Pax Gaea Human Rights World Post

PAX GAEA WORLD POST HUMAN RIGHTS HEADLINES FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007

• Real threat of renewed violence, ethnic cleansing says "Hotel Rwanda" hero
• Death penalty ban backed by Un Secretary-General Ban
• 1/20th of Malaysia's registered voters are actually deceased
• World's most brutal regimes receive aid from China, right groups declare
• Child to UK PM Blair in hand delivered letter, "Why is my daddy in Guantanamo?"
• No intention to dialogue with Syria and Iran, chief U.S. diplomat Rice declares
• South African promoter of HIV antiretroviral drugs accused of 'genocide' by vitamin pusher
• Argentina's Peron arrested for links to 70's disappearances
• In worldwide politics, "Sistas are doing it for themselves" in 2007
• Gulfport Katrina victims win landmark 2.5 million lawsuit against insurance company

INTERVIEW-"Hotel Rwanda" hero fears new Hutu-Tutsi killings

By John Chiahemen

CAPE TOWN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The Rwandan hotel manager who inspired a Hollywood drama for heroically protecting 1,200 refugees fleeing the 1994 massacres in his country says he fears Rwanda could be headed for another round of ethnic bloodletting.Paul Rusesabagina, whose story was depicted in the 2004 Oscar-nominated "Hotel Rwanda", accused Kigali of laying the foundation for another genocide by punishing killers from "only one side" of the country's deadly ethnic conflict. "Actually we are not very far from another genocide," Rusesabagina, a critic of the Rwandan government, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday in Cape Town. Some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were butchered in 100 days of killings from April 6, 1994. Soldiers of the then Hutu-led government and their ethnic militia allies have been accused of orchestrating the carnage. The killings ended only after Tutsi rebels led by current President Paul Kagame seized control of the country and triggered an exodus of more than 2 million Hutus. "Since 1994, Tutsis have been killing Hutus, and even now there are many who are being killed, or who simply disappear," he said. "Everything has been taken over by the Tutsi. The Hutu who are 85 percent of the population are intimidated." In Kigali, Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande poured scorn on Rusesabagina's comments. "He's just out of touch with the reality of Rwanda. A firm foundation has been built and only daydreamers like Rusesabagina can think about bloodletting atrocities again," Murigande told Reuters. "He is a mere propagandist out of touch with reality." Reuters/AlertNet (1/12)

Revisiting Issue, U.N. Chief Clarifies Death-Penalty Stance

By WARREN HOGE

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 — Ban Ki-moon, the new secretary general, sought Thursday to change the impression he left in his first public utterance as United Nations head last week about his position on the death penalty. “I recognize the growing trend in international law and in national practice towards a phasing out of the death penalty,” Mr. Ban said in a statement at a news conference on Thursday, his first since taking office Jan. 1. “I encourage that trend.” Mr. Ban, the mild-spoken former foreign minister of South Korea, made unaccustomed waves last Tuesday when he declined to criticize the death penalty applied to Saddam Hussein. His comment appeared to contradict the longtime United Nations stance against the death penalty and put him at unwanted odds with his predecessor, Kofi Annan, who frequently cited his opposition to capital punishment on human rights grounds. After clarifying his position on Thursday, Mr. Ban told reporters, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for letting me get that off my chest.”But in another instance of his early actions raising doubts, Mr. Ban was asked about reports that he had not conducted formal job interviews with some of his appointees to high-ranking management positions. He has said that tightening the United Nations’ much criticized management would be a priority of his administration. He said that these were “unsubstantiated misperceptions,” and that he had relied on his own associations and conversations with the candidates and on discussions about their qualifications with others. New York Times (1/12)

Dead voters on Malaysia electoral list

About half a million of Malaysia's 10 million registered voters are dead, the country's top election official said on Friday, but he denied opposition claims that this had led to electoral fraud.The comments by Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman came a day after two major opposition parties said they would boycott an upcoming by-election because of doubtful voter lists and a lack of transparency in the poll process. "When you talk about the dead on the rolls, I admit there are a lot," Rashid told Reuters in an interview. "I believe that five per cent of those on the voters' list are dead," he said. "That's why we are going from village to village to verify the dead." He blamed the problem on poor data collection, archaic election laws and bureaucratic red-tape. Malaysia, with 26 million people, has some 10.3 million registered voters. In one case, a woman voter who died in 1975 at the age of 77 was still listed on the 2006 rolls, local media have reported. Sydney Morning Herald (1/12)

China `showers aid' on abusive regimes, says rights group

AP

WASHINGTON Human Rights Watch yesterday accused China of putting its own economic and political interests above concern for mistreated people around the world by "showering aid" on countries known for widespread abuse. While Chinese officials struck deals in resource-rich places like Sudan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar last year, Beijing "studiously avoided" using the influence that comes with a booming economy to promote better human rights, the prominent independent rights group said in its annual report released yesterday. "Instead, it insists on dealing with other governments, in the words of President Hu Jintao, `without any political strings,'" the report said, describing China's stance on human rights as ranging "from indifference to hostility."The report also denounced Beijing's internal policies, saying China confronted rising social tension by tightening control over the press, the Internet and aid groups. Last year, China rejected the report as "highly biased." The report noted some signs that "China's reluctance to meddle in others' affairs might be easing somewhat" -- citing pressure on Sudan to allow UN peacekeeping forces into Darfur and a strong stance following North Korea's nuclear test in October. But it was blistering in its view that China should be doing more. Chinese oil investments, the report said, spur Sudan's economy, encouraging "Khartoum to pursue its slaughter in Darfur and leaving it flush with funds to purchase arms [sometimes Chinese] for the fighting." Taipei Times (1/12)

Child's plea to Blair

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Downing Street had an unusual visitor on Thursday: a 10-year-old boy whose father has been languishing in the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay for nearly four years on what his family claims are trumped-up charges. Anas el-Banna, accompanied by his younger brother Mohamed, delivered a letter addressed to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him to intervene to get his father, Jamil el-Banna, back home. "Why is my dad far away in that place called Guantanamo Bay? Why can't my dad come home'' he asked as a large protest rally was held outside the U.S. embassy demanding the closure of the camp. Anas said he was "disappointed'' that Mr Blair had not replied to his previous letters. His father, who has been held in Guantanamo Bay since March 2003, was picked up by American security forces in Gambia where he had gone to set up a peanut processing plant. His family says he suffers from severe diabetes but has been denied medication. Britain has refused to intervene on grounds that Mr El-Banna, a British resident of Jordanian origin, is not a British citizen, although his wife and children hold British passports. The Hindu (India) (1/12)

Rice rejects dialogue with Iran, Syria

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER

WASHINGTON- Ahead of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's departure for Israel and other Middle Eastern states this weekend, she rejected proposals to open a diplomatic dialogue with Iran and Syria as a way to help stabilize Iraq. She repeated an offer, however, to meet with her Iranian counterpart "any time, anywhere" if the Islamic Republic were to accede to international demands to suspend its uranium enrichment program. As for Syria, she said President Bashar Assad would demand an easing of the US opposition to Syrian policies in Lebanon as his price for cooperation. Rice testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, barely 12 hours after President George W. Bush delivered a prime-time speech outlining a new approach to Iraq. She also spoke at a news conference, in which she noted her upcoming trip to the Middle East. "Our most urgent diplomatic goal is to empower reformers and responsible leaders across the region, and to confront extremists," she said. "The proper partners in our regional diplomacy are those who share these goals - our allies, Israel and Turkey, of course, but [also] democratic reformers and leaders in places like Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iraq, and the responsible governments of the Gulf States, plus Egypt and Jordan," she said. Jerusalem Post (1/12)

Genocide charge laid against Achmat

Johannesburg, South Africa A charge of genocide has been laid against Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) head Zackie Achmat at the International Criminal Court, the Cape Argus reported on Thursday. In the 59-page criminal complaint in the court in The Hague in The Netherlands, Achmat is accused of promoting the provision and use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to treat HIV. The charge was laid by Cape Town advocate Anthony Brink of the Treatment Information Group (TIG). The action is seen as the latest attack in the long-running battle between the TAC and its arch-rivals, who vehemently oppose the use of ARVs. Brink admitted that he received funding from a foundation set up by the controversial Dr Matthias Rath, who favours vitamins for the treatment of Aids. The TAC has been at the forefront of the battle to get the government to provide the drugs to HIV-positive people. In his complaint, Brink calls on the court to charge and find Achmat "guilty of genocide -- the most serious crime of concern to the international community as a whole". He alleges that Achmat has played a "direct criminal role in the deaths of thousands of South Africans from poisoning from so-called antiretroviral drugs". He told the Cape Argus on Thursday: "Recent research data cited in the complaint [submitted at The Hague] demonstrates [ARVs] are killing thousands of people in South Africa -- mostly black and mostly poor. "TAC leader Zackie Achmat correctly claims personal responsibility for getting these drugs into the public health system, and, accordingly, is personally criminally culpable for the deadly consequences." Brink has asked the court to impose the harshest sentence on him -- "permanent confinement in a small, white steel-and-concrete cage, bright fluorescent light on all the time to keep an eye on him". Mail & Guardian (South Africa) (1/12)

Argentine ex-president arrested

Police in Spain have arrested Argentine ex-President Isabel Peron over the 1976 disappearance of a leftist activist. An Argentine judge on Thursday issued a warrant for her arrest, in connection with a right-wing paramilitary group active during her time in office. The group, known as Triple A, allegedly conducted targeted killings of left-wing opponents on government orders in the 1970s. Mrs Peron is also the third wife of ex-President Juan Domingo Peron. She took over from him when he died in 1974. Argentina was wracked by violence and killings in the period after she came to power. Mrs Peron was removed by a military coup in 1976, and has been living in Spain since 1981. The judge, Raul Acosta, alleges that the disappearance of the activist, Hector Aldo Fagetti Gallego, was in effect authorised by her signature of three decrees allowing Argentina's armed forces to take action against "subversives". BBC (1/12)

From Royal to Clinton, 2007 Is the Year of Strong Women

By Britta Sandberg and Gerhard Spörl

It has already happened in Berlin -- and Paris and Washington may be next. Women are getting ready to take political power. Meanwhile, their male rivals, most of them from the usual tired caste of political functionaries, are having trouble keeping up. It's as if American senators were kings, complete with their own little kingdom. They reside "up on the Hill" -- as the neighborhood that surrounds the Capitol in Washington is popularly referred to -- in long, sumptuously decorated rooms with plenty of flags. They travel a great deal, accompanied by a large, court-like entourage. Each of their assistants aspires to be the next national security advisor, secretary of state or powerful, behind-the-scenes advisor in the White House. After all, almost every senator believes he or she will be the next president -- especially now that the position will soon be available again. But here's the rub: The last man who traded the office of senator directly with the presidency was John F. Kennedy -- and that was in 1960. Last week, the 33 newly elected men and women -- overall, there are 16 female and 84 male senators -- took their oaths at the Capitol -- a sublime ceremony in this country so enamored of symbolism. Most of the attention was focused on Hillary Rodham Clinton, the 59-year-old senator from New York. She began her career in politics when her husband Bill left the White House in January 2001. Since becoming a senator, she's won respect for herself -- even from some of her former adversaries. She has also transformed herself politically -- no longer the disparaged left-wing politician, she now stands firmly in the very place where US elections are won: the political center, the mainstream. Der Spiegel (Germany) (1/12)

Jury awards Katrina couple $2.5 million

By GARRY MITCHELL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GULFPORT, Miss. -- A jury awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. to a Mississippi couple for denying their Hurricane Katrina claim. The decision could benefit hundreds of other homeowners challenging insurers for refusing to cover billions of dollars in storm damage.State Farm said it likely will appeal. Earlier Thursday, U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. had taken part of the case out of jurors' hands before they awarded punitive damages to State Farm policyholders Norman and Genevieve Broussard of Biloxi.Senter ruled Thursday morning that State Farm is liable for $223,292 in damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to the Broussards' home. Senter left the punitive damages to the jury.Senter's decision to make a directed verdict rather than let the jury decide the entire case appeared to surprise everyone in the courtroom. After he explained his ruling, Senter ordered a recess to give attorneys time "to get over the shock." After the jury announced its award, the Broussards left the courthouse arm in arm. "It's a great day for south Mississippi," Norman Broussard said. Seattle Post/Intelligencer (1/12)

posted by Dave Carroll @ 1/12/2007 05:09:00 PM