peopledailynews-Global Information Network

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Home
AsiaPacificWomen

Secretary-General 'strongly condemns' multiple deadly attacks in Pakistan

Sunday, 13 January 2013 04:13 PeopleDailyNews
E-mail Print PDF

（AsiaPacificWomen News）11 January 2013 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “strongly condemns” the multiple attacks that took place in Quetta and the Swat Valley, in Pakistan, which reportedly killed at least 100 people and injured at least 200 more, according to his spokesperson.

“He also strongly condemns yesterday's targeted killing of Dr. Syed Riaz Hussain who was the President of the Pakistan People's Party for Kurram Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas,” the spokesperson added in a statement issued on Thursday night.

In addition to highlighting the UN chief's deep concern over ongoing terrorist violence in Pakistan, the spokesperson noted that Dr. Hussain was a strong advocate of democracy and tolerance.

According to media reports, a number of blasts throughout Thursday in the city of Quetta – the capital of the south-western province of Balochistan – targeted a security check point and a snooker hall, killing close to a hundred people and wounded more than another hundred.

The attack in the city of Mingora, located in the Swat Valley in the country's north, reportedly targeted the offices of a religious organization and killed more than 20 people and wounded more than 60.

“These heinous acts cannot be justified by any cause,” Mr. Ban's spokesperson said. “The Secretary-General conveys his heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the Government and people of Pakistan, as well as to the families of all the victims.”

The spokesperson added that the Secretary-General reiterates the “strong support of the United Nations for the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to combat the scourge of terrorism and hopes that the perpetrators of these violent acts will be brought to justice.”

 

UN human rights office concerned over convictions of 14 activists in Vietnam

Sunday, 13 January 2013 04:08 PeopleDailyNews
E-mail Print PDF

（AsiaPacificWomen News）11 January 2013–The United Nations human rights office has expressed serious concern over the convictions and sentencing of 14 political activists in Vietnam for subversive activities.

In a news briefing in Geneva, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville, said that the 14 activists were convicted on 9 January in Vietnam's Supreme People's Court, in Nghe An province, for “subversion of the administration” under article 79 of the country's Criminal Code.

According to OHCHR, the activists were accused of actively participating in and being members of a political organization known as the Viet Tan. Reportedly, the Vietnamese Government considers the exiled organization to be a militant group.

The activists received sentences ranging between three and 13 years, with three of them receiving the 13-year sentence. All had been held in custody for more than a year prior to the trial.

“Although Viet Tan is a peaceful organization advocating for democratic reform, the Government has deemed it to be a 'reactionary organization,'” Mr. Colville said. “None of those convicted are alleged to have been involved in violent acts.”

The spokesperson also expressed alarm over the fact that that the convictions were handed down after only two days of trial, and noted that these latest convictions – as well as the arrest and detention in late December of a human rights lawyer, Le Quoc Quan – exemplify the limited space for critical voices in Vietnam.

“We urge the Government of Vietnam to review its use of the Criminal Code to imprison people who are critical of its policies, and to review all such cases violating freedom of expression and association in the country,” Mr. Colville added.