Myanmar's Suu Kyi says she can not back Rohingya Muslims

 

Muslim Rohingya people in Mayebon Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mayebon township in the western Myanmar Rakhine state on November 1, 2012

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/11/04/270339/suu-kyi-refuses-to-support-rohingyas/

Myanmar Noble Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi says she will not back the minority of Rohingya Muslims that have been persecuted and killed by the majority Buddhists.

"I am urging tolerance but I do not think one should use one's moral leadership, if you want to call it that, to promote a particular cause without really looking at the sources of the problems," Suu Kyi told the BBC on Saturday.

This is the first time that the opposition leader has announced her stance about the months-long violence in her country officially.

Since the onset of the deadly violence against Rohingyas in the western Rakhine state in June, Suu Kyi has been the target of harsh swipe from international human rights activist for failing to speak against the killings and persecution of Muslims in Myanmar.

"If people are killing one another and setting fire to one another's houses, how are we going to come to any kind of reasonable settlement?" she said.

The remarks by the democracy champion, as she is described by Western countries, come as all major news outlets are providing compelling evidence about the persecution of Rohingyas at the hands of Buddhists and Myanmar’s security forces.

The Myanmar government and its majority population refuse to recognize Rohingya Muslims as citizens and label the minority of about 800,000 as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, an impoverished state that has shown no willingness to help the Rohingyas.

More than 100,000 Rohingyas have been displaced since the violence broke out in June, according to the UN. However, the humanitarian situation is continuing to deteriorate.

"The situation is dire. The UN is doing its best, but it is trying to find more funding to help them," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, an NGO working with the Rohingya.

 

ICRC must condemn massacre of Myanmar Muslims: IRCS head

A resident walks past a destroyed building following days of sectarian violence in Sittwe, capital of Myanmar's western state of Rakhine on June 16, 2012

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/22/252259/iran-urges-icrc-to-slam-myanmar-massacre/

Iran has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to condemn the mass slaughter of ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and take prompt measures to stop violence in the East Asian country.

“According to media reports, thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have been exposed to serious atrocities. A large number of them (Rohingya Muslims) have been killed, detained or gone missing since the recent flare-up of violence,” head of Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Abolhassan Faqih wrote in a letter addressed to ICRC president Peter Maurer on Sunday.

The letter also lamented the international community’s apathy towards the humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar, stressing the need for global condemnation of genocide in the country.
“The ICRC, as a humanitarian and impartial organization, is expected to act promptly and take a firm stand vis-à-vis the blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar in a bid to assuage the suffering of the victims,” Faqih pointed out.
The IRCS expects the Myanmar government to effectively respond to the existing concerns and adopt necessary measures to restore security and respect of Rohingya Muslims, the letter concluded.
According to recent reports, Muslims in Myanmar are in a tragic human plight. Reports say 650 of the nearly one million Rohingya Muslims have been killed as of June 28 during clashes in the western region of Rakhine. This is while 1,200 others are missing and 90,000 more have been displaced.
They are deprived of basic rights including education and employment and are subject to forced labor, extortion and other coercive measures.
The government of Myanmar refuses to recognize Rohingyas, who it claims are not natives and classifies them as illegal migrants, although they have lived in the country for generations.

Explosions rock Yenagoa in Nigeria

Smoke and debris fill the sky seconds after a car bomb explodes alongside firemen responding to an initial car bomb that exploded earlier in Abuja, Nigeria. (File photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222265.html

Two explosions have rocked Nigeria's southern city of Yenagoa hours after a wave of deadly blasts and gunfire hit the city of Kano.

According to a Saturday statement from the office of Governor Timipre Sylva, the bomb blasts were related to upcoming governorship elections in Yenogoa.

"Governor Timipre Sylva has just been informed of two explosions that rocked parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, late Friday night," the statement said.

One bomb went off on the Tombia Bridge and an explosive-laden car was detonated near the Government House, according to sources.

The explosions came in the wake of a string of violent attacks in the northern city of Kano where at least eight people were killed.

The Boko Haram militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying the offensive was in response to Nigerian authorities' refusal to release a number of group's members arrested in Kano.

Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew in Kano to curb the violence.

In December 2011, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a series of bombings near the Nigerian capital, Abuja, which killed 40 people and injured scores of others.

Nigeria slashes fuel prices over strike

Motorists queue for fuel at a filling station, Lagos, Nigeria, January 14, 2012

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221300.html

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a decrease in fuel prices in a bid to end a nationwide strike heading into a second week.

President Jonathan said that the government decided to reduce petrol prices by 30 percent to 97 naira (about 60 US cents) per liter “after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly.”

"[The] government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector," he said in a televised address on Monday.

Jonathan made the remarks after the latest round of talks between the government and trade unions ended with no sign of a compromise over the removal of fuel subsidies.

On January 1, the government hiked petrol prices to more than double from 65 naira (40 cents) per liter to about 150 naira (92 cents).

The decision sparked nationwide strikes and protests that paralyzed the oil-rich country since January 9. The strikes also cost the economy billions of dollars in lost revenue.

The unions on Sunday vowed in a statement to continue the strikes and protests if the government did not reverse its decision on the subsidies.

The unions had demanded the government to restore an estimated USD 8 billion a year in fuel subsidies, but the government only promised to slightly lower the prices.

Nigeria produces over 2 million barrels of crude per day and is a key supplier to the US, Europe, and Asia.

The developments come as concerns over Nigerian oil supplies have pushed up global oil prices.

Nigeria unions vow to keep up protest

Angry protesters burn debris in the city of Lagos in southwestern Nigeria on January 10, 2012 following the removal of a fuel subsidy by the government

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221284.html

Two major unions in Nigeria have vowed to continue nationwide strikes and protests over spiraling fuel prices in the country after negotiations with the government failed.

The assertion, which was made in a joint statement by Nigeria Labor Congress and Trade Union Congress, came after Nigeria's labor unions ended talks with President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday with no clear-cut results.

Tens of thousands of Nigerians demonstrated over five successive days last week in protest against the removal of fuel subsidies on January 1, which more than doubled the price of petrol to 150 naira (92 cents) per liter from 65 naira (40 cents).

The unions also vowed in the statement to continue the strikes and protests if the government did not reverse its decision on the subsidies.

The labor unions also said they needed to consider their next move. "We have come and listened to the president ... on the issue of removal of fuel subsidy and we are going now to analyze the submission of Mr. President and take a decision," said Nigeria Labour Congress chief, Abdulwahed Omar.

The unions had demanded the government to restore an estimated USD 8 billion a year in fuel subsidies, but the government only promised to slightly lower the prices.

Jonathan absented himself from a Saturday meeting with union representatives.

He has said that the subsidies on oil were unsustainable for the country. The government has alleged it would use USD 8 billion in savings to make much-needed infrastructure improvements in the country.

Demonstrations have turned violent across the country over the last week, leaving many Nigerians dead and scores injured.

Nigeria produces over 2 million barrels of crude per day and is a key supplier to the US, Europe, and Asia.

The developments come as concerns over Nigerian oil supplies have pushed up global oil prices.

Nigeria declares state of emergency

A security barrier marks the scene of a car bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja, just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja, December 25, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/218752.html

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in the areas hit by a series of deadly attacks on Christmas Day last week.

In a televised address on Saturday, Jonathan declared an indefinite state of emergency in some parts of Borno, Yobe, Niger and Plateau states, which would all allow security agencies to make arrests without evidence and conduct searches without warrants.

The president also ordered the closure of parts of the country's borders to control "cross-border terrorist activities".

The moves come nearly a week after a wave of deadly attacks struck parts of Africa's most populous nation.

Jonathan has vowed to crush the group blamed for the bloody attacks.

At least 49 people were killed and several others injured in a wave of bombings which targeted government offices and churches in Nigeria on Christmas Day.

The Boko Haram militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The latest blasts came following days of violent clashes between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram militants in Damaturu city which claimed the lives of least 60 people.

According to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria claimed the lives of over 14,000 people between 1999 and 2009.

Explosion hits UN building in Nigeria

Violence continues in Nigeria

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195860.html

A massive explosion has hit a United Nations building in Nigeria's capital of Abuja, leveling at least one complete wing of the structure.

The blast struck the UN building, located near the US Embassy and other diplomatic posts on Friday just before 11 a.m., AP reported.

Local police spokesman Jimoh Moshood confirmed the blast and said the cause of the explosion remains unknown.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties. Witnesses say police are still searching the scene of the blast for victims.

The developments come as the Boko Haram group has increased attacks on government targets since Nigerian security forces killed their leader, Mohammed Yusuf, while he was in custody in 2009.

The group is blamed for bomb attacks and shootings in the northeast of the country.

According to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria claimed the lives of over 14,000 people between 1999 and 2009.

Nigeria to begin talks with Boko Haram

The Nigerian government plans to begin negotiations with the Boko Haram group. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/191594.html

Nigeria has announced it plans to start negotiations with the Boko Haram group, which is blamed for bomb attacks and shootings in the northeast of the country.

The Nigerian government issued a statement on Saturday, saying a panel will negotiate with representatives of the group and report back to Abuja by August 16, AFP reported.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has named the seven members of the panel, which includes the ministers of defense and labor and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The panel, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday, would act “as a liaison between the federal government… and Boko Haram and… initiate negotiations with the sect,” the statement said.

Boko Haram has increased attacks on government targets since Nigerian security forces killed their leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in custody in 2009.

On July 10, three people were killed in a bomb blast at a church near the capital Abuja. The Nigerian authorities blamed Boko Haram for the deadly incident.

According to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria claimed the lives of over 14,000 people between 1999 and 2009.

Nigeria bombings kill 25, injure 30

Bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria killed at least 25 people and injured 30 others on June 26. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186401.html

At least 25 people have been killed and 30 injured in bombings at a public area in Nigeria's northeastern town of Maiduguri, officials say.

Military sources said suspected members of the Boko Haram group threw three sets of explosives from the back of motorbikes at around 5 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on Sunday, Reuters reported.

According to a police officer, the attackers threw bombs and fired indiscriminate gun shots at Dala Kabompi neighborhood, killing at least 25 people and seriously injuring around 30 others.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on police headquarters in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on June 16, killing at least two, including a policeman.

Police officers, soldiers, politicians and clerics in northern Nigeria have reportedly been the main targets of attacks by Boko Haram elements in the past year.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who was sworn in for his first full term in office on May 29, has voiced support for a dialogue with Boko Haram.

Nigeria violence leaves 800 dead: HRW

Shortly after the announcement of the election result riots broke out in Nigeria

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180258.html

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says 800 people have been killed in election related violence in Nigeria following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The New York-based rights group gave Monday's estimate based on 55 interviews conducted with witnesses of violence as well as members of the clergy, traditional leaders, police officials and journalists, AP reported.

Violence ignited in the aftermath of the April presidential elections which saw Jonathan, a Christian, re-elected.

An unofficial agreement in Nigerian diplomacy calls for its presidential candidates to take turns between the country's Christian south and Muslim north.

The unexpected death of former Muslim President Umar Musa Yar'Adua, who was expected to be re-elected for another term, is believed to have advanced former Vice President Jonathan into the presidential seat.

Jonathan created a panel to investigate the post-election violence last week.

The panel is in charge of determining the number of casualties and the cause of the riots, in hopes of preventing violence from escalating further.