tagged w/ International Community
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The persistent and severe drought in Somalia and Kenya has led to people walking for almost two weeks in search of food and water and a place to stay. Refugee camps are full and the situation is serious. Only now is the international community seeing the humanitarian disaster unfolding here due not only to the severe drought caused by successive yearly failures of the rains, but a war raging on that has used religious intolerance as an excuse for Al Shabaab to turn away their own people. It is unconscienable to do this, especially to children. My hope is that aid can reach them in time to save more lives as we are now seeing more graves being dug on the outskirts of the camps. As climate change and its effects worsen in these areas of the world, we as a species will have to reassess our priorities from placing religious intolerance and politics above humanity in order for us to survive.The persistent and severe drought in Somalia and Kenya has led to people walking for... more
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The levels of malnutrition among children fleeing Somalia's drought could lead to a "human tragedy of unimaginable proportions", the UN refugee head Antonio Guterres has said.
Young children are dying on their way to or within a day of arrival at camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, the UNHCR says.
It estimates that a quarter of Somalis are either displaced within the country or living outside as refugees.
The worst drought in 60 years has been compounded by the violence in Somalia.
"It's so extreme," said UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming. "Our people are saying they've never seen anything like it."
The warning comes as the UK aid agencies Oxfam, Save the Children, and the Red Cross launch emergency appeals in response to the food crisis which is affecting more than 12 million people in the Horn of Africa.
The agencies are collectively asking for nearly $150m (£93m).
The UNHCR says the need for food, shelter, health services and other life saving aid is urgent and massive.
Life-long impact
The agency says more than 50% of Somali children arriving in Ethiopia are seriously malnourished. In Kenya, that figure is between 30% and 40%.
"What is the most tragic for us to witness, is that there are children who do arrive in such a weakened state that despite our emergency care and therapeutic feeding, they're dying within 24 hours," Ms Fleming told a press briefing in Geneva.
"We estimate that one quarter of Somalia's 7.5 million people are now either internally displaced or are living outside the country as refugees," she said.
The UNHCR recently opened a third camp in south-eastern Ethiopia, which is quickly reaching its capacity of 20,000, and is now planning further camps.
A relief plane chartered by the agency is flying to Addis Ababa on Tuesday and a convoy of 20 trucks carrying tents and other aid is on its way as well.
In north-east Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp, some 1,400 refugees are arriving every day. Aid agencies fear numbers could rise to half a million.
Badu Katelo, Kenya's Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, said food and water distribution, shelter and space were all over stretched and that the security situation was getting worse.
"We would like to see a vibrant, committed intervention from the international community," he said.
More at the linkThe levels of malnutrition among children fleeing Somalia's drought could lead to... more
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Attack on Libya is illegal under both U.S. law and UN charter; Manufactured pretext of “protecting civilians” completely collapses as Russia, Arab League and African Union condemn air strikes
As the contrived moral high ground behind the absurdly hypocritical “humanitarian” pretext of the attack on Libya collapses in the wake of Russia, the Arab League and the African Union condemning the US-led NATO bombings, so does any pretense of legality that the “no fly zone” resolution holds, because the obvious attempt to assassinate Gaddafi violates not only U.S. law, but the UN’s own charter.
The Orwellian delusion that the “no fly zone” anything other than a cruel hoax became obvious within hours, as NATO rejected Libya’s proposal for independent third party countries to patrol the skies and instead launched an instantaneous bombardment of Gaddafi’s military facilities, strikes that have killed dozens of innocent people according to Libyan claims that have been confirmed by Russia.
From the very beginning, this war had nothing to do with “protecting civilians” and everything to do with toppling the leader of Africa’s richest oil nation.
Now western leaders have all but admitted that the sole focus of the campaign is to kill Gaddafi, as air strikes pound targets around the beleaguered Libyan leader.
Asked if Gaddafi could be assassinated to force regime change, British defence secretary Liam Fox said that the Libyan leader was a “legitimate target,” adding, “That would potentially be a possibility,” entertaining a notion that was soon backed up by force as RAF warplanes reduced Gaddafi’s Tripoli compound to rubble last night after a massive air bombardment.
Fox later said that a “bunker-buster” attack on Gaddafi’s residence was also being considered.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister David Cameron have all gone on record to state that Gaddafi “must go,” “needs to go,” and has “lost his legitimacy”.
In addition, Salwa el-Deghali, of the national transitional council, called for, “More attacks on Gaddafi’s forces, and fast. We need these attacks until he is crushed.”
Does this sound like a mission to protect civilians or a mission to topple Gaddafi, especially given the fact that SAS commanders have been on the ground for weeks, again in violation of the UN resolution, directly supporting Libyan rebel armies?
The UN resolution that supposedly gave the air strikes their legal foundation does not authorize the use of military force to enact regime change, and yet that’s precisely what NATO and the United States is pursuing – the murder or removal of Gaddafi.
Once again we are reminded of the fact that the United Nations only abides by its own resolutions when it is convenient. The UN will flagrantly violate its own charter with relish if there is a pre-existing geopolitical agenda to accomplish.
International law codified under the UN prohibits state-sponsored assassination, except under conditions of warfare. By characterizing the attack on Libya as merely a “no fly zone,” and stopping short of declaring war on on the country, the UN along with the powers that signed the resolution, namely America, France, Britain and Italy, are in violation of their own resolution by targeting Gaddafi.
Indeed, killing Gaddafi would be a war crime because it clearly qualifies as an act of “treachery” under Article 23 of the Hague Convention IV of 1907. Even in times of declared war, assassinating a leader under false pretenses is illegal.
“A state that uses “treachery” to kill an enemy may be guilty of war crimes,” states the Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. “Article 23 of the Hague Convention IV of 1907 provides that “it is especially forbidden . . . to kill or wound treacherously, individuals belonging to the hostile nation or army.” Treachery is usually defined as a breach of confidence, such as an attack on an individual who believes that there is no need to fear the attacker.”
In addition, under U.S. law, employees of the United States are prohibited from engaging in assassination during peacetime. This law has of course been violated numerous times, most notably in 1986 when the Reagan administration attempted to kill Gaddafi by bombing army barracks where Libyan leader was known to be sleeping.
The attack on Libya is not only immoral, with the “humanitarian” pretext transparently a pack of lies, it is also completely unconstitutional having not been authorized by the U.S. Congress. As Francis Boyle, Professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law, points out, “Without authorization by the United Nations Security Council and express authorization from the U.S. Congress pursuant to the terms of the War Powers Resolution, for President Obama to establish any type of so-called ‘no-fly zone’ over Libya would be illegal and unconstitutional.”
Above all, since the assault was launched under UN auspices with the presumed “legitimacy” of the international community, it directly violates the UN’s own charter in that the entire scope of the mission is about regime change, supporting one side in a civil war, and has nothing whatsoever to do with “protecting civilians”.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/un-powers-violate-their-own-resolution-by-targeting-gaddafi.htmlAttack on Libya is illegal under both U.S. law and UN charter; Manufactured pretext of... more
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Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) says President Barack Obama did not have the constitutional authority to order U.S. forces to participate in an attack on Libya.
In a conference call with other liberal lawmakers Saturday, Kucinich asked why the U.S. missile strikes were not impeachable offenses, according to two Democratic lawmakers who spoke to Politico.
The U.S. unleashed a barrage of strikes against the Libyan regime's air defenses over the weekend, but ruled out using ground troops in what Obama called a "limited military action."
After taking a cautious stance on armed intervention in Libya's civil war, Obama ordered the attacks citing the threat posed to civilians by Moamer Kadhafi's forces and a UN-mandated no-fly zone endorsed by Arab countries.
"We must be clear: actions have consequences, and the writ of the international community must be enforced," Obama told reporters while on an official visit to Brazil Saturday.
"We are answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world," he said, stressing that Washington was acting in concert "with a broad coalition."
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Mike Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) "all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president's actions" during the conference call, a source told Politico.
Kucinich also released a statement on his website Friday questioning the constitutionality of the president's actions.
"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation," he insisted.
"While the action is billed as protecting the civilians of Libya, a no-fly-zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya and Qaddafi forces. It is an act of war. The president made statements which attempt to minimize U.S. action, but U.S. planes may drop U.S. bombs and U.S. missiles may be involved in striking another sovereign nation. War from the air is still war."
"Congress should be called back into session immediately to decide whether or not to authorize the United States’ participation in a military strike. If it does not, the action of the President is contrary to U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution clearly states that the United States Congress has the power to declare war. The President does not. That was the Founders’ intent," the Ohio congressman added.
"The last thing we need is to be embroiled in yet another intervention in another Muslim country. The American people have had enough. First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq. Then bombs began to fall in Pakistan, then Yemen, and soon it seems bombs could be falling in Libya. Our nation simply cannot afford another war, economically, diplomatically or spiritually," Kucinich concluded.
Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader also said the president was committing "war crimes" in the attack against Libya.
"Why don't we say what's on the minds of many legal experts; that the Obama administration is committing war crimes and if Bush should have been impeached, Obama should be impeached," Nader told Democracy Now! Thursday.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/21/kucinich-obama-could-be-impeached-for-attacking-libya/Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) says President Barack Obama did not have the... more
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denounced the release of classified diplomatic cables as an "attack on the international community." Here's a news flash for Mrs. Clinton: the "international community" is a corrupt den of jackals. The people of the world should have attacked this dysfunctional slimepit years ago.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denounced the release of classified... more
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The $5.3bn (£3.5bn) of support over the next two years exceeds the $4bn requested by the Haitian government to rebuild infrastructure.
"This is the down-payment Haiti needs for wholesale national renewal," UN chief Ban Ki-moon said in New York.
The 12 January quake killed 200,000 and left one million more homeless.
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8596080.stmThe $5.3bn (£3.5bn) of support over the next two years exceeds the $4bn... more
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The Pacific islands of Kiribati were among the last places to be colonized by humans. But now, because of rising sea levels, they may be among the first to be abandoned. Should Kiribati President Anote Tong surrender to climate change and evacuate? Can anything be done to help him buy more time?The Pacific islands of Kiribati were among the last places to be colonized by humans.... more
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The mistreatment and mishandling of ethnic revolt could turn into separation movement and could finally give a birth of new ?Nation-State.? This article would deal with the contextual strategic analysis of ongoing unrecognized Madheshi ethnic revolt of Nepal, contemporary sentimental trend and nature of ongoing ethnic insurgency. It provides crucial premeditated recommendations that could help to prevent from possible threat of separation and resolve the existing ethnic catastrophe through peaceful means.
More: Though above given link. The mistreatment and mishandling of ethnic revolt could turn into separation movement... more
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In Nepal, there is ongoing blackjack discussion about the ?Integration of Maoist Rebellion Guerrillas into Nepal Army? and most probably it will be amalgamated, this situation emerged due to State is under the control of Insurgents. I have personally criticised the model and way of peace accord since beginning because of its poor feasibility, now it?s hindering to go forward on agreed peace road map. State is compelled to make one after other frequent amendments as per Maoist will and strategy. I would say, ?State lost dignity? in the case. However, I am not against the peace process, my concern is only technical part of peace process that drastically failed and now state anguishes with severe crisis.
More in given Link:
In Nepal, there is ongoing blackjack discussion about the ?Integration of Maoist... more
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The extraordinary spectacle of the president's national security adviser obliged to defend the president's Iran policy against a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) raises two core issues: How are we now to judge the nuclear threat posed by Iran? How are we to judge the intelligence community's relationship with the White House and the rest of the government?
The "Key Judgments" released by the intelligence community last week begin with a dramatic assertion: "We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program." This sentence was widely interpreted as a challenge to the Bush administration policy of mobilizing international pressure against alleged Iranian nuclear programs. It was, in fact, qualified by a footnote whose complex phraseology obfuscated that the suspension really applied to only one aspect of the Iranian nuclear weapons program (and not even the most significant one): the construction of warheads. That qualification was not restated in the rest of the document, which continued to refer to the "halt of the weapons program" repeatedly and without qualification.
By Henry A. KissingerThe extraordinary spectacle of the president's national security adviser obliged... more
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By Krishna Hari Pushkar
Berlin, Germany
Currently Nepal has been suffering with pathetic transitional crisis and ethno-regional insurgency. In the meantime, we got threshed by bonus terrorism in Nepal, named as administrative terrorism. This time principal actors are our cabinet and public service commission who are going ahead to add new style of terrorism in Nepal. Therefore, we Nepalese people have to involve ourselves directly in the counter attack to get rid on such administrative terrorism otherwise Nepalese administrative software mechanism /bureaucracy will collapse functionally and structurally very soon.
Pitch Contour of Administrative Terrorism:
More:
http://nepalofficers.blogspot.com/2007/11/state-on-terrorism.html
By Krishna Hari Pushkar
Berlin, Germany
Currently Nepal has been suffering with... more
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Barack Obama unveils his innovation platform at Google
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What UNMIN Should Do to Manage Nepal Peace Process
The Maoists and the political parties are responsible for the glitch in the peace process. But the UN must also share some blame, says KRISHNA HARI PUSHKAR.
The UN is a major player in Nepal's ongoing peace process. Analysts and commentators have focused much on assessing the role of political parties and little has been said about the performance of the world body's mission in Nepal.
In this article I look at the dwindling peace process in Nepal despite the involvement of the UN and other international communities. The Maoists have joined the political mainstream providing some breathing space after years of civil strife. At the same time, there are approximately two dozens small rebel groups who have been rebelling against the state. These new insurgents believe they have been "severely discriminated against and have been excluded from the mainstream since hundreds of years. The UN could do more, based on relevant past UN resolutions, in bringing these rebels into the peace process.
The UN Mission in Nepal
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) was signed on 21 November 2006 and officially ended the decade-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Afterward, UNMIN, the United Nations Mission in Nepal, was established by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1740, to support the peace process. The objective of the resolution was to assist in creating a free and fair atmosphere for the Constituent Assembly elections and the entire peace process. The UNMIN was constituted in response to requests by the Seven-Party Alliance Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), in their 9 August 2006 letters to the Secretary-General of the UN. The UNMIN officially began its work on 23 January 2007 as per special agreement made with the Nepal government and Nepal communist party Nepal (Maoist).
The Security Council authorized the establishment of UNMIN under the leadership of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General with the following mandates: (a) To monitor the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, in line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; (b) To assist the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing their agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, as provided for in that agreement; (c) To assist in the monitoring of the ceasefire arrangements; (d) To provide technical support for the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of a Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere, in consultation with the parties, and (e) To provide a small team of electoral monitors to review all technical aspects of the electoral process, and report on the conduct of the election.
The peace process & paralytic UN role more through link http://www.nepalmonitor.com/2007/10/what_unmin_should_do_to_manage_nepal_peace_process.html.........................................................................................................................What UNMIN Should Do to Manage Nepal Peace Process
The Maoists and the political... more
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By Krishna Hari Pushkar
The peace process in Nepal is in the exodus and facing sever maladies. This is not expected situation by any peace lovers that such circumstances will take place in presence of such huge UN political mission...................
Weakness of UNMIN:
1. Except the conveyance routine jobs, UNMIN is totally failed to guard, convince, balance and coordinate effectively the peace accord among the stakeholders as per mandate provided by UN Security Council, accordingly, bargaining hazards, troubles, dishonouring and violations are frequently occurring by both Maoist and government side, hence, peace site is going away beyond the hope in presence of such huge UN political mission.
2. The second needy major point is to build appropriate atmosphere for the election of constitutional assembly, but sorry, it is not possible in current situation at all, until the dozens of warrior groups and ethnic panels either convince about the CA election or ready to participate in the political mainstreaming. Even though, UNMIN seems heavy-eyed in this matter, despites the frequent request of warier groups.
3. It is sad but hardcore decent to say that UNMIN also failed to use, coordinate and mobilize properly the synergetic and collective efforts of international communities and the power resources of Nepalese civic societies too through the missions platform.
4. UNMIN is also suffering with the imbalance and discriminative local team composition, the UNMIN recruitment process failed to balance the gender, socio- ethnic and geographical representation in their locals team which is crucial during any conflict resolution course of action. It might be also a cause of poor performances and low feat.
5. UNMIN has a very light multi spheres network that is not enough to fulfil the assigned responsibilities. In such situation UNMIN will not even able to gain effective understanding of situation and neither able to build inclusive dealing strategy properly in accordance with political psychologies of people of Nepal and intention of UN too.
In the above mentioned ground, I would like to request to UNMIN for the facilitation of the recently recommended and suggested path of International crisis group besides the routine jobs with
following additional suggestive remarks:
A. UNMIN has to develop a special diplomatic level observer task force of local diplomats and envoys through central UN channels whose countries and authorities have been expressing and providing supports in ongoing the peace process. This task force will be highly effective for collective diplomatic pressure and actions.........
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please read more through given link or write an email to receive free of cost complete article mrpushkar@yahoo.com
Thank you.
By Krishna Hari Pushkar
The peace process in Nepal is in the exodus and facing... more
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