The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April . 
Security Council/162nd Meeting (AM)
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2015.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2152 (2014), the Council reaffirmed the need to accord full respect to military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire, and called upon all parties to adhere fully to them.
The Council supported, within existing resources, the Secretary-General’s request for an additional 15 United Nations military observers. It also urged Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fund confidence-building measures agreed between the parties, including those relating to visits between separated family members.
Council members had before them the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (document S/2014/258), in which he states that the work of MINURSO remains relevant as an instrument for ensuring stability in the event of continuing political stalemate; as a mechanism to support the implementation of successive Security Council resolutions relating to the Mission’s mandate; and as a source of independent information on the conditions on the ground for the Security Council, the Secretariat and the international community.
The meeting began at 10:04 a.m. and ended at 10:10 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 2152 (2014) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on Western Sahara,
“Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), and 2099 (2013),
“Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect,
“Reiterating its call upon the parties and the neighbouring States to cooperate more fully with the United Nations and with each other and to strengthen their involvement to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political solution,
“Recognizing that achieving a political solution to this long-standing dispute and enhanced cooperation between the Member States of the Maghreb Arab Union would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region,
“Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), under close review and reiterating the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments, and effective management of resources,
“Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements, and calling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations,
“Taking note of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to the Secretary-General and welcoming serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution; also taking note of the Polisario Front proposal presented 10 April 2007 to the Secretary-General,
“Encouraging in this context, the parties to demonstrate further political will towards a solution including by expanding upon their discussion of each other’s proposals,
“Taking note of the four rounds of negotiations held under the auspices of the Secretary-General and welcoming the commitment of the parties to continue the negotiations process,
“Encouraging the parties to continue cooperating with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in implementing the January 2012 updated Plan of Action on Confidence-Building Measures,
“Stressing the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, and encouraging the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law,
“Encouraging the parties to continue in their respective efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, including the freedoms of expression and association,
“Recognizing and welcoming, in this regard, the recent steps and initiatives taken by Morocco to strengthen the National Council on Human Rights Commissions operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, and Morocco’s ongoing interaction with Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council, including those planned for 2014, as well as the planned visit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2014,
“Also welcoming the implementation of the enhanced refugee protection programme developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in coordination with the Polisario Front, which includes refugee and human rights training and awareness initiatives,
“Reiterating its request for consideration of a refugee registration in the Tindouf refugee camps and inviting efforts in this regard,
“Welcoming the commitment of the parties to continue the process of negotiations through the United Nations-sponsored talks,
“Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable, and noting further that progress in the negotiations is essential in order to improve the quality of life of the people of Western Sahara in all its aspects,
“Affirming support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Ambassador Christopher Ross and his work in facilitating negotiations between the parties, and, welcoming to that effect his recent initiatives and ongoing consultations with the parties and neighbouring States,
“Affirming support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber,
“Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 10 April 2014 (S/2014/258),
“1. Decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2015;
“2. Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and calls on the parties to adhere fully to those agreements;
“3. Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of MINURSO, including its free interaction with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the security of as well as unhindered movement and immediate access for the United Nations and associated personnel in carrying out their mandate, in conformity with existing agreements;
“4. Welcomes the parties’ commitment to continue the process of preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, and recalls its endorsement of the recommendation in the report of 14 April 2008 (S/2008/251) that realism and a spirit of compromise by the parties are essential to achieve progress in negotiations;
“5. Calls upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations, thus ensuring implementation of resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), and 2099 (2013), and the success of negotiations;
“6. Affirms its strong support for the commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western Sahara in this context and calls for renewed meetings and strengthening of contacts;
“7. Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect;
“8. Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance to these talks;
“9. Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regular basis, and at least twice a year, on the status and progress of these negotiations under his auspices, on the implementation of this resolution, challenges to MINURSO’s operations and steps taken to address them, expresses its intention to meet to receive and discuss his briefings and in this regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to provide a report on the situation in Western Sahara well before the end of the mandate period;
“10. Welcomes the commitment of the parties and the neighbouring States to hold periodic meetings with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to review and, where possible, expand confidence-building measures;
“11. Urges Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fund confidence-building measures agreed upon between the parties, including those that allow for visits between separated family members;
“12. Notes the Secretary-General’s request for an additional 15 United Nations military observers and supports this request within existing resources;
“13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in MINURSO with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including predeployment awareness training, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
“14. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”
|
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Security Council extends mandate of United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara, unanimously adopting resolution 2152 (2014)
POSITION LETTER: SOMALILAND MEDIA MAY UNDERMINE THE COUNTRY'S FRAGILE DEMOCRACY
Public Release: Somaliland-018
We,
the undersigned pro-democracy movements in Somaliland, comprising of
independent civil society networks and umbrellas ranging from human rights
defenders and minority rights lobbyists, the disabled people’s activists, wish
to present our findings and position on the dispute between the Government of
Somaliland and pravite owned Haatuf Media Network (HMN).
Seven
years ago when the Somaliland security forces rounded up the owner of HMN, the
editor-in-chief of Haatuf Somali newspaper, Ali Abdi Diini, and the HMN Awdal
correspondent, Mohamed Omer, the Horn Watch organizations spared no effort to
stand by them and pressure the government to unconditionally release them. The
Organizations, at the same time, succeeded to spirit away to safety a fourth
suspect on the government list, Mohamed Rashid, finding him asylum and living
means in the neighboring country of Ethiopia.
In
2007, the Somaliland impartial human rights defenders were fully satisfied that
HMN was responsibly dispensing its media commitment honestly and to the letter,
and that the corruption scandals they exposed had no ulterior motives and was
in line with their exercise of independent media obligations in a democratic,
pluralistic society.
Today,
HMN and its owner have not earned the unequivocal support of the Somaliland
human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists. Following a comprehensive
investigation we carried out to identify the bases of the dispute between HMN
and the government, we found out that the owner of HMN used the media
facilities under his disposal for personal gains which is a clear departure
from the principles and obligations governing the protection of freedom of
expression thus understandably losing the unstinted support of local human
rights groups.
Unfortunately,
it has become clear to pro-democratic movements in Somaliland, following its
in-depth investigation of the matter from all possible angles, that the current
disagreement between the government of Somaliland and HMN was borne from a sustained
defamatory coverage against Somaliland Minister of Energy and Minerals as
retaliation for a perceived opposition to an expressions of interest that the
HMN owner and his brother-in-law, Mr. Yussuf Abdullahi Omar, submitted to the
government which according the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Minerals did
not measure up to government standards required for active involvement pertaining
to the grant of concessions to petroleum exploration blocks. The principal
company, Boule Mining Group[i], through a letter signed
by one Audrey Richardson, “Corporate Secretary”, appointed Mr. Omar, to submit an Expression of Interest to
secure Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses within Somaliland[ii] to the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources on their behalf. The communication between the
Ministry, on one side, and the appointee with the owner of HMN, Mr. Yussuf
Abdullahi Gaboobe, was confirmed to the human rights investigators by respectful
individuals who tried to arbitrate the issue on behalf of HMN owner and his
brother-in-law.
Following
the rejection of the aforementioned Expression of Interest by the Ministry on
technical grounds, the HMN owner started to continuously and intentionally
publish highly defamatory material and slander against the Somaliland Minister
for Minerals which grossly violated his constitutional rights without a shred
of evidence accompanying it. The HMN coverage had the potential to yet have
catastrophic consequences on the newly introduced natural resources exploration
programs and their exploitation.
It
is noteworthy that not a single other newspaper has taken up the HMN hue and
cry of the past five months.
The
rest of the independent media in Somaliland are of the belief that the HMN
owner largely sided with the government protecting own personal interests.
Getting
actively involved in business and broker-ship relating to the oil exploration
initiatives in Somaliland, attests to the fact that the HMN and its owner have turned
their backs on the impartiality and objectivity associated with independent
media and the constitutional exercise of
a freedom of expression.
The
Somaliland human rights defenders are gravely concerned that the owner of
Haatuf Media Network can use his resources for personal vendetta tools which
can set a highly questionable example for the more impressionable ranks
presently practicing journalism in Somaliland.
On
the same token, the Somaliland human rights defenders are equally disturbed
that some of newly established human rights and media organizations are
deliberately covering up actual facts surrounding this issue from the public
obviously fulfilling agendas of their own.
In
conclusion, we, the pro-democratic and human rights movements in Somaliland,
believe that the HMN case can be tried in a civil court. Prior to this, we urge
the government to lift the ban from HMN on condition that it acts responsibly
and with propriety within the realms of the rights set forth by the
Constitution of Somaliland.
On
a similar vein, we ask the residents of areas where the oil exploration affects
not to claim sole proprietorship of consequent resources and to see the
programs on their true, national perspective.
It
is clear, that the current Somaliland media law is not sufficient mechanisms to
guarantee adherence to professional standards and principles. Most important, Somaliland
media industry needs policy and regulation upgrades, which can further develop
their professionalism, independence and ethics.
Somaliland
journalists is not expected to solicit financial satisfaction or personal
interest as a precondition for publishing a story. It is also advised that
journalists should strive to employ honest and genuine means gathering
information. Although, where public interest is at stake, media practitioners
should go the extra mile to obtain information. And apart from educating the
people, the press has another social responsibility that of promoting human rights, democracy and
peace. This is what the Somaliland press should address in this era of
security threat and terrorism turmoil in Horn of African region.
Somaliland
Pro-democratic and human rights groups strongly advise the Somaliland
government to submit all oil and minerals exploration agreements with foreign firms,
to parliament for ratification in order to foster an environment of transparency,
unity and cooperation on national issues.
Furthermore, we call on the Somaliland government to uphold the
Declaration of the Human Environment adopted by the Stockholm Conference stated
in part that:
“The natural resources
of the earth must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning or
management, and that the capacity of the earth to produce vital renewable
resources must be maintained and wherever practicable, restored or improved.”
We
call all Somaliland stakeholders on all matters relating to national resources,
to jointly create an environment in which all Somaliland citizens get the profit
underlying the country’s oil and minerals exploration and development projects
in an equal manner.
All interest
individuals/institutions for detailed information about this case can contact:
xuquuq@gmail.com, hornwatch@yahoo.com, Tel. +252-63-5147777.
Suleiman ismail Bolaleh
Speaker of Somaliland Pro-democratic
Movements
Organizations
Endorsed This Position Letter
-
Horn of Africa Human
Rights Watch Committee (HORNWATCH) Hargeisa
-
Somali Rights Watch Hargeisa Togdheer
region
-
Saaxil Handicap
Organisation (SHO) Saaxil region
-
ALXANAAN women
organization Saaxil region
-
VAYS Youth
Organization Saaxil region
-
BILAN Women
Organisation Saaxil region
-
Disability Children
Association Hargeisa region
-
Laas-anod Youth Voluntary
Organization LAYVO Sool region
-
Las-anod Handicap
Association in Sool region
-
Muruq iyo Maskax
Women Umbrella Saaxil region
-
AL Ixsaan Development
Organization Hargeisa region
-
Non State Actors Nationwide
-
Daami Youth
Organization (DYdO) Hargeisa region
-
Network for Disabled
Persons Nationwide
-
Young Minority Women
Activists Awdal, Togdher, Saaxil
& Mordijeex
-
Displaced Community
Concerns Awdal region
-
Center of Research
& International Studies Hargeisa
-
Barwaaqo Farmers
Union Gabiley
-
Social Walfere Organization
Hargeisa
-
Human Rights Monitors
Volunteers Hargeisa
-
Welfare Tumaal
Organization (WAAB) Gabiley
-
Tumaal Development
Foundation (TDF) Awdal
-
Women Minority
Organization (ISIR) Awdal
Embassy cables reveal 34 nations pressured by UK to oppose Scottish independence
Sensational revelations in the Herald reveal the extent of the British Government’s collusion with foreign powers to undermine the Scottish Government, Scotland’s economy, and the referendum campaign.
They have blown the lid clean off the UK Government’s anti-Scotland covert operation and exposed the utter hypocrisy and mendacity of David Cameron.
Official diplomatic cables prove conclusively that even as Cameron told the country the choice was up to the Scottish people and that he would play no part in it, he was pressuring other nations leaders, including Russia’s Putin, to make statements that would undermine the case for Scotland’s ability to sustain itself, and to promote the meme of Scots dependence on the Union.
The most damaging aspect of these revelations is the extent to which Cameron, his ministers and civil service he controls, have perpetrated one bare-faced lie after another. Lied to the Scottish people, lied to the Scottish Government, lied to parliaments in both London and Edinburgh.
This whole orchestrated fiction of non-interference has been shattered, and the depth of Unionist subterfuge, secret deals and collusion, has been thoroughly exposed to public scrutiny.
Now, given Mr Cameron’s penchant for lying at the drop of a hat, what other intrigues to subvert the electoral process remain to be discovered? What other dirty tricks have he and his government yet to pull? Just how far are they prepared to go to usurp the democratic process they are sworn and legally bound to uphold?
The question for the Scottish electorate is: How do you trust a proven liar?
FOREIGN Office department ostensibly set up to promote the Scottish Government's interests is being used against it in the independence referendum, diplomatic cables have revealed.
The Devolution Unit, created by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2012 to deliver abroad the "utmost co-operation", now appears to be at the heart of Westminster's anti-independence drive, amassing hostile reactions from overseas.
It is understood the FCO has contacted the governments of China, Russia, the US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the 28 EU nations about the Scottish referendum in a global search for allies who might oppose independence.
One recent cable showed UK embassies being ordered to forward a Westminster paper critical of independence "to their host governments and other local contacts" and then feed their comments back to the Devolution Unit "ASAP".
It would help the Unionist cause if countries raised their concerns about an independent Scotland joining international bodies such as the EU and Nato.
The action is in spite of Prime Minister David Cameron insisting that September's poll is purely "a debate between Scots" - the argument he uses for refusing to debate with Alex Salmond.
The First Minister yesterday issued a fresh challenge to debate to Cameron, saying he had "a responsibility to let people hear his case for the No campaign and for Scotland remaining under Westminster control".
The Sunday Herald has already revealed two examples of Westminster discussing independence with foreign governments.
In December, Downing Street's Scotland adviser Andrew Dunlop and a Cabinet Office official flew to Madrid to discuss the referendum with Mariano Rajoy's government.
With the visit coming soon after Rajoy had undermined the SNP by warning an independent Scotland would be left outside the EU, Alex Salmond accused the Spanish prime minister of plotting a "stitch-up" with Cameron.
The Sunday Herald also revealed how Russia's top news agency had reported Cameron's office was "extremely interested" in getting president Vladimir Putin's support for a No vote.
The SNP last night said the Devolution Unit's behind-the-scenes activity was "a disgrace".
The Unit's head appeared at Holyrood's European and External Relations Committee last July.
Annie McGee, a former vice-consul in Madrid, told MSPs: "Our focus is on working with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on their foreign policy interests. I make sure visits overseas run smoothly and that there is the utmost co-operation with our posts. We work with colleagues in the Scottish Government ... to ensure areas of interest are explored as they should be."
Europe Minister David Lidington told MSPs at the same session the Unit was about co-operation. "We are building a working culture between the United Kingdom Government and the devolved administrations in which we co-operate effectively on European policy," he said.
"The Unit ... gives a bit more focused support to that co-ordination role, particularly with regard to the interests of the devolved administrations."
However, official UK government material suggests that, far from advancing the Scottish Government's case, or remaining neutral, the Devolution Unit is actively engaged in promoting Westminster's desire for a No vote.
Last week, after Foreign Secretary William Hague launched the latest in Westminster's Scotland Analysis papers on the problems which could face an independent Scotland, the FCO sent a diplomatic telegram, or "Diptel", message about the document to its staff overseas.
The Sunday Herald has seen its content. It said: "EU Posts are requested to circulate the paper ASAP to their host govts & other local contacts.
"Other posts particularly Washington, Ottawa, Canberra, Wellington & UK Rep Brussels may wish to do so.
"You should refer to previous FCO guidance sent to Posts on how to present the referendum work. "Report back to DEVO UNIT, FCO. Other local reaction (public or private) ASAP."
Other Diptel messages released to the pro-Yes National Collective group under Freedom of Information also show the Unit acting as a clearing house for reactions from overseas governments to Scottish independence.
Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, said: "In public David Cameron has pledged that the referendum is for people in Scotland.
"In private he's using UK diplomats around the world to support the 'no' campaign.
"Governments internationally have said they won't get involved in this democratic debate in Scotland.
"It's a disgrace that the Prime Minister is breaking his word, encouraging foreign interventions while running scared of a debate with First Minister Salmond."
A Westminster source said the SNP's attack was "frankly quite ludicrous", as Salmond was in regular touch with other governments, and it was routine for the Westminster government to share information abroad, "especially about issues that have ramifactions outwith the UK".
A Downing Street spokesman added: "The SNP can debate about debates all they like. We are getting on with informing the debate with detailed analyses so that people can decide."
Mohamed Hersi wanted to move to Muslim country to escape Canada’s ‘Islamophobia,’ terror trial hears
 |
| Mohamed Hersi arrives with an unidentified woman to testify at his trial at the Brampton courthouse, April 24, 2014. |
Stewart Bell |
A Toronto security guard on trial for allegedly attempting to join the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabab testified Monday he wanted to move to a Muslim country because of the discrimination he suffered in Canada, but insisted he did not support terrorism.
“I felt that throughout my time in Canada I felt a lot of discrimination, whether because I’m black or I’m Muslim,” Mohamed Hassan Hersi said. “I felt that if I lived in a Muslim country, I probably would not experience Islamophobia.”
Mr. Hersi, 28, told jurors as he began his defence that his entire clan was “hostile” to the group and its “extreme methods.”
They do tyrannical things like cut off peoples’ hands“They do tyrannical things like cut off peoples’ hands,” said Mr. Hersi. “I don’t really like Al-Shabab.”
He insisted he was opposed to terrorism, which he called immoral and anti-Islamic. Terrorists who cited Islam to justify violence were taking the Koran out of its historical context, he added.
As the defence began presenting its case, Mr. Hersi took to the witness stand to counter the prosecution’s portrayal of him as a would-be jihadist immersed in online Al Qaeda propaganda.
In contrast, he depicted himself as an avid television viewer and sports fan, and said the talks he had about Somalia were mostly initiated by an undercover police officer who befriended him.
Mr. Hersi was arrested at Toronto’s Pearson airport on March 29, 2011, as he was boarding a flight. His destination was Cairo but the undercover police officer said Mr. Hersi had confided he would be traveling to Somalia to join Al-Shabab.
In the weeks before his arrest, Mr. Hersi’s laptop was used to search the Internet for terms such as “Somalia AK-47 cost.” He had also downloaded an edition of the Al Qaeda magazine Inspire, an RCMP officer testified.
AP Photo/Farah Abdi Al-Shabab fighters display weapons as they conduct military exercises in northern Mogadishu, Somalia in 2010.
The officer was playing the role of a Somali who wanted to join Al-Shabab. One of the charges alleges Mr. Hersi gave the officer advice on how to do so, but Mr. Slansky said Mr. Hersi had an “anti-Al Shabab mindset.”
“Sometimes he just talked nonsense,” Mr. Slansky said of his client, “just a tendency to jabber, but Mr. Hersi will make clear that he never intended to join Al-Shabab.” The lawyer claimed the case was based on police lies.
Sometimes he just talked nonsenseIn his testimony, Mr. Hersi said he was born in Mogadishu and, during a visit to the United States, he came to Canada with his mother to claim refugee status. His father, who worked at the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia, died before he could join the family in Toronto.
While growing up at a Toronto Community Housing Corp. apartment building, he said he was regularly discriminated against, and described seeing police harassing blacks and Muslims. “I have sort of a love hate relationship with the police,” he said. “I love to hate them, they love to hate me.”
After studying at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, he wanted to become fluent in Arabic, he said. He planned to spend six to 12 months in Cairo, return to Canada for graduate studies and then move to a Muslim country such as Egypt or Turkey.
Peter J. Thompson/National Post/FilesMohamed
Hersi, centre, is charged with planning to join Al-Shabab, a Somali
group associated with Al-Qaeda. He was arrested in Toronto as he
attempted to leave Canada.
The case is the first attempt to prosecute a Canadian for allegedly attempting to travel abroad to join a terrorist group. The National Post revealed this week the RCMP has set up a program to track and disrupt “high risk travelers” preparing to leave the country.
Al-Shabab was behind last year’s massacre at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left two Canadians dead, including a Canada Border Services Agency officer. The Al-Qaeda aligned group is fighting to impose its militant version of Islamic law on Somalis.
National Post
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)