UN tells ICP that Ban Ki-moon Is OT Blocking Alleged War Criminal Silva As His Adviser on Peacekeeping

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HRW’s 676 Page Report Lists Ban Only 4 Times, Soft on UN Inaction in Sudan, Haiti?

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Commandos Deployed to Protect Tigers in Southern India

In the sprawling wildlife sanctuaries of southern India, a team of commandos has been deployed to protect tigers from poaching in the first ever initiative by India driven by a dramatic decline in the big cat's population recent decades.

After three months of training in jungle survival and weapons use, a 54-member “Special Tiger Protection Force” has begun patrolling two major tiger reserves, Bandipur and Nagarhole, which straddle the border of southern Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states.

The force will counter hunters...

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India Cyclone Death Toll Rises to 42

Indian authorities say the devastating cyclone that struck the country's southeastern coast Friday killed at least 42 people and damaged hundreds of homes.

Cyclone Thane lashed the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Pondicherry with winds up to 135 kilometers per hour, before gradually weakening.

Officials say at least 26 of the deaths were in the Cuddalore district. They say most of the deaths were caused by wall collapses and electrocution.

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At UN, Ban Has Belatedly Watched "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka," Response UNclear

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11 Killed in Indian Cyclone

A cyclone has brought heavy rains and gale-force winds to India's southeastern coast, killing at least 11 people.  

Cyclone Thane made landfall near the former French colonial town of Pondicherry early Friday with winds up to 135 kilometers per hour, before gradually decreasing.

The cyclone has disrupted power supplies and communication networks, and has uprooted trees.  

Authorities say the deaths in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu state were caused mostly by wall collapses...

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INDIA: Cyclone Thane kills 16+ in south-east India

At least 16 people have been killed by winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour in south-east India. Cyclone Thane lashed the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the former French colony of Pondicherry early on Friday. ...

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Rights Groups Criticize Sri Lanka War Report

Human rights groups have called for an international investigation and more accountability following the release of a Sri Lankan report clearing its military of targeting civilians in the final stages of the country's civil war.

Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) said it was "satisfied" security forces had taken precautions to keep civilian casualties to a minimum.  The 440-page report was presented to parliament on Friday.

Brad Adams, Human Right's Watch's Asia director, said...

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UK returns refused asylum seekers to Sri Lanka

Fifty-five people arrive in Sri Lanka after failure of activist group's 11th-hour high court attempt to halt removal

A group of refused asylum seekers and foreign criminal offenders have been returned to Sri Lanka after the failure of an 11th-hour high court attempt to halt the flight.

Lawyers for the activist group Tamils Against Genocide (Tag) argued that the government's removal policy was flawed and there was a real risk of returnees facing torture and ill...

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Deported Tamils ‘face torture’ on return to Sri Lanka

UK Border Agency to continue with forced-removals flight despite human rights organisation warnings of mistreatment

Up to 50 passengers heading to Sri Lanka on a UK Border Agency forced-removals flight risk being tortured on their return, human rights organisations have warned.

The flight, which will depart on Thursday afternoon from an as yet undisclosed British airport, is expected to go ahead despite new evidence of recent alleged mistreatment by Sri Lankan security services.

The UK Border Agency...

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