YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s military has released 75 child soldiers, a UN agency said, its first discharge this year as part of a gradual process to end decades of forced recruitment of underage fighters. There are no concrete figures on how many children are still among the estimated 500,000 troops that serve in Myanmar’s military, or the ethnic rebel armies that it battles in the country’s border regions. The state’s army — also referred […]
Tag: Rights
Pacific leaders urged to demand end to Australia’s refugee camps
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Amnesty International joined 80 other NGOs on Thursday in urging Pacific leaders demand the closure of an Australian-funded immigration detention camp on Nauru when they meet in the tiny island nation next week. The 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will hold its annual summit in Nauru from September 3-6, with delegates meeting just a few kilometres from the camp dubbed “Australia’s Guantanamo”. It houses asylum-seekers who have tried to reach […]
US newspapers hit back at Trump, defend free press
by Rob Lever Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US newspapers big and small hit back Thursday at President Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the news media, launching a coordinated campaign of editorials stressing the importance of a free press. Leading the charge was The Boston Globe, which had issued an appeal for this drive — accompanied by the hashtag #EnemyofNone — that has been joined by more than 200 newspapers around the country. […]
Canada PM does not back down on rights defense in Saudi spat
by Michel Comte / with Anuj Chopra in Riyadh Agence France-Presse OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday refused to apologize for calling out Saudi Arabia on its human rights record, after Riyadh said it was considering further punitive measures against Ottawa over its criticisms of the kingdom. Tensions have been high between the two countries since Monday, when Riyadh expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new […]
Saudi-Canada row leaves US in tight diplomatic spot
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The sharp diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Canada has left Washington — partners and allies of both — in a bind, but the State Department on Tuesday nevertheless urged Riyadh to respect due process for detained activists. Saudi Arabia has expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own envoy and cut off trade ties with Ottawa after the US neighbor denounced a crackdown on rights activists in the kingdom. “Both sides […]
Saudi Arabia, Canada row over jailed activists ramps up
by Anuj Chopra with Eric Thomas in Montreal Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia and Canada on Monday showed no signs of backing down in an escalating row over human rights, after Riyadh abruptly cut ties over Ottawa’s vigorous calls for the release of activists jailed in the kingdom. The Saudi government expelled Canada’s ambassador, giving him 24 hours to leave the country, and recalled its own envoy to Ottawa, while freezing […]
Saudi expels Canadian envoy, recalls its own over ‘interference’
by Anuj Chopra Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia said Monday it was expelling the Canadian ambassador and had recalled its envoy while freezing all new trade, in protest at Ottawa’s vigorous calls for the release of jailed activists. The kingdom gave the Canadian ambassador 24 hours to leave the country, in an abrupt rupture of relations over what it slammed as “interference” in its internal affairs. The move, which underscores a […]
Kuwait social media star unapologetic on comments against laws recognizing OFW rights in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (AFP) — A Kuwaiti social media star remained unapologetic Monday over comments she made against new laws aimed at improving conditions for Filipino domestic workers, despite a backlash on the internet. Sondo al-Qattan faces criticism for a video posted on July 10 to Instagram, where she has 2.3 million followers, in which she attacked measures introduced in May that grant Filipinas working in the oil-rich Gulf state one day off per […]
CHR urges BI to reconsider decision to deport Australian nun Fox
(Eagle News)–The Commission on Human Rights on Friday, July 20, asked the Bureau of Immigration to reconsider its decision to deport Australian nun Patricia Fox. “The deportation order sets a dangerous precedent for foreign human rights workers and discourages them from doing important humanitarian work in our country,” the CHR said in a statement. According to the CHR, the “principles of human rights must reign supreme when distinguishing between humanitarian work and perceiving something as political […]
Britain to fine Facebook over data breach
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s data regulator has said it will fine Facebook half a million pounds ($660,000) for failing to protect users’ data, in an inquiry into whether personal information had been misused by campaigns on both sides of Britain’s 2016 EU referendum. An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has focused on the social media giant since earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to […]
Reuters reporters to face Myanmar trial for ‘breaking’ secrecy law
by Athens Zaw Zaw Agence France-Presse YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) – Two Reuters reporters accused of breaking Myanmar’s draconian secrecy law during their reporting of a Rohingya massacre must face trial, a judge said Monday, in a ruling swiftly decried as a “black day” for press freedom in the country. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December and accused of possessing leaked sensitive material linked to security operations in […]
Nine ex-military convicted for 1973 murder of Chile folk singer Jara
SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) – A Chilean judge has convicted nine retired soldiers in the 1973 murder of one of Chile’s most beloved folk singers, Victor Jara, the judiciary said on Tuesday. Jara, 40, was arrested the day after the September 11, 1973 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Salvador Allende and installed Augusto Pinochet as dictator. Jara’s body was found days later, riddled with 44 bullets. He had been held, along with around 5,000 other political prisoners, […]
