Human Rights Watch urges US to investigate George Bush for torture

One of the world's leading rights organizations, Human Rights Watch, published a report on 12 July 2011 in which the organization urged US president Barack Obama to "... begin a criminal investigation into US government detention practices" under the Bush administration.

It is known that the Bush administration authorized the commission of widespread and systematic acts of torture against detainees in US custody. The administration allegedly authorized the abduction and transfer of individuals suspected of terrorism to countries where they were tortured.

Perpetrators of torture, more often than not, try to distance themselves from allegations of torture and deny it happened under their watch, but George W. Bush makes no secret of his involvement in "enhanced interrogation techniques" that violate basic human rights and international law.

In a controversial interview in 2010, W. Bush, 43rd president of the US, admitted he authorized torture and attempted to justify torture and other cruel practices exacted against detainees in US custody.

The 107-page report by Human Rights Watch exposes torture in US counter terrorism operations, including the CIA Detention Program and the CIA Rendition Program. The report shines light on the role of four key US officials:

• Former president, George W. Bush.
• Former Vice President, Dick Cheney.
• Former Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld.
• Former CIA Director, George Tenet.

Human Rights Watch believes there is enough evidence to launch a criminal investigation and prosecute the above officials for torture and ill-treatment of detainees. 

The US has signed the UN Convention Against Torture and has a legal, as well as moral, obligation to investigate and prosecute acts of torture, cruel and inhuman practices. Failure to carry out an impartial investigation into state-sponsored torture under the Bush administration weakens the voice of the US in international human rights discourse.

Some torture techniques cited in the report include waterboarding, stress positions, light and noise bombardment, near suffocation, sleep deprivation, hooding during questioning, use of detainees' phobias, "short shackling."

In the report (page 58-59), Human Rights Watch points out that the US has criticized other countries, including Burma, Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran and Libya for using the above techniques against individuals in custody.

You are encouraged to read the detailed report by Human Rights Watch, "Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees." 

An opinion piece published on the Washington Post, titled "The books aren't closed on Bush's torture policy," written by the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch is also worth reading.

*Photo of George W. Bush. Source: myclassiclyrics.com.

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Systematic torture and killings in Syria: Where is the UNSC?

The rapid response of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to recent uprisings in Ivory Coast and Libya gave the UNSC a new face and sent a strong message to oppressors that the council would swiftly take "all necessary measures" to protect abused and violated civilians. The council did not take long to condemn violence in Libya and unanimously voted in favor of the historic Resolution 1970 (2011) that imposed sanctions (travel bans, arms embargo and asset freezes) on the Gaddafi regime and referred the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Unfortunately, the UNSC has so far failed to condemn a similar situation in Syria - where systematic torture, state-sponsored murder and extrajudicial killing of civilians and pro-democracy protesters is the order of the day.

Since demonstrations erupted in Syria in February and picked up steam in mid-March 2011, rights groups have documented widespread and systematic violence against civilians calling for democracy and human rights. Amnesty International has championed the call for the UNSC to intervene, stop bloodshed and refer the situation in Syria to the ICC. The organization believes that crimes committed in Syria by members of the security forces amount to crimes against humanity.

On 6 June 2011, Amnesty published a new report - shining light on ongoing torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions in Syria. Once again, more than two months after its initial call, the organization urged the UNSC to refer Syria to the ICC.

Last night, I read the 22-paged report. It documents the plight of civilians in Syria and highlights the need for the international community to act against Syria's heavy-handed crackdown on protesters.

According to the report, which focuses on violence in the western town of Tell Kalakh, the state uses snipers and heavy artillery against civilians. Security forces open fire on ambulances, destroy water supplies, loot and vandalize private property, arbitrarily arrest, torture and murder Syrians, including children. Victims include lawyers, electricians, construction workers, hairdressers, painters, shopkeepers and retired army officers. No one is spared!

Security forces use untold torture techniques, such as what is locally called "shabah" (ghost) and "dulab" (tyre).

After reading the report , titled: "Crackdown in Syria: Terror in Tell Kalakh", I'm convinced more than ever that the situation in Syria should be referred to the ICC. Those responsible for murder, systematic torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment of civilians should be investigated and brought to book.

UNSC silence on the dire situation in Syria emboldens the brutal Assad regime and puts the council's "swift and decisive" intervention in Libya into question. Double standards undermine the reputation and credibility of the UNSC.

More than 1,350 civilians and 350 security agents have reportedly lost their lives in Syria since mid-March 2011. [Source].

*Photo: The FINANCIAL.

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Arrest warrant for Charles Ble Goude

You would remember that during the post-election standoff between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, it was reported that Charles Ble Goude, Youth Minister under now ousted and humiliated President Laurent Gbagbo, was inciting violence against opposition supporters and foreigners. Ivory Coast has now issued an arrest warrant for the runaway "street General."

On 25 February 2011, Charles Ble Goude, urged young Gbagbo supporters to "join the army", "denounce" foreigners and "liberate" the nation.

His call for "real" Ivorians to attack foreigners led to a spike in violence against foreigners in Ivory Coast. Foreigners from other African countries including Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Bukina Faso were attacked by pro-Gbagbo youths and some were beaten to death or burned alive.

It is worth highlighting that these deathly attacks came after Charles Ble Goude, publicly urged Ivorian youths to "denounce" foreigners. The crimes committed by Gbagbo youths under the influence of Goude, according to Human Rights Watch, amount to crimes against humanity.

In March, thousands of youths reportedly responded to Goude's call to join the army and gathered at a military base in Abidjan to take up arms against opposition supporters.

A Public Prosecutor in Ivory Coast issued an international arrest warrant for Charles Ble Goude on 1 July 2011.

Ble Goude is wanted for inciting hatred, ethnic violence and xenophobia. [Source]. The former Youth Minister reportedly fled the country following the fall of his boss, Laurent Gbagbo.

Incitement of violence is unacceptable and perpetrators should face justice for crimes committed. The issuance of an arrest warrant for Charles Ble Goude is welcomed, but it is only a step towards justice. Concrete steps should be taken to bring Goude to book for his role in the recent post-election violence which claimed many innocent lives in Ivory Coast.

According to Reuters, Goude is believed to be hiding in Ghana.

There should be international cooperation to bring the militant youth leader justice.

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