Algeria
Neither Among the Living Nor the Dead
State Sponsored Violence in Algeria
The escalating episodes of violence against civilians in Algeria have
prompted high-level expressions of concern and also revived calls for
inquiries to ascertain responsibility for these crimes against humanity,
to
recommend steps to prevent such atrocities, and to afford the protection
of
international scrutiny to the country's traumatized civilian population.
U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner Mary Robinson has urged
Algeria to allow the U.N. Special Rapporteurs on torture and on
summary, arbitrary and extrajudicial executions to conduct missions in
the
country. A U.S. government spokesperson encouraged the Algerian
government to allow such inquiries, as well as visits by human rights
organizations. The E.U. foreign ministers are proposing to send a
high-level delegation to Algeria and material aid to the survivors of the
violence, and a delegation from the foreign affairs committee of the
European Parliament is tentatively scheduled to visit the country in
February. Human Rights Watch welcomes these calls for action regarding
a situation that has until now appeared immune to international concern.
The steps being proposed are complementary, and if conducted with
adequate preparation and logistical support and a clear set of priorities
they can help bring the weight of the international community to bear in
bringing Algeria's horror to an end. (Human Rights Watch, 3/18/98)
-
Bahrain: Sheikh Al-Jamri's case before the UN Human Rights Commission
The people of Bahrain were surprised when they woke up on Sunday, 19
April, to witness the deployment of army units around the country.
Sand bags were stacked in strategic positions with soldiers carrying
their machine guns pointed at the houses of the citizens. Jeeps,
armoured vehicles, military lorries, logistic supplies, and heavy
equipment were at full display near Bahrain National Stadium, Bahrain
International Exhibition, Sehla, Karzakkan, Rifa'a, Sitra and many
other areas. The deployment of these military units continued until
nighttime. This deployment is coming at a very tense period.
The real reason behind the one-day deployment is not yet known.
However, it is thought to be targeted towards threatening the people
and at the same time it could be related to the border dispute with
Qatar. Reuters reported on 20 April that "Bahrain has accused its
neighbour Qatar of using forged [82] documents to support its
territorial claim against Bahrain at the World Court".
In Geneva, the UN Commission on Human Rights is concluding its annual
session this week. Several non-governmental organisations as well as
UN rapporteurs raised the issue of Bahrain. The Bahraini delegation
was questioned by UN officials about the health and the case of
Sheikh Al-Jamri, the member of the Bahraini (dissolved) parliament,
who had been detained since January 1996. One human rights
organization has reported that the Information Minister told one of
its members last February, that the government intends to bring the
detained pro-democracy leader before the unconstitutional State
Security Court. Members of the ruling family head this
unconstitutional court. The UN Rapporteurs on independence of
judiciary has expressed his concern about the lack of justice in this
court.
The intention to bring Sheikh Al-Jamri before the State Security
Court does not only violate the constitution but is also an
invitation by the government for radicalism. The pro-democracy
movement has aimed for a moderate agenda. Turning a blind eye to the
just cause and conducting the affairs of the state in a
medieval/feudal style can only create the inevitable instability.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
21 April 1998
Fax: (44) 171 278 9089
Iraq
- SCIRI Appeals to the International
Community to Prevent Saddam's Attacks in Southern Iraq.
In a memorandum sent to the United Nations
Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan; to the permanent members of the Security Council, and to Mr. Max Van der Stoel, the
UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iraq, SCIRI has warned the International Community that Saddam's regime is
preparing a wide ranging attack against tribes, and villages, in Basra, Nasiriya and Amara Provinces, and appealed to them
to intervene to prevent the regime committing further massacres in Southern Iraq. The memorandum states that Iraqi military
units, Baath Party militias, and the Security Apparatus, have been mobilising their forces to launch attacks against the
tribes, villages and other settled areas in Basra, Nasiriya and Amara Provinces since 21 February 1998. On that date the
Qurna district, and the Al Azair and Nahr al 'Iz areas were subjected to bombardments by heavy artillery, resulting in the
deaths of over fifty people, the majority of whom were women and children. Many dwellings were destroyed. Thereafter
the same areas were the target for a wave of arrests. On February 19th, and then again on February 28th, units from the
42nd Mechanised Brigade of the 10th Division attacked Al Fardha village in the Al Azair area, and sixty people were
arrested. In a further sweep in Basra and Amara Provinces numerous citizens were also arrested. The regime is continuing
to mobilise and concentrate its troops in all three Provinces, and many military units have been seen moving into the
countryside to take up positions there. Staff officers from the 3rd and 4th Army Corps have been holding extensive
meetings to prepare their plan of attack. The memorandum makes it clear that since the recent international crisis over Iraq's
weapons of mass destruction, the regime has been responsible for an increasing number of violations of UN resolutions,
particularly UNSC Resolutions 699 and 949, and has escalated the harshness of its oppressive acts against the Iraqi
population. In it SCIRI appeals to the UN to intervene in accordance with its legal and humanitarian responsibilities, to
prevent the regime from intensifying its attacks in the South in the near future. It suggests the despatch of UN observers,
with powers similar to those of the UNSCOM teams, as soon as possible, to investigate the situation. It also demands the
implementation of the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur in his reports on the situation in Iraq in general,
and the Marshes in particular. A Mine Explodes under a Military Vehicle. On 20 March 1998 a group of the Islamic
Resistance planted a land mine on a route used by the vehicles of the military forces of Saddam's regime in Basra province
for their attacks on villages in the area. The mine exploded under a vehicle involved in such an attack, killing six soldiers
and wounding seven others. The explosion caused panic and confusion among the attackers who withdrew their forces
from the villages.(SCIRI NEWS, http://www.ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/sciri/news.htm)
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