News Timeline: April 2012

 

April 1 — East Asia: MYANMAR

Myanmar’s opposition candidates from the National League for Democracy (NLD) win all but one contested seats for the parliament, including its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Although only 45 out of 664 parliamentary seats are open of the opposition parties, with most of the parliament still dominated by the military, the election is seen as a test of Myanmar’s regime’s pledge to reform the country. In response to the election, the European Union (EU) decides to suspend non-military sanctions against Myanmar for a year.

April 2 — Middle East/International Organizations: SYRIA/UNITED NATIONS

Former UN Secretary General and the main mediator with the Syrian government Kofi Annan says Syrian President Bashir —al-Assad has agreed to abide by the UN-brokered peace plan and withdraw his forces and enforce a ceasefire. (April 8): The Syrian government announces it will not withdraw until it receives the similar guarantees from the rebel groups. The fighting continues, with hundreds of people being killed.

April 4 — Latin America: COLOMBIA

The Colombian guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) releases six police officers and four soldiers, hostages kidnapped for ransom and held in captivity for more than 10 years. The move is a sign that the group wants to pursue peace talks.

April 6 — Africa: MALI

The Tuareg minority in Mali seizes power in the north of the country and declares independence for a region called Azawad. The move is condemned by the African Union. The Tuareg are nomadic Berber people with their own language and culture who claim they have been discriminated by the Mali government. (April 12): The military, who seized power in a coup last month, hands over power to a civilian government led by an interim President Dioncounda Traore. Traore has 40 days to organize new elections. He is a founding member of the Alliance for Democracy in Mali party.

April 15 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan announce the beginning of “spring offensive” by staging a spate of coordinated militant attacks across the country. The offensive lasts 18 hours and kills more than 50 people, including 38 militants. The places attacked are in the capital, Kabul, but also in the provinces of Ligar, Paktia, and Nangarhar.

April 15 — North America/Latin America

The leaders of North American and Latin American countries conclude a two-day Sixth Summit of the Americas that has been held in Cartagena, Colombia. Cuba has been excluded from the Americas summits. The purpose of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere. This year’s topics focused on Cuba’s inclusion in future summits (supported by all states except for the United States and Canada), the legalization of drugs to fight the War on Drugs, and Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands. There is no final declaration of the summit due to the U.S.’s veto over Cuba’s future participation. The Seventh Summit of the Americas in 2015 is scheduled to take place in Panama.

April 17 — Australia/South Asia: AUSTRALIA/AFGHANISTAN

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces that Australia will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2013, earlier than planned. Most of foreign troops are supposed to leave at the end of 2014. Australia’s 1,550 troops are stationed in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan region, and are part of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF).

April 28 — East Asia: CHINA

A blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng finds refuge in the United States Embassy in Beijing after an escape from house arrest in the eastern province of Shandong. The U.S. and China are conducting negotiations over Cheng’s fate. Cheng is known for criticizing the Chinese government’s abuses under the One Child Policy, revealing thousands of cases of forced abortions and sterilizations.

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