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12 Nov 2018 - NPWJ News Digest on Middle East and North Africa Democracy
NPWJ in the news
Tunisia: "Victims speak out against impunity and in defense of transitional justice"
NPWJ, 06 Nov 2018
Articles
Situation in Central African Republic II: Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona arrested for crimes against humanity and war crimes
International Criminal Court, 12 Dec 2018
Today, 12 December 2018, Mr Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona has been arrested by the authorities of the French Republic pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court"). The ICC Registrar, Mr Peter Lewis, submitted a request to the French authorities for the arrest and surrender of Mr Ngaïssona to the Court upon completion of necessary national proceedings. Pre-Trial Chamber II - composed of Judge Antoine Kesia‐Mbe Mindua, Presiding, Judge Tomoko Akane and Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala - issued the warrant of arrest against Mr Ngaïssona on 7 December 2018 for his alleged criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the western part of the Central African Republic ("CAR") between at least 5 December 2013 and at least December 2014.
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'They see no shame': 'honour' killing video shows plight of Syrian women
The Guardian, 12 Nov 2018
Footage of a young Syrian woman’s execution by her brother was greeted with widespread horror. Yet such violence is all too common – and as a member of the Free Syrian Army, with its own police and courts, the man is untouchable.
Kalashnikov in hand, the man looks into the camera. He stands over a terrified girl, who is pleading for her life. “Make sure we can see both your faces,” a voice orders. Behind the shaky camera, another one goads the gunman: “Go ahead, Bashar – cleanse your honour.” Without another word, a flurry of bullets is fired into Rasha Bseis’s body. It takes nine agonising seconds for her to die.
Rasha had been murdered on camera by her brother, Bashar Bseis, condemned by rumours that she had committed adultery, for which the punishment – in her brother’s eyes – was death.
Italy to host Libyan conference in fresh push for elections
The Guardian, 12 Nov 2018
Many of Libya’s leading factions will meet on Monday in Palermo, southern Italy, in an effort to reunite the country’s institutions and find a new path to elections that a previous French-convened conference The two-day conference symbolises an Italian determination to regain diplomatic responsibility for Libya after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, convened a surprise summit in Paris in May in a bid to push for Libyan elections on 10 December.
US-Backed Syrian Fighters Resume Offensive Against IS
VOA, 11 Nov 2018
U.S.-backed Syrian fighters resumed their ground offensive Sunday against the Islamic State group in the last territories controlled by the extremists in eastern Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement that the decision to resume the fighting came after threats from Turkey against the Kurdish-led force dropped due to diplomatic activities. The SDF said in late October it was temporarily suspending its campaign against IS in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, accusing Turkey of jeopardizing its efforts.
U.S. halting refuelling of Saudi-led coalition aircraft in Yemen's war
Reuters, 10 Nov 2018
The United States is halting refuelling of aircraft from the Saudi-led coalition engaged in Yemen, the United States and Saudi Arabia said on Friday, ending one of the most divisive aspects of U.S. assistance to the Saudi war effort. Saudi Arabia, in a statement released by its embassy in Washington, said it had decided to request an end to U.S. aerial refuelling for its operations in Yemen because it could now handle it by itself. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis backed the decision and said the U.S. government was consulted.
Plagued By War and Famine, Yemen Is 'No Longer A Functioning State,' Journalist Warns
NPR, 08 Nov 2018
In 2015, Saudi Arabia initiated a bombing campaign against its southern neighbor Yemen in what was essentially a proxy war — the Saudis backed a government that had been forced out of the capital by the Houthis, a group allied with Iran. The Obama administration backed the Saudis with targeting intelligence and logistical help. The assumption, says New York Times journalist Robert Worth, was that the war wouldn't be "too damaging" or last too long. That assumption turned out to be wrong on both counts.