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الثلاثاء، 22 نوفمبر 2011

Lincoln Tribune

Bahrain admits using ‘excessive force’ against anti-government protesters
Genocide trial opens for 3 senior Khmer Rouge leaders
European Union adds six more airlines to ‘blacklist’
Japan passes third extra budget for post-earthquake reconstruction
Fourteen Pakistani soldiers killed in rebel ambush

Bahrain admits using ‘excessive force’ against anti-government protesters

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 02:19 AM PST

MANAMA (BNO NEWS) -- The Bahraini government admitted in a statement on Tuesday that it used 'excessive force' against pro-democracy protesters and mistreated detainees during protests earlier this year.

The statement was issued days before the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry set up by King Hamad al-Khalifa releases a report on police actions during the February crackdown. "Regrettably, there have been instances of excessive force and mistreatment of detainees," the statement said.

"We cannot condone mistreatment and abuses by our officials. There will be no impunity. All those responsible for abuses will be held accountable," the Bahrain Information Affairs Authority said in its statement.

According to the statement, Bahraini prosecutors have already launched 20 prosecutions against police officers who were allegedly involved in the abuse. It also said four police officers were killed during the unrest while 846 others were injured.

"Our police forces have generally shown admirable restraint when faced with great provocation. Every civilian casualty is a defeat for the government. The extremists know this, and have engaged in reckless provocation," the statement alleged.

The government also announced two new amendments to current laws which include the criminalization of all forms of torture and the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution. It also announced a special fund for victims to ensure that those who suffered during the violent events of February and March are 'rightly compensated.'

Bahrain's social unrest began after protesters called for a "Day of Rage" on February 14 to mark the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter, which returned the country to constitutional rule after the 1990s uprisings.

Initially, people took to the streets to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy, but later they began to call for the removal of the royal family. Bahrain is ruled by the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family, but two-thirds of its population is Shiite.

In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops to Bahrain to reinforce a massive armed crackdown on the popular uprising. More than 25 people were killed, hundreds were arrested and thousands were injured in the government-authorized violence.

Genocide trial opens for 3 senior Khmer Rouge leaders

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 02:05 AM PST

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BNO NEWS) -- A United Nations-backed tribunal on Monday began the genocide trial of the last three senior surviving leaders of the notorious Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

The trial marks the second case brought to trial by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a mixed court set up under a 2003 agreement signed by the United Nations (UN) and the Cambodian government to try those deemed most responsible for crimes committed between 1975 and 1979 during which nearly two million people are thought to have died.

Opening statements from the prosecution and defense in the trial of former foreign minister Ieng Sary, former so-called Brother Number Two Nuon Chea, and former head of State Khieu Samphan on charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture are expected on Tuesday.

Case 002, as the trial is being referred to, is considered one of the most significant in international criminal justice due to the magnitude of the crimes and its complexity, according to a news release issued by the UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge trials.

The trial includes the April 17, 1975 mass evacuation of the capital Phnom Penh, the torture and executions at security prisons around the country and genocide against the Cham Muslims and the ethnic Vietnamese. Local media have underlined that the abuse and violations suffered by many victims under the Khmer Rouge regime may never be heard in court.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said it was a 'historic day' for the people of Cambodia, many of whom have waited for years for the start of the trial. "The survivors' testimony will undoubtedly help a new generation of Cambodians to understand their history and add impetus to the international community's efforts to prevent future mass crimes," Pillay said.

Nearly 1,000 visitors came to the court to watch Monday's proceedings, during which National Co-Prosecutor Chea Leang depicted what types of crimes took place and how millions of Cambodians endured forced labor, torture and inhumane conditions before being murdered.

"Democratic Kampuchea was one of the most brutal and horrific regimes in modern history," Pillay underlined, while International Co-Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said the trial is embarking on "an unprecedented journey."

"One in four Cambodians perished during the four-year reign of Democratic Kampuchea," Cayley stated. "The scope of human catastrophe during the regime was incompatible."

However, in a series of recent decisions, the minority judges of the pre-trial chamber have found "serious deficiencies" in the application of international standards in the cases still before the court's investigating judges. Pillay underlined the importance that those concerns are addressed as the court moves forward, adding that allegations of interference "mar the credibility of any court in the eyes of the public."

Last week the ECCC's trial chamber ruled the unconditional release of Ieng Sary's wife, 79-year-old Ieng Thirith. She is the former Social Affairs Minister for the Democratic Kampuchea who was on trial for genocide and other crimes against humanity along with the other three men. She was released because she was deemed to be unfit to stand trial.

It is estimated that at least 1.7 million Cambodians died during the Khmer Rouge's reign. The regime came to an end in 1979 when a civil war erupted.

European Union adds six more airlines to ‘blacklist’

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 01:15 AM PST

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- Six more airlines were added to the European Union's (EU) blacklist on Monday, banning them from operating in the union's 27 member states, officials said on Tuesday.

The European Commission added the six airlines to its list after several days of consultations because its aircraft operate in conditions below essential safety levels. One Angolan airline has been partially removed from the list and will be allowed to operate two more aircraft in the EU.

The updated European blacklist includes three Boeing 767 aircraft operated by Jordan Aviation and all aircraft from Rollins Air in Honduras. The Commission said it decided to ban Rollins Air after having received information from France, although it gave no specific details.

The list has also been updated to include four airlines which have recently been certified by the aviation authorities of three countries whose air carriers are fully banned in the EU. Those airlines are Equatorial Congo of the Republic of Congo, Stellar Airways of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Aero Majestic Airways and Interisland Airlines of the Philippines.

TAAG Angola Airlines, which had nine of its aircraft on the EU's blacklist, will now be allowed to operate its two modern Boeing 777-300 aircraft in the EU. The seven other aircraft, all Boeing aircraft, are still banned from operating in the European region.

Meanwhile, because of the increased cooperation from Albanian authorities to increase their aviation safety, the European Commission decided not to impose restrictions on Albanian air carriers until their next meeting.

"The Commission and the Air Safety Committee were very concerned with the performance of Albanian air carriers and their authorities," the Commission said.

However, the European authorities welcomed the formal commitment of Albanian authorities to employ full time qualified personnel to ensure the continuous surveillance of airlines under their regulatory authority and coupled with strong enforcement measures.

"Member States and in particular Italy have accepted to further enhance their ongoing cooperation with Albania by providing technical assistance focusing on improving oversight," the Commission added. It also noted and welcomed the recent revocation of Albanian Airlines' air operator's certificate and the removal of one aircraft from the fleet of Belle Air.

Currently, the EU's blacklist includes 273 known airlines whose operations are fully banned in the European Union.

Japan passes third extra budget for post-earthquake reconstruction

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 08:58 PM PST

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- Japan's upper house of parliament on Monday passed the third extra budget for the current fiscal year to finance reconstruction efforts from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, NHK Television reported.

The 12 trillion yen ($156 billion) budget also includes measures to help ease the negative impact of the strong yen. The Japanese government will allocate more than 6 billion dollars to subsidize Japanese companies building new factories in the country in an attempt to encourage Japanese firms not to move factories and related operations overseas.

About 20 billion dollars of the budget will provide financial support for local authorities in disaster-hit areas to implement reconstruction projects. In addition, 3 billion dollars are earmarked for projects to remove radioactive materials from areas affected by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Japan has been facing an ongoing nuclear crisis since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged on March 11 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country. The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.

At least 15,839 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and tsunami while 3,642 others remain missing. There are still more than 88,000 people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures across Japan.

Fourteen Pakistani soldiers killed in rebel ambush

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 08:55 PM PST

QUETTA, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Fourteen Pakistani soldiers were killed on Monday in a clash with rebels in the country's southwestern Balochistan provinces, officials said. Several others were injured.

The Express Tribune reported that the troops of the paramilitary Frontier Corps were establishing a checkpoint in Loralai district when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them. Fourteen security personnel were killed while six others were injured in the ensuing exchange of fire.

Security officials told the newspaper that a major was among those killed. It was not immediately known how many, if any, of the attackers were killed or injured.

The checkpoint is located near Chamalang coal mine, which has been the subject of fighting amongst local tribesmen in the past. Earlier, Frontier Corps had launched an operation against Marri tribesmen who were carrying out armed attacks on trucks transporting the coal from the Chamalang mines.

Officials in Quetta, the provincial capital, has blamed India for providing arms and ammunition to the Marri tribesmen to allegedly sabotage the pace of development in Balochistan, where insurgency is also on the rise.

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الثلاثاء، 22 نوفمبر 2011

Lincoln Tribune

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