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Mircea
Halaciuga, Esq. Arbitration Judge
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European Commission Expert, Member Int'l Bar Association [EMAIL PROTECTED] 0040724581078 http://hometown.aol.com/arbitraj/page15.html http://arbitraj.blogspot.com/ http://arbitraj.wordpress.com/ *** sustineti [romania_eu_list] prin 2% din impozitul pe 2005 - detalii la http://www.doilasuta.ro ***
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**GPF Newsletter**
July 10 - 14, 2006
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy
NGOs Nations and States UN Reform International Justice
Iraq
Iraq Oil Lobbying - Comments on the Confidential Document (July 14, 2006)
James Paul sifts carefully through the document to discover details of a secret lobbying meeting in London in May 2003, just two months after the Coalition ousted Saddam Hussein. Top managers of BHP Billiton meet with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and former UK Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind to plan their strategy to gain control of Iraq's huge Halfayah oil field. Participants see Washington handing out the contracts - not the Iraqis - and they worry that an Australian bid, even with Anglo-Dutch Shell as a partner, may not win sufficient favor with the Pentagon. (Global Policy Forum)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2006/0714confidential.htmEven in Iraq, All Politics Is Local (July 13, 2006)
This New York Times opinion piece criticizes the approach of the US-led coalition in Iraq. Like in Afghanistan, the US discredits regional leaders, rejects compromises and tries to "force through its own strategies." The author argues that such actions alienate potential US supporters, leave "power vacuums" and provoke further resistance.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/election/2006/0713even.htmThe Hidden War on Women in Iraq (July 13, 2006)
Since the US-led invasion of Iraq, the reported incidence of sexual assault and violence against women has accelerated markedly. In March 2006, a group of five US soldiers allegedly raped and murdered a young Iraqi girl, while US prison officers at Abu Ghraib regularly subject women prisoners to abuse. "Local gangs" kidnap women and force them into prostitution. More generally, the occupation has humiliated, endangered, and repressed Iraqi women in ways not widely publicized in the mainstream media. (TomDispatch)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2006/0713hidden.htmIraq's Muqtada Al-Sadr: Spoiler or Stabiliser? (July 11, 2006)
This International Crisis Group report focuses on the role of Muqtada al-Sadr and his Sadrist movement in Iraq. According to the report, the imam has emerged as a key to Iraq's stability. His nationalistic discourse, resistance to the occupation, and opposition to federalism earn him respect from many disenfranchised Iraqis. Though US officials oppose Sadr's anti-occupation stance, the Sadrist movement plays a central part in Iraq's government and its demands reflect many justified grievances.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/leadersindex.htm#prominentMembers of Iraq's Government (July 10, 2006)
This Education for Peace in Iraq Center document provides brief biographical details of Iraqi cabinet members. After months of negotiation, Iraqi politicians agreed on the formation of the permanent, 4-year government in May 2006 under Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. This document includes information on the controversial Ministries of Interior, Defense, and National Security.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/leaders/2006/0710members.htmInsecurity, Under-Funding Threaten Children's Health in Basra (July 9, 2006)
Dozens of children have died of relatively common diseases since January 2006 due to a lack of medicine, high temperatures and poor water quality. Saving Children from War, a Vienna-based aid agency, has noted a lack of essential supplies and a serious shortage of doctors and nurses. In Basra alone, dehydration, pneumonia, meningitis, malnutrition and typhoid have killed about 90 children. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2006/0709insecurity.htmWhat's An Iraqi Life Worth? (July 9, 2006)
Though tallying every US service member killed in Iraq, the Pentagon has publicly professed no interest in knowing the exact number of Iraqi civilian casualties. US forces have killed "tens of thousands" of noncombatant Iraqis, "exceeding by an order of magnitude" the number of US troops killed in the war. Any action resulting in Iraqi civilian deaths alienates the very people the US claims to protect, undermines the Bush administration's "narrative of liberation" and suggests that the US considers Iraqi civilians "less than fully human." (Washington Post)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2006/0709worth.htmPolice Abuses in Iraq Detailed (July 9, 2006)
The Los Angeles Times has obtained a number of confidential Iraqi government documents from 2005 and 2006 which highlight the rampant brutality and corruption within Iraq's police force. The documents detail more than 400 investigations of abuses by officers including bribery, rape, kidnap and murder. Iraq's Interior Ministry has punished some officers, but dropped the majority of cases due to lack of evidence or witness testimony.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/election/2006/0709policeabuses.htm"I Was a Mouthpiece for the American Military" (July 7, 2006)
A former senior TV producer tells Harper's Magazine of the restrictions imposed by the Pentagon on journalists in Iraq. Based with US troops at a military compound in Tikrit, a Reuters producer found it "impossible to pursue stories frowned upon by the military." During her 45 days in Iraq the US military did not permit her to leave the base on her own, restricting her coverage to "only one side of the story."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/media/2006/0707mouthpiece.htmMaliki's Dead End Plan (July 7, 2006)
Al-Ahram examines the US objection to an amnesty for Iraqis fighting the US-led occupation. As the article points out, a US acknowledgement of the resistance movement would "undermine the very rationale of its presence in Iraq." The author also looks at the wider use of language and propaganda in describing the violence in Iraq, noting that the Western media label all anti-occupation activity as of an "insurgent" nature, grouping together all acts of violence "under a single, convenient, moniker."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/resist/2006/0707deadend.htmOnly A UN-Led Peace Process Can Halt the Iraq Catastrophe (July 5, 2006)
Coalition forces in Iraq cannot play a positive role in reconstruction efforts due to the ongoing corruption, criminality and gross human rights abuses perpetrated by their forces. The author of this Guardian opinion piece advocates a UN-led peace process to "accelerate national reconciliation, improve the delivery of essential services and facilitate the end of the militarization." This solution would include the release of Iraqi detainees, the establishment of a "regional contact group" to encourage Iraq's neighbors to play a greater role in reconstruction, and as well a timeline for withdrawal of foreign troops. While welcoming these measures, some warn a UN presence in Iraq would only discredit the world body.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unrole/2006/0705peace.htm
Security Council
US Vetoes UN Demand that Israel Leave Gaza (July 14, 2006)
The US vetoed a draft Security Council resolution sponsored by Qatar that called for Israel's immediate withdrawal from Gaza and the release of dozens of Palestinian officials detained by Israel, as well as the unconditional release of an Israeli soldier captured by the armed faction of Hamas. Denmark, Peru, Slovakia and the UK abstained. The US blocked the vote, declaring the text "not only untimely, but already outmoded" due to the rapidly changing situation. Indeed, the situation has escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets at Haifa and Israel retaliated with punishing airstrikes against Lebanon. About 30 of the 81 US vetoes cast over nearly 61 years of UN history have been linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Reuters)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/israel-palestine/un/2006/0714veto.htmA Dying Deal in Darfur (July 13, 2006)
Sudan's refusal to disarm the Janjaweed militias leaves many of the 2.5 million displaced Darfurians strongly opposed to their own peace process. While they greatly desire an end to the violence and the chance to return home, the refugees remain fearful of provisions in the Abuja agreement that would leave them vulnerable to Janjaweed attacks. The success of the peace deal depends on Janjaweed disarmament, but the Sudanese government has given no sign that it will end its support to the militias. Khartoum has taken the temperature of the UN, US and Europe and believes the impunity can continue without fear of repercussions. (Boston Globe)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/nkorea/2006/0713hoge.htmNew North Korea Resolution Offered (July 13, 2006)
China and Russia have put forward a new draft resolution addressing North Korea's missile tests. Both states remain opposed to an earlier draft resolution sponsored by Japan that would have allowed for military enforcement and sanctions against Pyongyang. China argues that the Japanese resolution could frustrate their efforts at restarting the six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. While their resolution contains no threat of sanctions, it is a stronger step than the statement by the Security Council president that they earlier deemed a sufficient response. (New York Times)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/nkorea/2006/0713hoge.htmRussia and China Inch Toward Iran Sanctions (July 13, 2006)
Russia and China have ended their long opposition to a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Iran halt its nuclear program. The two states, both with large oil interests in Iran, agreed to join the US and Europe over increasing concern at Iran's refusal to announce whether it will accept the economic incentives package offered in return for a cessation of its development of enriched uranium. While the nature of the sanctions to be imposed could split the shaky alliance at the Council, China and Russia's agreement marks a major turning point in the dispute. (New York Times)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/iran/2006/0713russiachina.htmWith Leaders Like Ours, We Need Oil Wealth Like a Hole in the Head (July 12, 2006)
With a nation that has been struggling under "poverty, a huge debt and general deprivation," Ugandans might be expected to rejoice at the discovery of oil fields in their country. However, a post independence history of corruption, mismanagement and violence over the control of natural resources has left Ugandan's people skeptical whether they will see any benefit of the country's new wealth. This East African opinion piece highlights the potential for conflict within Uganda over the oil found in the Bunyoro region where a separatist movement still exists.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/uganda/2006/0711oil.htmChina Critical of UN Draft on N. Korea (July 12, 2006)
China has characterized a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning North Korean missile tests as an "overreaction" and warned that it would endanger efforts at restarting negotiations over Pyongyang's nuclear program. British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry doubts that a vote on the draft resolution would have "produced an outcome" - suggesting China would use their veto to stop the resolution being adopted. Beijing remains concerned that the resolution would open the door to the use of force against North Korea. (Washington Post)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/nkorea/2006/0712china.htmWMDs in Slow Motion (July 11, 2006)
Mary Robinson contrasts the world reaction to the North Korean missile test with the little attention given to the spread of small arms and light weapons. Described by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as "weapons of mass destruction in slow motion," small arms kill more people each year than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki put together. However, the UN's attempt to reach a global agreement on slowing the arms trade has been frustrated by a small number of countries, most notably the US, blocking key provisions of the UN small arms and light weapons conference agreement. (Guardian)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/smallarms/articles/2006/0711robinson.htmThe Failure of East Timor: What to Avoid in the Ivory Coast (July 10, 2006)
This Pambazuka article argues that the example of East Timor provides important lessons for the UN in its efforts at conflict resolution and restoring democratic governance in countries crippled with conflict. Much greater international attention of the Ivory Coast is necessary to allow the UN to help secure peace and strengthen the state's institutions. But without the willingness of powerful states to commit the necessary funds and support to the new UN Peacebuilding Commission, the peace building and state strengthening so desperately needed in the Ivory Coast will fail.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/ivory/2006/0710timor.htmAnnan Warning on Gaza 'Disaster' (July 9, 2006)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged Israel to allow UN relief agencies access to the Gaza Strip and to lift restrictions on food and basic goods in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster. An Israeli strike on the region's only power station has left hospitals with only two weeks of fuel, has put sanitation facilities in a critical state and has created huge shortages of food and water. The World Health organization and UNICEF both warn of a public health disaster if immediate action is not taken. (BBC)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/israel-palestine/un/2006/0709disaster.htmProfile: Jose Ramos-Horta (July 8, 2006)
East Timor President Xanana Gusmao has named Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta as the country's new Prime Minister. Ramos-Horta had been mentioned as a potential successor of Kofi Annan as UN Secretary General but has decided to use his widespread popularity to be a potential unifying figure to end weeks of unrest and violence in East Timor. This BBC profile outlines his campaign for justice and self determination for East Timor during the years of Indonesian rule.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/etimor/2006/0708horta.htmNorth Korea's Allies Resist Action in Security Council (July 6, 2006)
The UN Security Council finds itself deeply divided on the issue of sanctions as a response to North Korea's missile tests. While the US, Japanese and British ambassadors have attempted to present a united front in condemning the attacks, China and Russia have mirrored their positions on Iran and Sudan in taking a different stance to the US and its allies. Both states argue that a Security Council resolution could worsen the situation and stress the need to return to talks. China's threat of exercising its veto has been successful in diluting previous Security Council responses to Pyongyang's missile tests. (Cybercast News Service)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/nkorea/2006/0706allies.htmFurther Ivory Coast Poll Delays Likely - Diplomats (July 6, 2006)
With less than four months to go before elections in the Ivory Coast, the failure of the various civil war factions to make concessions has thrown the chances of a free and fair poll into jeopardy. Despite the success of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in persuading all parties to commit to disarmament by the end of July, analysts predict that the peace plan's deadline for elections will have to be extended. They argue that overcoming the current impasse comes down to how much the Ivorians' desire peace and how willing their leaders are to compromise to make elections happen. (Reuters)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/ivory/2006/0706delays.htmOil May Fuel Sino-US Conflict (June 29, 2006)
China's pursuit for oil in the Middle East will put it on a collision course with US interests in the region, analysts have warned. China relies heavily on the Middle East for oil, importing up to 43% of its total imports from fields in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Sudan. By 2015, up to 70% of China's oil imports will be from the Middle East, through seas currently controlled by the US Navy. US analysts have also expressed concern at China's strategy of buying from states that Washington has long opposed. (al-Jazeera)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/natres/oil/2006/0629massoud.htm
Empire?
The US Military Descends on Paraguay (July 12, 2006)
Hundreds of US troops entered Paraguay in 2005 for counterterrorism exercises. Since then, the US military has repressed Paraguayan social movements in the name of "security." Many fear that the influx of US forces signals a plan to topple neighboring Bolivia's leftist government and seize the country's abundant natural resources. (The Nation)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/intervention/2006/0712usinparaguay.htmPentagon Switch on Geneva Elicits Hope, Scepticism (July 11, 2006)
Washington announced that the US will apply the minimum protections of Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to all its military prisoners. However, this statement does not affect the countless Central Intelligence Agency detainees held around the world. Despite altered wording in Pentagon manuals and reports of torture, the White House denied that the protections change US policy. Human rights groups and intellectuals view this development as "a PR (public relations) exercise." (Independent)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/un/2006/0711hopeskept.htmUS in $80m 'Cuba Democracy' Plan (July 11, 2006)
US President George Bush has approved US $80 million to cultivate a US-friendly democracy in Cuba after Cuban President Fidel Castro dies. The funding will be used mainly to support Cuban political "opposition leaders;" once again intervening in Latin American political affairs. (BBC)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/intervention/cuba/2006/0711cubaplan.htmWhy Putin Can't Claim Victory in His War on Terror (July 10, 2006)
This Time article questions the timing in Shamil Basayev's death, Russia's "most wanted terrorist." As Moscow prepares to host the G8 conference, this development may serve to deflect attention from Russia's "strained democracy" its heavy-handed energy export policy.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/terrorwar/analysis/2006/0710putinvictory.htmFBI Plans New Net-Tapping Push (July 10, 2006)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has drafted a bill proposing full government access to internet communications. This "internet wire-tapping" would grant government access to private conversations, "in-game" chats, internet sessions and postings. This proposal "would have a negative impact on internet users' privacy" according to a policy analyst at the libertarian Cato Institute. (CNET News)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/terrorwar/liberties/2006/0710fbiplans.htmRussia's Signal to Stations Is Clear: Cut US Radio (July 7, 2006)
This Washington Post article discusses Moscow's decision to bar 60 Russian radio stations from broadcasting US government-funded news reports. Russian regulators cited "license violations and unauthorized changes in programming format" in defense of the decision. The author addresses the "Catch-22" of foreign government influence in local media versus censorship in public fora. Both options involve government in the media and violate freedom of _expression_.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/media/2006/0707usradio.htmUS Is Monitoring Commercial Presence of Iran in Venezuela (June 25, 2006)
The US is monitoring Venezuela-Iran economic ties closely as Iran plans to invest US$ 9 billion in this Latin American country. Washington says it suspects Iran might "export terrorism," but Venezuelan officials defend the friendship between the two members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Any evidence that Iran's presence in the region is not "strictly business" would serve US attempts to block Venezuela from a seat in the UN Security Council. (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/economy/2006/0625iranven.htmHow the United States Continues to Manipulate Nicaragua's Economic and Political Future (June 22, 2006)
US interference in Nicaraguan affairs has ranged from meddlesome and internally destabilizing proxy wars, to US-funded media outlets and US-sponsored political candidates. Mainstream US media has replaced communism with Latin American "radical populism" as an impending threat and source of fear, unjustly lending support for such interference. This Council on Hemispheric Affairs article follows US political and economic manipulation as it impedes Nicaragua's self-determination.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/history/2006/0622usmanipulates.htm
Social and Economic Policy
The Death of Doha Signals the Demise of Globalisation (July 13, 2006)
Past World Trade Organization (WTO) rounds have promoted globalization, increasing freer movement of trade and capital. However, in the Doha Round US, EU, and Japanese resistance to globalization dominates. The United States increasingly embraces bilateral trade agreements as poor countries such as China, India, and Brazil gain more clout in the WTO negotiations. The author notes an "unwillingness to make concessions" among rich nations amidst growing fears of growing Chinese economic power. (Guardian)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/bwi-wto/wto/2006/0713deathdoha.htmThe WTO and the World's Poor (July 12, 2006)
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz claims that a World Trade Organization (WTO) deal to eliminate tariffs and subsidies in rich countries would help the world's poor and benefit the world economy by an estimated US$ 54 billion per year. However, the author of this truthout article sees the monetary gain as overshadowed by negative effects. This deal would harm import-competing industries, decrease tariff revenues, and impose intellectual property rules that prevent poor consumers from purchasing life saving pharmaceuticals.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/bwi-wto/wto/2006/0712wtopoor.htmNot Raining on the President's Parade (July 12, 2006)
This article confirms US President George Bush's declaration that the 2006 federal budget deficit will total less than predicted. However, the Federal government acts dangerously by spending a greater percentage of the overall economy. As baby boomers reach retirement and increase demands on the Social Security and Medicare systems, the government could prepare by cutting spending and increasing taxes. (Common Dreams)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/crisis/tradedeficit/2006/0712presparade.htmOn Free Trade, Washington Is Trading Freely in Hypocrisy (July 11, 2006)
Economist Joseph Stiglitz questions the motives and effects of proposed US trade reforms in the Doha Round. Although the US conceded a 97 percent opening of its markets, Stiglitz proclaims that "the devil is in the details," since the remaining tariffs would pit the poor countries against each other and lead to a reduction in overall trade. Stiglitz warns that in the long run, the US may spur trade liberalizing countries to unify in opposition to US protectionist policies. (Daily Star)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/trade/2006/0711stig.htmGlobal Vaccine Initiative Hits Snag (July 7, 2006)
Drug companies tend not to develop or produce vaccines for infectious diseases that poor nations need because these countries cannot afford the drugs. Despite an agreement to fund vaccines in February 2006, the G8 actively dispute the method for funding such vaccines. The US opposes an airline tax like the one adopted by France, while Germany and Japan resist making substantial financial commitments, further delaying this vaccine initiative. (Wall Street Journal)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/bwi-wto/g7-8/2006/0707glovaccine.htmAfrica Out of the Limelight: The Debt Crisis One Year after the Gleneagles G8 (July 6, 2006)
The G8 took steps towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals on debt relief in 2005. While 14 African nations benefited from 100% debt cancellation, international financial institutions held some nations such as Nigeria to debt payments that severely limited their potential to address domestic concerns. Africa Action urges the G8 leaders to renew their commitment to African debt relief.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/debt/2006/0706gleneaglesafr.htmTrade on Human Terms: Overview (June 29, 2006)
This United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report summary stresses the importance of the relationship between economic growth and human development. Based on a study of the Asia-Pacific region, UNDP found that free trade has failed to benefit key sectors of society, thus decreasing regional stability. UNDP proposes an eight-point agenda to channel policies dealing with competitiveness, trade, agriculture, jobless growth, taxes, and exchange rates in order to promote a better quality of life for all along with economic expansion.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/trade/indexgen.htm#humtradeundpGlobal Partnership for Development: United Nations Development Program Annual Report (2006)
This United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report focuses on democracy, health, gender, inequality, and the environment. It demonstrates the accomplishments of 2005, but also shows the need for rejuvenated development efforts. The report uses charts, tables, and pictures to illustrate the living situation among the global poor. The UNDP publication calls for collective action and financing both within the UN and between countries to strengthen the organization's capabilities in future years.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/index.htm#anrep06Reforming the IMF: Back to the Drawing Board (November 2005)
This Third World Network paper prescribes changes in International Monetary Fund (IMF) policy and operational procedures. This lengthy report critiques the IMF for its deference to rich countries and its tendency to become involved in long-term development- properly the responsibility of other institutions. The IMF could serve poor countries by focusing on short-term issues such as countering fluctuations in the trade balance, policy surveillance, and management of unstable financial flows in emerging markets.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/bwi-wto/imfind.htm#imfref05
NGOs
Civil Society Feels Conservatives' Wrath (July 3, 2006)
Since Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, conservatives have tried to reverse the previous government's liberal trends by suppressing NGOs, journalists, women's groups and other activists. Iranian NGOs fear that the Ahmadinejad Administration seeks to create "counterfeit" NGOs that support the government's official viewpoints rather than voice society's interests. However, given the growing media focus on Iran, the government cannot use direct measures to control NGOs without attracting international criticism. (TerraViva)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/state/2006/0703wrath.htm
Nations and States
Justice for Serbia (July 12, 2006)
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica lays out his arguments against independence for Kosovo in this Washington Post opinion piece. He questions the economic viability of an independent Kosovo and argues that the granting of independence would spark off similar claims by other ethnic groups in the Balkans. Despite all the recent nationalist clashes in recent years and the ongoing bitterness, he describes his government's opposition to independence for Kosovo as a "defense of the future of democracy."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/sovereign/sover/emerg/2006/0712serbia.htm
UN Reform
UN Approves Modest Management Reforms by Consensus (July 7, 2006)
After lifting a US-imposed budget cap on UN spending, the General Assembly (GA) has adopted a resolution to implement some of the US-driven management reforms. Poor nations had rejected the initial reform package, which would have marginalized them and given more power to the Secretary General. However, despite US reservations about the extent of the measures agreed upon, the GA unanimously approved the compromised resolution. (Reuters)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/reform/topics/manage/2006/0707modest.htm
International Justice
UN Court Says Uruguay Can Proceed with Mills (July 13, 2006)
In May 2006, Argentina called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule against Uruguay's plan to build pulp mills on the river bordering the two nations. The Argentine government disputes the environmental impact of the construction project and accuses Uruguay of violating a 1975 bilateral agreement on the river. The ICJ has denied Argentina's request to stop construction but will evaluate the potential risks of the pulp plants once operations begin. (Associated Press)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/icj/2006/0713pulpmills.htmICC May Drop Warrants for LRA (July 11, 2006)
Uganda seeks to convince the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop arrest warrants for Lord's Resistance Army leaders to encourage the rebel group's participation in peace talks to end nearly two decades of conflict. The Ugandan delegation to the Sudan-mediated talks support President Yoweri Museveni's offer of amnesty and prefer the use of "traditional justice" which emphasizes reconciliation and forgiveness. (Agence France Presse)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/icc/investigations/uganda/2006/0711warrants.htmICC Inquiries Jeopardized (July 6, 2006)
With no police force of its own, the International Criminal Court (ICC) relies on local law enforcement agencies to protect individuals involved in the court's investigations in Uganda, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ICC has set up the Victims and Witnesses Unit, a team of trauma experts, to foster an environment of security and some degree of anonymity for those who voluntarily participate in investigations. However, ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo notes that the absence of a "functioning and sustainable system" for victim and witness protection discourages people from taking part in ICC inquiries. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/general/2006/0706jeopardized.htmKhmer Rouge Victims Demand Day in Court (July 4, 2006)
More than three decades after the Khmer Rouge's four-year reign of terror in Cambodia, the long-awaited process of bringing the regime's leaders to justice has begun. Survivors of the Khmer Rouge atrocities insist that the UN-backed tribunal provide a platform for victims to speak of their sufferings. A tribunal spokesperson says that the tribunal's location in Cambodia, rather than in another country, will give victims the opportunity to see the former leaders face justice. (Inter Press Service)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/tribunals/cambodia/2006/0704dayincourt.htmJailed Khmer Rouge Army Chief Hospitalized (June 29, 2006)
In 2003, the UN and Cambodia reached an agreement on a hybrid tribunal to try surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for human rights abuses after years of tense negotiations. However, funding problems, corruption and a weak judicial system have hampered efforts to deliver justice to the victims. Survivors fear that former Khmer Rouge senior military official Ta Mok's hospitalization for various illnesses may impede accountability for his part in the genocide of the late 1970s. (Associated Press)
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/tribunals/cambodia/2006/0629hospitalized.htmUniversal Jurisdiction in Europe: The State of the Art (June 2006)
Case studies in this report reveal persistent gaps in the capacity of several European courts to try alleged perpetrators of grave international crimes. National courts encounter challenges such as inadequate resources and insufficient domestic support to pursue such cases. Human Rights Watch encourages EU member states and other governments to maintain a hard line against impunity for crimes against humanity.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/universal/univindex.htm#univjuris
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