Police in northern Nigeria rescued nearly 70 men and boys from a second purported Islamic school where they were shackled and subjected to “inhuman and degrading treatments.”
The raid in Katsina, the northwestern home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, came less a month after about 300 men and boys were freed from another supposed Islamic school in neighboring Kaduna state where they were allegedly tortured and sexually abused.
“In the course of investigation, sixty-seven persons from the ages of 7 to 40 years were found shackled with chains,” Katsina police spokesman Sanusi Buba said in a statement.
Men and boys are pictured after being rescued by police in Sabon Garin, in Daura local government area of Katsina state, Nigeria, Oct. 14, 2019.
“Victims were also found to have been subjected to various inhuman and degrading treatments.”
The raid occurred on Oct. 12 in Sabon Garin in the Daura local government area of Katsina state. Police issued a statement Monday and said they were working to reunite the victims with their families.
Police arrested one man, 78-year-old Mallam Bello Abdullahi Umar, for running what they called an “illegal detention/remand home.”
Lawai Musa, a trader who lived near the center, told Reuters by phone that families sent unruly men and boys there believing it was an Islamic teaching facility that would straighten them out and teach them Islamic beliefs.
“The way he is treating the children is un-Islamic” he said. “We are not happy, they were treated illegally.”
Islamic schools
Islamic schools, known as Almajiris, are common across the mostly Muslim north of Nigeria. Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a local organization, estimates about 10 million children attend them.
In June, President Buhari, himself a Muslim, said the government planned to ban the schools, but would not do so immediately. After the incident in Kaduna, the president issued a statement calling on traditional authorities to work with government to expose “unwanted cultural practices that amount to the abuse of children.”
Buhari’s office declined to immediately comment on the Katsina raid, saying it would issue a statement after a full briefing from police.
“The command enjoins parents to desist from taking their children/wards to illegal, unauthorized or unapproved remand/rehabilitation centers,” the police statement said.
California’s top utility regulator blasted Pacific Gas and Electric on Monday for what she called “failures in execution” during the largest planned power outage in state history to avoid wildfires that she said “created an unacceptable situation that should never be repeated.”
The agency ordered a series of corrective actions, including a goal of restoring power within 12 hours, not the utility’s current 48-hour goal.
“The scope, scale, complexity, and overall impact to people’s lives, businesses, and the economy of this action cannot be understated,” California Public Utilities Commission President Marybel Batjer wrote in a letter to PG&E CEO Bill Johnson.
FILE – Pacific Gas and Electric employees work in the PG&E Emergency Operations Center in San Francisco, Oct. 10, 2019.
PG&E last week took the unprecedented step of cutting power to more than 700,000 customers, affecting nearly 2 million Californians. The company said it did it because of dangerous wind forecasts but acknowledged that its execution was poor.
Its website frequently crashed, and many people said they did not receive enough warning that the power was going out.
“We were not adequately prepared,” Johnson said at a press conference last week.
PG&E spokespeople did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment on the sanctions.
In addition to restoring power faster, the PUC said the utility must work harder to avoid such large-scale outages, develop better ways to communicate with the public and local officials, get a better system for distributing outage maps, and work with emergency personnel to ensure PG&E staff are sufficiently trained.
She ordered the utility to perform an audit of its performance during the outages that began Wednesday, saying the utility clearly did not adopt many of the recommendations state officials have made since utilities was granted the authority to begin pre-emptive power shutoffs last year. The review is due by Thursday, and she ordered several PG&E executives to appear at an emergency PUC hearing Friday.
Governor’s criticism
Gov. Gavin Newsom has also criticized PG&E for its performance during the outage, blaming what he called decades of mismanagement, underinvestment and lousy communication with the public. On Monday the Democratic governor urged the utility to compensate affected customers with a bill credit or rebate worth $100 for residential customers or $250 for small businesses.
Newsom said the shutoffs affected too many customers for too long, and it is clear PG&E implemented them “with astounding neglect and lack of preparation.”
Batjer’s letter also said that PG&E’s service territory, design of its transmission lines and distribution network and “lack of granularity of its forecasting ability” mean it can’t do pre-emptive power shut-offs as strategically as some other utilities, but she said it must work harder to reduce the number of customers affected by future outages.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “bears full responsibility” for the resurgence of Islamic State, a growing humanitarian crisis, and possible war crimes.
This was the Pentagon’s strongest condemnation so far of Turkey’s military operation against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
Esper calls Turkey’s attacks on the Kurds “unnecessary and impulsive.” He says it has undermined what he calls the “successful” multinational mission to defeat Islamic State in Syria by allowing “many dangerous ISIS detainees” to flee detention camps that had been guarded by the Kurds.
FILE – U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper addresses reporters during a media briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Oct. 11, 2019.
Esper says U.S. relations with Turkey have been damaged. He says he plans to go to Brussels next week to press other NATO allies to slap sanctions on Turkey.
Turkish forces entered into northern Syria last week after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the pull out of the approximately 1,000 U.S. forces in the area. They will be redeployed elsewhere in the Middle East to “monitor the situation,” according to Trump.
The U.S. had been fighting side-by-side with the Kurds in Syria to defeat Islamic State. The extremists were just one rebel faction trying to overthrow the Syrian government.
Turkey regards the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces as a terrorist group aligned with Kurdish separatists inside Turkey.
‘Irresponsible’ actions
Syrian Kurds say they feel forsaken by the United States. They also believe much of the Arab world and the U.N. Security Council are ignoring them.
FILE – Members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to join the front against Turkish forces, near the northern Syrian town of Hasakeh, Oct. 10, 2019.
But Esper says Turkey’s “irresponsible” actions have created an unacceptable risk to U.S. forces in northern Syria, including the possibility of the U.S. getting “engulfed in a broader conflict.”
Trump continued Monday to defend his decision to order the U.S. out of the area against strong criticism from both parties and European allies.
“Do people really think we should go to war with NATO Member Turkey?” Trump tweeted. “Never ending wars will end! The same people who got us into the Middle East mess are the people who most want to stay there!”
Trump said he is raising tariffs on Turkish steel imports and is prepared to impose sanctions on current and former Turkish officials. Trump also says he is stopping trade talks with Turkey.
“I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey’s economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path,” he said.
‘Gravely concerned’
Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has called on the entire House to pass a resolution condemning Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria. But she also agrees that Turkey must be condemned for its actions.
FILE – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 17, 2019.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he is “gravely concerned” about the Turkish offensive, contending it will jeopardize “years of hard-won progress” in destroying Islamic State.
McConnell said he would hold talks with Trump administration officials this week on how “to avoid a strategic calamity” in the region.
Syrian forces entered a town near the Turkish border Monday, a day after reaching an agreement with Syrian Kurds to move into the region in an attempt to counter the Turkish onslaught.
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported Monday’s troop movement in Tal Tamr, about 20 kilometers from the border, saying it was done to “confront the Turkish aggression” and was welcomed by the people there.
The fighting since the Turkish operation began nearly a week ago has killed dozens of civilians, observers say.
The U.S. State Department has condemned reports of pro-Turkish fighters executing civilians.
Україна подякувала керівництво Організації об’єднаних націй за офіційне визнання порушень Росією Женевських конвенцій через свідоме переселення людей до анексованого Криму у спробах змінити демографію півострова. З такою заявою виступив 14 жовтня постійний представник України при ООН Володимир Єльченко під час презентації доповіді генерального секретаря ООН Антоніу Ґутерріша про ситуацію з правами людини в анексованому Криму.
«Згідно з доповіддю, Росія заохочує переїзд її власного населення до українського півострова, що є прямим порушенням Женевських конвенцій та очевидною ознакою спроб змінити демографічну структуру Криму», – сказав у виступі голова представництва України в ООН.
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Єльченко також зазначив, що Україна очікує подальших кроків від ООН щодо зупинення цих незаконних дій з боку Росії, а також із попередження наслідків цієї діяльності.
У 2018 році міграційний приріст до анексованого Криму за рахунок регіонів сусідньої Росії виявився приблизно у 1,5 рази більшим, ніж у 2017-му – про це йдеться у звіті Кримстату, опублікованому 11 лютого 2019 року.
Усього за минулий рік до анексованого Росією півострова офіційно переїхало понад 19 тисяч росіян, тоді як до Росії виїхали 17,5 тисяч мешканців Криму. У 2017 році до Криму переселилися 17 тисяч росіян, а 16 тисяч кримчан залишили півострів. …
У скаргах уряду України до Європейського суду з прав людини (ЄСПЛ) фігурують факти захоплення Росією в Криму Радіотелевізійного передавального центру та іншої телекомунікаційної інфраструктури. Про це йдеться у відповіді на запит проєкту Радіо Свобода Крим.Реалії до Міністерства юстиції України.
Також у відомстві повідомили, що в претензіях до Росії зазначені заміщення та відключення українських телеканалів та інших ЗМІ, порушення прав та свобод журналістів.
У Мін’юсті додали, що у зв’язку з «націоналізацією» майна українських дежавних підприємств та організацій російськими органами влади у скаргах вказаний перелік цього майна (понад чотири тисячі об’єктів). Серед них зокрема – телерадіомовні компанії та організації.
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У міністерстві не уточнили, чи є в загальному переліку скарг згадка про несанкціоноване використання радіочастотного ресурсу України. Наразі міждержавна заява перебуває на стадії розгляду.
Перше засідання у справі «Україна проти Росії» в ЄСПЛ щодо порушення прав людини в Криму відбулося 11 вересня.
16 вересня голова «Кримської правозахисної групи» Ольга Скрипник повідомила, що Європейський суд з прав людини спочатку розгляне міждержавну скаргу України проти Росії щодо Криму, а тоді, найімовірніше, перейде до індивідуальних скарг українців, яких вже кілька тисяч. …
Лауреатами Нобелівської премії з економіки стали американські економісти Абхіджіт Банерджі і Майкл Кремер і французько-американська дослідниця Естер Дюфло. Про це оголосили у Стокгольмі.
Премію присудили за розробку «експериментальних підходів до боротьби з глобальною бідністю».
Банерджі – уродженець Індії, професор Массачусетського технологічного інституту. Дюфло також працює в цьому інституті, вона дружина Банерджі і його колишня аспірантка. Кремер – науковий консультант в Інституті інновацій для боротьби з бідністю (штат Коннектикут).
Премія з економіки була заснована Банком Швеції і вручається з 1969 року. Офіційно вона називається не Нобелівською премією, а «премією з економіки імені Альфреда Нобеля». Оголошенням її лауреатів офіційно завершується «Нобелівський тиждень». …
American Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in world championship history on Sunday when she won the beam and floor finals to take her career tally to 25 medals.
Soon after securing a convincing victory on the beam in Stuttgart to overtake Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record tally of 23 world medals, the 22-year-old Biles successfully defended her floor title to win medal number 25.
The four-time Olympic champion is now the owner of 19 gold medals across four championships against 12 for Scherbo, who competed in five world events between 1991 and 1996.
Making her final appearance of the week in front of a raucous crowd, Biles wasted no time as she landed a superb triple-twisting double back flip — known as the Biles II – on her first pass.
Biles’s double layout with a half turn — another skill named after her — put her out of bounds for a 0.1 penalty but she did enough to post a winning score of 15.133.
“Honestly, I just couldn’t move. I was so tired,” Biles said of her final pose on the stage.
“This is really the best worlds performance I have ever put out.”
The Americans took a one-two finish as Sunisa Lee finished with 14.133 for the silver medal, while Russian Angelina Melnikova came third.
Earlier, Biles delivered a polished routine on the beam before a full twisting double tuck dismount for an impressive 15.066.
Although Biles had twice before won the world beam title, in 2014 and 2015, it has not always been plain sailing for her on the apparatus.
Her slip on the landing of a front tucked somersault at the 2016 Rio Olympics meant she had to settle for a bronze in the event. Last year again, she dropped off the beam during the women’s all-around final at the world championships.
But she has regained her swagger this week, under the watchful eyes of balance beam coach Cecile Landi, and posted top scores in all four attempts — qualifying, the team and all-around finals and Sunday’s apparatus final.
“It meant a lot because Cecile has really been working on bringing my confidence back up to where it used to be on the beam,” Biles said.
“To go out there and nail the routine, just like I do in practice, it felt really good and I knew she was really proud.”
As another title-winning score was announced in the arena, Biles punched the air in jubilation before joining celebrations with the U.S. team.
“I was really excited,” she added. “I thought it was going to be at least 14.8, 14.9, but to see 15, I was like well that’s pretty crazy, so I was very proud.”
Last year’s winner Liu Tingting of China took silver with 14.433, while team mate Li Shijia won the bronze.
Biles finished her campaign in Stuttgart with five gold medals from six events to mark ideal preparations for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Her barnstorming run included a record fifth all-around gold, an individual vault title, as well as helping the U.S. to a fifth straight world team title.
Parents of the British teen killed when his motorcycle collided with car allegedly driven by an American diplomat’s wife are on their way to the U.S. hoping to seek justice.
Harry Dunn, 19, died in August in near the Croughton Royal Air Force base in Northhamptonshire, which is used by the U.S. Air Force as a communications center.
Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, told the BBC the family hopes to meet with the suspected driver, identified by British police and Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Anne Sacoolas, wife of an American intelligence officer based at Croughton.
Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and returned to the United States while the case was still being investigated. She has since written a letter of apology to Dunn’s family.
But Charles said Sunday, “It’s nearly seven weeks now since we lost our boy, sorry just doesn’t cut it.
“That’s not really quite enough,” she told Sky News. “But I’m still really open to meeting her, as are the rest of us. I can’t promise what I would or wouldn’t say, but I certainly wouldn’t be aggressive.”
Charles also said the family was thankful to receive a letter Saturday from the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that said since Sacoolas had left Britain, “immunity is no longer pertinent”.
The family is hoping Sacoolas will return to Britain. They have even called on U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene on their behalf.
But Trump told a news conference Wednesday that Sacoolas would not return. Harry Dunn’s death was a “terrible accident,” the president said but he noted that driving on the worn side of the road “happens”.
California has become the first U.S. state to ban all production and sale of animal fur products.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill that will make it illegal to make, sell and even donate any new item made using animal fur starting in 2023.
The bill excludes used items, taxidemy products, fur taken with a hunting license and fur used by Native American tribes for religious purposes.
Violators of the ban will face fines of up to $500, or even $1,000 for repeat offenses.
“The signing of AB44 underscores the point that today’s consumers simply don’t want wild animals to suffer extreme pain and fear for the sake of fashion,” Kitty Block, the head of the Humane Society of the United States said in a statement.
But the Fur Information Council of America condemned the ban as being part of a “radical vegan agenda” and has threatened a court challenge.
Along with the fur ban, Newsom also approved a ban on the use of most animals in circuses. Exceptions will be made for dogs and horses.
“California is a leader when it comes to animal welfare, and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur,” Newsom said in a statement. “But we are doing more than that. We are making a statement to the world that beautiful wild animals like bears and tigers have no place on trapeze wires or jumping through flames.”
Міністерство охорони здоров’я повідомило про призначення чотирьох осіб на посади радників міністра: Олексія Яременка, Віктора Ляшка, Матвія Хренова та Серго Кітіашвілі.
«Команда радників зосередить свою увагу на продовженні реформ, програмі державних гарантій, системі громадського здоров’я, фармполітиці, запровадженні лікарського самоврядування. Перед радниками поставлене завдання напрацювати проекти рішень та законопроектів задля ефективного продовження реформи охорони здоров’я», – зазначається у повідомленні на фейсбук-сторінці МОЗ.
Верховна Рада призначила Зоряну Скалецьку міністром охорони здоров’я 29 серпня.
Наприкінці вересня радник міністра охорони здоров’я Дмитро Раімов заявив про намір провести аудит усіх підзвітних і підконтрольних Міністерству охорони здоров’я установах. …
У резиденції президента Чехії в Ланах 13 жовтня відбулася зустріч глави держави Мілоша Земана з головою уряду Андреєм Бабішем. В зустрічі взяли участь також радники із закордонної політики команди президента.
Серед порушених питань, як зазначив пізніше журналістам глава уряду Андрей Бабіш, мова йшла і про Україну.
«Ми говорили і про Україну. 18 листопада на основі переговорів з президентом Зеленським я лечу в Україну. В Україну лечу з Гавлічком (Карел Гавлічек – міністр промисловості й торгівлі в уряді Чеської Республіки – ред.) з економічною місією. Україна, звісно, для нас є дуже важливою», – наголосив чеський прем’єр.
Вже раніше чеський прем’єр Андрей Бабіш запросив президента України Володимира Зеленського до Праги.
«Я запросив пана президента до Праги, щоб він міг зустрітися в прем’єрами Вишеградської «четвірки»», – написав Андрей Бабіш у своїму твітері після зустрічі з Володимиом Зеленським в Нью Йорку.
Востаннє чеський прем’єр (тоді цю посаду займав Мірек Тополанек) був із візитом в Україні у 2008 році. …
Екзит-пол свідчить про те, що консервативна владна партія Польщі «Право і справедливість» («ПіС») набрала найбільше голосів на загальних виборах 13 жовтня.
Експертне опитування, проведене дослідницькою фірмою Ipsos, передбачає, що «ПіС» набрала близько 43,6 % голосів.
За прогнозами, центристська загальноєвропейська парасолькова група «Громадянська коаліція» посідає друге місце з 27,4%. Найбільша партія коаліції – опозиційна громадська партія «Громадянська платформа», яка керувала Польщею у 2007–2015 роках.
Попри критику з боку міжнародних правозахисних організацій, владна партія «ПіС» користується стабільно високою підтримкою поляків.
Цій політичній силі, яка зосередила в своїх руках усю повноту влади, закидають згортання свободи слова і незалежності судів.
Утім, для виборців цієї партії найважливішим аргументом на її користь є низка соціальних програм, впроваджених владою протягом останніх років.
Наймасштабніша з них – це так звана «500+», тобто щомісячна грошова допомога сім’ям, у яких є неповнолітні діти. На кожну дитину батьки отримують 500 злотих допомоги, тобто понад 100 євро.
За даними Інституту ринкових та соціальних досліджень (IBRiS), виборці «Права і справедливості» голосували за цю партію передусім з огляду на її дотеперішні соціальні програми. Натомість третина поляків, яка підтримує опозиційну «Громадянську коаліцію», готова голосувати за неї за принципом «аби не «ПіС».
Несподіванкою цьогорічних виборчих перегонів стала участь у них представниці численної української трудової міграції. …
One of Australia’s most senior government ministers has accused the Chinese Communist Party of behaving in ways that are “inconsistent” with his country’s values. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton warned Canberra would work to counter foreign interference in Australian universities, as well as cyber espionage.
Peter Dutton’s comments are some of the most uncompromising language yet from an Australian government minister on the perceived threat posed by China.
Tensions between Canberra and Beijing have risen in recent times because of allegations of cyber attacks by China, and that it has meddled in Australia’s domestic politics. There’s also been friction over the detention of a Chinese-Australian writer in Beijing, and differences over Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Australia also has concerns about Chinese interference in its universities, including allegations that students who have supported democracy protests in Hong Kong have been harassed or monitored by Chinese agents on campus.
Peter Dutton said Australia must be wary of China’s ambitions.
“My issue is with the Communist Party of China and their policies to the extent that they are inconsistent with our own values, and in a democracy like ours we encourage freedom of speech, freedom of the expression of thought, and if that is being impinged, if people are operating outside of the law then whether they are from China or from any other country we are right to call that out,” he said.
The comments prompted a stinging response from the Chinese government.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, told a press conference that he hoped “Australia will reject the Cold War mentality and bias, and work to advance bilateral relations and mutual trust.”
The Chinese Embassy in Canberra said it rejected “Mr Dutton’s irrational accusations … which are shocking and baseless.”
Australia is a liberal, middle-ranking world power. China is its biggest trading partner by some distance, and three of the main pillars of the Australian economy, mining, tourism and education, rely heavily on demand from China.
The challenge for Australia, which has a close military alliance with the United States, is to be able to criticize and challenge China while maintaining a key trade relationship that has underpinned its recent prosperity.
Міністерство закордонних справ України направило ноту протесту Туреччині у зв’язку із зустріччю президента цієї країни Реджепа Таїпа Ердогана з депутатами Держдуми Росії, обраними на незаконно проведених в анексованому Криму виборах, і викликало посла для пояснень.
«Інформація про зустріч президента Ердогана із політиками, незаконно обраними на окупованій території України, викликає занепокоєння. Україна вже направила ноту протесту Туреччині через цю зустріч. Посла Туреччини в Україні запрошено у МЗС», – йдеться в заяві МЗС України в твітері.
Російські депутати на чолі з головою Державної думи В’ячеславом Володіним приїхали в Стамбул 12 жовтня для участі в конференції спікерів парламентів із протидії тероризму і зміцненню регіональної взаємодії.
У складі російської делегації двоє представників анексованого Криму – Руслан Бельбек і Наталія Поклонська. Саме вона поширила в соцмережах фотографію свого рукостискання з президентом Туреччини Ердоганом і заявила про «теплий прийом».
Туреччина, як і переважна більшість країн світу, не визнає анексію півострова.
Україна і Захід також засуджують і не визнають вибори, які Росія проводить на території окупованого Криму.
Кілька днів тому Туреччина розпочала операцію проти сирійських курдів на території Сирії. Росія офіційно висловила стурбованість у зв’язку з цим, але не зробила жодних кроків, щоб змусити Туреччину відмовитися від операції. …
Russian leader Vladimir Putin travels to Saudi Arabia, a traditional U.S. ally, Monday, offering to act as a peacemaker between Riyadh and Tehran in a diplomatic offensive aimed at balancing Moscow’s relations across the Middle East.
His second aim, say analysts, is to needle Washington. While courting Iran, Russia’s ally in Syria, the Kremlin has also been wooing Tehran’s top foes, Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as other major powers in the region like Turkey, a member of the U.S.-led NATO Western military alliance.
Putin’s visit coincides with a Pentagon announcement that it is dispatching 3000 additional troops and two squadrons of fighter jets to the Gulf kingdom in an effort, U.S. officials say, to deter Iranian aggression following the drone and Cruise missile attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities last month, which rattled global energy markets and added to war tensions in the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia and the U.S., as well as other Western powers, blame Iran for the attack.
In recent months, Russia’s president has been assiduously courting Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a move which has been compared by some analysts to trolling the U.S. in the Gulf. The Crown Prince hasn’t discouraged the attention — as much a warning, some analysts say, to Western powers and as a rebuff of their criticism for his human rights record.
FILE – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a G-20 session with other heads of state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 30, 2018.
At the G-20 summit last year in Buenos Aires, just weeks after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Putin was pictured laughing heartily with the Saudi ruler over a shared joke and giving him a high-five. The bonhomie between the pair stood in marked contrast with the shunning by other World leaders and dignitaries of the Crown Prince, who’s widely blamed, despite his denials, for the macabre killing of the journalist, a U.S. resident, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
“The Russian government declined to criticize the Saudi authorities over the killing [of Khashoggi], and over the last year has made steady progress in offering itself as a new, reliable friend,” says Brian Dooley of Human Rights First, an independent advocacy organization based in the U.S..
Saudi and Russian officials are scheduled to announce more than two billion dollars-worth of Saudi investment in Russia during Putin’s visit, his first to the kingdom since 2007. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, said Moscow and Riyadh will sign ten major agreements covering agriculture, transport, railways, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and industrial intelligence.
The RDIF opened an office in Saudi Arabia four days ago, its first ever foreign office. The move is being seen by some as a maneuver by the Kremlin to make up for the reduction in Western foreign investment in the wake of sanctions imposed initially on Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
“I am convinced that the Russia-Saudi summit will give further strong impetus to our multifaceted partnership, contribute to its qualitative growth and strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week.
Speaking to broadcasters Saturday ahead of his trip, Putin decried attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, no matter who was behind them. He also urged Iran’s neighbors to “respect” the interests of Iran, a country that has “existed on its territory for thousands of years.” But at the same time he praised increasing cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an interview with Al-Arabiya, Sky News Arabia and RT Arabic ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia, in Sochi, Russia, in this undated picture released on Oct. 13, 2019. (Sputnik/M. Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters)…
During the interview the Russian leader offered, once again, to sell the Saudis advanced Russian-made air defense systems, either the S-300 which Turkey has purchased, or the S-400, bought by Iran. Last month, during a press conference in Ankara alongside Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin tauntingly suggested Riyadh should do the same and buy from Russia.
“We are ready to help Saudi Arabia to protect their people,” Putin said. “And they need to make one clever decision as Iran did, buying our S-300, and as Mr. Erdogan did by deciding to buy the most advanced S-400 Triumph air defense systems from Russia. These kinds of systems are capable of defending any kind of infrastructure in Saudi Arabia from any kind of attack,” he added.
His remarks prompted chortles from the Iranian delegation.
U.S. defense experts say it would be against Saudi Arabia’s defense and diplomatic interests to be lured by Putin into buying a Russian system. If Saudi Arabia did decide to purchase the S-400 or S-300, it would likely be denied access to the best U.S. defense technologies and military training and the purchase would also prompt a likely withdrawal of all U.S. military aircraft based in the Gulf kingdom, leaving Saudi Arabia reliant on Russia for its defense.
Pentagon officials say intelligence-collection capabilities of the S-400 would endanger U.S. planes operating in the vicinity.
FILE – First parts of a Russian S-400 missile defense system are unloaded from a Russian plane near Ankara, Turkey, July 12, 2019.
When Turkey acquired the S-400, the White House immediately canceled plans to supply the NATO ally U.S. F-35 strike fighters. They also say the S-400 would be a poison pill for Saudi Arabia — the system would likely rely on Russian operatives and codes to identify unfriendly warplanes and as Iran has the most advanced Russian system, it would know its weaknesses and ways to trick the technology.
Despite Putin’s offers of a surface-to-air missile system, the Russians appear to be marketing harder their new anti-drone system, the Pantsir, an anti-UAV system Rosoboronexport, the export agency, is scheduled to put on display at the Dubai Airshow in November.
“Recent events in the world have shown that the effective fight against reconnaissance and strike UAVs, as well as other air attack weapons, is becoming increasingly important to ensure the protection of high-priority facilities,” Rosoboronexport said in a press release issued days after the Saudi attacks.
FILE – A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.
However, the Russian UAV system is likely to be redundant with the U.S. dispatching more air-defense capabilities to Saudi Arabia. On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced the dispatch to the Gulf kingdom of “additional Patriot and THAAD [terminal high altitude area defense] air and missile defense batteries.”
“In response to Iranian provocation since May, the U.S. has deployed an array of additional capabilities to the region, including airborne early warning aircraft squadrons, maritime patrol aircraft squadrons, Patriot air and missile defense batteries, B-52 bombers, a carrier strike group, amphibious transport dock, unmanned aircraft, and engineering and support personnel,” he said.
Defense purchases aside, Putin’s trip is an historic one, which the Kremlin has been keen to play up at a time Washington is embroiled in domestic political wars and its focus on the Gulf diminished.
(Anita Powell and Yihua Lee of VOA Mandarin Service contributed to this article.)
HONG KONG — Hong Kong pro-democracy groups scaled down demonstrations over the weekend, as government officials increasingly categorize the protests as a threat to public safety and equate violence committed by activists with domestic terrorism.
For the last four months, Hong Kong has been disrupted by often massive and violent protests against what is seen as Beijing’s efforts to erode the autonomy and civil liberties that the Chinese-ruled city enjoys under its “one-country -two systems” model.
Rainy protests
On a rainy Sunday, over 1,000 protesters lined the balconies of a shopping mall in central Hong Kong, chanting “fight for freedom.”
Some masked activists in the mall disrupted a suspected Chinese-owned restaurant by sending in hundreds of fake food orders on electronic kiosks.
At police headquarters a group of senior citizens called the “Silver-Haired Marchers” held a weekend-long sit-in at police headquarters to show support for the predominately young protesters.
A group of demonstrators made paper folding cranes at an event in in Kowloon, across from Hong Kong Island.
However, an expected rally in the Causeway Bay shopping district did not happen, in an area where last week tens of thousands participated in a march across the city center.
Riot police fired tear gas at a protest rally on Sunday in an area where last week a protester was shot with live ammunition.
In June, participation in anti-government demonstrations peaked when nearly 2 million came out to opposed a now-withdrawn extradition bill that critics said would give Beijing wide power to arrest Hong Kong residents.
Sinister character
While the vast majority of protests have been peaceful, there have been increasing incidents of violence during which masked activists have vandalized businesses and the city subway system, and attacked police with bricks and homemade gasoline bombs.
Anti-government protesters vandalize Bank of China branch during a protest in Tsuen Wan in Hong Kong, Oct. 13, 2019.
Some peaceful protesters defend these aggressive tactics as necessary because the Hong Kong government, they say, continues to ignore the will of the people.
“If the peaceful rally can’t have any further influence to the government, then the violence may be unavoidable,” said Feng, a protester who would only give his last name.
Pro-Beijing officials in Hong Kong are increasingly using these incidents of violence and destruction by some protesters to define and discredit the pro-democracy movement.
“It’s no longer just ordinary civil protest. It has taken on a fairly sinister character, close to terrorism,” said Regina Ip, a member of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s legislature, and the head of the pro-China New People’s Party.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has also emphasized the public safety threat from the protesters and said she would not rule out asking the ruling Chinese government to help quell the protests if needed to restore public order.
Intimidation tactics
The Hong Kong government has increasingly cracked down on the democracy demonstrations, recently forbidding protesters from wearing masks to hide their identifies, a measure that could also expose them to economic retribution.
An anti government protester is detained by police at Tseun Wan, Hong Kong, Oct.13, 2019.
In August, Cathay Pacific Airways, reportedly under pressure from China, suspended and subsequently fired 20 pilots and cabin crew staff for participating in the protest movement, according to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.
Opponents say the government is exaggerating the level of violence committed by radical elements in the democracy movement to intimidate the vast majority of peaceful protesters and to justify emergency public safety measures and the increased use of force.
“We have a (degree of) unregulated activity, but it’s not up to a state of, objectively speaking, emergency state,” said James To, a Hong Kong legislator with the opposition Democratic Party.
Police have used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Since June, over 2,000 protesters have been arrested, and one-third of those facing prison time are teenagers under 18 years old.
Some protesters say escalating violence from their side is a reaction to the increased use of force by police.
Riot police officers patrol Tai Po district during an anti-government protest in Hong Kong, China, Oct. 13, 2019.
“The police force to using excessive force to counter our actions, so we are forced to upgrade the use of (our) force,” said a masked protester providing emergency medical aid at the sidelines of a protest over the weekend.
Police said in a statement Sunday that they use “minimum necessary force to disperse protesters,” and they warn “rioters to stop their illegal acts” before the “deployment of tear gas.”
Hong Kong officials credit increased law enforcement for the downturn in turnout at democracy demonstrators over the weekend.
There is also speculation, however, that the democracy protests organizers may temporarily suspend mass actions to allow November 24 Hong Kong District Council elections to proceed, and not give the government cause to cancel them.
Представництво президента України в Автономній Республіці Крим готує запит до Міністерства закордонних справ України з приводу візиту російської делегації до Туреччини, в складі якої були представники від анексованого Криму.
«З приводу візиту до Туреччини представників кримських колаборантів, Представництво президента України в Автономній Республіці Крим готує відповідний запит до Міністерства закордонних справ України щодо вжиття необхідних заходів і роботи з іноземними партнерами щодо недопущення участі колаборантів в міжнародних заходах і запобігання спроби визнання анексії АР Крим і міста Севастополь Росією на міжнародній арені», – повідомила пресслужба представництва у фейсбуці 13 жовтня.
Російське державне агентство «РИА Новости» 12 жовтня повідомляло про візит «представників Криму до Туреччини в складі російської делегації». За інформацією видання, до складу делегації увійшли російські депутати від анексованого Криму Наталія Поклонська і Руслан Бальбек.
Досі Анкара відмовлялася на офіційному рівні зустрічатися з особами, що представляють анексований Росією Крим.
У Міністерстві закордонних справ України раніше попереджали, що поїздки іноземних політиків до анексованого Криму не мають статусу офіційних. Українське зовнішньополітичне відомство опублікувало в липні минулого року звернення, в якому застерегло іноземних громадян і осіб без громадянства від незаконних поїздок в Крим.
Україна і міжнародна спільнота також неодноразово заявляли, що не визнають законності проведення Росією будь-яких виборів в анексованому Криму.
Росія анексувала український півострів Крим у березні 2014 року. Верховна Рада України офіційно оголосила 20 лютого 2014 року початком тимчасової окупації Криму і Севастополя Росією.
Міжнародні організації визнали окупацію і анексію Криму незаконними і засудили дії Росії. Країни Заходу запровадили низку економічних санкцій проти Москви. Росія заперечує окупацію півострова і називає це «відновленням історичної справедливості». …
Майже третина українських послів зараз перебувають у стані перезатвердження, повідомив в інтерв’ю Радіо Свобода міністр закордонних справ України Вадим Пристайко.
«Ротація відбувається прямо зараз, як ми з вами говоримо. Президент погоджує кандидатури, надсилає, повертає МЗС, ми готуємо запити на агреман до країн. На сьогоднішній момент близько 30 послів потребують заповнення цих посад. При загальній кількості трошки більше 90. Це серйозна робота. Майже третина послів вже зараз – у стані перезатвердження. Деякі випадки вимагали давно нашої уваги. Були посли, призначені ще президентом Ющенком. Тобто можете собі уявити, як довго цей процес не був переглянутий. І це якраз та робота, яку ми зараз активно виконуємо», – сказав Пристайко.
Він додав, що в більшості випадків немає «якогось політичного підґрунтя», є необхідність «просто повертати людей, щоб вони відчували зв’язок з Батьківщиною і не забували, на яку країну працюють».
За словами голови МЗС, попри те, що міністерство «є доволі стабільним органом, який знає, як існувати в стані постійних ротацій», кадрів «завжди не вистачає».
«Це загальна хвороба будь-якої системи, включаючи українську дипломатичну службу. Ми шукаємо кадри не тільки всередині себе, ми готові залучати підготовлених людей зі знаннями не тільки мов. Нам дуже важливі зв’язки з реальним бізнесом, з культурним середовищем, з експертним, нам важлива здатність людини керувати колективом, здатність протистояти викликам, які існують. І, повірте, цих викликів багато дуже буває», – сказав Пристайко.
Міністр додав, що МЗС «потрібні посли в Іраку, Лівії, в африканських країнах,… посли зі знанням рідкісних мов і розумінням китайської, японської, корейської, індонезійської».
У липні в Офісі президента повідомили, що Володимир Зеленський ухвалив рішення про заміну 12 керівників українських дипломатичних установ, зокрема і посла у США Валерія Чалого, який закінчив місію 15 вересня.
Arab League foreign ministers condemned Turkey’s military incursion into northern Syria. The League’s secretary general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the group is calling on the U.N. Security Council to take action against Turkey.
At a meeting Saturday in Cairo, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called Turkey’s military action an “invasion” and an “aggression” against an Arab state.
He said the Arab League “condemns the invasion and that the world must not accept it, either, since it contradicts international norms and international law, no matter what pretext the invader uses.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali Hakim, who presided over the session, said the Turkish “invasion” would cause a further deterioration of the situation in Syria and a worsening of terrorism both in Syria and neighboring states, like Iraq.
He said Turkey’s action represents a dangerous escalation that will worsen the humanitarian situation and increase the suffering of the Syrian people, in addition to allowing terrorists to regroup and weakening international efforts to fight terrorist groups, especially the Islamic State terror group, which threatens both the region and world.
An explosion is seen over the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, Oct. 12, 2019.
The United Arab Emirate’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Ghargash, also blasted what he called “Turkey’s blatant aggression” against Syria and urged the international community to condemn it.
Ghargash said the Arab League is meeting at a time when the entire Arab nation is facing unprecedented threats and the region is facing a period of extreme danger, which requires a carefully thought out response, as some regional parties are behaving compulsively without consideration for the unity or sovereignty of a fraternal Arab state.
“Turkey’s naked military aggression on northeast Syria,” he said,”represents a threat to the sovereignty of all Arab states and exploits chaos in the country to flout all international norms and destabilize the region.”
Egyptian state TV didn’t broadcast the statement of Qatar’s foreign minister, but Arab media reported that Qatar refused to endorse the Arab League decision to condemn the Turkish military operation. Qatar and Turkey have kept close ties since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain imposed an economic boycott against Doha in June of 2018, for what they say is its support for terrorism.
Egyptian political sociologist Said Sadek told VOA the Arab League should have taken “stronger steps like economic sanctions” to punish Turkey for its aggression. “Turkey is an imperialist regional power with a long history of massacres in the area.”
Dr. Paul Sullivan, a professor at the U.S. National Defense University, agrees with Sadek, saying, “The Turkish invasion has been condemned by most Arab states, [but] that condemnation needs to be followed up by actions to prevent bad things from happening,” such as the “release of ISIS prisoners” and “ethnic cleansing in northern Syria. Operation ‘peace spring’ is not peace,” he says, “and it will not bring springtime to Syria.”
Theodore Karasik, a Washington-based Mideast analyst, insisted that we are “witnessing a shift in the landscape in the Arab world regarding this [Turkish] military action. Arab opinion,” he argues, “is steeped in the ills of the Ottoman Empire and how Erdogan’s actions fit the description.”
Україна готова піти назустріч Польщі в питаннях історичної пам’яті, але чекає відповідних кроків і від Варшави. Про це в програмі Радіо Свобода «Суботнє інтерв’ю» заявив міністр закордонних справ України Вадим Пристайко.
«Ваше запитання про ексгумаційні роботи, то є вже перші зрушення у цьому напрямку. Є перші дозволи на проведення цих робіт. Ми сподіваємося, що це трошки розблокує всю ситуацію», – сказав очільник зовнішньополітичного відомства.
«Наша позиція є принциповою. Про те, що ми теж нагадуємо про існування наших питань до історичної пам’яті на території теперішньої Польщі. І ми готові рухатися, але вимагаємо до себе відповідного ставлення і очікуємо такі ж кроки назустріч», – додав Вадим Пристайко.
Наприкінці вересня Польське радіо повідомило, що Україна надає Польщі дозвіл на проведення пошуково-ексгумаційних робіт. За даними цього ЗМІ, це підтвердили заступник міністра закордонних справ Василь Боднар та посол Республіки Польща у Києві Бартош Ціхоцький. Згідно з умовами, висунутими українською стороною, ексгумація має проводитися українськими дослідниками разом із польськими експертами після виконання необхідних формальностей.
Сейм Польщі у 2013 році з нагоди 70-ї річниці Волинської трагедії відмовився визнати ті події геноцидом польського народу, однак підтримав тоді формулювання «етнічна чистка з ознаками геноциду».
У червні 2016 року українці Європи закликали владу Польщі до взаємного примирення та недопущення провокацій, що роз’єднують український та польський народи.
«Українці та поляки впродовж століть співжили на територіях Східної та Західної Галичини, Волині, Полісся. Історія взаємин двох народів не завжди була безхмарною… з уст деяких польських політиків частішають намагання покласти відповідальність за смерті людей лише на українців, демонізувати ОУН і УПА, як частину визвольного руху за незалежність України, звинуватити українців у геноциді поляків», – йдеться у заяві.
Українці Європи зверталися до польської влади з проханням докласти всіх зусиль для того, щоб не допустити подібної риторики з вуст офіційних представників польської держави. …
The United States has hailed FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, for slapping a five-year ban on a former senior official of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) for failing to act on sexual abuse allegations brought by the country’s female players.
“Survivors of sexual abuse deserve justice & we look to Afghan authorities to ensure accused officials are held accountable,” Alice Wells, acting U.S. assistant secretary for south and central Asia, tweeted Saturday.
We welcome @FIFAcom’s Ethics Committee’s suspension of an official who failed to act on allegations brought by the @AfghanistanWNT. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve justice & we look to Afghan authorities to ensure accused officials are held accountable. AGW
FIFA announced a day earlier its ongoing investigation into complaints, lodged by several female Afghan football players, has found Sayed Aghazada, the former AFF general secretary, guilty of breaching the world body’s code of ethics.
The complainants accused the former AFF president, Keramuudin Karim, of “repeated” sexual abuse between 2013 and 2018 when Aghazada was the general secretary. The players went public with the allegations last year, prompting FIFA to investigate and ban Karim for life in June. It also imposed a $1 million penalty on the former AFF president.
FIFA said Friday that Aghazada was aware of the abuse and had the duty to report and prevent it. Consequently, he has been banned from all football-related activity at both national and international level for five years. A financial penalty of about $10,000 was also imposed on him.
Aghazada was also serving as a member of the FIFA standing committee and as Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee.
Thousands of Chinese basketball fans cheered on the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets at an NBA exhibition game in the city of Shenzhen on Saturday night – but some warned the organization to stay out of politics.
Daryl Morey, general manager of another team, the Houston Rockets, voiced support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in a tweet last week, prompting Chinese sponsors and partners to cut ties with the NBA.
China is estimated to be worth more than $4 billion for the NBA, so the stakes are high.
Outside the arena on Saturday, some protesters waved Chinese flags and others held admonitory red signs. “Morey must apologize to China,” read one. Another said: “Violations of national sovereignty will not be tolerated”.
China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong, where large and at times violent anti-government protesters have gained momentum over the past four months.
State media characterized Morey’s tweet – which read “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong” – as meddling in China’s affairs. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended it on Tuesday, further angering Beijing.
A 20-year-old Chinese university student at Saturday’s game, who would only give his English name, Andy, was unfazed by the controversy and blamed foreign media for stirring things up.
“Sport is a pure thing and I’m not going to stop going because Morey spoke about things he doesn’t understand,” he said.
“If the NBA became harmful to China’s interests, we would reject it. But this wouldn’t be such a big deal if you foreign media would shut up about it.”
The protests in the former British colony began in opposition to a bill allowing extradition to mainland China but have since evolved into broader calls for democracy.
Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing it wide-ranging autonomy.
One man with a sign in Chinese saying “NBA get out of China” had it ripped up by police.
“Take care of your safety and belongings, please don’t display any banners or signs inside,” organizers broadcast as people entered.
As game time approached, Phoebe, a 22-year-old chemistry student in a Lakers jersey, said she would not have come if she didn’t already have a ticket. “The U.S. needs to understand it can’t meddle in other country’s politics. If the NBA does this again I’d rather it would leave the country.”
Jin, a 26-year-old property manager who came across the border from Hong Kong with a friend to attend the game, felt a bit nervous. Asked if he had considered not coming because of the controversy, he paused as police strolled by.
“Well, it’s the Lakers and the Nets, they’ve got strong lineups this year, so…”
Поновлений Окружним адміністративним судом Києва на посаді голови Конституційного суду Станіслав Шевчук опублікував у фейсбуці повідомлення з аналізом причин, які призвели до його усунення з посади в травні 2019 року, та декларацією про плановані дії.
«Суд був поділений на фракції, які намагалися встановити контроль над судом. Я звернувся до суддів з пропозицією забути про фракції та перейти до своєї безпосередньої роботи. Моя помилка полягала в тому, що я не розумів, з ким маю справу, що частина суддів нездатна на творення і продукування рішень, а метою їх призначення і було забезпечення контролю над судом в інтересах певних груп. Другою помилкою було те, що я намагався знайти компроміс з цими фракціями всередині суду замість того, щоб говорити про проблему публічно і залучити до її розв’язання суспільство», – твердить Шевчук.
«Перед вами новий суддя і новий голова Конституційного суду України Станіслав Шевчук, який не піде на жодні зовнішні і внутрішні договірняки, не шукатиме компромісів поза публічним порядком денним і без участі суспільства. Хто з суддів Конституційного суду не буде готовий до таких правил, має подати у відставку. Я вітаю рішення Окружного адміністративного суду Києва і неупередженого суддю Андрія Федорчука і метра адвокатури Андрія Федура», – додав юрист.
«Я не міг допустити, щоб судом керували ті, хто переслідує дрібні корисливі інтереси і інтереси певних політичних сил, грубо порушували і порушують Закон і Конституцію, в тому числі при моєму звільненні. Таким людям не місце в Конституційному суді України», – наголосив Шевчук.
Окружний адміністративний суд Києва поновив на посаді колишнього голову Конституційного суду Станіслава Шевчука. Про це повідомив 11 жовтня його радник Денис Нев’ядомський.
Офіційної реакції Конституційного суду або когось із його офіційних представників на це рішення наразі немає. Останнє повідомлення на сайті суду датоване 11 жовтня і стосується результатів роботи 10 жовтня.
14 травня КСУ звільнив голову суду Станіслава Шевчука з посади судді і призначив головою суду Наталію Шапталу. Шевчук назвав ці події «антиконституційним переворотом» і пізніше оскаржив це рішення у суді. …
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s financial records must be turned over to the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said that lawmakers should get the documents they have subpoenaed from Mazars USA. The firm has provided accounting services to Trump.
Trump went to court to prevent Mazars from turning over the records. He could appeal to the Supreme Court.
Tax returns not included
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform subpoenaed records from Mazars in April. They include documents from 2011 to 2018 that the House wants for investigation into the president’s reporting of his finances and potential conflicts of interest. The list of documents makes no mention of Trump’s tax returns, which are the subject of separate legal disputes.
In a 2-1 ruling, the appeals court batted away Trump’s legal claims.
“Contrary to the President’s arguments, the Committee possesses authority under both the House Rules and the Constitution to issue the subpoena, and Mazars must comply,” Judge David Tatel wrote, joined by Judge Patricia Millett. Tatel was appointed by President Bill Clinton. Millett is an appointee of President Barack Obama.
Trump appointee Neomi Rao wrote in dissent that the committee should have asked for the records under the House’s impeachment power, not its legislative authority.
“The Constitution and our historical practice draw a consistent line between the legislative and judicial powers of Congress. The majority crosses this boundary for the first time by upholding this subpoena investigating the illegal conduct of the President under the legislative power,” Rao wrote.
Several records fights
The case is one of several working its way through courts in which Trump is fighting with Congress over records. The House Ways and Means Committee has sued the Trump administration over access to the president’s tax returns. In New York, Trump sued to prevent Deutsche Bank and Capital One from complying with House subpoenas for banking and financial records. A judge ruled against him, and Trump appealed. Trump also is in court trying to stop the Manhattan District Attorney from obtaining his tax returns.
Trump had argued that Oversight committee seeking the records from Mazars is out to get him and lacks a legitimate “legislative purpose” for its request. His lawyers have argued that congressional investigations are valid only if there is legislation that might result from them.
The committee, for its part, has said it is seeking the Trump financial statements, accounting records and other documents as part of its investigation into whether the president has undisclosed conflicts of interests, whether he has accurately reported his finances and whether he may have engaged in illegal conduct before and during his time in office.
The committee says the House is considering legislation related to government conflicts of interest and presidential financial disclosures, among other things.
Arthur Jean Pierre contributed to this report in Port-au-Prince.
Thousands of protesters were in the streets of Haiti’s capital Friday, marching toward the affluent suburb of Petionville where they say they will wait for the President Jovenel Moise’s letter of resignation.
“Jovenel can’t remain in the country, he has to go!” a protester yelled as he made his way up the mountain from the Champ de Mars neighborhood, not far from the National Palace in Port-au-Prince.
Demonstrators march during a protest to demand the resignation of Haitian president Jovenel Moise, in the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 11, 2019.
“We don’t have a problem with the man — we don’t know him — we have a problem with the system (of government). We’re fighting for a new society and a better life,” a protester marching in the downtown area of Carrefour Aeroport said. “We have to rid ourselves of this economic morass.”
The opposition and anti-corruption groups called for citizens nationwide to fill the streets to continue pressuring the president to resign. They blame him for failed leadership, a fuel shortage, high inflation and rampant corruption.
“The police know where we’re heading,” opposition Senator Nenel Cassy told VOA Creole as he marched uptown. “We have protesters coming from different areas of the capital and we will merge at Place St. Pierre (in Petionville). And if they (the president) don’t bring us his resignation letter, we will head up to Pelerin.”
Cassy said the opposition has sent word to protesters coming down the mountain from Kenscoff, an agricultural town, to stop when they get to Pelerin 9, and wait there for a signal to continue down the mountain to the president’s home.
A week ago, when protesters tried to make it to Petionville, they were dispersed by security forces firing tear gas.
Asked by VOA Creole what they plan to do if they are allowed to reach Moise’s home, opposition leader Andre Michel skirted the question.
“I don’t think we’ll have a problem,” Michel said. When pressed, however, about whether they planned to resort to violence, he said, “Listen, we are a Republican opposition, we are a Democratic opposition, functioning within the confines of the Constitution of the Republic. Everything we do, we always invite the police (to come along).”
When VOA Creole arrived in Petionville around midday, two armored police trucks were blocking the main road leading to the president’s neighborhood. A large crowd was gathering in the middle of the street.
#Haiti security forces have blocked the road leading up to President @moisejovenel’s neighborhood, Pelerin, an affluent suburb of the capital. Meanwhile, some protesters have reached #Petionville, another affluent suburb. Video by @VOAKreyol Matiado Vilme pic.twitter.com/zNGbiDes4m
“We’re at the edge of the abyss,” a protester told VOA Creole, likening the current political climate to that which existed in the 1960s under dictator Papa Doc (President Francois Duvalier) whose Tonton Macoute henchmen terrorized the nation.
“When the government reaches this stage, it means it’s reached the end. This is an uprising, not a protest,” the protester said.
Haiti has been plagued for months by an increase in violence, a fuel shortage, high inflation, double-digit unemployment and food insecurity.
Weekly protests have negatively impacted businesses, schools and tourism.
Moise has taken steps toward resolving the crisis. Last week, he named several new Cabinet ministers and formed a special commission tasked with facilitating a national dialogue to negotiate an end to the crisis — an idea backed by the international community.
“This is a situation that requires political wisdom,” former Prime Minister Evans Paul, a member of the commission, told VOA Creole. Describing the current political climate as “extremely serious,” he said the root cause of corruption dates back to long before Moise took power in 2017.
“We’re all part of the problem, so let’s put our heads together to be part of the solution,” Paul said.
But the opposition and their supporters refuse to back down and say they will accept nothing less than the president’s resignation.
