Feb. 23
LEBANON:
Samaha's plot: Gemayel calls for severing ties with Syria
Phalange Party official MP Sami Gemayel slammed on Friday the Lebanese
authorities for not suspending diplomatic ties with Syria after the judiciary
sought the death penalty for 2 Syrian security officials.
Gemayel wondered how the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul Karim Ali,
wasn't expelled or summoned.
Gemayel comment comes after State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr
Saqr referred on Thursday a death penalty sought against ex-Minister Michel
Samaha and Syrian security officials Ali Mamlouk and his aide Adnan to the
military court to kick off trials.
The criminal court of cassation confirmed earlier on Friday receiving the file.
Gemayel addressed in his statements President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister
Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, demanding an explanation.
"The Syrian regime is protecting them" Gemayel said in reference to Ali Mamlouk
and his aide Adnan.
"We either respect our judiciary or we don't," the lawmaker added, stressing
that the death penalty request requires the implementation of certain
diplomatic measures concerning the relations between the 2 countries."
Earlier this week, First Military Examining Judge Riyad Abu Ghida indicted
Samaha, and the 2 Syrian officials on terrorism charges.
The indictment charges the 3 men of holding a meeting under Mamlouk at the
National Security office in the Syrian capital Damascus and plotting to
assassinate Lebanese figures who are opposed to the Syrian regime.
According to the indictment, the Syrian officers handed Samaha explosives. It
also charged Samaha of transporting the bombs in his car from Syria to Lebanon.
The former minister was also charged with summoning Lebanese police informer
Milad Kfouri, handing him the explosives and ordering him to blow up Iftar
gatherings in Lebanon.
"It's all right: kill them," Samaha was quoted as telling the police informer
when the latter informed him that religious figures would be attending the
Iftar dinners, according to the indictment.
The 3 could face the death penalty if convicted.
Abu Ghida also approved a request made last week by State Commissioner to the
Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr to issue a search warrant to identify the Syrian
colonel known only by his 1st name Adnan.
On August 9, Lebanese security forces arrested former Lebanese minister Samaha,
who has close ties with Syria's regime.
According to Lebanese security sources, when asked why he would do such a
thing, the former minister replied, "This is what Bashar wants." In a possible
reference to the embattled Syrian president Bashar al Assad.
Following the discovery of the explosives that were transported from Syria by
former Minister Samaha , Suleiman congratulated the Internal Security forces
and announced that he is waiting for a phone call from President Assad about
Syrian General Ali Mamlouk's alleged participation in a terrorist plot with
Samaha. Suleiman is still waiting.
The current cabinet of PM Nagib Mikati is dominated by Hezbollah and was
reportedly 'made in Syria'. Hezbollah has been supporting the Syrian regime in
its crackdown against the pro democracy uprising. Over 70, 000 have been killed
so far mostly civilians.
Foreign minister Mansour who is a member of the Amal movement, a close ally of
Hezbollah has been accused on several occasions of acting on orders from Syria,
but since Hezbollah dominates the cabinet PM Mikati cannot fire him.
(source: yalibnan.com)
BANGLADESH:
Protest demanding death penalty for 1971 war criminals divides
Bangladesh----Gulf widens between those who think Shahbag Square rallies are
righting historical wrong and those who see them as anti-Islam
Najmul Hossain had never been to a protest before. But for the past fortnight,
the 45-year-old Bangladeshi banker has regularly made the short journey to
Shahbag Square, a broad, tree-lined thoroughfare in the heart of Dhaka, the
capital, to call for the hangings of Islamist politicians accused of war crimes
during the country's 1971 war of independence.
On Saturday, Hossain took his 6-year-old son with him to the protest, holding a
banner with the message, "Razakars [Islamist collaborators] must be hanged".
The child carried a toy gun. "My uncle was killed in 1971 by the Pakistan
army," Hossain said. "I cannot forgive those who killed and stood with the
killers."
On the other side of town, Shamsuz Zaman, a 58-year-old timber trader, is
equally fired up but for different reasons when discussing Shahbag. "War crimes
are just an excuse," he said. "Bangladesh has so many problems. The people who
are leading these mobs are atheists who insult Islam, God and the prophet." The
gulf between those who think the Shahbag protests - the largest in 2 decades,
that some are calling the Bangladesh spring - is a movement for righting a
historical wrong and those who consider it to be a veiled, government-sponsored
attempt to curb the influence of Islam has never been wider.
At least 5 people have been killed since Friday in countrywide violence,
including 2 opposition activists who were shot dead by police on Saturday
morning, local police officials confirmed. The violence began when conservative
Islamists clashed with police after Friday prayers, protesting against what
they said were blasphemous online posts by bloggers at the forefront of the
Shahbag protests.
An alliance of Islamist parties called for a general strike on Sunday to
protest at what they see as the use of excessive force against opposition
activists. The police said they were trying to maintain law and order.
Much of the mistrust is rooted in Bangladesh's tumultuous past. Bangladesh
declared independence from Pakistan in 1971. The Pakistani army fought and lost
a brutal nine-month war with Bengali fighters and Indian forces that had
intervened. Hundreds of thousands of civilians died, many of them at the hands
of Islamist militia groups who wanted the country to remain part of Pakistan.
In 2010, Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, and daughter of wartime political
leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, set up a war crimes tribunal to investigate
atrocities committed during the 1971 conflict - a move she said would bring
closure for victims and families and heal the rifts of war.
The leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia,
the widow of the independence war's best-known military commander, has accused
Hasina of politicising the tribunal and conveniently using it to hound her
political enemies. All of the 10 people indicted for war crimes by the tribunal
are opposition politicians, eight of them from the Jamaat-e-Islami, the
country's largest Islamist party and an ally of Zia's BNP.
Despite criticism from human rights groups about politicisation and procedural
flaws, the war crimes tribunal has remained broadly popular. Last month the
tribunal sentenced a former member of the Jamaat-e-Islami to death for his role
in the 1971 war. On 5 February, a verdict of life imprisonment was delivered
against Abdul Quader Molla, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking
the Shahbag protests. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have
converged on Shahbag, the hub of protests, adamant that all of the men on trial
for war crimes must receive the death penalty.
This week President Zillur Rahman signed into law an amendment to the statute
that governs two functioning war crimes tribunals, giving prosecutors the power
to seek stiffer sentences on appeal, a key demand of the protesters. The new
law also gives the government the power to charge entire organisations with war
crimes, another Shahbag demand.
The protesters, however, have ratcheted up the pressure, saying they will
remain camped out in Shahbag until all of the accused currently before the war
crimes tribunal are given the death sentence. They have pushed a broader set of
demands, including banning the Jamaat-e-Islami and confiscating businesses
linked to Islamist groups.
"We are protesting 40 years of injustice," said Lucky Akter, 23, a student and
member of a leftwing political party who has become one of the faces of the
protest with her fiery slogans. "We want those who collaborated with the
Pakistan army hanged and their finances cut off."
Analysts say the broader demands from the Shahbag gathering show how the rifts
of the past continue to play a major role in Bangladesh's present. "There is an
ideological basis to protests," said Muhammad Musa, a political commentator and
former newspaper editor. "There is the widespread perception that the
Jamaat-e-Islami supported Pakistan during the war and should answer for this."
On Saturday a crowd in the thousands gathered in Shahbag, joining a hardcore
group of activists, waving flags and chanting slogans such as, "Hang, hang,
hang them all!" and, "The weapons of '71 must fire again!"
The Jamaat-e-Islami, whose activists have waged violent street agitations
against the tribunal, says it is being scapegoated. Shafiqul Islam Masud, a
party leader, said many people were blurring the difference between a political
position and war crimes. "There are only about 50 people active in the party
now who took any kind of a political position 42 years ago," he said. "It's
possible some of them did not want to secede from Pakistan, but that's a far
cry from war crimes. The party accepted the sovereignty of Bangladesh and is a
registered political party, represented in parliament."
Sam Zarifi, the Asia director for the International Commission of Jurists
(ICJ), a Geneva-based legal advocacy, said a fair trial process was necessary
to heal the wounds of the war. "It is very important that victims of 1971 get
justice," he said. "But justice must be ensured through a fair and transparent
trial process. Unfortunately, if judges are intimidated by mass protests into
handing out death sentences, that's not justice and may unleash yet another
cycle of violence."
Such words of caution are dismissed by Shahbag protesters as intellectual
posturing. The crimes of 1971, which have been thrust into the spotlight by the
tribunals, have dominated Bangladeshi newspapers, airwaves and websites,
uniting the youth of Dhaka in an unprecedented manner.
"The people have spoken," said Akter. "Now it is up to the courts and the
politicians to implement."
Analysts say the protests have worked to the government's advantage and
distracted attention from economic and governance issues the opposition had
been agitating about. Last year, Hasina scrapped a constitutional provision
under which a non-partisan caretaker government oversees elections, leading to
the opposition threatening a boycott of parliamentary elections due in early
2014.
"Had it not been for the protests, now we would all be focusing on next year's
elections and looking at the government's record in office and the opposition's
pledges," said Zafar Sobhan, editor of the Dhaka Tribune, an English daily.
"Now, all bets are off and elections seem a distant concern. It is hard to see
how things will revert to politics as usual after this."
Asif Mohiuddin, a co-ordinator of the bloggers' network that called for the
Shahbag protests, is keen to point out the group's struggle did not start with
Shahbag. "We have been waging war on religious fundamentalists on the blogs for
years," he said. "Shahbag has been successful because people are so outraged by
the war crimes."
Yet some analysts say the narrative of a secular revolution leading the country
towards a democratic future may be simplistic. The protests have polarised the
country and led to tensions between those who identify themselves as
progressive.
"Many are worried about the Shahbag protest's aggressive tone and narrow focus
on the death penalty," said one of the editors of alalodulal.org, an English
language blog. "I wish the unique energy of Shahbag could be channelled into
the energy and desire to do thorough research, digging out solid evidence that
can result in fair trials that do not require government contortions."
(source: The Guardian)
MALAYSIA:
Nigerian Student Arrested For Drug Trafficking In Malaysia
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Nigerian student,
Vitalis Dike, studying in Malaysia, for drug trafficking.
Dike was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, during
the screening of passengers bound for Malaysia via a Qatari flight.
The suspect recently escaped death in the Asian country when he was arrested
for being in possession of 1.430kg of methamphetamine.
Drug trafficking in Malaysia attracts the death penalty.
The 31-year-old suspect had 1.430kg of white crystalline powder that tested
positive for methamphetamine concealed inside his luggage.
A native of Orlu, Imo State, Dike told Punch Metro that he was promised $4,000
to deliver the drugs in Malaysia.
He said, "I was asked to take an empty bag to Malaysia and in return get $4,000
but when I got to the airport, the drug was discovered."
Confirming the arrest, NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the drug
was industrially packed in such a way that the agency had to cut the sides of
the bag open with a knife to discover the drugs.
The commander said it would take a professional to detect the drugs.
In a related development, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport discovered wraps
of cocaine inside packs of baby powder meant for export to Gabon. The discovery
was made inside a luggage containing artificial hair, perfumes and artificial
nails.
The luggage was to be sent unaccompanied to Gabon via Askye Airline.
A suspect, Ebele Iwegbuna, has since been arrested in connection with the
discovery.
Iwegbuna, a native of Orifite in Anambra state, in his statement, claimed that
he was asked to send the goods to Gabon.
He said, "I was given N130,000 by my childhood friend to buy female hair
attachments, artificial nails and perfumes.
"My friend later called to say that somebody would give me children's powder to
add to what I bought. So the person called me and gave me the powder which I
added to the goods. It was in the process of search that the cocaine was
discovered. I am a technician and I specialise in the repairs of air
conditioning units."
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, who described the involvement of
the suspects in drug trafficking as sad, urged members of the public to draw
lessons from the arrests.
Giade said, "I want members of the public to learn from the experiences of the
suspects. It is unfortunate that at a time when the country is making efforts
to save her citizens who are on death row abroad, Dike is deliberately signing
his death warrant."
(source: codewit.com)
JAPAN:
Executions show turn in death-penalty debate
Debate on the death penalty appears to have come to a standstill under the new
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) administration, with three people being hanged
on Feb. 21 -- the 1st executions since the party took over the reins of
government.
Japan has been advised by the United Nations to consider halting or abolishing
executions. In 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) promised in its
election pledge to debate whether to continue the death penalty and the method
of execution, and when it took power that year, then Justice Minister Keiko
Chiba set up a study panel on the death penalty within the Ministry of Justice.
The panel was closed in March last year without a conclusion on whether to
continue the death penalty, but discussion then began among the justice
minister, senior vice minister of justice and the parliamentary secretary for
justice on whether to reconsider hanging, the current method of execution.
However, under the LDP administration that debate has stopped. Justice Minister
Sadakazu Tanigaki told news organizations in interviews in January that he
didn't intend to carry out debate on making any quick changes to the execution
method. At a press conference on Feb. 21 after the executions, he said, "The
death penalty is a very important domestic issue. We need to think carefully
about the maintenance of order, the feelings of the people, and how to secure
the people's safety."
Amnesty International Japan's office head Hideki Wakabayashi said, "Japan is
continuing to receive advisories from the United Nations about reconsidering
the death penalty. If we do nothing we will be internationally isolated."
Meanwhile, Takeshi Tsuchimoto, former prosecutor at the Supreme Public
Prosecutors Office and now professor emeritus of criminal law at the University
of Tsukuba, says, "The death penalty system should continue," but says, "It is
possible that execution by hanging could violate the Constitution's ban against
cruel punishment. I think execution by lethal injection is acceptable. The
Ministry of Justice should hold debate that includes the victims of crime."
(source: Opinion, The Mainichi)
************************************
Nonpartisan lawmaker group protests hanging of 3 inmates
Members of a nonpartisan legislator group seeking to abolish the death penalty
lodged a protest Friday with Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki over Thursday's
execution of 3 death-row inmates.
Shizuka Kamei, who heads the group, urged Tanigaki to proactively inform the
public about the global trend to end capital punishment.
"People are not informed enough about the fact that the number of countries
abolishing the death penalty is increasing. It is the Justice Ministry's duty
to provide such important information" to the public, Kamei said.
Kamei quoted Tanigaki as saying he will "think hard about how the capital
punishment system should be."
(source: Japan Times)
UNITED KINGDOM/INDIA:
UK Sikh body angry at PM David Cameron's iciness over June 1984 massacre
It is learnt the Sikhs in Britain have expressed anger over the British Prime
Minister David Cameron's failure to sympathise with the Sikhs for the events of
June 1984 when the Indian Army used tanks and artillery to attack the Harmander
Sahib, the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar to kill thousands of innocent Sikh
pilgrims.
Sikh Federation (UK) said that there was a lot of talk about the 1919 Amritsar
massacre and while it was welcome David Cameron expressed sorrow over that
tragedy but with an eye on "trade deals" the PM didn't utter a word about
"India's own massacre in Amritsar in June 1984".
Prime Minister said at Amritsar: "This was a deeply shameful event in the
British history - one that Winston Churchill rightly described at the time as
monstrous. We must never forget what happened here. And in remembering, we must
ensure that the United Kingdom stands up for the right to peaceful protest
anywhere in the world."
Gurjeet Singh, Sikh Federation's spokesman said PM Cameron has not won over
Sikhs to his party and it will hurt his party in the constituencies where Sikhs
live in large numbers. Singh said the Conservatives should realise that the
1984 massacre "is far more important than the 1919 massacre given that the
majority of British Sikhs are born in the UK and the events of 1984 are very
fresh in their minds and many of those who perpetrated those killings of
innocent Sikh pilgrims have not been punished".
Bhai Amrik Singh, the chairman of the Sikh Federation (UK) said Sikhs would
have greatly appreciated a public apology from the British Prime Minister for
the bloody massacre in Amritsar. He said it is on record that he along with
around another 180 UK MPs specifically supported opposition against the death
penalty against Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and called for his release
by signing an Early Day Motion before he became leader of the Conservatives and
Prime Minister. Prime Minister Cameron, he said, should have used this
opportunity to reach out to the British Sikhs and "demonstrate the UK will not
be constantly blackmailed by threats to trade deals by India".
"David Cameron also failed to publicly condemn India for 2 hangings in the last
3 months and the growing trend to hang others despite many letters from UK MPs
prior to his visit to condemn India for moving in this direction."
(source: sikhsiyasat.com)
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