| Lubanga trial set to test ICC | |||||||
| | |||||||
Thomas Lubanaga, the leader of an armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is set to go on trial on war crimes charges in the first case to be tried before the International Criminal Court. Lubanga, will face trial in The Hague on Monday accused of recruiting hundreds of child soldiers to fight in his Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) in the civil war in the country's eastern Ituri region between September 2002 and August 2003. He is also accused of leading an armed group that committed atrocities during a conflict that led to the deaths of 60,000 people. Humanitarian groups say the conflict has also created hundreds of thousands of refugees since 1999. The trial is being seen as a crucial test for the tribunal, as it tries to establish itself as a means of bringing war criminals to justice. The fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri region has centred around control of one of the most lucrative gold-mining territories in the world. Much of the fighting there has been between the UPC, composed mainly of ethnic Hema, and people from the Lendu ethnicity, laregly represented by a group called the Nationalist and Integrationist Front. Child soldiers The trial, the first at the court since it came into operation in July 2002, is set to open with a statement by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC's chief prosecutor, followed by lawyers for 93 alleged victims and then the defence.
The prosecution has listed 34 witnesses, including former child soldiers, ex-members of groups involved in the Ituri fighting. The prosecution also plans to call on an array of experts in such speciality areas as determining the age of a child from x-rays of bones. Lubanga, who is being held at a UN detention centre in the seaside suburb of Scheveningen in The Hague, has been declared destitute by the court, which is paying for his defence team. The International Criminal Court is the world's first permanent tribunal to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The trial is expected to last between six and nine months. |
Monday, 26 January 2009
Former recruiter of child soldiers on trial
Monday, 5 January 2009
Israel - Palestine Conflict
Hey everyone, I'm sure you all enjoyed a merry Christmas and a happy New Year and hopefully you're now sober enough to read this blog.
Anyway, unless you've been living under a rock over the festive season you'll have noticed that one of the main news stories (aside from the credit crunch) is the recent renewal of open warfare between Israel and Palestine. Newspapers and the media endlessly show grisly pictures of the consequences of this conflict but do little to explain the causes of the war. As DARE AWARE is about awareness of humanitarian issues, this blog will hopefully explain the motivations of these two states and why they feel inclined to annihilate one another.
To go to the very roots of the problem takes us back thousands of years to Biblical times. All three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) have a claim on the lands of Israel and Palestine; the Jews believe that God granted them this 'Promised Land' and after a period of genocide and mass extermination of the indigenous tribes they settled there. Muslims believe that some of the holy sites in Jerusalem such as the Temple Mount (where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son to God) should belong to them. After the 7th century Arab conquest of Palestine, the lands remained in Muslim hands for 1200 years until they came under British control during the First World War. In the Balfour Declaration of 1917 the British promised the European Jews a new 'Jewish National Home', following the rise of 'Zionism' - the quest to restore Jews to their ancestral prmoised lands - in Europe.
Jewish immigration to Palestine escalated dramatically after World War 2 due to the persecution and Holocaust of European Jews from 1933-1945. The 1948 'Declaration of the State of Israel' lead to thousands of Jews settling in Israel, much to the native Palestinians fury, for their lands had been divided in two and half handed to their Zionist enemies, whilst expelling the Palestinians from their homes.
At first they tried to destroy the newly-formed state but after an UN-backed armistice Israel had time to recover and become a powerful and stable country. In the 1967 6-day war Israel managed to capture the Sinai Desert, the West Bank, Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem from its neighbouring aggressors. This brought another 1 million Palestinians under Israeli control.
Israel returned most of the lands taken during the 6-day war and withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, peace talks were underway to also return West Jerusalem when the militant group Hamas was elected, restarting the terrorist attacks on Israel.
The American-lead invasion of Iraq in 2003 further provoked Muslim-Jewish hostilities and now Palestine refuses to accept the existence of Israel, many militant clerics have issued 'fatwahs' or Holy Wars against Israel.
On 27th December, in response to continued rocket-fire from Palestinian troops into Israeli lands, Israel has commenced targetting and bombing militant compounds in Palestine and the Gaza Strip, though these attacks also result in hundreds of civilian deaths. The balance of power is also quite unequal; Hamas armed forces number 15,000 - Israeli forces are upward of 622,000 and have far superior technology and support. According to these figures it is not surprising that for the 460 Palestinians killed so far Israel has suffered only only 4 fatalities.
With the above information and historical causes it would be extremely interesting to hear your views on the conflict. Was Israel justified in their response? Was the extent of their response justified? Who should have claim on the disputed lands? It is all a matter of opinion and it would be good to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Anyway, unless you've been living under a rock over the festive season you'll have noticed that one of the main news stories (aside from the credit crunch) is the recent renewal of open warfare between Israel and Palestine. Newspapers and the media endlessly show grisly pictures of the consequences of this conflict but do little to explain the causes of the war. As DARE AWARE is about awareness of humanitarian issues, this blog will hopefully explain the motivations of these two states and why they feel inclined to annihilate one another.
To go to the very roots of the problem takes us back thousands of years to Biblical times. All three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) have a claim on the lands of Israel and Palestine; the Jews believe that God granted them this 'Promised Land' and after a period of genocide and mass extermination of the indigenous tribes they settled there. Muslims believe that some of the holy sites in Jerusalem such as the Temple Mount (where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son to God) should belong to them. After the 7th century Arab conquest of Palestine, the lands remained in Muslim hands for 1200 years until they came under British control during the First World War. In the Balfour Declaration of 1917 the British promised the European Jews a new 'Jewish National Home', following the rise of 'Zionism' - the quest to restore Jews to their ancestral prmoised lands - in Europe.
Jewish immigration to Palestine escalated dramatically after World War 2 due to the persecution and Holocaust of European Jews from 1933-1945. The 1948 'Declaration of the State of Israel' lead to thousands of Jews settling in Israel, much to the native Palestinians fury, for their lands had been divided in two and half handed to their Zionist enemies, whilst expelling the Palestinians from their homes.
At first they tried to destroy the newly-formed state but after an UN-backed armistice Israel had time to recover and become a powerful and stable country. In the 1967 6-day war Israel managed to capture the Sinai Desert, the West Bank, Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem from its neighbouring aggressors. This brought another 1 million Palestinians under Israeli control.
Israel returned most of the lands taken during the 6-day war and withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, peace talks were underway to also return West Jerusalem when the militant group Hamas was elected, restarting the terrorist attacks on Israel.
The American-lead invasion of Iraq in 2003 further provoked Muslim-Jewish hostilities and now Palestine refuses to accept the existence of Israel, many militant clerics have issued 'fatwahs' or Holy Wars against Israel.
On 27th December, in response to continued rocket-fire from Palestinian troops into Israeli lands, Israel has commenced targetting and bombing militant compounds in Palestine and the Gaza Strip, though these attacks also result in hundreds of civilian deaths. The balance of power is also quite unequal; Hamas armed forces number 15,000 - Israeli forces are upward of 622,000 and have far superior technology and support. According to these figures it is not surprising that for the 460 Palestinians killed so far Israel has suffered only only 4 fatalities.
With the above information and historical causes it would be extremely interesting to hear your views on the conflict. Was Israel justified in their response? Was the extent of their response justified? Who should have claim on the disputed lands? It is all a matter of opinion and it would be good to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Child Soldiers in Pakistan / Afghanistan
Though child are popularly known to be used in countries such as Uganda, CAR and Sudan in Africa, little is known about child soldiers used in Islamic countries.
This is an article explaining the situation.
Children in Tank, a remote town at the centre of Taleban activity in north-west Pakistan, are going missing.
It is a disturbing phenomenon that Tank shares with other towns on the edge of Pakistan's tribal belt. Reports says the children - some as young as 11 - are being kidnapped by pro-Taleban militants.
Most people in Tank are unwilling to admit it is happening and few will talk about it.
Pro-Taleban militants in the region deny they are recruiting children, blaming the region's troubles on government policy.
When people in Tank can be persuaded to talk about the missing children, most appear to guard every word, if they open their mouths, the whole family would suffer the Taleban's wrath.
"They don't really kidnap the children," says a local teacher.
But he is hesitant and thinks his words through.
"The Taleban convince them it is their duty to carry out jihad [holy struggle]."
But then he admits what he's left unsaid.
"How much convincing does a child need? ... Especially when promised adventure."
The trouble is that in most cases, the "adventure" the Taleban offer usually results in no possibility of return.
"They are being trained as fidayeen," the teacher half whispers.
"Fidayeen" literally means "those who sacrifice their lives".
In Afghanistan today, the term has a new meaning - suicide bomber.
The tale of a local school administrator in the town is typical of what is happening.
"The purpose of their visit [in January] was clear from the start," he said.
"The militants came to town with a mission, and wanted to convert us to their cause.
"They said that jihad was obligatory and those who heed the call are rewarded," the principal said.
"As many as 30 students from each of the four government schools in Tank 'enlisted'.
A similar number have also joined from private schools. The ages of those taken are between 11 to 15 years.
Asked why the school administration has not simply refused, the staff appear flabbergasted.
"Do you want me to lose my neck?" one asks bluntly.
"The Taleban don't ask for permission - they just tell us."
Even so, not everyone has given way to the militants.
At the private English medium school, Oxford High, an extraordinary battle for influence over the pupils was recently fought.
"They came on 23 March but the children had left," said a school teacher.
"The Taleban said they would be back later."
They did indeed return three days later, while an exam was taking place. The militants agreed for the exam to finish before they tried to take them away.
"They went outside to wait at 1000," the teacher said, "and an hour later all hell broke loose."
Local police and security forces had been monitoring the militants' activities.
"The first sound we heard was of a helicopter flying in low and then a loud explosion," a local explained.
This was at 1100. Over the next two hours the militants and security forces fought pitched battles. The militants suffered greater losses in the earlier exchanges. But they were soon back in greater numbers, and rolled through the town attacking anything or anyone connected with the government.
Some of the fighters were children as young as 12, eyewitnesses told the BBC.
The security forces were also attacked, and now keep a low profile.
Many locals say they are not properly protected, since then, the militants have had a free hand in the town. But the authorities are not willing to admit anything is amiss.
"I have been here just two months," says Muhammad Idrees Khan, the town's deputy chief of police.
He argues that the parents should come forward if there is a problem.
But locals says that parents are extremely scared.
"They harbour hopes of their children returning if they keep quiet," explains one.
"But if they open their mouths, the whole family would suffer the Taleban's wrath."
On the streets of Tank, students coming out of the local college have ambivalent feelings about the situation.
"We are not extremists... we are liberal people," says a student who has just appeared for his physics paper.
"But our identity is Islamic."
Others are highly critical of the government.
"They are the ones who should be protecting us," said one, "and yet there is not much sign that they are even half-prepared to do so."
This is an article explaining the situation.
Children in Tank, a remote town at the centre of Taleban activity in north-west Pakistan, are going missing.
It is a disturbing phenomenon that Tank shares with other towns on the edge of Pakistan's tribal belt. Reports says the children - some as young as 11 - are being kidnapped by pro-Taleban militants.
Most people in Tank are unwilling to admit it is happening and few will talk about it.
Pro-Taleban militants in the region deny they are recruiting children, blaming the region's troubles on government policy.
When people in Tank can be persuaded to talk about the missing children, most appear to guard every word, if they open their mouths, the whole family would suffer the Taleban's wrath.
"They don't really kidnap the children," says a local teacher.
But he is hesitant and thinks his words through.
"The Taleban convince them it is their duty to carry out jihad [holy struggle]."
But then he admits what he's left unsaid.
"How much convincing does a child need? ... Especially when promised adventure."
The trouble is that in most cases, the "adventure" the Taleban offer usually results in no possibility of return.
"They are being trained as fidayeen," the teacher half whispers.
"Fidayeen" literally means "those who sacrifice their lives".
In Afghanistan today, the term has a new meaning - suicide bomber.
The tale of a local school administrator in the town is typical of what is happening.
"The purpose of their visit [in January] was clear from the start," he said.
"The militants came to town with a mission, and wanted to convert us to their cause.
"They said that jihad was obligatory and those who heed the call are rewarded," the principal said.
"As many as 30 students from each of the four government schools in Tank 'enlisted'.
A similar number have also joined from private schools. The ages of those taken are between 11 to 15 years.
Asked why the school administration has not simply refused, the staff appear flabbergasted.
"Do you want me to lose my neck?" one asks bluntly.
"The Taleban don't ask for permission - they just tell us."
Even so, not everyone has given way to the militants.
At the private English medium school, Oxford High, an extraordinary battle for influence over the pupils was recently fought.
"They came on 23 March but the children had left," said a school teacher.
"The Taleban said they would be back later."
They did indeed return three days later, while an exam was taking place. The militants agreed for the exam to finish before they tried to take them away.
"They went outside to wait at 1000," the teacher said, "and an hour later all hell broke loose."
Local police and security forces had been monitoring the militants' activities.
"The first sound we heard was of a helicopter flying in low and then a loud explosion," a local explained.
This was at 1100. Over the next two hours the militants and security forces fought pitched battles. The militants suffered greater losses in the earlier exchanges. But they were soon back in greater numbers, and rolled through the town attacking anything or anyone connected with the government.
Some of the fighters were children as young as 12, eyewitnesses told the BBC.
The security forces were also attacked, and now keep a low profile.
Many locals say they are not properly protected, since then, the militants have had a free hand in the town. But the authorities are not willing to admit anything is amiss.
"I have been here just two months," says Muhammad Idrees Khan, the town's deputy chief of police.
He argues that the parents should come forward if there is a problem.
But locals says that parents are extremely scared.
"They harbour hopes of their children returning if they keep quiet," explains one.
"But if they open their mouths, the whole family would suffer the Taleban's wrath."
On the streets of Tank, students coming out of the local college have ambivalent feelings about the situation.
"We are not extremists... we are liberal people," says a student who has just appeared for his physics paper.
"But our identity is Islamic."
Others are highly critical of the government.
"They are the ones who should be protecting us," said one, "and yet there is not much sign that they are even half-prepared to do so."
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Child soldiers in Rwanda and Congo
Rwanda and DR Congo in 'proxy war'
About 250,000 people are thought to have fled their homes to escape fighting in eastern DR Congo [AFP]
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are engaged in a proxy war with each providing assistance to the other's enemies, a report by a United Nations Security Council panel has said.
The report, which was authored by five outside experts, says that Rwanda has been assisting Laurent Nkunda, a Tutsi rebel leader, in his fight against DR Congo government forces in the east of the country.
Meanwhile, DR Congo is providing help to ethnic Hutu rebels and other forces against Rwanda, the report says.
The panel also said it had evidence that armed groups from both sides of the conflict were using child soldiers and were engaged in illegal mineral trading.
Rwandan authorities have been "complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment and have sent officers and units" to help Nkunda, the report says.
In turn, Nkunda uses Rwanda as "a rear base for fundraising meetings and bank accounts," the report said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/12/200812137240698664.html
About 250,000 people are thought to have fled their homes to escape fighting in eastern DR Congo [AFP]
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are engaged in a proxy war with each providing assistance to the other's enemies, a report by a United Nations Security Council panel has said.
The report, which was authored by five outside experts, says that Rwanda has been assisting Laurent Nkunda, a Tutsi rebel leader, in his fight against DR Congo government forces in the east of the country.
Meanwhile, DR Congo is providing help to ethnic Hutu rebels and other forces against Rwanda, the report says.
The panel also said it had evidence that armed groups from both sides of the conflict were using child soldiers and were engaged in illegal mineral trading.
Rwandan authorities have been "complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment and have sent officers and units" to help Nkunda, the report says.
In turn, Nkunda uses Rwanda as "a rear base for fundraising meetings and bank accounts," the report said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/12/200812137240698664.html
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Child Soldiers article
Check out the link to a BBC news article on child soldiers - the story has just been posted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7767261.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7767261.stm
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Hey guys, as you all know Jam Wrestling was a complete and utter sticky success, everyone seemed to have had fun, there was a good turnout and best of all I'm still able to make jam sandwiches from the leftovers still stuck to my coat!
The next (slightly less sugary) event is next thursday (the 4th); it's a showing of the documentary Invisible Children - an hour long film on the lives of child soldiers in Uganda, there will also be a representative from the Invisible Children organisation presenting the film. The event starts at 6:30 in the Dalhousie building (NTB) LT1 and it's completely free so try and get as many people to come as possible 'cos it should be great!
The next (slightly less sugary) event is next thursday (the 4th); it's a showing of the documentary Invisible Children - an hour long film on the lives of child soldiers in Uganda, there will also be a representative from the Invisible Children organisation presenting the film. The event starts at 6:30 in the Dalhousie building (NTB) LT1 and it's completely free so try and get as many people to come as possible 'cos it should be great!
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
For more information on Child Soldiers the following organisations.....
D.A.R.E. AWARE - Directing you to organisations where you can take your interest further and see who is making a change in the lives of child soldiers.
For more information on Child Soldiers please visit the following organisations.....
www.child-soldiers.org
www.hrw.org/childsoldiers
www.amnesty.org/en/children
www.unicef.org/emerg/index_childsoldiers.html
www.childsoldiers.net
www.childsoldiersglobalreport.org
www.un.org/works/goingon/soldiers/childsoldiersmap.html
www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/02/12/child.soldiers/index.html
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5213996.stm
www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,182805,00.html
"D.A.R.E. AWARE - raising awareness of humanitarisn issues
worldwide, on campus"
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