Salem-News.com Politics articles

Holocaust in Palestine

At the last count there were over 220 Palestinian innocent children, women and men dead and on the other side one dead Israeli.

(LONDON) - Far be it from me to quote ‘a holy book’ but if you think of those holy books as terms of reference as opposed to a rigid doctrine of worship then quoting them becomes acceptable.

It says in the bible that our journey in life, the human race, is limited to three score years and ten, adding up to seventy. Try to tell that to the many mothers, sisters and grannies in Palestine who suffered the loss of a child before they even made it to ten years, slaughtered by Israeli brute force. A force that is supplied, equipped, trained and sanctioned by western powers, especially the United States of America.

Israeli Bombing Kills at Least 72, Including Gaza TV Staffer

Jets targeted the marked "Media24" car in Gaza City and killed Hamid Shehab.

(GAZA, Palestine) - On the second day of the Israeli operation, "Protective Edge", at least 72 people have been killed and hundreds more injured by the bombing of their homes and communities.

Israeli occupation warplanes attacked a home in Al-Maghazi camp, killing a woman and 3 children, bringing up the death toll in Gaza to 40 people. An estimated 280 injuries were reported.

We were also attacked. The Israeli occupation targeted our agency's "Media24" car killing the driver.

Sudan: Closure of Salmmah Women`s Resource Centre

Since 1997, the organisation has worked to promote women's rights and gender equality.

(LONDON) - I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human rights activist and freelance journalist.

I am informed by Frontline defenders that on 24 June 2014, the Ministry of Justice cancelled the registration license of human rights organisation the Salmmah Women's Resource Centre, and initiated the immediate liquidation of the organisation, leading to its closure on the same day.

It is reported that the decision is in response to the work of the organisation's director, human rights defender Ms Fahima Hashim.

Timid US Presbyterians Punish American Companies, shun BDS and Let Israel off the Hook

One more group who thinks negotiations under military occupation will deliver peace.

(LONDON) - Pro-Palestinian campaigners are cock-a-hoop over the Presbyterian Church USA's vote to divest from Caterpillar Inc, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions.

Hailed as amazing, brave and miraculous in some quarters, it was actually a very close-run thing: 310 to 303 against, with no abstentions. Excuse me if I don't join the celebrations.

Plumlee`s Thoughts for Today... A friendly note to our elected officials

"We the People of the United States want our country back. We demand changes in the White House."

(LAS CRUCES, NM) - I am sorry to say that the President of the United States and his Administration has demonstrated to the American people, on more than one occasion, that they are incapable of running the affairs of this Nation.

Collectively, they have demonstrated to the American people that they are not leaders. They have shown the people they can’t think on their feet.

The United States` Tragic Role in Iraq

"It is particularly bizarre that some of the very people who supported the illegal and unnecessary invasion of Iraq are now trying to somehow blame Obama for the unfolding fiasco."

(SANTA CRUZ, Calif.) - The dramatic rise of the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—which even al-Qaeda deemed too extreme to remain part of its network—is a tragedy by any measure. It would also be tragic if we allowed the very forces that created this mess to explain it away.

Despite claims by the Bush administration and its supporters to the contrary, outside of a few dozen fighters in a remote valley of the Kurdish autonomous region, there was no Al-Qaeda or related Salafi extremist presence in Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime. But now, thanks to the U.S. invasion and occupation, the extremists control most of the northern and western parts of the country, including Iraq’s second largest city.

Christian MPA Shot Dead in Provisional Capital

Just after a year in office, he has been murdered.

(ISLAMABAD) - Handery Masih, a Christian Member of the Baslochistan Assembly, was shot dead in Quetta on Saturday noon.

According to details, Handery’s personal security guard sprayed bullets on him outside his residence in Quetta. He was immediately shifted to the nearest hospital but unfortunately he could not survive.

Statement Demanding an Immediate Stop to War in Myanmar

Scores of organizations insist that negotiative efforts be sincere.

(U.K. ) - While there is a pretense that the Union Peacemaking Working Committee is conducting meetings on a ceasefire agreement to end the more than sixty-year long civil war between the Government, Military and ethnic armed groups - current clashes in Kachin regions, Ta-ang Palaung regions and Shan State are witness to the military’s serious offensive.

Civil society organizations, networks and people who desire genuine and just peace profoundly demand the respective Government, Hluttaw (parliaments) and the Myanmar military to contemplate the following points to prove their willingness for genuine peace.

Prisoner Swap is an Opportunity to Again Debate the Closing of Guantanamo

It is time to give Guantanamo back to Cuba.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - It is unfortunate that the debate about the prisoner swap -- U.S. Army Sgt. Bergdahl for 5 Taliban officials -- disregards or at least minimizes the fact that prior to the swap, there were 149 still imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp, of which 78 are still imprisoned after being cleared for release and 38 the U.S. has said it lacks evidence to prosecute but claims they are too dangerous to release.

Guantánamo has a reputation as a place of torture and indefinite detention, and is a continued international embarrassment.

Religious Conversion Law Threatens Religious Freedom in Burma/Myanmar

The new law is based on proposals by a Buddhist organization called the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Over 81 organizations from civil society worldwide today call on the Government of Burma/Myanmar to scrap proposed legislation that would unlawfully restrict the right to freely choose a religion. If adopted, this law would violate fundamental human rights and could lead to further violence against Muslims and other religious minorities in the country.

The draft “Religious Conversion Law”, published in state-run media on 27 May 2014, sets out a process for applying for official permission to convert from one religion to another.