Chowraha

In 2006, Israel's indiscriminate use of several million cluster bombs against the Lebanese civilian population raised much outcry across the world. Most of these were fired in the last 72 hours of the conflict. UN officials estimate that southern Lebanon is saturated with 1 million unexploded bomblets, far outnumbering the 650,000 people living in that impoverished region. This devastation against humanity, which led to many Lebanese wounded, homeless or dead, galvanized much public and diplomatic opinion. Cluster bombs are volatile explosives dispersed in tens and hundreds of lethal bomblets over a wide area by aircraft or by rocket. Many of these bomblets do not even explode on impact. Thus, they remain fatal for the civilian population, particularly for children who may mistake these lethal explosives for innocent toys. Michael Slackman of the  International Herald Tribune , when writing on the Israeli usage of cluster bombs in Lebanon, said, "They are s

2008 marks the 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In commemoration, human rights activists in over 60 countries around the world recognize that arms play a vital role in patronizing Human Rights and their control is absolutely essential in order to safeguard the basic rights of the peoples of world. An International Control Arms Week of Action is hence being held between the 13 th and 19 th of September. A campaign initiated by prominent and reputable organizations, and human rights activists around the world, it aims at bringing to the notice of governments worldwide that the citizens of the world are peace-loving and they are waiting and hoping that their governments too will contribute positively in controlling arms. Lives shattered but not forgotten: Each day lives are being shattered, families broken and peace destroyed thanks to the evil of small arms. According to figures by Amnesty International, Oxfam and Iansa, 245,000 lives have bee

In a recent development of the case of Dr. Afia Siddiqui, her lawyer has demanded the American government to immediately allow Dr. Afia to be hospitalized in order for her to be treated for her critical health condition.   In a press conference held recently Elizabeth Fink shared that Dr. Afia’s health was deteriorating and the US officials had been approached in this regard. The lawyer further said Dr. Afia was being incarcerated and abused on the name of search by US authorities. This fact was first made public by UK House of Lords Member, Lord Nazir Ahmed who raised the issue in the House. He referred to her as Prisoner 650, as was disclosed by Moazzam Beg in his book when talking about the only female prisoner in Bagram jail (For background, refer to Part I of this series). Lord Nazir brought to the notice of House of Lords the condition of this prisoner saying that she was physically tortured and repeatedly raped by officers in the Bagram prison. It was further disclosed tha