Weekly News Recap (24 - 30 June 2024)
© Photo by United States Forces Iraq via Flickr
- USA: Julian Assange to Plead Guilty in US Court After Striking Plea Deal
ICC: Arrest Warrants Issued for Russian Military Leaders on Charges of War Crimes
ECtHR: Court Affirms Systematic Human Rights Violations by Russia in Crimea
India: Delhi High Court Stays Bail for Chief Minister Amid Liquor Policy Scam Probe
France: Appeals Court Upholds War Crimes Arrest Warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
ICC: Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader Convicted of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Mali
Honduras: Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez Sentenced to 45 Years for Drug Trafficking
ICJ: Spain Files Declaration of Intervention in Genocide Case between South Africa and Israel
International Justice Section
USA: Julian Assange to Plead Guilty in US Court After Striking Plea Deal
On 24 June 2024, Julian Assange was released after 12 years of confinement and is set to plead guilty to a single charge in a US federal court, marking the end of his prolonged legal battle. Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, which published a vast array of classified US documents, had been a controversial figure, lauded by supporters as a free speech advocate and decried by critics as a national security threat. He spent the last five years in a UK prison fighting extradition to the US, where he faced a potential 175-year sentence for 18 counts related to espionage. Previously, he had taken refuge for seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Under a new plea deal with the US Department of Justice, Assange will plead guilty to a revised charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defence information and is expected to be sentenced to time served. The plea and sentencing are scheduled to take place in the Northern Mariana Islands.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgggyvp0j9o
ICC: Arrest Warrants Issued for Russian Military Leaders on Charges of War Crimes
On 24 June 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defence minister, and General Valery Gerasimov, its military chief of staff, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These charges stem from their alleged involvement in missile attacks targeting Ukraine’s electric infrastructure between 10 October 2022, and 9 March 2023. The attacks, which significantly disrupted civilian life, hit multiple electric power plants and substations across Ukraine. The specific accusations under the Rome Statute include the war crime of directing attacks at civilian objects, causing excessive incidental harm to civilians, and committing inhumane acts. Despite the issuance of these warrants, their practical impact is questionable. Russia, not recognising ICC’s jurisdiction and not being a member of the court, dismisses the warrants as inconsequential. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the ICC’s action, emphasising the ongoing harm caused by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The enforcement of these warrants depends on whether Shoigu and Gerasimov travel to any of the ICC’s 123 member states, where they would be subject to arrest.
ECtHR: Court Affirms Systematic Human Rights Violations by Russia in Crimea
On 25 June 2024, the Grand Chamber of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in the case of Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea) that Russia committed systematic human rights violations in Crimea since its annexation in 2014. The court found that Russia, which exercised extraterritorial jurisdiction over Crimea from 27 February 2014, engaged in a campaign of political repression, characterised by repeated and officially tolerated violations of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This pattern of violations include ill-treatment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, forced Russian citizenship, suppression of Ukrainian media, and other civil rights abuses. The evidence, largely drawn from third-party IGOs and NGOs, demonstrated extensive abuses including violations of the rights to life, humane treatment, liberty, security, privacy, freedom of expression, and assembly, particularly targeting Ukrainian political prisoners. The ECtHR held, unanimously, that there had been: violations of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), 5 (right to liberty and security), 6 (right to a fair trial), 7 (no punishment without law), 8 (right to respect for private and family life), 9 (freedom of religion), 10 (freedom of expression), 11 (freedom of assembly), 14 (prohibition of discrimination) and 18 (limitation on use of restrictions on rights) of the ECHR, and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property), Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 (right to education) and Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 (freedom of movement) to the European Convention. It also held, unanimously, that the Russian Federation had failed to comply with its obligations under Article 38 (obligation to furnish necessary facilities for the examination of the case) of the Convention. According to Article 46, the court mandated Russia to ensure the swift return of prisoners transferred from Crimea to Russian penal facilities and left the door open for discussions on reparations. This judgment underscores the ongoing international condemnation of Crimea’s annexation and the broader implications for human rights within the region.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/?i=003-7981802-11134245
India: Delhi High Court Stays Bail for Chief Minister Amid Liquor Policy Scam Probe
On 25 June 2024, the Delhi High Court issued a final stay on the bail previously granted to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a trial court in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged liquor policy scam. The trial court had approved Kejriwal’s bail on 20 June 2024 with a bail bond of INR 100,000. However, the High Court, led by Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, accepted the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request to stay this decision, citing the trial court’s inadequate evaluation of the evidence presented by the ED. The High Court emphasised the importance of adhering to lawful procedures when restricting personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Notably, the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail on 10 June 2024, due to the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha elections, a decision not based on the merits of the case. Consequently, the High Court has scheduled a final hearing to further examine the serious allegations brought forward by the ED.
France: Appeals Court Upholds War Crimes Arrest Warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
On 26 June 2024, a Paris appeals court confirmed the validity of an arrest warrant issued in November 2023 against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for alleged war crimes, including chemical weapon attacks during Syria’s civil war, despite challenges citing his immunity as a sitting head of state. This landmark ruling marks the first instance where a national court has denied total personal immunity to a serving head of state for such actions, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Clemence Bectarte, Jeanne Sulzer, and Clemence Witt. The case underscores ongoing efforts by Syrian expatriates in Europe to seek justice for atrocities committed by the Syrian government and military. Although it is unlikely that Assad or the other officials named in the arrest warrant, which includes his brother Maher and generals Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan, will be apprehended and brought to France, the decision is significant for its symbolic affirmation of accountability for leaders accused of crimes against humanity.
ICC: Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader Convicted of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Mali
On 26 June 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, a leader linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Ansar al-Din, of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Timbuktu, Mali, during 2012-2013. Al Hassan, who served as the police chief under Ansar al-Din’s rule, was found guilty of overseeing torture, rape, sexual slavery, and the destruction of religious and historic sites. The prosecution highlighted his direct involvement in brutal acts such as amputations and floggings, as well as forcing women and girls into marriages with fighters, resulting in repeated rapes. As Timbuktu residents, especially women and girls, endured severe violence and fear during this period, victims are now anticipating possible compensation following the conviction. Al Hassan faces a potential life sentence, with his sentencing scheduled for a later date. This conviction marks him as the second Malian leader tried by the ICC for crimes in Timbuktu, following Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi’s sentencing in 2016.
Honduras: Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez Sentenced to 45 Years for Drug Trafficking
On 26 June 2024, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras and once a key US ally recognised for his stringent anti-crime stance, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on drug trafficking and weapons charges. Convicted by a Manhattan jury in March 2024 for accepting millions in bribes to facilitate cocaine shipments bound for the US—despite his public anti-drug rhetoric—Hernandez has maintained his innocence, claiming wrongful accusation. His conviction has been met with celebration among Hondurans, both domestically and abroad, as a significant moment of accountability for a high-ranking official. The prosecution during the trial argued for a life sentence, emphasising the need for a strong deterrent against political corruption aiding international drug trafficking. Hernandez’s legal team countered, accusing the testifying traffickers of seeking revenge against his anti-drug policies. His brother, Tony Hernandez, was previously sentenced to life in the US for related drug charges in 2021.
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/26/honduras-president-juan-orlando-hernandez-sentenced-us
ICJ: Spain Files Declaration of Intervention in Genocide Case between South Africa and Israel
On 28 June 2024, Spain filed a declaration of intervention in the case concerning the “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip” (South Africa v. Israel) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This action was taken under Article 63 of the Court’s Statute, which allows states that are parties to a convention under consideration in a case to intervene in the proceedings. Spain’s intervention is based on its status as a party to the Genocide Convention. Spain emphasises the convention’s importance in international law for preventing and punishing genocide and notes that it encompasses fundamental values such as human dignity and accountability, beyond merely prosecuting genocide crimes. South Africa and Israel have been asked to submit their written observations on Spain’s intervention.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240628-pre-01-00-en.pdf
International Peace & Security Section
Nigeria: 7 Killed and Dozens Missing Following Raid Attack in North Western Katsina
On 22 June 2024, a rural community in Nigeria’s North-Western Katsina state was raided by gunmen. Seven people died and at least 100 were kidnapped. The gunmen on motorbikes opened fire sporadically in Maidabino village in the Danmusa local government area of Katsina, forcing the residents to flee. State police spokesman Abubakar Aliyu Sadiq confirmed the attack and associated deaths and that police were investigating the event. Alongside killing seven people, including two children, the residents also said that the armed groups burned down shops, vehicles, and took away their livestock, and spent six hours destroying the properties in the village. The North-Western part of Nigeria is prone to such abductions and kidnaps in recent years and usually, the villagers and travellers are targeted for ransom.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/23/dead-dozens-missing-after-gunmen-attack-in-northern-nigeria
Israel: Military Targets Shifting to Hezbollah in Lebanon
On 23 June 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the intense phase of the fighting against Hamas is coming to an end, particularly in Rafah and the attack will now be shifted to the northern border of Lebanon to target Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s readiness to confront several fronts. Since the 7 October attacks, Hezbollah has been supporting Hamas and deploying missiles, rockets and drones in northern Israel. Netanyahu indicated his readiness to commit to a “partial deal” which would secure the release of the remaining 116 hostages in captivity – 41 of those are considered deceased – but still set on the goal of destroying Hamas. Moreover, Netanyahu has denied the proposal led by the US President Joe Biden and backed by the UN Security Council, which addresses Hamas’s demand for a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces. He says that the combat at the Lebanon border would be “first and foremost for defensive purposes” allowing tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by Hezbollah rockets and attacks to return home. Hezbollah is engaged in the fight and claims that there will be no ceasefire agreement before there is one in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel wants Hezbollah to follow a UN Security Council resolution passed at the end of their war in 2006, which is to withdraw the troops several kilometres back from the border. The tensions between Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah have been escalating with attacks from Hezbollah killing at least 25 Israelis prompting IDFs retaliation through air and artillery strikes in Lebanon, which murdered 400 people and displaced thousands. Other military structures and infrastructure in southern parts of Lebanon had been severely attacked by the IDFs.
Ukraine: Russia Launches Missile Attacks in Pokrovsk
On 23 June 2024, Russia launched a double-tap missile attack (two Iskander-M ballistic missiles) in the town of Pokrovsk, killing five and injuring 41, including four children. Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin commented that this was one of the most aggressive attacks launched by Russian enemy troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that they would respond to the offensive “in an absolutely fair manner”. Apart from people, six cars, sixteen private houses, and one house were destroyed.
Interpol: International Crackdown Leads to Major Human Trafficking Arrests
On 24 June 2024, Interpol announced that a major international operation, code named Operation Global Chain, led by Austria and in coordination with Romania, Frontex, Europol, and Interpol itself, resulted in the arrest of 219 individuals involved in human trafficking between 3 – 9 June 2024. The operation spanned Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, identifying 1,374 potential victims, including 153 children, and initiating 276 new investigations. Additionally, 362 suspects were identified, over 2,000 criminal assets were seized, and 363 fraudulent documents were detected. The operation aims to highlight the global issue of human trafficking, a form of exploitation driven by economic gain, impacting vulnerable populations due to poverty, violence, and discrimination. This enforcement action underscores the international commitment to combating this crime, adhering to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, part of the UN Palermo Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, which obliges signatory countries to criminalise human trafficking activities.
Syria: Israeli Air Strike Kills Two
On 26 June 2024, Israel deployed an air strike in the Southern part of Syria, which killed two people and injured a soldier. The air aggression started from the Golan Heights region, with Syrian air defences obstructing the missile attacks. Iran-linked Syria has been targeted by Israel and attacked several times, with tensions escalating since the 7 October attack. The Golan Heights, an important and strategic region of Syria, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 war.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-27/israel-launches-air-attack-on-syria/104028400
NATO: Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Confirmed as New NATO Chief
On 26 June 2024, the North Atlantic Council Organisation (NATO) confirmed the selection of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next NATO Secretary General. Rutte will take office on 1 October 2024 when Jens Stoltenberg’s 10-year term in the role expires. Rutte’s selection became a reality after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis pulled out from the race last week. After declaring interest in the role last year, Rutte had support from key members of the alliance including the US, UK, France and Germany. Some Eastern European countries argued the role should go to someone from that region for the first time, but they all ultimately supported Rutte’s candidacy, who is a staunch ally of Ukraine and a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATO takes decisions by consensus, so all 32 NATO members had to give Rutte their support for the role. Rutte will be faced with the challenging role of maintaining alliance support for the Russia-Ukraine war, while also guarding NATO and to avoid getting drawn directly into a war with Russia. He will also be faced with the possibility of NATO-sceptic Donald Trump returning to the White House after the US Presidential election which takes place in November.
Bolivia: 17 Arrested After Failed Coup Attempt
On 27 June 2024, the Bolivian Government announced 17 people, including serving and retired military personnel, were arrested in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt against President Luis Arce. Among those arrested was General Juan Jose Zuniga Macias who is accused of plotting the coup. On 26 June, troops led by Zuniga and navy chief Juan Arnez Salvador stormed the presidential palace in tanks. Within hours, Zuniga and his forces withdrew. Dramatic footage was aired on Bolivian television of President Arce facing down Zuniga in the palace hallway, ordering him to withdraw his troops. In an address to the country, President Arce stated the withdrawal was a victory for democracy in Bolivia. Some citizens had even taken to the streets to protest against the coup attempt. Minister Eduardo del Castillo confirmed that the day before the attempted coup, President Arce told Zuniga he was being relieved of his duties because his conduct “was not in line with the political institution”, following attacks on former President Evo Morales. Zuniga and Salvador could now face 15 to 30-year prison terms for their roles in leading the attempted coup. Zuniga has defended himself and accused President Arce of orchestrating a self-coup to boost his popularity. Since coming into office in 2020, Arce’s government has had to fend off constant pressure from both the left and the right. Bolivia is now embroiled in a political crisis, between the ruling party and former President Morales. This has created a rift between Arce and Morales, both of whom plan to run in the 2025 general elections. Morales ruled from 2006 to 2019 when he was unseated by the military and replaced by an interim conservative government. Arce emerged victorious in the 2020 election with help from his former mentor Morales before friction surfaced between them.
North Korea: Test of Multi Warhead Missile Claimed to be Successful
On 27 June 2024, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a multiple warhead missile on 26 June, according to state media agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). However, South Korea have called this claim “deception” to cover a failed launch. The North Korean claim came a day after South Korea’s military reported that the North had launched a suspected hypersonic missile that exploded mid-air off the east coast. North Korea stated that the missile test was aimed at achieving Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability, that would enable it to overpower US and South Korean missile defences. Officials from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported the missile was launched at about 5.30am and came from the Pyongyang area, exploding mid-air over the east coast. South Korea’s military said joint analysis carried out with the US military indicates the missile blew up in its initial stage of flight. South Korea, the US and Japan have called the launch a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat, while they also warned against aggravations in the aftermath of the recent meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. On 27 June, the three nations began large-scale joint military drills involving navy destroyers, fighter jets and the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The ‘Freedom Edge’ training exercise was created last year to strengthen military cooperation amid rising concern due to North Korea’s weapons testing. North Korea has criticised the arrival of the Theodore Roosevelt carrier.
https://www.dw.com/en/n-korea-claims-successful-test-of-multiwarhead-missile/a-69487440
Kenya: Protests Continue Despite President Backing Down on Tax Bill
On 27 June 2024, protests against planned tax hikes in Kenya continued with nationwide clashes. These protests occurred despite Kenyan President, William Ruto abandoning the proposed tax increase a day earlier in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday. Ruto said he would withdraw the bill to increase tax after deadly protests took place in Nairobi and other parts of the country over the past number of days. In a televised address to the nation, President Ruto said “the people have spoken…I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn”. Ruto said he would enter into dialogue with young people, who were at the forefront of the protests. The controversial bill was passed on Tuesday, 24 June 2024 by parliament, despite nationwide outcry against it. This sparked protesters to break into parliament and set parts of it on fire. At least 23 people were killed in Tuesday’s protests according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). However, protests have continued in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and other cities calling for Ruto to step down, although the protester numbers were smaller than earlier in the week, with police reportedly using teargas on protesters. It was reported that two people had been killed in clashes with the police after anti-tax protesters looted two supermarkets on the outskirts of Nairobi. Ruto is dealing with the most serious crises of his presidency as the youth-led protests against the tax hikes have grown into mass rallies calling for political overhaul. Scrapping the bill affects his plan to reduce budget deficit and borrowing, as called for by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It was reported that the high court rejected a petition to make the government withdraw the military from the streets. Some protests are still ongoing calling for Ruto to resign. Ruto has defended his attempt to raise taxes, stating it was justified by the need to cut Kenya’s high debt, but he acknowledged that the public had overwhelmingly rejected the bill.
Taiwan: Warning to Citizens Not to Travel to China, Hong Kong or Macao Amid Execution Threats
On 28 June 2024, Taiwan’s deputy head of the Mainland Affairs Council Liang Wen-chieh advised citizens to avoid travel to China and the semi-autonomous Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao following threats to execute supporters of Taiwan’s independence. This warning comes as tensions with China are growing, which claims Taiwan as part of its own territory. China’s threat to execute “hardcore” Taiwan independence supporters follows the election of Lai Ching-te as president, who is part of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Since 2016, China has refused to interact with Taiwan’s government because former President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP would not recognise Taiwan as part of China. Liang stated that the government is not banning all visits, but those who travel should not express political opinions that the authoritarian Communist Party could use to detain and prosecute them. Hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese live in China and travel between the two for visits each year. China has also hosted visits of Taiwanese officials and leaders from the opposition Nationalist Party, which supports future unification of the two sides. Both China and Taiwan offer direct flights and people from China are permitted to visit Taiwan, although China has restricted tourism to the island to create economic pressure for the government. China has also been undertaking threatening military exercises and deployed warships and military planes around the self-governing island of Taiwan.
https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-safety-warning-af2bb9e74087acfef1f6c8677326d6d6