Posts

Showing posts from December 30, 2012

US asks Myanmar to resolve ethnic conflicts through dialogue

WASHINGTON: The US on Friday asked Myanmar to resolve the differences with minority ethnic communities through peaceful dialogue and not through armed conflict, and also end racial and religiously motivated discrimination. "We are concerned about violence by any side, in Kachin, as we have said, and we call on both sides to come to the peace table to end efforts to settle this through aggressive means. "The government of Burma (Myanmar) has had good success in many other ethnic areas in getting to a process of dialogue and negotiation, and we want to see the same thing in Kachin," State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters at her daily news conference. In the last few days, the United States has expressed its concern over use of air power by Myanmar against the Kachin rebels. The United States calls Myanmar by its previous name Burma. United Kingdom is the only other country to do so. The State Department also urged Myanmar to adhere to its

Mobile phones new weapons of terrorism: Pakistan minister

ISLAMABAD: Mobile phones have now become a "weapon of terrorism" as most bombings in Pakistan are conducted through them, federal interior minister Rehman Malik has said. He said that during the month of Muharram, mobile phone services were suspended in many cities which helped in avoiding blasts, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. "Mobile phones are now a weapon of terrorism as all improvised bombings are conducted through them," Malik said. The minister said legislation should be brought to ban the sale of illegal mobile phone SIM cards. The South Asia Terrorism Portal, which compiles reports of terror attacks, says more than 1,000 people were killed and 2,700 injured in bomb attacks in Pakistan in 2012. Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Mobile-phones-new-weapons-of-terrorism-Pakistan-minister/articleshow/17899489.cms

Imam prays for Kasab in Kerala mosque; IB probe on

The Intelligence Bureau is probing a case involving a prayer meeting for Ajmal Kasab [ Images ] conducted by an imam at a mosque in Kerala [ Images ], reports Vicky Nanjappa The rising trend of fundamentalist elements strengthening their foothold in Kerala has been discussed time and again. The latest incident involves an Intelligence Bureau investigation into a prayer meeting held in the state for 26/11 Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was hanged on November 21 last. Before getting into the details of the probe conducted by the state IB, here is what happened: an imam at a mosque in Trikkakara, Kerala, had offered prayers for Kasab two days after he had been hanged at the Yerwada jail in Pune. The prayer was held for some dead persons and one of the names that figured in the list was that of Kasab. The managing committee of the mosque immediately removed the imam from his job once the probe into the incident began. "A probe is on," said an Intelligence Bureau o

Kashmiri's exit: Will jihad fall apart in Kerala?

? - Rediff.com News The killing of Ilyas Kashmiri, the leader of Al Qaeda's dreaded 313 brigade, in a US drone strike on Pakistan's border has come as a shot in the arm of security agencies in India who had been grappling with the rising clout of the terrorist amongst the cadre, especially in Kerala. Vicky Nanjappa reports The recent killings of top terrorist leader Ilyas Kashmiri has created ripples in terror modules operating in India, especially Kerala. In recent times, Kashmiri's call for Ghazb-e-Hind (war on India) had been gaining a lot of ground in the state. Kerala has many splinter groups fighting for jihad (holy war), but what Kashmiri had managed to do was unite these forces. Very recently, Kashmiri had asserted that all jihadi recruitments would happen from Kerala. He felt that cadres from this part of the world were the most determined and loyal. Moreover, picking up cadres from Kerala was always easier for any terror group, as the mindset amongst a lo

Will SIMI's new avatar emerge from Kerala?

After a major crackdown on their activities, SIMI cadres had scattered and gone underground. Intelligence agencies have now warned of SIMI's re-emergence with Kerala as its new hub. Vicky Nanjappa throws light on this new development. A recent alert from the Union home ministry indicating that the Students Islamic Movement of India is on the verge of re-grouping has put police officers across the country on alert. Currently, law enforcement agents are on the hunt for 80 SIMI activists who they believe are crucial for the outfit to re-group. While Uttar Pradesh continues to be a major hub for SIMI cadres, the worry for security agencies are pockets in Kerala and Karnataka. Sources in the Intelligence Bureau point out that some crucial operatives from the Lucknow and Azamgarh regions in Uttar Pradesh have moved to south India and are looking to re-group there. The IB sources believe the Indian Mujahideen, the home-grown terror outfit, could merge its cadres with SIMI.

'Blame the Left govt for the surge of extremism in Kerala'

The Popular Front of India [ Images ] is behind the chopping off the palm of Professor T D Joseph, the Malayalam professor of Newman's College, Thodupuzha recently, says former Kerala [ Images ] chief minister and the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly Oommen Chandy. This is the first time a Congress leader is talking openly about the Islamic outfit's role in the gruesome incident that sent shockwaves across the country. In an interview to rediff.com, Chandy blames the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front Government for the surge in extremist activities in Kerala. Excerpts from the interview: Kerala is now in news -- both nationally and internationally for the alarming rise of extremist activities. As a former chief minister and the Leader of Opposition and what is your take? The Congress is totally against all sorts of fundamentalism and extremism and as a leader of the Congress in the state, I totally disown all sorts of

Four shot dead near scene of US cinema massacre

Aurora: A gunman killed three people before police killed him in turn on Saturday in a shooting in a house in Aurora, Colorado, scene earlier this year of a massacre in a cinema, local media reported. NBC television's local affiliate KUSA reported that police had said that one survivor escaped from the house, where an "armed and dangerous" man had earlier barricaded himself inside with hostages. Aurora made global headlines in July after a horrific shooting at a movie theater that left 12 people dead and 58 others wounded during the first midnight screening of the latest Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises." On Saturday, several homes were evacuated and roads were closed for safety reasons before the gunman was shot by police, according to KUSA. Earlier, while the siege was still ongoing, local police officer Sergeant Cassidee Carlson had told the station: "We've been able to contact him intermittently... We haven't been able to keep contac

New chief of Pak Taliban faction fought Indian troops in Kashmir

Press Trust of India | Updated: January 05, 2013 14:44 IST Islamabad: Bahawal Khan, who took over as the new chief of a Taliban faction in Pakistan's South Waziristan region after the killing of Mullah Nazir in a US drone strike, is a militant who fought Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir. Bahawal was named the head of the faction shortly after Nazir and 12 other militants were killed in the drone strike in Angoor Adda area on Thursday. He fought as a militant in Jammu and Kashmir, sources were quoted as saying in Pakistani media reports. A member of the Kakakhel sub-tribe of the Ahmedzai Wazirs, Bahawal is an illiterate former bus driver. The 34-year-old father of two also ran a hotel. He fought alongside the Afghan Taliban before the 9/11 terror attacks. Bahawal, who is also known as Salahuddin Ayubi, was chosen by the 'Shura' (council) of the Mullah Nazir group and elders of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe. A report in The News described Khan as "tough and inf

FBI closely coordinates with far-right and fascist organizations: Caleb Maupin

An analyst says the FBI has a history of being linked to assassinations of trade union and rights movement officials and now labels OWS as domestic terrorists. In the background of this, newly leaked documents by the FBI of a plot to assassinate leaders of the OWS movement have been uncovered in the US where the FBI did not inform victims targeted and have not provided details of who is suspected to be involved in the plot. Meanwhile the FBI in its domestic terrorism policy sees the OWS members, who have only ever demonstrated in an unarmed and peaceful way, as potential domestic terrorists. Press TV has interviewed Mr. Caleb Maupin, International Action Center, New York about this issue. What follows is an approximate transcript of the interview. Press TV: Let's get this straight here - the FBI being aware of a plot to assassinate members of Occupy Wall Street movements in the US, but not informing their victims. What kind of message does that send regarding first of all th

The Far Right is Anything but Conservative

John Podhoretz delivers a sharp retort to the elements of the far right claiming Speak Boehner and Senator McConnell "caved" by agreeing to exempt those over $400,000 from income tax cuts. As Podhoretz notes, Boehner and McConnell made the best of a very bad situation for Republicans. Certainly nothing worth cheering, but definitely not grounds for an attempted revolt by far right Congressmen. You’d think, from the conduct and rhetoric of many conservatives in the House and outside the House and Senate, that Boehner and McConnell had “caved” willingly. No, they caved because they had no choice. What they did was what leaders do — or rather, what leaders of those who are in a losing position do. The best they could. The problem is that conservatives seem to think there were other choices, other ways, other possibilities — when all those choices, ways and possibilities had been exhausted. And so many of them are literally embracing chaos. Though they oppose raising taxes

Kuwaiti education program aims to combat religious extremism

Australia could benefit from a world-first training program developed by the Kuwaiti government to combat religious extremism at its roots, one of its senior officials has advised. The program, which has been running successfully in Russia, Azerbaijan and the Ukraine, is aimed at eliminating radical ideology by educating religious leaders and those in positions of power and influence, according to Dr Adel al-Falah, the under secretary for Kuwait’s Ministry of of Awqaf and Islamic Developments. Speaking on a visit to Sydney, Dr al-Falah, said they had already trained 1000 Imams and they have 450 educators providing guidance to Muslim leaders around the world. ‘‘As a result of the training in Kuwait, not one extremist group has come to the fore in recent times,’’ said Dr al-Falah. ‘‘The issue of moderation is a serious business, and this program is suitable for Australia or any country that has Muslims living there,’’ he said. Dr al-Falah’s comments follow a public outcry earl

Thousands of Mines Destroyed in Western Sahara

Morocco: Over 10,000 Antipersonnel Mines Destroyed By Polisario Since 2005 Photo: John Charles Monua/UN Discharge of mines. More than 10,000 antipersonnel mines were destroyed by the Polisario Front in the Sahrawi occupied territories since 2005, Representative of Polisario Front in the United Kingdom Limam Mohamed Ali said Tuesday in an interview to APS. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) joined in 2005 "Geneva Call," a treaty which condemns the use, the acquisition, the production and the transfer of antipersonnel mines, said the source. This treaty encourages the activities in favour of mine clearing of contaminated areas and assistance of victims of antipersonnel mines. "Since 2005, we have destroyed more than 10,000 antipersonnel mines landed by Morocco in our territories. We are working in collaboration with Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), which is a non-governmental organization specialized in this field," said Mohamed Ali. Source http://

Sri Lanka criticised over 'war tourism'

The lagoon of Nanthi Kadal, on the island’s north coast, was, in 2009, the scene of atrocities in the Sri Lankan army’s final push against the Tamil Tigers. Now the location, where the UN estimates tens of thousands of civilians were killed, is the setting for army-run holiday homes. One teak villa was opened by the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his brother, the defence secretary. “Enjoy a soothing holiday and the cool breeze of Nanthi Kadal lagoon,” is how the three-bedroom property, Lagoon’s Edge, is promoted on the resort’s Facebook page. On its walls hang memorials to the civil war. A Sinhala language newspaper report describes it as where “thousands of war heroes, terrorists and others died”. “War tourism is all about presentation,” said Fred Carver of Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice. “In Cambodia, for instance, the killing fields are presented by the victims. When done properly it can have a healing role but in this case it’s all from the perspective of the vict

Extremism unchecked in schools, secret briefing reveals

Michael Gove, the education secretary, was one of the key voices calling for a ban on support for non-violent extremism when it published its Prevent strategy to fight radicalisation last year. But behind closed doors there are concerns about 118 “socially conservative” independent faith schools - the vast majority of them Muslim - where pupils may be encouraged to cut themselves off from mainstream society. Ministers have been told they do not have “detailed information” about the religious orientation of the groups and movements behind all independent faith schools. And officials have privately admitted that they also have no system in place to identify institutional extremism in state schools, the Daily Telegraph has learned. They say there is also “a gap between what we think we know and what we can prove” because they cannot use undercover methods open to journalists. From January, the Independent School Standards will require a respect for “fundamental British values”

Morocco Counters Extremism With Culture, Creativity, and Community

Rabat, Morocco — A chorus of voices in Morocco is calling for culture to be used as a means of boosting national identity and protecting young people from extremism. Extremists should be tackled not only directly by the authorities, but also by instilling the country's values in young people, according to Culture Minister Amine Sbihi. This, he said, will protect them against the extremist thinking that is spread everywhere, in particular by certain satellite channels. Sbihi argued that young people are leaving the country in droves not only because of unemployment and poverty, but also because they have not been taught to be committed to their country. For 2013, Morocco has allocated 571 million dirhams (52 million euros) for the culture ministry, including 217 million dirhams solely for investment purposes. Several experts and MPs are calling for special attention to be paid to the sector because of the role that culture plays in boosting identity and fostering social values

Pakistan Calls UN Security Council Terrorism Debate

akistan has announced it will convene a United Nations Security Council debate on the effectiveness of the international community's counterterrorism policies. Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan, holder of the Security Council's rotating presidency for January, said the debate would occur on January 15. Khan said the international community has seen only "partial" success in the battle against terrorism, and that a more "coherent" and "comprehensive" strategy must be developed. He said the root causes of terrorism must be addressed, alongside military and intelligence operations against terrorists. Khan declined to comment about whether drones, such as the kind used by the United States to targeted suspected militants in Pakistan and elsewhere, are an effective tool to fight terrorism. Pakistan has suffered thousands of casualties from terrorism in the past decade. Source http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-calls-un-terrorism-debate/24

UK extradites terror suspect to US

An alleged al-Qaeda operative accused of planning to launch terror attacks worldwide has been extradited from Britain to the United States, Scotland Yard said. Abid Naseer was taken from Britain’s Belmarsh Prison to Luton Airport on January 3 before extradition to the US, where he faces allegations of a bomb plot, feeding intelligence to al-Qaeda and acting as the organization’s agent. The 26-year-old was arrested in 2010 on suspicion of being a British-based al-Qaeda cell member, plotting attacks in the US and Britain. Naseer was allegedly involved in planning to attack a target likely in St Ann's Square or the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester. Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Extradition Unit arrested Naseer and 12 other men in the north east of England following a request from the US government. US prosecutors want to put him on trial for a crime he has not yet committed over suspicions that the Manchester plot, which did not go ahead, was part of a bigger

Thailand deports Rohingya Muslims

Thailand has deported a group of the Rohingya Muslim minority fleeing from persecution in Myanmar. On Wednesday, 73 Rohingya migrants, including 15 women, were found drifting on a small, overcrowded boat off the Thai resort town of Phuket, heading to their final destination of Malaysia. Ditthaporn Sasasmit, a spokesman for the Thai Internal Security Operation Command said on Thursday, “Phuket immigration police deported them overland via Ranong, where there is a border checkpoint.” “The waves were high and it might have been dangerous to go further, so Thailand allowed them to come into the country and detained them as illegal immigrants.” The move comes despite a call by the United Nations Refugee Agency on the Thai government not to deport the Muslim refugees. Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, said, “We want Thailand to come up with a clear policy that recognizes Thailand’s international obligations to protect asylum seekers and refugees.” Myanma

Unknown gunmen kidnap police chief in Libya’s Benghazi

Unidentified gunmen have abducted the head of the Criminal Investigation Department in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Captain Abdelsalam al-Mahdawi was kidnapped at gunpoint on his way to work late on Wednesday night, Reuters cited an anonymous police official as saying on Thursday. Following the abduction, Libyan Interior Minister Ashour Shwayel issued a statement vowing to find “the officer and determine the identity of the perpetrators.” Benghazi has been the scene of several explosions and a wave of attacks targeting police and military forces in recent weeks. On December 31, a bomb has exploded outside the headquarters of the public prosecutor in the same city, inflicting damage to the building. On December 21, four people, including two police officers, were killed and ten others were wounded in clashes between Libyan security forces and armed protesters. Five days earlier, four policemen were shot dead in the city when unknown attackers fired a rocket-propelled grenad

Clashes between S Sudan-linked armed groups, Sudanese tribesmen kill 22

Clashes between armed groups linked to South Sudan and Sudanese tribesmen in Sudan’s East Darfur State have claimed the lives of at least 22 people. “A force belonging to Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) of South Sudan attacked Balila area which is affiliating to Samaha area Administration (near the Bahr al-Arab River) in East Darfur State…The clashes resulted in the killing of 22 people,” said Siddiq Abdul-Nabi, a local official in the East Darfur State, on Thursday. At least 25 others were injured in the clashes who were sent to the Al-Dein hospital, he added. This comes after Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir agreed to take part in a summit with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir in Addis Ababa on Friday to revive halted economic and security agreements. Emad Sayed Ahmed, Sudan's presidential press secretary, said on Tuesday that the meeting would “discuss means of speeding up the implementation of the issues agreed upon at the summit between the two” mor

Basque leaders dissolve party

Basque’s separatist leaders say they have dissolved its party, Batasuna, as it has moved into a “new political phase” and will achieve independence for its region bordering France and Spain through political means. "We are announcing the dissolution of Batasuna," Maite Goyenetxe and Jean Claude Aguerre, spokespeople for the Batasuna party, said in Bayonne, the main city in France's Basque region. "We affirm that we will achieve the project of building Euskal Herria (the Basque Country) only by political means, in the face of the oppressive French and Spanish states," Goyenetxe said. The Spanish Supreme Court banned Batasuna from political activities in Spain in 2003 and the party could only continue operations in France. Nine years later, the members of Batasuna’s Spanish wing joined Euskal Herria Bildu in a leftist separatist coalition. Source http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/03/281638/basque-leaders-dissolve-party/

West uses delisted MKO terrorists to achieve certain objectives: Iranian MP

An Iranian lawmaker says the US and Canada move to take the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) off the list of terrorist organizations is in line with the West’s policy to use the group in order to achieve certain objectives in the region. “The move by the Canadian and the US governments to remove the MKO from the list of terrorist organizations is in line with Western countries’ support of this group in order to use its remaining members for achieving their meddlesome and aggressive political and economic objectives in the region,” Mohammad-Hassan Asafari, a member of Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Friday. He said that the group was nurtured by Washington and added the US government’s terrorist nature in the region requires that it financially and militarily support terrorist groups like MKO, Taliban and al-Qaeda. Asafari said that Iran will reconsider its political, economic and cultural relations with any country that would shelter

13,000 people mostly Rohingyas fled Myanmar by boat in 2012: UN

The UN refugee agency says about 13,000 people, mostly Rohingya Muslims, fled Myanmar by boat last year, with hundreds dying during the sea voyage. "We know of at least 485 people who have drowned or are lost at sea," Vivian Tan, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said on Friday. Tan, who described the numbers as “very worrying," raised concern that the death toll was probably far higher. "The fact that even women and children are increasingly risking this journey shows the growing sense of desperation among the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh," she noted. The Arakan Project, an NGO which supports the rights of the Rohingya, also reported a sharp rise in departures, saying over 10,000 people have ventured the perilous sea voyage since October 2012. Chris Lewa, who heads the Arakan Project, said the estimate does not include boats leaving the Rakhine state capital, Sittwe, where tens of thousands of Rohingyas are living

Saudi-Turkish policy of sowing discord will backfire: Analyst

Head of Hezbollah’s media office says that the policy adopted by the three pro-Western regional countries of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to sow discord in the region will backfire on them. The Hezbollah Secretary General says Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are responsible for fueling violence in Syria and the increase in casualties. Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah made the remarks in a televised speech in the southern Lebanese town of Baalbek on the occasion of Arbaeen, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH). Nasrollah said the crisis in Syria has a political solution and cautioned that the continuation of the Syrian conflict would have dire consequences. Press TV has conducted an interview with Ibrahim Mousawi, head of Hezbollah’s media office from the Lebanese capital city of Beirut to further discuss the issue at hand. What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview. Press TV: Mr. Mousawi it is very interesting what [Seyyed H

Saudi coast guard arrests 21 Iranians near al-Harqus island

Saudi Arabia has arrested 21 Iranian nationals who were on board two boats near an island off its eastern coast, the Saudi border guard says. A kingdom’s border guard statement said the Iranians were detained near al-Harqus island, 78 km off the Saudi coast on Wednesday. The Saudi coast guard added that the Iranian detainees are currently being questioned. It has provided no further details about the incident. It is not uncommon for fishermen to stray into other nations' territorial waters due to the tide and contiguity of sea borders in the Persian Gulf. Source http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/04/281706/saudi-border-guard-nabs-21-iranians/

Yemen arrests Israeli for espionage: Security sources

Yemen has arrested an Israeli man who holds Yemeni citizenship on charges of spying for the Tel Aviv regime. Yemeni security sources said on Thursday that man, who is in his thirties, had been detained in Yemen’s southern city of Taizz in late December 2012. The alleged spy was reportedly transferred to an intelligence facility in Yemen’s southern port city of Aden this week before facing trial. No exact date has been set for the trial. According an official speaking on condition of anonymity, the man, identified as Ali Abdul-Mohsen al-Himi al-Siaghi or Abraham al-Deri, had secret links with Israeli security agencies. The official further said that communications with Israeli organizations had been found on his laptop. Over the past months, Yemenis have several times held demonstrations to demand an end to foreign interference in the internal affairs of Yemen, especially by the United States and its ally Israel. Meanwhile, Egypt also announced on December 31 that its securit

Bomb goes off near mosque in Syrian’s Idlib

An explosive device has gone off near a mosque in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib as militants fighting against the Damascus government continue their deadly attacks against non-military targets, Press TV reports. The explosion was followed by heavy gunfire which led to the killing of the Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Samir al-Jabra. Meanwhile, a car bomb explosion hit an army checkpoint near the Syrian capital, Damascus, but there are no details available on possible casualties. The blast took place in the capital’s al-Nabik district and the sound of gunfire was heard across the area following the explosion. A number of militants were also killed in Idlib countryside of Ma’aret al-Numan after a car bomb they were setting up exploded prematurely. There are also reports of clashes between the Syrian army and foreign-backed militants in Homs, Aleppo and the suburbs of Damascus. Many militants are reported to have been killed in the confrontations. Syrian troops also

Nusra Front reportedly leading Syrian rebels’ fight for key Damascus area

BEIRUT -- An Islamist rebel group that the United States has listed as a terrorist organization has taken the lead in fighting in Damascus, according to residents who’ve recently fled the violence there. The reports that the Nusra Front, which the Obama administration last month declared to be an affiliate of al Qaida in Iraq, is at the forefront of the fighting in Syria's capital underscores the deepening sectarianism inside Syria that many analysts feel is likely to thwart new U.N. efforts to promote a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Residents of the southern Damascus neighborhood of Yarmouk said that fighters from Nusra, whose name in Arabic is Jabhat al Nusra, were at the forefront of a battle that has driven hundreds of thousands of people from the district since Nusra launched its offensive about two weeks ago. Other Islamist rebel groups also are playing a role in the combat, the residents said. Supporters of rebels fighting to topple the government of Presiden

How did Osama live undetected in Pakistan? Report ready, but not public

Islamabad: A Pakistan judicial commission submitted findings on Thursday from its investigation into how Osama bin Laden lived in the country undetected for years until his killing by US special forces, officials said, but the report might never be revealed. The commission was appointed 18 months ago, in what was welcomed as a chance to get to the bottom of one of the most embarrassing episodes in Pakistani history, but its findings could remain classified. The Pakistani government set up the five-member panel after US Navy SEALs conducted a secret raid on a compound in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, killing bin Laden without informing Islamabad until afterwards. Parliament demanded an independent investigation into how bin Laden had been able to hide and whether there was any government or military collusion. The commission's chairman, retired judge Javed Iqbal, submitted the report to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday, a statement from Ashraf

13,000 boat people flee Myanmar, Bangladesh: United Nations

Yangon: About 13,000 boat people, including many stateless Rohingya Muslims, fled Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh in 2012 with hundreds dying during the perilous sea voyage, the UN said on Friday. A wave of deadly sectarian violence in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine has triggered an exodus of refugees, mostly heading for Malaysia. "We know of at least 485 people who've drowned or are lost at sea," said Vivian Tan, spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency, adding the real death toll was probably far higher. "These numbers are very worrying," Tan said. "The fact that even women and children are increasingly risking this journey shows the growing sense of desperation among the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh," she added. More than 10,000 people have attempted the sea voyage since October 2012 -- a sharp increase on last season's departures, according to the Arakan Project, which lobbies for the rights of the Rohingya, considered

Improvised Explosive Devices recovered in Assam

Tinsukia ,Assam: Two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were recovered on Friday, from an oil collection centre in upper Assam's Tinsukia district. Acting on a tip-off, police recovered the two IEDs from the Nagajan Oil Collection Centre in the district, Official sources said. The area has been cordoned off and efforts are on to defuse the explosives. Details are awaited. While police have not said who planted the explosives, it is suspected to be the handiwork of ULFA's anti-talk faction. Source http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/improvised-explosive-devices-recovered-in-assam-313403

Most Popular Human Rights Topics on Twitter in 2012

Image
In 2012, @hrw sent over 2,000 tweets and a quarter of a million new people started following the feed. Human Rights Watch has over 100 staff actively tweeting human rights developments around the world. In the past year these researchers, advocates and directors tweeted developing human rights stories such as the drafting of the Egyptian constitution, the first trial and conviction by the International Criminal Court and the first women to represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympic games. Here are the top ten most-clicked stories of the year. 10. Today is Int'l Day of People w/ Disabilities. Show your support, call on US Senators to vote YES to #CRPD http://bit.ly/SBs7mg The United States missed an opportunity to display global leadership on disability rights on December 4, 2012, as the Senate failed to approve ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

British man held in Mauritania amid reports he was trying to join Sahara-based Islamic terror group

Dec 26 A BRITISH man has reportedly been detained in Mauritania amid reports that he was trying to join up with an Islamic terror group in the Sahara desert. The British Foreign Office (FCO) said they are investigating reports that a national had been detained in the African country. The man was reportedly held on the border between Mauritania and Mali as he attempted to cross the vast Sahara desert on foot to join up with terrorists linked to al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). An FCO spokeswoman said: "We are aware of reports of the detention of a British National in Mauritania and are seeking further information." Islamists have seized control of northern Mali, including the ancient desert city of Timbuktu. They have imposed Sharia law, carried out public executions, stoned to death a couple accused of adultery and destroyed mausoleums listed as world heritage sites. In one case a 15-year-old girl received 60 lashes after the Ansar Dine extremists convicte

Suspected terrorist goes missing

A SUSPECTED terrorist has gone missing, British police have said. Ibrahim Magag (28) has absconded from a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures notice after failing to meet his overnight residence condition on St Stephen's Day. He was last seen in the Camden area of north London on the same day at 5.20pm. A Met spokesman said: "The Counter Terrorism Command immediately launched inquiries to trace the man and these will continue. Public safety remains our priority. "At the request of the police, an anonymity order imposed by a court was lifted to allow a public appeal. Anyone who sees this man or knows of his whereabouts should not approach him, but call 999 immediately." He added: "Ibrahim Magag is not considered at this time to represent a direct threat to the British public." Security Minister James Brokenshire said: "National security is the government's top priority and the police are doing everything in their power to ap

Three shot dead in Switzerland as drunken gunman goes on rampage

By Tom Miles Thursday January 03 2013 THREE people were killed and two wounded late last night when a gunman opened fire in the Swiss village of Daillon. The suspect threatened police when they tried to arrest him, and officers shot and wounded him before taking him into custody. No police officers were wounded. Swiss website 20minutes.ch reported that the gunman was a resident of the village aged about 30 who was armed with an assault rifle and had been drinking heavily. It quoted a villager as saying one of the dead was a woman in her 80s. Special police units and local police forces were alerted by a caller who said several people were lying wounded on the ground at about 8.50pm (1950 GMT). It said the incident was being investigated and the site had been closed off. The village is near the town of Sion, the capital of the canton - or region - of Valais. Mass shootings are rare in Switzerland, although gun possession is widespread - some estimates run to at least one

Terrorists always need cash to operate

Thursday January 03 2013 A SUCCESSFUL terrorist campaign with an overseas dimension requires substantial financing. And a lot of money will be needed if the godfathers behind the new dissident alliance are to carry out their planned campaign of murder and mayhem on this island and in Britain. According to anti-terrorist officers who spoke to the Irish Independent, evidence is already emerging the alliance is extending its influence in the highly profitable rackets that have been operated for decades in the border counties. Another sinister development is the number of former Provisional IRA activists being attracted into fundraising activities with the renegades and then attempting to hide their assets under a myriad of schemes. Ex-provisionals, particularly in east Tyrone, Derry and Belfast, are believed to be playing a key role in the new grouping's plans to bring their violent campaign to a higher level. The murder of prison officer David Black in October and last wee

Iraq pilgrims die in car bomb blast

Thursday January 03 2013 A car bomb explosion tore through a crowd of Shiite pilgrims returning home from a religious commemoration in Iraq killing at least 20, officials say. The blast erupted in the town of Musayyib, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. It targeted worshippers returning from the Shiite holy city of Karbala following the climax of the religious commemoration known as Arbaeen. Children were among the 20 people confirmed killed, according to police. At least 50 people were wounded. The explosion went off in the middle of a gathering of pilgrims changing buses coming from Karbala on their way to other destinations in the country. Today marked the height of Arbaeen, when hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims converged on Karbala to mark the passing of 40 days after the anniversary of the seventh century martyrdom of the revered Shiite saint Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Shiite pilgrims are one of the favou

France as an islamophobic laboratory: occupying mosque

By Saadet Oruç, Brussel / World Bulletin The news posted in French Poitiers on Saturday is at the same time the footsteps of a growing hazard... A fascist group called "732 Generation Identitaire" occupied a mosque under construction. The group of 60 young people picked up their name referring to the Battle of Tours in 732 AD that stopped the Muslim army, and organized the "action" to broadcast themselves. Police forces emptied the mosque in the afternoon arresting three. The incident was criticised by the French Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault and the Interior Minister Manuel Valls. Was the timing a coinsidence or did this attack happen "all of a sudden"? Two days after the news headlines appeared saying that according to the Interior Ministry report 4000 Christians annualy convert to Islam reciting the shahadah... A week after Marine le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, called on the ban of wearing veil in public... And a fe

Hekmatyar: Prince Harry is a drunk "jackal"

An Afghan insurgent warlord branded Britain's Prince Harry on Wednesday as a shameless, drunken "jackal" out to kill innocent Afghans while on duty as an attack helicopter pilot for NATO forces in the country. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Afghan prime minister who leads one of Afghanistan's main factions, told the Daily Telegraph in an interview that Queen Elizabeth's 28-year-old grandson was a relic of the colonial past. "It seems that some British authorities still dream about the times of the 18th and 19th century and they want their ambassador to be treated like a viceroy and their prince to go out in uniform to hunt for human beings and play the Satanic role that they used to play in the past," Hekmatyar said in translated comments. He said Britain had gained nothing by entering an "unjustified, useless but cruel conflict" to please its ally, the United States, speaking in a recorded video response to questions put by the paper.