International News for Feb. 28 - March 13

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from the Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report and CNN. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

March 9 - Protesters around the world rallied on the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's exile. On March 9, 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet when the Chinese government began to enforce its laws on religious organization. Currently, legislation in Washington is on the table that would put pressure on China to work towards a resolution with the Dalai Lama, who is now 74. On March 10, the United States State Department issued a statement that called for cooperation between the Chinese and the Tibetan exiles.

Netherlands

March 4 - The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. al-Bashir has denied these charges and his government has refused to arrest him to stand trial in the global court. Jean Ping, African Union Commission Chairman, has called the actions by the court counterproductive, as al-Bashir is still involved in negotiations with rebel groups about the conflict in Darfur. An electoral body in Sudan has determined that al-Bashir is still eligible for re-election in the Sudanese general election on March 8. The political divide between the court and the Sudanese government may not change until foreign intervention, as the International Criminal Court does not have its own police force to enforce its decisions and relies on the police forces of member countries.

Guinea-Bissau

March 4 - President Joao Bernardo Vieira was assassinated by his own army. The soldiers responsible for the assassination believed that he was responsible for the death of General Batista Tagme Na Waie, the commander of the army, who was killed by an explosion in the country's army headquarters on March 1. The United Nations Security Council condemned the attacks, urging the government to bring those responsible for the assassination to justice. The African Union did not suspend Guinea-Bissau, as it did not deem the assassination a coup. The army has pledged to protect and honor the country's constitution. Guinea-Bissau has been in political turmoil since becoming an independent nation in 1974.

Zimbabwe

March 6 - Susan Tsvangirai, wife of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was killed in a car accident about 45 miles south of Harare. Initially, rumors circulated that her death was a result of foul play, but on March 10, Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed the idea of an assassination, calling the accident an act of God at his wife's funeral. Morgan Tsvangirai formed an alliance with President Robert Mugabe in February to create widespread reform for the underdeveloped country. Zimbabwe has been through severe political and economical turmoil over the past several years and has not been able to receive financial aid from the International Monetary Fund, as the global organization will not give Zimbabwe aid until the country reforms its questionable economic policies.