The dictator Kagame at UN

The dictator Kagame at UN
Dictators like Kagame who have changed their national constitutions to remain indefinitely on power should not be involved in UN high level and global activities including chairing UN meetings

Why has the UN ignored its own report about the massacres of Hutu refugees in DRC ?

The UN has ignored its own reports, NGOs and media reports about the massacres of hundreds of thousands of Hutu in DRC Congo (estimated to be more than 400,000) by Kagame when he attacked Hutu refugee camps in Eastern DRC in 1996. This barbaric killings and human rights violations were perpetrated by Kagame’s RPF with the approval of UK and USA and with sympathetic understanding and knowledge of UNHCR and international NGOs which were operating in the refugees camps. According to the UN, NGO and media reports between 1993 and 2003 women and girls were raped. Men slaughtered. Refugees killed with machetes and sticks. The attacks of refugees also prevented humanitarian organisations to help many other refugees and were forced to die from cholera and other diseases. Other refugees who tried to return to Rwanda where killed on their way by RFI and did not reach their homes. No media, no UNHCR, no NGO were there to witness these massacres. When Kagame plans to kill, he makes sure no NGO and no media are prevent. Kagame always kills at night.

23 Jun 2016

[afrocarpus] UN DAILY NEWS from the UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

 

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

22 June, 2016

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________



UN SUMMIT JUMP-STARTS GLOBAL DRIVE FOR RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS ACTIONS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today rallied corporate leaders and entrepreneurs gathered for a summit in New York to focus on key areas required to reach a new era of sustainability, including responsible practices, transformative partnerships, breakthrough innovation and targeted investment.

In his remarks to the 2016 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, Mr. Ban stressed that achieving the aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development would require finding new ways of living that would end the suffering, discrimination and lack of opportunity for billions of people around the world.

As such, he called on all stakeholders – from world leaders and chief executives, to educators and philanthropists, and across all sectors and industries – to work together in broader and deeper partnerships.

The UN Global Compact , the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, supports companies to do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and to take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.

The Leaders Summit, which is running in New York through tomorrow, aims to jump-start business action everywhere on the Goals. To that end, the Global Compact unveiled a multi-year strategy to drive business awareness and activity that supports the achievement of the Goals by 2030.

Key elements of the new 'Making Global Goals Local Business' strategy include an annual Leaders Summit, the SDG Pioneers programme, Local Network SDG Action Plans, UN-business partnerships, and impact reporting.

Recalling the adoption last year of both the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Secretary-General in his remarks said sustainable development could be separated from fighting the impacts of climate change, and called for a holistic development model will take climate impact and fragile ecosystems into account, and would benefit both people and the planet.

Noting that trillions of dollars will be invested in infrastructure in the coming years, he said that the Paris Agreement and the SDGs give the private sector an unprecedented opportunity to create clean-energy, climate-resilient, sustainable economies.

"We are at a decisive moment in the shift to sustainable and inclusive markets," continued the Secretary-General, noting that the first step in this regard would be to mobilize the global business community as never before. "All businesses, everywhere, can and should play a role in improving our world. That starts with integrity – doing business right," he said.

"I have seen first-hand the power of the UN Global Compact's Ten Principles […] They are helping thousands of companies contribute to sustainability," he said asking each of the corporate leaders and entrepreneurs participating in the Summit to renew commitment to principled business, "and to speak up for the UN Global Compact."

Next, he said innovation will be crucial. "I urge you to take advantage of the new markets and solutions that are emerging; to set corporate goals inspired by the SDGs; and to let sustainability drive innovation and investment," he stressed.

"The UN Global Compact is uniquely prepared and positioned to lead business in the SDG era," said Mr. Ban. "Achieving the SDGs will require unprecedented cooperation, radical innovation and extraordinary leadership. And it will require us each to be a pioneer, forging ahead into new territory."

That would mean, the UN chief continued, "taking personal and corporate responsibility for how we do business and who we choose as our staff and partners. It means taking stock of our decisions as consumers and investors. It means raising our voices and taking a stand when it matters. The United Nations Global Compact is the forum to make all this happen."

In her remarks, Lise Kingo, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact said: "The Leaders Summit is the first step on a long-term journey to engage business on the 2030 Agenda. The expectations on business in the new SDG era are immense, but at the same time the opportunities are enormous."

"We need to invent, develop and launch countless new ideas and solutions within a very short time. Through our Making Global Goals Local Business strategy, we will build a powerful global movement of companies doing business responsibly and innovating around the SDGs to create the world we want," she stressed.

Noting that the Global Compact's Ten Principles are "simply good business," she explained that the principles provide a common ground for partners, a moral code for employees, an accountability measure, and ultimately are the foundation for building trust across the board.

Underscoring the value of the SDGs for businesses, she said that addressing challenges ranging from inequality and conflict, to unemployment and climate change, the global goals reflect the complex, interconnected operating environments that businesses face around the world.

The Global Compact Executive Director also added that SDGs not only identify where the global community has to be in 2030 to create a sustainable world in which nobody is left behind, they also outline new markets and opportunities for companies all over the world.

To succeed, she said "we must turn the global goals into business action and impacts in markets around the world."

"There is no doubt that this is a daunting agenda. At the same time, the opportunities at hand are enormous. Global challenges – whether related to food and water crises, or conflict and inequality – are in need of solutions from all sectors, including business," she added.

In an impassioned plea at the Summit, she called on all to "seize the day and work together" to achieve the SDGs by turning risks into opportunities, and creating the world we want. "There is so much we can accomplish together – and we have only just begun. And there is no Plan B," she said.

* * *

LEBANON: UN ENVOY CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE SUPPORT FROM GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR COUNTRY AT RISK OF 'IMPLODING'

The United Nations head of humanitarian operations for Lebanon today urged the international community to develop a comprehensive approach of support, or risk the implosion of a country that is vital to the regional dynamics.

At a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York this afternoon, Philippe Lazzarini, Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, highlighted that when we first began his new post, Lebanon was described to him as a resilient country known for managing crisis on the edge.

"It is in the interest of no one to try to find out how far resilience can go, because, like any resilience, it erodes, and I think it is in none of our interests to find out where the tipping point of this resilience would be," he emphasized.

Noting that no country would be able to cope with all of the challenges Lebanon is currently facing at the same time, Mr. Lazzarini said that among the country's challenges are: extremely high national debt; a failing economy; the exodus of young graduates; skyrocketing unemployment; and dealing with more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

"Despite all the efforts of the international community, the vulnerability of the people is declining year after year," he said.

"Clearly, there is no country in the world which alone can cope with so many challenges at the same time, and this is also one of the reasons why the anxiety about the future of the country is very high, also within the population," he added.

Mr. Lazzarini, who is also the UN Development Programme Resident Representative in Lebanon, also stressed that filling the presidential void in the country is a priority, as other institutions are severely affected by the vacuum.

"The country is without a president for more than two years now. No one would have expected that it would be so long and there is absolutely no doubt that the resolution of this presidential vacuum is a priority because the absence of a president is impacting the smooth running of the institutions," he said.

"And I would not use the word 'smooth' today because with the absence of a president, the institutions are even more weakened," he added.

The Deputy Special Coordinator said that the international community must look outside the traditional means of relief and development to help Lebanon. This includes continuing pre-existing programmes while helping the country face the impact of its crises.

"Lebanon is a country that is extraordinary important to regional dynamics – to the Syrian conflict, and to regional tension – and it pays a very high price both politically, economically, but also in terms of security and demography," Mr. Lazzarini explained.

"We need to have comprehensive and multi-faceted economic approach in the country. We as members of the international community certainly have to show more risk-sharing with the country because if we do not do this, we take the risk of a country on the edge of imploding," he concluded.


* * *

CARIBBEAN REGION MUST BOOST EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR INCREASED DROUGHT – UN REPORT

Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report.

The report, Drought Characteristics and Management in the Caribbean, found that the Caribbean region faces significant challenges in terms of drought, FAO said.

"Drought ranks as the single most common cause of severe food shortages in developing countries, so this is a key issue for Caribbean food security," said Deep Ford, FAO Regional Coordinator in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean region already experiences drought-like events every year, with low water availability often impacting on agriculture and water resources, and a significant number of bush fires, FAO noted.

The region also experiences intense dry seasons, particularly in years when El Niño climate events are present. FAO said that the impacts of this are usually offset by the next wet season, but wet seasons often end early and dry seasons last longer, with the result that annual rainfall is less than expected.

The Caribbean region accounts for seven of the world's top 36 water-stressed countries, while one of them – Barbados – is in the top 10, according to FAO.

Impacts of drought on agriculture and food security

With droughts becoming more seasonal in nature in the Caribbean region, agriculture is the most likely sector to be impacted, with serious economic and social consequences, FAO emphasized.

This is particularly important because most of Caribbean agriculture is rainfed. With irrigation use becoming more widespread in the region, countries' fresh-water supply will become an increasingly important resource, FAO said.

Small-scale, family farmers, are particularly vulnerable to drought – low rainfall threatens rainfed crops and low water levels result in increased production costs due to increased irrigation.

Extensive droughts also cause increased vulnerability in livestock as grazing areas change in nutritional value, with more low quality, drought tolerant species dominating during such dry spells. In addition, the potential for livestock disease outbreaks also increases, FAO said.

Drought also often results in food price increases. Expensive, desalinated water resources are becoming more important in the Caribbean, accounting for as much as 70 per cent in Antigua and Barbuda, and this can impact significantly on the ability of poor households to afford food.

Rural communities can also face a greater scarcity of drinking water during droughts. In such cases, children are at the highest risk from inadequate water supplies during drought.

New challenges posed by climate change

The most frequently occurring natural hazards in the Caribbean are climate-related, and their impacts may increase due to climate change, FAO said. The region's vulnerability to climate related hazards is manifested in loss of life and annual economic and financial losses that result from strong winds, flooding and drought.

Between 1970 and 2000, the Caribbean region suffered direct and indirect losses estimated at between $700 million and $3.3 billion due to natural disasters associated with weather and climate events.

So far, the region has focused mainly on floods and storms, and it currently lacks effective governance, expertise, and financial resources to deal effectively with drought issues, FAO stressed.

It also has poor national coordination, policy-making, and planning in place. While many regional and national programmes have developed responses to build resilience against the impacts of drought, the report found that too many of these are still only in a drafting phase, or are poorly implemented and in need of review.

Regional frameworks provide a necessary first step

The FAO report noted that the severity of the 2009-2010 drought – the worst in more than 40 years – served as an alarm bell for the Caribbean region.

The event forced the region to consider, particularly in light of climate change projections, the need to introduce more strategic planning and management measures to avert the potential disaster that would result by end of the century from a drier Caribbean region, according to the report.

FAO stressed, however, that the most pressing need is for countries to develop strong national initiatives. According to the report, policy-making and planning related to drought is hindered by weak governance, lack of finance and poorly coordinated land management.

"These can be overcome by strong political will that encourages participation in policy and planning processes by all actors in the social strata, enabling the sustainable development of water supplies to face the upcoming challenges," Mr. Ford said.

* * *

UN PAYS TRIBUTE TO BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN JO COX

Standing up for values and principles that unite us – not divide us – and never succumbing to violent provocations in today's world is vital so that extremists and perpetrators do not declare victory, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General emphasized today at a ceremony in tribute to Jo Cox, the United Kingdom Member of Parliament who was killed this past week.

Hundreds of people gathered at a ceremony this morning in a courtyard at the New York headquarters of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), in front of 42 white roses to mark the birthday of Ms. Cox.

"That we all gather here today at the UN is a tribute to Jo, and is a sign of how profoundly she touched our hearts," said Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

"But also of how strongly her death has reminded us of standing up for values and principles that unite us – not divide us – in today's deeply troubled world," he added.

Noting that the world was "shocked and saddened when Jo was taken away from us under the most brutal circumstances a few days ago," Mr. Eliasson said thoughts and prayers are now with Ms. Cox's husband, Brendan, and her two young children.

"'There is more that unites us than divides us.' These words from Jo are now spread around the world. So are Brendan's words, saying: 'Hate does not have a creed, race or religion – it is poisonous,'" the Deputy Secretary-General said.

Ms. Cox was killed this past Thursday in an attack in her district of northern England after meeting with constituents, a few days ahead of a referendum on whether the United Kingdom (UK) should stay or leave the European Union. A Member of Parliament since 2015, she had worked in New York between 2007 and 2008 as head of Oxfam's international humanitarian campaigns.

Mr. Eliasson recounted that last night, he talked to Joanne Nichols, one of Ms. Cox's long-time friends and colleagues from Oxfam, having served together in London and Brussels.

"Joanne told me about Jo's generosity and warmth. She said her smile melted everybody. Her sense of humour broke ice and transformed tense situations into real conversations, a real skill. Her humanity and respect for all human beings, and their dignity and equal value permeated and informed everything she did," Mr. Eliasson said.

"In this moment of grief, anger and frustration for many of us, let us ask ourselves what we can do to best honour Jo Cox and her life," he added.

The Deputy Secretary-General called for standing behind the values and principles that Ms. Cox lived for, which he said are "remarkably close" to the UN Charter.

"Let us be energized by Jo's courage and Jo's commitment for a common humanity. Let us take actions in her spirit. And let us mobilize all good forces around the convictions we know Jo embraced," he stressed.

Participants at today's ceremony included Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the UN, who read a statement from US President Barack Obama. Other tribute events are taking place today around the world.

* * *

DISARMING ARMED GROUPS, CIVILIAN PROTECTION CRUCIAL FOR CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – UN EXPERT

Concluding her seventh visit in the country, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR), expressed concern about the threats from armed groups and large-scale banditry to the protection of civilians, natural resources and to the crisis recovery process.

In a press release issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) yesterday, Ms. Keita Bocoum urged the Government, in coordination with international forces, to implement robust measures to stop the fighting, ensure the protection civilians and humanitarian actors, and to assist victims and displaced people.

Ms. Keita Bocoum also invited the authorities to validate the roadmap on the justice reform and to implement the first emergency actions, including holding the second session of the Criminal Court, and stressed the need for non-judicial mechanisms to seek truth and reparation measures in order to shed light on the past, move away from the "legacy of violence" and ensure the guarantee of non-repetition.

The expert welcomed recent progress towards the establishment of the Special Criminal Court mandated to investigate crimes committed since 2003 and encouraged the authorities to speed up the recruitment process, initiate investigations quickly and establish a protection program for victims and witnesses who will participate in court proceedings.

She also welcomed the authorities' decision to implement the measures of the Republican Pact adopted at the Bangui Forum last May, including on the fight against impunity, and on the inclusion of individuals and groups who feel marginalized.

The release also noted that during her visit, the Independent Expert met with representatives of the new Government, including the Prime Minister, ministers of justice, interior, public security and the administration of the territory, social affairs and reconciliation, and environment. She also held discussions with the President of the National Assembly and his executive office, international partners, representatives of civil society and religious authorities.

Recalling her meeting with civil society representatives, the expert said they "expressed expectation on the new government to implement key measures, in an inclusive and strategic manner, particularly in the areas of security and justice." She added that she also noted a "frustration" and a "feeling of exclusion" among the youth, women and religious communities in Bangui and within the country.

Ms. Keita Bocoum also inquired into the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against the international forces. She noted the efforts carried out to investigate the allegations, protect the victims and witnesses and prevent from this scourge.

On 28 June at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Keita Bocoum will discuss the issue of transitional justice with representatives of the Central African authorities, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA>) and civil society organizations. The Independent Expert will submit her final report to the Council in September 2016.

Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.


* * *

WELCOMING SUDAN'S CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, BAN URGES PARTIES TO PURSUE 'FINAL PEACE' THROUGH NATIONAL DIALOGUE

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the announcement by the Sudanese Government of a four-month unilateral cessation of hostilities, beginning on 18 June 2016, in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

In a statement issued this afternoon by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban also welcomed the six-month unilateral cessation of hostilities declared by the Sudan Revolutionary Forces in the Two Areas and Darfur on 28 April 2016.

"These commitments should ease the suffering of the people living in the affected areas," said the statement, through which the UN chief also urged the parties to allow and facilitate urgently needed humanitarian access to these areas.

Further to the statement, the Secretary General reiterated his call for the parties which have not signed the Road-map proposed by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to do so, and to continue talks with the Sudanese Government and other parties engaged in dialogue inside Sudan to reach agreement on a process for final peace through inclusive national dialogue.


* * *

UNESCO CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF JOURNALIST IN TEXAS

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today called for an investigation into the killing of Jacinto Hernández Torres, also known as Jay Torres, a Spanish-language journalist in Texas.

"I condemn the murder of Jacinto Hernández Torres," Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a statement.

The body of Jay Torres, a contributor to La Estrella, a Fort Worth Spanish-language weekly, was found on Monday, 13 June in Garland, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

"I call on the authorities to investigate this killing and its motives so that those responsible for it be brought to trial," Ms. Bokova said.

The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with resolution 29, on "Condemnation of Violence against Journalists," which was adopted by UNESCO Member States at the General Conference of 1997.


* * *

SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS CALLS FOR IMPROVED COORDINATION, REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN UN PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS

Sustaining peace requires more coherence and coordination among the United Nations system, the head of the intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict told the Security Council today.

"We have a unique opportunity to move forward the peacebuilding agenda," said Macharia Kamau, chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, at an open debate in the Security Council this morning, during which the Commission's report on its ninth session was presented.

Noting the reaffirmed support for the Peacebuilding Commission by the Council and the General Assembly, Mr. Kamau outlined the Commission's key initiatives that the Commission has undertaken and its plans for the remainder of the current session.

In that regard, he said the Commission had convened two important meetings, in January and April, to discuss trends and challenges to peacebuilding at the regional and sub-regional level.

He said he intends to expand that approach to other regions, starting with Central Africa and East Africa in the second half of the year. As such, he had informal conversations with members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, and had agreed that deeper conversations should be pursued regarding a possible visit to Addis Ababa and a retreat.

Role of peacebuilding in post-Ebola recovery

Turning to the role of peacebuilding in post-Ebola recovery, Mr. Kamau said that humanitarian crises around the world had shown themselves to be great disruptors of peace and security.

"They disrupt and destroy communities, sometimes causing great loss of life and at other times uprooting entire communities resulting in displacement of people with the consequence of triggering migration and refugees outflows," he said.

As a follow-up to the important work done by the Commission during the Ebola crisis, he said he had just returned from a visit to West Africa, where he witnessed first-hand the road to recovery from the Ebola emergency in the three most affected countries.

"Besides the tragic loss of life of thousands of people and the horrible suffering of many more, what Ebola has done is that it has exposed the fragility of the affected countries and compounded and setback what were already difficulty economic and peacebuilding challenges," Mr. Kamau stressed.

Importance of partnerships

Underscoring the importance of partnerships, the chair highlighted that a key value of the Commission rests in its ability to engage not only with such key partners as regional and sub-regional organizations, but also with international financial institutions and civil society organizations.

"We have witnessed the important value to transitions that partnerships can give to all our peacebuilding efforts," he said, adding that he intends to further strengthen relations between the Commission and the AU, including by visiting their headquarters during the second part of the year.

Annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission

Presenting the Peacebuilding Commission's annual report, Olof Skoog, former Chair of the body, said that over the past year, important steps had been taken to improve the efficiency and flexibility of the Commission, thereby striving to further enhance the relevance of its work, broaden the scope and reach of its efforts, and improve its accountability.

"This includes adopting more transparent and strategic working methods, a more flexible agenda and increasing inclusivity; improving partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations; and highlighting peacebuilding needs in the Ebola recovery," he said.

Specifically, Mr. Skoog highlighted that during its ninth session, the Commission had convened regional and country-specific discussions concerning situations beyond its established agenda. The Organizational Committee had opportunities to discuss peacebuilding needs and lessons learned in several contexts, such as the peace process in Papua New Guinea, elections in Burkina Faso, and financing for peacebuilding in Somalia.

"Going forward, this work can, and should be, further expanded. In my view, there is great scope for the commission to keep evolving in this regard," he said, adding that the resolutions adopted in April give the Commission a "clear mandate" to continue diversifying its working methods in support of sustaining peace.

Mr. Skoog also noted that the Commission had, over the past year, moved to highlight thematic and regional issues of relevance to its work. For example, to draw attention to the peacebuilding needs within the Ebola recovery, both the previous and current Commission chairs had travelled to West Africa.

In that regard, he stressed that the Commission should further use such momentum to deepen and institutionalize cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations, both in the Commission as a whole and in country-specific work.

During its ninth session, the Commission also worked to advance interaction with a more diverse group of actors, Mr. Skoog said.

The drafting of a gender strategy for the Commission was initiated, and a special session was organized to discuss how to advance the youth, peace and security agenda and champion youth participation for sustainable peace.

"The convening role of the PBC should be utilized even further, as it is one of the most important tools we have to foster greater coherence in international action, and to help break some of the silos and address fragmentation," Mr. Skoog said.

"This, in turn, is a prerequisite for our ability to support genuine national leadership and ownership in peacebuilding processes," he added.

* * *

BAHRAIN: UN SPECIAL ADVISER STRESSES URGENCY OF DE-ESCALATING TENSIONS SPARKED BY PROTESTS

Noting the new protests and increased tensions in Bahrain triggered by the revocation of the citizenship of a prominent Shia religious leader, a senior United Nations human rights advisor called on the Government to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is fully respected and that any response to the protests is in accordance with the country's obligations under international human rights law.

Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide also called on the protestors to exercise their rights peacefully and to avoid any act of violence, as well as on all decision-makers, in the country and at the regional level, political parties and groups, military, religious, tribal and community leaders to exercise restraint and to take all possible measures to prevent the further increase of tensions.

According to a statement by his office today, the Special Adviser noted that the 20 June action by the Interior Ministry of Bahrain to revoke the citizenship of Sheikh Issa Qassem, a Shia religious leader, is the latest in a series of actions by the authorities in recent weeks that have further restricted space for public participation and the enjoyment of human rights in the country.

Yesterday, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concerns at crackdown on human rights and political opposition groups including the action against the Shia religious leader, the re-arrest of Nabil Rajab, a prominent human rights defender, the dissolution of Al Wefaq, Bahrain's largest opposition political grouping, the interrogation of five Shia clerics, and the travel bans on a number of human rights defenders.

Moreover, on 16 June, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern at the situation in the country and noted that such actions by the State authorities could potentially damage the human rights situation in the country as well as undermine the reforms undertaken by King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.

In his view, Mr. Dieng said, "the country and the region are facing a critical moment. It is now even more crucial for the authorities and for all relevant parties to recommit to an inclusive national dialogue in the interest of all people of Bahrain."


* * *


 







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    -“The enemies of Freedom do not argue ; they shout and they shoot.”

    The principal key root causes that lead to the Rwandan genocide of 1994 that affected all Rwandan ethnic groups were:

    1)The majority Hutu community’s fear of the return of the discriminatory monarchy system that was practiced by the minority Tutsi community against the enslaved majority Hutu community for about 500 years

    2)The Hutu community’s fear of Kagame’s guerrilla that committed massacres in the North of the country and other parts of the countries including assassinations of Rwandan politicians.

    3) The Rwandan people felt abandoned by the international community ( who was believed to support Kagame’s guerrilla) and then decided to defend themselves with whatever means they had against the advance of Kagame’ guerrilla supported by Ugandan, Tanzanian and Ethiopian armies and other Western powers.

    -“The enemies of Freedom do not argue ; they shout and they shoot.”

    -“The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

    -“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

    -“I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.”

    The Rwanda war of 1990-1994 had multiple dimensions.

    The Rwanda war of 1990-1994 had multiple dimensions. Among Kagame’s rebels who were fighting against the Rwandan government, there were foreigners, mainly Ugandan fighters who were hired to kill and rape innocent Rwandan people in Rwanda and refugees in DRC.

    READ MORE RECENT NEWS AND OPINIONS

    SUMMARY : THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE BRITISH BUDGET SUPPORT AND GEO-STRATEGIC AMBITIONS

    United Kingdom's Proxy Wars in Africa: The Case of Rwanda and DR Congo:

    The Rwandan genocide and 6,000,000 Congolese and Hutu refugees killed are the culminating point of a long UK’s battle to expand their influence to the African Great Lakes Region. UK supported Kagame’s guerrilla war by providing military support and money. The UK refused to intervene in Rwanda during the genocide to allow Kagame to take power by military means that triggered the genocide. Kagame’s fighters and their families were on the Ugandan payroll paid by UK budget support.


    · 4 Heads of State assassinated in the francophone African Great Lakes Region.
    · 2,000,000 people died in Hutu and Tutsi genocides in Rwanda, Burundi and RD.Congo.
    · 600,000 Hutu refugees killed in R.D.Congo, Uganda, Central African Republic and Rep of Congo.
    · 6,000,000 Congolese dead.
    · 8,000,000 internal displaced people in Rwanda, Burundi and DR. Congo.
    · 500,000 permanent Rwandan and Burundian Hutu refugees, and Congolese refugees around the world.
    · English language expansion to Rwanda to replace the French language.
    · 20,000 Kagame’s fighters paid salaries from the British Budget Support from 1986 to present.
    · £500,000 of British taxpayer’s money paid, so far, to Kagame and his cronies through the budget support, SWAPs, Tutsi-dominated parliament, consultancy, British and Tutsi-owned NGOs.
    · Kagame has paid back the British aid received to invade Rwanda and to strengthen his political power by joining the East African Community together with Burundi, joining the Commonwealth, imposing the English Language to Rwandans to replace the French language; helping the British to establish businesses and to access to jobs in Rwanda, and to exploit minerals in D.R.Congo.



    Thousands of Hutu murdered by Kagame inside Rwanda, e.g. Kibeho massacres

    Thousands of Hutu murdered by Kagame inside Rwanda, e.g. Kibeho massacres
    Kagame killed 200,000 Hutus from all regions of the country, the elderly and children who were left by their relatives, the disabled were burned alive. Other thousands of people were killed in several camps of displaced persons including Kibeho camp. All these war crimes remain unpunished.The British news reporters were accompanying Kagame’s fighters on day-by-day basis and witnessed these massacres, but they never reported on this.

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    25,000 Hutu bodies floated down River Akagera into Lake Victoria in Uganda.

    25,000  Hutu bodies  floated down River Akagera into Lake Victoria in Uganda.
    The British irrational, extremist, partisan,biased, one-sided media and politicians have disregarded Kagame war crimes e.g. the Kibeho camp massacres, massacres of innocents Hutu refugees in DR. Congo. The British media have been supporting Kagame since he invaded Rwanda by organising the propaganda against the French over the Rwandan genocide, suppressing the truth about the genocide and promoting the impunity of Kagame and his cronies in the African Great Lakes Region. For the British, Rwanda does not need democracy, Rwanda is the African Israel; and Kagame and his guerilla fighters are heroes.The extremist British news reporters including Fergal Keane, Chris Simpson, Chris McGreal, Mark Doyle, etc. continue to hate the Hutus communities and to polarise the Rwandan society.

    Kagame political ambitions triggered the genocide.

    Kagame  political  ambitions triggered the genocide.
    Kagame’s guerrilla war was aimed at accessing to power at any cost. He rejected all attempts and advice that could stop his military adventures including the cease-fire, political negotiations and cohabitation, and UN peacekeeping interventions. He ignored all warnings that could have helped him to manage the war without tragic consequences. Either you supported Kagame’ s wars and you are now his friend, or you were against his wars and you are his enemy. Therefore, Kagame as the Rwandan strong man now, you have to apologise to him for having been against his war and condemned his war crimes, or accept to be labelled as having been involved in the genocide. All key Kagame’s fighters who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity are the ones who hold key positions in Rwandan army and government for the last 15 years. They continue to be supported and advised by the British including Tony Blair, Andrew Mitchell MP, and the British army senior officials.

    Aid that kills: The British Budget Support financed Museveni and Kagame’s wars in Rwanda and DRC.

    Aid that kills: The British Budget Support  financed Museveni and Kagame’s wars in Rwanda and DRC.
    Genocide propaganda and fabrications are used by the so-called British scholars, news reporters and investigative journalists to promote their CVs and to get income out of the genocide through the selling of their books, providing testimonies against the French, access to consultancy contracts from the UN and Kagame, and participation in conferences and lectures in Rwanda, UK and internationally about genocide. Genocide propaganda has become a lucrative business for Kagame and the British. Anyone who condemned or did not support Kagame’s war is now in jail in Rwanda under the gacaca courts system suuported by British tax payer's money, or his/she is on arrest warrant if he/she managed to flee the Kagame’s regime. Others have fled the country and are still fleeing now. Many others Rwandans are being persecuted in their own country. Kagame is waiting indefinitely for the apologies from other players who warn him or who wanted to help to ensure that political negotiations take place between Kagame and the former government he was fighting against. Britain continues to supply foreign aid to Kagame and his cronies with media reports highlighting economic successes of Rwanda. Such reports are flawed and are aimed at misleading the British public to justify the use of British taxpayers’ money. Kagame and his cronies continue to milk British taxpayers’ money under the British budget support. This started from 1986 through the British budget support to Uganda until now.

    Dictator Kagame: No remorse for his unwise actions and ambitions that led to the Rwandan genocide.

    Dictator Kagame: No remorse for his unwise actions and ambitions that led to the  Rwandan genocide.
    No apologies yet to the Rwandan people. The assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana by Kagame was the only gateway for Kagame to access power in Rwanda. The British media, politicians, and the so-called British scholars took the role of obstructing the search for the truth and justice; and of denying this assassination on behalf of General Kagame. General Paul Kagame has been obliging the whole world to apologise for his mistakes and war crimes. The UK’s way to apologise has been pumping massive aid into Rwanda's crony government and parliement; and supporting Kagame though media campaigns.

    Fanatical, partisan, suspicious, childish and fawning relations between UK and Kagame

    Fanatical, partisan, suspicious, childish and fawning relations between UK and Kagame
    Kagame receives the British massive aid through the budget support, British excessive consultancy, sector wide programmes, the Tutsi-dominated parliament, British and Tutsi-owned NGOs; for political, economic and English language expansion to Rwanda. The British aid to Rwanda is not for all Rwandans. It is for Kagame himself and his Tutsi cronies.

    Paul Kagame' actvities as former rebel

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    This blog reports the crimes that remain unpunished and the impunity that has generated a continuous cycle of massacres in many parts of Africa. In many cases, the perpetrators of the crimes seem to have acted in the knowledge that they would not be held to account for their actions.

    The need to fight this impunity has become even clearer with the massacres and genocide in many parts of Africa and beyond.

    The blog also addresses issues such as Rwanda War Crimes, Rwandan Refugee massacres in Dr Congo, genocide, African leaders’ war crimes and crimes against humanity, Africa war criminals, Africa crimes against humanity, Africa Justice.

    -The British relentless and long running battle to become the sole player and gain new grounds of influence in the francophone African Great Lakes Region has led to the expulsion of other traditional players from the region, or strained diplomatic relations between the countries of the region and their traditional friends. These new tensions are even encouraged by the British using a variety of political and economic manoeuvres.

    -General Kagame has been echoing the British advice that Rwanda does not need any loan or aid from Rwandan traditional development partners, meaning that British aid is enough to solve all Rwandan problems.

    -The British obsession for the English Language expansion has become a tyranny that has led to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, dictatorial regimes, human rights violations, mass killings, destruction of families, communities and cultures, permanent refugees and displaced persons in the African Great Lakes region.


    - Rwanda, a country that is run by a corrupt clique of minority-tutsi is governed with institutional discrmination, human rights violations, dictatorship, authoritarianism and autocracy, as everybody would expect.