• Buddhist monks attempt to block aid to Muslims

    Jul 24

    Members of the Buddhist clergy in Burma have called on people to shun the Rohingya Muslim community.

    Monks’ organisations were seen near Rohingya refugee camps, blocking attempts to deliver aid to the Rohingyas, living in ‘desperate’ conditions, according to human rights organisations.

    "In recent days, monks have emerged in a leading role to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims, in support of policy statements by politicians," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan project, a Burmese NGO, The Independent reported.

    "A member of a humanitarian agency in Sittwe told me that some monks were posted near Muslim displacement camps, checking on and turning away people they suspected would visit for assistance."

    Buddhist associations released statements, calling on locals not to associate with the Muslims, who were described as ‘cruel by nature’ in pamphlets.

    Ko Ko Gyi, a democracy activist with the 88 Generation Students group and a former political prisoner, said at a conference in London recently: "The Rohingya are not a Burmese ethnic group. The root cause of the violence… comes from across the border."

    Burmese President Thein Sein has urged Bangladesh to to take in the minority, who are not seen as authentic Burmese by the majority.

    Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has also been criticised for not speaking out enough.

    Amal de Chickera of the London-based Equal Rights Trust, said: "You have these moral figures, whose voices do matter. It's extremely disappointing and in the end it can be very damaging."

    Suu Kyi said in her first statement to parliament today that the government should protect the rights of ethnic minorities.

    "To become a truly democratic union with a spirit of the union, equal rights and mutual respect, I urge all members of parliament to discuss the enactment of the laws needed to protect equal rights of ethnicities,"

    She did not mention the Rohingyas specifically and when asked in April whether the Rohingyas should be regarded as Burmese citizens, she replied “I don’t know”, and said Burma needed to clarify its citizenship laws.

  • Ban Ki-moon urges world leaders to end ‘slaughter’

    UN Gen Sec Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to end violence in Syria.

    "I make a plea to the world - do not delay... Act now to stop the slaughter...," Mr Ban said.

    Syrian troops are reportedly moving into Aleppo, Syria’s second city and location of the severe recent clashes, amidst fears of fresh massacres as the Syrian army will attempt to quash the new outbreaks of resistance.

    Clashes are still ongoing in Damascus, where anti-government activists have said that 23 people were killed in a massacre.

    Amnesty International meanwhile has condemned the practice of summarily executing captured opponents by both sides of the conflict.

    Amnesty International Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director Ann Harrison said:

    “Amnesty International has been documenting unlawful killings carried out by state forces and government militias in Syria for months.

    “We have also been investigating reports that members of armed opposition groups have been responsible for the killings of captured members of the security forces and other unlawful killings. The leadership of all sides must make it clear that they will not tolerate such abuses by anyone under their command.”

  • Genocides 'are always planned' - Clinton

    Speaking at an event organised by the Holocaust museum, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stressed that genocides and mass atrocities were not spontaneous occurrences, but "are always planned".

    Clinton said,

    "Despite all we have learned and accomplished in the last 70 years, 'never again' remains an unmet, urgent goal."

    "We are struggling with some of the deepest and most difficult impulses of human beings to protect themselves, to obtain power, to dehumanize others in order to enhance their own position and standing,"

    "Genocides and mass atrocities don't just happen spontaneously. They are always planned,"

    "An organised, targeted propaganda campaigns by those in power to dehumanize particular groups or scapegoat them."

    "Hatred not only becomes acceptable; it is even encouraged. It's like stacking dry firewood before striking the match.

    "Then there is a moment of ignition. The permission to hate becomes permission to kill."

    See Reliving '83 (23 Jul 2012)

  • Iran appeals to UNHRC over killings of Rohingyas

    Iran's ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Mohammed Reza Sajjidi, appealed to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to ensure immediate action on the killing of Rohingyas in Myanmar.

    According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, writing to Pillay, Sajjidi requested 'immediate and effective action of all relevant international institutions, especially the UN Human Rights Council to stop the genocide' and 'complained that the international organizations have failed so far to fulfill their humanitarian responsibility to stop violence against Muslims in Myanmar despite prior warnings the Islamic Republic of Iran made in separate letters last week to UN Secretary-General.'

  • Grave persecution of ethnic minorities in Burma - AI

    Amnesty International said that despite Burma’s progress in aspects of democratic reform, the situation for ethnic minorities still remains grave.

    The Burma researcher for Amnesty, Benjamin Zawacki, told an Australian radio channel that the persecution of the Rohingya community generally came in the form of mass arrests and ill-treatment whilst in detention. He noted that the crux of the problem was that Rohingya’s are not considered citizens of Burma. The Rohingyas are often described as terrorists or invaders by Burma’s media, and also have no sympathy from the government.

    Zawacki pointed out that there was an opportunity for the US to apply pressure on Burma as the country’s engagement with Burma increases.

    Zawacki said,

    "Clearly the United States, in renewing its links to the country should very much raise the political temperature here and say look you have a population that you have systemically persecuted and discriminated against."

    Zawacki also noted that it was challenging to draw attention to the plight of the Rohingya as the persecution contrasts with the current positive narrative surrounding the reforms in Burma.

    The Burmese security forces are accused of violating the human rights of the Rohingya community in the western state of Rakhine, and Amnesty International says the numbers of reported incidents are on the rise.

    However, the Burmese government has persistently denied any violations by their security forces against the Rohingya.

     

  • U.S. official - Further progress needed to lift Burma import ban
    The United States have declined to state whether an import ban on Burmese goods will be lifted in the future, with an official commenting that the country had more reforming to do.

    According to Reuters, Under Secretary of State Robert Hormats told the Center for Strategic and International Studies that he was pleased with the path that Burma was currently taking. Having met with  Myanmar's President Thein Sein earlier this month with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Hormats said,
    "In the meeting with Secretary Clinton, (Thein Sein) was very clear that he wanted to do things to improve the living standards of his people ... He was very direct, and I think very persuasive and credible,"
    But Hormats declined to comment on whether a US import ban on the country, which was reauthorised by the senate's finance committee, would come to an end and stated that more steps needed to be taken, such as releasing political prisoners.

    The ban, which has been in place since 2003, comes as some sanctions placed on Burma have been eased, in response to government reforms.
  • Arab League calls on Assad to go

    The Arab League has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the BBC reports.

    After an emergency meeting in Qatar, Arab League foreign ministers called on President Assad to resign rapidly, and offered his family safe passage out of Syria.

    Meanwhile, the EU is to tighten sanctions and an arms embargo against President Assad's government, the BBC also reported.

    EU foreign ministers agreed to freeze the assets of 26 individuals and three firms close to the Syrian government. They will be added to a blacklist which already contains the names of 129 people and 49 entities.

    EU member states will also be required to send inspectors to board planes and ships believed to be carrying weapons or suspicious supplies to Damascus.

  • Zimbabwe sanctions will be suspended ‘after referendum’ – EU

    The European Union has said it will suspend all sanctions against Zimbabwe once a referendum is held on a new constitution.

    In a statement, released on Monday, EU foreign ministers said that this would be an ‘important milestone’ towards holding democratic elections.

    Sanctions would be suspended on over 100 individuals, who are subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

    "The EU agrees that a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum would represent an important milestone in the preparation of democratic elections that would justify a suspension of the majority of all EU targeted restrictive measures against individuals and entities," the statement said.

    UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the sanctions on President Robert Mugabe will remain.

    "This approach will demonstrate to reformers across the political spectrum that the EU is serious about responding to concrete progress on the ground," he said.

    "It also puts the onus on the government of Zimbabwe to live up to their commitments. These decisions will be kept under constant review and if the situation deteriorates, we will of course not hesitate to respond appropriately."

  • Obama to Assad: ‘The world is watching’
    As Syria announced their first ever acknowledgement that it possesses chemical weapons, US President Barack Obama has warned the Syrian regime against their deployment.

    Earlier on Monday, Syrian Foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi confirmed that they held chemical weapons, but declared that they would not be deployed “during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria”. He did state however, that they would only be used if “Syria is exposed to external aggression”.

    US President Barack Obama, addressing war veterans in Nevada responded to the statement, saying,
    "Given the regime's stockpile of chemical weapons, we will continue to make it clear to Assad and those around him that the world is watching"

    "They will be held accountable by the international community and the United States should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons”
    The statements come as rebels claim to have of some districts of the city of Aleppo, with fierce fighting still raging in the capital Damascus.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated on Sunday that at least 19,106 people had been killed since the uprising began in March 2011.
  • South Sudan offers $3.2 billion to neighbour
    South Sudan has offered to resume oil production and increase transit fees to Sudan in an attempt to further talks between the two nations.

    The deal, proposed at talks being held in Ethiopia, would see South Sudan provide Khartoum $3.245 billion, as well as raising transit fees to $9.10 a barrel for use of a pipeline that crosses through Sudan and $7.26 a barrel for another.

    South Sudan's chief negotiator, Pagan Amum, said,
    "if accepted by the Republic of Sudan, would not only rejuvenate Sudan's economy, but also end hostilities, resume bilateral trade, and ensure a permanent peace between South Sudan and Sudan."
    The reaction from Sudan was muted however, with a spokesman for Sudan commenting,
    "The distance is still far away,"
    "But South Sudan has gone from less than $1 barrel a day to $9, so they are going toward the logic. This is an improvement."
    The two nations have until August the 2nd, when an UN Security Council backed African Union deadline expires, to resolve their disputes, or else face potential sanctions.

    The latest offer comes as Darfur rebels clashed with Sudanese troops in South Kordofan, where they claimed to have seized a military compound.
  • US cuts aid to Rwanda

    The US has cut military aid to Rwanda, accusing it of destabilising the region by funding the M23 movement in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The funding of $200,000 will be reallocated to other countries announced the US State Department.

    Although a insignificant sum, the military aid cut is said to be a symbolic blow to Rwanda by the US - considered to be a Rwandan ally. 

  • South Sudan talks suspended after air strike accusations
    South Sudan has scrapped talks with neighbour Sudan, after accusing Khartoum of carrying out air strikes on their side of a disputed border.

    Direct talks were being held by the two countries as a UN Security Council deadline of August 2nd looms for the nations to resolve their disputes.

    However, allegations of airstrikes by Sudan on Friday have led to South Sudan cancelling direct talk that were due to take place in Addis Ababa.

    Atif Kiir, the spokesman for Juba's South Sudan said,
    "We were left with no choice but to suspend our direct bilateral talks with Sudan,"
    "You cannot sit with them to negotiate when they are bombing our territory."

  • Human rights group slam planned promotion of Nepali colonel
    Human rights groups have urged Nepal to bar the promotion of a senior army officer implicated in torture and disappearances during the country’s civil war.

    Local media had reported that Colonel Raju Basnet had been recommended for promotion to Brigadier General.

    In a joint statement, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International said,
    "The Nepal Army should adopt a policy of not promoting anyone accused of human rights abuses until the allegations are investigated in an independent and transparent manner."
    Brad Adams of HRW said,
    "The allegations against Colonel Basnet, his superiors, and those under his command in 2003 are very serious and backed by substantial and consistent evidence reported by the UN and Nepal's own national human rights commission,"
    "Not only has the Nepali army refused to prosecute or dismiss officers responsible for atrocities during the civil war, it is now adding insult to injury by promoting a notorious officer to the rank of general."
    Nepals 10 year conflict between the state and Maoist rebels has claimed at least 16000 lives with allegations of killngs and torture on both sides.
  • ICJ orders Senegal to prosecute or extradite Habre to Belgium

    The International Court of Justice has ordered the Senegalese government to commence the trial of Chad’s former president Hissene Habre ‘without delay’ or to extradite him to Belgium to face trial.

    Mr Habre denies accusation he committed crimes against humanities during his reign.

    He is alleged to have killed and tortured tens of thousands of opposition activists between 1982 and 1990.

    The highest court at the UN was investigating whether he should be extradited to Belgium or tried in Senegal, after Belgium requested the ICJ to order Habre’s extradition.

    Belgium’s universal jurisdiction law allows victims to file complaints and judges to prosecute human rights offences committed anywhere in the world.

    Four previous extradition requests by Belgium to Senegal were refused.

    Amnesty International welcomed the ruling and called on Senegal to try Habre.

    "This is a victory for victims that's long overdue, and now it's high time the courts in Senegal delivered justice," said Michael Bochenek, Amnesty's law and policy programme director.

    Habre has been living in Senegal since his ouster from Chad in 1990 and was arrested in 2005.

  • South Sudanese runner to compete in Olympics
    Guor Marial, a long distance runner from South Sudan will be competing in the upcoming London Olympics, after the International Olympic Committee granted him permission to compete under the Olympic flag.

    Speaking to Associated Press, Marial said,
    "The voice of South Sudan has been heard."

    "The South Sudan has finally got a spot in the world community. Even though I will not carry their flag in this Olympic Games, the country itself is there.     "

    "The dream has come true. The hope of South Sudan is alive."
    Marial paid special tribute to the people of his nation, stating,
    “Most important is the people of South Sudan. They struggle so much, so if I can accomplish something, I can help. That’s why every morning, I get up, I put on my shoes and I train.”
    The decision came about as the newly formed South Sudan has not yet been able to form a National Olympic Committee, disallowing it from sending a team to compete in the Olympics.

    US Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California, who supported Marial’s bid to compete, commented,
    “I look forward to the day when the people of South Sudan can field their own Olympic team... But until that time comes, the International Olympic Committee should allow individuals like Guor to compete under the Olympic flag.”
    Marial will be joining three athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles in competing under the Olympic flag, after they refused to run for the Netherlands when the Antilles ceased to officially exist in 2010.

    In the Sydney Olympics in 2000, four athletes from the East Timor were also allowed in under the Olympic flag, as the country was yet to be officially established.

    See our earlier post: Running for his nation (18 July 2012)
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