In the first successful lawsuit against torture, an US defence contractor, Engility Holdings Inc, whose subsidiary body L-3 Services Inc. was accused in the torture of prisoners held at Abu Ghraib prison, has paid $5.28 million to the victims. Another contractor, CACI is believed to be going to trial this summer over similiar allegations. The lawsuit, filed in Maryland over four years ago, accused L-3 services of having “permitted scores of its employees to participate in torturing and abusing prisoners over an extended period of time throughout Iraq" and having “wilfully failed to report L-3...
Japan has summoned China’s ambassador to the country this week, after Chinese vessels entered what Japan claims to be their territorial waters for over 13 hours. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that strong protests were registered after four Chinese surveillance ships entered the area surrounding the disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said the Chinese excursion was “an extremely unusual incident and very regrettable”. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded by saying that the islands were "an...
2130 opposition prisoners were released by the Syrian government in exchange for 48 Iranians abducted in Damascus, while apparently on a pilgrimage five months ago. The swap is the first major swap of the 21-month long civil war and was brokered by a Turkish humanitarian group and the Qatari government. Syrian opposition fighters alleged that the 48 prisoners were members of the Iranian revolutionary guard corps which was assisting Assad to crush the rebellion. Iran denied the allegations although admitted that some of the detainees were retired guards. See here for full report on the...
Loyalist protests in Belfast have resulted in a fifth consecutive day of rioting in the city, as a dispute over the flying of the Union Jack flag at Belfast City Hall continues. Plastic bullets and water cannons were deployed by police, after they were attacked with weapons including hatchets and sledge hammers. There were also reports of a clash between loyalists and nationalists, early on Monday evening. 8 arrests were made, bringing the total to 104 since violence erupted. Loyalists have been protesting in Belfast against a decision made by the council to only fly the Union Jack flag on 17...
The M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a unilateral ceasefire. The rebels are due to hold peace talks with the government soon and expressed hope that Kinshasa will reciprocate the move. "We've been for peace... today we're declaring that we're in a ceasefire," M23 spokesman Francois Rucogoza told reporters in the Ugandan capital Kampala. "Even if the government refuses to sign a ceasefire agreement we'll continue with the negotiations.” The government however said they will have to wait and see whether the rebels were being sincere. "We don't think we can see this...
The Ugandan government has returned £3.26m of aid to the Irish government, after it was transferred to unauthorised recipients within the government. A report by the auditor general of Uganda found that the funds from Ireland had been taken by officials in Prime Minister Patrick Amama Mbabazi’s office. Ireland, the UK, Norway and Denmark suspended aid to Kampala following the report. The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore said that the government’s return of aid money followed "intensive high level discussions with the government of Uganda over the last two months". "I am satisfied...
The chief of internet giant Google Eric Schmidt has begun a controversial private visit to North Korea, accompanied by the former governor of the New Mexico Bill Richardson. Whilst the purpose of the trip remains unclear, Richardson told press that he planned on attempting to meet Kenneth Bae, a detained US citizen. Richardson went on to say , “This is not a Google trip, but I’m sure he’s interested in some of the economic issues there, the social media aspect. So this is why we are teamed up on this... We’ll meet with North Korean political leaders. We’ll meet with North Korean economic leaders, military. We’ll visit some universities. We don’t control the visit. They will let us know what the schedule is when we get there,” The visit has drawn sharp criticism from the US, with State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland saying , “As you know, they are private citizens. They are travelling in an unofficial capacity. They are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us. Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful , but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions… they’re well aware of our views … They are not going on our behalf. No American official is going with them. They are not carrying any messages from us.
The highest court in Bahrain on Monday upheld the sentences of 13 leaders of the 2011 uprising. The sentences, ranging from five years to life, were initially passed by a military court in June 2011, and later upheld by a civilian court in September last year. All together twenty uprising leaders were sentenced, but seven are in hiding, leaving the remaining 13 to file appeals. Speaking to Reuters , one of the defence lawyers, Mohammad al-Jishi said: "This verdict is final. No more appeals are possible. It is the last stage of litigation," and the country's main opposition group condemned the decision, stating, "These judgments confirmed the rulings issued before by the military court which were condemned by the whole world. I think it is accurate to call these rulings political persecution." The spokesperson for the US State Department, Victoria Nuland, said: "We regret today's decision," "We're concerned that this decision further restricts freedom of expression and compromises the atmosphere within Bahrain for reconciliation." "We call on the government of Bahrain to investigate all reports of torture, including those made by the defendants in this case, as it has pledged to do, and to hold accountable any who are found responsible,"
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered officials to use ‘State of Palestine’ on official documents, including passports, ID cards and driving licenses. Abbas said the move would help bolster the Palestinian state "on the ground and build its institutions... and its sovereignty over the its land". He ordered the replacement of ‘Palestinian Authority’ with the ‘State of Palestine’ for official correspondence of the foreign ministry and embassies last week.
South African government announced on Sunday that an additional 400 troops will be sent to Central African Republic (CAR). The announcement came a day after the Seleka rebels took over another town in the country and a few days prior to the peace talks that will be held in Libreville, Gabon. In a statement, South African President Jacob Zuma said, troops are being deployed to “assist with capacity building of the CAR Defence Force and will also assist CAR with the planning and implementation of the disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration processes.” Neighbouring countries such as...