Hundreds of protesters have occupied a US Senate office building to press Congress to pass legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children to stay in the country, a protection taken away by President Donald Trump.

More than 1,000 people filled the Hart Senate Building with chants and banners calling for lawmakers to pass the so-called DREAM Act, which would grant legal residency to an estimated 800,000 immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, who are referred to as “Dreamers.”

The activists held a giant sign reading, “Congress we demand a clean Dream Act now!”

The protest comes two months after the Trump administration canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a US immigration policy similar to the DREAM Act that was founded by the administration of former President Barack Obama in June 2012.

Under the DACA program, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children, are temporarily allowed to live, work and go to school in the country if they meet several requirements.

Almost 800,000 Dreamers live in the US. The vast majority have arrived from Mexico and other Latin American countries south of the US border.

Polls show that there is wide support for offering protection to the so-called Dreamers. A Washington Post/ABC News poll taken in September found 86 percent of respondents are in favor allowing Dreamers to stay in the country.

Trump’s immigration policies have sparked protests both inside the US and abroad since he took office in January.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump characterized Mexican migrants living in the US as murderers and rapists and said the US would build a wall on the US-Mexico border to keep illegal immigrants from entering the country.

Source: Presstv

Africa’s best police service is that of Botswana despite being ranked 47th best in the world. This is according to the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) released by two bodies, the International Police Science Association (IPSA) and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

The index ranked the Rwandan police as Africa’s second best (with global position of 50th) followed by Algeria (58th), Senegal (68th) and Tunisia (72nd) in that order. Completing the top 10 for Africa were, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ghana, South Africa and Mali respectively.

“WISPI measures the ability of the police and other security providers to address internal security issues in 127 countries, across four domains, using sixteen indicators,” authors of the report stated. The four domains are, capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.

The Botswana Police Service has been ranked no. 1 in Africa and 47 out of 127 countries in the World Internal Security and Police Index #WISPI, released by the Institute of Economic and Peace (IEP).

Despite the failure of Africa to break into the top forty, the continent was very prominent in the lower rankings. Six African countries were in the bottom 10. Cameroon and Mozambique in the 120th and 122nd spots.

Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria made it an African quartet at the bottom – occupying 124th to 127 slots respectively.

At the top of the global rankings, Europe dominated with eight countries. Except first place Singapore and Australia in sixth spot, all the other countries were in Europe – Finland, Denmark, Austria, Germany (2nd – 5th), Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (7th – 10th).

About the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI)

The aim of the WISPI is to, firstly, measure security provider performance across the four domains of internal security: capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.

Secondly, to see how these domains relate to each other and finally to track trends in these domains over time, and to inform the work of security providing agencies, researchers, and practitioners in the field of peace and conflict studies, criminology, and police studies.

Source: Africa News

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has decided to launch an investigation into atrocities committed in Burundi, despite the country’s pullout from the international body last month.

ICC judges authorized the tribunal to open an investigation into crimes committed in Burundi or outside the east African country, ICC said on its website on Thursday.

The alleged crimes include murder, rape and torture, which started in 2015 after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans to run for a third term, which he succeeded.

“According to estimates, at least 1,200 persons were allegedly killed, thousands illegally detained, thousands reportedly tortured and hundreds disappeared,” the court said in a statement.

The alleged acts of violence, it said, have reportedly resulted in the displacement of 413,490 persons between April 2015 and May 2017.

Judges issued the authorization on Oct. 25, two days before Burundi’s withdrawal from the ICC.

The Burundi investigation is the 11th full-scale investigation by the ICC. Almost all the investigations are in Africa, prompting some of the countries to exit the international body.

Government defiant 

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her investigation found proof suggesting police and security forces, “acting pursuant to a state policy, carried out a deliberate attack against the civilian population.”

The attacks, she said, entailed “multiple acts of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, enforced disappearance and persecution, constituting crimes against humanity.”

Burundi remains obliged to cooperate with her investigation, despite the country’s withdrawal from the ICC, she added. The Burundian government remained non-committal, saying the country would not be helping with the investigation.

“We are no longer a state member,” Burundi Government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said. “They can do whatever they want, they can take all initiatives they want, Burundi will not cooperate because we stopped collaboration.”

Forgotten crimes

International human rights groups voiced support for the ICC’s decision, saying the probe would help deliver justice to victims and the people whose rights had been violated.

The probe “signals that ICC withdrawal does not shield a government from scrutiny about its role in grave human rights violations,” said Param-Preet Singh, the group’s associate international justice director.

Earlier this year, a UN commission of inquiry report based on interviews with more than 500 witnesses revealed that crimes against humanity, including killings and sexual violence, were still being committed in Burundi.

Source: Presstv

PRESS RELEASE
AIG PR/042/2017
(For Immediate Release)
Ambazonia Interim Government condemns attacks in Jakiri and Bamenda

Abuja, 9th November 2017 – The President of the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia (former UN Trust Territory of British Southern Cameroons pursuant to UN General Assembly Res. 1608(XV) of 21st Apr 1961), President Sisiku AyukTabe, condemns in the strongest terms the recent attacksin the Jakirilocal government area of Bui county and Bamendacity of Mezam county that led to the loss of life and propertyin the northern zone of the territory.This is an unfortunate and unpleasant situation.

Monday, confrontation around Bilingual High School in Jakiri involving armed security forces and soldiers from the neighboring country La République du Cameroun and individuals, unknown to the Interim Government of Ambazonia, resulted in the death of Constable Maj. Djodnia of the Police Service of La Républic du Cameroun, illegal occupier of the territory of Ambazonia since 1961.Tuesday, a similar incident at the Bamenda city entry checkpoint led to the unfortunate death of Marshal Hinma René and pupil David Sallé of the Gendarmerie, part of the Army under an office of the Presidency of La République du Cameroun. Reacting and without investigation, additional deployed special armed forces of La Republic du Cameroun exacerbated indiscriminate arrest and shooting of unarmed civilians especially youths and mothers that have resulted in the dead of a young mother Mrs. Janet Ngwafor in Bamenda onWednesday the 8 of November 2017 and many are injured and on the run.

Significantly, Ambazonia has recorded 122 deaths , 150 people missing, 1894 persons injured by direct gunshots or torture, and at least 16,000 cases of internally displaced persons due to military activities carried out by armed security and soldiers under the direct instructions to “shoot-and-kill” by Secretary General in charge of Defence at the Presidency of the La Républic du Cameroun in Yaounde between September 22 and October 31, according to findings of a 15-person inquiry commission chaired by Member of Parliament for Jakiri, Honorable Joseph M. Wirba of the major opposition party in La Républic du Cameroun Social Democratic Front.

Across the border, the UNHCR in Nigeria’s Cross River State has recorded some 40,000 teenage parents and their children who fled massacre by the armed paramilitary and security forces of La Républic du Cameroun. In fact, the actual numbers cannot be documented because the Government of La République du Cameroun routinely blocks access to internet, regularly shut off electricity supply while banningfree movementpeople as the military forces continue to kill, kidnap, maim our citizens and dispose dead bodies in mass graves in the forests.

The President of the Interim Government expresses the heartfelt condolences of the people of Ambazonia to the families who lost their loved ones and wishes speedy recovery to the injured. He conveys the solidarity of the people of Ambazonia with the victims and affected families, at this particularly challenging situation.

These incidents points to a trend in which the community-oriented peace-loving people of Ambazonia known for their vibrant culture and thriving businesses are targeted to frustrate the Interim Government’s determination to achieverecognition as an independent, democratic, sovereign state in the community of nations. The cowardly act attests to the deliberate effort by the repressive regime of Mr. Paul Biya to deter nonviolent progress being made by hardworking Ambazonians to restore their country from illegal occupation.

©The President of the Interim Government calls on the Chairperson of the African Union, President of the European Union, and Secretary General of the United Nations to take immediate steps and concrete actions to end the escalating situation perpetuated by the Government of La Republic du Cameroun. At the core of these actions is a UN-sponsored referendum to ensure the complete withdrawal of appointed officials and military as well as security personnel throughout the territory of Ambazonia by Mr. Biya’s regime. This action will form an essential pillar our people and those of La Républic du Cameroun living side by side as neigbours in peace and security.

The President of the Interim Government calls on the people of Ambazonia and leadership of frontline movements to show renewed unity at this critical time and overcome divisions, to rebuild cohesion at all levels of the federal framework and institutions, per the resolution of the fourth conclave in Nigeria. Such cohesion is a prerequisite for fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Ambazonia and for a prosperous nation. We should, together transform this tragic attack into renewed strength and resolve to continue working to restore peace and unity among the people of Ambazonia.

The President of the Interim Government reaffirms commitment to the principle of non-violence and to continue its diplomatic and legal effort vital to secure a seat at the table of international nations using relevant international law and instruments and work with countriesto completely regain the territory that the people of Ambazonia can proudly call home to live in freedom and peace and take charge of their destiny.

Sisiku Julius AyukTabe

President, Interim Government

Federal Republic of Ambazonia