WORLD NEWS

World News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday.  Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces. Raids were launched by al-Shabab fighters before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted…

Croatia will not drop genocide case

Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has stated that Croatia will not be dropping charges of genocide levelled against Serbia, in a case filed before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The case, was put forward in 1999 against Serbia under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In response, Serbia filed their own genocide case against Croatia in 2010, focusing on the persecution of Serbs during World War II.

Kashmiris observe 64th Jammu Martyrs' Day

Kashmiris across the world observed Jammu Martyrs day on Sunday, 6th November.

The day marks the massacre of upto 300,000 Muslims fleeing to Pakistan. The killings occurred sixty-four years ago in the city of Jammu and are believed to have been orchestrated by Hindu extremists and the Indian army led by Maharaja Hari Singh.

On the day, Kashmiris pledged to continue the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and never forget the sacrifice made by those who died in 1947.

Report accuses Indonesian police of brutality against Papuans

Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komna) accused the country's security forces of carrying out human right violations, during a separatist rally in Papua, in a report released on Friday.

The report details incidences of police brutality against Papuans, which caused the deaths of four people.

“We found four examples of human rights violations: the right to life, the right to live free from torture and brutal actions, property rights and the right to not live in fear,” Komnas chairman Ifdhal Kasim told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

Navi Pillay on human rights, from Moldova

Speaking at the end of her visit to Moldova, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, reiterated the importance of media freedom, upholding the rule of law and freedom from torture.

See here for full speech.

Extracts reproduced below:

War crimes accused to stand in Congo election

A militia leader, accused of horrific war crimes by UN investigators is to stand in Congo’s parliamentary elections.

Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka is alleged to have been involved in mass rapes committed by his troops, the Mai Mai militia in 2010.

Although Congolese prosecutors issued a warrant for Sheka’s arrest in January, he can claim immunity from prosecution, if elected as a member of parliament.

All sides, including NATO, will be investigated – ICC

The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has stated that pro-Gaddafi forces, the NTC and NATO will all be investigated in an independent war crimes inquiry in Libya.

Speaking to the UN Security Council, Moreno-Ocampo said,

Former Serb paramilitary arrested

A member of the Serbian Jackals (Šakali) paramilitary group was reported to have been arrested in a Belgrade suburb, after spending years on the run.

The former fighter, Sinisa Misic, was wanted for the killing of 11 ethnic Albanians, during the infamous Cuska massacre in May 1999.

Malawi 'needs to take its medicine' - UN

Expressing concern regarding threats to media freedom, governance, human rights abuses and the “shrinking political space”, the UN resident representative in Malawi, Richard Dictus, said,

"[Malawi] definitely have to brace ourselves for a difficult period ahead.

“You [Malawi] need to follow a new line, go back to a number of policy tenets that made Malawi very successful between 2004 and 2009.

27 years on, Sikhs demand justice for 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Families of those killed during anti-Sikh riots in 1984, held vigils on Tuesday, demanding justice for the victims.

Over 5000 Sikhs were killed during riots, following the assassination of then Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi, by her Sikh bodyguard on 31st October 1984.

Vigils of remembrance were held at India Gate, in New Delhi, and outisde the Canadian Parliament, where diaspora Sikh families remembered those who had been killed.

The call for justice has been endorsed by numerous human rights organisations including Lok Raj Sangathan, Sikh Forum, People's Union for Democratic Rights and the People's Union for Civil Liberties.

Niger wary of Saif hand over

Still on the run, Saif al-Islam is reported to be heading towards Niger with the help of heavily armed Tuareg tribesmen, leaving the West African nation with the possibility of facing local anger if they were to hand him over to the International Criminal Court.

Muammar Gaddafi hosted talks between Niger, Mali and Tuareg rebels resulting in a shaky peace deal in the decades-long insurgency. The Niger government are now faced with the prospect of more violence if they were to hand Saif to the ICC.