HART Weekly Review 09/02/2018

This week’s HART Weekly Review features Baroness Cox’s written question to the UK Government regarding Sudan, blogs and a summary of the top stories from the countries where we work.

Written Question to HM Government regarding Sudan: Baroness Cox asked about the recent arrests of civilians engaging in peaceful demonstrations.

Have you got a question for the Government? Suggest a question for a written answer

Blogs

Prayers for Candlemas: 40 days after Christmas, Candlemas is the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord and one the most ancient feasts in the church.  HART shares with you some prayers, a reading and a poem to inspire thoughts for HART’s partners from across the world.

News Round Up –  the top stories from this week’s news in our partners’ countries

Burma

US Senate Committee Takes Aim at Burma for Atrocities Against Rohingya: In a unanimous vote yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in a key US Senate committee joined to support important new legislation to address the appalling deterioration in Burma’s human rights record over the past year, in particular rampant abuses against the Rohingya Muslim population.

Burma – Ensure Unfettered Aid in Kachin State: (Rangoon) – The Burmese military should ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all civilians in need in northern Burma’s Kachin State, Human Rights Watch said today. On February 5, 2018, approximately 5,000 people demonstrated in Myitkyina, the state capital, against the Burmese military operations in the state.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenian soldier dies in occupied Azerbaijani territories: An Armenian soldier died in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Armenian media reported Feb. 9.

15th meeting of EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council to be held in Brussels today: The 15th meeting of the European Union – Azerbaijan Cooperation Council will be held in Brussels today under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and EU High Representative for the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, APA reported

Nigeria

Act now, Nigeria under siege, Catholic bishops tell Buhari: ABUJA—CATHOLIC  Bishops of Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja told President Muhammadu Buhari that the country appeared to be under siege which required proactive measure, as hunger, hopelessness and deprivation are now the order of the day.

Fulani Herdsmen – Saraki reveals how Buhari will end killings: The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that what was required at the moment to end the incessant cases of Killings, kidnappings, mayhem and general lawlessness, is a leadership that would douse the flames and reduce tension in the country.

South Sudan

Children recount trauma of abduction after mass release by South Sudan rebels: YAMBIO, South Sudan Feb 7 (Reuters) – Bakhita was only 12 years old when rebels snatched her from her family’s farm, adding her to a grim list of almost 19,000 children that the United Nations says have been recruited, often by force, by armed groups in South Sudan’s brutal civil war.

South Sudan – Warring Parties Break Promises on Child Soldiers: (Nairobi) – South Sudanese armed forces and armed opposition groups continue to recruit child soldiers and force them into the conflict, despite numerous commitments to stop, Human Rights Watch said today.

Sudan

Sudan seizes 3 newspapers for covering protests over food prices: Sudanese security agents seized the entire print-runs of three newspapers on Thursday after they covered food price protests in Khartoum and other towns, their editors said.

Sudan – Anti-austerity protests spark regime crackdown: A wave of street demonstrations have spread across major cities in Sudan in protest against new austerity measures pushed by the North African country’s government.

Uganda

‘They exaggerated figures’ – Ugandan aid officials suspended over alleged fraud: The Ugandan government has suspended four officials at the start of an investigation into alleged mismanagement of funds meant to support refugees. The UK, EU and US are threatening to withdraw aid and stop programmes.

Child labor continues despite new anti-exploitation laws: A new law introduced in 2016 which criminalizes child labor has failed to stop exploitation due to inadequate implementation. More than 2 million children in Uganda are estimated to be affected.

Timor Leste

Why Timor-Leste Is Still a Model for ASEAN: ASEAN aspirant Timor-Leste is being democratically tested today, with new elections slated after the minority government formed just last year failed to get its budget and policy platform passed by parliament.

Timor-Leste and Australia to sign border agreement on 6 March in New York: Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Australia are due to sign the new maritime border treaty between the two countries on 6 March, but the model of exploration of the Greater Sunrise oil fields may not be resolved by that date, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported, citing sources familiar with the process.

Please donate to HART’s appeal for the 9000 displaced and starving in Blue Nile, Sudan. Your generous donation can provide life-saving emergency rations. Thank you.