One step forward, two steps back

Last Updated: Thursday, 15 November 2007, 13:23 GMT
BBC: Philippines in 'separatist deal'

The Philippines government says it has reached an agreement with the country's main Islamic separatist group on boundaries for a Muslim homeland.

Government negotiator Rodolfo Garcia said "demarcation" was agreed after two days of talks in Malaysia with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Officials say the deal in Kuala Lumpur could pave the way for a final peace deal between the two sides next year.

MILF has been fighting for decades over land in the southern Mindanao region.

Negotiators are hopeful that a permanent peace agreement can be sealed by the middle of next year.

The two sides did not disclose the shape of the new agreed borders, but the talks' Malaysian hosts said the territory would be greater than the present autonomous region in Mindanao.

Mr Garcia said the borders agreement was a "significant breakthrough".

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told the AFP news agency his side hoped "to find closure to the centuries-old problem in Mindanao which various regimes in Manila have not solved".

Formal talks began in 2003 after MILF, which is thought to have around 12,000 members, signed a fragile truce with President Gloria Arroyo's government.

It is the largest of several Muslim separatist groups battling the government in the predominantly Catholic country.

Analysts say the Philippine and US governments hope a peace settlement with MILF could stop the Mindanao region becoming a base for militants linked to al-Qaeda.

No one appears to remember the Berlin wall.

BBC: Saudi gang-rape victim is jailed
By Frances Harrison BBC News

An appeal court in Saudi Arabia has doubled the number of lashes and added a jail sentence as punishment for a woman who was gang-raped.

The victim was initially punished for violating laws on segregation of the sexes - she was in an unrelated man's car at the time of the attack.

When she appealed, the judges said she had been attempting to use the media to influence them.

The attackers' sentences - originally of up to five years - were doubled.

Extra penalties

According to the Arab News newspaper, the 19-year-old woman, who is from Saudi Arabia's Shia minority, was gang-raped 14 times in an attack in the eastern province a year-and-a-half ago.

Seven men from the majority Sunni community were found guilty of the rape and sentenced to prison terms ranging from just under a year to five years.

But the victim was also punished for violating Saudi Arabia's laws on segregation that forbid unrelated men and women from associating with each other. She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes for being in the car of a strange man.

On appeal, the Arab News reported that the punishment was not reduced but increased to 200 lashes and a six-month prison sentence.

The rapists also had their prison terms doubled. But the sentences are still low considering they could have faced the death penalty.

The Arab News quoted an official as saying the judges had decided to punish the girl for trying to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media.

The victim's lawyer was suspended from the case, has had his licence to work confiscated, and faces a disciplinary session.

There's so much that's wrong with this that it's just not funny anymore. I hope to god that I'm not understanding the full story as to why a rape victim is getting 90 lashes and seven rapists are getting a comparatively light sentence.

Friday November 16, 2007
The Star: MP: Sorry for sexist comment

HIS terowong (tunnel) remark at the Umno general assembly led Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai) to make his second apology to Karpal Singh (DAP – Bukit Gelugor) in two weeks.

Badruddin said he had no malice or any intention to degrade women when he uttered the word at the recent Umno general assembly and that it was meant as a joke.

He was reported to have said “Yes, we can see a tunnel in her skirt” after a delegate complained about the uniform of AirAsia flight attendants.

By terowong he meant the gap between the stewardess’ skirt and legs, he said.

“I do not mean to offend anyone and I sincerely apologise to all women.

“I have a lot of respect for women because my mother, a woman, gave birth to me, and I have an 18-year-old daughter,” he said in the Parliament lobby.

Karpal Singh had planned a signature campaign against Badruddin for uttering the remark that was deemed sexist.

When contacted, Karpal Singh said he accepted the apology.

On Oct 30, Badruddin apologised to Karpal Singh and the handicapped community for an offensive remark he made against them in the Dewan.

“I would also like to tender my sincerest apology to Bukit Gelugor,” he said.

Nice.