SRI LANKA: UN EXPERT CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO PROBE EXECUTIONS CAPTURED ON VIDEO

SRI LANKA: UN EXPERT CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO PROBE EXECUTIONS CAPTURED ON VIDEO
New York, May 31 2011 7:10PM
An independent United Nations human rights expert has called on Sri Lankan authorities to thoroughly investigate the apparent execution of several men by Government soldiers, saying a disputed video of the incident seems to be authentic.

Christof Heyns, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, described the killings shown on the video – whose authenticity has been contested by the Sri Lankan Government – as "textbook examples of extrajudicial executions."

In the video, which first appeared on British television, naked men are shown being placed with their hands behind their backs. They are then shot through the head from behind.

"Our findings are that these executions really took place and that has to be investigated further to establish who did it and what was the context," Mr. Heyns said in an interview yesterday, a day before he presented his findings in Geneva.

"I do think a broader process is necessary to establish whether these are crimes against humanity [or] possibly war crimes that took place," he said, adding it was important to determine if the killings were part of wider pattern of systematic attacks against civilians or prisoners of war.

In his report to the UN Human Rights Council he said that "what is reflected in the extended video are crimes of the highest order – definitive war crimes," although he stressed that further investigations need to be carried out.

Mr. Heyns said experts in forensics, medicine, ballistics and video and audio concluded that the executions depicted in the video did take place, reflecting the findings last year of his predecessor, Philip Alston.

Speaking to the Council today, Sri Lanka's representative Mohan Pieris said the Government had been precluded from making a full assessment of the video because of the blurred quality of the images.

He said it was important not to rush to conclusions, noting that media outlets, human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were often quick to report on incidents during conflicts which result in the deaths of civilians without finding out the legal basis for military operations.

Last month a UN human rights panel found there were credible reports that both Government forces and Tamil rebels committed war crimes during the final stages of the civil war that ended in May 2009, and urged that further investigations be carried out.
May 31 2011 7:10PM
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URGING STRONGER NON-PROLIFERATION RULES, BAN CALLS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE WORLD

URGING STRONGER NON-PROLIFERATION RULES, BAN CALLS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE WORLD
New York, May 31 2011 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his call for a world free of nuclear weapons and called for the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as the cornerstone for global disarmament, and the bringing into force of the agreement banning nuclear arms tests.

"All Member States share a common interest in building a world in which the use of nuclear weapons is not simply improbable, but impossible," Mr. Ban said when he <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=5312">addressed the Conference on Promoting the Global Instruments of Non-Proliferations and Disarmament, whose theme was "the United Nations and the Nuclear Challenge."

"I pledge my full commitment to liberating humanity from the terror of weapons of mass destruction," Mr. Ban told the conference, which was hosted in New York by Japan, Poland and Turkey.

He said the UN has consistently been promoting the key goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) relating to disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Secretary-General said he was encouraged by the entry into force of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (known as the New START Treaty) between Russia and the United States.

"If 'global instruments' are to truly deserve this designation, they must not only achieve universal membership, but full compliance by States Parties with their commitments," said Mr. Ban.

"The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty [CTBT] should be brought into force without further delay. I have suggested next year, 2012, as a target date when we will be able to see the effect of the CTBT come into force," he added.

The Secretary-General said he will convene the Seventh Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT in New York in September to sustain the current political momentum.

He called for additional legal instruments to address the grave challenges posed by fissile materials and assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States that such arms will not be used against them.

"The international rule of law must also extend to conventional arms. And, of course, we cannot address rule of law issues without touching on the work of the Conference on Disarmament," said Mr. Ban, urging the conference to reach agreement on a programme of work, including immediate negotiations of a fissile material cut-off treaty, without delay.

Mr. Ban said the Security Council should build on its September 2009 summit on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and discuss the topic every year, noting that sanctions imposed by the Council play a significant role in non-proliferation efforts.

The General Assembly, for its part, could forge closer links between disarmament and other challenges on its agenda, Mr. Ban said, adding that disarmament complemented efforts to tackle other important global challenges, including poverty and climate change.
May 31 2011 6:10PM
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BAN APPOINTS EXPERIENCED UN OFFICIAL TO LEAD CHANGE MANAGEMENT TEAM

BAN APPOINTS EXPERIENCED UN OFFICIAL TO LEAD CHANGE MANAGEMENT TEAM
New York, May 31 2011 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today that he has appointed a senior United Nations official to spearhead efforts to implement a reform agenda aimed at streamlining and improving the efficiency of the world body.

Assistant Secretary-General Atul Khare will lead the Change Management Team (CMT) at the UN, working with both departments and offices within the Secretariat and with other bodies in the UN system and the 192 Member States.

Announcing the appointment, Mr. Ban said the CMT is tasked with guiding the implementation of a reform agenda at the UN that starts with the devising of a wide-ranging plan to streamline activities, increase accountability and ensure the Organization is more effective and efficient in delivering its many mandates.

Mr. Ban said the CMT – which will work under the direction of Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro – would prove particularly vital as the UN works to strengthen its performance at a time of budgetary constraints and rapid global change.

Most recently Mr. Khare, an Indian national, served as deputy to the head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). Before that he held senior UN positions in Timor-Leste.
May 31 2011 6:10PM
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WORLD LEADERS TO GATHER AT UN MEETING ON COMBATING HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC

WORLD LEADERS TO GATHER AT UN MEETING ON COMBATING HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC
New York, May 31 2011 6:10PM
An unprecedented number of national leaders and other high-level figures will participate in next week's United Nations meeting on combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the UN <"http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2011/may/20110531prhlmpreview/">announced today.

At least 32 heads of State, heads of government or vice-presidents have committed to participating in the three-day event beginning on 8 June, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said.

The agency described the number as a positive signal that the international community is committed to meet goals on HIV/AIDS prevention and care at a critical time "as more people than ever before are living with HIV, but international funding for AIDS is seen to be declining."

"The commitment we are seeing for this meeting from world leaders is an extremely positive signal and is coming at a critical time," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "This meeting will provide a real opportunity for countries to take ownership of the response and produce a strong and visionary declaration to guide global efforts in reaching universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015."

"The top-level leaders will join ministers and other UN Member State representatives to commit to new ways forward in responding to AIDS," according to a press statement issued by UNAIDS. "There will also be strong participation from civil society and other actors from the AIDS movement who will join discussions on how to take the AIDS response to the next level."

"Significant progress has been made in reducing numbers of new HIV infections, in accessing treatment, in reducing the number of AIDS-related deaths and in addressing stigma and discrimination. However, if efforts in responding to the epidemic are not sustained and scaled-up, the important results which have been accomplished risk being reversed."
May 31 2011 6:10PM
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UN EXPERT PRESENTS GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN BUSINESS WORLD

UN EXPERT PRESENTS GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN BUSINESS WORLD
New York, May 31 2011 5:10PM
A United Nations human rights expert today unveiled a series of global benchmarks aimed at helping businesses and governments to act ethically and protect human rights.

John Ruggie, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Business and Human Rights, presented the guidelines to the UN Human Rights Council, which is currently meeting in Geneva.

In a press release issued after his presentation, Mr. Ruggie said that "The principles seek to provide for the first time a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse human rights impacts linked to business activity, by outlining what States and business enterprises should do in practice."

"They also give businesses predictability in what is expected of them, and provide other stakeholders, including civil society and investors, the tools to measure progress where it matters most – in the daily lives of people," he said.

The 27-page document, the result of six years of effort, and based on visits to 20 countries, and online consultations with thousands of participants from 120 countries, contains dozens of recommendations. They include that: <BR>

<li>States must protect against human rights abuses within their jurisdiction by third parties, including business enterprises. </li>

<li>States should take additional steps to protect against human rights abuses by business enterprises that are owned or controlled by the State. </li>

<li>Because the risk of gross human rights abuses is heightened in conflict-affected areas, States should help ensure that business enterprises operating in those contexts are not involved with such abuses. </li>

<li>The responsibility of business enterprises to respect human rights applies to all enterprises regardless of their size, sector, operational context, ownership and structure. </li>

<li>Business enterprises whose operations pose risks of severe human rights impacts should report formally on how they address them. </li>

<li>Where business enterprises identify that they have contributed to adverse impacts, they should provide remediation. </li>

<li>States must ensure that when abuses occur within their jurisdiction those affected have access to effective remedy. </li>

<li>States should ensure the effectiveness of domestic judicial mechanisms when addressing business-related human rights abuses.

In opening the annual conference earlier this month, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the meeting would focus on women's rights defenders, racism, and the relationship between human rights and business.
May 31 2011 5:10PM
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SERBIAN WAR CRIMES SUSPECT RATKO MLADIC TRANSFERRED TO UN TRIBUNAL FOR TRIAL

SERBIAN WAR CRIMES SUSPECT RATKO MLADIC TRANSFERRED TO UN TRIBUNAL FOR TRIAL
New York, May 31 2011 5:10PM
The Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic was today transferred to the United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to face charges of genocide and other crimes committed against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995.

Mr. Mladic, who was arrested by Serbian authorities last Thursday after almost 16 years on the run was admitted to the UN Detention Unit in The Hague, where the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is based.

Following a full medical examination by the detention unit's medical staff, Mr. Mladic's health will be continuously monitored and any treatment required will be provided, the tribunal <"http://www.icty.org/sid/10678">said. His initial appearance will be announced in due course.

According to the indictment, forces under the command of Mr. Mladic, who headed the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) Main Staff, committed genocide, amongst other crimes, when they summarily executed more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in July 1995.

He is also charged with genocide for crimes committed in eastern and north western Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The indictment lists over 70 incidents of murder in 20 municipalities. It also alleges that Mr. Mladic's forces tortured, mistreated and physically, psychologically and sexually abused civilians confined in 58 detention facilities in 22 municipalities. He is also facing charges for the shelling and sniping during the prolonged siege of the city of Sarajevo, in which thousands of civilians were killed and wounded.

The indictment states that Mr. Mladic committed the crimes as part of a joint criminal enterprise whose objective was to eliminate or permanently remove Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb inhabitants from large areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
May 31 2011 5:10PM
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CHILD CASUALTIES RISE DRAMATICALLY IN LATEST FIGHTING IN SOMALIA’S CAPITAL – UN

CHILD CASUALTIES RISE DRAMATICALLY IN LATEST FIGHTING IN SOMALIA'S CAPITAL – UN
New York, May 31 2011 5:10PM
Violence in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has driven the number of child casualties to a new high, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today, noting that the main cause of children's deaths were burns, chest injuries and internal haemorrhage resulting from blasts, shrapnel and bullets.

Of the 1,590 reported weapon-related injuries in May alone, 735 cases or 46 per cent were suffered by children under the age of five, compared to only 3.5 per cent in April.

"This is the highest number of injured children that has been reported since the beginning of this year," said Marthe Everard, WHO's representative for Somalia, in a press release. "Many children are suffering from very severe wounds, burns and other injuries due to bullets, blast injury and shrapnel."

Fighting intensified in March, especially around the sprawling Bakara market. For many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other civilians in Mogadishu, the market is one of the cheapest places to rent accommodation.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 3,900 patients injured in the conflict have been admitted to three main hospitals within Mogadishu. Civilians are particularly vulnerable when fighting flares up because most of the clashes occur in the streets.

"Service delivery is hampered by accessibility issues, poor infrastructure and an insufficient number of health facilities," said Dr. Everard. "Wherever health facilities are operating, they often lack very basic and essential medicines, supplies and equipment, operational and logistical support."

In response to the high child casualties, WHO trained 50 doctors and nurses in Mogadishu's Banadir Hospital on how to treat burns and chest injuries in children.

The agency has also provided the hospital with a trauma treatment kit and two operating theatre kits, including an operating table, operative lights, surgical instruments, medical supplies, drums and sutures.

UN humanitarian agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners have requested $58.8 million to fund health services in Somalia this year, but only $9.4 million or 16 per cent of the appeal has been received.
May 31 2011 5:10PM
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POLAND SHOULD HOLD REFERENDUM ON PLAN FOR FIRST NUCLEAR POWER STATION – UN EXPERT

POLAND SHOULD HOLD REFERENDUM ON PLAN FOR FIRST NUCLEAR POWER STATION – UN EXPERT
New York, May 31 2011 5:10PM
An independent United Nations expert on toxic wastes today urged Poland to consider holding a referendum on its proposed construction of a nuclear energy facility, which would be the first in the European country.

Calin Georgescu, Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, <"http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11091&LangID=E">said: "Nuclear power is and will remain a controversial topic, and any decision in this regard should be taken on the basis of a wide consultation at the national level."

Speaking after an official visit to Poland, Mr. Georgescu encouraged authorities "to consider organizing a nationwide referendum on this matter."

Poland is planning to have its first nuclear power station on line by 2020, according to media reports.

Mr. Georgescu acknowledged that Poland is highly dependent on coal for energy generation, with more than 90 per cent of electricity generated from combustion of coal, and needs to diversify its sources for energy production.

He recommended that adequate information be provided to the public, including "the most recent information and scientific data on uranium procurement, on the possible risks associated with the use of nuclear energy and on the solutions envisaged for the safe storage and environmentally sound disposal of nuclear waste generated by the power plant."

The Special Rapporteur said Poland also has challenges in chemical and waste management.

"The municipal waste management system needs significant improvements. At present, it does not allow for the segregation of hazardous waste contained in mixed municipal waste streams, and a significant part of this waste continues to be disposed of in municipal waste landfills."

On toxic wastes, too, Mr. Georgescu said the public should be fully informed.

"Information currently available is not easily accessible," he said. "Poland needs to adopt additional measures to facilitate access to information held by public authorities on hazardous chemicals and toxic waste."

Mr. Georgescu, who works in an independent and unpaid capacity, will present a report on his mission to Poland to the UN Human Rights Council in September.
May 31 2011 5:10PM
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ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS FROM MOBILE TELEPHONES COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO CANCER – UN

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS FROM MOBILE TELEPHONES COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO CANCER – UN
New York, May 31 2011 4:10PM
Exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile telephones could possibly cause cancer, including an increased risk in a malignant type of brain tumour, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) <"http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf">reported today.

There has been mounting concern the past few years about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by wireless communication devices. The number of mobile phone subscriptions is now estimated at 5 billion globally.

A working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

The working group discussed the possibility that these exposures might induce long-term health effects, in particular an increased risk for glioma, a type of brain cancer, according to WHO and IARC. This has relevance for public health, particularly for users of mobile telephones, as the number of users is large and growing, particularly among young adults and children.

The working group discussed and evaluated the available literature on the following exposure categories involving radiofrequency electromagnetic fields – occupational exposures to radar and to microwaves; environmental exposures associated with transmission of signals for radio, television and wireless telecommunication; and personal exposures associated with the use of wireless telephones.

International experts shared the complex task of tackling the exposure data, the studies of cancer in humans, the studies of cancer in experimental animals, and the mechanistic and other relevant data.
May 31 2011 4:10PM
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UN URGES CONCERTED GLOBAL ACTION TO STEM DEADLY TOLL FROM TOBACCO USE

UN URGES CONCERTED GLOBAL ACTION TO STEM DEADLY TOLL FROM TOBACCO USE
New York, May 31 2011 4:10PM
The United Nations today urged governments to drastically step up their efforts to curb the use of tobacco, stressing that policy-makers already have the tools they need to combat consumption of a drug that kills nearly 6 million people worldwide every year.

Marking <"http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/">World No Tobacco Day, the UN called on all countries to sign up to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which has accumulated 173 States Parties since it was opened for signature in 2003.

India, Indonesia, Argentina and Ethiopia are among the few remaining countries not to have signed the treaty, which spells out a series of measures aimed at reducing use of tobacco control, such as restrictions on sales to minors, the introduction of taxes on cigarettes to reduce demand, and the implementation of comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising.

"We have the treaty. It's effective. Let's use it," Douglas Bettcher, Director of WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative, told the UN News Centre. "The measures are not expensive. All we need is political will."

Dr. Bettcher said too many countries were lagging in their commitments to eliminate all forms of tobacco advertising or to ban smoking in workplaces and public spaces.

"That means no designated smoking areas, no carve-out areas for people to smoke."

While there are no formal international guidelines in place yet on the appropriate level of taxes on cigarette packets, Dr. Bettcher said WHO has established a yardstick that such taxes should comprise at least 70 per cent of the eventual retail price.

This year's Day is being celebrated less than four months before world leaders hold a high-level meeting at UN Headquarters in New York in September on non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease – many of which are caused by tobacco use.

"What we start on 31 May we need to continue for the rest of the year," Dr. Bettcher said.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=5308">message to mark the Day, noted the myriad health problems and costs associated with smoking and said that "tobacco use makes us poorer – in health and economic terms."

Tobacco is estimated to have killed about 100 million people last century and could kill as many as 1 billion more this century unless action is taken.
May 31 2011 4:10PM
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SHARP DIVIDE REMAINS ON HOW TO RESOLVE LIBYAN CONFLICT – UN OFFICIAL

SHARP DIVIDE REMAINS ON HOW TO RESOLVE LIBYAN CONFLICT – UN OFFICIAL
New York, May 31 2011 3:10PM
Parties to the Libyan conflict remain sharply divided on how to start peace talks, with the Government adamant on a truce, including the cessation of an international bombing campaign, and the opposition demanding that Muammar al-Qadhafi and his family first relinquish power, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

"The Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to Libya, Abdel-Elah Al-Khatib, the African Union and other stakeholders have been making every effort to narrow these differences and to begin a credible negotiating process," said B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/sc10266.doc.htm">briefing to the Security Council on the situation in Libya.

He said Mr. Khatib has over the past month focused on two key issues in his mediation efforts, including ensuring that the various initiatives on Libya by UN Member States and regional organizations are coordinated and that the Government and the opposition Transitional National Council (TNC) are receiving identical messages from the international community.

Mr. Khatib has also strived to narrow the gap between the two parties' positions in an effort to kick-start indirect talks. He presented his proposals to the Government in the Libyan capital, Tripoli on 15 May and to the TNC representatives in Doha, Qatar on 24 May.

The proposals "revolved around the need to end hostilities, agree on a transitional arrangement, provide safe humanitarian access and fully implement Security Council <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1970(2011)">resolutions 1970 and <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1973(2011)">1973," Mr. Pascoe told the Council.

"With both parties, the Special Envoy had extensive discussions on a general framework for negotiations and their perspectives on how to meet the legitimate demands of the Libyan people in establishing constitutional and democratic governance."

Despite the wide rift in their stands, both the Government and TNC reiterated their commitment to work with Mr. Khatib, who will return to Libya this week to continue his efforts to narrow the differences.

Mr. Pascoe told the Council that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had met with the Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdelati al-Obeidi, on the sidelines of the AU summit in Addis Ababa and reaffirmed that his Special Envoy was ready to conduct indirect talks with both sides.

The Secretary-General also called for increased humanitarian assistance for Libya when he attended the summit of the Group of 8 (G8) industrialized economies in Deauville, France, last week.

A UN team led by the Humanitarian Coordinator Panos Moumtzis returned to Tripoli on Sunday and would remain there for 10 days. Mr. Pascoe said, adding that the protection of civilians in areas of hostilities remains a fundamental concern.

"All parties to the conflict must take measures to spare civilians from the effect of the hostilities," he said.

Mr. Pascoe told the Council that the UN was making progress on contingency planning for post-conflict peacebuilding in Libya, noting that the Secretary-General's Special Adviser Ian Martin had initiated a pre-assessment process focusing on six issues – political, security apparatus, rule of law and human rights, economic recovery, public administration and physical infrastructure.

"Of course, the plan will be guided by the principle that the fate of Libya is to be decided by the Libyan people, and that their representatives must determine what assistance they would like from the international community," said Mr. Pascoe.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Mr. Moumtzis had told reporters in Tripoli it will only be a matter of weeks before food stocks are depleted to critical levels if the fighting continues.

The Libyan Government has indicated that food and medicine stocks are being used up and cannot be replenished because of the UN-imposed sanctions, according to Mr. Moumtzis.

"For some food commodities it's a matter of weeks, others perhaps a matter of months. What is clear is that this cannot continue for a very long time," he said.

Officials from several UN agencies will travel to the besieged city of Misrata by ship today from opposition-held Benghazi to assess how the humanitarian needs of the internally displaced persons are being met, according to OCHA. The UN team will also evacuate the wounded and stranded migrants, deliver up to 700 tons of food and blankets, kitchen sets and medical supplies.
May 31 2011 3:10PM
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UNICEF CALLS ON SYRIA TO INVESTIGATE REPORTED KILLINGS OF CHILDREN

UNICEF CALLS ON SYRIA TO INVESTIGATE REPORTED KILLINGS OF CHILDREN
New York, May 31 2011 3:10PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today called on the Syrian Government to investigate reports of torture and killing of children and said all parties to the fighting in the Middle East country must "spare civilians, particularly children and women."

According to media reports casualties among civilians protesting against the government have been high. UNICEF said it had received, but could not independently confirm, information that the use of live ammunition against demonstrators has reportedly left at least 30 children dead.

"While UNICEF cannot verify the reported cases and events, we are particularly disturbed by the recent video images of children who were arbitrarily detained and suffered torture or ill-treatment during their detention, leading in some cases to their death," the agency said in a <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_58707.html">statement.

"We call on the Government to thoroughly investigate these reports and ensure that perpetrators of such horrific acts are identified and brought to justice."

Stressing that UNICEF calls for immediate efforts by all sides to spare civilians, the agency added that "as party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Syria has an obligation to ensure children's right to life, to freedom of expression, to freedom of peaceful assembly, and to protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. These rights must be upheld at all times."

Last week the UN said it was awaiting a response from the Syrian Government to a request for access for a human rights team to enter the country in June to investigate the recent violence.

The assessment mission, which will be headed by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang, is set to begin on 6 June after first visiting neighbouring countries, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for OHCHR, said last week that the Office remains "deeply concerned" about the situation on the ground, where security forces have clashed with protesters in a number of towns and cities.
May 31 2011 3:10PM
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UN VOICES CONCERN AT TARGETING OF PROSECUTORS AND RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

UN VOICES CONCERN AT TARGETING OF PROSECUTORS AND RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA
New York, May 31 2011 11:10AM
The United Nations human rights office today sounded the alarm on the recent killings of public prosecutors in Guatemala and Honduras, as well as the increasing vulnerability of human rights defenders in the two Central American countries.

"We are extremely concerned about an apparent new trend of targeting public prosecutors in Central America, apparently by organized crime groups," Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told a <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11088&LangID=E">news briefing in Geneva.

"Over the past week, public prosecutors have been murdered in both Guatemala and Honduras in the course of their duties, amid growing insecurity and violence in both countries," he said.

On 24 May in Guatemala, Allan Stwolinsky, the local auxiliary prosecutor in Coban in the Department of Alta Verapaz, was found decapitated in a plastic bag in front of the governor's house.

Both the Attorney-General and the Interior Minister blamed the murder on the Mexican drug cartel "Los Zetas" and linked it to the seizure of 453 kilograms of cocaine, which had been coordinated by the auxiliary prosecutor.

Mr. Colville noted that this killing took place in the aftermath of the brutal massacre of 27 land workers in Peten, allegedly also by Los Zetas.

"We have expressed our support to the Attorney-General and expressed concern about the possible intention of Los Zetas to spread terror among the inhabitants of Coban and undermine the Attorney-General's efforts to combat crime and impunity," he stated.

In Honduras, Raul Reyes Carbajal, a public prosecutor in the city of San Pedro Sula, was gunned down on 28 May by several armed men who shot at him from another vehicle as he was driving home from work.

According to eyewitness reports, after Mr. Reyes was hit in his car, he lost control and crashed into a bus. His attackers then got out of their vehicle and shot him again to ensure he was dead.

Mr. Reyes had been coordinator of the public prosecutor's office in Puerto Cortes for one month, and had previously coordinated a special unit against organized crime. The killing comes at a time when the public prosecutor's office in San Pedro Sula had decided to investigate the killings of seven youths, reportedly linked to gangs, during a police operation a few days earlier.

OHCHR also voiced concern about the increasing vulnerability of human rights defenders in both of these countries. In Guatemala, in 2010 alone, 250 human rights defenders were victims of attacks and eight were killed. In Honduras, OHCHR has also been increasingly concerned about the situation of human rights defenders, journalists and members and activists of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

May 31 2011 11:10AM
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Today's News from TheEagle.com

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• Air Force officer proves you're never too old to serve
• Texas Task Force 1 pitched in to help Missouri
• Texas special session starting today
• Amarillo fires burn down a dozen homes
• Memorial Day honors veterans, 9/11
• Obama picks new security leaders
• Syrian army finally seeing resistance from residents
• Women haven't broken into SEALs yet
• Serbia pushing for EU membership
• Drug shortages hit hospitals
• German nuclear plants closing
• Cities prove rebuilding is possible after disasters
• Weight-loss shows not shrinking U.S. waistlines
• Singer Sean Kingston in ICU after accident
• PBS hack claims Tupac is alive
• Letters for May 31
• A red, white and blue day
• Calendar
• Napoli homers twice in Rangers win over Rays
• Sharapova wins easily to reach French quarters
• At 38, Kidd oldest guard to start in NBA finals
• Keppinger, Towles lift Astros over Cubs 12-7
• Jim Tressel resigns as Ohio State's football coach

Air Force officer proves you're never too old to serve Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT Some men and women join the military right out of high school. Others wait a while to enlist. But it's unlikely that many wait as long as Dr. Jeff Huffman of College Station, who was 51 when he joined the Air Force. Although well past the maximu ...

Texas Task Force 1 pitched in to help Missouri Posted: 30 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT Jim Yeager was teaching a medical specialist class at Disaster City when his cellphone buzzed. Without hesitation, he got a replacement teacher, grabbed his gear at home and headed to the meeting place for Texas Task Force 1. Yeager is a team lea ...

Texas special session starting today Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT AUSTIN -- Republicans began the Texas legislative session with unprecedented majorities in both chambers and holding every statewide office, but 140 days later, they still failed to pass a key budget-related bill and two of the governor's top prior ...

Amarillo fires burn down a dozen homes Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT AMARILLO -- Two wildfires have destroyed at least 12 homes on the outskirts of the Panhandle city of Amarillo, Texas Forest Service officials said Monday.The fires began burning early Sunday evening, said Texas Forest Service spokesman Marq Webb. He ...

Memorial Day honors veterans, 9/11 Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- Americans from Washington to California marked Memorial Day with parades, barbecues and somber reflection in a holiday infused with fresh meaning by the approaching 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The National Mem ...

Obama picks new security leaders Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama moved Monday to seal an overhaul of his national security team, selecting Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman amid protracted battle in Afghanistan, U.S. involvement in the NATO- ...

Syrian army finally seeing resistance from residents Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT BEIRUT -- Residents used automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades to repel advancing government troops in central Syria on Monday, putting up a fierce fight for the first time in their two-month-old revolt against President Bashar Assad's aut ...

Women haven't broken into SEALs yet Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- It's a dramatic tale.Elite Navy SEALs storm a walled compound in Pakistan and take out the world's most wanted terrorist.Footnote: They were all men.While America's last 10 years of war have propelled women into new and far more risky r ...

Serbia pushing for EU membership Posted: 30 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serbia's president Boris Tadic said Monday it's time the European Union did its part by boosting his nation's efforts to join the bloc, arguing the arrest of war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic proves it is serious about rejoining the ...

Drug shortages hit hospitals Posted: 30 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- A growing shortage of medications for a host of illnesses -- from cancer to cystic fibrosis to cardiac arrest -- has hospitals scrambling for substitutes to avoid patient harm, and sometimes even delaying treatment. "It's just a matt ...

German nuclear plants closing Posted: 30 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT ERLIN -- Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany, announced plans Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years, outlining an ambitious strategy in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster to replace atomic power with renewable energy sources ...

Cities prove rebuilding is possible after disasters Posted: 30 May 2011 05:02 PM PDT WHEATLAND, Pa. -- As they dig out, tornado victims in the South and Midwest might find it hard to see past the wreckage of their communities to a future in which homes and businesses are rebuilt, trees are once again standing tall and proud, and li ...

Weight-loss shows not shrinking U.S. waistlines Posted: 30 May 2011 05:02 PM PDT LOS ANGELES -- Despite all the Biggest Loser-type shows on TV, all the pounds shed by their contestants and all the weight-loss products purchased by viewers, America continues to be the Biggest Gainer. At least 10 weight-loss shows are airing the ...

Singer Sean Kingston in ICU after accident Posted: 30 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT MIAMI -- Hip-hop singer Sean Kingston has been stabilized and moved to the intensive care unit at a hospital after crashing his watercraft into a Miami Beach bridge, his publicist said Monday. The publicist, Joseph Carozza, said Kingston's famil ...

PBS hack claims Tupac is alive Posted: 30 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- PBS officials say hackers have cracked the network's website, posting a phony story claiming dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand, and a group that claimed responsibility for the hacking complained about a recent Frontline ...

Letters for May 31 Posted: 30 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT All hail the most sacred Rainy Day Fund in Texas The only surprise about the draconian budget just passed by Texas Repub-licans is that they didn't build a cathedral for the Rainy Day Fund so that we could all kneel at the altar of the billions of ...

A red, white and blue day Posted: 30 May 2011 05:10 PM PDT Air Force veteran Isiah Lovings and other veterans collect American flags to place on graves of fallen soldiers during a Memorial Day ceremony at VFW Post 4692 in Bryan on Monday.

Calendar Posted: 30 May 2011 05:02 PM PDT Mark Your Calendar Expressive Arts for Helping Professionals, a free hands-on workshop exploring creative means to express feelings, is 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 18 at Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 West 26th St., Bryan. Experiment with clay, activity ...

Napoli homers twice in Rangers win over Rays Posted: 30 May 2011 02:46 PM PDT ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Mike Napoli homered twice and drove in five runs, leading the Texas Rangers to an 11-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.Napoli homered for the third consecutive day, giving him four in three games. No. 9 hitter ...

Sharapova wins easily to reach French quarters Posted: 30 May 2011 01:14 PM PDT PARIS -- Maria Sharapova won the last four games to beat 12th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Monday at the French Open and reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in two years.The seventh-seeded Sharapova has won the other three ...

At 38, Kidd oldest guard to start in NBA finals Posted: 30 May 2011 12:58 PM PDT MIAMI -- After all the assists, steals, 3-pointers and triple-doubles, Jason Kidd has an easier path to his next entry in the NBA record book.All he has to do is show up.Kidd will become the oldest guard to start a game in an NBA finals when the Dal ...

Keppinger, Towles lift Astros over Cubs 12-7 Posted: 30 May 2011 12:42 PM PDT CHICAGO -- Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros ended a three-g ...

Jim Tressel resigns as Ohio State's football coach Posted: 30 May 2011 10:45 AM PDT COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jim Tressel, who guided Ohio State to its first national title in 34 years, resigned Monday amid NCAA violations from a tattoo-parlor scandal that sullied the image of one of the country's top football programs."After meeting with u ...

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Today's News from TheEagle.com

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• Aggies notch another Big 12 tournament victory
• NTSB investigates Bryan plane crash
• Obama tours twister damage
• Law takes a shot at meningitis on college campuses
• Texas officials honor fallen soldiers
• Police: Woman was thrown out of man's truck
• Former Texas Gov. Clements dead at 94
• West Texas prehistoric paintings get laser treatment
• Endeavour heads home for last time
• House OKs bill to fund schools
• Waco madam's life recalled in new book
• VA hospitals put 13,000 patients at risk of infections
• Children of fallen troops, veterans turn to each other
• Lockheed hack highlights cyber espionage danger
• Indebted to those who serve us
• MTV reinvents with new generation
• Calendar
• High used-car prices make for ideal time to sell
• Town hit by storms bans FEMA trailers
• MLB roundup
• Tom Watson wins Senior PGA in playoff
• Nowitzki's title-or-bust approach working so far
• Djokovic eases into quarterfinals at French Open
• Wheldon wins stunning Indy 500 when leader crashes
• Keegan Bradley wins Nelson in playoff over Ryan Palmer

Aggies notch another Big 12 tournament victory Posted: 29 May 2011 05:12 PM PDT Staff and wire report OKLAHOMA CITY -- Andrew Collazo picked an opportune time for his first home run of the season, creating a bit of championship deja vu for Texas A&M. Collazo atoned for an earlier error by hitting a walkoff solo homer into ...

NTSB investigates Bryan plane crash Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT John and Kathy Holmstrom were flying to visit friends and fish along the Galveston coast over Memorial Day weekend when their single-engine plane crashed less than three miles from Easterwood Airport, killing the pair. Investigators with the Natio ...

Obama tours twister damage Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT JOPLIN, Mo. -- Face to face with the legions of homeless and the bereaved, President Barack Obama on Sunday toured the apocalyptic landscape left by Missouri's killer tornado, consoled the community and committed the government to helping rebuild sh ...

Law takes a shot at meningitis on college campuses Posted: 29 May 2011 05:13 PM PDT Greg Williams remembers his son, Nicolis -- Nico for short -- always telling him that he was going to be famous one day. It finally happened, but not the way anyone ever could have imagined, or ever would have wanted. Gov. Rick Perry on Friday e ...

Texas officials honor fallen soldiers Posted: 29 May 2011 05:11 PM PDT AUSTIN -- On Memorial Day, Patrick Hefner will return to tiny Hico for a ceremony honoring the only resident of rural Hamilton County to die in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: his son, Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner. Gov. Rick Perry, in a tribute ...

Police: Woman was thrown out of man's truck Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT Eagle Staff Report A 28-year-old convicted felon remained jailed late Sunday after his girlfriend told police she flew out of his truck onto pavement as he drove out of a parking lot. College Station resident Jason Wayne Crockett, also known as 'Cr ...

Former Texas Gov. Clements dead at 94 Posted: 29 May 2011 05:11 PM PDT AUSTIN -- Former Gov. Bill Clements, who in 1979 became the first Republican elected governor in Texas since Reconstruction and whose belief that state government should operate like a big business helped change the face of Texas politics, has died ...

West Texas prehistoric paintings get laser treatment Posted: 29 May 2011 05:14 PM PDT COMSTOCK -- A complex colorful mural painted on canyon walls some 4,000 years ago in West Texas is getting modern laser treatment as researchers try to unlock its mysteries and protect it from the unintended consequences of a nearby reservoir. Pan ...

Endeavour heads home for last time Posted: 29 May 2011 05:11 PM PDT CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Endeavour and its crew of six departed the International Space Station late Sunday and headed home to wrap up NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight. The space shuttle undocked -- for the very last time -- close to midnight as ...

House OKs bill to fund schools Posted: 29 May 2011 05:11 PM PDT AUSTIN -- Under pressure from Gov. Rick Perry, the House approved key school finance legislation late Sunday that would allow the state to pay public schools $4 billion less than what they would be owed under current law. Lawmakers voted largely a ...

Waco madam's life recalled in new book Posted: 29 May 2011 05:14 PM PDT By PAUL A. ROMER Temple Daily Telegram TEMPLE -- Before her life came to a violent end somewhere between Temple and Belton in August 1890, Cora McMahan had developed a salacious reputation everywhere she lived. She was found by a passer-by who rep ...

VA hospitals put 13,000 patients at risk of infections Posted: 29 May 2011 05:13 PM PDT DAYTON, Ohio -- Herman Williams came home safely after fighting in the jungles of Vietnam as a Marine. He was shocked to learn four decades later his military service had again placed him in jeopardy -- this time, because he got a tooth pulled. Wi ...

Children of fallen troops, veterans turn to each other Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT ARLINGTON, Va. -- After Brooke Nyren's dad died in Iraq, she sat alone at recess because her classmates didn't know what to say. One of Alexis Wright's fellow kindergarteners questioned if she was telling the truth about her dad's death in the war, w ...

Lockheed hack highlights cyber espionage danger Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT NEW YORK -- Lockheed Martin has admitted it was the recent target of a "significant and tenacious" cyber attack, although the defense contractor and the Department of Homeland Security insist the hack was thwarted before any critical data was stole ...

Indebted to those who serve us Posted: 29 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT By U.S. Rep. BILL FLORES This Memorial Day weekend, Americans honor and remember those who have given their lives in service to protect our exceptional nation. As we pay tribute to the brave men and women who have died for our freedom, we also honor ...

MTV reinvents with new generation Posted: 29 May 2011 05:10 PM PDT NEW YORK -- Over the years, one of the last things you'd see on the youth-obsessed MTV was a parent. Now moms and dads aren't unusual sights, even on the twin totems to wild behavior and its consequences -- Jersey Shore and Teen Mom -- that are ke ...

Calendar Posted: 29 May 2011 05:13 PM PDT Mark Your Calendar Senior Chic 2011 -- Fashion Fun for Seniors is 11 a.m. June 22 at the Southwood Community Center. The free fashion show and lunch is for senior adults. An RSVP is required by June 16. mrodgers@cstx.gov or call 764-6371. Monday C ...

High used-car prices make for ideal time to sell Posted: 29 May 2011 05:10 PM PDT DETROIT -- It's the best time in years to sell your car.People are holding on to cars and trucks for about a year longer than they did before the recession, which has created a tight supply of used vehicles. So few are on the market that prices have ...

Town hit by storms bans FEMA trailers Posted: 29 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT CORDOVA, Ala. -- James Ruston's house was knocked off its foundation by tornadoes that barreled through town last month and is still uninhabitable. He thought help had finally arrived when a truck pulled up to his property with a mobile home from t ...

MLB roundup Posted: 29 May 2011 05:38 PM PDT Rangers 7, Royals 6: ARLINGTON -- Mike Napoli slid under the tag of catcher Brayan Pena on Elvis Andrus' two-out single in the ninth inning, giving Texas a come-from-behind victory over Kansas City.Nelson Cruz led off the ninth with a tying home run ...

Tom Watson wins Senior PGA in playoff Posted: 29 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Tom Watson summoned up some of his old major magic, holing a 3-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat David Eger in the Senior PGA Championship on Sunday.The 61-year-old, down a shot with four holes left in regulation, ...

Nowitzki's title-or-bust approach working so far Posted: 29 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT DALLAS -- The biggest party of Dirk Nowitzki's career was going strong. Teammates, friends and the rest of the 20,000 people who had been screaming "M! V! P!" since the first quarter were on their feet in appreciation of him and the Dallas Mavericks. ...

Djokovic eases into quarterfinals at French Open Posted: 29 May 2011 02:33 PM PDT PARIS -- Second-seeded Novak Djokovic outclassed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Sunday in the fourth round of the French Open to extend his winning streak to 43 matches.It was Djokovic's third day in a row on court at Roland Garros. He beat Juan Marti ...

Wheldon wins stunning Indy 500 when leader crashes Posted: 29 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT INDIANAPOLIS -- JR Hildebrand was one turn away from winning the Indianapolis 500 and within sight of the checkered flag when the 23-year-old rookie made the ultimate mistake.Leading by almost 4 seconds with a lap to go, Hildebrand skidded high into ...

Keegan Bradley wins Nelson in playoff over Ryan Palmer Posted: 29 May 2011 02:15 PM PDT IRVING -- Walking down the 18th fairway during a playoff and realizing he was about to get his first PGA Tour victory, Keegan Bradley got emotional thinking about a cowbell.The one that is in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The one his grandmother rang ...

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