World's Worst Dictators

Kim Jong-Il (pictured) tops Parade's list of the World's Worst Dictators this year. Parade says the dictators are chosen based on human-rights abuses, the level of suffering caused by their leadership, and the amount of absolute power they possess. On Parade.com you can read more about why each dictator was chosen and what their link to the United States is. You can also see where they ranked last year and chose who you think is "the worst." Personally, I chose Sudan's Omar Al-Bashir because his government is responsible for an ongoing genocide. Also, Pervez Musharraf's position could be up for grabs soon with Pakistan holding elections Monday. However, many feel the elections will be rigged, in which case Musharraf may deserve a promotion on the list.

Parade's 10 Worst Dictators of 2008
1. Kim Jong-Il, North Korea
2. Omar Al-Bashir, Sudan
3. Than Shwe, Burma (Myanmar)
4. King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia
5. Hu Jintao, China
6. Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe
7. Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Iran
8. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan
9. Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan
10. Isayas Afewerki, Eritrea

14 UN Workers Missing After Blast in Algeria

Two suspected truck bombs rocked Algiers, the capital of Algeria today. One exploded just outside of the United Nations headquarters causing massive damage to UN offices. The other target was a building housing Algeria's Constitutional Council and Supreme Court. The death toll from the blasts ranges from the 22 to 62 depending on the source. A militant Islamic group with connections to al Qaeda, Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), is suspected in the bombings. The group is also known as al Qaeda Islamic Maghreb and reportedly merged with al Qaeda last year.

The Human Rights "YouTube"

Witness, an organization formed in 1992 to protect human rights through video taping of abuses, has set up an internet site entitled "The Hub" which is essentially a human rights version of "YouTube". The site does not record the IP addresses of contributors to protect their anonymity. This will help prevent situations like the Yahoo China debacle.

Pinochet Era General Jailed

The life sentence of former Chilean General Hugo Salas Wenzel was upheld by the Chilean Supreme Court today making him the first senior military officer to receive such a term for human rights violations. Wenzel was convicted for his hand in 12 political murders under the Pinochet regime.

Sudan Refuses to Cooperate with ICC

Sudan is refusing to execute arrest warrants for two Sudanese men wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. One of the men is Sudan’s Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and the other is a Janjaweed militia leader. The Prosecutor for the ICC has threatened to take the matter to the UN Security Council if Sudan does not comply with the warrants, but it is unlikely that this threat will be taken seriously based on the lack of pressure from the Security Council thus far.

Noriega Extradition Approved

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega could be headed to France where he faces a 10 year sentence for money laundering following a US federal court decision today. Noriega was found guilty in France in absentia and also faces charges in Panama for kidnapping, extortion and murder of political opponents. Noriega's lawyers appear to be fighting for Noriega to return to Panama because under Panamanian law most of the sentence he received would be served under house arrest due to his age. Noriega is scheduled to leave prison in Florida on September 9 after serving 17 1/2 years for racketeering in connection with accepting bribes to allow drugs bound for the US through Panama.

Israel Denies Darfur Refugees

Fifty Africans, most of them believed to be Sudanese, were turned away by Israel on Sunday. The refugees had illegally entered via the southern border with Egypt and were driven back to Egypt. Human rights activists were very troubled by the move as earlier this month Israeli TV aired a report about Egyptian soldiers killing refugees. Some Israeli politicians are urging for Sudanese refugees not to be turned away for fears they will be returned to the Sudan and face potential genocide.

Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia Killed

Human Rights Watch is reporting that two migrant domestic workers were beaten to death in Saudi Arabia recently and two others critically injured. These Indonesian women were apparently beaten by a Saudi Arabian family for practicing black magic on the family's son.

About 2 million foreign women are employed as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and routinely face abuses including verbal, physical, and sexual abuse and confinement. If these women come forward to complain they often face charges such as adultery or witchcraft. Additionally, they face due process violations, such as lack of interpreters and no notice to their embassies.

Somali and Ethiopian Soldiers Accused of War Crimes

Human Rights Watch released a new report today which accuses both the Somali insurgents and Ethiopian military of war crimes. The Somali forces' violations include:

the indiscriminate firing of mortar rounds into civilian areas; deployment of forces in densely populated neighborhoods; targeted killings of civilian officials of the transitional Somali government; and summary executions and mutilation of the bodies of captured combatants.

The Ethiopians on the other hand are said to have

violated the laws of war by widely and indiscriminately bombarding highly populated areas of Mogadishu with rockets, mortars and artillery. Its troops on several occasions specifically targeted hospitals and looted them of desperately needed medical equipment. Human Rights Watch also documented cases of Ethiopian forces deliberately shooting and summarily executing civilians.

Naturally, both sides deny that they have committed any violations. Meanwhile, the violence continues as at least 9 people died today in Mogadishu from gunfire and a roadside bomb. Somalia has not had a central government since 1991 and is being hailed as "the new Iraq" by diplomats.

UN Approves New Troops for Darfur

The UN Security Council today approved a plan to send 20000 troops and 6000 civilian police to Darfur. Unfortunately the troops will not be allowed to seize weapons, only monitor them. Still, this is a step in the right direction as the region is in dire need of international intervention.

Namibian Organization asks ICC for Investigation

The Namibian Society for Human Rights has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate former President Sam Nujoma for the disappearances and deaths of over 4,000 from 1990-2005. Nujoma led Namibia following its independence from South Africa and some of the disappeared were accused of spying for South Africa.

Khmer Rouge Prison Chief Charged

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia have charged former Khmer Rogue prison chief Kaing Khek Iev with crimes against humanity in connection with the genocide in Cambodia from 1975-1979. For more check out the Jurist.

Nepal's 'disappeared'

Last week I mentioned how the civil war in Nepal had resulted in many human rights violations, many of them attributed to the Maoist rebels (especially the use of child soldiers). However, even the Nepali government appears to have committed terrible acts, among them "disappearances". About 800 Nepalis were allegedly abducted by government forces after a state of emergency was declared in 2001 because they were believed to be Maoist supporters. Unfortunately for the families of those taken, the Nepal Army denies that many of those reportedly taken were ever prisoners of the army. Meanwhile, the Maoists are also accused of not accounting for over 100 prisoners and similarly deny there is any evidence. The hope for civilians on both sides is that eventually the truth will be discovered, but with the country still not at peace it may be a long time, if ever, before they find out what really happened to their loved ones.

Child Soldiers Still Remain in Chad

According to a new report issued by Human Rights Watch the government of Chad continues to use child soldiers in its military despite agreements to demobilize them. The UN Security Council's working group on children and armed conflict will meet July 19 to discuss the matter further. The use of child soldiers violates international law and treaties, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (ratified by Chad in 2003).

Charles Taylor's Assets Face Seizure

The government of Liberia is working on legislation to seize the assets of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Taylor is currently at the Hague where he is facing charges for his support of rebels in Sierra Leone from 1997-2003. The charges include terrorizing civilians, murder, sexual violence, physical violence, enslavement, looting, and using child soldiers.

The trial has been postponed until August 20, 2007 to give clear up issues of representation.

For more on Taylor's trial check out The Trial of Charles Taylor and Trial Watch.

Return of Civil War in Nepal Imminent?

The far left Maoist rebels of Nepal still wish to have absolute power and could ruin the peace process warns US Ambassador James Moriarty. The Maoist, considered a terrorist organization by the US, agreed to end a decade-long civil war last November and were given positions in the government. It appears that the Maoist do not wish to be a part of a democracy however, and at least one faction of the party wishes to resume the war which killed at least 130,000. The Maoist have been accused of many human rights violations, including disappearances, anti-gay violence, and the use of child soldiers. As such, one can only hope that the Maoist are unsuccessful in any attempt to seek more power.

Croatia Passes Turkey in EU Bid

Croatia's bid to join the EU is progressing smoothly, while Turkey has suffered a setback at the hands of the French.

Croatia began negotiation in six of the 35 policy areas they are required to address for EU membership. They are already in the process of meeting four and have completed two others. This leaves Croatia on pace to join the EU as early as 2009.

Turkey meanwhile was only able to begin negotiations on two new areas, which France blocking a third. They have only completed one area thus far.

Buying Immunity?

Jacob "Kobi" Alexander was out of the US when he learned he was going to be indicted on various fraud charges in connection with backdating stock options in June of 2006. Instead of returning to the country to face the charges he made his way to Namibia where he was caputred by Interpol in September 2006. By this time the wealthy found of Comverse Technology had already transferred $40 million into an Israeli bank account and since has allegedly put $12 million of that in Namibian banks. He has bought a house in Namibia and pledged to spend millions in investment, including hundreds of thousands in scholarships.

Meanwhile, his extradition hearing has been rescheduled numerous times, leading many to wonder if Alexander has been able to buy enough support in Namibia to eventually avoid extradition altogether. Alexander's attorneys claim they need more time to research extradition law. They are also busy trying to get the person appointed to hear the case, the Chief of Lower Courts, removed because he is "not a magistrate."

Alexander's hearing is now scheduled for July 9, but one is left to wonder if he can throw around enough money to avoid it altogether.

ICTY Sentences Martic to 35 Years

The International Criminal Tribunal - Yugoslavia has sentenced former Croatian rebel leader Milan Martic to 35 years for his part in the ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs. Martic was found guilty of 16 counts of various war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and persecution, committed during the 1991-1995 efforts to create a unified Serb state.

End of Impunity for World Leaders

The Economist has a nice article about the end of impunity for world leaders accused of committing crimes against humanity. There has been a lot of progress in trying and convicting these types of offenders in the last few years and it looks like there will be more accountability in the future. Hopefully the International Criminal Court will be successful in trying and punishing Thomas Lubanga for his use of child soldiers in the Congo. If they are able to handle their first case smoothly it could open the door for many more prosecutions.