Impunity Watch: Europe

BRIEF: EU Condemns Terrorists’ Use of Explosives Containing Aid Bags

JERUSALEM, Israel – On Saturday, Israel confiscated bags containing explosive chemicals, disguised as EU humanitarian aid bags, as they were being transported in a Palestinian truck to the Gaza Strip.

The bags were marked “sugar,” but the Israeli army said they contained 6.5 tons of potassium nitrate, a chemical used by terrorists to make homemade bombs and rockets.

"We condemn any abuse of any humanitarian aid for non-humanitarian purposes, and those who commit such acts do such to the detriment of the Palestinians," said an EU official.

The EU, which provides the greatest amount of aid to the Gaza area, refuted any accusations that it was involved in the plot, noting that it has never provided sugar as part of its aid distribution to the Palestinians.

For more information, please see:

Reuters - Israel says finds explosive chemicals in EU aid bags - 29 December 2007

Jerusalem Post - EU slams terrorists' use of phony sugar sacks - 30 December 2007

BRIEF: Nazi Victims Fund Pays Ten Times Its Budget

LONDON, England - Britain's Enemy Property Claims Assessment Panel (EPCAP) has paid out more than 21 million pounds to descendants of persons living in enemy countries during World War II.  These individuals lost money when their bank accounts were frozen by the British during the war.  To date, the fund has paid out in excess of ten times its budget, including a woman who by chance recovered documents that entitled her to a six-figure share.  EPCAP's effort is part of a policy to right one of the many wrongs that occurred during World War II. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Nazi victims fund pays out £21m - 28 December 2007

Russian Officers Convicted of Killing Chechen Civilians

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – A military court in the North Caucasus District of Russia found two officers guilty on Thursday of killing three Chechen construction workers back in January 2003.

Both officers were members of the Russian Interior Troops and both have since been stripped of their military ranks.

Lt. Sergie Arakcheyev was sentenced to 15 years in prison while Lt. Yevgeny Khudyakov received 17 years.

According to prosecutors, the two officers ordered their victims out of a truck and onto the ground at a checkpoint in Grozny.  While the Chechen civilians were lying on the ground, Khudyakov and Arakcheyev shot them, soaked them in gasoline and set them on fire.

The two lieutenants were acquitted twice by civilian juries, but the Supreme Court held that the proper venue for the case was in a military court rather than a civilian court.

The prosecution of Russian troops for crimes against Chechen civilians is rare.  Human rights groups have long accused both Russian and Chechen forces of widespread abuse in the area.

Although fighting in Chechnya has dwindled in recent years, it was the focal point of two devastating wars.  Both wars – one in 1994 and one in 1999 – were part of a campaign by Chechnya to gain independence from Russia.

Arakcheyev called Thursday’s verdict illegal.  His lawyer said they will be appealing the decision.

Khudyakov, on the other hand, failed to appear for sentencing.  The court said police will begin a manhunt for him.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AP) - 2 officers convicted in Chechnya deaths - 27 December 2007

BBC - Russia jails troops over Chechnya - 27 December 2007

RIA Novosti - Russian officers sentenced to prison in Chechen murder case - 27 December 2007

Interfax - Convicted Arakcheyev calls his verdict illegal - 28 December 2007

BRIEF: Croatian Interior Minister Resigns After Picture With War Criminal

ZAGREB, Croatia - Croatia's Interior Minister resigned today after newspapers published a photo of him hunting with former police chief Mladen Markac, a known war criminal.  The photos show the two men boar-hunting in Bilogora, which is located in northwestern Croatia.  In his resignation letter, Interior Minister Ivica Kirin offered an apology to those he had hurt. 

Markac is accused of attempting to drive ethnic Serbs from the Krajina region in 1995.  More than 150 Serbs were killed in the operation. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Croatia minister goes in hunt row - 29 December 2007

UPDATE: Zoe's Ark Workers Returned To France

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France - Six members of the French group Zoe's Ark were returned to France to serve out sentences handed down by a Chadian court.  On Wednesday, the workers were sentenced to eight years of hard labor in Chad for attempting to kidnap 103 children on a flight leaving the Darfur region last October.  They claimed that they acted altruistically, and were motivated only by a desire to evacuate orphans out of the dangerous Sudanese region.  But it was later discovered that most of the children had parents that are still alive in Chad, so kidnapping charges were filed.   

Pursuant to the provisions of a 1976 judicial accord between the two countries, France struck a deal with Chad that allows the prisoners to serve their sentences in their home country.  In addition, they will  have their sentences amended because France does not use hard labor as a form of punishment.  The BBC reports that the agreement shows France's "considerable leverage" with Chad, a relationship which has formed as the result of France's continued military support to the Chadian government in recent years.   

The case represents a considerable amount of embarrassment for France, and has also sparked recent protests in Chad.  Many Chadians believe that French President Sarkozy is unnecessarily meddling in Chadian affairs, and would prefer that the prisoners serve their sentences in Chad.  In France, citizens widely condemned the attempted kidnapping, but also believe that the sentences handed down in Chad were unduly harsh. 

The workers may also face lawsuits from families that paid to receive children before the failed kidnapped attempt.  It is estimated that some families paid several thousand euros per child.   

For more information, please see:

BBC - French aid workers home from Chad - 28 December 2007

CNN (AP) - 'French aid workers to leave Chad' - 28 December 2007

Impunity Watch - French Charity In Hot Water Over Chad Adoption Plan - 29 October 2007

Yahoo (Reuters) - Six convicted French aid workers fly home from Chad - 28 December 2007

EU and UN Officials Expelled from Afghanistan

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

KABUL, Afghanistan – Two officials, one from the European Union and the other from the United Nations, were expelled from Afghanistan on Thursday for allegedly talking with Taliban insurgents.

The two men - acting head of the EU mission in Afghanistan, Michael Semple, and UN employee/tribal affairs expert Mervyn Patterson – had reportedly met with Taliban members while talking with Afghani people in the southern province of Helmand.

Their mission in Helmand, a notorious opium producing region, was to learn more about the “needs and concerns” of the people in the area in an effort to help bring stability to the country.

But Afghani officials said the two men jeopardized national security by "talking with the enemies of Afghanistan."

UN spokesman Aleem Siddique said the two diplomats had not talked to any Taliban insurgents and that this was all a misunderstanding.

He defended the actions of Semple and Patterson, stating that talking with the Afghani people may include speaking with those who do not necessarily support the government.

Nonetheless, under orders from the office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Semple and Patterson were declared persona non grata and ordered to leave by Thursday.

Both men have since departed Afghanistan.  UN officials are hoping to negotiate with Afghanistan to secure the return of Patterson.

A spokesperson from the president’s office said that Afghan colleagues of Semple and Patterson are also under investigation.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AFP) - Afghanistan orders UN, EU officials out - 25 December 2007

CNN - Officials out over 'Taliban talks' - 27 December 2007

BBC - Urgent talks on Afghan expulsions - 27 December 2007

BRIEF: Serbia Threatens Action Against Kosovo Supporters

BELGRADE, Serbia - The Serbian parliament voted (220 votes to 14) on a resolution today that formally condemns an independent Kosovo.  With Kosovo's declaration of independence looming in the next couple of weeks, Serbia resolved to take action against nations that recognize Kosovo's independence.  The resolution says that Serbia will "reconsider diplomatic ties with western countries that recognize Kosovo's statehood.  This would affect both the U.S. and EU, who have recently indicated they will support Kosovo's independence.   

For more information, please see:

BBC - Serbian MP's issue Kosovo warning - 27 December 2007

BRIEF: Italy Issues Warrants for Operation Condor Plotters

ROME, Italy – Warrants were secured on Monday for the arrest of 146 individuals who participated in Operation Condor - a plot by South American left-wing dictators to suppress opposition figures during the mid-1970s to 1980s.

The six military dictators worked together to monitor and kill political opponents who sought refuge in other countries.

Suspects include notable leaders such as Argentine Jorge Rafael Videla, Uruguayan Jorge Maria Bordaberry, and Chilean Augusto Pinochet (since deceased).

The investigation by Italian authorities has been ongoing since the late 1990s.

Recently, former Urguayan intelligence officer Nestor Jorge Fernandez Troccoli was arrested in Salerno, Italy for his participation in the plot.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Italy seeks Condor plot suspects - 25 December 2007

BRIEF: French Reporter Freed In Somalia

PUNTLAND, Somalia - A French news reporter was released today after being kidnapped in Somalia last week.  Gwen Legouil was in Somalia researching a story on human trafficking when he was taken by abductors who initially asked for a ransom of $70,000.  Government officials successfully negotiated his release, and no ransom was paid. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Kidnapped newsman free in Somalia - 24 December 2007

BRIEF: The Hunt for Mladic

BELGRADE, Serbia – Serb intelligence agents extended their search for fugitive war criminal Ratko Mladic on Friday to an army hospital and private clinics in Belgrade.

Mladic is reported to have high blood pressure, kidney stones and vascular problems that require medical treatment.  An unknown source reported that agents spoke to doctors who may have treated Mladic for his ailments.

Surrendering Mladic and fellow fugitive Radovan Karadzic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is a critical task for Serbia if it wishes to ink a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and continue its pursuit of EU membership.

For more information, please see:

Balkan Insight - Serbia Army Agents "Seek Mladic" - 21 December 2007

Impunity Watch - BRIEF: Serbia Offered Deal In Exchange For Handing Over War Criminals - 15 December 2007