zone.

The moral of the story? Repressive regimes make valiant efforts to control access to information because their power depends on it, but that control can never be airtight. And therein lies their (potential, hopeful, eventual) demise. Natural disasters have political consequences in any state—hello, Katrina—but their potential to disrupt the controlling practices of autocratic regimes like Burma and China is particularly significant. China and Burma’s different responses to their respective disasters could yield similar political results—China’s relative openness could start the “crack” of open information, and Burma’s adamant denial of access currently serves to highlight the human rights abuses of the regime and increase international pressure for reform.

And even in the most repressive states, there are always people willing to risk their lives to access and spread information.

And if you’re wondering what’s going on in Zimbabwe: Violence continues (I know you’re shocked), and Morgan Tsvangirai canceled plans to return to Zimbabwe to campaign for the June 27 run-off due to assassination plots.

Thursday/SuperEarlyFriday News: The word-of-the-day is "escalate."

2008-05-16T01:11:00.003-05:00

Sudan: The UN says the conflict in Darfur, Sudan “threatens to enter” a “new cycle of violence”—MF thinks it’s already there. In addition to the escalating violence following the Darfuri rebel group attack on Khartoum, tensions related to the North/South civil war erupted in violence in the disputed Abyei region, with ‘former’ Southern rebels exchanging gun and mortar fire with northern government forces. The UN withdrew all non-essential personnel from the region as a result of the violence, and warned that the renewed violence jeopardizes the 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of war. For more background on Darfur and the North/South conflict—can it get any more complicated—clickity click here

Zimbabwe: As the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) continues to delay a speculative date for a presidential runoff—July, maybe? No, August, I think—the violence against opposition supporters continues to escalate. Mugabe’s Public Enemy No. 1 this week? Anglicans. The US sent a letter of protest after a confrontation between the US ambassador and Zimbabwe police. (I’m sure Mugabe is shaking in his boots.)

But look, Bobby M., you do win a prize for all of your hard work dictator-ing: World’s Highest Inflation! I think tomorrow I’ll go to a currency exchange, lay down $2, and ask for a Zimbabwean $500 million note.

In other news…
...The Guardian’s page on the Democratic Republic of Congo, if you need some light reading.
...The violence and trauma of rape continues its physical degradation for women in Liberia.
...Inside a Palestinian refugee camp, courtesy of BBC.
...Stalemate in Uganda. An interesting note here: Uganda’s peace talks are set in Juba, South Sudan…Uganda received thousands of refugees from Sudan’s North/South civil war…conflict-ridden countries holding each other’s peace talks. Thoughts?

Wednesday Morning News: Spotlight on Burma

2008-05-14T10:16:00.001-05:00

The big news this morning is the on-going humanitarian disaster in Burma, a.k.a. Myanmar, following the cyclone that hit the country on Saturday—and a second cyclone could be on the way. The military junta continues to restrict access to affected areas, erecting additional roadblocks and other controls that are preventing the delivery of international aid. The president of Thailand attempted to convince the government to ease the restrictions, but the leader of the junta was adamant that the country did not need outside assistance. The military puts the death toll at 34,000, but international estimates speculation that it is as high as 100,000. So far, only 34 of 100 visa requests have been approved for foreign relief efforts, and only large-scale aid delivery has not been allowed.

The junta’s refusal to allow aid to the disaster victims is raising many questions in the international human rights and foreign policy communities regarding the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine (R2P) and the definition of crimes against humanity. Guest columnist Robert Kaplan addresses the potential for a military humanitarian invasion, led by the U.S., in a New York Times op-ed. He argues that such an operation is militarily feasible, given that significant American forces are already in Thailand for a multinational exercise, but describes a political situation that on the one hand positions the West and China/Asia against one another, and on the other plays off of Asian political and economic insecurities over the increasingly brutal dictatorship in Burma. Kaplan also notes that, should such an invasion occur, the international community would be responsible for the aftermath—the likely fall of the junta and the hopeful installation of democracy and resolution of long-standing ethnic divisions.

The idea of a military invasion for humanitarian purposes, and all of the consequences and implications, is quite a heavy topic—one that I need to think about further. Check back soon-ish…hopefully I’ll have time for a more in-depth post.

Tuesday Night News

2008-05-13T23:03:00.002-05:00

Darfur/Sudan: Violence continues following the weekend attack on Khartoum by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Already-poor humanitarian and human rights conditions are rapidly deteriorating as the government and allied militias issues reprisals against Darfuris for the attack. Today, UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon criticized both the rebel attack and the government’s response, and expressed concern about the security situation along the Chad-Sudan border. Follow the link for an Amnesty International Action Alert calling for the arrest of indicted Sudanese war criminals.

Zimbabwe: South of the Sahara, violence continues as well. Haven’t read enough? Here’s more. U.S. Ambassadors, along with diplomatic teams from several other countries, were harassed by Zimbabwe security forces after visiting victims of post-election violence in a hospital.

Burma (Myanmar): Feeling generous? Click here for a list of aid organizations accepting donations for disaster relief in Burma, and now China, following the massive earthquake. Sadly, in Burma, many of these relief efforts continue to be delayed by the military junta’s reticence to issue visas to the international workers.

News: Of Hackers and Dictators

2008-05-13T09:43:00.000-05:00

· Somalia: “The United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah has expressed his optimism and hope at the willingness of the Somali leaders to put their country and the safety of the Somali people as a top priority.” Uh…based on what? I guess you just have to say that kind of thing at the opening of peace talks.
· Uganda/DRC: African Union/Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete successfully resolved a border dispute between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began after the DRC moved troops 4km into Uganda following the discovery of an oil field. Nice to hear good news, for a change.
· Sudan: Human rights groups are expressing concern over the mass arrests of Darfuris following Saturday’s rebel attack on Khartoum. The government imposed a curfew on the city, and state security forces are conducting house-to-house searches for suspected rebels. For a more personal view of the on-going conflict, check out this WaPo article on a Darfuri guide/translator for international investigators and workers in Darfur.
· Zimbabwe: Hackers shut down the state-run Herald newspaper—a propaganda mouthpiece for Mugabe and the ZANU-PF. I can’t help but laugh.
· Burma (Myanmar): In typical junta-fashion, the military government continues to restrict and impede the delivery of international aid to hurricane victims. The death toll could reach as many as 100,000.

Uh-Oh...

2008-05-12T22:53:00.000-05:00

I missed a busy weekend for Darfur and Sudan—the rebel Justice and Equality Movement launched an attack on Khartoum, marking the first time rebels reached the capital in decades. Check out the blog at the Genocide Intervention Network for updates. Sudan immediately cut diplomatic ties with Chad, which it accuses of supporting the rebel groups; Chad responded by closing its border with Sudan and suspending economic ties. The Save Darfur Coalition reports harsh reprisals against civilians in Darfur following the attack. A senior JEM commander told a BBC reporter, "There's no security in Darfur. Now there won't be any security in Khartoum for the foreseeable future."

This is obviously a quick assessment of a monumental event—again, checkout GI-Net for more details. Back to more thorough blogging tomorrow.

Late Night Zim-Post: Fodder for Insomnia

2008-05-07T23:52:00.000-05:00

A BBC report investigates the lasting impact of the massacres in Matabeleland in the mid-1980s, carried out by Mugabe’s Fifth Brigade, an elite security force trained in North Korea. Mugabe’s attempt to deal with about 500 supporters of his main rival at the time, Joshua Nkoma, became a campaign characteristic of ethnic cleansing, in which at least 20,000 members of the Ndebele population were murdered. (Mugabe and most of his security forces are Shona.) Many of the deaths occurred in a concentration camp set up by the Fifth Brigade.

Sadly, this is but one of many examples of Mugabe’s use of violence to consolidate power.

In the Washington Post tonight: A group of ZANU-PF youths killed 11 opposition supporters.

News: Elusive Peace

2008-05-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

Burundi: Click here for an analysis of the country’s current political situation and the difficulties faced by efforts to initiate a peace process between the government and the main rebel group.
Uganda: A press release from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) describes efforts to salvage the peace process in Northern Uganda, which has been continually stalled by rebel leader Joseph Kony’s determination to evade any kind of accountability for his human rights abuses.
Iraq: The Washington Post describes the hurdles to creating a lasting peace in Iraq.
Lebanon: The U.S.-backed government and Iran/Syrian-backed Hezbollah exchanged gunfire in the capital Beirut, escalating a political conflict that WaPo describes as “the country's worst internal crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.”
Somalia: Though the government refutes an Amnesty International report on abuses committed against civilians, other sources say the report only scratches the surface of Somalia’s human rights disaster.
Burma: As the number of dead or missing reaches 60,000 in the aftermath of Saturday’s cyclone, the Bush administration is stepping up its criticism of the country’s ruling military junta for delays in approving visas for international assistance teams.
Zimbabwe: I opened up several articles to read and include in this post, but honestly, there’s nothing new to say right now. The AU, SADC, UN, etc etc are all meeting and discussing. Thabo Mbeki is reportedly involved somehow. Violence continues. Elections may be delayed up to a year. Whatever.

Tuesday Morning News

2008-05-06T08:33:00.000-05:00

Kenya: So far 10,000 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes after fleeing post-election violence. More than 1,200 people died and 350,000 were displaced after a disputed election in December.
Burma: The death toll from the cyclone that hit Burma on Saturday has hit 22,000, according to state media sources. Hundreds of thousands are cut off from fresh water and shelter. Yesterday, in a surprising move, First Lady Laura Bush addressed a press conference and condemned the military junta for their failure to warn the population about the approaching storm and for their “inept” response to the disaster. Mrs. Bush, who does not typically take public position on high-profile policy issues, has emerged as a leader of the campaign against the abusive military dictatorship. The devastation also led the government to postpone a constitutional referendum, intended to further consolidate the junta’s power, in the worst-hit parts of the country. The New York Times writes, “The postponement of the vote, a centerpiece of government policy, along with an appeal for foreign disaster relief assistance, were difficult concessions by an insular military junta that portrays itself as all-powerful and self-sufficient.”
China/Tibet: Read about the plight of a woman trying to publicize the plight of Tibetans in the face of Chinese censorship.
Zimbabwe: The MDC reports that 4 more of its supporters were killed by ZANU militants. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is set to hold talks with the African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community regarding an international role in Zimbabwe’s potential upcoming runoff election. The AU will also address the issue itself, after the newly-appointed chairman visited Zim and South Africa over the weekend. No date for the runoff has been set, though Mugabe and ZANU-PF already started their campaign.

The Manic Monday News Brief

2008-05-05T11:09:00.000-05:00

Somalia: Soldiers in Mogadishu killed 2 after opening fire on a crowd (according to witnesses) rioting against the rapidly increasing cost of basic food items—a problem created by, among other things, the increasing cost of fuel and increasing demand by India and China. In addition to creating conditions for potential widespread famine, the skyrocketing cost of food is adding fuel to the fire of existing conflicts across the developing world. In Somalia, hyperinflation of the currency, attributed to counterfeiting and the extended absence of a functioning central government, is also contributing to the crisis.
Kosovo/Albania: Human Rights Watch compiled additional documentation to support allegations that an estimated 400 Serbs were abducted and transferred from Kosovo to Albania after the war. Some evidence suggests that the abductions may have been part of an organ trafficking ring.
Uganda: The leadership of the Lord’s Resistance Army is reportedly growing tired of commander Joseph Kony’s waffling over the peace process, and have told him either to sign or gather forces for a coup. I’d be careful, if I were one of these officers—the last time people expressed internal dissent, Kony had them all killed.
Rwanda: The Rwandan government accused the DRC of not complying with an agreement to begin disarming the FDLR militia. The FDLR—comprised largely of Rwandan militants responsible for the 1994 genocide, many of whom have expressed their desire to return to Rwanda and renew their campaign of ethnic cleansing—recently resumed attacks on Congolese civilians.
Last, but certainly not least—Zimbabwe: Teachers are threatening to strike in protest of assaults at the hands of government and ZANU-PF militants. Many teachers worked as polling officers during the disputed March 29 elections, had have been targets for violence ever since. The East African Law Society and the Law Society of the South Africa Development Community (SADC) are preparing to pursue legal action through the ICC against China for armament deals with Zimbabwe. The Chairman of the ZEC accused the MDC of “playing games” with the vote verification process. (Pot, meet Kettle.) Some analysts say that even if Mugabe is able to pull of a run-off victory, he will be severely weakened in his sixth term in office and his rule will be decidedly different. That may be so, but it’s hard to find solace in such an idea when you consider the tactics he is likely to use to continue is grip on the country…

Independence, Impartiality, Transparency...did I mention it's Opposite Day?

2008-05-04T22:52:00.001-05:00

What’d I tell you—another article says the MDC has not yet decided whether or not it will participate in a runoff. I’m going to stop writing about this topic until I have an official statement from Morgan Tsvangirai.

But in even more ridiculous news…the government says that a runoff election may be delayed up to a year! The Zimbabwe constitution mandates that a runoff occur within three weeks of the original election—clearly that ship has sailed—but grants the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission the power to extend that period. And who’s on the ZEC? Mugabe’s political appointees. Using the ZEC to extend your hold on power—I must hand it to you, Bobby Mugabe, you are one crafty old bastard.

Need a laugh? Check out the ZEC’s website. “Independence, Impartiality, Transparency,” my ass.

Sunday Zim-date and Other News, for your reading (dis)pleasure

2008-05-04T12:48:00.001-05:00

The Zimbabwe Standard reports that the MDC decided to reject the runoff election, calling instead of Mugabe to concede defeat. However, every time I open Google Reader there’s a contradictory headline about that, so take this one with a grain of salt. Or a huge heaping pile of salt. Another headline for the saltlick: The Cape Argus—which, if I remember correctly from my time in South Africa, is a bit like the New York Post of Cape Town—sets the casualty figures in Zimbabwe at 7,000. The paper is unclear about its source for this figure.

The Zimbabwe Standard also ran an op-ed on Sunday by Simba Makoni—an opposition candidate in the March 29 presidential elections who failed to win much support—arguing that a Government of National Unity (GNU) is the country’s only option. Though Makoni is right in his assessment of the deep divisions in Zimababwe’s political class, I have a hard time envisioning an effective GNU in the country. Mugabe and ZANU-PF have too long a history of violence and corruption—a well-documented keep-power-at-all-costs ideology—and I, for one, have little to no faith that they can be negotiated into any kind of power sharing agreement. Or if they are, that they will abide by its provision. Maybe I’m wrong, but I tend to take a learn-from-history approach to these things. (Read Martin Meredith’s Mugabe: Power, Plunder, and the Struggle for Zimbabwe, and you’ll see what I mean.) Makoni’s argument is not disinterested—he personally could have much to gain by a GNU, as the SADC and the U.S. earlier this week proposed a GNU in which Makoni would be a key member—a proposition promptly rejected by the MDC.

In other Sunday news: Nicholas Kristof opines on Guantanamo Bay in his Sunday column. Rwandans are anxiously awaiting the trial of a former high-ranking civil servant for charges of genocide—it is set to begin tomorrow at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania. The government of Malaysia proposed restrictions on the travel of unaccompanied women. The leader of Nepal’s Maoist party says their recent election victory is an indication of a “global resurgence of communism.” (Dear God, let’s hope not.) And finally, representatives of the Dalai Lama began talks with China to address human rights and other issues in Tibet.

Saturday News

2008-05-03T12:42:00.001-05:00

Rwanda and Germany: A guest post on Nicholas Kristof’s blog describes how Rwanda and Germany are working together to address genocide in the 21^st century.
Sri Lanka: An Amnesty International report describes human rights abuses against journalists, committed by both sides—the Tamil Tigers and the government—in the country’s ongoing civil war.
Senegal: Bus meets landmine—one killed, 20 injured. The landmine is believed to have been planted by a rebel group seeking independence for the Casamance region, in violation of a 2004 peace accord, and is on the latest of a series of landmine explosions along the same road. Landmines are dirty, dirty business.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights Watch released a statement calling the upcoming runoff elections in Zimababwe a “tragic joke” due to the prevailing climate of violence and intimidation towards opposition supporters. U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey also cast doubt on the possibility of a fair election. Conflicting reports indicate uncertainty over the participation of the opposition MDC party in the runoff—the BBC writes that a meeting ended without resolution on the matter. Speaking at a press conference, The U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, said that the embassy has document over 500 cases of violence since the March 29 elections, only one of which was carried out by an MDC supporter. A UN report states that teachers and schools are being targeted by government and ZANU-PF forces.

Friday News: Where do you hide $5 billion?

2008-05-02T10:44:00.000-05:00

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officially announced on Friday that MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai received 47.9% of the vote in the presidential election to Bobby Mugabe’s 43.2%—necessitating a runoff between the two. The MDC continues to argue that this tally is inaccurate, that Tsvangirai received a clear majority and a runoff is thus unnecessary. Despite previous remarks to the contrary, the Zimbabwe Independent reports that Tsvangirai will participate in the run-off—but the BBC is still reporting that he will not, so who knows? The ZEC has not yet set a date for the vote.

South African ANC President Jacob Zuma told a May Day rally that his party will not let “old liberation ties” deter them from criticizing Mugabe’s and ZANU-PF’s human rights abuses. It remains to be seen if the ANC will not let “old liberation ties” deter them from actually doing something to stop the abuses.

Actions speak louder than words, comrades.

The chief prosecutor in Charles Taylor’s trial at the International Criminal Court says that former Liberian president/warlord kept as much as $5 billion in U.S. banks during his presidency.

Former ‘Lost Boy’—a title given to child refugees separated from their families during Sudan’s civil war, many of whom were resettled in the U.S.—Valentino Achak Deng has returned to his country to help with reconstruction efforts. Check out a Q&A about his experience as a refugee and his current projects.

The last-known survivor of a group of German army officers who tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler with a briefcase bomb in 1944 died today at the age of 90. Philipp von Boeselager escaped execution—the fate of most of his associates. Kudos to you, Mr. von Boeselager, for a valiant effort to resist.

Insomnia + Google Reader = Decreased Life Expectancy

2008-05-02T00:25:00.001-05:00

Who has the most tedious-yet-incredibly-important job in the world right now? Everyone involved in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s presidential election verification process, that’s who. Working with representatives from all involved parties, the ZEC began the painstaking process of comparing disputed election results. “‘Where we don't agree, we will pull out every relevant document to ensure we have the same figures,’ ZEC chairman George Chiweshe said beforehand. ‘At some stage, we have to agree.’" If only that were true. Though none of the participants commented on Thursday’s meeting, a BBC correspondent is “almost certain” that a dispute is already underway.

Have fun with that.

Meanwhile, reports of state-sponsored violence and pillaging keep coming in. The MDC claims 20 of its supporters were killed by ZANU-PF militants, and a ZANU-PF MP reportedly led a group of 200 party loyals in an attack on a farm that displaced 60 families.

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Kerry which, after a long list of “whereases,” calls on Zimbabwe to immediately release the election results, condemns the post-election violence, and recommends U.S. and international sanctions against Zimbabwe. Now, this could either be the beginning of official U.S. action against Zimbabwe, or it could be a bunch of senators try to appear like they’re thinking of doing something to uphold human rights and democracy. Thoughts?

I love this article from The Guardian—and will let it speak for itself.

In other news: The U.S. and Belarus engage in a game of tit-for-tat.

News, of the non-Zim variety

2008-05-01T10:05:00.001-05:00

Somalia: A U.S. air raid early Thursday morning is believed to have killed a leader of the country’s Islamist insurgency, but this has not yet been officially confirmed. A Somali media source reports 15 other deaths as a result of the missile strike.
Rwanda: In an odd about-face, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) accused Human Rights Watch—which has supplied the court with witness testimony for 14 years—of lacking credibility.
South Africa: ANC President Jacob Zuma urges South Africans to end xenophobia and ill-treatment of foreigners. Refugees are subject to frequent violent attacks by South Africans who resent the competition for jobs and resources.
China: Actress/Activist Mia Farrow is in Hong Kong to protest the Beijing Olympics as the torch is scheduled to pass through the territory. She assured Chinese officials that she does not intend to disrupt the relay, but will speak against China’s relationship with Sudan at a press conference.

Thursday Zim-date: Still Waiting

2008-05-01T10:04:00.001-05:00

Representatives for Zim’s presidential candidates meet with the ZEC today to begin the verification process for the presidential election, though unnamed senior officials said that MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai garnered 47% of the vote to Mugabe’s 43%. If this is true—which the MDC refutes—a runoff will be necessary, as a candidate is constitutionally required to receive over 50% of the vote to be declared the winner.

The Guardian (UK) posted a photo gallery of injuries inflicted on MDC supporters by government forces and other ZANU-PF supporters. Drink your coffee before looking at this, folks—don’t make the same mistake I did.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reports that the rejected Chinese ship, with Zim-bound weapons cargo, is still anchored off the coast of Angola, supposedly to refuel before returning to China. The leader of the ITF affiliate in Angola says that his members will refuse to unload any cargo bound for Zimbabwe.

Say what?

2008-05-01T00:07:00.001-05:00

Is it possible that the delay in releasing the results of Zim's presidential election is not due to Mugabe’s desperate desire to remain in power, but is rather a tactic by top military commanders to buy time to negotiate themselves out of responsibility for decades of human rights abuses? Veeeeery interesting.

And in totally unrelated news…sunken treasure!

News: The Ripple Effect

2008-04-30T11:33:00.001-05:00

Sudan/Darfur: New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff warns in his blog that the international community’s failure to end the conflict in Darfur could lead a resumption of the North-South civil war. Kristoff also calls Bush out on “disingenuous” comments about the US role in Darfur.
Somalia: Ethiopian soldiers killed at least 12 civilians in an apparent revenge attack after a second lethal bomb attack against Ethiopian troops. Ethiopia deployed soldiers to Somalia in 2006 to help support the weak transitional government against Islamist insurgents. Adding to the country’s woes, drought and the high inflation of food prices could soon lead to widespread starvation, resulting in a more dire humanitarian crisis that will exacerbate other conflicts playing out in the country.
Southern Africa: A report released by Save the Children describes the hardships and horrors faced by child migrants traveling alone in the region, including beatings, forced labor, and sexual abuse. In addition to the moral and ethical imperatives of protecting children from abuse and exploitation, I think that we also need to address the issue in consideration of long-term goals for peace and stability in Africa, as these experiences in childhood will impact their adulthood. It’s a ripple effect: I once listened to a former member of the youth paramilitary wing of the Pan-African Congress in South Africa explain that he and his comrades spent their formative years as insurgents, and were given no assistance or training to adapt to life as a peaceful civilian. He partially attributed, with individual examples, South Africa’s high crime rate to the fact that many of these young men know no other way of life.
The Holocaust: Tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Here’s a great story from the New York Times about the recovery of a Torah scroll, part of which was buried to avoid destruction in a Nazi raid, and part of which was carried to Auschwitz.

Wednesday Zim-date

2008-04-30T11:32:00.001-05:00

The UN Security Council was deeply divided when it met yesterday to discuss Zimbabwe’s ongoing election crisis. Though the issue was discussed in a closed meeting, sources say that South Africa, the current president of the UNSC, led efforts to block the appointment of a special UN envoy and fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. Needless to say, Zimbabwe was quite happy with the results of the meeting. Britain takes over the presidency on May 1, and will likely raise the issue again. However, any UN action on Zimbabwe will still need to overcome the vetoes of China and Russia, who joined in South Africa’s dissent. (So predictable.)

Zimbabwe’s chief of police blames the opposition for both election fraud and the post-election violence, though the government did admit to the death of an opposition supporter at the hands of state security forces. The verification/recount/rigging/whatever of the ballots in the presidential election is set to begin tomorrow, after being postponed numerous times.

BBC published excerpts from a diary kept by a Harare resident describing the difficulties of daily life—the result of an economy run into the ground by nearly 3 decades of Mugabe’s senseless and destructive policies, and only made worse by the recent chaos over the elections. Zimbabwe’s inflation rate is the highest in the world—over 100,000%—and average life expectancy has dropped below 40. Mugabe and ZANU-PF have completely devastated the country, and it’s quite simply time for them to go.

Tuesday Zim-date: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (though not necessarily in that order)

2008-04-29T12:09:00.001-05:00

Despite previous assurances by the ZEC that the results of Zimbabwe’s presidential elections would be released by Monday, the “verification process” for the ballots has yet to commence—whodathunkit? The UN Security Council will address the Zimababwe crisis today, and is expected to recommend the appointment of a Special Representative to monitor the violence and assist a transitional government. As the UN Dispatch writes, this is a huge blow for Mugabe, as South Africa, his long-time ally, is currently the president of UNSC.

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the UN said that a unity government will be necessary in the near future, regardless of the outcome of the election, as neither party has the ability to control parliament. This is interesting for two reasons, at least: First, it appears that not everyone in the ZANU-PF political machine is operating in sync—one day the newspaper publishes an article calling for a unity government, the next day an article argues against it (see previous posts), and the same goes for a variety of ZANU officials. Secondly, I can’t help but wonder if the thought of getting Mugabe to commit to any kind of power sharing agreement isn’t a tad delusional.

Over 200 MDC supporters were released from jail, after MDC lawyers obtained a court order stating that the police had no basis to hold them after their arrest last week. A BBC contributor also reports that the bodies of two abducted opposition supporters were found near the southern town of Masvingo.

In an article recapping the sequence of events involving the Chinese weapons shipment, which was finally recalled by the Chinese government, the BBC remarks on the incredible victory for the civil society groups, who were able to mobilize public opinion and prevent the ship from unloading its dangerous cargo. It’s astonishingly simple—all it took was a group of outraged citizens working in concert to stand between two governments and their abusive agendas. It makes you think—look at what we’re capable of, and how much more can we do?

Seventy-seven tons of weapons. Think about how many lives were saved.

Tuesday News for the Blues

2008-04-29T12:06:00.001-05:00

DRC: In a shocking blow to the integrity of UN peacekeeping missions—and a serious glass-half-empty moment for human rights activists everywhere—UN troops in the DRC are accused of engaging in illegal gold-trafficking and re-arming rebel groups in the eastern DRC. The UN denies that it tried to cover-up the misconduct. In other DRC news, the International Criminal Court made public a 2006 arrest warrant for Bosco Ntaganda, known as the “Terminator,” for the conscription of child soldiers.
Mozambique: A new Amnesty International report documents excessive violence used by police against citizens with “near total impunity.”
Tibet: Chinese courts sentenced 17 Tibetans to jail, for sentences ranging from 3 months to life, for participation in March protests against Chinese authoritarianism. BBC reports that the number of Tibetans still awaiting trial is unknown.
Kenya: The army is accused of torturing more than 400 people in a recent offensive to flush a rebel group from the Mt. Elgon region.

The Zim-date

2008-04-28T11:32:00.001-05:00

Former Zambian president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda said that British PM Gordon Brown “does not understand what he is talking about” and should refrain from criticizing and calling for sanctions against Zimbabwe. He added that the West should leave Zimbabwe to resolve its own issues—because that clearly is the proper response to rising state violence against its own people.
Another vitriolic column in The Herald, Zimbabwe’s state newspaper and ZANU-PF mouthpiece, highlights the delusions of grandeur of Mugabe’s government. The column was written as a response to the international uproar over the attempted Chinese weapons delivery, but is all over the map, from a long and senseless rant about sovereignty to the “unjust” trial of former-Liberian dictator Charles Taylor to a supposed-SADC plan to invade and topple Mugabe.
An editorial in the Zimbabwe Standard calls for the MDC to boycott a run-off election, should one occur, in protest of both the election fraud and the violence over the past month. I’m not overly familiar with the ins and outs of electoral politics, but it seems to me that boycotting might be counterproductive—even if the run-off is the result of fraud, and is fraudulent itself, non-participation will allow ZANU to win outright. But what do I know?
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said that it will allow all presidential candidates to verify the results of the election before they are made public. I’m not really sure what this will accomplish, as the ZEC has already had ample time for all kinds of vote-rigging fun. I’m thinking it’s probably an empty gesture to feign democratic commitment.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer reports that the US embassy has received documented evidence of one death, over 450 beatings, and over 1000 displacements as a result of state-sponsored violence against opposition supporters.

Sunday Morning News

2008-04-27T08:47:00.000-05:00

South Africa: Happy Freedom Day! President Thabo Mbeki commemorated South Africa’s first non-racial, democratic elections with a speech arguing that South Africans are not truly free so long as racism still exists.
Sri Lanka: The Tamil Tiger rebel group bombed two military targets in north-east Sri Lanka, continuing a fresh wave of violence in the country’s 25-year civil war.
Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that it will finally release the results of the March 29 presidential elections. The ZEC chairman commented, "We trust that by Monday 28 April this process will have been concluded," he said. Read: We trust that by Monday 28 April we will have had sufficient time to tamper with and rig the ballots. South African news source IOL speculates that Zim may be on the brink of civil war, after Human Rights Watch documented the beginnings of retaliation by MDC supporters against ZANU antagonism.
World Food Crisis: The rapidly increasing prices of basic food commodities such as wheat, rice, and corn are creating a ripple effect throughout the world, with dramatic implications for peace and stability.
U.S. of A.: The Justice Department is arguing to Congress that the Geneva Convention protections against “outrages against personal dignity” do not have universal application to all individuals, but rather the “definition of humane treatment can vary, depending on the detainee's identity and the importance of the information he possesses.” [WaPo] Selective application of rights? Seems a tad undemocratic. Dear Justice Department, I refer you to our very own, very fabulous, Declaration of Independence: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Perhaps it’s just me, but it seems that the universal applicability of the right to not be tortured is implied by that statement.

News: Report cards, watch lists, and a huge success for international human rights

2008-04-26T12:16:00.001-05:00

The Olympics: Dream for Darfur released a report card scoring the actions of corporate Olympics sponsors regarding China’s human rights record. The vast majority failed the make the grade.
Darfur: The War Crimes Watch List is using Facebook as a tool to search fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Burundi: President Nkurunziza requested assistance from the international community to help quell the latest active offensive by the FNL rebel group. Grenade and bomb attacks on the capital city killed at least 33 people this week.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights Watch released a report further documenting increased violence by ZANU-PF militia and the military, and a New York Times reporter describes his arrest and time in captivity in Harare for the “crime of committing journalism.” The UN Security Council is set to discuss the crisis for the first time next week. Multiple news sources report that the Chinese “ship of shame,” carrying 77 tons of weapons for the Zimbabwean military was allowed to dock in Angola, but not to unload its cargo. As the New York Times comments, this is a “surprising success” for the international movement that rallied against the ship, as Angola is a long-time ally of Robert Mugabe. Kudos to my friends in ZA who participated in the protests—this is really quite a remarkable feat.

Busy Friday: Zim update, and others

2008-04-25T13:10:00.001-05:00

Amnesty International reports that five police officers raided the offices of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) with a warrant authorizing a search for "subversive material likely to cause the overthrow of a constitutionally-elected government.” The ZESN chairperson and staff members are in hiding to evade arrest. Amnesty and the New York Times also report that MDC headquarters were once again raided, resulting in the arrest of 375, including people taking refuge from increasing violence by ZANU-PF and government actors. SABC writes that the MDC supporters, including “pregnant women and children,” were herded into government trucks and taken away. MDC Spokesman Nelson Chamisa pled, “We have a dictator in this country, we have a person who is so determined to murder all of us. He is a man who is prepared to slaughter all of us - his lust for power is far more than for the love for the country and the people of this country and the continent - Please we need help!”

In an unexpected move, U.S. Undersecretary of State Jendayi Frazer, who is currently in southern Africa to work on the Zimbabwe election crisis, told reporters in South Africa that MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was the “clear” victor in the March 29 presidential elections. She also added her support to the call for an international arms embargo. A Namibian newspaper claims that “documentary evidence” refutes China’s assertion that its arms deal with Zimbabwe was signed last year, but has not yet provided the evidence to support the allegation.

But as I said yesterday, just because the arms deal was signed last year does not mean the government of Zimbabwe did not have its eye on potential future unrest. If crazy dictators know how to do anything, it’s to use the skill of foresight to plan how to stay in power.

In other news…

Renewed violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo region of North Kivu: UN News Service, Rwanda News Agency
The UN is pissed off at the Joseph Kony: The Monitor (Kampala)
A bus explosion kills 10 in Sri Lanka: BBC
Human rights organizations launch “Justice for Darfur” campaign: HRW

(Apologies for the scant news brief—busy day, and I spent most of it so far thinking about Zimbabwe.)

Ranting Before Coffee: Morning Zim Update

2008-04-24T07:48:00.001-05:00

The Chinese “ship of shame” was recalled to China after being denied port by every country in southern Africa. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu claims that the consignment was part of a contract "signed last year and has nothing to do with the latest developments inside Zimbabwe." Excuse me, don’t you think that Mugabe saw this coming? These elections weren’t planned in a week. If anything, ordering such a massive supply of weapons could indicate advance planning for who-knows-what. Jiang continued, "Some people in the US are always critical, positioning themselves as the world's policeman, but they are not popular in the world.” First of all, the strongest protests on this matter are NOT coming from the US (unfortunately). Secondly—I’ve got news for you honey—China isn’t all that popular in the world, either.

Even better, Jiang commented, "I'd like to stress that the Chinese Government always adopts a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms export and one of the important principles it adheres to is non-interference in the internal affairs of recipient countries." Who are you kidding? Responsible attitude? Sending 77 tons of weapons to a country renowned for its human rights abuses is neither prudent nor responsible—not to mention Chinese arms trading with Sudan, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc. Nor can you engage in such activities and claim “non-interference in the internal affairs” of the countries.

Case in point: “Jiang was asked on Tuesday about Chinese soldiers seen on the streets of Zimbabwe. She said that ‘several Chinese professors are teaching at Zimbabwean military schools. What you mentioned might be some teaching activities conducted by the schools.’” Is it just me, or is that explanation a tad difficult to swallow?

…………

Moving on.

If you’re interested in Mugabe and ZANU-PF’s propaganda efforts, check out this editorial from the state-run newspaper The Herald. Here’s a preview: “Western media have been titillated, maybe even physically aroused, by the idea of Zimbabwe going the Kenya way in both the violence and "national unity" phenomena and the MDC-T waltzing into Munhumutapa Building on the back of negotiations rather than votes.” The author does make a valid point about the philosophies and practices of ZANU-PF and MDC being diametrically opposed, though not in the manner described in the article.

More reports of violence, including photos, in the Washington Post.

Good God, y’all.

Where goes the "Ship of Shame"? (PM Zim Update)

2008-04-23T20:27:00.001-05:00

The new Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town asked the UN to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, prompted by Chinese shipments of weapons to the country and fear that they will be used to oppress civilians. A growing international chorus supports the proposition, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (South African ANC President Jacob Zuma, however, does not think “we have reached a stage where we have to call for an arms embargo.”) The “ship of shame,” whichinitiated the controversy after trying to unload 77 tons of weapons and transport them overland through South Africa, has reportedly also been denied port by Namibia and Angola (traditionally an ally of Mugabe), and its whereabouts are currently unknown. (Let’s hope the report is true.) SABC reports that the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Africa arrived in South Africa today for talks on the growing crisis. The U.S. is also urging southern African states to block transport of the Chinese weapons to land-locked Zimbabwe.

Reports of state-sponsored violence and torture against supposed-opposition supporters continue to surface, and an independent candidate who won a parliamentary seat is predicting civil war should Mugabe announce he won the presidential elections.

Zimbabwe: You continue to amaze me.

2008-04-23T11:27:00.001-05:00

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that a recount of 23 districts shows the ZANU-PF regaining the majority in parliament, which it lost during the original vote tally. However, there is absolutely no reason to believe that this recount is fair and accurate, considering that fraud and corruption are the general modus operandi of the ZANU-led government, and there was no oversight or transparency with the recount. The results of the presidential election still have yet to be released.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party is distancing itself from an article in a state-run newspaper calling for a transitional unity government, led by Mugabe, to draft a new constitution and hold elections—an idea supported by South African presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma. But Mugabe isn’t exactly the power-sharing type, and frankly, any “unity” government under his leadership would be nothing more than a farce. This is a man who doesn’t respect any law but his own—what’s the point of a new constitution if he pays no heed to the current one?—and has repeatedly vowed that the MDC will never have power in Zimbabwe. History, people. Let’s learn from it.

Non-Zimbabwe News

2008-04-23T11:26:00.001-05:00

Rwanda: The first hearing regarding the transfer of genocide suspects from the ICTR to the Rwandan national courts is set for tomorrow. (At some point I hope to have the time to discuss transitional justice issues such as this more in depth, but for now, keeping up with the news briefs is all I can manage.)
Sudan: The country’s national census begins today, in preparations for next year’s elections. The census is a central element to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running North/South civil war. However, many refugees from southern Sudan have yet to be repatriated, so the counting is already under dispute. In Darfur, a top UN official is guesstimating that the death toll from the genocide is now around 300,000.
Burundi: The renewed conflict between the military and the rebel FNL group has escalated to shelling around the capital, with each side accusing the other of initiating the fighting and breaking the peace agreement.

Close to the point where I need to rename this blog 'WTF is going on in Zimbabwe?'

2008-04-21T22:10:00.003-05:00

Reports of violence against opposition supporters continue to hit the wires, including a Human Rights Watch report on detention camps where people are tortured by ZANU-PF loyals, middle of the night mob attacks, harassment and abduction of journalists, and the obstruction of humanitarian efforts. The MDC says that the country is in a state of “undeclared war,” and despite Thabo’s best efforts, the ANC is starting to wake up and realize that the unrest in Zim has destabilizing potential for the entire region, and South Africa in particular. New ANC President Jacob Zuma, typically not on my list of favorite people, also addressed the crisis during his trip to Europe, using language not particularly harsh, but still stronger than anything said by Mbeki.

On a more positive note, union and other organizers have so far successfully prevented the Chinese ship from unloading its cargo of weapons intended for the Zimbabwean military. (See earlier post for background.) After being turned away from South Africa, the ship was also denied permission to unload from Tanzania and Mozambique, and is reportedly headed for Angola. The government of Namibia said that the ship has not made a request to either dock or refuel at either of their ports. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Trade and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) are calling for an international effort to prevent the ship from unloading its cargo.

The recount of the 23 districts in the parliamentary districts is moving at a slower than expected pace, raising further fears that the ZEC and ZANU are engaged in election fraud. Surprise, surprise.

News

2008-04-21T22:10:00.001-05:00

Somalia: A second day of fighting between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops left at least 15 people dead in Mogadishu, with an estimated 81 dead over two days. The Ethiopian troops are meant to protect the secular transitional government.
Burundi: Also experience renewed violence from insurgents—a special, stop-the-cycle-of-violence UN Envoy is visiting soon.
New Blog: For all of you international law junkies. Check it out.

I love the smell of dictatorship in the morning...

2008-04-19T09:58:00.001-05:00

Zimbabweans marked the 28^th anniversary of their country’s independence on Friday with protests over the continued election crisis. Amnesty International released a report cataloguing incidents of state-sponsored violence, and multiple other reputable sources, including Human Rights Watch, are warning that “torture and violence are surging in Zimbabwe,” with supporters of the opposition MDC party as the target. New Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga wants to discuss the crisis with the Kenyan Cabinet and the African Union—hopefully to apply lessons learned from Kenya’s own election crisis.

But who isn’t joining the chorus of condemnation over the rising violence? Well, yes, Thabo Mbeki, but we knew that already. Give up? It’s CHINA! Of course! China to the rescue of an endangered dictatorship, once again. A Chinese ship carrying 77 tons of weaponry for the Zimbabwean military arrived at port in Durban and received a permit from the South African government to transport the arms through the country—first, dock workers refused to unload the cargo (bravo!), then a South African court told the ship to turn around and go the hell home. (Not the exact terminology.) Luckily, South African judges have a stronger sense of moral responsibility than their president. However, the ship is reportedly bound for a port in Mozambique. Let’s hope they have the same good judgment.

The ZEC launched a recount of 23 precincts, which the MDC claims is bogus.

In other news: Renewed fighting between the government and a rebel group in Burundi once again has civilians caught in the crossfire, jeopardizing the country’s 2006 peace agreement.

News: Starting the week off with a bang, and with formatting difficulties

2008-04-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe: Militias of war veterans and others loyal to Mugabe’s ZANU-PF continue their violent tactics against people and communities suspected of voting for the opposition MDC party. And the emergency SADC summit ended with a call for the ZEC to promptly release the results of the March 29 presidential elections. (Much ado about nothing.)

Sudan: In a speech to the Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, David Mozersky of the International Crisis Group notes the substantive impact of international humanitarian efforts in Darfur, but argues that this is merely “treating the symptoms of the problem, while leaving the causes of Sudan’s multiple wars in tact.” He delineates three changes to international policy necessary for an end to the conflict: A consistent, coordinated international strategy, which has thus far been thwarted by divisions on the UN Security Council (China and Russia); an understanding of the interrelation of the conflicts within Sudan (North/South civil wars, Darfur) and within the region (Chad, CAR, Uganda, etc); costs for non-compliance—backing up the threats made in UNSC resolutions with actual consequences.

Uganda: Rebel leader Joseph Kony reportedly killed his deputy and 8 other commanders after an internal revolt.

DRC: Progress.

News

2008-04-12T09:52:00.000-05:00

Sri Lanka: "For us, the war in Sri Lanka is like a tsunami that won't end."
“What Zim Crisis?” South African President Thabo Mbeki met with Mugabe in Harare ahead of the SADC summit in Zambia, which Mugabe is boycotting and sending three cabinet ministers in his place. Mugabe’s government and allies attacked Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa for convening the summit. Mbeki told reporters that there is no post-election crisis in Zimbabwe, and urged patience until the full results could be released. For the first time EVER, I have a slight amount of respect for new ANC leader and presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma (of rape and shower fame), who referred to the situation as “serious,” and called the ZEC’s refusal to release the results “unprecedented.” Further concerns over ballot tampering were raised after the ZEC secretly cleared out and then closed its national command center. Because that’s not at all sketchy.

ZimWatch 2008: One Step Closer to the Brink?

2008-04-11T11:32:00.002-05:00

Mugabe decided to boycott the SADC summit (see today’s news brief), which his government claims is “unnecessary,” and is sending three cabinet ministers instead. Mugabe also issued a ban on all political rallies in the country. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is seeking temporary refuge in Botswana, citing fears for his safety. Zimbabwean police arrested his attorney, reportedly on charges that he “insulted” the police during the seizure of Mr. Tsvangirai’s helicopter. Amnesty International was able to verify some claims of targeted retribution by security forces against MDC supporters, but the full scale of the violence, which the MDC claims is “massive,” has yet to be confirmed.

The longer the situation goes on, the more pessimistic I get. The international community—and especially South Africa and other SADC members—have allowed Mugabe to continue his violent and corrupt approach to governance for far too long. Thabo Mbeki needs to get over his reluctance to criticize Mugabe—sure, he was a strong ally in the anti-apartheid movement, but Mbeki and others in the ANC do a disservice to their own legacy by ignoring his human rights abuses out of a sense of loyalty.

Furthermore, the international community has the opportunity to nip this in the bud BEFORE it explodes into mass violence. We seem to only respond to crises after they’ve reached genocidal or otherwise massive proportions: Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, CAR, DRC, Burma, Tibet, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia—the list goes on and on. Mugabe needs to be pushed out of power with a heavy hand, and the SADC, UN, AU, EU, US, etc etc should unite around a comprehensive policy to do just that. The Zimbabwe crisis, and its consequent mass exodus (South African Home Affairs deports an estimated 17,000 Zimbabweans back to their home country each month), have the potential to destabilize the entire region of Southern Africa. Multiple players in the international community have a vested interest in the peaceful resolution of the elections dispute, not to mention a duty to uphold peace and human rights.

The time to act is now.

News: This is the song that never ends...

2008-04-11T10:21:00.001-05:00

Oh, Zimbabwe…: Mugabe is facing a confrontation at the emergency SADC summit called to address the deepening crisis in his country. He supposedly put together a “dossier” detailing his defense, including claims that the US State Department and other Western governments are sponsoring election fraud to ensure ZANU-PF is defeated. Many organizations are warning of the high potential for pre-election violence in the case of a run-off election; the Institute for War and Peace Reporting states that “there are signs that the Zimbabwean regime will launch a crackdown to ensure victory for the incumbent at all costs.”
Uganda: LRA leader Joseph Kony refused to sign the peace agreement. Shocker.
Ethiopia/Eritrea: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon expressed concern at renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea if UN peacekeeping troops are withdrawn from the region. He urged the Security Council to resolve the matter quickly, commenting that complete withdrawal could impact other current and future missions.
Rwanda: A policeman was killed after an unknown attacker launched a grenade at Rwanda’s genocide museum, on the fifth day of the country’s official week of mourning for the 1994 genocide.
Bangladesh: Members of the Islamic Constitutions Movement clashed with police in Dhaka. The ICM is protesting a draft law granting equal inheritance rights to women.

A Plan

2008-04-10T21:14:00.001-05:00

Once again, wise words on Sudan from Nicholas Kristof.

News: Democracy Over Hatred (if only more often)

2008-04-08T07:16:00.000-05:00

This is cool: UNHCR and Google Earth joined forces. I haven’t yet spent time exploring this new tool, but it seems pretty neat…
Kenya: A new rift developed between the president and prime minister-designate, threatening the country’s fragile peace agreement and resulting in renewed violence in Nairobi. The Kenyan case raises questions common to all conflict resolution processes—namely, even after a peace treaty is signed, how do you de-legitimize the use of violence as a political tool? If political groups continue to turn to violence when they’re displeased, how can a country ever be assured of lasting peace? What will it take to convince people that violence in an unacceptable means to their ends?
Zimbabwe: Speaking of violence…
Argentina: An interesting article about the new Argentine ambassador to the US, whose father was tortured and killed during the country’s Dirty War. "This is a victory of democracy over hatred."
South Africa: Geez.

News: Manic Monday

2008-04-07T12:24:00.001-05:00

Zimbabwe, of course: Mugabe has once again turned to exacerbating racial tensions as a political tool, claiming that the MDC is “unleashing” white farmers to “re-occupy” land taken from them in Mugabe’s many land redistribution campaigns. This is blatant fear-mongering, using colonial and liberation rhetoric to garner support for his flailing government. Mugabe also directed his loyal “war veterans” (veterans of the independence struggle) to invade and reclaim the few remaining white-owned farms in the country. Mugabe issued a fresh order to the ZEC to withhold election results, while demanding a recount and arresting several elections officials. A New York Times reporter arrested during a raid on foreign journalists was badly injured while in detention, and required hospitalization when he was released on bail. Haven’t had enough yet? Check out these articles in the Christian Science Monitor and the New York Times.
Liberia: Truth? What’s that? A witness at the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) says he was paid by a commissioner to lie in his testimony against an alleged rapist.
Sri Lanka: The government bombed a suspected Tamil Tiger base, in response to the assassination of a government minister. (See yesterday’s post for the details.)
China: The Olympic Torch Relay is being interrupted by protests everywhere it goes. Hmmmm, I wonder why that is…

Never Again, if only...

2008-04-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

Today marks the 14^th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, during which an estimated 800,000 people were killed in 100 days.

A moment of silence, please.

News: It goes on and on...

2008-04-06T10:49:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe: ZANU-PF rejected an MDC offer to form a transitional unity government, stating "We can never collaborate with the MDC given that our political objectives and aspirations are as different as day is from night." Read: As different as authoritarianism is from democracy. Meanwhile, the MDC is appealing to the UN to help prevent violence before the potential run-off election, and British PM Gordon Brown is scheduled to hold private talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki to urge him to take a more active role in resolving the crisis.
Sri Lanka: A suicide bomb in Colombo killed a government minister along with 14 others—the government is blaming the Tamil Tiger rebels, who they’ve vowed to “crush” by the end of the year. Over 70,000 people have died in fighting between the government and the Tigers since 1983—mostly civilians caught in the crossfire—and many more have disappeared.
Tibet: An interesting WaPo article on “patriotic education” in Tibetan monasteries—Chinese officials conduct 45 days of “lessons,” then make the monks sign a paper denouncing the Dalai Lama.
The Genocide Intervention Network is holding a Week of Action for Darfur. Check out their blog for the schedule of events.

ZimWatch: To Run-Off or Not to Run-Off?

2008-04-05T11:37:00.001-05:00

After their politburo meeting yesterday, the ZANU-PF expressed unanimous support for Mugabe and for a run-off election between ZANU and MDC. The MDC, for their part, say that they won an out-right victory, and thus there is no need for a run-off; however, their lawyers were prevented by police from entering the courthouse to file a petition demanding the full release of the election results. They accused Mugabe’s government of deploying militias to intimidate voters and harass the opposition. Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki told the international community to wait for the release of the election results before deciding on any action. Um, ok Thabo, let’s just give Mugabe even more time to tamper with the ballots, intimidate voters, and otherwise rig the election.

Mr. Mbeki, I hereby dub you "Mugabe Appeaser #1." MA1, for short. Congratulations on being a stellar statesman.

Still Dreaming: In Memoriam

2008-04-04T07:09:00.000-05:00

Forty years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, marking one of the darkest days in American history. I hope that you can take time out of your day to read or watch his “I Have a Dream” speech, and think about Dr. King’s challenge to the country to better itself. And check out this Washington Post article about his complicated legacy.

"Here was this man whose life was committed to bridging races," Alderman said, "and in death his commemoration is largely segregated."

Food for thought.

News: Oh What a World...

2008-04-04T07:07:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe: “Well, shit. These new people who won the election might put us on trial for human rights abuses. So clearly the solution is to commit MORE abuses to keep power.” Idiots.
More on Zim: The ZEC continues to withhold election results, Mugabe continues to waver between considering a run-off, a transitional government, and flat-out rule by decree. (I’d almost bet money that he’ll go with the later. Just a hunch.) And then he says he’ll leave as long as he’s granted immunity from prosecution. Bullshit. If the MDC agrees to such terms, the ICC needs to prosecute, because you shouldn’t be able to rule a country like a tyrant for almost 30 years and get away with it.
China: Amnesty International Appeal for Action—send a letter condemning the conviction of human rights activist Hu Jia.
U.S.: A succinctly well-put blog on the Yoo memo, by Tom Dickinson of Rolling Stone: National Affairs Daily.
Somalia: Rebel attacks on government forces continue, with civilians caught in the crossfire, of course. This time a passenger bus was hit by a shell.

Foreboding

2008-04-03T23:20:00.001-05:00

More news sources are reporting the raids on foreign journalists in Harare, including the arrest of a New York Times reporter. In a statement that gave me chills, Pambazuka News posits, “This is clearly an attempt to establish a news blackout as a prelude to ...?” Police also raided the offices of the opposition MDC party.

Many cite fears that this is the beginning of a “crack down.”

Holy Shizzle...

2008-04-03T14:11:00.003-05:00

The New York Times (and so far no one else that I can find, at least not yet) is reporting that paramilitary police in riot gear have surrounded a hotel housing foreign journalists in Harare, Zimbabwe.

"A man answering the phone at the hotel says they are taking away some reporters.

The man refused to give his name but said about 30 police entered the hotel Thursday and were preparing to take away four or five journalists."

That's a pretty bold move for Mugabe--he has a tight grip on state media sources, but arresting foreign journalists is a new thing, as far as I know. Let's just hope this isn't the beginning of something larger and more ominous.

News: Will it ever end?

2008-04-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

Zimbabwe: The MDC claims that there is no need for a run-off, as they won a significant-enough margin of the votes, and is asking Mugabe to resign to save the country further embarrassment. The ZEC finally released the full results of the parliamentary elections, and the MDC won a majority over Mugabe’s ZANU-PF. This is the first time that ZANU-PF lost control of parliament since it came to power in 1980. Sources close to Mugabe say that he conceded defeat to his inner circle, and is weighing his options for his next steps.
Mozambique: A report on child trafficking.
Chad/Sudan: Less than a month after the presidents of Chad and Sudan signed a treaty to end their “proxy war” against each other, Chad is accusing Sudan of once again supporting rebel groups in a cross-border raid.
R2P: The ENOUGH Project discusses the possibilities of translating the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine (R2P) and the International Criminal Court into a viable framework for international peacekeeping and conflict prevention.
China: The English-language version of the BBC website was recently unblocked by the Chinese government. The BBC responds to criticisms of its news coverage.

News!

2008-04-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

Zimbabwe: Zim made it onto NBC's Nightly News last night--you know that if something African makes it into Brian Williams' broadcast, something's gotta be f-ed up. (Congrats?) Business Day (Jo-burg) reports that sources within the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) revealed the operation of a secret task force, comprised of agents from the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO), established to ensure that Mugabe “wins power, stays in power, and keeps power.” Yet another organization—the South African Council of Churches (SACC)—has joined the many voicing concerns over the possibility of vote-rigging as the election results continue to be delayed. The New York Times reports that the opposition has entered talks with Mugabe’s advisers about the possibility of his resignation, but I’ll believe it when I see it. (April Fools?)
Uganda: Rebel leader Joseph Kony continues to stall the peace process—perhaps he really is sick, but he hasn’t exactly established a reputation for himself as trustworthy.
Western Sahara: The Norwegian Refugee Council decided to highlight the plight of this overlooked country and its people. Go Norway.
DRC: And the “WTF…?” Award goes to the UN this morning, who decided to exempt the DRC military from an arms embargo. Normally this would not be a problematic proposition, but in the DRC, the military is responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses and violence against civilians in the war-torn country. Amnesty International, among others, criticized the UN’s decision.
China: The IOC is warning China that it must provide open internet access to journalists and others during the Olympic games. China is notorious for its tight restrictions on the internet, so…this could be interesting.

Eyes on Zim

2008-03-30T21:45:00.001-05:00

(I’m back!)

Zimbabwean President “Crazy Bobby” Mugabe is blocking the country’s electoral commission from releasing the official results of Saturday’s elections, in which the opposition and an increasing number of foreign observers say Mugabe and his ZANU-PF part LOST by a significant margin. Morgan Tsvangirai was warned not declare himself president because that "is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled."

One news source is reporting that the electoral commission will soon declare Mugabe the winner anyway, and are awaiting the deployment of the military to crush any potential uprisings. Senior military officials have openly declared their loyalty to Mugabe. So it looks like either way this cookie crumbles, there will be trouble.

Shame.

News: Same Sh*t, Different Day

2008-03-24T14:03:00.000-05:00

Nothing is black and white: An article in the New York Times discusses the difficulties of US-China relations regarding human rights issues, such as the current situation in Tibet. Though several prominent American politicians have condemned China’s harsh reaction to the demonstrations in Tibet, President Bush remains silent on the issue. A former national security advisor to President Clinton remarked, “I think to the extent that he can work the issue privately, it’s better, frankly. The public statements just make the Chinese dig in their heels all the more, make them more resolute in their repression.” This poses interesting challenges for the international human rights movement, as the high degree of nuance and “behind the scenes” foreign policy makes it difficult for us to hold our leaders accountable for their commitments to human rights. On the one hand, we have no way of knowing if necessary action is underway to uphold human rights commitments, but on the other, a public airing of diplomatic processes would likely be counterproductive to achievement the ultimate goal. Conundrum.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe said that opposition parties will never rule “as long as we are still alive.” (Referring to the kleptocrats of the ZANU-PF, of course.) Mugabe also told people, in essence, to ‘grow a pair’ and deal with the water shortage and other economic crises in the country. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations details how, amid staggering economic crisis, Mugabe granted control of political institutions to security forces, which could be problematic should Mugabe lose in the elections on Saturday.
Darfur: The New York Times reports on the obstacles faced by the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force—namely, lack of troops and necessary equipment.
Other news from Sudan: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005 to end the long-running North/South civil war, appears to be in jeopardy, as the SPLA accuses the government of lagging in the implementation of the treaty’s provisions. The government dismisses the claims.

Mugabe: Two wrongs make me right.

2008-03-21T14:11:00.003-05:00

"Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe warned the opposition today against Kenyan-style violence if they lose next week's election, saying security forces stood ready to crush such protests."

Nice.

Zimbabwe gets its own post

2008-03-21T11:52:00.001-05:00

The head of the SADC electoral observer mission to Zimbabwe declared that conditions in the country are suitable for next weeks elections, remarking, “The moment is right to hold elections, the climate is right to hold elections.” Ok, but are is the “climate” right for free and fair elections? Let’s survey the reports that found their way into my Google Reader just this morning…

Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC) is threatening to boycott the elections if the electoral commission insists on counting ballots at its central office rather than at local polling stations, as was agreed upon in the SADC-brokered negotiations that set up the election process. Mugabe is clearly unconcerned, and has been busy all week making changes to the election law that allow him to override Parliament with presidential decrees.

Pre-poll obstruction is rampant across the country. Police in Harare banned events with opposition candidates and the Combined Harare Resident Association. Police and military personnel reportedly already voted—multiple times, and under supervision. Five police officers were arrested for supporting the MDC, under a selectively-applied (considering that the state security forces are generally under the control of the whims of ZANU-PF) law that prohibits the police from engaging in political activity. For other examples of disreputable behavior, see my last post on Zim.

The International Crisis Group issued a report warning the international community of the need for contingency plans should the elections not go well, which already seems probable based on pre-poll activities by Mugabe’s government and political party.

What about any of this appears conducive to free and fair elections? Mugabe and his party are flouting not only standard democratic practices, but the terms of the SADC agreement they signed with the opposition parties—and they’re doing it in the presence of election observers and international media attention. Delusion, or gumption?

News Round-up: Anyone have a bottle of aspirin?

2008-03-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

The government of Uganda confirmed reports that LRA leader Joseph Kony moved from the DRC to the CAR. Kony is dodging an indictment by the ICC, and refuses to sign a final peace agreement until the charges are dropped, but the Ugandan government says that it needs the final peace agreement in order to approach the ICC. So…what’s a conflict mediator to do? Meanwhile, Uganda is asking the government of the CAR (what little there is) for help in resolving the conflict with the Kony and the LRA. CAR is investigating Kony’s possible involvement in looting and raids in the country’s southeastern province. Way to wear out your welcome.
Due process of what…? The government of Chad continues to detain people, without charges, following an attempted coup earlier this year. Human rights groups fear for the safety of the detainees after reports of torture at the hands of Chadian military and police officials.
This isn’t a human rights story, but more of an interesting/ironically laughable headline for those of us who’ve spent any length of time in South Africa: Mozambique to aid SA power crisis. That’s right, one of the poorest countries in the world is compensating for ZA’s failure to update and maintain its own energy infrastructure. I love South Africa, I really do, this is just a bit amusing.
Somalia: “We are not terrorists.” We just like to blow things up to get our way.
Chinese authorities continue to tighten control in Tibet, and the Dalai Lama said that he fears for the lives of Tibetan demonstrators. Watch the videos on the BBC page—they have footage of unarmed monks clashing with riot police, and military forces and equipment pouring into the region by the thousands.
“There is nothing about this place that is good.” The woes of the UN/AU mission in Darfur.

AM News: No Dictators Before Coffee (NDBC, people)

2008-03-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

The commander of the European peace-keeping force in Chad warned that his troops will return fire if refugee camps under their protection are attacked. It’s about time we had a peace-keeping force with teeth.
A UN report accuses the Sudanese government of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian property in a recent campaign against rebel groups in Darfur. At least 115 civilians were killed in campaigns against the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in West Darfur in January and February.
More allegations of electoral obstruction in Zimbabwe, this time against the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).

Busy Day

2008-03-19T23:10:00.001-05:00

My new favorite place: Zimbabwe! President Mugabe signed a law allowing police (read: state-sanctioned ZANU-PF thugs) into polling booths, raising further concerns about the ruling party’s plans to adhere to fair election practices. (What is, “They aren’t going to at all?”) Meanwhile, the Deputy ‘Information’ Minister, in response to a report on pre-election violence and intimidation, said that Human Rights Watch “should be ashamed of itself,” adding that these reports are “becoming a joke.” I suppose that the delusional power-hungry types are easily amused—aided, no doubt, but their complete lack of accountability. I can only hope that I (and everyone else in the human rights-respecting world) will on day be able to say, “Who’s laughing now?”
The Chadian army conducted multiple cross-border raids in the northwestern region of the Central African Republic (CAR) in recent weeks. Since January 2008, Human Rights Watch documented at least 5 raids, and accuses the army of killing civilians, stealing cattle, and burning villages. The report notes that it is unclear whether or not these raids were coordinated with CAR authorities, as has been the case in the past.
The government of Nepal is joining China in the repression of Tibetan protesters. Human Rights Watch condemned the arbitrary arrest, detention, and excessive use of force of Tibetan activists and journalists living in Nepal. In other Nepalese news, the UN voiced concerns over a possible resurgence of violence related to the country’s upcoming elections, after the murder of a candidate. Over 13,000 people were killed in a 10-year civil war that ended in 2006.
The UN warned Kenya that it will not provide support to the proposed Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC), or any other institution, if it provides a blanket amnesty for the violence committed in the aftermath of the December 2007 elections. The UN otherwise supports the TJRC as a method of “national healing” (shudder—I hate that phrase), but believes that it should make recommendations for criminal prosecutions.
A Ghanaian woman was removed from a hospital in the UK, where she was undergoing cancer treatment, when her visa expired. She died today. Her friends and family raised over £70,000 for the treatment, which was unavailable in her home country. I feel bad for her two kids, whose father already passed away.
South Africa: “We’ll kill the Somalians if they come back.” *Sigh*

News: Windows of Opportunity

2008-03-19T11:05:00.001-05:00

A UN Report on the recent upheaval in Kenya identifies three levels of violence—spontaneous, organized, and retaliatory—involved in the murder of 1200 and the displacement of over 300,000. While the violence was set of by the disputed election results in December 2007, underlying causes such as social and economic equality fuelled the uprising; these conditions must be addressed in order to prevent a recurrence of violence in the future. The report also faults the Kenyan state with failing to protect its own citizens. [AllAfrica] [UN]
The UN urges the international community to “seize a window of opportunity” for peace negotiations in Somalia. If Ban Ki-Moon says there’s a window, well…I’ll just defer to him on that one. The UN Chief also says that he will consider the deployment of a 27,000-strong peacekeeping force to the region if certain conditions are met, including a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. But if we can’t staff and equip a force of 26,000 in Sudan, then…?
I love this headline: Zimbabwe: Free and Fair Elections Unlikely. No kidding.
Despite the obstructionist efforts of the ZANU-PF, Mugabe is apparently trailing in the polls in Zimbabwe.
Lawyers for the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda are submitting petitions to the ICC for the withdrawal of the arrest warrants against leader Joseph Kony and other high-raking LRA soldiers. Kony is refusing to sign a peace agreement while still under indictment. This raises quite a dilemma between the concepts of peace and justice: In cases of negotiated settlements, where there is no clear overall victor with the ability to pursue traditional justice methods (prosecutions), is amnesty an acceptable trade for peace?
China is not altering plans to carry the Olympic torch to Mt. Everest and through Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and the center of the recent anti-China demonstrations. I have a hunch that they’re trying to rub it in the Tibetans’ faces a bit. The head of the Communist Party in Tibet recently referred to the Dalai Lama as “a jackal in Buddhist monk’s robes, an evil spirit with a human face and the heart of a beast,” and warned that “we are engaged in a fierce battle of blood and fire with the Dalai clique.” No subtlety with these guys.
The UN envoy to Burma reports disappointment over the lack of “concrete results” from the visit.

Peace is Annoying: The Ins and Outs of the Zimbabwean Electoral System

2008-03-18T21:12:00.005-05:00

Note: I don't know why two paragraphs are blacked out, but if you highlight the area with your mouse, voila, there it is.

Increased reports of violence related to the March 29 elections in Zimbabwe should be raising eyebrows in the international community. Known members of Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party are attacking members of the opposition MDC party, in one instance leading to the hospitalization of 5 MDC supporters, who were ambushed while campaigning. Villagers are fleeing violence in the Makoni district, where night-attacks were reportedly led by a prominent ZANU-PF activist after a rally failed to draw a sizeable crowd.

The government is restricting access to media outlets and threatening those that enter the country without its permission: “An Information Ministry spokesman says the government is aware of attempts to turn journalists into election observers, or smuggle in observers.” I would say that Mugabe and the ZANU-PF have something to hide, but they aren’t really trying to hide their efforts to obstruct the election. Open intimidation has characterized Mugabe’s rule from the beginning. This is a man who, in a speech to Parliament in 1982, commented regarding alleged dissidents, "Some of the measures we shall take are measures which will be extra-legal....An eye for an eye and an ear for an ear may not be adequate in our circumstances. We might very well demand two ears for one ear and two eyes for one eye." Brazen—and he meant what he said. (And hopefully one day he will stand trial for the mass killings and other reprisals referred to by that statement.)

Since his days as a rebel leader in colonial Rhodesia, Mugabe has yearned for a one-party state under his consolidated control, and has made repeated claims throughout his career that he has no intention of relinquishing power. [See Martin Meredith’s book Mugabe: Power, Plunder, and the Struggle for Zimbabwe. B&N is the only place I found online that has the most recent version (in my super quick search), hence the link.] The presence of a few international observers is clearly not motivating Mugabe towards respecting democratic processes.

Another Kenya? I hope not, but I’m not a particularly optimistic person. According to the Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa, there is currently "so much peace, but peace is annoying some people.”

More News: Because the world keeps turning

2008-03-18T20:30:00.001-05:00

Chinese security forces are conducting house-by-house searches in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, arresting people suspected of involvement in the recent protests. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch expressed concern for those detained, as China vowed “severe punishment” for demonstrators who did not surrender by yesterday’s deadline. And China doesn’t have the best reputation for its treatment of detained human rights activists.
Further dampening hopes of a peace treaty in Uganda, LRA leader Joseph Kony, in his new hideout in CAR (discussed in a previous post), appears to have established contact with Chadian rebel leader General Mahamat Nouri. Oh to be a fly on the wall…
Dafurian rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is demanding one-on-one negotiations with Khartoum, claiming to be the only viable group in the region. Delusional, much?

News: The Dictator Daily

2008-03-18T12:18:00.000-05:00

A paper on Kosovo by the International Crisis Group calls for increased international coordination and a strong message to Serbia (and its Russian supporters) warning against attempts to spoil the new state.
A new report by Amnesty International details the discrimination and hardships faced by HIV+ women living in rural South Africa.
Guatemala’s first trial for forced disappearances during its Dirty War began last week. The conflict, which began in 1960, left 200,000 dead and 45,000 “disappeared”—an all-too-common tactic of Latin American dictatorships in the late-20^th century.
China “thanks” India for detaining over 100 Tibetan refugees involved in anti-China protests. Given its recent rap sheet on human rights issues—see my post from last Thursday—I would think twice about doing anything for which China might be grateful. But I guess that’s just me.
And there’s more! Chinese human rights activist Hu Jia is standing trial in Beijing for comments made in interviews with foreign media and on the internet.
Only a select few media outlets will be allowed to cover the upcoming presidential elections in Zimbabwe. I’m thinking that this does not bode well for the prospects of anything “free and fair.”
And finally…today’s Napoleon Award for Excellence in the Art of Petty Dictatorship goes to…Muammar Gadaffi! The Libyan dictator is urging Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to remain in power for life, arguing against multi-party democracy and presidential term limits. Awesome.

PM News Round-up: Damn those attention-hungry "splittists"...

2008-03-17T22:21:00.001-05:00

Beijing is blaming Tibetan “splittists” for staging a public relations crisis ahead of the summer Olympics with the protests in Lhasa. However, as the Christian Science Monitor reports, the uprising comes as no surprise to those aware of China’s repression of Tibet.
And the Napoleon Award for Excellence in the Art of Petty Dictatorship goes to…Bobby Mugabe! Year-long negotiations, led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, appear to be unraveling ahead of elections scheduled for March 29 in Zimbabwe, as Mugabe proves once again that he has no intention of honoring his commitments. Mugabe and his party, ZANU-PF, are engaging in political violence, intimidation, and vote-buying, following declarations that “there will be no regime change” in the country. Keep your eyes on this place, folks—I fear it could end up like Kenya…
The globalization of conflict: An interesting article on the Darfurian diaspora.

News: Monday Morning Fun with Google Reader

2008-03-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Children playing a game in which they mimic rape? South Africans are questioning the development of a “culture of violence” in their new democracy. It’s about f-ing time, is all I have to say.
Collaboration! It’s a beautiful thing. Rwanda is hosting a workshop on multi-national peace operations, with a focus on Darfur and Somalia. Military officials from 17 African nations are in attendance.
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that he is “distressed” by the protests in Tibet, and hopes they can be resolved through non-violent means. Too late for that, buddy. Police roundups of suspected protesters…promises of tough reprisals…it doesn’t take much to put two and two together. China hasn’t even acted like it was interested in any solution other than violent crackdown, and has even garnered strong domestic support for its methods (via dishonest propaganda, of course).
The FDLR in the eastern DRC ignored an ultimatum to disarm (or else?) by March 15. Quelle surprise.
Insight into the violence in the Central African Republic.
UN troops withdrew from parts of Kosovo following violent clashes with Serbian nationalists.

News: It never ends

2008-03-16T09:44:00.000-05:00

The situation in Tibet is deteriorating even further, as 80 people are now reported dead, though China still puts the toll at 10. China put additional troops on standby, and continues to restrict access to the region, making it difficult to verify the scale of the repression. The Dalai Lama is calling for an international investigation into the crackdown, saying that his people face “cultural genocide” at the hands of the Chinese security forces.
Meanwhile, additional anti-China protests are expected in Taiwan. Political parties are organizing protests against China’s anti-secession laws, which authorize the use of force against the island should it formally declare its independence.
The World Food Programme reports increased difficult in reaching the nearly 2 million Darfurians dependent on their aid due to increased violence in the region. Fifty supply trucks were hijacked in the last year, and 13 drivers are still missing.
Joseph Kony, leader of Ugandan rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), reportedly moved from his base in the DRC to one in the CAR, raising doubts over the signing of the Final Peace Accord scheduled for this month. For background on the LRA/Uganda conflict, visit the ENOUGH Project.

Refugees: UNHCR is a busy place...

2008-03-15T18:57:00.000-05:00

Sudan: There’s more going on than Darfur—UNHCR is speeding up repatriation efforts of refugees from the long-running North/South civil war, which ended with a comprehensive peace agreement in January 2005. Over 100,000 refugees from southern Sudan are still in Uganda, with many others in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, exemplifying the protracted nature of the problems facing post-conflict societies.
Burundi: Talk about protracted…UNHCR is working the government of Tanzania on a plan to repatriate 218,000 Burundian refugees (exilers, really) who fled violence in 1972.
Central African Republic (CAR): UNHCR is also trying to relocate the latest influx of 14,000 CAR refugees into Chad further from the border, to areas less burdened by previous refugee settlements, more accessible to relief agencies, and less susceptible to cross-border attacks. Chad is also host to an estimated 250,000 Darfurian refugees (also subject to relocation efforts, due to security concerns close to the border of Sudan), 45,000 CAR refugees before latest influx. Civil conflict in Chad has resulted in nearly 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and as many as 30,000 Chadian refugees in Cameroon.
Also in Chad: An interesting article about education in the refugee camps.
Kenya: Local peace councils are focusing on reconciliation within local communities after the recent post-election violence, leading to resettlement of IDPs.
For more on refugees and IDPs (because this is by no means an exhaustive list), check out UNHCR and IDMC.

News Brief: The Race to be the World's Biggest Jerk

2008-03-15T11:43:00.000-05:00

After Chad and Sudan signed their sixth peace accord in two years on Thursday, Chadian rebels vowed to continue their fight to overthrow the government.
China set a Monday deadline for the surrender of protesters in Tibet. Chinese media reports 10 confirmed deaths, but Tibetan leaders claim the Chinese police are responsible for 30 confirmed deaths and up to 100 unconfirmed deaths. Travel and reporting are tightly restricted by the Chinese government, who’ve “pledged a harsh crackdown” if demonstrations continue beyond midnight on Monday. Chinese authorities, meanwhile, claim they secured the capital city Lhasa without gunfire—an account denied by Tibetan leaders in exile in neighboring India.
Peace and justice don’t always go hand in hand. Indictments by the International Criminal Court, originally requested by the Ugandan government, are proving to be the final sticking point for peace negotiations with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Many Ugandans seem to support forgoing prosecutions for war crimes and crimes against humanity in favor of an enduring peace agreement. This raises interesting problems about the nature of peace, justice, and international human rights obligations—a lengthy discussion, for another day.
On a more positive note for the ICC, Charles Taylor is finally facing accountability for an astonishing and horrifying repertoire of egregious human rights violations.
‘Bushmen’ woman have died in Botswana after eviction from their land by diamond mining company Gem Diamonds, who bought the land concession from De Beers in 2007. The evictions were deemed illegal by the High Court in Botswana in 2006, but the Bushmen have been unable to return to the land.
The Council on Foreign Relations released several interesting pieces on five-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Check out the slideshow, video, and article on efforts to forge a political compromise.
Call to Action and report by the Friends of the Congo on the appalling violence faced by women in the DRC.

Developments in Tibet: Deja vu, all over again

2008-03-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

Protests turned violent on Friday in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The protests began on Monday with demonstrations by Buddhist monks marking the anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising, and have become the largest since the 1980s. (Those protests were, surprise surprise, violently ended by the Chinese government.) The protests challenge Beijing’s efforts to present an “image of harmony and stability” before the summer Olympics. Though information has been sparse and difficult to verify due to tight control by the Chinese government, witnesses say that Chinese police surrounded at least two Buddhist monasteries in an attempt to quell the uprising.

Strikingly similar to the uprising in Burma last year.

News!

2008-03-14T11:57:00.001-05:00

Humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders suspended mobile clinic activities in the Northeastern Province of the Central African Republic (CAR) after a woman was shot in one of its ambulances.
Additionally, the Ugandan-based Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abducted more than 80 residents from a CAR border town. For background on the crisis in CAR, visit the Genocide Intervention Network. For background on the LRA, visit the Enough Project.
The humanitarian situation in eastern Chad is becoming increasingly dire, as refugees from Darfur continue to flow into the region, joining some 240,000 refugees in 12 camps. Additionally, numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are rapidly increasing as a result of fighting between the Chadian government and rebel groups.

More News: “Why don’t we just ask them to stop?”

2008-03-14T01:43:00.001-05:00

The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for the Rwandan FDLR and ex-FAR/Interahamwe militias—the groups largely responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide—to “surrender immediately to the Congolese authorities and the United Nations peacekeeping mission.” Have you tried just asking them nicely?
President Idriss Deby of Chad and President Oumar el-Beshir of Sudan (recovered from his headache, presumably) signed a peace agreement ahead of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Dakar. The two leaders agreed to “normalize” relations between the countries—i.e. stop sponsoring each others rebel groups. If international affairs—and the crisis in Darfur in particular—has taught us anything, it’s that it’s one thing to sign a treaty, and quite another to actually abide by and implement its provisions. So we’ll see.
Meanwhile, UN and AU envoys in Sudan are preparing for meetings in Geneva next week to review their current efforts in Darfur, prompted by renewed violence in the region in recent weeks.
In particularly gruesome news, a former death squad leader testified that Charles Taylor, one of the most accomplished of fear-mongers, ordered his soldiers to eat the flesh of their enemy/victims. Mr. Taylor is currently standing trial at The Hague. What justice is there for such an act?
India, oh India…I thought you were a democracy! I feel betrayed. India has detained Tibet refugees for…a peace march. To the Tibetan border, sure, but still…a peace march. Apparently relations with Beijing take priority over commitments to human rights.
I’m a huge fan of rebellious Buddhist monks.

China: A Recurring Theme

2008-03-13T16:04:00.000-05:00

China is one of the biggest threats to peace and stability in the world. Not only does the government suppress dissent at home, it also bankrolls violent dictatorships in Asia and Africa. But let’s start on the domestic front. Amnesty International reports increased attempts to silence opposition and minority groups, including the abduction and disappearance of human rights activists in Beijing in the run-up to the summer Olympics. Protests by monks in Tibet have reached a point where the Chinese government was forced to acknowledge them, though information remains controlled, and thus sparse. China even closed Mt. Everest to climbers in an attempt to keep Tibetan protestors away from the Olympic torch run. God forbid the human rights activists infringe on the symbol of the “lasting unity of mankind.”

Strict censorship of the media and public access to information—enabled by American technology companies including Cisco, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft—allows the Chinese government to keep much of its population in dark about its insidious activities. This Frontline report on Tiananmen Square provides excellent insight into the Chinese government’s human rights abuses and the monitoring and censorship of its own population.

China’s record on international human rights is equally, if not more, deplorable. China is the largest arms-supplier and oil-investor of the genocidal regime in Sudan. From 2003-2006, as other nations were withdrawing from trade with Sudan, China supplied 90% of Sudan’s arms purchases. (Check out the Save Darfur Coalition’s chilling ad campaign. The link will open a PDF.) China dispatched a special envoy to Sudan in the wake of mounting international pressure related to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but these attempts often seem feeble and two-faced. On the one hand, the special envoy comments about the deplorable humanitarian crisis and the need for increased peace efforts, while on the other hand defending China’s human rights record and commenting that politics have no place in the Olympics, mocking the efforts international human rights activists. (For more information: http://savedarfur.org/page/content/china)

China also funds violent authoritarian regimes in Sri Lanka and Burma. The government of Sri Lanka, engaged in a protracted 25-year civil war against the Tamil ethnic minority, is protected from international criticism and sanction by virtue of substantial Chinese financial support. Commenting on the replacement of Western donors, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona argues, “Asians don’t go around teaching each other how to behave. There are ways we deal with each other — perhaps a quiet chat, but not wagging the finger.” Read: We’ll take money from people who don’t tell us to stop abducting, torturing, and killing our own citizens. Charming.

(The methods of the Tamil Tigers themselves are by no means commendable, and Sri Lankan citizens are often caught in the middle of fighting between the rebel group and the government. HRW recently released a report, “Recurring Nightmare,” on the abductions of members of the Tamil ethnic group by the Sri Lankan military. For more information on the crisis in Sri Lanka, visit the Genocide Intervention Network.)

International boycotts and sanctions on military dictatorship in Burma are similarly thwarted by China’s economic support, especially in the gem trade. (First Lady Laura Bush is a staunch advocate of a boycott on Burmese gems, but as my friend commented, “I didn’t even know she was involved in this. She really needs better PR people.”) Major jewelers including Tiffany’s and Cartier joined the boycott, but their efforts seem futile without China’s support. China also supplies the Burmese government with arms and other investments: "The only sanctions that would work would be Chinese," asserts Robert Rotberg, a professor of public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School. "The Chinese ... supply all the weapons and much of the investment [to Burma]." [Christian Science Monitor]

Much more can be said on the issue, but the gist is this: China not only invests heavily in countries with horrendous human rights records, but also supplies arms and other material support to the authoritarian regimes that violently oppress their own citizens. China defends its human rights record by arguing that it engages in economic activity only and does not meddle in the internal affairs of other nations—and criticizes the US and other nations for meddling in China’s internal affairs—essentially arguing for a free-enterprise approach to international affairs (very curious of a supposedly-Communist country) that ignores the connection between economics and politics.

Apologies, dear commies, but economics and politics cannot be separated. They are bedfellows. Perhaps you should re-familiarize yourself with your own founding Manifesto, because I do believe that the connection between economics and politics was an underlying theme of the Communist Revolution.

A Final Note: US State Department, though still labeling the government as authoritarian, dropped China from its list of the world’s worst human rights violators. Curious.

News Brief

2008-03-13T11:51:00.000-05:00

Burundi: Grenade attacks on the homes of four prominent opposition leaders occurred almost simultaneously on March 8, the latest example of increasing violence against opposition to the ruling CNDD-FDD party. [HRW] Meanwhile, UNHRC started a collaborative effort to repatriate Burundian refugees who’ve been living in Tanzania for upwards of 30 years. HRW background, BBC Background
Somalia: The armed wing of the Islamic courts, al-Shabaab, lived up to its promise to start beheading government soldiers. [BBC] BBC background to Somali conflict
Zimbabwe: Increase in violence reported in run-up to (ahem, sham) elections on March 29, solidifying Mugabe’s position as Petty Dictator Extraordinaire. [AllAfrica]
Darfur: Hollywood to the rescue.
Sudan/Chad: In the latest game of “Stratego: The African Coup Version,” Chad is reporting that Sudanese-backed rebel groups entered the country in a renewed attempt to overthrow the government. Sudan, in turn, accuses the Chadian government of sponsoring rebel groups in Darfur. This has obvious implications for the stalled peace process in Darfur—perhaps next time the mediators should bring an economy-sized bottle of Excedrin to the table.