A parliamentary resolution, adopted on Thursday (11 March) by 509 votes to 30, with 14 abstentions, called on Cuba to immediately release its political prisoners and urged the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, to push the Communist government towards greater democracy. "We cannot afford another death in Cuba. We call for the immediate release of all political prisoners," Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European assembly, said. The strong criticism from euro deputies of all political colours follows the death two weeks ago of jailed Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who succumbed after an 83-day hunger strike. ...The European parliamentary resolution is a set-back for the Spanish government, which had hoped to take steps towards normalising relations with Cuba during its six-month tenure of the EU's rotating presidency, due to expire this June.
A parliamentary resolution, adopted on Thursday (11 March) by 509 votes to 30, with 14 abstentions, called on Cuba to immediately release its political prisoners and urged the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, to push the Communist government towards greater democracy.
"We cannot afford another death in Cuba. We call for the immediate release of all political prisoners," Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European assembly, said.
The strong criticism from euro deputies of all political colours follows the death two weeks ago of jailed Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who succumbed after an 83-day hunger strike.
...The European parliamentary resolution is a set-back for the Spanish government, which had hoped to take steps towards normalising relations with Cuba during its six-month tenure of the EU's rotating presidency, due to expire this June.
The European Commission concluded trade negotiations with Lima and Bogota this month, following nine rounds of talks. The agreement, if ratified by the European Parliament, would fully liberalize commerce in some sectors between the bloc and the two Latin American countries. The possible deal has sparked an outcry in some quarters because of concerns over the South American country's human rights record. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has won plaudits for his hard-line stance against armed groups, such as the Marxist FARC rebels, and his attempts to stem the cocaine trade. But international observers cast doubt on his claim to have eliminated the right-wing paramilitary threat in the country, instead accusing his government of leniency toward them. Meanwhile, many innocents continue to suffer - with impunity.Extra-judicial killings, collaboration between paramilitaries and the security forces, the inciting of hatred against indigenous peoples and the targeting of human rights exponents are among the series of abuses identified by human rights watchdog Amnesty International.Colombia is, for example, the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists. Last year alone, 39 labor representatives were murdered there, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). No one has been brought to trial.
The European Commission concluded trade negotiations with Lima and Bogota this month, following nine rounds of talks. The agreement, if ratified by the European Parliament, would fully liberalize commerce in some sectors between the bloc and the two Latin American countries.
The possible deal has sparked an outcry in some quarters because of concerns over the South American country's human rights record.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has won plaudits for his hard-line stance against armed groups, such as the Marxist FARC rebels, and his attempts to stem the cocaine trade. But international observers cast doubt on his claim to have eliminated the right-wing paramilitary threat in the country, instead accusing his government of leniency toward them. Meanwhile, many innocents continue to suffer - with impunity.
Extra-judicial killings, collaboration between paramilitaries and the security forces, the inciting of hatred against indigenous peoples and the targeting of human rights exponents are among the series of abuses identified by human rights watchdog Amnesty International.
Colombia is, for example, the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists. Last year alone, 39 labor representatives were murdered there, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). No one has been brought to trial.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution calling on Hamas to immediately release Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in 2006 by the Palestinian militant group in a cross-border raid. The chamber by a strong majority said that it was wrong that Mr Shalit, both an Israeli and French citizen, was held incommunicado in Gaza and deprived of basic rights in accordance with the Geneva Convention and demanded that Hamas "be as good as its word and grant Sergeant Shalit rights and privileges in accordance with the Third 1949 Geneva Convention." The resolution "deplores the continued disregard for Sergeant Shalit's basic human rights and the fact that his family and the Israeli and French authorities have been prevented from obtaining information regarding his well-being."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution calling on Hamas to immediately release Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in 2006 by the Palestinian militant group in a cross-border raid.
The chamber by a strong majority said that it was wrong that Mr Shalit, both an Israeli and French citizen, was held incommunicado in Gaza and deprived of basic rights in accordance with the Geneva Convention and demanded that Hamas "be as good as its word and grant Sergeant Shalit rights and privileges in accordance with the Third 1949 Geneva Convention."
The resolution "deplores the continued disregard for Sergeant Shalit's basic human rights and the fact that his family and the Israeli and French authorities have been prevented from obtaining information regarding his well-being."
AFP - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public apology to the visiting US vice president on Thursday, hoping to defuse a row over settlements that prompted a Palestinian boycott of indirect peace talks. Vice President Joe Biden welcomed Netanyahu's statement but again criticised Israel's decision to approve construction of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in Arab east Jerusalem, announced during his visit this week. Israel's right-wing prime minister, who supports expanding Jewish communities in annexed east Jerusalem, said he had spoken to Biden and "expressed his regret for the unfortunate timing."
Vice President Joe Biden welcomed Netanyahu's statement but again criticised Israel's decision to approve construction of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in Arab east Jerusalem, announced during his visit this week.
Israel's right-wing prime minister, who supports expanding Jewish communities in annexed east Jerusalem, said he had spoken to Biden and "expressed his regret for the unfortunate timing."
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has warned the Israeli prime minister, that his government was putting US ties at risk by failing to take action towards renewed Middle East peace talks, a US spokesman says. In a telephone call to Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday, Clinton expressed frustration over Israel's announcement on Tuesday to build new settlements on Palestinian land. P.J. Crowley, the US state department spokesman, said Clinton told Netanyahu the announcement was a "deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship ... and had undermined trust and confidence in the peace process." "The secretary said she could not understand how this happened, particularly in light of the United States' strong commitment to Israel's security," Crowley said. He said Clinton made clear that the Israeli government needed to demonstrate not just through words but through specific actions that they are committed to this relationship and to the peace process. Asked if the tone of the call was angry, Crowley said "frustration would be a better term."
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has warned the Israeli prime minister, that his government was putting US ties at risk by failing to take action towards renewed Middle East peace talks, a US spokesman says.
In a telephone call to Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday, Clinton expressed frustration over Israel's announcement on Tuesday to build new settlements on Palestinian land.
P.J. Crowley, the US state department spokesman, said Clinton told Netanyahu the announcement was a "deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship ... and had undermined trust and confidence in the peace process."
"The secretary said she could not understand how this happened, particularly in light of the United States' strong commitment to Israel's security," Crowley said.
He said Clinton made clear that the Israeli government needed to demonstrate not just through words but through specific actions that they are committed to this relationship and to the peace process.
Asked if the tone of the call was angry, Crowley said "frustration would be a better term."
CIA drones are killing terrorists -- and civilians -- in Pakistan almost every day. The unmanned aircraft are becoming the weapon of choice in the fight against al-Qaida and its allies. But the political, military and moral consequences are incalculable. SPIEGEL ONLINE has investigated Barack Obama's remote-controlled campaign against terrorism. What is the cost of rendering a terrorist harmless once and for all by killing him? During the course of 14 months, the CIA used unmanned and heavily armed small aircraft known as drones to stage 15 strikes against the presumed locations of the leader of the Pakistani Taliban. On Aug. 5, 2009, on the 16th try, the drones finally managed to kill Baitullah Mehsud....thousands of miles away in the United States, someone pressed a button, and two Hellfire missiles shot from the drone. Mehsud and 11 others were killed. This incident is so well documented because it was reconstructed for an article in The New Yorker. But the hunt for Mehsud cost the lives of far more than 11 people. According to estimates, between 207 and 321 people died in the course of the 16 attempts to eliminate Mehsud -- and it is certain that not all of them were Taliban fighters.
CIA drones are killing terrorists -- and civilians -- in Pakistan almost every day. The unmanned aircraft are becoming the weapon of choice in the fight against al-Qaida and its allies. But the political, military and moral consequences are incalculable. SPIEGEL ONLINE has investigated Barack Obama's remote-controlled campaign against terrorism.
What is the cost of rendering a terrorist harmless once and for all by killing him? During the course of 14 months, the CIA used unmanned and heavily armed small aircraft known as drones to stage 15 strikes against the presumed locations of the leader of the Pakistani Taliban. On Aug. 5, 2009, on the 16th try, the drones finally managed to kill Baitullah Mehsud.
...thousands of miles away in the United States, someone pressed a button, and two Hellfire missiles shot from the drone. Mehsud and 11 others were killed.
This incident is so well documented because it was reconstructed for an article in The New Yorker. But the hunt for Mehsud cost the lives of far more than 11 people. According to estimates, between 207 and 321 people died in the course of the 16 attempts to eliminate Mehsud -- and it is certain that not all of them were Taliban fighters.
Tens of thousands of supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra began to mass Friday in trademark red shirts ahead of weekend protests in Bangkok aimed at toppling the government. Around 6,500 protesters staged early demonstrations in the capital before dispersing after several hours while thousands more gathered in the rural north before starting their journey to Bangkok for the main rally on Sunday. Organisers insist the protests will be non-violent, but the government is rolling out a 50,000-strong security force and has enacted a tough security law that allows authorities to impose curfews and limit movements.
Around 6,500 protesters staged early demonstrations in the capital before dispersing after several hours while thousands more gathered in the rural north before starting their journey to Bangkok for the main rally on Sunday.
Organisers insist the protests will be non-violent, but the government is rolling out a 50,000-strong security force and has enacted a tough security law that allows authorities to impose curfews and limit movements.
A settlement reached on Thursday may grant more than 10,000 people who worked in the toxic ruins of the World Trade Centre following the September 11, 2001 attacks a total of $657 million in compensation for associated health problems.
Entering negotiations with the Palestinians on so-called core issues including statehood borders and the fate of Jerusalem could spark a revolt from Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners and destabilize his government. The senior administration official termed Netanyahu's political position as "perilous" because of the divisions. Right-wing parties oppose peace moves, including a full settlement freeze, sought by the Palestinians and the United States. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who holds sway in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has likewise been seriously weakened by his rivalry with Hamas Islamists, who control the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt. The Obama administration believes the proximity talks may be the only way in the foreseeable future to ease Israel back to the negotiating table without triggering a political crisis.
The senior administration official termed Netanyahu's political position as "perilous" because of the divisions. Right-wing parties oppose peace moves, including a full settlement freeze, sought by the Palestinians and the United States.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who holds sway in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has likewise been seriously weakened by his rivalry with Hamas Islamists, who control the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt.
The Obama administration believes the proximity talks may be the only way in the foreseeable future to ease Israel back to the negotiating table without triggering a political crisis.
