600,000 rohingya displaced by ethnic cleansing...the april 2017 use of a sarin-like substance in an...

10/25/2017 createsend.com/t/j-76E2955EA4605E802540EF23F30FEDED

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600,000 Rohingya Displaced by Ethnic Cleansing

Today, 25 October, marks two months since the resumption of“clearance operations” by Myanmar’s security forces in northernRakhine State. During the past 8 weeks over 600,000 ethnicRohingya civilians have been forced to �ee to Bangladesh toescape unlawful killings, sexual violence and other human rightsabuses. Satellite evidence reveals that since 25 August morethan 288 Rohingya villages have been burned down. On 11October the UN O�ce of the High Commissioner for HumanRights reported that the “coordinated and systematic attacks”against the Rohingya have the intent of driving the populationout of Myanmar and preventing their return.

The events of the last two months, with scenes of burningvillages and �eeing refugees seen around the world, hasprompted international outcry. It has also led a number ofgovernments, including the United Kingdom and United States,to suspend assistance and training programs with the Myanmarmilitary. However, other powerful states, most notably China,continue to supply Myanmar with arms. Despite the magnitudeof the Rohingya crisis, the UN Security Council has still notadopted a single resolution on the matter.

On 23 October, in partnership with the Permanent Mission ofBangladesh, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protectco-hosted a side-event at UN Headquarters in New York, withthe focus on how the international community can shift fromcondemnation to action regarding the Rohingya crisis. Themeeting, which was addressed by Bangladesh’s former foreignminister, Dr. Dipu Moni, discussed various diplomatic tracksavailable, including regional and bilateral action.

Atrocity Alert, No. 77, 25October 2017

No Images? Click here

Atrocity Alert is a weekly publication by the Global Centre for theResponsibility to Protect highlighting and updating situations

where populations are at risk of, or are enduring, mass atrocitycrimes.

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The Myanmar government must immediately end atrocitiesagainst the Rohingya and cooperate with the Human RightsCouncil mandated fact-�nding mission. The government shouldalso fully implement the recommendations of the Ko� Annan-led Rakhine Commission. The UN Security Council shouldimpose an arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctionsagainst those senior military o�cers with commandresponsibility for atrocities committed in Northern Rakhine,including General Min Aung Hlaing. All UN member statesshould suspend ties with the Myanmar military until there hasbeen a complete cessation of violence and accountability foratrocities.

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Remarks Delivered at UN General Assembly Side

Event on "Atrocities Against Rohingya: From

Condemnation to Action"

Statement by Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on

the Prevention of Genocide, and Ivan Šimonović, UN

Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, on

the situation in Myanmar

Populations at Risk: Myanmar (Burma)

Growing Risks as Kenya Votes (Again)

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Kenya is scheduled to hold a repeat presidential electiontomorrow, 26 October, following the Supreme Court’sannulment of the previous vote held on 8 August. Oppositionleader Raila Odinga withdrew from the repeat election processon 10 October claiming the election board had failed to carryout su�cient reforms. Since then, opposition supporters haveengaged in daily protests and have threatened to block pollingstations. Police have reportedly responded to some protestswith tear gas and live ammunition. At least 65 people have beenkilled since 8 August.

Members of the Independent Electoral and BoundariesCommission (IEBC), including its current head, have said that itis uncertain whether free and fair elections can be held in lightof time constraints and political intimidation. On 23 Octobertwenty Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Kenyareleased a joint statement condemning threats against the IEBCand noting, “in�ammatory rhetoric, attacks on institutions, andgrowing insecurity all make holding a credible and fair poll moredi�cult.”

Despite Odinga reportedly calling for his supporters to stayhome on Thursday, there remains a risk of clashes between thesecurity forces and opposition supporters who may try toprevent people from voting. There is also a heightened risk ofpotential violence between Odinga supporters and those ofPresident Uhuru Kenyatta.

Given Kenya’s past history of atrocities in the aftermath of adisputed election outcome in 2007, it is imperative that allKenyan political leaders refrain from inciting further violence orinstability. Both major parties should adhere to the constitutionand the decisions of the Supreme Court and continue to raisepolitical grievances through proper legal channels. Thegovernment must ensure that the security forces exercisemaximum restraint regarding the use of deadly force whenresponding to protests.



Photo Source: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya

Photo Source: EPA/Dai Kurokawa



Populations at Risk: Kenya

Extremist Attacks in Afghanistan Kill 250 People inOne Week

Armed extremist groups in Afghanistan– primarily the Talibanand the local o�shoot of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIL) – have increased their attacks in government-controlledareas, resulting in over 250 people killed between 17 and 21October.

The Taliban, which controls an estimated 40 percent of thecountry, carried out at least �ve major attacks on army andpolice bases last week. These included a series of attacks on 17October, resulting in 74 people killed, including police o�cersand civilians.

At least 80 civilians were also killed in two suicide bombings ofmosques during Friday prayers on 20 October. The �rst attack,which has been claimed by ISIL’s Afghanistan a�liate, took placeat a Shia mosque in Kabul, killing more than 55 civilians. The

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second bombing targeted a Sunni mosque in Ghor, killingapproximately 25 people. At least 145 people have been killedso far this year in targeted sectarian attacks on Shia mosquesand religious events.

The latest wave of attacks contributes to the dramatic rise incivilian deaths in Afghanistan during 2017. According to the UNAssistance Mission, 2,640 civilians were killed between Januaryand September, including 689 children.

The international community should continue to providesupport to the Afghan government to help combat the Taliban,ISIL and other armed extremist groups. However, all suchsupport must prioritize the protection of civilians and strictlyadhere to international humanitarian law.

Photo Source: Reuters/OmarSobhani

Photo Source: Reuters/Omar Sobhani



Photo Source: Al Jazeera

Populations at Risk: Afghanistan

Russia Vetoes Chemical Weapons Investigation inSyria

Yesterday, 24 October, the UN Security Council voted on aresolution to extend the mandate of the Organization for theProhibition of the use of Chemical Weapons Joint InvestigativeMechanism (JIM) in Syria. Despite 11 Council members voting infavor of the resolution, Russia used its veto power to block theextension of the JIM’s mandate.

This is the ninth time that Russia has vetoed a resolution onSyria since 2011, including six double-vetoes with China.

Since 2015, following the adoption of UNSC Resolution 2235, theJIM has investigated the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Overthe past two years the JIM has concluded that Syriangovernment forces had been responsible for the use ofchemical weapons in Kafr Zita (2014), Qmenas and Binnish(2015) while the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) wasresponsible for the use of chemical weapons in Marea (2015).The JIM is about to submit its report attributing responsibility forthe April 2017 use of a sarin-like substance in an attack on KhanShaykhun in which more than 80 people, including children,were killed.

Prior to yesterday’s vote, Russia had also vetoed an April 2017resolution that would have condemned the Khan Shaykhunattack and obligated the Syrian government to comply with theOPCW-JIM's recommendations. Another February 2017 double-veto blocked a resolution that would have imposed sanctions onSyrian government o�cials linked to chemical weapons attacks;

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placed an embargo on some imported chemicals; andestablished a sanctions committee and panel of experts tomonitor the implementation of these measures.

The failure of the Security Council to act in relation to the�ndings of the OPCW-JIM is contributing to the gradualnormalization of chemical warfare in Syria. The prohibition ofchemical weapons is one of the oldest international norms,having been outlawed since 1899. It is not in the long-terminterest of any UN member state, including Russia, to allow theJIM to collapse, or permit any state or armed group to usechemical weapons with impunity. If the Security Council cannotre-establish political consensus and mandate the JIM tocontinue its work, the UN Secretary-General should do so, inkeeping with General Assembly Resolution A/RES/42/37C(1987).

Photo Source: Xinhua/Li Muzi

Photo Source: AFP/ Mohamed al-Bakoour

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Photo Source: Getty Images

Photo Source: Reuters

Photo Source: Reuters/Bassem Kahbieh

Populations at Risk: Syria

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Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies The Graduate Center, CUNY 365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5203 New York, NY 10016, USA

Phone: +1 212-817-1929 [email protected]

Copyright © 2017 Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect All rights reserved.

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600,000 rohingya displaced by ethnic cleansing...the april 2017 use of a sarin-like substance in an...

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