Rights Group Praises South Africa For Stand On International Court

Human Rights Watch today praised the speech of South African Justice Minister Dullah Omar at the opening day of a conference to establish an International Criminal Court (ICC).

At a speech before delegates from 156 countries in Rome, Dullah called for an ICC with the authority to make an independent decision of when to take up cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. He supported giving the prosecutor the powers to begin investigations on his or her own initiative.

South Africa has been a leader of the "like-minded group" of more than 50 states, which seeks to form an ICC with strong and independent powers.

Dullah spoke on behalf of the Southern Africa Development Community, which has 14 members. "The creation of the ICC will send a clear and unequivocal message that perpetrators of these crimes will not get away with impunity," he said.

"Dullah's speech was right on target," said Richard Dicker, who heads the ICC campaign for Human Rights Watch, a New York-based monitoring organization. "South Africa has been on the right side of this issue time and again."

But Dicker warned that as the conference gets underway, South Africa will likely come under heavy pressure from influential countries such as the United States to dilute the court's powers. Washington wants to curtail the authority of the prosecutor to begin investigating matters on his or her own initiative. Some countries of the Non-Aligned Movement want to have a veto power over the court's docket, enabling them to block cases that might embarrass them.

"The ICC could really make a difference in how the world punishes grave human rights abuses," said Dicker. "South Africa can play a historic role in that process - if it sticks to its principles."

Source: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch Condemns Killing Of Iranian Civilians

Human Rights Watch unequivocally condemns the bombing on June 3 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, which killed three persons and wounded dozen of others.

"We condemn this brutal attack, and the deliberate and arbitrary killing of innocent civilians which violates the most basic principles of humanity," said Hanny Megally executive director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch.

According to press reports, the People's Mojahedine Organization of Iran (PMOI), has claimed responsibility for the blast. Human Rights Watch calls on PMOI to immediately and unconditionally cease all such attacks on civilians. PMOI is an armed Iraq-based organization that has openly dedicated itself to overthrowing the Iranian government.

In response to similar attacks in the past, the Iranian government has clamped down on the civil liberties of Iranian citizens. Human Rights Watch urges the Iranian government not to take such steps in this instance.

Source: Human Rights Watch

PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL EVICTION FROM AND UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION OF LAND ACT

PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL EVICTION FROM AND UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION OF LAND ACT 19 OF 1998
Commencement Date of Act: 5 June 1998
Date Modified by Sabinet: 20080925
Category: Property, Land and Environment - Land
Note: Decided Cases updated
Description: To provide for the prohibition of unlawful eviction; to provide for procedures for the eviction of unlawful occupiers; and to repeal the Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act, 1951, and other obsolete laws; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
Database: Netlaw: SA Legislation

A copy of the Act can be found here.

Source: Sabinet, info.gov.za