An MI24 helicopter gunship allegedly firing rockets on Kachin rebels on the 28th December 2012. Photograph: Free Burma Rangers The Burmese government has admitted that they have carried out airstrikes and helicopter raids on Kachin rebels, as violence continues to escalate in the northern region. The Telegraph reported that, Burmese government negotiator and adviser to President, Hla Maung Shwe had said, "We heard the military used helicopters and training jets while trying to get their camp back," The statement comes as the BBC broadcast images they received from the aid group free Burma...
Iran has slammed a new US law, intended to curb Iran's influence in Latin America. President Obama signed the "Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act" last week, which gave the US State Department 180 days to develop a plan to "address Iran's growing hostile presence and activity". Iran's spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, told reporters that the US "still lives in the Cold War era and considers Latin America as its back yard". "It is an overt intervention in Latin American affairs... that shows they are not familiar with new world relations," he said. "We...
Five female teachers and two aid workers were killed on Tuesday by gunmen on motorcycles in Swabi, Pakistan. The victims had been working with an NGO, Support With Working Solution, on polio immunisation campaigns. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the shootings director of the NGO, Javed Akhtar, suspected that the attack was a part of a spree targeting anti-polio efforts in Pakistan. Previously militant groups have accused health workers of spying for the USA and alleged that the polio vaccine is intended to sterilise Muslim children. See here for full Associated Press report.
The Colombian military has announced that 13 Farc rebels have been killed in an air strike. Air force officials said they had hit a camp in the northwest of the country on New Years’ Eve and has found 13 bodies. The government did not reciprocate a unilateral truce called by the rebels last year and has continued attacks, while peace talks are continuing in Cuba.
Bosnian prosecutors charge former members of their armed and police forces with war crimes allegedly committed against Serbian civilians during the Bosnian War which took place over a decade ago. According to a statement from the national prosecutor’s office, eight people were charged with, "taking part in illegal detention of Serb civilians, their inhuman treatment, beating and inflicting of serious bodily injuries... and other inhuman acts," The accused were all part of the Bosnian Muslim led armed and police forces during the war.
The UN is to end its peacekeeping mission in East Timor on Monday, after 13 years and over 1500 UN troops. In a statement, the chief of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Finn Reske-Nielson, said , "The Timorese people and its leaders have shown courage and unswerving resolve to overcome great challenges," "Although there remains much work ahead, this is an historic moment in recognising the progress already made." Stressing that the relationship between the UN and East Timor was not ending, Reske-Nielson added, "As peacekeepers depart, we look forward to a new phase in this...
A bomb, considered to be "viable device", was found on Sunday in East Belfast, under the car of a police officer, after being discovered by an off-duty officer. Blaming dissident republicans, the Northern Ireland Police Federation said, “The device was underneath the passenger’s side of the vehicle which shows they were not worried if it killed the officer’s family. It is a really callous approach by the dissidents.” Politicians from all sides have condemned the act, with Conall McDevitt of the nationalist SDLP describing it as "cynical and deplorable." The incident is the latest in...
A suspected Nazi war criminal has been stripped of his Canadian citizenship by the federal government, who are now seeking to deport him, according to reports. 88-year-old Helmut Oberlander is accused of being part of a Nazi killing squad who allegedly murdered thousands in the former Soviet Union, during World War II. Oberlander maintains that he was merely a translator for the unit and was forced to join, and at no time was involved in any murders. Oberlander previously had his citizenship revoked in 2007 by the Canadian government, after fighting a deportation case since 1995. Canada’s...
The president of the Catalan region in Spain, Artur Mas, has again expressed his determination to hold an independence referendum in 2013. Mr Mas, currently leading a pro-independence coalition made up of right and left-wing parties, said that the majority of Catalans want to build a new country". The president said he wanted "all the citizens to decide freely and peacefully our future as a nation". "We are now facing transcendental pages in our history," "Our duty and responsibility is to leave for future generations a country that they can feel proud of." The Spanish government has rejected...
Egypt has allowed a shipment of construction materials to enter the Gaza Strip through its territory for the first time in 5 years. Thousands of tonnes of supplies donated by the Gulf state of Qatar were allowed to reach Gaza through Egypt. Egypt had previously been following strict import restrictions imposed by Israel. The recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza’s political representatives, Hamas, has allowed for a relaxing of the import laws. An Egyptian security official told the Associated Press that the shipment was made in consultation with Israeli officials. The head of the...