April 10
BELARUS:
The authorities of Belarus do not respect the decisions of the United Nations
The authorities of Belarus do not recognize the validity of the decisions of
the UN Human Rights Committee on complaints of Belarusian public activists.
Indicated in the letter from the Office of the High Commissioner in the UN
Human Rights Committee on the complaint of the Belarusian opposition Ivan Kruk.
An activist of the opposition “, the United Civil Party of Belarus” in 2009,
agitated against the construction of the BelAÈS in the Grodno region,
distributed printed materials (newspapers) criticized the Atomic project and in
April 2009, was punished with a fine of 20 basic units-(700 thousand Belarusian
rubles, about $ 235) in accordance with article 2 pm 22.9. of the code of
administrative offences for “dissemination of printed periodicals without
imprint”.
Challenging this decision, Crook passed all courts of Belarus-until the Supreme
Court of Justice and, eventually, December 23, 2009, filed an individual
complaint to the Human Rights Committee (UNITED NATIONS Office at Geneva),
claiming that the authorities of Belarus had violated his rights under section
2 article 19 ICCPR. The UN Human Rights Committee took into consideration the
complaint of the Belarusian opposition-this fact has caused the reaction of the
official Minsk, too, the flow of complaints to UN, challenging the decision of
the authorities of Belarus.
Crook in a letter received from the Office of the High Commissioner in the UN
Human Rights Committee, said: the Government of Belarus intends to be taken by
the UN Committee decisions on such complaints as invalid. On this approach, the
official Minsk to complaints of Belarusian citizens became known in early March
from the Belarusian human rights activists.
You remember, the Belarusian human rights activist 9 March Roman Kislyak,
referring to a copy of the document transmitted by Belarus in Geneva, the UN
Human Rights Committee, said that the official Minsk disputes the right of
citizens of Belarus, to make complaints to the UN. According to Kislâka, the
Belarusian Government of the country through the Permanent Mission to the
United Nations Office at Geneva contest registration-56 complaints to the Human
Rights Committee. A copy of the document transmitted by Belarus at Geneva human
rights activist, received from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for human
rights, as the two individual Kislyak has written complaints received by the UN
from the citizens of Belarus.
The Government of Belarus States that the complaints of the citizens of Belarus
registered in breach of the UN Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and
political rights, Kislyak. Official Minsk suggests that when registering
complaints should not be taken into account the rules of procedure of the
Committee, its working methods and the case law of the human rights activist
noted. According to Kislâka, of which the authorities of Belarus to the UN
document, that the Government of Belarus intends to take the decisions that may
be taken on such complaints by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. In
the meantime, noted Kislyak, Belarus is among the top 5 countries in terms of
the number of individual complaints to UN Human Rights Committee: from 1992, in
the Committee there were 126 “Belarusian affairs” and the 83 of them had not
yet been completed.
As reported BakuToday, 20 March, the UN Human Rights Committee strongly
condemned the violation of official Minsk with its international obligations.
In particular, says a UN publication, the next violation is related to the
execution of a condemned man, Kovalev Vladislav death penalty for committing a
terrorist act in the Minsk metro, April 11, 2011. Kovalyov case was pending
before the UN Committee on human rights. “Despite the execution of the death
sentence against Mr. Kovalev, the Human Rights Committee will continue to
review his case,” noted international organization. “The position of the
Committee on human rights is clear-to bring out the death sentence against Mr.
Kovalev, Belarus has committed a serious violation of their legal obligations,”
said the Chairman of the Committee Zonke Zanele Majodina. -Moreover, it is not
the first such violation in 2010 and 2011, Belarus has also resulted in death
sentences for persons whose cases were pending before the Committee. We condemn
such flagrant violations of human rights treaty obligations on the part of
Belarus “.
Remember, July 27, 2011, UN News Centre reported that the official Minsk has
again violated international obligations, citing the death sentences on 2 cases
before the UN Committee on human rights.
(source: Baku Today)
SRI LANKA:
Female applicants for the vacant executioner position in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Prisons Commissioner General P.W. Kodippili says that Sri Lankans
have showed a keen interest to the post of executioner that has been vacant for
some time.
He said that a large number of applications had been received although
applications had not been called for the posts of executioner. He says that
there are also applications from women for the post.
The official said that the applications would be kept in file until the
applications are called formally.
Sri Lanka's prisons have vacancies for 2 executioners.
Although Sri Lanka's courts impose death penalty for serious crimes, the
President does not grant leave to proceed with the conviction.
The government reinstated the death penalty in 2004 for murder, rape and drug
trafficking following the murder of a high court judge.
However, since 2000 there are 1,164 death row inmates languishing in jails
waiting for execution or a final decision for commutation for execution. Some
prisoners on death row at the moment have served over 15 years while waiting
for their sentences to be carried out.
Last execution was carried out in Sri Lanka in 1976.
There is a public demand to implement death penalty to curb the rise of crimes.
(source: Colombo Page)
LIBYA:
Libya to try Moammar Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam inside country with verdict
before mid-June
Moammar Gadhafi’s son and former heir apparent Seif al-Islam will be put on
trial inside Libya and there will be a verdict before mid-June, a Libyan
official said Monday.
The decision comes despite appeals by rights groups to Libyan authorities to
hand him over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague due to fears
that he may not get a fair trial in Libya.
A trial in the capital Tripoli would however mark a small step forward for the
central government, which has been struggling to unify the country under its
authority since Moammar Gadhafi’s capture and killing last year.
Seif al-Islam had been held until now by his captors, ex-rebels from the town
of Zintan, one of dozens of militias across the country operating outside
government control. For months, the Zintan militia refused to give him up to
Tripoli’s officials.
Spokesman of the ruling National Transitional Council Mohammed al-Hareizi said
that Seif al-Islam will be transferred to Tripoli within 10 days and that his
trial will conclude before parliamentary elections scheduled 2 months from now.
It was not immediately clear if he would be tried in a military court, where
there is no appeal.
“He will be tried for rape, murder, corruption and we expect him to be tried
and a verdict rendered before the upcoming elections in mid-June,” al-Hareizi
told reporters in Tripoli.
No timeframe was given for when his trial would begin, but al-Hareizi said the
trial could start as early as this month.
Seif al-Islam staunchly backed his father in his brutal crackdown on rebels in
the regime’s final days, warning of “rivers of blood” if demonstrators refused
to accept government offers of reform.
The 8-month civil war, which began with protests inspired by successful revolts
in Libya’s neighbors Tunisia and Egypt, left thousands of people dead.
Seif al-Islam was captured in the southern desert of Libya in November by
revolutionary fighters from Zintan. They have kept him in a secret location in
the western Libyan town ever since as the government negotiated for his
handover.
Zintan military council spokesman Hassan Jwaili confirmed Monday that they
would hand Seif al-Islam over to authorities in Tripoli “some time this week
with no conditions.”
Gadhafi, his son Seif al-Islam and former military intelligence chief Abdullah
al-Senussi were named in arrest warrants the ICC issued in June for attacks
against unarmed civilians in Benghazi, Tripoli, and other parts of Libya in
February. The ICC said it was itself investigating numerous allegations of
sexual violence by Gadhafi’s forces, and there are allegations that rape was
used during the uprising to quell dissent.
Rights groups say that Gadhafi should face an international tribunal. Ex-rebels
who suffered at the regime’s hands have shown little regard for due process,
and the murky circumstances surrounding the deaths of Gadhafi and another son
Muatassim on Oct. 20, and the decision to lay their bodies out for public
viewing, drew widespread criticism.
Libyan officials however insist that they will be the ones to try Gadhafi.
Seif al-Islam “has to be tried in Libya where it’s a well-known fact that he
has committed more crimes against the Libyan people than he did to others,” the
NTC spokesman said.
“It’s a priority to try him under the Libyan law by Libyan judges on Libyan
soil,” al-Hareizi said, adding that authorities are taking necessary measures
to ensure a fair trial.
(source: Associated Press)
PHILIPPINES:
Pinoys abroad urged to 'Help Save a Life'
Former Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor recently visited
the kingdom with the aim of encouraging more Filipinos to help save Rodelio
“Dondon” Celestino Lanuza from the gallows.
Villamor met with Pinoy community leaders and Filipino schools around the
kingdom to raise the needed blood money.
Lanuza has been in jail since 2000 and was sentenced to be beheaded for the
alleged murder of Saudi national Mohammad Al-Qathani.
Capital punishment or death penalty in Saudi Arabia is imposed on crimes
ranging from armed robbery, rape, adultery, drug smuggling, witchcraft and
sorcery, apostasy or renouncing of Islam and murder. It is usually carried out
by beheading.
The only way to save Lanuza from the gallows is to secure the forgiveness of
the victim’s family (tanazul) and by paying the blood money (diyya).
According to Villamor, the Tanazul or Act of Forgiveness has already been given
by the parents of Qathani more than a year ago or in February 2011.
The victim’s family is asking for 3.5 million Saudi Riyals, or almost P40
million in blood money, in exchange for Lanuza’s Life.
The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs can only
provide P4.56 million or 400,000 Saudi Riyals.
Filipino-American businesswoman and known philanthropist, Loida Nicolas-Lewis,
and with the help of friends were able to raise the equivalent of 2 million
Saudi Riyals.
During a meeting with the Filipino community leaders in the Eastern Region of
Saudi Arabia, Villamor was able to raise a few thousand Saudi Riyals in
collection and pledges from Filipino organizations and schools in the area.
The big challenge now is to raise the balance for the required blood money.
Filipinos around the world is urged to help in whatever way they can to
complete the blood money.
Those willing to help may visit www.helpdondon.com
(source: ABS-CBNNews)
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