Weekly News Round-Up (11/09/15)

Burma

• Though an improvement, the new minimum wage cannot cover basic living expenses, workers claim in an interview with Burma News International.  
• For the upcoming Burmese election there are about 6,200 candidates and 92 parties,  but not one representative from the Muslim population.
• Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been prevented from voting after being forced to return their government identity cards.
• Hugo Swire, Minister of Asia believes in the positive change the elections may bring, and states that “the elections on 8 November have the prospect of being the first time since 1960 that the people of Burma have their voices heard nationwide at the ballot box – even if there remain unresolved constitutional issues around them.”

India

• Pakistan’s army chief warns India of ‘unbearable cost’ in case of war.
• Border guards of India and Pakistan agree to end ceasefire violations. New strategies and joint patrolling in some areas along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir will be implemented.
• India is ranked low on inclusive growth by the World Economic Forum.

Nagorno-Karabakh

• Increased violence around the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh have been reported.
• Azerbaijan has launched a hysteria campaign against the ongoing democratic process in Nagorno-Karabakh. Elections are due to take place on the 13th of September.
• The Azerbaijani community in Nagorno-Karabakh claims that the elections are illegal.
• Azerbaijan is holding military exercises along the border to nagorno-Karabakh, up until the elections.  

Nigeria

• Previous HART intern Elisabeth Pramendorfer has produced an updated report on Nigeria for February-August 2015. It is now estimated that 61% of Nigerians live in absolute poverty (less than $1 per day).
• The International Organization for Migration’s estimated figure of internally displaced Nigerians is now over 2.1 million – or 300,000 households, across six north-eastern states due to Boko Haram activity. This reflects the intensification of attacks since June, when it was estimated at 1.5 million.
• President Buhari has marked 100 days in office. Opinion stands divided.
• The Nigerian military uncovered a Boko Haram plot to attack the capital Abuja (7/9/15). The military claim to have destroyed all known Boko Haram camps in the North East with the Defence spokesperson claiming Boko Haram have been irreversibly weakened (9/9/15). The military also released 128 alleged Boko Haram detainees in Borno after certifying they had no link with the group (9/9/15).
• Online daily Nigerian newspaper reports on the high levels of malnourishment among children. Nigeria ranks second to India among all countries with highest number of stunted children, a sign of malnutrition. Up to one million children under 5 are affected by severe acute malnutrition every year.
• Heavy rains hit north-western states causing flooding. Ten people have been reported dead and thousands of families have lost homes and farms in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states. (10/9/15)

South Sudan

• South Sudan’s Parliament unanimously voted on Thursday to adopt a peace deal agreed last month by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar.
• This week saw further allegations of ceasefire violations which continue to threaten the new peace agreement: the SPLM-IO accused Kiir’s government of attempting to regain control over rebel held areas; government troops reportedly fear an imminent rebel attack in Malakal and South Sudan’s rebels accuse Uganda and the South Sudanese government of “dropping explosives and chemicals” in Upper Nile State.
• The SPLA has called on the United States and the United Nations to intervene in monitoring violations of the ceasefire between the government troops and the SPLM-IO forces.
• Flooding hits South Sudan’s Jonglei State, displacing between 2-3,000 households.
• Deep concerns are raised over restrictions on press freedom in South Sudan. Information Minister, Michael Makuei allegedly said, “If you can go as far as interviewing the rebels to come and disseminate their filthy ideas to the people and poison their minds, that is negative agitation. You either join them or else we put you where you will not be talking”. Nhial Bol Aken, “one of the most critical journalists in the country”, has quit journalism due to receiving death threats from government agents.

Sudan 

• A new report from Human Rights Watch  catalogs the atrocities committed towards civilians by the Sudanese Security forces. The report describes killings, torture, gang-rape and live burning of innocent villagers.
• Two humanitarian workers (OCHA) were shot to death on Thursday. The gunmen have not been identified.
• Water shortages have caused people to demonstrate in Khartoum. Injuries of participants have been reported, after the police used force to disperse the crowds.
• The Falata and Salamat tribes in South Darfur have agreed to end hostilities and reach a permanent peace agreement.

Timor-Leste

• Timor-Leste and Malaysia have signed a memorandum to combat corruption and
• promote bilateral ties (8/9/15)

Uganda

• 2016 – Election or war? Security experts raise alarm of the rise of politically driven ‘militias’.
• Ugandan police fired tear gas for a second consecutive day on Thursday to disperse supporters of presidential contender Amama Mbabazi.
• Ugandan and Sudanese leaders to meet next week to discuss ‘issues of mutual concern’.
• ICC confirm 26 Jan 2016 as official hearing date for Former LRA commander Dominic Ongwen