Chinese, Russian arms fuel Darfur abuse: Amnesty

KHARTOUM: Chinese-made bullets and aircraft bought from Russia are used to commit rights violations in Sudan’s Darfur under an ineffective UN arms embargo, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

The London-based rights watchdog aired similar concerns five years ago but its latest report comes after “a new wave of fighting” between opposition groups and government forces over the past year.

“This has included targeted and ethnically motivated attacks on civilian settlements, and indiscriminate and disproportionate aerial bombings that have contributed to the displacement of an estimated 70,000 people from their homes and villages,” Amnesty said.

It said China and Russia continue to supply weapons and munitions to Sudan despite “compelling evidence” they will be used against civilians in Darfur, the western region where rebel groups rose up against Khartoum’s Arab-dominated government in 2003.

The exports also include attack jets, air-to-ground rockets and armoured vehicles, Amnesty said.

“China and Russia are selling arms to the government of Sudan in the full knowledge that many of them are likely to end up being used to commit human rights violations in Darfur,” said Brian Wood, an expert on military and policing for Amnesty.

As an example, the group cited a December 1 incident in which the paramilitary Central Reserve Police carried out a “looting raid” in which one man was shot dead and six people were wounded in the Zam Zam camp for people displaced by the Darfur conflict.

Witnesses told Amnesty they found bullet cartridges marked with Chinese codes indicating their transfer to Darfur after the arms embargo began in 2004.

Amnesty said fighting in Darfur has been accompanied by a repeated pattern of airborne attacks on civilian and military targets using Sukhoi-25 jets, Mi-24 gunships and Antonov transport planes used as “rudimentary but effective bombers.”

Sudan received 36 new Mi-24 helicopters from Russia between 2007 and 2009, a number which “undoubtedly” compensates for those lost during Darfur operations last year, Amnesty said.

“Their continual replacement by the Russian Federation makes it possible for such attacks to continue,” despite a UN prohibition on airstrikes, it said.

Attacks on civilian settlements and property by armed opposition groups in Darfur have also persisted, in violation of international law, the group added. But it could not verify the origin of the rebels’ military equipment — much of which the rebels claimed to have captured from government forces.

Next week the UN Security Council, which China and Russia are veto-wielding members of, will again consider the Sudan sanctions, and governments will resume talks on a future arms trade treaty, Amnesty said.

“The Darfur conflict is sustained by the constant flow of weapons from abroad. To help prevent further serious violations of human rights, all international arms transfers to Sudan should be immediately suspended and the UN arms embargo extended to the whole country,” Wood said.

The Darfur case highlights the need for an effective arms trade treaty that would compel governments to stop weapons transfers where there is a substantial risk they would be involved in serious rights violations or war crimes, Amnesty added.

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide allegedly committed in Darfur.

Khartoum’s ministry of foreign affairs had no comment on the Amnesty report.

The Russian embassy could not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a spokesman for Beijing’s mission could not be reached.

The UN estimates at least 300,000 people died as a result of the conflict in Darfur, with about 300 killed in clashes last year.

Sudan puts the overall death toll at 10,000. AGENCIES

Arnold, Rambo team up for action thriller "The Tomb"

LOS ANGELES: Arnold Schwarzenegger will join fellow muscle man Sylvester Stallone starring in Summit’s action thriller “The Tomb,” Summit said Wednesday.

Schwarzenegger will play Church, a prison inmate who fights to keep other prisoners from losing their humanity. Stallone plays Ray Breslin, the world’s foremost expert on security — who, framed for a murder he didn’t commit — has to escape from a prison he designed.

Swedish filmmaker Mikael Hafstrom, who directed New Line’s 2011 “The Rite” and The Weinstein Company’s 2010 “Shanghai,” is directing.

Miles Chapman wrote the script, which was rewritten by Jason Keller. Brenner originally set up “The Tomb” as a spec script at Summit. The movie is scheduled to begin filming in Louisiana this spring.

The movie is an Emmett-Furla Films/Mark Canton production. Mark Canton, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Robbie Brenner and Kevin King-Templeton are producing. Emmett/Furla Films is financing.

Summit has worldwide distribution rights.

Schwarzenegger and Stallone’s next movie, “The Expendables 2,” is now in post-production and will be released this summer by Lionsgate.

Schwarzenegger, the movie star-turned California governor-turned movie actor, just wrapped “The Last Stand,” produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Are Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger Getting Back Together?

Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger’s very public breakup is back in the spotlight with speculation running wild as to whether they are getting back together. Apparently Shriver is considering taking Schwarzenegger back. The estranged couple spent Christmas together with their three children; Katherine, 22, Christina, 20, Patrick, 18, and Christopher, 14.

Over the last few days Schwarzenegger has been photographed wearing his wedding ring. Today TMZ has reported that Shriver has now been spotted wearing something on her ring finger but it’s unclear if it’s actually her wedding ring. The couple has been seen frequently together since announcing their separation in May last year. And both have been making an effort to keep their separation amicable.

It has also been reported that a major factor is her religious beliefs; she is a devout catholic, who don’t believe in divorce. And apparently Arnold has been going to great lengths to try and win her back by showering her with gifts.

Schwarzenegger, Shriver divorce could be a costly one

TrendPK.com: If Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger end up divorcing, it could be one of the most expensive ones to occur in Hollywood.

Their worth is currently being estimated at somewhere between $200 million and $400 million, states the New York Post. And while it is believed that they have a prenup, the length of their marriage and Schwarzenegger’s actions could result in it being tossed out.

Without a prenup, the couple would split assets half and half due to California law. With that, Shriver would come out with major money, more than Elin Nordegren got in her divorce from Tiger Woods.

Adrien Brody flexes muscles in Predators

LOS ANGELES: It has been 23 years since Predator, a commando action film, sci-fi mash up starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, hit movie screens.

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Adrien Brody flexes muscles in Predators

California governor Arnold signs gay marriage bill

CALIFORNIA: California governor Arnold signs gay marriage bill, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill recognizing gay marriages sanctioned in other states during the nearly five months such unions were legal in California.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the action is consistent with a state Supreme Court ruling upholding the marriages of same-sex couples who tied the knot in California before voters approved Proposition 8.

Proposition 8 is a state constitutional amendment passed in November that limits marriage to a man and a woman.

The bill signed by the governor late on Sunday also said gay and lesbian couples who were married in other states after Proposition 8’s passage have the same rights and benefits that California grants domestic partners.

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California governor Arnold signs gay marriage bill was first posted on October 13, 2009 at 12:48 pm.