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Author Archives: Mac Hamilton

Weekly News Brief 1/31/2013

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Sudan

Sudanese authorities in South Kordofan have increased security measures on the border with South Sudan after the failure of talks in Addis Ababa on the implementation of security arrangements. Khartoum and Juba failed to agree on the issue of South Kordofan and Blue Nile rebels. The Sudanese government accuses South Sudan of harbouring and supporting them, but Juba refuses to discuss the issue saying it is an internal Sudanese affair.

Dozens of workers from Sudan’s state TV staged a protest on the 26th of January to denounce deteriorating working conditions in the form of aging and faulty equipment, as well as the accumulation of financial arrears. In addition, Sudan has lost its voting rights at the United Nations for failing to pay its dues to the world body. Both of these events reflect the fact that oil production, the major source of revenue for both Sudan and South Sudan, has yet to resume, making it increasingly difficult for the Sudan to cover its costs.

On January 30th, Mia Farrow condemned the U.N.’s election of Sudan as one of four vice-presidents of its 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a top U.N. body that regulates human rights groups, among other tasks.

Darfur

Around 100 pro-government militia vehicles loaded with various types of weapons and ammunition were seen heading into West Jebel Marra, Central Darfur, on Tuesday morning.

The militia are accused of “Indiscriminately looting and beating” civilians in the area. The gunmen claim they are following orders from Khartoum “to clean up the area of traitors and assassins”. According to the militias, the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein are accusing the local residents of supporting rebel groups and of being their spies.

The Sudanese government and a splinter faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) are negotiating a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Qatari capital. The parties will discuss power sharing, wealth sharing, compensation, return of internally displaced persons and refugees, justice and reconciliation, and security arrangements. A representative from the JEM emphasized that “The DDPD [Doha Document for Peace in Darfur] is the foundation on which we build,” meaning that any deal between the two parties would not contradict, but add to the DDPD.

South Sudan

On Sunday, two thousand people were forced to flee to a U.N. base after a battle between South Sudanese soldiers and the guards of a former rebel commander laid waste to a small town. Background: In Jonglei State, there has been a cycle of revenge killings between the Murle and Lou Nuer tribes, often provoked by cattle raids. More than 1,500 people have been killed in the clashes since South Sudan’s independence. The South Sudanese army is accused of serious abuses committed against civilians, including simulated drownings and rape, during a disarmament process aimed at ending the inter-ethnic violence.

Burma

The NGO Child Soldiers International released a report on Thursday January 24 claimed the Myanmar military and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed arm of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) that fights for greater autonomy in Burma’s Kachin State, both continue to recruit and use child soldiers. The report cites a lack of political will as a key cause of the continuing use of child soldiers in Burma.

On Friday January 24 David Robinson, the US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, visited Mae Lae refugee camp near Burma’s eastern boarder in Thailand to announce that the US will cease its resettlement program of Burmese refugees within the next four months. Although believed to be motivated in part by Burma’s recent reforms and ceasefire agreements with various armed ethnic groups, Robinson cited the decision had been reached because the US had reached its quota of refugees from Burma.

On Tuesday January 29 the Myanmar government and the KIO agreed to hold informal peace talks in Kachin State to address the ongoing violence since ceasefire agreements broke down in June of 2011. So far this month, the Myanmar army has reportedly shelled civilian Kachin towns twice, once on January 14 and January 29. So far, around 100,00 Kachin have been displaced since fighting began in 2011.

Additionally, the Myanmar government has abolished a 25-year-old ban on public gatherings on five or more people. The ban was selectively utilized to crush anti-government protests, such as a protest over a controversial copper mine during which, The New York Times has reported that Myanmar police forces used white phosphorus to disperse protesters. White phosphorous, although not considered a chemical weapon, is often used in war, not protests, and can cause serious harm including death.

Syria

The Syrian army has reported that Israeli jets crossed into Syrian territory on Wednesday and bombed a military research center in Jamraya. The Assad regime denied earlier reports quoting US and regional officials as saying that the strikes targeted a shipment of weapons being carried from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanese officials have reported a sharp increase in activity of Israeli warplanes in Lebanon in the past week, but stated that the strikes did not take place in Lebanese territory.

Syrian opposition leader, Moaz al-Khatib, announced on Wednesday that he would be willing to negotiate with members of the Assad regime to bring a peaceful end to the country’s civil war. Al-Khatib was chosen in November to head the Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella group meant to represent most of the rebels. The move by al-Khatib provoked a wide outcry among opposition leaders and threatened to fracture the opposition. Afterwards, al-Khatib said that he was only stating his personal opinion and would not be negotiating “about the regime remaining, but for its departure at the lowest cost in blood and destruction”.

On Tuesday, at least 71 bodies were found, most of which appeared to have been killed execution style. Activists say that the victims were killed after being kidnapped by government forces, while the Syrian government claims that the victims were kidnapped and killed by terrorist groups (the term the government uses to describe the rebels) in an area under their control.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Wednesday that donor countries have pledged more than $1.5 billion in aid to those affected by the Syrian crisis. Roughly $1 billion of the pledged aid is earmarked for Syria’s neighbors hosting refugees, and about $500 million designated for those still inside the country. Most of this $500 million is likely to go to groups working from Damascus under official Syrian government supervision. Some outside aid agencies, such as the Paris-based group Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), have been able to reach those in rebel-held areas after crossing through neighboring countries.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The US Treasury Department has designated Eric Badege and Jean-Marie Runiga, two senior leaders of the M23, as persons contributing to the conflict in the DRC. Bedege and Runiga are on the UN’s consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list.

A 12-member committee of experts is expected to present findings of the failed March 23, 2009 peace agreement this week. Uganda’s minister of defence, Cruspus Kiyonga, will communicate the summary of the findings to leaders at the peace talks. The committee will provide information and evidence from both delegations regarding the implementation of the former peace agreement.

The African heads of state meeting in Addis Ababa have postponed the signing of a regional peace agreement for eastern DRC, which was scheduled for this past Monday. The postponement followed a “discreet meeting” between Kagame, Museveni, and Kabila.

Weekly News Brief 1/24/2013

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Burma
On Friday, January 18, the Myanmar military said it had recaptured its outpost in Kachin State and would cease hostilities against the Kachin rebels starting next Saturday. The military began hostilities against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Christmas Day last year after the KIA captured the outpost it said was too close to its headquarters in the town of Laiza. The military’s announcement was welcomed by the UN prompting President Thein Sein to declare both sides to cease hostilities as a show of good will. However, both sides seem to have ignored to orders of a ceasefire as violence continued near the town of Laiza and in La Ja Yang.  The United Nationalities Federal Council, a coalition of Burma’s armed ethnic groups that includes the KIA, said that talks were underway to schedule peace negotiations in a foreign country over the conflict in Kachin State. On Wednesday January 23, an explosion was reported close to the KIA headquarters in Laiza among other reports of continuing violence throughout Kachin State.

In other news, an investigation undertaken by the BBC has revealed that Thai officials have been selling Rohingya refugees to human traffickers. Click here to view the report. Two high ranking Thai army officials have been removed from their posts as the Thai government investigates these allegations. It is believed that the Rohingya were being sent out of Thailand to Malaysia.

After meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced it would resume visits to Burma’s prisons after almost seven years. Previously, the Red Cross visited jails and labor camps across Burma to provide healthcare and to serve as a link between inmates and their families. Additionally, the Myanmar government said that the Red Cross should be allowed to access conflict areas, such as Rakhine State and Kachin State, yet the certainty remains unclear as Peter Maurer, who heads the Red Cross, was unable to meet with military leaders during his visit. This further highlights the divide between the once ruling military and the Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government.

Syria
War has intensified in Damascus and the Damascus region, with government planes and tanks shelling rebel strongholds and clashes ensuing in the Palestinian Yarmuk camp. Central Damascus, a stronghold of al-Assad, lost power Sunday night as rebels and regime troops fought half a mile away from the Old City. On Tuesday, a suicide car bombing killed more than 30 people in a building used by pro-regime militiamen in the central Syrian town of Salamiyeh.

The Syrian National Council has been struggling to pick a new prime minister-in-exile and have postponed forming a transitional government that the council would like to have executive power in rebel-held areas. The council, which recently met in Istanbul, is scheduled to meet in Paris on January 28. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has reported that armed opposition groups appear to have destroyed religious sites in Northern Syria, raising fears of sectarian tensions and violence. Religious minorities, especially Shia and Alawite populations, fled these areas before rebel groups gained control, fearing reprisal for these groups’ perceived or genuine support of regime forces. In the northeast, clashes between Kurdish separatists and rebel forces have led to at least 56 deaths in the past week.

Patriot missiles under NATO command being deployed in Turkey near the Syrian border are scheduled to have “initial operating capacity” this coming weekend. American, German, and Dutch troops are to be deployed in Turkey to operate the Patriot batteries. On Wednesday, about 80 Russian citizens were evacuated from Syria through Lebanon and flown into Moscow. While some have speculated that this move signals a decrease in Russian confidence in the viability of the Assad regime, Russia has been careful not to portray the evacuation as large-scale in an effort to avoid sending a “dire message” to Assad.

On Tuesday, the United Nations said it would conduct a “major humanitarian operation” in Syria in order to provide care for the four million Syrians the UN says are in need of urgent aid. The UN also reported that the civil war has severely damaged the Syrian agriculture industry. Production of some commodities has been cut in half and agricultural infrastructure has suffered widespread damage.

Sudan
Sudan has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of SPLM-N troops from South Kordofan and Blue Nile before they will allow the exportation of South Sudanese oil. Juba has denied any support of their former allies in the SPLM-N. Omar al Bashir and Salva Kiir are scheduled to meet at an African Union summit this week, where observers hope they will discuss the implementation of a number of deals, including security arrangements, Abyei administration, and South Sudan oil exportation.

The Sudanese government and a splinter group of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have started peace talks in Doha, both expressing a willingness to end hostilities in Darfur. Sudan State Minister Amin Hassan Omer is tasked with implementing the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), which he stressed is the document of all the people of Darfur, supported by the international community, African Union, and Arab League. As part of the agreement, last week Sudan announced the payment of over $130 million to implement recovery and reconstruction projects in Darfur. JEM has thus far rejected the Doha document, not believing Sudan’s commitment to peace.

South Sudan
On February 25, the SPLM will hold its first convention since South Sudan’s independence. They are set to discuss the party’s manifesto, constitution, rules and regulations, and code of conduct. SPLM leader and South Sudan president Salva Kiir stated last week that the convention would also discuss “problems within the leadership of the party,” although the SPLM deputy secretary Anne Itto has denied this piece of the agenda.

Last Friday, 25 people were killed and 30 wounded in Lakes State in clashes that escalated from an earlier disagreement over grazing areas. This week, a cattle raid claimed the lives of six people, reportedly by attackers carrying Kalashnikov rifles and hand-held grenades. Lakes State governor Chol Tong Mayay ordered the SPLA and the South Sudan Police Services (SSPS) to launch forceful disarmament campaigns and to arrest those responsible on both sides of the conflict. Lakes State committee members blame the SPLA for selling firearms to youth in the area, although these claims have not been confirmed. President Kiir abruptly dismissed the Lakes State governor on Monday, also dismissing a number of senior army officers from their duty and removing them from active service.

South Sudan and Ethiopia have signed an agreement to ensure peace along their border. The security measures will be aimed at “defusing the threat of armed groups and controlling the illegal movement of people in shared border areas.” The region has had a history of resource-driven conflict, and, last March, a number of South Sudanese from Jonglei State crossed the border to escape a government disarmament campaign.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
On December 31, the UN imposed sanctions on M23 commander, Eric Badege, and M23 president, Lugerero Runiga, accusing them of targeting women and children, sexual crimes, and forced displacement. Uganda Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga has called the sanctions disruptive for the peace process. Some observers have said that the move reverses progress made by regional presidents in Kampala last November at the ICGLR summit. During a meeting on Sunday, Kiyonga also said that African countries should be given command in DRC, as MONUSCO has been largely ineffective in preventing conflict for the past 12 years.

The DRC government has expressed doubt about the M23 commitment to a unilateral ceasefire, saying they have not respected the directive to stay 20 kilometers from Goma. On the agenda in peace talks is the granting of amnesty to M23 rebels. The deputy chief negotiator for the DRC government Apollinaire Malu Malu  questioned the appropriateness of granting amnesty to those who have benefited from amnesty in the past. Yesterday, civil society in eastern DRC accused the M23 of replacing leaders and imposing heavy taxes on local communities while peace talks occur in Uganda. The M23 has dismissed the accusations.

In the northeast DRC, a group called Mai Mai Simba has been wreaking havoc for the past 10 months, forcing 32,000 to flee their homes and abducting 3,000 women to use as sex slaves. Francesca Fraccaroli, head of the Bunia branch of the UN OCHA office, said that, “we need to adopt a multi-sectoral approach and go a little bit deeper into the root causes and increase the involvement of the government to achieve a long-term solution.”

Weekly News Brief 1/17/2013

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In light of the recent bombing of Aleppo University on Tuesday, STAND is working with the Syrian American Council to host emergency vigils across the country. For more information, see the facebook event here.

Syria

The Assad regime intensified its campaign against rebel forces in the north this Wednesday, with regime warplanes hitting targets in northern cities. Clashes also erupted in the north between rebels and pro-government Kurdish forces. Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army stated that it plans to break the deadlock in Aleppo between rebels and regime forces with a series of coordinated attacks on government bases and airports around the city in an effort to cut off supplies and munitions to government forces. Several car bomb blasts in the government-controlled city of Idlib also killed more than 20 people on Wednesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the explosions targeted buildings and a checkpoint and that most of the dead were state forces, while the Assad regime said that the blasts hit city squares and killed civilians.

These developments come following multiple explosions at Aleppo University on Tuesday in which scores of students were killed. Sources report at least two separate explosions, with opposition and government forces blaming each other for the blasts. The Assad regime reported 82 people killed and 192 wounded, and opposition supporters stated that more than 50 people were killed. At least ten people were also killed on Tuesday in anartillery attack in the central province of Homs.

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor dismissed a report on January 15 by online magazine Foreign Policy indicating that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons against rebel forces. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has asked Turkey and Jordan to secure chemical weapons and transport them out of Syria and to secure military bases in Jordan, Turkey, or Iraq where they would be destroyed in the event of their becoming vulnerable to theft or misuse.  The US government has also begun tentatively exploring working with Russia to remove and destroy the chemical weapons, and has reached out privately to Syrian commanders in an effort to keep chemical weapons secure.

Burma

Fighting in Burma’s northern Kachin State near the town of Laiza continues after reports of several civilian deaths earlier this week. The United Nationalities Federation Council, a group representing around a dozen different ethnic leaders from Burma, met in northern Thailand to discuss the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire or suspending talks entirely following the escalating violence. As of yet, the Kachin Independence Army is the only ethnic militia  without a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government.  Footage of the recent violence in Kachin State can been seen here.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Yesterday, the Congolese government and M23 agreed on the agenda for peace talks being held in Kampala. The talks will cover the March 29, 2009 peace agreement, security issues, social, economic, and political issues, including marginalization, the release of political and war prisoners, and geopolitical imbalances in development on DRC.

After a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) meeting last weekend, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania have committed to providing troops for a Neutral International Force (NIF) in Congo. Details of how many troops will be sent and what they hope to accomplish have not yet been discussed. Within the UN, Discussions about drone use in DRC for “information-collecting” purposes continue. Rwanda has staunchly opposedthe proposal, while DRC has welcomed it and Uganda has given cautious support. Maurice Carney, executive director of Friends of the Congo, though against drone use in Congo,iterated that Rwanda should not have jurisdiction about what happens inside the borders of Congo.

Several US business groups have challenged rules from the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act; the SEC has until March 1 to release a statement.

Sudan

The status of Abyei, on the border of Sudan and South Sudan, is still undetermined. A recent report by the Enough Project discusses the urgency of resolving the dispute in order to maintain peace and security in the region. The report declares that the African Unionshould support the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposal, which provides mechanisms for resolving Abyei’s final status, and defines and protects the rights of people living within and moving through the area.

On Wednesday, the UN said that a recent surge of violence in north Darfur left 100 dead and forced 100,000 people to flee. While violence in Darfur has decreased since the peak of the conflict from 2003 to 2005, attacks in Jebel Marra have been the worst the region has seen in months. Sudan has also recently accused Uganda of supporting Sudanese rebel leaders, filing complaints with the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

On Sunday, Human Rights Watch issued a statement demanding Sudan rescind its December decision to shut down four civil society organizations, and allow members to peacefully protest. This decision mirrors recent crackdowns on protesters, activists, journalists, and political opposition members, and, according to HRW, reflects a fragility and defensiveness in the regime.

South Sudan

South Sudan has declared that it is withdrawing troops from the Sudan border so that a demilitarized zone may be established and oil pumped again. The withdrawal should complete by February 4. It has been a year since oil has been pumped from South Sudan, and this has affected both countries’ economies greatly. South Sudan’s oil minister hopes that if the region is demilitarized by February that Sudanese oil will hit markets in April. The US has encouraged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to transport oil by trucks through Ethiopia rather than rely on peace negotiations with Sudan.

As Sudan has cracked down on civil society, so has South Sudan, with five protesters killed on December 9, and two state broadcast journalists imprisoned on January 4. The Sudd Institute has just issued a report mapping the sources of conflict and insecurity in South Sudan, which is worth a read. For a list of political risks for Sudan and South Sudan, seeReuters’ list here.

Weekly News Brief 1/11/2013

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Syria

The humanitarian situation in Syria has been deteriorating rapidly. The United Nations is unable to provide food for about one million people and rain and cold are further deteriorating living conditions, leading to a riot in a refugee camp in Jordan on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions fighting in support of the Syrian regime against rebel forces in the Yarmouk district south of Damascus called for a cease-fire on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Assad regime freed 2,130 captives to rebels in exchange for 48 Iranian prisoners. The rebels claim that this proves Assad is an Iranian puppet. The rebels claim the Iranian prisoners are Iranian Revolutionary Guards sent to assist the Assad regime, while the Iranian government insists that they were in Syria for a private visit.

Burma

Fighting in Burma’s northern Kachin State between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has continued following government air strikes on Kachin-controlled areas. Originally denying any attacks, the Myanmar government later acknowledged them, claiming they were attempting to recapture supply convoys that were taken by Kachin rebels in late December. Government forces were sending supplies to a base situated near KIA headquarters in the town of Laiza, triggering seizure by KIA forces. New to this conflict, the use of airstrikes have been reported almost every day (here and here) since December 28, with both ground and air strikes becoming increasingly intense around the KIA headquarters at Laiza. An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting began following the break of a 17-year ceasefire during the summer of 2011. Click here to see a video report from Al Jazeera outlining the recent violence.

In other news, Indonesia is set to give $1 million towards humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya in Burma’s Rakhine State following recent communal violence. Also, Coca-Cola recently announced it will build its first factory in Burma.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On Tuesday, the M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire and are awaiting a similar declaration by the DRC government. This week, dialogue will continue in Kampala, reviewing the March 23, 2009 agreement, security issues, social, economic, and political matters, and mechanisms for implementing various resolutions. It is unclear whether or not the DRC government will sign on, and, to complicate matters, the Ugandan Independent reported today that two journalists were recently detained and beaten by security forces. The immediate reasons have not been uncovered, although the radio station targeted has in the past issued reports critical of the Congolese military.

Also on Tuesday, reports surfaced that the UN is planning the first deployment of drones in peacekeeping missions. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) reportedly asked the UN Security Council to support the use of three unarmed surveillance drones for its operation in the DRC, where they would monitor clashes between the DRC army and M23 rebels. France, the US, and Britain have supported this plan, though Russia, China, and Rwanda have warned about the financial and legal implications and are concerned that drone use may aid western countries’ intelligence gathering.

A Neutral International Force in eastern DRC may soon be deployed. It may either be an attachment to MONUSCO or an independent mission of the African Union (AU), the International Conference (ICGLR) on the Great Lakes Region, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Talks will continue at the AU ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa this week; for more information, see BDLive’s article here.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Civilian Protection Crises to Watch in 2013

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It’s 2013. For conflict analysts, the new year is a time for lists. In particular, those ubiquitous lists of “conflicts to watch,” which seem to pop up on the regular. While not “scientific,” per se, these lists provide a useful insight into policy priorities: both what policymakers are looking at, and what various organizations think they should be looking at. As STAND policy analyst Danny Hirschel-Burns, who made his own “conflicts to watch” list, observed, the Council on Foreign Relations’ (CFR) and the International Crisis Group’s(ICG) lists stuck out. CFR’s Preventive Priorities Survey, which spans the U.S. policy community, highlights key points of overlap between U.S. strategic interests and regional instability, whereas ICG’s watchlist identifies opportunities for conflict prevention.

As STAND moves into a new stage as an independent, self-sustaining organization, we’ll continue to advocate for human rights in our existing areas of concern: Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, and Syria. Given our global scope, however, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for additional opportunities to highlight civilian protection in U.S. foreign policy worldwide. In 2013, here are a few civilian protection crises that we’ll be watching.

Civil War in Syria

With both sides in Syria continually failing to reach political agreements, it seems unlikely that the Syrian civil war will find an end without thousands of more civilian deaths. As Syria reaches its two year mark, the opposition is gaining ground and the regime is slowly eroding. However, even if the regime falls, it is unlikely that peace will be found with the opposition in its current state. Today, the West seems more likely than ever to support the opposition, which could hasten the opposition’s control. As the Syrian regime becomes more desperate, the fear of chemical weapon use by both sides will become more salient, and an international intervention will become more likely.

Ethnic Violence in Nigeria

Nigeria’s violence represents a confluence of crises, many of which have plagued the country throughout its decade-and-a-half management of civilian rule. Throughout the past three years, the Nigerian government has struggled to contain the domestic consequences of Boko Haram, an Islamist insurgency which has emerged from Nigeria’s marginalized northern provinces. As Boko Haram’s operations fragment, and its attacks on civilian and military targets creep further south, Abuja will struggle to contain the organization’s impact on inter-communal violence in central Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region. To complicate matters, security services appear unable to uphold a civilian protection mandate, leaving civilians throughout northern Nigeria in the crosshairs.

Political Divisions in Sudan

Discontent in Sudan, both within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has been growing throughout 2012. The Sudanese government has cracked down on growing revolts in Khartoum over rising costs of living, targeting students protesting austerity measures, rising tuition costs, violence against female Darfuri students, and the recent murder of four male Darfuri students. The crackdown against peaceful protesters, the swift response to a possible coup attempt in late November, and the NCP’s political divisions show state weakness and point to more repression in the coming year. In addition to political tensions within the NCP, Khartoum continues to fight the Sudan Revolutionary Front, limiting access to humanitarian aid organizations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians into South Sudan.

State-Building in South Sudan

As the world’s newest state, South Sudan has witnessed border conflict with neighboring Sudan, inter-communal violence, and civilian discontent with state services. South Sudan’s Upper Nile and Unity states are home to approximately 200,000 refugees from Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and conflict in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, caused by climate change and localized militarization, has internally displaced approximately 80,000 people. In addition to managing refugee and IDP influx, in 2013, South Sudan will need to improve its basic infrastructure, strengthen security, carry out a civilian disarmament campaign, and reach an agreement with Sudan on citizenship issues. Widespread poverty and South Sudan’s lack of funds for infrastructure and assistance are obstacles to these goals.

Continuing Instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The M23 group in the eastern DRC, allegedly backed by bordering Rwanda and Uganda, has increased human rights abuses and internal displacement in the east, leading to the M23 takeover of Goma in late November. While peace talks have been initiated, violence in the region remains rampant, and the Congolese government does not have the capacity to address the longstanding security and governance issues that the east faces. Without a meaningful commitment to political and governance reform by the DRC government and with the continued meddling of Kigali in eastern Congo, the situation will likely continue in 2013.

Cartel Violence in Mexico

As we’ve observed, Mexico’s cartel violence is a challenging case for atrocity prevention advocates: clashes between cartels, as well as between cartels and Mexican security forces, appear criminal, yet mirror the scope and scale of civil conflicts elsewhere. Mexico’s cartel conflicts occur in the context of trans-regional drug trafficking, as well as the U.S. government’s efforts to limit the domestic reach of the illicit narcotics trade. Mexico’s new President Enrique Pena Nieto has indicated an interest in diffusing the country’s crisis, but has remained ambiguous on particular steps towards mitigating violent clashes between cartels and the security services. U.S. politics may also prove a decisive factor, as the second Obama administration ponders the implications of Colorado and Washington’s recent marijuana legalization referenda for domestic and international drug policy.

Electoral Violence in Kenya

During the three-month aftermath of Kenya’s 2007 presidential polls, a corrosive mix of elite competition and popular mobilization facilitated a devastating wave of electoral violence, which continues to drive Kenyan politics in 2013. As Kenya heads towards its next presidential contest, which will likely occur in March, the atrocity prevention community is looking for early warning signs of conflict outbreak. The Kenyan state appears incapable of containing outbreaks of violence at the local level, such as the recent inter-communal clashes in the coastal Tana River Delta. While post-2007 reforms have encouraged broader accountability within Kenyan politics, two International Criminal Court indictees, William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta, remain active participants in the current race.

Tentative Reforms in Burma

In the past year, Burma has undergone a series of political, economic and administrative reforms at the hands of the Myanmar government. Political prisoners have been released, labor laws introduced, censorship relaxed, and an independent National Human Rights Commission convened. While these signs are heartening, conflict between the Kachin and the Myanmar military continues in the north and the government seems to have little interest in negotiating peace between the Rakhine and Rohingya in the west. In light of the country’s recent reforms, the US has eased up on sanctions, and it will be important to protect resource-rich minority areas from entering corporate power.

Weekly News Brief 1/3/13

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

Just hours before Rwanda was set to join the UN Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member, the Council placed an arms embargo on M23 rebels and their alleged Rwandan allies, the FDLR.  A travel ban and asset freeze was also placed on two key M23 figures, “the group’s civilian leader Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero and Lieutenant Colonel Eric Badege, a commander suspected of being responsible for the deaths of women and children.” No Rwandans have been sanctioned yet.

Peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 that began on December 9 were extended until the end of the year.  However, due to the “technical constraints related to availability over the holiday season” the talks were adjourned on December 21st.  They are set to resume on January 4th.  No agreement on a ceasefire was reached.

More and more Congolese refugees continue to cross into Rwanda seeking protection.  Currently, Rwanda is home to over 50,000 Congolese refugees.  The most recent movements have been because of violence targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese. Because of this the Rwandan government has made the “sudden decision” to expand the size of the Kigeme Refugee Camp.

Syria

The Assad regime has declared that it would welcome any initiatives for peace talks after UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi stated that he “had a peace plan acceptable to world powers.” Before this move by the Syrian government, Brahimi warned that the war could kill as many as 100,000 people in the next year and that the country will likely deteriorate into control by warlords if no solution is reached soon.

Meanwhile, clashes between the rebels and government forces shut down the airport in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. The rebels, who have been fighting for the city since summer, have captured territory in Aleppo province west and north. Recently, they have stepped up attacks on airports around Aleppo province in a bid to weaken the Assad regime’s air power.

As the conflict continues, the United Nations has estimated that more than 60,000 peoplehave been killed thus far and that last month alone 84,000 Syrians fled the country, raising the total to about half a million people.

Burma

On Dec 21, the Karen National Union (KNU) elected new leadership including Gen Mutu Say Poe, a prominent leader of the KNU’s military wing the Karen National Liberation Army, as chairman. Say Poe is believed to be “a pragmatist keen on engagement” with the Myanmar government. The KNU has fought the Myanmar government for more than sixty years in order to gain greater autonomy as part of one of the world’s longest ongoing civil wars.

On Monday, December 24, the UN General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution condemning the ongoing violence in Burma’s Rakhine State between the mostly Muslim Rohingya and Buddhist Rakhine. The resolution also urged the Myanmar government to address the situation and take action to protect the rights of all in Rakhine State, including the stateless Rohingya’s “right to a nationality.”

On Monday, a boat carrying around 450 Rohingya fleeing the violence in western Burma arrived in Malaysia and were sent to an immigration detention center. The UNHCR claims there are 25,000 Rohingya in Malaysia, a country that is not a signatory on the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees that outlines the rights of refugees.

Photos and video from the humanitarian and rights watchdog organization Free Burma Rangers show Myanmar military jets and helicopters firing on soldiers of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the military branch of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).  Myanmar President Thein Sein initially denied knowledge of the attacks, yet a statement was later issued acknowledging the attacks, suggesting a lack of communication between the newly-reforming government and the once-ruling military.  The statement claimed the attacks were ordered following the capture of a military base from the KIA.  An estimated 75,000 people have been displaced since fighting began following a 17-year ceasefire in Kachin State during the summer of 2011.

In other news, Burma celebrated its first ever public New Year’s Eve countdown in Yangon, the country’s largest city, where thousands celebrated and welcomed the new year.

Sudan

[Trigger Warning for sexual violence]

Government militia operating in East Jebel Marra, North Darfur, reportedly raped, insulted, humiliated, shaved the heads of three women, and threw them in a valley. Humiliating women by raping and shaving their heads is part of orchestrated, widespread campaigns conducted by pro-government forces and militias against innocent civilians. Radio Dabanga also reported that a government convoy of 240 Land Cruisers was seen traveling from the town of Khazam Tinjur to Al-Arab Al-Ashara. The Sudanese Air forces also carried out shellings, killing considerable number of livestock.

The Justice and Equality Movement, under the Sudan Revolutionary Front, has announced that it captured seven towns in Kordofan. According to the movement’s deputy leader, Mohamed Al Beleil Issa Zayyed, SRF troops are actively engaged in widespread combat, as they hope to take the area from the National Congress Party. The deputy leader further said they are establishing administrative units in areas falling under their control. Government troops were reportedly forced to retreat and withdraw from key major towns. Mr. Beleil denied accusations that his forces were involved in looting, stealing, and destroying communication towers, calling it “propaganda of the NCP to distort the SRF’s image”. He said that Sudatel towers were destroyed because of the company’s affiliation with the security apparatus of the NCP.

Other related incidents included an assault by a pro-government militia group in the gold mining area of Hashaba in North Darfur. The gunmen reportedly killed three people, looted 100 camels, and took a number of sheep. The murdered victims are Adam Abdullah Jalle Hussein, Yahia Yaqub Ismail Ibrahim, and Mohamedin Abakar Awad. Similarly, a group called “Abu Tira” beat and looted three citizens in Central Darfur. The group is also known as the Central Reserve Forces and are widely understood to be supported by the government. Eyewitnesses reported that the perpetrators stole six thousand Sudanese pounds and stripped the men of the their belongings.

South Sudan

Thirty-two people have been killed by Sudanese air bombardments. The SPLA accused the Sudanese forces for carrying out the attacks. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) engaged in air strikes and ground attacks against the Raja county of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, overrunning a military base. The SPLA forces were attacked while conducting a parade. The governor of the state, Rizik Zacharia Hassan, has termed it a “well coordinated attack” by the SAF on the SPLA. The attack came against the backdrop of a meeting scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to revive cooperation agreements between Sudan and South Sudan.

Governor Rizik lamented that “an unjust war is being imposed on us one more time. Everything has already been said about this war of aggression by Sudan. Our love for peace is being exploited and the international community is silent.” President Kiir publicly asked, “what does Bashir want to achieve with this provocation at the time we are supposed to meet in Addis Ababa on Friday?”

In the State of Jonglei, five people were killed, and two children and one adult abducted as the attackers stole cattle. The raiders were suspected to be Murle. The unexpected raid came in the wake of New Year’s Eve while Christians of the Episcopal Church of Sudan were marching from the town of Kolnyang to one of the bomas (enclosures for animals). Residents expressed disgust as they did not imagine someone would do such a thing during a celebration. They also said that “they did not fear the New Year celebrations as there was a better protection of the people during the the marching.”

Stateless People: The Rohingya of Burma

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By Alex Hart, Indiana University ’15

The Rohingya are a stateless ethnic group living on the west coast of Burma and east Bangladesh. They are described by the United Nations as one of the world’s most persecuted and unwanted peoples, for the Rohingya have been denied citizenship and other rights by both Burma and Bangladesh for decades. Last June, tensions boiled over between the mostly Muslim Rohingya and mostly Buddhist Rakhine in Burma’s Rakhine State. The violence continues to this day. Over 110,000 people have been displaced, thousands of homes destroyed, and hundreds killed.

Who are the Rohingya and where are they from?

There are an estimated 1.4 million Rohingya people in the world today, a majority of whom live in Burma, with other large populations in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Formerly known as the Arakanese, the Rohingya have lived in what is now Rakhine State for over 500 years. The Rohingya, formerly a separate, self-governing group, were conquered by the Burmese in the 1780s, then ruled as a colony by the British, occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and finally ruled by Burma’s military junta.

What sorts of abuse are being committed against the Rohingya?

The Rohingyas’ very existence is currently subject to great controversy within Burma and Bangladesh. The Myanmar government believes the Rohingya are illegal migrants and refers to them only as “Bengalis”. The 1982 Citizenship Law was a measure passed during Burma’s military dictatorship and denies Rohingya citizenship on the basis that they are foreigners, despite many having lived in Burma for generations. Bangladesh reluctantly allows Rohingya to live in camps near the border with Burma, but denies them any government help. There have also been reports of Bangladeshi authorities turning back boats carrying Rohingya fleeing recent violence in Rakhine State.

In addition to being denied citizenship, the Rohingya are not allowed to travel or marry without permission, and are forbidden to own land or have more than two children by the Myanmar government. They are frequently subjected to land confiscations, arbitrary taxes, forced evictions, and police brutality. It is also common for the Rohingya, as well as other minority ethnic groups in Burma, to be used as forced laborers as porters of the military or construction workers. They are denied access to public resources in both Burma and Bangladesh, including schooling and medical attention, because they are not considered citizens of either country. Both the Myanmar and Bangladeshi governments have prohibited humanitarian organizations from specifically helping the Rohingya in areas of conflict, adding to the already dire need of the Rohingya.

What caused the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State?

On May 28, 2012 a group of men robbed, raped, and murdered Ma Thida Htwe, a Rakhine woman. Eventually, three Rohingya men were arrested and sentenced to death for her murder. The image of Ma Thida Htwe’s mutilated body spread on the Internet, exacerbating the already tense relationship between the Rohingya and Rakhine. In June, violent protests erupted throughout northern Rakhine State, and on June 10 the Myanmar security forces declared a state of emergency and were authorized to use deadly force to quell the demonstrations. Both the Rohingya and Rakhine contributed to the violence that erupted. However, Rohingya shops and homes were frequently targeted by authorities and burnt down, causing mass displacement. Violence again erupted in late October and sporadic but ongoing violence and abuse continues today. Since June, Bangladeshi authorities have been accused of turning away just under 2,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing to the safer, but not necessarily freer, Bangladesh.

Is this genocide?

As of this writing, the international community has expressed criticisms of Myanmar President Thein Sein’s handling of the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State. However, this criticism has often been accompanied by praise of the country’s recent democratic reforms, sending mixed messages to the Myanmar government. The Saudi government has voiced perhaps the harshest condemnation of the Myanmar government in what it calls an “ethnic cleansing campaign” against the Rohingya. Nonetheless, the conflict has the alarming potential to become increasingly violent and devastating to the region due to its deeply rooted ethnic and racial tensions. It is up to the international community and human rights organizations, like STAND, to continue to monitor the situation in Burma for not only the sake and well being of the Rohingya, but all of those in harms way.

Weekly News Brief 12/13/12

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Hey upSTANDers! Because of school finals, this will be our last news brief until the new year–but keep checking out STAND’s blog and Facebook for updates, and if you haven’t yet, join us for our remaining 9 days of action!

Sudan

University dormitories have been set on fire as students clashed with security agents supporting the National Congress Party (NCP). Protests first erupted at universities across Khartoum state after the bodies of four Darfuri students enrolled at Gezira University were found in a water canal in Wad Madani state last week. The students were killed by security officers after they partook in a peaceful demonstration protesting rising tuition fees. Eye-witness reports reported that the students were beaten with sticks and batons, leaving at least seven people injured. Shockingly, it was claimed NCP ‘militias’, backed by the security forces, had burned down of the rooms of Darfuri students. Although a majority of the students were on the streets, there were fears that some students could have been trapped inside the dormitories.

On Tuesday, National Consensus Forces (NCF) leaders held a sit-in at the headquarters of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCP), where they shouted slogans calling for retribution. During the press conference that followed, the NCF’s chairman Farouq Abu Issa said that opposition parties have decided to mobilize the masses and stand in solidarity with the issue of students. They urged citizens to go to Khartoum University the following day to express solidarity with the victims. Representatives of the Darfur Students’ Association say that 140 students were arrested and and 180 injured, as well as 580 laptops and 290 mobile phones looted from students at an estimated value of 950 million Sudanese pounds. For more on Tuesday’s protests, see the Al Jazeera Stream here. Girifna Media reported via twitter today that, “UoK women dorms (al Barkas) was attacked at 3 am by pro-govt. masked students with metal rods. Some students were hospitalized #SudanRevolts” Opposition groups have met today, drawing a large crowd demanding justice. Follow live on twitter via #SudanRevolts.

#sudanRevolts

Confrontation continues in South Kordofan. Fighting broke out when the Sudanese army entered Daldoko, northeast of Kadugli, South Kordofan. According to SPLM-N’s spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, 27 Sudanese army soldiers and three rebels were captured during the battle. Consequently, the Sudanese government resorted to air strikes in different villages of South Kordofan as of Saturday. According to Lodi, four bombs were dropped in Kauda injuring three civilians, killing five goats and two donkeys. An additional four bombs were dropped in Werne, where farms were destroyed. The government of Sudan seems determined with its “ethnic cleansing program”, Lodi added.

South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed strong disappointment with the recent assassination of leading political commentator Isaiah Abraham in Juba. Abraham was gunned down in his house by unknown murderers. A statement from UNMISS said that the mission will continue to provide extensive support to the South Sudanese police to better equip them to improve security in South Sudan, so that they are capable of investigating such crimes. They also reiterate their strong support for freedom of expression as a cornerstone of democracy in the country. Many think Abraham was killed for his recent article, in which he called for the resignation of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The article cautioned the government to study its relationship with the SPLM-N and strengthen relations with Sudan.

Conflicting reports say that the South Sudanese army has killed 14 people in the remote village of Gumuruk in Jonglei’s Pibor County. According to Pibor commissioner Joshua Konyi, “The army took civilians in Gumuruk and killed 14 Murle people”, claiming the victims were executed. “They collected 15 of them, and when one person ran away, they killed seven there on the spot and took seven people to near Gumuruk and killed them,” he added. The state governor of Jonglei, Kuol Manyang, said the official military reports indicate that the army “fought with the Yau Yau rebels in Gumuruk, leading to the killing of the 14 people.”

In another incident, the South Sudanese army fired live bullets on protesters, killing 25 people. The group opposed to the move of the administrative headquarters in the county. The state Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Rizik Zachariah Hassan, has denied that the military (SPLA) opened fire on civilians. UNMISS nonetheless confided in the press on Sunday that six people were killed late on Saturday when the SPLA attempted to remove roadblocks established to protest the administrative changes. That incident was followed by another on Sunday morning, when four more people were killed as a group of protestors marched into Wau town to petition the Governor.

Syria

The Syrian opposition coalition won international backing Wednesday at the “Friends of the Syrian People” conference in Morocco. While the Syrian National Coalition welcomed the move, the coalition hopes for more tangible international and financial support. The conference also warned of a “serious response” to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons. The move to recognize the rebels included approval from the United States, which called the Syrian National Coalition “the sole legitimate representative” of the Syrian People.

Both the US and other members of the conference are still reluctant to supply military aid to the Syrian rebels. This is in large part due to fears of rebel groups with al-Qaeda connections, one of which has been officially blacklisted by the US. The blacklisting of this group, al-Nusra, is a major concern to senior Syrian opposition figures. They fear that this will weaken the efforts to provide practical assistance on the ground.

In Damascus, rebels have continued to make gains. Wednesday saw an explosion thattargeted the Syrian Interior Ministry building, although there is not yet news of casualties. Human Rights Watch recently accused Syria of using incendiary bombs in at least four locations since mid-November. While 106 countries have banned incendiary weapons, they are not considered chemical weapons. The Syrian regime is also accused of launching Scud missiles at rebel targets. This evoked strong condemnation from the United Kingdom’s foreign office.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Talks of how to move forward in Congo continue to take place on Capitol Hill this week. On Tuesday, the Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Subcommittee held a hearing on the crisis in eastern Congo. The US has been the subject of harsh criticism for the lack of action taken in building a better peace process for eastern Congo. In particular, critics have been focusing on the hesitancy of the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to put pressure on Rwanda, the country seen as being at the root of much of the violence in eastern Congo.

Following an “extraordinary” Summit in Dar es Salaam on December 8, the Southern Africa Development Community (SARD) has “vowed to provide 4,000 troops for a neutral force in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.” SARD also urged the UN to strengthen the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force, which gave up defending Goma when M23 rebels advanced on the city. SARD “strongly condemns” the M23 and its attacks against civilians.

Peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels have been happening in Kampala, Uganda this past week. The talks got off to a shaky start as M23 representative, Francois Ruchongoza, blamed the country’s conflict on poor governance. The negotiations stalled again on Monday as the M23 delegation “refused to turn up to listen to the DRC government rebuttal on allegations made against it.” John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, weighed in, stating that resolution of the conflict should not be controlled by the leaders of the three complicit countries, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, who have all justified “their actions in terms of national security concerns to mask economic and political interests.” Instead he called for a comprehensive international peace process that involves representatives of the local communities most affected by the violence as well as the voices of major international leaders inside and outside of sub-saharan Africa.

On Wednesday, a Brussels court gave its go-ahead to conduct a “long-awaited judicial probe” into the role of a dozen Belgians in the 1961 assassination of the revolutionary Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba. One year ago, the sons of Lumumba filed a war crimes complaint in Belgium against the twelve Belgians they suspect to have been involved in their father’s death.

Burma

On Wednesday, thousands of Buddhist monks staged protests demanding the Myanmar government apologize for their brutal crackdown on the Letpadaung copper mine protest in late November in which 100 monks were injured. Protests were staged in the large cities of Yangon and Mandalay as well as the towns of Pakokku and Monywa. The protesters demanded an apology of President Thein Sein, the release of those detained during the copper mine protests, and an independent investigation. See pictures of the monks’ protests here.

Burma Protests

Reports of worsening fighting in Burma’s Kachin State have claimed that dozens have been killed, including as many as 60 Myanmar army soldiers. The fighting between the Kachin Independence Army, the military branch of the Kachin Independence Organization which represents the Kachin in northern Burma and neighboring areas, and the Myanmar army erupted in June of last year after a 17-year-old ceasefire agreement broke down. There have yet to be signs of efforts to renew ceasefire agreements between the parties. An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced by fighting; many now live in refugee camps.

In other news, Grammy Award winning musician Jason Mraz is scheduled to perform in Burma in order to raise awareness of the country’s rampant human trafficking problems. Mraz will be one of the first foreign artists to perform in Burma.

Weekly News Brief 12/06/12

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BREAKING: Reports are surfacing of the possible use of White Phosphorous by a Syrian military helicopter. White Phosphorous can cause severe chemical burns, and the smoke vapors can cause illness or even death. There also is a risk that white phosphorus residue can poison food stocks or water sources and lead to later poisoning.

As the situation in Syria worsens, STAND is urging President Obama to put the protection of civilians first and foremost. Click here to join us in reminding the president of his responsibility to work with multilateral and regional partners to protect the Syrian people.

Syria

Western officials and military analysts report that the Assad regime’s army is beginning to show serious signs of weakness as the rebels have made several key advances, including in the suburbs of the capital, Damascus. These improvements are seen as both the result of a weakening Syrian army and an influx of financial and military backing from outside investors.  Some of these gains are due to extremist groups, who have received backing from wealthy Arab donors in the Persian Gulf region as well as from Syrian businessmen abroad. One of the most prominent Islamic extremist groups in the rebellion, Jabhat al Nusra, is believed to have ties with Al Qaeda in Iraq. The United States and several European governments have began work towards funding and legitimizing the newly formed Syrian opposition group as fears develop that rebel gains are outpacing political transition.

In what has been seen as a response to these key advances, the Syrian military has prepared the use of chemical weapons and is waiting on President Assad’s orders to deploy the weapons, according to U.S. officials. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime would constitute a “red line” for the U.S. and that America would “take action if that eventuality were to occur”.

The Syrian civil war has spilled into neighboring Lebanon as gunmen from both sides fought in a northern Lebanese city on Wednesday. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has pledged to remain neutral. Tensions flared in Lebanon last week as it was discovered that Lebanese Sunni fighters who had joined the rebellion against Assad were killed in Syria. Anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians criticized the Lebanese government for a ‘lack of effort’ in retrieving the bodies. The Lebanese government is currently led by the Shiite Hezbollah group, which is pro-Assad.

Meanwhile, NATO has approved the deployment of Patriot missiles along Turkey’s southern border with Syria. NATO officials have continued to stress the defensive nature of these missiles, and say that have approved these missiles due to “repeated violations of Turkey’s territory”.  Control over the Patriot systems is to be delegated to the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, NATO’s top military officer.

Burma

Dozens of villagers and monks have been protesting against a copper mine in northwestern Burma. The protesters of the Letpadaung copper mine claim it has been causing environmental, social, and health problems for the surrounding communities. Last Thursday, government security officials forcibly halted dozens of protesters and injured as many as 70 people in the process. Eight protesters were charged with incitement against the state and demonstrating illegally. The Myanmar government formed a commission, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and MP Aung San Suu Kyi, to investigate the claims of violence against the protesters. There have been additional marches in Burma and Thailand in support of the Letpadaung mine protesters.

A secretive “census-like operation” has been undertaken by Myanmar immigration officials in western Burma to “verify” the citizenship of the Rohingya, according to the Associate Press. The stateless Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group living in western Burma and eastern Bangladesh and have been denied citizenship rights in both countries. In Burma, the Rohingya are viewed as illegal Bengali migrants. Conflict between the Rohingya and Rakhine has so far displaced 110,000 people and resulted in almost 200 deaths.

In other news, Transparency International recently published its 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index in which Burma was ranked as the world’s fifth most corrupt country according to global perceptions. Burma’s ranking improved by two positions from last year’s report, but its score (on which the rankings are made) did not change.

Democratic Republic of Congo

In response to the recent capture of Goma and the flood of international attention that came with it, many international news sources have been working to make sense of the complicated conflict(s) happening in the Congo. The New York Times released a multi-sectored debate in the opinion pages about “How to Stabilize Congo” featuring John Prendergast of the Enough Project and Kambale Musavuli of Friends of the Congo. BBC also released an informative article about “DR Congo’s Rebel Kaleidoscope” that illustrates the different rebel groups that are operating in eastern Congo in addition to the M23.

On Saturday, the M23 fighters, after two weeks of occupation, pulled out of the city of Goma.  They left behind a deserted army headquarters, a city without security, mines, bombs, and bullets. John Mwando, a secondary school teacher, spoke of the existing dangers since the retreat. “Since the M23 left on Saturday the place is not secured at all, and the children have just been free to come here,” he said. The M23 soldiers occupied the hospitals in Goma, freely using both the supplies and doctors that chose to stay behind, leaving a population with an even more limited access to healthcare.  Some 600 Congolese troops are supposed to be on their way back to Goma, but this, for many citizens of Goma, does not translate into security.

International pressure continues to locate Rwanda as complicit in the violence perpetuated by the M23. This past week, a group of experts tasked by the U.N. Security Council has presented new evidence stating that the M23 soldiers received “direct support” from the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) to capture Goma on November 20. Rwanda still adamantly denies these accusations. Last Thursday, the United States Senateunanimously passed an amendment imposing sanctions on those “providing financial, material, or technological support to the M23 rebel group.”  The report released by the Senate specifically mentions Rwanda.

Negotiations and peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 are expected to take place this week. Two officials from Uganda who have been “brokering” these peace talks stated this past Tuesday that the two sides were expected in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, this week. Rwanda has also remained tentatively involved in the peace talks.

Sudan

There may have been an attempted coup in Sudan on November 22. An unidentified National Intelligence and Security Services source is quoted as saying that the authorities had thwarted a “subversive attempt” planned to be launched at dawn on November 22. The NISS arrested and started investigations with those thought to be connected to the plot. 12 senior military and security officers were arrested, as was Sudan’s former head of intelligence and security. National Congress Party vice-chairman Nafie Ali Nafie said that two of the detainees had contacts with JEM, indicating that the Popular Congress Party may have been behind the coup attempt. The Sahel Blog has an excellent rundown of the actors arrested and reported Islamist involvement.

The Satellite Sentinel Project has released new DigitalGlobe imagery showing government usage of scorched-earth warfare in at least 26 Nuban villages in South Kordofan in November. Check out SSP’s Situation Report here.

South Sudan

According to AllAfrica, “Women and children are increasingly being caught up in attacks related to cattle rustling and inter-communal rivalries.” MSF has recently released a report entitled “South Sudan’s Hidden Crisis,” highlighting the increasing targeting of civilians in Jonglei’s conflict, and calling for all actors to take steps to ensure safety and access to healthcare, respect for health structures, and emergency response capacity for humanitarian organizations. A summary of the report is available here, and the full report is available here.

At least 600 people have died, according to UN estimates, with local officials putting fatalities at over 3,000. An October report by Geneva-based think-tank Small Arms Survey (SAS) weighed up both tallies and estimated 1,000 deaths of “mostly Murle women and children.” According to SAS, the South Sudanese government is manipulating the conflict for personal and political gain.

Journalist Isaiah Abraham was shot and killed yesterday after receiving a death threat by phone last week. Abraham wrote opinion articles for media including the Sudan Tribune, a Paris- based online news site, frequently criticizing the government. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists is calling on South Sudanese authorities to investigate the murder.

Weekly News Brief 11/29

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The STAND Education Team hopes you had a great break! Our news brief is a bit longer this week due to the holiday hiatus. Please also take a look at our latest post on the Banyamulenge of Eastern Congo in our Stateless People series.

Have any questions about the conflicts? Contact us at education@standnow.org.

SYRIA

Over the past two weeks, the Free Syrian Army has made several significant advances. The rebel forces captured the Tishrin Dam, which supplies several areas in Syria with electricity, and briefly captured a regime helicopter base outside Damascus before retreating out of fear of retaliatory airstrikes. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the Syrian regime airstrikes wounded and killed several people in the border town of Atmeh on Monday. Rebel-bound aid and arms have been smuggled through Atmeh, and the town has served as a rebel base for those fighting in the south. Airstrikes have been reported in the northern towns of Maaret al-Numan, Kfar Rouma, and Harem. Fighting has also continued in and near Damascus, where an activist reports several children were killed by cluster bombs.

The attack on Atmeh came a day before Turkish and NATO officials were to begin assessing where to station surface-to-air missiles near the Syrian border. The Syrian regime has called Turkey’s move for these Patriot missiles a “new act of provocation.” Russia has also spoken out against the missiles, warning that deployment of the missiles could lead to a regional crisis. Meanwhile, NATO sought to reassure Moscow, saying that the Turkish government will deploy the missiles in a defensive manner only, and will not support a no-fly zone or an offensive operation.

On Friday, leaders from the Syria National Coalition, the newly formed opposition, met with the UK government in London. While Britain welcomed the group’s establishment, UK officials say they will only recognize the opposition if certain conditions are met, such as respecting minority rights, a commitment to ethnic, political, and religious inclusiveness, and a commitment to democracy.

Recent developments with Kurdish populations in Syria also highlight the ethnic and religious complexity of the rebellion. In Derik, Syria, Kurds celebrated as Assad’s overstretched forces retreated, allowing the Kurdish political parties and People’s Defense Units (YPG) to fill the power vacuum. In the town of Ras al-Ayn, rebels and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, or PYD, reached a peace agreement on Saturday. After Assad’s forces retreated from the region in July, PYD-loyal fighters took over. The PYD forces clashed with rebel forces, which rely heavily on Islamic militants, as they made their way into the region. The opposition in Syria is split on Islamic militants, with some groups strongly opposing their influence.

BURMA

On Monday, November 19, 2012, US President Barack Obama became the first serving US president to visit Burma. Although his visit was short, lasting only six hours, he met with Myanmar President Thein Sein and pro-deomcracy advocate and Myanmar Parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi and also made a speech at the University of Yangon.

This speech (a transcript of which can be found here) extended a “hand of friendship” to the Myanmar government, but also condemned ongoing human rights violations in the country and the Myanmar government’s inactivity in addressing the increasingly devastating conflict in Rakhine State. Obama spoke on, “freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” He emphasized Burma’s need to listen to the will of its people, erase media censorship, release political prisoners (dozensof which were released later that day), and avoid corruption in both the government and economy. Obama also pressed the Myanmar government to push for peace with the country’s various ethnic nationalities, including halting hostilities in Kachin State and granting citizenship to the Rohingya. Additionally, Obama consistently referred to the potential of economic prosperity between the US and Burma, but only in a Burma that respects human rights and international law.

Myanmar President Thein Sein will receive International Crisis Group’s top honor for overseeing Burma’s recent democratic reforms. He, in conjunction with Aung San Suu Kyi, was also ranked a top global thinker by Foreign Policy magazine for 2012.

In other news, one million Burmese migrant workers in neighboring Thailand may face deportation unless they complete a verification process by December 14. The Myanmar government has asked for an extension to the deadline, but Thai officials are reluctant to do so having already extended the dead twice before.

Myanmar government officials pledged to arrest those inciting violence in Burma’s western Rakhine State, which has seen conflict and mass displacement for much of the past several months between the mostly Buddhist Rakhine and mostly Muslim, and stateless, Rohingya. However, organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern about the potential for lack of due process for those arrested.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

The Democratic Republic of Congo has has made front pages of newspapers around the world in the last two weeks. On November 20, M23 captured the provincial capital of North Kivu, Goma, after Congolese soldiers withdrew and U.N. peacekeepers gave up defense of the city. This unprecedented move has placed Congo at the center of many international discussions and debates as articles circulate about M23, the Congolese government, and the involvement of Rwanda and Uganda in the violence unfolding in the east.

The military leader of the M23, Sultani Makenga, traveled to Kampala at the invitation of the head of the Ugandan military this week. Following this meeting on Wednesday, Makenga stated that M23 troops will begin withdrawing from Goma and other captured cities in North Kivu, leaving 100 men stationed at the Goma airport. However, Jean Marie Runiga, M23’s political leader, stated that this pull-out was contingent on a list of demands. These demands, which include the release of political prisoners and the disarmament of Congolese troops in rebel-controlled regions, seem impossible for the Congolese government to meet, according to analysts. DRC analyst Jason Stearns claims that these competing messages could be a sign of serious internal divisions within the M23 movement. “This is a military movement with a political wing created post facto … it’s undermined internal cohesion.” Despite any claims made of the M23 rebels leaving Goma, various sources report that there seems to be no sign on the ground of the M23 rebels leaving the city anytime soon. However, the citizens of Goma have no desire for the Congolese troops to return to the city. About 100 people gathered in the rain on Wednesday to deliver a memo to the U.N. offices protesting the possible return of government troops.

To complicate matters, the Congolese government stated that they would refuse to negotiate with the M23 rebels until they left Goma. On Saturday, at an emergency summit in Kampala, eleven regional heads of state met and issued a demand that the M23 “withdraw from current positions to not less than 20 km from Goma town within two days,” but did not say what the consequences would be if the rebels did not comply.

On Friday, the Congolese health minister declared the Ebola epidemic that broke out in mid-August in the DRC officially over. The epidemic infected 62 people and claimed 34 lives.

Regional Concerns to be Aware of:

Ugandan legislators are poised to pass the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill within the next few days. The bill would increase criminal penalties on homosexual acts and further exclude LGBT individuals from society. It is unclear if the death penalty will still be included in the bill. LGBT rights in Uganda have seen international attention for years. In 2009 a similar bill was proposed, but failed to pass. Discrimination and violence against members in the LGBT community in Uganda has been a common occurrence for years. This violence was epitomized in the devastating murder of David Kato, an “outspoken gay rights activist in Uganda.” Many people trace this government sponsored hatred to the teachings of an American Evangelical pastor. Ironically, the Ugandan government is now claiming that Western countries, including the United States, are pushing Westernized liberal ideals that are “not welcome in Africa” by protesting the law.