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PBI-Mexico marks World Radio Day and celebrates the work of Indigenous communicators who defend territory

By
Brent Patterson
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PBI-Mexico has posted:

“This February 13th from @PBI_Mexico we celebrate the world radio day that has allowed the right to information and free expression.

We give a recognition to community radios Cholollan Radio, Mi Radio Zacatepec Tlaxcalancingo and Radio Comunitaria Amiltzinko 100.7Fm that use this medium to inform communities and defend their territory. From PBI, we support the indigenous social use of these radios in order to make visible the struggles for the promotion, development and preservation of their languages, their cultures and their knowledge.

#WorldRadioDay”

Photo: Indigenous Nahua communicator Miryam Vargas Teutle is with Cholollan Radio. She is a member of the Peoples Front in Defense of the Earth and Water (FPDTA) in the states of Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala (southeast Mexico).

Photo: In December 2021, PBI-Mexico visited Radio Zacatepec, a community radio station under threat for reporting on dangers to the Metlapanapa River.

Photo: Indigenous Náhuatl environmental activist Samir Flores Soberanes, founder of Community Radio Amiltzinko 100.7 FM and a member of the FPDTA, was murdered on February 21, 2019 for his opposition to the PIM megaproject.

We join with PBI-Mexico in highlighting the important work of community radio and Indigenous communicators.

At this time, we are also particularly attentive to the case of Cree/Iroquois/French journalist Brandi Morin who was arrested on January 10, 2024, and charged with criminal obstruction for reporting on a police raid of an Indigenous homeless camp in Edmonton, Alberta (Treaty Six territory) in Canada. She could face two years in jail.

PBI-Guatemala accompanies trial of union member, students, professors who opposed fraudulent election of university rector

By
Brent Patterson
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PBI-Guatemala has posted:

“Last week, PBI accompanied the Human Rights Law Firm [BDH] to the hearing of first statement of 8 people criminalized in the case ‘USAC Takeover: Political Spoils’.

The MP [Public Ministry] accuses students, unionists and professionals of depredation of cultural assets, aggravated usurpation, unlawful association and sedition for supporting the university resistance that opposed the imposition of Walter Mazariegos as rector of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC).

The judge scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday, February 13, where it will be known if any of the accused wishes to give a statement.”

On February 13, Prensa Comunitaria tweeted: “Today the hearing of the first statement of the people criminalized for opposition to the imposition of rector Walter Mazariegos was resumed. Judge Víctor Cruz will listen to students, union members and professionals from the USAC, who supported the student movement that denounced the imposition of Mazariegos.”

Those accused

The six facing charges of “continued aggravated usurpation, continued plunder of cultural property, and criminal conspiracy” are: 1) Rodolfo Chang Shium, 2) Alfredo Bebe Aceituno, 3) Javier de León Gómez, 4) Marcela Blanco Fuentes, 5) Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera, and 6) Martín Jorge Macario. The group is said to include: a student, a dean (and member of the CSU/Higher University Council), a trade unionist, a researcher, a teacher, and an activist.

Public Services International (PSI) has posted: “We demand the cancellation of the orders against the trade unionists and the immediate release of comrade Martín Jorge Macario, 43, a General Services worker at USAC and former leader of the union of workers at this university (STUSC).”

Photo: Martín Jorge Macario.

Soy 502 reports: “Marcela Blanco is 23 years old and has a degree in Communication Sciences from Rafael Landívar University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.” She was a candidate for Semilla party (the Seed Movement) in the June 2023 general election.

Photo: Marcela Blanco being taken into custody, November 2023.

Plaza Publica has also reported: “Participating in the protests that rejected Walter Mazariegos as rector of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC), was the basis of the MP to accuse Eduardo Antonio Velásquez, economist, sociologist, professor and researcher. ‘Guayo’ is one of those implicated in the USAC Takeover: Political Booty case. …According to the accusatory thesis, he is responsible for the damages caused to the University during the seizure of the facilities in rejection of the election of the rector Walter Mazariegos.”

Photo: The accused were held at the Mariscal Zavala Military Barracks.

The background

Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle has explained:

“Mazariegos was elected rector of the University of San Carlos in a controversial election [on May 14, 2022] and is seen by his critics as a confidant of the pact of the corrupt [Pacto de Corruptos]. Seven electoral representatives of the faculties in which Mazariegos’ opponents had won were excluded. The most promising opponent, former human rights president Jordán Rodas, was forced into exile in August [2022] following threats from far-right circles.

The rector of the University of San Carlos has the right to vote and thus influence in various state committees. Critics accuse Mazariegos of seeking a process of gradual privatization of Guatemala’s only public university. To protest what they see as a manipulated election, student organizations occupied the capital’s central campus in late April 2022; Their action lasted until June of [2023]. Various university branches in the country were also occupied for months.”

Prensa Comunitaria further notes:

“On Wednesday, July 19, [2023] the U.S. Department of State published the Engel List in which they sanction citizens of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, accused of being involved in corruption cases. In Guatemala, there are several names of judges, prosecutors and officials. The list includes Walter Mazariegos, rector of the University of San Carlos (USAC), rejected by the student community for reaching this position through a fraud promoted by the government.”

We continue to follow this with concern.

Photo.

South Africa lodges ‘urgent request’ with International Court of Justice to consider if Israeli attack on Rafah breaches provisional orders

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: PBI-Canada was present at an emergency rally in Ottawa on February 12 following the Israeli airstrikes against Rafah earlier that morning.

The Associated Press reports: “South Africa’s government said Tuesday [February 13] it had lodged an ‘urgent request’ with the U.N.’s International Court of Justice to consider whether Israel’s military operations targeting the southern Gaza city of Rafah are a breach of provisional orders the court handed down last month in a case alleging genocide.”

That article adds: “South Africa has asked the court to weigh whether Israel’s intention to launch a ground offensive in Rafah — where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled in an attempt to escape fighting — represents a ‘further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza’.”

Under Article 75(1) of the Rules of Court: “The Court may at any time decide to examine proprio motu whether the circumstances of the case require the indication of provisional measures which ought to be taken or complied with by any or all of the parties.”

The South African government says: “In a request submitted to the court yesterday (12 February 2024), the South African Government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of Israel, has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm and destruction. This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court’s Order of 26 January 2024.”

More than 100 people, including children, were reportedly killed when Israeli attacked Rafah in the early hours of Monday morning. Israel had previously designated Rafah a “safe zone” and more than 1 million displaced people are sheltering there with nowhere to go.

We continue to follow this.

Dutch Appeals Court rules the Netherlands must stop within 7 days the export of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: An Israeli Air Force F-35I with four GBU-31s in the foreground.

This morning, the Associated Press reports: “Judges in the Netherlands on Monday [February 12] ordered the Dutch government to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law. A trio of human rights organizations [have] argued that delivery of parts for the aircraft makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. The Hague Court of Appeals [has now] ordered the government to cease exports within seven days.”

Judge Bas Boele says: “It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

The ruling also said: “Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian population when conducting its attacks.”

CNBC further reports: “The appeals court also said it was likely that the F-35s were being used in attacks on Gaza, leading to unacceptable civilian casualties. It dismissed the Dutch state’s argument that it did not have to do a new check on the permit for the exports.”

And The Jerusalem Post adds: “[The court] said the state had to comply with the order within seven days and dismissed a request by government lawyers to suspend the order during an appeal to the Supreme Court.”

The Court’s ruling can be read in full here.

Lockheed Martin has responded: “We’re working closely with the F-35 Joint Program Office to evaluate the impacts the recent Dutch court ruling will have on our supply chain.”

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO) is “the United States Government representative and implementing agency for the F-35 Production, Sustainment and Follow on Development Memorandum of Understanding (PSFD MOU) between the countries.”

F-35 partner countries include Canada.

On November 2, 2023, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reported: “Prior to the conclusion of the open competition for the Future Fighter Capability Program [January 9, 2023], Canada had contributed funds towards the 2006 Joint Strike Fighter Memorandum of Understanding. With contributions during each of the 2010-11 through the 2022-23 fiscal years, these amounts totaled approximately $0.5 billion.”

The PBO adds: “Contributions occurring in the 2023-24 fiscal year and later are fully included in the estimates described in this report.”

Canadian parts in F-35s

Significantly, Kelsey Gallagher of Project Ploughshares has noted in “Fanning the Flames” that at least 110 Canadian-based suppliers have been awarded contracts for the F-35 program and that a study commissioned by Lockheed Martin in 2018 says there are US$2.3-million worth of Canadian components in every F-35 jet.

Legal implications for Canada

The Court of Appeals ruling also highlights: “The Netherlands is a party to several international regulations which stipulate that if a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law exists, the Netherlands has the obligation to prevent the export of military equipment.”

Canada is under similar obligations.

Commenting on the International Court of Justice finding on January 26 that it is “plausible” that Israel has committed acts in Gaza that violate the Genocide Convention, law professors from York University and the University of Toronto have commented: “Because the ICJ found a serious risk of genocide in Gaza, continuing to export arms to Israel would be illegal [under the Export and Import Permits Act where Canada’s ascension to the Arms Trade Treaty is reflected]. It would also be flagrantly inconsistent with Canada’s obligation to prevent genocide, and could expose Canada and Canadian officials to liability for participation in genocide.”

Ottawa-based CADSI, the lobby group for the arms industry in Canada that counts among its members Lockheed Martin, has not commented on social media about either the International Court of Justice or Court of Appeals rulings.

We continue to follow this.

Photo: Defund Warplanes protest on Parliament Hill on January  7, two days before Canada announced it had contracted with Lockheed Martin to buy F-35 fighter jets.

Canada’s weapons sales may make it complicit of violations in international law, war crimes and genocide in Gaza

By
Brent Patterson
-

Video still: At least 67 Palestinians were killed and many others wounded by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations on Monday morning (2 am local time) in Rafah.

This morning, the Associated Press reports: “Judges in the Netherlands on Monday [February 12] ordered the Dutch government to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law.”

That article adds: “A trio of human rights organizations [have] argued that delivery of parts for the aircraft makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. The Hague Court of Appeals [has now] ordered the government to cease exports within seven days.”

Law professors from the University of Toronto and York University recently commented on the International Court of Justice finding on January 26 that it is “plausible” that Israel has committed acts in Gaza that violate the Genocide Convention.

They stated: “Because the ICJ found a serious risk of genocide in Gaza, continuing to export arms to Israel would be illegal [under the Export and Import Permits Act where Canada’s ascension to the Arms Trade Treaty is reflected]. It would also be flagrantly inconsistent with Canada’s obligation to prevent genocide, and could expose Canada and Canadian officials to liability for participation in genocide.”

What weapons are being used in the airstrikes on Gaza?

When the media reports on Israeli Air Force (IAF) airstrikes on Gaza, the type of aircraft and bombs used is usually not specified.

But back in November 2023, Aljazeera reported that “the workhorse of the Gaza bombing campaign is the F-16” and that “almost all bombs dropped belong to the United States-designed Mk80 family, which has been in service since the Vietnam War.”

Various sources – including articles in Defense News, The Eurasian Times, the Middle East Monitor, and The Guardian – suggest the F-35I Adir (“Mighty One” in Hebrew) is being used by the IAF in Gaza. The Aviationist further notes that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the F-35 provides “Close Air Support to troops in Gaza … with 2,000 lb GBU-31 JDAM bombs.”

Reporting on the bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, The Guardian quoted Chris Cobb-Smith, a former United Nations weapons inspector, who said: “The munition is almost certainly JDAM, either a GBU 31 (Warhead Mark 84) general purpose bomb or possibly a GBU 56 (Warhead BLU 109) bunker buster. Both about 2,000lb [900kg].”

Business Insider has also reported: “The F-15I Ra’am, also known as Thunder in Israel, plays a key role in the IDF’s air campaign in Gaza.”

And an Associated Press story carried by CP24 includes a photo captioned: “An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile in direction of the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023.” The Eurasian Times has also noted the use of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters carrying Hellfire missiles presumably for attacks against Gaza.

Who makes these weapons?

The companies behind these aircraft and bombs include General Dynamics (F-16 fighter jets, Mk80 bombs), Lockheed Martin (F-35 fighter jets, Hellfire missiles) and Boeing (F-15 fighter jets, GBU 31 JDAM bombs, GBU 56 bombs, AH-64D Apache attack helicopters).

Are there Canadian components in these weapons?

Project Ploughshares has reported that at least 110 Canadian-based suppliers have been awarded contracts for the F-35 program and that a study commissioned by Lockheed Martin in 2018 says there are US$2.3-million worth of Canadian components in every F-35 jet.

And Boeing has previously noted that “Canadian partners provide aerospace parts for all Boeing commercial airplane models and nearly all defence programs, including the AH-64 Apache … and F-15 fighter aircraft.”

How are CADSI and CANSEC linked?

General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and Boeing are all members of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) lobby group and all are exhibitors at the CANSEC arms show held annually in Ottawa (the next one will be May 29-30).

What’s next?

Yesterday, Euro-Med Monitor reported in the fifteen days since the International Court of Justice ruling that the Israeli military has killed over 1,864 Palestinians—including 690 children and 441 women—and injured over 2,933 more.

Canada does not appear willing to take any action following the ruling.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly commented on the day of the ICJ ruling: “Our support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. It is for the ICJ to make a final decision on the case, which it has not done today. We continue to follow the case very closely. Canada will continue to support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, in accordance with international law.”

A next key moment may be the International Court of Justice public hearings on “the request for an advisory opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” that will take place from Monday February 19 to Monday February 26 in The Hague.

Fifty-two countries have indicated they will participate in these proceedings. Canada is scheduled to speak on Tuesday February 20 from 4.40 p.m.-5.10 p.m. CET.

PBI-Canada will be present at today’s protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Ottawa.

Further reading: The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023-2024 Attacks on Gaza (AFSC Action Center on Corporate Accountability), Trudeau Government Authorized $28.5 Million Of New Military Exports To Israel Since October (Alex Cosh, The Maple, February 10, 2024) and  Fanning the Flames: The grave risk of Canada’s arms exports to Israel (Kelsey Gallagher, Project Ploughshares, January 18, 2024).

Spanish actors at Goya Awards say ‘Stop the arms trade’; what about the Junos and Canadian Screen Awards?

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: Actors Alba Flores and Ana Belén. Photo by Cordon Press/Europa Press.

The Goya Awards (Premios Goya) are Spain’s annual film awards akin to the Canadian Screen Awards or the Academy Awards in the United States.

This year the award ceremony was held on Saturday February 10 in Valladolid, a city situated about 210 kilometres north-west of Madrid.

20 Minutos reports that actor Ana Belén was one of the hosts and that as “she walked the carpet, alluded to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a sticker that she showed on her hand and which reads: ‘Gaza. Ceasefire now. Stop the arms trade’.”

That article adds: “[Actor] Alba Flores, [director] Isabel Coixet, who competes with Un amor, and [Basque director and screenwriter] Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, whose film, 20,000 Species of Bees, is one of the favourites of the night, have also shown it.”

Photo: Director Isabel Coixet.

La Guardia highlights: “This year, one detail has caught everyone’s attention: a watermelon-shaped sticker that many familiar faces, including the presenter of the current awards, have proudly worn.”

Their article also explains: “You only need to read the slogan to understand that they are stickers in support of the Palestinian cause. ‘GAZA. Stop the arms trade. Ceasefire now’ read these stickers, a strong and direct message against the conflict between Gaza and Israel. Moreover, the choice of this symbol is no coincidence. The watermelon, with its colors, represents the flag of Palestine.”

At the ceremony, Urresola said: “If there’s one thing [20,000 Species of Bees] talks about, it’s the importance of naming things and I also wanted to take this opportunity to say that what is happening in Gaza is genocide and we have to ask our governments to stop it.”

Photo: Basque director and screenwriter Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren.

Video: “I take this opportunity to name what is happening in Gaza. It is a genocide and we have to ask governments to stop it.”

Cadenaser also notes: “Actress Alba Flores starred in an off-script moment at the Goya Awards gala when she spoke a few words in support of the people of Palestine before presenting the award for best original song with Amaia Romero.”

It adds: “’Good night and peace for Palestine, please,’ the actress proclaimed, which was followed by unanimous and thunderous applause from the audience. Flores had already starred on the Red Carpet wearing a badge calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”

Video: “Peace for Palestine, please.”

The “Stop the arms trade” button and sticker were also mentioned in these news reports in El Espanol, El HuffPost, News ES Euro, El Correo, Libertad Digital, El Periodico Mediterraneo, La Vanguardia, Diez Minutos, and ABC among others.

Photo: Penelope Cruz.

Photo: Singer Salvador Sobral, actor Alba Flores and director Alejandro Marín, against arms sales used in Gaza. Photo by Cordon Press/Europa Press.

The Goya Awards took place on the 127th day of the Israeli assault on Gaza. During this period, Israel has killed at least 28,064 Palestinians, and injured more than 67,611.

Canadian arms exports to Israel

Also, on the same day as the Goya Awards, Alex Cosh of The Maple reported: “The Trudeau government authorized at least $28.5 million of new permits for military exports to Israel during the first two months of the state’s brutal war on Gaza, data supplied to The Maple by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) shows.”

“The total value of the new permits authorized over a two-month period exceeds the 30-year annual record high of $26 million in Canadian military exports to Israel in 2021.”

That article adds: “The permits appear to have been authorized quickly, with one processed within four days of the application being submitted. In its 2022 report on military exports, GAC said that its target processing time was 10 days for ‘low-risk’ destinations, and 40 days for other destinations. Israel was not listed as a ‘low-risk’ destination in GAC’s most recent military exports report.”

Three Toronto-based law professors have noted: “Because the ICJ [International Court of Justice] found a serious risk of genocide in Gaza, continuing to export arms to Israel would be illegal [under the Export and Import Permits Act where Canada’s ascension to the Arms Trade Treaty is reflected]. It would also be flagrantly inconsistent with Canada’s obligation to prevent genocide, and could expose Canada and Canadian officials to liability for participation in genocide.”

Canadian award shows in Toronto and Halifax

The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, this “country’s equivalent of the Oscars and Emmys” will take place this coming May 28-31 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto.

The nominees will be announced on March 6.

The 2024 Juno Awards for the music industry will take place on March 24 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. The full list of nominees can be read here.

Notably, Bloomberg reports: “The Bank of Nova Scotia’s asset-management arm is facing scrutiny for being the largest foreign shareholder in a publicly traded Israeli defense contractor … Elbit Systems Ltd., which has been accused of manufacturing cluster munitions.” Mondoweiss adds: “ In October 2022, Scotiabank’s asset fund put $500 million into Elbit Systems Ltd, which amounts to 5% of the company.”

At the Scotiabank Giller literary award ceremony that took place on November 10, 2023, in Toronto, host Rick Mercer grabbed at signs taken onto the stage. The sign in the photo says: “Scotiabank funds genocide”. Three people were arrested by police and now face charges for obstructing property and using forged documents to gain access to the invitation-only ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The Guardian later reported: “More than 1,800 writers and publishers have signed an open letter in support of the pro-Palestine protesters who disrupted the ceremony of a prestigious Canadian literary award.”

We continue to follow this.

Photo: Ana Belén, one of the hosts of the Goya Awards.

PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS as it tests water in Sabana de Torres impacted by wastewater discharges

By
Brent Patterson
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On February 7, the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS) posted:

“We continued with our environmental agenda in the territory, this time from the municipality of Sabana de Torres, Santander, making a technical visit of ocular inspection and in situ measurement of physicochemical parameters of the San Isidro and La Gómez streams, the latter impacted by wastewater discharges.

During our tour, we visited the Cabildo Verde Natural Reserve, where an important stretch of the San Isidro stream is preserved.

We thank the Human Rights Committee that accompanied us during this tour and especially Cabildo Verde for allowing us to enter their natural reserve, habitat of rescued species in the Magdalena Medio region.”

That same day, El Frente reported: “James Murillo, director of the Cabildo Verde de Sabana de Torres, denounced that this environmental tragedy has been going on for about half a century. He stressed that the source of pollution is upstream, and includes the release of untreated wastewater from the Bucaramanga metropolitan area.”

Murillo also told Vanguardia: “This [pollution] is because of the discharges that are made from the upper part of the Lebrija River, mainly due to urban discharges, especially from the metropolitan area, that is, from Girón, Piedcuesta, Bucaramanga, Lebrija, all the large cities of the department make their wastewater discharges, all this water ends up in the riverbed and given the levels due to the dry season.”

El Frente further notes: “Fisherman Orlando Estupiñán, a resident of La Esperanza, recounted how his livelihood has been disrupted since February 2. The presence of dead fish, the foul smell and the murky color of the river have made it impossible to continue their work.”

And Manuel Quintero, a fisherman from the Puerto López sector, says: “We ask for the presence of the government, we are even without water, without food and without sustenance, we do not even have fish to go fishing; this can last a month until there is fish again and we support our families merely from fishing and we are helpless, we have to drink from this water because we do not have an aqueduct.”

Just prior to this, on February 1, PBI-Colombia posted: “We accompanied @credhos_paz in Yondó #Antioquia during their water testing in order to assess the impact of different industries in the region, such as palm monocultures, mining and oil companies, among others. These water sources supply communities in this municipality. #RightToWater”

You can read more about that at: PBI-Colombia accompanies CREDHOS as it tests water in Yondó, calls for the right to water to be respected (PBI-Canada, February 3, 2024).

Concerns raised after Ottawa Police follow community members to underground parking lot after Gaza ceasefire protest

By
Brent Patterson
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Still from ottawa4.palestine video.

For seventeen consecutive weeks, thousands of Ottawa residents have gathered either on Parliament Hill or at the Human Rights Monument to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and express their solidarity with Palestine.

While the presence of the police has always seemed disproportionate, there was a noticeable shift around the eleventh week of protest.

On December 23, Ottawa By-law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) officers, backed by the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), began to issue $490 fines to those using megaphones (that BLRS refers to as “sound reproduction or amplification devices”).

Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia/Ottawa Citizen.

By January 15, Ottawa By-law officers began a practice of not issuing all tickets at the afternoon protests, but rather going to at least two homes to issue them (in one instance, on Monday January 22 at nearly 10 pm following a protest on Sunday January 21).

Then, at the most recent mobilization on February 4, Ottawa By-law officers, again backed by Ottawa Police, followed a young woman into the underground parking lot at City Hall (near the Human Rights Monument) after the protest had ended.

As Hassan Husseini of Labour for Palestine has noted: “After the weekly demonstration vs the #Gaza_Genocide in #Ottawa today, @OttawaPolice & @OttawaBylaw followed young muslim women into the underground parking lot where they cornered, harassed, intimidated and terrorised them. This is unacceptable [Ottawa Mayor] @_MarkSutcliffe.”

And in this video posted on Instagram, Ottawa4.Palestine further explains: “Ottawa Police continues to harass our community. They followed one of our community members to the parking lot & blocked the entrance. They refused to let us through. …Meanwhile, the underground parking they were harassing one of our community members, refusing to give their names. …Instead of putting our tax dollars in combatting food insecurity and homelessness, the City continues wasting tax dollars on anti-Palestinian racism during peaceful protests.”

Just three days earlier, Sam Hersh of Horizon Ottawa had warned in an Ottawa Citizen opinion piece: “These protests will continue for the foreseeable future and bylaw’s repressive approach will continue to cause issues. This unreasonable approach will only raise tensions in the community, as well as at demonstrations.”

Hersh further noted: “City council must take leadership in urging the mayor to direct bylaw to cease the harassment of pro-Palestinian protesters, drop these fines and advocate for an approach that is truly ‘fair, equitable and consistent.’”

Municipal human rights obligations

PBI-Canada has also highlighted concerns about the ticketing with respect to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 2(b) – Freedom of expression, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 21, as well as General comment No. 37 (2020) on the right of peaceful assembly (Article 21) that specifically notes megaphones.

Canada acceded to the International Covenant on May 19, 1976.

As Nevena Dragicevic and Bruce Porter of Maytree have previously noted: “Crucially, cities and municipalities are not only well positioned to protect and fulfill human rights, they also have an obligation to do so. While the federal government has constitutional authority to ratify international human rights treaties, it can only ensure good faith compliance with its obligations if all orders of government commit to implementing these obligations.”

While we remain concerned that the City of Ottawa fining people for the use of a megaphone is inconsistent with its human rights obligations, we also find it deeply problematic for its officers to follow young, racialized women into an underground parking lot when a ticket, as unwarranted as that may be, could have been issued at the protest itself.

Following this incident, Ottawa Police tweeted, without providing any further specifics about the incident: “Freedom of expression has reasonable limits to protect citizens, property and businesses from disruptive or unlawful activities.”

Ottawa By-law has not publicly explained its actions of February 4.

We also emphasize that these actions by By-law and Police occurred within days of the Order issued on January 26 by the International Court of Justice that says Israel must “take all measures within its power” to prevent all acts within the scope of the Genocide Convention.

Residents who take measures within their power to try to help stop a genocide should not be targeted by By-law and Police for doing so.

We will be present and attentive to the situation at the next mobilization in Ottawa on Saturday February 10 at 5 pm.

PBI-Canada concerned by threats against CREDHOS, FEDEPESAN and ACVC in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia

By
Brent Patterson
-

Still from Enlace Noticias news report.

From Canada we express our concern that the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS), the Federation of Santander Fishers for Tourism and Environment (FEDEPESAN), the Small-Scale Farmer Association of the Cimitarra River Valley (ACVC), and other social organizations have been threatened.

Peace Brigades International accompanies CREDHOS and the ACVC and has a close relationship with FEDEPESAN.

Tweet: “Faced with persistent threats affecting the defense of #HumanRights and #Peace in Magdalena Medio, @Credhos_Paz and other social organizations request the creation of a “regional table of guarantees”.

On February 3, Vanguardia reported: “Five pamphlets, allegedly from illegal armed groups, that circulated during the month of January in Barrancabermeja, have generated alarm and fear among human rights organizations. In two of them, threats have been made against leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations that carry out their work in defense of life and territory in the oil port.”

That article continues: “In the most recent case, a pamphlet allegedly authored by the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces was circulated, declaring seven social organizations military targets, including Credhos, Fedepesan, the ACVC, the Human Rights Workers’ Space, the OFP [Organización Feminina Popular], among others. In addition, death threats have been made against five social leaders.”

CREDHOS president Ivan Madero says: “This is worrisome, in the month of January five pamphlets have appeared, one from the Magdalena Medio Bloc of the FARC [the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] declaring several leaders persona non grata, including the undersigned; There are also other pamphlets that were not known in the city and finally there is a video of the new Marquetalia of which we had no information that they were present in the region or in Barrancabermeja and on February 1, a pamphlet from the AGC appears where they threaten human rights and environmental organizations. in addition to several environmental leaders who are mentioned by name.”

Madero adds: “Here there is a presence of the national armed structures that are part of the armed conflict: the AGC, the Central General Staff, the ELN and today with the video that appeared, the New Marquetalia.”

Photo: PBI with Ivan Madero of CREDHOS.

FEDEPESAN president Yuli Velasquez additionally notes: “There are really no guarantees, neither for the population nor for us who are defenders of the environment and human rights, we are urgently asking the authorities to take actions that allow the leaders to continue working, we need guarantees to do our work; Because it’s not the fact that we have to go out of fear. A serious investigation has to be generated.”

Velasquez adds: “We feel vulnerable, in the early hours of [February 2] we have been receiving intimidation from a number that pretends to be the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, this same number has registered the telephone number of the other comrades who are dedicated to the protection of the swamps, water, the environment and rights and the tranquility not only of us, but also of our families.”

Photo: PBI with Yuli Velasquez of FEDEPESAN.

We continue to follow this situation closely.

Further reading: Guarantees for life and the defense of human rights in Magdalena Medio (February 2, 2024).

As the CANSEC arms show approaches, where does the CADSI lobby group stand on calls to stop arming the assault on Gaza?

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: Devastation in Gaza. Photo by AFP.

The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is “the national industry voice” representing its members that include some of the biggest arms companies in the world, notably Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo, Airbus and Thales among many others.

Its membership also includes Elbit Systems, the Israel-based company that provides up to 85% of the land-based equipment procured by the Israeli military.

CADSI “advocates on industry’s behalf” and organizes the annual CANSEC arms show in Ottawa, a two-day gathering that brings together “more than 12,000+ registrants from all over the world” to market, buy and sell weapons.

This year’s CANSEC arms show will take place on May 29-30.

Registration for it opens in March.

If you were to cross-references the list produced by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Action Center on Corporate Accountability of the companies profiting from the attack on Gaza with CANSEC exhibitors, you would find significant overlap.

AFSC says these weapons companies have sold to the Israeli military M109 howitzer mobile artillery systems (BAE), Apache AH-64 attack helicopters (Boeing), M16 assault rifles (Colt’s), MK-80 bombs (General Dynamics), AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (Lockheed Martin), and 120mm tank ammunition shells (Rheinmetall).

CADSI member Elbit Systems also exhibits at CANSEC.

The Elbit-made weapons now in use in Gaza include MPR 500 multi-purpose bombs (that contain 26,000 controlled fragments for “high kill probability”), 155mm artillery shells, Hermes 450 and 900 multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Skylark tactical surveillance drones, and the Head-Mounted Display helmet technology used by the pilots of fighter jets and helicopters as well as the crews of battle tanks.

CADSI does not appear to have commented on its X/Twitter feed on the calls from multiple humanitarian and human rights organizations – including most recently Oxfam Canada – for Canadian companies “to immediately halt the direct or indirect transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel”.

Project Ploughshares has further highlighted: “The gravity of this situation calls for immediate action to ensure Canada is meeting its domestic and international obligations to mitigate the risk of contributing to violations of international law, for example, violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), including possible war crimes, in Gaza. Given the substantial risk that Canadian military goods could contribute to such abuses in Gaza, Canada must immediately halt all transfers of weapons to Israel.”

Nor has CADSI seemingly commented on the International Court of Justice finding that it is “plausible” that Israel has committed acts in Gaza that violate the Genocide Convention. Three Toronto-based law professors have noted: “Because the ICJ found a serious risk of genocide in Gaza, continuing to export arms to Israel would be illegal [under the Export and Import Permits Act where Canada’s ascension to the Arms Trade Treaty is reflected]. It would also be flagrantly inconsistent with Canada’s obligation to prevent genocide, and could expose Canada and Canadian officials to liability for participation in genocide.”

We remain attentive to public announcements by CADSI on social media, its lobbying of government institutions, including the Canadian Commercial Corporation (that is also a CADSI member and a CANSEC exhibitor), Canada’s response to the ICJ ruling and the planned mobilizations against the CANSEC arms show.

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