Myanmar: see previous. Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has informed the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, that "tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are now reported to be fleeing towards Bangladesh." She notes “I am saddened to receive reports that, while the authorities are helping Rakhine and other communities living in affected townships evacuate to safer locations, this assistance is not being extended to the Rohingya Muslims.” With overwhelming understatement she agrees with the Annan Foundation report that human rights issues in Myanmar are not properly addressed. In fact, current media reports state that entire villages of Rohingya are being burned and their inhabitants slaughtered. A continuing genocide warning.    Partial sources online: "Myanmar: UN expert urges efforts to break 'worsening cycle of violence' in Rakhine," Aug. 31, 2017, United Nations News Centre; "Myanmar: UN rights chief says violence in Rakhine state 'predictable and preventable'" Aug. 29, 2019, United Nations News Centre; "Bodies of 20 Rohingya Muslims pulled from river on Bangladesh border," Rebecca Wright and Euan McKirdy, Aug. 31, 2017, ICNN; "Villagers slaughtered in Myanmar 'massacre', reports of women and children among more than 100 dead," Liam Cochrane, Aug. 31, 2017, ABC; "Video provided by a human rights monitor is said to show Chut Pyin burning down," Aug.31, 2017, ABC News.

      Venezuela: see previous. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has issued a report on Venezuela noting 124 deaths linked to anti-government protests, excessive use of force by government forces, a policy of arbitrary arrest, military courts trying civilians, and other measures. These are in response to a coherent, organized force challenging the government extra-legally. The report makes no effort to discover the cause and funding of the anti-government movement, and risks charges of being partisan to U.S./corporate interests. OHCHR was not granted access to the country by the Venezuelan government so the report relies on information from victims, witnesses and "other sources" in the country.    Partial sources online: "Human rights violations indicate repressive policy of Venezuelan authorities – UN report," Aug. 30, 2017 United Nations News Centre; "Human rights violations and abuses in the context of protests in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1 April to 31 July 2017," Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva, August 2017.

      Canada: the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination (CERD) released its Country Report on Canada, August, 31, 2017. It welcomed: the 2016 establishment of Ontario's Anti-Racism Directorate; the House of Commons condemnation of Islamophobia among other forms of discrimination; the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; the resettling in 2016 of 46 thousand Syrian refugees, in 2017, the promise to resettle 25 thousand more; the restoration of health care to refugees; the participation of Indigenous and Civil society groups and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The UN Commission suggests Canada form a new National Plan against Racism, and provide in all provinces an adequate legal framework to fight racism, and noting the under-reporting of hate crimes to provide better reporting of and means to counter hate crimes; investigate the 61% increase in hate crimes against Muslims; prevent racial profiling; include Indigenous peoples and minorities in law enforcement; reduce the over-representation of Indigenous and minorities in the prison population and courts by eliminating poverty and discrimination in sentencing; improve health care and harm reduction methods in prison; limit or abolish the use of segregation in prisons; put into effect all plans for the improvement of conditions for Indigenous peoples. Canadian Amnesty International reports the extensive critical aspects of the report such as the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination (CERD) has fully recommended stopping the construction of the Site C dam in British Columbia, and to summarize briefly, has asked Canada to assure implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to provide Aboriginal women with increased and equal access to emergency shelters, to reexamine the unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, to respond to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's attempt to assure adequate child and family support on Reserves, to deal more realistically (ie. cancel) designation of the U.S. as a "safe third country" (cancellation would allow U.S. citizens to seek asylum in Canada), to forbid holding children in detention centres, to create the position of an ombudsman to explore human rights violations by Canadian corporations outside the country. Also specifically mentioned in the UN report: a recommendation that Canada implement a program advancing rights for People of African descent. The Committee found deplorable how various branches of government forced First Peoples into court battles to affirm obvious rights, and didn't honour its treaty commitments to affirm Indigenous rights. Amnesty's press release avoids dealing with the threats and discrimination against Muslim peoples.    Partial sources online: "Canada Must Act on UN Recommendations," August 29, 2017, Amnesty International Canada; "Concluding observations on the twenty-first to twenty-third periodic reports of Canada," Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Aug. 31, 2017, Advanced Unedited Version, CERD/C/CAN/CO/21-23 United Nations.

      Quebec: a note about current racism and discrimination in Quebec: the legal case against the principal suspect in the killing of six Muslims as they prayed in Quebec City's only mosque (see 1 and 2) is rarely noted in the media. It has brought to public attention that Quebec City has no Muslim cemetery. Permission for this purpose of land use in a nearby venue was attempted then nullified by public vote. Soon after the City announced sale of its land for a Muslim cemetery, the car of the head of the mosque was torched at night outside his home (on August 6th while note of this appeared with the CBCAugust 30). On August 20th a rally against immigration was held by La Meute, a Quebec organization on the far right identified with white supremacy. It was met by a large group of antifascist demonstrators. Among them Jaggi Singh of Montreal is a respected socially concerned veteran activist. Singled out for arrest, police knew exactly who he was; he humorously identified himself as the exceptional Nordiques hockey forward, Michel Goulet. Jaggi Singh was subsequently charged with impersonating someone other than himself, as well as obstruction. He is currently free on bail of $250 and not allowed proximity to Quebec's government buildings. The first charge is an arbitrary arrest. Applied in this case within in an extremely 'white' context, it's a threat against all people, discriminatory and a violation of law.    Partial sources online: "Montreal activist Jaggi Singh freed with conditions," Claude Rivest, Aug. 30, 2017, CBC News; "Far-right group claims PR victory after duelling protests in Quebec City," Jonathan Montpetit, Aug. 20, 2017, CBC News; "'What's happening in Quebec City?': Car belonging to head of mosque torched,"  Stephen Smith, Aug. 30, 2017, CBC News.