The Speaker Editors

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Human rights group Amnesty International has released a collection of images revealing Russian military buildups inside eastern Ukraine, which, the group said, was evidence that Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The satellite images show installments of Russian armor and artillery within Ukrainian borders.

“Our evidence shows that Russia is fueling the conflict,” stated Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s secretary general, “both through direct interference and by supporting the separatists in the East. Russia must stop the steady flow of weapons and other support to an insurgent force heavily implicated in gross human rights violations.”

The images show new artillery positions established just inside the Ukrainian border between August 13 and 29. The images also show other Russian military installments, including support vehicles, suspected bunkers and armored amphibious vehicles.

“These satellite images, coupled with reports of Russian troops captured inside Ukraine and eyewitness accounts of Russian troops and military vehicles rolling across the border, leave no doubt that this is now an international armed conflict,” said Shetty.

Shetty criticized both Ukraine and Russia for their recent actions. “All sides in this conflict have shown disregard for civilian lives and are blatantly violating their international obligations,” said Shetty.

Amnesty International has workers on the ground in Ukraine, who have interviewed eyewitnesses to the fighting in many locations. Amnesty has documented war crimes committed there, including indiscriminate shelling, abductions, torture and killings.

Although Amnesty and many other groups and governments have long ago concluded that the Russian government is waging an undeclared war in Ukraine, Moscow has continued to deny involvement.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

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Al Qaeda has formed a new branch in India and surrounding nations. The branch, Qaedat al-Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent, was formed of Afghan Taliban and mujahideen in the region, and was years in the making, according to al Qaeda. The group has the stated purpose of defending the faithful in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujurat, Ahmedabad and Kashmir. Its leaders, high level al Qaeda members, have also been vocal about targeting the United States.

“A new branch of al-Qaeda was established and is Qaedat al-Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent, seeking to raise the flag of jihad, return the Islamic rule, and empowering the Shariah of Allah across the Indian subcontinent,” said Ayman al Zawahiri, a leader of the group, in the video released Wednesday.

“This entity was not established today,” said Zawahiri, “but it is the fruit of a blessed effort for more than two years to gather the mujahideen in the Indian subcontinent into a single entity to be with the main group, Qaedat al-Jihad, from the soldiers of the Islamic Emirate and its triumphant emir, Allah permitting, Emir of the Believers Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid.”

“It is an entity that was formed to promulgate the call of the reviving imam Sheikh Usama bin Laden, may Allah have mercy on him, to call the Ummah to unite round the word of Tawhid [monotheism], to wage jihad against its enemies, to liberate its land, to restore its sovereignty, and to revive its Caliphate.”

The branch will be active in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir, according to the group’s recent video.

The leaders of the new branch include, in addition to Zawahiri, Asim Umar, the group’s emir, and Usama Mahmoud, the group’s spokesman. Zawahiri and the group ultimately report to Mullah Omar. Zawahiri renewed his oath of allegiance to Omar last July.

Umar was previously a commander of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, a group with close ties to al Queda. Umar called on Indian Muslims to wage “global jihad to give a final push to the collapsing edifice of America” in July of 2013.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Translations of the video courtesy of SITE intelligence group.

Qaedat al-Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent video

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In Pakistan, a group formerly belonging to the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) has splintered off, forming a new group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA). The group cited the failure of the TTP to pursue the objectives of overthrowing the Pakistani government and establishing an Islamic state as the reason for the split.

A top TTP commander, Omar Khalid al Khorasani, who was running for the leadership of the TTP, was among those that defected from the network, which includes factions from the Mohmand, Bajaur, Khyber, and Arakzai tribal agencies, and the districts of Charsadda, Peshawar.

Maulana Qasim Khorasani, JuA’s emir, said that “the leadership of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan is a victim of narrow, personal objectives,” justifying the split.

The announcement of the formation of the new group was made over Twitter on the pages of Ihsanullah Ihsan, the former spokesman of the TTP, and Omar Khorasani, the “Personal Assistant” of Omar Khalid Khorasani, the former emir of the TTP in Mohmand.

JuA is the second group to splinter off from the TTP this year. Ahrar-ul-Hind formed out of the TTP in February.

Khadim Hussain, a Peshawar-based analyst, has found 3 patterns common to breakaway splinter groups in militant organizations.

First, the splinter is precipitated by a strategic and tactical retreat by the parent network. National security forces build pressure on a networks, Hussain expained, causing networks to break up into several groups. The cohesive network melts away, but when pressure dissipates, the network resurrects itself.

Second, the concept of “jihad” is interpreted variously among members of militant organizations. Most splinter groups justify their break along ideological lines.

Third, the spoils of war become a bone of contention among the members of the organizations.

JuA may be a reaction to state pressure in North Waziristan. JuA accused the TTP of failing the group’s main objective of imposing an ideal version of Sharia in Pakistan, and vowed to continue the struggle. The splinter may also be a result of relationships within a Pakistani war economy in which organizations finance themselves by kidnapping, extortion, gun-running, drug trafficking, car lifting and human trafficking. Some of the Pakistani network has allied itself with criminal syndicates more than others.

The TTP was established in 2007 with the goal of overthrowing the Pakistani government and establishing an Islamic state with sharia law. The groups former emir, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in a 2009 US drone strike.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

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In a working paper by David K Deng, writing on behalf of the South Sudanese Law Society (SSLS), the society has proposed a “Truth and Dignity Commission” that would seek to understand the varying historical narratives conceived by South Sudanese–which, the SSLS feels, have contributed and are contributing to the ongoing violent crisis in the nation–and then harmonize the varying narratives into one broadly acceptable common narrative.

The paper, “Truth and Dignity Commission: A Proposal to Reconcile the Many Truths of South Sudan from 1972 to the Present,” was published in August 2014 and is the third in a series of working papers developed by the SSLS to stimulate thought on issues of truth, justice and reconciliation in South Sudan’s peace process.

The Truth and Dignity Commission is proposed to investigate and report on human rights abuse patterns over the past four decades.

The authors stated that rhetoric from the warring parties in the current conflict clearly pointed towards unresolved historical grievances and contrasting narratives of past conflicts as a driver of violence, and concluded that South Sudanese needed to reconcile their conflicting historical narratives in one acceptable historical narrative that would reflect the diversity of the nation.

The SSLS posed a question it says all nations emerging from civil conflict must ask: whether to discuss openly the terrible events that characterized the war or to try to forget and move on, referencing Mozambique and Cambodia as notable examples of forgetting. The Truth and Dignity Commission would be part of a solution to dealing with past events in South Sudan.

The Truth and Dignity Commission would be a temporary body established to investigate and report on violations of international human rights and humanitarian law that occurred within South Sudan over its past four decades of history.

The Commission would be used alongside a truth-telling mechanism and other transitional justice mechanisms.

“If done well, …and if given the necessary resources and support, a truth commission can change how a country understands and accepts its past, and through that, if it is lucky, help to fundamentally shape its future,” the report quoted Priscilla Hayner, an expert on truth commissions and transitional justice, and who has worked on official truth-seeking measures in political transitions around the world.

The report also quoted Hayner to write, “There is never just one truth: we each carry our own distinct memories, and they sometimes contradict each other; but debunking lies and challenging dishonest denial can go far in allowing a country to settle on one generally accurate version of history. There are some facts that are fundamental enough that broad acceptance of their truth is necessary before real reconciliation can take place.”

By Day Blakely Donaldson

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[BRIEF] In the face of political protests across the nation, Brazil has banned the wearing of masks in public demonstrations.

The ban was signed by Geraldo Alckmin, the governor of Sao Paulo state, and will go into effect upon regulation–which can take up to 180 days.

The ban has sparked a further protest against the Brazilian government. A Thursday protest has been planned for in Sao Paulo.

The protest will take place at Roosevelt Square between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The penalty attached to mask wearing at public demonstrations has yet to be decided.

By James Haleavy

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In Italy, protests continue against the government for plans that would criminalize the basic right of Italians to a house. The protesters are criticizing the government for using the housing crisis and austerity–which protesters refer to as “artificial impoverishment”–to push for further gentrification in the nation.

The Italian government approved the first changes to the housing plan early this year. The changes have been contested throughout Italy, particularly by poor workers, social activists and refugees, who are most affected by the austerity measures.

Profits created by the austerity measures, the protesters charge, benefit private interests, although they are funded by public

money. These profits go to real-estate speculators and political sponsors. The measures will exacerbate social exclusion of the poor and vulnerable, the protesters contest.

The current protests are taking place in Bologna.

Earlier, in Florence protests took place to prevent poor families from having their electricity shut off because they could not pay their bills.

Activists are particularly focusing on the Italian housing law’s Article 5, “Fighting Illegal Occupation of Properties,” which reads:

“This article stipulates that anyone occupying a property illegally can not apply for residency or connection to public services in relation to the property while also providing the same nullity ex lege of the effects of the acts issued in violation of this prohibition.

“The RT is limited to reiterate that the device requires that anyone who illegally occupy a property without title can not ask for a residency or connection to public services in relation to the property itself. It is also expected void ex lege of the effects of the acts issued in violation of this prohibition.

“The arrangement, character of the legal order, does not result in new or increased charges for public finance.

“In this regard, there is nothing to observe.

The next protests have been planned to place in Pisa September 6-7.

By James Haleavy

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Enthusiasm about the annexation of Crimea among Russians has dropped in the past few months, according to a Lebada Center poll. The news was reported by the opposition’s Dozhd news–a report that contrasts with the reports of official Russian government news outlets, which have reported that Russians are becoming more accepting of the annexation of Crimean into the Russian Federation.

Russian media outlets have been reporting the poll as showing that more Russians support the annexation–citing a number of 73 percent up from 64 percent. However, Dozhd has reported that this figure shows merely that 73 percent of Russians consider Crimea to be part of Russia, up from 64 percent.

The poll asked Russians about the joy they experienced as a result of the annexation of Crimea as well as approval of the nation’s leadership and the willingness of Russians to reduce personal spending to finance the new region of Russian territory.

Joy about the annexation has dropped from 23 percent to 16 percent. Approval of the actions of the Russian government regarding Crimea dropped from 47 percent to 40 percent. Pride in Russia as a result of the annexation dropped from 37 percent to 30 percent.

Commenters have seen a connection between rising criticism of the Russian government and the recent formation of “anti-Maidan popular militias,” called druzhinniki, which will begin work in several regions of Russia this month, including Crimea.

The officially stated purpose of the druzhinniki militias is to monitor the situation, prevent anti-government opposition, acts of provocation and non-systemic opposition that may threaten the constitutional order, and otherwise assist police.

The poll was taken August 22-25 in 134 Russian cities and towns and 1,600 Russian participants.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

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The families of the Russian soldiers recently captured in Ukraine are pleading with the Russian government to return their children from what Russians are increasingly referring to as an “undeclared war” in Eastern Ukraine. The families appealed directly to the Russian president and military leaders to return the soldiers alive and well, and asked for those in power to “help them.”

“Dear President, Minister of Defense, military commanders, my child, Yegor Potchoyev, is now a captive of the territory of Ukraine,” said the mother of the soldier in a plea to the Russian government. “In the name of Christ, I beg you: give me back my child, return him alive, and all the other boys who are with him in captivity.

“Son, boys, we are with you. Whatever happens, we’ll get you out of this fix. If the military leaders won’t do it, then we will, your mothers.”

Read more: Head of Russian Soldiers’ Mothers Group Denounces Putin for Sending Soldiers to “the Bloody Battlefields” in Undeclared War 

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Russia’s involvement in Ukraine since its military mission in Crimea in late February and March, the first news of the deaths of Russian soldiers’ has reached the Russian public. The news reached Russians through Russian independent media and Ukrainian channels.

The Ukrainian government televised the capture of 10 regular Russian soldiers, paratroopers apprehended in Eastern Ukraine.

Other Russian soldiers were missing and some killed, reportedly.

The prominent Russian group Soldiers’ Mothers has been loudly declaiming Putin and the government for its actions in Ukraine–which the group has called an “undeclared war.”

“Two days ago everything was different,” said another captured soldier’s family member. “I’m a patriot of my country and if the president and the minister of foreign affairs say none of our troops are in Ukraine, they’re only at the border, how can we not believe him? I love our president, honestly.

“But now we’ve all changed our opinion, because of this case. Now, of course, I believe our troops are taking part in a war.”

The families of the captured soldiers asked for the safe return of their children, and pled, “Save them. Help us. Return them home alive and well.”

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Russian soldiers families in video published by Telegraph.uk

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In recent weeks, Russians have been attempting to demonstrate against the Russian war in Ukraine–an action that has been difficult because the Russian government has recently passed laws limiting free assembly in Russia. In Moscow Sunday night, Russian protesters attempted to demonstrate against Russia’s undeclared war and were arrested by Russian police.

The protesters attempted to hold a candlelight vigil composed of 2,249 candles–equivalent to the number of civilians already reported killed in Eastern Ukraine, but were prevented from doing so by Russian police.

“Respected citizens! Extinguish the candles. This is forbidden in a public place!” police announced before extinguishing the candles.

Protesters questioned the law prohibiting candles in a public place, and were arrested by police.

Dmitry Kartsev, an employee of Gazeta.ru and a participant in the aborted vigil, was arrested after saying, “I have come to remember those who have died on both sides of the conflict taking place in Ukraine.”

“I’m not an activist at all. I’m a person who is bitter, that people died–died due to stupidity,” said another participant. “People died who don’t even know the truth about what is happening. I have a friend who went to Donbass as a volunteer. And died. That’s it, the man is gone.”

The number of 2,249 was reported by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights last week. A later number, tallied by UNOHCHR and reported by Reuters, was 2,593, excluding Malaysia Airlines MH17 victims.

Another participant, who also took part in an extension of the demonstration in another, less public locale, said of the further action, which was seen by very few, “That was useless, even laughable. “But something had to be done. You don’t want to lose the remnants of your human face.”

Also over the weekend, in several Russian cities Russians protested against Putin and the denial of their constitutional rights to assembly, and were arrested.

A new phenomenon also occurred with regards to the protests. Lone protesters have begun protesting in the streets. The protesters are proceeding on the presumption that, unlike group protests, single protesters do not require permts for demonstration. However, five people were arrested by Russian police for solitary protests, including composer Aleksandr Manotskov.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Manezhku for and against the war with Ukraine

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Valentina Melnikova, the head of Russia’s famous Soldiers’ Mothers Committee, began receiving a barrage of telephone calls Thursday morning from Russian army leaders–including the deputy defense minister–after accusing the entire high command of invading Ukraine.

The callers reportedly wanted to meet with Melnikova.

Melnikova included Russian President Vladimir Putin in her accusation. The Russian high command had, Melnikova asserted, sent Russian soldiers to “the bloody battlefields” without declaring war.

The Russian high command had also not signed legal papers with servicemen regarding their participation in the war. And the Russian high command had not notified Russian mothers where there drafted sons were killed, Melnikova charged.

Melnikova cited “our expert analysis” and said that there were “over 10,000 Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine today.” Melnikova noted that few organizations have better information than hers.

Melnikova said that the Russians fighting in Ukraine were fighting in Novoazovsk, alongside pro-Russian separatists in that border city.

Melnikova is an active member of the Russian Defense Ministry’s public council. Soldiers’ Mothers have first hand information about military affairs, due to their relationships with Russian soldiers.

Soldiers’ Mothers has been receiving information over the past weeks about the deaths of their sons, reportedly. Their dead sons had served in the southern Rostov region of Russia.

Melnikova, who has been active in the organization for decades, said that she was “personally humiliated as a citizen of the Russian Federation by our commander-in-chief’s pure, direct crime.”

Melnikova said that Putin was “violating not only international laws, not only the Geneva Convention, [but also] breaking Russian Federation law about defense. And as for [commander-in-chief of the Russian airborne troops] Vladimir Shamanov, we should be too disgusted to even mention his name–he forces his servicemen to fight in a foreign state–Ukraine–illegally, while mothers receive coffins with their sons, anonymously.”

By Day Blakely Donaldson

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