Liberia: Urgent human rights challenges for the UN Security Council
The United Nations (UN) Security Council should insist in the strongest possible terms that the signatories of Liberia's peace agreement fulfil their obligations under that agreement to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, Amnesty International said today ahead of a crucial meeting on Liberia.
Furthermore, "the Security Council should stress the urgency of deploying additional peace-keeping troops in Liberia in order to protect civilians and call on UN member states to contribute sufficient troops, with adequate logistical support, without further delay," the organization stressed.
On 22 December, the Security Council is scheduled to consider the UN Secretary-General's report on progress towards both the implementation of the peace agreement and Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) which established the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
"The peace agreement, inauguration of a power-sharing government and deployment of UN peace-keeping troops should have augured well for the people of Liberia who have suffered appalling human rights abuses for so many years," Amnesty International said. "The Security Council must, however, act decisively to ensure that peace and an end to human rights abuses become a reality."
As recently as 15 December, the Security Council strongly condemned all attacks and acts of violence against civilians in conflict situations and updated a list of measures to shield women, children, refugees, internally displaced people and other civilians from the ravages of war.
"The important deliberations of the Security Council last week on the protection of civilians in armed conflict should be translated urgently into concrete action in Liberia," Amnesty International said.
An Amnesty International delegation which travelled to Liberia in November found that men, women and children in areas where UN peace-keeping troops had yet to deploy continued to be killed, raped, beaten, used as forced labour and driven from their homes.
In a report published last week Amnesty International shows that civilians continue to live in fear of increasingly undisciplined and desperate groups of armed fighters from all three parties to the conflict: the former government of Liberia, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). The volatility of the situation was highlighted last week by rioting in Monrovia by armed former combatants in which at least 12 people were reported to have been killed.
"Those continuing to attack civilians are now represented by senior ministers in the National Transitional Government of Liberia, but they have been dilatory in their condemnation and instructions to commanders on the ground to end these abuses," Amnesty International said.
It is clear that the presence of UNMIL troops has deterred attacks on civilians. In areas where they have yet to deploy, however, such as in Bong and Nimba Counties, civilians remain without protection.
"The ability of UNMIL to implement its mandate to protect civilians is still seriously hampered as only about a third of its projected strength of 15,000 troops is currently on the ground," Amnesty International said.
Resolution 1509 (2003) provided for "an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out human rights promotion, protection and monitoring activities". Continuing human rights abuses must be reported publicly to demonstrate to combatants that their actions are being closely watched and recorded and to strengthen the message that perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"The Security Council must request speedy establishment of a strong, fully resourced human rights component within UNMIL which will, as a matter of urgency, monitor the human rights situation, report publicly and undertake credible and robust activities to protect civilians."
As it considers the UN Secretary-General's report, the Security Council must also focus on ending impunity for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law. The UN Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly said that those committing such crimes in Liberia will be held individually accountable. At the moment, however, there appears to be no sense of urgency to take measures towards ending impunity. The Chairman of the National Transitional Government has stated publicly that he favours a blanket amnesty which, according to the peace agreement, may be considered. Others argue that the political and security situation is still too fragile to pursue the perpetrators of human rights abuses and bring them to justice.
"In Resolution 1509, the Security Council stressed the need to bring those responsible for human rights violations and atrocities against the Liberian people to justice," Amnesty International said. "This now needs to be given some substance."
"The Security Council should not only explicitly reiterate that there can be no impunity for crimes under international law but also decide on concrete action to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice."
"We are calling on the Security Council to support the establishment, as soon as possible, of an international, independent investigation to establish accountability and recommend an appropriate court to try those alleged to be responsible," Amnesty International concluded.
For further information, please refer to Liberia: "The goal is peace, to sleep without hearing gunshots, to send our children to school; that is what we want."(AI Index: AFR 34/024/2003), published by Amnesty International on 11 December 2003.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR340242003?open&of=ENG-LBR
Sudan: Peace Agreement must be inclusive and ensure justice for all
As peace talks between the Sudan government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) enter a crucial phase in Naivasha, Kenya, Amnesty International has stressed that a lasting peace must be inclusive and bring justice to all.
Both sides in the 20-year civil war have stated that some form of agreement would come by year's end. The peace talks offer hope to the people of Sudan. For the last 10 months of the ceasefire nearly all civilians in the south and border regions have been able to live in peace, however fragile. "But the negotiators in Kenya must not ignore the fighting elsewhere in Sudan," Amnesty International said.
Darfur, in western Sudan, is not included in the peace negotiations to end the civil war mostly fought in southern Sudan and areas between north and south. On 16 December talks in N'djamena, Chad, between the government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), one of the armed groups opposing the government in Darfur broke down.
"While the prospects for peace have been fêted in Khartoum and the south, in Darfur the life and safety of civilians are again being held hostage by government forces, militias and armed opposition groups," said Amnesty International.
Villages in Darfur have been bombed by government planes while, over the past 10 months, government-aligned militias have been devastating rural areas with total impunity. Hundreds of civilians have been killed. "At least four million people have fled from the conflict between the government, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the militias of all sides since 1983. Most still suffer in refugee camps or as displaced people in the north. Now more than 600,000 people have fled the countryside in Darfur since April to safety in towns. Tens of thousands have taken refuge in Chad. They live in dire humanitarian conditions, with little or no access to food or water, shelter or healthcare.
"A major cause of the conflicts which have shattered the lives of so many Sudanese has been injustice and marginalization. Unless these basic human rights concerns are seriously addressed it will be difficult to have a lasting peace," the organization said.
"Human rights, encompassing justice and an end to discrimination, have to be at the core of any agreement. But human rights will not arrive simply through hope and rhetorical declarations, they need to be guaranteed and safeguarded."
Any ceasefire monitoring force must include a human rights component and be able to report abuses publicly. Monitors from all sides must be supported by international monitors. "Because there was no human rights component in the Nuba Mountains ceasefire in place since March 2002, ceasefire monitors have helped to keep the peace but failed to preserve physical security and freedom of expression for the people," Amnesty International said.
A truth and reconciliation commission should be set up to ensure that the lessons of the past are learnt. Justice and accountability in the future should be ensured by the formation of a national human rights commission, with members of the highest integrity, impartiality and independence from all parts of Sudan with power to investigate abuses, question government officials and members of the security services and protect complainants and witnesses.
Serious human rights violations which should be monitored in all areas of Sudan include:
· deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against civilians and extra-judicial executions;
· forced and arbitrary displacement of civilians and non-assistance to displaced people;
· maiming of civilians during conflict and torture of suspected opponents in detention centres;
· abductions and arbitrary arrests, prolonged incommunicado detention, and unfair trials;
· restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly;
· discrimination on grounds of ethnicity or religion; and
· violence and discrimination against women.
"Monitoring such abuses will help to end the culture of impunity in Sudan. The people of Sudan need to know that a peace deal will guarantee their basic rights.
Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org
Human Rights Watch on Nigeria
The Warri Crisis: Fueling Violence
The 29-page report, “The Warri Crisis: Fueling Violence,” documents how violence in Nigeria’s southern Delta State this year, especially during the state and federal elections in April and May, resulted in hundreds of deaths, the displacement of thousands of people, and the destruction of hundreds of homes. Among the dead were probably dozens killed by the government security forces. At the height of the violence, 40 percent of Nigeria’s oil production was closed down. http://hrw.org/reports/2003/nigeria1103/
Nigeria: Delta Violence a Fight Over Oil Money
The violence that has engulfed parts of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta this year is driven by disputes over both government resources and control of the theft of crude oil, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
December 16, 2003. http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/12/16/nigeri6616.htm
Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org
The United Nations (UN) Security Council should insist in the strongest possible terms that the signatories of Liberia's peace agreement fulfil their obligations under that agreement to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, Amnesty International said today ahead of a crucial meeting on Liberia.
Furthermore, "the Security Council should stress the urgency of deploying additional peace-keeping troops in Liberia in order to protect civilians and call on UN member states to contribute sufficient troops, with adequate logistical support, without further delay," the organization stressed.
On 22 December, the Security Council is scheduled to consider the UN Secretary-General's report on progress towards both the implementation of the peace agreement and Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) which established the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
"The peace agreement, inauguration of a power-sharing government and deployment of UN peace-keeping troops should have augured well for the people of Liberia who have suffered appalling human rights abuses for so many years," Amnesty International said. "The Security Council must, however, act decisively to ensure that peace and an end to human rights abuses become a reality."
As recently as 15 December, the Security Council strongly condemned all attacks and acts of violence against civilians in conflict situations and updated a list of measures to shield women, children, refugees, internally displaced people and other civilians from the ravages of war.
"The important deliberations of the Security Council last week on the protection of civilians in armed conflict should be translated urgently into concrete action in Liberia," Amnesty International said.
An Amnesty International delegation which travelled to Liberia in November found that men, women and children in areas where UN peace-keeping troops had yet to deploy continued to be killed, raped, beaten, used as forced labour and driven from their homes.
In a report published last week Amnesty International shows that civilians continue to live in fear of increasingly undisciplined and desperate groups of armed fighters from all three parties to the conflict: the former government of Liberia, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). The volatility of the situation was highlighted last week by rioting in Monrovia by armed former combatants in which at least 12 people were reported to have been killed.
"Those continuing to attack civilians are now represented by senior ministers in the National Transitional Government of Liberia, but they have been dilatory in their condemnation and instructions to commanders on the ground to end these abuses," Amnesty International said.
It is clear that the presence of UNMIL troops has deterred attacks on civilians. In areas where they have yet to deploy, however, such as in Bong and Nimba Counties, civilians remain without protection.
"The ability of UNMIL to implement its mandate to protect civilians is still seriously hampered as only about a third of its projected strength of 15,000 troops is currently on the ground," Amnesty International said.
Resolution 1509 (2003) provided for "an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out human rights promotion, protection and monitoring activities". Continuing human rights abuses must be reported publicly to demonstrate to combatants that their actions are being closely watched and recorded and to strengthen the message that perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"The Security Council must request speedy establishment of a strong, fully resourced human rights component within UNMIL which will, as a matter of urgency, monitor the human rights situation, report publicly and undertake credible and robust activities to protect civilians."
As it considers the UN Secretary-General's report, the Security Council must also focus on ending impunity for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law. The UN Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly said that those committing such crimes in Liberia will be held individually accountable. At the moment, however, there appears to be no sense of urgency to take measures towards ending impunity. The Chairman of the National Transitional Government has stated publicly that he favours a blanket amnesty which, according to the peace agreement, may be considered. Others argue that the political and security situation is still too fragile to pursue the perpetrators of human rights abuses and bring them to justice.
"In Resolution 1509, the Security Council stressed the need to bring those responsible for human rights violations and atrocities against the Liberian people to justice," Amnesty International said. "This now needs to be given some substance."
"The Security Council should not only explicitly reiterate that there can be no impunity for crimes under international law but also decide on concrete action to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice."
"We are calling on the Security Council to support the establishment, as soon as possible, of an international, independent investigation to establish accountability and recommend an appropriate court to try those alleged to be responsible," Amnesty International concluded.
For further information, please refer to Liberia: "The goal is peace, to sleep without hearing gunshots, to send our children to school; that is what we want."(AI Index: AFR 34/024/2003), published by Amnesty International on 11 December 2003.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR340242003?open&of=ENG-LBR
Sudan: Peace Agreement must be inclusive and ensure justice for all
As peace talks between the Sudan government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) enter a crucial phase in Naivasha, Kenya, Amnesty International has stressed that a lasting peace must be inclusive and bring justice to all.
Both sides in the 20-year civil war have stated that some form of agreement would come by year's end. The peace talks offer hope to the people of Sudan. For the last 10 months of the ceasefire nearly all civilians in the south and border regions have been able to live in peace, however fragile. "But the negotiators in Kenya must not ignore the fighting elsewhere in Sudan," Amnesty International said.
Darfur, in western Sudan, is not included in the peace negotiations to end the civil war mostly fought in southern Sudan and areas between north and south. On 16 December talks in N'djamena, Chad, between the government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), one of the armed groups opposing the government in Darfur broke down.
"While the prospects for peace have been fêted in Khartoum and the south, in Darfur the life and safety of civilians are again being held hostage by government forces, militias and armed opposition groups," said Amnesty International.
Villages in Darfur have been bombed by government planes while, over the past 10 months, government-aligned militias have been devastating rural areas with total impunity. Hundreds of civilians have been killed. "At least four million people have fled from the conflict between the government, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the militias of all sides since 1983. Most still suffer in refugee camps or as displaced people in the north. Now more than 600,000 people have fled the countryside in Darfur since April to safety in towns. Tens of thousands have taken refuge in Chad. They live in dire humanitarian conditions, with little or no access to food or water, shelter or healthcare.
"A major cause of the conflicts which have shattered the lives of so many Sudanese has been injustice and marginalization. Unless these basic human rights concerns are seriously addressed it will be difficult to have a lasting peace," the organization said.
"Human rights, encompassing justice and an end to discrimination, have to be at the core of any agreement. But human rights will not arrive simply through hope and rhetorical declarations, they need to be guaranteed and safeguarded."
Any ceasefire monitoring force must include a human rights component and be able to report abuses publicly. Monitors from all sides must be supported by international monitors. "Because there was no human rights component in the Nuba Mountains ceasefire in place since March 2002, ceasefire monitors have helped to keep the peace but failed to preserve physical security and freedom of expression for the people," Amnesty International said.
A truth and reconciliation commission should be set up to ensure that the lessons of the past are learnt. Justice and accountability in the future should be ensured by the formation of a national human rights commission, with members of the highest integrity, impartiality and independence from all parts of Sudan with power to investigate abuses, question government officials and members of the security services and protect complainants and witnesses.
Serious human rights violations which should be monitored in all areas of Sudan include:
· deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against civilians and extra-judicial executions;
· forced and arbitrary displacement of civilians and non-assistance to displaced people;
· maiming of civilians during conflict and torture of suspected opponents in detention centres;
· abductions and arbitrary arrests, prolonged incommunicado detention, and unfair trials;
· restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly;
· discrimination on grounds of ethnicity or religion; and
· violence and discrimination against women.
"Monitoring such abuses will help to end the culture of impunity in Sudan. The people of Sudan need to know that a peace deal will guarantee their basic rights.
Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org
Human Rights Watch on Nigeria
The Warri Crisis: Fueling Violence
The 29-page report, “The Warri Crisis: Fueling Violence,” documents how violence in Nigeria’s southern Delta State this year, especially during the state and federal elections in April and May, resulted in hundreds of deaths, the displacement of thousands of people, and the destruction of hundreds of homes. Among the dead were probably dozens killed by the government security forces. At the height of the violence, 40 percent of Nigeria’s oil production was closed down. http://hrw.org/reports/2003/nigeria1103/
Nigeria: Delta Violence a Fight Over Oil Money
The violence that has engulfed parts of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta this year is driven by disputes over both government resources and control of the theft of crude oil, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
December 16, 2003. http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/12/16/nigeri6616.htm
Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org