Burmese Army Continues Rights Violations In Karen
As Burma's government and ethnic Karen rebel groups continue peace talks to end one of the world's longest running conflicts, there are renewed reports of human rights violations by the Burmese army in the volatile state.
A new report by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) found that a third of the families in the region reported experiencing abuses, such as evictions, forced labor, restricted movement and sometimes physical attacks, including rape and torture.
The report released Tuesday suggests those living near economic development projects such as mines, pipelines and hydroelectric dams are significantly more likely to become victims of land rights and labor abuses.
The report comes just weeks after the United States took steps to ease bans on investment and financial services to Burma – a move that has been criticized by some rights groups.
PHR Burma Director Bill Davis says that Washington should take greater precautions to ensure that new U.S. investment does not support those linked to rights abuses.
“We've heard a lot of American government sources saying 'Well our companies are different than the companies that have been working (in Burma), different from Chinese companies. Our companies care about human rights.' And maybe they do. But a major problem is that in Karen state and in a lot other ethnic areas in Burma, foreign companies often partner with the Burmese military to implement projects.”
Western nations have demanded peace with rebel groups, including the Karen, as a condition for easing political and economic sanctions against the rapidly reforming country. But clashes continue, despite a series of cease-fire deals earlier this year.
In January, the government signed a preliminary cease-fire with the Karen National Union, one of the country's largest rebel groups. But the latest round of peace talks was called off by the government this week. The talks were set to discuss the sensitive issue of a troop withdrawal.
Although major offensives in Karen state have decreased in recent months, Burma's military still maintains a large troop presence in the state. Analysts say that any withdrawal would be a major challenge for the struggling peace process.
But PHR warns that a cease-fire agreement, while positive, will not necessarily lead to an end of abuses against civilians. It is calling on the government to hold human rights violators accountable and take steps to implement further political and judicial reforms.
Israeli Court Rejects Suit Over U.S Activist Death
An Israeli court Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against the military by the family of a U.S. activist crushed to death by an army bulldozer during a 2003 pro-Palestinian protest in the Gaza Strip.
Rachel Corrie's family had accused Israel of intentionally and unlawfully killing their 23-year-old daughter, launching a civil case in the northern Israeli city of Haifa after a military investigation had cleared the army of wrong-doing.
In his ruling, Judge Oded Gershon called Corrie's death a “regrettable accident,” but said the state was not responsible because the incident had occurred during what he termed a war-time situation.
He said Corrie entered the Gaza Strip despite knowing it was a war zone with live fire being exchanged daily. He also cited a warning from the U.S. urging American citizens not to enter Gaza.
Gershon ruled that the military had conducted a proper investigation, and denied the family's request for a symbolic $1 in damages and legal expenses.
The bulldozer driver has said he did not see Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist who opposed the military's demolition of Palestinian homes.
The military deemed her death to be accidental, but Corrie's parents were not satisfied by the army probe and filed a civil lawsuit in 2005.
Activists with Corrie at the time said she was clearly visible to the driver of the military bulldozer.
Corrie's parents, Craig and Cindy Corrie, had travelled from the United States to be present in court for the verdict.
The home demolitions were part of an unsuccessful campaign to halt hundreds of shooting and mortar attacks against soldiers and Jewish settlers in southern Gaza, along the border with Egypt. On the day Rachel Corrie died, she and other activists had entered a closed military zone to protest the demolition policy.
According to the U.N. agency handling Palestinian refugees, the military had left more than 17,000 Gazans homeless in the four years after a Palestinian uprising against Israel erupted in September, 2000. The demolitions drew international condemnation at the time.
Burma removes 2000 from Government blacklist
Burma has removed over 2,000 citizens from a government blacklist long used to keep exiled critics of the country's former military rulers from returning to their homeland.
The New Light of Myanmar hailed the move as a continuation of Burma's recent political and economic reforms. The state-controlled paper did not discuss the status of over 4,000 people remaining on the list, keeping many journalists, activists, and others from entering the country.
It said the ban was lifted on 2,082 of the country's 6,165 black-listed persons after “scrutinizing them in conformity with the current policies.” The newspaper did not elaborate or provide detail on who the move will affect.
The news comes as Burmese President Thein Sein reshuffled his Cabinet Monday, promoting allies who back his reformist agenda.
In the long-awaited shake-up, the president awarded four of his key ministers additional posts in the Office of the President. They include the ministers of finance, rail transportation, and national planning and economic development. The ministers are seen as allies of the president who have helped to implement reforms he has promoted.
Another change is the reassignment of Information Minister Kyaw Hsan who was widely seen as close to the former military junta. He is replaced by Labor and Social Welfare Minister Aung Kyi, who has represented the government in talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The reshuffle of nine ministers has been anticipated for months. A further 15 new deputy ministers are also being appointed.
The director of the Burmese President's Office, Zaw Htay, told VOA that the reshuffling process is just starting and will later be followed by reconstruction. “This is just the beginning, more will come. This is not the final.”
President Thein Sein has faced criticism from government conservatives who are reluctant to give up the powers previously enjoyed by the military. Since taking power in March 2011, President Thein Sein has released hundreds of political prisoners, eased press restrictions, and allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to successfully run for parliament.
US troops punished for Taliban strength
US troops punished for Taliban strength
Six US soldiers have been disciplined for the incineration in February of up to 100 Korans and other religious texts in Afghanistan, the US military said.
They will not face criminal prosecution over the incident, which sparked rioting that claimed at least 30 lives and saw two US troops shot dead.
The investigation said there was no malicious intent to disrespect Islam.
Three US Marines were also disciplined for a video in which the bodies of dead Taliban fighters were urinated on.
For the Koran burning, the six soldiers face "administrative punishments" that could include measures like reduction of rank, extra duty or forfeiture of pay. They are four officers and two non-commissioned officers.
'Secret messages'
In the wake of the 20 February incident, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for a public trial of the soldiers involved.
His office told the Associated Press news agency Mr Karzai would review the decisions and respond on Tuesday.
The findings showed that up to 100 Korans and other religious texts - a previously undisclosed figure - had been incinerated at Bagram Air Field, a US air base north of Kabul.
Some 53 Korans and 162 other religious books were recovered from the incinerator. All of these texts had been damaged by fire, and about one-third of them were "slightly damaged", according to the report.
They had been removed from the Parwan Detention Centre amid concerns that detainees were using the books to pass secret messages.
A translator was partly blamed in the report for apparently having suggested that most of the texts were extremist in nature, without instructing American forces how to properly dispose of the books.
The report added that warnings from Afghans, including an Afghan soldier, had been ignored - something the investigation attributed in part to distrust between the US troops and Afghans.
But Brigadier General Bryan Watson, the investigating officer, wrote: "I absolutely reject any suggestion that those involved acted with any malicious intent to disrespect the Koran or defame the faith of Islam."
The investigation's findings came on the same day the US Marine Corps announced its punishment for three servicemen who took part in a video in which the bodies of dead Taliban fighters were urinated on.
Three servicemen pleaded guilty: one to "urinating on the body of a deceased Taliban soldier", another to posing for a photo with human casualties, and a third for lying to investigators.
In the video, someone can be heard saying: "Have a good day, buddy."
Their identities have not been revealed and the Marine Corps said it would provide details of disciplinary actions against them at a later date.
HE Governor Todd responds to Leader of the PDM, Oswald Skippings
The response sent to RTC News from HE stated: “I very much regret having to publicly correct Mr Skippings’ version of events issued yesterday, but I cannot remain silent when a public figure tries to discredit the Governor’s Office in this way,” said Governor Todd.
“My staff, together with colleagues in the UK, put together a full programme which would have seen the leaders of the PDM and PNP join other world and Caribbean leaders at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony on Friday, before going on to meet with the UK politicians and officials that they will work with now and after the November election.
“I note that our simultaneous communications with the PNP led to a successful outcome, and do not understand, therefore, why the PDM’s internal communications failed on this occasion.”
The dates of communication between the Governor’s Office and Oswald Skippings.
- Thursday, 4 July – invitation issued to both political parties from UK Foreign Secretary William Hague (copy attached)
- Sunday 8 July – E-mail from Sharleen Cartwright Robinson acknowledged the invitation.
- Monday 9 July – Reply copied to Sharleen Cartwright Robinson providing further information on the initial programme.
- Tuesday 10 July – E-mail from Governor’s Office to Oswald Skippings confirming dates of visit and requesting passport details etc., to allow flights to be booked. Mr Skippings provided these by return the same day.
- Monday 16 July – E-mail from Governor’s Office to Oswald Skippings asking if he had any special dietary requirements. Reply received the same day from Mr Skippings.
- Thursday 19 July – Draft programme sent to Mr Skippings.
- Monday 23 July – Joining Instructions for Olympic Opening Ceremony sent to Mr Skippings. Separately in a meeting with Governor, Mr Skippings mentions that he hasn’t seen a programme for the Olympic Ceremony. Joining instructions were reissued and copied to Lyndon Hall to ensure receipt.
- Tuesday 24 July – Joining Instructions re-sent to Lyndon Hall to ensure receipt. Email from Sharleen Cartwright Robinson claiming insufficient information provided and therefore, declining the visit. E-tickets e-mailed to Skippings and to Lyndon Hall. Tuesday 24 July at 12.45 – Final programme e-mailed to Skippings.
- Wed 25 July – E-mail Sharleen Cartwright Robinson stating that we had managed to get her provisional flight and accommodation bookings if she wished to accompany Mr Skippings. Confirmation from Lyndon Hall that Skippings would not be travelling to London.
New Immigration Law Signed
His Excellency the Governor signed the Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations 2012 into law on Mon, 23 July 2012.
This gives effect to the main messages received in the recent territory-wide consultation on the pathway to citizenship. Most of the provisions will come into law on 13th August 2012, but the new rules on Permanent Residence Certificates will come into law on 10th September 2012, which is when the current moratorium on new applications for PRC will be lifted.
The policy and legislation were debated by the Advisory Council on 30 May and 22 June and considered by the Consultative Forum in closed session on 25 June, and in open session on 27 June, when the legislation met with unanimous support, subject to some changes of detail (mainly affecting the new residence permits, and fees) which had been raised in the thorough debate.
The main changes to the law are in Section 3 of the Immigration Ordinance, which sets out the ways in which a person becomes a Belonger. In line with the majority of the responses to the consultation, from 13th August, the only ways to become a Belonger will be by birth, descent, adoption, by being married for ten years to a Belonger (other than a Belonger by marriage), or by being the dependent child of someone who becomes a Belonger by marriage. It will no longer be possible for the child of a non-Belonger who marries a Belonger to acquire Belonger status as soon as the marriage takes place, as a stepchild. There will be no provision for Belonger status to be granted in any other circumstances.
It will be the responsibility of an elected Government to bring forward an Ordinance which provides for Turks and Caicos Islander Status to be granted if certain conditions are met. This is a requirement of the Constitution, which also sets out the minimum conditions to be included in that Ordinance.
Other changes to the Immigration Ordinance include:
- It will be possible for Belonger status which was bestowed under the previous law to be revoked, where the Belonger is convicted of a serious criminal offence and is not resident in the Islands. This will only apply to those who had Belonger status granted for "an outstanding contribution to the economic and social development of the Islands".
- All Belongers will be able to obtain a National Turks and Caicos Islander Status Card which will be lawful evidence of their status. Cards are being issued free of charge to those who applied as part of the current exercise linked to the electoral register, but the new regulations provide for a fee of $50 in future.
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• There will be a new criminal offence of marrying in order to gain immigration advantage, with a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment and a $10,000.00 fine. This is aimed at so called "marriages of convenience" and would apply both to the person gaining immigration advantage and to the Belonger who is marrying them in order to allow them to do so.
• The law is being clarified to confirm that Belongers, PRC holders, and British Overseas Territories citizens by virtue of a connection with the Islands, ie TCI passport holders, are free to enter, reside, and work in the Territory, and cannot be excluded from or deported from the Territory.
Amendments to the Immigration Regulations include:
• Amendments to Schedule 3 provide for a new long-term residence permit for investors. From 13th August, it will be possible for someone who has invested $500,000.00 or more in Providenciales or West Caicos, or $250,000.00 or more in Grand Turk or the family Islands, to obtain a residence permit for up to ten years.
• The fee for a residence permit for the spouse of a Belonger will be increased to $300 per annum, with such permits being issued for up to 11 years. There are provisions for dependent children to be endorsed on the permit for $150.00 per child.
• There are amendments to Schedule 2, which applies to permanent residence certificates. From 10th September the Ministry will accept new applications for PRC under new, standardised rules. People will qualify for a PRC if they meet the general requirements, and have held a work permit, other than as an unskilled worker, or a residence permit, or have been in the Islands under Section 9, ie as a Government worker for ten years or more. Anyone who has held a work permit as an unskilled worker for ten years or more by 10th September 2012 will also be able to qualify, but time spent as an unskilled worker will not in the future satisfy any qualification for a PRC. The fees for all these PRCs will be $10,000.00.
• PRC will also be available to young people who are endorsed on their parents' PRC when they turn 18; to young people who arrived in the Islands before the age of five, and who have been through primary and secondary education here before 10th September 2012; and to people who have been married to a Belonger for five years or more, where the Belonger spouse has died. The fees for these PRCs will be $5,000.00.
• Apart from those who qualify on the basis of having held a Residence Permit, PRC holders will have unrestricted permission to work. The provision in Schedule 8 for an "anniversary" fee to be paid by PRC holders, with limited permission to work, has also been removed. That provision has never been consistently applied.
• All applicants for a PRC will need to show that they have a sound knowledge of the English language and of the Turks & Caicos Islands. The TCI Community College will be involved in the arrangements for tuition and testing: more details of this policy will be issued in advance.
Separate from the amendments to the Immigration Ordinance and Regulations, the Ministry will be bringing forward new British Nationality Fees regulations shortly, to increase the naturalisation fees to $1,000.00 and the registration fees to $500.00.
Grenada opposition leader slams government property purchase
Opposition leader, Dr Keith Mitchell, has described the Grenada government’s recent purchase of property, at a cost of $2 million, as inappropriate, untimely and irresponsible, particularly in light of the difficulties the government has been experiencing in meeting its financial obligations, including paying public servants, on time and in a period in which many of the vulnerable and the growing numbers of the unemployed are struggling to make ends meet.
In addition, Mitchell pointed out that this $2 million should have been used to provide some financing to Grenada Authority for the Regulation of Financial Institutions (GARFIN), instead of government attempting to impose further burden on insurance policy holders at this time.
The opposition leader has drawn attention to the fact that this is taking place when the entire country is going through trying times, when businesses are closing or sending workers home, when the new secondary school and T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) graduates have very little hope of finding rewarding jobs, and when the hotel and manufacturing sectors are crying out for rescue.
He said that for the government to decide to spend $2 million on the purchase of property in such a difficult time is a demonstration of poor financial management and a total lack of concern for the peoples’ plight and the country’s future.
According to Mitchell, “To use scarce resources to purchase property rather than directing it towards meeting the pressing needs of government workers and the poor, or stimulating the economy, at this time of unprecedented economic, financial and social problems is unconscionable as it is unforgivable.”
Mitchell called on the government to listen to the cry of the people, and to implement the measures that are urgently required to turn the economy around and bring much needed relief to the Grenadian people.
Until such time, he says, all purchases of property or other such wasteful spending should be suspended.
Caribbean News Now
IMF completes second review of St Kitts-Nevis, disburses US$4.83 million
The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday its executive board has completed the second review of St Kitts and Nevis’ economic performance under a programme supported by a 36-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA).
In a statement, the IMF said the completion of the review allows the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 3.161 million (about US$4.83 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 36.781 million (about US$56.21 million).
The executive board said it has also approved a request for waivers of applicability for three end-March 2012 performance criteria. These waivers were necessary because the executive board meeting was scheduled to take place after end-March but before the data for the overall balance of the central government, the central government budget expenditure arrears, and the stock of short-term external debt becomes available.
The SBA was approved on July 27, 2011, for an amount equivalent to SDR 52.51 million (about US$80.25 million), or 590 percent of St Kitts and Nevis’ IMF quota.
Guyanese charged for malpractice - police seize equipment
Guyanese National, Howard Earl has been charged for allegedly practicing medicine in St.Lucia without a proper license and not being a registered medical practitioner.
The office he used to practise his illegal activities have been closed by police and all the equipment at the location has been confiscated.
Law Enforcement officials also shutdown a number of other clinics and medical businesses operated by the defendant.
He was granted $5000 dollar bail or suitable surety on each charge when he made his first court appearance on Tuesday morning.
HTS
6-year old crushed by car
A six year old lad is dead and police have begun their investigations into the circumstances leading to his death.
Reports are that the boy was crushed by a car which was under repairs by his step-father.
A police release said about 10:45AM Ajay Suraj wass in the company of his stepfather Maheshwar Sookram who was carrying out repairs to a motor vehicle which was jacked-up at the time.
The vehicle is reported to have slipped of the jack and crushed Suraj .
He was pronounced Dead on arrival at hospital.