Bahrain jails 9 for 20 years for policeman kidnap

May 19, 2011

DUBAI — A special security court in Bahrain has sentenced nine people to 20 years in prison each after it convicted them of abducting a policeman, state news agency BNA reported Thursday.

"The Lower National Safety Court sentenced nine defendants accused of kidnapping one policeman to 20 years in prison," according to an English-language statement on BNA that did not give further details.

Among those sentenced was Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Safaf, a Shiite cleric who had previously been arrested along with 22 other activists and charged with terrorism.

The group was freed under a royal pardon in February after the outbreak of protests calling for democratic reforms in Bahrain.

The court was set up under the state of national safety, a lower level of emergency law declared by King Hamad in mid-March, a day before an all-out crackdown on a month-long, Shiite-dominated protest movement demanding political reforms.

Defendants have the right to appeal the court's rulings within 15 days.

Last month, authorities said that 405 detainees have been referred to national safety courts, of whom 312 had been released.

The National Safety Appeals Court last month sentenced four Shiites to death and three others to jail for life for killing two policemen by running them over with cars during the protests.

Their case has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which urged Bahrain to halt the executions.

In a statement released on Thursday, Amnesty also condemned the conviction of a number of other activists it said were sentenced to between one and four years in jail earlier this week.

"These trials and convictions represent yet further evidence of the extent to which the rights to freedom of speech and assembly are now being denied in Bahrain," Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's Middle East and north Africa director, said in the statement.

It also said that leading Bahraini activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja had said in court that he was threatened with rape by police after refusing to record a taped apology to the king.

"The Bahraini authorities must immediately launch an independent investigation into Abdulhadi al-Khawaja's torture allegations and bring to justice any officials responsible for torture or other ill-treatment," Smart said.

Nine policemen were hurt on Tuesday when a car hit them as they were dispersing a protest in a Bahraini Shiite village, BNA state news agency said.

Four of the policemen sustained critical injuries in the attack that took place in Nuwaidrat, south of Manama, said BNA quoting a police official.

Bahraini authorities have said 24 people were killed during the month-long unrest, most of them demonstrators.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Somaliland president pardons 751 prisoners

Abdi Hajji Hussein
Hargeisa, Somaliland, Somalia
May 19, 2011

“I would like inmates in the detention center of the country to share with us this festival and resume their normal life,” the president said.

As part of a celebration of its declaration of secession from Somalia two decades ago, the Somaliland president Wednesday night announced he had pardoned 751 prisoners.

Ahmed Mohamoud Silanyo, the leader of the self-declared republic, made the announcement a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of independence from Somalia at the capital, Hargeisa.

“I would like inmates in the detention center of the country to share with us this festival and resume their normal life,” the president said.

He urged all prisoners, who will be freed soon, not commit again the crimes that caused them to be jailed.

General Mohamed Hussein Hirane, in charge of Somaliland jails, said that inmates charged with terrorism, piracy, armed robbery, rape and those serving life terms are not part in the president’s pardon.

Hirane added that the pardoned prisoners will be unchained in the days to come, according the president’s decree.

Recent reports said that individuals held on terrorism-related charges had been pardoned by the Somaliland leader.

However, Mohamed Mohamoud Abdillahi, a Somaliland officer, told the BBC Somali Service that the president has ordered the release of two clerics who were convicted for terrorism charges and sentenced to several years of jail after pressure from local elders.

Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh and Isma’il Muse Ali were arrested in 2003 by security forces after they were accused of planting mines near the state house, according to Abdillahi.

All these developments come as Somaliland seeks recognition from world countries and the United Nations.

Source: All Headline News (AHN).
Link: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90048958?Somaliland%20president%20pardons%20751%20prisoners.

Flotilla group calls for UN escort, a 'stunt' says Israel

Thursday, May 19, 2011
FADIL ALİRIZA
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

As a new aid convoy to Gaza readies to sail at the end of June, organizers say they are willing to have their cargo inspected and their ships escorted by international observers. Israel dismisses the move as a 'publicity stunt,' while supporters of the flotilla in the EU have questioned the legal necessity of such an escort.

Organizers of the Turkish branch of the aid flotilla set to leave for Gaza at the end of June have said they are willing to have their cargo inspected and their ships escorted by international observers.

Israel, however, has dismissed the move as a “publicity stunt,” while supporters of the flotilla in the European Union have questioned the legal necessity of such an escort.

“We are ready to talk with everybody. Already we have started these kinds of visits for the European Parliament, for the United Nations to make some solution,” Hüseyin Oruç, an administrative board member of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or İHH, told the Hürriyet Daily News in an interview Tuesday.

“All these boats can be checked by the U.N., or the European Parliament’s commissions. We are ready to show all the details of our preparation,” he said. “They can check [the boats] in the ports, they can check on international waters, they can guide us, they can guide the distribution of all items in Gaza. It’s open to all international mediators.”

An Israeli official dismissed the proposal as a “publicity stunt,” saying that Israel is always willing to accept, process and transmit Gaza-bound aid.

“That obviously won’t happen,” an Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Daily News. “All the international players, [U.N. chief] Ban Ki-moon, [EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs] Catherine Ashton have all called the move provocative.”

The İHH is organizing the Mavi Marmara and an additional cargo ship as the Turkish part of what will be a 15-boat aid flotilla. On its voyage to Gaza last year, the Mavi Marmara was attacked by Israeli forces who boarded the ship and killed eight Turks and one Turkish-American onboard.

Last week, a group of American congressional representatives sent a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asking him to discourage the flotilla from “provoking a confrontation” with Israel in a bid to “save lives.” The Turkish government’s response so far has been that the letter was incorrectly directed to them, as the flotilla is being organized by civilian, nongovernmental organizations that the government does not control.

The İHH, responding to the letter, echoed the Turkish government response, saying that the group had no contact with the Turkish government, but added that Israel was in fact the party that the U.S. Congress needed to address to avoid another crisis.

“Also we are asking all these congresspeople, if you are looking for the solution, don’t ask the prime minister of Turkey. Why are you not asking the Prime Minister of Israel? They need to talk with [Benjamin] Netanyahu,” Oruç said.

Regarding the possibility of an EU parliamentary commission escorting the flotilla, a spokesman for the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, the party with the second largest representation in the EU Parliament, said the party has been supportive of the flotilla, but had not seen any proposal regarding a European escort.

“I question the necessity” of an international escort for the ship, said Tony Robinson, head of press and communications for the alliance.

International participation

This year the Mavi Marmara will have 500 people onboard, 400 of whom will be of nationalities other than Turkish, Oruç said. The remaining 100 will be Turks, of whom 50 will be journalists.

“On the first [Mavi Marmara aid trip] there were 38 nationalities; on the second flotilla it will be more coverage. About 100 nationalities will be on the boat. Only a very limited number of Turkish people will be on the Mavi Marmara,” Oruç told the Daily News.

Those on the ship will be mostly from the media and “representatives of societies” and local communities, he said.

The İHH has also sent two aid flotillas to Libya in recent weeks, one to Misrata, besieged by Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, and one to rebel-held Benghazi.

According to Oruç, “all international forces” involved in NATO operations in Libya supported the İHH flotilla to these besieged cities – something he said indicated a double standard imposed on the İHH in its attempt to distribute aid.

“Gaza people have the same right as Misrata people,” Oruç said.

The İHH was scheduled to address members of the media at a press conference Friday morning.

Source: Hürriyet.
Link: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=gaza-flotilla-seeks-un-escort-as-israel-dismisses-move-as-8216stunt8217-2011-05-19.

Turkey marks May 19 holiday today

18 May 2011, Wednesday

Turkey today marks the beginning of the War of Independence on the day Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, a symbolic move that led to the foundation of the Turkish Republic from the ashes of Ottoman Empire.

Atatürk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day in Turkey is expected to be celebrated throughout Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and all Turkish foreign representative offices.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül and other party leaders, who are in Ankara, officials are expected to visit Anıtkabir first, the mausoleum of Atatürk, in capital Ankara.

On May 19, 1919, Atatürk, who would become modern Turkey's first president, landed on the main peninsula of Turkey to begin leadership of the liberation effort. In early 1920, Atatürk convened the first Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) in Ankara, and by 1922 all of Anatolia was freed from foreign rule.

The independent Republic of Turkey was declared a year later.

During the course of his term as president, Atatürk himself proclaimed May 19 "Youth & Sports Day." In the aftermath of Atatürk's monumental legacy, the day serves to honor the country's founder as well.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu released a statement on Wednesday and congratulated people on the occasion of the holiday.

Ministers and government officials will participate in May 19 celebrations in May 19 Atatürk Stadium in Ankara and Türk Telekom Stadium in İstanbul.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a statement released on Wednesday that May 19, 1919 is a very important day for national memory and that the prosperous future of independent Turkey now belongs to youth. For this reason, Erdoğan said, Turkish government considers that investing in youth means investing in the future of the country.

Several ministers, deputies, party leaders and other officials also released the holiday statements, calling youth and people to better perceive the underlying meaning of the day.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-244406-turkey-marks-may-19-holiday-today.html.

UNRWA union strikes in Gaza, says 3 dismissed unfairly

Wednesday 18/05/2011

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Palestinians working for the UN refugee agency in Gaza announced a comprehensive strike for Wednesday, over the dismissal of three employees union officials say were wrongfully let go.

The strike will last all day Wednesday through Thursday, and see all of UNRWA's unessential services, like schools, clinics, and administration offices close. Nearly 11,500 workers will walk out of their jobs, effecting 238 schools and 25 clinics.

According to head of the workers union Salim Al-Hindi, three men were dismissed from their jobs because they had at some point come under investigation by local Gaza security forces. The three were all found not guilty but according to the official were fired anyway.

Details of the cases were given as follows:

K.H.W., a teacher, had "problems between him and his cousins," was investigated by local police and found innocent

A.A., a worker in environment health who was arrested by government security forces after being charged with involvement in the Rafah mosque take-over in 2009, when a Salafist group declared the city an Islamic emirate, an incident that ended in a mass gunfight leaving 22 dead. AA, however, was questioned and released without charge.

A.A., an employee in the services department, he was arrested along with two friends; all were charged with possession of prohibited drugs. The worker was interrogated by local security departments who released him without charge, but detained his two friends.

Al-Hindi called the dismissals "arbitrary," and was effectively an "execution of the workers and their families," who would have no other source of income.

"There must be respect for dignity," the official said, asking that the men be returned immediately to their post.

UNRWA spokesman in Jerusalem Chist Gunnes said "The staff members were dismissed following an inquiry and subsequent review, and under new internal justice procedures agreed between UNRWA and the unions they have the right to appeal."

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=388783.

Some British troops to leave Afghanistan

LONDON, May 18 (UPI) -- Prime Minister David Cameron says a small British withdrawal from Afghanistan will take place this year.

Cameron told the House of Commons Tuesday, "There will be around 400 troops, perhaps slightly more, coming out of Afghanistan in the coming year," The Sun reported.

But, he added, "Our enduring force level remains at 9,500. I'm sure the Americans understand that it's less than the reductions they are planning."

U.S. President Barack Obama visits Britain next week, and Cameron has pledged to coordinate Afghan policy with him.

The Defense Ministry said most of the troops will come from the Royal Air Force regiment defending Kandahar airfield and the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps at NATO headquarters in Kabul.

A spokesman said, "These were time-limited, task-specific roles which have now come to an end."

Col. Stuart Tootal, a former paratroop commander, was not pleased.

"We should only get out when the job is done properly," he told The Sun. "We are on the right track, but if we take our foot off the gas now, we risk all the success and investment we have achieved so far."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/18/Some-British-troops-to-leave-Afghanistan/UPI-50971305737856/.

DR Congo calls on UN to withdraw peacekeepers

May 18, 2011

UNITED NATIONS — Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday made a new call for UN peacekeepers to withdraw, despite warnings from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that armed groups remain a significant threat there.

DR Congo's international cooperation minister Raymond Tshibanda told the UN Security Council that his government want an "orderly, progressive withdrawal" of UN troops from the giant central African country, where millions are said to have died in conflict in the past two decades.

The resource-rich country is to hold a key presidential election in November, amid fears of unrest.

Tshibanda told a Security Council debate that DR Congo and UN troops were now tackling "the last pockets of resistance from the remaining armed elements" and these are "in a few isolated zones."

"Add to this the normalization of relations with neighboring countries, we can legitimately say that we are out of the phase of reestablishing and maintaining peace," he said.

The minister said the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, should now concentrate on consolidating peace and reinforcing democracy.

MONUSCO currently has about 20,000 troops and police in the country making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations.

"The time has come to broach together a phase of transition which will lead to the restructuring of MONUSCO and its mandate with the view to an orderly, progressive withdrawal, without delays, of its military component," he said.

Tshibanda added that President Joseph Kabila's government wants to do nothing to "undermine" the improved security climate.

"We must now ensure that the mandate is adapted to meet the new needs present on the ground," he told the 15-nation council.

"We only ask that we, as responsible adults, be able to shoulder the prerogatives that are part of our regained sovereignty."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did not comment on the withdrawal of MONUSCO forces in his speech to the debate.

But he said that despite military efforts, "foreign and Congolese armed groups continue to pose significant threats. The humanitarian situation remains serious with 1.7 million displaced."

He added that "murders, sexual violence and the looting and burning of villages continue to have large-scale humanitarian consequences."

Ban said that the November 28 presidential and legislative elections "must be timely, transparent, credible, peaceful and secure."

"We must do our utmost to ensure that violence does not break out before, during or after the elections. We have invested much and there is much to lose," he told the Security Council.

The Council said in a statement that security has improved in DR Congo but highlighted the threat from armed groups in the eastern provinces of Nord and Sud Kivu.

It reaffirmed "deep concern about the persistent high levels of violence, especially sexual violence and human rights abuses against civilians."

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health estimates that there are more than 1,100 rapes each day in DR Congo.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.