GLOBAL PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

Karen Graham, a Scottish nurse and currently nursing services manager in Tripoli is this week's 1worldinternational Global Personality of the Week. Graham, this week won the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2012 for risking her life to treat patients from both sides of the Libyan conflict. A surprised Graham said: "I was completely overwhelmed just to be nominated for the award so to win it is beyond my wildest expectations."

The Burns Award was launched in 2002 and recognises a group or individual who has saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through personal self-sacrifice, selfless service or charitable work. 1worldinternational congratulates Karen Graham for winning the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award and the self-sacrifice she showed in the process.

MEDICINES SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) SUSPEND MISRATA OPERATIONS OVER ALLEGATIONS OF EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING AND TORTURE

Last week, Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors without Borders, the Geneva headquartered international humanitarian organisation, announced the suspension of their operations in detention centres in Misrata. MSF have been operating in detention centres located in Misrata since August 2011 where its staff have treated the war-wounded and have performed surgeries and operations on those with serious injuries. MSF attribute their decision to pull out from Misrata to concerns that detainees were being tortured by the Libyan authorities. MSF reveal that about 115 people have recently been treated for war-related wounds. Of concern as well are reports that some detainees were intentionally deprived of medical care and that several patients who had been returned to interrogation centres where the torture had taken place, had been tortured again.

MSF General Director, Christopher Stokes raised further concerns that Libyan officials have sought to exploit MSF’s medical work. Mr Stokes proffered: “patients were brought to us for medical care between interrogation sessions so that they would be fit for further interrogation.” He added “This is unacceptable. Our role is to provide care to war casualties and sick detainees, not to repeatedly treat the same patients between torture sessions.” MSF’s concerns have been buttressed by its counterpart, Amnesty International who have reported that widespread torture had been carried out by armed militia and security personnel operating within the country. Amnesty International’s spokesperson, Donatella Rovera said: “there has been no progress to stop the use of torture. We are not aware of any proper investigations into cases of torture, and neither the survivors nor the relatives of those who have died in detention have had any recourse to justice or redress for what they have suffered.”

The allegations of extrajudicial killings and torture come just three months following the NATO-led operation which brought to an end Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year long dictatorship. Since then, there have been recurrent reports that Gaddafi loyalists, many of them black and of sub-Saharan African origin have been detained in detention centres from where they were then led to interrogation centres where the alleged acts of torture are said to have taken place. The United Nations report that about 8,500 detainees are being held across 60 detention centres in the country most of whom are alleged to have fought on the Gaddafi side during last year’s war. The detained are alleged to be regularly beaten, whipped, flogged and electrocuted during the course of the alleged episodes of torture. It is apparent that the use of torture is being used as a means of settling old scores and rivalries of the Gaddafi era Libya. Recent clashes in the cities of Tripoli, Bani Walid and Benghazi add to fears of civil war and unrest breaking out in the ‘New Libya’.

The Libyan National Transitional Government (NTC) however denies involvement in the recent spate and reports of torture and killing in the country. Speaking to the BBC recently, Ibrahim Beitelmal, the Head of Misrata’s military council, accused international humanitarian organisations such as MSF of having a hidden agenda. He stated: “I think that the people working under the guise of human rights organisations or doctors without borders are Gaddafi’s fifth column. There may have been a few cases of former rebels taking revenge but that doesn’t mean that the orders have come from my office to torture prisoners.”

The government’s denial does little to quell the international community’s concerns over the widespread use of torture in Libya’s detention centres. The UN Human Rights chief, Navi Pillay also voiced worries on Friday about torture, extrajudicial executions and rape of both men and women in these detention centres. In her report to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), she also highlighted the government’s inability to rein in militias or so called revolutionary brigades who have been accused of being behind the grievous acts. She stated: “the interim government still does not exercise effective control over the revolutionary brigade. Light and heavy weaponry in the hands of these brigades pose a threat to public security and protection of the human rights of the population.” She added “something has to be done immediately to assist the authorities, for the State to take control of these detention centres”.

As were the cases in the Balkans after the fall of Slobodan Milosevic and Afghanistan following the toppling of the governing Taliban, some would say that reprisal attacks against those thought to be affiliated with the exiting governing regime, in this case Gaddafi loyalists, was to be expected. The weak government has not been assisted by problems it has encountered in securing its weapons depots, disarming fighters who fought against Muammar Gaddafi supporters and stopping the smuggling of ammunition within the country. Unfortunately fears expressed at the conclusion of the war that unsecured weapons could fall into the wrong hands have materialised and this has led to the creation of militia groups who have carved out areas of control throughout the country. In this regard, the NTC in conjunction with the international community could offer incentives, for example of the financial variety to those who return weaponry to government hands. This will to an extent reduce the amount of loose ammunition in the wrong hands. In addition, the strengthening of the country’s security services will dissuade individuals from taking up arms to protect themselves, their family and property.

Compounding matters in Libya is the lack of the rule of law in a country which was until recently ruled by a dictatorship for over four decades. Certainly, democracy is certain to fail without the foundation of the rule of law and a transparent judicial system which provides a check and balance against abuse by those elected or appointed to act as officers of the State. At present Libya lacks this foundation and like any nation in a rebuilding phase, the proverbial ‘promised land’ is likely to remain just that, ‘the promised land’ for decades and possibly centuries unless the creation of the rule of law is given precedence in its nation building.

The NTC can certainly assist matters by admitting that some of the torture has taken place in government owned facilities and have been sanctioned by government officials. Whether the top brass in the government are complicit in the killings, retaliations and torture remains a mystery. However, what is clear is that the NTC will require the assistance of the international community in combating the concerns raised by the UN, MSF, Amnesty International and other international aid organisations. Without doubt, all efforts exerted by the NTC and the international community for the purpose of upholding human rights standards will be futile without the rule of law being established in the country and strong governance being shown by its leaders.

GLOBAL PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

Wilman Villar is 1worldinternational’s Global Personality of the Week. Mr Villar, 31, a dissident and activist in Cuba died in custody this week following a 50-day hunger strike. The Cuban government’s spin doctors have gone into overdrive pronouncing that Mr Villar had been in custody following an assault on his wife and that his death was pneumonia-related. Despite the government’s assertions, members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba have claimed Mr Villar as their own.

We echo the sentiments expressed by US President Barack Obama that “Villar's senseless death highlights the ongoing oppression of the Cuban people and the plight faced by brave individuals standing up for the universal rights of all Cubans." 1worldinternational salutes Wilman Villar even in his death for standing up for what is right and in the process giving up his life for a just cause.

JOINT AGENCY BRIEFING PAPER CALLS FOR CHANGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN CRISES

On 18th January, Oxfam and Save the Children released their co-authored report, A Dangerous Delay, which concluded that thousands of needless deaths occurred and millions of extra pounds were spent because the international community failed to take decisive action on early warnings of a hunger crisis in East Africa. It also concluded that humanitarian agencies and national governments were too slow to scale up their response to the crisis as many donors wanted proof or evidence of a humanitarian catastrophe before acting to prevent one.

The report highlighted for example that although early warning systems were forecast about the likelihood of an emergency occurring as early as August 2010, full-scale response was not launched until July 2011 when malnutrition rates in parts of the region had risen substantially and which in turn resulted in increased media attention. Both organisations have called for pre-emptive action in advocating that funding for food emergencies should be sought and released as soon as the crisis signs are clear, rather than the current system which funds large-scale emergency work only when hunger levels have caused unnecessary loss of life and costs in response have increased substantially. The report's recommendations are also backed by other NGOs.

More than 13 million people were affected by the hunger crises in the Horn of Africa. The countries most affected by the crises include Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia where indications of a crisis was apparent from August 2010 and warnings were sounded out in early 2011 regarding the increasingly concerning humanitarian crises. However donors, agencies and governments failed to respond until after rains had failed for a second successive year, by which time the report states, many had lost their livelihoods, particularly women and children, and millions were in the throes of extreme hardship. The report asserts that the scale of suffering, and financial cost could have been reduced if early warning systems had triggered an earlier more substantial response. As a result of the delayed response to the East African hunger crisis, an estimated 50,000 – 100,000 people were reported to have died. A combined approach of the international community, especially one which seeks to manage the risks and not the crisis, one aimed at reducing the risks and one which is designed to respond to early warning signals will surely have averted the unnecessary loss of life and suffering of the inhabitants of the Horn of Africa.

Unfortunately it is impossible to rule out a recurrence of drought, famine and hunger crises in the Horn of Africa. However one hopes that the international community’s response in the future will be based on lessons learnt from the staggered approach in dealing with previous crises, hence the need for national governments, NGOs, and multi agencies alike to consider in some depth the recommendations of A Dangerous Delay. Amongst others, the report recommends that national governments need to be able to fulfil its responsibilities to people caught up in crises and to demonstrate their leadership.

To this end, African leaders, whose ability to deliver good governance is largely questioned, need to work closely and hand in hand with international organisations and NGOs in order to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable, usually women and children, are attended to before the situation reaches crises point. In addition, swift responses to early warning signals is stressed coupled with the recommendation that the international aid community needs to undertake preventative humanitarian work on the basis of forecasts. The report also states that donors need to provide more agile and flexible funding which will support a change of focus from reactionary response to humanitarian crises to the more effective pre-emptive action. With a new food crises looming in the horizon, namely in the Sahel region of Africa, it is hoped that the lessons and recommendations of A Dangerous Delay will be implemented by all those concerned to prevent suffering of the scale witnessed in the Horn of Africa.

GLOBAL PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

1worldinternational’s global personality of the week award goes to Mouad Belrhouate. The Moroccan rapper, known as El-Haqed or “The Sullen One” was last week released from prison having served a 4-month sentence for assault in a clash with supporters of the monarchy. El-Haqed, whose supporters state that the sentence was an attempt to stifle free speech, has been central to protests demanding an end to the constitutional monarchy, and have also called for an independent judiciary, and a crackdown on corruption.

Needless to say, El-Haqed’s stint in prison has in no way discouraged him. In a statement made to the AFP, El-Haqed stated: “there will be no turning back. Thanks to rap, I have committed myself to the people and its hardships. Our demands are huge”. He later added: “I will continue to spread my message and denounce the massive corruption in our country.”

RECENT SPATE OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS THREATEN TO PUSH IRAQ OVER THE PRECIPICE

The recent spate of suicide bomb attacks in Iraq has not only stoked tensions in a country criss-crossed by several fault lines but also threatens the overall stability of the already fractured Middle East region. The latest attack occurred in the Southern city of Basra this weekend which killed scores and wounded many. Initial reports indicated that 15 people had lost their lives in the attack; however, the figure has now risen to about 53 at the time of writing while around 100 are said to have been injured.


Latest Attacks

The attacker was said to have been in possession of a fake police ID and was wearing an Iraqi police uniform. Initial reports allege that the perpetrator approached a police checkpoint and appeared to hand out “sweets” to Shia Muslims making their way to a Mosque to celebrate the Shi’ite holy festival of Arbain. The suicide bomber then blew himself up in a crowd comprising mostly of police officers and Shi’ite pilgrims upon being approached by a police officer. The latest attacks add to the worrying spate of terror being unleashed against Shia Muslims in the cities of Baghdad and Nasariya which left 72 dead last week.


Operation Iraqi Freedom

The recent attacks lay bare sectarian divisions which exist in the post-Saddam Iraq only months after President Barack Obama fulfilled his campaign pledge of withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq. President Obama’s decision has met fierce criticism in some quarters as many doubt that the Iraqi state security apparatus has the capacity to contain threats posed by militants to internal security. Unfortunately, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Bush administration-led military mission aimed at dislodging Saddam has thus far failed to yield the various promises made at its onset on 19th March 2003. In contrast the human and financial cost, as well as other as yet unquantifiable costs of the 9-year long operation appears to outweigh any benefits which even the most ardent protagonists of the Iraq war can claim the country has gained following the invasion. Harrowingly, the Lancet Journal reported in 2006 that a total of 654,965 people had lost their lives following the invasion. Figures from the US Department of Defence reveal that the U.S lost about 4,487 military personnel in Iraq since 2003. In addition, the financial costs of the war have been estimated by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) as amounting to $801.9 billion. The “catastrophic success”, the belated term coined by George W. Bush in 2004 to describe the operation to overthrow Saddam appears now to be an overstatement when the financial and human costs of the incursion are taken into account.


Political Impasse

The country’s make-shift coalition has also been paralysed by political impasse. The stability of the power-sharing government has been threatened by allegations of favouritism, marginalisation and distrust. Tensions have been particularly fraught since an arrest warrant was issued against Iraq’s most senior Sunni Arab politician, Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi over claims that he funded attacks on the Iraqi government and security forces. The allegations are also said to have been substantiated by individuals employed as Mr Hashemi’s bodyguards at the time. Mr Hashemi remains a fugitive in the Iraq Kurdistan region of the country and remains under the protection of the Kurdish regional government who have refused to give him up despite calls from Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki. The dispute has led to the boycott of the assembly by the al-Iraqiyya group, who are the main Sunni bloc in parliament. The group claims that the arrest warrant is merely a witch-hunt by the Shia-dominated government against the Sunni Muslim minority.


The Future

It would not be erroneous to assert that these divisions were less apparent in the ‘old Iraq’ ruled by the iron fist of Saddam Hussein. Aside the tit for tat attack by Sunnis against Shi’ite Muslims and vice versa, calls for autonomy voiced by the Kurdish area of the country and attacks against minority Christians, many of whom have left the country as a result, the country’s stability is complicated by the politics of the volatile Middle East region it finds itself in. Turkey’s attempts at asserting influence over the region, the Sunni Muslim rebellion in neighbouring Syria, the Shia majority ruled Iran’s relationship with Iraq’s Shi’ite leaders and mistrust of Sunni ruled Saudi Arabia are only but a few curve balls which the government has had to confront.

The autocratic demeanour exhibited by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has played a central role in the impossible current state of affairs. The stability of the country depends on his ability to compromise with the different factions making up the power-sharing government. Any positive changes to the current state of impasse will depend on this ability; after all, this is supposed to be a ‘power-sharing’ government. Moreover, the country’s leaders need to set an example to its populace by airing out difficulties via the arena provided by the negotiating table rather than through the issuance of arrest warrants or threats issued through the media. Only then will the message seep through to the country’s people that communication rather than violence is the most effective means of settling disputes.

In addition, the country’s security apparatus needs to be significantly strengthened to protect its people from the havoc wreaked by suicide bombers. To this end, there needs to be a change of focus towards pre-emptive action by the Iraqi government and this can be achieved by enhancing its intelligence services. Perhaps, it could seek the assistance of the US in this regard although a request of this nature may compromise its relationship with Iran who are alleged to have twisted Iraq’s arms into ensuring the exit of US combat troops from the country. Importantly, it is vital for the country’s people to see tangible benefits of living in the post-Saddam Iraq. The post-Saddam Iraq is still as poor as the Saddam ruled Iraq, and to compound matters, is also less secure. The next few months are critical times for the country although its future unfortunately rests in the hands of its pugnacious leader, Nouri al-Maliki. 1worldinternational urges its readers to watch this space.

GLOBAL PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

This week's global personality of the week is Nabeel Rajab, the President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. It was reported this week that Mr Rajab was allegedly beaten up by the government's security forces. 1worldinternational wishes Mr Rajab a swift recovery from his injuries and hopes his fight for democracy in the country does not falter in the face of intimidation.

WEST DECLARES "ECONOMIC WAR" AGAINST IRAN, SAYS IRAN'S ECONOMIC MINISTER

In a move most likely to escalate the entrenched stand-off between the West and Iran, the government of the Islamic Republic announced at the end of the week its intentions to conduct new military exercises in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is particularly vital to the world’s economy as the narrow 34-mile wide (54km) channel located off Iran’s south coast which constitutes a passageway for the transportation of about 20% of the world’s traded oil.

The newly announced military exercises follow a recently concluded series of exercise by Iran’s military in the nearby Gulf of Oman. Iran’s Naval Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Rear Admiral Ali Fadari, told the Fars News Agency: “Today the Islamic Republic of Iran has full domination over the region and controls all movements within it”. The latest move by Iran was met with derision by the U.K and the U.S. The UK’s defence secretary Phillip Hammond warned Iran against any attempts to restrict oil flow in the Gulf. Mr Hammond stated that any attempts to close the Strait would be “illegal and unsuccessful”. He added: “it is in all our interests that the arteries of global trade are kept free, open and running”. The U.S has also stated that it will ensure that the international waters of the Strait stay open.

The U.S attributes Iran’s announcement of new exercises to the success of the series of sanctions placed against the country in recent years over Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. Talks between the West, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the West have so far failed to yield any progress or compromises. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has already passed several rounds of sanctions against Iran for the country’s refusal to terminate its uranium enrichment programme which the West alleges is clear intention of its quest to build nuclear weaponry. Sanctions imposed have included asset freezes on key companies and individuals, restrictions on the government’s arms exports and bans on the supply of nuclear related technology to Iran. The EU has also followed this with an asset freeze on several individuals and organisations. In the same vein, the U.S has also sought to tighten the already secure noose by imposing sanctions on numerous Iranian government agencies, officials and businesses.

Perhaps the most damaging actions initiated by the West in its “economic war” against Iran, a term coined by the country’s economic minister, Shamseddin Hosseini, are sanctions authorised by President Obama against Iran’s central bank, which handles Iran’s oil revenue and the oil embargo on the importation of Iranian oil set to be implemented by EU leaders later in the month. As expected, Iran has shrugged off the West’s latest move. In a Tehran news press conference, the country’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi stated that the country was “not concerned at all” about the impending EU ban on its oil and that Iran would “weather the storm”. Mr Saleh continued: “Iran, with divine assistance, has always been ready to counter such hostile actions, and we are not concerned at all about the actions”.

If the government of Iran thinks that the West has no intention to follow through on its threats, it will be advised to have a swift rethink. For one, the West has already implemented contingency plans to replace the oil supply produced by the Gulf States if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz. The three-pronged sanctions regime imposed by the UN, the EU and the US is intended to put pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. Regardless of the protestations of the government, it is inevitable that the sanctions will further strangle Iran’s already fragile economy. Unrelenting rumours that food and resource scarcity abound and that many have flocked to the country’s banks to withdraw their deposits is indication of the effect of western pressure on the economy of the world’s second largest oil producer. Worryingly, there are no plans for a resumption of talks which collapsed a year ago; however it is hoped that the corrosive rhetoric emanating from the country remains just that, merely rhetoric and if you like, posturing. At present observers roughly seem to be in agreement that Iran is incapable of following through with its threats to close the Strait although one should bear in mind the adage relating to the danger posed by a wounded animal, the animal of course being in this case Iran.

GLOBAL PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK

Anna Hazare deserves 1worldinternational's inaugural Global Personality of the Week award for leading the fight against corruption in India. Anna, we salute you.

KAZAKHSTAN ON THE EDGE FOLLOWING DEADLY CLASHES

Granted, the world’s 9th largest country did not make our ‘2012 countries to watch list'; however Kazakhstan would unfailingly make its way onto the reserve list if yours truly had compiled one.

On 16th December 2011 security forces in the western city of Zhanaozen are reported to have opened fire on an unarmed group of demonstrators consisting largely of striking oil workers. The violence left 16 dead and over 100 injured. In addition, buildings and public infrastructure were also said to have been destroyed during the disturbance. It is reported that the protests were led by oil workers in Zhanaozen who had been on strike since May 2011 demanding favourable pay and working conditions. The protests of 16th December coincided with the country’s 20th anniversary of its independence and have been described as the worst civil disturbance in its 20 odd years as an independent nation. The clashes have led observers to conclude that this may be the catalyst for further mass disturbances in the coming weeks, especially with parliamentary and local elections scheduled to take place later this month.

The indiscriminate shooting of unarmed protestors was initially denied by the security forces and instead blamed on criminal gangs and “hooligan elements” until footage of the shooting of the unarmed demonstrators appeared on the internet. As a result, the office of the Prosecutor-General last week opened a criminal inquiry into the use of weapons by police following the disturbance. Some police officers have also been charged for their part in the clashes and are said to face 10 years in prison if convicted for the crime of abuse of office. The official spokesman of the Kazakh Prosecutor-General’s office, Nurdaulet Suindikar, confirmed that criminal cases against officers were launched on charges of “abuse of authority and official powers involving the use of weapons or special equipment.” Government officials have also muted the possibility of inviting the United Nations to investigate the clashes.

The clashes have been seen by observers as a blow to the country’s image as Central Asia’s most stable nation. President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his associates have successfully sold this image of the country to the West in the last decade, whilst at the same time, concealing the darker elements of his regime. Luckily for him, the West has not sought to dig deeper into the glossy image of Kazakhstan which we are being sold. Mr Nazarbayev has ruled the country since its independence in 1991 and has presided over an autocratic regime accused of nepotism, corruption, human tights abuse and autocracy. Mr Nazarbayev is currently serving a 4th term as President having won elections in April 2011 which independent observers panned as fraudulent. The ruling party led by Mr Nazarbayev also holds all the seats in both houses of Parliament in the country.

The government’s spin machine has gone into overdrive in its attempts to play down the clashes as a one-off incident. Nevertheless, no amount of spin can gloss over the huge social inequalities in a country blessed with oil resources. The latest clashes have also led human rights groups to call into question the country’s questionable human rights credentials. Human Rights Watch has called on the government to investigate allegations of torture. The organisation has particularly highlighted the recent death of a political detainee from “injuries sustained in police custody”. The government’s crackdown on independent media, internet coverage, mobile phone coverage and social networking in the western region of the country during the clashes has also led to allegations of censorship being laid at the feet of the government. It is also reported that restrictions were also placed on the few journalists who were allowed access to the scene of the clashes.

As was the case in Yemen, a blind eye has conveniently been turned away from the concerns raised by human rights organisations because the country is of strategic importance to the West. The West has invested heavily in the country’s energy industry and Kazakhstan has assisted immensely in transporting NATO supplies to Afghanistan. Its cooperation with the West appears to be a form of payment in return for buying the silence of Western leaders who, by their actions or lack of, send the erroneous message to despots that the West will not take them to task on human rights standards so long as they happen to be of use to us.