GENEVA (9 June 2017) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Friday called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international investigation into the widespread human rights violations and abuses that have occurred in the Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the existence of at least 42 mass graves.
Since August 2016, some 1.27 million people from the Kasais have been internally displaced by the violence while some 30,000 refugees have fled to Angola. The UN Human Rights Office has documented 42 mass graves, although the actual number may be even higher. According to information gathered by UN Human Rights teams, soldiers from the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) reportedly dug many of the graves after clashing with presumed elements of the Kamuina Nsapu militia over the past several months. Reports of summary executions and other killings – including of children – as well as sexual violence have been documented since August 2016. The UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC* continues to receive allegations of serious human rights violations, but security constraints have hindered further investigations.
High Commissioner Zeid in early May urged the Government of the DRC to take a series of steps to ensure that a credible, transparent investigation, respecting international standards and with the involvement of the UN Human Rights Office, be established by 8 June. While the Government has sought technical support and advice from the UN Human Rights Office and MONUSCO, its response to date falls short, in view of the gravity and widespread nature of the violations, and given the imperative need for justice for victims, according to the High Commissioner.
“It is the sovereign duty of the Government of the DRC to carry out judicial investigations into human rights violations committed on its territory and we will continue to support the Government by providing advice and support towards its fulfillment of these obligations,” High Commissioner Zeid said. “However the crimes committed in the Kasais appear to be of such gravity that they must be of concern to the international community as a whole, and in particular the Human Rights Council. The scale and nature of these human rights violations and abuses, and the consistently inadequate responses of the domestic authorities, oblige us to call for an international investigation to complement national efforts.”
“We have an obligation to the victims and a duty to send a message to the perpetrators of these crimes that we are watching and that the international community is throwing its weight behind ensuring that the endemic impunity in the DRC is brought to an end.”
The flare-up in the Kasais occurred in August 2016 when a customary chief was killed by the FARDC. The Kamuina Nsapu militia, named after the chief, sought to avenge his killing by targeting police and members of the army, state symbols and institutions, such as government buildings, police stations and churches, recruiting children to join its ranks. The FARDC have reportedly reacted to the attacks by launching a blistering counter-attack, including by firing indiscriminately with machine guns in towns where the militia were suspected to be as well as conducting door to door searches, shooting dead suspected militia members or sympathizers. While a number of national investigations have been launched into the alleged crimes committed by the Kamuina Nsapu, the Government has failed to conduct meaningful investigations into the conduct of the FARDC and the Police nationale congolaise.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Comey testimony: Trump responds, claims 'total and complete vindication'
President Trump finally broke his silence Friday morning about James Comey's congressional testimony a day earlier, tweeting that he felt vindicated and emphasizing the former FBI director's admission that he leaked details of confidential conversations with the president to the press.
"Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" Trump tweeted.
The morning message was Trump's first comment -- aside from a statement from his personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz -- regarding Comey's stunning Thursday testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Trump had uncharacteristically not addressed Comey's allegations on Thursday, but his Friday comments came ahead of a scheduled joint news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in the Rose Garden.
Comey, who was fired by Trump on May 9, revealed during his testimony that he had a friend, later identified as Columbia University Law Professor Dan Richman, leak contents of his private memos to the media in hopes of prompting the "appointment of a special counsel."
Kasowitz was set to file a complaint with the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and send a letter of complaint to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Comey's testimony that he orchestrated the leak of the alleged contents of his one-on-one talks with Trump, a source close to the president's legal team told Fox News.
Two days after Comey was fired, The New York Times reported on a January conversation -- allegedly sourced from those Comey told about the encounter -- in which Comey claimed Trump asked him for his loyalty. Trump has vociferously denied he made such a request and tweeted the following day: "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"
Comey, in his Thursday testimony, said it was that tweet that prompted him to enlist Richman to help him leak memos he allegedly wrote about incidents involving Trump.
While Trump disputed key parts of Comey's testimony, his legal team also welcomed statements that he did not seek the shutdown of the broader Russia probe and that Trump was told he wasn't personally under investigation.
"Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" Trump tweeted.
The morning message was Trump's first comment -- aside from a statement from his personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz -- regarding Comey's stunning Thursday testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Trump had uncharacteristically not addressed Comey's allegations on Thursday, but his Friday comments came ahead of a scheduled joint news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in the Rose Garden.
Comey, who was fired by Trump on May 9, revealed during his testimony that he had a friend, later identified as Columbia University Law Professor Dan Richman, leak contents of his private memos to the media in hopes of prompting the "appointment of a special counsel."
Kasowitz was set to file a complaint with the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and send a letter of complaint to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Comey's testimony that he orchestrated the leak of the alleged contents of his one-on-one talks with Trump, a source close to the president's legal team told Fox News.
Two days after Comey was fired, The New York Times reported on a January conversation -- allegedly sourced from those Comey told about the encounter -- in which Comey claimed Trump asked him for his loyalty. Trump has vociferously denied he made such a request and tweeted the following day: "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"
Comey, in his Thursday testimony, said it was that tweet that prompted him to enlist Richman to help him leak memos he allegedly wrote about incidents involving Trump.
While Trump disputed key parts of Comey's testimony, his legal team also welcomed statements that he did not seek the shutdown of the broader Russia probe and that Trump was told he wasn't personally under investigation.
U.K. and European Lawmakers React to Britain's Shock Election Result
With only a few straggling constituencies left to announce, the U.K. electorate returned the country a hung parliament early Friday morning, meaning that neither of the two largest parties had secured the 326 seats required for an absolute majority.
The result was an overwhelming rejection of British Prime Minister Theresa May, who had called the election to strengthen her mandate to negotiate a Brexit deal. During her campaign, May promised a "strong and stable" leadership in the run up to divorce talks with European leaders, scheduled June 19. But the results delivered a humiliation to May and her Conservative Party.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, by contrast, enjoyed a triumphant night, increasing his party's Commons tally by 31 seats. "Politics has changed and politics isn't going back into the box it was before. People have had quite enough of austerity politics," Corbyn said after winning in his home constituency of Islington North.
Here’s how U.K. and E.U. lawmakers reacted to the shock election result:
Some Conservatives were predictably dour. Nigel Evans, a lawmaker for Ribble Valley, said his party had shot itself in the head, the BBC's Chris Mason tweeted.
The result was an overwhelming rejection of British Prime Minister Theresa May, who had called the election to strengthen her mandate to negotiate a Brexit deal. During her campaign, May promised a "strong and stable" leadership in the run up to divorce talks with European leaders, scheduled June 19. But the results delivered a humiliation to May and her Conservative Party.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, by contrast, enjoyed a triumphant night, increasing his party's Commons tally by 31 seats. "Politics has changed and politics isn't going back into the box it was before. People have had quite enough of austerity politics," Corbyn said after winning in his home constituency of Islington North.
Here’s how U.K. and E.U. lawmakers reacted to the shock election result:
Some Conservatives were predictably dour. Nigel Evans, a lawmaker for Ribble Valley, said his party had shot itself in the head, the BBC's Chris Mason tweeted.
Theresa May will visit Buckingham Palace to seek permission to form a UK government
Theresa May will visit Buckingham Palace at 12:30 BST to seek permission to form a UK government, despite losing her Commons majority.
The prime minister is attempting to stay in office on the understanding that the Democratic Unionist Party will support her minority administration.
With one seat left to declare, the Tories are eight seats short of the 326 figure needed to command a majority.
Jeremy Corbyn has urged her to quit, saying Labour is "ready to serve".
After a disappointing night for the Conservatives, Theresa May faces ending up with 12 fewer seats than when she called the election and will need the support of other parties to govern.
General election: live updates
The Tories are forecast to end up with 319 seats ahead of Labour on 261, the SNP 35 and the Lib Dems on 12.
Mrs May has signalled her intention to carry on in Downing Street, saying the country needs "stability" with the start of Brexit negotiations 10 days away.
It is thought Mrs May will seek some kind of informal arrangement with the DUP that could see it "lend" its support the Tories on a vote-by-vote basis, known as "confidence and supply".
Combined, the Tories and the DUP - which won 10 seats - would have 329 MPs in the Commons.
The DUP is currently meeting to discuss what it has said is a "messy" situation but sources have said talk of an agreement is "premature".
Labour has said it is also ready to form a minority government of its own. But even if it joined together in a so-called progressive alliance with the SNP, Lib Dems, Green Party and Plaid Cymru, it would only reach 313 seats - short of the 326 figure.
The prime minister is attempting to stay in office on the understanding that the Democratic Unionist Party will support her minority administration.
With one seat left to declare, the Tories are eight seats short of the 326 figure needed to command a majority.
Jeremy Corbyn has urged her to quit, saying Labour is "ready to serve".
After a disappointing night for the Conservatives, Theresa May faces ending up with 12 fewer seats than when she called the election and will need the support of other parties to govern.
General election: live updates
The Tories are forecast to end up with 319 seats ahead of Labour on 261, the SNP 35 and the Lib Dems on 12.
Mrs May has signalled her intention to carry on in Downing Street, saying the country needs "stability" with the start of Brexit negotiations 10 days away.
It is thought Mrs May will seek some kind of informal arrangement with the DUP that could see it "lend" its support the Tories on a vote-by-vote basis, known as "confidence and supply".
Combined, the Tories and the DUP - which won 10 seats - would have 329 MPs in the Commons.
The DUP is currently meeting to discuss what it has said is a "messy" situation but sources have said talk of an agreement is "premature".
Labour has said it is also ready to form a minority government of its own. But even if it joined together in a so-called progressive alliance with the SNP, Lib Dems, Green Party and Plaid Cymru, it would only reach 313 seats - short of the 326 figure.
Theresa May's future in doubt as election gamble backfires
Theresa May is this morning facing calls to resign as Prime Minister after her snap election gamble spectacularly backfired.
Hopes of a Conservative landslide were replaced by the reality of a hung parliament in the early hours of Friday morning as voters rejected her appeal for a personal mandate to negotiate Brexit.
Sky News' projection is for the Conservatives to remain the largest party on 315 to 321 seats - with 326 required for a majority.
Labour are projected to win between 260 and 266 seats - more than under both Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.
:: Live updates on election night
Hopes of a Conservative landslide were replaced by the reality of a hung parliament in the early hours of Friday morning as voters rejected her appeal for a personal mandate to negotiate Brexit.
Sky News' projection is for the Conservatives to remain the largest party on 315 to 321 seats - with 326 required for a majority.
Labour are projected to win between 260 and 266 seats - more than under both Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.
:: Live updates on election night
General Election Results
- CON318−12
- LAB261+29
- LIB DEM12+4
- UKIP0−1
- SNP35−21
- OTHER23+1
Vote share
- CON42.4%
- LAB40.0%
- LIB DEM7.4%
- UKIP1.8%
- SNP3.0%
- OTHER5.3%
Results by constituency
Knifeman 'takes hostages at job centre in Newcastle'
A man armed with a knife is believed to be holding several members of staff hostage at a job centre plus in Newcastle, police say.
Negotiators are at the scene and the roads around the building have been closed as a precaution.
Officers said they were called at about 8am following reports of a man causing a disturbance at a job centre in Byker.
Police said a knifeman had entered the building and several members of staff are thought to be held there, while several other workers have left.
There are no reports of any injuries at the moment.
The man is believed to be known to the job centre.
Negotiators are at the scene and the roads around the building have been closed as a precaution.
Officers said they were called at about 8am following reports of a man causing a disturbance at a job centre in Byker.
Police said a knifeman had entered the building and several members of staff are thought to be held there, while several other workers have left.
There are no reports of any injuries at the moment.
The man is believed to be known to the job centre.
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