Ukraine crisis: Crimea holds secession referendum

Crimea holds secession referendum

Crimea is voting on whether to rejoin Russia or stay with Ukraine but with more autonomy.

The referendum has been condemned as "illegal" by Kiev and the West but is backed by Moscow.Since the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops have in effect taken control of the majority ethnic-Russian region.

Voters are expected to support leaving Ukraine, but Crimean Tatars are boycotting the poll.

There are reports of a high turnout at polling stations visited by the BBC in the capital, Simferopol, and mainly Tartar Bakhchisaray. But all Tatars spoken to by the BBC in Bakhchisaray said they would not vote.Election official Mykhaylo Malyshev said there had been a "record-breaking turnout" of 44.27%, after six hours of voting.

Voting across Crimea started at 08:00 local time and will close at 20:00 

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VIETNAM SHOWS THE SPIRIT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN

THE SPIRIT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN

The last days we suddenly worried by the news about Malaysia AirlinesBoeing 777 with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board slipped off the radar screens early on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China.

Many countries, especially Vietnam, have been strongly participating in the search. The search for flight MH370 now entered its sixth day. The operation has received great support from Vietnamese military and transport forces. Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Vo Van Tuan has directly instructed the search and rescue activities. A command office was also set up on Phu Quoc Island, which is near the plane’s last known location, to coordinate the search. At the request from Malaysia, Vietnam immediately dispatched aircraft and vessels to suspected sites at sea.

Vietnam affirmed its willingness to join search teams from other countries to have a best rescue solution. Besides, Vietnam allowed Chinese ships after completing the necessary formalities to go into the waters of Vietnam to carry out the work of searching to create valuable opportunities for finding.

Vietnam has mobilized Air Force, Navy and other elite forces working closely with other stakeholders in a large-scale and expensive search, up to 20 billion VND per day, equivalent 1 million US dollars.

Vietnam is working closely with Malaysia and widens search area looking for the missing plane.

                Vietnam Navy's helicopter preparing for the search of the missing Malaysian MH370 plane

Vietnam has also created the best conditions for journalists of major newspapers to gather information about the search. About 70 reporters from major news agencies in the region and the world have arrived in Vietnam to cover the case, helping bring the voice of Vietnamese officials to the world as soon as possible. Major news agencies such as the BBC and CNN have regularly taken updated information from Vietnam’s television channels and websites. The images of planes and vessels from Vietnam naval and maritime police forces have regularly appeared in UK newspapers. Local media has rapidly accessed information sources and become a main source for foreign newspapers,

Many countries have praised Vietnam for its leading role in the ongoing search.

In an article published in China's Global Times on March 11, Xu Liping, an expert from the Institute of Asia - Pacific and Global Strategies under the China Institute of Social Sciences, thanked Vietnam for its efforts and active role in the search. And the mobilization of all forces for the massive search reflects the country’s sincerity and determination in the mission. The mobilization of all forces for the massive search reflects the country's sincerity and determination in the mission, the expert added.

Meanwhile, the BBC said that through its efforts into the search, the Vietnamese Government has shown international responsibility for a humanitarian matter involves many countries.

Vietnamese Government has shown the world its spirit of high responsibility in a humanitarian matter which related to many countries. The image of Vietnamese Navy helicopters and vessels on international information network has reiterated Vietnam’s efforts despite the fact that there was no Vietnamese citizens on the missing plane. Vietnam has proven itself as the host of a important sea - the East Sea by allowing foreign ships to join in the search.

We have also shown solidarity of ASEAN community, we share difficulty with our friends as well as in ASEAN’s motto “one community, on destiny”.

That’s Vietnam’s tradition, we always give hand to others who are in need. We all wish the plane and passenger will come back and there will no accident like this happen in future./.

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Vietnam’s human rights record

Vietnam’s human rights

    Vietnam’s human rights record remains weak in many areas. The government suppresses virtually all forms of political dissent, using a broad array of repressive measures. Freedom of expression, association, and public assembly are tightly controlled. Religious activists are harassed, intimidated, and imprisoned. State-run drug rehabilitation centers exploit detainees as forced laborers making goods for local markets and export. The criminal justice system lacks independence and operates under the direction of the government and party.

     Escalating repression is putting the Vietnamese government on a collision course with an increasingly politically aware and active population,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Foreign governments should use all diplomatic means to pressureVietnam to listen to the voices of the country’s people, who are demanding an end to old-style one-party rule.”

         In the 667-page World Report 2014, its 24th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. Syria’s widespread killings of civilians elicited horror but few steps by world leaders to stop it, Human Rights Watch said. A reinvigorated doctrine of “responsibility to protect” seems to have prevented some mass atrocities in Africa.  Majorities in power in Egypt and other countries have suppressed dissent and minority rights. And Edward Snowden’s revelations about US surveillance programs reverberated around the globe.

          On November 28, the National Assembly adopted an amended Vietnamese constitution that disappointed those hoping for significant reforms, instead strengthening Communist Party political domination. The Communist Party has presided over a one-party state since the country was unified in 1975.

         Human rights provisions in the constitution were watered down with loopholes that allow the state to criminalize even peaceful expression, association, and assembly.

         While it maintained its monopoly on state power in 2013, the party faces growing public discontent over slowing economic growth, widespread corruption, and a lack of basic freedoms. Denial of rights and endemic official corruption are widely seen as stifling Vietnam’s political and economic progress.

       At the end of 2013, Human Rights Watch estimated that Vietnam is holding some 150-200 known people in detention because of the exercise of their fundamental human rights, including lowland Vietnamese and upland ethnic minority prisoners, some of whom were detained at least in part in connection with their religious activities. The total included at least 63 political prisoners convicted by politically controlled courts in 2013, an increase over the roughly 40 sentenced in 2012, which in turn exceeded the numbers sentenced in 2011 and 2010. The government has consistently used vague penal code provisions to convict these peaceful critics.

Dialing back digital, religious freedom

        Enhancing already extensive government powers to punish and otherwise deter digital freedom, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on September 1, 2013, put into force Decree 72, which contains provisions legalizing content-filtering and censorship, and outlawing vaguely defined “prohibited acts.”

        In January 2013, the prime minister put Decree 92 into effect, further extending controls on religious groups via inclusion of onerous requirements for official permission to practice religious belief and vague prohibitions on religious worship that effectively allow the authorities to selectively prohibit any religious activities they dislike. In its enforcement actions, the government monitors, harasses, and sometimes violently cracks down on religious groups that operate outside of official, government-registered and government-controlled religious institutions.

         Positive moves in 2013 included the signing of the Convention Against Torture. The government has pledged that this will be ratified within a year. The National Assembly decriminalized same-sex marriage, though disappointed campaigners by failing to legalize it.

       “Instead of putting its critics in prison, the Vietnamese government should engage with their ideas, and accept that one-party states should be consigned to the dustbins of history,” Adams said.

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MALAYSIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED AFTER DEATH AT EVENT

MALAYSIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED

The final day of the Future Music Festival in Malaysia has been cancelled following a death at the event.

Acts including Rudimental, Eric Prydz and Pharrell were due to perform in Kuala Lumpur. Organisers say they have taken local authorities' advice to not proceed with Day 3 of the festival. Details of who died are not known, but reports of five deaths linked to drugs have been dismissed.

In a post on the festival's Facebook page, organisers wrote: "A police report has been filed and we are working very closely with all relevant authorities in examining and determining the cause of this very unfortunate incident.

"In the interest of public safety we have heeded the authority's advice to not proceed with Day-3 of Future Music Festival Asia 2014.

tháp đôi Malaysia

"This is also to help in the ongoing investigation. We appreciate the understanding of all parties and will share updates on this matter as soon as possible. "Refunds are being offered through the event's website.

The Future Music Festival has been running in Malaysia since 2012. It's a spin-off of the same event which has been held in various Australian cities since 2006.Tinie Tempah, Macklemore and Chase & Status were also on the line-up in Kuala Lumpur.

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CELEBRATING FOR HUMAN RIGHT DAY 10 DECEMBER

HUMAN RIGHT DAY 10 DECEMBER

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

In 2013, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.

human right day

The United Nations General Assembly created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna earlier the same year.

It has brought ways to deliver health, education and much more. And the tremendous achievements in providing Internet connectivity over the past decade have extended the potential of the network's contribution to social and economic development for everyone.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion of human rights and is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the past quarter century

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