It is difficult to assess the number of casualties that occur in Syria — a country that has a suffered a devastating two-year-long civil war. The latest estimated toll as of mid-February according to the United Nations quantifies at least 70,0000 deaths but the lack of media access in Syria makes it difficult to get the full picture of the carnage.
Many people have reverted to the Internet to document eye-witness reports for the devastation. A YouTube channel dubbed “Translator Syria” has posted a bloody video called “Martyrs of the Massacre d’Al-Baida. Syria: 03/05/2013.” This is believed to be footage taken after today’s massacre.”
Amidst reports of widespread sexual violence by the Sri Lankan army on suspected LTTE rebels, the Human Right Watch (HRW) has sought an international investigation.
The investigation demands came after a report, ” ‘We will teach you a lesson’: Sexual violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces“.
The report is said to have contained a list of 75 cases of rape and sexual assault. These incidents happened all across Sri Lanka, from 2006 to 2012.
The majority of the cases are said to have happened during the armed conflict (with LTTE) that ended in may 2009.
The conflict ended almost three years ago, but the incidents of sexual violence continues till this day, the report quoted.
The revelations were confirmed by HRW Asia Director Brad Adams.
“The Sri Lankan security forces have committed untold numbers of rapes of Tamil men and women in custody. These are not just wartime atrocities but continue to the present, putting every Tamil man/woman arrested for suspected LTTE involvement at serious risk”, he was quoted in a news report published in national daily the Hindu.
I received a colorful comment for this post and there are two ratings “Poor’.
(that the post received 18 Likes is a different matter-Obviously from the colonized!)
Obviously from the British.
They asked me to Study History.
This is Britain’s History.
“Everybody knew that the British loved to conquer lots of countries for their precious empire. It’s not until somebody sits down and actually counts all of them that we realize just how many. Historian Stuart Laycock was happy to volunteer for the job and presents his findings in a new book All the Countries We’ve Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To. The book stays true to its title and finds in a survey of 200 of the world’s countries through that, in one shape or form, Great Britain has invaded all but 22 of them. That amounts to about 90 percent of the world’s countries.”
One hundred and eighty years ago on the same date, January 3rd, in a blatant exercise of 19th-century colonialism, Argentina was forcibly stripped of the Malvinas Islands, which are situated 14,000km (8700 miles) away from London.
The Argentines on the Islands were expelled by the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom subsequently began a population implantation process similar to that applied to other territories under colonial rule.
Since then, Britain, the colonial power, has refused to return the territories to the Argentine Republic, thus preventing it from restoring its territorial integrity.
The Question of the Malvinas Islands is also a cause embraced by Latin America and by a vast majority of peoples and governments around the world that reject colonialism.
In 1960, the United Nations proclaimed the necessity of “bringing to an end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations”. In 1965, the General Assembly adopted, with no votes against (not even by the United Kingdom), a resolution considering the Malvinas Islands a colonial case and inviting the two countries to negotiate a solution to the sovereignty dispute between them.
This was followed by many other resolutions to that effect.
In the name of the Argentine people, I reiterate our invitation for us to abide by the resolutions of the United Nations.
The British PMs reaction may be found in the Link.
SUN Advertisement in Argentina.
SUN Advertisement on Falklands In Argentina.
PM David Cameron yesterday backed the islanders remaining British.
We fired off our newspaper message to Kirchner in her native Spanish.
She accused Britain of stealing the islands in adverts placed in left-wing British papers The Guardian and Independent.
But in an open letter today in the Buenos Aires Herald, translated below, The Sun tells her Britain has had sovereignty there before Argentina even existed.
And we remind her how the Argentine invasion of the islands in 1982, which was ended by our troops, was against the UN charter.
The islanders hold a referendum on whether they remain British in March.
But The Sun responded by taking out an advert in the Buenos Aires Herald – an English-language paper with a circulation of around 20,000 – telling Argentina to keep its “hands off”.
The advert refers to the 649 Argentinian and 255 British servicemen whose lives were lost in the 1982 war and said it was a conflict fought to defend the principle of self-determination.
The ad goes on to dispute Argentina’s claim to the islands and points out British sovereignty dates back to 1765.
It ends with the words: “Until the people of the Falkland Islands choose to become Argentinian, they remain resolutely British.”
But the journalist Daniel Schweimler, who lives in Argentina, said the Sun’s message would not go down well.
Argentine veterans protested outside the British Embassy in Buenos Aires
Mr Schweimler, who is based in Buenos Aires, said: “I’ve been here seven years now, and have never come across an Argentine who doesn’t believe that the Falklands belong to Argentina.
“There’s never been any animosity towards me when I say I’m British, but I think it’s fair to say that almost across the board in a country of 40 million people that Las Malvinas, the Falklands, belong to them,” he added.
Argentine journalist Celina Andreassi agreed and says the Sun’s advert was quite provocative-BBC news.
Read the advertisement Text at the SUN link above.
‘The resolution urges the 193 U.N. member states to condemn the practice, and to launch educational campaigns to eliminate it. It urges all countries to enact and enforce legislation to prohibit FGM, to protect women and girls “from this form of violence” and to end impunity for violators. Although not legally binding, UN General Assembly resolutions carry considerable moral and political weight.’
‘
FGM is often undertaken to reinforce traditional beliefs about what is considered proper sexual behavior, according to the World Health Organization. Many communities believe the process, also called female circumcision, reduces a woman’s libido and therefore reduces the chances of her engaging in premarital or extramarital sex.
When a vaginal opening is closed off or narrowed through the process, the pain of opening it, and the fear that it would be found out, is considered further deterrent to “illicit” sexual intercourse.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth increased risk of newborn deaths.
About 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM.
FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
In Africa an estimated 92 million girls 10 years old and above have undergone FGM.
FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.(WHO Report)
I think there is confusion regarding FGM.
Narrowing of the Vaginal Canal is FGM and not the circumcision of the Clitoris.
This as, suggested by the UN and WHO violates human Rights as it is dangerous to health and restricts female sexual behavior.
Circumcision of Clitoris increases sexual pleasure as it does the circumcision of the male.
Put UK on Notice for willfully deserting Palestine in 1948 falsely promising both Palestinians the same, a separate State,thus creating a People with out State.
Yes, this ban is most urgent.next on the Agenda is
Banning the circumcision practiced by the Jews?
This is nothing but to incite the Muslims.
There are so many practices in Christianity that are outdated concepts including Papacy.
What about the pedophile Priests?
What does Islam say on FGM?
Contrary to Muslims’ denial Islam clearly advocates this.
”
The following quotation is taken from Reliance of the Traveller, Revised edition, amana publications, Beltsville, 1997. The title page informs us that this book is
The Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law ‘Umdat al-Salik
by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri (d. 769/1368) in Arabic with
Facing English Text, Commentary, and Appendices
Edited and Translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller
In this book, in the section titled “THE BODY”, we find on page 59 the following entry:
Nuh Hah Mim Keller’s Translation
Arabic Original
e4.3 Circumcision is obligatory (O: for both men and women. For men it consists of removing the prepuce from the penis, and for women, removing the prepuce (Ar. Bazr) of the clitoris (n: not the clitoris itself, as some mistakenly assert). (A: Hanbalis hold that circumcision of women is not obligatory but sunna, while Hanafis consider it a mere courtesy to the husband.)”
A couple of years back, when I was living in Chennai, ,one day, I was asked by my son why I was not even calling my friend for 41 years at Bangalore either through the net or by telephone.
I replied to him that I did not know and it did not simply strike me to call him!
Then, a couple of years later we moved to Bangalore where my friend lives.
I called him and we met and my son was also present.
My son asked my friend the same question he asked me as to why my friend did not contact me .
My friend replied that it did not strike him!
Later we went on talking.
My son asked in between the conversation that we were talking as though we had left the last night’s discussion and continued the discussion though we had met in person some years back.
Our relationship is as natural as the flow of River.
Other curious factor in our Friendship is that he can not speak my mother tongue fluently nor can I his.
We manage with English and with our limited Knowledge of each other’s language.
Professionally he is a business man and I, a management professional.
I met him as the brother of my Dealer, way back in 1971 and initially we were reluctant to speak with each other.
Till to-day neither of us know when we started getting close.
Meanwhile his brother through him I met my friend , remains at the state of my former dealer and commands my respect and nothing more though he is a very nice and knowledgeable man.
We share things which we can not share with none, that includes family.
There are many instances where he came to my help unasked for.
He gave me a hand written note on the eve of my 60th Birth day declaring that I had made him laugh, advised him in times of crisis and shared things with him and given him things !
Yesterday was his 60th birth day and I attended it and I was treated more than a member of his family.
I do not know what to call this?
Friendship,Affection,Love?
By normal standard definitions of the above, we do not chat or express our friendship overtly.
If it is affection , one constantly seeks reassurances .
If Love it has its Highs and Lows.
Ours is neither.
I wanted to write on our friendship after attending his function.
Argentine veterans protested outside the British Embassy in Buenos Aires
You must be logged in to post a comment.