Malu Rasanya

No Compromise On Ukraine's Rebel Frontline

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 03 Februari 2015 | 16.15

By Katie Stallard, in Horlivka, East Ukraine

Pro-Russian rebels on the front line in eastern Ukraine have told Sky News they are not interested in peace talks or compromise.

The team was given rare access to forward positions in the separatist-controlled city of Horlivka.

Soldiers from the self-proclaimed 'Army of Novorossiya' (a tsarist term for the region, which translates as new Russia) said the time for talking had passed.

"Before, we wanted to talk. But now we are not interested in that," a commander who gave his name as 'Shusha' explained.

"They killed so many children, women and civilians so now we have nothing to talk about with them."

The commander said the two sides were just 700 metres apart at his position, as the rebels attempted to encircle a Ukrainian army position in the small town and strategic railhead of Debaltseve.

Another fighter, nicknamed 'Yakut', said peace talks were pointless and the conflict could only be resolved by military means.

"As soon as we start peace talks they change their positions and become more powerful," he said.

"When we start to press them, the international community asks for peace and ceasefire. But all negotiation and all ceasefire only helps them."

The Ukrainian government says the rebels are receiving weapons and support from Russia, a claim the Kremlin denies.

Aid workers have called for an immediate ceasefire to allow urgently-needed humanitarian supplies in.

At the city hospital in Horlivka, we saw more civilian casualties being brought in.

A man hit by mortar shrapnel in the street was rushed into emergency surgery, but doctors were unable to save his leg.

A middle-aged lady was stretchered in with a serious head injury. Paramedics said a shell had landed near her apartment block.

Behind her, in the ambulance, an elderly woman asked over and over again where she was and what had happened to her walking frame.

In the corridor outside the operating theatre, another frightened family waited for news.

They had been hiding in the basement of a relative's house when it was hit by a shell.

"The house was destroyed," a mother told us. "Our family and their family were there."

"The boy died. Her son." She pointed to a lady holding a small baby. "He was seven years old," she said.

"My son lost his face, he is here in the hospital now," she added.

Both sides have accused the other of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas.

It is little comfort to those caught in between.

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Cocktail Of Misery Feeds French Radicalisation

Anxiously eyeing the upper floors of a tower block, the gendarme admitted: "I don't want to stay here long".

Why not?

"Someone might drop a washing machine on my head," he replied.

This comic-book image provoked an unstifled snigger.

But what France's Gendarmerie and police now face, according to their own Prime Minister, is operating on the front lines of decades of a failed philosophy of ethnic integration.

Major Denis Mottier is a combat veteran of Afghanistan. Now he's in L'Ariane, a suburb of Nice, dealing with crime and the steady infiltration of extreme Islamist ideology.

He explains that the area, which sits just two miles up an industrial valley from the centre of Nice, faces severe unemployment, drugs, and organised crime - a cocktail of misery that can feed the radicalisation of young people, especially immigrants.

In France, until about 10 days ago, there was no such thing as community.

No Tunisian community. No communities of Congolese, Senegalese, Chechens or Libyans.

France, it was deeply believed, had a unifying culture that was as indomitable as Asterix and inclusive of all.

"We have a different approach to Britain," said colonel Gael Marchand, the commander of the Gendarmerie for the Alpes-Maritime region.

"There you have multi-culturalism. You have communities from all the immigrant groups. Differences are celebrated. Here we see everyone as French. Just French."

Partly derived from the French colonial approach which favoured assimilation of races over separation, the French mono-cultural view has been the bedrock of policy throughout the Fifth Republic.

Until Prime Minister Manuel Valls dropped an A-Bomb. He admitted the unthinkable.

France, he said, had become an apartheid state that had confined people to the urban fringes and excluded them from the mainstream of life because of their skin colour, their surnames or their sex.

The problems of immigrants in the banlieux were not new. Thousands rioted in 2005 after a group of young people died while allegedly being chased by police in Paris.

But the evolution of Islamo-fascism alongside the alienation of young men and women of immigrant stock has grown and born bloody fruit in the form of the Charlie Hebdo slaughter - killings carried out by men born French but feeling other.

Children in the Nice banlieux often drop out of school at 13. They are easy prey for radical preachers who have a political and theological explanation for why hope fades for many in their teens.

As in England and across Europe vulnerable young people are told they are "hated" by the indigenous communities and that the West is a decadent brothel-cum-casino that should be purged.

These arguments combined with the prospect of getting into gunfights and the thrill of Holy War, are powerful magnets that have drawn thousands from Europe to the ranks of terror groups in Syria.

Many dozens have travelled from Nice. Now 64 ghettos have been officially identified in across France. Six are around Nice, including L'Ariane.

Nearly half of young people living in them are unemployed and the average income is about €11,000 (£8,300) and more than half of families have a single parent.

So France has admitted it has a problem. It's just the solution that eludes the Republic - just as it does the United Kingdom.

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France Targets 'Ghettos' In Anti-Terror Fight

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

Counter-terrorism operations have been launched across France in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, with the Prime Minister declaring the country has collapsed into "apartheid".

A total of 64 suburbs in many major cities have been identified as ghettos and Manuel Valls' admission that geographic, social and ethnic apartheid exists in France signals a seismic change in the country's approach to immigration

It also highlights the scale of the problem.

France has not been able to concede that significant proportions of its population were being left behind economically, marginalised into ethnic enclaves, leaderless and vulnerable to Islamist radicalisation.

Because until now French political thought refused to recognise the notion of the nation having different communities within it.

But the 64 ghettos identified in dozens of cities share startling statistical characteristics.

Unemployment is at 23% in the banlieux. Among the young that figure soars to 45%.

The average income is €11,000 (£8,300) a year. Between a third and half of all families are single-parent and about half are made up of immigrants or their children.

Meanwhile, the French interior ministry has designated around 15 Priority Security Zones across the country, which have been seen to be hotbeds of crime and potential hot houses of jihadism.

These zones have been reinforced by extra intelligence and uniformed officers, as well as quick-reaction units which set up road blocks and random checks to look for drugs and weapons.

"There is a very blurred and small gap between organised crime and terrorism," said colonel Gael Marchand, head of the Gendarmerie for the Alpes-Maritime region.

"Terrorists need funding and they are often recruited in prisons. If you're a terrorist and a former criminal you know where and how to get weapons."

He said guns were easily obtained via smuggling routes through Italy from eastern Europe.

France has launched an internet campaign attacking Islamic State's online recruitment drive and warning potential jihadis they will die a "lonely death far from home".

But the colonel said the majority of the most effective indoctrination was conducted by individual preachers who were able to speak directly to potential recruits beyond the scrutiny of members of mosques and prayer rooms.

Anne Mamadou lost his son to jihad. He was radicalised by Omar Omsen, a notorious Muslim convert, originally from Senegal, who settled in Nice and took "dozens" of volunteers with him when he went to fight in Syria.

"It's been very hard to get hold of him," he said.

"The last I heard is that he was fighting somewhere near Kobani in the north.

"He was brought up a Muslim in the correct way. He got a good education and then he suddenly disappeared - just after getting married and having his first baby.

"He's probably too proud to come back and say: 'Daddy, I made a mistake'."

Bekri Boubekeur is an Imam and member of the local Muslim council who was part of a group that built and funded the first mosque in the region, which sits across the road from a drug den in L'Ariane, a ghetto on the outskirts of Nice.

He said young people who signed up for Jihad were "committing slow suicide".

"They probably don't know they're doing it at the time, but they are," he said.

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Japan Will 'Never Forgive' IS Hostage Murder

Written By Unknown on Senin, 02 Februari 2015 | 16.15

The Japanese government says a video showing the apparent murder of hostage Kenji Goto appears to be genuine.

The one minute-long footage was apparently released by Islamic State (IS) on Saturday evening.

It purportedly shows the beheading of the Japanese freelance journalist and film-maker, who was a father of three.

The man was wearing an orange jumpsuit and the video was similar to previous beheading footage the militant group has released.

The video was called "A Message to the Government of Japan" and the apparent murderer spoke with a British accent.

He blamed Mr Goto's beheading on Japan's support for the US-led coalition fighting IS in the Middle East.

The kneeling hostage did not speak in the footage.

The Japanese, UK and US governments strongly condemned IS, with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visibly upset as he spoke to reporters in Tokyo.

"I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists," he said.

"We will co-operate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes."

US President Barack Obama said America condemned the "heinous murder" and would continue to work with allies to destroy the jihadist group.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a "further reminder that ISIL is the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life".

And Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, speaking in Sydney, added: "It is important that we do recognise that although the current challenge is focused around Iraq and Syria, we have to recognise that the underlying challenge of extremist Islamism is going to be with us for a long while.

"This is a generational struggle against this ideology and we are going to have to fight these battles not just in the Middle East, but in other parts of the world as well. There is nowhere that is safe from this challenge."

Speaking from her home in a suburb of Tokyo, Mr Goto's mother Junko Ishido said: "Kenji has died, and my heart is broken.

"Facing such a tragic death, I'm just speechless."

Mr Goto's wife, Rinko, added: "He was not just my loving husband and father to our two beautiful children, but a son, brother and friend to many around the world.

"While feeling a great personal loss, I remain extremely proud of my husband who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia and Syria."

The family of another IS hostage, Jordanian fighter pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh, said they were "devastated" by Mr Goto's murder.

His uncle, Yassin Rawashda, has urged the Jordanian government to "tell us the truth", amid concerns that they have not had an update on how negotiations for his release are going.

Mr Goto travelled to Syria in October seeking to secure the release of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa, according to friends and business associates.

Earlier this month, IS released a video of Mr Goto and Mr Yukawa and threatened to kill them unless a $200m (£133m) ransom was paid.

Last week, Mr Abe slammed "an outrageous and unforgivable act" after a video reportedly showing an image of Mr Goto holding a picture of a beheaded Mr Yukawa was posted online.

Mr Goto's family made public pleas to Mr Abe to negotiate his safe release.

Earlier on Saturday, a top Japanese diplomat said there was a "state of deadlock" in negotiations to release Mr Goto.

Japan's deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama made the comments in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he had been leading Tokyo's team attempting to secure the freedom of the veteran war reporter.

Mr Goto, 47, had appeared in videos released by IS in which his fate was linked to Jordanian pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh.

Jordan and Japan held indirect negotiations with the militants, who control around a third of Iraq and Syria, for the release of the men in exchange for a jailed jihadist.

Jordan demanded evidence that the airman who crashed in Syria on December 24 is still alive before freeing the would-be suicide bomber, who is on death row.

IS had said it would kill Jordan's captured pilot by sunset on Thursday unless Iraqi jihadist Sajida al Rishawi was released.

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Greece In New Debt Deal Talks With Osborne

Greece's finance minister is due to meet British counterpart George Osborne, as Athens launches its drive to secure a new debt agreement.

Yanis Varoufakis is in London after holding talks in Paris, where he compared Greece to "drug addicts craving the next dose" of loan tranches.

Greece wants to end its existing arrangement with the European Union, the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund "troika" when its aid deadline expires on 28 February.

Mr Varoufakis said it was time for his country to go "cold turkey".

"For the last five years, Greece has been living for the next loan tranche," he said.

"We have resembled drug addicts craving the next dose. What this government is all about is ending the addiction,"

Greece has begun to roll back on austerity measures imposed under its existing bailout deal and France says it will try to help the country's new government find a debt agreement.

French finance minister Michel Sapin ruled out cancelling the debt but said Athens was right to be concerned about the burden of its repayments.

"France is more than prepared to support Greece in this approach," he said.

"I am confident that Greece will be in a position to overcome the present challenges. I am confident that the Greek government will be in a position to produce indispensable reforms.

"Anything that can alleviate the Greek debt burden will be welcome... but of course there is no question of cancelling the Greek debt."

Mr Osborne said: "I welcome this opportunity, so soon after the Greek election, to discuss face to face with Yanis Varoufakis the stability of the European economy and how to boost its growth."

Prime Minister David Cameron initially responded to Syriza's rise to power by warning it would increase "economic uncertainty across Europe" but later offered the new leader UK help on tax collection.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wants to agree a bridging deal with the troika to gain breathing space.

He hopes a new deal can be negotiated to reduce Greece's unmanageable public debt burden of more than 175% of its economic output, or €320bn (£240m).

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Family's Relief As Jailed Reporter Released

A journalist freed after 400 days in an Egyptian jail "won't rest" until the two colleagues he was detained with are also released, his brother has said.

Australian Peter Greste was flown to Cyprus after a presidential "approval" meant he was allowed out of prison in Cairo.

But fellow al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed remain in jail, where the trio had been held since their arrest in December 2013.

And Mr Greste's brother, Andrew, told a news conference in Brisbane: "On a more sombre note, I know Peter wanted me to... acknowledge that Peter's two other colleagues are still there.

"Peter was arrested with Baher and Mohamed, and they also deserve to be free.

"Peter won't rest until they're released from prison and we hope that will follow in the very near future.

"Of course, we are thinking of Baher, Mohamed and their families who, thankfully, in this unusual twist of fate, we've got to know very well."

Andrew Greste said his 49-year-old brother was "safe, healthy and very, very happy to be on his way home".

He also thanked journalists "who have not let the story die", adding: "You've all been on this ride with us and have supported us and Peter faithfully."

The three reporters were jailed for offences including spreading lies to help the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, but were facing a retrial after their original convictions were overturned.

Canadian-Egyptian Mr Fahmy is expected to be freed over the coming days, when paperwork is completed that would allow authorities to deport him to Canada,

His fiancee Marwa Omara told reporters: "His deportation is in its final stages. We are hopeful."

It remains unclear what will happen to Mr Mohamed, who is Egyptian.

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Ukraine: Psychiatric Care On The Frontline

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 01 Februari 2015 | 16.15

By Katie Stallard, Sky Correspondent, in Donetsk

At the psychiatric hospital in western Donetsk, an elderly man stands reciting Pushkin.

The shelling has been getting closer, the patients are being told what is happening, but it's difficult for many of them to understand.

Inside, on the ward, the staff are trying to keep things as normal as possible, but they're frightened too.

The doctor shows us a picture of one of their nurses - Irinia Radchenko - she was killed in shelling at home a few days ago.

"It was Wednesday," Dr Valentina Vozovikova told us.

"She was at home after work when the place was heavily shelled and she died.

"She was killed by a big piece of shell. It went through her chest.

"We are really afraid. Today on my way to work when I was almost at the bus station the shelling began so I lay on the ground.

"It was really scary, but I made it to work because the shells didn't land too near to me."

Dr Vozovikova showed us around the ward and asked us to film a 92-year-old retired schoolteacher - neighbours found her lying on the floor at home.

The doctor hoped relatives abroad might recognise the frail lady and be able to help.

"Her name is Vera Feodorovna Pismenova," Dr Vozovikova said, "She has nephews in Russia, maybe someone will see that she is alive, that she cannot look after herself."

"We brought her here and we don't know if we can save her or not but we hope we can."

In another room, we met 77-year-old Nina Pavlovna, she was found begging near a church.

"The shelling began … I had nowhere to live," Mrs Pavolovna explained.

"I was begging on the street so they took me here, washed me, changed my clothes and I'm grateful for that."

Staff said their salaries had not been paid for four months, and the hospital was running low on food and medication, that they only had a few days' supply of some drugs left.

Medical aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - also known as Doctors Without Borders - has warned of an increasingly dire situation in the region, as hospitals are stretched to breaking point with dwindling supplies, and an increasing number of patients.

MSF is working on both sides of the conflict zone, transporting medical supplies to frontline hospitals, but heavy fighting is restricting access to some areas.

We filmed Dr Wael Abdelrahman Ahmed delivering medication to an elderly care home in Makiivka, north-east of Donetsk, who explained the difficulties facing doctors in the region.

"There is a really big problem with medications," he said.

"We're getting different requests from different hospitals - they need support."

"We are doing our best now to support them - for instance with maternity and chronic disease kits."

The organisation said their teams had twice been turned back over the last week, trying to reach the hospital in the frontline city of Gorlovka, and urged both sides to allow humanitarian aid to reach those who desperately need it.

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Ukraine Peace Talks Break With No Solution

Peace talks aimed at ending the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine have broken up with no plans to resume, according to Sky News sources.

The main members of the so-called contact group - Ukrainian former president Leonid Kuchma, a Russian diplomat and an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe official - had met at a state residence in the Belarussian capital Minsk, where they were joined by two separatist officials.

Diplomatic sources told Sky's Katie Stallard the talks broke up with no conclusion.

She was told their resumption on Sunday was not likely and differences were very wide - with the atmosphere described as not fruitful.

It came on a day when 12 civilians were killed by separatist shelling in Debaltseve, which lies to the northeast of Donetsk, according to a police chief.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak, meanwhile, said 15 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 30 wounded in clashes across the east.

The day before Sky News had witnessed the aftermath of a shell strike in Donetsk, at which correspondent Katie Stallard counted five bodies.

The two sides in Ukraine's civil war have held only one inconclusive meeting since agreeing a ceasefire last September.

That truce collapsed with a new rebel advance last week.

Rebels are fighting to remove the two regions of Donetsk and Luhansk from Kiev's control.

Both sides have accused each other of deadly artillery and mortar strikes on civilian targets in the past two weeks, including the one on a cultural centre seen by Sky's correspondent.

Since September, the separatists, who Kiev says are supported by Russian troops, have seized more than 500 sq km (193 sq miles) of territory.

Debaltseve, where the fighting has been intense, is on the main road between Donetsk and the other big rebel-controlled city of Luhansk. It is also on a vital rail route for goods traffic from Russia.

The rebels were also continuing to threaten Mariupol, a town of 500,000 people in the southeast of the country, an official said.

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Gallery: Ukrainian Army's New Conscripts

Conscripts attend a ceremony marking their enrolment in the Ukrainian army in Kiev

Relatives react as they attend the ceremony. Ukraine's parliament voted to refresh its front-line forces and resume partial conscription after a top security official warned Russian forces backing rebels had sharply increased military activity in the country's east. Continue through for more images

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