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Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

Possible crimes against humanity in Nigeria – HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) have released a detailed report on activities that could amount to crimes against humanity in during violence between Boko Haram militants and government forces in Nigeria in 2009.

The report, which is based on field research between July 2010 and July 2012, details allegations of systematic murder and persecution by the Islamist militia Boko Haram, as well as numerous abuses such as extrajudicial killings by government security forces.

Boko Haram, which translates as ‘Western education is a sin’, want to impose strict Sharia law in northern Nigeria, and focus their attacks on police, government security agents and Christians as well as Muslims accused of cooperating with the government.

HRW claims that poverty, corruption, police abuse and impunity has made Nigeria an ideal breeding ground for violent militancy.

Africa director at HRW, Daniel Bekele said,
“The unlawful killing by both Boko Haram and Nigerian security forces only grows worse; both sides need to halt this downward spiral. Nigeria’s government should swiftly bring to justice the Boko Haram members and security agents who have committed these serious crimes.”

Increase in eviction in China - AI

Through a collective effort from the local government and private sector, poor and working class people from China are increasingly being evicted from their homes, stated a report released on Thursday by Amnesty International.

More than 41 cases of self-immolation have been collected by human rights group since January 2009 depicting resistance to local government’s forceful eviction.

Slovakia affirms Armenian genocide recognition

Slovakia has reaffirmed its recognition of the Armenian genocide, stating that denial of it was punishable under by law.

The remarks came as Chairman of the Slovakian Supreme Court Štefan Harabin visited the Armenian genocide memorial and museum, where he stated,

Agreement on Scottish independence referendum imminent

An agreement on the rules for a referendum on Scottish independence is in its final stages and almost ready to be signed by Alex Salmond of the SNP and the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

A Scottish government spokesperson said:

“We are on track for the full agreement, including the terms of a section 30 order, to be presented to the First Minister and the Prime Minister over the next few days.”

NATO ready to defend Turkey

Nato’s secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday that the alliance is ready to defend Turkey against any aggression from Syria, after a week of clashes between the neighbours.

Rasmussen spoke to reporters ahead of a Nato defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels, and said,

"Obviously Turkey can rely on Nato solidarity.

"We have all necessary plans in place to protect and defend Turkey if necessary."

Serbian President denies Srebrenica genocide

The President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, has told reporters that genocide did not take place in Srebrenica, as the EU has urged the country to reconcile with and recognise Kosovo.

Talking to Italian media ahead of a trip to the country, Nikolic reportedly stated,
"Genocide did not take place in Srebrenica. This is about individual guilt of members of the Serb people. The Serbian parliament condemned this crime, but did not say it was genocide.

No Serb recognizes that genocide took place in Srebrenica, and I am no different."

His comments come as the European Union released their annual report on countries looking to join the EU, calling on Serbia to do more if they wanted to achieve member status.

The report called on Serbia to reconcile with Kosovo, "while respecting the territorial integrity of Kosovo and the particular needs of the local population".

However, the Serbian President stated,
"Europe can ask anything except that we renounce Kosovo... In case it was necessary to renounce Kosovo, then it's more acceptable to us to forget about Europe (EU).

Violations of the right to a fair trial double in EU in 5 years

According to an independent analysis of criminal justice in the European Union, carried out by the London based organisation Fair Trials International, the abuses of Human rights in EU based criminal trials has doubled in the past five years.

The analysis found that states on the eastern fringes of the EU habitually violated individual’s right to liberty and a fair trial. The figures, which were taken from a 5 year between 2007 and this summer, showed the number of right to a fair criminal trial violations increase by over a 100%.

ICC holds Saif Gaddafi hearing

The International Criminal Court is considering the venue of Saif al-Islam’s trial at a public hearing in The Hague.

Libya wants to try Gaddafi in the country and lawyer Ahmed al-Jehani told the hearing that patience was needed as it will take the authorities some time to organise a fair trial.

However, lawyers of the ICC argued that Gaddafi will not receive a fair trial in Libya and the hearing will hear evidence from ICC defence lawyer Melinda Taylor, who was arrested by Libyan authorities earlier this year while visiting Muammar Gaddafi’s son.

Schoolgirl activist shot by Taliban – Pakistan

A 14-year-old Pakistani rights activist, Malala Yousafzai, was shot and injured in the Swat Valley in Pakistan.

Malala rose to fame in 2009 for keeping a diary on BBC Urdu about life in the Swat Valley under Taliban rule. She was internationally recognised for criticising Taliban policies, especially the shutting of schools for girls, and was awarded the first National Peace Prize by the Pakistani government in 2011.

Northern Nigerian Christians seek 2015 presidency

A group of Northern Christian leaders - the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NORSEF) demanded that the 2015 presidency be allocated to a Christian, citing marginalisation, reported The Guardian Nigeria.

The NORSEF chairman, Mathew Owojaiye and Secretary Illiya Yusuf said that Northern Christians would protest against Muslim politicians putting themselves forward for the contest.

In a statement, NORSEF said:

“The Federal Government must understand that Christian leaders are being put in a very difficult position. Why must we keep apologising to our people on behalf of the Federal Government? Why must we keep telling our people to be calm in the face of such provocations, slaughter and terrorist acts? Why is the Federal Government making us cowards, inactive and incapable leaders to protect our people and fight for their interest? Our youths are becoming restless and furious. We urge the Federal Government to show that they are truly in control. This nation is fast becoming a failed state”.

Owojaiye said:

“We the Christians boldly affirm that the next person to be president of this country from the north must be a Christian”