News archive: January 2014
27 January 2014
The Washington Post has provided a detailed account of the use by the United States of a secret prison near Warsaw that was used in 2003 to interrogate accused September 11 conspirators.
The report describes how the interrogation initially took place in Thailand, and that the Polish location was chosen when a better facility was needed. The CIA paid nearly 300,000 US dollars for improvement of the facility. US interrogators used in the Polish prison ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ that were formulated at the CIA and approved by Justice Department lawyers. These included slapping, sleep deprivation and waterboarding. Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-declared mastermind of the attacks, was reportedly waterboarded 183 times in the Polish facility.
Source: The Washington Post | The hidden history of the CIA’s prison in Poland
24 January 2014
Noting that ‘terrorists and other armed groups’ appear to have gained the ability to operate in northern Mali, the United Nations Security Council called in a Presidential Statement on all member states to support the full deployment of UN peacekeepers in the country. It stressed the importance of achieving without further delays the complete operational deployment of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali to stabilise key population centres and protect civilians. However, the Council also noted that the primary responsibility for securing the country rests with the government.
The Mission is to ‘continue to support the re-establishment of State authority throughout the country and the promotion of the rule of law and promotion of human rights,’ the Presidential statement added.
Source: UN News Centre | Mali: with terrorists regrouping, Security Council urges full deployment of ‘blue helmets’
23 January 2014
The Council of the European Union ‘reached political agreement on a future CSDP military operation’ in Central African Republic (CAR) on 20 January 2014.
The operation will provide support to the African Union-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). It will be composed of 500 troops and last for a period of up to 6 months.
Source: Council of the European Union | Press Release | Council conclusions on the Central African Republic | 20 January 2014
Source: The Independent | EU to deploy 500 troops in Central African Republic following ‘genocide’ warning
23 January 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened on 22 January 2014 a concerted new effort to end the brutal civil war in Syria, urging the government, the opposition, and representatives of some 40 other states and regional organisations to seize the historic opportunity to end the bloodshed.
The meeting of the high-level segment of the UN peace conference on Syria in Montreux, Switzerland, which is intended to give international support to the efforts to resolve the deadly conflict that has torn Syria apart, will be followed on 24 January by talks between the Syrian parties at the UN headquarters in Geneva in what will be the first time that the government and opposition meet at a negotiating table since the conflict started in March 2011. The basis of the talks is full implementation of an action plan adopted in the so-called Geneva Communiqué of 2012, which calls for a transitional government to lead to free and fair elections.
‘You have an enormous opportunity and responsibility to render historic service to the Syrian people,’ Mr. Ban said, specifically addressing the Syrian government and opposition delegations. He stressed that the Syrians themselves have the primary responsibility to end the conflict, determine their political system and future, and start rebuilding their country, while the duty of all members of the international community, whether present at the conference or not, is to do everything within their power to help them achieve these goals.
Source: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon | Latest Statements | Secretary-General's remarks at the High Level Segment of the Geneva Conference on Syria | Montreux, 22 January 2014
Source: Action Group for Syria | Final Communique | 30.06.2012
22 January 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a stronger response to prevent further human suffering in the Central African Republic (CAR), describing it as ‘a crisis of epic proportions’.
Mr. Ban’s deep concern and call for action were echoed by the UN Human Rights Council in a resolution adopted unanimously, which characterised the current situation in CAR as a total breakdown of law and order. The deteriorating security situation has forced one-fifth of the population to flee their homes, and more than half the population now needs humanitarian assistance. Mr. Ban noted that the UN has scaled up its emergency response, but the humanitarian appeal remains woefully underfunded. The UN and its partners urgently require 152 million US dollar to fund an emergency intervention plan, which aims to provide vital relief and protection to 1.2 million people across the country over the next three months. ‘By acting collectively and in unity, we can uphold our responsibility to protect the people of the CAR and help them move from destitution and despair to a more hopeful path’ he said. ‘We must act together – and act now – to pull the CAR back from the brink of further atrocities.’
Source: United Nations | Secratary-General Ban Ki-moon | Latest Statements | Secretary-General's message for Human Rights Council Special Session on Central African Republic [delivered by Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Head of the United Nations Office in Geneva] | Geneva, Switzerland, 20 January 2014
Source: UNOG News | Human Rights Council Concludes Special Session After Appointing Independent Expert On The Central African Republic | 20 January 2014