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Semáforo is a fortnightly collection of news from around the world, classified by geographical area - Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East. Semáforo also includes a section which monitors international organisations and the subjects on the international agenda for peace building.
Daily monitoring of news items is based on more than 60 sources and includes areas related to armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, international behaviour, unresolved conflicts, forced displacements, human rights, sustainable development, gender, governability and economic and political crises, militarisation and disarmament, peace processes and post-war rehabilitation and gender.
Although the unit analysed is usually a country, news items on regions, international organisations and other broad-based subjects are also included. At the end of each news item, the source consulted is shown in italics, and the code of the subject area related to the news item is shown in brackets. A glossary and a code of concepts and sources is attached at the end of each Semáforo.
It is published in Spanish every other Friday on the website, where it is possible to subscribe free of charge. You can also check the highlights of the publication in English and Catalan on the web. |
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Semáforo 205
Fortnight's newsletter 23.09.08 - 09.10.08
To read the full document click here.
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01: Africa
- • The Nigerin authorities arrest the leader of the Malian militia Ganda Izo, responsible for the death of several people belonging to the Tuareg ethnic group in Mali.
- • Nigerian Army arrests more than 200 MEND militants after the group unilaterally announced a ceasefire.
- • 52 NGOs make an appeal for an international commitment to the resolution of the serious situation that Somalia is going through, as Mogadiscio is suffering one of worst violence escalations of the last months.
- • MONUC demands more troops as violence and displacement increase in the east of DR Congo, and 84 NGOs report the serious humanitarian crisis caused by the clashes.
- • Central African Republic Parliament passes an amnesty law, boycotted by the opposition parties and rejected by the armed groups.
- • Tension increases in Mauritania after the repression of a demonstration organised by the parties opposed to the new military government.
02: America
- • Amnesty International reports that 40 years after the major massacre in Mexico, the Government has not given a response yet to the questions surrounding the case.
- • The UN Office in Colombia urges the Colombian authorities to take urgent measures to put an end to the wave of extrajudicial killings.
- • The Colombian president decrees the State of Internal Commotion in view of the crisis over the judicial strike, while prominent civil society figures make peace appeals.
- • Several days after the outbreak of a corruption scandal in Peru, protests against the economic policy of Alan García's Government increase.
03: Asia
- • The Afghan president reveals that he has asked for the mediation of Saudi Arabia to begin peace talks with the Taliban.
- • The Pakistani president admits that the country faces a state of war and the Armed Forces reveal that more than 2,000 militants have died in Bajaur as a result of the last military operation.
- • Key LTTE facilities have been attacked in northern Sri Lanka, while the Government assures that they are on the verge of a military victory.
- • More than 430 people are wounded during the clashes in Bangkok between the Thai police and demonstrators urging the Government resignation.
- • The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls the military Government of Myanmar to free political prisoners.
04: Europe
- • Russia completes the withdrawal of its troops from the "security zones" in Georgia while several security incidents take place in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
- • The UN General Assembly votes to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the declaration of independence of Kosovo.
- • The deadliest PKK attack against the Turkish army since 2004, with a death toll of 17 soldiers, leads to the escalation of both the conflict and the political and social tension.
05: Middle East
- • Bahrein proposes the creation of a forum that includes the Arab countries, Iran, Israel and Turkey to work on the resolution of conflicts in the Middle East.
- • The end of Ramadan coincides with a series of attacks in Iraq, leaving a death toll of dozens of civilians in several areas of the country.
- • A report by 21 international NGOs states that the Middle East Quartet has failed in its mission of improving the life of Palestinians and increasing peace perspectives in the area.
- • Lebanese military sources warn of the deployment of 10.000 Syrian forces in the last weeks in the frontier of both countries.
06: International Organizations
- • A UN report states that deliberate attacks against humanitarian personnel have risen significantly during the last year, causing nearly 90 victims.
- • The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture publishes a report showing concern over the proposal of a counterterrorist law that would allow the authorities to detain people suspected of terrorism for a maximum of 42 days without charges.
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Tel. (+34) 93 586 88 42 - Fax.(+34) 93 581 32 94 - escolapau@pangea.org
ACTUALIZADA 10.10.08
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