The report of the UN Secretary-General’s panel of experts on accountability in Sri Lanka, published on 31 March 2011, reveals “a very different version of the final stages of the war than that maintained to this day by the Government of Sri Lanka.” The panel findings indicate that serious violations of international humanitarian law and [...]

Perversely, it took a state of emergency to have Syria’s 48-year-old emergency rule removed. But although this had been a key demand of the protesters, the move is now seen as too little too late. In many ways, the situation is reminiscent of the events early February, when Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak’s vague promises of [...]

With the Easter holiday behind us, ISN Insights returns to our weekday coverage starting today: Tuesday’s article was researched on the ground in Kigali by Jon Rosen, who examines Gaddafi’s legacy as a steadfast patron of sub-Saharan African governments. Dr Shalva Weil of Hebrew University explores the ancient history surrounding the Tomb of Rachel on [...]

In keeping with the Swiss national holiday that marks Easter weekend, The ISN will be on publishing hiatus from Friday, 22 April-Monday, 25 April. We look forward to resuming our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday the 26th. From all of us at the ISN, a happy spring weekend to you and yours!

Last week, the EU eased its long-held travel and financial restrictions on four Burmese ministers and lifted the ban on high-level visits to the country. The decision follows the swearing-in of a new government in March and is the first partial reversal of punitive measures against the suppressive regime. So, are things finally heading in [...]