• Israel stops envoys from attending Palestinian conference

    Aug 04

    A Palestinian conference regarding the nation's bid for recognition as a state at the UN next month, was abandoned on Sunday, after four envoys were prohibited by Israel from reaching Ramallah in the West Bank.

    The four envoys, from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cuba and Bangladesh, were barred on the grounds that the four states do not recognise Israel.

    The envoys were due to sign a declaration backing the Palestinians' campaign.

    Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said,

    "The goal of this decision, which was issued at the highest political echelons in Israel, is to thwart the efforts of the Palestinian leadership to achieve more successes for the benefit of Palestinians and its efforts to end the occupation."

    Criticising Israel's actions, Robert Serry, U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said,

    "Denying the Palestinian Authority the ability to engage with members of the international community in Area A is yet another step that contradicts the credibility of the Oslo arrangements which affirm the Palestinian right of self-government."

    Speaking to Israel Radio, Ron Prosor, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations said,

    "There is an attempt [by Palestinians] to make unilateral moves in order to internationalise the conflict,"

    "But beyond what are perhaps the feelings of frustration, it is important to remember that the path to peace really is through the negotiating table with Israel."

  • US allows American citizens to donate to Syrian rebels

    The US government has made it possible for Americans to donate money to help arm the Syrian rebels whilst upholding its official refusal to arm the forces opposing Bashar Al-Assad.

    A Washington-based organisation with close links to the opposition, Syrian Support Group (SSG), has been given a licence that allows them to raise funds on behalf of the rebels. This leaves American donors in a unique situation that allows them to support an army that the US government is still reluctant to officially back.

    The treasury license allows the SSG to supply rebels with “financial, communications, logistical and other services otherwise prohibited”

    The SSG’s Director of Government Relations, Brian Sayers, described the new stance as  ”a game changer in terms of funding and a sign of a gradual policy shift by the US government.”

    The SSG is actively lobbying the US government to intervene in Syria by establishing a no-fly zone, though the White House remains adamant that there is no possibility of intervention before 2013.

     

    The recent resignation of Kofi Annan as the UN Arab League envoy on Syria has further diminished hopes of a diplomatic solution in Syria.
  • UN: urgent investigation into Rohingya clashes needed

    The United Nations Human rights envoy to Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for an urgent investigation into the Rakhine state conflict that has left at least 78 dead and tens of thousands homeless.

    Speaking at the end of a six day visit to Burma, Quintanta expressed his concerns about allegations of murder, torture and mass arrests by security forces ‘restoring order’ in the state.

    Outlining the importance of an investigation, he said,

    “It is of fundamental importance to clearly establish what has happened in the Rakhine state and ensure accountability. Reconciliation will not be possible without this and exaggerations and distortions will fill the vacuum to further fuel distrust and tensions between communities.”

    Quintanta also acknowledged that current Rohingya displacement camps were not acceptable as a long term solution for the displaced.

    Mr Quintana will report his findings to the United Nations General Assembly.

  • UN staff killed in South Kordofan
    A Sudanese United Nations staff member working for the World Food Programme has been shot dead in the disputed Sudanese region of South Kordofan, as negotiations for a ceasefire continue to take place.

    Fighting between government troops and rebel forces has caused a humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 200,000 people displaced since last June.

    Whilst the Sudanese government blamed rebels for the attack, just two days after a WFP compound was ransacked and looted, the rebels claimed that the area was under government control.

    A deal allowing for humanitarian access was agreed upon, with Sudan stating that,
    "The team which delivers the aid has to be approved by the government of Sudan... And the delivery of aid requires a cessation of aggression in specific areas, for a length of time".
    The SPLM-N rebels agreed on a one month ceasefire, but responded that the deal, "is dependent on the consent of the GoS (government) on access to the SPLM-N controlled areas".

    See the report from AFP here.
  • Indiscriminate tear gas use in Bahrain

    Bahrain authorities have been accused by a US based human rights group of ‘weaponising’ tear gas against protesters.

    Physicians for Human Rights said the indiscriminate use of tear gas against civilians has resulted in maiming, blinding and even death, as at least 30 have died since protests sparked off last year.

    The government of Bahrain has denied the accusations saying that international standards are followed by its security forces.

  • Junior British diplomat’s rollercoaster ride with Kim Jong-Un
    The British Foreign Office has released a statement after a junior diplomat from it’s North Korean Embassy was photographed enjoying a rollercoaster ride with the country’s new leader, Kim Jong-Un.

    The release of the photograph with British chargé d'affaires Barnaby Jones, comes soon after Kim Jong-Un publicly announced that he was married.

    The UK Foreign Office said,
    "Pyongyang's diplomatic community was invited to the opening of the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground. This included the chargé d'affaires of the British Embassy, who accepted the invitation to attend.
    While this was an unusual event, it is vital that we actively engage with the North Korean administration since we work closely with them on a number of humanitarian, cultural and education projects which benefit the people of North Korea."
    Meanwhile North Korea has requested immediate food aid from the United Nations, in the wake of floods that state media reported had left 119 dead and tens of thousands homeless.

    A recent plan to send 240,000 tonnes of food aid from the US to North Korea was scuppered after the country’s failed long-range missile test.
  • Sudan and South Sudan reach oil agreement

    Sudan and South Sudan reached an agreement on oil on Saturday, following an extension of Thursday's deadline.

    The agreement includes the exportation of South Sudanese oil through Sudan's pipelines, and the distribution of oil revenues.

    A fee of $9.48 for crude oil exportation, and $11 for light crude oil exportation was finally agreed upon, along with a £3.028 billion one off payment by South Sudan to Sudan to compensate them for the loss of oil revenue following the South's independence.

    A spokesperson for Sudan, told the Associated Press, "the deal is accepted by both sides. Even though it falls below the expectations of both sides, it constitutes a middle ground,"

    Commenting on the one off compensation payment, he said that the deficit reached $10.4 billion, and Sudan expected the international community to step in and provide assistance.

     

  • China sentences 20 for separatism and terrorism

    Twenty people were sentenced in the Xinjiang region of China on charges of terrorism and separatism, reported China's state media - People's Daily - on Thursday.

    All twenty are believed to be Uighurs - Muslim, Turkic speaking people who consider Xinjiang to be their home.

    The People's Daily report, said,

    "A vast amount of evidence shows that the accused criminals carried out a lot of preparatory work in planning violent terror activities and set up a formal terror organisation,"

    "Some members of the terror organization made explosives and carried out test explosions."

    However, Dilxat Raxit, spokesperson for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, said China was using terrorism to bring charges against Uighurs who are campaigning for their rights.

    "The aim is to terrorise Uighurs into abandoning their rights," he said.

     

  • Bangladesh blocks aid to Rohingyas

    Bangladeshi authorities have told three international aid agencies to stop providing support to Rohingya refugees who arrived from neighbouring Burma.

    Officials claim that the agencies are exceeding their mandate by supporting illegal migrants and that the aid was encouraging more Rohingyas to cross the border.

    British based Muslim Aid and French NGOs Médecins Sans Frontières and Action Contre La Faim are the charities which have been blocked from providing aid.

    Aid workers have criticised the move, saying the already terrible conditions in camps will worsen.

    The agencies provided health care food and water to thousands of refugees.

    Over 300,000 Rohingya are thought to have crossed the border, fleeing violence in Burma’s Rakhine state.

    Human Rights Watch this week accused Burmese troops of killing and raping Muslim Rohingyas during clashes in June.

  • UN demands for an end to Congo rebel support

    The UN Security Council on Thursday demanded for an end to all foreign support being given to the M23 rebels fighting against the government in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The statement voiced a “strong condemnation of any and all outside support to the M23 and demand that all support to the M23, including from outside countries, cease immediately.”

    Although 'foreign supporters' were not named, the envoy made it clear that it had certain countries in mind. Uganda and its neighbour Rwanda, who recently lost US aid due to allegations of supporting the Congolese rebels, have repeatedly denied accusations of fuelling the unrest in the eastern part of the DRC.

    Discussing the Congolese M23 rebels, a UN diplomat said, “these rebels are very well equipped. They’re getting help from somewhere.”

    Congo’s government have requested an explanation from Ugandan authorities with regards to persistent rumours that their soldiers are backing the rebels.

  • UN deadline passes for Sudan - South Sudan agreement

    The UN Security Council deadline for Sudan and South Sudan to negotiate a peace agreement has passes, as extra time is granted to further develop negotiations.

    France’s UN ambassador and current president of the Security Council, Gerard Araud, said, “clearly Sudan and South Sudan have not fulfilled all the conditions laid down, although progress has been achieved.”

    The Security Council passed a resolution in May, giving the 2 states, who were at that time on the brink of war, 3 months to resolve their issues.  The resolution allowed for the consideration of sanctions if a peace accord was not reached, however French envoy, Gerard Araud, outlined that there is a common understanding at the Security Council that sanctions are not yet necessary.

    US Secretary of State is due to visit South Sudan and will undoubtedly pile on pressure for the two countries to work towards resolving the issues causing conflict between South Sudan and Sudan.

     

    Clashes between the two nations have broken out along the disputed border, with Sudan being accused of staging air raids in the south. Recent weeks have seen both sides moving their forces out of the disputed areas, resulting in an ease in violence.
  • UN condemns Syria as Annan resigns as envoy
    The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution condemning the Syrian government’s use of heavy weaponry as it battles against rebel forces, in the midst of Kofi Annan stepping down as the UN and Arab League negotiator for Syria.

    The resolution passed earlier on Friday also goes on to condemn the UN Security Council for failing to make Syria comply with earlier UN  decisions.

    It was passed by 133 votes to 12, with 31 abstentions. Russia voted "no" on Friday along with China, Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Burma, Zimbabwe and Venezuela. India and Pakistan were amongst those who abstained.

    The vote comes as Kofi Annan, current international peace envoy to Syria announced on Thursday that he will step down at the end of this month as the Free Syrian Army and President Bashar al-Assad forces continue to collide. His resignation leaves a stinging remark of the failure of the international body and U.N Security Council for not supporting his efforts in establishing a cease-fire.

    Annan’s decision to quit was centered on “finger-pointing and name-calling” at the U.N. Security Council over the Syrian civil war.

    He told reporters,
    "As an envoy, I can't want peace more than the protagonists, more than the Security Council or the international community for that matter".
    "The increasing militarization on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the Security Council have fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role".

    "The bloodshed continues, most of all because of the Syrian government's intransigence, and continuing refusal to implement the six-point plan, and also because of the escalating military campaign of the opposition—all of which is compounded by the disunity of the international community."
    Syria expressed its regret for Annan leaving his position, while Annan said "It is clear that President Bashar al-Assad must leave office". He also called on the Western powers to press the opposition force to embrace a political solution.

    Annan’s decision to resign comes nearly two weeks after China and Russia vetoed a resolution that was set in motion by Western countries which would have reasserted Annan’s diplomacy in Syria with a threat of sanction.

    Martin Nesirky, Ban Ki Moon’s spokesperson, declined to comment who will be replacing Annan.  
  • Saif Gaddafi demands Hague trial

    Colonel Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam said he wants to be transferred to The Hague to face trial.

    "I am not afraid to die but if you execute me after such a trial you should just call it murder and be done with it," Saif al-Islam said according to documents submitted to the ICC by his lawyers.

    He has already been indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, but Libya has refused to hand him over till now.

    The Libyan interim government argues he should face justice in his own country for the crimes that he is suspected of committing.

    Saif al-Islam’s father is thought to have been killed by rebel forces, after being captured in October last year.

  • Obama signs 'secret' order to help Syrian rebels says Reuters

    US President Obama, has signed a secret order authorising 'intelligence finding' assistance by the CIA and other agencies to the Syrian rebels, reports the Reuters news agency.

    According Reuters the exact extent of assistance remains unclear, however, it will not include giving the rebels arms.

    White House spokesperson, Tommy Vietor reportedly declined to comment.

    A US government source, told Reuters, that the US was colloborating with a 'secret command centre' in Turkey.

    The report comes as the US State Department set aside $25 million for 'non-lethal assistance' to the Syrian rebels.

  • White House dismisses reports of aid to Syria rebels
    US officials earlier dismissed reports that claimed US President Barack Obama had signed a secret order to send aid to Syrian rebels, currently fighting against President Assad’s regime.

    Whilst White House Press Secretary Jay Carney did not deny that aid was being supplied to the rebels, he stressed that the only assistance being provided was non lethal, stating,
    “We do not believe that adding to the number of weapons in Syria is what is needed to help bring about a peaceful transition,”
    The State Department also confirmed that $25 million was allocated for non-lethal assistance, mainly communications equipment.

    Carney also stated that another $12 million in US humanitarian aid for Syria and surrounding countries was approved, bringing the total of food and other assistance from the US to more than $76 million.
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