Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Al-Jazeera Video: New camp for Syria refugees already crowded
"Turkey has opened its sixteenth camp for Syrian refugees, located just 18 kilometers from its border with Syria. Harran camp was initially designed to hold 10,000 people, but within weeks of opening, it is already holding around 12,000. Al Jazeera's Nisreen El-Shamayleh reports from the camp."
Syria: Activist Dies in Jail, Second Feared Dead
Grant Independent Monitors Access to Detention Facilities
"(New York) – A peaceful activist who had been helping local committees deliver aid died in detention in Syria on February 16, 2013. A second detainee died in detention in November, a released detainee recently told his family. The reported deaths highlight the urgent need for the UN Security Council to require the authorities in Syria to grant international monitors immediate and unhindered access to all detention facilities.
Omar Aziz, 64, the peaceful activist, died on February 16 in Harasta military hospital, a relative told Human Rights Watch. A released detainee provided information about the possible second death of Ayham Ghazzoul, 26, a human rights activist in Military Intelligence branch 215 in Kafr Suseh, Damascus in November 2012. Security Forces had detained both activists in November.
“Aziz’s death, and Ghazzoul’s feared death are yet another reminder of the need to immediately lift the veil of secrecy over Syria’s prisons,” said Sarah Leah Whitson Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “How many more deaths in custody before the Security Council requires Syria to open up its detention centers?”....."Egypt hits 'new low' on NGO restrictions
"A move by Egyptian authorities to prohibit national NGOs’ contact with foreign organizations without prior permission from security bodies represents a new low for freedom of association, said Amnesty International.
In a letter to the NGO the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, Egypt’s Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs stated that no “local entity” is permitted to engage with “international entities” in any way without the permission of the “security bodies”, referring to instructions issued by the Prime Minister.
Amnesty International has obtained a copy of the letter. The vague language on “international entities” is likely to include both international human rights organizations and UN bodies.
“NGOs in Egypt already face staggering restrictions, but this instruction is a new low,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “It is a disturbing indicator of what may lie ahead for human rights groups in the government’s new law.”....."
Supplying the Tools of Oppression: Egypt imports 140,000 teargas canisters from US
Al-Masry Al-Youm
"In January, the Interior Ministry ordered the import of 140,000 teargas canisters from the United States at a cost of LE17 million.
Letters between Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry officials revealed that the order was made to address the country’s shortage of teargas after months of violent clashes between police and protesters.
When the shipment was delayed via sea, the Defense Ministry was asked to transfer the shipment by military jet, according to a 30 January letter from Major General Osama Ismail, head of the Interior Ministry’s department of information and public relations, to Staff Brigadier General Mohamed Farid Hegazy, secretary general of the Defense Ministry.
“In light of the ongoing incidents and growing need for gas bombs to deal with rioters and preserve the nation’s safety, Al-Guindy Company for Imports and Exports, a representative of the US Combined System Company in Egypt, has been contracted to import 70,000 gas bombs and 70,000 long-range gas projectiles from the US to Egypt,” the letter stated......"
"In January, the Interior Ministry ordered the import of 140,000 teargas canisters from the United States at a cost of LE17 million.
Letters between Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry officials revealed that the order was made to address the country’s shortage of teargas after months of violent clashes between police and protesters.
When the shipment was delayed via sea, the Defense Ministry was asked to transfer the shipment by military jet, according to a 30 January letter from Major General Osama Ismail, head of the Interior Ministry’s department of information and public relations, to Staff Brigadier General Mohamed Farid Hegazy, secretary general of the Defense Ministry.
“In light of the ongoing incidents and growing need for gas bombs to deal with rioters and preserve the nation’s safety, Al-Guindy Company for Imports and Exports, a representative of the US Combined System Company in Egypt, has been contracted to import 70,000 gas bombs and 70,000 long-range gas projectiles from the US to Egypt,” the letter stated......"
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Real News Video: Disabled in Gaza
Disabled people in Gaza fight for their rights, proving they are producers not consumers amid ignorance from the local authorities
Sharif Abdel Kouddous: 2 Years into Uprising, Bahrain Feels Like a "Nation Under Occupation"
Democracy Now!
"Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous joins us to discuss his recent trip to Bahrain, where the Sunni monarchy continues its crackdown on a two-year-old uprising. Since February 2011, at least 87 people have died at the hands of U.S.-backed forces. While talks are taking place this week between the Bahraini government and opposition groups, several of Bahrain’s leading human rights defenders remain imprisoned. "Bahrain had the feeling of a country under occupation," Kouddous says of his visit. "There was helmeted riot police in full armor wielding shotguns, tear gas, sound grenades, deployed around villages outside of the capital. There was helicopters buzzing overhead conducting surveillance. ... Many people lament there, from the opposition movement, that they have been forsaken by the international community and forgotten by the world’s media for this uprising that doesn’t get a lot of attention."....."
"Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous joins us to discuss his recent trip to Bahrain, where the Sunni monarchy continues its crackdown on a two-year-old uprising. Since February 2011, at least 87 people have died at the hands of U.S.-backed forces. While talks are taking place this week between the Bahraini government and opposition groups, several of Bahrain’s leading human rights defenders remain imprisoned. "Bahrain had the feeling of a country under occupation," Kouddous says of his visit. "There was helmeted riot police in full armor wielding shotguns, tear gas, sound grenades, deployed around villages outside of the capital. There was helicopters buzzing overhead conducting surveillance. ... Many people lament there, from the opposition movement, that they have been forsaken by the international community and forgotten by the world’s media for this uprising that doesn’t get a lot of attention."....."
Guardian Video: George Galloway: 'I don't debate with Israelis'
"George Galloway walks out of a debate at Christ Church college at Oxford University on Thursday. He was speaking for the motion that 'Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank'. When the Respect MP for Bradford West learned that Eylon Aslan-Levy, a student opposing it, was an Israeli citizen, he leaves, saying 'I don't debate with Israelis'...."
The Muslim Brothers Proving to be Worse Than Mubarak: Hamas condemns destruction of smuggling tunnels to Gaza
Al-Masry Al-Youm
"Hamas condemned Egypt's decision to flood smuggling tunnels linking Sinai and Gaza, according to a statement Thursday.
"The movement reviewed the issue of the destruction of tunnels with Egyptian officials and hopes that officials in Egypt understand the situation in Gaza and the need for these tunnels," Hamas leader Salah al-Bardaweel said.
Closing tunnels without providing an alternative method for Gazans to get necessary supplies hurts Palestinian families, said Bardaweel, who expressed his hope that Egypt would cease such activities.
“[Smuggling] has been forced on us because of the tight restrictions on the Palestinian people,” Bardaweel said. “[Tunnels] represent an exceptional case that resulted from blockade.”
Palestinian groups have also voiced their anger over the past two weeks in the wake of the country’s crackdown on tunnels between Sinai and the Gaza Strip. Egyptian authorities flooded the tunnels with wastewater [Muslim Brothers Approved!].
Sources inside the occupied territory said the crackdown did not have a significant effect on smuggling activities, but caused the closure of about 20 tunnels and raised fears that there would be more tunnel crackdowns in the future.
Egyptian authorities did not coordinate with authorities in Gaza, said Bardaweel, adding that Hamas supports destroying tunnels between Sinai and Gaza if the embargo on goods into the Strip is lifted or an alternative is implemented.
Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali stressed Thursday that the military would continue operations in Sinai, including the closure of border tunnels, to protect national security......"
"Hamas condemned Egypt's decision to flood smuggling tunnels linking Sinai and Gaza, according to a statement Thursday.
"The movement reviewed the issue of the destruction of tunnels with Egyptian officials and hopes that officials in Egypt understand the situation in Gaza and the need for these tunnels," Hamas leader Salah al-Bardaweel said.
Closing tunnels without providing an alternative method for Gazans to get necessary supplies hurts Palestinian families, said Bardaweel, who expressed his hope that Egypt would cease such activities.
“[Smuggling] has been forced on us because of the tight restrictions on the Palestinian people,” Bardaweel said. “[Tunnels] represent an exceptional case that resulted from blockade.”
Palestinian groups have also voiced their anger over the past two weeks in the wake of the country’s crackdown on tunnels between Sinai and the Gaza Strip. Egyptian authorities flooded the tunnels with wastewater [Muslim Brothers Approved!].
Sources inside the occupied territory said the crackdown did not have a significant effect on smuggling activities, but caused the closure of about 20 tunnels and raised fears that there would be more tunnel crackdowns in the future.
Egyptian authorities did not coordinate with authorities in Gaza, said Bardaweel, adding that Hamas supports destroying tunnels between Sinai and Gaza if the embargo on goods into the Strip is lifted or an alternative is implemented.
Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali stressed Thursday that the military would continue operations in Sinai, including the closure of border tunnels, to protect national security......"
Israel, Palestine and the Oscars
By Amy Goodman
Egypt rights groups allege rising police brutality
"CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian rights groups alleged Wednesday that police abuse and brutality are on the rise in detention centers and at demonstrations, which have intensified since the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.
More than a dozen groups charged in a statement that police were reverting back to the systematic torture that prevailed under Mubarak's autocratic regime. "Some of the crimes have even gone beyond that," the statement said.
The groups hold President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first elected leader after Mubarak's ouster, responsible for failing to stop or condemn such practices. They called on him to sack his interior minister, who oversees the police, and try him in connection with the deaths of nearly 60 protesters since last month across Egypt......"
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Think there's no alternative? Latin America has a few
Not only have
leaders from Ecuador to Venezuela delivered huge social gains – they keep
winning elections too
"Ever since the crash of 2008 exposed the rotten core of a failed economic model, we've been told there are no viable alternatives. As Europe sinks deeper into austerity, governing parties of whatever stripe are routinely rejected by disillusioned voters – only to be replaced by others delivering more welfare cuts, privatisation and inequality.
So what should we make of a part of the world where governments have resolutely turned their back on that model, slashed poverty and inequality, taken back industries and resources from corporate control, massively expanded public services and democratic participation – and keep getting re-elected in fiercely contested elections?
That is what has been happening in Latin America for
a decade......"
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
This Syrian Karzai is Really Stupid! The US Should Keep Him in Washington and the Opposition Should Dump Him!
"اسطنبول ـ (يو بي اي) اعتبر رئيس الإئتلاف الوطني السوري لقوى الثورة والمعارضة، معاذ الخطيب، أن تشكيل حكومة انتقالية في سوريا مع تنحي الرئيس بشار الأسد، يمكن أن تكون خطوة لإعادة هيكلة البلاد، نافياً حصول أي لقاء أو اتصال مع أية جهة رسمية من النظام، سواء أكان بشكل مباشر، أم غير مباشر.
وقال الخطيب، في حوار أجرته معه وكالة "الأناضول" في إسطنبول، اليوم الإثنين، إن البعض ظن أن المبادرة التي أطلقها، تمتّ بناء على اتفاق سابق أو لاحق مع النظام، مؤكداً أن "الإئتلاف لن يجري شيئاً، إلا تحت ضوء الشمس".
ولفت إلى أنه "إذا كانت هذه السلطة تريد أن تتخذ قراراً عاقلاً ولمرة واحدة، وتبحث عن هموم الشعب ومعاناته ومطالبه، فيمكن بالاتفاق مع بقية أعضاء الائتلاف، أن يكون هناك تفاوض سلمي، من أجل رحيل النظام وترتيب ذلك".
وأضاف أنه "إذا أراد النظام المضي قدماً في المبادرة، فليمنح حرية للشعب، ويقيم حكومة مؤقتة يعطيها صلاحيات كاملة، تبدأ بإعادة هيكلة الأجهزة الأمنية المتوحشة، وتكون مفتاحاً للحل، تحت رعاية وضمانة دولية"، مجدداً تأكيده بأن "الائتلاف لم يفكر أبدا، ولم يعط أي ضمانات من أجل بقاء الأسد، وهناك اتفاق بذلك".
وأكد الخطيب "عدم وجود خلاف على أن رحيل الأسد هو مطلوب، ولكن طريقة الرحيل بحاجة إلى ترتيب، ولا تتم بليلة وضحاها، والبعض من المعارضة يعتقد أن مجرد ذكر هذه الكلمة يكفي لإنجاز حل سياسي، لكن هذا جزء من عملية سياسية تؤدي إلى انتقال سلمي للسلطة، توفر الدماء والخراب على الشعب، والأساس هو هل النظام مستعد للدخول في عملية تفاوضية توفر مزيد من القتل والدماء أم لا؟".
وقال إن النظام "ماطل واحتال من أجل امتصاص المبادرة وتفريغها كعادته، والمطلوب كان بسيطا جدا وهو إطلاق سراح المعتقلين وفي مقدمتهم النساء"، لافتاً إلى أن الهيئة السياسية للائتلاف اجتمعت ووجدت أن أي حل يساهم في رحيل النظام بشكل تفاوضي يحقن دماء المواطنين، ويمنع مزيداً من الخراب في البلاد، فلا مانع بذلك ضمن هذه المحددات مع استمرار الثورة.
وأشار إلى أن الائتلاف ينتظر ردود فعل المجتمع الدولي التي لم تتبلور بعد.
وشدد الخطيب على أن مبادرته "إنسانية محضة، بسبب معاناة الشعب الشديدة، وتدق ناقوس الخطر بأن الشعب السوري، يجب أن يعطى حقه"، مضيفاً أن "المبادرة لم تكن مطالبها عسكرية أو سياسية، بل هي أمور إنسانية إن تحققت استفاد الناس منها، وان لم تتحقق تكشف حقيقة النظام، بأنه لا يستجيب لأبسط الأمور الإنسانية".
وتابع قائلاً "بالأساس لم يكن هناك سجال سياسي، إنما أمر إنساني حاول النظام المماطلة فيه كعادته"، مشيرا إلى أن موضوع المبادرة لقي صدى من قبل الناس، بسبب حاجتهم إلى من يتفهم قضيتهم التي يعيشونها"، متهماً المجتمع الدولي، بأنه لا ينظر للمسألة من ناحية إنسانية.
....."
Hezbollah condemned for 'attack on Syrian villages'
The Syrian National Council (SNC) said Hezbollah fighters attacked three villages near the Lebanese border in support of the Syrian government.
Hezbollah said three Lebanese Shia were killed in the clashes. Hezbollah has consistently denied it has sent its members to fight for the Syrian regime.
The UN meanwhile has said human rights abuses in Syria have got worse.
In a report issued on Monday, a UN-appointed inquiry team said the conflict had become "increasingly sectarian... radicalised and militarised", according to AFP news agency.
The panel said war crimes by both sides were growing, although it said abuses by rebels were not on the same scale as those committed by government forces.
UN human rights investigator Carla del Ponte said it was time the UN Security Council referred the issue of war crimes to the International Criminal Court.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels renewed sanctions - including an arms embargo - against Syria, whilst agreeing to provide more non-lethal support to rebels "for the protection of civilians".
However they did not go as far as easing the arms ban on those fighting the Syrian regime, as Britain had wanted.
Last week, the UN said it estimated 70,000 people had been killed in the conflict since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began nearly two years ago.
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