Iraq wants trial for Oil-for-Food wrongdoers News
Iraq wants trial for Oil-for-Food wrongdoers

[JURIST] Iraq's Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin Friday praised the United Nations' preliminary report into corruption within the Oil-for-Food program [official website], and called for those who participated to stand trial. The program's former director, Benon Sevan, is accused of repeatedly soliciting and getting Iraqi oil allocations for a trading firm connected to the family of former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in violation of the UN competitive bidding rules [UN and Business website]. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.