CounterVortex

Greater Middle East

Tuaregs flee Mali

Bashar Assad arrived in Russia to publicly thank Vladimir Putin for his military support in the ongoing re-conquest of Syria—prominently including the deployment of new missile systems. Undoubtedly discussed behind closed doors was the new "energy cooperation framework agreement" between Moscow and Damascus, under which Russia is to have exclusive rights to exploit oil and gas in Syria. (Photo of Vityaz missile launcher via Wikipedia)

Southeast Asia

Philippines: bomb blast at Zamboanga air base

Three people were killed and 20 injured when a bomb exploded May 28 at the offices of USAID-supported programs housed at the Philippine military’s Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga, Mindanao. The dead included family members of Philippine military personnel… Read morePhilippines: bomb blast at Zamboanga air base

Palestine

Israel detains anti-wall protesters at Ni’lin

Israeli forces raided the village of Ni’lin, west of Ramallah, early May 29, storming houses and detaining four men. The mayor of Ni’lin, Aiman Nafe, said the incursion and detentions aimed to suppress activities scheduled for that day against construction… Read moreIsrael detains anti-wall protesters at Ni’lin

Watching the Shadows

Cuba: dissidents funded by terrorist?

On May 19 the Cuban government accused Michael Parmly, outgoing head of the US Interests Section in Havana, of supplying opponents of the government with money from Cuban American right-winger Santiago Alvarez Fernandez-Magrinat, who is currently serving a 46-month prison… Read moreCuba: dissidents funded by terrorist?

Southern Cone

Chile: conviction in Victor Jara murder

On May 15 Chilean judge Juan Eduardo Fuentes Belmar found retired army colonel Mario Manriquez Bravo guilty in the Sept. 16, 1973 murder of the internationally renowned singer Victor Jara; the judge then closed the case, despite testimony that other… Read moreChile: conviction in Victor Jara murder

Mexico

Mexico: bishops push Posadas probe

On May 21 Jose Leopoldo Gonzalez, secretary general of the Conference of Mexican Bishops (CEM), said the Catholic bishops had voted unanimously to call for the government to make former president Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994) testify again about the… Read moreMexico: bishops push Posadas probe

Mexico

“Disappeared” Mexican oil workers —one year later

Families are desperate a year after five workers and three pensioners from the Mexican state oil company Pemex disappeared, with federal authorities claiming no progress in the case. Mexico’s opposition is pointing at the security forces. “No one seems to… Read more“Disappeared” Mexican oil workers —one year later

The Caribbean

Haiti: 1,000 peasants protest

More than 1,000 people, mostly peasants, marched through the streets of Savanette, near the Dominican border in Haiti’s Central Plateau region, on May 19 to protest the local government’s failure to issue proper identity papers. The march also commemorated the… Read moreHaiti: 1,000 peasants protest

Iraq

Iraqi oil workers appeal to Exxon shareholders

A statement from Hassan Juma’a Awad, president of Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, via US Labor Against the War (USLAW), May 28: Statement by Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions to 2008 Chevron and ExxonMobil Shareholder meetings On May 28, 2008,… Read moreIraqi oil workers appeal to Exxon shareholders

North America

Witness Against Torture defendants “represent” Gitmo detainees

From Witness Against Torture, May 20: Guantánamo Detainess To Get Their Day in Court Witness Against Torture Activists to “Represent” Detainees in Trial, May 27 WASHINGTON, DC – Detainees at the U.S. Military Prison in Guantánamo will finally get their… Read moreWitness Against Torture defendants “represent” Gitmo detainees

Europe

Racist attacks shake Italy

A masked group of some 20 men armed with sticks went on the rampage in Rome’s multi-ethnic Pigneto district May 24, smashing the windows of shops owned by Indian and Bangladeshi immigrants while hurling verbal abuse. The mob disappeared before… Read moreRacist attacks shake Italy

Africa

Niger Delta militants hit Shell pipeline

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement May 26 its fighters had sabotaged Shell Oil’s “major trunk pipeline” at Awoba flow station, and killed 11 soldiers in an ensuing gun battle. Sagir Musa,… Read moreNiger Delta militants hit Shell pipeline