“I am posting this to make people aware, but viewer discretion is advised.” That’s what UN’s Toby Lanzer tweeted as he began to post videos from Bentiu, South Sudan this weekend. Raw footage he took out the windows of his vehicle contain shocking images from the aftermath of recent atrocities. This week, citizen videos take us to the escalating conflict in South Sudan, the lives of Kenya’s Somali refugee community, and rural South Africa, where school children share their take on a brewing corruption scandal. Here are recently featured videos on the channel:
South Sudan
More than 200 men, women, and children were killed by rebel forces in Bentiu, South Sudan, last week, many based on their ethnic group. Lanzer’s short, unedited, and graphic videos show dismembered corpses on the side of a road, a tractor brought in to clear human remains and avoid public health risks, and families fleeing on foot.
South Africa
“New toilets, cause the ones we have are unhealthy and unhygienic.” That’s one way South African school children would prefer President Jacob Zuma use public funds.
Zuma is under fire for using $22 million on his private residence. In this video, 10th graders point out paint peeling off their school building and the lack of running water. Taxpayer money, one suggests, could be better invested in computer and science labs for their school.
Sudan
A new report on the 2013 mass protest movement in Sudan documents unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture of detainees, and other abuses. Human Rights Watch found that as many as 170 people were killed in the crackdown against the “Sudan Revolts” movement, and the government has failed to investigate or bring about justice for the killings and violence against protesters. Despite attempts by the Sudanese government at the time to restrict the press and block communication, the Human Rights Channel curated videos taken by citizens and protesters throughout the movement. They include testimony of an elderly man injured by a police bullet, footage of an injured protestor, and protests against arbitrary arrests.
This week, we’re keeping our eyes on:
Kenya
The government continues to defend a crackdown on Somali refugees despite international outrage. Since the operation began in early April, thousands of Somali refugees and others have been rounded up in the name of national security. Videos from Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighborhood and the Kasarani sports stadium-cum-detention center document the security sweep and the state of fear that many immigrants are living under. The UNHCR corroborates testimony that many refugees have been arrested despite holding proper documentation.
Algeria
Authorities have announced a probe into police violence, prompted by videos taken at a rally in Tizi-Ouzou on Sunday. The rally began as a peaceful commemoration of the anniversary of the Berber Spring of 1980. The video below, widely distributed on Twitter, appears to be the one that prompted the investigation.
The Human Rights Channel has compiled others that purport to document the violent clashes, but we are still working to confirm their authenticity.
Still Time to Vote for the HRC
The Human Rights Channel has been nominated for a Webby Award for the second consecutive year! If you appreciate the HRC’s curation and analysis of citizen videos, please take a moment to cast a vote for the Human Rights Channel for a Webby People’s Choice Award. Voting closes on Thursday.
More Videos
The most recent citizen videos of human rights issues can always be found on our Citizen Watch and Watching Syria video playlists. You can also find the latest videos from Venezuela and Ukraine on our special playlists devoted to the ongoing conflicts in those countries.
Catch the latest citizen videos by following the Human Rights Channel on Twitter.