Zimbabwe: While Mugabe is eating cake…

Source: Wikicommons, 12/08/06. Demonstration against Robert Mugage’s regime next to the Zimbabwe embassy in London, on August 12, 2006. Author: TwoWings.

Here is what Human Rights Watch (2015) reports:

According to figures released by the International Monetary Fund in June, Zimbabwe’s external debt obligations at the end of 2013 were estimated be US$10.6 billion (over 80 percent of the country’s gross domestic product). The government is failing to achieve greater transparency in diamond production and revenue collection, affecting its ability to invest in desperately needed public services, including essential services such as water, education, health, and sanitation.

Some 20,000 people, displaced by flooding from the Tokwe-Mukorsi dam in Masvingo province in February, were evicted and resettled with little government protection. They have not received adequate compensation, including land for resettlement, and were pressured to relocate to land with disputed titles. When displaced people protested in August, over 200 anti-riot police used excessive force and beat and arrested about 300 people; 29 were charged with public violence. At time of writing, the case was still being heard in court.

In the capital, Harare, many people have little access to potable water and sanitation. Police violated basic rights, such as freedom of expression and assembly, using old laws that are inconsistent with the new constitution. Activists and human rights defenders, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, faced police harassment. There has been no progress toward securing justice for human rights abuses and past political violence, including violence after the 2008 election.

For instance, in January:

police arrested five activists from four NGOs—Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Combined Harare Residents Association, Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe Trust, and Zimbabwe Human Rights Association—for participating in a demonstration in Chitungwiza. They were later released without charge. Also in January, police arrested 12 leaders of the Zimbabwe National Students Union. The students, who were beaten in police custody, were arrested during a demonstration against poor education standards at Harare Polytechnic College.

News highlights, late June 2015

Syria and the humanitarian crisis:

http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-arab-republic-humanitarian-snapshot-31-may-2015

Exploitation of oil in the DRC:

http://www.france24.com/en/20150610-uk-oil-firm-accused-bribery-dr-congo-national-park

US legislation on corruption:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-06/09/c_134308415.htm

Independent UN report on Gaza:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIGazaConflict/Pages/ReportCoIGaza.aspx

Fishers and Gaza:

http://english.pnn.ps/2015/06/03/occupation-targets-farmers-and-fishermen-injures-1-in-incursion-east-of-rafah/

News highlights, early June 2015

 

EU caving in to Russia:

http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=60229

UN angry at EU migration plan:

https://euobserver.com/justice/128853

Gaza war:

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2015/may/29/gaza-killing-gets-easier/

HSBC and money laundering:

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/05/hsbc-money-laundering-procedures-flaws-too-bad-to-be-revealed

Occupied territories and home destruction:

http://www.irinnews.org/report/101579/the-catch-22-for-palestinian-villages-in-the-west-bank

Biggest French banks in tax havens

According to a report by the European Network on Debt and Development:

• One third of the foreign subsidiairies of the five largest French banks are located in tax havens;
• 26% of French banks international turnover are located in tax havens;
• Subsidiaries in tax havens are mainly specialised in investment solutions, structured finance and asset management. Their retail activities are a lot less important than in other countries (two times less than in other countries for BNP-Paribas, 3 times less for Credit Agricole);
• Employees of banks located in tax havens are two times more profitable than employees located in other countries (more than 3 times for Societe Generale and 13 times for the BPCE Irish employee);
• Luxembourg is the favourite tax haven of French banks: 117 of their subsidiairies are located in Luxemburg (followed by Belgium, Hong Kong and Switzerland);
• The Cayman Islands are the black hole of banking business, with a very disparate turnover (sometimes negative), fifteen subsidiaries for the major French banks and no employees; and
• Tax havens are more attractive than emerging countries: the turnover of French banks in emerging countries is 5 times less important in the BRICS than in tax havens.