International Law & Society Around the Web

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No, we’re not in Jamaica 1655, Gibraltar 1705 or even the Falkands 1982. This time it’s the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the takeover is taking place as you read.

Chris Bryant of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced Friday the enforcement of a Royal Order that will, for a period of at least two years, dissolve the democratically elected House of Assembly, grant what are essentially dictatorial powers to the Crown-appointed Governor and suspend portions of the Constitution, including the right of Islanders to a jury in…

Unless Congolese authorities file an appeal by Monday August 17, 2009, Swiss banks holding 7.7 million Swiss Francs ($6.68 million) belonging to late dictator Mobutu Sese Soko will transfer the funds back to his family members in the Congo.

“Marshal” Mobutu, the former Congolese general who seized the reins of  power in a bloody coup in 1965, is widely believed to be responsible for the mass murder and torture of untold thousands of Africans within and outside his kingdom of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).  Mobutu is…

Trying to violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but those pesky courts keep getting in the way?  Don’t despair! A recent decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court has set out an easy to follow blueprint that even the beginner bigot can understand:

Step 1: Organize a parent company based in some neutral foreign country like Switzerland.

Step 2: Obtain a contract to perform a government activity like, say, running a school, providing police or security services, or organizing an international sporting event.

Step 3: Create a Canadian subsidiary that will actually…