UN Committee Against Torture blasts Cuba
The United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture has hammered Cuba’s Raul Castro administration for a lengthy string of alleged human rights abuses and complained that the socialist government in Havana had provided few or none of the details about specific allegations of abuses as requested.
The committee noted that it was “concerned by reports denouncing the use of coercive methods during (police) interrogations, particularly the denial of sleep, detention under conditions of isolation and exposure to sudden changes in temperatures.”
With reference to Cuba’s prisons, the panel said that it “continues to be supremely concerned by the reports received about the … overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of hygiene and healthy conditions (and) adequate medical attention.”
Adding that there have been thousands of complaints of short-term detentions of dissidents, the strongly-worded report singled out José Luis Ferrer García and Oscar Elias Biscet. And Cuban officials never explained the deaths of dissidents Orlando Zapata Tamayo and Juan Wilfredo Soto García, it noted.
Cuba should establish an independent body to gather, investigate and report on allegations of government abuses, and should meet its promise to allow a visit by the UN’s top official on several types of mistreatments, the committee urged in the 6,000-word report.
The report summed up the panel’s conclusions following its May 22-23 hearings in Switzerland on Cuba’s compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The report, marked “unedited,” was issued by the UN media office in Geneva.
In essence the report amounted to a harsh indictment of Cuba’s human rights record, especially in areas involving physical punishments or abuses, such as the justice and prison systems and the harassment of dissidents.
The Castro administration’s report on its compliance with the convention on torture, presented to the panel last month, was more than nine years late and “does not fully meet the guidelines” set by the panel, it noted.
The UN report urged Cuba “to investigate, without delay, exhaustively, without bias and in an efficient way, all deaths of prisoners.”
Cuba told the panel that prison officials were not responsible for any of the 202 such deaths in 2010-2011, but gave no further information.
The UN report also blasted Cuba for the rapid increase in short-term arrests of dissidents without any judicial orders, usually to keep opposition activists away from activities. Cuban officials told the panel last month that all detentions follow due process.
Despite Cuba’s denials, panel member Fernando Mariño told a news conference Friday, “it seems that this has been generalized of late.” Human rights activists in Havana reported the number of such arrests doubled from 2010 to 2011.
The panel also condemned the “restrictions on freedom of movement, invasive security operations, physical aggressions and other acts of intimidation and harassment presumably committed by the National Revolutionary Police or members of the Organs of State Security.”
It added that Cuba should also abolish vaguely worded crimes, such as “pre-criminal social dangerousness,” and halt the “acts of repudiation” by pro-government mobs against dissidents like the Ladies in White and Cuban Patriotic Union “with the presumed connivance … of police authorities.”
The report went on to say that persons detained should be allowed immediate access to independent defence lawyers and doctors as well as relatives. The government should also guarantee the independence of the justice system and resolve gaps in its due process regulations, it added.
It also repeatedly complained that Cuba had provided little or none of the detailed information the panel had requested on some issues, specifically the deaths of Zapata Tamayo after a long hunger strike and Soto Garcia after an alleged police beating.
Havana provided no details on the 202 prison deaths or the 46 prison officials and guards that the government claimed had been put on trial and convicted for abuses. It denied prison overcrowding, but gave no numbers.
On the upside, the report lauded Cuba for signing four international agreements on the rights of children and disabled persons and banning “forced disappearances,” approving a multi-year plan to improve prison facilities and working to reduce family violence.
The report also noted that the Cuban government gave “an affirmative answer” to a request for a visit to the island by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on torture and other physical abuses.
Caribbean 360 News
Jamaica to strengthen ties with overseas community
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said that the government of Jamaica will be strengthening relations with the Diaspora and regional and international partners.
Speaking in the 2012/13 budget debate on Tuesday, Simpson Miller said that an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Diaspora Affairs will be established, involving all relevant ministries and agencies of government.
The committee, she said, will work “to ensure that the linkages are in place for fuller participation of our nationals living overseas”.
She pointed out that the Jamaican Diaspora contributes “far more than family remittances” and “has the potential to increase investment in our economy”.
The prime minister also advised that the administration will seek to contribute to the revitalization of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), “to make it fulfill the promise, which the founding leaders envisaged”.
“We strongly believe that CARICOM, working at its best, is an important instrument in the management of our relations (within) the (western) hemisphere and the wider world. This government’s foreign policy will be determined by what is best for Jamaica, what is best for the region, and what we consider to be best for the advancement of humanity,” she contended.
Simpson Miller said, despite being a small nation, Jamaica will be making every effort to ensure that “our voice and presence continue to be heard and felt in positive and productive ways” in the global community.
“We must see ourselves as making a contribution to peace, good order and sustainable development around the globe. We must play our part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race. There can be no doubt that since Jamaica’s interests – economic and otherwise – remain substantially tied-up with those of our traditional partners, a central pillar of our foreign policy must be the continued nurturing and strengthening of these relations,” she argued.
To this end, Simpson Miller, disclosed that in addition to the opening of embassies in Brazil and Kuwait, which took place earlier this year, plans are in place to enhance Jamaica’s presence on the African continent, through the accreditation of a special representative to the African Union.
Arrests target Puerto Rico airport drug running ring
On May 31, a federal grand jury indicted 25 individuals as a result of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez announced on Wednesday.
The defendants are charged in a 16 count indictment with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The defendants were members and associates of a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in narcotics distribution and criminal acts principally out of the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The leader of the organization is Maribel Rodríguez-Fragoso, aka “La Flaca.”
The indictment alleges that in or around 2010 until May 2012, members of the enterprise and their associates carried kilograms of cocaine in backpack/bags, or hidden on their person, or driving official work vehicles into the Airport through the employees secured entrance. Once in the secured area, they would transfer the kilograms of cocaine to couriers inside of a designated restroom, who would then board flights departing to the continental United States.
It is further alleged that members of the enterprise transported large sums of drug proceeds in the form of US currency from the continental United States to Puerto Rico. Some of the drug proceeds were used to purchase items, such as vehicles, which were regularly used to further the enterprise.
DEA deputy administrator Thomas Harrigan said on Wednesday, “Americans have a right to expect the highest integrity from those they entrust with their safety, and DEA is committed to protecting that trust. Today’s arrests at one of the nation’s busiest airports reflect our relentless commitment to working with our partners to aggressively fight drug trafficking, not only at our nation’s points of entry, but at source, transit, and arrival zones throughout the world.”
A second indictment unsealed on Wednesday charges 20 individuals for aiding and abetting each other, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 9,000 kilograms of cocaine, aboard American Airlines commercial aircraft. At times pertinent to this indictment, convict Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rosado, aka “Mogoyo” recruited and organized a group of individuals to package, transport and deliver suitcases loaded with kilograms of cocaine to the American Airlines cargo area at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. Moreover, he recruited and organized a group of American Airlines employees to ensure that those suitcases were smuggled into American Airlines aircrafts destined to Miami and Orlando, Florida and Newark, NJ.
“The defendants in this investigation not only utilized their positions and security access to smuggle large quantities of illegal narcotics, but they also compromised the safety and security at one of the Caribbean’s most vital airports,” said acting special agent in charge of the Caribbean Division, Pedro Janer. “DEA will continue to dismantle these organizations that think they can blatantly use legitimate entities to carry out their smuggling operations.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office, along with our state and federal law enforcement counterparts, will continue investigating and prosecuting drug trafficking organizations which use our island as a trans-shipment point for drugs to the US mainland. The use of commercial aircraft to smuggle narcotics in and out of Puerto Rico, also creates a serious threat to our national security,” added Rodríguez-Vélez.
Vincentians sue NYPD over alleged racial rough-up
Fifteen-year-old Brittany Rowley, a Vincentian honour student at an all-girls Catholic high school in Brooklyn, was heading to the library with a friend when she noticed a vehicle trailing them.
What followed was “the most horrible thing I have ever experienced,” according to the injured teenager.
And Brittany’s outraged parents aren’t taking the matter lightly.
Delmus and Wendy Rowley have filed a notice of claim with the City of New York and the New York Police Department (NYPD) for US$5.5 million in a case of mistaken identity.
Mrs. Rowley, née John, was born and lived in Rillan Hill, St Vincent before moving to New York.
The Rowleys, who reside in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, said they have decided to take legal action because two white plainclothes cops last week severely and unnecessarily roughed-up their daughter, claiming she matched the description of a shoplifting suspect in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn.
“I feel my daughter was racially profiled,” Delmus Rowley told reporters. “They had no proof, just a description of a black young lady with braids.
“It wasn’t necessary to tackle a 15-year-old girl,” the outraged father added. “It was excessive.”
In court papers, the Rowleys alleged that Sergeant Jonathan Catanzaro and Officer Stephen Nakao of the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn used “excessive force” and “falsely arrested” Brittany, a freshman at St Saviour High School in Park Slope, who was on her way to the library with an unidentified friend when she noticed the vehicle trailing them.
Court documents also indicate that Catanzaro slammed Brittany to the pavement and flung his keys at her.
“It was terrifying,” said Brittany, who suffered whiplash to her neck, and received injuries to her hand and other parts of her body. “It is the most horrible thing I have ever experienced.”
Brittany said that she and her friend thought they were being abducted and began to run, after they saw the unmarked car reversing towards them.
She said they became more apprehensive when she heard a male voice shouting, “Get them!”
The teenager alleged that the sergeant threw her to the ground and yelled: “Why did you f******* run? I should punch you.”
She said they were arrested and released hours later after cops realized they had arrested the wrong suspects.
Police said two black teenage girls had earlier shoplifted shorts and jeans from Rivet, a clothing store a few blocks from the incident. They said the description matched Brittany and her friend.
“It is not a surprise that parents fear more that their children will suffer violence at the hands of the police than from common criminals,” Sanford Rubenstein, the Rowleys lawyer, told reporters, expressing deep concern about heightened racial profiling by the NYPD.
The NYPD was at the centre of controversy recently when a white police officer unlawfully arrested St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ United Nations Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves in the lobby of the building that houses the SVG Mission to the UN in midtown Manhattan.
Critics alleged that Gonsalves’ arrest was also a case of racial profiling. As a diplomat, Gonsalves was entitled to diplomatic immunity under the Geneva Convention.
Caribbean 360 News
Democratic Syria Impossible with Assad
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Syria cannot be peaceful, stable or democratic with President Bashar al-Assad in power.
Speaking to reporters Thursday in Istanbul, Clinton said Assad has "doubled down on his brutality and duplicity" and that the time has come for the international community to plan for a post-Assad Syria.
"We have to unite the international community behind a plan that is achievable and keeps faith with those inside Syria who are protesting and demonstrating, suffering and dying for their universal human rights," Clinton said.
UN briefing
Her comments come as United Nations-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan is due to brief the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly on the situation in Syria, as activists have accused pro-government militia and security forces of carrying out a new massacre in the central province of Hama.
The activists said at least 78 people, including women and children, were killed on Wednesday. They said some of those killed in the villages of al-Kubeir and Maazarif were stabbed to death and at least 12 bodies were burned.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 'shabiha' militiamen armed with guns and knives carried out the attack after regular troops had shelled the area.
The exiled opposition Syrian National Council called on the Free Syrian Army and other armed opposition groups to respond by escalating their resistance.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called the reported attack "brutal and sickening," and said if true, then the international community must do more to condemn "absolutely" the government of President Assad.
The Syrian government blamed a terrorist group for the violence.
China cuts key interest rates to boost growth
China has cut its key interest rates for the first time since 2008, in an attempt to boost its slowing growth.
The benchmark one-year loan rate was cut by a quarter of one percent to 6.31% while deposit rates were cut from 3.5% to 3.25%.
The People's Bank of China also gave banks flexibility to offer higher rates to savers and lower rates to borrowers.
"It's a significant move - it's a first step in rate liberalisation," said Qinwei Wang of Capital Economics.
"The lower floor for lending rates creates more competition between banks, so banks cannot guarantee their profits as before."
In addition, China has delayed the implementation of tougher bank capital rules amid concerns that they may hurt lending.
The rules, delayed until January next year, will increase the minimum cushion of capital a bank must keep to absorb losses on their loans.
There were fears that such a move may curb lending at a time when Beijing has been trying to boost growth amid a slowdown in its economy.
China had planned to introduce the rules at the start of this year.
The banks will be given a reasonable transition period to meet the new capital requirements "to help maintain appropriate credit growth", China's cabinet said in statement on its website late on Wednesday.
These are the latest in a series of attempts designed to stimulate the world's second biggest economy.
China's economy grew at an annual rate of 8.1% in the first three months of the year, the slowest pace in almost three years, but still extraordinarily fast compared with most countries.
Earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund warned that the eurozone crisis could almost halve China's growth in 2012.
The head of its sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment Corporation, which is in charge of the country's huge reserves, said in an interview published on Thursday that it was scaling back its European investments due to fears of a eurozone break-up.
Concerns about slowing growth in key export markets have also prompted China to reduce the amount of money banks need to hold in reserve three times in the past few months to give banks more cash to lend to consumers.
On Wednesday, it introduced fresh measures to boost lending to small and medium-sized companies, which are among the biggest contributors to growth.
The cabinet said it would lower the risk weighting assigned to loans given to such companies when calculating the cushion of capital a bank must keep.
It said the change was designed to, "expand the small micro-enterprises and personal loans to more effectively serve the real economy".
Spain bond auction: Borrowing costs edge up
There was strong demand for Spanish bonds at an auction on Thursday, which was seen as a key test of the country's ability to raise funds, but it had to pay a higher interest rate.
The rate on the 10-year bonds was 6.044%, up from the 5.743% paid when bonds were last sold in April.
Spain sold 2.1bn euros ($2.6bn; £1.7bn) in medium and long-term bonds.
It comes as European authorities are said to be working on a way to help Spain's troubled banking sector.
UK Chancellor George Osborne said: "I know they are working very hard on an imminent solution."
"I am optimistic that people are working hard on a solution, and a solution, I think, is coming," he told the BBC.
Borrowing costs had not been as high as feared due to these efforts in Brussels to try to find a way to help Spain, analysts suggested.
Spain remains the focus of international concerns. In other developments:
- The head of China's sovereign wealth fund, which invests China's huge reserves around the world, said it was scaling back European investments due to the risk of a eurozone break-up
- UK Prime Minister David Cameron met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin
- Mrs Merkel called for "more Europe", saying: "we need a political union first and foremost"
- Mr Cameron urged immediate action, calling for measures to calm nervous markets
- Cyprus, which is edging closer to asking for international help, moved to protect its UK savers by bringing them under the government-backed UK protection scheme
Digicel sues Govt for ‘misfeasance’
Digicel Bermuda is suing Government for substantial damages “for misfeasance in public office” as part of the protracted legal battle over its launch last year of international long distance.
The Royal Gazette understands from a legal source that Digicel’s latest legal action is against the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy and is based mainly on an affidavit sworn by Permanent Secretary Dr Derrick Binns.
Digicel’s recent judicial review proceedings included the claim for damages, which Government applied to set aside. The proceedings were adjourned last week, but both sides are due back in court soon.
It’s been Government’s case, as stated in previous affidavits, that the Digicel ILD offered through sister company and ISP Transact was not lawful. However, Digicel claims Government approved it to carry ILD.
It’s Digicel’s case that it met with Government before it purchased Transact and was “absolutely clear” what its intentions were with regard to offering ILD.
“Government understood this and approved the matter on that basis,” Digicel has stated. “Digicel proceeded to purchase Transact following Government’s express approval.”
Digicel contends that key meeting took place last September 16 and was attended by Ministry/Telecoms officials.
The approval Digicel says Government gave it appeared to be supported in a letter of October 20, 2011, obtained by The Royal Gazette.
The letter, submitted to the court, was from acting director of Telecommunications Michael Wells and states: “In your query 3 you stated/questioned ‘It is acceptable to offer all three services of ISP/Mobile and ILD (utilising VOIP) to customers who request this under the Digicel brand using our Mobile Licence and Transact licence’. In our noted response we gave you a conditional “Yes”. “Yes, if you provide an Interconnection Agreement between yourself and Transact, outlining the terms and conditions of such billing arrangements”. Please be reminded that under Transact Class C Licences it can offer ILD over VOIP only.”
We have obtained another letter, which appears to further back Digicel’s claim Government understood it planned to offer ILD.
This letter, to the Ministry of Finance dated July 4, 2011, concerns Transact’s application for exemption under the Companies Act/Section 114B.
Under the heading “Business to be carried on,” the letter states: “The amalgamation (of Digicel and Transact) will enable Digicel to carry international traffic to all customers and to provide fixed DSL services alongside existing mobile data services.”
And under the heading “Benefits of grant of the licence”, the letter lists “Enhanced provision of telecommunications services in Bermuda”.
The letter continues: “(a) Long Distance Telecommunications Services: Digicel has established an International Hub in New York and Miami to route all international traffic to the rest of the world. We will leverage the existing Digicel’s presence in these international hubs to offer lower long distance tariffs to customers in Bermuda.”
The Telecoms Commission has advised Government that it has found Digicel and Transact are not in compliance with their licences. But Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean has told the Commission that before he makes his decision in the case he needs more information on how it reached its findings.
Long distance provider TBi is joined with Government in objecting to Digicel’s launch of ILD.
Bermuda seeks Islamic finance business
“Open for Islamic business:” That’s the message Business Bermuda took to the World Islamic Banking Conference: Asia Summit in Singapore.
“After a whirlwind of meetings, events, conferences, and media interviews in Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, and Hong Kong, Business Bermuda concluded the 2012 Asia Business Development Drive on a high note,” A Business Bermuda statement said.
The WIBC took place yesterday and Tuesday.
“This year, for the first time, Business Bermuda was invited to be a part of the WIBC Asia 2012 through exhibiting and the opportunity to speak,” the statement said.
Leading the delegation was Cheryl Packwood, CEO of Business Bermuda, joined by Mr. P Jeyaratnam, Business Bermuda’s representative in Southeast Asia, Srikumar TE, managing director of Apex Funds Services Ltd, Kung Whooi Phing, director at Conyers Dill & Pearman in Singapore, and Yelena Packwood, marketing and sales executive of Business Bermuda.
“With over 500 industry leaders in attendance, there was an overwhelming interest in the opportunities available for Islamic finance clients in Bermuda, especially in the areas of Takaful and Re-Takaful in light of Bermuda’s strength as one of the top re/insurance jurisdictions in the world,” the statement said.
“As one of the few Islamic finance centres in the Western hemisphere, Bermuda’s unique position to expand the Islamic finance market, now valued at over $1.1 trillion, was cause for much excitement.”
Hussain AlQemzi, CEO of Noor Islamic Bank said that “in order to ensure an orderly evolution of Islamic finance from a niche segment into the mainstream international financial markets, it is vital to further enhance the industry’s capabilities for cross-border activities, which in turn will encourage innovative product development, robust and standardised regulatory frameworks and the long term stability of the industry”.
Ravi Menon, Governor of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, opened the conference by stating, “Islamic Finance must strike roots in the key financial centres of the world … and it can grow into diverse areas such as trade and infrastructure development.”
Ms Packwood then gave a speech on how Bermuda was ideally suited bridge the gap between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
She presented and participated in a panel discussion on the topic, “Opening New Frontiers for Islamic Finance — New Geographies, New Developments, and New Products.”
After the panel discussion, Ms Packwood was invited to be a guest speaker to present on the role of Bermuda in bridging the divide between East and West at an invitation-only Islamic finance forum hosted in Malaysia in September for decision makers in the world of Islamic Finance.
LIME & Digicel Could Face Legal Action In Fees Battle
Caribbean Cellular Telephone (CCT) has not ruled out the possibility of seeking legal action against regional carriers, LIME and Digicel to recover what the company termed as "massive loss" due to anti-competitive behaviour.
Jose Luis Fernandez, CCT's General Manager told BVI Platinum News that the company is disappointed that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) took three years to deliver a ruling on the company's compliant against LIME and Digicel.
He further stated that the decision to seek legal action against LIME and Digicel will have to be made by the shareholders of CCT and such a decision has not been made as yet, but remains on the table for consideration.
"The TRC has taken three years to reach this decision which in our opinion is unfortunate. We initially filed this complaint in July 2009. The conclusion of the TRC is that they confirmed all the points that CCT raised in its complaint and they took three years to reach that conclusion. That three-year time, which seems to be excessive under any circumstances, CCT has suffered massive damages by the anti-competitive behaviour of LIME and Digicel," Fernandez stated.
CCT had asked the TRC to investigate practices of Digicel and LIME as regards to calls made from the BVI to other islands within the Caribbean region. CCT alleged that the retail prices charged by Digicel to call specific Digicel locations in the Caribbean and the retail prices charged by LIME to call specific LIME destinations in the Caribbean, prevented CCT from competing effectively in the mobile market in the BVI.
Story courtesy of BVI Platinum News