27 May 2000 : news summary:

Natural Disasters, Hazards and Emergencies

‘Drought hit villages complain of dusty response from Indian government‘, FT, 23/5
~ ‘Poor water management and inadequate relief work’ blamed for Rajasthan droughts.

Security/Conflicts

Various, 19-25/5/00
~ Further coverage of the situation in Sierra Leone.
Also: ‘Sierra Leone: What to do next?‘, The Economist, 20-26 May 2000, p94

Various, 19-25/5/00
~ Eritreans flee Ethiopian military advances; UN places immediate arms embargo on warring nations in an attempt to bring an end to the conflict; Ethiopia predicts victory.
‘Ethiopia and Eritrea’s forgotten war, resumed‘, The Economist, 20-26/5/00, pp93-4
Also: Various, 20-21/5/00
~ A humanitarian disaster is occurring as half a million Eritreans flee.

Various, 19-25/5/00
~ Mbeki calls for observers of Zimbabwean elections; Mugabe places ban on Britain’s as independent observers as hopes of a free election fade.

Various, 19-24/5/00
~ Latest news on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka; India prepares to evacuate civilians from Jaffna.

"300 die’ in Nigerian religious violence‘, DT, 25/5/00
~ Sectarian violence flares up again in Nigeria

‘Sooner or later Africa must face some form of recolonisation‘, DT, 22/5/00
~ Article questions what form Western involvement in Africa’s troubles should take as Mbeki appeals for greater intervention in conflicts. (R W Johnson)

‘Shot by both sides‘, G, 25/5/00
~ Report on a shocking documentary highlighting the atrocities enacted by UN troops in Sierra Leone.
Also: ‘The West’s part in African atrocities‘, T, 25/5/00

‘Fiji in state of emergency after third coup attempt‘, FT, 20-25/5/00
~ State of emergency declared as Fijian PM and ministers held hostage in coup attempt; coup leader refuses amnesty demanding control of the country.

Human Rights

‘Take Beijing Home – Five Years Later‘, D+C, May/June 2000, pp8 11
~ Article examines the gains and losses made since the 4th Women’s Conference in Beijing five years ago.

‘Forced labour plea to Burma‘, FT, 24/5/00
~ ILO team appeal to Burmese government to bring an end to forced labour.

Corruption

‘Whitehall law on bribery‘, G, 23/5/00
~ Government to announce anti-bribery laws aimed at companies trying to win foreign contracts.
Also: ‘Bribery overseas to become an offence‘, FT, 24/5/00

Others

‘Globalisation’s "losers" become its movers‘, World of Work, April/May 2000, pp4-7
~ Assesses the impact globalisation has had on international migration flows.

‘South to set up coordinating group‘, TWNF, May 2000
~ A new group named the South Coordination Commission has been formed aimed at increasing South-South cooperation and making developing countries better prepared for North-South negotiations.

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