Weekly News Recap (19 - 25 February 2024)
© Photo by United Nations Photo
- ICJ: Israel Responsible for Apartheid against Palestinians; South Africa Tells The UN Court
- ECtHR: Court Fines Russia for Rights Violations in Transnistria
- Rome: Trial Resumes for Egyptian Officials Accused in Giulio Regeni’s Murder
- Paraguay: 87-Year-Old Former Policeman Sentenced for Dictatorship-Era Torture
- Bosnia: Former Minister Enters a Not Guilty Plea in Trial for Alleged Killings of Wartime Prisoners
- Kosovo: War Crimes Trials in Absentia Commence at Pristina Basic Court
- Netherlands: Ex-Kosovo Officer Strengthens Defence Case in Hague Trial
- US: Legal Action Taken Against Four Mariners for Alleged Involvement in Shipping Suspected Iranian-Made Advanced Conventional Weapons
- Afghanistan: Taliban Holds Public Execution of Two Men
International Peace & Security Section
- Rwanda: US Calls for Withdrawal from Eastern Congo Rejected by Rwanda
- Mexico: 12 Gunmen Killed in Shootout Near Texas Border
- Myanmar: Shelling Kills 7 Displaced People
- IACHR: Venezuela Condemned over the Expulsion of UNHCR Technical Team
- Sweden: More Military Funding Donated to Ukraine
- UK: Government Considers Suspension of Arms Exports to Israel, If Ground Offensive in Rafah is Enacted
- CAR: UN Envoy Calls on UNSC to Curb Illicit Weapons and Greater Support for Cross-Border Cooperation
- US: Secretary of State Calls Israeli Settlements Against International Law, Signalling Return of Longstanding US Policy on the Issue
- India: Tragic Fatality Marks Grim Turn in ‘Delhi Chalo’ March as Police Escalate Crackdown with Tear Gas
- Belgium: Ecocide Recognised as International Crime
International Justice Section
ICJ: Israel Responsible for Apartheid against Palestinians; South Africa Tells the UN Court
On 20 February 2024, South Africa recorded a statement in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel is responsible for apartheid against Palestinians, and its occupation of land intended for a Palestinian state is inherently illegal. The country states a special obligation to denounce apartheid practices. Israel rejects these claims, dismissing UN bodies and international tribunals as biased. The arguments are part of a General Assembly request for a non-binding advisory opinion on Israel’s policies in occupied territories. Israel remains silent during the hearings, held against the backdrop of the Gaza war that has claimed over 29 000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
ECtHR: Court Fines Russia for Rights Violations in Transnistria
On 20 February 2024, the European Court of Human Rights mandated that the Russian Federation pay approximately 40 000 euros in compensation to Oleksandr Lypovchenko and Oleg Halabudenco for human rights violations in Transnistria, a region de facto controlled by Russia. Lypovchenko, a Ukrainian arrested in 2015 for criticising the Transnistrian regime, received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for “extremism” and advocating UN forces instead of Russian peacekeepers. He faced ill-treatment, beatings, and forced psychiatric treatment. Halabudenco, a Moldovan lecturer, faced arrest and bail forfeiture. The court ordered Russia to pay 26 000 euros to Lypovchenko, 6 500 euros to Halabudenco, and 4 000 euros each for costs. However, Russia’s post-Ukraine invasion decision not to enforce ECtHR judgments after 15 March 2022, raises concerns about compensation enforcement.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/?i=001-231078
https://moldova1.md/p/24898/moldova-russia-ordered-to-pay-for-transnistria-abuses
Rome: Trial Resumes for Egyptian Officials Accused in Giulio Regeni’s Murder
On 21 February 2024, four Egyptian security officials faced trial in absentia in Rome over charges related to the kidnapping and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo. Regeni, conducting research in Cairo in January 2016, was abducted, and his tortured body was found nine days later. The case strained Italy-Egypt ties, and Italian MPs accused Cairo of hindering the trial. The first trial, initiated in 2021, was dismissed due to a lack of official notification to the suspects. However, a constitutional court ruling in September 2023 allowed the trial to proceed without such notification. The accused, including Gen Tariq Sabir and Maj Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, face kidnapping charges, with Sharif also accused of causing fatal injuries. The defendants, untraceable and absent from the trial, may not serve sentences even if convicted. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and former Italian leaders are among trial witnesses. Regeni’s brutal murder, linked to Egypt’s security agencies, has faced international suspicion, while Egypt’s handling of the investigation has been criticised.
Paraguay: 87-Year-Old Former Policeman Sentenced for Dictatorship-Era Torture
On 21 February 2024, a Paraguayan court sentenced 87-year-old former policeman Eusebio Torres to 30 years in jail for brutal torture during the country’s military dictatorship. Known as “the Whip” under Alfredo Stroessner’s 1954-1989 rule, Torres will serve his sentence under house arrest due to his advanced age. The ruling, following an eight-day trial in Asuncion, unveiled crimes committed during Stroessner’s dictatorship, revealing widespread torture of regime opponents. Torres, accused of leading interrogations, subjected plaintiffs to various forms of torture. Witnesses not part of the lawsuit recounted horrifying incidents. The Stroessner era left a grim legacy of 59 executions, 336 disappearances, 20 000 detentions, and almost 19 000 cases of torture. While prosecutions are infrequent, this case sheds light on past atrocities, challenging the lingering influence of the right-wing Colorado Party, which still dominates Paraguayan politics. Torres, previously honoured, maintained innocence virtually during the trial, invoking confusion with others.
Bosnia: Former Minister Enters a Not Guilty Plea in Trial for Alleged Killings of Wartime Prisoners
On 21 February 2024, Selmo Cikotic and co-defendant Dzevad Mlaco pleaded not guilty in a Bosnian state court to charges related to crimes against prisoners of war in Bugojno in 1993. Cikotic, then commander of the Bosnian Army’s Third Corps, is accused of failing to prevent and address the severe beatings and executions, despite having information about the impending crimes. Mlaco, as head of the War Presidency, allegedly ordered the killing of over 20 Croat prisoners. The victims were beaten at the BH Banka office in Bugojno, with some dying and others executed at a motel. Cikotic served as Bosnia’s defence minister and security minister in subsequent years. In a separate trial, he was convicted of abuse of office in a corruption case.
Kosovo: War Crimes Trials in Absentia Commence at Pristina Basic Court
On 21 February 2024, the Pristina Basic Court initiated separate trials in absentia for Milovan Jovanovic and Dejan Racic, charged with war crimes during the Kosovo War. Jovanovic is accused of sexually assaulting an ethnic Albanian woman using violence, as part of a systematic attack on the Albanian civilian population. Represented by a Kosovo Bar Association-appointed lawyer, Jovanovic was absent from court. Dejan Racic, a Serbian military reserves member, faces charges of participating in the sexual assault of an ethnic Albanian woman during a systematic attack by Serbian military, paramilitary, and police forces across Kosovo. Kosovo Bar Association lawyer Osman Mehmeti represented Racic. The closed hearing, at the request of special prosecutor Ilir Morina, is part of efforts since 2019 to prosecute war crimes, allowing trials in absentia for offences against international humanitarian and criminal law between January 1990 and June 1999. As of December last year, 33 war crimes indictments were filed, charging 89 suspects, according to Kosovo’s special prosecutor, Drita Hajdari.
https://balkaninsight.com/2024/02/21/kosovo-begins-two-war-crime-trials-of-serbs-in-absentia/
Netherlands: Ex-Kosovo Officer Strengthens Defence Case in Hague Trial
On 22 February 2024, former KLA officer Hajrush Kurtaj testified at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers trial involving Hashim Thaci and co-defendants, admitting to exaggerations and assumptions in his books about KLA’s structure. The prosecution aims to establish a strong command structure, holding leaders responsible for lower-level crimes, while the defence argues for a loosely-structured force. Kurtaj, the 45th defence witness, acknowledged limited information during the war and stated his writings were assumptions and exaggerations. He denied awareness of a KLA General Staff document on arrests. Under questioning, he admitted not confirming references in his book with the accused and acknowledged embellishments. The defendants, including Thaci, face charges related to crimes against prisoners during and after the 1998-1999 war, pleading not guilty. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers were created in 2015 for KLA-related trials due to concerns about Kosovo’s justice system.
US: Legal Action Taken Against Four Mariners for Alleged Involvement in Shipping Suspected Iranian-Made Advanced Conventional Weapons
On 22 February 2024, four foreign nationals were charged after the US Navy intercepted a vessel in the Arabian Sea carrying suspected Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. The charges include attempting to smuggle missile components for Houthi rebels. Two Navy SEALs lost their lives during the operation. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed condolences and emphasised on holding those facilitating weapon flows from Iran accountable. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the threat to the US and its partners, emphasising continued efforts against this danger. The accusation asserted that the defendants transported weaponry resembling those utilised by Houthi forces, deceiving the US Coast Guard during the boarding of the vessel. The charges reinforce the message that proxy actions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to harm US persons won’t be tolerated.
Afghanistan: Taliban Holds Public Execution of Two Men
On 23 February 2024, it was reported that the Taliban, the ad-hoc government, carried out a double execution at a stadium in the Ali Lala area of the city of Ghazni in the country’s southeast. The Taliban’s Supreme Court issued a statement highlighting that the two men had been held responsible by the apex court for the stabbing deaths of two victims in separate attacks, and three lower courts, along with Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhunzada, had ordered the executions in retribution for the crimes committed by them. The two men were executed by the relatives of the victims, who fired guns at them. The UN stated that it was strongly in opposition to the death penalty, urging the same was inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. Its peacekeeping mission in the region urged the Taliban authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards its abolition.
International Peace & Security Section
Rwanda: US Calls for Withdrawal from Eastern Congo Rejected by Rwanda
On 19 February 2024, Rwanda rebuffed US demands to withdraw troops and missile systems from eastern Congo, asserting they are safeguarding Rwandan territory due to Congo’s military buildup near the border. The Rwandan Foreign Ministry cited threats to national security from the presence of the FDLR rebel group in Congo, allegedly including perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Although Rwanda previously denied military involvement in eastern Congo, accusations persist of support for the M23 armed group by Rwanda. The US State Department’s recent condemnation of M23 and call for Rwanda’s troop withdrawal prompted Rwanda to question US credibility as a mediator in the Great Lakes region. UN experts previously confirmed Rwandan military involvement with M23. M23’s insurgency, originating from discontent with a 2009 peace agreement, has led to widespread displacement and intensified fighting near Goma. M23, like numerous armed groups in eastern Congo, seeks control over the region’s resources through violence. Despite a period of dormancy, M23 has resurged since late 2021, capturing significant territory in eastern Congo.
https://apnews.com/article/rwanda-congo-us-m23-violence-19d66c1f6e91c48cd78fc4805ecb9f8d
Mexico: 12 Gunmen Killed in Shootout Near Texas Border
On 19 February 2024, Mexican authorities reported that in Miguel Alemán, a Mexican border town near Roma, Texas, twelve people were killed by security forces in a shootout, marking another instance of cartel violence in the region. The incident happened late on 18 February 2024, and the Tamaulipas State Security Department reported that Mexican troops were attacked by armed civilians suspected to be members of a drug cartel. The confrontation involved military drones and a helicopter. Authorities seized rifles, cartridges, and magazines after the incident. The Gulf Cartel operates in Tamaulipas, which has been heavily impacted by organised crime. Recent incidents include Americans caught in crossfire, kidnappings, and the discovery of multiple bodies in the region. A memorandum of understanding between Texas and Tamaulipas aimed to enhance border security. Mexico’s cartels, employing an estimated 175 000 people, rank among the country’s largest employers, highlighting the pervasive influence of organised crime.
Myanmar: Shelling Kills 7 Displaced People
On 19 February 2024, seven civilians were killed by junta shelling in Myanmar’s disputed territory, according to the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation. The victims, internally displaced people from Hsihseng city in Shan state, were targeted as they returned home briefly for supplies. The attack occurred near War Taw village in southern Shan state, where clashes between the Pa-O army and the junta have persisted since January. The victims, including a 17-year-old minor and six others aged 18 to 45, were hit by artillery shells fired by junta troops based in Hsaik Hkawng village. Despite the Pa-O National Liberation Army’s previous ceasefire and participation in peace talks, they resumed fighting against the regime in January 2024. The conflict continues in Hsihseng township, with ongoing junta airstrikes and artillery attacks resulting in civilian casualties, totalling 1 429 deaths and 2 641 injuries since the coup began in February 2021.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/shan-artillery-attack-02202024045639.html
IACHR: Venezuela Condemned over the Expulsion of UNHCR Technical Team
On 20 February 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) strongly condemned Venezuela’s decision to suspend the activities of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Technical Advisory Office. The move, following the forced disappearance of human rights defender Rocío San Miguel, has been denounced internationally. The IACHR shared concerns about the government’s treatment of perceived opponents, documenting arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances. Venezuela’s disregard for international obligations, including expelling civil society organisations, raises serious concerns about the closure of democratic space and the absence of the rule of law. Urging Venezuela to reverse the decision, the IACHR calls for re-engagement with the OHCHR, the release of Rocío San Miguel, and a commitment to human rights and democratic reconstruction. The Commission also seeks the State’s consent for a visit, emphasising its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in the region.
https://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2024/036.asp
Sweden: More Military Funding Donated to Ukraine
On 20 February 2024, Sweden’s defence ministry announced a military aid donation to Ukraine totalling KR 7.1 billion (Swedish crowns) (USD 682 million), comprising equipment transfers and funding for arms procurement. This marks Sweden’s 15th aid round for Ukraine and its largest package yet, totalling approximately 30 billion crowns since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Defence Minister Pal Jonson emphasised Sweden’s commitment to supporting Ukraine indefinitely. The aid includes artillery ammunition, anti-aircraft artillery, recoilless rifles, maritime assault vessels, mines, subsea drones, and earmarked cash for material purchases via international Ukraine funds. Additionally, KR 1 billion will fund the acquisition of about 10 new armoured combat vehicles for delivery in 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-donates-another-680-mln-military-aid-ukraine-2024-02-20/
UK: Government Considers Suspension of Arms Exports to Israel, If Ground Offensive in Rafah is Enacted
On 21 February 2024, the Guardian reported that the UK government would consider suspension of arms export licences to Israel if Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead with the ground offensive in Rafah. With intensifying conflict in Rafah, the UK is under diplomatic pressure to follow other countries and suspend arms exports to Israel. In the House of Commons, the UK Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell underscored that an offensive in Rafah represented a red line for the UK government. During a meeting in Geneva on the Arms Trade Treaty, Palestinian diplomats accused UK officials of breaking the treaty by refusing to rescind arms sales after the ICJ ruled that Israel must ensure that its forces did not commit genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. Nada Tarbush, a Palestinian representative, warned that “a ground offensive would lead to mass killings on an even greater scale than the atrocities we have seen in recent months”. David Cameron, the UK’s foreign secretary, has signalled the importance of Rafah in a letter to the foreign affairs select committee about arms export control and also expressed “deep concern” about the ground offensive, highlighting that the “devastating humanitarian impacts” of the full ground offensive should not be underestimated if it is enacted. He further highlighted that the UK has been continuously urging Israel to “ensure that it limits its operations to military targets and take all possible steps to avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.”
CAR: UN Envoy Calls on UNSC to Curb Illicit Weapons and Greater Support for Cross-Border Cooperation
On 21 February 2024, Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR), while briefing ambassadors in the UN Security Council (UNSC), recalled the explosion targeting a patrol from the peacekeeping mission in the region on 15 January 2024, in which one peacekeeper was killed, and five were injured. She urged that “explosive ordinance devices (EODs) and light weapons are not only a threat to the population and peacekeepers” but also hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the region where 50 per cent of the population is living. She urged the UNSC for an “urgent, dedicated and truly multidimensional” response to the situation in the region. She also highlighted the poor road network in the region, which has worsened the security and humanitarian situation in the county. She called upon the UNSC to provide the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) with sufficient transport and logistics so that the government and security forces could protect the civilian population.
India: Tragic Fatality Marks Grim Turn in ‘Delhi Chalo’ March as Police Escalate Crackdown with Tear Gas
On 21 February 2024, a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh was killed as protesting farmers made a fresh attempt to resume their march to the capital from Punjab. The farmer, according to the Punjab government’s statement, suffered a fatal head injury at Dhabi Gujran in Patiala. The statement also added that nine people had suffered injuries at Shambhhu and 14 at Dhabi Gujran near Khanauri Jind. According to farmer leaders, a rubber bullet hit Singh, and it has been the first death in clashes since the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march began. In honour of Singh, the protesting farmers have put the march on hold for two days. The protests have emerged due to the government’s failure to fulfil farmers’ demands for guaranteeing higher crop prices. The protests have also come at a crucial time when national elections are due this year. The police have continued to fire tear gas at thousands of Indian farmers who have resumed their protest march. The protest began last week, but farmers’ protesting had been stopped 200 km from the capital, with highways into New Delhi barricaded with cement blocks, metal containers, barbed wire, and iron spikes to prevent them from entering the capital. The farmers arrived at the barricades with bulldozers and excavators to enter the capital.
US: Secretary of State Calls Israeli Settlements Against International Law, Signalling Return of Longstanding US Policy on the Issue
On 23 February 2024, Anthony Blinkedn, US Secretary of State, highlighted that the expansion of settlements by Israel in the occupied West Bank violated international law, signalling the return of the longstanding US policy, which had been reversed in 2019 by Donald Trump. In 2019, the Trump administration backed Israel’s right to the expansion of settlements and rights to build in the West Bank. The policy was reversed in 2019 after Mike Pompeo, Trump’s then-secretary of state, announced that Washington no longer viewed Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “inconsistent with international law”. The statement by Washington comes after Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far rights Finance minister, stated that the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers had agreed to convene a planning council to approve 3 300 homes to be built in the settlements in the aftermath of a deadly Palestinian shooting attack in the West Bank. Blinken, in response to the plan for the Gaza Strip, reiterated that there shouldn’t be any more reoccupation of Gaza by Israel, and the Gazan territory should not be reduced and ensure that any plan that emerges is in line with principles. Furthermore, the US administration has recently imposed sanctions on four Israeli men who have been accused of being involved in settler violence.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/23/blinken-oppose-new-israeli-settlements
Belgium: Ecocide Recognised as International Crime
On 23 February 2024, Belgium’s Federal Parliament approved a groundbreaking Penal Code, becoming the first in Europe to recognise ecocide as a crime at both national and international levels. This legislation, part of the revised Environmental Crimes Directive, aligns domestic law with EU standards. The ecocide law allows for the conviction and punishment of serious, large-scale, and irreversible crimes against nature, carrying a 20-year prison sentence and a €1.6 million fine. Ruth-Marie Henckes of Greenpeace hailed the milestone, emphasising the significance of recognising nature’s rights. While the law is limited to areas under federal jurisdiction, such as the North Sea and nuclear waste management, it addresses severe environmental degradation, positioning Belgium at the forefront of global environmental conversations.