A senior government diplomat for China has condemned the election of Taiwan’s President Taiwan pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen; stating that “those who split the country will be doomed to leave a stink for 10,000 years”.

President Tsai Ing-wen was rejected in a context of growing Chinese aggression and she successfully campaigned on a message that Taiwan would not relent to Chinese demands. 

As part of China’s “One China” policy, the Chinese government does not recognise Taiwan’s independence in spite of the view of the international community.

Speaking at a conference in Africa, China’s State Councillor, Wang Yi, said; 

“[China’s] consensus won’t alter a bit because of a local election on Taiwan, and will not be shaken because of the wrong words and actions of certain Western politicians,”

In 2005, China passed an anti-secession bill authorising use the of force if a Chinese judge deems Taiwan to have seceded from China.

In response to China, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said Wang “must face up to reality and stop believing his own lies”.

Read Reuter’s reporting here.

Just over a year since a dispute over the access to traditional territory in Northern British Columbia (B.C.) arose between Wet'suwet'en people and a pipeline company, tensions between the two parties have re-emerged.

The Wet’suwet’en chiefs have incessantly opposed the $6.6-billion project, which would connect gas fields in North-Eastern B.C. with the planned LNG Canada export plant in Kitimat. Last week they issued eviction notices to Coastal GasLink workers to vacate the premises immediately.

However, following the recent extreme cold weather across the North Coast, the hereditary chiefs of Wet'suwet'en have approved a ‘one-time access’  to workers from a natural gas pipeline construction site on their traditional territory.

A statement was given on Sunday by five Wet’suwet’en chiefs:

“This limited access was offered in good faith as a demonstration of wiggus or respect by us, despite the lack of consent for [Coastal GasLink’s] property and pre-construction activities on our unseeded territory.” 

The First Nation chiefs claimed that the company wrote to them agreeing that they will vacate the site following an operation to prevent damage to their equipment.

“Our focus remains on finding a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution,” Coastal GasLink spokesperson Suzanne Wilton said.

In January 2019, Canada’s federal police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), imposed a provisional injunction against a Wet'suwet'en group that had implemented measures to block the construction of the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Recently, on December 31, 2019, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Margeurite Church ruled that, although the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs had not consented to construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through their territory, the RCMP would be authorised to remove and, potentially, criminalise those obstructing the construction.

It was claimed by Al Jazeera, a recent raid by the RCMP involved lethal force against the Wet'suwet'en people near the site.

"They're clearly willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that this pipeline gets built," Wet'suwet'en land defender 'Sleydo' (Molly Wickham) said.

This has brought about widespread criticism and has prompted the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to call for Canada to halt the project’s construction unless official informed consent is gained.

They insisted the project will “cause irreparable harm to indigenous peoples rights, culture, lands, territories and way of life.”

See tweets from BC's first independent Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender on the issue below.

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Read more from The Canadian Press here. 

A UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) investigation into the Dominican Republic of Congo (DRC) has revealed that at least 701 people from the Hema and Lendu communities in the northeast province of Ituri, DRC, from December 2017 to September 2018, raising concerns of “crimes against humanity.

The report details the DRC’s security forces engaged in actions or arbitrary arrests, detentions, executions and sexual violence. The DRC has been actively deployed to this region in February 2018 but has not ceased the violence.

According to the UN, the majority of the women, at least 142 people, subject to sexual violence are from the “Hema community”. The UNHCR reports that approximately 57,000 people have been forced into exile and found shelter in Uganda whilst a further 556,000 have fled to Djugu and Mahagi.

The UN has stated that these attacks include acts such as beheading women and children as well as dismembering body parts to claim as trophies of war.

Read more at UN News here.

Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch’s executive director has reported that he was denied entry to Hong Kong where he was set to launch HRW’s latest annual report.

On Twitter Roth announced that this report would detail how China is “undermining the international human rights system”. The reason given for denying him entry was “immigration reasons” however the decision follows China’s pledge to sanction HRW, along with several other pro-democracy US organisations, in relations to anti-governments protests in Hong Kong in early December.

Roth further stated in a press release by HRW;

"This disappointing action is yet another sign that Beijing is tightening its oppressive grip on Hong Kong and further restricting the limited freedom Hong Kong people enjoy under 'one country, two systems’.

Read HRW’s statement here and Al Jazeera’s reporting here.

The full report is accessible here. 

<p>Two days after an attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) university students and staff, Delhi police, who have been criticised for turning a blind eye on the attack, has filed charges against several students for attacking security guards and vandalising a server room.</p> <p>The police have not acted against any assailants, including those who attacked JNU Professor, Sucharita Sen. The professor was left with several injuries to her head from an attack conducted by individuals identified to be affiliated with the BJP aligned student group the ABVP. The professor demanded that the police register an FIR against her assailants for attempted murder but they have failed to take action.</p> <p>The police have issued two first information report (FIRs) against Student Union president, Aishe Ghosh, as well as several other students. In these reports the police report Ghosh, Saket Moon and 18 others of entering into the Communication and Information Services (CIS) office and breaking a glass door. Police investigations follow most FIRs.</p> <p>Read more at <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/charges-against-student-leader-a…">The Hindu.&nbsp;</a></p>

 

The United States has released a statement confirming that they will be imposing sanctions on Taban Teng Gai, South Sudan's first vice president, over allegations that Gai was involved in the killing of opposition politicians and strengthen his political standing.

South Sudan’s treasury claims that Gai had organised the assassination of Aggrey Idri Ezibon, an opposition politician, and Dong Samuel Luak, a human rights lawyer. A spokesman for South Sudan’s president, Ateny Wek Ateny, has denied these claims maintaining that there is no evidence.

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, has called upon the government and opposition to distance themselves from those who may disturb peace negotiations. He further described Gai as having acted to "divide and sow distrust, extend the conflict in South Sudan, and impede the reconciliation and peace process".

In 2011 South Sudan claimed independence however it found itself caught in a civil war in 2013 which has killed close to 400,000 people and forced millions into exile.

Read Reuter's reporting here.

 

Israel has approved the construction of 1,936 illegal settlements on Sunday and Monday, according to activist group Peace Now – adding that such settlement buildings have greatly increased under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has received strong political backing from US President Donald Trump.   

Netanyahu’s political reign remains in jeopardy after his recent corruption charges and failure to form a new coalition government following the April and September elections last year. He was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a set of long-running corruption cases and faces a third general election in March.

Peace Now released a statement following the supposed approval:

"Despite lacking a clear mandate, for this caretaker government it's business as usual - continue the massive promotion of harmful and unnecessary construction in occupied territory and in places that Israel will have to evacuate. Netanyahu continues to sabotage the prospects of peace, dragging Israel into an anti-democratic one-state reality resembling apartheid.”

Peace Now claims that 1,150 of the units were approved for "deposit" or phase one of the planning process and 786 units received final endorsement, including 258 to be built in Haresha – an "illegal outpost" west of the city of Ramallah on the West Bank.

Israel, settled in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War of 1967, but its occupation has been considered illegal under international law. Around 600,000 Israeli occupy the West Bank and East Jerusalem among around 2.9 million Palestinians but have lived in political segregation with heavy Israeli militarisation and hundreds of random flying checkpoints in these areas.

US President Donald Trump’s administration declared late last year that it would no longer consider Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal. Although it was commended by Netanyahu, it outraged many Palestinians and members of the international community including the European Union and United Nations.

Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, last month claimed there was a premise to build a case against Israel’s settlement policies, which could constitute war crimes. She has requested the ICC to determine if she has jurisdiction to initiate a formal investigation to which Israel has strongly opposed.

Read more from Al Jazeera here. 

Four Rohingya children were killed in Rakhine, the northern state of Myanmar, in a landmine explosion on Tuesday.

Neither the state nor the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed group fighting for more autonomy in the region, have accepted responsibility for the attack.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun of Myanmar’s military claimed that five further children were injured in this incident alongside their teacher. The children and teacher had gone to collect firewood for the village of Kyauk Yan when the landmine was accidentally triggered. However, representatives from the Arakan army have accused the military of being responsible for the explosion.

the United Nations Children’s Fund has reported that last year approximately 143 children were killed during the violence across Myanmar’s borders.

Myanmar’s leadership stands accused by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of genocide for violence committed in 2017 when Myanmar’s military conducted a brutal crackdown on dissidents in Rakhine. This violence forced over 730,000 Rohingya Muslims flee to Bangladesh.

Read Reuter’s reporting here.

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned India’s police force following an incident in Delhi in which dozens of masked men and several women, who claimed to be BJP supporters, stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and went on a 3-hour rampage in which over 30 students and teachers were attacked.</p> <p>This follows an instance on 15 December when police stormed Jamia Millia Islamia campus following protests against the Indian citizenship amendment. HRW reports that the police attacked students with&nbsp;<em>lathis&nbsp;</em>(long batons).</p> <p>Videos of the incident at the JNU showed police standing by and allow assailants carrying iron rods to leave the campus unquestioned. The police also failed to act when the mob gathered at the gates of the university and attacked journalists and an activist.</p> <p>HRW also reports a mob which attacked an ambulance which attempted to enter the campus and care for the injured.</p> <p>The JNU has a proud history of progressive education which has cherished the liberal foundations of India. BJP supporters have long accused the JNU of treachery and have harassed students. HRW notes that student union elections are often bitterly opposed between the ABVP, a student group aligned with the BJP, and student groups which are more left leaning.</p> <p>Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW South Asia director, stated;</p> <blockquote><p> “All too often police in India use excessive force and arbitrarily arrest peaceful critics of the government, but are derelict in their duty to maintain law and order when violent ruling party supporters are involved.” </p></blockquote> <p>She further maintained;</p> <blockquote><p> “The Indian government has an obligation to ensure that the police act in an impartial manner according to law,” Ganguly said. “Unchecked partisan behavior by the police will only end up making the force more political, communal, and unaccountable.” </p></blockquote> <p>Read Human Right Watch’s full statement here.</p>

Armed forces in Libya loyal to opposition leader Khalifa Haftar claim to have taken control of Sirte, a key coastal city, as conflict continues to rage in the country.

The capture of Sirte marks an important gain to Haftar, who has been staging a military offensive on the capital, Tripoli since April. Tripoli is home to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

Sirte has been controlled by forces affiliated with GNA since the expulsion of the Islamic State militants in 2016. 

A local resident of Sirte had told Reuters that they had spotted troops belonging to Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and also added that “they control large parts of the city now". "We also hear gunfire,” the resident added.

An LNA spokesman, Ahmed al-Mismari had described it as a “sudden, swift operation” and said “the commander-in-chief decided on a well-planned pre-emptive strike and within less than three hours we were in the heart of Sirte”. According to UN experts and diplomats, Haftar’s LNA has military support from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Egypt. 

Meanwhile, Turkey is preparing to deploy more troops to assist Libya’s GNA in Tripoli, and has already supplied the GNA with armoured vehicles, though they currently claim to have only a “training and advisory” role.

See more from the BBC here and here, and The Guardian here.

 

 

 

<p>Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, released a statement yesterday, urging the United Nations to support a free and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to support their right to self-determination.</p> <p>In his statement, he stressed the importance of respecting this right to self-determination whilst also casting blame upon India for inaction by the UN Security Council. He further chastised India for human rights abuses and accused the nation of keeping the region under illegal occupation for over 72 years.</p> <p>The Prime Minister stated;</p> <blockquote><p> “Around 900,000 occupation forces have converted the region into the largest prison in the world. Post-Aug. 5, 2019, India has unleashed a new reign of terror in IOJ&amp;K, locking the region down and abusing human rights of the innocent people especially women, children and the elderly with impunity,”&nbsp;</p> <p>“Our strong and steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people will continue till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,”&nbsp; </p></blockquote> <p>The UN first passed the resolution recognising the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people on 5 Jan 1949. Every year residents on both sides of the Line of control reiterate the call for a right to self-determination.</p> <p>Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi shared these sentiments stating;</p> <blockquote><p> “Today’s commemoration is aimed at reminding the global community that they cannot shy away from their responsibility toward the Kashmiri people”. </p></blockquote> <p>Read more at <a href="https://www.newsweekpakistan.com/imran-khan-urges-u-n-to-honor-kashmir-…">News Week Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Following the US assassination of Iran’s chief General, Qasem Soleimani, Iraq’s parliament has voted to expel the approximately 5,200 US troops stationed in their country.

The bill was passed through Iraqi parliament on Sunday 170-0 however many of the representatives, particularly Kurdish and Sunni representatives, did not attend the session to vote.

The US troops were stationed in Iraq as part of the 2014 mission to support the fight against the Islamic State. The New York Times reports, that the withdrawal of US troops has risen concerns that it will allow for a resurgence of the Islamic State. Whilst stationed Iraq, US troops could make of Iraqi airspace for attacks.

The assassination of General Soleimani on Friday was seen as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a declaration of war. The decision to launch this attack follows rising tensions between the US and Iran after the election of President Donald J. Trump who withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal which his predecessor had agreed upon in May 2018 and reimposing harsh sanctions.

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has applauded the decision however European nations have expressed greater reserve but have not expressly condemned the attack.

For more information read the New York Times piece here.

 

Spain’s electoral board has ordered that pro-independence Catalan presidency Quim Torra be disqualified from being a member of the region’s parliament, meaning he would lose his presidential post.

The decision came on Friday, after Torra was last month convicted and banned from holding public office for 18 months for disobedience for failing to remove ‘separatist’ symbols from public building.

Torra slammed the board ruling as a "new coup against Catalan institutions."

"I will take every step possible against this authoritarian and completely irregular decision," Torra said, announcing that the Catalan regional parliament would meet in plenary session on Saturday.

See more here.

The English Football Association (FA) has charged Barnsley Football Club with sectarian abuse of Stoke FC player, James McClean. 

The FA has stated that Barnsley FC had not effectively stopped abuse from its supporters. The association saw “abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or religion and/or beliefs" in the match on November 9, 2019.

McClean, a Republic of Ireland international, has been a target previously following his stance on refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on his shirt citing his Irish heritage. 

Read more from Sky Sports News here.