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Online petíció indult a kötelező gépjármű-biztosítás árának korlátozásáért

Erdély FM (Románia/Erdély) - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 08:57

A petíciót a Romániai Közúti Szállítók Országos Szövetsége kezdeményezte azzal a céllal, hogy meggyőze a parlamentet és a kormányt, szabjanak felső határt a kötelező gépjármű-biztosításnak. A közúti szállítók RCA-ja egy év alatt háromszorosára nőtt, áll országos szövetségük közleményében. A petíció aláírói azt kérik a hatóságoktól, maximálják 300 lejben a személygépkocsik 1 éves biztosítását, a városi tömegközlekedést biztosító járművek 1 éves RCA-ja ne lehessen nagyobb 2000 lejnél, az áruszállítók és országos, illetve nemzetközi útvonalakon közlekedő buszok biztosítása pedig legtöbb 5000 lejbe kerüljön 1 évre. A petíciót a petitieonline.ro oldalon lehet aláírni.

A szólásszabadság kérdéséről szól a Telekom-Ákos ügy Orbán Viktor szerint

Erdély FM (Románia/Erdély) - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 08:56

A magyar miniszterelnök tegnap azt mondta, Kovács Ákos énekes és a Magyar Telekom ügye fontos elvi és alkotmányos kérdéseket vet fel. Úgy vélte, a Magyar Telekom a szólásszabadságot veszélyeztette, amikor szerződést bontott Kovács Ákossal. Orbán Viktor elismerte, hogy minden magáncégnek joga van azzal szerződést kötni, akivel akar. De a már megkötött szerződések felmondásának pontos szabályai vannak, és ebbe nem fér bele a kormányfő szerint, hogy valakivel a véleménye miatt bontanak szerződést. A miniszterelnök leszögezte, érzékeny kérdésről van szó, mert a Magyar Telekom stratégiai partnere a kormánynak, de világossá kell tenni, hogy ennek ellenére tiszteletben kell tartania azokat az értékeket, amelyek Magyarországon alkotmányos védelem alatt állnak. Kovács Ákos nemrég az Echo Tv-n azt mondta, a nőknek nem az a feladatuk, hogy ugyanannyi pénzt keressenek, mint a férfiak, hanem valakihez tartozni és anyaként kiteljesedni, amit vezető beosztásban nem tehetnek meg. Az énekes nyilatkozata nagy felháborodást váltott ki sokakban, majd a Magyar Telekom szerdán szerződést bontott az énekessel. Erre válaszul egy nappal később a kormány felmondta mobilinternetes szerződéseit a Telekommal.

Kiértékelték a szervezők a Kolozsvár 2015 – Európa Ifjúsági Fővárosa magyar programjait és eredményeit

Erdély FM (Románia/Erdély) - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 08:56

Borzási Sarolta, a Share Föderáció magyar ügyekért felelős alelnöke elmondta, a programok közül kiemelkedik többek között a YouthMeeting, a Magyar Ifjúsági Konferencia, az Apáczai Csere János tantárgyverseny, a 22. KMDSZ Diáknapok és Diákolimpia, a TIFF Campus, a Color Run, a Kolozsvári Ünnepi Könyvhét, az Electric City és Electric Castle, a Jazz in the Park, a Kolozsvári Magyar Napokon az ifjúsági pavilon, a cserkésztábor, a sportolimpia, a Várom az urat ifjúsági keresztyén fesztivál vagy a Kolozsvári Magyar Napok téli fesztiválja. Folyamatos program volt a Day15, amelyben minden hónap 15. körül más és más rendezvényt, projektet szerveztek. Borzási Sarolta néhány számszerűsíthető célt és eredményt is bemutatott, számol be a Transindex. Az egyik cél az volt, hogy az ifjúsági projektek támogatására szánt önkormányzati támogatásokat 150%-kal növeljék, ehhez képest 2012-höz képest 500%-kal növekedett az ezekre fordított összeg. A turisták száma 26%-kal növekedett 2015-ben a kitűzött 20%-hoz képest. Azt is szerették volna elérni, hogy az összlakosság több mint fele vegyen részt valamilyen eseményen, ehhez képest több mint 1 millió látogatója volt a programoknak. A rendezvénysorozat több mint 5400 önkéntest mozgatott meg, amelyből több mint 2000 magyar volt.

Seychelles : le président James Michel réélu pour la troisième fois

LeMonde / Afrique - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 08:55
M. Michel, 71 ans, candidat de « Lepep » (« Le peuple », en créole), a recueilli 50,15 % des voix, contre 49,85 % à M. Ramkalawan, chef du Parti national seychellois (SNP).
Categories: Afrique

Le Rwanda vote la révision de la Constitution permettant un nouveau mandat pour Kagame

LeMonde / Afrique - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 08:15
Le « oui » en faveur de la réforme constitutionnelle obtient 98,13 % des voix, contre 1,71 % au « non », selon des résultats partiels officialisés par la commission électorale.
Categories: Afrique

Référendum au Rwanda : la réforme constitutionnelle largement approuvée

France24 / Afrique - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:59
Les Rwandais ont massivement soutenu vendredi la réforme constitutionnelle, autorisant le président Paul Kagame à potentiellement diriger le pays jusqu'en 2034. D'après des résultats partiels, ils ont voté "oui" à 98,9 %.
Categories: Afrique

2015.12.19

Netarzenál - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:59

Lengyelország 273 millió dollárért vásárol a hazai fejlesztésű Poprad rövid hatótávolságú légvédelmi rendszerből. Ebből az AMZ-Kutno Zubr-P 4x4 terepjáró páncélozott járműre telepített, távirányítású toronyra szerelt, négy Grom infravörös irányítású kézi légvédelmi rakétával felfegyverzett rendszerből eddig két prototípus épült meg. Ezek mellé 77 sorozatban gyártott kerül leszállításra 2018-tól 2021-ig évente 14, 22, 22 és végül 19 darabos mennyiségben. A friss gyártású Popradok mellé a megépített két prototípus is a sorozatban gyártottakkal fog szolgálatba állni, de csak az azokkal teljesen megegyező kialakítást hozó átépítést követően.

51 évnyi szolgálati idő után 2016. január elsejével nyugdíjba vonul Hollandiában az Aérospatiale SA316 Alouette III helikopter. A típus majdan 77 hadrendbe állított példánya közül az első 1964-ben került átadásra. A könnyű helikoptereket a szállítási feladatokon kívül felderítésre, futárszolgálatra, valamint az egészségügyi evakuálási feladatokra is igénybe vették az eltelt öt évtized során összegyűjtött több mint 450000 repült óra alatt.

Svédország december 17-én átvette az első teljes képességű NHIndustries (NHI) NH90 (helyi jelölés HKP 14F) tengeralattjárók elleni harcra specializált helikopterét. A skandináv állam eredetileg öt tengeralattjárók elleni és 13 kutató-mentő (helyi jelölés HKP 14E) feladatkör ellátására képes variánst tervezett beszerezni. Ezt később 9-9 arányra módosították. Az NH90-es helikopterekből eddig 260 darabot adtak már át 13 nemzet haderőnemei számára.

A következő évtől újra élénkebbé válik Tel-Aviv és Washington között a tárgyalás, a Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II vadászbombázók beszerzése ügyében. A 33 hagyományos fel-és leszállásra képes A változat mellé a zsidó állam további 17 rövid fel-és leszálló képességgel bíró B modifikációt is hadrendbe állítana.

Hadihajók fedélzetére telepítve szeretne egy tesztsorozatot lefolytatni az izraeli haditengerészet az Iron Dome tüzérségi lövedékek elleni védelmi rendszerrel. A cél, a kétezres évek elején a Földközi-tengeren feltárt óriási földgáz mezőkön létesített fúrótornyok védelme. A Tamar (datolya) és a Laviatán (bálna) gázmezők becsült készlete 1.480 milliárd köbméter. Az ezekből kitermelt földgáz jelentős részét szolgáltatja az izraeli villamos energia termelésnek.

Elhagyta Németországot az ötödik DOLPHIN-osztályú tengeralattjáró. Az izraeli megrendelésre épített INS RAHAV nevű egység, akárcsak 2014-ben átadott testvérhajója az INS TANIN újgenerációs, nagyobb hatótávolságot biztosító levegő-független meghajtó rendszerrel rendelkezik.

Törökország úgy döntött, hogy a BAE Systems-el működik együtt a nagyra törő nemzeti vadászgép projekt (Milli Muharebe Uçagi - MMU) sikerének érdekében. A jelenleg még TF-X néven is ismert program célja az F-16-ok leváltása 2030-as években egy hazai előállításban készülő korszerű vadászbombázóval. Hazai részről a fővállalkozó a Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) lesz.

Irak számára újabb páncélos technikát adott át a cseh Excalibur Army. A T-72-es harckocsikból és BVP-1 [Csehszlovákiában beépített BMP-1] gyalogsági harcjárművekből álló szállítmány pontos mennyiségéről a felek nem hoztak nyilvánosságra adatokat.

December 15-én leszállították a Japán Tengerészeti Önvédelmi Erők számára az utolsó Eurocopter H135 helikoptereket is. A 14. és a 15. gép, akárcsak korábban átadott, és 2011-től szolgálatba lépett társaik a pilótaképzésben vesznek részt TH135-ös jelzéssel.

Immáron Japánban is kezdetét vett a Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II vadászbombázók gyártásának egyik leglátványosabb fázisa, az összeszerelés. A Mitsubishi Heavy Industry nagojai gyárában a törzs, a farokrész és a szárnyak összeillesztésével elkezdett alakot ölteni az első szigetországban megszülető példány, az AX-5-ös december 15-én. Ez a példány várhatólag 2017-ben készül el. Az első négy japán F-35-ös még a texasi Fort Worht-ben kerül legyártásra. A Nagojában lévő gyár a második USA-n kívüli hely, ahol korunk egyik legmodernebb harci gépének gyártása folyik, az olaszországi Cameri mellett.

 

NETARZENÁL GALÉRIA

 

Boeing CH-47D Chinook.

MiG-23MF.

Panavia Tornado F.3.

Rockwell B-1B Lancer.

Kawasaki C-1.

McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II.

Dassault Super Etendard.

Aero L-159A ALCA.

Saab TF35 Draken.

Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit.

Mil Mi-24V.

Mirage IIIE.

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.

Korea Aerospace FA-50PH Golden Eagle.

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter.

Sud SE-3130 Alouette II.

Szu-35Sz.

Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche.

Lockheed U-2S.

Fiat G-91Y.

LMAASA IA-63 Pampa II.

Saab JA37C Viggen.

Sepecat Jaguar E.

Szuhoj T-50.

Boeing Vertol CH-46D Sea Knight.


Categories: Biztonságpolitika

Fire burns hundreds of water pipes lines in W. Bahr el Ghazal

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:33

December 18, 2015 (WAU) - Fire on Friday has burned down more than five hundred water plastic pipes in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

WBGS firemen train their hoses during a fire at an open storage area of plastic pipelines in Wau, on December 18, 2015 (ST Photo)

The plastic pipelines have been used by the state ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Cooperation Development for connecting clean water supplies into resident's homes in Wau town, the state capital.

General Gregorous Thiepdit Akol who is a state commissioner for civil defence [Fire Brigade] was at the scene when the fire engulfed the area. He told Sudan Tribune that the outbreak of the fire was caused by street children, adding that firemen could not respond on time due to lack of water tanks for firefighting.

“This fire which burns many pipes was caused by the street children and we the fire fighters did not respond on time. This is because we lack fire [fighting] water tanks in Wau. We have only one which is at the airport,” he said.

“This time, we have our water tankers on the way from Dubai, they may arrive in the country as soon as possible,” he said.

The plastic pipe lines were assembled in open space for some years without being connected to supply water to residents. Many more others have also been lying idle in some parts of the town since 2010 after the ministry launched the project to connect homes in the town with clean water but the project stopped due to lack of funds.

After the project stopped, the ministry was unable to reassemble its many carters across the town with trucks left in open spaces due to lack of fuel while other needed mechanical repair.

One of the off-road trucks which was used for transporting the pipe line was also gutted in the fire.

The site project manager now said the ministry was preparing to open a court case against the damages and loss in the fire.

Firemen had been more blamed for their negligence if such incidents occurred. Last year, fire consumed stores at the University of Bahr el Ghazal, burning more than 1000 mattresses used by students.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Sudan's dialogue conference won't be extended: dialogue body

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:03

December 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's dialogue body known as 7+7 has stressed that the national dialogue conference won't be extended saying it would wrap up on January 10th.

Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby (L) listen to the national anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference in Khartoum October 10, 2015. (Photo SUNA)

The government-led national dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Member of the 7+7 mechanism Faisal Hassan Ibrahim described the conference as a new phase in Sudan's political life, saying it offers an opportunity to arrive at common principles that lead to the advancement of the Sudanese nation and promote its ties with the regional and international community.

He stressed in a press conference Friday that the meeting of the political and armed groups to discuss Sudan's issues including the constitution would create an effective political system that overcomes crises and challenges facing the nation in areas of freedoms, economy, governance, identity and peace and unity.

Ibrahim pointed out that the general secretariat of the dialogue conference has documented the minutes of the sessions by audio and video, saying this high degree of transparency has enhanced its credibility among the skeptics.

He stressed that there is no intention to extend the dialogue conference, saying it is expected to wind up on January 10th, 2016.

Ibrahim pointed that several opposition activists have arrived in Khartoum to participate in the conference including Taragie Mustafa, expecting that several members of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) would soon join the conference.

“The national dialogue [conference] which is being currently held Khartoum coincides with the anniversary of Sudan's independence. The dialogue recommendations would represent the true meaning of the independence,” he said.

For his part, the secretary general of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and member of the 7+7 mechanism Kamal Omer said the conference had faced the challenge to achieve political consensus in order to resolve the country's crises, noting the conference would reach an agreement on a permanent constitution.

He said the ongoing dialogue would achieve security and stability in the country, saying the holdout parties have missed the opportunity to participate in the conference.

Omer further described the dialogue conference as the “true independence” of Sudan, saying dialogue would continue until it achieves the national consensus.

The rapporteur of the general secretariat Omer Haydar for his part reviewed the deliberations of the six committees of the conference, pointing the participants included 80 political parties, 29 armed groups and 48 national figures.

He said the committees have so far discussed 420 working papers besides listening to several lectures by academics and experts on the various issues of the dialogue.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

South Sudan president directs state governors to receive SPLM-IO advance team

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:03

December 18, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has finally agreed to receive all the 609 members of the advance team of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of former vice-president, Riek Machar, and directed all the state governors and chief administrators in the country to enlighten the citizens about the peace agreement and the coming of the advance team as well as to prepare for their reception in the national capital, Juba and in the states.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) exchanges signed documents with rebel leader Riek Machar in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha on 21 January 2015 (AFP)

The change of mind came days after the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, served the two warring parties with timetable for the implementation of the first phase of the peace agreement signed in August to end 21 months of civil war.

Mogae in the timetable scheduled for the return of all the 609 members of the SPLM-IO advance team, dividing them into three groups, with the first group of 150 to be led by the chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, followed by another group of 150 and the last group of 309, all to return to Juba within a period of two weeks.

Information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, who was vocal about objection to the return of the more than 600 cadres of SPLM-IO, however on Friday said president Kiir agreed to receive all the members of the advance team in show of commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreement.

“The president of the republic in the meeting of Wednesday with the state governors and senior members of the SPLM [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] affirmed commitment of the government to implement the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the republic of South Sudan. He asked the governors and members of parliament to enlighten the citizens in their constituencies and states and to also prepare and receive members of the advance team of the SPLM-IO once they are in the country,” Lueth told reporters on Friday.

The government's spokesperson said Juba had been ready to receive the advance team of the opposition from the time the two parties completed security arrangement workshop at the venue of the talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and agreed to move to the country for implementation of the agreement.

“The government has been ready to receive the advance team of the SPLM-IO since November. They were supposed to participate in the first meeting convened by Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission but they decided not to come and instead the list of advance team which keeps changing every day,” said Lueth.

He said the delay in the coming of the advance team of the SPLM-IO had nothing to do with the government.

“They are the ones who know why they are not coming so that we come and start with the implementation of the agreement here. We have concluded negotiations already. What is left is the implementation,” he added.

The minister blamed the delay in the return on the lack of readiness by the SPLM-IO. He did not however come up again with the demand previously put forward by the government that they only wanted 30 members of the advance team instead of the over 600.

Opposition leader's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, when contacted on Friday confirmed that the leadership of SPLM-IO received information through IGAD indicating the government had agreed to the return of the whole team to Juba and states.

“Yes, our leadership received through IGAD a verbal no-objection response from the government to receive the whole team of 609. We however still wait for a written document from the leadership of the government stating their acceptance to receive the team,” he told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

He however said the East African regional bloc, IGAD, which has been facilitating the travel of the team, was yet to put some final touches on the logistical and procedural arrangements, including travel documents and clearance of visas for the members from Pagak, the SPLM-IO headquarters.

He could not confirm the date on which the first group will travel to Juba, but added “this can happen on Sunday or early next week.”

(ST)

Categories: Africa

South Sudan finance minister downplays calls on him to resign over foreign exchange rate

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:03

December 18, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese finance minister has downplayed calls on him to resign from his position after announcing reforms to float exchange rate as part of attempts to fix the struggling war induced economy in the country.

David Deng Athorbei (ST File Photo)

Minister David Deng Athorbei in an announcement he made on Tuesday together with the governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Cornelio Koryom Mayik, stressed that the new reforms would benefit the country in the long run, but admitted short term shocks that will affect low income citizens.

“What is important now is not what others are saying, including those calling for resignation. What is important is to enlighten our people about the benefits which will come from the implementation of these reforms to the country,” Athorbei told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Athorbei argued that the reform would harmonise the foreign exchange rate in the market, despite higher rate, and allow everybody to access hard currency without preferential treatment.

The reform has abandoned a fixed foreign exchange rate in favour of floating foreign exchange, allowing market forces of demand and supply to determine the value of South Sudanese pound against foreign currencies.

After the announcement local and foreign banks in the country immediately increased the exchange rate to 20 South Sudanese pounds per a dollar and the fuel price suddenly skyrocketed to 22 South Sudanese pounds per litre, tripling the price.

The decision to further devalue the local South Sudanese currency through floating exchange has received mixed reactions, with many ordinary people and critics of the government describing it as “inappropriate and untimely.”

Adigo Onyoti, leader of the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) in the national legislative assembly argued that the reform could lead to more suffering of the people.

“I don't really know how this decision will benefit the people. I don't know how it will work. They are talking of long run but will the people who will die as a result of this decision wait,” asked a furiously looking Anyoti when asked what he thought of the decision on Friday.

“People will die and if they die then who they (those in government) think will benefit. So for them it means people must die so that it becomes beneficial. I have never before [heard] about a policy which advocates death of the people first. I have never heard even from prominent thinkers who have discovered and came out with many theories that they have such a theory,” added Anyoti.

The opposition leader in parliament told reporters that minister of finance and economic planning, Athorbei, and the governor of central bank of South Sudan, Mayik, have failed the people and so they either resign from their positions or should be removed by a presidential order.

“You have thousands of people who are not working. They are going to be affected by this. Thousands of people have low income. Our people are going to suffer more because of the lack of studying,” he said.

However, some economists and experts supported the move to float the exchange rate, saying South Sudan was unable to sustain the fixed rate due to lack of US dollars, leaving them with no option but to float it.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Sudan's gov't and SPLM-N agree to hold new informal meetings soon

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:02

December 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) wrapped up a three-day informal meeting and agreed to resume discussions soon.

Presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud and SPLM-N SG in a private discussion at the venue of peace talks on November 22, 2015 (ST Photo)

Last November the two warring parties in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan failed to reach cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements, as the five-day talks showed that important gaps persist in the positions of the two sides.

In a bid to bridges the gaps, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) organized a three-day round of informal talks between the two sides from 16 to 18 December where the two sides debated on how to overcome their differences.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiating team Mubarak Ardol said the two sides were not able to reach an agreement on the main outstanding issues.

“However they laid out their positions on those issues openly and seriously and agreed to hold a second informal meeting at the earliest time for further deep discussions and allow each side to consult with its allies in order to achieve comprehensive peace,” he said

According to the statement, SPLM-N chief negotiator Yasir Arman said in statements following the meetings that this round of talks was characterized by openness and transparency, pointing to the issues and the manner by which the talks were conducted.

He underlined the need to achieve several goals including the comprehensive peace, participation of all political and armed groups in the dialogue and provision of food, peace and freedoms.

The statement further said the talks were marked by the discussion of the national issues besides issues pertaining to the Two Areas, adding the two sides discussed the comprehensive peace and the participation of all parties in the dialogue besides the security and political arrangements in the Two Areas.

Ardol noted the informal round of talks underscored the importance to end the war in the Two Areas and Darfur simultaneously and to allow the participation of all parties in the dialogue in order to achieve national consensus besides addressing the issues pertaining to the Two Areas and arriving at a national agenda to unify the Sudanese people.

The government delegation didn't yet issue any statement about the three-day meeting, but sources close to the meeting said the presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud repeated the same positions announced last November.

The African Union mediators propose to government and rebel groups to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement and to reach a deal over the humanitarian access to the needy in the war zones.

The two agreement are part of confidence building measures, the AUHIP intend to implement paving the way for the participation of the rebel groups and holdout opposition groups in the national dialogue conference.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Lakes state governor sacks three county commissioners

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:01

December 18, 2015 (RUMBEK) - The caretaker governor of South Sudan's Lakes state Matur Chut Dhuol has sacked the commissioner of Cueibet county, Isaac Mayom Malek, Rumbek East county's Martin Matian Ayuon and George Kuac Dhieu of Yirol West.

Lakes state governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol (ST)

Dhoul, in a decree issued Wednesday, also empowered the executives directors of the three counties to immediately act until new appointments were made.

The decree came into effect on 6 December, but no reason provided for Dhuol's decision.

Malek was Lakes state's longest serving commissioner since 2010 while his Yirol West and Rumbek East county counterparts were both appointed in 2014.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

Eritrea labels UN Panel ‘witch-hunt' against nation

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 07:00

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 18, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Eritrean government has referred to the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea (COIE) as unwarranted political witch-hunt against the Red Sea nation.

Eritrean president, Isias Afewerki (AFP Photo)

Asmara's reaction comes after the “Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea” has recently issued invitations to “interested individuals, groups and organizations” to submit alleged human rights violations, “including where these violations may amount to crimes against humanity perpetrated in Eritrea since its independence.”

But the Eritrean reacted negatively charging that the action by the commission of inquiry was instead serving a political agenda against the government.

“This act constitutes yet another campaign of unwarranted witch-hunting of Eritrea by an entity which has clearly opted to instrumentalize human rights to serve political agendas,” the Eritrean government said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

The CoIE is tasked by the Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea. The Commission's mandate has been extended for one year to June 2016.

Recent reports by the commission revealed gross human rights violations in the East African nation including some violations which may amount to crimes against humanity.

The latest statement issued by the Eritrean government accused the CoIE of being afflicted by political bias and a litany of procedural flaws in the manner that it carried out its “investigative mission” from the outset.

The UN inquiry has held the regime in Asmara responsible for systematic, widespread and serious human rights violations that have created a climate of fear.

The accusations by the commission including possible crimes against humanity could subject Eritrean political and military officials to indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Angered by the commission's report issued in June, Eritrea has elucidated parts of the reports it said were flawed.

Among the major anomaly Eritrea argued was the resolutions by the commission it said were adopted in an under-handed manner to serve overriding political agendas of certain countries.

It stressed the resolutions were mainly tabled and co-sponsored by Somalia and Djibouti.

Asmara said “Somalia and Djibouti were prodded to do so to give an African semblance to an exercise that was in reality led behind by certain powers.”

The three-member commission is chaired by Mike Smith (Australia), with Victor Dankwa (Ghana), and Ms. Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius), who also serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

The statement further went on to accuse the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea of having a personal history of “biased and subversive involvement” in the affairs of a sovereign nation.

“She was hand-picked for the job in spite of her compromised political stance and obvious conflict of interest” the statement said, adding “she was appointed to the COI; an explicable act bound to corrode the neutrality, objectivity and credibility of that new fact-finding body.”

The reclusive Eritrea nation has given deaf-ears to a number of requests by the UN commission of inquiry to visit Eritrea forcing the panel to collect information from asylum seekers.

The last COI's report was based on a year-long process that involved 550 interviews and 160 written submissions. Eritrea however argues the process lacks rigorous validation for its veracity.

Referred by right groups as Africa's North Korea, a east African nation, Eritrea, is amongst the world's worst oppressive nations.

Currently there are an estimated up to 10,000 political prisoners languishing in the country's “notorious” prison facilities. Most are reportedly in prison without any charges.

According to UN report, Eritrean government is using a “rule by fear” policy to maintain grip on power.

“It is not law that rules Eritreans, but fear,” said Sheila Keetharuth, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea.

“Rule by fear - fear of indefinite conscription, of arbitrary and incommunicado detention, of torture and other human rights violations must end,” she said.

The government systematically silences anyone who is suspected of intentions or attempts to question or dares to criticize government policy.

President Isaias Afwerki has been in rule since the country gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

There is neither any functioning opposition party in Eritrea nor has ever been an election since independence as the tiny East African nation remains turned into one party state.

(ST)

Categories: Africa

The conundrum of the SPLM-IO advance team to Juba

Sudan Tribune - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 06:42

By Steve Paterno

Thus far, the implementation of the compromised South Sudan's peace deal is at standstill. Most benchmarks for the implementation are not met or rather simply ignored. Many hurdles stand on the way, and among which, problems associated with the coming of SPLM-io advance team to Juba. Rumors of arrival of this team are running amok over the last few weeks as proposed dates for their coming keep shifting. Disagreement among the parties involved and logistical hindrance seem to be real issues behind this saga.

The government continues to stress that for the process to move smoothly, only specified figure of individuals who are assigned designated task from the io need to be sent to Juba in order. This is so as to ease the management of their logistic as well as their security and wellbeing. The whole point behind this insistence is that there are still outstanding issues, which are required to be thrashed out to pave way for the formation of a transitional government. The members of io in their parts are fiercely fighting each other over as to who should not be left out from the list of those to be repatriated to Juba. Meanwhile, the mediators are coerced to comply with the demands of members of io who keep steeping up and insist that their names are included among the list of those to be repatriated. That is why their number keeps on increasing by the day.

Nevertheless, what are really happening in io camp is saddening to say the least. And those are actually the much more contributing factors in the implementation process.

First of all, the io is virtually disorganized, without any semblance of structures or command center. Their members are scattered all over, with some juggling from one hotel to another, and moving from different to another. Others are shouting their guts out from the comfort of their living rooms in Diaspora. And also there are those wandering in the bushes of South Sudan. In order for them to assemble in one point is a logistical nightmare.

Secondly, it is reported that those who are residing in Pagak compare their livelihood to” hell on earth.” Pagak, a mere village is completely devoid of any basic amenities that can make life suitable. Those individuals who once thrived on living on hotels paid by government are now sharing their tiny tents with encroaching snakes, deadly scorpions, and uninvited insects. To think of a shower is to imagine of a luxury. Food is so scarce that they ought to be stolen from relief agencies. The suffering is real. For these individuals, coming to Juba and with the prospect of getting accommodated in hotels is a real bailout and a means of rehabilitation of livelihood, not an opportunity to implement the peace agreement. This is actually the real reason behind the huge number of the team. This could also explain the infighting among the io as all want the bailout and rehabilitation from enduring what they describe as “hell on earth.”
Thirdly, the so-called io advance team is predominantly composed of civilians, mostly from the Diaspora. In another words, the Diaspora civilians hijack the show, since, the fighting commanders are sidelined. Such deliberate exclusion of fighting commanders from participation will further down the road implicate the implementation process and can even have a repercussion of a national scope.

These, compounded with other factors are real impediment for the implementation of the peace process. The repatriation of io members must be a gradual process that takes a life of its own. The process must take place in accordance to the agreements the parties agree on.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at stevepaterno@yahoo.com

Categories: Africa

UN Security Council calls for stepped up mediation efforts in conflict-torn Burundi

UN News Centre - Africa - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 06:00
Voicing deep concern at the continuing escalation of violence in Burundi, the United Nations Security Council today called for urgent acceleration of mediation efforts by East African States and urged all Burundian stakeholders to fully cooperate with a proposed African Union (AU) peace-keeping mission.
Categories: Africa

Syria: Senior UN official calls for immediate end to use of sexual violence by all sides as weapon of war

UN News Centre - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 06:00
Welcoming the Security Council&#39s unanimous adoption of a blueprint for peace in Syria, a senior United Nations official has called on all sides to immediately stop using sexual violence as a tactic in the fighting tearing the country apart.

UN Security Council calls for stepped up mediation efforts in conflict-torn Burundi

UN News Centre - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 06:00
Voicing deep concern at the continuing escalation of violence in Burundi, the United Nations Security Council today called for urgent acceleration of mediation efforts by East African States and urged all Burundian stakeholders to fully cooperate with a proposed African Union (AU) peace-keeping mission.

La photo qui avait ému l'Espagne

RFI (Europe) - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 05:59
Symboles de la crise économique en Espagne, les expulsions de logement - plus de 600 000 depuis 2008 - ont été vécues comme une profonde injustice et demeurent un sujet chargé de symboles à la veille des législatives. Rencontre avec Andres Kudacki dont les photos avaient attiré l’attention sur ces drames au quotidien.
Categories: Union européenne

Liberale Agenda: Weckruf nach Bundesbern

NZZ.ch - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 05:30
Herrscht im Bundeshaus liberale Aufbruchstimmung? Fehlanzeige. Seit der Jahrtausendwende reguliert die Politik, was das Zeug hält. Der freiheitliche Bürgersinn verdient ein Comeback.
Categories: Swiss News

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