Archive for January, 2012

  |   Newer Entries »
04/01/2012

2012 Opens with Mounting War Threat in Persian Gulf

Human Wrongs Watch

By Peter Symonds* – World Socialist Web Site

The year begins with the looming threat of a new American war, this time against Iran. In the latest sharp exchange of words, the US yesterday brushed aside an Iranian warning that the American aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis should not return to the Persian Gulf as it constitutes a threat to Iran.

**Topography of Iran | Wikimedia Commons

The US and the European Union have deliberately raised tensions in the Gulf with further economic sanctions that could cripple the already weakened Iranian economy.

On Saturday [Dec. 31, 2011], President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) that includes a measure to penalise foreign companies doing business with Iran’s central bank, potentially blocking Iranian oil exports.

Later this month, the EU will consider an embargo on imports of Iranian oil by its member states.

read more »

Posted in Middle East, Others-USA-Europe-etc., War Lords | Leave a Comment »

04/01/2012

Iran ‘Recommends’ US to Stay Out of Persian Gulf

Human Wrongs Watch

Russia Today* – Iran has warned the United States it will take action if its fleet returns to the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, France is pushing European countries to follow the US in freezing Iranian central bank assets and imposing an embargo on oil exports.

Ahmadinejad. **Photo: Marcello Casal JrABr – Agência Brasil | Wikimedia Commons

Iran’s army chief, General Ataollah Salehi had this message for US naval forces: “We recommend… to the American warship that passed through the Strait of Hormuz and went on to the Gulf of Oman, not to return to the Persian Gulf,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.

Salehi appeared to be referring to the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier that left the Persian Gulf through the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Tuesday, as was reported by the Associated Press.

The Pentagon issued its own statement in response, saying that the US Naval presence in the Gulf is in “compliance with international law,” and that its fleet is intended to maintain a “constant state of high vigilance” in order to ensure the safe flow of marine commerce.

read more »

Posted in Middle East, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | Leave a Comment »

04/01/2012

Senegal: Singer Youssou N’dour Quits Music for Politics

Human Wrongs Watch

Famous Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour has decided to quit music for politics and to run for next month elections. The musician’s widespread popularity will make him a significant force in Senegalese politics, but his political ambitions are currently unclear.

Foto source: Think Africa Press

By Samantha Aidoo* – Think Africa Press

World-renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N’dour announced his retirement from music last month in order to enter Senegalese politics. With elections due to take place in February 2012, N’dour said that from January 2 he would be freeing himself from all artistic engagements.

With the 11-year dominance of current President Abdoulaye Wade, the 52-year-old’s entry into Senegalese politics could present the fresh change desperately desired by the country’s young population.

The key issue for many is the precise nature of N’dour’s politics. While the lyrics of his songs express a bank of opinions, he has on occasion been more specific, announcing previously his intention to work for the disenfranchised and his desire to fight for strong governance, service provision, peace, environmental justice and empowerment in Senegalese communities.

read more »

Posted in Africa | 1 Comment »

03/01/2012

Afghanistan: UN (Not U.S.) Rushes to Feed 7,3 Million Poor

Human Wrongs Watch

Rome – UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced a new food subsidy initiative geared towards providing Afghanistan’s urban poor with guaranteed access to provisions despite the threat of food insecurity across this country, which has been invaded and occupied by a U.S.-led military coalition nearly ten years ago.

A Jalalabad woman receives her first food voucher from WFP | Credit:UN

Some 18,000 households – or an estimated 114,000 individuals – consisting mainly of poor women and households headed by people with disabilities will benefit from the project, Rome-based WFP announced on Jan. 3. Each monthly voucher is worth $25 and can be exchanged for food items in participating local shops.

read more »

Posted in Asia, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | Leave a Comment »

03/01/2012

Another Year of Death and Destruction in the AfPak War

Human Wrongs Watch

By James Cogan – World Socialist Web Site*

January – The tenth year of the US and NATO occupation of Afghanistan was among the deadliest and most destructive of the entire conflict.

Displaced children in Jalozai Camp|Credit:UN

In 2011, over 140,000 US and foreign troops conducted intense operations in southern Afghanistan to try and crush the insurgency being fought by the Islamist Taliban and other resistance organisations, while the CIA continued its illegal drone strikes against alleged insurgent targets in the tribal border regions of north west Pakistan.

The killing of a British soldier on December 3 in an explosion in the southern province of Helmand brought the overall death toll among the US-led occupation forces in Afghanistan for 2011 to 566.

Only 2010 was more costly, the first year of the Obama administration’s “surge” that sent tens of thousands of additional troops into combat in some of the most volatile areas of the country. A total of 711 American and foreign personnel lost their lives that year.

read more »

Posted in Asia, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | Leave a Comment »

02/01/2012

Uzbekistan – No Rights But Cotton, Oil and… U.S. Troops

Human Wrongs Watch

“For centuries, Uzbekistan was famed as a hub of trade and rich cultural exchange on the Silk Road connecting China to Western Europe. More recently, however, the Central Asian country has come to be known for something far darker: torture,”‘ says Human Rights Watch report “No One Left to Witness” on Uzbekistan’s record of rights abuses.

Photo: Lageroth | Wikimedia Commons

Based on over 100 interviews with torture victims, their relatives, lawyers, human rights defenders, scholars, and government officials between 2009 and 2011, the report focuses on three issues: the failure of habeas corpus, the persistence of torture in pre-trial detention, and the dismantling of the independent legal profession.

With 28 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan is the most populous Central Asian country, and has the largest armed forces. No legal political opposition is allowed and the state holds media under tight controlled.

Despite frequent criticism of its human rights record, Uzbekistan’s energy resources and strategic location have led both the West to turn a blind eye. Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers and is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas and gold.

Following the 11 September attacks, Uzbekistan won favour with Washington by allowing its forces a base in Uzbekistan, affording ready access across the Afghan border, the BBC reports, noting that human rights groups accused the international community of ignoring the many reported cases of abuse and torture.

read more »

Posted in Asia, Market Lords, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | Leave a Comment »

01/01/2012

‘Denying the Existence of the Palestinian People Is an ‘Article of Faith’

Human Wrongs Watch

By Ernest Corea* – IDN-InDepth News 

Washington DC – Christmas has receded. Wishes and gifts have been exchanged, groaning boards have been emptied. Those who associate Christmas not only with “happy holidays” but with their faith have attended church services where prayers were said, sermons were delivered, and some of the most galvanizing choral music composed in the West, would have been heard.

Israeli soldier arresting 12 year-old Palestinian child at Nablus checkpoint | Credit: UN

On whichever continent this set of activities took place, there would at some point have been a direct or indirect reference – perhaps only by way of the words of some old familiar song – to that core hope of “on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Not for Palestine. “True peace can be built only on justice,” says Archbishop Desmond Tutu, commenting on the plight of Palestinians. What hopes of genuine peace, what expectations of goodwill, can be nurtured among those who survive in a particularly demeaning form of servitude?

read more »

Posted in Middle East, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | 2 Comments »

01/01/2012

Will the Arab Spring Make the Arab Maghreb Union Bloom?

Human Wrongs Watch

By Imad Mesdoua* – Think Africa Press

Since northern African nations gained independence in the late 50s and early 60s, and long before the Arab Spring, the dream of North African unity has existed amongst the peoples of the region. North Africans are naturally united by a shared history, culture and language. And the solidarity and aid provided between the countries in their struggle towards national liberation helped cement the sentiment that the region’s inhabitants were one and the same.

The flag of the Arab Maghreb Union

Founded in 1989, the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) found its raison d’être in the Treaty of Marrakesh. Leaders agreed to meet every six months to boost the new organisation. Their goals were ambitious to say the least: they hoped to mirror the European Union model and aimed for similar economic integration in terms of a common market and currency as well as foster extensive political cooperation.

read more »

Posted in Africa, Middle East, The Peoples, War Lords | 1 Comment »

  |   Newer Entries »