Somali civilians, reporter die in insurgent led violence; International Criminal Court warns that people of Darfur could be ‘eliminated' without assistance; International pressure mounts on Mugabe to allow free and fair election

 By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia  –  Renewed violence in Somalia’s capital city  left ten dead sunday, included in which were nine civilians. Among these civilians, according to an eyewitness, were four women and two children. Yesterday’s outburst of violence was only the latest in a long history of conflict between Ethiopian backed forces and Islamic insurgents. According to reports, each side pounded the other with a hail of artillery centering on the crowded Bakara market, the main market in downtown Mogadishu and a regular sphere of violent uprisings. Additions shells landed on a civilians home, and near a religious school.

The fighting came a day after a local BBC journalist was shot dead by Islamist insurgents in southern Somalia. Nasteh Dahir, 36, was confronted outside of his house by a group of Islamic insurgents. The group shot him shortly after. Dahir was rushed to a hospital, but died en route, becoming the tenth journalist killed in the region since last year.

Somalia’s transitional government is attempting to maintain control over the capital city, with assistance from the Ethiopian forces. Islamic insurgent groups have waged attempts to destabilize the government. The insurgents have targeted more journalists, as of late, causing the many who remain in Somalia to fear for their lives.

For more information, please see:

 

Reuters – Gunmen kill local BBC journalist in Somalia – 8 June 2008

AFP –Somali journalist killed in southern town: family– 8 June 2008

CNN –Somalia: Clashes Leave at Least 10 Dead– 8 June 2008

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KHARTOUM, Sudan – International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo warned this week that without “increased assistance from the international community, the people of Darfur would be eliminated.” Referring to the entire Darfur region as a “crime scene,” the prosecutor claimed that despite the promises of the international community, civilians still are targeted by Sudanese officials. Moreno-Ocampo’s outrage centered on the international communities failure to bring to justice Ahmad Harun, former Sudanese Minister of the State of the Interior and Ali Kushayb, a leader of a sect of the Janjaweed militia. Each man has been charged with rape, murder, forced displacement and other war crimes, and each has yet to be charged.  Harun is now in charge of the governments humanitarian affairs, giving him power over how and when aid agencies can deliver food, medicine and shelter to displaced and others similarly affected.

Moreno-Ocampo further claimed the entire Sudanese state has been mobilized to “plan, commit, and cover up crimes” in Darfur. The prosecutor also voiced concern with a rising number of attacks against peacekeepers and aid workers.

Following the speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged Sudan to co-operate with the International Criminal Court, expressing deep concern over the reported lack of co-operation. In a statement issued, the Secretary added "Peace and justice go hand in hand.”  “Impunity for the serious crimes committed in Darfur cannot be accepted," he concluded.

For more information, please see:

allAfrica.com (Citing UN News Service (New York)) – Sudan: Ban Urges Govt to Cooperate with Prosecutors Probing Darfur War Crimes – 5 June 2008

CNN.com – Sudan accused of Darfur cover-up – 7 June 2008

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HARARE, Zimbabwe – Pressure continues to mount on Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to cease assault on dissenting voices and opposition supporters in advance of this month’s presidential run-off. This past weekend, police tried to put a halt to opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (“MDC”) rallies. The Zimbabwean High Court intervened, overturning the attempted ban. The international community further called upon Mugabe to stop human rights abuses, and to allow United Nations observers into the country to monitor the June 27^th-scheduled run off. Pressure from the international sources intensified last week, as diplomats from the United States and Great Britain were harassed and detained for several hours at a roadblock. For its part, Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party claims to be the aggrieved party, claiming the U.S. and U.K. are attempting to influence the election, effectively “campaigning” for the opposition.

The MDC claims that at least 65 of its supporters have been killed in advance of the run off, with more than twenty five thousand others being displaced. Many other opposition supporters are being arrested, including an MP who was recently released after being arrested twice last week on public order charges. Authorities alleged that the MP, Eric Matinenga, was guilty of election-related violence. Thursday, a court ordered his release following his first election, only to be re-arrested Saturday.

Moreover, opposition supporters are being denied food, a move many critics claim is an attempt by Mugabe to “bait” votes through the promise of food assistance. The U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, said Friday that if this practice continues, widespread starvation will result. Great Britain’s foreign minister added “for Mugabe to use hunger as a political weapon shows a callous contempt for human life.”

For further information, please see:

Associated Press – Britain, US, slam Zimbabwe halting aid groups – 6 June 2008

BBC News – Zimbabwe opposition MP released – 8 June 2008

Zimbabwe Standard – Pressure mounts on Mugabe over violence – 7 June 2008