Myanmar to check human right abuses

Myanmar sets up human rights commission to investigate into cases of human rights abuses in the country, states UN special rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, while talking to the local media. The country has established the human rights commission to protect its citizens against human rights abuses.

The organization consists of bureaucrats and scholars who are 15 in total, according to a report published in a national newspaper. Hoever, there is not detail available about the duties and jurisdictions of the panel.

The establishment of a human rights organization has occurred in the wake of newly founded civilian administration in Myanmar. This is also an initiative toward improving Burma’s image on international level.

The authority of the newly established organization to challenge the functionalities of government is not yet been declared clearly and therefore experts doubt its capacity. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN official in Burma called on formation of human rights commission for Burma last month during his visit to the country.  He was also given permission to visit Insein jail, situated near Rangoon. At present, Insein jail holds 2,000 political prisoners of Burma.

Human Rights Abuses Clinton chides Turkey

The United States Secretary of State Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton has criticized Turkey over its slide in human rights. She also talked about Turkey taking action to enhance the secular tradition. Mrs. Clinton noted that Turkey support is very important to the success of American goals in the Middle East.

Mrs. Clinton condemned the arrests of journalists by the moderate Muslim country and also chided it for curbing religious freedom in the country. she said that the country had gone far in the observation of human rights and advised that the country should recommit itself to the goal of modernization and democratic values saying that Turkey should serve as an ideal to other Arab nations which are now facing situation of instability as a results of revolts. Mrs. Clinton who was addressing the press in the company of the Turkish Prime Minister advised other countries in Arab and North America to learn from Turkey experience stressing that stability can only come through responsible leadership.

She used the opportunity to urge the Turkish people to use the constitutional reform process to address other remaining issues about human right such as freedom of expression and religion and ensure the protection of minority’s rights.

Rebellions warn Yemeni president Saleh against massacres

Protestes in Yemen

Protesters are insistent on criticizing the breach of deal between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Yemeni President and they fiercely demonstrated against the later. They warned the President that killing protesters would make it impossible to proceed with the deal.

The demonstrators issued this warning following the murder of 13 rebellions in Sanaa and one in Aden by the pro-government security forces. Around 100 protesters were injured in the clashes with the security forces.

The statement issued by the opposition demonstraters said that they had accepted the Gulf deal in hope to stop blood shedding, but the government has yet not stopped killing innocent peopleagitated them.

The opposition members feel that the Saleh government is using GCC deal to kill Yemenis and they would never accept the same if the massacre does not stop soon.

The deal is yet to be finalized and signed by the Yemeni government and the opposition members. The GCC proposal includes a transfer of power from Saleh to his opposition within 30 days of signing the deal  in exchange, Saleh and his supporters would be provided immunity.  There is also a condition of formation of new unity government within 7 days after Saleh’s resignation.

The GCC refers to six oil-producing nations in Gulf region, which have been working together to establish peace in Yemen.

However, the international human right group—Amnesty International opposed the proposal of providing immunity to Yemeni President and his supporters who are involved in brutal massacre of innocent people.

Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, Malcolm Smart stated that Saleh should not be allowed an escape from punishments for the human rights crimes he committed—torturing Yemeni civilians and killing them.

EU to support US sanctions on Syria

US Treasury will provide the names of the Syrian most powerful man and other officials against whom the financial and other sanctions will be imposed following death of 453 civilians in clashes between govt. backed army and anti-govt. protesters, special UN HRC session on Syria.

The statement issued by an EU executive confirms that EU members will discuss the possibility of slapping sanctions against Syria; other options will also be discussed in a meeting being held on Friday 29 Apr 2011.

Michael Mann, at European commission briefing also confirmed the scheduled meeting. In case EU members agreed for sanctions, there is a great possibility of imposing travel restrictions on key Syrian officials and freezing heir financial assets in foreign countries. The Syrian observatory for Human Rights confirmed having the names of 453 citizens killed in clashes.

In further developments against Syria, Germany supported the imposing of sanctions on Syria and demand that Damascus to punish those who are responsible for the human loss in clashes.

Steffen Seibert, German Government Spokes man stated at a news briefing. He further asserted that the sanctions would include travel restrictions on Syrian leader and officials, freezing of their financial assets in other countries and stopping all the economic aid being provided by the European countries.

UN official reveals extra-judicial killings in Ivory Coast

The United Nations faults Ivory Coast for human rights abuse after the November elections. The UN official reveals he has evidence of extra-judicial murders of innocent people to suppress the voices against the President Gbagbo.

However he acknowledged that the suppression of political leaders and their supporters against Gbagbo has gradually decreased.

Raila Odinga, Kenyan Premier is paying a visit to resolve the election dispute in Abidjan.

Ivorian President, Gbagbo is still insistent upon remaining in power despite so much international pressure upon him. He delayed the due presidential polls as far as possible. Finally the polls were organized under international pressure, when Gbagbo’s rival leader Alassane Ouattara was declared a winner by international community. However, Gbagbo nullified Ouattara’s victory and declared himself a winner.

There have been many clashes and demonstration by the supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara. USA and many other countries have imposed sanctions against Gbagbo and compelling him to resign. US authorities even tried to lure Gbagbo with many offers provided he hands over power to Ouattara.

The UN officials have acknowledged violence against supporters of Ouattara. According to UN report, more than 200 opponents of Gbagbo have disappeared, who have possibly been abducted and killed by Gbagbo’s supporters.

Ivorian President Gbago insists on remaining in power despite human right abuse

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo continues to remain in power despite the cries of human rights abuses in Ivory Coast arising out of political uncertainty.

The U.N. deputy high commissioner for human rights, Kyung-wha Kang, has declared that human rights officers, “have substantiated allegations of 173 killings, 90 instances of torture and ill treatment, 471 arrests and detentions and 24 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances,” between the last Thursday and Tuesday.

She has also alleged that the special representative of the Secretary-General has been stopped at gun point while investigating the human rights abuse cases.

Violence erupted after the November 28th Presidential elections. The ruling President believes that he won the elections, while the Election Commission picked opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the winner. President Gbago derives strength from the ruling of the Constitutional Council that over ruled the Election Commission ruling.

Gbago claims that Ouattara and his followers are no longer a peaceful opposition and they have attacked soldiers’ with weapons. Charles Ble Goude, the nation’s youth minister under Gbagbo acknowledges that the situation is “very very difficult to live in”. But he condemns the U.N report as it only points out to the ruling government.

However, Kang accuses the ruling government responsible for “illegal detentions, nightly arrests and disappearances.”

Death for Christianity in Pakistan

death penalty for following Cristianity in Pakistan

This may sound eccentric but is a true story of Pakistan reveals that Christians faced death for following their religion.

Aasia Noreen, was a Christian women who lived in Punjab Province of Pakistan. A group of women farm workers were desperate in scorching sun and Aasia offered them water to drink. In stead of saying thanks to her, the village women called her water unclean as she was a Christian. Aasia protested to defend her religion.

This small quarrel over water became a communal dispute in few minutes. The local Muslim leader called on all his followers to take action against Aasia blaming her of profanity, according to her family and legal observers familiar with the case. As a frenzied mob pursued her, the police intervened, taking her into custody. Police arrived but in stead of protection Aasia they arrested her for insulting Islam and its prophet. She was finally given  death penalty by a district court. The story has come into light in the recent disclosure of US confidential documents by WikiLeaks.

The matter gave human rights activist a reason to voice against the death penalty and fundamentalist forces stood to defend the blasphemy law. The dispute reached to such a level globally that even Pope Benedict XVI called for Noreen’s freedom in past week.

The story of Aasia Noureen depicts the real picture of Islamic fundamentalist rule in Pakistan.

The fundamentalist Muslims take advantage of the complicated laws described in Quran regarding blasphemy and provoke communal violence against other religions. There are thousands of Naureens perhaps not only in Pakistan but in many other counties where the fundamental right to choose a religion has no meaning for the common people.