US will speak up about Cambodian rights issues

An US diplomat for East Asia, Kurt Cambell, stressed that the US would not shy away from raising concerns over the human rights situation in Cambodia at the upcoming summit East Asian Leaders. Campbell, stated that the U.S was concerned about the actions Cambodia regime had taken against opposition groups, civic organisations, and individuals. The statement of concerns comes after exiled Cambodian opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, recently wrote in The New York Times urging President Obama to boycott the conference to avoid providing international legitimacy to the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun...

Kosovo's borders not debatable says Clinton

Serbia must acknowledge Kosovo’s borders will not change and are not debatable, said the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, as the United States and European Union urge the two countries to cooperate on trade and security. Speaking after a meeting with Kosovo's president, Clinton said : "[The United States] will oppose any discussion of territorial changes or reopening Kosovo’s independent status. These matters are not up for discussion," “The boundaries of an independent, sovereign Kosovo are clear and set.” About six percent of Kosovo’s population consist of Serbs who...

Swiss engagement with civic society praised at UPR

The Swiss government has agreed to implement 50 of the 86 recommendations made by other member states at the UN Human Rights Council, during the country's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) this week. The Swiss government indicated that a response to the remaining 30 recommendations would be provided at the next session of the council, due to take place in March next year. Four recommendations were rejected. Commenting on the Swiss government's initial response to the recommendations, Amnesty International Switzerland said , “We are satisfied with the fact that a certain number of the proposals...

Abuses under the anti-terrorism banner in Turkey

UN human rights experts have said that Turkey is using a vague counterterrorism law to prosecute activists, lawyers and journalists. The UN Human Rights Committee reviewing Turkey’s human rights record said that some provisions within its Anti-Terrorism Law are incompatible with international law and that there have been severe restraints on the right to due process since the law’s passing in 1991. Thousands, including activists, lawyers, politicians, military officers and almost 100 journalists, have been imprisoned, most often under accusations of plotting against the government or...

Nigerian Islamist group ready for peace talks

An alleged spokesperson for the Nigerian radical Islamist group Boko Haram has said that the group is willing to enter into peace talks, on the premise that they are held in Saudi Arabia and headed by Muhamed Buhari, a Muslim colonel who ruled Nigeria for 20 months after seizing power in 1984. The spokesperson, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, claiming to be representing Boko Haram’s leader said: "We are not actually challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security [forces] who are killing our members, children and wives. If this government is sincere, [attacks] will come to an end.”...

Modi free to apply for US visa

Gujurat's chief minister Narendra Modi, who was previously shunned by the West following the 2002 Godhra riots, is now free to apply for a US visa. The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said that Modi the US has "very good" relations with the state of Gujurat, and that it was a "very, very important" market for American companies. Blake went on to say , “... And in terms of Mr. Modi, I do not want to speculate… He is free to apply for another visa whenever he chooses and the system will take its course,” Blake's words come shortly after the British High...

US urge Syrian rebels to reject extremism

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has warned the Syrian opposition of attempts by radical groups to “hijack” the Syrian revolution. The opposition Syrian National Council is based in Turkey and has no control over the escalating violence. Clinton criticised the make-up of the SNC, saying that the leadership should be more representative of those resisting on the ground. "There has to be a representation of those who are in the front lines fighting and dying," she told reporters. "This cannot be an opposition represented by people who have many good attributes but who, in many instances, have...

Protests against royal welcome for Indonesian president

Dozens of British protesters condemned alleged torture in Indonesia as the Indonesian President, Susilo Banbang Youdhoyono, received a royal welcome upon his first visit to Britain in over 30 years. The president will address parliament and open a new ‘Indonesia-UK Business forum’ during his 3 day visit. Activists accused Britain of prioritising their commercial interests ahead of human rights issues that were affecting the Indonesian minorities. The protests were staged by several activists from Amnesty International and other non-governmental Indonesian organisations. Speaking to Reuters,...

Yugoslav Army General appeals war crimes sentence

The former Chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, Momčilo Perišić, is appealing against a 27-year prison sentence, after being found guilty of war crimes in September last year. Perišić’s appeal is due to start on Wednesday, with the former General arguing that he was not aware of or responsible for any atrocities. In his trial last year, Bakone Justice Moloto, the president judge ruled that, “Momcilo Perisic was found criminally responsible for aiding and abetting murder, inhumane acts, attacks on civilians and persecution on political, racial or religious grounds in Sarajevo and...

Bahrain bans protests

The Bahraini government has banned all protests and public gatherings as violence between anti-government protesters and police intensifies. The interior minister, Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah, said protests would only be permitted once secuirty and stability were returned, and "repeated abuse" of the rights of freedom of speech and expression (ie. the protests), could not be tolerated. Claiming that the protests were "devoid of respect and intended to humiliate", Al Khalifah said the protests "jeopardised civil peace and disturbed security and general order". He added , "The interior ministry...

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