Buddhist monks in Burma have raised the concerns of human rights groups by protesting for the deportation of the Muslim minority Rohingya, for a third consecutive day. Burma saw its largest Buddhist monk led demonstrations since the pro-democracy uprisings in 2007. Hundreds of traditionally dressed Monks marched through Burma’s second largest city, Mandalay, supporting President Thein Sein’s calls for the segregation and deportation of the Rohingya minority. Human Rights Watch (HRW) Deputy Director For Asia, Phil Robertson, noted that the Monk’s prevalent moral authority was likely to...
The UK government announced on Tuesday that it would unblock about half of its £15million aid to Rwanda, following progress on solving a conflict in Congo. Along with states such as the US, Sweden and the Netherlands, Britain had suspended support to Rwanda after a June report by the United Nations accused Rwandan officials of supporting armed rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A spokesperson for Congo’s government described the decision as “disastrous” with rights groups blaming Rwanda for fuelling bloodshed in the Congo. The UK’s outgoing International Development...
The Colombian government has confirmed that peace talks with Farc rebels will begin in Oslo in October, in a bid to end one of Latin America's longest-running armed conflicts. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made the announcement that both sides had agreed to the talks, which are scheduled to move to Cuba after Norway. He called the talks a path to "a definitive peace", adding , "I ask the Colombian people for patience and strength…There's no doubt it's time to turn the page." "There are people like me that don't know a single day of peace… We have to take the dream of living in peace...
Hundreds of British troops are set to be questioned by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) regarding the alleged torture of civilians in Iraq. According to The Telegraph , the number is expected to increase as two public enquiries into war crimes in Iraq by British troops are reviewed by investigators. One such inquiry, the al-Sweady inquiry has already identified more than 500 troops that will be questioned. The Telegraph also reported earlier that the three inquiries by Britain is projected to cost the country £100 million. Lawyers representing British troops have dismissed evidence...
France's Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, warned of a "massive and blistering" response if the Assad regime was to cross the "red line" and use of biological or chemical weapons. Speaking to RMC radio on Monday, Fabius said, "we are discussing this notably with our American and English partners." Adding that Russia and China are "of the same position" on this particular issue. Related articles: UK echoes US warning on Syria’s chemical weapons (23 Aug 2012) US chemical weapon threat 'excuse' to attack Syria (22 Aug 2012)
Armenia has strongly criticised Baku’s decision to pardon Azeri soldier Ramil Safarov for killing an Armenian soldier in Hungary in 2004. President Serzh Sarkisian said that Armenia was ready for war if the situation escalated, reported the AFP. "We don't want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win. We are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection of the head of state," Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said in a statement on Sunday. "They (Azerbaijanis) have been warned," he said, calling Azerbaijan a country where "illicit orders set free and publicly glorify every...
Rioting on Sunday and further violence on Monday has left at least 47 policemen injured in Belfast, as disorder erupted in the city between loyalists and republicans. Almost 10 hours of rioting on Sunday saw the police fire water cannons as petrol bombs, fireworks, golf balls and bottles were thrown at police lines, with Chief Superintendent George Clark describing the violence as "savage, appalling and reprehensible". The violence erupted after a loyalist protest against republican bands marching in the area. The previous weekend a loyalist band defied a ban against playing sectarian songs...
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic attempt for a retrial at a UN court has been rejected by judges, who stated the late disclosure of evidence from prosecutors would not prejudice his case. Rejecting Karadzic’s request, Judge O-Gon Kwon at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said , "there is no basis for the accused's renewed claim that the prosecution's disclosure violations ... have caused him prejudice." 67-year-old Karadzic faces 11 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity including over his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre...
A court in the US has ordered the ex-Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Samantar to pay $21 million in damages to victims of torture and human rights abuses that took place whilst he was in power. An 8 year long court battle ended earlier this week, with a Washington court ruling Samantar must compensate his victims from his time in office during the 1980s. Kathy Roberts from the Center for Justice and Accountability and was the attorney for the lead plaintiff welcomed the ruling commenting , "The court's ruling [sends] a message to victims and perpetrators alike that the U.S. will not provide...
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for Tony Blair and George W Bush to be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the Iraq war. The Nobel peace prize winner said in The Observer the former leaders lied about weapons of mass destruction and that the controversial war “fabricated the grounds” for civil war in Syria and a potential conflict with Iran. Tutu also said that different standards are applied to western and African leaders and that the human cost of the US-UK invasion was sufficient reason for Bush and Blair to be hauled before the ICC. There were also critics of...