The
www.ictj.org
November 1, 2006 Issue
HEADLINES
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Judge Places Pinochet Under House Arrest
October 27, 2006
A Chilean judge, Alejandro Solis, placed the former
dictator, Augusto Pinochet, under house arrest for a range of crimes including
torture, murder, and kidnapping committed under his command. Pinochet, now 90
and rumored to be in poor health, was placed under arrest for charges involving
rights abuses at Villa Grimaldi, the infamous detention center run by
Pinochet’s secret police. Approximately 3,000 people were killed and
another 28,000 were tortured during
See, CNN, Chilean judge orders Pinochet's arrest
CNN, Chile's Pinochet placed under house arrest
BBC, House arrest for Chile's Pinochet
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Study Reveals
National Interest in Accountability for War Crimes
October 30, 2006
A public opinion
survey revealed that a majority of Croatians believe it is important to face
the past and support prosecutions for war crimes, even when committed by
Croatian nationals. According to the survey—jointly conducted by The
Documenta Center for Facing the Past and Puls Agency—a full two-thirds of
those polled believe war crimes committed between 1991 and 1995 should be fully
investigated. The survey also showed that many are aware of the fact that Croatian
armed forces committed serious atrocities against ethnic Serbs. The results
contradict the widespread misconception—largely perpetuated by the
Croatian media—that most of the country’s citizens would prefer to
“push allegations of Croat crimes aside” and “forget about
the past.”
See, Reuters, Most
Croats believe war crimes should be dealt with
One World, Poll: Facing the Past in Croatia
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Death Squad Leader
Ordered to Pay Compensation to Victims
October 25, 2006
At a
See, Voice of
Reuters, Haitian
warlord ordered to pay $19 mln to victims
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Dujail Verdict Set for Early November
October 30, 2006
A verdict in the first trial against Saddam Hussein is
expected to be announced on November 5th or shortly thereafter. The landmark
ruling will be the first judgement handed down by the Iraqi High Tribunal since
its inception in 2003. Hussein could face the death penalty if found guilty,
but his lawyers would automatically file an appeal if he is sentenced to death.
Hussein and his associates are awaiting the verdict for the alleged killings of 148 Shi'ite Muslims in the
See, ABC, Iraq
hopes Saddam's trial verdict comes soon
Arab News, ‘Iraq
Will Turn Into Hell If Saddam Given Death’
News24, Saddam
genocide trial postponed
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Lebanese Politicians Grapple Over Establishment
of Hariri Tribunal
October 31, 2006
Pro-Syrian Lebanese politicians, including Lebanese
president Emile Lahoud, have objected to the United
Nations draft document on the establishment of a tribunal composed of
international and Lebanese judges tasked with trying the killers of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The UN’s investigation into the February 2005 assassination implicated
top Syrian
and Lebanese security officials. Syrian officials deny any involvement. Other
anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians accused Lahoud of
trying to stall the process and allege his involvement in the killing.
Beirut Daily Star, Lahoud suggests changes to Hariri tribunal
Annahar, جنبلاط يعتبر الاعتراض على المحكمة الدولية تغطية للجرائم ورايس متخوفة من اغتيالات جديدة في لبنان
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October 24, 2006
Lawyers representing the former
Liberian president and notorious warlord, Charles Taylor, have argued that
public testimonies in the proceedings of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) could taint the case against him, set to start in
See, BBC, Taylor bids to halt truth probe
News24, Taylor tries to block TRC
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Government Opens Probe into Role
of
October 26, 2006
The Rwandan government
established a commission to investigate the possible role played by
See,
BBC, France accused on Rwanda killings
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Government to Compensate Displaced Tribe
October 26, 2006
The South African government announced it would grant limited property rights and pay $25 million in compensation to a tribe that was evicted from its ancestral lands by a state-owned diamond mining company in 1927. Members of the Nama tribe first lodged their claim to the land in 1997 but it wasn’t until 2003 that the Constitutional Court—the highest legal body in the country—ruled that the Nama community was entitled to reclaim the land and owed compensation from the state, which had profited for decades from their removal. The Nama—a tribe of approximately 4,000 descendants of a tribe originally known as the Khoi-khoi—have said that they are not interested in returning to live on the land itself but will seek ways to benefit from the mineral wealth it contains.
See, CNN, South Africa to return land, compensate exiled tribe
Reuters, S.Africa settles diamond land claim
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President Museveni Attends
October 21, 2006
President Yoweri Museveni attended the peace talks in Juba,
See, BBC, Museveni meets Ugandan LRA rebels
All Africa, Museveni's Juba Visit Angers Khartoum Govt
Voice of
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UNITED STATES
University Committee Suggests Brown Atone for Ties to Slave Trade
October 18, 2006
The Committee on Slavery and Justice at
See,
Times Daily, Panel Suggests Brown U. Atone for Ties to Slavery
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Editors:
Contributing Editors:
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