Category Archives: Repression
Time to practise what we preach on human rights
by SMH Australian diplomats appeared at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in early May to dispense some friendly advice to Kiribati and Lesotho. In Australia’s opinion, neither country was doing enough on the home front to protect human rights. Australia recommended Kiribati should “ensure human rights are afforded full [...]
Amnesty International censures Tunisia over human rights
Political and economic life in Tunisia is subject to government’s ‘aggressive and repressive’ tactics, says report by Ian Black Tunisia has been taken to task for subverting civil society and professional organisations which criticise the authorities in one of the most modern but repressive countries in the Arab world. Amnesty International said in a report [...]
ALL CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS: End Unfair Prosecutions of Children under Anti-Terrorism Legislation in Turkey
Amnesty International report – Since 2006, thousands of children in Turkey, some as young as 12, have been prosecuted under anti-terrorism legislation solely for their alleged participation in demonstrations focused on issues of concern to members of the Kurdish community. While Amnesty International recognizes the obligation of the Turkish authorities to maintain order and to prevent [...]
US Criticizes Syrian Imprisonment of Human Rights Lawyer
by David Gollust The United States on Thursday sharply criticized Syria’s imprisonment of human rights lawyer and activist Muhannad al-Hassani on sedition charges. But the State Department said efforts at outreach to the Damascus government will continue. The State Department has joined human rights groups in condemning the Syrian action against Hassani, who was given [...]
Libya violating human rights despite new image, says Amnesty
Report claims west ignores state violence in rush to cosy up to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime since relations thawed By Ian Black Human rights observance in Libya is failing to keep pace with the country’s improved international image, with abuses rife and state security forces enjoying impunity for their actions, Amnesty International reports today.
Enact law against torture, human rights body urges govt
By Charles Ariko THE Uganda Human Rights Commission has asked the Government to enact the anti-torture Bill.The chairperson, Medi Kaggwa, said the law would provide legal protection for torture victims.
Turkey’s ‘zero problems’ policy is a flop
The Turkish government is running into trouble at every turn in its attempt to be a regional powerbroker by Simon Tisdall Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is seeking influence and markets for Turkey’s expanding economy across the Middle East. Photograph: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
Syria: Political Detainee, Sentence Ended, Held on New Charges
Ali al-`Abdallah Faces New Accusations for Article Written in Detention Syrian authorities should immediately drop any new charges against the political activist Ali al-`Abdallah for his peaceful political expression and immediately release him, Human Rights Watch said today.
Israel’s partial easing of Gaza blockade dismissed as inadequate
Cool response from international community as Palestinians demand blockade be lifted completely by Ian Black Israel‘s decision today to allow a partial easing of the blockade of Gazawas given a cool response by the international community, while Palestinians demanded the blockade be lifted completely. Aid agencies condemned it as inadequate.
Cyprus: Foreign inspired policies and ineffective lobbies
Has the time come to change all that? As change is sweeping the “political carpets” in Capitol Hill, due to the worsening relations between Israel and Turkey, all eyes focus on the powerful Jewish Lobby in the United States of America and what new orientations it will adopt.
Turkey, Israel and the moment of truth
By Raffi K. Hovannisian Yerevan — Today’s Turkey is the denialist bearer of the Ottoman execution of the great genocide and national dispossession of the Armenian people nearly a century ago.
The Heresy Of The Greeks Offers Hope
By John Pilger As Britain’s political class pretends that its arranged marriage of Tweedledee to Tweedledum is democracy, the inspiration for the rest of us is Greece. It is hardly surprising that Greece is presented not as a beacon but as a “junk country” getting its comeuppance for its “bloated public sector” and “culture of cutting [...]
Deadly clashes as police besiege Bangkok protesters
Rachel Harvey: The situation is “chaotic” Thai forces in Bangkok have fired live rounds after surrounding a fortified protesters’ camp amid clashes that left at least eight people dead. Embassies were closed as protesters set fire to a police bus and shot fireworks at troops, who also responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. A [...]
Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, Thailand’s Braveheart, injured in riots
by Richard Lloyd Parry He compares himself to Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, but he is closer to a Thai version of Andy McNab. Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, who narrowly avoided assassination in Bangkok yesterday, is one of the most colourful but mysterious figures in the ongoing Thai crisis, a living example of the contradictions which make it [...]
Israeli Military Order Targets West Bank ‘Infiltrators’
by LOURDES GARCIA-NAVARRO Thousands of Palestinians could be deported under a new and highly controversial order put in place in April by the Israeli army, human rights groups in Israel say. The new rule defines anyone not holding an Israeli-issued permit to reside in the West Bank as an “infiltrator.” Violators could face up to [...]
