In a surprise development, the US Supreme Court agreed June 29 to hear an appeal they had refused to hear in April, asking whether “foreign citizens imprisoned indefinitely” by the US military can go to federal court and whether their… Read moreSupreme Court to hear Gitmo cases
The press is abuzz with the June 26 release of the CIA’s “family jewels,” nearly 700 pages of documents concerning domestic meddling, foreign assassinations and other real and potential violations of the Agency’s charter that then-director James Schlesinger ordered compiled… Read moreThe CIA’s “family jewels” and historical irony
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he is strengthening his army in preparation for an attack by regional rival Eritrea. “Our defence forces have the capacity to deter aggression and to repulse it if it occurred,” Zenawi told Ethiopian members… Read moreEthiopia: ready for war with Eritrea
Ethiopia’s Federal High Court will hand down sentences to 38 imprisoned opposition leaders and journalists on July 9, the body has announced. Following reports that members of the opposition facing charges of “genocide” and attempted coup d’etat signed a document… Read moreEthiopia won’t budge on arrested activists, journalists
The Paris-based media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) castigated the international community June 27 for “indifference” to a media crackdown in Eritrea. “Because of the world’s indifference, we are reduced to just watching, appalled and powerless, as the authorities… Read moreEritrea: press crackdown condemned
From Reuters, June 25: Man, 80, killed after round-Japan bike tour An 80-year-old man on the verge of completing a round-Japan cycling tour was struck and killed by a truck only a few hours ride from his home, police say…. Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
The Special Investigator (Fiscalía Especial) for the Acteal massacre in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas has announced the discovery in a cave of two AK-47 rifles which are believed to be those used in the Dec. 22, 1997 slaying of… Read moreChiapas: arms used in Acteal massacre discovered
Subcommander Marcos of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) has arrived back in the Chiapas rainforest after concluding his tour of Mexico’s northern states in the second phase of the “Other Campaign.” Arriving first in the Chiapas highland city of… Read moreZapatistas back in conflicted Chiapas
President Felipe Calderon has initiated a sweeping purge of Mexico’s federal police forces, replacing nearly 284 senior and middle-level commanders. The move was announced June 25 by Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna. “We are conscious that Mexicans demand honest,… Read moreMexico purges federal police
Welcome to the promised land, Gonpo. From the New York Times, June 23 (emphasis added): From Tibet to New York, a Youth Now Faces a Long Journey to Recovery Gonpo Dorjee, 16, arrived in America on May 26. But he… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
“Chemical Ali” Hassan al-Majid has been convicted of genocide and sentenced to death by hanging for his role in the 1988 “Anfal” counter-insurgency campaign in Iraqi Kurdistan, in which up to 180,000 Kurds were killed—some in poisonous gas attacks, some… Read more“Chemical Ali” to hang —another betrayal of historical memory?
A number of Sunni tribal leaders from the Anbar Salvation Council are among 12 people killed in a suicide bombing at the Mansour Hotel in central Baghdad June 25. Although the hotel is also home of the Chinese embassy and… Read moreIraq: insurgents target Sunni sheikhs
