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15 July 2013
According to UNHCR, Australia’s off-shore asylum processing centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea does not meet international standards. Harsh living conditions, a restricted legal regime, slow processing and restrictions on the freedom of movement amounting to open-ended and arbitrary detention were cited by the UN refugee agency as continued and worrying shortcomings.
The report released in Canberra on Friday also notes positive developments including progress towards the establishment of a legal framework for processing, but according to a UNHCR spokesperson, the existing conditions still do not meet international standards nor the terms of the bilateral agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea concerning the processing of asylum-seekers.
Source: UN News Centre | Despite progress, UN finds faults with Australia's off-shore asylum processing centre
12 July 2013
The New York Times reported on Wednesday on US drone operations in Niger that reflect the emergence of a new counter-terrorism model that moves away from a global war on terror and towards more targeted operations designed to help local forces and US allies to fight militants instead of engaging American troops directly.
The new approach faces challenges in Africa due to the shortage of resources and the weakness of US partners in the region where insurgents flow across lightly guarder borders between Niger, Mali, Nigeria and Libya. The primary purpose of the US drone base established in Niger in Febuary has been to support the French in Mali, but French, American and Nigerien officials all have a say in its operations. The base could also be used to support the newly-established UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, the NYT writes.
Source: The New York Times | Drones in Niger Reflect New U.S. Tack on Terrorism
12 July 2013
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Beirut and appealed to all Lebanese parties to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis. According to Reuters, the statements was intended to target Hezbollah specifically, but a direct reference was omitted due to Russian objections.
The acting US Ambassador to the UN, Rosemary DiCarlo said Council members expressed concern at the marked increase in cross-border hostilities along the Lebanon-Syria border and called for international support to the Lebanese government in dealing with the crisis. The calls come amid increasing reports on the spread of the Syrian conflict into the wider region, with the Lebanese Shia organization Hezbollah supporting President Al-Assad’s forces in Syria and Syrian rebel groups reportedly taking responsibility for terrorist attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Source: UN News | Security Council Press Statement On Lebanon
Source: Reuters | U.N. calls on Lebanon's Hezbollah to stop involvement in Syria
Source: Global Post | UN Council condemns Beirut car bomb
Source: Global Post | Syria rebel group claims Beirut suburb blast
Source: El País | Siria reaviva el conflicto chií-suní en toda la región
12 July 2013
According to Syrian opposition sources, a foreign power is responsible for the destruction of Russian anti-ship missiles in Latakia, Syria last week. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the disclosure appears to point to an Israeli raid.
Regional intelligence sources were reported saying that Israel had previously hit Syrian targets in order to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry from the Assad regime to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, while the Free Syrian Army denies any involvement. Commenting on the attack, the Israeli Defence Minister was reported saying that Israel had set red lines in regards to its interests and would keep them, and the country has previously vowed to take any necessary means, including pre-emptive measures, to protect its borders.
Source: Reuters | Syria naval base blast points to Israeli raid
Source: The Washington Times | Syria says foreign power wiped out weapons stash; Israel mum
12 July 2013
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution on Tuesday condemning the incident last week involving the rerouting of the Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane due to refusals by France, Portugal, Italy and Spain to allow the plane into their airspace on suspicions that Edward Snowden was on board.
The resolution, adopted in solidarity with Bolivia, condemns the actions by the EU states as violations of the rules and principles concerning the inviolability of Heads of States and calls on the them to provide necessary explanations and apologies. The resolution also encourages all parties to continue constructive dialogue on the issue under the rules of international law and the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Source: Organization of American States | OAS Permanent Council Adopts Resolution that Condemns Incident in Europe involving the Plane of the President of Bolivia