Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, is in "good physical condition" after surgeons in Cuba removed a lesion from his pelvic area, authorities say.
The latest operation followed Chavez's surgery to remove a cancerous tumour, also in the pelvic area, last year.
"The diagnosed pelvic lesion was totally extracted," said Elias Jaua, the country's vice-president, in a speech broadcast to the public on Tuesday, adding that surrounding tissue was also removed and there were "no complications" with nearby organs.
Cuban state TV said Chavez, 57, was operated on successfully on Monday at the Centre for Medical-Surgical Research (CIMEQ), which is considered Cuba's most modern hospital.
Venezuelan officials have not specified the kind of cancer Chavez has, but they have denied the disease has spread to other organs.
Jaua said doctors would study the results of the latest operation to determine "the optimum way to treat the lesion".
Henry Rangel, the Venezuelan defence minister, speaking on official television, said the news was received "with extraordinary pleasure" by the armed forces.
Chavez announced that he was cancer-free last October. On February 21, however, he said that a small lesion had been discovered in the same area as his initial tumour.
Presidential elections
Chavez's health has become a source of open debate among both supporters and critics of the controversial socialist leader as the South American country builds up towards presidential elections in October in which Chavez looks set to face the sternest electoral challenge to his rule since coming to power in 1999.
He faces a strong challenge from 39-year-old Henrique Capriles, who was chosen as the sole opposition candidate in a primary election earlier this month.
WikiLeaks published emails on Sunday from Texas-based intelligence firm Stratfor, including one from a Venezuelan source who said that Cuban doctors gave Chavez two years to live, while Russian sources suggested he could have less than a year, due to improper medical equipment.
As during his initial cancer care in Havana last year, Chavez did not delegate power to Jaua as some opposition members sought.
Chavez has used Venezuela's vast oil wealth to fund popular social programmes and to help his communist ally Cuba, as well as courting anti-US allies including Iran and Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.
ALjazeera
27.2.12
Tempos Difíceis, no Reino Unido
More than nine million households will be living in fuel poverty within four years unless the Government directs £4bn a year from carbon taxes to families in greatest need, campaigners warn.
More Britons die every year from living in a cold home than on the roads, they said, with the situation expected to worsen sharply because of soaring utility bills.
A new study has revealed that there are a million more households already living in fuel poverty compared with previous estimates, taking the total to 6.4 million. The study, by energy efficiency experts Camco, suggests that the total will hit 9.1 million by 2016.
Mike O'Connor, chief executive of Consumer Focus, said: "It is a harsh truth that an effective strategy to transform the energy efficiency of our homes and to tackle growing numbers in fuel poverty will need far greater ambition and resources. Billions of pounds will go directly from our energy bills to the Exchequer as part of schemes to cut carbon emissions. That money could reap a double benefit if it was directed to reduce massively our wasteful consumption of energy."
The campaign, called the Energy Bill Revolution, was created by Transform UK, a not-for-profit organisation.
Ed Matthew, of Transform UK, said: "More people die every year in the UK from living in a cold home than die on our roads. Millions more struggle to make ends meet in the face of high energy bills. This is a national scandal."
Camco reckons that if the Government's annual £4bn revenue were recycled to households to spend on energy efficiency measures, it would be enough to bring nine out of 10 households out of fuel poverty. It could also be used to create 200,000 jobs and quadruple carbon emission cuts compared to the Government's new energy efficiency schemes, it claims.
Mr Matthew said that if carbon revenue – from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and Carbon Floor Price – were recycled back to households to spend on energy efficiency measures, it could be used to help all households or used to support the most vulnerable.
"It could provide, for example, an average grant of £6,500 to make 600,000 fuel-poor homes highly energy efficient every year," he said.
"This would bring down their energy bills each year by £310 and remove nine out of 10 homes from fuel poverty in 15 years. The rest would have their homes brought up to the energy efficiency standard of a home built today."
A petition is being launched today at www.energybillrevolution.org to raise support for the Energy Bill Revolution campaign. It is already backed by more than 50 charities, unions, consumer groups and businesses, including Save the Children, the National Pensioners' Convention, Consumer Focus and the Co-operative Group.
Paul Monaghan, head of social goals at the Co-operative, said: "The UK can get to grips with fuel poverty and not only keep carbon emissions reducing, but secure increased buy-in from the general public. Right now the elderly and poor suffer the most, but left unchecked this is going to become an issue for everyday families."
Last week the children's charity Barnardo's said rising energy prices have left the poorest families £450 short of being able to adequately heat their homes. Barnardo's chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said: "We need to get serious about tackling fuel poverty. Families should never have to choose between whether to heat their homes or put food on the table for children."
She said poorer families are most hit by energy companies because they use pre-payment meters to pay off debt and to pay for gas and electricity.
"Effectively these families are being penalised by their payment method at a time when they need the most financial help," she said. "Energy companies have a moral duty to behave responsibly by ensuring that the poorest families are on the lowest tariffs available and that prices for pre-payment meters are brought down to the same rates as online tariffs."
She urged the Government to tackle fuel poverty by bringing forward the requirement on landlords to make their properties energy efficient for tenants.
The Independent
More Britons die every year from living in a cold home than on the roads, they said, with the situation expected to worsen sharply because of soaring utility bills.
A new study has revealed that there are a million more households already living in fuel poverty compared with previous estimates, taking the total to 6.4 million. The study, by energy efficiency experts Camco, suggests that the total will hit 9.1 million by 2016.
Mike O'Connor, chief executive of Consumer Focus, said: "It is a harsh truth that an effective strategy to transform the energy efficiency of our homes and to tackle growing numbers in fuel poverty will need far greater ambition and resources. Billions of pounds will go directly from our energy bills to the Exchequer as part of schemes to cut carbon emissions. That money could reap a double benefit if it was directed to reduce massively our wasteful consumption of energy."
The campaign, called the Energy Bill Revolution, was created by Transform UK, a not-for-profit organisation.
Ed Matthew, of Transform UK, said: "More people die every year in the UK from living in a cold home than die on our roads. Millions more struggle to make ends meet in the face of high energy bills. This is a national scandal."
Camco reckons that if the Government's annual £4bn revenue were recycled to households to spend on energy efficiency measures, it would be enough to bring nine out of 10 households out of fuel poverty. It could also be used to create 200,000 jobs and quadruple carbon emission cuts compared to the Government's new energy efficiency schemes, it claims.
Mr Matthew said that if carbon revenue – from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and Carbon Floor Price – were recycled back to households to spend on energy efficiency measures, it could be used to help all households or used to support the most vulnerable.
"It could provide, for example, an average grant of £6,500 to make 600,000 fuel-poor homes highly energy efficient every year," he said.
"This would bring down their energy bills each year by £310 and remove nine out of 10 homes from fuel poverty in 15 years. The rest would have their homes brought up to the energy efficiency standard of a home built today."
A petition is being launched today at www.energybillrevolution.org to raise support for the Energy Bill Revolution campaign. It is already backed by more than 50 charities, unions, consumer groups and businesses, including Save the Children, the National Pensioners' Convention, Consumer Focus and the Co-operative Group.
Paul Monaghan, head of social goals at the Co-operative, said: "The UK can get to grips with fuel poverty and not only keep carbon emissions reducing, but secure increased buy-in from the general public. Right now the elderly and poor suffer the most, but left unchecked this is going to become an issue for everyday families."
Last week the children's charity Barnardo's said rising energy prices have left the poorest families £450 short of being able to adequately heat their homes. Barnardo's chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said: "We need to get serious about tackling fuel poverty. Families should never have to choose between whether to heat their homes or put food on the table for children."
She said poorer families are most hit by energy companies because they use pre-payment meters to pay off debt and to pay for gas and electricity.
"Effectively these families are being penalised by their payment method at a time when they need the most financial help," she said. "Energy companies have a moral duty to behave responsibly by ensuring that the poorest families are on the lowest tariffs available and that prices for pre-payment meters are brought down to the same rates as online tariffs."
She urged the Government to tackle fuel poverty by bringing forward the requirement on landlords to make their properties energy efficient for tenants.
The Independent
26.2.12
Espiral de violência na Síria
Júlio de Magalhães, em Lisboa (www.expresso.pt)
Domingo, 26 de fevereiro de 2012
Realizou-se no passado dia 24, em Tunis, uma conferência internacional auto-intitulada "Os Amigos da Síria", com a participação de cerca de 60 países, registando-se a ausência, óbvia, da Rússia e da China.
A conferência foi apadrinhada pelo novo poder político tunisino, pertencente ao partido islâmico Ennahda, o que não obstou a que centenas de tunisinos e de sírios residentes na Tunísia manifestassem a sua oposição à iniciativa, tentando invadir o hotel onde se realizava a reunião, e que foram dispersos pela polícia.
Os grandes corifeus deste encontro foram a secretária de Estado norte-americana, Hillary Clinton e o ministro saudita dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Saud Al-Faisal, bem como o presidente do principal grupo de oposição sírio, o Conselho Nacional Sírio (CNS), Burham Ghallioun. Existem vários grupos de oposição na Síria, que não se entendem uns com os outros.
Tendo as Nações Unidas e a Liga Árabe concordado em designar o ex-secretário-geral da ONU, Kofi Annan, como enviado especial a Damasco, com a missão de tentar encontrar uma solução que ponha termo aos confrontos, foi principal preocupação desta reunião a ajuda humanitária e a elaboração de um pedido da Liga Árabe ao Conselho de Segurança no sentido deste aprovar o envio para o terreno de uma força de paz conjunta ONU/Liga Árabe, já que o mesmo Conselho chumbou há dias, com o veto da Rússia e da China, a proposta de Resolução apresentada pelos Estados Unidos, pela Liga Árabe e por alguns países ocidentais, que, com "propósitos humanitários", preconizava a invasão da Síria, a deposição do presidente Bashar Al-Assad e a queda do regime. O "pequeno" óbice do veto sino-russo determinou que os propósitos desta conferência dos "amigos da Síria" fossem agora mais modestos, o que desiludiu o representante do CNS e também alguns países mais impetuosos, mesmo entre os árabes, como a Tunísia, a Líbia, a Arábia Saudita, o Qatar, o Bahrein, o Kuwait, o Oman e os Emirados Árabes Unidos, que pretendiam, para já, uma intervenção armada. O ministro saudita dos Negócios Estrangeiros declarou mesmo que o seu país tem estado a fornecer armamento à oposição síria, o que já se sabia, tal como os outros países do Golfo e também a Turquia, sendo que parte dessas armas é de proveniência americana ou doutros países ocidentais. A entrada das armas está a fazer-se pelas fronteiras da Jordânia e da Turquia, sendo que, por ironia, as armas turcas apreendidas pelos soldados regulares sírios estão a ser entregues aos curdos do PKK, inimigos do governo de Ankara.
A situação na Síria pode resumir-se, grosso modo, nos seguintes pontos:
1) Havia na Síria uma parcela minoritária da população descontente com o regime alauita da família Assad;
2) As revoluções da "Primavera Árabe" levaram esses descontentes, entusiasmados com o sucesso das insurreições na Tunísia e no Egipto (na Líbia houve uma intervenção armada estrangeira e no Bahrein as manifestações foram esmagadas pelas tropas sauditas) a promover manifestações de desagrado contra o governo sírio, a partir da cidade de Deraa;
3) Tendo as manifestações alastrado a outras cidades, o governo sírio procedeu a uma repressão quiçá desproporcionada, iniciando-se uma espiral de violência;
4) O "mundo ocidental" e também as monarquias do Golfo estimularam e apoiaram a contestação ao regime, com dinheiro, armas e mesmo soldados. Muitos dos combatentes anti-regime são árabes mas não são sírios;
5) Não é segredo para ninguém que existe um plano americano e ocidental para derrubar o regime sírio, o último regime laico de um país árabe, substituí-lo por um regime pró-ocidental e assim proporcionar um mais fácil ataque ao Irão;
6) A "comunidade internacional", porém, avaliou mal o volume de contestação da população síria. Muito mais de metade da população síria apoia o regime de Assad, não tanto por simpatizar especialmente com ele (há todavia muita gente que simpatiza), mas porque a sua queda desencadeará, como aconteceu e continua a verificar-se no Iraque, uma interminável guerra civil, com o caos inevitável.
7) Sendo a população síria composta por cerca de 20 confissões religiosas, de que são naturalmente indissociáveis vários interesses económicos, apenas um regime laico é susceptível de manter a ordem e a segurança no país. Os principais opositores de Assad são muçulmanos fundamentalistas, a começar pela própria Al-Qaeda e pelos sunitas patrocinados pelas monarquias do Golfo. Os alauitas, a que pertencem Assad e as principais figuras do regime, são minoritários, e existem, em percentagens distintas, sunitas, xiitas, drusos, católicos, protestantes diversos, ortodoxos gregos e outros, arménios, coptas, maronitas, melkitas, e até judeus;
8) Como a violência gera violência, têm aumentado as atrocidades de parte a parte, num conflito que dura já há cerca de um ano. Esta espiral de violência é francamente favorável aos apologistas de uma intervenção armada no país;
9) É curioso verificar-se o apoio que os fundamentalistas islâmicos que estão já no poder (Tunísia e Líbia; o Egipto é um caso em suspenso, apesar da recente eleição para a Assembleia Nacional ter registado uma votação de 70% nos partidos islamistas) prestam aos Estados Unidos e países da NATO. As monarquias da Península Arábica, que sempre foram pró-americanas, não causam admiração. Mas esta estranha aliança do "mundo ocidental" com o fundamentalismo islâmico não pode deixar de causar perplexidade, já que o ex-presidente Bush convocara o mundo "livre" para uma luta contra a Al-Qaeda e o extremismo islâmico, uma Cruzada contra o Mal, em nome da qual invadiu o Afeganistão e o Iraque. Como diria Fernando Pessoa, "Malhas que o Império tece".
Que mais surpresas nos reservará o futuro?
http://aeiou.expresso.pt/maghreb--machrek=s25484#ixzz1nUFCVhZO
Domingo, 26 de fevereiro de 2012
Realizou-se no passado dia 24, em Tunis, uma conferência internacional auto-intitulada "Os Amigos da Síria", com a participação de cerca de 60 países, registando-se a ausência, óbvia, da Rússia e da China.
A conferência foi apadrinhada pelo novo poder político tunisino, pertencente ao partido islâmico Ennahda, o que não obstou a que centenas de tunisinos e de sírios residentes na Tunísia manifestassem a sua oposição à iniciativa, tentando invadir o hotel onde se realizava a reunião, e que foram dispersos pela polícia.
Os grandes corifeus deste encontro foram a secretária de Estado norte-americana, Hillary Clinton e o ministro saudita dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Saud Al-Faisal, bem como o presidente do principal grupo de oposição sírio, o Conselho Nacional Sírio (CNS), Burham Ghallioun. Existem vários grupos de oposição na Síria, que não se entendem uns com os outros.
Tendo as Nações Unidas e a Liga Árabe concordado em designar o ex-secretário-geral da ONU, Kofi Annan, como enviado especial a Damasco, com a missão de tentar encontrar uma solução que ponha termo aos confrontos, foi principal preocupação desta reunião a ajuda humanitária e a elaboração de um pedido da Liga Árabe ao Conselho de Segurança no sentido deste aprovar o envio para o terreno de uma força de paz conjunta ONU/Liga Árabe, já que o mesmo Conselho chumbou há dias, com o veto da Rússia e da China, a proposta de Resolução apresentada pelos Estados Unidos, pela Liga Árabe e por alguns países ocidentais, que, com "propósitos humanitários", preconizava a invasão da Síria, a deposição do presidente Bashar Al-Assad e a queda do regime. O "pequeno" óbice do veto sino-russo determinou que os propósitos desta conferência dos "amigos da Síria" fossem agora mais modestos, o que desiludiu o representante do CNS e também alguns países mais impetuosos, mesmo entre os árabes, como a Tunísia, a Líbia, a Arábia Saudita, o Qatar, o Bahrein, o Kuwait, o Oman e os Emirados Árabes Unidos, que pretendiam, para já, uma intervenção armada. O ministro saudita dos Negócios Estrangeiros declarou mesmo que o seu país tem estado a fornecer armamento à oposição síria, o que já se sabia, tal como os outros países do Golfo e também a Turquia, sendo que parte dessas armas é de proveniência americana ou doutros países ocidentais. A entrada das armas está a fazer-se pelas fronteiras da Jordânia e da Turquia, sendo que, por ironia, as armas turcas apreendidas pelos soldados regulares sírios estão a ser entregues aos curdos do PKK, inimigos do governo de Ankara.
A situação na Síria pode resumir-se, grosso modo, nos seguintes pontos:
1) Havia na Síria uma parcela minoritária da população descontente com o regime alauita da família Assad;
2) As revoluções da "Primavera Árabe" levaram esses descontentes, entusiasmados com o sucesso das insurreições na Tunísia e no Egipto (na Líbia houve uma intervenção armada estrangeira e no Bahrein as manifestações foram esmagadas pelas tropas sauditas) a promover manifestações de desagrado contra o governo sírio, a partir da cidade de Deraa;
3) Tendo as manifestações alastrado a outras cidades, o governo sírio procedeu a uma repressão quiçá desproporcionada, iniciando-se uma espiral de violência;
4) O "mundo ocidental" e também as monarquias do Golfo estimularam e apoiaram a contestação ao regime, com dinheiro, armas e mesmo soldados. Muitos dos combatentes anti-regime são árabes mas não são sírios;
5) Não é segredo para ninguém que existe um plano americano e ocidental para derrubar o regime sírio, o último regime laico de um país árabe, substituí-lo por um regime pró-ocidental e assim proporcionar um mais fácil ataque ao Irão;
6) A "comunidade internacional", porém, avaliou mal o volume de contestação da população síria. Muito mais de metade da população síria apoia o regime de Assad, não tanto por simpatizar especialmente com ele (há todavia muita gente que simpatiza), mas porque a sua queda desencadeará, como aconteceu e continua a verificar-se no Iraque, uma interminável guerra civil, com o caos inevitável.
7) Sendo a população síria composta por cerca de 20 confissões religiosas, de que são naturalmente indissociáveis vários interesses económicos, apenas um regime laico é susceptível de manter a ordem e a segurança no país. Os principais opositores de Assad são muçulmanos fundamentalistas, a começar pela própria Al-Qaeda e pelos sunitas patrocinados pelas monarquias do Golfo. Os alauitas, a que pertencem Assad e as principais figuras do regime, são minoritários, e existem, em percentagens distintas, sunitas, xiitas, drusos, católicos, protestantes diversos, ortodoxos gregos e outros, arménios, coptas, maronitas, melkitas, e até judeus;
8) Como a violência gera violência, têm aumentado as atrocidades de parte a parte, num conflito que dura já há cerca de um ano. Esta espiral de violência é francamente favorável aos apologistas de uma intervenção armada no país;
9) É curioso verificar-se o apoio que os fundamentalistas islâmicos que estão já no poder (Tunísia e Líbia; o Egipto é um caso em suspenso, apesar da recente eleição para a Assembleia Nacional ter registado uma votação de 70% nos partidos islamistas) prestam aos Estados Unidos e países da NATO. As monarquias da Península Arábica, que sempre foram pró-americanas, não causam admiração. Mas esta estranha aliança do "mundo ocidental" com o fundamentalismo islâmico não pode deixar de causar perplexidade, já que o ex-presidente Bush convocara o mundo "livre" para uma luta contra a Al-Qaeda e o extremismo islâmico, uma Cruzada contra o Mal, em nome da qual invadiu o Afeganistão e o Iraque. Como diria Fernando Pessoa, "Malhas que o Império tece".
Que mais surpresas nos reservará o futuro?
http://aeiou.expresso.pt/maghreb--machrek=s25484#ixzz1nUFCVhZO
24.2.12
Sequelas da reviravolta na Líbia
Nearly 130,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Tuareg rebels and government forces since mid-January in Mali, the UN has warned.
The clashes had displaced an estimated 60,000 people inside Mali, and a further 69,000 had fled to neighbouring countries, a spokesman told the BBC.
Adrian Edwards warned that basic supplies were urgently needed, as those displaced "don't have anything".
Dozens are feared to have died, but independent information is scarce.
The Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA), which wants independence for the northern region of Mali, took up arms last month and has launched attacks on northern towns and army bases.
It came after many Tuareg fighters returned from Libya, where they had fought alongside Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
Rights groups have urged the government, meanwhile, not to bomb civilians.
The resurgence in fighting follows two years of relative peace between the government and the Tuareg.
'Critical' needs
"Over a space of a few weeks we have seen literally tens of thousands of people being displaced to at least four countries surrounding Mali, plus smaller numbers in Togo, Guinea as well," Mr Edwards said.
He said there were an estimated 60,000 inside Mali, as well as some 29,000 in Niger, 22,000 in Mauritania and 18,000 in Burkina Faso.
The estimated 130,000 people displaced by the fighting is about 0.8% of the entire Malian population, which was estimated at 15.8m in 2011 - and a far greater proportion of the harsh, arid north part of the country.
Mr Edwards warned that there were "quite critical" needs for basic supplies - including shelter, food, water and medicines.
As well as that, many displaced were in a region chronically affected by food insecurity already, he said.
BBC
The clashes had displaced an estimated 60,000 people inside Mali, and a further 69,000 had fled to neighbouring countries, a spokesman told the BBC.
Adrian Edwards warned that basic supplies were urgently needed, as those displaced "don't have anything".
Dozens are feared to have died, but independent information is scarce.
The Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA), which wants independence for the northern region of Mali, took up arms last month and has launched attacks on northern towns and army bases.
It came after many Tuareg fighters returned from Libya, where they had fought alongside Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
Rights groups have urged the government, meanwhile, not to bomb civilians.
The resurgence in fighting follows two years of relative peace between the government and the Tuareg.
'Critical' needs
"Over a space of a few weeks we have seen literally tens of thousands of people being displaced to at least four countries surrounding Mali, plus smaller numbers in Togo, Guinea as well," Mr Edwards said.
He said there were an estimated 60,000 inside Mali, as well as some 29,000 in Niger, 22,000 in Mauritania and 18,000 in Burkina Faso.
The estimated 130,000 people displaced by the fighting is about 0.8% of the entire Malian population, which was estimated at 15.8m in 2011 - and a far greater proportion of the harsh, arid north part of the country.
Mr Edwards warned that there were "quite critical" needs for basic supplies - including shelter, food, water and medicines.
As well as that, many displaced were in a region chronically affected by food insecurity already, he said.
BBC
21.2.12
A agitação no Norte do Mali
Mali has rapidly moved from peaceful political campaigning to bloody military confrontation and inter-communal strife
Battle-hardened fighters of the Mouvement national pour la libération de l’Azawad – equipped with heavy weapons they brought back from Libya – are confronting the Malian army in hard combat for the control of key towns. Well-led and highly experienced, the Tuareg MNLA launched its offensive in January, having returned to Mali late in 2011 from the defence of Bani Walid, the last stronghold of forces loyal to the late Libyan leader, Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi. Africa Confidential
Battle-hardened fighters of the Mouvement national pour la libération de l’Azawad – equipped with heavy weapons they brought back from Libya – are confronting the Malian army in hard combat for the control of key towns. Well-led and highly experienced, the Tuareg MNLA launched its offensive in January, having returned to Mali late in 2011 from the defence of Bani Walid, the last stronghold of forces loyal to the late Libyan leader, Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi. Africa Confidential
19.2.12
É arriscado atacar o Irão (ou a Síria)
William Hague has warned Israel that military action against Iran would not be "a wise thing".
Amid rumours that the Israeli government is considering strikes against Iran within months, Hague insisted economic sanctions and negotiations had to be given a real chance to convince Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
In an interview on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, the foreign secretary repeated his warning that a nuclear-armed Iran would result in another cold war in the Middle East.
"They would either be attacked and there would be a war, or there would be a cold war in which Iran for the long term would be subject to these very intense economic sanctions and they would find that other nations in their region developed nuclear weapons," he said.
Hague cautioned against military action, although he said it was not ruled out as an option. "I don't think a wise thing at this moment is for Israel to launch a military attack on Iran," he said. "I think Israel like everyone else in the world should be giving a real chance to the approach we have adopted on very serious economic sanctions and economic pressure and the readiness to negotiate with Iran. That's what we need to make a success of."
Hague said Israel did not share its plans with Britain. "We do not take any options off the table, we don't know how the situation will develop, it would be unwise to do that," he said. "But our approach is 100% diplomatically and economically focused to bring Iran to the negotiating table."
Hague said there was "no specific information" about a threat to the London Olympics from any Tehran-backed terrorists. But he acknowledged: "Clearly Iran has been involved increasingly in illegal and potentially terrorist activity in other parts of the world.
"I think Iran has increased its willingness to contemplate utterly illegal activities in other parts of the world. This is part of the danger that Iran is presenting to the peace of the world."
The Guardian
Amid rumours that the Israeli government is considering strikes against Iran within months, Hague insisted economic sanctions and negotiations had to be given a real chance to convince Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
In an interview on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, the foreign secretary repeated his warning that a nuclear-armed Iran would result in another cold war in the Middle East.
"They would either be attacked and there would be a war, or there would be a cold war in which Iran for the long term would be subject to these very intense economic sanctions and they would find that other nations in their region developed nuclear weapons," he said.
Hague cautioned against military action, although he said it was not ruled out as an option. "I don't think a wise thing at this moment is for Israel to launch a military attack on Iran," he said. "I think Israel like everyone else in the world should be giving a real chance to the approach we have adopted on very serious economic sanctions and economic pressure and the readiness to negotiate with Iran. That's what we need to make a success of."
Hague said Israel did not share its plans with Britain. "We do not take any options off the table, we don't know how the situation will develop, it would be unwise to do that," he said. "But our approach is 100% diplomatically and economically focused to bring Iran to the negotiating table."
Hague said there was "no specific information" about a threat to the London Olympics from any Tehran-backed terrorists. But he acknowledged: "Clearly Iran has been involved increasingly in illegal and potentially terrorist activity in other parts of the world.
"I think Iran has increased its willingness to contemplate utterly illegal activities in other parts of the world. This is part of the danger that Iran is presenting to the peace of the world."
The Guardian
Irão solidário com a Síria
Iranian warships have crossed the Suez Canal and docked in Syria's port city of Tartous, Iranian state media has reported.
The Mehr news agency said on Sunday that Tehran's show of support has caused "extreme worry for zionist forces".
Youcef Bouandel, professor of international affairs at Qatar University, told Al Jazeear that Iran's deployment has to be viewed as part of a "broader picture" - that it to say that the Iranian government feels that "Syria is the first step towards putting Iran in the corner".
"Iran has been having a few standoffs with the West in general over its nuclear programme and over its oil emabrgo," said Bouandel, who said that the docking of the ships on the Syrian coast had two largely symbolic meanings.
"Iran has been threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz and has been a strong ally of Syria over the last year in particular ... the two ships ... crossed the Suez Canal without being stopped or searched [which] suggests that they do not carry any weapons," he said.
Tensions over the nature of Iran's nuclear programme have lead to ever-tightening sanctions on the country's oil exports, prompting Iran to threaten to close the strait, the world's most important chokepoint for oil transport.
Move a 'provocation'
Reacting to the news on Saturday, Israel's foreign ministry denounced the deployment as a "provocation" and a "power play."
Israel said it will be watching the ships' movements closely to ensure they do not approach its coast.
Tom Donilon, the US national security advisor is due to meet Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in Jerusalam on Sunday where the deployment is expected to be discussed.
"The strategic navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has passed through the Suez Canal for the second time since the [1979] Islamic Revolution," Admiral Habibollah Sayari said in remarks quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
Sayari did not say how many vessels had crossed the canal, or what missions they were planning to carry out in the Mediterranean, but said the flotilla had previously docked in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Two Iranian ships, the destroyer Shahid Qandi and supply vessel Kharg, had docked in the Red Sea port on February 4, according to Iranian media.
Al Jazeera
The Mehr news agency said on Sunday that Tehran's show of support has caused "extreme worry for zionist forces".
Youcef Bouandel, professor of international affairs at Qatar University, told Al Jazeear that Iran's deployment has to be viewed as part of a "broader picture" - that it to say that the Iranian government feels that "Syria is the first step towards putting Iran in the corner".
"Iran has been having a few standoffs with the West in general over its nuclear programme and over its oil emabrgo," said Bouandel, who said that the docking of the ships on the Syrian coast had two largely symbolic meanings.
"Iran has been threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz and has been a strong ally of Syria over the last year in particular ... the two ships ... crossed the Suez Canal without being stopped or searched [which] suggests that they do not carry any weapons," he said.
Tensions over the nature of Iran's nuclear programme have lead to ever-tightening sanctions on the country's oil exports, prompting Iran to threaten to close the strait, the world's most important chokepoint for oil transport.
Move a 'provocation'
Reacting to the news on Saturday, Israel's foreign ministry denounced the deployment as a "provocation" and a "power play."
Israel said it will be watching the ships' movements closely to ensure they do not approach its coast.
Tom Donilon, the US national security advisor is due to meet Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in Jerusalam on Sunday where the deployment is expected to be discussed.
"The strategic navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has passed through the Suez Canal for the second time since the [1979] Islamic Revolution," Admiral Habibollah Sayari said in remarks quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
Sayari did not say how many vessels had crossed the canal, or what missions they were planning to carry out in the Mediterranean, but said the flotilla had previously docked in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
Two Iranian ships, the destroyer Shahid Qandi and supply vessel Kharg, had docked in the Red Sea port on February 4, according to Iranian media.
Al Jazeera
O declínio da República Árabe Síria
One of Syria's leading businessmen says its economy is being crippled by foreign sanctions and that the government is slowly disintegrating.
Faisal al-Qudsi, the son of a former Syrian president, told the BBC the military action could only last six months and then there would be "millions of people on the streets".
But he said President Bashar al-Assad's government would fight to the end.
The 11-month uprising against Mr Assad has claimed thousands of lives.
Human rights groups have put the figure at more than 7,000, while the government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed combating "armed gangs and terrorists".
The violence continued on Saturday, when Syrian troops fired on mourners during a funeral that turned into a mass demonstration in Damascus. Activists say at least one person was killed there and some 20 across the country.
'Catch 22'
Speaking to the BBC's Weekend World Today programme, Mr Qudsi said the economy had been crippled by sanctions and that although Iran was sending money, it was not enough.
Mr Qudsi now chairs a London-based investment banking firm and has been heavily involved in private sector investment in Syria.
He said the uprising had destroyed tourism and reserves of the central bank have come down from $22bn (£14bn) to about $10bn and it is dwindling very rapidly," Mr Qudsi said.
He said the military phase against protesters could only last another six months "because the army is getting tired and will go nowhere". BBC
Faisal al-Qudsi, the son of a former Syrian president, told the BBC the military action could only last six months and then there would be "millions of people on the streets".
But he said President Bashar al-Assad's government would fight to the end.
The 11-month uprising against Mr Assad has claimed thousands of lives.
Human rights groups have put the figure at more than 7,000, while the government says at least 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed combating "armed gangs and terrorists".
The violence continued on Saturday, when Syrian troops fired on mourners during a funeral that turned into a mass demonstration in Damascus. Activists say at least one person was killed there and some 20 across the country.
'Catch 22'
Speaking to the BBC's Weekend World Today programme, Mr Qudsi said the economy had been crippled by sanctions and that although Iran was sending money, it was not enough.
Mr Qudsi now chairs a London-based investment banking firm and has been heavily involved in private sector investment in Syria.
He said the uprising had destroyed tourism and reserves of the central bank have come down from $22bn (£14bn) to about $10bn and it is dwindling very rapidly," Mr Qudsi said.
He said the military phase against protesters could only last another six months "because the army is getting tired and will go nowhere". BBC
18.2.12
A voz das gentes de Azawad
Le Mouvement National pour la Libération de l’Azawad (MNLA) affirme avoir la preuve que l’Etat malien bénéficie du soutien d’un Etat puissant qui lui apporte un soutien aérien pour l’acheminement du matériel milliaire et des vivres pour son armée. En effet, dans la nuit du 15 février 2012, vers l’aube les Hommes du MNLA entourant la ville de Tessalit ont aperçu et identifié un avion d’un Etat puissant qui a largué sa cargaison pour les milliaires maliens assiégée dans la base d’Amachach (Tessalit).
Le mouvement affirme disposer de plusieurs informations sur cette affaire qu’il ne souhaite pas divulguer dans les médias.
Le MNLA condamne fermement et dénonce cette partialité en faveur de l’Etat malien. Le MNLA considère que cette intervention n'est pas juste surtout pour un Etat étranger considérée comme étant mieux indiquée pour trouver une issue définitive à la question azawadienne , gage de la stabilité de la sous - région.
Nous informons aussi la Communauté internationale que l'Etat malien fait recours à des mercenaires ukrainiens pour l’entretien et le pilotage des avions de combats qui font des victimes civiles, tuent des animaux et détruisent des campements et véhicules appartenant à des civils notamment dans les localités de Intedeyni, Agabo, Ouzen, Alakat et environs de Tessalit).
Le mouvement National pour la Libération de l’Azawad (MNLA) lance une mise en garde sur les conséquences de cette ingérence étrangère, et lance un appel à l'État Ukrainien à prendre la responsabilité de ses ressortissants ne devant pas prendre parti en faveur de l'Etat du Mali dans la répression du peuple Azawadien et l'occupation de ses terres.
Enfin, le MNLA réitère l’entière disponibilité du peuple de l’Azawad à défendre sans réserves sa patrie pour un devenir meilleur y compris par les moyens juridiques
Ménaka, le 16 Février 2012
Le Président du bureau Politique du MNLA
Mahmoud Ag Ghaly
Le mouvement affirme disposer de plusieurs informations sur cette affaire qu’il ne souhaite pas divulguer dans les médias.
Le MNLA condamne fermement et dénonce cette partialité en faveur de l’Etat malien. Le MNLA considère que cette intervention n'est pas juste surtout pour un Etat étranger considérée comme étant mieux indiquée pour trouver une issue définitive à la question azawadienne , gage de la stabilité de la sous - région.
Nous informons aussi la Communauté internationale que l'Etat malien fait recours à des mercenaires ukrainiens pour l’entretien et le pilotage des avions de combats qui font des victimes civiles, tuent des animaux et détruisent des campements et véhicules appartenant à des civils notamment dans les localités de Intedeyni, Agabo, Ouzen, Alakat et environs de Tessalit).
Le mouvement National pour la Libération de l’Azawad (MNLA) lance une mise en garde sur les conséquences de cette ingérence étrangère, et lance un appel à l'État Ukrainien à prendre la responsabilité de ses ressortissants ne devant pas prendre parti en faveur de l'Etat du Mali dans la répression du peuple Azawadien et l'occupation de ses terres.
Enfin, le MNLA réitère l’entière disponibilité du peuple de l’Azawad à défendre sans réserves sa patrie pour un devenir meilleur y compris par les moyens juridiques
Ménaka, le 16 Février 2012
Le Président du bureau Politique du MNLA
Mahmoud Ag Ghaly
A causa tuaregue de Azawad
Après le succès de la manifestation de Paris (France) en faveur des populations de l'Azawad, la section du MNLA en Belgique organise le 26 Février 2012 une autre manifestation pour dénoncer les crimes du Mali dans l'Azawad depuis un demi-siècle. La manifestation aura pour objectif de condamner les actions du Mali qui a fait de l'Azawad un terrain de terrorisme et la plaque tournante des trafics illicites. Elle sera également l'occasion de tirer une sonnette d'alarme sur la crise humanitaire actuelle qui touche l'Azawad.
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Je vous confirme que la manifestation devant l'ambassade du Mali aura bien lieu le 26 février 2012 de 14h00 jusqu'à 16h00 à Bruxelles, Belgique.
L'adresse est: Avenue Molière n°487, 1050, IXELLES, Bruxelles
Soyez nombreux à cette date-là pour:
- Dénoncer l'injustice que subit le peuple de l'Azawad;
- Dénoncer le génocide exercé par le régime malien en complicité avec d'autres régimes, dont celui du Sénégal;
- Dénoncer la campagne de désinformation et de diffamation exercée par le régime du Mali contre le peuple de l'Azawad;
- Informer l'opinion nationale et internationale de la réalité de la révolution du peuple de l'Azawad déclenchée depuis 1963 et qui continue encore aujourd'hui.
Et vu l'urgence de la situation humanitaire des réfugiés et des citoyens de l'Azawad, et la campagne de désinformation acharnée menée par le régime du Mali à l'égard du peuple de l'Azawad, on vous demande d'être nombreux le 26 février!
Vive l'Etat d'Azawad!
Ibrahim Ag Wanasnate
Représentant en Belgique du MNLA
Membre Fondateur et Vice-Président délégué pour les Touaregs
de l'Assemblée Mondiale Amazighe
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Je vous confirme que la manifestation devant l'ambassade du Mali aura bien lieu le 26 février 2012 de 14h00 jusqu'à 16h00 à Bruxelles, Belgique.
L'adresse est: Avenue Molière n°487, 1050, IXELLES, Bruxelles
Soyez nombreux à cette date-là pour:
- Dénoncer l'injustice que subit le peuple de l'Azawad;
- Dénoncer le génocide exercé par le régime malien en complicité avec d'autres régimes, dont celui du Sénégal;
- Dénoncer la campagne de désinformation et de diffamation exercée par le régime du Mali contre le peuple de l'Azawad;
- Informer l'opinion nationale et internationale de la réalité de la révolution du peuple de l'Azawad déclenchée depuis 1963 et qui continue encore aujourd'hui.
Et vu l'urgence de la situation humanitaire des réfugiés et des citoyens de l'Azawad, et la campagne de désinformation acharnée menée par le régime du Mali à l'égard du peuple de l'Azawad, on vous demande d'être nombreux le 26 février!
Vive l'Etat d'Azawad!
Ibrahim Ag Wanasnate
Représentant en Belgique du MNLA
Membre Fondateur et Vice-Président délégué pour les Touaregs
de l'Assemblée Mondiale Amazighe
Ouattara à frente da CEDEAO
La Communauté économique des États d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Cedeao) a élu à sa tête le président ivoirien Alassane Ouattara et exprimé sa préoccupation face à la détérioration de la sécurité au Sahel, lors d'un sommet de deux jours qui s'est achevé%
La Communauté économique des Etats d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Cédéao) a élu à sa tête le président ivoirien Alassane Ouattara et exprimé sa préoccupation face à la détérioration de la sécurité au Sahel, lors d'un sommet de deux jours qui s'est achevé vendredi à Abuja. "Nous avons élu à l'unanimité le président de Côte d'Ivoire", a déclaré le président sortant, le chef de l'Etat nigérian Goodluck Jonathan.
L'élection de M. Ouattara à la tête de la Cédéao, qui regroupe quinze pays, marque le retour sur la scène régionale de la Côte d'Ivoire, en crise politique depuis la fin 2002 et secouée en 2010-2011 par de violents troubles. M. Ouattara est arrivé au pouvoir en avril 2011 après une crise post-électorale ayant fait quelque 3.000 morts. Il était le favori pour ce poste d'une durée d'un an renouvelable.
"A travers cette élection, vous venez de manifester une fois de plus le soutien et les encouragements des pays de notre organisation à la Côte d'Ivoire, dans ses efforts de réconciliation et de reconstruction", a déclaré M. Ouattara. "Au plan sécuritaire, notre sous-région fait face à de nouvelles menaces qui entraînent la résurgence de conflits anciens, fragilisent des pans entiers de nos sociétés et menacent nos capacités de défense", a ajouté le nouveau président de la Cédéao. "C'est le lieu d'appeler à la définition d'une politique de défense commune, à la mutualisation de nos moyens, afin de juguler la poussée du terrorisme, de reprendre le contrôle de nos côtes livrées à la piraterie maritime et de contenir les flux d'armes qui aggravent la criminalité et le grand banditisme", a-t-il ajouté.
La Cedeao condamne "la rébellion du MNLA"
Les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement de la Cédéao ont de leur côté "exprimé leurs profondes préoccupations face à la détérioration de la sécurité et de la situation humanitaire dans la région du Sahel, notamment au Mali et au Niger", selon le communiqué final. Le sommet, qui a réuni une dizaine de chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement, "a fermement condamné la rébellion du MNLA (Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad, ndlr) au Mali", en soulignant "son appui sans réserve aux efforts déployés par le Mali pour défendre son intégrité territoriale".
Le sommet de la Cédéao "a exprimé sa préoccupation face au flux de réfugiés et de déplacés internes, ainsi qu'à l'aggravation de l'insécurité alimentaire dans la région du Sahel". Les conditions sécuritaires se dégradent rapidement dans la zone sahélienne en raison d'une nouvelle rébellion touareg au Mali et des attaques de la branche maghrébine d'Al-Qaïda (Aqmi).
Les violences ont provoqué un exode intérieur mais aussi vers d'autres pays. Quelque 44.000 personnes ont ainsi fui vers la Mauritanie, le Niger et le Burkina Faso, alors qu'elles étaient 22.000 le 7 février, selon le Haut commissariat de l'ONU pour les réfugiés (HCR) qui entend renforcer son aide.
Une aide financière de 3 millions de dollars
Une situation d'autant plus préoccupante que 12 millions de personnes dans les pays sahéliens sont menacées par la famine. Le conseil de sécurité et de médiation de la Cédéao a approuvé une aide financière de 3 millions de dollars pour les victimes de la crise alimentaire et des attaques rebelles dans les pays du Sahel.
Concernant la piraterie, en hausse dans le golfe de Guinée, le sommet a souligné l'importance "du rôle de la coordination de la Cédéao pour combattre ce fléau".
Les participants ont par ailleurs élu l'ancien ministre des Finances burkinabè Kadré Ouédraogo président de la commission de la Cédéao, un poste de quatre ans jusqu'alors occupé par le Ghanéen James Victor Gbeho. M. Ouédraogo est actuellement ambassadeur extraordinaire plénipotentiaire du Burkina Faso en Belgique, aux Pays-Bas et au Royaume-Uni.
AFP Jeune Afrique
La Communauté économique des Etats d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Cédéao) a élu à sa tête le président ivoirien Alassane Ouattara et exprimé sa préoccupation face à la détérioration de la sécurité au Sahel, lors d'un sommet de deux jours qui s'est achevé vendredi à Abuja. "Nous avons élu à l'unanimité le président de Côte d'Ivoire", a déclaré le président sortant, le chef de l'Etat nigérian Goodluck Jonathan.
L'élection de M. Ouattara à la tête de la Cédéao, qui regroupe quinze pays, marque le retour sur la scène régionale de la Côte d'Ivoire, en crise politique depuis la fin 2002 et secouée en 2010-2011 par de violents troubles. M. Ouattara est arrivé au pouvoir en avril 2011 après une crise post-électorale ayant fait quelque 3.000 morts. Il était le favori pour ce poste d'une durée d'un an renouvelable.
"A travers cette élection, vous venez de manifester une fois de plus le soutien et les encouragements des pays de notre organisation à la Côte d'Ivoire, dans ses efforts de réconciliation et de reconstruction", a déclaré M. Ouattara. "Au plan sécuritaire, notre sous-région fait face à de nouvelles menaces qui entraînent la résurgence de conflits anciens, fragilisent des pans entiers de nos sociétés et menacent nos capacités de défense", a ajouté le nouveau président de la Cédéao. "C'est le lieu d'appeler à la définition d'une politique de défense commune, à la mutualisation de nos moyens, afin de juguler la poussée du terrorisme, de reprendre le contrôle de nos côtes livrées à la piraterie maritime et de contenir les flux d'armes qui aggravent la criminalité et le grand banditisme", a-t-il ajouté.
La Cedeao condamne "la rébellion du MNLA"
Les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement de la Cédéao ont de leur côté "exprimé leurs profondes préoccupations face à la détérioration de la sécurité et de la situation humanitaire dans la région du Sahel, notamment au Mali et au Niger", selon le communiqué final. Le sommet, qui a réuni une dizaine de chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement, "a fermement condamné la rébellion du MNLA (Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad, ndlr) au Mali", en soulignant "son appui sans réserve aux efforts déployés par le Mali pour défendre son intégrité territoriale".
Le sommet de la Cédéao "a exprimé sa préoccupation face au flux de réfugiés et de déplacés internes, ainsi qu'à l'aggravation de l'insécurité alimentaire dans la région du Sahel". Les conditions sécuritaires se dégradent rapidement dans la zone sahélienne en raison d'une nouvelle rébellion touareg au Mali et des attaques de la branche maghrébine d'Al-Qaïda (Aqmi).
Les violences ont provoqué un exode intérieur mais aussi vers d'autres pays. Quelque 44.000 personnes ont ainsi fui vers la Mauritanie, le Niger et le Burkina Faso, alors qu'elles étaient 22.000 le 7 février, selon le Haut commissariat de l'ONU pour les réfugiés (HCR) qui entend renforcer son aide.
Une aide financière de 3 millions de dollars
Une situation d'autant plus préoccupante que 12 millions de personnes dans les pays sahéliens sont menacées par la famine. Le conseil de sécurité et de médiation de la Cédéao a approuvé une aide financière de 3 millions de dollars pour les victimes de la crise alimentaire et des attaques rebelles dans les pays du Sahel.
Concernant la piraterie, en hausse dans le golfe de Guinée, le sommet a souligné l'importance "du rôle de la coordination de la Cédéao pour combattre ce fléau".
Les participants ont par ailleurs élu l'ancien ministre des Finances burkinabè Kadré Ouédraogo président de la commission de la Cédéao, un poste de quatre ans jusqu'alors occupé par le Ghanéen James Victor Gbeho. M. Ouédraogo est actuellement ambassadeur extraordinaire plénipotentiaire du Burkina Faso en Belgique, aux Pays-Bas et au Royaume-Uni.
AFP Jeune Afrique
16.2.12
PÚBLICO reconhece o equívoco líbio
As violações de direitos humanos cometidas “com toda a impunidade” por diferentes milícias ameaçam a “nova Líbia” que deveria surgir com a vitória da revolta contra Muammar Khadafi.
O aviso é feito pela Amnistia Internacional num relatório publicado no primeiro aniversário do levantamento popular que começou na cidade de Bengazi, no Leste do país – e terminou em Outubro, com a captura e morte do ditador. As mesmas milícias que se formaram para derrubar Khadafi põem agora em causa o futuro.
“Há um ano, os líbios arriscaram a sua própria vida para reclamar justiça. Hoje, as suas esperanças são ameaçadas por milícias armadas sem lei que pisam os direitos humanos com toda a impunidade”, afirmou Donatella Rovera, conselheira especial da Amnistia para as crises e conflitos, na apresentação do relatório.
O número real de milícias existentes em todo o país é desconhecido. Um relatório do "think tank" International Crisis Group diz que tanto podem ser 100 como 300 – no mínimo, há 125 mil líbios armados, organizados por cidades ou bairros. Em princípio, todos deveriam responder ao Conselho Nacional de Transição, formado durante a guerra para organizar a oposição (e que continuará no poder até às eleições de Junho), mas afirmam obedecer apenas aos seus comandantes locais.
O grande fracasso do CNT é precisamente o desarmamento destes grupos. Na ausência de um verdadeiro Exército nacional, a segurança das próprias instalações de Estado continua a ser assegurada por estes homens, que não raras vezes se envolvem em confrontos mortíferos. O novo Exército deveria ser formado a partir das milícias, mas só 10% dos combatentes aceitaram integrá-lo.
No início da semana, representantes de cerca de 100 milícias do Ocidente do país anunciaram ter formado uma federação para prevenir o combate entre grupos. Mas os líderes destes grupos não reconhecem o CNT: “Não nos revoltámos contra Khadafi, mas contra um regime corrupto. Não vamos baixar as nossas armas enquanto não tivermos a certeza de que a revolução vai no caminho certo”, afirmou numa conferência de imprensa Ibrahim al-Madani, comandante de uma das brigadas que se uniu à nova federação.
O líder desta federação, o coronel Mokhtar Fernana, disse à Associated Press que o CNT “está a tentar sequestrar a revolução” e acusou as novas autoridades de aceitarem homens que defenderam o regime nas novas forças de segurança – que deveriam integrar todas as milícias.
Tortura e pilhagens
Donatella Rovera apelou à realização de inquéritos aos “graves abusos”, incluindo “crimes de guerra contra alegados partidários de Muammar Khadafi”, cometidos por estes grupos. Segundo a Amnistia, muitas “pessoas foram detidas ilegalmente e torturadas, por vezes até à morte”.
“A maior parte das milícias na Líbia está fora de controlo e a impunidade generalizada de que gozam só encoraja mais violência e perpetua a instabilidade e a insegurança no país”, disse Rovera.
A Amnistia fala em particular dos casos de “refugiados africanos tomados por alvo [por suspeitas de que combateram por Khadafi] e contra os quais foram cometidas represálias” e “casos de vinganças que significaram o deslocamento forçado de comunidades inteiras”. O relatório cita os habitantes de Tawergha, a sul de Misurata, no Ocidente do país.
Sofia Lorena/PÚBLICO ------- Há mais de quatro meses que ando a denunciar os muitos erros da viragem do ano passado na Líbia.
Só os néscios poderiam ter andado em Agosto, Setembro e Outubro a deitar foguetes com o que estava a acontecer. Com a pretensa "libertação".
O aviso é feito pela Amnistia Internacional num relatório publicado no primeiro aniversário do levantamento popular que começou na cidade de Bengazi, no Leste do país – e terminou em Outubro, com a captura e morte do ditador. As mesmas milícias que se formaram para derrubar Khadafi põem agora em causa o futuro.
“Há um ano, os líbios arriscaram a sua própria vida para reclamar justiça. Hoje, as suas esperanças são ameaçadas por milícias armadas sem lei que pisam os direitos humanos com toda a impunidade”, afirmou Donatella Rovera, conselheira especial da Amnistia para as crises e conflitos, na apresentação do relatório.
O número real de milícias existentes em todo o país é desconhecido. Um relatório do "think tank" International Crisis Group diz que tanto podem ser 100 como 300 – no mínimo, há 125 mil líbios armados, organizados por cidades ou bairros. Em princípio, todos deveriam responder ao Conselho Nacional de Transição, formado durante a guerra para organizar a oposição (e que continuará no poder até às eleições de Junho), mas afirmam obedecer apenas aos seus comandantes locais.
O grande fracasso do CNT é precisamente o desarmamento destes grupos. Na ausência de um verdadeiro Exército nacional, a segurança das próprias instalações de Estado continua a ser assegurada por estes homens, que não raras vezes se envolvem em confrontos mortíferos. O novo Exército deveria ser formado a partir das milícias, mas só 10% dos combatentes aceitaram integrá-lo.
No início da semana, representantes de cerca de 100 milícias do Ocidente do país anunciaram ter formado uma federação para prevenir o combate entre grupos. Mas os líderes destes grupos não reconhecem o CNT: “Não nos revoltámos contra Khadafi, mas contra um regime corrupto. Não vamos baixar as nossas armas enquanto não tivermos a certeza de que a revolução vai no caminho certo”, afirmou numa conferência de imprensa Ibrahim al-Madani, comandante de uma das brigadas que se uniu à nova federação.
O líder desta federação, o coronel Mokhtar Fernana, disse à Associated Press que o CNT “está a tentar sequestrar a revolução” e acusou as novas autoridades de aceitarem homens que defenderam o regime nas novas forças de segurança – que deveriam integrar todas as milícias.
Tortura e pilhagens
Donatella Rovera apelou à realização de inquéritos aos “graves abusos”, incluindo “crimes de guerra contra alegados partidários de Muammar Khadafi”, cometidos por estes grupos. Segundo a Amnistia, muitas “pessoas foram detidas ilegalmente e torturadas, por vezes até à morte”.
“A maior parte das milícias na Líbia está fora de controlo e a impunidade generalizada de que gozam só encoraja mais violência e perpetua a instabilidade e a insegurança no país”, disse Rovera.
A Amnistia fala em particular dos casos de “refugiados africanos tomados por alvo [por suspeitas de que combateram por Khadafi] e contra os quais foram cometidas represálias” e “casos de vinganças que significaram o deslocamento forçado de comunidades inteiras”. O relatório cita os habitantes de Tawergha, a sul de Misurata, no Ocidente do país.
Sofia Lorena/PÚBLICO ------- Há mais de quatro meses que ando a denunciar os muitos erros da viragem do ano passado na Líbia.
Só os néscios poderiam ter andado em Agosto, Setembro e Outubro a deitar foguetes com o que estava a acontecer. Com a pretensa "libertação".
15.2.12
Um ano de incertezas na Líbia
By AFP
TRIPOLI
One year since the anti-Qaddafi revolt erupted, Libya is battling challenges ranging from how to tame rowdy militias who fought his forces to establishing a new rule of law in the country.
On Friday, Libya marks the first anniversary of the revolution against Muammar Qaddafi, which was ignited in the eastern city of Benghazi on February 17 and ended on October 20 with the dictator’s killing.
No official celebrations have been organized at a national level, but local councils are planning commemorations and have been warned to be on the alert against possible attacks by Qaddafi supporters.
“We need to be careful because some agents of Qaddafi’s regime have dreams (of creating insecurity). But the thuwar (revolutionaries) are ready all the time to confront them firmly,” warned Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali.
Qaddafi’s ouster and death was one of the key events of the so-called Arab Spring, but Libya has since struggled to erase the legacy of the former strongman’s four decades of iron-fisted rule.
Thousands of people were killed or wounded in the struggle, the country’s vital oil production ground to a halt, and homes, businesses, factories, schools and hospitals were devastated.
So Libya’s new rulers face daunting challenges -- not only rebuilding an ageing infrastructure and repairing the damage, but also fostering vibrant state institutions, tackling a corrupt economy and boosting what are weak health, judicial and educational systems.
But their most immediate headache is how to control the tens of thousands of ex-rebels who helped oust Qaddafi and have now turned into powerful militias, whose jealously guarded commitment to their honour and power occasionally erupts into deadly clashes.
“By now they (militias) have developed vested interests they will be loath to relinquish,” said World Bank advisor Hafed al-Ghwell in a recent report.
Ghwell said the militias have an edge over the nation’s National Transitional Council (NTC) because of their “superior local knowledge and connections, strong leaderships and revolutionary legitimacy.”
In the absence of a regular and efficient national army and police, the militias are providing security on the streets and even guarding installations such as airports.
But armed with light and heavy weapons these rival militias have emerged as the biggest security threat for Libya, regularly clashing with each other and causing fatalities.
Global human rights organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders have lashed out at them, accusing them of torturing their prisoners, most of whom are former pro-Qaddafi fighters.
“Revenge attacks against populations deemed to have supported Qaddafi also grew” in recent months, HRW said in its World Report 2012, particularly targeting militias from the city of western port city of Misrata.
TRIPOLI
One year since the anti-Qaddafi revolt erupted, Libya is battling challenges ranging from how to tame rowdy militias who fought his forces to establishing a new rule of law in the country.
On Friday, Libya marks the first anniversary of the revolution against Muammar Qaddafi, which was ignited in the eastern city of Benghazi on February 17 and ended on October 20 with the dictator’s killing.
No official celebrations have been organized at a national level, but local councils are planning commemorations and have been warned to be on the alert against possible attacks by Qaddafi supporters.
“We need to be careful because some agents of Qaddafi’s regime have dreams (of creating insecurity). But the thuwar (revolutionaries) are ready all the time to confront them firmly,” warned Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali.
Qaddafi’s ouster and death was one of the key events of the so-called Arab Spring, but Libya has since struggled to erase the legacy of the former strongman’s four decades of iron-fisted rule.
Thousands of people were killed or wounded in the struggle, the country’s vital oil production ground to a halt, and homes, businesses, factories, schools and hospitals were devastated.
So Libya’s new rulers face daunting challenges -- not only rebuilding an ageing infrastructure and repairing the damage, but also fostering vibrant state institutions, tackling a corrupt economy and boosting what are weak health, judicial and educational systems.
But their most immediate headache is how to control the tens of thousands of ex-rebels who helped oust Qaddafi and have now turned into powerful militias, whose jealously guarded commitment to their honour and power occasionally erupts into deadly clashes.
“By now they (militias) have developed vested interests they will be loath to relinquish,” said World Bank advisor Hafed al-Ghwell in a recent report.
Ghwell said the militias have an edge over the nation’s National Transitional Council (NTC) because of their “superior local knowledge and connections, strong leaderships and revolutionary legitimacy.”
In the absence of a regular and efficient national army and police, the militias are providing security on the streets and even guarding installations such as airports.
But armed with light and heavy weapons these rival militias have emerged as the biggest security threat for Libya, regularly clashing with each other and causing fatalities.
Global human rights organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders have lashed out at them, accusing them of torturing their prisoners, most of whom are former pro-Qaddafi fighters.
“Revenge attacks against populations deemed to have supported Qaddafi also grew” in recent months, HRW said in its World Report 2012, particularly targeting militias from the city of western port city of Misrata.
13.2.12
A mansão parisiense de Teodorin Obiang
At 42 Avenue Foch, the tree-lined boulevard that is one of Paris's most expensive streets, looms a five-storey private mansion complete with disco, spa room, hair salon, gold-and jewel-encrusted taps, lift, pastel pink dining room and a breathtaking balcony-view of the Arc de Triomphe.
Local people always knew when there was about to be a visit from its 41-year-old "playboy" resident, Teodorin Obiang, eldest son of the autocratic president of Equatorial Guinea. Days before Obiang Jr's private jet touched down, two massive lorries would pull up outside and disgorge a sea of fresh flowers to dress the interior of the mansion.
When Obiang was in residence, passersby would see a parade of couturiers from Paris's top design houses, including Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Louis Vuitton, waiting to be admitted for fittings before returning with vanloads of made-to-measure clothes. Crates of the most expensive burgundy were another regular delivery.
On one occasion 15,000 DVDs were hauled in on wooden pallets – roughly 41 years worth of viewing.
But the most public statement of opulence was the fleet of luxury, turbo-charged, yellow, red and blue sports cars, parked in garages or in the cobbled courtyard.
"The noise-factor was extreme," one local said. "He seemed obsessed with security so when he wanted to go out between midnight and 2am, he'd order the chauffeur to warm up four cars so no one knew which he'd take. Can you imagine the noise of Ferraris, Porsches and Maseratis all running at once? Then he'd come down and decide to take a fifth car and that would have to be started."
But the courtyard has fallen quiet, the mansion empty of occupants. Three months ago, in a morning raid, French police towed away 11 luxury cars, including a Maserati, a Porsche Carrera, an Aston Martin and a Mercedes Maybach.
At the time, Obiang Jr, whose salary as Equatorial Guinea's agriculture and forestry minister was €3,200 (£2,700) a month, owned two Bugatti Veyrons, the most expensive and fastest street car in the world, costing about €1m a piece and reaching 250mph . He was in the process of acquiring a third.
The raid was the first in the landmark French inquiry known as the case of the "ill-gotten gains".
In an unprecedented move, three serving African leaders and their families are under investigation in Paris over whether they embezzled state funds to acquire vast assets in France including bank accounts, Riviera villas and fleets of luxury cars.
The clan of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo and its current leader, his son Ali Bongo; the Congo-Brazzaville leader, Denis Sassou-Nguesso and his family, and President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and his clan are accused of having assets worth €160m in France, from penthouses and villas to scores of bank accounts and luxury car fleets.
The leaders and their families have denied building up personal wealth in France through embezzlement, money-laundering and misuse of public funds.
Judges are beginning the detailed task of trying to prove such spectacular wealth was directly siphoned from the coffers of the oil-rich states to the detriment of populations left to live in misery.
In 2000, just as Obiang began building up his car collection, Equatorial Guinea was on paper the wealthiest African country per inhabitant, yet a majority of its people lived below the UN poverty threshold.
With billions of dollars worth of assets of Muammar Gaddafi frozen by the UN and member countries, and other legal moves to recover the wealth of deposed autocrats such as Tunisia's Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, the drive to seize billions plundered by corrupt leaders has never been higher.
But the French case against three serving African leaders, initiated by anti-corruption NGOs as part of a long legal battle, also illustrates the limits on western willingness to act against rulers still in power.
"With deposed heads of state after the Arab spring, there was no problem, the whole community was scandalised at the plundering of money from their countries. We're warning against double standards: why should you have to wait for a leader to fall to put a stop to corruption?" said Maud Perdriel-Vaissiere, head of Sherpa, one NGO leading the case.
The police inquiry has given an unprecedented insight into the lifestyle of certain African leaders. When the spectacular art collection from the homes of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent went up for auction in Paris in 2009 it was called the art sale of the century and raised more than €370m. French authorities later revealed that Obiang Jr bought 109 lots at the sale, costing €18m.
Olivier Pardo, lawyer for Equatorial Guinea in France, said the case of the "ill-gotten gains" violated international law and that he would contest the case and pursue France through the international courts. It may not just be France.
A US government court action is seeking to seize $71m (£45m) of assets from Obiang Jr in the US which it claims were paid for through corruption. His US assets are said to include a $38.5m Gulfstream V private jet, a $30m mansion in Malibu, California, and $1.8m of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including a white crystal-covered glove and a crystal-covered pair of socks. A spokesman for Equatorial Guinea denied wrongdoing. An inquiry into the Obiangs' assets is also underway in Spain.
On a corner of Paris's chic Avenue Rapp, in the heart of the wealthy 7th arrondissement, a short walk from the Eiffel tower, the gentlemen's outfitters Pape tells its own story of the lifestyle of leaders of oil-rich states.
The Senegalese tailor Pape Ibrahima N'diaye, a Paris institution known as "Monsieur Pape", is a favourite of French lawyers, politicians and businessmen.
Denis Sassou N'Guesso, the 68-year-old leader of Congo-Brazzaville, famous for his impeccable suits and dress sense, did not hold back in his private fittings.
A new book, The Scandal of the Ill-Gotten Gains, by the investigative journalists Thomas Hofnung and Xavier Harel, has sent shockwaves through the French establishment with fresh details of spending habits.
In it, the authors reveal a note by Tracfin, the French anti-money laundering authority, which states that in April 2010, Sassou N'Guesso ordered 91 suits from Pape for €276,000. A month earlier, in March 2010, he had bought 48 shirts for €24,000. In one year, in the 12 months from November 2009, Sassou N'Guesso spent more than €652,000 on clothes there. His lawyer dismissed the sum as "false and absurd".
The Sassou N'Guesso clan have 24 properties in France in their own name, 112 bank accounts and various sports cars. Meanwhile, NGOs point out that 70% of Congo-Brazzaville people live on less than $1 a day.
In the heart of the 8th arrondissement, not far from the French president's Elysée palace, a mansion on the quiet Rue de la Baume has come to symbolise the wealth of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo. When Bongo died in 2009, he was the world's longest-ruling head of state, save for the British and Thai monarchies.
A friend of all recent French presidents, at one time he owned more Paris properties than any other foreign leader. The Bongo clan has the biggest property portfolio in the "ill-gotten gains case".
A preliminary police report claimed he and his close relatives own 39 properties in France, mostly in exclusive districts of Paris and on the French Riviera. They also have 70 French bank accounts and at least nine luxury cars in France, including Ferraris and Mercedes worth a total of €1.5m. Bongo's son, Ali Bongo, was elected president in 2009 after his father's death. That year he bought himself a Bentley Continental Flying Spur for more than €200,000, which can run for 1,500 miles without refuelling despite the fact that oil-rich Gabon has less than 500 miles of asphalt roads.
The Guardian 6 de Fevereiro de 2012
Local people always knew when there was about to be a visit from its 41-year-old "playboy" resident, Teodorin Obiang, eldest son of the autocratic president of Equatorial Guinea. Days before Obiang Jr's private jet touched down, two massive lorries would pull up outside and disgorge a sea of fresh flowers to dress the interior of the mansion.
When Obiang was in residence, passersby would see a parade of couturiers from Paris's top design houses, including Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Louis Vuitton, waiting to be admitted for fittings before returning with vanloads of made-to-measure clothes. Crates of the most expensive burgundy were another regular delivery.
On one occasion 15,000 DVDs were hauled in on wooden pallets – roughly 41 years worth of viewing.
But the most public statement of opulence was the fleet of luxury, turbo-charged, yellow, red and blue sports cars, parked in garages or in the cobbled courtyard.
"The noise-factor was extreme," one local said. "He seemed obsessed with security so when he wanted to go out between midnight and 2am, he'd order the chauffeur to warm up four cars so no one knew which he'd take. Can you imagine the noise of Ferraris, Porsches and Maseratis all running at once? Then he'd come down and decide to take a fifth car and that would have to be started."
But the courtyard has fallen quiet, the mansion empty of occupants. Three months ago, in a morning raid, French police towed away 11 luxury cars, including a Maserati, a Porsche Carrera, an Aston Martin and a Mercedes Maybach.
At the time, Obiang Jr, whose salary as Equatorial Guinea's agriculture and forestry minister was €3,200 (£2,700) a month, owned two Bugatti Veyrons, the most expensive and fastest street car in the world, costing about €1m a piece and reaching 250mph . He was in the process of acquiring a third.
The raid was the first in the landmark French inquiry known as the case of the "ill-gotten gains".
In an unprecedented move, three serving African leaders and their families are under investigation in Paris over whether they embezzled state funds to acquire vast assets in France including bank accounts, Riviera villas and fleets of luxury cars.
The clan of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo and its current leader, his son Ali Bongo; the Congo-Brazzaville leader, Denis Sassou-Nguesso and his family, and President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and his clan are accused of having assets worth €160m in France, from penthouses and villas to scores of bank accounts and luxury car fleets.
The leaders and their families have denied building up personal wealth in France through embezzlement, money-laundering and misuse of public funds.
Judges are beginning the detailed task of trying to prove such spectacular wealth was directly siphoned from the coffers of the oil-rich states to the detriment of populations left to live in misery.
In 2000, just as Obiang began building up his car collection, Equatorial Guinea was on paper the wealthiest African country per inhabitant, yet a majority of its people lived below the UN poverty threshold.
With billions of dollars worth of assets of Muammar Gaddafi frozen by the UN and member countries, and other legal moves to recover the wealth of deposed autocrats such as Tunisia's Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, the drive to seize billions plundered by corrupt leaders has never been higher.
But the French case against three serving African leaders, initiated by anti-corruption NGOs as part of a long legal battle, also illustrates the limits on western willingness to act against rulers still in power.
"With deposed heads of state after the Arab spring, there was no problem, the whole community was scandalised at the plundering of money from their countries. We're warning against double standards: why should you have to wait for a leader to fall to put a stop to corruption?" said Maud Perdriel-Vaissiere, head of Sherpa, one NGO leading the case.
The police inquiry has given an unprecedented insight into the lifestyle of certain African leaders. When the spectacular art collection from the homes of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent went up for auction in Paris in 2009 it was called the art sale of the century and raised more than €370m. French authorities later revealed that Obiang Jr bought 109 lots at the sale, costing €18m.
Olivier Pardo, lawyer for Equatorial Guinea in France, said the case of the "ill-gotten gains" violated international law and that he would contest the case and pursue France through the international courts. It may not just be France.
A US government court action is seeking to seize $71m (£45m) of assets from Obiang Jr in the US which it claims were paid for through corruption. His US assets are said to include a $38.5m Gulfstream V private jet, a $30m mansion in Malibu, California, and $1.8m of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including a white crystal-covered glove and a crystal-covered pair of socks. A spokesman for Equatorial Guinea denied wrongdoing. An inquiry into the Obiangs' assets is also underway in Spain.
On a corner of Paris's chic Avenue Rapp, in the heart of the wealthy 7th arrondissement, a short walk from the Eiffel tower, the gentlemen's outfitters Pape tells its own story of the lifestyle of leaders of oil-rich states.
The Senegalese tailor Pape Ibrahima N'diaye, a Paris institution known as "Monsieur Pape", is a favourite of French lawyers, politicians and businessmen.
Denis Sassou N'Guesso, the 68-year-old leader of Congo-Brazzaville, famous for his impeccable suits and dress sense, did not hold back in his private fittings.
A new book, The Scandal of the Ill-Gotten Gains, by the investigative journalists Thomas Hofnung and Xavier Harel, has sent shockwaves through the French establishment with fresh details of spending habits.
In it, the authors reveal a note by Tracfin, the French anti-money laundering authority, which states that in April 2010, Sassou N'Guesso ordered 91 suits from Pape for €276,000. A month earlier, in March 2010, he had bought 48 shirts for €24,000. In one year, in the 12 months from November 2009, Sassou N'Guesso spent more than €652,000 on clothes there. His lawyer dismissed the sum as "false and absurd".
The Sassou N'Guesso clan have 24 properties in France in their own name, 112 bank accounts and various sports cars. Meanwhile, NGOs point out that 70% of Congo-Brazzaville people live on less than $1 a day.
In the heart of the 8th arrondissement, not far from the French president's Elysée palace, a mansion on the quiet Rue de la Baume has come to symbolise the wealth of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo. When Bongo died in 2009, he was the world's longest-ruling head of state, save for the British and Thai monarchies.
A friend of all recent French presidents, at one time he owned more Paris properties than any other foreign leader. The Bongo clan has the biggest property portfolio in the "ill-gotten gains case".
A preliminary police report claimed he and his close relatives own 39 properties in France, mostly in exclusive districts of Paris and on the French Riviera. They also have 70 French bank accounts and at least nine luxury cars in France, including Ferraris and Mercedes worth a total of €1.5m. Bongo's son, Ali Bongo, was elected president in 2009 after his father's death. That year he bought himself a Bentley Continental Flying Spur for more than €200,000, which can run for 1,500 miles without refuelling despite the fact that oil-rich Gabon has less than 500 miles of asphalt roads.
The Guardian 6 de Fevereiro de 2012
Reflexão de Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel
"Cuatro ojos ven más que dos, pero lo negaron los que mandaban en tiempo de Macías y lo siguen haciendo los que mandan en la Guinea de hoy. Y lo gritan en la plaza cuando manifiestan lo que les duele la existencia de partidos políticos que no comulgan, y no han de hacerlo, con el pensar del partido del presidente de la república de Guinea Ecuatorial. Les duela o no, no debemos olvidar que el interés de ciertas personas por mejorar los asuntos de la sociedad guineana cobra cierta relevancia cuando existe un apoyo popular, aunque mínimo. Ante este hecho se debería habilitar mecanismos para mejorar la vida de los que, teóricamente, quieren lo mejor para todos. En muchos lugares del mundo, y también aquí, se considera enemigo al que no está en el partido del que manda, lo que quiere decir que gritamos en la plaza que nos dejen ver con un solo ojo, pues ya no es moderno mirar con cuatro. Es decir, hacemos lo contrario de lo que deberíamos hacer. Como el resultado de nuestros esfuerzos no aporta bienestar al país, podemos decir que tomamos el camino equivocado. Creemos que todavía tenemos tiempo de rectificar". Juan Tomás é um escritor da Guiné Equatorial que nestes últimos dias esteve em Portugal
12.2.12
Denúncia da ditadura de Teodoro Obiang
A ditadura de Teodoro Obiang e o desejo de a Guiné Equatorial passar do estatuto de observador associado ao de membro de pleno direito da CPLP foram ontem à noite debatidos em Lisboa por dezenas de pessoas, no Centro InterculturaCidade, dirigido por um activista de movimentos cívicos, Mário Alves.
A partir de uma sugestão do catedrático Eduardo Costa Dias, a antropóloga Yolanda Aixelá Cabré, da Institució Milà i Fontanals, de Barcelona, a sua colega portuguesa Ana Lúcia Sá, João Curvêlo, do ISCTE, e Fernando Sousa, da Amnistia Internacional, partilharam a condução dos trabalhos com o escritor guinéu-equatoriano Juan Tomás Ávila, que já esteve em greve da fome contra a ditadura que há 32 anos é dirigida no seu país por Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
O catedrático alemão Gerhard Seibert e uma série de outros intervenientes alertaram para o contrasenso de a Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa admitir no seu seio um país onde este idioma só existe no papel (e não na prática) e onde, ainda por cima, não se respeitam os direitos humanos.
Foi tónica geral de diversas intervenções a de que, ao aceitarem as pretensões de Obiang, países como Angola e o Brasil só estão a pensar na oportunidade de negócio, não se preocupando muito com a corrupção, o centralismo e a falta de liberdade política num território que é rico em petróleo e que já foi uma colónia espanhola, depois de por lá terem andado portugueses.
Tendo em conta que o medo domina na Guiné Equatorial, onde desde a independência, há 42 anos, nunca se soube o que fosse uma democracia, predominou na assistência o receio de que a próxima cimeira da CPLP, em Julho, na cidade de Maputo, oficialize a filiação plena desse país, cujo ditador assim ficaria com mais trunfos na cena internacional para se revestir com um manto de credibilidade.
Em 2008, quando o caso foi apresentado numa cimeira da organização, em Lisboa, vozes tão altas como as de Seibert, do Professor Eduardo Lourenço, de Ana Gomes, de Luísa Teotónio Pereira e da Amnistia Internacional conseguiram fazer com que a candidatura ficasse em suspenso, tal como o ficou depois na conferência de há dois anos em Luanda. Mas teme-se agora que a diplomacia portugesa, que tanta importância dá à vertente económica, não consiga agora resistir por mais tempo a toda a força do petróleo de Angola e da Guiné Equatorial.
Cada um deles com 32 anos no poder, Teodoro Obiang e José Eduardo dos Santos, seguidos de perto pelo zimbabweano Robert Mugabe, são os decanos dos autocratas africanos, instituindo-se como protótipos de um estilo de governação que as novas gerações não querem tolerar.
A partir de uma sugestão do catedrático Eduardo Costa Dias, a antropóloga Yolanda Aixelá Cabré, da Institució Milà i Fontanals, de Barcelona, a sua colega portuguesa Ana Lúcia Sá, João Curvêlo, do ISCTE, e Fernando Sousa, da Amnistia Internacional, partilharam a condução dos trabalhos com o escritor guinéu-equatoriano Juan Tomás Ávila, que já esteve em greve da fome contra a ditadura que há 32 anos é dirigida no seu país por Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
O catedrático alemão Gerhard Seibert e uma série de outros intervenientes alertaram para o contrasenso de a Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa admitir no seu seio um país onde este idioma só existe no papel (e não na prática) e onde, ainda por cima, não se respeitam os direitos humanos.
Foi tónica geral de diversas intervenções a de que, ao aceitarem as pretensões de Obiang, países como Angola e o Brasil só estão a pensar na oportunidade de negócio, não se preocupando muito com a corrupção, o centralismo e a falta de liberdade política num território que é rico em petróleo e que já foi uma colónia espanhola, depois de por lá terem andado portugueses.
Tendo em conta que o medo domina na Guiné Equatorial, onde desde a independência, há 42 anos, nunca se soube o que fosse uma democracia, predominou na assistência o receio de que a próxima cimeira da CPLP, em Julho, na cidade de Maputo, oficialize a filiação plena desse país, cujo ditador assim ficaria com mais trunfos na cena internacional para se revestir com um manto de credibilidade.
Em 2008, quando o caso foi apresentado numa cimeira da organização, em Lisboa, vozes tão altas como as de Seibert, do Professor Eduardo Lourenço, de Ana Gomes, de Luísa Teotónio Pereira e da Amnistia Internacional conseguiram fazer com que a candidatura ficasse em suspenso, tal como o ficou depois na conferência de há dois anos em Luanda. Mas teme-se agora que a diplomacia portugesa, que tanta importância dá à vertente económica, não consiga agora resistir por mais tempo a toda a força do petróleo de Angola e da Guiné Equatorial.
Cada um deles com 32 anos no poder, Teodoro Obiang e José Eduardo dos Santos, seguidos de perto pelo zimbabweano Robert Mugabe, são os decanos dos autocratas africanos, instituindo-se como protótipos de um estilo de governação que as novas gerações não querem tolerar.
11.2.12
Uma Líbia à deriva
Dans une interview diffusée vendredi 10 février par la chaîne Al-Arabiya, Saadi Kadhafi, l'un des fils de l'ex-dirigeant libyen Mouammar Kadhafi, a promis de retourner en Libye où, selon lui, une grande majorité de la population n'est pas satisfaite de la situation actuelle.
Interrogé par téléphone depuis le Niger où il s'est réfugié après la chute de Tripoli, il a affirmé que "70 % des Libyens ne sont pas satisfaits de la situation actuelle". Selon lui, "il y a une rébellion qui s'étend jour après jour, et il y aura une rébellion dans tout le pays".
"LE PEUPLE LIBYEN SERA CAPABLE D'EXTERMINER CES GANGS"
Interrogé sur le Conseil National de Transition (CNT), qui a pris les rênes du pays après la chute du régime, Saadi Kadhafi a estimé qu'"il arrivera un jour où le peuple Libyen sera capable d'exterminer ces gangs". A mon retour en Libye, "je m'efforcerai à assurer qu'il n'y ait pas d'opérations de représailles ou de vengeance", a-t-il promis.
Saadi Kadhafi, 38 ans, s'est réfugié au Niger en août dernier. Ce pays, qui lui a accordé l'asile, refuse de l'extrader malgré les demandes répétées des nouvelles autorités libyennes. Celles-ci l'accusent de "s'être emparé de biens par la force et l'intimidation quand il dirigeait la Fédération libyenne de football", selon Interpol qui avait émis une "notice rouge" pour demander à ses 188 pays membres son arrestation. Le président nigérien Mahamadou Issoufou avait annoncé le 11 novembre que son pays avait accordé l'asile pour des "raisons humanitaires" à Saadi Kadhafi.
Le Monde
Interrogé par téléphone depuis le Niger où il s'est réfugié après la chute de Tripoli, il a affirmé que "70 % des Libyens ne sont pas satisfaits de la situation actuelle". Selon lui, "il y a une rébellion qui s'étend jour après jour, et il y aura une rébellion dans tout le pays".
"LE PEUPLE LIBYEN SERA CAPABLE D'EXTERMINER CES GANGS"
Interrogé sur le Conseil National de Transition (CNT), qui a pris les rênes du pays après la chute du régime, Saadi Kadhafi a estimé qu'"il arrivera un jour où le peuple Libyen sera capable d'exterminer ces gangs". A mon retour en Libye, "je m'efforcerai à assurer qu'il n'y ait pas d'opérations de représailles ou de vengeance", a-t-il promis.
Saadi Kadhafi, 38 ans, s'est réfugié au Niger en août dernier. Ce pays, qui lui a accordé l'asile, refuse de l'extrader malgré les demandes répétées des nouvelles autorités libyennes. Celles-ci l'accusent de "s'être emparé de biens par la force et l'intimidation quand il dirigeait la Fédération libyenne de football", selon Interpol qui avait émis une "notice rouge" pour demander à ses 188 pays membres son arrestation. Le président nigérien Mahamadou Issoufou avait annoncé le 11 novembre que son pays avait accordé l'asile pour des "raisons humanitaires" à Saadi Kadhafi.
Le Monde
Um ano de Egipto sem Mubarak
Raúl M. Braga Pires, em Rabat (www.expresso.pt)
Sábado, 11 de fevereiro de 2012
A 11 de Fevereiro do ano passado, os egípcios viram-se livres de 29 anos e 4 meses de Hosni Mubarak como Presidente. Às 18h locais, o Vice-Presidente, por 13 dias, Omar Suleiman, anúncia a queda do Raíss (Presidente em árabe), como era conhecido e tratado por todos, incluindo os seus homólogos e, mesmo pela imprensa anglófona e francófona.
Os acontecimentos de há um ano atrás e de há mais tempo, nunca obedeceram aos de uma Primavera de Libertação dos Povos, neste caso o egípcio. De uma forma breve, poderá dizer-se que ao saber-se que Hosni Mubarak não seria o candidato presidencial nas eleições de Setembro de 2011, data há muito marcada, os sectores político, económico e militar dividiram-se em três facções. Os jovens "empresários de sucesso" do Partido Nacional Democrata, liderados pelo ultra-liberal Gamal Mubarak, ávidos de privatizações, às quais se opunham os militares, já que isso lhes iria comprometer uma série de esquemas económicos que lideram, uns de forma oficial e outros de forma oficiosa. Por outro lado, Gamal não chegou a terminar o Serviço Militar Obrigatório, o que aos olhos dos militares o coloca sem apelo nem agravo na categoria de "menino do papá".
Por seu turno, o candidato dos militares sempre foi o General Omar Suleiman, que a partir de 1993 se torna no Director do Serviço de Inteligência Geral Egípcio (SIGE), o qual geria pessoalmente o dossiê Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano há mais de 10 anos. O Daily Telegraph cotou-o como "um dos directores de serviços de inteligência mais poderosos do Mundo" e em 2009, a revista Foreign Policy classificou-o como o Director de um Serviço de Inteligência mais poderoso do Médio Oriente, à frente do Director da Mossad, Meir Dagan.
Do lado dos jovens do Movimento 06 de Abril, surgia um Mohammed El-Baradei que tentava uma alteração constitucional que permitisse uma candidatura presidencial a um independente. Este "namoro" relativamente recente entre estes jovens herdeiros do movimento de contestação política Kefaya (Basta), de 2005, faz sentido, já que os mesmos recebiam desde 2008 formação no exterior, desta feita na Sérvia, junto do Movimento Estudantil Otpor (Resistência), liderado por Srdja Popovic, o qual seguia à risca as ideias do académico americano Gene Sharp, cuja cartilha advoga a não violência e a desobediência civil, como única forma de derrubar regimes despóticos. O Otpor, ferramenta fundamental no derrube de Slobodan Milosevic, é financiado pelos dinheiros da Open Society Foundations de George Soros.
De registar que já em 2008, membros do 06 de Abril foram detidos no aeroporto do Cairo, aquando do regresso de viagens efectuadas aos Estados Unidos da América. Ou seja, os serviços de informação egípcios, já estavam ao corrente do que se passava praticamente desde o início, sendo que o único facto espontâneo que aconteceu na "Primavera Árabe" egípcia, foi a imolação de Mohamed Bouazizi na Tunísia! Estava tudo preparado para acontecer em 2011 ao longo das margens do Nilo, mas de facto, lá mais para o verão, aproveitando inclusivamente um Ramadão quente em pleno Agosto.
Um ano passado, os acontecimentos no Egipto tomam cada vez mais as dimensões e caracteristicas de um golpe de estado militar e não da libertação de um povo, embora seja esta maioria, silenciosa até há um ano, que enche as ruas e mantém a esperança e quiçá a ilusão de que comanda os acontecimentos.
Os factos que apontam nesse sentido, são os seguintes:
Após a queda de Mubarak, para o poder não cair na rua, naturalmente que fica nas mãos dos militares, através do Conselho Supremo das Forças Armadas (CSFA), encabeçado pelo todo-poderoso Marechal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Ministro da Defesa de Mubarak durante 20 anos. A Constituição foi suspensa e o CSFA garantiu a realização de um referendo à Constituição, reduzindo o número e o período de mandatos presidenciais. O mesmo foi efectuado a 19 de Março, aprovando as alterações por uma maioria de 77,27%. No entanto, o poder não foi entregue aos civis passado 6 meses, conforme o CSFA tinha dito quando assumiu o poder. Os cairotas foram continuando a encher Tahrir, numa espécie de exercício de correcção de tiro, exigindo mais mudanças e mais rápidas. Por exemplo, civis continuam a ser julgados por tribunais militares ainda hoje, um ano depois.
Em Setembro, populares invadiram a Embaixada de Israel no bairro de Giza, no Cairo, perante a passividade das autoridades. O Embaixador, família e restantes diplomatas e funcionários, foram evacuados de emergência para o aeroporto, deixando o país nessa mesma madrugada.
Em Outubro, surge a equação 1027 palestinianos libertados por Gilad Shalit. Se em Setembro o CSFA estava a dar um sinal de que faz sentido manter o poder, pois caso contrário será o caos, em Outubro foi Israel que deu um sinal claro de que precisa de um Egipto forte e estável e que só o concebe com os militares no poder. Uma vez mais o Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano a vir ao de cima, bem como os Acordos de Camp David de 1978, que garantem a paz entre o Egipto e Israel e pelos quais o antecessor de Mubarak foi assassinado, o Presidente Anwar Al-Sadat, em 1981.
A 28 de Novembro inicia-se o longo processo das eleições legislativas, sendo a surpresa o resultado do partido salafista Al-Noor (A Luz, O Brilho), financiado com dinheiros sauditas, o que é o mesmo que dizer, com autorização americana. Este facto pode parecer contra-natura, mas teve como objectivo colocar o Partido Liberdade e Justiça (PLJ) da Irmandade Muçulmana no mainstream, fazendo deste parte da solução e não do problema e, por outro lado, o CSFA ao apresentar a frio os 70% de assentos parlamentares conquistados pelos islamistas (24% Al-Noor e 46% PLJ), garante todas as justificações e mais algumas de que é necessário manter a rédia curta e a maioria das prerrogativas, face a esta escalada, que aliás se andava a evitar há praticamente 30 anos. É para isso que servem as ditaduras.
É desta forma que se chega aos 74 mortos do dia 01 de Fevereiro no jogo de futebol de Port Said, cidade também ela simbólica, já que é a cidade do Canal do Suez, acesso estratégico entre o Mediterrâneo, o Mar vermelho e o Oceano Indíco. Por aqui passam cerca de 17 mil navios por ano, sendo que 20% transportam petróleo e 5% gás natural liquefeito. Pomo de discórdia desde 1956 entre árabes, israelitas, britânicos e franceses após o anúncio de nacionalização levado a cabo por Gamal Abdel Nasser, o que se prolongou para as guerras entre árabes e Israel de 1967 e 1973. A leitura deste jogo de futebol entre o Al-Masry e o Al-Ahly e do que aconteceu antes, durante e depois do mesmo, só pode ser política, enquadrando-se no roteiro do CSFA, de demonstrar a absoluta necessidade da sua manutenção no topo da pirâmide.
Uma consequência mais imediata da actual situação no Egipto, o qual voltou aos confrontos, à tensão e sente que está longe de ver o seu processo terminar, é o de provavelmente virem a realizar-se eleições presidenciais ainda antes do verão. Por outro lado, um pólo de equilibrio consequente deverá passar pela eleição de um Presidente civil e cooperante com os militares, o qual poderá ser Amr Mussa, figura conceituada dentro e fora do país. Mussa terá provavelmente já ganho esta eleição na "sexta-feira da raiva" de 28 de Janeiro do ano passado, quando esteve em Tahrir juntamente com o seu povo, enquanto Mohammed El-Baradei dava entrevistas aos canais de televisão internacionais, do jardim de sua casa.
O truque deverá ser o de manter os militares na gestão do dossiê do Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano e o de negociar com estes algumas privatizações que não os incomodem muito.
http://aeiou.expresso.pt/maghreb--machrek=s25484#ixzz1m4Lxuwf5
Sábado, 11 de fevereiro de 2012
A 11 de Fevereiro do ano passado, os egípcios viram-se livres de 29 anos e 4 meses de Hosni Mubarak como Presidente. Às 18h locais, o Vice-Presidente, por 13 dias, Omar Suleiman, anúncia a queda do Raíss (Presidente em árabe), como era conhecido e tratado por todos, incluindo os seus homólogos e, mesmo pela imprensa anglófona e francófona.
Os acontecimentos de há um ano atrás e de há mais tempo, nunca obedeceram aos de uma Primavera de Libertação dos Povos, neste caso o egípcio. De uma forma breve, poderá dizer-se que ao saber-se que Hosni Mubarak não seria o candidato presidencial nas eleições de Setembro de 2011, data há muito marcada, os sectores político, económico e militar dividiram-se em três facções. Os jovens "empresários de sucesso" do Partido Nacional Democrata, liderados pelo ultra-liberal Gamal Mubarak, ávidos de privatizações, às quais se opunham os militares, já que isso lhes iria comprometer uma série de esquemas económicos que lideram, uns de forma oficial e outros de forma oficiosa. Por outro lado, Gamal não chegou a terminar o Serviço Militar Obrigatório, o que aos olhos dos militares o coloca sem apelo nem agravo na categoria de "menino do papá".
Por seu turno, o candidato dos militares sempre foi o General Omar Suleiman, que a partir de 1993 se torna no Director do Serviço de Inteligência Geral Egípcio (SIGE), o qual geria pessoalmente o dossiê Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano há mais de 10 anos. O Daily Telegraph cotou-o como "um dos directores de serviços de inteligência mais poderosos do Mundo" e em 2009, a revista Foreign Policy classificou-o como o Director de um Serviço de Inteligência mais poderoso do Médio Oriente, à frente do Director da Mossad, Meir Dagan.
Do lado dos jovens do Movimento 06 de Abril, surgia um Mohammed El-Baradei que tentava uma alteração constitucional que permitisse uma candidatura presidencial a um independente. Este "namoro" relativamente recente entre estes jovens herdeiros do movimento de contestação política Kefaya (Basta), de 2005, faz sentido, já que os mesmos recebiam desde 2008 formação no exterior, desta feita na Sérvia, junto do Movimento Estudantil Otpor (Resistência), liderado por Srdja Popovic, o qual seguia à risca as ideias do académico americano Gene Sharp, cuja cartilha advoga a não violência e a desobediência civil, como única forma de derrubar regimes despóticos. O Otpor, ferramenta fundamental no derrube de Slobodan Milosevic, é financiado pelos dinheiros da Open Society Foundations de George Soros.
De registar que já em 2008, membros do 06 de Abril foram detidos no aeroporto do Cairo, aquando do regresso de viagens efectuadas aos Estados Unidos da América. Ou seja, os serviços de informação egípcios, já estavam ao corrente do que se passava praticamente desde o início, sendo que o único facto espontâneo que aconteceu na "Primavera Árabe" egípcia, foi a imolação de Mohamed Bouazizi na Tunísia! Estava tudo preparado para acontecer em 2011 ao longo das margens do Nilo, mas de facto, lá mais para o verão, aproveitando inclusivamente um Ramadão quente em pleno Agosto.
Um ano passado, os acontecimentos no Egipto tomam cada vez mais as dimensões e caracteristicas de um golpe de estado militar e não da libertação de um povo, embora seja esta maioria, silenciosa até há um ano, que enche as ruas e mantém a esperança e quiçá a ilusão de que comanda os acontecimentos.
Os factos que apontam nesse sentido, são os seguintes:
Após a queda de Mubarak, para o poder não cair na rua, naturalmente que fica nas mãos dos militares, através do Conselho Supremo das Forças Armadas (CSFA), encabeçado pelo todo-poderoso Marechal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Ministro da Defesa de Mubarak durante 20 anos. A Constituição foi suspensa e o CSFA garantiu a realização de um referendo à Constituição, reduzindo o número e o período de mandatos presidenciais. O mesmo foi efectuado a 19 de Março, aprovando as alterações por uma maioria de 77,27%. No entanto, o poder não foi entregue aos civis passado 6 meses, conforme o CSFA tinha dito quando assumiu o poder. Os cairotas foram continuando a encher Tahrir, numa espécie de exercício de correcção de tiro, exigindo mais mudanças e mais rápidas. Por exemplo, civis continuam a ser julgados por tribunais militares ainda hoje, um ano depois.
Em Setembro, populares invadiram a Embaixada de Israel no bairro de Giza, no Cairo, perante a passividade das autoridades. O Embaixador, família e restantes diplomatas e funcionários, foram evacuados de emergência para o aeroporto, deixando o país nessa mesma madrugada.
Em Outubro, surge a equação 1027 palestinianos libertados por Gilad Shalit. Se em Setembro o CSFA estava a dar um sinal de que faz sentido manter o poder, pois caso contrário será o caos, em Outubro foi Israel que deu um sinal claro de que precisa de um Egipto forte e estável e que só o concebe com os militares no poder. Uma vez mais o Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano a vir ao de cima, bem como os Acordos de Camp David de 1978, que garantem a paz entre o Egipto e Israel e pelos quais o antecessor de Mubarak foi assassinado, o Presidente Anwar Al-Sadat, em 1981.
A 28 de Novembro inicia-se o longo processo das eleições legislativas, sendo a surpresa o resultado do partido salafista Al-Noor (A Luz, O Brilho), financiado com dinheiros sauditas, o que é o mesmo que dizer, com autorização americana. Este facto pode parecer contra-natura, mas teve como objectivo colocar o Partido Liberdade e Justiça (PLJ) da Irmandade Muçulmana no mainstream, fazendo deste parte da solução e não do problema e, por outro lado, o CSFA ao apresentar a frio os 70% de assentos parlamentares conquistados pelos islamistas (24% Al-Noor e 46% PLJ), garante todas as justificações e mais algumas de que é necessário manter a rédia curta e a maioria das prerrogativas, face a esta escalada, que aliás se andava a evitar há praticamente 30 anos. É para isso que servem as ditaduras.
É desta forma que se chega aos 74 mortos do dia 01 de Fevereiro no jogo de futebol de Port Said, cidade também ela simbólica, já que é a cidade do Canal do Suez, acesso estratégico entre o Mediterrâneo, o Mar vermelho e o Oceano Indíco. Por aqui passam cerca de 17 mil navios por ano, sendo que 20% transportam petróleo e 5% gás natural liquefeito. Pomo de discórdia desde 1956 entre árabes, israelitas, britânicos e franceses após o anúncio de nacionalização levado a cabo por Gamal Abdel Nasser, o que se prolongou para as guerras entre árabes e Israel de 1967 e 1973. A leitura deste jogo de futebol entre o Al-Masry e o Al-Ahly e do que aconteceu antes, durante e depois do mesmo, só pode ser política, enquadrando-se no roteiro do CSFA, de demonstrar a absoluta necessidade da sua manutenção no topo da pirâmide.
Uma consequência mais imediata da actual situação no Egipto, o qual voltou aos confrontos, à tensão e sente que está longe de ver o seu processo terminar, é o de provavelmente virem a realizar-se eleições presidenciais ainda antes do verão. Por outro lado, um pólo de equilibrio consequente deverá passar pela eleição de um Presidente civil e cooperante com os militares, o qual poderá ser Amr Mussa, figura conceituada dentro e fora do país. Mussa terá provavelmente já ganho esta eleição na "sexta-feira da raiva" de 28 de Janeiro do ano passado, quando esteve em Tahrir juntamente com o seu povo, enquanto Mohammed El-Baradei dava entrevistas aos canais de televisão internacionais, do jardim de sua casa.
O truque deverá ser o de manter os militares na gestão do dossiê do Processo de Paz Israelo-Palestiniano e o de negociar com estes algumas privatizações que não os incomodem muito.
http://aeiou.expresso.pt/maghreb--machrek=s25484#ixzz1m4Lxuwf5
10.2.12
Riquezas africanas
The fact that Africa is rich in natural resources has in the past been its own Achilles heel, we all know there's plenty of oil to be found in central and north Africa. Diamonds are a plenty with Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau racking them up and Zimbabwe just recently jumped onto the bandwagon by finding large diamond pits. Then there's gold, platinum, Uranium and the list goes on.
In the context of natural resources this continent is wealthy beyond imagine. Something has surely drawn the Chinese here?
All this aside, there's another lesser known but probably more important commodity that Africa holds.
Just the other day I came across a very interesting statistic regarding the percentage of arable land that has yet to be farmed in the world. Africa has 45% of this that has yet been touched (in terms of agriculutre). That's almost half of the available land on the planet that can be used to grow crops.
Naturally this begs the question, why are there so many African countries facing food shortages and hunger when as a continent it techincally can provided for itself and even have excess for export (and importantly creating sustainable jobs). All this in theory of course.
The potential is staggering.
In the same article it stated that Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania had sold off over a million hectares each to South Korean, Chinese and Bangladeshi interests which have set up agricultural activities in those countries. Now one can only hope these countries are benefitting from handing over of this prime land in the form of infrastructure and jobs, but instinct tells me otherwise.
In our own country the same applies, we have some of the most innovative and resourceful farmers in the world yet their numbers are dropping rapidly. Why? Farm murders aside which is another tragedy in itself. They can’t really compete with the imported produce as this is cheaper, unfairly so as it's massively subsidised by the US and European governments. This country needs jobs, and we need farmers...so direct the resources into that industry, it'll put less pressure on the cities and also rejuvenate the rural parts all the while making us self sustainable.
Why are we allowing these ‘cheaper’ products in? Trade pacts and all that foreign relations nonsense keeps our hands tied most of the time, but I disagree that South Africa (and even Africa) has to bow down to the first world countries and eastern powers, in terms of leverage we have a lot to offer but always pull the short straw?
News24 South Africa
através do Professor Eduardo Costa Dias
In the context of natural resources this continent is wealthy beyond imagine. Something has surely drawn the Chinese here?
All this aside, there's another lesser known but probably more important commodity that Africa holds.
Just the other day I came across a very interesting statistic regarding the percentage of arable land that has yet to be farmed in the world. Africa has 45% of this that has yet been touched (in terms of agriculutre). That's almost half of the available land on the planet that can be used to grow crops.
Naturally this begs the question, why are there so many African countries facing food shortages and hunger when as a continent it techincally can provided for itself and even have excess for export (and importantly creating sustainable jobs). All this in theory of course.
The potential is staggering.
In the same article it stated that Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania had sold off over a million hectares each to South Korean, Chinese and Bangladeshi interests which have set up agricultural activities in those countries. Now one can only hope these countries are benefitting from handing over of this prime land in the form of infrastructure and jobs, but instinct tells me otherwise.
In our own country the same applies, we have some of the most innovative and resourceful farmers in the world yet their numbers are dropping rapidly. Why? Farm murders aside which is another tragedy in itself. They can’t really compete with the imported produce as this is cheaper, unfairly so as it's massively subsidised by the US and European governments. This country needs jobs, and we need farmers...so direct the resources into that industry, it'll put less pressure on the cities and also rejuvenate the rural parts all the while making us self sustainable.
Why are we allowing these ‘cheaper’ products in? Trade pacts and all that foreign relations nonsense keeps our hands tied most of the time, but I disagree that South Africa (and even Africa) has to bow down to the first world countries and eastern powers, in terms of leverage we have a lot to offer but always pull the short straw?
News24 South Africa
através do Professor Eduardo Costa Dias
8.2.12
Guiné Equatorial perturba a CPLP
O Governo de Lisboa está a ser pressionado no Parlamento para boicotar a adesão da Guiné Equatorial à Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa e a não ceder a interesses económicos que desvirtuem o espaço linguístico.
A polémica admissão da Guiné Equatorial como membro de pleno direito da CPLP (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) levou o Bloco de Esquerda (BE) a apresentar no Parlamento português na terça-feira (03.04) um projeto de resolução que recomenda ao Governo a rejeição da adesão do país por ser "repressivo e corrupto".
"Tratar-se-ia de uma decisão duplamente errada, por falta de requisitos linguísticos e democráticos", pode ler-se no projeto de resolução apresentado na comissão parlamentar de Negócios Estrangeiros da Assembleia da República, segundo o qual, uma eventual adesão, levaria "a um desprestígio enorme" da CPLP.
Os estatutos da organização lusófona estipulam que os países membros da CPLP devem seguir os "valores da democracia e o respeito pelos direitos humanos".
Uma eventual adesão da Guiné Equatorial à CPLP requer a aprovação unânime dos Chefes de Estado e de Governo da organização.
A decisão do governo português está dependente do relatório que a organização vai apresentar na cimeira de Maputo, agendada para julho.
Interesses ditados pelo petróleo
O deputado bloquista Pedro Filipe Soares informou que o projeto visa forçar o governo a tomar uma posição sobre o assunto, até à realização da cimeira de Maputo, no inicio do segundo semestre de 2012.
"Do nosso ponto de vista o governo português tem todos os motivos para reprovar a adesão, designadamente pela questão da língua. Só formalmente é que o português foi indicado como língua oficial do país, mas não tem um uso recorrente pelos guinéus equatorianos”, disse o deputado bloquista, que acusa o governo de estar a ceder aos interesses ligados ao petróleo e às riquezas naturais da Guiné Equatorial.
“Os interesses económicos de geoestratégia dos recursos naturais – enfatizou –na prática não se podem sobrepor a valores que consideramos essenciais para o século XXI. Há dados recentes que dão conta da existência de censura na imprensa. Durante a chamada primavera árabe, todas as noticias sobre o que passava no Egito e na Tunísia foram proibidas na Guiné Equatorial.”
O deputado bloquista, citado pela agência Lusa defende ainda que o Governo deve "exercer pressão juntos dos parceiros da CPLP para que não se desvirtue este projeto comum que já provou, defendendo os valores da democracia e dos direitos humanos, ser uma mais-valia".
Idêntica posição foi defendida por Bernardino Soares, do Partido comunista Português. “A nós – disse - preocupa-nos muito que se esteja a procurar fazer um caminho de deriva em relação ao principio da CPLP que é o de ser uma comunidade de língua portuguesa para a transformar numa comunidade que tem mais em vista um certo conglomerado de interesses muito ligados aos recursos económicos daquela região do globo.”
PSD apoia adesão
A representante do PSD na comissão parlamentar de Negócios Estrangeiros da Assembleia da República, Mónica Ferro, manifestou a oposição do Partido Social Democrata à proposta de resolução do BE.
“O PSD acredita que a única maneira de fazer a promoção do Estado de direito e dos direitos humanos na Guiné Equatorial é inclui-lo em espaços onde possa haver troca de boas praticas, ou até alguma pressão diplomática nesse sentido, e não isolar os países”, disse a parlamentar do principal partido do governo português.
Por seu turno, o Partido Socialista, atualmente na oposição mas que governava Portugal na altura em que o pedido de adesão da Guiné Equatorial foi apresentado à CPLP, defendeu que antes da decisão deverão ser avaliados os progressos das reformas democráticas na Guiné Equatorial exigidas pelos oito Estados membros na altura da formalização do pedido pelas autoridades de Malabo.
“Esse processo está em curso e seria extemporâneo interrompê-lo agora. Existe uma equipa que deve avaliar se a Guiné Equatorial está a cumprir aquilo que acordou ou não”, disse a deputada socialista, Maria de Belém.
Em 17 de novembro, o Presidente de Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, pediu ao primeiro-ministro português, Pedro Passos Coelho, que desenvolva "diligências" no sentido de que a Guiné Equatorial, que já detém o estatuto de observador associado da CPLP desde 2006, passe a Estado-membro da organização.
Por sua vez, Passos Coelho, que na altura se encontrava numa visita a Luanda, referiu que o Governo português está aberto a discutir e a analisar a situação da Guiné Equatorial, considerando que, no espaço regional, o país tem uma importância muito relevante para a Língua Portuguesa.
Em julho do corrente ano, Moçambique irá assumir a presidência rotativa da CPLP na cimeira de Maputo, que deverá decidir sobre a adesão da Guiné Equatorial.
Autor: João Carlos (Lisboa) / Pedro Varanda de Castro - Edição: António Rocha Detsche Welle (África)
A polémica admissão da Guiné Equatorial como membro de pleno direito da CPLP (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) levou o Bloco de Esquerda (BE) a apresentar no Parlamento português na terça-feira (03.04) um projeto de resolução que recomenda ao Governo a rejeição da adesão do país por ser "repressivo e corrupto".
"Tratar-se-ia de uma decisão duplamente errada, por falta de requisitos linguísticos e democráticos", pode ler-se no projeto de resolução apresentado na comissão parlamentar de Negócios Estrangeiros da Assembleia da República, segundo o qual, uma eventual adesão, levaria "a um desprestígio enorme" da CPLP.
Os estatutos da organização lusófona estipulam que os países membros da CPLP devem seguir os "valores da democracia e o respeito pelos direitos humanos".
Uma eventual adesão da Guiné Equatorial à CPLP requer a aprovação unânime dos Chefes de Estado e de Governo da organização.
A decisão do governo português está dependente do relatório que a organização vai apresentar na cimeira de Maputo, agendada para julho.
Interesses ditados pelo petróleo
O deputado bloquista Pedro Filipe Soares informou que o projeto visa forçar o governo a tomar uma posição sobre o assunto, até à realização da cimeira de Maputo, no inicio do segundo semestre de 2012.
"Do nosso ponto de vista o governo português tem todos os motivos para reprovar a adesão, designadamente pela questão da língua. Só formalmente é que o português foi indicado como língua oficial do país, mas não tem um uso recorrente pelos guinéus equatorianos”, disse o deputado bloquista, que acusa o governo de estar a ceder aos interesses ligados ao petróleo e às riquezas naturais da Guiné Equatorial.
“Os interesses económicos de geoestratégia dos recursos naturais – enfatizou –na prática não se podem sobrepor a valores que consideramos essenciais para o século XXI. Há dados recentes que dão conta da existência de censura na imprensa. Durante a chamada primavera árabe, todas as noticias sobre o que passava no Egito e na Tunísia foram proibidas na Guiné Equatorial.”
O deputado bloquista, citado pela agência Lusa defende ainda que o Governo deve "exercer pressão juntos dos parceiros da CPLP para que não se desvirtue este projeto comum que já provou, defendendo os valores da democracia e dos direitos humanos, ser uma mais-valia".
Idêntica posição foi defendida por Bernardino Soares, do Partido comunista Português. “A nós – disse - preocupa-nos muito que se esteja a procurar fazer um caminho de deriva em relação ao principio da CPLP que é o de ser uma comunidade de língua portuguesa para a transformar numa comunidade que tem mais em vista um certo conglomerado de interesses muito ligados aos recursos económicos daquela região do globo.”
PSD apoia adesão
A representante do PSD na comissão parlamentar de Negócios Estrangeiros da Assembleia da República, Mónica Ferro, manifestou a oposição do Partido Social Democrata à proposta de resolução do BE.
“O PSD acredita que a única maneira de fazer a promoção do Estado de direito e dos direitos humanos na Guiné Equatorial é inclui-lo em espaços onde possa haver troca de boas praticas, ou até alguma pressão diplomática nesse sentido, e não isolar os países”, disse a parlamentar do principal partido do governo português.
Por seu turno, o Partido Socialista, atualmente na oposição mas que governava Portugal na altura em que o pedido de adesão da Guiné Equatorial foi apresentado à CPLP, defendeu que antes da decisão deverão ser avaliados os progressos das reformas democráticas na Guiné Equatorial exigidas pelos oito Estados membros na altura da formalização do pedido pelas autoridades de Malabo.
“Esse processo está em curso e seria extemporâneo interrompê-lo agora. Existe uma equipa que deve avaliar se a Guiné Equatorial está a cumprir aquilo que acordou ou não”, disse a deputada socialista, Maria de Belém.
Em 17 de novembro, o Presidente de Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, pediu ao primeiro-ministro português, Pedro Passos Coelho, que desenvolva "diligências" no sentido de que a Guiné Equatorial, que já detém o estatuto de observador associado da CPLP desde 2006, passe a Estado-membro da organização.
Por sua vez, Passos Coelho, que na altura se encontrava numa visita a Luanda, referiu que o Governo português está aberto a discutir e a analisar a situação da Guiné Equatorial, considerando que, no espaço regional, o país tem uma importância muito relevante para a Língua Portuguesa.
Em julho do corrente ano, Moçambique irá assumir a presidência rotativa da CPLP na cimeira de Maputo, que deverá decidir sobre a adesão da Guiné Equatorial.
Autor: João Carlos (Lisboa) / Pedro Varanda de Castro - Edição: António Rocha Detsche Welle (África)
Um novo Presidente nas Maldivas
New Maldives President Mohammed Waheed Hassan has said that it is unfair to describe the removal of President Mohamed Nasheed as a coup.
He said that there was no pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover.
The new president criticised his predecessor - who is being held in an undisclosed location - for wrongfully arresting a top judge.
President Hassan said his aim now was to form a coalition to help build a stable and democratic country.
He called for the formation of a national unity government to help the country recover from the political crisis that led to the resignation of his predecessor.
The authorities are also reported to be investigating the discovery of bottles of alcohol being removed from outside Mr Nasheed's residence.
Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in the Muslim nation.
Mr Hassan on Wednesday promised to protect Mr Nasheed from retribution, pointing out that he was free to leave the country.
However he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Mr Nasheed.
'Rogue elements'
The former president told the AFP news agency on Wednesday that he had been forced to resign by armed police and army officers in a coup plot hatched with the knowledge of his successor.
His resignation came soon after protests over the arrest of Justice Abdulla Mohamed last month.
Continue reading the main story
The Maldives
The Maldives is a chain of nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean
Fewer than 200 of those islands are inhabited but with sandy beaches and coral, tourism is the Maldives' largest industry
It became a protectorate under the Dutch in the 17th Century and then the British in the 19th Century. It achieved full independence in 1965
President Mohamed Nasheed came to power after elections in 2008 ended 30 years of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
A former political prisoner and activist, President Nasheed highlighted the threat of global warming to the low-lying islands
But he has faced fierce political opposition, as parliament is dominated by opposition supporters of the former president
Tensions escalated last month after the army arrested a senior judge the government accused of political bias, prompting street protests
Maldives country profile
He was released soon after Mr Hassan took power.
The judge was accused of being loyal to the opposition by ordering the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.
BBC
He said that there was no pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover.
The new president criticised his predecessor - who is being held in an undisclosed location - for wrongfully arresting a top judge.
President Hassan said his aim now was to form a coalition to help build a stable and democratic country.
He called for the formation of a national unity government to help the country recover from the political crisis that led to the resignation of his predecessor.
The authorities are also reported to be investigating the discovery of bottles of alcohol being removed from outside Mr Nasheed's residence.
Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in the Muslim nation.
Mr Hassan on Wednesday promised to protect Mr Nasheed from retribution, pointing out that he was free to leave the country.
However he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Mr Nasheed.
'Rogue elements'
The former president told the AFP news agency on Wednesday that he had been forced to resign by armed police and army officers in a coup plot hatched with the knowledge of his successor.
His resignation came soon after protests over the arrest of Justice Abdulla Mohamed last month.
Continue reading the main story
The Maldives
The Maldives is a chain of nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean
Fewer than 200 of those islands are inhabited but with sandy beaches and coral, tourism is the Maldives' largest industry
It became a protectorate under the Dutch in the 17th Century and then the British in the 19th Century. It achieved full independence in 1965
President Mohamed Nasheed came to power after elections in 2008 ended 30 years of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
A former political prisoner and activist, President Nasheed highlighted the threat of global warming to the low-lying islands
But he has faced fierce political opposition, as parliament is dominated by opposition supporters of the former president
Tensions escalated last month after the army arrested a senior judge the government accused of political bias, prompting street protests
Maldives country profile
He was released soon after Mr Hassan took power.
The judge was accused of being loyal to the opposition by ordering the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.
BBC
7.2.12
Pela liberdade na Guiné Equatorial
11 de Fevereiro - Noite temática "Guiné Equatorial", com o escritor Juan Tomás Ávila - Centro InterculturaCidade *
*Travessa do Convento de Jesus, 16 A, 1200-126 Lisboa (próximo ao Parlamento)
A 11 de Fevereiro de 2011, o escritor guinéu-equatoriano Juan Tomás Ávila começou uma greve de fome, protesto pacífico contra a “ditadura que nos come a alma” de Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Em Junho de 2011, o cartoonista Ramón Esono (também conhecido por “Jamón y Queso”) inaugurou um canal alternativo e satírico de “notícias” sobre a Guiné Equatorial, a LOCOStv.
O Centro InterculturaCidade acolhe uma exposição de Ramón Esono e um debate sobre a situação política e social da Guiné Equatorial, contando com a presença destacada de Juan Tomás Ávila, autor do livro “Diccionário Básico y Aleatório de la Dictadura Guineana”. Estarão igualmente presentes, entre outros convidados, Fernando Sousa, João Curvêlo, Jorge Heitor e Yolanda Aixelà, actualmente presidente de uma associação recém-criada, com sede em Barcelona, cujo principal objectivo é a abertura de espaços de diálogo entre as sociedades civis de Espanha e da Guiné Equatorial, ligados pelos laços da colonização e das políticas de silenciamento nascidas no franquismo e que perduram na atualidade.
Consideramos importante que estes espaços de diálogo se transponham para a sociedade portuguesa, sobretudo quando se sabe que a CPLP deverá decidir este ano sobre a entrada da Guiné Equatorial como membro daquela organização, acreditando os defensores dessa adesão que tal poderia facilitar o acesso das empresas portuguesas a um novo (e aliciante) mercado.
*Travessa do Convento de Jesus, 16 A, 1200-126 Lisboa (próximo ao Parlamento)
A 11 de Fevereiro de 2011, o escritor guinéu-equatoriano Juan Tomás Ávila começou uma greve de fome, protesto pacífico contra a “ditadura que nos come a alma” de Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Em Junho de 2011, o cartoonista Ramón Esono (também conhecido por “Jamón y Queso”) inaugurou um canal alternativo e satírico de “notícias” sobre a Guiné Equatorial, a LOCOStv.
O Centro InterculturaCidade acolhe uma exposição de Ramón Esono e um debate sobre a situação política e social da Guiné Equatorial, contando com a presença destacada de Juan Tomás Ávila, autor do livro “Diccionário Básico y Aleatório de la Dictadura Guineana”. Estarão igualmente presentes, entre outros convidados, Fernando Sousa, João Curvêlo, Jorge Heitor e Yolanda Aixelà, actualmente presidente de uma associação recém-criada, com sede em Barcelona, cujo principal objectivo é a abertura de espaços de diálogo entre as sociedades civis de Espanha e da Guiné Equatorial, ligados pelos laços da colonização e das políticas de silenciamento nascidas no franquismo e que perduram na atualidade.
Consideramos importante que estes espaços de diálogo se transponham para a sociedade portuguesa, sobretudo quando se sabe que a CPLP deverá decidir este ano sobre a entrada da Guiné Equatorial como membro daquela organização, acreditando os defensores dessa adesão que tal poderia facilitar o acesso das empresas portuguesas a um novo (e aliciante) mercado.
Cenas de uma Líbia destroçada
By Oliver Holmes and Taha Zargoun
TRIPOLI, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed five Libyan refugees at their camp in a Tripoli suburb on Monday, residents and hospital sources said, underscoring the volatility in the country months after Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow.
Residents of the camp, black Libyans originally from the town of Tawergha, say they are being persecuted over accusations they collaborated with Gaddafi during the country's revolution.
Many say they are also regularly mistaken for sub-Saharan African mercenaries who revolutionary fighters said fought for Gaddafi in the war.
The attackers came to the gate of the makeshift settlement in a disused naval academy in Janzour saying they wanted to arrest young men, and opened fire as people gathered to protest, said residents.
"Men from Misrata came to the camp at 10 o'clock. We knew they were from Misrata because it was written all over their cars," camp resident Huda Bel-Eid said at Tripoli Medical Hospital.
"Around 15 of them started shooting us. All the women escaped but the young men stayed. My brother was there and I went to help him because he was shot in the head and neck, then they shot me (in the leg)," she added.
Gaddafi's forces used Tawergha as a base to besiege and shell the coastal city of Misrata during last year's civil war. Its residents say they were held hostage by Gaddafi's men and did not collaborate.
TRIPOLI, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed five Libyan refugees at their camp in a Tripoli suburb on Monday, residents and hospital sources said, underscoring the volatility in the country months after Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow.
Residents of the camp, black Libyans originally from the town of Tawergha, say they are being persecuted over accusations they collaborated with Gaddafi during the country's revolution.
Many say they are also regularly mistaken for sub-Saharan African mercenaries who revolutionary fighters said fought for Gaddafi in the war.
The attackers came to the gate of the makeshift settlement in a disused naval academy in Janzour saying they wanted to arrest young men, and opened fire as people gathered to protest, said residents.
"Men from Misrata came to the camp at 10 o'clock. We knew they were from Misrata because it was written all over their cars," camp resident Huda Bel-Eid said at Tripoli Medical Hospital.
"Around 15 of them started shooting us. All the women escaped but the young men stayed. My brother was there and I went to help him because he was shot in the head and neck, then they shot me (in the leg)," she added.
Gaddafi's forces used Tawergha as a base to besiege and shell the coastal city of Misrata during last year's civil war. Its residents say they were held hostage by Gaddafi's men and did not collaborate.
Líbia sem rei nem roque
Credible institutions remain a distant prospect as the NTC, militias and others compete for authority.
Three months have passed since liberation was officially declared but no functioning government is in sight or even on the horizon. The oil sector is the only operational administration. Elections for a constitutional assembly – even in June – appear unrealistic. There is no up-to-date census, let alone electoral register, and voting procedures are not fixed. A census could take three months at least. After that, the assembly should write the new constitution and give a new executive democratic legitimacy. Until then, the National Transitional Council, led by former Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abdel Jalil, is still in charge, although its authority is constantly under strong challenge amid accusations of failing to provide vision and leadership. Africa Confidential
Three months have passed since liberation was officially declared but no functioning government is in sight or even on the horizon. The oil sector is the only operational administration. Elections for a constitutional assembly – even in June – appear unrealistic. There is no up-to-date census, let alone electoral register, and voting procedures are not fixed. A census could take three months at least. After that, the assembly should write the new constitution and give a new executive democratic legitimacy. Until then, the National Transitional Council, led by former Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abdel Jalil, is still in charge, although its authority is constantly under strong challenge amid accusations of failing to provide vision and leadership. Africa Confidential
Alta tensão entre os Sudões
Few outside the Juba government had expected it to start shutting down oil production on 22 January. Warnings from the Government of South Sudan had been widely seen as brinkmanship. The National Congress Party (NCP), plus African Union, Chinese and Western mediators, had apparently forgotten the capacity for decisiveness of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which helped it to win Independence for the South. The talks should resume on 10 February but no one expects speedy agreement. This was clear when the AU representative, South African ex-President Thabo Mbeki, announced on 31 January that they would cover several outstanding issues from the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement since ‘the interim transitional period ends at the end of March’. This broadening of the agenda is a tactical victory for the GOSS, which for the first time has the NCP literally over a barrel.
This is costing Khartoum dear but it also knows that Juba loses 98% of revenue, with no clear alternative. The NCP’s strength is military and it is beating the war drums. Second Vice-President El Haj Adam Yusuf said on 25 January that the army had surrounded SPLM-North rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan and ‘Juba is not far’. Until November, he was senior in Hassan Abdullah el Turabi’s Popular Congress Party and the NCP accused him of conspiracy in 2007. His threat has hardened Southern resolve and highlights the chasm between the two governments.
Africa Confidential
This is costing Khartoum dear but it also knows that Juba loses 98% of revenue, with no clear alternative. The NCP’s strength is military and it is beating the war drums. Second Vice-President El Haj Adam Yusuf said on 25 January that the army had surrounded SPLM-North rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan and ‘Juba is not far’. Until November, he was senior in Hassan Abdullah el Turabi’s Popular Congress Party and the NCP accused him of conspiracy in 2007. His threat has hardened Southern resolve and highlights the chasm between the two governments.
Africa Confidential
6.2.12
Israel tem de se moderar perante o Irão
By AFP
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned his officials to stop “blabbing” about the possibility of an attack targeting Iran's nuclear program, the newspaper Maariv reported on Monday.
Netanyahu is said to have directed the instruction at a number of military officials and government ministers who he believes have been speaking too freely about a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The newspaper, citing unnamed senior officials, said Netanyahu delivered the warning during a meeting with ministers from his Likud party on Sunday.
“Stop blabbing, already,” he reportedly told the officials. “This chit-chat causes huge damage, puts Israel on the front line, and damages sanctions” imposed by the United States and Europe on Iran, the premier reportedly said.
Maariv’s sources said there was concern that Israel “might be perceived as dragging the U.S. into a war with Iran against its will and endangering the U.S.’s national interests.”
The warning came after several statements by senior Israeli military and political officials last week, including Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon, who suggested that all Iran's nuclear sites were vulnerable to attack.
“In my military experience, any site protected by humans can be penetrated by humans,” he said during the annual Herzliya security conference. “At the end of the day all their sites can be hit.”
Speculation has risen in recent weeks, driven in part by comments made by Israeli officials, about the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran.
Israel and much of the international community believes that Iran’s nuclear program masks a covert weapons drive, a charge Tehran denies.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East’s only, albeit undeclared, nuclear power, has supported tough sanctions against Iran, but also insisted it retains the option of a military strike to halt its nuclear activities.
On Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama appeared to try to dampen speculation about such an attack, which reports suggest Washington would oppose.
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned his officials to stop “blabbing” about the possibility of an attack targeting Iran's nuclear program, the newspaper Maariv reported on Monday.
Netanyahu is said to have directed the instruction at a number of military officials and government ministers who he believes have been speaking too freely about a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The newspaper, citing unnamed senior officials, said Netanyahu delivered the warning during a meeting with ministers from his Likud party on Sunday.
“Stop blabbing, already,” he reportedly told the officials. “This chit-chat causes huge damage, puts Israel on the front line, and damages sanctions” imposed by the United States and Europe on Iran, the premier reportedly said.
Maariv’s sources said there was concern that Israel “might be perceived as dragging the U.S. into a war with Iran against its will and endangering the U.S.’s national interests.”
The warning came after several statements by senior Israeli military and political officials last week, including Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon, who suggested that all Iran's nuclear sites were vulnerable to attack.
“In my military experience, any site protected by humans can be penetrated by humans,” he said during the annual Herzliya security conference. “At the end of the day all their sites can be hit.”
Speculation has risen in recent weeks, driven in part by comments made by Israeli officials, about the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran.
Israel and much of the international community believes that Iran’s nuclear program masks a covert weapons drive, a charge Tehran denies.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East’s only, albeit undeclared, nuclear power, has supported tough sanctions against Iran, but also insisted it retains the option of a military strike to halt its nuclear activities.
On Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama appeared to try to dampen speculation about such an attack, which reports suggest Washington would oppose.
4.2.12
Cenas de terror na Líbia
Libya's former ambassador to France under Muammar Gaddafi has died less than 24 hours after being detained by an armed group in Tripoli, a rights organisation has said.
Omar Brebesh, who served in the Paris embassy as cultural attache from 2004 to 2008, and then as acting ambassador, was detained on January 19 and appears to have died from torture, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.
A preliminary autopsy report obtained by the organisation, and photographs provided by Brebesh's family, showed that the cause of death was "multiple bodily injuries and fractured ribs" and that his body was marked by welts, cuts and the apparent removal of toenails.
On January 19, Brebesh turned himself in to the al-Shohada Ashura, or Ashura Martyrs, after being called for questioning by the militia's commander, Khalid al-Blehzi, Brebesh's son Ziad said.
The next day, the family was told that Brebesh's body could be found in a mortuary in the mountain town of Zintan, about 100km southwest of the capital.
The Ashura Martyrs come from Zintan, and a prosecutor there has opened an investigation into Brebesh's death, Human Rights Watch said.
HRW also read a report by the judicial police in Tripoli, which said that Brebesh had died from torture and that an unnamed suspect had confessed to killing him.
Brebesh's son recovered his father's body in Zintan.
"I saw his face. There was blood on his nose and mouth. But I didn’t see the rest of his body or his face from the other side," he told HRW.
"There was a bump on his forehead. After that, I kissed him and that was it."
Thousands detained
Brebesh's death was one of the highest profile killings of a former government official since rebels captured and killed Gaddafi, the ousted longtime leader, in late October.
Others have been arrested or fled the country: Gaddafi son Saadi is in Niger, while his more prominent scion, Saif, was captured and is being held by militias in Zintan who have refused to give him up to the interim National Transitional Council (NTC).
The report into Brebesh's apparent torture and killing comes days after Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending its work in Misrata detention centres because militias there were torturing detainees while asking the doctors for medical assistance.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Libya has about 8,500 detainees in roughly 60 facilities, few of which come under centralised NTC control.
AlJazeera
Omar Brebesh, who served in the Paris embassy as cultural attache from 2004 to 2008, and then as acting ambassador, was detained on January 19 and appears to have died from torture, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.
A preliminary autopsy report obtained by the organisation, and photographs provided by Brebesh's family, showed that the cause of death was "multiple bodily injuries and fractured ribs" and that his body was marked by welts, cuts and the apparent removal of toenails.
On January 19, Brebesh turned himself in to the al-Shohada Ashura, or Ashura Martyrs, after being called for questioning by the militia's commander, Khalid al-Blehzi, Brebesh's son Ziad said.
The next day, the family was told that Brebesh's body could be found in a mortuary in the mountain town of Zintan, about 100km southwest of the capital.
The Ashura Martyrs come from Zintan, and a prosecutor there has opened an investigation into Brebesh's death, Human Rights Watch said.
HRW also read a report by the judicial police in Tripoli, which said that Brebesh had died from torture and that an unnamed suspect had confessed to killing him.
Brebesh's son recovered his father's body in Zintan.
"I saw his face. There was blood on his nose and mouth. But I didn’t see the rest of his body or his face from the other side," he told HRW.
"There was a bump on his forehead. After that, I kissed him and that was it."
Thousands detained
Brebesh's death was one of the highest profile killings of a former government official since rebels captured and killed Gaddafi, the ousted longtime leader, in late October.
Others have been arrested or fled the country: Gaddafi son Saadi is in Niger, while his more prominent scion, Saif, was captured and is being held by militias in Zintan who have refused to give him up to the interim National Transitional Council (NTC).
The report into Brebesh's apparent torture and killing comes days after Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending its work in Misrata detention centres because militias there were torturing detainees while asking the doctors for medical assistance.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Libya has about 8,500 detainees in roughly 60 facilities, few of which come under centralised NTC control.
AlJazeera
2.2.12
Assad aguenta-se por mais algum tempo
Diplomats at the UN Security Council have watered down a resolution on Syria in an apparent attempt to overcome Russian objections to an earlier draft.
The new text drops explicit reference to a call for President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power, a key part of an Arab League plan.
The Russians have argued that this demand would impose regime change.
However the new text still supports what it calls the League's "decision" to facilitate political transition.
Western diplomats say this means that while the draft no longer mentions the details of the Arab plan, it still clearly backs the substance.
The revised draft - seen by the BBC - also removes a paragraph calling on member states to act to prevent the flow of arms into Syria. This was another clause opposed by Russia even though it does not impose an arms embargo.
Ambassadors began intense negotiations on Wednesday, after a high-level meeting urging the council to back the Arab plan to end the Syrian crisis.
Diplomatic sources say Western states may support the new text - drawn up by Morocco - if it gets a yes vote from Russia, rather than an abstention, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN headquarters in New York.
So far the Russians have been non-committal, she says.
'Consensus'
Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began in March.
On Wednesday, diplomats said discussions had been positive, with US Ambassador Susan Rice saying talks had been conducted in a "constructive and roll-up-your-sleeves manner".
The Arab League suspended its monitoring mission last month after it failed to stop the violence
However, she also admitted that the call for Mr Assad to delegate powers to his deputy remained "one of the more difficult issues".
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin also said progress had been made, saying: "I think we have a much better understanding of what we need to do to reach consensus."
BBC
The new text drops explicit reference to a call for President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power, a key part of an Arab League plan.
The Russians have argued that this demand would impose regime change.
However the new text still supports what it calls the League's "decision" to facilitate political transition.
Western diplomats say this means that while the draft no longer mentions the details of the Arab plan, it still clearly backs the substance.
The revised draft - seen by the BBC - also removes a paragraph calling on member states to act to prevent the flow of arms into Syria. This was another clause opposed by Russia even though it does not impose an arms embargo.
Ambassadors began intense negotiations on Wednesday, after a high-level meeting urging the council to back the Arab plan to end the Syrian crisis.
Diplomatic sources say Western states may support the new text - drawn up by Morocco - if it gets a yes vote from Russia, rather than an abstention, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN headquarters in New York.
So far the Russians have been non-committal, she says.
'Consensus'
Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began in March.
On Wednesday, diplomats said discussions had been positive, with US Ambassador Susan Rice saying talks had been conducted in a "constructive and roll-up-your-sleeves manner".
The Arab League suspended its monitoring mission last month after it failed to stop the violence
However, she also admitted that the call for Mr Assad to delegate powers to his deputy remained "one of the more difficult issues".
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin also said progress had been made, saying: "I think we have a much better understanding of what we need to do to reach consensus."
BBC
A Comissão da desUnião Africana
The much anticipated election showdown for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission, (secretariat of the Union), dubbed "David versus Goliath", did not turn out to end in the same way as that Biblical encounter had ended. Instead, it ended in a deadlock, with both gladiators barely able to land the knock-out punch. The election was between the incumbent chairperson, Dr. Jean Ping, and another formidable opponent, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a physician by professional with considerable political activism in the last more than 30 years. It pitted two countries, each with considerable wealth, Gabon verus South Africa - Gabon with oil wealth against South Africa, the economic colossus of Africa.
After African heads of state appointed the Chairman of the African Union, Benin's President Thomas Yayi Boni, on Sunday, 29th January, at their new swanky headquarters financed and built with funds estimated at $200 million from China as well as Chinese labor, they turned to the thornier task of electing the most powerful administrative officer of the African Union - the chairperson of the African Union Commission. The election itself engendered firsts: the first time a sitting chairperson or secretary-general as the post was known in the earlier era of the Organization of African Union; the first time a southern African was contesting the post, and finally the first time a female was a candidate for the post.
The chairmanship of the African Union itself had generated controversies in Nigeria, with the press speculating that Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan being defeated by the Beninois President. According to a media release from Jonathan's office, "1. It is not true that President Yayi Boni “defeated” President Goodluck Jonathan in an election; there was no contest in the first place and President Jonathan was not a candidate for the AU Chairmanship position.
2. It is also not true that President John Atta Mills opposed President Jonathan at any time. Ghana and Nigeria enjoy excellent relations.
3. It is true, however, that in the last week, some newspapers have been speculating that President Jonathan may be adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments to be the next chairman of the African Union, since it was the turn of ECOWAS to produce the AU Chairman for 2012-2013. Mr. President was indeed approached by leaders within and outside the West African sub-region to take up the challenge of leading the AU for the next one year.
4. While appreciating this kind gesture, President Jonathan resolved that he needed time to focus on domestic affairs in Nigeria, and that it would be practically difficult for him to combine the three positions of President of Nigeria, Chairman of ECOWAS and Chairman of African Union. He therefore rejected the offer."
After trying for three times to choose a winner for the post of AU Commission chairperson, the Heads of State could not come to an agreement: they deadlocked - in other words none of the two candidates was able to secure the requisite two-thirds of the votes needed to win, which Dr. Ping had easily done in his first try in 2008, when he easily secured the vote with 34 countries voting for him. However, this time the vote went as follows: first round went 28 votes to 25, second round 27 to 26, and third round 29 to 24 votes. It is not understandable what happened to the remaining one vote as there are 54 countries in Africa as against the 53 that had been voting. After these votes, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma was forced by African Union rules to pull out, leaving Dr. Ping as the lone candidate. But still, he could not secure the requisite two-thirds of the vote or votes from 35 countries, needing about 6 countries to switch their votes to him to win the two-thirds.
The South African delegation had broken into a song and dance after the fourth vote resulted in a no winner. In a pre-vote speech, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said that if elected she would "spare no effort in building on the work of those African women and men who want to see an African Union that is a formidable force striving for a united, free, truly independent, better Africa."
The results of the election itself laid to rest the rumors that had been swirling around Jean Ping's candidacy, that he was withdrawing his candidacy in the face of a determined opposition, or that his country's government was withdrawing support for him. These rumors had been defiantly denied by the Gabonese government. After these rumors, the Gabonese government mounted a counter-attack, sending out emissaries to different countries to solicit support for their candidate or holding major press conferences in Addis Ababa and New York seriously challenging the notion of non-support for Jean Ping, accusing some international and African media of spreading vicious rumors.
The election also exposed some fault-lines between francophone African nations and the rest of the continent. There are officially 21 french-speaking African countries, minus countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Angola, Cape Verde, or even Libya, where though they officially speak other languages tend to have french as back-up language. If this happened to be the case, you are looking at a potentially solid 28 votes by language alone.
The question really is whether Africa could continue to allow European hegemonic influence to play a major role in how the continent positions itself as both of these two candidates possess a wealth of experience that should be the determining factor and not whether they are supported by France as had been rumored about Jean Ping or NATO as was rumored for Dlamini-Zuma. Both Jean Ping and Dlamini-Zuma served as foreign ministers for their respective countries for 10 years, with Ping serving as President of the United Nations General Assembly for one year. Dr. Dlamini-Zuma is now the Home Affairs Minister in South Africa, and the former wife of President Jacob Zuma.
Immediately after the deadlocked vote, it had been announced that the Deputy Chair of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Erasmus Mwencha, would become Acting Chair of the commission. However, after hours of further deliberations, the AU decided to extend Jean Ping's mandate for another six months until the next summit scheduled for June this. year in Malawi. It seems that South Africa's foreign minister had pushed for Mwencha to take over as acting Chair. However, in another twist to what is seen as deep divisions within the Union, the new AU Chairperson Benin President Thomas Yayi Boni informed reporters in Addis Ababa that "The elections were suspended in line with the provisions of our statute so we took the decision to extend the term of office of the chairperson, the deputy and his commissioners."
South Africa has vowed to re-field Dr. Dlamini-Zuma's candidacy in the June election. Whether the six months extension of Dr. Ping's mandate is enough to consolidate his position and allow him to win then, will be the challenge. The African Sun Times, Nova Jérsia
After African heads of state appointed the Chairman of the African Union, Benin's President Thomas Yayi Boni, on Sunday, 29th January, at their new swanky headquarters financed and built with funds estimated at $200 million from China as well as Chinese labor, they turned to the thornier task of electing the most powerful administrative officer of the African Union - the chairperson of the African Union Commission. The election itself engendered firsts: the first time a sitting chairperson or secretary-general as the post was known in the earlier era of the Organization of African Union; the first time a southern African was contesting the post, and finally the first time a female was a candidate for the post.
The chairmanship of the African Union itself had generated controversies in Nigeria, with the press speculating that Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan being defeated by the Beninois President. According to a media release from Jonathan's office, "1. It is not true that President Yayi Boni “defeated” President Goodluck Jonathan in an election; there was no contest in the first place and President Jonathan was not a candidate for the AU Chairmanship position.
2. It is also not true that President John Atta Mills opposed President Jonathan at any time. Ghana and Nigeria enjoy excellent relations.
3. It is true, however, that in the last week, some newspapers have been speculating that President Jonathan may be adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments to be the next chairman of the African Union, since it was the turn of ECOWAS to produce the AU Chairman for 2012-2013. Mr. President was indeed approached by leaders within and outside the West African sub-region to take up the challenge of leading the AU for the next one year.
4. While appreciating this kind gesture, President Jonathan resolved that he needed time to focus on domestic affairs in Nigeria, and that it would be practically difficult for him to combine the three positions of President of Nigeria, Chairman of ECOWAS and Chairman of African Union. He therefore rejected the offer."
After trying for three times to choose a winner for the post of AU Commission chairperson, the Heads of State could not come to an agreement: they deadlocked - in other words none of the two candidates was able to secure the requisite two-thirds of the votes needed to win, which Dr. Ping had easily done in his first try in 2008, when he easily secured the vote with 34 countries voting for him. However, this time the vote went as follows: first round went 28 votes to 25, second round 27 to 26, and third round 29 to 24 votes. It is not understandable what happened to the remaining one vote as there are 54 countries in Africa as against the 53 that had been voting. After these votes, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma was forced by African Union rules to pull out, leaving Dr. Ping as the lone candidate. But still, he could not secure the requisite two-thirds of the vote or votes from 35 countries, needing about 6 countries to switch their votes to him to win the two-thirds.
The South African delegation had broken into a song and dance after the fourth vote resulted in a no winner. In a pre-vote speech, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said that if elected she would "spare no effort in building on the work of those African women and men who want to see an African Union that is a formidable force striving for a united, free, truly independent, better Africa."
The results of the election itself laid to rest the rumors that had been swirling around Jean Ping's candidacy, that he was withdrawing his candidacy in the face of a determined opposition, or that his country's government was withdrawing support for him. These rumors had been defiantly denied by the Gabonese government. After these rumors, the Gabonese government mounted a counter-attack, sending out emissaries to different countries to solicit support for their candidate or holding major press conferences in Addis Ababa and New York seriously challenging the notion of non-support for Jean Ping, accusing some international and African media of spreading vicious rumors.
The election also exposed some fault-lines between francophone African nations and the rest of the continent. There are officially 21 french-speaking African countries, minus countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Angola, Cape Verde, or even Libya, where though they officially speak other languages tend to have french as back-up language. If this happened to be the case, you are looking at a potentially solid 28 votes by language alone.
The question really is whether Africa could continue to allow European hegemonic influence to play a major role in how the continent positions itself as both of these two candidates possess a wealth of experience that should be the determining factor and not whether they are supported by France as had been rumored about Jean Ping or NATO as was rumored for Dlamini-Zuma. Both Jean Ping and Dlamini-Zuma served as foreign ministers for their respective countries for 10 years, with Ping serving as President of the United Nations General Assembly for one year. Dr. Dlamini-Zuma is now the Home Affairs Minister in South Africa, and the former wife of President Jacob Zuma.
Immediately after the deadlocked vote, it had been announced that the Deputy Chair of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Erasmus Mwencha, would become Acting Chair of the commission. However, after hours of further deliberations, the AU decided to extend Jean Ping's mandate for another six months until the next summit scheduled for June this. year in Malawi. It seems that South Africa's foreign minister had pushed for Mwencha to take over as acting Chair. However, in another twist to what is seen as deep divisions within the Union, the new AU Chairperson Benin President Thomas Yayi Boni informed reporters in Addis Ababa that "The elections were suspended in line with the provisions of our statute so we took the decision to extend the term of office of the chairperson, the deputy and his commissioners."
South Africa has vowed to re-field Dr. Dlamini-Zuma's candidacy in the June election. Whether the six months extension of Dr. Ping's mandate is enough to consolidate his position and allow him to win then, will be the challenge. The African Sun Times, Nova Jérsia
Obiang quer "apoiar" a Guiné-Bissau
Bissau, 01 fev (Lusa) - A Guiné Equatorial disponibilizou-se a dar apoio técnico e financeiro à reforma das forças de defesa e segurança na Guiné-Bissau, que é considerada fundamental pelo Governo de Bissau para a estabilização do país.
A promessa da Guiné Equatorial, país candidato a membro de pleno direito da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, foi feita na capital da Etiópia, no âmbito de uma mesa redonda sobre a Guiné-Bissau, à margem da 18.ª cimeira da União Africana (UA), que decorreu no passado fim de semana.
Foi o Presidente da Guiné Equatorial, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Nbasogo, presidente cessante da UA, que incentivou a realização da mesa redonda, de sensibilização da comunidade internacional para a necessidade de apoiar a Guiné-Bissau.
--------------- A ditadura de Obiang junta-se assim a Angola no desejo formal de reformular as forças de defesa e segurança da Guiné-Bissau, tarefa que muitos têm prometido, desde há anos, mas que ainda ninguém foi capaz de concretizar.
As ditas forças de defesa e segurança da Guiné são um tecido altamente contaminado pelo narcotráfico, num panorama altamente deprimente que de há muito se arrasta.
A promessa da Guiné Equatorial, país candidato a membro de pleno direito da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, foi feita na capital da Etiópia, no âmbito de uma mesa redonda sobre a Guiné-Bissau, à margem da 18.ª cimeira da União Africana (UA), que decorreu no passado fim de semana.
Foi o Presidente da Guiné Equatorial, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Nbasogo, presidente cessante da UA, que incentivou a realização da mesa redonda, de sensibilização da comunidade internacional para a necessidade de apoiar a Guiné-Bissau.
--------------- A ditadura de Obiang junta-se assim a Angola no desejo formal de reformular as forças de defesa e segurança da Guiné-Bissau, tarefa que muitos têm prometido, desde há anos, mas que ainda ninguém foi capaz de concretizar.
As ditas forças de defesa e segurança da Guiné são um tecido altamente contaminado pelo narcotráfico, num panorama altamente deprimente que de há muito se arrasta.
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