Sabtu, 13 April 2019

Sudan coup: Protesters demand immediate move to civilian rule - BBC News

Leaders of the protests in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have called on supporters to stay in the streets two days after the military coup.

They are demanding an immediate move to civilian rule after the army ousted long-time leader Omar al-Bashir, putting him in custody.

The military wants to hold power for two years, followed by elections.

In an apparent new concession, feared security chief Gen Salah Gosh has resigned.

His departure was announced hours after the coup leader himself, Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf, stepped aside.

But the change at the top did not sway the crowd, said to number hundreds of thousands.

"We call on the armed forces to ensure the immediate transfer of power to a transitional civilian government," the Sudan Professionals Association (SPA), which has been spearheading the demonstrations, said on Facebook.

A growing economic crisis has gripped the country since the oil-rich southern part split away in 2011, and Thursday's coup followed months of unrest over the cost of living.

Ebba Kalondo, a spokeswoman for the African Union, said it was now time for all sides to talk to each other.

"More now than ever, it's time to engage in an inclusive dialogue, to create the conditions that would make it possible to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people, to form democracy and good governance and restore constitutional order as soon as possible."

How did the latest drama unfold?

When Mr Bashir was removed, he was replaced by a military council led by Mr Ibn Auf.

But demonstrators camping out outside army headquarters in Khartoum refused to disperse, rejecting Mr Ibn Auf as an ally of Mr Bashir.

On Friday, the new leader announced he was resigning and being replaced by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan, who is seen as a less controversial figure.

But the move failed to satisfy protesters who have kept up their sit-in in the capital.

They called for the abolition of "arbitrary decisions by leaders that do not represent the people" and the detention of "all symbols of the former regime who were involved in crimes against the people".

"Until these demands are fully met, we must continue with our sit-in at the General Command of the Armed Forces," the SPA said.

On Saturday, Sudanese TV reported the resignation of Gen Gosh, head of the National Intelligence and Security Service which has powerful forces within the capital.

At least 16 people have been killed by stray bullets at the protests since Thursday, police say.

What will happen to Bashir?

He has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region earlier this century.

However, the military council has said it will not extradite Mr Bashir, who denies the charges, although he may be put on trial in Sudan.

Mr Ibn Auf was head of military intelligence during the Darfur conflict and the US imposed sanctions on him in 2007.

How big are these events?

This is an exciting moment, writes the BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane. It is happening in Sudan but the significance of these forces working peacefully for change is universal.

It may be very precarious but it is also full of possibility, he says.

One of the defining images of the peaceful protests in Khartoum is that of demonstrator Alaa Salah leading a crowd in anti-government chants.

The image has been taken up by artists in turn, as French broadcaster Franceinfo reports.

Have you been taking part in protests? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47918736

2019-04-13 10:57:28Z
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Sudan police: 16 killed by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins - Aljazeera.com

At least 16 people were killed and 20 others injured by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins on Thursday and Friday, a Sudanese police spokesman said in a statement on Saturday as the nation waited to hear from its newly appointed leader. 

Government buildings and private property were also attacked, spokesman Hashem Ali added.

The release of the death toll comes hours after the Sudanese military replaced the country's transitional leader who had been in power only one day.

Thousands of jubilant protesters celebrated in the streets of Khartoum on Friday, after Defence Minister General Awad ibn Auf, announced he was stepping down as head of the ruling military council.

He had been named the de facto leader after President Omar al-Bashir was forced out of office on Thursday after 30 years of rule.

Ibn Auf said he would be replaced by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, general inspector of the armed forces, as head of the transitional council, which will rule the country for two years until elections.

"This is for the benefit of our nation ... This country has great people and a great army," Ibn Auf said in a brief TV statement, adding that he hoped the civilians and the military would work together.

New leader

Burhan, who was appointed as al-Bashir's chief of staff and head of the ground forces in February, is expected to speak to the nation on Saturday. 

Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan reporting from Khartoum said the demonstrators "have been very clear that their desire is to see Sudan led by a civilian government. Not one led by the military." 

While it's not clear whether Burhan will hand power to a civilian leader she said protesters might be more receptive to Burhan than his predecessors. 

"Most people are hopeful because Abdel Fattah [Burhan] is not from the ruling party. He also does not have any political affiliation. He doesn't have the same tainted history as Omar al-Bashir and Awad Ibn Auf. Both were accused of war crimes in the region of Darfur," she said. 

Hajooj Kuka, an activist, said removing al-Bashir and his allies was the first step to meeting the demands of the protesters.

"We expect after everything settles down to have whoever that committed a crime to be punished. And that should include anyone who has been part of this regime that has committed a crime. It could take a while but we need to have justice," Kuka told Al Jazeera. 

Earlier on Friday, the military council had assured the country that they had "no ambitions" to permanently rule the East African nation.

The council also said a two-year timeline for the military to rule was not set in stone and promised that it would be dissolved as soon as a solution to the political crisis had been found.

Will of the people

But the protest's main organisers reacted by vowing demonstrators would stay on the streets until they got a civilian government.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) said in a statement on Facebook that Ibn Auf's resignation was a victory for the will of the people.

The group called for the immediate transfer of power as well as the arrests and trials of all leading figures of the past regime involved in crimes against the people.

"In order to implement these demands fully, we must adhere to our sit-in in front of the army HQ and in the capital and launch action in all Sudanese cities until power is transferred in full to a transitional civilian government expressing your aspirations," the SPA's statement added.

Oil-rich Sudan's economy was hard hit when it split from South Sudan in 2011, and the government is currently facing an economic crisis while also battling several rebel groups.

Protests first started in December over an increase in the price of bread. They quickly evolved into demands for 75-year-old al-Bashir's departure.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/sudan-police-16-killed-stray-bullets-protests-sit-ins-190413064228484.html

2019-04-13 10:13:00Z
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Sudan coup: Protesters demand immediate move to civilian rule - BBC News

Leaders of the protests in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have called on supporters to stay in the streets two days after the military coup.

They are demanding an immediate move to civilian rule after the army ousted long-time leader Omar al-Bashir, putting him in custody.

The military wants to hold power for two years, followed by elections.

It replaced its own leader in an apparent concession to the protesters but the change did not sway them.

"We call on the armed forces to ensure the immediate transfer of power to a transitional civilian government," the Sudan Professionals Association (SPA), which has been spearheading the demonstrations, said on Facebook.

A growing economic crisis has gripped the country since the oil-rich southern part split away in 2011, and Thursday's coup followed months of unrest over the cost of living.

How did the latest drama unfold?

When Mr Bashir was removed, he was replaced by a military council led by Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf.

But demonstrators camping out outside army headquarters in Khartoum refused to disperse, rejecting Mr Ibn Auf as an ally of Mr Bashir.

On Friday, the new leader announced he was resigning and being replaced by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan, who is seen as a less controversial figure.

But the move failed to satisfy protesters who have kept up their sit-in in the capital.

They called for the abolition of "arbitrary decisions by leaders that do not represent the people" and the detention of "all symbols of the former regime who were involved in crimes against the people".

"Until these demands are fully met, we must continue with our sit-in at the General Command of the Armed Forces," the SPA said.

At least 16 people have been killed by stray bullets at the protests since Thursday, police say.

What will happen to Bashir?

He has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region earlier this century.

However, the military council has said it will not extradite Mr Bashir, who denies the charges, although he may be put on trial in Sudan.

Mr Ibn Auf was head of military intelligence during the Darfur conflict and the US imposed sanctions on him in 2007.

How big are these events?

This is an exciting moment, writes the BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane. It is happening in Sudan but the significance of these forces working peacefully for change is universal.

It may be very precarious but it is also full of possibility, he says.

One of the defining images of the peaceful protests in Khartoum is that of demonstrator Alaa Salah leading a crowd in anti-government chants.

The image has been taken up by artists in turn, as French broadcaster Franceinfo reports.

Have you been taking part in protests? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47918736

2019-04-13 10:12:15Z
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Sudan police: 16 killed by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins - Aljazeera.com

At least 16 people were killed and 20 others injured by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins on Thursday and Friday, a Sudanese police spokesman said in a statement on Saturday as the nation waited to hear from its newly appointed leader. 

Government buildings and private property were also attacked, spokesman Hashem Ali added.

The release of the death toll comes hours after the Sudanese military replaced the country's transitional leader who had been in power only one day.

Thousands of jubilant protesters celebrated in the streets of Khartoum on Friday, after Defence Minister General Awad ibn Auf, announced he was stepping down as head of the ruling military council.

He had been named the de facto leader after President Omar al-Bashir was forced out of office on Thursday after 30 years of rule.

Ibn Auf said he would be replaced by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, general inspector of the armed forces, as head of the transitional council, which will rule the country for two years until elections.

"This is for the benefit of our nation ... This country has great people and a great army," Ibn Auf said in a brief TV statement, adding that he hoped the civilians and the military would work together.

New leader

Burhan, who was appointed as al-Bashir's chief of staff and head of the ground forces in February, is expected to speak to the nation on Saturday. 

Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan reporting from Khartoum said the demonstrators "have been very clear that their desire is to see Sudan led by a civilian government. Not one led by the military." 

While it's not clear whether Burhan will hand power to a civilian leader she said protesters might be more receptive to Burhan than his predecessors. 

"Most people are hopeful because Abdel Fattah [Burhan] is not from the ruling party. He also does not have any political affiliation. He doesn't have the same tainted history as Omar al-Bashir and Awad Ibn Auf. Both were accused of war crimes in the region of Darfur," she said. 

Hajooj Kuka, an activist, said removing al-Bashir and his allies was the first step to meeting the demands of the protesters.

"We expect after everything settles down to have whoever that committed a crime to be punished. And that should include anyone who has been part of this regime that has committed a crime. It could take a while but we need to have justice," Kuka told Al Jazeera. 

Earlier on Friday, the military council had assured the country that they had "no ambitions" to permanently rule the East African nation.

The council also said a two-year timeline for the military to rule was not set in stone and promised that it would be dissolved as soon as a solution to the political crisis had been found.

Will of the people

But the protest's main organisers reacted by vowing demonstrators would stay on the streets until they got a civilian government.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) said in a statement on Facebook that Ibn Auf's resignation was a victory for the will of the people.

The group called for the immediate transfer of power as well as the arrests and trials of all leading figures of the past regime involved in crimes against the people.

"In order to implement these demands fully, we must adhere to our sit-in in front of the army HQ and in the capital and launch action in all Sudanese cities until power is transferred in full to a transitional civilian government expressing your aspirations," the SPA's statement added.

Oil-rich Sudan's economy was hard hit when it split from South Sudan in 2011, and the government is currently facing an economic crisis while also battling several rebel groups.

Protests first started in December over an increase in the price of bread. They quickly evolved into demands for 75-year-old al-Bashir's departure.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/sudan-police-16-killed-stray-bullets-protests-sit-ins-190413064228484.html

2019-04-13 09:16:00Z
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Jumat, 12 April 2019

Fact-checking Mike Pence's WikiLeaks claim - CNN

But when asked by CNN's Dana Bash if President Donald Trump's view of WikiLeaks had changed from when, in 2016, he "welcomed seeing WikiLeaks and the information that they got from Hillary Clinton" Pence dodged the question, suggesting the President "always welcomes information, but that was in no way an endorsement."
Pence continued by asserting "we now understand (WikiLeaks) was involved in disseminating classified information about the United States of America."
Facts First: It's inaccurate to suggest that WikiLeaks' publishing of classified information is somehow a recent revelation. US agencies have known and publicly reported that WikiLeaks has published classified information for several years now.
In 2010, following the aftermath of WikiLeaks publishing a confidential US diplomatic cable that listed sites vital to national security, a spokesperson for the State Department told CNN the information was classified and condemned WikiLeaks "for what it has done."
Pence's comment also comes across as slightly tone deaf given the role WikiLeaks played in distributing the stolen Democratic National Committee emails, even though these emails were not "classified."
US agencies informed the public in 2016 that the Democratic emails WikiLeaks was publishing that year had been hacked by the Russian government. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security publicly announced on October 7, 2016, that Russia was interfering in the election, that Russian hackers had breached the Democratic National Committee and that those hackers had funneled stolen DNC emails to WikiLeaks for publication.
At that point, it was clear for all to see that WikiLeaks was playing a significant role in Russia's interference operation. Nevertheless, Trump continued citing WikiLeaks at rallies until the election.
Pence's suggestion that it is only "now" that we understand WikiLeaks' involvement in "disseminating classified information" is oddly incorrect.
Though not as odd as Trump's recent claim that "I know nothing about WikiLeaks. It's not my thing," which is also incorrect. In 2016, Trump said, "I love reading those WikiLeaks." He infamously told a campaign rally, "I love WikiLeaks," and repeatedly encouraged the public to read the leaked emails. In 2010, Trump had suggested on Fox News that WikiLeaks' actions were "disgraceful" and "there should be like a death penalty or something."
Clearly, Trump is wrong to state he "know(s) nothing about WikiLeaks."
We'll see if the administration continues to twist itself into pretzels as it supports efforts to extradite Assange after his indictment this week on a single charge of conspiring to hack Pentagon computers with Manning.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/12/politics/fack-check-pence-wikileaks/index.html

2019-04-12 19:51:00Z
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Ecuador releases Julian Assange for rudeness, spying, and poop - Vox.com

Julian Assange’s dramatic arrest on Thursday happened because the government of Ecuador — which had protected the WikiLeaks founder in its London embassy for seven years — finally decided to kick him out.

So why did the Ecuadorians suddenly turn on their controversial lodger? The decision came down to two completely different rationales: a desire for better relations with the US, and exasperation with Assange’s horrible houseguest etiquette.

“We’ve ended the asylum of this spoiled brat,” Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno said Thursday in a stunning address. “From now on we’ll be more careful in giving asylum to people who are really worth it, and not miserable hackers whose only goal is to destabilize governments.”

The hacker, wanted by the US for allegedly breaking into a secret government computer, entered the small Ecuadorian Embassy in London in June 2012, seeking asylum to avoid extradition related to sexual assault allegations against him in Sweden. Ecuador’s president at the time, Rafael Correa — a leftist anti-American firebrand — granted Assange’s request.

Assange proceeded to turn his tiny office-cum-bedroom into a new headquarters for WikiLeaks’ operations. And then he did the two things a man in his position shouldn’t do.

First, he kept interfering in politics, most famously releasing stolen emails related to Hillary Clinton’s campaign. It also appears that he targeted his hosts, perhaps even playing a role in releasing documents showing Moreno had personally benefited from offshore accounts.

Second, he failed to respect his makeshift home by verbally and perhaps physically abusing staff and, most shockingly, spreading feces on the walls.

Put together, Assange made life difficult for his hosts inside and outside the embassy — and Ecuador finally had enough.

Ecuador’s changing attitudes toward Assange parallel the South American nation’s shifting politics.

Correa, who was president from 2007 to 2017, was an anti-American politician who enjoyed annoying the US whenever he could. Letting Assange stay in his UK mission, and away from British and American custody, was his pièce de résistance.

“Correa took great pleasure in criticizing the United States and thumbing his nose at the geopolitical status quo,” John Polga-Hecimovich, an Ecuador expert at the US Naval Academy, told me. Correa viewed his Assange decision “as a type of small-country power move.”

It’s therefore no surprise that US-Ecuador relations became more and more strained during Assange’s lengthy stay at the London embassy.

Exports from Ecuador to the United States plunged from around $11 billion in 2014 to $7.5 billion in 2015. Making it worse, that drop-off led the country to turn to China for financial help. And it didn’t improve matters that Correa was allied with Cuba and Venezuela, both longtime US adversaries.

Experts expected the rift to continue when Moreno, Correa’s vice president and handpicked successor, took office in 2017. But the new leader quickly decided that he couldn’t fix his country’s many economic woes as long as it protected Assange.

“Assange impeded Moreno’s ability to seek technical assistance, international loans, and greater security and commercial cooperation with the United States,” says Polga-Hecimovich. All of that was badly needed if Ecuador was going to rebound from Correa’s economic mess.

To remedy the problem, Moreno tacked more to the political center as a way to attract foreign investment. Those efforts were noticed by the United States.

“Prior to your election, our nations had experienced 10 difficult years where our people always felt close but our governments drifted apart,” Vice President Mike Pence said alongside Moreno in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, last June. “But over the past year, Mr. President, thanks to your leadership and the actions that you’ve taken have brought us closer together once again.”

Likely helped, at least in part, by the thawing in relations with the US, Ecuador in March received a $4.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to help rebuild the nation’s economy.

It’s therefore possible that Moreno’s politics alone would’ve made Assange’s release unnecessary, allowing Ecuador to ingratiate itself with the US despite that thorny issue.

But Assange, well, shit all over that possibility.

The first rule of being a houseguest: Don’t be rude and gross. The second rule, especially if you’re a notorious global hacker, is don’t spy on your hosts.

Assange broke both of them, even as Ecuador spent $1 million a year to protect him.

Over the years, the WikiLeaks chief clearly grew too complacent with his surroundings. He would skateboard at night, play music extremely loudly, and even walk around in his underwear, according to NBC News. It’s reminiscent of Home Alone, except that it wasn’t his home, he wasn’t alone, and he was the (alleged) criminal.

But his behavior was also downright rude — and more than a little gross. He barely maintained his own personal hygiene, leading the smell from his room to infest the rest of the embassy. He refused to clean up or even feed his cat. And he almost came to blows with the mission’s security staff. As if that wasn’t enough, he acted out and on at least one occasion smeared his feces on the wall.

The embassy tried to rein him in. In March 2018, for example, Ecuador took away his internet in a kind of geopolitical timeout for grown-ups. Assange eventually regained internet access, but only for his personal computer and phone.

All of that, though, didn’t tip the scales. What did, experts say, is that he may have targeted Moreno.

In February 2019, an anonymous website leaked photographs of Moreno’s family and documents that show he and his brother may have profited from offshore accounts in Panama. Assange and WikiLeaks deny having anything to do with that website, but Moreno did all but accuse the embassy denizen of being behind the site. Moreno also denies any wrongdoing.

And so, with Moreno’s government furious at him, it was likely that Assange’s time as Ecuador’s guest would soon come to an end.

“When you’re given shelter, cared for and provided food, you don’t denounce the owner of the house,” Moreno said on Thursday.

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https://www.vox.com/2019/4/12/18307626/julian-assange-wikileaks-ecuador-cat-poop

2019-04-12 17:40:00Z
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Letter: Catholic priests accused of abuse deserve our forgiveness - INFORUM

In the letter to the editor titled “Allowing Apuron to remain a priest another failure of the Catholic Church,” the writer considers it a failure of the Catholic Church because a certain priest, although he had been removed from his role as bishop, is allowed to remain a priest. Because we do not know the details, we need to take care not to judge too quickly.

It could be that the incidents occurred 30, 40 years ago, were deeply regretted and confessed, and the man went on to become a holy person and provided great service to the people of his diocese. We all know of people who did wicked things, recognized their blatant behavior, repented, and became very good persons, contributing to society.

When we truly repent, God forgives us. Our God is a God of mercy, and he wants us to be merciful, too. In most of the sexual abuse cases we hear and read about, the horrific behaviors were done by men who were in positions of power, such as a parish pastor or a seminary leader. You can be sure that the priest who has been allowed by the Vatican to remain a priest will not be given a leadership assignment. He may be so old that he is now retired. If he is able to serve, he would likely be assigned to an office job, to a role that would be appropriate for him. You can be sure, nowadays, that a decision such as the one made for Anthony Apuron was thoroughly studied and discussed.

As for the concern that, because he is allowed to remain a priest, he will also continue receiving the benefits–again, we don’t know the details. Because he had been serving as a bishop, he apparently had a reputation for providing very good service over a substantial period of time. Men who are appointed as bishops are those who have been highly recommended by priests and others in their diocese. After studying all the details of the situation, the Vatican judges, after removing his role as bishop, found reason to allow him to remain a priest. I believe we can trust that there were good reasons why the judges decided that in this case it was appropriate to allow the man to remain a priest for the remainder of his days.

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https://www.inforum.com/opinion/letters/1004093-Letter-Catholic-priests-accused-of-abuse-deserve-our-forgiveness

2019-04-12 18:00:00Z
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