United Nations demands justice for civilians deliberately and ruthlessly targeted in attacks in South Sudan (10.07.2018)

Civilians were targeted, with the elderly, people with disabilities and very young children killed in horrific acts of violence.

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 10, 2018 –  UN Human Rights monitors have documented what appear to be deliberate, ruthless and brutally violent attacks on civilians, particularly against women and children, by Government and aligned forces, as well as armed youth in parts of Unity State in South Sudan.

A report issued Tuesday documents acts that constitute gross violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law – that may amount to war crimes. The investigation has also identified three individuals who may bear the greatest responsibility for the violations committed. One of them was reportedly removed from his functions for his alleged implication in these violations.

The violence took place after clashes between the SPLA and associated forces, and SPLA-IO (RM) in Unity State culminated in a significant military operation by Government and associated forces between April and May in multiple areas in southern Unity. The military offensive was part of a broader cycle of violence in which opposition forces also carried out armed attacks resulting in civilian casualties.

The investigation by UN Human Rights monitors found that between 16 April and 24 May, at least 232 civilians were killed and many more injured in attacks by Government and aligned forces and armed youth on villages in opposition-controlled areas in Mayendit and Leer.

Civilians were targeted, with the elderly, people with disabilities and very young children killed in horrific acts of violence – some hung from trees and others burned alive in their homes, the investigation found.

Victims and witnesses described how SPLA and aligned forces would storm into villages in the early morning or around dawn, surround the village and start shooting at fleeing civilians. The attackers would then steal cattle, loot entire households and burn down houses and food stocks.

The report documents the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, with at least 120 women and girls raped or gang-raped, including children as young as four. One 20-year-old woman was still bleeding from childbirth when she was raped. Some of those who resisted were shot dead. At least 132 other women and girls were abducted.

The brutality and ruthlessness of the attackers, as described by survivors, suggests their intent was to take a “scorched-earth” approach, killing or forcibly displacing people, burning their crops and homes, punishing and terrorizing them to ensure they never return. Many fled under attack by gunfire and shelling.

“Some corpses seen by human rights monitors in villages in Northern Mayendit on 12 May exhibited bullet wounds in their backs,” the report states. “According to information received, the elderly, sick and persons with disabilities who were unable to flee, were often burnt alive, as the attackers set ablaze their tukuls with lighters.”

As a result, more than 5,000 sought sanctuary at UN protected sites in Leer and Bentiu. Another 8,000 are estimated to be hiding in bushes and swamps while 18,000 have sought refuge in Mayendit town. Humanitarian actors were also targeted. Three local aid workers were killed and facilities destroyed, leaving vulnerable people without desperately needed food, water, medicine and shelter.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on the Government to halt all attacks against civilians, launch investigations and hold the perpetrators accountable, including those who bear command responsibility.

“The perpetrators of these revolting acts against defenceless civilians, including those bearing command responsibility, must not be allowed to get away with it,” High Commissioner Zeid said.

“There must be consequences for the men who reportedly gang-raped a six-year-old child, who slit the throats of elderly villagers, who hanged women for resisting looting, and shot fleeing civilians in the swamps where they hid. Those who ordered and facilitated these horrific crimes must be brought to account. The Government of South Sudan and the international community have the obligation to ensure justice.”

Zeid called on the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan and the African Union to move quickly towards establishing the Hybrid Court for South Sudan to ensure accountability for gross human rights violations.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan and humanitarian actors are taking action on a number of fronts, including increasing the peacekeeping presence in the area, providing aid to those in need, continuing to monitor and report on human rights violations and carrying out political engagement with Government officials, commanders of both forces, and civil society.

Ethiopia-Eritrea: Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed letter to President Isaias Afwerki – “thank you”

[Insert Malicious Charge] Put on Besigye: Because why not?

Again, and again, there are charges and possible legal trouble towards the opposition leader and founder of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Dr. Kizza Besigye. Yesterday, was yet another day for him to be put on the spot. Not that anyone of the charges that he has gotten in the past has been verified and the regime haven’t followed up on them.

He has more than once been charged of treason, he has been taken into custody without warrant and been detained more times than it is possible to count. Especially in and around General Elections, he is pending jail, while campaigning. Therefore, this is really just he way the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are acting towards him. So yesterday is nothing new, but still needs to be addressed.

Now, they are pinning random murders on him. Besigye get the blame for even more stuff. Even if he was gardening in Wakiso or on a Campaign Trail, they would blame him. The NRM and the Police Force are monitoring him. It is insane and that is why this is suddenly news.

Four suspects arrested by Security gurus from Busia have linked the FDC Party and some of its top leaders including the Party Chief Mobiliser Ingrid Turinawe and four time Presidential Candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye to various crimes in the country” (91.2 Crooze FM, 10.07.2018).

This is just as reading charge sheets and making up crimes. To fill the time of the FDC leadership behind bars, instead of continuing to build the party. Not like the Police are actually solving crimes, but manufacturing charges on him and the FDC. Besigye is used as a pawn by the authorities.

It is really insulting, that he again is under fire. That is because the NRM and the Police Force needs to divert attention. They need him to be martyr, but this time is not to serious. Since he still walks freely, while they are continuing blaming him for everything.

Besigye is being used and abused. He has been played and tortured, been detained and kidnapped before. Therefore, nothing they are doing is new, they have sprayed him and destroyed his SUV just for the hell of it.

That is why I don’t believe this charges or anyone else. It is a political farce and mockery of intelligence. If any of the charges had sticked, if any of the previous arrests or time of detaining behind any bars in- and around Uganda. Than, it would be believable, however, this is just yet another mad cow put into the public.

The mad-cow decease from Rwakitura farm that is killing wisdom and common sense at a rapid rate. That is why the Police Force as political force as it was under previous leadership. The new IGP is doing as a favor to the President. While making no sense charging Besigye again for nothing.

That is why the previous charges pinned on Besigye haven’t gone anywhere. They are just used to stifle is support and his political activism. However, the trick has gone out and fuse has run out. This has grown old, just like the President.

Time revamp and change, because this is just a mockery of rule of law. It is not funny, but just tragic. Besigye is being used and this has happen more times than worth counting. Peace.

CCEDU: Suspension of Accreditation for Election Related Activities (09.07.2018)

Statement of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Relations between 
Eritrea and Ethiopia (09.07.2018)

Ethiopian to Resume Flights to Asmara (10.07.2018)

Brexit: Brexiteers leaving for Bristol, because they are not able to negotiate with Brussels!

Today, has been a hectic day, first David Davis resigned, than Boris Johnson and two more Parliamentary Private Secretaries have also resigned. All of these are ready to leave their offices because of the weekends chequers agreement was supposed to make it easier for the Tories to make a White Paper to deliver the European Union. Where the negotiations and the progress for Withdrawal from the EU could practically move forward.

Now that two major Brexiteers have left the ship, the others are just more spoilers of loyal ones wanting the hard-Brexit. Even if that is foolish, as the United Kingdom is hurting own business over the political game played, instead of thinking of the long-term consequences. It is ironic that Johnson says the UK could end up as a ‘Colony’ of the EU.

That is ironic as the biggest colonizer on planet earth was the United Kingdom, that why they have their “friendly” queened controlled Commonwealth to still steer the trade and policies in the former colonies. Therefore, Johnson should be careful what he wish for.

The UK could have avoided all of this, the Tories could have been consistent, however, they have been unstable and erratic. The Tories has mocked protocol and clarity. The UK government and their Department of Exiting the European Union (DexEU) could have delivered more policies and plans for negotiations with the EU. Tories could have been proper that way, but the EU have been more open and transparent. Something usually they are disregarded and questioning from their authorities. However, the EU has shown their cards and their possible outcomes. The UK haven’t even made sure basics are in place.

The UK are still not official stance on the border of Ireland, the Customs Union, the Trade Policies or any of the other issues. The Chequers was supposed to clear some of that, but there are still uncertainty if that will stick. The Tories should have figured that out early after the elections, especially since the Brexiteers and the ones fighting for leaving the Union had no program or plan for how it would be. Other than, sovereignty from the Union without knowing how that could be.

Your running a game blindly, the blind leading the blind and hoping your end up. Than your just lucky… You could fall out over cliff. The Tories should have done this from the get-go, but still they are fighting and bickering, instead of finding the way through the maze.

HM Government should be ashamed to be here after two years. The Brussels are controlling the aftermath of the referendum, but the UK are sailing without strong captain, it is unsteady and shaky. There is not easy to know how the ERG will react or the Remainers will go. It is to parties within the party and the PM has to walk on egg-shells. She doesn’t even have to struggle with the Labour before steering into trouble. The trouble is within.

The Tories doesn’t need Brexit, is breaking the party and the government, they are just destroying themselves and the world is watching. Tories are making themselves looking foolish. The infighting and the petty play of the public’s trust in the cabinet.

Theresa May is really messed up. She is shaking and her leadership isn’t looking controlled, but instead looking like shambles, like a train-wreck, it looks like it is sinking and too fast for her damage control.

The Tories have done all of this to themselves. Nobody needs to say, to others than to the British public. The UK are doing it to themselves. They don’t even need the pressure from Brussels. The Tories are leading them to buy ale in Bristol, but not serving them a justified Brexit.

Even if I don’t understand why UK are leaving the Union and becoming a Third State to the Union. They are losing privileges…. They not getting the benefits of the membership and will have to work within the bounds of being outside. The UK are doing it to themselves. The EU didn’t ask for this, Brussels effect is made because the UK asked for it.

The HM Government just have to manage with the consequences, they are an outsider who can negotiate, but they cannot win. The EU will show that, to show the value of the Union and not being in the Union.

This has been said for two years, but they have to learn the hard-way I guess. Peace.

Rwanda: Show trial of FDU-Inkingi political prisoners postponed to Monday 30, July 2018 (09.07.2018)

Brexit: Chris Green resignation letter (09.07.2018)

Brexit: Boris Johnson resignation letter (09.07.2018)