Articles Search

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, July 1) - The international human rights group Amnesty International has criticized East Timor's new police force.

In a report, the group said despite some improvements, the newly independent country's police force was a fragile institution, not yet fully equipped to maintain law and order in a manner consistent with international human rights standards.

Amnesty said there were serious failings in the response to riots last December, in which three people were allegedly shot and killed by police.

It has also pointed to reports of arbitrary detention and beatings of detainees.

The United Nations, which oversees the force, is due to withdraw from East Timor in May 2004.

July 2, 2003

Radio Australia: www.abc.net.au/ra 

By Jojo Dass

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, ) - The Marianas Visitors Authority is coordinating with its Japan office to obtain more details about a report in Tokyo that Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are planning official visits to the CNMI, the Marshalls, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau from February to early March next year.

Jonas Ogren, MVA managing director, told reporters the agency is trying to verify the report, published last June 26 by one of Japan’s leading newspapers, the Yomiuri Shimbun.

The 129-year-old Yomiuri Shimbun is considered the world’s largest newspaper with a daily circulation of 14 million.

Ogren said MVA would contact Japan’s foreign ministry and the imperial household agency, which, according to the report, are planning a 10-day tour of the CNMI, the Marshalls, the FSM and Palau, "starting around Feb. 27 and ending around March 7."

The Northern Marianas, the Marshalls, the FSM and Palau are...

SYDNEY, Australia (ABC News Online, July 1) - The Asia-Pacific leaders of Amnesty International say the continued detention of children in Nauru is damaging Australia's reputation.

Leaders from 14 countries demonstrated outside the Sydney home of the Prime Minister John Howard today.

The leaders held a small protest outside Kirribilli House this morning, saying it was shameful that more than 100 children were still in detention at the so-called Pacific Solution camp in Nauru.

Amnesty Australia's chairman Russell Thirgood said last week's Family Court decision ruling children should not be in detention should also apply to Nauru.

The Philippines' Jessica Soto said the fact the Government has placed these children outside Australian law is a disgrace.

"I think it is really damaging because we look at the Australian Government as one of the leaders in protection of human rights," she said.

Thailand's Srirak Plipat said leaving of children in...

SYDNEY, Australia (ABC News Online, July 1) - Australian authorities have intercepted a boat carrying asylum seekers off the coast of Western Australia.

An Immigration Department spokeswoman said the boat, carrying about 50 passengers, was discovered off Port Hedland.

It is believed the passengers are from Vietnam.

All people on board have been detained under the migration act and are being transferred to Christmas Island, where they will be processed by immigration authorities.

Christmas Island is a territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean about 2,650 kilometers from Perth. The nearest point of the Australian mainland is Northwest Cape which lies approximately 1,565 kilometers to the south east. The island has an area of 135 square kilometers.

Some reports have suggested the boat came within three kilometers of the coast before it was intercepted.

It is the first boat carrying asylum seekers to arrive in Australian waters since...