Latest news with #Magnitsky
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Trump's lies rile SA: was Ramaphosa's rebuttal enough?
Political analyst Khaya Sithole sees progress after the meeting but noticed the gaps, saying, 'The response to the white genocide claims was the difficult part because it is not anchored on facts, but what was important about the conversation is that until now we had no idea what formed the basis for Trump's statements and utterances. There were speculations,' he said. 'What was really missing was a very clear denunciation of the genocide conversations by those that Trump takes more seriously than others; those would have been the golfers, John Steenhuisen and, as it turned out, Johann Rupert, but progress was made.' Sanusha Naidu, from the Institute for Global Dialogue, praises Ramaphosa's strategic restraint. 'I think they were as effective as they could be given the context in which these claims were being made and the mindset of the person making the claims. Obviously, what was very difficult to do, was try to get the US president to accept that he could be wrong and that is not what anybody could achieve ... once President Trump is set on an idea and view, he doesn't back down,' she said. 'The SA Presidency, the delegation in particular, the president, handled it very well. He handled it with maturity, it was measured, it was understood what they were going to do.' Business tycoon Rupert was part of the delegation. He told Trump crime in South Africa happened across the board — everyone is affected. 'It was a good playbook, the playbook was very critical because Ramaphosa knew you were never going to convince him [Trump] otherwise ... but you now created a doubt in his mind. President Ramaphosa knows how to play this game; it's the long waiting game and he can frustrate you because you're not getting a reaction out of him,' said Naidu. Human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka is less optimistic. 'It was quite a shock that we needed three white men to save us, none of whom rebutted the claims of persecution and genocide and it reminded me so much of the late president [FW] De Klerk who never said apartheid was a crime against humanity,' she said. Sooka warns of global repercussions: 'I think we're being set up. Just as much as we've brought a case in the ICJ on genocide, don't be surprised if the American government doesn't file a case with the Israelis accusing South Africa of persecution, which is a crime against humanity, and genocide, because this is the narrative in the face of disinformation and falsehoods.' Sooka believes only Ramaphosa and Cosatu's Zingiswa Losi 'really tried hard to rebut the misinformation'. She cautioned about Trump's focus on EFF leader Julius Malema: 'They might find that the US uses global Magnitsky sanctions or 703C designations, which will mean travel bans for them and their families, so I am not sure if we've turned the tide.' Sooka adds: 'States have an obligation if there is a basis for genocide and a crime against humanity, and so Trump's question to the president is quite loaded when he asks him what he is doing about Malema. It then becomes South Africa's failure to act when it had knowledge of the so-called genocide.'
Ya Biladi
16-04-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Any US terrorist designation of Polisario could lead to trouble for South Africa
Any designation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization by the United States would have serious implications for South Africa, especially for advocacy and fundraising groups. This was discussed by South Africa's Mail & Guardian in an article by U.S. foreign policy expert Michael Walsh. In his article, published Thursday, Walsh interviews Zineb Riboua, a Moroccan research fellow with the Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East. Riboua explains that there will likely be serious consequences for South African NGOs and fundraising groups supporting the Polisario if they don't sever ties once the group is flagged as a terrorist organization. She explains that while «some actors — especially mainstream NGOs — [who] would likely step back to avoid legal exposure», others, «motivated by ideology or religious solidarity» may «continue their support covertly». Riboua predicts that if the South African government does not back the enforcement of a future designation «internally», the second group of «fringe actors» could persist, but they will face greater isolation, heightened monitoring, and significant financial risks. Another potential consequence is the negative impact on South Africa's economy. According to Riboua, any such designation could lead to increased international scrutiny of South Africa's banking system. She alleges that «certain individuals or NGOs in South Africa may have engaged in fundraising or advocacy» for the Polisario Front. This heightened international scrutiny would undoubtedly be an unwelcome development for South African banks. Riboua argues that this could result in more financial transactions being «flagged more often by global compliance systems», potentially exposing South African banks to «reputational damage, derisking, and even secondary sanctions». Furthermore, it could even lead to the imposition of targeted sanctions (such as Magnitsky sanctions) and/or the designation of South Africa as a state sponsor of terrorism. These concerns follow U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson's recent announcement of a forthcoming bill to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization under U.S. law.
Middle East Eye
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
British MPs call for sanctions on UAE officials over detention of UK national
British MPs have written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging him to sanction Emirati officials over the 16-year detention of a UK national on "dubious" charges. Ryan Cornelius, 70, was convicted with three other expatriates in 2011 of defrauding Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and is still in detention. In 2018 when their original sentence was due to end, a judge extended their prison sentences by 20 years in response to an application by DIB. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2022 ruled that Cornelius' detention was arbitrary and violated international law. A letter sent last week to Lammy, signed by parliamentarians including former Conservative party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy, urged the government to take "immediate and decisive action, including the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible for his continued imprisonment". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters UK enrages Sudanese army government by inviting UAE to London conference Read More » Magnitsky sanctions target individuals responsible for corruption or rights violation. They would bar DIB's chair Mohammed al-Shaibani, who is also director general of the Dubai Ruler's Court, a UAE government body, from entering the UK. DIB said it had acted "properly" and "in accordance with applicable laws at all times". UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to bolster Britain's diplomatic relations with Gulf states and seek fresh investment from their sovereign wealth funds. But UK-UAE relations are understood to be under strain due to the UAE's role in Sudan, where it has supplied the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with weapons and other goods throughout a war that began in April 2023 and has led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Starmer and Lammy have both visited the UAE since Labour entered government. The Foreign Office told the Financial Times that Lammy discussed Cornelius' case with his UAE counterpart last December.
The Guardian
19-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Bringing back ‘golden ticket' visas ‘a big mistake', Magnitsky sanctions architect warns Dutton
The architect of global Magnitsky sanctions – which punish human rights abusers and corrupt officials – has warned Peter Dutton's desire to bring back a controversial 'golden ticket' visa scheme would be 'a big mistake'. The significant investor scheme allowed foreign nationals who invested $5m in Australia access to a four-year visa that could be converted to permanent residency. While it was open to all nationalities, it targeted Chinese nationals who represented more than 80% of visas granted over more than a decade. The scheme was abolished by the Albanese government in early 2024 after concerns about potential money-laundering and alleged foreign interference. But last month, Dutton told a Chinese migration agent at a Liberal party fundraising event that he thought a Coalition government would 'bring it back', if elected. 'Whether we do it before the election, or look at a different design for it – we'll have to consider all that,' Dutton told the migration agent, as first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Those comments have alarmed hedge fund manager and Russian exile Bill Browder, who campaigned for Australia to adopt a tougher stance on corruption and international sanctions. 'These golden visas have proven to be a way for dodgy people from places like China and Russia to buy themselves legitimacy and insert themselves into countries,' Browder said. 'There has been a trend for countries to cancel golden visas. Australia would be making a big mistake by resintalling them and inviting bad actors.' Browder is the head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, which seeks to 'impose targeted visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and highly corrupt officials'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email In response to Browder's comments, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said 'You should qualify for a visa because it is in the national interest – not because you have cash.' Dutton and the shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan, have been contacted for comment. Transparency International Australia's chief executive, Clancy Moore, is also urging the Coalition government to abandon any plans to reinstate the visa stream. 'Globally, special investment or 'golden' visa schemes have allowed corrupt officials, crooks and kleptocrats to conceal their proceeds of crime through investing in housing, companies and business, which in turn help them launder not only the illicit funds, but often their reputations, through their visa status,' Moore said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Australia's previous 'golden visa' program allowed shadowy figures to invest mountains of dirty money into Australia. When the visa scheme was abolished, then home affairs minister, Clare O'Neil, said it was not delivering for Australia. The visa brings significant advantages. Applicants need only spend an average of 40 days in Australia a year and there is no English language requirement. Applicants can pay more if they have a low level of English. They can also bring family members to Australia. The Productivity Commission recommended abolishing the visa subclass as it was 'prone to fraud'. In early 2023, the commission also found there was 'no case for retaining this category of permanent visa'. It found by replacing wealthy investors with skilled and sponsored workers the economy would be $2.5bn to $3.4bn better off. Australia's financial intelligence agency, Austrac, reported in 2016 there were 'difficulties in identifying the source of funds and wealth for customers on significant investment visas, as this wealth is often acquired in foreign jurisdictions'.
