Shafaq News/ The director of the Iraq organization Talib Khazraji said in a statement "Shafaq News" has been informed "The security forces in Diayala province found since 2008 till today 36 mass graves scattered in different parts of the province," he said, adding that "32 cemetery belong to the victims of terrorism who were killed by the hands of armed groups during the period of the security deterioration that has occurred between the years 2006-2008, ".
"The tombs contain some 360 bodies belonging to women and children, and their presence is concentrated in the south and east of Baquba," He said noting that " some of the tombs have been opened under the formal decision issued by the Iraqi judiciary."
"The security services in the province found three mass graves containing the bodies of other elements and leaders of al Qaeda in southern Buhriz, south of Baquba," Khazraji added ,pointing out that "these graves contain the bodies of more than 263."
The Ministry of Human Rights announced during last year that 400 mass graves have been found in Iraq after the fall of the former regime in 2003, pointing at the same time it can not open more than a dozen graves in a year because they need a great effort of exhumation and identification of their owners.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 08:30
http://www.shafaaq.com/en/news/2273-disclosure-of-32-mass-graves-of-al-qaeda-in-diayala.html
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
No probe for illegally disposed bodies of riot victims
Ahmedabad: Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, on Monday, claimed the Supreme Court-appointed SIT has not made any efforts to probe into allegations of bodies of the Naroda Patiya riot victims being illegally disposed of in a well despite specific documents supplied by him.
The allegation was made in a letter written by Bhatt to SIT chairman RK Raghavan.
Bhatt also reiterated his request to get his statement recorded before a magistrate under the provisions of Section 164(1) of CrPC in the missive.
Along with the letter, Bhatt has also annexed copies of the letters issued by State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) intimating the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner about reports of foul smell purportedly emanating from the decomposed bodies of the riot victims that were allegedly disposed of in the abandoned well on an open ground behind the State Transport Workshop in Naroda Patiya area.
"I had submitted detailed information and documents to the SIT regarding the illegal disposal of unaccounted dead bodies of the Naroda massacre of February 28/March 01, 2002," Bhatt stated in his letter to Raghavan.
"I believe that no genuine and sincere efforts have been made till date by any agency, including the SIT, to excavate the site for exhumation of the remains of the unaccounted and unidentified victims of Naroda (Patiya) massacre," he alleged.
"These documents were being submitted for sole purpose of ensuring that crucial evidence is not disregarded or concealed by the SIT with a view to screen powerful and influential offenders from legal punishment," Bhatt said.
Ninety-five people were killed at Naroda Patiya in the communal violence triggered by the Godhra train burning incident.
The documents annexed included a letter dated March 18, 2002 written by the then SIB chief GC Raiger to the Ahmedabad police commissioner asking for further information on reports that bodies of some of the riot victims of Naroda Patiya being disposed of in an abandoned well behind State Transport Workshop and then covered with rubble.
Raiger's letter further stated that the matter came to light after local people in the locality complained of foul smell coming from the well.
The other documents annexed by Bhatt included the follow-up SIB messages on the same day (March 18, 2002) to city police commissioner seeking thorough investigation into the matter and further stating that some people have tried to hamper police investigations by throwing a dead pig into the well also know as 'Tisra Kuva'.
The follow-up messages in Gujarati said that the site needed to be properly excavated and examined on the allegations that bodies of riot victims were illegally disposed of there.
Source: PTI | Last Updated 01:05(31/01/12)
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-AHD-no-probe-for-illegally-disposed-bodies-of-riot-victims-bhatt-2804355.html
The allegation was made in a letter written by Bhatt to SIT chairman RK Raghavan.
Bhatt also reiterated his request to get his statement recorded before a magistrate under the provisions of Section 164(1) of CrPC in the missive.
Along with the letter, Bhatt has also annexed copies of the letters issued by State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) intimating the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner about reports of foul smell purportedly emanating from the decomposed bodies of the riot victims that were allegedly disposed of in the abandoned well on an open ground behind the State Transport Workshop in Naroda Patiya area.
"I had submitted detailed information and documents to the SIT regarding the illegal disposal of unaccounted dead bodies of the Naroda massacre of February 28/March 01, 2002," Bhatt stated in his letter to Raghavan.
"I believe that no genuine and sincere efforts have been made till date by any agency, including the SIT, to excavate the site for exhumation of the remains of the unaccounted and unidentified victims of Naroda (Patiya) massacre," he alleged.
"These documents were being submitted for sole purpose of ensuring that crucial evidence is not disregarded or concealed by the SIT with a view to screen powerful and influential offenders from legal punishment," Bhatt said.
Ninety-five people were killed at Naroda Patiya in the communal violence triggered by the Godhra train burning incident.
The documents annexed included a letter dated March 18, 2002 written by the then SIB chief GC Raiger to the Ahmedabad police commissioner asking for further information on reports that bodies of some of the riot victims of Naroda Patiya being disposed of in an abandoned well behind State Transport Workshop and then covered with rubble.
Raiger's letter further stated that the matter came to light after local people in the locality complained of foul smell coming from the well.
The other documents annexed by Bhatt included the follow-up SIB messages on the same day (March 18, 2002) to city police commissioner seeking thorough investigation into the matter and further stating that some people have tried to hamper police investigations by throwing a dead pig into the well also know as 'Tisra Kuva'.
The follow-up messages in Gujarati said that the site needed to be properly excavated and examined on the allegations that bodies of riot victims were illegally disposed of there.
Source: PTI | Last Updated 01:05(31/01/12)
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-AHD-no-probe-for-illegally-disposed-bodies-of-riot-victims-bhatt-2804355.html
Remains of '17 roses' exhumed from mass grave in Spain
GERENA, Spain - Archaeologists are unearthing the remains of 17 women who were shot during Spain's 1936-39 civil war and dumped in a mass grave, one of the conflict's most notorious events.
Since the exhumation began last week, the remains of 14 of the 17 women have been discovered at the cemetery in the southwestern town of Gerena, said 25-year-old Lucia Socam, whose great-aunt Granada Hidalgo was among one of the victims.
The skeleton of one of the women was removed from the mass grave Monday so her descendants can give her a proper burial, she added.
The women, dubbed the "17 roses", were rounded up and shot by General Francisco Franco's forces in 1937 for being relatives of people on the opposing Republican side.
The exhumation, which is expected to take another week, comes as top Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon prepares to testify for the first time on Tuesday at his trial for abuse of power for trying to prosecute atrocities of the Franco regime.
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Madrid on Sunday in support of the 56-year-old judge, who won international fame with his attempt to extradite Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet from London.
"He is the only person who dared to attack the crimes of the Franco regime," said Maria Jose Dominguez, 45, the grand-daughter of another one of the 17 slain women.
Archaeologists working on the exhumation found bullets, buttons and a comb near the women's bones.
"It is hard because the grave raises many things: We can see how they were thrown into it, one on top of the other," said Socam.
"But we are happy of course because it is the end of such a long wait, it is more of a happy feeling than one of being bitter."
AFP - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012
Since the exhumation began last week, the remains of 14 of the 17 women have been discovered at the cemetery in the southwestern town of Gerena, said 25-year-old Lucia Socam, whose great-aunt Granada Hidalgo was among one of the victims.
The skeleton of one of the women was removed from the mass grave Monday so her descendants can give her a proper burial, she added.
The women, dubbed the "17 roses", were rounded up and shot by General Francisco Franco's forces in 1937 for being relatives of people on the opposing Republican side.
The exhumation, which is expected to take another week, comes as top Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon prepares to testify for the first time on Tuesday at his trial for abuse of power for trying to prosecute atrocities of the Franco regime.
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Madrid on Sunday in support of the 56-year-old judge, who won international fame with his attempt to extradite Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet from London.
"He is the only person who dared to attack the crimes of the Franco regime," said Maria Jose Dominguez, 45, the grand-daughter of another one of the 17 slain women.
Archaeologists working on the exhumation found bullets, buttons and a comb near the women's bones.
"It is hard because the grave raises many things: We can see how they were thrown into it, one on top of the other," said Socam.
"But we are happy of course because it is the end of such a long wait, it is more of a happy feeling than one of being bitter."
AFP - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012
Stay extended on exhumation case against Setalvad
The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay on criminal proceedings pending before a Gujarat trial court against social activist Teesta Setalvad for her alleged role in exhuming the bodies of post-Godhra riot victims at Pandarwada and surrounding villages in 2006.
A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai posted the matter for final hearing in July.
Earlier, Justice Alam asked the Gujarat Government how it annexed the statements of witnesses when the Supreme Court had granted a stay. However, counsel Hemantika Wahi clarified that “the witnesses' statements which supported the allegation of “fabricating” evidence, purportedly at the behest of Ms. Setalvad, were recorded prior to the stay on proceedings.”
Counsel said: “The investigation was carried out by the police and the statements of witnesses were recorded on the orders of the [Gujarat] High Court.”
Ms. Setalvad's appeal was directed against a May 27, 2011 High Court order, refusing to quash the First Information Report registered against her at the Panchmahal police station.
The FIR related to exhuming bodies of the 2002 riot victims from a graveyard near the Panam river. It alleged that Ms. Setalvad was the prime conspirator. She was implicated in the case by one of her former close aides, Rais Khan, who had been associated earlier with Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). Mr. Khan alleged that the bodies were exhumed at her instance.
In its response, the State government annexed the statements of seven witnesses, who recorded their evidence between July 22 and 25 last before a senior police officer as per the orders of an Ahmedabad court.
KHAN'S CLAIM
Mr. Khan had alleged that he was removed as a field co-coordinator of the NGO in January 2008, as he refused to “do certain acts which were not in the interest of communal harmony.”
He said he was facilitating witnesses in preparing affidavits at her behest. He said most of the victims and witnesses were poor and uneducated but still their affidavits were prepared in English, on the pretext that Gujarati was not accepted in the High Court and the Supreme Court, with the help of a particular advocate and court notary.
Denying the allegations, Ms. Setalvad said: “Far from being pathetic or aggrieved acts of an innocent former employee, these are actions well-heeled and motivated not simply to launch a vicious and vindictive campaign against an upright legal rights group aiding hapless victims but, in a sinister fashion, seek to curb the freedom of my movement.”
NEW DELHI, January 31, 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2845549.ece
A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai posted the matter for final hearing in July.
Earlier, Justice Alam asked the Gujarat Government how it annexed the statements of witnesses when the Supreme Court had granted a stay. However, counsel Hemantika Wahi clarified that “the witnesses' statements which supported the allegation of “fabricating” evidence, purportedly at the behest of Ms. Setalvad, were recorded prior to the stay on proceedings.”
Counsel said: “The investigation was carried out by the police and the statements of witnesses were recorded on the orders of the [Gujarat] High Court.”
Ms. Setalvad's appeal was directed against a May 27, 2011 High Court order, refusing to quash the First Information Report registered against her at the Panchmahal police station.
The FIR related to exhuming bodies of the 2002 riot victims from a graveyard near the Panam river. It alleged that Ms. Setalvad was the prime conspirator. She was implicated in the case by one of her former close aides, Rais Khan, who had been associated earlier with Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). Mr. Khan alleged that the bodies were exhumed at her instance.
In its response, the State government annexed the statements of seven witnesses, who recorded their evidence between July 22 and 25 last before a senior police officer as per the orders of an Ahmedabad court.
KHAN'S CLAIM
Mr. Khan had alleged that he was removed as a field co-coordinator of the NGO in January 2008, as he refused to “do certain acts which were not in the interest of communal harmony.”
He said he was facilitating witnesses in preparing affidavits at her behest. He said most of the victims and witnesses were poor and uneducated but still their affidavits were prepared in English, on the pretext that Gujarati was not accepted in the High Court and the Supreme Court, with the help of a particular advocate and court notary.
Denying the allegations, Ms. Setalvad said: “Far from being pathetic or aggrieved acts of an innocent former employee, these are actions well-heeled and motivated not simply to launch a vicious and vindictive campaign against an upright legal rights group aiding hapless victims but, in a sinister fashion, seek to curb the freedom of my movement.”
NEW DELHI, January 31, 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2845549.ece
Costa Concordia: Divers End Hunt For Bodies
Divers have officially abandoned their search for bodies still missing inside the wrecked Costa Concordia.
The decision has come despite there being 16 people unaccounted for after the cruise ship disaster - including a five-year-old girl and her father."We have definitively stopped the underwater search inside the ship," a fire brigade spokesman from the Tuscan island of Giglio has been quoted as saying. The Costa Concordia capsized on January 13
The decision to call off the search inside the ship was taken because conditions underwater have been deemed too dangerous for divers.
Italy's Civil Protection agency has said that technical studies indicated that the deformed hull of the ship created too many safety concerns to continue the search.
An underwater breach in the hull of the Costa Concordia
It said in a statement that relatives and diplomatic officials representing the countries of the missing have been informed of the decision.
The Concordia ran aground off the island of Giglio on January 13 when the captain deviated from his planned route and struck a reef, creating a huge gash that capsized the ship.
The number of bodies that have been recovered stands at 17.
4:11pm UK, Tuesday January 31, 2012
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16160191