International brief ~ Sudan criticizes UN report on human rights in Darfur News
International brief ~ Sudan criticizes UN report on human rights in Darfur

[JURIST] Leading Monday's international brief, the Sudanese government [official website] has criticized a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report [DOC text] released last Friday which sharply condemned the human rights condition in Darfur [JURIST news archive]. Jamal Mohamed Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, called the report excessive and warned that it would contribute to inflexibility on the part of Darfur rebel groups currently attending peace negotiations. The report highlighted the lack of fair trials for captured rebel members and the continuing system of detention for those not capable of being tried. Sudan objected that the report ignored the creation of human rights courts in the Darfur region and pointed out some positive elements noted by the report. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Sudan [JURIST news archive]. The Sudan Tribune has more.

In other international legal news …

  • Indonesia [government website in Bahasa Indonesian] has announced plans to revise the legislation creating the Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) [official website], which is tasked with tracking down money laundering in Indonesia, and give the agency much greater powers to accomplish its task. The draft revision of Law No. 25/2005 on Money Laundering [PDF text] would allow the PPATK to take over investigations of money laundering from police officials, freeze financial assets related to an investigation, and stop financial transactions from individuals suspected of money laundering violations. The legislation is due to be presented to the House later this week or early next week. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Indonesia [JURIST news archive]. The Jakarta Post has local coverage.
  • After meeting late into the night Saturday, the UN Security Council [official website] announced on Sunday that it has passed a resolution condemning the actions of militias in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Resolution 1653 [PDF text] focuses on the high number of rebel and anti-government militias in the area and condemns the negative human rights impact they are having. Early last week, eight UN Peacekeepers in DR Congo were killed by militants of the Lord's Resistance Army [MIPT backgrounder], one of the militias alleged to have killed the most civilians in its several decade revolt against the Ugandan government. BBC News has more.
  • Ten Somali men captured by the US Navy [official website] have been transported to Mombasa, Kenya and are scheduled to be charged with piracy. The ten men were captured [ICC-CSS report] by the American destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill last Tuesday and arrangements were made last week for the men to be turned over to Kenyan authorities for prosecution. The Somali coast has been designated the world's most dangerous coastline for pirate activity by the International Maritime Bureau [official website]. One of the first pieces of legislation passed by the new Somali government, which has yet to take official control of the country, was the hiring of an American contracting firm to enforce anti-piracy measures along Somalia's Indian Ocean coast. BBC News has more.
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