KOMPAS.com -
Indonesia has called for international cooperation to stop violence against Palestinian prisoners held at a number of Israeli prisons and detention centers. President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of International Parliamentary Union (IPU) Dr. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf made the call in her keynote speech to the First International Conference on the Rights of Palestinian Prisoners in Geneva recently.
Minister Counselor of the Indonesian Representative in Geneva Dicky Komar said in a press statement issued on Tuesday the conference was initiated by three non-governmental organizations, U-free, Rights for All and North-South 21.
The other speakers of the conference were members of the Palestinian, Greek, Swiss and Irish parliaments as well as former Palestinian prisoners including Sheik Raed Salah who is now Imam of Al Aqsa Mosque.
Also present at the conference were figures, non-governmental organization activists, and academicians from various European countries. Nurhayati who is also deputy chief of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Board (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) further stressed Indonesia’s consistency in encouraging the formation of an independent Palestinian state in what she said was in line with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution.
She also attached the significance of integrated concrete steps involving various elements of the international community to put an end to Israeli violence among others through the mechanisms of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Human Rights Committee to allow any of their members to monitor and visit Israeli prisons and detention centers.
She said the fate of female prisoners should also draw special attention because they were highly vulnerable to violence and human rights violation. The conference underscored the need for Israel to comply with international conventions related to prisoners’ rights, ensure that the rights of Palestinian prisoners were fulfilled, and stop violence against them.
In addition, it also underlined the importance of comprehensive solution to the Palestinian conflict by forming an independent Palestinian state. The conference also agreed to declare 2011 as the Year of Palestinian Women Prisoners.
Mubarak Wants Stay
KOMPAS.com - The president of Egypt
last night declared that he is ‘fed up and wants to go’ as bloody clashes continued in Cairo. But Hosni Mubarak said he would not resign immediately – because he feared there would be ‘chaos’.
His remarks came as pro-government mobs targeted Western journalists
and human rights activists near Tahrir Square, the centre of the protests. Several were punched, their equipment smashed – and one was stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver.
There were reports the army was rounding up foreign cameramen and correspondents. A Greek man was reported to have died in the clashes.
Fears were growing that tourists could be next in line as Britain
and other Western countries urgently evacuated their citizens. Last night 180 Britons flew out of Cairo on a specially chartered Foreign Office plane. As many as 25,000 remain.
Egypt yesterday pointed the finger at ‘foreign agendas’ for fuelling the protests.
Vice president Omar Suleiman said: ‘When there are demonstrations of this size, there will be foreigners who come and take advantage and they have an agenda to raise the energy of the protesters.’
Last night Egyptian TV reported that Israeli spies were in the country posing as journalists.
Mr Suleiman dismissed mounting international calls – including from Britain – for President Mubarak to step down immediately.
Mr Mubarak himself said last night: ‘I am fed up. After 62 years in public service, I have had enough. I want to go. If I resign today there will be chaos.’
He told ABC News he was distressed by the violence in Cairo between his supporters and the reformist campaigners.
‘I was very unhappy about yesterday,’ he said. ‘I do not want to see Egyptians fighting each other.’
He added: ‘I don’t care what people say about me. Right now I care about my country. I care about Egypt.’
He also warned President Obama: ‘You don’t understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now.’
He vowed to remain in his country until his death. ‘I will die on this soil,’ he said.
There could be further clashes today after prayers. Supporters from both sides have pledged to march.
At one stage yesterday it had appeared the military had finally decided to end the violence that has left at least 12 dead and more than 900 wounded in 48 hours.
Soldiers pushed back pro-government attackers and took up positions between the two sides while an army tank moved against Mubarak supporters as they hurled rocks, prompting cheers.
The Mubarak loyalists fled when the tank turned its turret towards them, then regrouped nearby.
Eventually the soldiers stepped aside allowing clashes to resume.
The anti-Mubarak protesters, who had claimed ‘Victory’ after driving the president’s men from the square, appeared dominated by a youthful hardcore including secular middle-class graduates and mostly poorer Islamist activists.
A large number had the trimmed beards of Islamic conservatives, a sign of how the Muslim Brotherhood movement is playing a major role in the fight.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last night: ‘I urge the government and a broad and credible representation of Egypt’s opposition, civil society and political factions to begin immediately serious negotiations on a peaceful and orderly transition.’
last night declared that he is ‘fed up and wants to go’ as bloody clashes continued in Cairo. But Hosni Mubarak said he would not resign immediately – because he feared there would be ‘chaos’.His remarks came as pro-government mobs targeted Western journalists
and human rights activists near Tahrir Square, the centre of the protests. Several were punched, their equipment smashed – and one was stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver.There were reports the army was rounding up foreign cameramen and correspondents. A Greek man was reported to have died in the clashes.
Fears were growing that tourists could be next in line as Britain
and other Western countries urgently evacuated their citizens. Last night 180 Britons flew out of Cairo on a specially chartered Foreign Office plane. As many as 25,000 remain.Egypt yesterday pointed the finger at ‘foreign agendas’ for fuelling the protests.
Vice president Omar Suleiman said: ‘When there are demonstrations of this size, there will be foreigners who come and take advantage and they have an agenda to raise the energy of the protesters.’
Last night Egyptian TV reported that Israeli spies were in the country posing as journalists.
Mr Suleiman dismissed mounting international calls – including from Britain – for President Mubarak to step down immediately.
Mr Mubarak himself said last night: ‘I am fed up. After 62 years in public service, I have had enough. I want to go. If I resign today there will be chaos.’
He told ABC News he was distressed by the violence in Cairo between his supporters and the reformist campaigners.
‘I was very unhappy about yesterday,’ he said. ‘I do not want to see Egyptians fighting each other.’
He added: ‘I don’t care what people say about me. Right now I care about my country. I care about Egypt.’
He also warned President Obama: ‘You don’t understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now.’
He vowed to remain in his country until his death. ‘I will die on this soil,’ he said.
There could be further clashes today after prayers. Supporters from both sides have pledged to march.
At one stage yesterday it had appeared the military had finally decided to end the violence that has left at least 12 dead and more than 900 wounded in 48 hours.
Soldiers pushed back pro-government attackers and took up positions between the two sides while an army tank moved against Mubarak supporters as they hurled rocks, prompting cheers.
The Mubarak loyalists fled when the tank turned its turret towards them, then regrouped nearby.
Eventually the soldiers stepped aside allowing clashes to resume.
The anti-Mubarak protesters, who had claimed ‘Victory’ after driving the president’s men from the square, appeared dominated by a youthful hardcore including secular middle-class graduates and mostly poorer Islamist activists.
A large number had the trimmed beards of Islamic conservatives, a sign of how the Muslim Brotherhood movement is playing a major role in the fight.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last night: ‘I urge the government and a broad and credible representation of Egypt’s opposition, civil society and political factions to begin immediately serious negotiations on a peaceful and orderly transition.’
From :
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
