atelier        genocide warnings

nightslantern.ca

suppressed news

j.b.gerald

 2020 suppressed news     
archives     

2010

December 22, 2010

      Haiti: according to the World Health Organization the cholera death toll has exceeded 2500 people, and the epidemic continues to spread. U.N. health efforts are limited by concerns for their own security. Cuba has 1200 medical staff on the ground coping with the cholera epidemic. The Canadian Red Cross is supplementing its efforts with a new field hospital. A genocide warning remains (see extensive previous:): cholera epidemics place the poor at risk with children the most vulnerable. The source of the epidemic (unofficially traced to U.N. troops) is in question. The reasons for Haiti's vulnerability to an epidemic are not. After the destruction of a country's infra-structure disease is expectable. Consistent with the French, U.S., Canadian takeover of Haiti's democracy and the kidnapping / removal of President Aristide in 2004, U.N. and U.S. response to the earthquake of 2010 did not place the survival of the people before interests of control. Assurances of clean water, food, adequate sanitation, and shelter, are still not met. Emergency medical relief relies on outside providers and NGO's. Intravenous drip hydration and oral rehydration therapy are being used by the Schweitzer Hospital (located near the epidemic origin) and Doctors without Borders but there is no mention of home treatment and rehydration therapy in areas without easy hospital access or the people's wish to leave home; medical centres increase dependency on colonial controls; the concept of medical "outreach" suggests that health doesn't come from the community itself. Cholera immunizations may be introduced this Spring but the vaccines require early and fast dispersal and protection doesn't last. At present relief efforts of corporate economies are unable or unwilling to match the needs of a people whose welfare they assumed by force. The epidemic expands amid rumours of asymptomatic and vastly under-reported deaths. Political instability is encouraged by denying the majority party representation. Cholera is not usually a fatal disease and yet it is doing the work of death in Haiti, as it did among the poor in Zimbabwe. Why wasn't emergency relief sent to Zimbabwe in time ? Within an African context, the Rwandan genocide in 1994 when the U.N. stood aside, the horrifying losses of people to de-stabilization and starvation in Sudan, the ongoing destruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's people, these losses of millions of civilians can't be reasonably assigned to the intentions of their African leaders.

The virulent strain of cholera in Haiti may be resistant to antibiotics. Since patient survival depends on maintaining the body's fluids, a note on oral rehydration therapy (ORT): it was used successfully by healers in Brazil against infant diarrhea with a solution of a bottlecap of salt, 7 of sugar, in a litre of unsweetened tea (the balance of sugar and salt allows the body's absorption of water). The Rehydration Project recipe for homemade oral rehydration is half a teaspoon of salt, six teaspoons of sugar, in a litre of clean (pre-boiled) water. Lemons and limes with food are said to help prevent cholera. These are considered folk measures - the W.H.O. formula for rehydration packs is slightly more complicated and includes potassium chloride (also available in bananas). The European cholera defense of Phage therapy is not being used.
    Partial sources online: "Brazilian popular healers as effective promoters of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and related child survival strategies," de Sousa MA, Correia LL, da Silva DM, 1988, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine; "Oral Rehydration Solutions: made at Home" [access:< http://rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm >], current, Rehydration Project, The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust; "Le choléra poursuit ses ravages en Haïti!" Hervé Jean Michel, Dec. 14, 2010, Haiti Liberte: "New formula for oral rehydration salts will save millions of lives ," May 8, 2002, World Health Organization; "Hope for Haiti as stockpile of cholera vaccine found...but it will take months to deliver," Jane Sutton, Dec. 19, 2010, The Herald (Scotland); "Haiti - Epidemic: Fidel Castro keeps its commitments," Dec. 19, 2010, Haitilibre.com; "Jean's job in Haiti filled with challenges, opportunity," The Canadian Press, Dec. 19, 2010, CTVglobemedia; "Battling cholera in Haiti's frontier," Amber Hildebrandt, Dec. 15, 2010, CBC News; "Canadian Red Cross to deploy field hospital to support cholera response in Haiti," news release, Dec. 2, 2010, Canadian Red Cross; "Haiti - Cholera Epidemic: the MSPP hides the truth to the people," Dec. 22, 2010, Haitilibre.com.

 

 

December 18, 2010

      U.S.: on December 16th the U.S. reversed its position and publicly agreed to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. See previous.     Partial sources online: "US pledges support for UN indigenous rights declaration," Latoya Sawyer, Dec. 17, 2010, Jurist; "United States’ backing for Indigenous rights treaty hailed at UN," Press release, Dec. 17, 2010, UN News Centre.

 

      Paris: a French court has clarified historical record and found 13 officials and military officers under Chile's Augusto Pinochet guilty in absentia for their arbitrary detention, blackmail, kidnapping, and torture among other atrocities against four French citizens. These - Allende's doctor, a priest, and two members of the MIR political party, were disappeared during the CIA-supported rule by terror - one taken in Argentina by the inter-country Operation Condor. With exception of Juan Manuel Contreras Sepulveda (the head of DINA), and his associate Col. Octavio Espinoza Bravo, names of the convicted who are now subject to international arrest warrants, are being withheld by the media (see note). The sentences range from 15 years to life in prison. Direct extradition from Chile isn't likely. General Pinochet escaped court judgement for his crimes against humanity by dying.    Partial sources online: "France: 13 Pinochet-Era Officials Convicted in Absentia," AP, Dec. 17, 2010, The New York Times; "French court sentences Pinochet officials in absentia ," John Laurenson & Dagmar Breitenbach, Dec. 17, 2010, Deutsche Welle; "Pinochet committed wrong- his attendants paid back by getting backlash from French Court," Cerise Negulici, Dec. 18, 2010, FrenchTribune.com; "Paris court gives absent Pinochet officials 15 years to life," Sophie Makris (AFP), Dec. 17, 2010, Calgary Herald.

 

      The Americas, historical note: from Guatemala to the recent takeover of Honduran democracy, the installation and support of dictators relies on death squads and atrocities to establish psychological control of the peoples. State terrorism is the machinery of colonial controls. There is no adequate redress for the victims which include millions of the poor, and there is no essential change in covert policy by the powerful nations. Resistance movements form for people's survival. All foreign covert operations should be considered international war crimes and prosecuted. The very poor have few lawyers but brave singers: a song (written by Ali Primera) to an amphitheater in California, 2001: Casas de cartón  [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuNBqFlgdak >].

 

 

December 17, 2010

      Veracruz Mexico: on September 16th Bloomberg news reported that the coastal states of Veracruz, Quintana Roo and Tamaulipas filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court, San Antonia Texas against BP Plc, Transocean Ltd., Halliburton Co., and Cameron International, seeking expenses for cleanup when the oil arrives, preventive measures, losses to tourism, damages and future damages. Reports during the spill of deepwater and freshwater fish, whale, tortoise, bird deaths in large numbers, become increasingly difficult to to verify. Any official correlation of health data on Mexican Gulf of Mexico inhabitants with the massive Pemex IXTOC oil spill of 1979 is not generally available. Philippe Cousteau has pointed out that oil from the 1979 IXTOC spill remains in the mangrove swamps near Campeche. See below.    Partial sources online: "Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Blog," Philippe Cousteau, Dec. 8, 2010, wordpress.com; "BP Sued by Veracruz, 2 Other Mexican States Over Alleged Oil-Spill Damage," Margaret Cronin Fisk & Laurel Brubaker Calkins, Sept. 16, 2010, Bloomberg; "3 Mexican States Sue BP Over Gulf Oil Spill," AP, Sept. 29, 2010, WKRG.com News5; "Ixtoc Disaster Holds Clues to Evolution of an Oil Spill," Matthew O. Berger & Emilio Godoy, IPS, June 16, 2010, IPS.

 

 

December 16, 2010

      New Orleans Louisiana: the Justice Department launched a lawsuit Dec. 15th (U.S. v. BP Exploration & Production Inc.) against the U.K.'s British Petroleum, Switzerland's Transocean which owned the drilling rig leased by BP, and QPB of Lloyd's - BP's insurance company. Also named were MOEX, Triton and Anadarko. Halliburton and Cameron may be named later. The suit requests unspecified amounts for cleanup and damages resulting from the oil spill which caused extensive harm to the eco-system, wildlife, ocean life, eventual health damage to millions of people (the media have perception-managed this area of common sense into a non-issue), financial damage to food harvesters, and the outright deaths of 11 workers. No word is available of actions by Mexico [corrected above], Cuba, and other Carribean nations whose people and food chain are damaged by oil and "cleanup" chemicals. According to Bloomberg the government acknowledges nearly 5 million barrels of oil spilled, with a possible fine of from $1100 to $4300 per barrel. The same source notes BP has recovered from its profit slump and posted a 1.8 billion dollar gain in the past quarter. The industry's pursuit of high profits explains its lack of adquate safety measures to avoid or contain the disaster.

By approaching a crime against all living things within terms of recompense and damages, the Justice Department avoids the challenge to humanity's survival. Trained in laws that protect power, property and its acquisition while applying human rights law selectively, it compromises with the machinery's underbelly, for protection. From another perspective consider the act of taking for private gain resources from the earth which belong to no one and everyone: it is basically an asocial act without concern for humanity or the ecosystem or the future. Having acted out its opposition to society as a whole big oil's incidental threat to the South's food chain isn't surprising. But it takes such a big bite out of the lives of all the people that the Justice Department can't wrap its head around the appropriate solution. While the powerful cope with the economic abstractions that inevitably enrich the powerful, the people who are the victims are left to struggle against death.
NPR reports finding a "pudding" of oil muck on the Carribean sea floor. The names of the eleven rig workers whose bodies were never found are: Jason Anderson, Aaron Dale Burkeen, Donald Clark, Stephen Curtis, Roy Wyatt Kemp, Karl Kleppinger, Gordon Jones, Blair Manuel, Dewey Revette, Shane Roshto, Adam Weise. Previous and previous.    Partial sources online:"BP Sued by Obama Administration Over Worst Oil Spill," Justin Blum & Margaret Cronin Fisk, Dec. 15, 2010,Bloomberg; "Govt sues BP, 8 other companies in Gulf oil spill," AP, Dec. 15, 2010, Google News; "Justice Department Sues BP Over Gulf Oil Spill," Brent Kendall, Dec. 15, 2010, The Wall Street Journal: "Seafloor Samples Show Troubling Effects of Oil Spill," Richard Harris, Dec. 9, 2010, NPR;"Names Of 11 Oil Rig Workers Killed In Explosion," Jamie Burch, May 2, 2010, WKRG News.

 

 

December 14, 2010

      Georgia Prison Industry (U.S.): in an action which began Dec. 9th prisoners in half the State's prison system went on a nonviolent strike. The inmates refused to leave their cells or appear for prison jobs. While some of the prisoners were beaten, the action moves the prison movement forward a giant step by the use of a nonviolent strike which spares both prisoners and guards and the excuse for state violence; the strike relies on solidarity among differing groups of prisoners while prison controls rely on the extremes of racial, ethnic, religious and gang opposition among them. Using solidarity and the moral force of nonviolence the prison movement becomes a political force. It may be the largest prison strike in U.S. history. Nine demands were set forth: 1. A living wage for work, 2. Educational opportunities, 3. Decent health care, 4. An end to cruel and unusual punishment, 5. Decent living conditions, 6. Nutritional meals, 7. Vocational and self-improvement opportunities, 8. Access to families, 9. Just parole decisions. Most points coincide with the needs of people outside prison; many are rights protected by the U. S. Constitution; most are considered norms of human rights. By some accounts 5 prisons remained on strike as of Dec. 13th. News of this issue is heavily suppressed in national media and remains scarce. Nonviolent solidarity among prisoners is a strong, human answer to injustice.    Partial sources online: "Update: Hays State Prison remains in lockdown Dec. 13," AP, Dec. 13, 2010, Rome News Tribune; "GA Prison Inmates Stage 1-Day Peaceful Strike Today," Dec. 9, 2010, Bruce A. Dixon, Black Agenda Report; "Inmates in Georgia Prisons Use Contraband Phones to Coordinate Protest," Sarah Wheaton, Dec. 12, 2010, The New York Times; "Biggest Prison Protest In History Underway In Georgia," "Correntewire & Davey D’s Hip-HopBlog," Dec. 13, 2010, News One; GA Prisoner Strike Continues a Second Day, Corporate Media Mostly Ignores Them, Corrections Officials Decline Comment," Bruce A. Dixon, Dec. 11, 2010, Black Agenda Report;"Thousands of Prisoners in Georgia Stage Strike," Dec. 13, 2010, Democracy Now!.

 

 

December 9 , 2010

      Ottawa: after lengthy hearings a Federal judge has justified the intelligence services' detention of Mohamed Harkat for eight years on a "canadian security certificate". See background and previous. Harkat was freed by previous court decision from prolonged detention in isolation to live under house arrest at home with his wife.Today's judgement risks his return to Algeria. While other cases of security certificate detainees (Adil Charkaoui, Hassan Almrei) were thrown out of court for lack of evidence and lack of respect for people, here the decision reinvigorates a security certificate process relying on secrecy, the breaking down of individuals by abusive imprisonment, denial of a fair trial, and the natural vulnerability of refugees and immigrants. In the instance of Muslim detainees security certificates have relied on mass media campaigns, assignments of guilt-by-association, and implications of un-european thinking and behavior that have found their way into the court's decision. The judgement relies on secret information denied the detainee or his lawyers, and without assurance that allegations weren't obtained from foreign intelligence or by torture (CSIS personnel were judged complicit in the torture of Omar Khadr at Guantanamo); Canadians affirming human rights in preference to arbitrary detention by the state will continue protest. For information on the case and texts of the judge's decision a link to Justice for Mohamed Harkat can be found on our north american political prisoners page.    Partial sources online: "Ottawa & Montreal: Rallies in Solidarity with Mohamed Harkat," press release, Dec. 9, 2010, People's Commission email; "Reasons for Order and Order," The Honourable Mr. Justice Simon Noël, Dec. 9, 2010, Docket: DES-05-8, Justice for Mohamed Harkat; "Court backs CSIS case against suspected Ottawa terrorist Mohamed Harkat," Colin Freeze, Dec. 9, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Harkat security certificate upheld,"Dec. 9, 2010, CBC News.

 

 

December 6, 2010

      Vancouver: Canadian lawyer Gail Davidson has filed a complaint with police requiring investigation of a death threat against Julian Assange of Wikileaks. A civilian group, Wikileaks is currently subjected to covert warfare, censorship and threats as it makes public large numbers of documents providing evidence of crimes of state. Current releases are of foreign service communications (ie. the U.S. Secretary of State signed an order to spy on and steal personal information belonging to U.N. personnel). A threat against Assange was made by a prominent Conservative academic, former advisor to Prime Minister Harper, Tom Flanagan, who declared on CBC's Evan Solomon show: "I think Assange should be assassinated." Mr. Flanagan's apology for what he called a "joke" appears within a context of other statements by right wing Canadian and American pundits and politicans. Ezra Levant in the Ottawa Sun, Nov. 30th asked "Why isn't Julian Assange dead yet ?" Jonah Goldberg asked the same question in the Chicago Tribune October 29th, and wrote "Why wasn't Assange garroted [sic] in his hotel room years ago? It's a serious question." John Hawkins, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, among others in the U.S. have called for Assange's prosecution, imprisonment and in some cases execution.    Partial sources online: "Gingrich: Assange is an 'enemy combatant' but fault is Obama's," David Edwards, Dec. 5, 2010, The Raw Story; "Wikileaks' Julian Assange: Does Sarah Palin think CIA should 'neutralize' him?" Peter Grier, Nov. 30, 2010, The Christian Science Monitor; "Good Gossip, and No Harm Done to U.S.," Albert R. Hunt Bloomberg News, Dec. 5, 2010, NYTimes.com; "McConnell: WikiLeaks founder 'a high-tech terrorist',"J. Taylor Rushing, Dec. 5, 2010, The Hill; "Counseling murder ? Heck, just apologize," Murray Dobbin, Dec. 3, 2010, The Vancouver Sun; "Police complaint filed after Tom Flanagan calls for assassination of Wikileaks' Julian Assange," Charlie Smith, Dec. 4, 2010, Straight.com; "Wikileaks boss living on borrowed time," Ezra Levant QMI, Nov. 30, 2010, Ottawa Sun; "Hillary Clinton Ordered Diplomats to Steal UN Officials’ Credit Card Numbers," Jason Ditz, Nov. 26, 2010, Antiwar.com'; "Police complaint filed over ex-Harper adviser’s ‘assassinate’ WikiLeaks founder comment," Mike Barber, Postmedia News, Dec. 5, 2010, Canada.com; "Why is Assange still alive ?" Jonah Goldberg, Oct. 29, 2010, Chicago Tribune; "Tom Flanagan: 'Julian Assange Should Be Assassinated' (video)," Dec. 1, 2010, Now Public; "WikiLeaks founder calls for Flanagan charge," Dec. 3, 2010, CBC News.
Long live Julian Assange

 

 

December 1, 2010

To fight aloud is very brave,
But gallanter, I know,
Who charge within the bosom,
The cavalry of woe.

Who win, and nations do not see,
Who fall, and none observe,
Whose dying eyes no country
regards with patriotic love.

We trust, in plumed procession
For such the angels go,
Rank after rank, with even feet
And uniforms of snow.

                - Emily Dickinson, b. Massachusetts, 1830 - 1886

 

 

November 27, 2010

Al Dameer Al Arabi (the Arab Conscience) part 2   [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw9-MavAttc >]

 

 

November 25, 2010   International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN)

      Arizona: at Goodyear's Perryville Prison on May 20, 2009, Marcia Powell was put in a cage for four hours under the Arizona sun, asking for water and to go to a bathroom until she collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Her body temperature at death was reported as 108 degrees F. The Director of Arizona's Department of Corrections (then Acting Director), Charles Ryan, allowed life support systems removed. The 48 year old victim was serving 27 months for prostitution. Free Marcia Powell! [access:< http://freemarciapowell.blogspot.com/ >] provides an ongoing website memorial. Prison policy allowed people to be heldin cages two hours under the sun. No one was prosecuted for the death. 16 correctional personnel were disciplined or fired. Director Ryan says the prison has stopped using outside cages (Agence France-Presse noted 233 in Arizona penitentiaries). There is a startling increase in suicides, murders, lack of treatment for mentally ill prisoners in facilities called fire traps. On November 10th the State's Correctional Peace Officers Association (AZCPOA) representing correctional personnel wrote Governor Janet Brewer officially asking for Director Ryan's removal. Director Ryan's credentials include "Assistant Program Manager for the Department of Justice overseeing the Iraqi Prison system for almost four years" (ADC). Former Director Terry Stewart whose administration was noted for allowing guard rape of the female prisoners and making victims stand as long as four days in the sun, also served the U.S. Justice Department in building the prison system of Iraq. Arizona Prison Watch [access:< http://arizonaprisonwatch.blogspot.com/ >] provides resources for further information.    Partial sources: "Marcia Powell's Death Unavenged: County Attorney Passes on Prosecuting Prison Staff," Stephen Lemons, Sept. 1, 2010, and "Marcia Powell Cage Death: County Attorney Releases ADC PowerPoint, Internal ADC Investigation Not Reviewed by CA," Stephen Lemons, Sept. 7, 2010, and "Charles Ryan Attends Marcia Powell's Memorial Service, Says He Didn't Know Powell Had Guardian," Stephen Lemons, May 30, 2009, Phoenix New Times; "Probe after Arizona inmate dies in open-air cell," Scott Seckel Agence France Presse , June 17, 2009, Google News; "Disciplinary action taken after inmate Marcia Powell dies from being put in outdoor cell in heat," AP, Sept. 23, 2010, NY Daily News; "Charles R. Ryan, Director," Arizona Department of Corrections, current, ADC web site; Letter to "Governor Janet Brewer," AZCPOA, Nov. 10, 2010, and "Suicide/homicide rates skyrocket at AZ Department of Corrections," Prison Abolitionist, Nov. 4, 2010, and June 2, 2004, press release, Arizona Prison Watch.

 

 

November 20, 2010

      Port Hope, Canada: on November 16th Dr. Helen Caldicott, Australian pediatrician, and veteran of the struggle against nuclear terrorism spoke to the obvious at the Best Western Convention Hall in Oshawa after Port Hope's St.Marks Parrish Hall cancelled her appearance there. Dr. Caldicott's response to Canada's attempt to move 1.2 million cubic feet of radioactively contaminated earth from Port Hope to a site north of town was that the town's people weren't safe - they should move and Cameco should be closed. Cameco currently runs the nuclear facilities in a town of over 16,000 people. The Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee stated in 2008 "Approximately 3.5 million cubic metres of radioactive and heavy metal waste remains within the boundaries of the Municipality of Port Hope." Nightslantern has noted a danger to the residents in previous postings;  1   2   3   4   . The problem traces back to the 1930's. Cameco says its facilities are safe. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, responsible for the waste removal finds Dr.Caldicott's suggestions "nothing more than unacceptable fear-mongering" (CNSC). Respected Canadian writer Farley Mowat has urged fellow town residents and all Canadians to listen well to Dr. Caldicott. In related news, there's a suppressed report that the U.S.Federal government has concealed evidence of a severe radiation hazard surrounding the Shearon Harris waste pools (Progress Energy) amid the Chapel Hill, Fort Bragg and Raleigh area of North Carolina: the plant hosts the largest nuclear radioactive waste storage pools in the U.S.. In 2005 the National Academy of Sciences declared it a prime "terrorist target." Projected accident statistics from malfunction risk millions of people to a meltdown and 140,000 cancers to a pool fire (St.Clair).    Partial sources: "Warning Port Hope a toxic time bomb; the only solution? Move," Carola Vyhnak, Nov. 9, 2010, thestar.com"Sue government over toxic town, activist tells Port Hope ," Carola Vyhnak, Nov. 16, 2010, Toronto Star / thestar.com; "CNSC response to the article entitled - Port Hope warned of 'life and death' threat - published in the Toronto Star on November 10, 2010," Michael Binder, Nov. 10, 2010, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; "Organizations say 'Reject Cameco’s Plans for Enriched Uranium in Port Hope',” Media release, June 11, 2008, Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee; "Fascism at Work in Ontario," Kittoh, Nov. 13, 2010, eaglewatch; "Caldicott no longer welcome at Port Hope church," Carola Vyhnak, Nov. 13, 2010, thestar.com; "Project Censored 2010 Selection: Nuclear Waste Pools in North Carolina," / “Pools of Fire”, Jeffrey St. Clair, Aug. 9, 2008, CounterPunch & voltairenet.org; "NAS Releases Suppressed Study on Nuclear Waste Pools," Sue Sturgis, April 6, 2005, Raleigh Eco News; "Clarifying Nuclear Waste at Shearon Harris," Jim Warren, Jan. 21, 2010, NC Waste Awareness & Reduction Network.

 

 

November 19, 2010

     Haiti: as of Nov. 14th, cholera in Haiti has claimed 1034 lives with 16,799 receiving hospital medical treatment (Haitian Ministry of Health, WSWS). Despite heavy U.S. military deployment to Haiti , thousands of volunteers, the ongoing presence of MINUSTAH's UN 'peacekeeping' forces, hundreds of NGO's, billions of dollars in undistributed financial contributions, foreseeable effects of the earthquake weren't addressed. Cholera, a disease associated with contaminated water supplies hasn't appeared in Haiti for a century and is with some evidence traced to UN troops. Cuba's contribution of 855 doctors on the ground is being augmented. Haitilibre.com reports: at Cité Soleil in Port au Prince, Médecins du Monde (MDM-Canada) has 14 camps and 3 mobile units to serve about 100,000 in Cité and the surrounding area; the Red Cross and powerful NGO's - some working with the Ministry of Health are operating Cholera Control Centres throughout the country. Note: with clean water and adequate infra-structure cholera isn't usually a population-threatening disease. With degraded infra-structure and lack of clean water, it is: it threatens the poor. Has the UN /WHO deployed standard cholera control measures / medical and rehydration packs ? Is there an effective UN effort providing the large amounts of clean water needed ? In Haiti wealth and corporate policy took over and replaced President Aristide whose concern was Haiti's people. After the earthquake the priorities of recovery offered by foreigners weren't the people's. The U.S. (and Canada's) priority was "security". Show of force in response to a disaster places humanitarian agents of aggressor countries in the position of occupiers, then with an obligation to provide the population with minimum needs. Media avoid mention of Aristide. He has not been allowed to return from enforced exile. With elections scheduled November 28 Haiti's majority party, Lavalas, continues to be excluded from the political process. The 'occupation' policy claims the right to do without support, accession, participation of the majority of Haitians in 'elections'. The cholera epidemic says this another way. Ongoing genocide warning. A background sequence:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10.    Partial sources: "Haiti cholera protest turns violent," Nov. 16, 2010, Al-Jazeera; "In Haiti, cholera flourishes in disorder," editorial, Nov. 18, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Cholera in Haiti: a foreseeable result of a criminal system," Revolution newspaper, Nov. 16, 2010, San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center; "Haiti - Epidemic : The point of the situation in Haiti," Nov. 18, 2010, Haitilibre.com; "Haitian President Rene Préval suspects Cholera Outbreak is a Bio-Weapon," Oct. 26, 2010, Infowars Ireland; "Protesters shot dead as Haiti cholera toll tops 1,000," Bill Van Auken, Nov. 17, 2010, World Socialist Web Site; "Haiti - Epidemic : Cuba sends medical reinforcements," Nov. 14, 2010, Haitilibre.com.

Historical note, Zimbabwe
In March 2008 President Mugabe, increasingly at odds with European economic controls and threatened military incursions, announced a nationalization of British companies. In October 2008 the first cases of cholera were reported in areas unaccustomed to the disease. In November 2008 a government spokesman called the epidemic genocidal biological warfare. By early March 2009 there were 4000 disease fatalities and 88,000 cases. The epidemic requred massive amounts of international emergency aid and enforced Zimbabwe's indebtedness to NATO financial controls. Whether the result of biological warfare or an inevitable result of infra-structure debilitation Zimbabwe's vulnerability to the tragedy was encouraged tactically, with intention. Background sequence:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20     ref. J.B.Gerald, nightslantern
 

 

November 15, 2010

     Montreal: the funeral for Nicolo Rizzuto is held today. The 86 year old was shot in his kitchen by a professional sniper the evening of November 10th. Media accounts say two women and a child were present. Mr. Rizzuto was known to government as head of the Canadian Mafia with ties to crime families of New York, while his son Vito is in a Colorado prison. Mr. Rizzuto's grandson Nick was murdered in Montreal in broad daylight in December 2009. Last Spring another family member at seventy was disappeared. In June alleged acting boss Agostino Cuntrera and bodyguard were shot and killed. In August a 59-year-old friend of Mr. Rizzuto, was shot eating in his own restaurant. Media accounts blame rival factions in a turf war for this destruction of a Canadian family. Mafia etiquette rarely murders rivals in their homes. The Rizzuto's home was under lien by Revenue Canada for payment of a court enforced tax settlement. Revenue Canada recently announced substantial charges for additional taxes allegedly owed by the victim, with his court summons date November 11th, Remembrance Day. (Montreal Gazette / Calgary Herald). There is understandably a power vacuum for organized crime in Montreal. "Rival factions" have been forced to low profiles, neutralized, or eradicated. A message implicit in these murders by "unknown" operatives is an attempt to wipe out the Italian Mafia code. Under Hitler's social engineering programs during the Third Reich, along with Roma, Communists, dissidents, the resistance, Jews, gays, people with disabilities, and tuberculosis patients, those with criminal records were destined for removal.    Partial sources: "Rizzuto visitation draws crowd," The Canadian Press Nov. 13, 2010, CBC; "Don's death marks end of Canada's most powerful Mafia family," Michael Viatteau AFP, Nov. 11, 2010, The Vancouver Sun; "Nicolo Rizzuto faces fresh tax-evasion charges," Paul Cherry Montreal Gazette, Nov. 10, 2010, The Calgary Herald; "Rizzuto funeral set for Monday," Nov. 12, 2010, CBC; "Quand la police se heurte à l’omerta," Agence QMI Sarah-Maude Lefebvre, Nov. 11, 2010, canoes.infos.

 

     Ottawa: Canada has reversed its position on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration was approved September 13, 2007, by the U.N. General Assembly with a vote of 144 nations, 11 abstentions, and the U.S. Australia, New Zealand and Canada voting no. Australia and New Zealand have already reversed their positions and approved. Canada's official endorsement is a significant step toward assuring native people respect and their rights. While the Declaration specifically assures Indigenous peoples rights under the Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law, and these are assurances not always available to non-Indigenous peoples, the Declaration forbids actions dismembering the host State. The Declaration avoids definition of "Indigenous people" which is a political issue in both the U.S. and Canada where native "status" is defined by the government. The full text of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is available at the webpage of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, under "International Law" [access:< http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/index.htm >].    Partial sources: "Canada endorses indigenous rights declaration," Nov. 12, 2010, CBC News; "Canada endorses UN stance on indigenous rights," Brett Popplewell, Nov. 12, 2010, Toronto Star.

 

 

November 11, 2010   Remembrance Day     Veterans Day



                                                                  julie maas

 

 

November 8, 2010

     France: On November 5th at seven in the morning thirteen Roma were removed from St. Nicholas Catholic church in St.-Maur-des-Fossés (nr. Paris). The order was requested and signed by the church. Previously evicted from a "squat" the thirteen Rom including two children who took refuge in the church are now on the street. The mayor has no plans to accommodate them. A former gendarmerie in town converted to a dwelling for Rom families is full.     Previous: ongoing. Partial sources: "Priest has Roma evicted from church," RFI, Nov. 5, 2010, RFI english; "Roma Expelled from Church," Steven Erlanger, Nov. 6, 2010, The New York Times (NY edition).

Historical note: the town naturally defended by the river is enmeshed in French history. St. Maur grew around an abbey originally founded as Saint Pierre des Fossés in 638 AD, later Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (12th C. - known to pilgrims as a place of healing), later secularized, later largely replaced by the Chateau, of which little remains. St. Maur lent its name to the Edict of St.Maur in 1568, when King Charles IX outlawed all religion except Catholicism, an act largely responsible for the surprise slaughter of five to thirty thousand Huguenots in 1572, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Another thirty thousand were allowed to convert while hundreds of thousands left France for Holland, England, anywhere that would shelter them. This recent eviction by Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) enduring as a church since c.1200, may offer an insight into the banality of lacklove.
     Italy: Milan is bulldozing its Roma and Sinti camps, while issuing mass eviction notices in the larger camp, Triboniano. Milan has ethnically 'cleansed' 7000 Roma in the past 2 years. As quoted in The Washington Post Riccardo De Corato of Berlusconi's ruling party, the vice mayor who is handling the camps, has tried to explain: "These are dark-skinned people, not Europeans like you and me;" and "Our final goal is to have zero Gypsy camps in Milan". According to a source noted in The Christian Science Monitor, since 2006 the number of Roma in Italy has dropped from 170,000 to 40,000. The Monitor notes that Italy's expulsion of Roma by municipalities has avoided European Union objections faced by the French president's agenda. Previous.     Partial sources: "Italy is closing the door on Gypsies," Anthony Faiola, Oct. 12, 2010, Washington Post; "In Italy, local politics appears to drive latest round of Roma Gypsy expulsions," Anna Momigliano, Oct.13, 2010, The Christian Science Monitor.

     Germany: a European author who retains moral stature, Günter Grass, has called deportation of Roma an "appalling breach of human rights" (DW).The Merkel government is planning to gradually deport Roma to Kosovo which many were forced to flee after the NATO bombardment. The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and Anti-Racism Network have called for the deportations to stop. Previous 1,   2,   3.     Partial sources: "Roma group urges halt to German deportations to Kosovo," Richard Connor, Nov. 5, 2010, Deutsche-Welle; "Writer Grass calls Germany's Roma deportations 'a scandal'," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Nov. 2, 2010, Monsters & Critics.

 

     Peru: according to The Washington Post Lori Berenson is again granted parole and with her child will be able to leave prison on Monday, November 8th. The State Prosecutor may appeal the decision. See previous.     Partial sources: "Lori Berenson Granted Parole Again," "Peru officials: Berenson to be released Monday," AP, Nov. 6, 2010, The Washington Post; "Lori Berenson Granted Parole Again," her parents, Nov. 5, 2010, Committee to Free Lori Berenson; "Peru judge reinstates parole for US woman held for involvement with rebel group," Daniel Makosky, Nov. 6, 2010, Jurist.

 

Note: nightslantern has reactivated its links at Lawyers Against the War references: currently these note some Canadian attempts toward justice for Omar Khadr, the arrest of former President Bush for the war crime of torture, toward holding Canada back from committing forces to wars of aggression.

 

 

November 6, 2010

     Iraq: at increasing risk Julian Assange's Wikileaks project has released 400,000 documents of the U.S. occupation, providing evidence of war crimes by Iraqi and U.S. forces, and the evidence is overwhelming.The Brussells Tribunal which has previously attempted to find venue to charge Anglo-U.S. leaders with genocide among other war crimes in Iraq sees Assange's documentation as a confirmation of its evidence, verifying U.S. intentionsin the war and occupation which has destroyed a national group. The quality of intention is stressed in the U.S. ratification (see "Declarations and Reservations" at the "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,") though the Convention's use of the word "intent" is understood more broadly in other countries. Assange, his organization and the documentation of war crimes it provided should be protected by the UN Human Rights Council (see also Kawther Salam)    Partial sources: "Wikileaks Iraq War Logs: Legal Action Is Unavoidable," Press release, Oct. 30, 2010, The Brussells Tribunal; “Ending States that Sponsor Terrorism: Dismantling the Iraqi State, Destroying an Entire Countrydestroying Iraqi culture, erasing collective memory," Dirk Adriaensens, Nov. 5, 2010, Global Research;Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder, walks out of CNN interview (video) , Oct. 25, 2010, Washington Post ~ BlogPost;"Torture Orders were Part of US Sectarian War Strategy," Gareth Porter (IPS), Nov. 2, 2010, antiwar.com.

 

     France: the most recent union-approved strike November 6th (see previous) bought fewer (VOA: 375,000) people to the streets across France in protest of 'pension reform'. Generally the popularity of President Sarkozy's agendas also continue to decline. Another 'protest' is planned toward the end of the month. Concurrent anti-nuclear waste protest in France was modest. Police lined the track route at depart (Cherbourg Normandy), and at the French / German border (notably Caen) there was some protest to Avera's nuclear waste train which carried by some accounts 123 ["154"] tons of nuclear waste, trucks to transport it, and security: three railway cars of police, a helicopter over the train and fighter jets on alert, arriving at Strasbourg to switch escorts and riot police from French to Germans. Some protestors had chained themselves to the tracks. Some were avoided by a change of route. Aveva spokesmen have said this train was not as radioactive as the last one.    Partial sources: "French protesters defy rain to march again," Stephanie Mahe (Reuters), Nov. 6, 2010, RFI; "French Unions Stage New Protest Against Pension Bill," Nov. 6, 2010, Voice of America; "'Chernobyl on wheels' grinds to halt in France," (London Telegraph), Nov. 7, 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald / smh.cim.au; "Nuke waste train dodges French protests," AFP, Nov. 7, 2010, smh.com.au..

     Germany: organizers claim fifty thousand demonstrators participated in the protest against Avera's nuclear waste train, which arrived in Dannenberg with the radioactive waste proceeding by truck to storage at Gorleben (see previous). Police estimated the number of protestors in the 10,000s. Many Germans do not accept Chancellor Merkel's decision to extend the life of aging German nuclear reactors another 12 years.    Partial sources: "Mass German anti-nuclear rally against waste shipment," Annika Breidthardt, Nov. 6, 2010, Reuters Africa; "Tens of thousands protest arrival of nuclear waste in Germany," Nov. 6, 2010, Deutsche-Welle.

 

     Canada: in Ottawa at Parliament Hill about 150 veterans and police, with families participated in the Canadian Veterans National Day of Protest. These fault Veterans Affairs practices in pensions and disability benefits, with good reason. As policy the current government evades lifetime responsibility for wounded and disabled by paying them off with a lump sum. There were turnouts of small groups in cities across the country.    Partial sources: "‘I served Canada’: veterans across Canada protest," Pauline Tam (Postmedia), Nov. 6, 2010, The Gazette; "Vets protest across Canada over benefits," QMI Agency, Nov. 6, 2010, Toronto Sun.

 

 

October 28, 2010

     U.S.: during the October 27th Guantanamo sentencing proceedings for Omar Khadr (previous) the prosecution's expert witness, forensic psychiatrist (and associate professor at NYU) Dr. Michael Welner who finds Khadr "dangerous", was cross-examined, revealing the doctor's consultation with Danish psychologist Nicolai Sennels concerning the ability of Muslims to integrate into society. However Mr. Sennels' contributions to European anti-immigrant sentiment include: “massive inbreeding within the Muslim culture during the last 1,400 years may have done catastrophic damage to their gene pool;” in "Muslim Inbreeding: Impacts on intelligence, sanity, health and society," he attributes all manner of social ills, criminal behavior and psychiatric problems to Muslim first cousin marriages rather than to the persecution of the immigrant; a mild example: "The cognitive consequences of Muslim inbreeding might explain why non-Western immigrants are more than 300 percent more likely to fail the Danish army's intelligence test..." Under the Third Reich the linking of genetics to behavior served as a rationale for eugenicide. A perspective of eugenics within the U.S. military context is chilling. U.S. policy is responsible for war-related deaths of several million Iraqi and Afghan civilians - Muslims. Dr. Welner's service to a Guantanamo court which has ignored the Geneva Conventions contributes to a norm of injustice accepted by extensive mass media coverage.    Partial sources:"Khadr’s victim a family man, comrades say," Michelle Shephard, Oct. 27, 2010, The Toronto Star; "Muslim Inbreeding: Impacts on intelligence, sanity, health and society," Nicolai Sennels, Aug. 9, 2010, EuropeNews; "Sennels says he never talked to psychiatrist about Muslim inbreeding," Anon., Oct. 28, 2010, The Vancouver Sun; "Comrades describe Speer’s legacy at Khadr sentencing," Paul Koring, Oct. 27, 2010, Globe and Mail.

 

     Canada:The final defendant of the so called "Toronto 18" was sentenced to 16 years with credit for time served and possiblity of parole in three and a half years. Charges against 7 of the 18 didn't proceed. 7 pleaded "guilty." 4 refused to and were convicted. Early background.    Partial sources: "Toronto 18 ringleader gets 16 years," Oct. 25, 2010,CBC News; "Ontario court sentences convicted 'Toronto 18' leader to 16 years," John Paul Putney, Oct. 25, 2010, Jurist.

On October 27th by a vote of 140 to 134, Bill C-300 failed to pass in the House of Commons. The bill would have discouraged unethical and illegal practices by Canadian mining corporations in other countries. Previous. See also Honduras.    Partial sources: "MPs defeat bill to end abuses in foreign mines," Laura Stone (PostmediaM), Oct. 27, 2010, Canada.com."MPs defeat private member’s bill on social responsibility in mining sector ," Canadian Press, Oct. 27, 2010, Globe and Mail.

 

 

Note: most entries here are concerned with the prevention of genocide. As a policy of our own governments genocide is usually denied, or hidden, or media controlled into normalcy. In the U.S. people faced with government's wars of aggression which are destroying entire national groups (see the Convention) haven't been able to alter criminal policies. Could mass consensus prevent government from opening a nuclear war or from destroying a minority group at home ? Because the answer is uncertain, there has to be a point when people as a mass refuse to cooperate. Without violence and with a deeper respect for life than armed force, national and general strikes are an alternative to tragedy. Strikes may be a training ground for survival. Some current European strikes are noted here. - jbg.

 

     France: last Friday the Senate approved pension reforms for passage. The strike (previous) is easing to cope with daily life. Media reporting is uneven and lacking in detail. Some refineries are operating again. However most aren't. Strikes and blockades are increasingly localised. Student protests and environmental actions are concerned with the future. With a correlation between radiation exposure and longevity, Europe's saturation storage of nuclear waste, and the widespread effects of US / NATO nuclear weaponry in war zones (depleted uranium), will French students of this generation reach retirement age ? They protest for survival of a future and their ability to effect nonviolent mass action is strengthening. Unions have called two strikes for October 28 and November 6.

 

     Germany: on Oct. 23rd, a warm up anti-nuclear waste protest gathered over twenty thousand along the transport routes near Gorleben. A more substantial protest is planned November 6th (previous) in response to Avera's November 5th nuclear waste shipment from La Hague France, described as 'the most hazardously radioactive shipment in history'. A strike is called by German railway unions for this week to suspend most railway service in the country. In Greece railways are on strike for the week (previous).    Partial sources:"Tens of thousands protest against new atomic waste plans," David Levitz, Oct. 23, 2010, Deutsche Welle; "German rail strikes to hit commuters from Tuesday," Oct. 25, 2010, Reuters; "Greenpeace révèle l'existence d'un train transportant des déchets extrêmement radioactifs," Oct. 18, 2010, Greenzir.fr.

 

     Gaza: the Viva Palestina convoy with over 5 million dollars of emergency aid, predominantly medical supplies, arrived October 21. The convoys will continue.    Partial sources: "Viva Palestina convoy breaks seige and enters Gaza to jubilant crowds," Debbie Menon, Oct. 21, 2010, Veterans Today; "Breaking The Siege: A Promise," Oct. 23, 2010, The Palestine Monitor.

 

 

October 25, 2010

     U.S.: abused, tortured and raised within conditions of detention that force grown men to suicide (in 2003 for example, 120 Guantanamo prisoners attempted to hang themselves - Wikipedia), Omar Khadr pleaded guilty today to any counts alleged against him. For background see previous. The military "trial" is cancelled. Khadr is spared a life sentence through his plea. Sentencing proceeds this week in a court whose authority relies on armed force rather than international justice. This case of a 15 year old Canadian Muslim child found wounded by U.S. soldiers under debris, is a defeat for U.S. military justice, the courts, the people.    Partial sources: "Guantánamo Detainee Pleads Guilty, Averting Trial," Charlie Savage, Oct. 25, 2010, The New York Times; "Youngest Guantanamo detainee pleads guilty," staff, Oct. 25, 2010, CNN.

 

 

October 24, 2010

     Rwanda: a leader of the Kagame's opposition, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, initially arrested for 'genocide denial' after publicly noting massacres of Hutu, is back in prison, reportedly abused (VOA) and in need of medical treatment possibly as a result of interrogation. Charges against her are reported as shifting from 'genocide denial' to 'forming a terrorist group'. When U.S. attorney Peter Erlinder went to Rwanda to defend her last May he was arrested for 'genocide denial' as well, but was permitted by the court on humanitarian grounds to return to the U.S.. Rwandan authorities continue to threaten him with prosecution for writings and statements made outside Rwanda. Ms. Umuhoza's and Professor Erlinder's understandings and evidence may implicate both Kagame and U.S. policy in genocide. Erlinder believes he won't survive a return to Rwanda. Current U.S. policy is allowing their persecution. Previous (recommended): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.    Partial sources: "Ingabire supporters fear for her health and her life," Eugene Ndahayo for the FDU Inkingi Support Committee, Oct. 21, 2010, BayView; "Rwandan opposition appeals to Washington for Victoire Ingabire," Peter Clottey (VOA) Oct. 20, 2010, BayView; "US lawyer fears death if he returns to Rwanda," Staff, Oct. 23, 2010, AP ~ Antiwar Newswire.

 

     Greece: OSE, the Hellenic Railways Organization, has called a strike this week (except for Thursday, a holiday) in renewed protest against privatization of the railways. Train service is cancelled. Restructuring would cost the union 2300 of 6000 jobs. The 800,000 member GSEE, the Greek General Confederation of Labour has called for a general strike on December 15th. See previous   Partial sources: "Railways Plan 7 Day Strike," Apostolos Papapostolou, Oct. 23, 2010, Greek Reporter; "OSE Strikes: Industrial action to stop trains for four days as of Monday," Oct. 23, 2010, Kathimerini; "Greek state rail goes on another 24-hour strike," staff, Oct. 14, 2010, The Sofia Echo; "Greece's Largest Union Calls General Strike For Dec 15," Nick Skrekas, Oct. 14, 2010, Wall Street Journal.

 

 

October 22, 2010

     France: 'austerity' measures throughout Europe are forcing cuts in public services while forging a neo-conservative alliance among the countries leaders. In France the current response is a strike by consensus of differing unions, student groups, and aware people. Marseilles began striking September 27th for port reforms as well as pension reform. Most oil tankers remain undocked (see previous). At le Havre 10 tankers are unable to dock. General focus on pension reform clarifies an abuse of people and reveals the priorities of the governmentThe oil depot blockades are broken by police. Barricades re-form and spring up at another. The 90 day emergency supply of oil is already being tapped. Oil barge traffic on the Rhine is blocked Oct. 19. The 12 oil refineries in France remain on strike. 14 of the 219 fuel depots are blockaded despite government orders. About a quarter of the petrol stations are out of fuel. In different regions actions include blocking liquefied natural gas delivery, cutting power to local Sarkozy party headquarters, street confrontations with police (Lyon), blocked airports, blocked high speed rail transport, etc.. Nuclear power production is cut back at 4 (of 58) plants, and 12 others are down for maintenance. 600 schools and 6 universities are blockaded by the students. Yet amid strike news the left-wing l'Humanité runs a story on Roma children in France: of the 7000 only ten percent go regularly to school. The Sarkozy government treatment of the Roma is a matter of ongoing contention within France and objected to by the European Commission (see previous). The Sarkozy government's lack of respect for some people is extended to all the people: two-thirds of French voters are said to support the strikes / protests.    Partial sources: "Factbox-Strike disruption in France's energy sector," Trompiz, Cru, Parent, Farge, Kurahone, Roselli, Hardy, Oct. 21, 2010, Thomson Reuters; "Europe Protests and Strikes," Fabian Chan, 2010, Thomson Reuters; "France: a key moment as unions meet to consider next move," Charlie Kimber, Oct. 21, 2010, Socialist Worker; "Les enfants roms restent à la porte de l'école," Marie Barbier, Oct. 21, 2010, L'Humanité / Laissez-passer; "Les jeunes se mobilisent contre les casseurs d'avenir," Pierric Annoot, Oct. 19, 2010, L'Humanité; "Sarkozy warning as French strikes hit power supply," Oct. 20, 2010, BBC News; "France taps oil reserves amid refinery blockade," Oct. 19, 2010, BBC News; "France in turmoil as nationwide strike over pension reform stretches on," Edward Cody, Oct. 21, 2010, The Washington Post.

     Germany: anti-nuclear, pacifist and ecologically oriented Green Party programs are gathering support and challenging Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats. An anti-nuclear waste movement announced a November 6th civil disobedience action which intends to remove rock from railway beds where nuclear waste trains might otherwise pass, while Green Party representatives have called for barricades to stop waste transports. 30,000 activists are expected in the area of Gorleben to organize the resistance. In October so far, about a hundred demonstrators in Stuttgart are reported wounded by the effects of police tear gas in ongoing protests against 'renovation' of Stuttgart's train station and the corporate vision of Stuttgart as a rail hub. Issues for direct actions in German cities have in common a concern for the environment. In a tactic appealing to extremist support, Christian Democrat leaders announced last week that multi-culturalism had failed in Germany. See previous. An opposition Green Party leader, Jürgen Trittin, responding to some imported anti-Islamic rhetoric early in the month, has said, "We must stop all attempts by smug right-wing populists and Islamophobic bigots to marginalise and vilify these fellow citizens."    Partial sources: "Rail row gives green light for protest in Germany," Dave Graham, Oct. 15, 2010, Thomson Reuters; "La révolte citoyenne gagne du terrain en Allemagne," Patrick Saint-Paul, Oct. 15, 2010, Le Figaro; "Dutch politician Wilders draws protests in Berlin," Oct. 3, 2010, The Local (Germany).

     U.K.: the government has announced drastic 'austerity' cuts affecting social services, children and all the vulnerable. 500,000 workers in the public sector will lose jobs. The poor are to be socially engineered from society by neglect. BBC News points out that while French law allows workers the right to strike, current labour laws in the U.K. limit the options of strikes, walkouts, and union leaders' ability to organize political actions.    Partial sources: "Could the UK have strikes like France?," Martin Shankleman, Oct. 21, 2010, BBC News; "Spending Review cuts hit the poor and help the rich," Oct. 23, 2010, Socialist Worker.

     Greece: Greek students continue sporadic strikes in response to university budget cuts; some university departments remain under occupation; austerity measures imposed on the country are forcing it into a deep possibly catastrophic recession. Currently 1 out of 11 Athenians eats in a soup kitchen. Previous.    Partial sources: "398"of Oct. 18, "399" of Oct. 19, From the Greek Streets; "Greek capitalism in stalemate," Stamatis Karagiannopoulos, Oct. 21, 2010, In defense of Marxism.

 

 

October 19, 2010

     Germany: (see previous).

Sklave, wer wird dich befreien ?
Die in Tiefster Tiefe stehen
Werden, Kamarade, dich sehen
Und sie werden hör'n dein Schreien.
Sklaven werden dich befreien.

            from "Keiner oder Alle" - Berthold Brecht
 

     U.S.: Amnesty International 's recent report, "The Case of the 'Cuban Five'," challenges U.S. treatment of the Cuba Five, currently serving extreme sentences in the United States. AI has strong reservations about the venue for their trial (Miami), the weakness of evidence against them, pretrial seclusion and lack of adequate communication with their attorneys. Part of a Cuban intelligence operation the five were attempting to protect their country from attacks by right wing and extremist Cubans in the U.S. within a group wooed by U.S. political parties for votes. The Amnesty report points out that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found 'the five' were denied a fair trial by the U.S. government. Updates on the case and a petition to support justice for the Cuba 5 (political prisoners archive) are available at "The Cuban 5" website [access:< http://www.thecuban5.org/PETITIONNOW.html >].    Partial sources: "Amnesty International calls for review of 'Cuban Five' trial ," Erin Boch, Oct. 17, 2010, Jurist; 2010, "The Case of the 'Cuban Five'," AI index: AMR 51/093/2010, Amnesty International U.K.; "International intellectuals and artists sign the U.S. actors’ petition to release the Cuban Five," Yenia Silva Correa, Sept. 27, 2010, Granma International Online.

 

 

October 18, 2010

     Ottawa: this month the House of Commons is to vote on Bill C-300, "An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Oil, Mining or Gas in Developing Countries." The intention of the Act is to ensure that Canadian energy and resource companies respect human rights and the environment in host countries. Ie. see previous.    Partial sources: "Please take action urgently: Ask your MP to vote for Bill C-300," Alex Neve, Oct. 13, 2010, Amnesty International; "Stop Canadian mining companies' rights abuses," Jose Luis Abarca, Sept. 29, 2010, Embassy; "Slain activist's son brings anti-mining campaign to Canada," Canadian Press, Sept. 25, 2010, CTV News.

 

     France: French Unions have called for a general [national] strike on Tuesday. The surface contention concerns pension cuts to all. In a three week long strike so far at the port of Fos-Lavera, in protest of pension cuts and lack of job guarantees, 61 ships are currently unable to dock. Most carry oil or gas. Truck drivers were pledged to start blocking roads last night at 10. See previous.

      England: on October 16, under the slogan "Its Oil Over," 12 women locked themselves tovehicles blockading passage of fifty oil tankers from the Croyton refinery, Standford-le-Hope. About 500 people participated in this "Crude Awakening" [access:< http://www.crudeawakening.org.uk/ >] nonviolent action. The refinery is owned by the Swiss.

     Greece: on October 14th, workers from the Cultural Ministry were tear-gassed by police as they blocked access to the Acropolis. 300 ministry employees are to lose jobs under government "austerity" actions. Railway workers staged a 24 hour strike in response to plans for the loss of forty percent of their workforce, and the reform of the state pension practices.

     Belgium: rail workers are on strike today disrupting service in-country and to France, Germany and the Netherlands. Reasons: unpaid bonuses and company fragmentation required by the EU.

   Partial sources: "Belgium rail strike," Oct. 18, 2010, The Voice of Russia; "Eurostar cancels all services as strikers hit the streets," Tariq Tahir, Oct. 17, 2010, Metro.co.uk; "Greek police teargas Acropolis protesters," Kevin Hope, Oct. 14, 2010, Financial Times ~ FT.com; "Climate change activists blockade oil refineries near London," staff, Oct. 16, 2010, Ekklesia; "French Fos-Lavera strike blocks 61 ships, Nina Sovich, Oct. 17, 2010, Reuters; Oct. 17, 2010, France 24.

 

     Germany: Germany as well is responding to European "austerity" programs. On October 15, Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer addressing the youth wing of the Christian Democrat Union rejected multiculturalism, having previously rejected immigration of Arabs and Turks (Turkish labour helped rebuild Germany after WWII). At the October 16th youth meeting of the CDU, Chancellor Merkel announced that as a multicultural society Germany has failed, totally. She suggested immigrants learn German and accede to German values and culture. Echoing exclusionary tactics of the Third Reich she suggested that those who won't accept Christian values don't really belong in Germany. Stephan Kramer, of the Central Council of Jews in Germany points out that as in the period leading to Hitler's rise, current insecurity is pushing the middle classes further and further to the right. But he welcomed the current exhibition at the German Historical Museum, featuring the personality of Adolph Hitler in a manner encouraging thoughtfulness. With cultural assertiveness, Germany's IfZ (the Institute of Contemporary History) plans to publish Hitler's Mein Kampf in 2015. 12 million copies sold under the Third Reich.    Partial sources: "Seehofer tells youth wing multiculturalism is dead," Oct. 16, 2010, The Local; "Jewish leader in Germany warns of radicalisation of society," AFP, EJP Oct. 17, 2010, European Jewish Press; "Multiculturalism has failed in Germany, says Merkel," AFP, Oct. 18, 2010, The Times of India; "Multicultural Germany turning against Muslims," Bojan Pancevski and Matthew Campbell, Oct. 10, 2010, The Australian; "Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' to be republished in Germany," Allan Hall, Feb. 4, 2010, Telegraph.co.uk; "German multiculturalism 'utterly failed': Merkel," Oct. 16, 2010, CBC News.

 

 

October 16, 2010

     Belgium: meeting the midnight deadline with a mailing delivered at 10:15 last night the French government answered the European Commission's request to adapt French law to European Union directives which might minimally protect the rights of Roma and immigrant groups. France's Foreign Ministry has stated France's intention to comply. Lawyers are to check the papers over the weekend. See previous.    Partial sources: "End in sight to Roma row after French decision," Andrew Rettman, Oct. 15, 2010, EUobserver.com; "France to respond to EU complaints," AP, Oct. 15, 2010, Bloomberg.com.

The Brussells Tribunal is calling attention to a suggested census in Iraq which would encourage the partition of the occupied country to the uses of social engineering and NATO corporations. The "Statement: Partition by Census" [access:< http://www.brusselstribunal.org/index.htm >] suggests no census should be carried out in Iraq until millions displaced or forced into exile and foreign refuge are able to return. An ongoing program of occupation to break down Iraq's people into opposing ethnic and sectarian groups, encourages civil war. See previous.    Partial sources: "Statement: Partition by Census," Oct. 12, 2010, The Brussells Tribunal email.

 

     France: amid ongoing strikes across Europe one to three million (union estimates are much higher than the media's) took to the streets of French cities today in protest of "pension reform" austerity measures and abuses of working people. Travel and petrol availability remain disrupted by effective refinery and transport strikes. Several airports lack adequate fuel reserves. Over three hundred high schools are closed and with a rising rate of youth unemployment 150 young people were arrested yesterday. The strike has extended to areas such as railways, hospitals and garbage collection. A substantial demo is planned for October 19th. See previous.    Partial sources: "French protesters rally over pension reform," Gerard Bon (Reuters), Oct. 16, 2010, msnbc.com ; "Protests threaten France shut down," Oct. 16, 2010, Al-Jazeera, "French protests jeopardise airport fuel supplies," staff, Oct. 16, 2010, guardian.co.uk.

 

     Germany: the Rheinische Post reveals German plans to opt out of nuclear sharing, decomissioning its nuclear payload Tornado jets and getting rid of the estimated 22 American nuclear bombs remaining in Germany (Büchel). In Austria September 4th for the German language launch (Zeit-Fragen) of his The Criminality of Nuclear Deterrence (Clarity Press), international lawyer and professor Francis Boyle underscored that nuclear weapons are criminal, and humanity's continuation relies increasingly on non-cooperation with policies that violate international law."According to the Nuremberg Judgment soldiers would be obliged to disobey criminal orders to launch and wage a nuclear war." An estimated 2.8 million Iranians could die in an U.S. / Israeli attack using tactical nuclear weapons. See previous (Boyle, "Law and Resistance," 2007).    Partial sources: "US Threat to attack Iran is Illegal," Francis Boyle, Oct. 12, 2010, Lawyers Against the War list; "US Threat To Attack Iran With Nukes Is "Criminal," Sherwood Ross, Oct. 10, 2010, Countercurrents.org; "Germany to end 'nuclear sharing' with US," Oct. 6, 2010, The Local Germany; "The Criminality of Nuclear Deterrence Today," a speech by Francis Boyle, Sept. 4, 2010, XVIIIth Conference “Mut Zur Ethic”: Direct Democracy Austria.

 

 

October 15, 2010

     Canada: on October 13 the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that a woman doesn't have to remove her full face veil when testifying, except in cases where wearing the veil would jeopardize a fair trial. The decision of exception is left to individual judges.    Partial sources: "Niqab may be worn during testimony: Ont. court," Oct. 13, 2010, CBC News; "Trial judges can compel witnesses to remove niqabs," news staff, Oct. 13, 2010, CTV.ca.

 

     France: the government has not responded (correction: see Oct. 16) to the European Union's request for modification of French law and practice in treatment of immigrants, particularly Roma. An immigration bill is in progress that strips citizenship from certain criminals born outside France, and deports EU citizens for other crimes, creating separate classes of citizenship.    Partial sources: "France to miss EU deadline on Roma," Oct. 13 / 14, 2010, Euractiv Network; "France lawmakers vote to adopt controversial immigration bill," Ann Riley, Oct. 13, 2010, Jurist.

President Sarkozy is attempting to raise the pension age of all workers from 60 to 62, ie. French workers would forfeit (pay) two years worth of pension to the State. Meanwhile French corporations are funding political candidates in the U.S. November 2010 elections. Contributions of over 100,000 apiece have been donated by Axa, Vivendi, Sanofi-Aventis, GDF-Suez, and Areva.    Partial sources: "Etats-Unis : ces firmes françaises qui financent des candidats," François Krug, Oct. 13, 2010, Eco89; "France Senate raises retirement age," Oct. 9, 2010, Press TV.

The court in Pontoise has thrown out on a technicality, the case against French Green Party Senator Alima Boumediene-Thiery, who called for the boycott of Israeli goods at a supermarket. The case was brought by the Bureau national de vigilance contre l´antisémitisme (BNVCA), which is attempting to prosecute 80 people calling for a boycott of Israeli products, on charges of 'provoking discrimination'.    Partial sources: "Boycott de produits israéliens: procédure contre Boumediene-Thiery (Verts) annulée ," Oct. 14, 2010, alsace.fr; "Boycott de produits israéliens : procédure contre Boumediene (Verts) & Slaouti (NPA) annulée," Oct. 14, 2010, Bella Ciao; "Prosecution of Freedom in France," Kawther Salam, current Oct. 13, 2010, Kawther Salam.

 

     Rwanda: the International Criminal Court for Rwanda has ruled U.S. attorney Peter Erlinder isn't immune to prosection for statements made outside his casework for the ICTR. Previous evidence suggests ICTR casework was included in the pretext for his arrest on charges of genocide denial. See previous.    Partial sources: "Erlinder has no Immunity - ICTR," James Karuhanga, Oct. 14, 2010, The New Times; "ICTR denies US lawyer immunity from Rwanda prosecution," Andrea Bottorff, Oct. 13, 2010, Jurist; "ICTR/Rwanda - some Immunity for US Lawyer Arrested by Rwanda, says Court," Oct. 13, 2010, Hirondelle News Agency

 

 

October 10, 2010

     Canada: the law continues to struggle with "business as usual." In a close decision and directly in opposition to the Miranda law in the U.S., the Canadian Supreme court has clarified a suspect's lack of recourse to a lawyer during police questioning. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association has reminded Attorney General Nicholson that the use of evidence obtained by torture is not admissable in Canadian courts; apparently it is in French courts. In a case concerning charges against a Carlton University lecturer (and Canadian citizen) currently on highly restrictive bail, the French government has requested Hassan Diab's extradition to France based on "unsourced" intelligence which would include evidence obtained through torture. The Human Rights Watch reports from 2008 and 2010 document France's current reliance on illegally obtained evidence.    Partial sources: "No right to lawyer during questioning, says top court," John Ward, Oct. 8, 2010, thestar.com; "Letter to The Honourable Robert Nicholson Re. Hassan Diab," Oct.5, 2010, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association; "Keep Evidence Derived From Torture Out of Canadian Courts says BC Civil Liberties Association," Press release, Oct. 6, 2010, Nowar/paix list.

     Quebec: in an attempt to spare feelings of military families who have lost loved ones to war, the Quebec Federation of Women (FFQ) has dropped the term "cannon fodder" from its antiwar video. Military families have objected to the phrase. For the FFQ's revised edition: [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GoR5bOJCw&feature=player_embedded >]. For a military resistance song from France: Boris Vian -   [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WukbQ9ldsdc >].    Partial sources: "'Cannon fodder' phrase pulled from video," Oct. 8, 2010, CBC News. "Campaign drops use of 'cannon fodder'," Graeme Hamilton, Oct. 9, 2010, National Post; "La marche mondiale des femmes répond aux mères de militaires," Communiqué de presse, Oct. 8, 2010, Fédération des femmes du Québec.

     Montreal: 253 workers have been locked out of Quebecor owned Le Journal de Montreal for over 20 months. Both British Columbia and Quebec have anti-scab legislation and a successsful anti-scab legal action was won by the union in court; it was appealed by the company and currently rests at the Supreme Court. Quebecor interest in news control isrevealed in its attempt to force Canadian cable companies to carry a mandatory far-right news channel from Sun TV News (referred to as "Fox News North" and favouring the Harper government), an effort countered by an online petition campaign from Avaaz (U.S. / Soros Foundation). Webster G. Tarpley reveals that the Twentieth Century Fox German subsidiary made election propaganda films for Hitler in 1932. Both Hitler and Mussolini were subsequently able to use mass media to advantage in Fox's Movietone News reel footage. See Tarpley.net. Fox News is a derivitive U.S. presence.     Partial sources: "In 1932, Fox Helped Make Propaganda Films for Hitler ," Webster G. Tarpley, Oct. 2, 2010, Infowars.com; "Movement afoot in Quebec to outlaw high-tech scabs," Sept. 24, 2010, National Union of Public and General Employees; "Quebecor won't force news channel on Canada," Elan Vlessing, Oct. 5, 2010, The Hollywood Reporter International; "Sun TV gears down licence application," Susan Erashinsky, Oct. 5, 2010, Globe and Mail.

 

     France: contemporary human rights continue to suffer. In a victory for increased control of French culture, a final legal check to a burqa ban has given way as the Constitutional Court found October 7th that the ban of Islamic full-face covering presents no impediment to France's Constitution. The banning bill claims to protect women who might be forced to wear the full face veil, but takes free choice away from the women. This may be challenged at the European Court of Human Rights. On October 7th President Sarkozy was in conference with the Pope at the Vatican. Some resistance to a government policy deporting 10,000 Roma in 2009 and 8300 so far in 2010, continues. The Human Rights League objects to police allegedly taking DNA samples from Roma who aren't arrested, and the Interior Minister denies that lists of Roma are based on ethnicity (that would be illegal) while Le Monde reports "Illegal police database targeted Roma," Oct. 8, 2010, citing the official m.o. for sorting of arrest records from 2000 to 2004. Sarkozy's government faces an October 15th deadline to respond to the European Commission's request to adjust its Roma policy and laws. See previous 1 and 2.    Partial sources: "France constitutional court approves burqa ban," Megan McKee, Oct. 7, 2010, Jurist; "France Comes Under Fresh Criticism for Roma Policy," Oct. 8, 2010, VOA; "Rights group claims France police illegally collecting Roma DNA," Daniel Makosky, Oct. 8, 2010, Jurist; "A bon entendeur, salut : Sarkozy est catholique (et il prie)," Augustin Scalbert, Oct. 10, 2010, Rue89; "Roma deportation: Sarkozy’s new Vichy policy," Sept. 30, 2010, Socialist Workers Party / swp.ie.

 

     Switzerland: The right-wing Swiss People's Party, currently the largest voting block in Switzerland, claimed responsibility October 1, for its poster campaign in Ticino Canton bordering Italy and depicting a Roma as a thief, an Italian official and an Italian worker, all as rats eating a Swiss cheese. A U.S. Hindu leader and U.S. rabbi, have asked for legal action against the xenophobic campaign.     Partial sources: "Anti -Roma ad ours, Swiss far right says," AFP, Oct. 1, 2010, Ottawa Citizen; "Jews & Hindus critical of Swiss campaign maligning Roma," ranjankul, Oct. 8, 2010, Metroland.

 

     United Nations: inter-European policies toward Roma are handled more subtly by the United Nations. UNMIK (the United Nations Mission in Kosovo) has finally shut down a Roma camp next to the Trepca lead smelting works, in an area contaminated by toxic waste for decades. Its hazards are presented in some detail by Nightslantern in a genocide warning of April 5, 2009, with a previous genocide warning of Jan. 12, 2006. The camp was used for Roma displaced by the NATO bombing of Kosovo during the dismemberment of Yugoslavia.     Partial sources: "Kosovo: UN shutters lead-contaminated camp for displaced persons," Oct. 8, 2010, UN News Centre.

 

     Venezuela: in his weekly "Alo Presidente" presentation Cesar Chavez, states "All of the lands of the so-called Compania Inglesa will be nationalised now. I don't want to waste another day... Free the land, free the slave labour" (The Independent U.K.). Chavez is referring to Agroflora, a Vestey Group Ltd. subsidiary in Venezuela. The Vesteys (British) own a substantial international beef food empire. Venezuela pays for land it nationalizes and President Chavez says 300,000 hectareswith 110,000 head of beef are reverting to the Venezuelan State on October 20th, in an agreement the President describes as amicable.     Partial sources: "Chavez goes to war against Uncle Sam," Cahal Milmo, Oct. 5, 2010, The Independent; "Vestey faces tough times in Venezuela," Louise Lucas and Benedict Mander, Oct. 8, 2010, The Financial Times.

 

 

October 2, 2010

     Rwanda: the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has released its final report on ten years of crimes against civilians in the Congo. The report could implicate the Rwandan military in the crime of genocide. Rwanda's pressures on the report authors resulted in some language modifications according to the AP, and as a result Rwanda has not withdrawn its peacekeepers from Sudan. Both Rwanda and Uganda object to the report. Both are close allies of U.S. policy. Previous.     Partial sources: "UN tones down Congo 'genocide' report," Frank Jordans (,i>AP), Sept. 30, 2010, Google News; "Uganda's Government Rejects United Nations Report on War Crimes in Congo," Fred Ojambo, Sept. 30, 2010, Bloomberg; "UN report on Rwanda genocide threatens stability in Central Africa," Harry Verhoeven, Sept. 23, 2010, Christian Science Monitor.

 

     Canada: in a strong decision for freedom of expression Federal Court has ruled the Government out of order in barring British MP George Galloway from entering Canada (see previous 1 and 2); the court found the denial based on political bias. It was beyond the court's power to suggest penalties for denying Mr. Galloway the right to enter Canada, denying his freedom of expression, denying the people the right to information. George Galloway is scheduled to speak at Trinity-St. Paul's United Church in Toronto at 3PM, October 3rd: "From Gaza to Afghanistan - Resisting war, occupation and censorship."     Partial sources: "Upcoming Anti-war Events: George Galloway, Malalai Joya, CPA Convention," Sept. 29, 2010, Canadian Peace Alliance. "Federal Court slams Government for threatening Canadians’ free speech rights," Press release, Sept. 30, 2010, Canadian Arab Federation list.

      On Sept. 29th Parliament narrowly rejected Bill C-440, an act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Actin favour of war resisters. According to the Toronto Star, the Liberal Party leader walked out shortly before the vote. Nearly two thirds of Canadians are said to back the resisters (see previous). The major failure for war resisters' rights was lightened a bit by the Government's decision not to appeal Jeremy Hinzman's case (previous) which allows his application for permanent residence to be reconsidered by immigration authorities.     Partial sources: "Liberal MP willing to modify bill to keep U.S. war resisters in Canada," Juliet O'Neill, Sept. 27, 2010, National Post; "Parliamentary setback for U.S. war resisters," Richard J. Brennan, Oct. 1, 2010, thestar.com.

 

     Cambodia:

Historical note: as Cambodia's trials of Khmer Rouge leaders proceed, Western media continue to present the genocide of the "killing fields" within a perspective of the "war on Communism" which preceded the "war on terrorism." Motivation for Khmer Rouge mass killings, death camps and other horrors are still attributed to Marx, Lenin, Mao ( ie. "Communism's Nuremberg," Guy Sorman, Sept. 26, 2010, City, apprec. "Idea of the Day," Tom Kuntz, Oct. 1, 2010, The New York Times online). The old cliché is getting in the way. Motivation for the Khmer Rouge genocide requires explanations beyond a political ideology. Why did this agrarian populist revolution become a genocide ? As I understand, the Khmer Rouge revolution occurred within a CIA / American and French controlled takeover of Cambodia which was repeatedly bombed by the U.S. so that means of food production were destroyed. Was the Khmer Rouge response to lack of food for millions intended as a genocide for ideological reasons or as triage for the survival of the group as a whole ? Does the intention of an unacceptable crime matter ? Khmer Rouge lack of humanity was its response to a society thoroughly colonized by a foreign enemy. Was something human in the society killed by its colonizers, something human within the Khmer Rouge as well, before the revolution and criminal excesses of the killings began ? Vietnam (also a Communist regime) was the only country which honoured the Convention on Genocide and intervened against the Khmer Rouge to bring the genocide to a close.
 

     France: the Sarkozy government's expulsion of European Roma is consistent with crimes of power that get rid of one vulnerable group after another to the 'advantage' of those who remain. Because this mechanism is illegal the European Commission has responded to the violation of Roma human rights by opening an "infringement procedure" against France for failing European Union law which assures free movement within member states of their citizens. France has until October 15th to comply by adjusting its laws and if it fails risks prosecution at the European Court of Justice. European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has recognized the current French policy toward the Roma as similar to its WWII agenda under the Nazis. The European Commission has not brought charges against France for discrimination against a specific minority. In an interview with the EUobserver the secretary-general of the Council of Europe organization, Thorbjorn Jagland, offered Roma aid to defend their rights at courts of law, saying "These are quite dangerous times" (UPI). Previous.     Partial sources: "Brussels takes on France over Roma," Pallavi Aivar, Oct. 1, 2010, Business Standard (India); "EU Launches Legal Action Against France On Roma Expulsions," Ahto Lobjakas, Oct. 1, 2010, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty; "Roma expulsions signal 'dangerous times'," Sept. 30, 2010, United Press International.

 

 

September 25, 2010

     Iraq: The Ikraam Center for Human Rights statistics for 2003 through March 2009, reveal a small part of the destruction of Iraqis as a national group during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Current effects of depleted uranium munitions are being seen in Fallujah. A sample of the Ikraam Center's findings for the country: 87 % of the 400,000 detained do not know the reason for their incarceration; 100% of the detained have suffered some form of torture; 80% of those targeted for killing worked in universities; 2.35 million Iraqis were killed outside the law since the occupation began; there are 420 secret detention centres in Iraq aside from regular prisons; three million Iraqis have left the country; over five million are internal refugees; there are five million orphans; infant mortality is the highest in the world; aids cases since the occupation have risen from 114 to 67,000; illiteracy, nonexistent in 1980 has risen to 5 million; 70% of the people live without drinkable water. Understanding the immensity of suffering comprising the crime against the Iraqi people which began in 1990, isn't manageable. The crime is too terrible for peoples of U.S. and Coalition countries to accept in their daily lives with awareness. U.S. policy in Iraq since 1990 is a genocide by a country / coalition that currently controls application of international law. The genocide is economically driven, and the national policies are in service to corporate profits / conquest. The responsibility for the genocide should be reflected in legal charges. If the law refuses to serve appropriately the Convention against Genocide, logic suggests people will eventually dismantle the corporate controls or becomes slaves. The Belgian based Brussells Tribunal carries articles concerning recently documented effects of the war on Iraq and occupation [access:< http://www.brusselstribunal.org/index.htm >]. See nightslantern's genocide warnings for Iraq.    Partial sources: "Iraq after Seven Years of Occupation: facts and figures." Ikraam Center for Human Rights. Issue 2010; "Testimonies of Crimes Against Humanity in Fallujah: Towards a Fair International Criminal Trial," a Report to the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council, Conservation Centre of Environmental & Reserves in Fallujah (CCERF) and Monitoring Net of Human Rights in Iraq (MHRI), Sept. 13 - Oct. 1, 2010, The Brussells Tribunal.

 

     New York City: the "war on terrorism" continues to use New York City courtrooms for a military / political / propaganda agenda (ie. see Lynne Stewart). In Afghanistan, 2008, U.S. authorities shot a young mother in the stomach (a signature of genocidal intent) while she was in their custody; the victim, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Muslim, MIT graduate, former Brandeis student, mother of three, was convicted in New York City Feb. 3, 2010 of attempted murder against her captors in Afghanistan. The prisoner was not armed. Her captors were. The attempted murder of the prisoner was not addressed. In New York City on September 23rd, she was sentenced to 86 years in prison by Judge Richard M. Berman, a Clinton appointee. The severity of her sentence doesn't jibe with a lack of evidence against her as presented the public. The case should be judged at International Criminal Court. Previous.     Partial sources: "Dr. Aafia gets 86 years," Sept. 24, 2010, Daily Times(Pakistan); "Pakistani Scientist Convicted of Attempted Murder," C.J. Hughes, Feb. 3, 2010, The New York Times; "'Al Qa’eda’ woman faces life sentence in US," Timur Moon, Sept. 21, 2010, Abu Dhabi Media Company; "Pakistani woman sentenced to 86 years for attempted murder of US personnel," Megan McKee, Sept. 23, 2010, Jurist.

 

 

September 22, 2010

     U.S. South: with BP's deepwater well capped July 15th, the U.S. has announced it effectively plugged. The disaster began April 20th. See previous.    Partial sources: "BP finally seals leaking Gulf of Mexico oil well," Sept. 19, 2010, BBC News.

     Georgia: despite serious reasonable doubt and recanting by witnesses in the conviction of Troy Davis, U.S. Federal Court in Georgia has refused the appeal of his death sentence and execution. Human justice needs public support. Amnesty offers a way to write a letter of support at (cut and paste) http://www.amnestyusa.org/lte/troy.php?ICID=T1006A01&z=K1N%205K3 .    Partial sources: "Federal court rules against Troy Davis," Aug. 28, 2010, Amnesty International USA email; "Judge Rejects Death Row Prisoner Troy Davis’s Innocence Claim,"Aug. 25, 2010, Democracy Now!

 

     Israel: as of the end of August over sixty actors, directors, playwrights in Israel have refused to work at a West Bank settlement theatre. The boycott concerns the new Ariel centre for performing arts scheduled to open in November. A committee representing settlers claims that the signers of the boycott letter are anti-Zionist and leftwing, while over 150 of Israel's academics have supported the boycott. International law considers the occupied area settlements illegal. Israel's ongoing operations outside international law have encouraged the abrogations of international law by more powerful countries. Abuse of Palestinians has resulted in the cancellation of cultural events by a number of high profile moral non-Israeli performers. In support of the Israeli letter of boycott over 150 U.S. actors, directors, writers etc. have signed a letter pledging not to work in Israel's West Bank. Recent supporters of the Ariel boycott include Daniel Barenboim, the pianist / conductor, citizen of Agentina, Spain, Israel and of Palestine, and Frank Gehry, the architect of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum.    Partial sources: "Israeli actors to boycott new West Bank theatre," Harriet Sherwood,n Aug. 29, 2010, guardian.co.uk; "US actors back Israeli boycott of West Bank theater," Haim Levinson Haaretz, Sept. 6, 2010, Israeli Occupation Archive; "Frank Gehry, Daniel Barenboim join Ariel boycott campaign," Natasha Mozgovaya, Sept. 21, 2010, Haaretz.com; "Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship," news agencies, Jan. 13, 2008, Haaretz.com; "The boycott of Israel is "gaining speed," Lawrence Davidson, Sept. 9, 2010, Redress Information & Analysis.

 

     el-Arish Port, Egypt: British, Moroccan and Qatar registered ships are enroute to Sinai with humanitarian aid to be delivered through the Rafah Crossing to Gaza. The ships carry 450 vehicles to transport aid overland as part of a Viva Palestina effort organized by George Galloway. There's some doubt Egypt will allow use of the border crossing. The exact number of participants murdered by Israeli forces in the previous flotilla attempt remains uncertain. Previous 1 and 2.    Partial sources: "'Largest flotilla yet' en-route Gaza," Ynet reporters, Sept. 18, 2010, Ynet news; "Large land convoy on way to Gaza Strip," Yaakov Katz & JPost.com staff, Sept. 19, 2010, The Jerusalem Post.

 

     France: on February 16th, 2009 the highest court in France ruled that deportation of Jews during WWII was the French government's responsibility. While recognizing a national responsibility for the Holocaust the ruling also refused a specific reparations payment, and although France has assumed pensions, remedies, reparations in the past, specific sum reparations to Jews cease with this ruling. Among other groups targeted by the Nazis the Roma were not appropriately compensated. Nor were the Communists. Internationally a neo-conservative trend appears willing to accept guilt but not the responsibility of redress. World Socialist Web Site estimates that of one million Roma and Sinti peoples in Europe before WWII, between a half and a quarter were murdered by the Nazis and those complicit. See previous. A current lack of resistance to fascism is reflected in the French Senate's approval (246 to 1) of a burqa ban. See previous. Legality of the bill remains to be considered by France's Constitutional Council. Spain's "Congress of Deputies" of its Parliament rejected a burqa ban (183 to 162).    Partial sources: "France court rules government responsible for deporting Jews in WWII," Jaclyn Belczyk,m Feb. 16, 2010, Jurist; "France once more 'A world war II pro-Nazi style regime?'" Infowars Ireland, Sept. 16, 2010, and "Sarkozy fury over EU attack on Roma round-up," Sept. 15, 2010, www.expatica.com; "France senate approves burqa ban," Sarah Miley, Sept. 14, 201`0, Jurist; "Spain lower house rejects proposal to ban burqa ," Ann Riley, July 21, 2010, Jurist; "The persecution of Roma—under the Nazis and today," Peter Schwartz, Sept. 18, 2010, World Socialist Web Site.

 

 

September 15, 2010

     Canada: Kahentinetha Horn is the 70 year old editor of Mohawk Nation News, an outspoken writer. According to Mohawk Nation News, without knowledge of the 2 warrants from Canada Border Services Agency she was arrested July 19th, driven about in a police car while preparations were made for her removal from Quebec to an unknown destination; she was not allowed a phone call; under resulting medical duress she was taken to hospital. Released after two days she returned home and called the police. Charges against her are referred to as 'assault and obstruction' during her arrest by a uniformed team at the Canadian border, June 14, 2008. There is no previous mention in news accounts of physical resistance by Kahentinetha at the June 14th, 2008 arrest; instead there are reports of the roughing, beating, handcuffing of the writer / grandmother, and a trauma-induced heart attack. See previous (sequential) 1   2   3   4   5   6  7   8   9.   Note: the writers organization P.E.N. Canada which once supported writers' human rights and freedom of expression under an international standard (currently for persecuted writers in Cuba, Turkey and China) refused my request to look into her case so I've had to stop paying dues there after thirty years of active concern at several P.E.N. organizations. The alleged police abuse of a writer/editor is impossible to separate from the content of her work, and because allegations of ongoing violations of her human rights have not been dealt with, the example becomes a threat against all writers, editors, journalists, against freedom of expression, and particularly against the rights of first peoples. -jbg. Nightslantern carries Kahentinetha Horn's essay "North American Indian Holocaust".    Partial sources: "Woman, 69, assaulted by guards, family says," the Canadian Press, June 21, 2008, globeandmail.com; "MNN Editor Arrested for ‘Assaulting’ Canada Border Commandos," Mohawk Nation News, Sept. 10, 2010, The Speed of Dreams / ANG.

 

     International
      "Chip Chip Kavaya from Chernobyl," Irina Petrovna from Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to be at the Théâtre Alchimic, Geneva Switzerland, Nov. 2nd to 14. "Irina, toujours rayonnante !" -Le Cabaret Nucléaire  [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC13C_-f6cU >]
     U.S. Dr. Doug Rokke on Depleted Uranium use in Iraq, Nov. 16, 2002   [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-VkpR-wka8 >]. See previous etc.. Of note, recent: "The War on Sperm in Iraq : Genocide through Defense Technology," Bob Nichols, Sept. 10, 2010, Veterans Today.
      "Fallujah babies born with birth defects as a result of Depleted Uranium WMD contaminated dust"   [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFqyK8kB1Vk >].

 

 

September 8, 2010

     U.S.: on August 30th the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed suit on behalf of Anwar al-Aulaqi's father, Nasser al-Aulaqi, and against U.S. President Barack H. Obama, the director of the CIA Leon C. Panetta, the Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, to stop the targeted killing of a U.S. citizen, Anwar al-Aulaqi. Against all targeted killings this case points out that placing Anwar al-Aulaqi on the killing list constitutes a request for an extra-judicial killing, a violation of international law, and deprives Anwar al-Aulaqi of his Constitutional rights. The intended victim is not located on a recognized U.S. battlefield. See previous 1 and 2 . See also "Against the killing of Anwar al-Aulaqi & others."    Partial sources: "CCR and ACLU get license & file lawsuit to challenge targeted killings outside of armed conflict," Vincent Warren, Aug. 30, 2010, CCRalerts; "CCR and the ACLU v. OFAC & Al-Aulaqi v. Obama," Synopsis, current, Center for Constitutional Rights website.

     Tacoma Washington: Five nuclear resisters of the "Disarm Now Plowshares" (previous), were indicted on charges of "conspiracy, trespass, destruction of property on a naval installation, and depradation of government property" (Jonah House) for their actions entering Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base on Nov. 2, 2009. The base hosts Trident submarines and over 2000 nuclear missile warheads, and is currently upgraded to accommodate Trident D-5 missiles , 8 per submarine, and each 30 times stronger than the bomb used on Hiroshima. If convicted Fr. Bill Bichsel, Susan Crane, Lynne M. Greenwald, Fr. Steve Kelly, Sr. Anne Montgomery, risk ten year sentences and fines of $250,000 apiece. See    Partial sources: "Disarm Now Plowshares indicted for November 2009 witness," Sept. 6, 2010, Jonah House and see [access=< http://disarmnowplowshares.wordpress.com >]; "5 indicted in Bangor nuke zone security breach," Staff, Sept. 3, 2010, Komo News.

 

     Spain: for his attempt to investigate the ('alleged') war crimes by Franco's government, Baltasar Garzon will face trial.The Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's decision that Judge Garzon abused his power and that his pursuit of the case was politically motivated. See previous 1, 2, 3 and 4. In Argentina a court of appeals has allowed to proceed a suit by relatives of two Spanish citizens believed killed under Franco's authority. While Spain has attempted to cover Franco's crimes from the Spanish Civil War through 1976 by its 1977 Amnesty Law Argentina's appeals court has mandated a letter to the Spanish government to learn if the country is investigating "a systematic and deliberate plan to terrorise Spaniards who supported representative government by their physical elimination" (BBC).    Partial sources: "Spain high court confirms trial for judge Garzon over Franco probe," Jay Carmella, Sept. 7, 2010, Jurist; "Spain's Supreme court confirms case against judge over Franco probe," DPA, Sept. 7, 2010, The Earth Times; "Argentine court reopens Franco probe," Sept. 4, 2010, BBC News; "Spain: End Amnesty for Franco Era Atrocities," March 19, 2010, Human Rights Watch.

 

 

September 6, 2010, Labor Day / Labour Day

Note
Dublin 1913. "The Ballad of Larkin and Connolly"   [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DxaTSrBZMc >]
 

 

September 5, 2010

     Rwanda: Amnesty International has released a report, "Safer to Stay Silent," concerning application of Rwanda's "genocide ideology" and "sectarianism" laws which risk stifling the nation's freedom of expression and democratic procedures (see previous 1   2   3   4 etc.). As of April the application of Rwanda's genocide laws has been under review by the Rwandan government which strongly objects to Amnesty's allegations. A report from the United Nations Human Rights Commission leaked before official release found the Kagame government's killings of Hutu refugees across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo in such great numbers for so many years that the Convention on Genocide may be applicable (Nightslantern placed a genocide warning for Hutu tribespeople on May 31). There is some indication thatKagame's government has tried to have the UN report suppressed. Forewarnings of the UN report's content coincide with media coverage of the rape of over 200 women and children in Eastern Congo - mentioning Bunangiri (UN Report) or Luvungi (AFP report) thirty kilometers from a UN forces base. Luvungi is mid mining district close to the borders of Rwanda and Burundi.    Partial sources: "Safer to Stay Silent," Amnesty International, 2010, Amnesty international Publications;"Govt says Amnesty International accusations are 'wild',"RNA Reporter, Aug. 31, 2010, Rwanda News Agency; "Forthcoming UN DRC report suggests genocide by Rwanda forces," Ann Riley, Aug.30, 2010, Jurist; "Koffi Annan under fire from Kigali over UN 'Genocide report'," RNA Reporter, Aug. 31, 2010, Rwandan News Agency; "Will United Nations Cover-Up Rwanda's Congo Genoocide ?" Milton Allimadi, Sept. 2, 2010,Black Star News; "UN confirms reported gang rape of women by rebels in DRC Congo," Aug. 23, 2010, UN News Centre; "Suspected rebels rape over 240 women in DR Congo: NGO," AFP, Sep. 3, 2010, Google News; "U.N. Delays Release of Report on Possible Congo Genocide," Neil MacFarquhar, Sept. 2, 2010, The New York Times.

 

     Ottawa: on August 25th three Muslim Canadian citizens were arrested on terrorism charges, the result of multi-million dollar "Operation Samosa" effecting surveillance for about a year. Press reports intimate the three were involved in a conspiracy involving 50 detonator computer boards allegedly intended for use against unknown targets in Ottawa. The three are charged with 'facilitating' terrorism. National Post quotes an alleged online posting by one of the accused, protesting "Operation Iraqi Freedom" by saying “Destroying human life and its most basic requirements is murder — not freedom. Where are the Muslim soldiers?” It is a mild posting considering the crimes protested are aggression and genocide. As part of "Operation Samosa" a fourth Muslim man was arrested August 27th. Initially detained under 'anti-terrorism' procedures, he was charged with domestic abuse, and his 19 year old wife on trying to get him a lawyer had their child taken away by the State. Currently respect is due to the People's Commission Network and No One Is Illegal Montreal who have called for solidarity with the Muslim community; in response to a propaganda campaign unifying police actions and media presentation of "the war on terror," there's a growing concensus of the left, of human rights organizations, Muslim groups, and portions of the media, challenging a propaganda campaign against Muslim suspects. What may be Islamophobia is also held in check by occasional court decisions in favour of Charter Rights and opportunities for legal redress. Federal court has given lawyers for Abousfian Abdelrazik permission to proceed with a 27 million dollar suit for violations to his rights and safety. Because there is some evidence of dialogue in Canada, of an appropriate popular and court response to violations of the rights of Muslim peoples faced with a pragmatic political persecution, the need is lessened for a preventive genocide warning concerning Muslims in Canada which is withdrawn for now.

Historical note
Previous 'anti-terrorism' Canadian arrests include: Canadian Security Certificate detention of 5 Muslim men held without rights and condemned as "terrorists" by the press. After detention conditions extreme enough to be considered punishment by the State, Canadian courts have found inadequate evidence to support the arrests. The celebrated case against the so-called "Toronto 18" targeted by an expensive law enforcement operation resolved in the conviction of eleven for what are basically crimes of intention. No violent crime was committed. In a case used to further aims of a "war on terror" the extent that infiltrating informants shaped their targets' 'intentions' remains unclear. There is an ethical problem in arresting and sentencing a person for an intention to commit a complex crime that neither happens nor is about to happen, particularly within a police operation targeting a group in expectation of violence. Suggestions by police informants have strong effect: the informant has more survival options, carries police authority covertly, has access to professional criminal illegal procedures, weapons, explosives, and the expertise to accomplish a crime. The convicted may have had no access to accomplish a violent crime except through police informants.
Partial sources: "Two arrested in Ottawa after multiple raids in al-Qaida terror probe," Stewart Bell (Postmedia), Aug. 25, 2010, The Vancouver Sun; "The Online Trail: New Insight into terror suspect comes from Web footprint," Kathryn Blaze Carlson and Stewart Bell, Aug. 31, 2010, National Post; "Ont. terror suspect linked to Pakistani Taliban," Sept. 1, 2010, CBC News (an unconfirmed report with unrevealed source); "Ontario terrorism suspects to appear in court," Sept.1, 2010, CTV News; "Authorities seize child of man targeted in terror probe," Colin Freeze, Aug.31, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Police swapped circuit boards ahead of terror arrests," Christie Blatchford and Colin Freeze, Aug. 31, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Terror suspects arrested in city's west end," Phil Ambroziak, Sept. 2, 2010, Ottawa West EMC News; "Extremist groups under watch: Toews," Stewart Bell, Sept. 2, 2010, National Post; "Call for solidarity: Halt the tide of Islamophobia," Press release, Sept. 1, 2010, People's Commission News Network; "Jihadi plot allegedly typed out at library," Ian Macleod, Sept. 4, 2010, Ottawa Citizen.

 

 

August 29, 2010

     France: the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommends France avoid "collective expulsions, a violation under international law" (VOA). The EU Parliament Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, states France's mass deportation of Roma and their fingerprinting are violations of law. French Socialist Arnaud Montebourg and Centre-right Dominique de Villepin condemn the treatment of Roma unequivocally. According to France 24 the Pope urges "universal fraternity," joining the archbishop of Aix-en-Provence and Arles, the archbishop of Paris and other French clergy in condemning discrimination. The Vatican's secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Migrants, Archbishop Agostino Marchetto states “One cannot generalize and take an entire group of people and kick them out” (Catholic culture). Amnesty International faults Sarkozy for stigmatizing a minority group. Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, suspects the French of "racism." Under pressure, in France the Minister of Immigration, Eric Besson, has called a meeting September 6th for immigration ministers from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the UK, Greece and Canada, for what ROMEA calls the French 'anti-Roma' summit. Several countries are showing reluctance to attend. In response to the summit ROMEA (Roma Civic Alliance of Romania Roma) is calling for a boycott of French products / services, and for protests in solidarity at French embassies worldwide, September 6th. See previous.    Partial sources: "Pope joins other priests in opposing Sarkozy's Roma policy," Gaëlle Le Roux, Aug. 24, 2010, France 24; "De Villepin calls Sarkozy security crackdown ‘stain of shame’ on French flag," Aug. 23, 2010, France 24; "Vatican joins protests as France expels Gypsies," Aug. 20, 2010, CatholicCulture.org; "France defies critics to push on with Roma expulsions," AFP, Aug. 19, 2010, Google News; "UN urges France to stop Roma deportations," Aug. 27, 2010, BBC News; "UN Urges France to Stop Collective Deportation of Roma," Aug. 27, 2010, VOANews.com; "EU socialists claim France Roma deportations violate EU law," Christian Ehret, Aug. 26, 2010, Jurist; "France deports more Roma in defiance of international criticism," Joanna Impey (AFP), Aug. 27, 2010, Deutsche Welle; "Prospect of French 'anti-Roma' summit disturbs EU presidency," Aug. 25, 2010, romea.cz; "September 6th... The Infamous French Summit against Roma!" Aug. 28, 2010, romea.cz; "Suspicion of 'racist' thinking on Roma expulsions," AFP, Aug. 28, 2010, Google News.

 

 

August 28, 2010

     Guantanamo Prison Camp: more on Omar Khadr's military 'trial' where the military judge has ruled Khadr wasn't tortured. See previous entry. Recommended: three Lawyers Rights Watch Canada reports concerning Khadr submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council, and a paper by Grace Li Xiu Woo. Gail Davidson's article on Canada's Supreme Court decision, "Torture as Foreign Policy: the Omar Khadr Decision" (below) appeared with The Jurist, Feb. 11, 2010.
"Universal Periodic Review of Canada: Report of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada," Sept. 8, 2008, UN Human Rights Council [access:< re-filed >].
"LRWC Report to the 13th Session of the United National Human Rights Council on Khadr," Feb. 15, 2010, UN Human Rights Council [access:< re-filed >].
"The Omar Khadr Case: How the Supreme Court of Canada Undermined the Convention on the Rights of the Child," Grace Li Xiu Woo, March 4, 2010, LRWC [access:< re-filed >].
"Formal Communication for Consideration and Action Re: Omar Khadr," LRWC "Complaint submitted at the request of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak", March 22, 2010, UN Human Rights Council [access:< re-filed >].

“…the same thing also, we are aware, happened to a young Canadian man, Omar Khadr, whowas aged 17 when we left. He had been shot three times at point blank range and his lungpunctured and had shrapnel in one eye and a cataract in the other. They would not operate onhim. He was told that was because he would not cooperate. We were told one time when he was in isolation he was on the floor very badly ill. The guards called the medics and they said they couldn’t see him because the interrogators had refused to let them" (Rhuhel Ahmed, nearby cell, released; Complaint from LRWC, March 22, 2010).
 

 

August 26, 2010

     Guantanamo Prison Camp: in a prison camp known for crimes of torture, its suicides, its abuse of religious convictions, its alleged murder of prisoners, its disregard of Geneva Conventions, Col. Patrick Parrish, the military judge for Omar Khadr's trial has ruled there's no evidence Omar Khadr was tortured. Yet Khadr has alleged he was tortured. The ruling allows evidence obtained under torture to be presented in the military prosecution's case. The trial is temporarily suspended while Khadr's military lawyer, just out of military hospital, recovers in a military hospital from passing out on his feet in court. A thirty day delay gave Canada's Federal Court a chance to insist that Harper bring Khadr back (see previous 1 and 2). Several court decisions have already tried to bring the government under rule of law. On June 18, 2008, Canada's Senate passed Senator Romeo Dallaire's motion requesting the Harper government immediately negotiate Khadr's repatriation. Prime Minister Harper ignored the request as he has others, which in principle strips away the rights of any children in war zones. An alternative: these efforts by Gail Davidson / Lawyers Against the War from our archives:

2005. "Omar Khadr - Illegal detention and torture by US Forces in Guantánamo Bay"
2007. "LAW's Letter of June 12th, 2007" (concerning Canada's duty to Omar Khadr)
2007. "Letter to thePrime Minister (et al.) Requesting a Meeting" (concerning Canada's duty to Omar Khadr)"
2008. "LAW Calls for the Release and Repatriation of Omar Khadr"
2008. Background update, Omar Khadr
2009. "Omar Khadr: Release, Repatriation, Remedies: the only legal options available to U.S. and Canada" (LRWC)
2009. "Omar Khadr: Groups and individuals supporting release, repatriation and remedies for Omar Khadr"
2009. "Supreme Court of Canada to hear Khadr appeal"
2010. "Torture as Foreign Policy: the Omar Khadr Decision"
Supplement of Aug. 28, 2010
See also previous.
Partial sources: "Omar Khadr not tortured: judge," AP, Aug. 20, 2010, CBC News; "Senate Adopts Senator Romeo Dallaire's Motion Urging the Repatration of Omar Khadr," News Release, June 19, 2008, LGen the Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire, Senator; "Canadian's confession can be used at Guantanamo trial," Reuters, Aug. 20, 2010, Alertnet; "US Judge Rules OK to Torture Children: Omar Khadr Torture Evidence Accepted," B. McPherson, Aug. 12, 2010, AllVoices; "Khadr's torture claims proven: lawyer," Steven Edwards (Canwest News Service). May 7, 2010, Ottawa Citizen.

 

 

August 25, 2010

     U.S.: the attempt to build a Muslim community centre and mosque near the site of the World Trade Center demolition / bombing in New York City is covered in the media. Objections to the project have revealed a clear anti-Muslim problem within conventional U.S. politics. While the Mayor of New York supports the Muslim right to build the project, the Governor of New York prefers it built elsewhere. According to the Montreal Gazette 68 % of Americans are against Muslims building at Ground Zero. The extreme rightwing is more extreme in its oppositon to the equal constitutional rights for Muslims. Geert Wilders (previous) a European politician rising through advocacy of anti-Muslim policies in Holland, and Newt Gingrich of the U.S., will speak at a Sept. 11th rally organized by "Stop Islamization of America." USA Today Today notes virulent opposition to local mosque building projects in Nashville (Murfreesboro) Tennessee and Temecula, California. After meeting with Islamic groups across the country, Daisy Khan, the director of the American Society of Muslim Advancement finds a hatred against Muslims exceeding Islamophobia. Respecting the Convention on Genocide emphasis on "Prevention," before "Punishment," Nightslantern continues to note a genocide warning for Muslims in the U.S. where the "war on terrorism" has bent the judiciary to inadequate protections of human rights and lack of recourse for victim Muslims and Islamic groups targeted by government crimes.    Partial sources: "Imam's wife: Mosque opposition like 'metastasized anti-Semitism'," Daniel Tencer, Aug. 22, 2010, Raw Story; "Wilders to speak at New York mosque protest," Aug. 6, 2010, DutchNews.nl; "Opponents fight new mosques in U.S. heartland," Aug. 8, 2010, USA Today; "Wilders and Gingrich in Manhattan on 9/11 to Oppose Ground Zero Mosque," Aug. 8, 2010 [access:< http://www.geertwilders.nl >]; "Mosque site unites critics from all sides," William McQuillen (Bloomberg News), Aug. 17, 2010, The Gazette.

 

     Montreal: Friends of Tamil Refugees has announced a rally in Montreal, Aug. 26, 2010, two in the afternoon at the Complex Guy-Favreau, 200 Boulevard René Levesque, calling for "the immediate release of detained Tamil asylum seekers and an end to racist and restrictive refugee policies" (People's Commission). According to the BBC over 400 of the recent Tamil refugees remain in jail while their claims for refugee status are examined; the children aren't 'detained' though some remain in jail with their parents. See previous.    Partial sources: "Tamil asylum-seekers must stay in jail, Canada says," Aug. 23,2010, BBC News; "Tamil refugees: Protest and Call to Action," press release, August 23, 2010, People's Commission News Network; "Immigrants and Canada: Time for a National Debate," Aug. 20, 2010, Pacific Free Press.

 

     Canada: Bill C-440, originally introduced by Gerard Kennedy in September 2009 will be brought up again September 27, 2010 in Parliament's House of Commons. The bill affirms both the conscience of the individual and the will of the majority of Canadians that war resisters not be deported, and focuses on wars the UN has not sanctioned such as Iraq. It strengthens two motions already passed by the House, which the Harper government has ignored. The text of the bill and a petition in support are currently available at http://letthemstay.ca/resources/.  Previous.    Partial sources: "Support Bill C-440," current [access:< http://letthemstay.ca/ >]; "Iraq War resisters deserve fair treatment," Gerard Kennedy, Aug. 18, 2010, Embassy.

 

 

August 22, 2010

     Ottawa: No One Is Illegal has called a rally at Kent and Laurier August 23 at midday, for the approximately 500 Tamil men women children who reached Canada by boat August 12th, seeking refuge. Nightslantern placed a genocide warning for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka February 2009 when several hundred thousand civilians were at the mercy of Sri Lankan government armed forces ( previous and previous). With at least 7000 reported killed in the last month of their military defeat, the Tamil people have continued to suffer persecution and alleged violations of humanitarian and international law. CTVBC has reported that over 75% of the 13,000 Tamil refugees to Canada since 2001 have been granted status. The boat refugees' position is harmed by the Sri Lankan government's identification of the ship with the Tamil LTTE, listed by Canada as a terrorist organization. On June 22, 2010 the U.N. Secretary General named a 3 person Panel of Experts to insist on Sri Lanka's accountabiliity.    Partial sources: "Support the Tamil Refugees - Let Them Stay! - Ottawa Rally Monday August 23 at noon," No One Is Illegal, Aug. 18, 2010, Nowar-peace listserv; "Let the Tamil Migrants Stay!" Aug. 16, 2010, Canadian Peace Alliance; " Canada missed chances to stop Tamil migrant ship," Stewart Bell and Kathryn Blaze Carlson, Aug. 20, 2010, The National Post; "Tamils playing us for fools," Ezra Levant (QMI), Aug. 22, 2010, Toronto Sun; "Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Sri Lanka," June 22, 2010, Secretary General Office of the Spokesperson; "Ban appoints panel to advise on human rights issues during Sri Lankan conflict," June 22, 2010, UN News Centre; "Civilian casualties in Sri Lanka conflict ‘unacceptably high’ – Ban," June 1, 2010, U.N.News Centre; "What are they running from?" Bethany Lindsay, Aug. 13, 2010 CTV / ctvbc.ca; "Canada paints 'terrorism' to escape responsibility," Aug. 17, 2010, Syndicate TamilNet; "End of civil war hasn't calmed Sri Lanka, experts say," James Keller (CP), Aug. 15, 2010, ctvbc.ca.

 

 

August 20, 2010

     Turkey: the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has again asked the Government of Turkey to assess damage to women's rights caused by its headscarf ban. See previous. The U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women encourages elimination of practices based on any concept of inferiority or superiority of either sex (Article 5 (a)). Article 1 states: ..."discrimination against women" shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. The Convention commits its signers To repeal all national penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women (Article 2 (g)). The challenge to a headscarf ban in Turkey rises from the impoverishment of women who choose to wear a headscarf. The same effect will likely result in Euro-centric countries banning the niqab and burqa, which affects a small percentage of women. Turkey acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which was signed and ratified by Belgium, Canada (Quebec 1 and 2), France and Spain, among many other nations.    Partial sources: "Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women," CEDAW/C/TUR/CO/6, July 30, 2010, United Nations; "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," Dec. 18, 1979, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [access:< http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cedaw.htm >]; "CEDAW asked to put an end on headscarf discrimination," Fatma Benli, Aug. 19, 2010, Coalition for the Partial Preliminary Evaluation Report by 71 Non-governmental Organizations.

 

     Peru: at the prosecutor's insistence the parole of Lori Berenson (see previous 1 and 2) was revoked. She is returned to a Peruvian prison to make her serve the remaining five years of a twenty year sentence for cooperating with Tupac Amaru guerrillas. The vindictiveness of the prosecutor and the scapegoating of Lori Berenson is political currency: the presidential election of April 2011 is currently a close contest between Luis Castenada (Mayor of Lima) and Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori. Alberto Fujimori is serving thirty years in prison for numerous war crimes (1     2     3     4     5     6     7), embezzlement, and spying on his intelligence chief's family (1     2). If elected his daughter is likely to pardon and free him, clouding Peru with reminders of his "war on terrorism" - death squads, massacres of civilians, murders of prisoners (see 1     2     3), etc.. Charges against Alberto Fujimori that were considered include responsibility for genocide in the sterilization of 300,000 Indigenous women (see  1     2     3     4). See my "Note on Peru" 2009). The ongoing destruction of Indian peoples underlies the injustices fought against by guerilla movements in Peru - Tupac Amaru was the name of the last Inca king.     Partial sources: "Peru court revokes parole for American activist," AP & staff, Aug. 18, 2010, Antiwar Newswire; "Lori Berenson (and Son?) Headed Back to Peru Prison," Lucien Chauvin, Aug. 18, 2010, Time Magazine; "Keiko Fujimori Leads Peru Presidential Poll, El Comercio Says," John Quigley, June 20, 2010, Bloomberg.

 

     Haiti: the U.S. Government claims 2 million displaced by Haiti's earthquake on January 12th, 1.5 million remaining in "relief camps." Portions of Louisiana's National Guard are still in Haiti under project "New Horizons" with "Task Force Kout Men". Democracy Now! carries reports of 1.5 million refugees displaced, sub-standard unsuitable tent camps, lack of sanitation facilities, gender violence, and the inhabitants of 1300 camps threatened with forced eviction. While 100,000 Haitian children are wounded, government hospitals are closing; 2.9% of aid reaches the government (Weisbrot). Fanmi Lavalas, Haiti's majority political party has again been barred from participation in the country's elections. Lavalas represents the poor and deposed President Aristide's political base. UN Special Envoy Bill Clinton has announced that the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (a structure he co-chairs with Haiti's Prime Minister Bellerive) has actually apportioned 1.6 billion dollars for reconstruction, in hopes of encouraging the pledged payments - only 2% of the world's country pledges to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund have been honoured. Haiti remains under a genocide warning nightslantern placed in 2005 after deposed President Aristide warned of a "Black Holocaust" of Haiti's poor. Despite an international outpouring of concern for Haiti's earthquake victims, 7 months later the needs of the displaced poor are not being met. Previous, previous, previous.    Partial sources: "Thousands of Haitians Face Risk of Forcible Evictions from Temporary Camps," Amy Goodman, Aharif Abdel Kouddous & others, Aug. 17, 2010, Democracy Now!. "Haiti Reconstruction Commission Approves $1.6B for Rebuilding Projects," Headlines, Aug. 18, 2010, Democracy Now!; "Haiti commission earmarks $1.6 bln for recovery," Joseph Guyler Delva, Aug. 18, 2010, Reuters; "New Horizons: U.S. Military’s Humanitarian Efforts in Haiti," U.S. Government, Aug. 17, 2010, Relief Web; "Lift ban on Aristide's party," Mark Weisbrot, Aug. 18, 2010, Winnipeg Free press; "Haiti: Earthquake victims attacked," Isabeau Doucet, Aug. 1, 2010, Green Left Weekly; "Haiti: Growing anger, misery six months after earthquake," G. Dunkel, Aug. 1, 2010, Workers World;"Gender-Based Violence in Haiti," Stephen Lendman, Aug. 17, 2010, War is a crime.org.

 

 

August 17, 2010

 

The City of Qadir currently "Cadiz" in Spain, was founded by the Phoenicians. Pastel by E.B.Gerald
 

     Guantanamo: Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, the army lawyer for Omar Khadr, fainted in court on Aug. 12, 2010 bringing proceedings to a close. A sole military lawyer representing Khadr, Jackson is recovering from a recent gall bladder operation. He hasn't challenged the court's legality. The "jury" of 7 U.S. military officers is selected. Omar Khadr's trial is scheduled to resume in a month. The extensive media coverage, reporting facts of legal process, is unable to convey the brutality of torturing a wounded child, or imprisoning him for childhood without trial or access to protectors. A UN press release reports that Radhika Coomaraswamy, the U.N.'s Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, shows the trial is illegal: 1. the International Criminal Court holds that children under 18 can't be tried for war crimes, 2. child soldiers are essentially victims; 3. domestically, children mustn't be tried by military tribunals. In the U.S., the Supreme Court (previous) was given the chance to intervene and has chosen to remain silent. In Canada the pressures to repatriate Khadr are sidetracked by a Conservative government. Canada's Federal Court (see previous etc.), supported the Canadian Supreme Court decision and required an immediate request to repatriate Khadr, but this was appealed by the Harper government just before the Military Commission trial began (previous). The media have forgotten to note that a new thirty day delay gives the Canadian court a chance to uphold the law, despite any breeches of responsibility by the government. The U.S. doesn't willingly subscribe to the International Criminal Court. Canada has subscribed, and its current government is vulnerable to ICC jurisdiction, application of international laws, application of "Geneva Conventions" laws and Canada's own "Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act" (see resources [access:< http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/C-45.9/index.html >]).    Partial sources: "Lawyer faints as Khadr trial opens," Aug. 13, 2010, Aljazeera.net/English; "Omar Khadr trial on hold," Michelle Shephard, Aug. 13, 2010, the star.com; "UN envoy warns of implications of trial of last child soldier held in Guantánamo," Aug. 10, 2010, UN News Centre.

 

     Comayagua, Honduras: The body of Maria Terresa Flores, was found August 11, marked by torture and execution. The mother of 14 children was a local agrarian reform leader, working with COCOCH (Coordinating Council of Peasant Organizations of Honduras). The Frente de Resistencia calls it a political assassination. The targeting of women / mothers for violence becomes more frequent in the Americas as contractors and paramilitaries increasingly serve corporate interests (see El Salvador Dec. 31, 2009). The community organizations are trying to protect their people's health and resources. In Honduras, mining reform proposed by deposed President Zelaya is supported by the Resistance as it tries to unify and refound the country. While COFADEH (Committee of Family Members of the Disappeared of Honduras) doesn't emphasize 43 political assassinations since the coup, the Resistance Front is losing union and resistance leaders. There were 7 journalists killed in March and April. In the Valle de Siria region Canada's Goldcorp (Entremares) is accused of bringing massive damage to peoples and resources with the health of 80% of the region's 140,000, affected by the mining company's activities. Goldcorp employees supported the coup and coup-President Lobo Sosa has reinstated all mining concessions in Honduras. These are reported to be, currently, exclusively Canadian. Under pressure from CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development - Catholic bishops based in England and Wales) criminal charges are finally filed against Entremares top officials for extreme contamination from its San Martin mine. U.S. interests are present in the U.S. Joint Task Force Bravo, stationed on Comayagua's Soto Cano Air Base. While the new Resistance Front's manifesto rises from the ancestral Lenca (native) resistance to Spansh conquest, the Bishop of Comayagua has found a Spanish sculptor from Seville, Reubén Fernández Parra, to replicate where possible statues destroyed when Comayagua's Colonial Ecclesiastical Archive burned down April 2009. The Saints, many of them in tears are carried in Comayagua's Holy Week procession and look very European.    Partial sources: "De Sevilla a Comayagua (Honduras)," José Luis Martínez, March 9, 2010, Arte Sacro [access:< http://www.artesacro.org/Noticia.asp?idreg=57450 >]; "Honduran Peasant Leader Assassinated," Red Morazánica de Información, Aug. 13, 2010, Upside Down World; "Canadian Mining and Popular Resistance in Honduras ," Todd Gordon and Jeffery R. Webber, Feb. 2, 2010, Upside Down World; "Canada's Long Embrace of the Honduran Dictatorship," Todd Gordon & Jeffrey R. Webber, March 19, 2010, Counterpunch; "Why Murder the Word?" Juan Almendares trans Ramirez AP, April 29, 2010, quotha.net; "Goldcorp staff face criminal charges over mine pollution," agency reporter, Aug. 16, 2010, Ekklesia; "Renewal," RNS, March 29, 2010, Honduras Culture and Politics blog.

 

 

August 12, 2010

     Israel: on August 10th police with bulldozers destroyed gravestones of a Muslim graveyard in Jerusalem. Police and bulldozers also entered Al-Araqib in the Negev desert, a third time, to destroy tent-like structures used as dwellings. The town was previously destroyed on August 4th and on July 26th. The Negev Co-existence Forum has documented about 50 demolitions / attacks on individual Bedouin homes in the area or destruction of crops, so far this year, and over 250 incidents since 2001; example: "2009: March 12th – Bir Al Hamam, East of route 25 Beer-Sheva – Dimona, 3 houses were demolished and 100 olive trees were uprooted." Poisonous spraying of crops is reported as occuring up to 2004 when the practice to deprive the population of food turned to ploughing under crops ( Feb. 10, 2010: "Israel Land Authority destroy crops in 3,000 dunams [about 741 acres)] at the unrecognized village of Al-Araqib," Dukium). Haaretz reports 225 Bedouin structures destroyed in the Negev during 2008, 254 during 2009, with 700 "illegal" structures expected to be demolished in 2010; 9 kilometers square of earth are to be deep-ploughed as a prohibition to building. Considering the Bedouin as recent arrivals, Israel claims approximately 8500 acres that Bedouin consider ancestral lands. JTA reports the National Jewish Fund's intentions for the Negev area are to settle 250,000 Israelis there in the next three years; 155,000 Bedouin currently dwell in the entire Negev with 60% in state-created cities. This leaves 56 thousand (Wikipedia claims 80,000) Bedouin in locations vulnerable to removal and demolition of their homes even if living on ancestral, titled, family lands. Israeli Defense Forces use 85% of the Negev; a quarter of the area population is Bedouin. See previous.    Partial sources: "Israel to triple demolition rate for illegal Bedouin construction," Yanir Yagna, Feb.18, 2010, Haaretz.com; "State demolishes Beduin homes again," Ben Hartman, Aug. 5, 2010, The Jerusalem Post online; "Israel bulldozes Muslim graves, Bedouin village ," Aug. 11, 2010, Saudi Gazette; "Ethnic cleansing continues: Bedouin village Al Araqib demolished for the third time," Aug. 10, 2010, International Solidarity Movement; "Bedouin demolitions raising tensions in Israeli land dispute," Marcy Oster, Aug. 10, 2010, JTA online; "Israel’s Teenage Barbarians at al-Arakib," Lawrence Davidson, Aug. 4, 2010, MWC News; "Palestine," current, Information with Provenance (PIWP database); "House Demolitions" and "Archive," Dukium, current, Negev Coexistence Forum; "Negev," current, Wikipedia.

 

 

August 11, 2010

     France

Historical note
For deporting 194 children during the Nazi occupation of France, René Bousquet was charged with crimes against humanity in 1989 by the Ligue des droits de l'Homme, l'Association des Fils et Filles des déportés juifs de France, among others. Indicted in 1991, he was shot and killed before his trial began. He is known for his role in organizing the Battle of Marseille, where French and German police together demolished 1500 buildings and evicted 30,000 inhabitants of the Marseilles 1st arrondissement Old Port on January 22-24, 1943, while sending 2000 Jews to the death camps.   "Because of motives of interior security, the French administration had decided, on its side, to effectuate a vast police operation to rid Marseille of certain elements whose activities endangered the population." Bouches-du-Rhône Prefecture, Jan. 24, 1943 (Wikipedia). Phoenician, then Greek, then Roman, Marseilles became part of France in 1481.
      Paul Éluard from "VI" of "Les sept poèmes d'amour en guerre," written in resistance to Nazi occupation, about 1943:

    Honte des trains de suppliciés
    Honte des mots terre brûlée
    Mais nous n'avons pas honte de notre souffrance
    Mais nous n'avons pas honte d'avoir honte
      In the early morning of August 10th 2010, French police closed two Roma / traveler encampments in Hérault, at the cities of Montpellier and Lattes, displacing fifty people without incident. 13 so far are ordered to leave France. The police action was in line with Sarkozy's pledge to destroy 300 of an estimated 600 Romani encampments. The right wing claims a French 79% approval rating (IFOP poll) for closing illegal Romani camps. La Ligue des droits de l'Homme (LDH) has pointed out France hasn't followed the United Nations 2005 recommendations to rectify its treatment of Romani. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), 77th Session, is currently addressing this problem (Aug.11-12th). The Romani evicted from St. Etienne (see previous) were invited to leave France. The St. Etienne Town hall is considered 'Socialist' - anti-Rom perspectives aren't limited to the extreme right. After the St. Etienne evictions Roma families are reported sleeping on sidewalks. Agence France Press is credited in most media reporting currently available on the French Romani persecution, which may allow emergency media control of related news. The Ligue des droits de l'Homme notes a conflict between an emphasis on national identity and the U.N.'s respect for equal treatment of human beings.

Partial sources: "René Bousquet," current, Wikipedia; "Battle of Marseille," current, Wikipedia; "Ancient Marseille" & "Medieval Marseille," current, mapsofworld.com; "Thousands of French Nazi collaborators to be exposed as official reports are published online for the first time," Peter Allen, June 30, 2010, Daily Mail ~ Mail Online; "The "Hérault: deux squats de Roms évacués," AFP, Aug. 10, 2010, Le Figaro; "Evacuation de deux squats de Roms dans l'Hérault," AFP, Aug. 10, 2010, LeMonde.Fr.; "Des Roms évacués d'un camp à Saint-Etienne et invités à quitter la France," AFP, Aug. 10, 2010, Lakoom info (Algeria); "L'ONU se penche sur la discrimination en France," Le Nord et AFP, Aug. 10, 2010, La Voix du Nord.

 

 

August 10, 2010, Prison Justice Day

 

 

August 7, 2010

     France: President Sarkozy's ethnic cleansing initiative (previous and previous) began pre-dawn August 6 with police cordoning a camp of over a hundred Romanian Roma in the city of St. Etienne. A current CSA/Le Parisien poll finds 62% of the French people have no confidence in Sarkozy. A New York Times editorial notes that the attempts to criminalize immigrants to strip them of citizenship is aimed at Muslims.    Partial sources: "Xenophobia: Casting Out the Un-French," editorial, Aug. 5, 2010, The New York Times; "France starts removing Roma camps," Aug.6, 2010, BBC News. "French Distancing More from Sarkozy," Aug. 7, 2010, Angus Reid Global Monitor.

 

     Israel: following the demolition at the end of July which left 300 homeless, on August 5th (correction: 4th) 1500 Israeli police entered al-Araqib village and tore down structures rebuilt by its inhabitants. The town is razed. The dispossessed residents are Israeli citizens, Bedouin. 850 olive trees have been torn out of the ground. The traditional Bedouin village land has been designated a "peace forest" by the Jewish National Fund. There is an ongoing policy against the Bedouin in Israel; noted as a genocide warning. The BBC estimates currently 150,000 Bedouin living in Israel. AFP estimates 160,000.    Partial sources: "Twilight Zone / The invaders," Gideon Levy, Aug. 6, 2010, Haaretz.com; "Israel Plans Mass Forced Removals of Bedouin Negev village torn down for second time," Jonathan Cook, Aug. 6, 2010, Global Research; "Israel criticised over demolition of 'unrecognised' Bedouin villages," Harriet Sherwood, Aug. 3, 2010, guardian.co.uk; "Hundreds homeless as Israel police raze Bedouin village," Menahem Kahana (AFP), July 27, 2010, Google News; "Israel police raze 'illegal' Bedouin village in Negev," July 27, 2010, BBC News.

 

      Spain: 8 critically ill immigrants from Cameroun, Gabon, Senegal, Chad and Ghana, had to be evacuated by Morocco for emergency care August 6th, after they were abandoned by the Spanish Gardia Civile off the coast of Morocco where Spain maintains two colonial enclaves.    Partial sources: "Morocco accuses Spain of abandoning sick migrants," Aug.6, 2010, Middle East Online; "Spain: Border Police Drop Africans in the Water," Aug. 6, 2010, MoroccoBoard.com.

 

     U.S.: the Supreme Court has refused to stop Omar Khadr's trial which is to begin August 10th. The court offered no explanation. See previous.    Partial sources: "Supreme Court refuses to halt Khadr Guantanamo trial," Reuters, Aug. 6, 2010, National Post; "Guantanamo trial to go ahead," Aug. 7, 2010, aljazeera.net.
      Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has introduced a bill, H.R. 6010, to protect U.S. citizens from being targeted for killing by their government. See previous. The bill's co-sponsors are John Conyers, Bob Filner, Raul M. Grijalva, Jesse Jackson Jr., Fortney Pete Stark, Keith Ellison, all Democrats.    Partial sources: "Kucinich Bill Will Stop the Extrajudicial Killing of Americans," David Swanson, Aug. 5, 2010, War Is a Crime.org; "US targeted assasinations: “US Government cannot act as judge, jury and executioner,” Daya Gamage, Aug. 7, 2010, Asian Tribune.

 

 

August 6, 2010, Hiroshima Day

      U.S.: on August 4th shortly after the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed suit, the Treaury Department granted them permission to provide legal services for U.S. citizen Anwar al-Aulaqi. The ACLU and CCR suit will continue (see previous). Media reports avoid addressing the current U.S. government policy that claims the right to kill anyone if the President approves. The policy violates American law, international treaties, the Geneva Conventions, and the Laws of War. The U.S. President received his legal training at Harvard Law School.    Partial sources: "ACLU Says Treasury Gave License for Challenge to U.S. Terrorist Kill List," Andrew M. Harris, Aug 5, 2010, Bloomberg; "Lawyers Win Right to Aid U.S. Target," NYT, Aug. 4, 2010, The New York Times online.
     On August 5th the State Department announced its new list of states sponsoring terrorism: Iran, Sudan, Syria, Cuba.  Partial sources: "Cuba rejects inclusion on U.S. list of terror sponsors," Shasta Darlington, Aug. 5, 2010, CNN.

 

 

August 5, 2010

      New York City: shortly after her release from the Federal prison system July 15th, Marilyn Buck died August 3rd, 2010. She remains a spirit warrior and poet of grit and beauty. Previous.

 

      Toronto: affirming Canadian justice and international law Judge Christopher Speyer denied a U.S. request to extradite Abdullah Khadr. Indicted in Boston on 'terrorism' related charges, then held in Canadian prison without bail since December 2005, Abdullah Khadr was set free. The judge found severe human rights violations in the governments' abuse of the accused, questioned the half million dollars the U.S. paid Pakistan for his arrest, and noted Pakistan's holding Abdullah Khadr in prison for 14 months initially without access to his embassy. Abdullah Khadr is Omar Khadr's brother, and was represented by Dennis Edney and Nathan Whitling. The Harper Government has shown a pattern of casual disrespect for Canadian court decisions and may within thirty days appeal this one. See previous, and for more complete background.    Partial sources: "Court rejects Abdullah Khadr extradition request," Michelle Shephard, Aug. 4, 2010, thestar.com; "Abdullah Khadr released after court ruling," Aug. 4, 2010, CBC News. 

 

 

August 4, 2010

      Canada: a July 22nd bulletin from Citizenship and Immigration orders each new refugee status application made by a military "deserter" be turned over to case management for examination concerning its "criminal" status. This may criminalize applicants for acts of conscience. U.S. military personnel separating themselves from a criminal conflict could also be referred to as "AWOL" (absent without leave), which carries a more lenient sentence if they are returned. See previous.    Partial sources: "New immigration rule ‘unnecessary and mean-spirited,’ organization says," Carmen Chai~ Postmedia news, Aug. 2, 2010, The Montreal Gazette; "Federal directive toughens stand on U.S. deserters in Canada," Daniel Leblanc, Aug. 3, 2010, Globe and Mail.

 

      U.S.: the CBC reports that Omar Khadr's U.S. military appointed lawyer, Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, filed an emergency brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, August 2nd, to stop Khadr's Guantanamo trial scheduled August 10th. Lt. Col. Jackson's previous request 4 months ago to a federal appeals court hasn't been processed. Jackson says "The military commissions provide young Omar, a Canadian citizen, only second-class justice" (CBC). Meanwhile the Canadian Court of Appeal is considering the request by Khadr's Canadian lawyers to overturn the ruling which cancelled a court order requiring the Harper government to ask for Khadr's immediate repatriation. The government had refused to obey the court order, appealing instead. The Government's use of judicial delays assures that the intention of the law is not served. Wall Street Journal coverage makes no mention of the Harper government's complicity, but quotes a letter Khadr wrote his Canadian attorney, Dennis Edney: "If the world sees the U.S. sentencing a child to life in prison, it might show the world how unfair and sham this process is." Previous. Previous; etc..    Partial sources: "Khadr's lawyer seeks to halt military trial," Aug.2, 2010, CBC News; "Guantanamo Trial Set to Go Ahead," Evan Perez, Aug. 4, 2010, The Wall Street Journal online.

     Note: the U.S. government is refusing to allow attorneys to represent clients who are on the CIA hitlist. Currently the government claims the right to kill anyone, including American citizens, anywhere on earth. Without trial. The father of Anwar al-Aulaqi asked the Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union to represent his son who is targeted on the CIA hit list for capture or murder. Anwar al-Aulaqi is a U.S. citizen. Under current regulations an attorney must obtain a federal license to represent him. This has not been granted the CCR / ACLU legal team which on August 3rd filed a joint suit with the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, to challenge the licensing requirement. Their case relies on Amendments 1 and 5 of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. See "Against the killing of Anwar al-Aulaqi & others."    Partial sources: "CCR and ACLU File Lawsuit to Allow Challenge to Targeted Killings off the Battlefield," Vioncent Warren, Center for Constitutional Rights email; "Why We Sued to Represent Muslim Cleric Awlaki," Bill Quigley, Aug. 3, 2010, The Huffington Post; "CCR and the ACLU v. OFAC and Targeted Killings," current, Center for Constitutional Rights [access:< http://www.ccrjustice.org/targetedkillings >].
      Al-Aulaqi, increasingly described as an active Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen, is reported warning the American people that President Obama will lead them into war in Yemen as he has in Afghanistan. The imam was recently placed on the United Nations global terrorist list, and the U.S. Treasury Department's list of "Specially Designated Global Terrorists." A denial of legal process to any group (CIA hitlist targets are currently Muslims) accompanies an increase in propaganda and other hate crimes. See previous.    Partial sources: "Al-Awlaki warns Americans of Obama," Shuaib M. al-Mosawa, July 21, 2010, Yemen Observer; "UN adds radical cleric al-Awlaki to terror list," Lolita C. Baldor ~AP, July 20, 2010, Google news.

 

 

August 3, 2010

      Sweden: in response to alarming state persecution of the Romani peoples, on July 30th the Government called on the European Commission to stop violations of Roma human rights immediately. It's also a domestic political issue in Sweden. While Tobias Billström, Minister of Immigration, claims Roma must be able to support themselves "reasonably", Maria Leissner, chairperson for the Government's Romani Issues Committee states simply Romani are being illegally deported.    Partial sources: "'Romani people are deported without legal reason,'" July 30, 2010, Stockholm News; "Sweden calls on EU to act on Roma rights," July 7, 2010, Romea.cz.

Links: Roma Holocaust background and Jelem Jelem
 

      France: a Mediapart video of French police removing African immigrants from a street gathering in La Courneuve near Paris shows an estimated 150 peaceful protesters with a portion in a classic nonviolent sit-in. The protesters were identified as immigrants from Cote d'Ivoire and recently evicted from their homes to make way for a 'new project'. The pregnant women and mothers with young babies were treated with ugliness and lack of respect by an all-male force. While the police action occurred July 21, pre-dating Roma rioting in the Loire valley, the news appeared recently in the English press. President Sarkozy's attack on the Roma as a convenient target group persecuted throughout Europe (see previous) covered a threat to African immigrants and all vulnerable minorities.    Partial sources: "Shock at French immigrant eviction video," Stephanie Holmes, Aug. 2, 2010, BBC News; "Sarkozy accused of pandering to far-right," Ruadhan Mac Cormaic, August 2, 2010, IrishTimes.com; "Sarkozy under fire after video shows brutal treatment of immigrants," John Litchfield, Aug. 3, 2010, The Independent.

 

      U.S., summary: the current Time Magazine carries on its cover an Afghan woman disfigured by order of a Taliban court. It presents an example of propaganda for war, expressly forbidden by international law (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 20, #1 & #2).
      In the House of Representatives 47 Congressmen have sponsored a resolution (House Resolution 1553, 111th Congress, 2nd Session) actively encouraging Israel "to use all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran." The Resolution accuses Iran of inciting genocide against the people of Israel, citing examples that would properly be presented to the International Criminal Court. U.S. Congresspeople avoid the issue of genocide in courts of law.
      The Council on American-Islamic Relations has released a travel warning for overseas Muslim travelers. Some are being barred from returning home following FBI interviews pressuring them to work as informants. The victims are placed on no-fly lists. CAIR, the foremost Muslim civil liberties organization, has also unequivocally condemned the graffiti desecration of B'Nai Shalom synagogue in Olney Maryland outside Washington D.C., an act equally condemned by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League. Graffiti slogans included "Juden raus" and other phrases from the Nazi era. ADL protests against the desecrations of US mosques are less evident. A concerted anti-Muslim program continues with the defacing of mosques and mosque plan-to-build signs, hate crimes with little federal response (a Florida minister's plans to hold a burn-the-Koran day on the anniversary of 9/11), Tea Party candidates publicly abusing both Muslims and Islam. Within a context of prevention, see also, "When the War on Terrorism Becomes Genocide."
      UNESCO announces the Florida Everglades, a world heritage site, is endangered; marine life isn't surviving the pollution.
Partial sources: "CAIR Video: U.S. Muslim Travelers Warned of 'Forced Exile'," 7/12/2010, Council on American-Islamic Relations; "Maryland synagogue vandalized," July 27, 2010, JTA; "Muslim U.S. Army Veteran Caught in No-Fly Trap," July 30, 2010, CAIR; "Muslims Condemn Hate Vandalism of Md. Synagogue," July 28, 2010, CAIR; "Photo of disfigured Afghan woman outrages America," Patrick Coburn, July 31, 2010, The Independent (U.K.); "House Republicans Giving Green Light for Israeli Strike on Iran," Gil Ronen, July 31, 2010, Global Research; "Everglades and Madagascar forests on Unesco danger list," July 31, 2010, BBC News; "Legal Authority: Hold US leaders Accountable for War Crimes," Sherwood Ross, July 27, 2010, Global Research.

 

 

August 2, 2010

      France: in a move under-reported in the North American press, French President Nicholas Sarkozy has ordered the destruction of 300 Roma camps and the deportation of inhabitants without papers. He has indicated plans to re-write French law to make deportation easier "for reasons of public order" (BBC). Sarkozy's statements follow acts of violence by Roma in the Loire after the police killing of a motorist. The overt state persecution of Roma as a larger group including Sinti, Travellers, 'gypsies', is a theme made familiar by occupation programs in WWII. The President's action targeting 'gypsy crime' is consistent with far right propaganda throughout Europe. It follows the French neo-conservative scapegoating of the burqa (see also the Charest efforts in Quebec) affecting a tiny minority of French Muslims. Generally deserted within Europe except by human rights organizations, Roma groups have received some concern from the U.S. and Canada, and deserve much more particularly from Jewish groups, Communist states, organizations of disabled, gay rights organizations, and other groups once targeted for elimination by the Nazi State. Bishops of the French Catholic Church have spoken out condemning the scapegoating of Roma and and the President's incitement of prejudice. In Germany the government has decided to deport 12,000 Roma - 6000 of them children raised or born in Germany, to join a vulnerable Roma minority in Kosovo. In Hungary, the town of Tatarszentgyörgy, as the dwelling of a Roma family burned the father and son were shot and killed escaping to the woods and the women were hospitalized. A stong Jobbik area, no one was apprehended. 8 other Roma were killed this year in similar organized attacks during a wave of "gypsy crime" propaganda. FBI assistance suggested the killers are police or "French Foreign Legion" trained. What appears to be an inter-European program also appears in Slovakia, Finland where 'illegal' gypsy camps are being closed in Helsinki, Poland where a Roma family was recently attacked in Limanowa, and among other nations, Denmark with the mass arrest of 23 Roma in Copenhagen where the mayor makes anti-Roma statements. The European pattern dating back to the Nazi era and before, stresses the 'criminality' of 'gypsies', their poverty, sometimes genetic traits, their mobility and 'illegal' immigration within a borderless new Europe, etc.. While professional class Roma remain included, a majority of Roma (among other impoverished people) at the margins of European economies will be directly affected by neo-conservative austerity programs. Czechoslavakia's new right-wing government for example, is expected to severely cut all social programs and benefits.   European Union: genocide warning.    Partial sources: "France cracks down on Roma after violence," July 29, 2010, upi.com; "France: Church defends Roma, Gitanes from repressive new laws,"July 29,. 2010, romea.cz; "12,000 Roma to be deported to Kosovo,"July 29, 2010, Der Freitag; "Hindus urge Germany to stop deporting Roma children," July 9, 2010, ROMEA; "France to shut illegal Roma camps and deport migrants,"July 29, 2010, BBC News; "Dark secret of town's anti-Roma attacks," Aug. 18, 2009, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; "EU to fund anti-Roma patrols," Aug. 26, 2010, Hospodárské Noviny; "Illegal Roma camps closed in Helsinki," July 27, 2010, Romanian Times; "Roma reach out to citizen's ombudsman," July 29, 2010, Nowe Media, Polskie Radio; "Mass Deportation of Romani EU Citizens in Copenhagen Condemned," ERRCJuly 12, 2010, romea.cz; "The lure of the far-right," July 29, 2010, presseurop.eu; "The newly-formed Czech government wages a war on welfare while state-run energy giant profits soar," July 21, 2010, ROMEA.

 

 

July 29, 2010
This entry was found missing (no explanation), and reinstated, Nov. 6, 2011. - jbgerald. gandm@nightslantern.ca

      France: in a move under-reported in the North American press, French President Nicholas Sarkozy has ordered the destruction of 300 Roma camps and the deportation of inhabitants without papers. He has indicated plans to re-write French law to make deportation easier "for reasons of public order" (BBC). Sarkozy's statements follow acts of violence by Roma in the Loire after the police killing of a motorist. The overt state persecution of Roma as a larger group including Sinti, Travellers, 'gypsies', is a theme made familiar by occupation programs in WWII. The President's action targeting 'gypsy crime' is consistent with far right propaganda throughout Europe. It follows the French neo-conservative scapegoating of the burqa (see also the Charest efforts in Quebec) affecting a tiny minority of French Muslims. Generally deserted within Europe except by human rights organizations, Roma groups have received some concern from the U.S. and Canada, and deserve much more particularly from Jewish groups, Communist states, organizations of disabled, gay rights organizations, and other groups once targeted for elimination by the Nazi State. Bishops of the French Catholic Church have spoken out condemning the scapegoating of Roma and and the President's incitement of prejudice. In Germany the government has decided to deport 12,000 Roma - 6000 of them children raised or born in Germany, to join a vulnerable Roma minority in Kosovo. In Hungary, the town of Tatarszentgyörgy, as the dwelling of a Roma family burned the father and son were shot and killed escaping to the woods and the women were hospitalized. A stong Jobbik area, no one was apprehended. 8 other Roma were killed this year in similar organized attacks during a wave of "gypsy crime" propaganda. FBI assistance suggested the killers are police or "French Foreign Legion" trained. What appears to be an inter-European program also appears in Slovakia, Finland where 'illegal' gypsy camps are being closed in Helsinki, Poland where a Roma family was recently attacked in Limanowa, and among other nations, Denmark with the mass arrest of 23 Roma in Copenhagen where the mayor makes anti-Roma statements. The European pattern dating back to the Nazi era and before, stresses the 'criminality' of 'gypsies', their poverty, sometimes genetic traits, their mobility and 'illegal' immigration within a borderless new Europe, etc.. While professional class Roma remain included, a majority of Roma (among other impoverished people) at the margins of European economies will be directly affected by neo-conservative austerity programs. Czechoslavakia's new right-wing government for example, is expected to severely cut all social programs and benefits.   European Union: genocide warning.    Partial sources: "France cracks down on Roma after violence," July 29, 2010, upi.com; "France: Church defends Roma, Gitanes from repressive new laws,"July 29,. 2010, romea.cz; "12,000 Roma to be deported to Kosovo,"July 29, 2010, Der Freitag; "Hindus urge Germany to stop deporting Roma children," July 9, 2010, ROMEA; "France to shut illegal Roma camps and deport migrants,"July 29, 2010, BBC News; "Dark secret of town's anti-Roma attacks," Aug. 18, 2009, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; "EU to fund anti-Roma patrols," Aug. 26, 2010, Hospodárské Noviny; "Illegal Roma camps closed in Helsinki," July 27, 2010, Romanian Times; "Roma reach out to citizen's ombudsman," July 29, 2010, Nowe Media, Polskie Radio; "Mass Deportation of Romani EU Citizens in Copenhagen Condemned," ERRCJuly 12, 2010, romea.cz; "The lure of the far-right," July 29, 2010, presseurop.eu; "The newly-formed Czech government wages a war on welfare while state-run energy giant profits soar," July 21, 2010, ROMEA.

 

 

July 27, 2010

      Honduras: faced with the takeover of a democracy June 28, 2009, the National Popular Resistance Front (FNRP) continues to represent the poor and majority. President in exile (the Dominican Republic) Manuel Zelaya, is head of its executive committee. FNPR still supports calling together a popular assembly to re-write the country's constitution, and plans not to cooperate with the current Honduran electoral process. The Front's website is available in Spanish [access:< http://www.resistenciahonduras.net/ >]. See previous. Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua passed up a U.S. controlled "Central American Integration System" meeting, noting that the push to integrate the Honduran coup-government was ridiculous. While corporate media announce Honduras included, others claim the inclusion requires unanimity and Nicaraguan approval (Resistencia). Within Honduras eight journalists have been murdered so far in 2010, and there's a national emergency in response to dengue and hemorrhagic dengue fever.    Partial sources: "Honduras: Resistance meets, discusses plans," July 25, 2010, Green Left Weekly; "Ortega stands firm against recognizing Honduras," EFE, July 22, 2010, ticotimes.net; "Patching things up," July 22, 2010, The Economist; "Americans warned about dengue fever cases in Honduras," Staff, July 19, 2010, CNN; "FMLN Rejects Return of Honduras to OAS," July 25, 2010, Resistencia.

 

      Peru: Sendero Luminoso remains a presence. On July 12th the U.S. Embassy in Peru announced a 5 million dollar bounty reward for comrade Artemio (Florindo Eleuterio Flores) and another for comrade José (Victor Quispe Palomino), unit leaders in the interior. Sendero is considered involved in Peru's coca production which has surpassed Colombia's. Funding for the bounties comes from the U.S. Narcotic Rewards Program. High bounty fees have been used against FARC in Colombia to encourage betrayal. Against the laws of war, the tactic is even avoided by drug cartels. The former commander of Sendero, Abimael Guzman, tried many times and serving a life sentence, was denied permission to travel from the Callao Naval Base to Santa Monica women's prison where poet Elena Iparraguirre, his sub-commandante and partner, is incarcerated. They've decided to marry. Authorities declare the journey too hazardous for prison staff, so one or both prisoners will have to appoint stand-in(s) for the civil ceremony. Peruvian Times notes that before the third trial Guzman and Iparraguirre were able to live together as cellmates. Other news: we were happy to hear that on May 25th a Peruvian judge freed to parole American Lori Berenson who served nearly15 years of a twenty year sentence for allegedly aiding guerrillas. She married in 2003 while in prison. On May 27th she and her year old son left prison. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has awarded Ms. Berenson thirty thousand dollars to pay her legal fees since she was initially convicted by a faceless military court under the war criminal Fujimori. See previous. Also, on July 15th the Federation of Construction Workers of Peru brought a hundred thousand workers throughout the country to the streets in protest of the government's anti-labour policies. The government recently fired 4000 workers for trying to unionize.    Partial sources: "Peru: 100 thousand construction workers rally to demand wage increases and improved working conditions," Yásser Gómez, July 25, 2010, Peru en movimiento; "US offers bounty for Shining Path leaders in Peru," Terry Wade (Reuters), July 14, 2010, arabnews.com; "Prison wedding request denied; Shining Path founder and his second-in-command lover told to seek stand-ins for ceremony," Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times, July 6, 2010, Peruvian Times; "Peru: U.S. offers bounty for Shining Path leaders 'Artemio' and 'Jose'," Isabel Guerra, July 12, 2010, LivinginPeru.com; "Peru Wages 'Slanderous Campaign' Against Inter-American Court," Ángel Páez, July 25, 2010, Upside Down World; Committee to Free Lori Berenson, current [access:< http://www.freelori.org/ >].

 

      Brazil: in 2005 Dorothy Mae Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, born in Dayton Ohio, was murdered by ranchers faulting her advocacy for poor farmers and the forests of the Amazon basin. According to Wikipedia she was invited to meet with the ranchers and was stopped on her way by Rayfran das Neves Sales and Clodoaldo Carlos Batista, allowed to read from her Bible "Blessed are the poor in spirit," and executed. The two men were convicted in 2005; Sales was sentenced to 28 years; Batista to 17 years. Amair Feijoli da Cunha, a middleman, was convicted and sentenced to 18 years. The man who hired them, Vitalmiro Bastos Moura, was first convicted in 2007 and after court reversals and four trials again convicted to serve 30 years. Shortly after, on May 1, 2010, Regivaldo Galvao, convicted of collaborating with Moura, was sentenced to 30 years. He has appealed his sentence. For 25 years only a small percentage of cases are tried in the 1500 local murders of activists, witnesses, judiciary.    Partial sources: "Dorothy Stang," current, Wikipedia; "Brazilian rancher convicted in killing of U.S.-born nun," Bradley Brooks, May 2, 2010, The Washington Post; "Brazilian rancher convicted of planning Amazon defender's murder is set free pending appeal," Stan Lehman (AP), May 19, 2010, The Daily Gleaner (Canada).

 

      U.S.: Wikileaks has placed on line about 3/4 of 90 some thousand secret and classified field documents concerning U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. The material is cryptic and difficult to access. The New York Times, The Guardian and Der Spiegel with early access to the documents revealed portions in their online editions of July 25th. The New York Times finding the public's need to know overcoming laws against publication of classified materials, nevertheless rigorously excluded information which might compromise field operations or security. A focus on the un-reported civilian deaths minimizes the cumulative numbers of civilian casualties in an invaded and occupied country. Media accounts substantiate the existence of an illegal special forces death squad unit, "Task Force 373," associated with Fort Bragg North Carolina, and Hunter Army Airfield Georgia, operating in Afghanistan and targeting individual enemy combattants for extraction and murder. The unit has a "joint prioritised effects list" of 2000 targets to "kill or capture." Assassination is against the laws of war. Because TF 373 is subject to military law and international law, U.S. legislation/legal mechanisms contravening established treaties may eventually be found invalid. See "Against the killing of Anwar al-Aulaqi & others."    Partial sources: "U.S. condemns posting of secret Afghanistan files online," Xinhua, July 26, 2010, English.xinhuanet.com; "Afghanistan war logs: Secret CIA paramilitaries' role in civilian deaths," David Leigh, July 25, 2010, guardian.co.uk; "Afghanistan war logs: Task Force 373 – special forces hunting top Taliban," Nick Davies, July 25,. 2010, guardian.co.uk; "Piecing Together the Reports, and Deciding What to Publish," July 25, 2010, The New York Times online.

 

 

July 23, 2010

     New York City: on July 15th Marilyn Buck, political prisoner, sentenced to eighty years was freed from the U.S. federal prison hospital in Carswell FMC Texas to parole in New York City. Welcome back. For the nightslantern "political prisoners archives" see *.     Partial sources:"Poet and political prisoner Marilyn Buck freed after 25 years in federal prison," Thorne Dreyer, July 19, 2010, The Rag Blog; "Warrior-Poet Marilyn Buck: No Wall Too Tall," Mariann G. Wizard, July 23, 2010, 4Strugglemag.

 

 

July 17, 2010

     Rwanda: despite attorney Peter Erlinder's bail/release on humanitarian grounds and his return to the U.S., the charges against him remain to be answered in Rwanda. The most effective pressure for his release, attributed to a nod from Hillary Clinton, was the insistence of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. To understand the U.S. / Kagame regime approach to upcoming elections: after Erlinder's arrest and release the next Rwandan attorney for presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza , Mr. Theogene Muhayeyezu, was arrested, tortured and held incommunicado. Another presidential candidate, Bernard Ntaganda, and hundreds of supporters were arrested on June 24th. Kagame's former head of the Army, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa who had fled to South Africa, barely survived an assassination attempt on June 19. The investigating Rwandan journalist Leonard Jean Cherif Rugambage, known for uncompromised freedom of expression was murdered on his Kilgali doorstep June 24th. On July 13th Prof. Jwani Timothy Mwaikusa - an International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda defense attorney (as Erlinder is) was murdered in Tanzania where the court is based. On July 14 Andre Kagwa Rwisereka, a leader of Rwanda's opposition Green Party was found after a brief disappearance, dead on a river bank with his head partially severed.    Partial sources: "Missing Rwandan opposition leader found dead," Edmund Kagire (AP), July 14, 2010, Antiwar newswire; "ICTR defense lawyer shot dead," Drew Singer, July 15, 2010, Jurist; "Rwanda: Kagame tortures opposition, arrests Ingabire's new lawyer,": Ann Garrison, July 2, 2010, digitaljournal.com; "Les éditeurs africains condamnent l'assassinat du journaliste Rugambage," PANA, July 6, 2010, Agence Rwandaise d'Information; "Editor's murder 'approved by Rwandan President'," July 2, 2010, The Independent; "A Rwandan shooting," June 25, 2010, The Economist.

 

     New York City: while Peter Erlinder was released by Kagame's courts on humanitarian grounds, U.S. government prosecution at home continues its "war on terror" with the persecution of attorney Lynn Stewart. Ms Stewart remains strongly identified with legal defense of those deprived of rights in New York. She was a court appointed attorney for her client. Declared guilty for carrying out of prison messages from her client to his congregation, she was sentenced to 28 months in prison. For crimes of communication, the government asked a thirty year sentence. Suffering from cancer the 70 year old woman's case was appealed by the government prosecutors to impose the more severe sentence, an unorthodox step returning Ms Stewart to court on a judicial error. Elaine Brower reporting the July 15th proceeding described Atty. Stewart as a subdued spirit, pleading with the judge for mercy, saying that an increase in time to be served would in her case be a death sentence. Judge John G. Koeltl, re-sentenced her to ten years in prison. The lack of mercy reveals the pervasive damage of a "war on terror" turned to the destruction of human rights. In fact the charges against Lynn Stewart in any functioning society, remain ridiculous. The malice of the Prosecution is unnecessary and basically compromises civilian law with military and covert policies tested in Peru's "war on terrorism" (1992) under Fujimori, now serving 30 years in a Peruvian prison as a war criminal. Lynn Stewart's sentence is inappropriate to her actions, effective in its attempt to terrorize lawyers, and reveals government interference with the judicial process. The New York City legal system has previously clarified its service through the witch-hunt conviction of Aafia Siddiqi. Previous. For more background.    Partial sources: "The Veil is Lifted, the Gloves are Off," Elaine Brower, July 15, 2010, OpEdNews.com; "Lynn Stewart, 70-year-old radical lawyer, sentenced to 10 years in prison for aiding bomb plotter," Scott Shifrel & James Fanelli, July 15, 2010, NY Daily News; "Lawyer Stewart Gets 10 Years for Aiding Terrorists," Patricia Hurtado, July 15, 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek.

 

     U.S.: the military newspaper Stars and Stripes reports 21 active duty suicides and 11 reserve duty suicides in the month of June, the worst on record. The statistics concern 'successful' suicides. In the month of May, 89 Marines for example, attempted suicide. Previous claims that suicides are abating have been overturned. In 2001-2009, Defense Department statistics confirm 2000 military suicides. There is no indication that policies of deploying mentally unfit combat troops has changed, or of less reliance on "medication", anti-depressants and sleeping pills among frontline troops. There is no indication military thinking understands war crimes as a kind of suicide or as post-suicidal. There is no indication that suicide statistics include carelessness / mistakes in combat leading to the soldier's death. With 1 in 5 of 2 million veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan coming home with post traumatic stress disorder, on July 12th the Veterans Administration announced new rules which make benefit claims for PTSD more accessible. No one asks how military men and women can regain their sense of wholeness when used in criminal wars.    Partial sources: "Army sees worst month for suicides ever," Megan McCloskey,, July 15, 2010, Stars and Stripes. "Real way to reduce suicides too painful for military," Rick Rogers, July 16, 2010, North Country News; "Rules Change for Vets' PTSD Benefits," July 12, 2010, PBS NewsHour.

 

 

July 15, 2010

     Turkey: for insight to the effect on women choosing to wear the burqa or niqab, Akderoffers a comprehensive updated report on the effect of the headscarf ban on Turkish women ("A Statistical Examination of the Condition of Women in Turkey and the Impact of the Headscarf Ban on Turkey's Gender Equality Ranking" [access:< http://www.ak-der.org/en/law/1203-yasagin-etkileri.html >] appreciation to Atty. Fatma Benly and recommended): in Turkey's "modernization" women are not allowed to wear headscarves in education, government employ, public places. Since it's a religious and customary choice of many these are forced out of government work and access to education, then into poverty. Only 3% of Turkey's population are women with university educations. Lack of respect for women's preferences in dress is accompanied by an increase in gender-based violence. The code is not leading to their emancipation but to the abuse of women as a group. Among other cornerstones of human rights the report cites the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance "Article 18."
 

     Morocco: lawyers have filed a complaint for the arrest of Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, and Ehud Barak for their roles in "Operation Cast Lead," Israel's attack on Gaza which resulted in the immediate deaths of 1400 Palestinians. See previous.    Partial sources: "Lawyers file complaint in Morocco seeking arrest of Israel officials," Dwyer Arce, July 12, 2010, Jurist; "Lawyers file case against Israel with Moroccan prosecutor," AFP, July 12, 2010, Google News.

 

     Spain: a list of 6000 Jews in Spain was prepared by General Francisco Franco and presented to the SS Conmmander Heinrich Himmler as Spain considered fighting alongside Hitler during WWII. According to Haaretz the list was prepared by a security order of May 13, 1941 and to note for every Jew " personal and political leanings, their means of supporting themselves, their commercial activity, the level of threat they constitute and their security classification." The document was recently discovered in Spain and reported by El Pais. See Judge Baltasar Garzon. See Garcia Lorca.    Partial sources: "WWII document reveals: General Franco handed Nazis list of Spanish Jews," Ofer Aderet, July 10, 2010, Haaretz.com; "General Franco gave list of Spanish Jews to Nazis," Giles Tremlett, June 20, 2010, guardian.co.uk.

 

     Oak Ridge Tennesee: 36 nuclear resisters were arrested at the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Complex, July 5th, for blocking the gate or attempting access. The action was the celebration of a declaration of independence that resists the threat of nuclear weapons and war, and in tribute to the original Plowshares 8 action at King of Prussia about thirty years ago. Honour and respect to those arrested: Marcus Atkinson, Steve Baggarly, Alice Baker, Bill Bichsel, Jon Blickenstaff, Ed Bloomer, Beth Brockman, Stephen Clemens, Barbara Corcoran, David Corcoran, Frank Cordaro, Susan Crane, Dennis DuVall, Paul Fesefelt, Carol Gilbert, Nancy Gowen, Clare Grady, Jean Gump, Joe Gump, Judith Hallock, Martha Hennessy, Billie Hickey, Jackie Hudson, Steve Jacobs, Mary Dennis Lentsch, Bradford Lyttle, Elizabeth McAlister, Joan Noyes, Tom Palumbo, Pepperwolf, Ardeth Platte, Beth Rosdatter, John Schuchardt, Janice Sevré-Duszynska, Bonnie Urfer, Michael Walli.    Partial sources: "Nuclear weapons protested," Frank Munger, July 5, 2010, knoxnews.com; "Resistance for a Nuclear Free Future – Report on the July 3-5, 2010 Gathering and Action," Nuclear Resister, Nukewatch, & Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, July 8, 2010, The Nuclear Resister.

Historical note
The original Plowshares 8 wereDaniel Berrigan, Philip Berrigan, Dean Hammer, Karl Kabat, Elmer Maas, Anne Montgomery, Molly Rush, John Schuchardt. On September 9, 1980 they walked into General Electric's "Nuclear Missile Re-entry Division" at King of Prussia Pennsylvania, beat at nose cones with hammers, prayed and poured blood on files. Denied a "Nuremberg defense" in court they served time despite an altercation of conviction, acquittal, appeals and resentencing. See "The Plowshares 8", The Plowshares Disarmament Chronology 1980 - 2003, Art Laffin [access:< http://www.craftech.com/~dcpledge/brandywine/plow/webpages/plow8.htm >]. Elmer Maas was also of our family. "The Plowshares 8" (accompanying) and "Swords into Plowshares" were done about 1980, and "In memory - Elmer Maas" in 2005 (all artwork by Julie Maas). Dan Berrigan's "Tribute to Franz Jagerstatter"refusing the normalization of death and violence, is onsite and some of the nuclear resisters appear throughout nightslantern's "suppressed news" and "political prisoner" archives.

 

     Fort Bragg California: Charles B. Gittings, who created the "Project to Enforce the Geneva Conventions," (see links) a valid and valuable response to the crimes of Guantanamo Prison Camp and other violations of international law by government, died July 14, 2010 of cancer. His sense of history, loyalty to his country and roots, faith in a continuity of justice, confronted what were initially Bush administration betrayals of the Geneva Conventions at a time when the Justice Department, and most in the U.S. legal profession and law schools kept silent or furthered the alleged crimes. Charly's work strengthened the exceptions. Honour and respect, Charles Gittings. The Project continues.

 

 

July 13, 2010

     France: by a vote of 335 to 1, the National Assembly of France has voted to make it a crime to wear a face covering in public. The French Senate is likely to support the ban. This law targets about 2000 Muslim women of about 5 million Muslims in France. Islamic law doen't require the burqa. French law would make a woman honouring her understanding of her faith, a criminal. Penalties are more severe for husbands or fathers if responsible. In any event sums of money would be extracted from believers for honouring their personal beliefs. The popular ban directly counters France's cultural dialogue with difference. See also previous and previous.   Partial sources: "France Nears Ban on Facial Veils in Public," Steven Erlanger, July 13, 2010, The New York Times"; "French parliament votes to ban the burka," July 13, 2010, ABC News.

 

     Canada: on July 6 the Federal Court of Appeals found the decision to deport Jeremy Hinzman to the U.S., flawed.The U.S. soldier resisting the war in Iraq and AWOL since 2004 sought asylum in Canada. Now his application for permanent residence must be reconsidered in light of his sincere beliefs. This may signal a change in prospects for all U.S. war resisters in Canada. While Parliament has made its position clear in favour of letting U.S. war resisters stay the Conservative government has attempted to please U.S. military interests. For previous on Jeremy Hinzmen's efforts, see March 24, 2005,   Nov. 16, 2005,   Aug. 14, 2008,   Sept. 20, 2008,   Sept. 24, 2008,   Oct. 11, 2008,   Jan. 8, 2009.    Partial sources: "War resister wins another shot at permanent residence," Wendy Gillis, July 6, 2010, thestar.com;"Federal Court of Appeal rules in favour of Iraq War resister Jeremy Hinzman and family!!!," Press release, July 6, 2010, War Resisters Support Campaign, apprec. LAW.

Province of Ontario police have charged Salman Hossain with hate crimes and "two counts of advocating genocide against an idenitifable group" (Jurist) for alleged calls to exterminate Jews. Mr. Hossain is said to be outside the country and beyond legal reach.    Partial sources: "Canada man charged with advocating genocide," Dwyer Arce,July 9, 2010, Jurist; "Ont. police to track down extremist charged with promoting genocide," Kathryn Blaze Carlson, July 8, 2010, National Post.

Omar Khadr (see previous) has fired his U.S. attorneys and it remains unclear whether his scheduled Guantanamo trial will proceed. While some media reported his pre-trial hearing cancelled, Khadr appeared in court at Guantanamo July 12th to explain his reasons for boycotting the Tribunal. He recognized a lack of soundness in the Military Commission's legality, revealed prosecution plea bargain attempts which serve political interests rather than justice and stated: "Lastly I will not take any plea offer because it will give excuse for the government for torturing and abusing me when I was a child" (CTV News). On July 12th in Canada the Minister of Justice announced the Harper government's intention to appeal Judge Zinn's ruling that requires immediate Canadian government action on Khadr's behalf. By waiting until the last minute and with a likely time delay required for the appeal, the government's appeal may allow the U.S. Military Commission to 'try' and sentence Khadr unaffected by Canadian law. Previous Canadian court orders to assure Khadr some rights have been parried by the Harper government's use of court delays to intentionally deprive this citizen of fundamental human rights. The Government justifies its position by citing demands of its foreign policy, overriding the Canadian Charter of Rights and international laws intended to protect people from crimes of state. Khadr's Canadian lawyers will ask the court to find the Harper government in contempt.    Partial sources: "What Omar Khadr said at his Guantanamo Bay hearing," Canadian Press, July 12, 2010, CTV News ; Khadr court ruling to be appealed by Ottawa," July 12, 2010, CBC News; "Khadr's Guantanamo pretrial hearing cancelled: lawyer," Carmen Chai Canwest), July 8, 2010, National Post; "Omar Khadr's Guantanamo hearing suspended," Michelle Shephard, July 8, 2010, thestar.com.

 

      U.S. South Coast: the U.S. Federal Appeals Court in New Orleans has refused the Obama administration's appeal to continue the moratorium on deepwater oil drilling. The administraton is likely to request another moratorium. Having irreparably damaged the Caribbean there is some evidence that rigs are being pulled to work foreign waters. The government of Canada responding to the interests of its Atlantic fisheries may sue British Petroleum for damage by the deepwater oil spill. Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico, among other countries more immediately and deeply affected by the catastrophe remain silent. 7000 marines based in North Carolina have relocated to Costa Rica which is permitting the armed presence along with 46 warships for six months. The European Union is considering limiting the depth of deepwater drilling and instituting a temporary moratorium. See previous.    Partial sources: "EU to consider deepwater drilling limits ," Drew Singer, July 10, 2010, Jurist; "Canada may sue BP over oil spill," July 9, 2010, CBC News; "Court Rejects Moratorium on drilling in the gulf," John M. Broder, July 8, 2010, The New York Times; "US mulls response after court refuses drilling stay," Jeremy Pelofsky, July 9, 2010, Reuters; "Media Clampdown in the Gulf Coast: Government and BP Place More Restrictions on Journalists Covering the Oil Spill," Amy Goodman, July 7, 2010, Democracy Now!"; "NATO Orders 7,000 US Marines To Costa Rica As Gulf Oil Disaster Quake Fears Grow," Sorcha Faal, July 8, 2010, whatdoesitmean.com; "Costa Rica Congress OKs US warships," Latinamerica Press, July 13, 2010, Eurasia Review; "Gulf 'media blackout' triggers journalist fury," Karl Burkart, June 11, 2010, mother nature network.

 

 

July 7, 2010

      Ottawa: re. Omar Khadr (previous); on July 5th a Federal Court judge ruled unequivocally that Omar Khadr's Charter Rights having been violated must be set right. The Government is required to do so. While the Supreme Court decision (see Davidson, previous) backed off suggesting the Government's course of action, relying in good faith that the government would counter its violations of Khadr's rights, the Federal court was faced with the government's refusal to give Khadr those rights which are his. The Court has instructed the Harper Government to provide specific remedies to its violations of law within seven days. The definition of an effective remedy rests with the judge who may impose a remedy if the Government doesn't comply. One effective remedy available would be torequest the U.S. return Omar Khadr to Canada immediately. His trial before a U.S. Military Commission is set to begin August 10th. Note: the military "trial" of Omar Khadr is immersed in a sea of violations of international law and Geneva Conventions. Given evidence that as a child Khadr was tortured by U.S. forces and detained without legal protections, it's against U.S. interests to try his case in military or civilian court. It's to Canada's interests to honour the intent of its Supreme Court decision, this Federal Court decision, and Canada's obligations to its people, by effecting Khadr's return immediately. The Government's refusal to demand Khadr's return, contempt for international laws protecting the rights of children, complicity in violations of Geneva Conventions, denial of Charter Rights to a young Muslim, pit the courts and the concerned against a fashionable, Conservative, fascist, agenda.    Partial sources: "Reasons for Judgement and Judgement," "Omar Ahmed Khadr vs The Prime Minister of of Canada, the Minister of foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice" and "Omar Ahmed Khadr vs The Prime Minister of of Canada and the Minister of foreign Affairs," The Honourable Mr. Justice Zinn, Docket T-231-10, July 5, 2010, Federal court.

Re. the G-20 Conference in Toronto: when heads of state become criminal they criminalize the military and law enforcement: the 'trains run on time' but not for the thousand in G-20 related arrests: there are written reports of unidentified van-kidnapping of community activists, targeted arbitrary detention, random unprovoked arrest, threat of rape and gang rape against detained women, targeted arrest of journalists, confiscation / theft of video equipment and money, violence against the nonviolent, degradation of protesters and witnesses in detention, agent provocateurs, brutality. (alternative sources). The National Post reports "G20 police 'yanked' off prosthetic leg: amputee" (Kenyon Wallace, July 6, 2010).
 

 

June 25, 2010

      Ottawa: initial reports of a 5.5 earthquake were reduced to 5.0. On June 23rd the strong tremor shook downtown Ottawa, breaking windows in City Hall (CBC News). Some government buildings, schools, and Parliament Hill were evacuated. The epicentre is reported 11.2 miles deep, 33 miles (U.S. Geological Survey) outside Ottawa in Quebec, felt in Montreal, Toronto and the States. The Chalk River nuclear facility, possibly a 100 miles from the epicentre is currently closed for repairs (see previous etc. ). Unofficial sources say its accumulated high level radioactive waste is stored in six underground chambers. These and waste piping could be vulnerable to increased magnitude earthquakes. Safety regulators report no difficulty at Canadian facilities. Repairs of the Bruce River reactor have occasioned requests by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for extensive testing of repair workers. It's possible that workers / contractors not trained to deal with nuclear hazards have been working without appropriate protective gear. The workers may have experienced exposure to alpha radiation. If breathed, ingested or entering the skin alpha particles lodge in tissue emitting radiation over a long period. The Globe and Mail reports hundreds of workers have to be tested by the deadline June 25, and Bruce Power is appealing the request.    Partial sources: "Nuclear plant balks at regulator request to test all employees for radiation," Martin Mittelstaedt, June 23, 2010, The Globe and Mail; "Quebec quake damages buildings, highway," June 23, 2010, CBC News; "Ontario-Quebec tremor reflects potentially disasterous fault lines," Ann Hui, June 23, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Health Risks of Radon and Other Internally Deposited Alpha-Emitters: BEIR IV," Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations, National Research Council , The National Academies Press [access:< http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=1026 >]; "Follow-Up to Ottawa Earthquake," June 23, 2010, CNSC; "CNSC issues a request for corrective action to Bruce Power ," June 18, 2010, CNSC; "Earthquake Rocks Southern Ontario and West Quebec: Perspective," Kittoh, June 24, 2010, Eaglewatch; "Alpha contamination at Bruce," Gordon Edwards, June 23, 2010, Eaglewatch.

 

      Spain: following the extreme right's removal of human rights pioneer Judge Baltasar Garzon, the Spanish Senate has passed a motion banning the Islamic full body covering. In the Netherlands the right-wing Freedom Party has more than doubled its seats in Parliament (from 9 to 24) with an anti-immigrant / anti-burqa platform in the recent elections. Party leader Geert Wilders has previously advocated banning the Koran. Belgium and France both have legislative measures in progress banning garments that conceal the face. Conservative French President Sarkozy has decided wearing the veil is a sign of subservience. Others see the banning laws as "criminalizing women to free them" (Der Spiegel's phrase). The European Council has voted unanimously to oppose bans on the full face veil. In Canada neo-conservative forces support a ban and women seeking corporate advancement rarely wear niqabs or burqas. Objections to face covering could be understood as a class bias rather than an effort to emancipate. Previous; previous etc..    Partial sources: "Council of Europe opposes bans on Muslim full-face veils," ANI, June 24, 2010, sify news; "Spain's Senate Votes to Ban Burqa," Raphael Minder, June 23, 2010, The New York Times; "Are Women's Rights Really the Issue?" cgh, June 24, 2010, Spiegel Online International; "Surge for Dutch anti-Islam Freedom Party," June 10, 2010, BBC News; "Dutch Freedom Party Leader Geert Wilders: Calls for Koran ban after leader of ex Muslim group is assaulted in name of Islam," Reuters August 8, 2007, Militant Islam Monitor.

 

      Belgium & others: on behalf of a Belgian national and 13 Gaza residents, two Belgian lawyers are attempting to bring charges against 14 Israelis for crimes against humanity / war crimes in Israel's planning, offensive and occupation of Gaza, 2008 and 2009. For background. The action against Barak, Livni, Olmert, Vilani and others draws on the Goldstone Report and relies on Belgium's provision for universal jurisdiction, at the discretion of the country's attorney general. In France flotilla participants from the Campagne Civile Internationale pour la Protection du Peuple Palestinien and Comité de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens and three parliamentarians (ynet) are taking Barak to court in Marseilles. Early reports indicate in Evry as well. They plan a similar case at the Hague. The Palestine Legal Aid Fund plans to present a case in Britain for the families of eight murdered Turkish men and one Turkish American. June 24th in Strasbourg the Council of Europe declared Israel's attack on the Gaza Flotilla a violation of international law and has requested entire lifting of the blockade. The U.S. position: in a letter of June 21, 2010 to U.S. President Obama, 87 U.S. Senators support Israel's blockade of Gaza, defend Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla, and attack the U.N. Human Rights Council. See previous. See also Kawther Salam, links page and previous.     Partial sources: "14 Israeli War Criminals Sued in Belgium, Including Livni, Barak, and Olmert," Saed Bannoura /IMEMC, June 24, 2010, ; "Belgian lawyers to charge Barak and Livni for war crimes," Danna Harman, June 23, 2010, Haaretz.comapprec LAW listserv; "European Council: 'Lift the blockade'," Rebecca Anna Stoil & staff, June 24, 2010, The Jersulem Post; "Resolution On Israel By European Parliamentary Group 'Inexplicable'," Press release, June 24, 2010, Anti-Defamation League; "Sail participants to sue Barak in France," Roni Sofer, June 11, 2010, ynet news; "UK charity to sue Israel over flotilla raid," June 25, 2010, Ma'an News Agency; "Reid and McConnell lead letter to Obama defending Israel in flotilla incident," Eric Zimmermann, June 23, 2010, The Hill; "Lawmakers Urge Obama To Show Greater Support For Israel," June 23, 2010, RTT News; "87 senators oppose U.N. flotilla inquiry," June 23, 2010, UPI.com; "French charity files complaint after Israeli attacks," Wire News Services, June 4, 2010, Herald de Paris.

 

 

June 23, 2010

      Congo (DRC): Jurist announces that in Belgium charges are brought against 12 Belgian officials for their part in the murder of Patrice Lumumba, Katanga province 1961. Democratically elected to lead the country he brought into independence, faithful to his people, Lumumba was removed from power. It is likely he was murdered by a joint Belgian - C.I.A. operation consolidating the military takeover by Joseph Mobutu. In response to evidence of its own implication the Government of Belgium apologised in 2002. Despite evidence of U.S. involvement no U.S. officials are currently charged. For background on Lumumba see our links page: Friends of the Congo.    Partial sources: "Charges sought in death of Congo leader Lumumba," Slobodan Lekic, June 21, 2010, APV ~ Breitbart.com; "Patrice Lumumba," current, Wikipedia; "Belgium officials accused in murder of former Congo leader," Andrea Bottorff, June 22, 2010, Jurist.

 

      Kyrgyzstan: the constitutional referendum election is scheduled for June 27th. The June 11th state of emergency is extended to June 25th. Al-Jazeera quoting the interim President indicates a possible death toll of 2000 rather than 200; previous, previous.    Partial sources: "Kyrgyzstan interim government extends state of emergency ," Sarah Miley, June 20, 2010, Jurist; "Kyrgyzstan extends emergency rule," June 20, 2010, aljazeera.net.

 

      Oakland California: in a picketing action endorsed by county labor councils protestors interrupted the unloading of cargo from Israel, June 20. The dockworkers union refused to cross their picket line. The ship was unloaded a day later. The Portworkers Union in Sweden previously honoured a callout for union solidarity made by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions. See previous.    Partial sources: "Bay Area Dockworkers Answer Palestinian Call for Solidarity," Euku Ide & Kevin Lynch, June 21, 2010, Labor Education and Research Project ;Israeli ship unloads after flotilla raid protest," Associated Press, June 21, 2010, Mercury News.com; "Protesters Block Israeli Ship from Unloading at Oakland Port," June 21, 2010, Democracy Now!; "Sweden, Norway Act Against Israel ," June 5, 2010, Wall Street Journal.

 

      Louisiana: a District Court judge has lifted the moratorium on offshore drilling as the British Petroleum oil spill continues to add rapidly to 120 million gallons (Jurist) polluting the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. While news of the disaster is available and news of financial compensation to immediately affected businesses and workers is announced, appropriate action by government or corporation is lacking. The safety of the food chain at risk in sections of the South from nuclear waste (see the historical note on the Savannah River watershed) is further damaged by pollution of surrounding waters and coast. While noting some medical effects of oil pollution ( kidney and liver damage) the media have avoided information about the effects of oil on aquatic life, its consumption, correlations of petroleum-contaminated fish with cancer, effects on Atlantic fisheries as contamination of the ocean moves northward and spreads through the Carribean. There is no mention of restitution to Cuba or Mexico among others. BP's lack of adequate protection for environment, its lack of respect for life, lack of safety for workers, lack of recourse to cope with the problem, present a direct and permanent threat to all people. In 1991 during the Gulf War 462 million gallons of oil were "spilled" into the Perisan Gulf as a result of both the U.S./allied targeting of oil facilities and tankers, and Iraq's tactical military action of emptying oil tanks before the U.S. landed in Kuwait.    Partial sources: "Federal judge blocks deepwater drilling ban in Gulf ," Sarah Miley, June 22, 2010, Jurist; "Gulf War Oil Spill," current, Wikipedia; "Each day, another way to define worst-case for oil spill," Joel Achenbach, June 23, 2010, The Washington Post.

Note: this is a crime against all life, unnecessary and terrible beyond the imagination of most legal systems. The Convention on Genocide focuses on the destruction of defined groups of people in peace or war. BP's damage to the U.S. southland's coasts (most immediately) is not being considered an act of war or extermination yet millions of people are its eventual victims. It's a destruction of life for private gain.

 

 

June 19, 2010

      Rwanda: see previous; on June 17th Rwandan court allowed Peter Erlinder (in hospital) bail for humanitarian reasons. Erlinder is free to leave the country but must keep the court informed of his location. He's expected to return to the U.S. today or tomorrow. Proceedings against him continue. However Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza remains on house arrest, also under Rwandan charges of "genocide denial." After a lengthy exile she is assuming political leadership of Kagame's opposition. Exiled primarily in the Netherlands Ms. Ingabire, a corporate lawyer, managed 25 accounting departments across Europe for a Dutch-based company. Her wish to recognize Hutu deaths in the Rwandan genocide was used to accuse her. Such political use of Rwandan cautionary laws against genocide render the Convention on Genocide an arbitrary tool of the group in power. It parallels a flaw of the International Criminal Court, where selective application and enforcement of the Convention favour powerful countries and allow an ongoing genocide against the Congolese people, among others.    Partial sources: "Ingabire's appeal: Stand with Rwanda as with Prof. Peter Erlinder," Ann Garrison, June 18, 2010, Digital Journal; "US attorney charged in Rwanda to travel to Kenya," AP, June 19, 2010, google news; "Rwanda frees U.S. lawyer due to health, charges remain,"Hereward Holland, June 17, 2010, Reuters; "Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza," as of June 19, 2010, Wikipedia encyclopedia; "Congolese Women Suffer As Rwanda Squashes Dissent,"John Lasker, June 15, 2010, Toward Freedom.

 

      Kyrgyzstan: see previous; the government has called for Britain to return the son of former (deposed) president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, to face charges of instigating ethnic violence with gangs of mercenaries in military uniform. He was arrested after landing in a private jet at Farnborough outside London England. The U.N. suggests there is an indication of planned ethnic violence.    Partial sources:"Kyrgyzstan asks Britain to hand over deposed president's son," Richard Orange & Damien McElroy, June 15, 2010, Telegraph.co.uk; "Kyrgyzstan asks Britain for suspect,"Richard Orange & Damien McElroy, June 15, 2010, The Daily Telegraph / Montreal Gazette; "Kyrgyzstan violence: Agencies rush aid to Uzbek refugees," Luke Harding & Mark Tran, June 15, 2010, guardian.co.uk; "Refugee crisis worsens in Kyrgyzstan," June 15, 2010, BBC World Service.

 

      Rwanda: see previous; The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has asked the Kagame government to release Peter Erlinder immediately. Erlinder, a lead defense counsel for the ICTR was arrested on charges of genocide denial, questioning the current Rwandan government's policy and interpretation regarding the 1994 Rwandan genocide. According to the ICTR letter the prosecution used Erlinder's work at ICTR as evidence against him. While major lawyers organizations strongly protest the arrest, organizations traditionally guardian to freedom of speech remain silent. An African site, Modern Ghana reports President Kagame's former bodyguard, Innocent Kalissa's escape from torture and death at a "safe house", arriving shackled and wounded in a sealed container of vegetables.    Partial sources: "President Kagame's Bodyguard Escapes," Norman Miwambo, June 13, 2010, Modern Ghana; "UN's Rwanda genocide tribunal calls for Erlinder's release," Jeremy Herb, June 15, 2010, startribune.com Staff blogs ; "ICTR calls for immediate release of Peter Erlinder from Rwandan prison, as Erlinder's wife appeals to U.N. Security Council members," June 15, 2010, BayView.

 

      Washington, D.C.: see previous; the peace activists tried June 14th in Superior Court were acquitted. A recent press release from "Witness Against Torture" indicates 24 found innocent while making no mention of others included in previous press releases. An article at Masslive.com notes 27 acquitted, four of them women from Western Massachusetts.    Partial sources: "D.C. judge acquits 27 Guantanamo protesters - including 4 from Pioneer Valley - of charges from Capitol Hill protest," Patrick Johnson, June 15, 2010, Masslive.com; "Twenty-Four Anti-Torture Activists Acquitted in Trial for Protest at the US Capitol Calling for Guantanamo's Closure and the Investigation of Deaths at the Prison," Press release, June 15, 2010, Witness Against Torture.

 

 

June 15, 2010

      Kyrgyzstan: rioting has become extreme with accusations of a "genocide" of the Uzbek people. Both sides of the conflict are Sunni muslim; the country is under a popular interim government which just took over; the country is of strategic importance to the U.S./ NATO supply facilities for Afghanistan. There are Russian military facilities as well which are being reinforced. A report from Osh (the violence appears to include surrounding towns) indicates the (national ?) military is siding with gangs in the slaughter of Uzbeks. As many as 100,000 Uzbeks are said to have sought refuge in Uzbekistan. Night's Lantern does not have enough reliable information to place a genocide warning. Note: current NATO media management of Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla, and of Rwanda's illegal arrest of Peter Erlinder, suggests reporting of war crimes is increasingly "managed" in a coherent conservative information war, forcing people to rely on selected experts.    Partial sources: "Uzbeks flee southern Kyrgyzstan," The Canadian Press, June 14, 2010, CBC News online; "Kyrgyz ‘genocide’ spreads, 113 killed," June 14, 2010, Daily Times Pakistan; "Kyrgyz gangs accused of 'genocide' as death toll rises," Shaun Walker, June 14, 2010, The Independent U.K..

 

      Winnipeg The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (Indian Residential Schools) holds its first of seven events June 16th-19th at the Forks, downtown Winnipeg. Chief Louis Daniels who was to lead a protest against it has died of unstated causes. Kevin Annett and Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared with others will hold a protest June 15th outside the meeting place. According to Annett's press release of May 21, five Aboriginal members of Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared died or were murdered in the past year: Johnny "Bingo" Dawson, Mike Wickson, Elder Phillipa Ryan, Norma Jean Baptiste, Chief Louis Daniels, and a sixth, William Combes , is missing. Four were high-profile protestors or witness to wrongs by the churches responsible for the residential school crimes. Night's Lantern's early attempts to support FRD's attempt to find a voice and hearing weren't successful (previous). Note: while the Conservative government has publicly "apologized" for crimes committed at Residential Schools, it has refused to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (previous). This Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 5 year (60 million dollar) program coincides with ongoing corporate inroads into the land's resources and native rights. A North American mechanism of status for 'first peoples' and tribes ideologically advances tribal 'purity,' encourages both dissension and federal controls, and attempts to legitimize a select group to bargain what belongs to the future of all people (re. the uses of of tribalism in the American south, see my "Historical note on the Savannah River watershed." See "genocide warnings" for Canada.    Partial sources: "Urgent Action alert," Press release, May 21, 2010, Hidden from History [access, http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org >]; "Remember the Murdered Children - Stop the Whitewash of Genocide in Canada!" Press release, June 1, 2010, Hidden from History; "Truth and Reconciliation announces details for first National Event," Press release, Dec. 11, 2009, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada; "FAQs: Truth and Reconciliation Commission," June 14, 2010, CBC News.

 

 

June 13, 2010


etching proof         apparition         julie maas         2010

 

 

     Washington, D.C.: 27 human rights activists go on trial tomorrow for peaceful actions on the capitol steps and inside the Rotunda, January 21rst of this year. 14 were arrested for holding a memorial service inside, honouring three muslim detainees said to have committed "suicide" at Guantanamo. A search of the 2004 through 2007 Guantanamo archive reveals a regimen at the prison camp driving prisoner after prisoner to suicide, attempts at mass suicide, attempts at terminal hunger strikes and forced feedings that became torture. But circumstances in the deaths of Yassar Talal Al Zahrani, Mani Shaman Turki Al Habardi Al Tabi, and Ali Abdullah Ahmed (see June 15, 2006), were askew enough to lead Amnesty to demand their investigation. Subsequent evidence suggests the men were murdered. See previous and...    Partial sources: "Trial for 27 Anti-Torture Activists Who Protested Obama's Failure to Close GITMO Begins Monday (6/14)," [WAT] Press Release, June 11, 2010, Witness Against Torture; "Murders at Guantánamo: The Cover-Up Continues," Andy Worthington, June 12, 2010, Global Research; "Death in Camp Delta," Mark Denbeaux & co-authors at the Center for Policy & Research, Dec. 7, 2009, Seton Hall University School of Law, with ongoing "Guantanamo reports" [access:< http://law.shu.edu/ProgramsCenters/PublicIntGovServ/policyresearch/Guantanamo-Reports.cfm >].

 

     Ottawa: Barriere Lake Algonquin and friends are protesting the Bureau of Indian Affairs attempt to close down the community's traditional means of governance by employing a section 74 order, last used in 1924. There will be a "Feast and Observance of Customary Governance," 6:30pm June 14th, Bronson Centre, and subsequent actions. According to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada there are 662 on and off reserve registered members of the tribe.     Partial sources: "Canada to abolish Barriere Lake Algonquins' customary governance, logging threats increase," announcement, June 10, 2010, nowar=paix listserv; "Indian Act, Section 74 to Destroy Algonquin Traditional Government," anon, June 12, 2010, Infoshop News.

 

 

June 12, 2010

     Canada: in Edmonton attorneys Nate Whiting and Dennis Edney have asked Federal Court to review the government decision not to repatriate Omar Khadr. Although Canada's Supreme Court decided Khadr's rights were violated it left the remedy to a Conservative government which hasn't respected its obligations to this citizen. See previous. On May 6, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict requested Canada repatriate Khadr, citing the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" and its "Optional Protocol." Canadian Press reports Khadr's civilian lawyers are under threat of investigation by a proposed U.S. legislative provision introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R - Florida). With its nod to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the provision encourages investigation of lawyers for interference with the Guantanamo trial process or any Defense Department policy. Some defense lawyers have already been threatened or 'punished' for providing legal counsel to detainees and alleged 'terrorists' (see "lawyers threatened for defending their clients" as well as notes on the Padilla case).     Partial sources: "Defence lawyers urge Supreme Court to force Khadr review," Sheila Pratt (Canwest), June 9, 2010, The Ottawa Citizen online; "Push for Khadr plea deal going nowhere, sources say," Steven Edward (Canwest), May 27, 2010, The Ottawa Citizen online."Gitmo detainee lawyers dismayed by Congressional bill," The Canadian Press, May 26, 2010, CTV News; "UN Official calls for Khadr's release to Canada," Andrea Bottorff, May 7, 2010, Jurist.

 

 

June 11, 2010

     Rwanda: U.S lawyer Peter Erlinder was returned from hospital to prison. Denied a return to the U.S. on compassionate grounds (illness), June 4th, he appeared in court June 7th, to plead not guilty to the Rwandan court's charge of "genocide denial". He was denied bail and returned to prison. The arrest has rendered the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, inoperable. Thirty of its attorneys have protested the arrest for their own safety. In a show of support for the Kagame government's judicial practices, the ICTR administration on June 8, 2010 turned over another 25 cases from its jurisdiction to the Rwandan government. Peter Robinson, an attorney from California representing an accused at an ICTR trial in Kilgali Rwanda and refusng to proceed with his work following Erlinder's arrest, was arrested for contempt of court. Examination of Erlinder's writings available on the internet finds, rather than genocide denial, an inclusion of Hutu tribes people in the larger group of humanity and raises a possibility of genocide against their group as well as the Tutsi group. Lack of appropriate effective response by the United Nations, ICTR administration, and the U.S. State Department, may signal a tactical military agenda by these parties rather than the political convenience of Rwanda's own government. Erlinder's life remains in danger: his writings and evidence directly counter a political use of the Convention on Genocide as supported by the Kagame government of Rwanda, the U.S. and U.N.. See previous, previous, previous. Within a U.S. domestic context Erlinder has defended both the Canadian Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, and Florida professor Sami Al-Arian, alleged "terrorists" who committed no act of violence yet were imprisoned under duress for years without just judicial recourse. The elements common to both cases are that both are muslims, and the extra-judicial punishment of each resulted after alleged refusal to cooperate with government requests for false testimony.     Partial sources: "Mohammed Warsame," current, Wikipedia; "ICTR transfers 25 cases to Rwandan jurisdiction," Dwyer Arce, June 8, 2010, Jurist; "The Torture of Sami Al Arian," Peter Erlinder, March 11, 2008, Jurist; "Rwanda's Thought Police," Peter Erlinder, May 14, 2010, Black Star News; "More Prosecution’s Case Files Transferred to Rwanda," ICTR/INFO, ReliefWeb; "ICTR Attorney Charged With Contempt of Court," Edwin, Musoni, June 9, 2010, The New Times / AllAfrica; "Erlinder Denied Bail," Edmund Kagire, June 8, 2010, The New Times ; "ICTR defense lawyers call for release of US lawyer, threaten boycott," Drew Singer, June 9, 2010, Jurist.

 

 

June 4, 2010

      Rwanda: attorney Peter Erlinder's arrest and interrogation has resulted in what Rwandan authorities call a "suicide attempt." Erlinder is now held in hospital. As noted, the American attorney is visiting Rwanda to aid the defense of a Rwandan rival for the presidency in upcoming elections. In the U.S. Erlinder is one of the attorneys representing the widow of Juvenal Habyarimana, former Rwandan president whose plane was shot down, signalling the start of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Erlinder's evidence finding Kagame's forces responsible, contradicts a U.S. media instructed campaign. The State Department is deeply involved with Kagame and successfully fought any investigations of Kagame's responsibility for genocide at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Under Canada's Louise Arbour, ICTR evidence against Kagame was not investigated. Under Switzerland's Carla del Ponte who attempted an investigation - she was allegedly ordered to stop by the Bush administraton's Pierre Prosper and on proceeding was removed. Minnesota Public Radio reports that Erlinder has been made to retract any statements about genocide that the Rwandan government objects to. See previous. The U.S. State Department has called for his release.     Partial sources: "Rwanda Says Jailed American Tried to Kill Himself ," Jeffrey Gettleman & Josh Kron, June 3, 2010, The New York Times."Locked Up in Rwanda," Elizabeth Dickinson, June 1, 2010, Foreign Policy."Jailed prof filed Kagame suit," June 2, 2010, The Straits Times; "Rwandan prosecutor says Erlinder retracted statements on genocide," Elizabeth Dunbar,June 2, 2010, Minnesota Public Radio; "US calles for Rwanda to release professor," Henry C. Jackson, AP, June 3, 2010, San Francisco Chronicle / SFGate.

 

 

June 2, 2010

      Israel: on May 31rst in international waters Israeli forces attacked a Peace Flotilla of six unarmed ships.The largest, a Turkish ship carried 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid for Gaza. After firing on the passengers and crew Israeli forces boarded the ship. There was some unarmed resistance. The ship raised a white flag. All communicationsfrom the ship were cut off. Early reports (Xinhua, The Australian) give evidence of as many as 19 peace activists murdered and many wounded. The Israeli military confiscated all evidence at the crime scene. Subsequent coverage by global media began lowering the death toll to nine dead, then mentioned only wounded. There appears to be a media / government attempt to sanitize the crime against humanity, the murder of unarmed civilians in international waters, the kidnapping of nearly 700 passengers and crew to detention, and individual acts of violence against them. Canada's Conservative government has made no comment concerning the crime or its detained citizens. Previous foreign civilians murdered by Israel include Rachel Corrie (human rights worker), Tom Hurndall (journalist/student), James Miller (journalist)     Partial sources: the story is heavily covered but with increasing unreliability: among early and eye-witness accounts: "Fire Started Before IDF Landing, Wounded bled to Death," (heavy quotes from eye-witness Hanon Al-Zoubi, NDA Knesset member), June 1, 2010, Kawther Salam; "MOP's silent on Israeli's arrest of activists," June 2, 2010, CBC News; "Israeli commandos kill 19 in attack on flotilla trying to break Gaza blockade," John Lyons, June 1, 2010, The Australian; "Previous activists killed by Israel," May 31, 2010, Al Jazeera; "Israel Murders Human Rights Workers Delivering Humanitarian Aid," Marjorie Cohn, May 31, 2010, Huffington Post; "World condemns Israel for attacking Gaza aid flotilla," Xinhua, June 1, 2010, English.news.cn.

A note: Israel's blockade of Gaza remains a flagrant violation of international law, as a collective punishment and part of Israel's continuing genocide against the Palestinian people. Because no government has taken action to counter the murder and wounding of unarmed civilians attempting humanitarian assistance to Gaza, because the global machinery of press and government are complicit with Israel's impunity, because Israel refuses to respect the basic international treaties protecting life and human rights, and because the peoples' defenses against genocide-by-government have been taken over, Gerald and Maas places another genocide warning for the people of Gaza and all Palestinians. Please note the text of the U.N.'s Convention on Genocide. It is a crime without statute of limitations. While common sense would dictate the Convention's application in areas such as Israel's policies toward Palestine or U.S. policies toward Iraq and Afghanistan, lawyers of the 'genocide industry' avoid this subject rendering current application of the Convention to the most powerful, non-existent. An exception: Peter Erlinder (previous) entered this area when he attempted to bring charges against Rwanda's Paul Kagame in the U.S.. Another exception: Judge Baltasar Garzón of Spain (previous) who brought charges against General Augusto Pinochet of Chile.
We support the people of Palestine against a threat of extinction by Israel's war crimes and aggression. Free Gaza. - Gerald and Maas

 

 

May 31, 2010

      Rwanda: Night's Lantern which began to archive specific genocide warnings in 2004 hasn't previously listed a genocide warning for Rwanda. According to Wikipedia as many as 800,000 Tutsi people and moderate Hutu died in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 at the hands of Hutu militia. But evidence is now available that as many as two million Hutu were massacred in Rwanda from 1993 through 1994 with full knowledge of the U.S. State Department. Recent assessments by Herman and Peterson strongly suggest responsibility for the massacres of Hutu rested with the RPF - the Tutsi forces of Paul Kagame current president of Rwanda. The issue surfaces again for these reasons: 1. clear acquittal by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda of Hutu military leaders accused of creating the genocide; 2. evidence confirming Michael Hourigan's presentation (see previous) that Kagame's RPF shot down the former President's plane - triggering the genocide - Peter Erlinder has taken this case against Kagame to court in Oklahoma; 3. refusal of U.S. controlled avenues-to-justice to allow investigation of Kagame's forces; 4. President Kagame's arrest of Hutu political candidates opposing him, depriving the majority people of its democratic rights. Information surfacing in response to Kagame's arrest of Peter Erlinder (see previous), and the ongoing severe suppression of truths about responsibility for the genocide suggest there should be a longterm genocide warning for the Hutu.     Partial sources: "The Tactical Use of Genocide in Sudan and the Five Lakes Region," J.B.Gerald, February 2006, Global Research & Night's Lantern; "The 'Third Force' in Rwanda and Sudan," John Bart Gerald, Sept. 22, 2004, Night's Lantern; Peter Erlinder, The Rwanda Documents Project recommended [access:< http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library >]; "Peter Erlinder Jailed by One of the Major Genocidaires of Our Era," Edward S. Herman and David Peterson, May 29, 2010, Monthly Review; "Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Propaganda System," Edward S. Herman and David Peterson, May 2010, Monthly Review recommended [access:< http://www.monthlyreview.org/100501herman-peterson.php >].

 

 

May 29, 2010

      Rwanda: urgent ; on May 28th Paul Kagame's government arrested Peter Erlinder, the defense lawyer and professor, on a charge of denying the 1994 genocide of Tutsis. Erlinder, a critic of Kagame and what is thought to be a U.S./U.K. program which bears responsibility for Rwanda's genocide (see previous), was in Kilgali to represent Rwandan presidential hopeful in the coming election, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, also accused of denying genocide. Both arrests seem to be the result of raising questions about the massacres of Hutu in a tragedy where U.S. media perception management focuses on the massacres of Tutsi. The 1994 Rwandan genocide is gradually understood as an attempt to depopulate the entire area. If considered a crime against both ethnic groups, attention would turn to foreign powers responsible, so the truth is vigorously suppressed. The arrest of this lead defense attorney for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is 'being looked into' by the U.S. Embassy in Kilgali which also hosts Kagame's interrogations of his political opponents. An American, Erlinder was already on Kagame's list of "foreigners to target" ("The Rwanda Hit List: Revisionism, Denial, and the Genocide Conspiracy," Keith Harmon Snow, March 12, 2010, conscious being). He has filed a case in the U.S. against Kagame, charging him with shooting down of the former Rwandan President's plane, an act precipitating the Rwandan genocide. In short: President Kagame, trained at Fort Leavenworth, is a U.S. government client .... Erlinder is an honest man and a brave lawyer, at risk without appropriate support from the Obama administration. Erlinder needs immediate international support. Recommended: The Rwanda Documents Project, current [access:< http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library >].     Partial sources: "Rwandan Arrest of U.S. Lawyer Motivated by Politics," Marjorie Cohn, May 29, 2010, The Huffington Post; "Rwanda arrests US lawyer on genocide denial charges," Billie O'Kadameri, May 29, 2010, RFI; "Rwanda arrests U.S. lawyer for genocide denial," Hereward Holland, May 28, 2010, Thompson Reuters.

      Canada: Margaret Atwood has apparently declined the request by Gaza school children to not accept Israel's Dan David Prize. A biting article by Jennifer Matsui reports Ms. Atwood will accept the approximately half million dollars in Tel Aviv, to avoid enforcing a kind of "censorship." The children are of victim families in Israel's armed invasion of their land and destruction of their lives and bodies See previous. The leading Canadian writer of her generation Ms Atwood has helped many well-educated women make peace with their privilege. She is also a former President and current Vice President of the writers' organization, P.E.N. Canada. See previous. On May 16th, the American MIT professor Noam Chomsky whose artform is memory and whose writings synthesize facts, was invited to lecture at Palestine's Bir Zeit University and meet with Palestinian officials. He was flatly refused entry to Palestine by Israel. Working musician Elvis Costello (British) simply cancelled his two performances in Israel, June 30th and July 1: "It is a matter of instinct and conscience."     Partial sources: "Margaret Atwood Cashes In," Jennifer Matsui, May 18, 2010, Atlantic Free Press; "Chomsky Likens Israel to "Stalinist Regime" After Denied Entry to West Bank," Amira Hass, May 17, 2010, Haaretz; "It is after considerable contemplation..." Elvis Costello, May 15, 2010 [access:< www.elviscostello.com >].

 

 

May 23, 2010

      Spain: a formal complaint in support of Judge Baltasar Garzón (see previous) is gathering strong backing from leading organizations of human rights and international law. Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, Asian Legal Resource Centre, Lawyers Without Borders / Canada, are joined by the Center for Constitutional Rights, Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme, the World Organisation Against Torture, National Lawyers Guild, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, and after finalization of the letter, the Asociación Española para el Derecho Humano a la Paz. A .pdf file of the letter as re-submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Human Rights Council Committees is available - (see archive "Formal Communication for Consideration and Action Re: Judge Baltasar Garzón," from LRWC, ECCHR, ALRC, LWBC, CCR, FIDH, NLG, IADL & OMCT, May 20, 2010, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada).

 

 

May 20, 2010

      Spain: four organizations concerned with international law have joined forces to make a formal complaint to U.N Special Rapporteurs about Spain's suspension of Judge Baltasar Garzón from practice (see previous). The lawyers point out Garzon has a duty under the law to investigate the deaths of over a hundred thousand human beings murdered and hidden in graves here and there in Spain by Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War and during the dictator's rule. The Spanish Amnesty law of 1977 suppressed truth, denied redress to the victims' families, and hid fascism's depravity. Within a judicial system that has recently changed its laws to accommodate the war crimes of more powerful nations, it was brave of Garzon to allow the unearthing of Spain's past. Not only suspended, he is threatened with jail and is under attack in several legal battles attempting to discredit him. Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, the Asian Legal Resource Centre, and Canadian Lawyers Without Borders, have in their letter of May 19th, 2010, requested that the appropriate offices of U.N. rapporteurs as well the Human Rights Council's working groups on Arbitrary Detention, and Enforced Disappearance, all pressure the Government of Spain to fulfil its obligations to international law. ("Formal Communication for Consideration and Action Re: Judge Baltasar Garzón," from LRWC, ECCHR, ALRC, LWBC, May 19, 2010, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada Replaced by amended complaint. of May 20, 2010 ~ above).

Historical note
Dolores Ibarruri, "Farewell to the International Brigades" [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xfm3o45iIE >].
 

 

May 19, 2010

      Palestine:
Mahmoud Darwish reading "Carte d'identité," with French subtitles [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTREbsUK_HE&feature=related >]
"Mahmoud Darwich -- "Identity Card," read in Arabic and English [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avv6oty0kO0&feature=related >]
"Notre Musique Mahmoud Darwish and Judith Lerner," interview [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erzl60Dk2bM&feature=PlayList&p=A5B29C077F6E9331&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=9 >]

 

 

May 16, 2010

      Spain: on May 12, Spain's Supreme Court allowed the indictment of Baltasar Garzón to proceed. See previous and previous. On May 14, Spain's General Council for the Judiciary voted to suspend him. The vote may silence Garzón as a defender of human rights in Spain. He is to be tried for exceeding his authority in attempting to uncover General Franco's crimes against humanity during the Spanish Civil War and subsequent dictatorship which left a deep and current ambiguity in the judicial system. Because crimes against humanity have no statute of limitations Garzón's investigation was to international observers, in order. It focused on the forced disappearance of over a hundred thousand people including the poet Garcia Lorca. The Spanish legal system's ability to block the investigation weakens Spain's commitment to international treaty obligations and with an implicit threat to the people the advancement of human rights. Garzón's previous adversaries at law include Spanish drug lords, State run death squads against the ETA (Basque Nationalists), Chile's General Pinochet, Osama bin Laden, etc.. In possibly unrelated news, on May 13, the United Nations General Assembly elected Spain to the U.N. Human Rights Council, along with Guatemala (see previous), among others.     Partial sources: "Spain judicial panel suspends judge Garzón over Franco probe," Daniel Makosky, May 14, 2010, Jurist; "Ocampo: Garzón charges not legitimate," Angelo Ricardo Martinez, May 10, 2010, Radio Netherlands Worldwide"Baltasar Garzón: General Franco's Latest Victim," Julius Purcell, May 15, 2010, The Atlantic online; "Crusading Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón is suspended ," May 14, 2010, BBC News; "Baltasar Garzón's Trial Threatens "Universal Justice,"Tito Drago, May 13, 2010, IPS - Inter Press Service; "Guatemala, Ecuador Take Latin American Seats for U.N. Rights Panel," May 15, 2010,Latin American Herald Tribune.

 

 

 

comprendí que me habían asesinado.
Recorrieron los cafés y los cementerios y las igelsias,
abrieron los toneles y los armarios,
destrozaron tres esqueletos para arrancar sus dientes de oro,
Ya no me encontraron,
¿No me encontraron ?
No. No me encontraron.
Pero se supo que la sexta luna huyó torrente arriba,
y que el mar recordó ¡de pronto !
los nombres de todos sus ahogados.

 

       ...Tres - Federico García Lorca  
        Born 1898. Executed July 1936 during the Falangist occupation of Granada.

 

 

 

 

 

May 9, 2010   Mothers Day

      Afghanistan: Save the Children's "2010 Mothers’ Index Rankings" reveals that in 2008 over a quarter of Afghanistan's children died before the age of five. Currently Afghanistan has the highest infant mortality rate in the world and the lowest life expectancy for women (In 2008, the U.S. rate for infant mortality before the age of five was eight infants per thousand). Wikipedia suggests as many as 28,360 civilian deaths since 2001 as a direct or indirect result of U.S./ NATO military actions and 5579 as a result of resistance actions. In 2001 the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was first subjected to bombing and continuing aggressive military actions by U.S. and NATO forces. I don’t think there is a big need for military activity in Afghanistan anymore. - Afghan President Karzai in 2005. Western perception management stresses the need to liberate Afghan women from practices such as full face covering. See Netherlands.     Partial sources: "Women on the Front Lines of Health Care," 2010, Save the Children; "Civilian casualties of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)," current, Wikipedia.

 

 

May 5, 2010

Historical note
Two valuable works that further understanding of genocide, Jean-Paul Sartre's article on genocide during the war in Vietnam and Frantz Fanon's speech (1959) on the role of culture in the struggle for freedom, are available in the new issue of Indigenist World Magazine 05.2010  [access:< http://www.ourmedia.org/media/indigenist-world-magazine-052010 >].Fanon's writings are suppressed in colonialist countries. For an English documentary / introduction to his thinking: Frantz Fanon Documentary - Black Skin, White Mask - 1/5 [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KNSipIY5cI >], increasingly edited; some excluded background material: "Frantz Fanon": [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfUdOREnsDo >]
 

      Global: bees continue to die by the millions. The Ecologist reports the loss of another third of the U.S. bees during the winter. This establishes a pattern of about thirty percent loss each winter over the past four years. Losses are being attributed less to "colony collapse disorder," than to starvation and weather. The disaster was noted in the Cuban press by Fidel Castro, April 2007. The New York Times in September 2007 found the principle suspect a virus (Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus). No one is sure why the bees are dying. In Britain some bee keepers are questioning the effects of two pesticide producing companies (Syngenta and Bayer Crop Sciences) who have made a sponsorship agreement with the British Bee Keepers Association, although the Association doesn't approve Bayer's pesticides containing neonicotinoids which are already banned in Italy and France. Britain may have lost a third of its bees in the past two years. As much as a third of world's food relies on bee pollination. See previous 123.     Partial sources: "Heavy bee colony losses in US could lead to price rise ," May 4, 2020, Ecologist; "Bee keepers blame sponsorship deal over collapse in numbers," May 4, 2010, telegraph.co.uk; "North American bee catastrophe unfolds," Press TV, May 5, 2010, Tehran Times; "Scientists See Suspect in Mass Deaths of Bees," Andrew C. Revkin, Sept. 6, 2007, The New York Times.

 

      Bolivia: Agence France Presse reports that Evo Morales has nationalized the Vinto-Antimonio antimony smelting plant (owned by local Colquiri, owned by Sinchi Wayra, part of the Swiss, Glencore International). History: the state-owned plant was privatised then bought by a U.S. company , Allied Deals, which sold it to former President Losado's Comsur, which sold it to the Swiss. See previous.     Partial sources: "Bolivia nationalises Swiss smelter plant," AFP, May 3, 2010, Bolivia rising; "Bolivia Seizes Swiss-Owned Antimony Smelter," May 4, 2010, Latin American Herald Tribune; "Bolivia nationalizes Glencore antimony smelter," Reuters, May 5, 2010, CFDsPROS.com.

 

 

May 2, 2010

      Canada: Canadian, Abousfian Abdelrazik remains without the right to work. He remains on a UN Security Council's 1267 blacklist which makes it illegal for other Canadians to provide him with any funds. A telethon held April 28th, to raise funds for his support and existence, received donations from 120 (plus) people across Canada,who risk prosecution by the Crown for their affirmation of both humanity and reason. Abdelrazik has never been found guilty of a crime, or charged with a crime. A government political agenda targeted a muslim Canadian as though he has no rights. Abdelrazik was previously held in Sudan, tortured, released as innocent, and denied the right to return home by the Harper government which under public pressure eventually renewed his passport. See previous 1 2345678. For updates and more information see Project Fly Home, the peoples commission network [access:< http://www.peoplescommission.org/en/index.php >].     Partial sources: "Abdelrazik and the sanctions-busting telethon," Mary Foster, April 28, 2010, rabble.ca; "One hundred and twenty risk arrest to donate to Abdelrazik," Project Fly Home, April 29, 2010, Commission populaire

Canadian Omar Khadr's case is currently before a U.S. military commission at Guantanamo. The "trial" is receiving media attention. Coverage tends to legitimize a case brought against a muslim man imprisoned as a child, raised in a military maximum security prison without the Geneva Convention rights assured humanity. The detention, the prison, the treatment, the court, have the authority of brute force rather than law. For more on Omar Khadr's case see January 29.

The case of Mohamed Harkat, a Canadian Security Certificate detainee now living under house arrest in Ottawa, is under consideration by the court. Of the portion open to the public, final arguments will be presented May 20th to May 28th. For background see January 22. Recommended: the Justice for Mohamed Harkat website [access:< http://www.justiceforharkat.com/news.php >].

While five Canadian Security Certificate detainees have been released from incarceration, Mohammed Mahjoub, who went home to his wife and children April 12, 2007 after nearly 7 years, requested return to incarceration to spare his family the destructive conditions imposed by his house arrest. Surveillance has included the illegal wire tapping of his discussions with his lawyer. Mahjoub remains in the Kingston Detention Centre, the father of a family, without ever being charged with a crime, without being convicted of a crime. Long-term hunger strikes have weakened his health. See previous 1,   2,   3,   4,   5,   6.

All four men are civilians. All four are muslim. Despite U.S. pressures of the "war on terror" and the demands of Canada's security, these men haven't been found guilty of anything. Innocent under the law, each continues to undergo extreme persecution by the state. Their families are damaged. Their communities become terrorized by the targeting of apparently innocent people. Within a military context such as a "war on terror" and political policies turned to warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, the government's acts against them could be interpreted as war crimes, and through a pattern in the treatment of muslim suspects, a crime against humanity. The Convention on Genocide remains in effect under civilian or military law, whether there is war or peace.
 
      Bolivia: President Evo Morales has returned to state ownership four hydro-electric companies, giving Bolivia over 80% control of its electricity. The natural gas industry was re-possessed in 2006. This aspect of Bolivia's cultural revolution will directly affect the U.K. company, Rurelec, and France's GDF Suez, among others. The announcement of a British Petrolum subsidary's nationalisation (jet fuel) was made in 2009.     Partial sources: "Bolivia nationalises energy firms," May 1, 2010, Al Jazeera English; "Bolivia's Morales Nationalizes Four Power Companies," Bloomberg, May 1, 2010, San Francisco Chronicle; "Bolivia nationalises three private electricity firms," May 1, 2010, BBC News.

      Mexico: international media have reported the return of a photographer and a journalist, David Cilia and Erika Ramirez, who escaped a "UBISORT" paramilitary ambush of a relief caravan to San Juan Copala in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Cilia was wounded; both hid with others nearly three days in the forest. Two other journalists who were shot, Noe Bautista and David Venegas, re-appeared April 29th. News of the murder in the ambush of a woman political leader (the director of CACTUS, focusing on the human rights of native women), Beatriz Alberta Cariño Trujillo, and a Finn, Jyri Antero Jaakkola, a human rights worker sitting beside her, are under-reported. Ms Cariño's murder was caused by head shots which may suggest a targeted assassination. The Finnish worker is author of communalist direct-democracy writings. The ambush occurred as the caravan with human rights workers, journalists, and basic necessities passed through La Sabana. An early report suggested at least 15 wounded - a woman, Monica Citlali Saniago Ortiz, unmentioned by major media was "shot in the back" (Intercontinental Cry). San Juan Copala is trying to resist attacks by paramilitaries traced to Ulises Ruiz , Governor of Oaxaca and its ruling PRI party.     Partial sources: "Reporters Missing After Mexico Attack Rescued Alive," April 30, 2010, Latin American Herald Tribune; "Authorities rescue 2 stranded Mexican journalists," Morgan Lee, May 1, 2010, AP ~ Google News;"Leaflet written by the Finnish activist killed in Oaxaca, Mexio," anon, may 1, 2010, Infoshop News; "Paramilitaries Kill Two Human Rights Activists in Oaxaca," Amy Goodman, Kristin Bricker, April 30, 2010, Democracy Now!; "Two dead and three missing after paramilitaries attack peaceful caravan," Ahni, April 28, 2010, Intercontinental Cry.

 

 

April 26, 2010

      Guatemala: assassinations of labor leaders are increasing.The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) headquartered in Brussels, announced April 3rd the assassination of two leaders of the Indigenous and Rural Workers Trade Union Movement Of Guatemala (MSICG). The body of Luis Felipe Cho , tortured and shot many times in the head, was found March 6th. Samuel Ramírez Paredes was assassinated March 26th during MSICG negotiations with the U.S. government in an attempt to bring labor rights to Guatemala .The news is generally suppressed. Workers rights / union rights providing one index of the peoples' freedom, are particularly threatened throughout Central America by U.S. support of the effected coup d'etat in Honduras which denied any principles of democracy (Greater concern, witness, support from North American unions is necessary. - ed.). See 1, 2, 3, 4.

Background; since the CIA overthrow of Guatemala's elected President Arbenz in 1954, the governments installed were accompanied by repression against unions, extreme under periods of military rule. According to Guatemala: el costo de la libertad sindical, periodo 2005 - enero 2010, published by the Movimiento Sindical Indigena y Campesino Guatemalteco - MSICG -, unions continue to be targets of violence and assassination. The number of union leaders assassinated in 2008: twelve. In 2009, sixteen. In about the first month of 2010: two. About 90% of the assassinated belonged to the MSICG. All were shot and 23% of them with the known participation of the security forces of Guatemala. 98% were murdered following some affirmation of their human rights (union rights). MSICG claims there have been no successful prosecutions for these acts. The rise in death rate is accompanied by a higher increase in acts of violence against union workers and union leaders, and criminalization of workers exercising their union rights. Anti-unionist propaganda is increasing and the MSICG is increasingly excluded from representational interface with the government.
Concerning genocide: the Guatemalan army recently released to the President documents of "Operation Sophia," specific evidence supporting allegations that Efraín Ríos Montt among others is responsible for genocide during his tenure as dictator from 1982 to 1983. What is referred to as the "civil war" which rose out of the U.S. deposition of Arbenz, lasted from 1960 to 1996 and may be considered not so much a civil war as a slaughter of the poor (mostly Indigenous peoples), with some resistance. Montt at 83 is currently a Guatemalan senator. "Operation Sophia" reveals a policy of stripping civilian infra-structure and resources to deprive uncooperative areas the means to survive. There's a parallel to U.S. policies during Vietnam (ie. use of "agent orange") and the 1990 bombing of Baghdad's infrastructure and subsequent destruction of Fallujah, etc.. In Guatemala the field commands of "Operation Sophia" show an attempt to destroy the people of Quiche in the north (northwest). A case is currently proceeding in Spain against seven former Guatemalan commanders charged with torture, genocide and terrorism by the State. A U.S. organization, National Security Archive follows this area and unclassified materials appear on its site [access:< http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/ >]. These reveal the names of the Guatemalan units involved, their officers, and personnel, and occasionally the identity of U.S. diplomatic and military assigned, amid ironies of their dismay at the crimes of the client state. Over ten years ago (1999) the Historical Clarification Commission / Comisión para el Esclarecimiento Histórico (CEH) formed by the Oslo Accords and supported by the United Nations found the acts against Guatemala's Indigenous population a genocide with responsibility resting beyond its immediate perpetrators: #124. Based on the fundamental conclusion that genocide was committed, the CEH, in keeping with its mandate to present an objective judgement on the events of the internal armed confrontation, indicates that, without prejudice to the fact that the active subjects are the intellectual and material authors of the crimes in the acts of genocide committed in Guatemala, the State is also responsible, because the majority of these acts were the product of a policy pre-established by a command superior to the material perpetrators ("Report of the Commission").

Lack of response to the declared genocide has allowed ongoing human rights violations and the increasing power of foreign corporations. The targets aren't only the unions. On March 4th and 5th, La Unión Nacional de Mujeres Guatemaltecas, el Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial, and other groups held a "Tribunal of Conscience" for women to break their silence about sexual violations, rape, killing during the "civil war." Their cases have never been adjudicated. Among the Tribunal's conclusions: Que el hecho notorio de que ningún jefe, oficial o mando medio del Ejército o de las fuerzas de seguridad del Estado fuera procesado ni condenado por estas acciones violatorias de los derechos humanos a lo largo de tantos años, refuerza la percepción de que en su mayoríalas violaciones cometidas fueron resultado de una política de orden institucional, que aseguró una impenetrable impunidad, la cual persiste hasta el día de hoy; trans.: the notorious fact is that no commander, official, or middle-man of the Army or State security apparatus is prosecuted / convicted for these acts violating human rights over a time span of so many years, reinforces the perception that its major violations resulted from an institutionalized policy which assured an impenetrable impunity, such that it persists even to this day. ("Pronunciamiento final"); additionally, severe violations of women's rights by insurgent forces also went without administration of justice by their command.

Partial sources: Guatemala: el costo de la libertad sindical, periodo 2005 - enero 2010, Movimiento Sindical Indigena y Campesino Guatemalteco, Feb. 2, 2010, MSICG; "Guatemalan Army Plotted “Annihilation” of Indian Region," April 24, 2010, Latin American Herald Tribune; "Guatemala hands over key file in army genocide case," Sarah Grainger,Reuters, April 22, 2010, Washington Post; "Operation Sofia: Documenting Genocide in Guatemala," Kate Doyle, Dec. 2, 2009, National Security Archive; "Otros dos líderes del Movimiento sindical, indígena y campesino de Guatemala (MSICG) asesinados," 31 de marzo de 2010, ITUC International Trade Union Confederation Brussels; "Guatemala: Assassination Of Trade Union Leaders," Press Release: International Trade Union Confederation, April 3, 2010, Scoop - Independent News; "Conclusions" #124, Christian Tomuschat, Otilia Lux de Cotí, Alfredo Balsells Tojo, Guatemala: Memory of Silence: Report of the Commission for Historical Clarification Conclusions and Recommendations" [access:< http://shr.aaas.org/guatemala/ceh/report/english/toc.html >]. "Tribunal de Conciencia 2010," March 5, 2010, ECAP; "Pronunciamiento final," Tribunal de conciencia contra la violencia sexual hacia las mujeres durante el conflicto armado interno en Guatemala, March 5, 2010, ECAP.

 

      Colombia: evangelist Christian churches in the south of Cordoba have put out an SOS, after six church communities received renewed death / rape / torture threats from the paramilitary group in the region, the "Rastrillos," one of the new paramilitaries emerging from the Colombian government's disbanding its paramilitary in 2003. The government hasn't dealt with the previous threats to the churches.     Partial sources: "Colombian Churches Plead for Help," CSW, April 24,, 2010, persecution.org; "A Paramilitary Death Threat Against the Church," Janna Hunter-Bowman, April 2010, Soujourners magazine.

      Hungary: the 25 April run-off elections continued Hungary's shift toward a right wing ideology, as foreseen; massive support for center-right Fidesz party yields it a two-thirds majority and by early count, 263 seats in Parliament which will allow laws to be changed. The Jobbik party won 47 seats. The Socialists retain 59 seats of Parliament's 386. The (new green party) LMP won 16 seats. See previous.     Partial sources: "Landslide victory for Hungary's conservative opposition ," April 25, 2010, BBC News; "Factbox: Leverage provided by two-thirds majority," April 23, 2010, politics.hu; "Fidesz warns Jobbik would reverse efforts of past 20 years," MTI, April 23, 2010, politics.hu; "Hungary's Fidesz wins historic two-thirds mandate," Marton Dunai and Krisztina Than, April 25, 2010, Reuters.

 

 

April 22, 2010

      Bolivia: President Evo Morales is hosting an inclusive global summit on climate change and its effects on people. It is a conference about the "rights of Mother Earth" rather than capitalism. Morales clarified the choice "to continue along the road of capitalism or death, or to take the road of harmony with nature and respect for life in order to save humanity." Over 130 countries are represented and as many as 20,000 people in attendance. The U.S. government refused the invitation.     Partial sources: "An S.O.S. from Tiquipaya," Nidia Diaz, April 22, 2010, Digital Granma Internacional; "Bolivian climate summit gets UN nod ," April 22, 2010, Aljazeera; recommended - April 19-22, Democracy Now [access:< http://www.democracynow.org >]; "Evo Morales' message to grassroots climate talks – planet or death," Andres Schipani, April 21, 2010, guardian.co.uk.

      Hungary: elections April 10th gave the right wing Fidesz party a 53% majority, augmented by a 17% vote for the extreme right wing and populist Jobbik party. Socialists lost heavily. A second election April 25th is likely to increase right wing power. Jobbik vote was negligible 2 years ago when Night's Lantern first noted it as a growing threat to Hungary's Roma. Jobbik policy is that Roma must be part of a "world of work, laws and education," or leave. The Roma, increasingly called "Gypsies", aren't entirely welcome in the job market, or society, as revealed by Jobbik street actions, the "Hungarian Guard," and an informal rhetoric of dehumanization. Anti-semitism continues. Jobbik is appealing to the young and university students by opposing the large corporations, criminality, State corruption, and ...Jobbik is pro-Palestine and pro-Arab for its own reasons. Also there is opposition to "Israeli firms'" importance in the real estate market. Jobbik is attempting to reinstate the "Hungarian Guard," a currently illegal paramilitary group glorying in Hungary's military traditions which unfortunately include Admiral Horthy's "White Terror" of reprisal against Communists and Jews, a local initiative pre-dating Hitler. Due to deep inequities and the ugliness of corporate policies Jobbik also appeals to a portion of the poor set against the over 90% of Roma who are poor. A genocide warning for the Roma remains. The pressure is likely to extend to Jewish communities since psychological preparation for ethnic cleansing, considered a subset of genocide, increases the momentum of exclusionary nationalism. See previous: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.     Partial sources: " Rightward Swing Has Fascist Overtones," Apostolis Fotiadis, April 18, 2010, IPS-Inter Press Service; "‘Openly antisemitic’ party gains power in Hungary," April 14, 2010, The Jewish Tribune; "Big shift in Hungary’s political landscape," Olivia Ward, April 20, 2010, thestar.com; "What's Behind Hungary's Far-Right Jobbik," Leigh Phillips, April 20, 2010, Business Week; "What do we mean by radicalism?," Gábor Vona, Nov. 28, 2009, Jobbick, the Movement for a Better Hungary web site.

      Mexico:


Himno del Ejército ZAPATISTA de Liberación Nacional E.Z.L.N.
[access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j2wMihbNyY&feature=related >]

 

      Argentina: Reynaldo Bignone (82), former president, and Santiago Omar Riveros and Fernando Verplaetsen, all former generals, were sentenced to 25 years in prison for their crimes against humanity focusing on the torture of 56 prisoners at the Campo de Mayo during Argentina's "dirty war." Three others received shorter sentences and a police chief was found not guilty.The former president claimed that his military "had to intervene to defeat terrorism." The commanders' amnesty was nullified in 2005, which allowed their prosecution.The junta ruled from 1976 to 1983, disappearing, torturing and murdering, with impunity, thirty thousand people. See "Desaparecidos - the Vanished Gallery" on our links page.     Partial sources: "Argentinean junta leaders sentenced to 25 years," IANS/EFE, April 21, 2010, CalcuttaTube; "Last Argentine dictator jailed for 25 years," Reuters, April 20, 2010, The Washington Post.

 

 

April 19, 2010

      "Against the killing of Anwar al-Aulaqi & others," by J.B.Gerald, considering the U.S. policy of targeting "inspirational threats" for assassination.

 

 

April 14, 2010

      U.S.: the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied federal prisoners the right to receive fair pay (something better than 19 cents/hour) for their labor. The Court points out the Constitution allows forced labor as a punishment when duly convicted, and finds the U.N.'s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, not applicable because it isn't a "self-executing" treaty, in other words because it doesn't say how the law is to be applied. The U.N.'s basic document on the rights of all prisoners is similarly ignored. This failure of the U.S. legal system leaves prisoners at the mercy of involuntary servitude, reinforcing a slavery of indenture. As more prisons are built more will serve the prison industry's profit. Missing from the decision is respect for prisoners as human beings. With increasing privatization of the prison system, Michelle Alexander points out many States are garnishing post-release prisoners' wages to pay for their imprisonment. Department of Justice statistics as of mid-2006 found 46% of American prisoners Black, 20.8% Hispanic. and by 2008 approximately 2.3 million people in U.S. jails and prison. Note our political prisoner pages.     Partial sources: "Ninth Circuit rules prisoners have no right to fair pay," Steve Dotterer, April 12, 2010, Jurist; "Ninth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Prison Inmates’ Wages," Steven M. Elllis, April 12, 2010, Metropolitan News-Enterprise; "Part II: Michelle Alexander on “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez & Michelle Alexander, March 12, 2010, Democracy Now!; "What percent of prisoners are black?" current, WikiAnswers; "Incarceration in the United States," current, Wikipedia.

      Spain: citing politically motivated charges, Judge Baltasar Garzon has appealed the high court decision to charge him with over-reaching his authority; Garzon has attempted to investigate war crimes from Spain 's Civil War era, which raises the hostility of current Fascist representation within the judicial system. Affirming their culture Spanish movie directors, poets, actors, are joining in political protest to support Garzon's struggle against impunity. See previous.     Partial sources: "Spain judge Garzon appeals high court indictment," Ximena Marinero, April 10, 2010, Jurist; "Pedro Almodóvar y otras personalidades solidarizan con Baltazar Garzón," April 13, 2010, radio.uchile.cl; "Figuras de la cultura participan en un acto en apoyo a Garzón," Agencia EFE, Aprilo 13, 2010, Google Noticias.

      Montréal: another Muslim woman , Aisha from India, has been barred from her schooling in a Montréal suburb, for wearing a niqab. The educational institution staff and the student were informed by a government Ministry of Immigration team enforcing their preference. Québec Premier Jean Charest's Liberal leadership has reached an extreme low point in popularity and is generally approving a niqab ban made explicit in Bill 94, currently under consideration, despite its violation of an individual's freedom. There are similar attempts in Belgium and France where right wing politicians seek to improve their political position by dehumanizing Muslims. See previous and previous.     Partial sources: "Niqab gets 2nd Québec student expelled," April 12, 2010, CBC News; "Québec Liberals' popularity at record low: poll"April 12, 2010, CBC News; "Veil of tears for expelled student," Katherine Wilton, April 13, 2010, Montréal Gazette.

      Belfast: the U.K.'s intelligence headquarters in Belfast was targeted after midnight April 11th-12th. With a warning, fifty local residents were evacuated from the area. The car bomb caused little damage and no casualties. The action was claimed by the Real IRA, considered a dissident Provisional IRA group (the same faction is blamed for a recent 250 lb blast and previous 1000 lb blast, in Newry). The event is notable because it coincided with transfer of legal power of police, prison services and judiciary from London to Belfast that midnight, while the main counter-terrorism office remains in London. Further signs of dissatisfaction are expected with general elections next month.     Partial sources: "Blast rocks MI5 office near Belfast," April 12, 2010, Al-Jazeera; "Irish peace process 'rock solid' despite bomb blast outside M15," David Sharrock, April 13, 2010, Times Online; "Dissidents 'to target election'," Tom Brady, April 13, 2010, Independent.ie.

 

 

April 11, 2010

Historical note
Prominent Canadians speak out against the war on Gaza - Jan 08 2009 (the other videos of this series are recommended as well):
      Anton Kuerti [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv1Zjohxc8I >]
            Adagio from Sonata No. 3- Beethoven [access=< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KnKdGLIWDI&feature=related >]
      Judith Deutsch [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT6d2jR45ko&feature=related >]
      Michael Mandel [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hmNAZJiFtc&feature=related >]
 

 

April 10, 2010

      Palestine: responding to human rights violations in occupied Palestine, the UN Human Rights Council passed the following resolutions on March 25 and 26, 2010:1. The Council reaffirms the Palestinian people's right to self-determination (only the U.S. voted against this). 2. The Council demands Israel to end occupation of lands taken over since 1967 and cease its human rights violations there (Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, U.K., and U.S. voted against this).3. The Council asks Israel to stop building settlements in the Syrian Golan (only the U.S. voted against this).4. The Council condemns Israel's building of new settlements in Bitar Elite and Ramat Shlomo (only the U.S. voted against this).5. The Council again asks Israel to comply with the General Assembly and investigate human rights violations of the 2008-9 military action by Israel, reported by the Goldstone report (see previous 1,   2) (Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, the U.S., voted against this).For Night's Lantern's entries during the January 2009 attack on Gaza see: 1,   2,   3,   4,   5,   6,   7,   8,   9,   10,   11,   12.     Partial sources: "UN Human Rights Council slams Israel in 4 resolutions," March 24, 2010, UN Watch; "Action on Resolutions Under the Agenda Item on Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories," March 24, 2010, UNISPAL; "Action on Resolutions Under the Agenda Item on Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories," March 25, 2010,UNISPAL; "UN Human Rights Council Adopts Five Resolutions Against Israel," Cem Ertur, March 26, 2010, Global Research;"UN Human Rights Council passes 3 resolutions condemning Israel ," News Agencies, March 25, 2010, Haaretz.

      Spain: Baltasar Garzon, a Spanish judge who doesn't compromise fundamental human rights, is credited with the international charges against Chile's General Pinochet among other cases against extremes of power. Now the extreme right wing in Spain has charged him in Spanish court with exceeding his authority. Garzon set aside the amnesty granted former General Franco fascists responsible for the preponderance of war crimes in Spain's Civil War. At the request of the victims' families Garzon has tried to find the bodies of over a hundred thousand murdered by Franco's death squads and buried in hidden mass graves. In a court system where Franco appointed judges still hold power, and in a global politik where all the powerful fear justice, the Economist online suggests this challenge to Garzon will end his career. His career may be just beginning: Garzon's respect for law runs deeper than political power and he's supported by people for refusing to accept the unacceptable, and by international law. However, if barred from the bench he won't be able to pursue prosecution of Bush administration officials currently under his investigation for torture (previous). See also, previous.     Partial sources: "Judge not," April 8, 2010, The Economist online; "Top Spanish judge Garzon backed by Chilean counterpart," March 9, 2010, expatica.com; "Spain’s Judge Garzón faces suspension —after opening Bush-era war crimes probe," Feb. 28, 2010, Voltairenet.org; "An Injustice in Spain," ed., April 8, 2010, The New York Times; "Spanish justice on trial," Miguel-Anxo Murado, April 9, 2010, guardian.co.uk.

      North American nuclear notes: New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has added another objection filed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in an attempt to deny Entergy Corporation renewal of its Indian Point license. The plant is too close to New York City and continues to be a health hazard. Meanwhile the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation finds Indian Point in violation of the Clean Water Act. Entergy has received an extension until Feb. 17, 2011 to upgrade the reactors' security. In Vermont the legislature just voted to close Vermont Yankee, found leaking tritium despite the company's initial denials. But Entergy in Vermont has started a campaign to tell voters how safe the plant is and how expensive and rare electricity is and how many jobs would be lost if the plant closes.The Vermont governor, Jim Douglas, backs the plant. In Ontario, across Lake Ontario from Rochester New York, Canada has given MMM Group Limited/Conestoga-Rovers and Associates Ltd. a twenty million dollar contract to make a long term "facility" for nuclear waste storage at Port Hope (see previous). The area was previously used for radium/ uranium refining from 1933 to 1938 by Eldorado Nuclear and predecessors. The contract includes the removal of half a million cubic meters of low level radiated waste from the Port Granby closed facility. The Port Hope Project will haul away another 1.2 million cubic meters from other sites in the area. All this waste will be contained in two domes in Port Hope and Clarington. See previous and previous. See also "Nuclear notes on the Savannah River watershed" for difficulties with U.S. intentions to move forward with nuclear power.     Partial sources: "Canada awards contract for legacy waste facility," March 2, 2010, Nuclear Engineering International; "The Government of Canada commits to long-term low-level radioactive waste containment facility in Port Hope," Government of Canada, march 1, 2010, Canada News Centre [access:< http://news.gc.ca >]; "NY AG opposes Entergy Indian Point reactor renewal," March 19, 2010, Reuters; "Indian Point, Vermont Yankee Reactors Not Likely to Close," Jonathan Fahey, April 5, 2010, Forbes.com's The Energy Source; "Security deadline extended for Indian Point," Greg Clary, March 31, 2010, The Journal News.

      Montreal: a Concordia University student was arrested while sitting on a bench at 2:30 AM. Ms. Amal Asmar who said she was resting on her way home, is of Palestinian descent and was wearing a 'Palestinian scarf' around her neck. A police cruiser stopped, arrested her and released her after giving her two tickets, one for unlawful use of city property (C$620), one for making a noise (C$420) as a result of apparent police mistreatment while handcuffing her and taking her to the cruiser. Quebec's ability to interface humanely with reminders of the Arab world or Islam, is becoming an issue. See previous. See previous. See previous.     Partial sources: "Concordia student alleges racial profiling," Evan LePage, April 6, 2010, The Concordian; "Concordia student claims racial profiling," April 8, 2010, CBC News.

 

 

April 8, 2010

      Toronto: citing the University of Tel Aviv's "long and well documented history of collaboration with the Israeli military and intelligence services," (PSCAB), students from 10 schools in Gaza have written Canadian author Margaret Atwood asking her to refuse the University based Dan David Prize this Spring. The students lost family or parts of their bodies to Israel's invasion of Gaza causing 1440 deaths and 5380 wounded. With their homes destroyed many are living in tents. They note that Ms. Atwood supported sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa as a young writer. The poet, essayist, novelist, is to share a million dollar prize with an Indian (Asia) / American writer, both donating ten percent to graduate student fellowships. The prize offered to this important Canadian intellectual, comes from the centre of Israel's cultural / financial life, as Israel's war crimes against its captive people reach the proportions of genocide. Defining the Dan David Prize at its inception Mr. Dan David ended his address with a quote from H.G.Wells -"...But for man, no rest, and no ending. He must go on, conquest beyond conquest. First this little planet and all its winds and ways, and then all the laws of mind and matter that restrain him..." Canadian advancement of international law has suffered since collaboration with the U.S./Coalition invasion of Iraq in 1991 (some remember that initial five Hiroshima's worth of ordnance dropped on a civilian population). Margaret Atwood who at points has resisted Canada's conservative intellectual management program said in a 1986 interview, "I like to show that the Third Reich, the Fourth Reich, the Fifth Reich did not last forever" (Oates). The students are asking for genuine moral compass. To read their open letter: http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2010/04/06/an-open-letter-to-margaret-atwood-from-gaza/ .     Partial sources: "Margaret Atwood's Tale," Joyce Carol Oates, Nov. 2, 2006, New York Review of Books; "An Open Letter to Margaret Atwood from Gaza: Don't Stand on the Wrong Side of History," the Palestinian Students' Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI), April 6, 2010, Sabbah Report (Because Silence is Complicity); "Atwood wins major international prize," Peter Scowen, March 26, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Inaugural Address by Mr.Dan David, May 2002," Dan David Prize.

 

 

April 4, 2010, Easter

      Palestine: as Israel attacks Gaza on Easter weekend sixty leading South African church and religious leaders, Christian , Muslim and Jewish, have announced their solidarity with Palestinian Christians and the Kairos Declaration. The Kairos document declares military occupation of Palestine a sin against god and humanity and calls for resistance through love, against Israel's aggression: "resistance is a right and duty for the Christian;" "We do not resist with death but rather through respect of life." Meanwhile in Jerusalem Palestinians and specifically Christians are banned from attending Easter services. International pilgrims are permitted. On Palm Sunday demonstrations for West Bank Christian entry resulted in the detention of ten by Israel. In response to a lone rocket ground fired into an empty field in Israel, Israeli planes attacked six or more locations throughout Gaza (the BBC reports thirteen air strikes).     Partial sources: "A moment of truth," Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches Jerusalem, Dec. 2009, Kairos Palestine [access:< http://www.kairospalestine.ps/ ];"South African Christians show Easter solidarity with Palestinians as Gaza is attacked," staff, April 2, 2010, Ekklesia; "Jerusalem ban angers Christians," April 3, 2010, Al-Jazeera; "Palestinian Christians to be barred from Old City," April 3, 2010, Maan News Agency; "Israel pounds Gaza with missiles," April 2, 2010, Al-Jazeera; "Thirteen Israeli air strikes hit Gaza Strip," April 2, 2010, BBC.

      Australia: on March 31, The Bonhoeffer Four, a Baptist pastor, a community worker, a university lecturer, and a social worker, entered the classified military base at Swans Island, shutting down electronic communications equipment including a switchboard and satellite. As a result the base was locked down. The Bonhoeffer Peace Collective of Rev. Simon Moyle, Jacob Bolton, Jessica Morrison, Simon Reeves, is named after active theologian / ethicist, Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Imprisoned as a member of the German resistance, he was hung by the Nazis on April 9, 1945, with Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, General Hans Oster, General Karl Sack, General Friedrich von Rabenau, Theodore Strunck, and Ludwig Gehr. Nazi Germany surrendered in May.(Wikipedia). (See previous).     Partial sources: "Bonhoeffer Four charged after entering Swan Island Base," Flowerpower, March 31, 2010, IndyMedia Australia; "War protesters 'switch off' defence satellite dish ," Reid Sexton and Dan Oakes, April 1, 2010, The Age.

      Scotland: on April 3rd, six clergy from Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA)distributed communion to about a hundred people blockading Faslane nuclear weapons base,a berth for Trident submarines and slated to become the single operating centre for Britain's entirely nuclear submarine fleet."Trafalgar" class subs and "Astute" vessels will be re-berthed there. Faslane is on the Clyde. The situation does not please the Scots.And Tridents are generally considered first strike weapons: their existence is a war crime. See previous. Blockading the base north gate for two hours, no one was arrested.     Partial sources: "Communion shared at blockade of Faslane nuclear base," staff, April 3, 2010, Ekklesia; "Nuclear protesters blockade base," April 3, 2010, BBC; "Nuclear sub fleet moved to Clyde," May 6, 2010, BBC.

      Haiti: as the UN announces over five billion dollars to be donated to / invested in NGO's and government agencies to rebuild Haiti within a predictable corporate template, Cuban medical effort remains excluded from the news. The Henry Reeve Cuban Brigade, an emergency medical response group, sent 230 Cuban trained doctors as part of a medical effort outstripping the services of Médecins sans Frontières, the U.S. and Canada. According to disaster response statistics by March 23rd: Médecins sans Frontières fielded 3408 medical staff, Cuba 1504, the U.S. 550, and Canada 45. Cuba treated 227,143 patients, MSF 54000, Canada 21000, and the U.S. 871 (Kirk, Counterpunch and Prensa Latina). The U.S. and Canadian teams were out by March 9th. Cuba called on volunteers from the many nations trained without charge at the Latin American School of Medicine, Havana. 250 volunteers of 25 nations and 300 Haitian medical students in Cuba returned to help Haiti. Volunteers included seven women doctors from the U.S.. 350 Cuban doctors were already working in Haiti when the earthquake struck. Prensa Latina reports over a thousand Cuban medical workers currently in Haiti. See previous     Partial sources: "How Cuban-Trained U.S. Doctors Treated Thousands of Haitians After the Quake," March 17, 2010, AlterNet; "Healing body and heart, the Cuban style," Beverly Bell, April 1, 2010, The Huffington Post; "Cuban Medical Aid to Haiti," Emily J. Kirk and John M. Kirk, April 1, 2010, Counterpunch; "Cuba's Health Aid to Haiti, One of World's Best Kept Secrets," April 3, 2010, Prensa Latina; "More Than $5 Billion Promised to Rebuild Haiti" (Steve Ember), April 2, 2010, Voice of America.

 

 

April 3, 2010

      Belgium: a parliamentary committee (Justice and Home Affairs) has proposed legislation to ban burqas and entire-face veils in public. Violations may be accompanied by fines and up to a week in jail. Parliament will vote in late April. The legislation which the committee approved unanimously, carries phrases such as "le port du voile intégralest contraire au principe de fraternité...". The bill targets several hundred of 630,000 Muslims in Belgium. Reflecting the media's general lack of concern for the human rights of individuals, U.S. Time Magazine seems to favor the "European pushback of Islam," saying most Belgian Muslims don't favor the burqa... Both NATO and the European Union are headquartered in Belgium. See France.     Partial sources: "Belgium parliamentary committee votes to impose nationwide burqa ban," Carrie Schimizzi, March 31, 2010, Jurist;"Doc 52 2289/001," Dec. 1, 2009, Chambre des Représentants de Belgique; "Document parlementaire 52K2289," March 31, 2010, laChambre.be; "Belgium Moves Closer to Europe's First Burqa Ban," Leo Cendrowicz, April 3, 2010, Time.

 

 

March 31, 2010

      Switzerland: Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, on March 25, 2010, the United Nations Human Rights Council strongly condemned the current (Swiss) ban on construction of minarets and other recent discriminatory measures of Islamaphobia that have unforeseen consequences. See also Quebec and France (below).     Partial sources: Draft resolution "Combatting defamation of religions ," A/HRC/13/L., March 11, 2010, 13th Session Human Rights Council [access:< http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/G10/119/77/PDF/G1011977.pdf?OpenElement >] "UN rights council condemns Switzerland minaret ban," Daniel Makosky, March 26, 2010, Jurist; "UN council targets Swiss anti-minaret vote," March 25, 2010, swissinfo.ch.

      France: Presenting its report March 30th to the Prime Minister of France, Le Conseil d’État has advised its government of the lack of legal principle in any banning of the full face veil which risks breaking French Constitutional law, and the "European convention safeguarding human rights and fundamental liberties." The report was made in response to Prime Minister Sarkozy's request, as he proposes legislation to ban the full-face veil. Le Figaro Magazine reports that the public's confidence in Sarkozy is now at an all time low. See previous.     Partial sources: "Le Baromètre Politique Figaro Magazine," TNS Sofres /Logica, Avril 2010, Le Figaro Magazine; "Étude relative aux possibilités juridiques d’interdiction du port du voile intégral," 30 mars 2010, Le Conseil d’État et la Juridiction Administrative;"France council advises against full veil ban ," Sarah Miley, March 30, 2010, Jurist; "Council of State (France)," current, Wikipedia.

      Ottawa: according to the front page banner headline in The Ottawa Citizen, "Ottawa imam ordered out of Canada" (Jennifer Green, March 30, 2010), Canada's Conservative government has told the imam of Ottawa's principal Mosque to leave the country. Khaled Abdul-Hamid Syed is an Egyptian citizen. His wife and child must leave with him. Citizenship and Immigration refused his work permit on the grounds that his application was late, which the imam says is untrue. The imam's correspondence with a prominant Minister of Parliament failed to remedy the misunderstanding. The headline will remind all religious people who's boss. The Mosque community has struggled to find an imam willing to work in Ottawa. Also: the current government delayed a visa for March 19th to Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, a Nobel nominee, a non-violent physician and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, causing cancellation of his speaking tour in Canada. Prime Minister Harper previously denied entry to George Galloway, the British Minister of Parliament who took medical supplies to Gaza ( previous and previous). In contrast, Ann Coulter, a U.S. right-wing columnist known for offending Muslims, gays and others, was welcomed to Canada, possibly to take its temperature. Francois Houle, Provost of the University of Ottawa took the precaution of forewarning Ms. Coulter to be careful with her wording. After ethnic rudeness to an Arab student at University of Western Ontario, University of Ottawa students protested her agenda and Ms. Coulter's security cancelled her Ottawa performance. Democracy Now! (U.S.) journalist Amy Goodman whose honest coverage of the traditional left is more harmonious with Canadian values, was stopped and interrogated at the border November 25, 2009. Increased use of Canada's borders as a political filter helps effect the perception management of Canadians.     Partial sources: "Sound reforms on refugees," March 31, 2010, Edmonton Journal; "Harper Government obstructs visit of Respected Palestinian Leader," press release, March 19, 2010, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East; "University to Ann Coulter: Please watch your mouth","Adam McDowell, March 22, 2010, National Post; "Ann Coulter’s speech in Ottawa cancelled," Steven Chase, March 23, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Ann Coulter brings heat in trip to Canada," QMI Agency, March 23, 2010, Toronto Sun.

      India: overt anti-Christian persecution has eased in Orissa but intensified in Karnataka (a million Christians among 52 million) where attacks continue at an average of two a day. India's ruling party (BJP) currently wages a war on all the poor as it pursues "operation Green Hunt" against Maoists. The Hindu extremist party VHP is blamed for the attacks. Police arbitrarily arrest Christians and charge them with 'forcing conversions' (see previous and previous).     Partial sources: "Christians Face 1,000 Attacks in 500 Days in Karnataka, India," March 22, 2010, Compass Direct News.

     Urgent , Congo: As reported by Ann Garrison at KPFA Berkeley, in the U.S., Peter Erlinder, Professor of law and a lead defense counsel of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), claims: there are a half million deaths in Uganda resulting from U.S. support for Museveni's assumption of power (mid-Eighties); Museveni and Kagame were responsible for the invasion of Rwanda and the murder of its President (which triggered the genocide - an additional 800,000 deaths); these actions "we can show were financed by Britain and the United States pentagon." He assigns both powers responsibility for the Ugandan/Rwandan invasions of the eastern Congo in an ongoing war for its resources which has cost at least 6 million deaths so far. Erlinder finds a U.S., Museveni, Kagame and U.N. joint perception management program that has allowed the deaths of 8 to 10 million Africans in the region. See also my essay,"The Tactical Uses of Genocide in Sudan and the Five Lakes Region" (2007). - ed.. Recent efforts by Kagame's government in Rwanda, its rapprochement with France's Sarkozy, its "investigation" of the death of Kagame's predecessor, suggest an attempt to sanitize history. The issue may impact Canadian trials of Rwandan genocide suspects, and directly affects the International Criminal Court's warrant for the President of Sudan where the ICC Prosecutor Luis Ocampo has pressed charges which are comfortable with the U.S.policy and agenda for the region. Aside from its uses to NATO policies in the trial and judicially convenient "suicide" of Yugoslavia's Milosevic, recent ICC attentions focus primarily on Africans while ignoring clearcut instances of genocide in Palestine and Iraq. See "UK and US finance Central African wars; eight million Africans die," Ann Garrison KPFA Berkeley [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yb29bk48q8 >] (appreciation to Global Research). See also Friends of the Congo at our links page.

      International: posted March 30th at chainlessway (Gerald and Maas), Carnival World, four prints by Julie Maas; [new address].

 

 

March 26, 2010

      Uganda: a bill before Ugandan Parliament would impose extreme sentences including the death penalty for acts by gays, lesbians and transgender people. While there is homophobia in parts of Africa, in Uganda the gay community is generally persecuted. Democracy Now! carries reports that virulent homophobia is furthered by U.S. conservative Protestant Evangelical groups, and is being used as a political control. A similar pattern is initiated in Nigeria. Less likely to be under evangelist influence, Zimbabwe's President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai both maintain an ugly opposition to equal rights for gay people. Although Hillary Clinton and U.S. President Obama have publicly spoken in support of Uganda's gay community, since the 1980's the U.S. has funded Museveni's Uganda as a launch pad for covert and overt armed interventions in Rwanda (Kagame), Sudan, and Eastern Congo. In 2008 when 66 countries passed a declaration at the U.N. General Assembly, affirming the human rights of gays, lesbians and transsexuals, the U.S. didn't sign (see previous). Canada did, and for a complete list see our archives, Dec. 31, 2008. With a record of concern for human rights Canada's Parliament has unanimously passed a motion calling for the Ugandan legislation to be withdrawn.     Partial sources: "International Uproar over Uganda Anti-Gay Bill, Study Finds American Evangelicals Encouraging Homophobia," Amy Goodman, Rev. Kapya Kaoma, Frank Mugisha, March 25, 2010, Democracy Now!; "Mugabe, Tsvangirai reject gay rights for Zimbabwe charter," AFP, March 26, 2010, IC publications.

      Quebec: on March 24th (Federalist) Liberal Premier Charest's government tabled Bill 94, legislation which removes a woman's right to wear the niqab if she seeks government services, employment, healthcare, or education. The legislation is couched in terms of affirming human rights. The issue itself is a familiar theme of the U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan and "liberation" of its women. In 2008-9 application of a niqab ban at Montreal's health board would have affected ten women out of 118, 000 (CBC). So this symbolic act, specifically targets a small minority of Muslim women. By it, Quebec Liberals place their Party in the position of upholding Quebec's cultural integrity. The Sovereigntist party, Parti Quebecois, consistently attempts to remove all religious symbols from government, but more wisely without targeting specific religious groups for its political advancement. Bill 94 threatens all immigrants by intruding into the personal lives of a few who have trusted Canada's acceptance. The Quebec government action coincides with France's anti immigrant agenda (see below). Canada's Liberal Party leader, a former Harvard "expert" on Human Rights Michael Ignatieff, appears to approve of the Quebec move. Muslim immigrants are often refugees from countries and cultures being destroyed by the U.S./ NATO militaries: the need to erase public reminders of victim cultures by interfering with a personal decision to veil, serves power but not the people. See also previous. And previous.     Partial sources: "Quebec niqab bill would make Muslim women unveil," Andrew Chung, March 25, 2010, thestar.com; "Red Flaq on Quebec niqab ban," Marian Scott, March 26, 2010, The Montreal Gazette; "Unveil, Quebec says,"Graeme Hamilton, March 25, 2010, National Post; "Quebec will require bare face for service,"Canadian Press, March 24, 2010, CBC; "Ignatieff defends Quebec over niqab legislation," Christian Spencer, March 26, 2010, canoe.ca.

     France: President Sarkozy announced 24 March 2010, that he will present legislation outlawing the full face veil.The declaration couched in the language of human rights ("Le voile intégral est contraire à la dignité de la femme"), follows his generous proposal that youth who don't adapt well to normal schooling be placed in special establishments. He is supported by a French Assembly report calling for the ban of entire-face covering. The French President's conservative agenda to modernize France economically coincides with targeting a minority symbolic of traditional ways, specifically attacking this small Muslim group. France has recently instituted courts to deal formally with genocide. What media and politicians ignore is that in an ongoing genocide of Muslim peoples in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Palestine, NATO countries have a legal responsiblity to respect the cultures of those fortunate enough to escape. For the recent Swiss deviation from basic human rights see previous.     Partial sources: "Déclaration de M. le Président de la République," March 24, 2010, Présidence de la République; "France to propose law banning full face veil in public: Sarkozy," Andrea Bottorff, March 25, 2010, Jurist.

      Indonesia: Democracy Now ! reports that the journalist Allan Nairn is under threat of arrest by the Indonesian military for publishing an article identifying participants in Army death squad activities against political activists.The Indonesian Army relies on the U.S. for training and support and is currently seeking U.S. funding from President Obama. Alan Nairn is a brave valuable journalist of long standing and deserves international support.     Partial sources: "Indonesian Media Reports Journalist Allan Nairn Faces Arrest," Amy Goodman, March 25, 2010, Democracy Now!; "Exclusive: Journalist Allan Nairn Facing Possible Arrest in Indonesia for Exposing US-Backed Forces Assassinated Civilians," Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn, March 24, 2010, Democracy Now!.

 

 

March 17, 2010, St. Patrick's Day

      New Zealand: today the jury found three Ploughshares activists not guilty on charges of "intentional damage" and burglary - "entering a property with the intention to commit a crime" (Scoop).On April 30, 2008, the Anzac Plougshares, aka Waihopai Plougshares, a priest, a teacher and a farmer, broke through security at the Waihopai Electronic Spybase in New Zealand, prayed and damaged the installation (see action of May 2008). Defense testimony was presented that the U.S. war in Iraq is illegal and Waihopai as an electronics command center for the U.S. led war and occupation of Iraq (and Afghanistan) is causing terrible suffering. Other sources confirm Waihopai is a global center for U.S. Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand's signals intelligence. The jury's decision strengthens a tradition of effective nonviolent resistance linked with direct action. Under New Zealand's law the "claim of right" was successful in response to an overwhelming crime of power. With a "lawful excuse" defense (English Law), in 2006, the Pitstop Ploushares, Ciaron O’Reilly, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran, were found not guilty by the jury in Ireland for disabling (2.5 million US dollars) a U.S. Navy jet on the Shannon runway in 2003. The jury's decision was unanimous. In the States, the "Nuremberg Defense" has proven less successful and nonviolent Plowshares actions have occasionally drawn heavy sentences. The recent Disarm Now Trident Plowshares Action (Nov. 2, 2009) is currently uncharged. See Jonah House and a history of Plowshares actions at our links page. For another example of how U.S. law responds to acts of faith, see the 2006 Weapons of Mass Destruction Here Plowshares..     Partial sources: "Acquitted on all counts by trial jury - 6:30pm 17/03/10, "Swords into Ploughshares" ploughshares aotearoa; "Waihopai Ploughshares Acquitted" Bryan, March 18, 2010, Cairns Peace by Peace; "Ciaron O’Reilly," current, Wikipedia; "Waihopai Ploughshares Trio Acquitted On All Charges," Bryan Law, March 17, 2010, Scoop; "New Zealand Plowshares Activists ACQUITTED! and more plowshares news," March 17, 2010, Jonah House email.

 

 

March 16, 2010

      Canada: Gail Davidson on "Torture as Foreign Policy: the Omar Khadr Decision". For background on the Supreme Court decision see previous, and previous.

 

 

March 14, 2010

      Ottawa: former Supreme Court Judge Frank Iacobucci was appointed by the Prime Minister to review the government's information on Canadian Forces turning over suspects to torture by Afghans, which could indicate a criminal policy. Parliament has requested the documents, unredacted. The Prime Minister is not complying, for reasons of "national security." By appointing a third party to review the appropriateness of information for release to Canada's Parliament, Harper applies the same "special advocate" mechanism he instigated for use against Canadian Security Certificate detainees seeking information about why they were imprisoned.     Partial sources: "Red Cross contradicts Ottawa on detainees," Paul Koring, march 8, 2007, Globe and Mail; "Ottawa anticipated Afghan torture allegations: memo," Gil Shochat, March 8, 2010, CBC news; "Afghan detainee torture risk raised in 2005," March 10, 2010, CBC news; "Ottawa knew of alternative Afghan prison-transfer plan," Steven Chase, March 11, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Canada wanted Afghan prisoners tortured: lawyer," March 5, 2010, CBC news; "A trusted set of eyes," March 6, 2010, Globe and Mail online; "Frank Iacobucci's appointment diminishes Parliament," Thomas Walkom, March 10, 2010, thestar.com.

      Calgary: "Splitting the Sky," John Boncore, on March 17, 2009 attempted a citizen's arrest of George W. Bush for war crimes. His attempt to pass through police lines resulted in arrest and abuse by police. The activist's trial March 9, 2010 was closed after two days. Witnesses for the defense, Prof. Anthony J. Hall traveling from England, and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, were not allowed to testify. The Crown held that one has to be a witness to a crime before making a citizen's arrest. Accepted as evidence for the defense was an article by Prof. Hall, and Gail Davidson / Lawyer's Against the War's letter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police War Crimes Section (March 11, 2009, archive). The letter requests an RCMP investigation of Bush's war crimes and asks the Harper government be informed of the former U.S. President's inadmissability to Canada under Canadian law. According to Prof. Hall the judge's decision on John Boncore's effort to affirm Canadian law will be rendered June 7th.     Partial sources: "Trial of John Boncore for attempting to arrest G.W. Bush shut down," Anthony J. Hall, Mar. 10, 2010, Lawyers Against the War email; "Citizen's Arrest of George W. Bush Justified, Court Hears," Kevin Martin, March 8, 2010, Calgary Sun apprec. Global Research; "Should George W. Bush Be Arrested in Calgary, Alberta, To Be Tried For International Crimes?" Anthony J. Hall, March 9, 2009, voltairenet.org.

Historical note
Gail Davidson at Lawyers Against the War filed torture charges in Federal court against George W. Bush in November 30, 2004 when the U.S. President was visiting Canada. The case was dismissed on grounds of diplomatic immunity for a head of State... An appeal while the U.S. President was still in office was muffled by the court which then mistakenly considered the case politically motivated. The case was appealed and dismissed in 2006.
      Chicago U.S.: a federal court judge ruled March 11th to proceed with a suit against Donald Rumsfeld for authorizing torture. The suit against the former U.S. Secretary of Defense was brought by two former employees of Shield Security Group in Iraq who were providing the FBI with information about their employer, and when discovered were double-crossed by the government and imprisoned without rights by U.S. forces.The allegations of inhumane treatment (sleep deprivation, etc.) are milder than many forms of torture used under Rumsfeld's and the Bush administration's authority in Iraq, Abu Ghraib, Bagram, and Guantanamo.     Partial sources: "Court Allows Torture Suit Against Rumsfeld," Andy Thayer ,Huffington Post, March 11, 2010, Global Research; "Court Allows Torture Suit Against Former Defense Sec't Rumsfeld," Andy Thayer, March 5, 2010, Chicago Indymedia. "Opinion" (Vance & Ertel v. Rumsfeld), Wayne R. Andersen, apprec. Loevy and Loevy [access:< http://chicago.indymedia.org/usermedia/application/6/vance.opinion.pdf].

 

 

March 11, 2010

      NYC: according to an article by Moazzam Begg of cageprisoners.com and a former Guantanamo detainee, there was a woman whose screaming he heard as he was tortured by Americans at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. His torturers had told him the woman was his wife. Eventually he found it wasn't but still kept trying to find out who the woman was, and learned it was Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (prisoner #650). Dr. Siddiqui was recently convicted in New York City without substantial evidence, of attempted murder. While in custody, she supposedly shot at US soldiers and FBI men guarding her. Apparently, they shot her (See * February 3, 2010 in "When the 'War on Terror' Becomes Genocide").     Partial sources: "Hatred and Another Agenda: a response by Moazzam Begg," Feb. 26, 2010, cageprisoners.com; "Siddiqui Denies Firing Weapon at American Troops in Afghanistan," Jan. 29, 2010, Voice of America.

      Quebec: the Province offers free French lessons to immigrants. The Quebec Minister of Immigration has outlawed a student's covering her face with a niqab in class. The decision supports France's recent attempts to strip Muslim women of their physical and religious privacy. Within symbolic context, depriving a woman of what she needs to wear, is much like a hate crime, moving society toward accepting less symbolic acts of power. The student has filed a case with the Human Rights Commission in Quebec. The European Commissioner for Human Rights marked International Womens Day by addressing current right wing surges in Europe that interfere with a woman's right to wear a burqa. The Commissioner asked those in power to consider articles in the European Convention on Human Rights. respecting "private and family life," and "freedom of thought, conscience and religion."     Partial sources: "Europe rights commissioner cautions against burqa ban," Steve Dotterer March 8, 2010, Jurist; "Student files rights case over Quebec niqab ban," Jonathan Montpetit, March 3, 2010, thestar.com; "Niqab heats up rights controversy," Marian Scott, March 3, 2010, Montreal Gazette. "James firm on niqabs in French class: 'We want to see your face'," Kevin Doughtery, March 10, 2010, Montreal Gazette.

 

 

March 4, 2010

      Augusta Georgia: "Nuclear Notes: the Savannah River Watershed," by J.B.Gerald.

 

 

February 27, 2010

      Switzerland: Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya has suggested a holy war on Switzerland. Switzerland recently voted against any new construction of minarets, a symbol of the Islamic faith. The strange ban was passed by popular vote at the urging of the Swiss Peoples Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei ~SVP) under Christoph Blocher, former Swiss Minister of Justice & Police and financier industrialist, which mobilized provincial aspects of popular sentiment into a campaign against immigrants and foreign influence, a right wing agenda appearing throughout Europe. See the Jobbik party in Hungary. Der Spiegel notes similar anti-immigrant / anti foreigner prejudice against Germans in competition with German-speaking Swiss for economic information and jobs. German speaking areas of Switzerland supported the ban of minarets by 70%. This is problematic for Swiss in that the ban violates human rights of religious freedom and undermines the country's historical neutrality; as the centre of the International Red Cross which administers the Geneva Conventions, and Geneva based host of the UN Human Rights Council, impediments to corporate and fascist agendas are weakened. The minaret ban is currently on appeal at the European Court of Human Rights. Europe tends to tease Islamic immigrant communities with the Danish cartoons, the current Sarkozy / French difficulties with burqas, - in northern France a fast food chain observing Muslim dietary laws was shut down, all mild examples compared to programs of physical violence against Algerians in France in the 1960's. Historically, vast numbers of immigrants from Europe to the Americas suggest European difficulties with nonconforming groups. Without justice for Islamic states at International law, Gaddafi's suggestion relies on a religious commonality. While media suggest that his lack of patience with Switzerland may be a result of his wife's and a son's arrest in 2008, the portrayal of Gaddafi as an irrational or self-serving leader is a facet of psywar previously used against Mugabe, Aristide, and in the villainization of Saddam Hussein. Gaddafi's argument with the Swiss will encourage transfer of Islamic nation investments from Swiss banks, possibly to Libyan banks.     Partial sources:"Gaddafi calls for jihad against Switzerland," Mark Tran, Feb. 26, 2010, guardian.co.uk; "Swiss face 'holy war' with Gadhafi's Libya," Bradley S. Klapper ~AP, Feb. 26, 2010, The Washington Post; "UN deplores Gaddafi call for anti-Swiss 'jihad'," Feb. 26, 2010, BBC News; "Gaddafi says Switzerland 'infidel, obscene' state destroying mosques," Reuters, Feb. 25, 2010, World Bulletin - Turkey; "Swiss minaret ban may irk some Muslim bank clients," Lisa Jucca and Martin de Sa'Pinto Reuters, Nov. 30, 2009, CFA Institute: "Swiss minaret ban may signal new right-wing surge," Sam Cage, Nov.30, 2009, Reuters / Valentin Flaurand; "Unwelcome Immigrant: Bank Data Spat Fuels Anti-German Sentiment in Switzerland," Mathieu von Rohr, Feb. 26, 2010, Spiegel Online; "After burqa, France protests Halal meat," Feb. 19, 2010, oneindia news.

      Canada, France, U.K., Sweden: B'Nai Brith of Canada has found an 11% increase in anti-semitic incidents across Canada 2009, with 59% increase in Montreal, and a slight decrease in Toronto. In France, during 2009, anti-semitic incidents doubled, while in Great Britain there was a 55% increase. The percentages rose sharply during Israel's invasion of Gaza. In Malmo, Sweden, with a Jewish community of 700 in a city of 300,000, overt harrassment of Jews is reported on AOL news, with 30 families relocating. A fifth of the town's population is Muslim and Muslim radicals are most heavily blamed for the incidents, then neo-nazis, then left-leaning politicians who reject both anti-semitism and zionism.     Partial sources: "2009 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents," League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada, 2010 [access:< http://www.bnaibrith.ca/ >]; "Study finds anti-Semitism on the rise," Daniel Dale, Feb.25, 2010, thestar.com; "Anti-Semitism up sharply in France, Britain," Feb. 11, 2010, j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California., "Anti-Semitism Is on the Rise in Sweden," Theunis Bates, Feb. 26, 2010, AOLNews; "Anti-Semitic incidents at record high in U.K.," Chris Dade, Feb. 5, 2010, Digital Journal.

 

 

February 23, 2010

 

February 22, 2010
français

      U.K.: Amnesty International founded in 1961 with particular concern for "forgotten prisoners," has come under attack for its association with Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo detainee whose website, cageprisoners.com [access:< http://www.cageprisoners.com/index.php >], keeps track of political prisoners in the U.S. "war on terror." The website is invaluable due to its concern with those denied protections of Geneva Conventions and international laws against torture, particularly iri light of initial U.S.Guantanamo policies which kept prisoners' names secret (see previous). The primary Canadian website which includes Muslims in its concern for political prisoners, Sumoud [access:< http://sumoud.tao.ca/ >] is currently only available with technical difficulties. Confronting crimes of government, Amnesty became a political force and a likely target for infiltration, data collection, and government agendas. Attacks on Amnesty risk damaging the principles it defends. In England Gita Sahgal, of Amnesty's gender unit, attacked her organization for its European initiative of working with Mr. Begg in seeking countries to accept Guantanamo prisoners found innocent. The Times Online misreported in her favour an Amnesty chief's response to the attack ("Second Amnesty chief attacks Islamist links"). Writer Salmon Rushdie (see previous), still amongst us after years of suffering terrible threats, accused Amnesty of "moral bankruptcy" for supporting cageprisoners.com (see nightslantern's political prisoners links). Other recent challenges to reason: a U.S.Justice Department investigation found two lawyer architects of the Bush torture programs acting ethically; a U.S. court dismissed a case for damages by the families of two Guantanamo detainees driven to "suicide"; two Canadian courts denied compassionate justice to Muslim defendants during the decimation of Muslim civilian populations abroad ( 1 2); the Canadian Prime Minister shut down Parliament during investigation of his government's responsibility for torture of Muslim detainees and denied a Muslim citizen his Charter Rights; a four centuries old mosque minaret in Meknes Morocco collapsed as the imam started his sermon; in France the mosque at Sorgues was vandalized by the painting of racist epithets - the sixth incident of mosque vandalizing in France this year. In a variant display of fascism, an anti-racism rally in Athens, asking for second generation Greek citizenship, was attacked and beaten by extremists in black hoods - 44 of whom were arrested. Etc..     Partial sources: "Second Amnesty chief attacks Islamist links", Feb.14, 2010, Times Online; "Hatred and Another Agenda: A Response by Moazzam Begg," Feb. 19, 2010, cageprisoners.com; "Letter to the Sunday Times," Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director, Feb.18, 2010, cageprisoners.com; "Amnesty International,"Wikipedia; "Rushdie attacks Amnesty's 'moral bankruptcy'," Hasan Suroor,Feb. 22, 2010The Hindu; "U.S. court dismisses suit over Guantanamo suicides," Feb. 17, 2010, Reuters; "Vindicating John Yoo: Bush lawyers are found to have acted ethically, unlike their accusers,"Feb.22, 2010, Wall Street Journal; "400-years Moroccan mosque minaret collapses at Friday prayer, kills two," Reuters. Feb.19, 2010, World Bulletin Turkey; "Mosque vandalised with racist graffiti in France," Reuters, Feb.19, 2010, World Bulletin; "Greece holds 44 over attack on anti-racism rally," Feb. 21, 2010, World Bulletin.

 

 

February 21, 2010

      Iraq: the Obama administration has re-branded the U.S./ Coalition war against Iraq,"Operation New Dawn." The phrase risks threatening Iraq's people with a broader application of the U.S. "Operation New Dawn (Äl Fajr)" against Fallujah in 2004, which began obliteration of the city and its civilian population. For ongoing effects on the people of Fallujah see previous.     Partial sources: "Exclusive: War in Iraq to Be Given New Name," Jake Tapper (ABC), Feb.18, 2010, uruknet.info; "Investigators focus on Marines in Falluja civilian deaths," July 5, 2007, CNN.com; "Operation New Dawn," Cindy Sheehan, Feb.20, 2010, OpedNews.com.

      The Netherlands: Dutch Parliament has brought down its government in order to refuse continuation of a 2000 element military force as part of the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan (see "Afghanistan" genocide warnings). A government committee recently found the 2003 invasion of Iraq illegal, and political support by the Netherlands misled. The Netherlands position concerningthe U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide finds the U.S. not a party to the Convention on Genocide due to U.S. "Reservations and Declarations" which refuse to place international law before U.S. authority. According to The New York Times U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan will rise from 75 thousand to 98 thousand this summer.     Partial sources: "Status as at 21-02-2010 01:47:59 EDT," Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, United Nations Treaty Collection [access:< http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-1&chapter=4&lang=en >]; "Dutch Government Falls Over Stand on Troops," Nicholas Kulish, Feb 20, 2010, The New York Times; "Dutch Cabinet quits over Afghan troops," Vaiju Naravane, Feb. 21, 2010, The Hindu; "Dutch government falls over Afghanistan mission," Feb. 20, 2010, Xinhua, English.news.cn.

 

 

February 19, 2010
français

      Poland: Jurist reports that relatives of victims in the Katyn massacre of 1940, have been joined in their lawsuit at the European Court of Human Rights,by the Polish government.

Historical note
In 1939 while Poland was losing to the Nazi German invasion, the Soviet Union invaded. France and England bound to Poland by treaty did not act. Members of Poland's officer class and civilian establishment were interned as political prisoners. Russian ethnic groups were gathered into the Soviet, German ethnic groups turned over to the Nazis and nationalist Poles were under Beria's orders, approved by the Politburo and signed by Stalin (Wikipedia), marked for death. In 1940 about 22,000 officers, NCO's, police, officials,the intelligentsia, landowners, priests, doctors, lawyers were slaughtered in the Katyn Forest, prisons, and where they could be found. The Soviets ceded the area to Nazi forces, regaining it in 1943 and subsequently blamed evidence of the Katyn Forest Massacre on the Nazis. Roosevelt suppressed information on Soviet responsibility for the massacreto maintain the Allied effort. Heavily suppressed by all governments, particularly in Soviet Poland and the Soviet Union the instance of mass murder and cultural genocide found no admissable recourse in any court until the May class action suit noted above, some 70 years later. The Katyn Forest Massacre is often confused with the March 22,1943 Khatyn massacre, the destruction of a Byelorussian village and its people by Nazi forces which killed 2,230,000 people of Belarus in the three years of Nazi occupation.
Similarities of both massacres to the fate of civilian society in Iraq and of the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, may discourage discussion within a perspective of genocide.     Partial sources: "Poland government joins suit against Russia for 1940 Katyn massacre," Zach Zagger, Feb. 18, 2010, Jurist; "Katyn massacre," Wikipedia; "Khatyn massacre," Wikipedia; "Russia's Putin invites Tusk to Katyn massacre event," Feb. 4, 2010, BBC; "Hillary Clinton to open Katyn exhibit?" Feb. 9, 2010, Polish radio external service; "Katyn Massacre," Encylopedia Britannica eb.com.

      Quebec: Said Namouh, 37, a legal landed immigrant from Morocco since 2003, was sentenced February 17th in a Quebec Court, to life imprisonment, the maximum sentence allowed under Canadian law.The severity of the sentence is mitigated by eligibility for parole in ten years. Namouh was convicted of conspiring to set off a car bomb in Austria, and participating in and facilitatingterrorism, and extortion in editing a video that threatened Austria and Germany if they didn't withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The media reports noevidence that any act of violence was committed, or any evidence that Said Namouh was capable of violence. Namouh's claim that he didn't advocate violence was rejected by the judge. Namouh's work as a film editor for "The Global Islamic Front" portrayed as Al-Qua'ida's propaganda organ, and contributions to internet chatrooms, are presented as evidence. Chatroom notes and volatile jihadist materials gathered on Namouh's computer drives were analyzed for the Crown by Rita Katz, director of "SITE Intelligence Group," a private monitor of Muslim fundamentalist websites which supplies data to US field military and government. A veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces whose father was hung in Iraq as an Israeli spy, she claimed among the defendant's targets, OPEC in Vienna, the U.N., government officials, a soccer tournament. In harmony with the trials of the so-called "Toronto 18" Namouh was tried and judged as a Muslim. The judge suggested at sentencing that the defendant was not sorry, and that the severity of the sentence would show that Canada was no "safe-haven". The sentence will be appealed. Ed. note: Because evidence as presented by press accounts of the trial stresses his participation in "propaganda" efforts by groups denied recourse to justice at international law, the severity of the sentence threatens freedom of expression, and could suggest that the courts are being used in a campaign against a religious group. See previous. Media accounts make no mention of NATO's ongoing crime against the country of Afghanistan.     Partial sources: "I'm not violent: convicted terrorist," Sue Montgomery (Montreal Gazette), Nov.14, 2009, Calgary Herald; "One of 'the spokesmen for al-Qaeda': Crown," Graeme Hamilton, Feb.1, 2010, National Post; "Trial begins for Quebec man accused in foreign bomb plot," Feb 2, 2010, CBC news; "Said Namouh Convicted in Canada," feb 10, 2009, Global Jihad Net; "Quebec terror suspect linked to BBC journalist kidnapping, trial hears," Graeme Hamilton, Feb. 02, 2009, National Post; "Quebec man sentenced to life in jail for terror activity," Irwin Block (Montreal Gazette), Feb 17, 2010, Calgary Herald; "Quebec man gets life in prison for terrorist plot," News Staff, Feb 17, 20010, TV News; "Canadian terrorist handed life sentence," Les Perreaux, Feb. 17, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Que. man to appeal bomb plot sentence," Canadian Press, Feb. 18, 2010, CBC news;"'Where do you draw the line'," Graeme Hamilton, Feb. 20, 2010, National Post.

 

 

February 17, 2010

      Europe: Voice of America reports that officials from "Central and Middle" European countries,previously communist states, find the growth of far-right parties a threat to Roma, Jews, and other minorities.Hungary is a principal concern where the Jobbik party is preparing to advance in the parliamentary elections this April. VOA finds Jobbik's platform "euroseptic". See previous, etc.).Hungary's Supreme court has banned Jobbik's paramilitary guard which plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (Strasbourg). The right wing is also gaining strength in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia. In the Czech Republic (see previous, and previous, etc.), The Prague Daily Monitor reports a poll finding Czechs against having Israeli neighbours - 40%, Arab neighbours - 60%, Roma neighbours - 75%. The poll assesses that 70% of Czechs have a positive attitude toward "Jewish culture". In Italy (see previous, and previous), on Holocaust Remembrance Day Pope Benedict XVI clearly objected to the slaughters at Nazi Germany's concentration camps, while portions of Italy's Jewish Community are at odds with his plans to make Pope Pious XII, leader of the Church as European countries sacrificed Jews, Roma, the handicapped, gays, petty criminals, political prisoners and others to the fascist death machine, a saint. In Romania where Roma are forcibly and poorly relocated in violation of their rights, 24% of the population but 75% of the Roma, live in poverty. In the U.K. the conservatives (Tories) are planning restrictive measures for encampments of "Gypsies and Travellers," while in Northumberland, Gateshead, Middlesbrough 2 million pounds is being allocated to settle caravans in specially approved areas.     Partial sources: "Poll: Most Czechs against Arabs, Roma as neighbours," CTK, Feb. 13, 2010, Prague Daily Monitor; "Officials Warn: Extremist Parties Threaten Eastern Europe's Stability," Feb. 14, 2010, VOAnews.com; "Jobbik loses legal battle to keep paramilitary Hungarian Guard," Dec. 17, 2010, World Jewish Congress; "Tories to crack down on Traveller sites," Emily Twinch, Feb 16, 2010, Inside Housing; "Special sites developed for Travellers," Adam Jupp, Feb.16, 2010, JournalLive.co.uk. "Vatican: Pope remembers Nazi slaughter," Jan.27, 2010, Adnkronos e-news; "Concern over forcible evictions of Roma people in Romania," Jan.31, 2010, Ekklesia.

      Iraq: in the north, where Paulos Faraj Rahho, archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Mosul was found dead two weeks after being kidnapped in 2008, 40 Christians in Mosul were killed during the past two months. The auxiliary bishop states "We do not know who is behind these attacks" (Adnkronos). 700,000 Chaldean Christians remain in Iraq's Chaldean community which numbered 1 million before the U.S. / U.K. invasion of 2003.     Sources: "Iraq: Senior cleric deplores Christian killings in north," Feb. 16, 2010, Adnkronos International.

 

 

February 14, 2010 Valentine's Day:

      Haiti: Jean-Bertrand Aristide is still denied return to Haiti where the people elected him President."No, I didn’t resign. What some people call resignation is a new coup d’état or a modern kidnapping. ...Because they broke the constitutional order by using force to have me out of the country ...."President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to Amy Goodman, March 2004 / Feb. 10, 2010, Democracy Now!. In response to a Security Council request the United Nations is sending 2000 more troops to join its contingent of 7000, and 1500 more police to join its force of 2100. The U.S is reducing its military force in Haiti from 20,000 to 13,000. For the militarization of aid to Haiti see Coalition Against the Arms Trade: http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/65/InvAID.htm . See previous.     Partial sources: "Extra UN troops and police pledged for Haiti," Edith M Lederer (AP), Feb. 11, 2010, Seattle Times; "US reduces troop numbers in quake-hit Haiti," AFP, Feb. 14, 2010, France 24.

      Spain: the Brussells Tribunal has issued a "Statement on the Closure of the Legal Case for Iraq in Spain, filed against four US Presidents and Four UK Prime Ministers for War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide in Iraq" (for "Introduction to the legal case" and press release see [access:< http://brusselstribunal.org/LegalCaseSpain070210.htm >]). Filed October 6, 2009 (see previous) the case was rejected by the Spanish judge and the motion for additional time to appeal was also rejected. The Brussells Tribunal has called for "coordinated action" to begin to assure justice for the millions of Iraqi victims killed or destroyed in the aggression and genocide by the U.S., U.K, and Coalition starting with the Gulf war invasion, 1991. In another Spanish case, Judge Baltazar Garzón has begun a criminal investigation into alleged torture of Guantanamo detainees and primarily the Spanish citizen Ahmed Abderraman Hamed. The case would implicate US officials such as John Yoo and Jay Bybee. William Pepper and the ACLU among others have joined the prosecution. See previous.     Partial sources:"Judge Garzon beginning investigation of suspected Guantanamo torture," Dwyer Arce, Jan. 31, 2010, Jurist; "U.S. Lawyers point to Bush for the tortures," Pere Rusingol ( Publico), May 9, 2009, WordPress.com; "Torture Lawyers on Trial ?" David Cole, Feb. 11,2010, The Nation.

      Uruguay: the former President of Uruguay, Juan Maria Bordaberry, was sentenced on February 10th to thirty years in prison for betraying the Constitution (leading to a military dictatorship) and for political murders.     Partial sources: "Uruguay ex-president sentenced to 30 years in prison over 1973 coup ," Brian Jackson, Feb. 11, 20010,Jurist; "Uruguay's ex-ruler Bordaberry jailed for 30 years," Feb 11, 2010, BBC News.

 

 

February 7, 2010

      U.S.: an early genocide warning for Muslim peoples in the United States. The "Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" stresses the prevention of genocide ahead of prescribing recourse and manner of punishment... To continue see "When the 'War on Terror' Becomes Genocide."

      Canada: despite the Supreme Court order to rectify government's violations of Omar Khadr's human rights Stephen Harper's government will let Omar Khadr face trial in an illegal court, at an illegal prison camp, with illegally obtained evidence, where a Canadian citizen was deprived of his rights under the Geneva Conventions. The Prime Minister's lack of respect for the Court (see previous) shows some parallel to his lack of respect for a Parliamentary demoracy and for the Canadian Forces risked to war crimes and prosecution by ordering the turning over of detainees in Afghanistan to alleged torture. Khadr's older brother, Abdullah Khadr, is fighting extradition to the U.S which wants to try him in Boston on charges related to terrorism. Corrected(A Canadian citizen, Abdullah Khadr was arrested in Pakistan after the U.S.placed a 500,000 reward for his capture; Pakistan refused to send him to the States but returned him to Canada . His brother Abdurahman) Khadr was released from Guantanamo by agreeing to cooperate with the CIA, but on assignment escaped home to Canada.     Partial sources: "Canada government will not seek Khadr repatriation," Megan McKee, Feb. 5, 2010, Jurist; "Ignoring Supreme Court's Khadr ruling, Ottawa won't request repatriation," Kirk Makin, Feb. 3, 2010, Globe and Mail; "Final arguments in Abdullah Khadr extradition set for April," Noor Javed, Jan. 25, 2010, thestar.com; "Abdullah Khadr,"Wikipedia; "Abdurahman Khadr," Wikipedia.

 

 

February 4, 2010

Historical note
In the fight against fascism 67 years ago, the story of a young woman called a terrorist by the
forces invading her homeland: "Comrade Zoya" [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hE6q739_qQ >].
 

 

January 29, 2010

      Ottawa: the Supreme Court of Canada, refuses to back the Federal Court's request that Harper repatriate Omar Khadr. Media coverage of the ruling is presented as a victory for the Prime Minister (under the ruling the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, head of Canada's intelligence services and Commissioner of the RCMP are no longer violating a Federal Court order). ie.: "Canada Needn’t Seek Return of Terror Suspect Khadr," Joe Schneider & Alexandre Deslongchamps, Jan. 29, 2010, Bloomberg.com; "Ottawa not obliged to help Omar Khadr: court," Jan. 29, 2010, Reuters; "Supreme Court won't force Ottawa to repatriate Khadr," Janie Tibbetts Canwest, Jan. 29, 2010, National Post; "Citation: Canada (Prime Minister) v. Khadr, 2010 SCC 3," Jan. 29, 2010, Judgements of the Supreme Court of Canada; etc.. The decision is made during the Prime Minister's arbitrary closing of Canada's Parliament (see previous, and previous). What is suppressed is that the Supreme Court confirms that the Federal Court, although it erred in its specific remedy, was right: the violations of Khadr's rights are violations of fundamental justice and international law (the ruling mentions only the superficial injustices), and the government must rectify them ( English and French language links to Canada's Charter Rights and War Crimes Act are featured at our law directory (the links are not currently available). What the Crown and Canada's legal and Human Rights establishments avoid saying is that the violations of Khadr's Charter Rights are prosecutable crimes under Canada's War Crimes Act.. Because domestic recourse exists and is not being exercised, because the highest Court's fidelity to tradition and law recognizes an outrageous crime yet denies human justice to the victim, because the Canadian media aren't able to resist a corporate government agenda, because Canadian Security Certificate detainees are Muslims and after massive public humiliation are found to be innocent or without proven guilt, because Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq in 1991 are/were aggressive wars destroying Islamic civilian populations, because targeting and entrapment ("the Toronto 18") of young Muslims was preferred to assuring them legal recourse to protest the crimes against Islam, as the "war on terror" becomes a corporate international campaign against Islamic peoples, and as denial of mercy and denial of rights becomes dehumanization, I'm placing an early genocide warning for Muslims in Canada...-ed.      2009 updates on Omar Khadr : 1   2   3   4   5    6   7    8   9. Night's Lantern political prisoners pages first noted Omar Khadr in July 2005 among other reports of Guantanamo detainees. Entries throughout "Guantanamo Camp 2004 ~ 2005 ~ 2006 ~ 2007", "Guantanamo Camp 2008", and "suppressed news" archives reveal a US and Canadian ongoing crime against a Muslim Canadian citizen placed beyond minimal protections of the Geneva Conventions. Attacked and wounded as a child by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, tortured to obtain information in return for treatment, tortured in Guantanamo, raised in shackles without an education, about to be tried in a court upholding military crimes, and up for transfer from Guantanamo to a prison in Illinois, the tragic Americanization of Omar Khadr continues.

      U.S.: Howard Zinn, honest American historian, died January 27, 2010 at the age of 87.

 

 

January 27, 2010

      Haiti: Jean Bertrand Aristide, deposed by a U.S. takeover with United Nations cover, is still refused the right to return to his people. While militaries and relief agencies begin to distribute food and medical care to some, most Haitians remain unfed and uncared for in what may be the preview of a Haiti reconstructed for profit. "Red zones" of the poor are being passed over("Security 'Red Zones' in Haiti Preventing Large Aid Groups from Effectively Distributing Aid," Amy Goodman, Jan. 22, 2010, Democracy Now!) . The generosity of people throughout the world is bent by using humanitarian aid, food and water, as a corporate political weapon. Aside from the media machinery of fund raising and the official assistance, there are individual rescue and medical workers helping the victims directly. In the U.S. 12,000 nurses ready to go immediately to Haiti were ignored by the government ("Michael Moore on Haiti," Michael Moore and Amy Goodman, Jan. 26, 2010, Democracy Now!). In the U.S. and Canada, why aren't there international emergency brigades of rescue workers, doctors, nurses, to respond to disasters immediately and without guns ? In Canada the Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund & Friends of the Mac-Pap Battalion, Int'l Brigades currently accepts donations to be used entirely for support of Cuban medical personnel at work in Haiti (see previous). Ref.: The Canadian Network on Cuba "Cuba for Haiti" campaign [access:< http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/>]. - ed..

 

 

January 25, 2010

The Night's Lantern "genocide warnings" page is updated
 
      Ottawa: at one o'clock PM January 23rd, there were about 2500 people gathered in front of Parliament to state disfavour for Prime Minister Harper's proroguing of Parliament. Under the Harper Conservative government "proroguing" comes to mean shutting down (temporarily) the Parliament of a people's democracy, to the political advantage of the Prime Minister. The gathering was notable for its modesty and seriousness, the sunny afternoon, almost no police presence. Rallies across the country were well attended. For readers outside Canada it helps to understand that Canadians don't vote directly for a prime minister but rather for members of Parliament...[previous]

      Washington, D.C.: on January 22nd 150 members of Witness Against Torture completed a 12 day "Fast for Justice" to end imprisonment at Guantanamo and torture. On January 21rst, 42 men and women submitted to arrest on disorderly conduct charges, for stating that torture is an unacceptable crime. The arrests occurred on the capitol steps and at a memorial inside commemorating the three Guantanamo "suicides" recently revealed as murdered (The Guantanamo "Suicides": a Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle," Scott Horton, Jan. 18, 2010, Harper's Magazine). Witness Against Torture gatherings are nonviolent with orderly lines of men and women in orange jumpsuits and black hoods. These separating themselves from the continuing crimes of government, receive little media attention but leave their indelible impression. Previous   1     2     3     4     5.     Partial sources: "Police Arrest Anti-torture Protesters at Capitol," Ilana E. Strauss, Jan.22, 2010, Infozine; "42 Arrested at U.S.Capitol in Day of Action to Denounce Obama's Broken Promises on Guantanamo, America's Broken Laws, and the Breaking of Lives by Torture," Witness Against Torture, Jan. 21, 2010, Witness Against Torture mailing; "Fast for Justice Kicks off Tomorrow," Jan 10, 2010, Witness Against Torture mailing.

 

 

January 22, 2010

      Ottawa: this week Mohamed Harkat, held on a Canadian Security Certificate since 2002, imprisoned in solitary confinement for 43 months, freed to house arrest and wearing an ankle monitor, continues his plea before the Federal Court of Canada to have the Security Certificate which holds him, quashed. The Security Certificates against Adil Charkaoui and Hassan Almrei have been revoked.The Security Certificate mechanism as applied was found illegal by the Supreme Court, then adapted by the Harper government to give an appearance of complying with the Court's intent. It is increasingly evident that the secrecy required by Security Certificates was necessary to cover lack of sound evidence. “How many more lives will have to be destroyed before this madness ends"- Sophie Harkat (apprec. Mohammed Adam, Canwest) before once again entering court to help free her husband.     Partial sources: "Solidarité avec Mohamed Harkat : Suivi," Francine Dumas, Jan.21, 2010, email announcement; "Fwd: [Harkatjustice] Important-Court]," Jan 17, 2010, nowar-paix listserv; "Sophie Harkat pleads for abolition of Canada's security certificate regime,"Mohammed Adam, Jan. 15, 2010, The Ottawa Citizen; "Accused terrorist Harkat not violent: CSIS," Mohammed Adam, Jan. 18, 2010, Canwest ~ canada.com; "Solidarité avec Mohamed Harkat : 18 janvier 2010 et autres," Francine Dumas, Jan.12, 2010, email announcement; "La justice canadienne s’interroge sur le cas de l’Algérien Mohamed Harkat soupçonné de terrorisme,"Hakim Arous, Jan. 12, 2010, TSA, Tout sur l'Algérie; "Harkat challenge of security certificate goes to court," Jan.15, 2010, CBC News.

Background:    1      2      3     4     5     6      7      8      9      10 
 

 

January 21, 2010

      The Hague, Netherlands: on January 19th American lawyer and professor, Francis A. Boyle (Iraq and the Laws of War) presented a request to the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, for the arrests of six former officials of the U.S. government, charging them with the "extraordinary rendition" of a hundred people, and warning any Obama administration officials of charges if they continue a policy of forced disappearances. The officials directly charged are: "George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales." While the US. doesn't subscribe to the I.C.C., with no recourse available under the Obama administration and since many of the victims are citizens of countries which subscribe to the I.C.C., the crime would fall under I.C.C. authority. See "enforced disappearances", previous.     Partial sources: this news is almost entirely suppressed in North American and global media; "ICC Complaint Against Bush, Cheney et al," Francis A. Boyle, Jan. 20, 2010, Lawyers Against the War listserv; "International Arrest Warrants Requested," press release: afterdowningstreet.org, Jan. 20, 2010, Scoop - Independent News NZ; "ICC: Complaint Filed Against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al," Jan 20, 2010, [acess:< www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=7110&blz=1 >].

      Haiti: the chance for Haiti to regain autonomy, to rebuild its own culture and communities, is passing with the denial of Jean Bertrand Aristide's right of return to Haiti. In response to the catastrophe the Haitian people are suffering in community a lack of humanitarian aid, and slowness in distribution of water, food, medical supplies and anaesthetic, alleviated by civilian and small nation efforts, while US and UN militaries in great force have so far attended to "security" (this seems to be better managed by the victims) more than the people. See previous.     Partial sources: "Group: 20,000 Dying Daily from Lack of Surgery," Jan. 20, 2010, Democracy Now!; 6:00 PM News, Jan. 21, 2010, CBC News; "Haiti earthquake: rescue teams lose hope as cries from the rubble fall silent," Rory Carroll and Peter Beaumont, Jan. 20, 2010, guardian.co.uk.

      U.S.: the U.S.Supreme Court has denied Mumia Abu-Jamal a new sentencing and the case is returned to a lower court which may re-sentence him to life or uphold the death penalty. On death row, solitary, since 1982, Abu-Jamal has become a voice of the oppressed people well beyond U.S. borders. The racism apparent in his initial conviction and the court system mocks the history of American struggles for justice and equality. For some background.     Partial sources: "Court Tosses Ruling to Set Aside Death Sentence," Jan. 21, 2010, Courthouse News Service; "A Supreme Court blow to anti-death penalty icon Mumia Abu-Jamal," Warren Richey, Jan. 19, 2010, The Christian Science Monitor; "Supreme Court Tosses Re-Sentencing for Mumia Abu-Jamal,"Jan. 20, 2010, Demoracy Now!.

      Canada: on January 23rd Canadians across the country will protest the Harper government's proroguing of Parliament. See previous.

 

 

January 17, 2010

      Haiti: see previous. The media's wide coverage of the Haitian people's terrible suffering is not suppressed news. However militarily related information is inreasingly controlled. The disaster found the population helpless and Haiti is totally reliant on aid structures of foreign interests. Canadian, French and US. planes continue to evacuate their surviving citizens, with a report that the U.S. is monopolizing the runway since taking military control of the airport. A French plane with a hospital was not allowed to land ("Anger at US builds at Port-au-Prince airport," Deborah Pasmantier, Jan. 16, 2010, Agence France Presse ~ Google news ). 400 doctors from Cuba were in Haiti, and medical teams from Canada, Venezuela and China arrived early. On the 16th a Canadian ship was anchored waiting for a way to land humanitarian cargo. Despite U.S. military control of access to the disaster zone and substantial military / humanitarian commitments the U.S. did not field the necessary medical / rescue teams in the first 72 hours to save trapped victims. By January 17th there are inreasing reports of "looting" as survivors forage for food and water.

Context: elected President Jean Bertrand Aristide, deposed by a US., French, Canadian alliance, remains exiled by force in South Africa and asking to return to his people. His majority Lavalas party was recently denied participation in Haitian elections.The U.N. has provided an occupying military force to cover what was basically a U.S. takeover of Haiti. The occupation remains a crime but without legal recourse. See also, previous 1   2   3   4   and "another massacre has occurred in Haiti (2005)".
Information about the duration of the initial shock is missing from news reports and government press releases, which makes it harder to be sure the catastrophe is a natural disaster; ie.: the shock of underground nuclear tests has a much shorter time duration than earthquakes. There are non-official reports suggesting an initial shock duration of seconds.
Historical note
There are some similarities to China's Sichuan earthquake of 2008: both victim population groups were outside the NATO economy; about 200,000 (estimates: the death toll in Haiti is currently lower and rising; the Sichuan toll varies widely acording to source) died in each catastrophe; neither region was recently earthquake prone; in both earthquakes the epicenter was about 10 kilometers deep; both earthquakes were about 7 (Haiti: 7 - Sichuan: 7 and 7.9) magnitude; both areas of destruction were essentially symmetrical. The China earthquake may have damaged some Chinese nuclear laboratories / facilities so there was non-government conjecture that a nuclear detonation may have initiated the Chinese quake, or use of HAARP (radio waves from satelite). Both catastrophes were responded to as military rather than medical emergencies.
Partial sources: "Oil in Haiti - Economic Reasons for the UN/US occupation," Ezili Danto, Oct 13, 2009, open salon; "Sichuan Earthquake," May 6, 2009,The New York Times; "China earthquake kills thousands," Mark Tran, Elizabeth Stewart, May 12, 2008, guardian.co.uk; "Canadians flee Haiti as death toll nears 200,000," Jorge Barrera `Canwest, Jan. 16, 2010, canada.com; "344 Cuban Medics Treat Earthquake Victims ," Cuba Support Group Ireland, Jan. 16, 2010, Global Research; "Canadian military relief arrives in Haiti," Jan. 14, 2010, UPI.com; "Nuclear Explosion Occurred Near Epicenter of the Sichuan Earthquake, Expert Says," Wu Weilin, June 3, 2008, Epoch Times [unverified]; "Looters scramble for scarce food, water," Steven Edwards and Jorge Barbera (AFP), Jan. 17, 2010, Ottawa Citizen.

 

 

January 14, 2010

      Haiti: in response to the earthquake of January 12th and ongoing tragedy, both Canada and the U.S. have rapidly sent military forces to Haiti; CBC news reports seem not to stress the sending of medical units and food for the people. The U.S. and Canada are promising substantial financial aid. The Haitian prime minister suggests as many as a hundred thousand deaths, and there is an outpouring of contributions meant for the Haitian people from Canadians and Americans. Areas not considered by media: geologic data to explain the shallow earthquake (approximately 15 ~ correction: 10 to 13 kilometers deep). Since nuclear testing began in the 40's incidence of earthquakes has doubled; there is evidence testing and use have weakened the earth's crust and slightly shifted the earth's axis (See "www.ratical.org : #1. Nuclear Bomb Tests & Their Relationship to Earthquakes Planetwide. Silicon Graphics. 1992. #2. Bomb Tests & Earthquakes Section: British, German, Japanese & Canadian studies & Shigeyoshi Matsumae, President Tokai Univ. Yoshio Kato, Dept. of Aerospace Science. #3. Killer Quakes & Bomb Tests Section," footnote to "Apology To The Earth For Nuclear Bombs and War," Mary Hamer, M.D, Jan 4, 2010, countercurrents.org). The shallow depth of the epicentre, thought to be reachable by drilling (as in the Russian Kola Peninsula boring project) might not discourage those researching nuclear detonation triggers for earthquakes and tsunamis. Lack of warning for the Haiti earthquake is puzzling: it's likely NASA has the capacity to anticipate earthquakes through Interferometric-Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), satelite equipment able to determine earth crust movement to within 1mm a year, and low-frequency magnetic signal technology among other early warning system signals ("Anticipating Earthquakes," Aug. 11, 2003, Science @ NASA). The devastation is contained neatly within Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic's two-thirds of the island: the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism reports no difficulties and all facilities open. The destruction of so many Haitians and much of Haiti's infra-struture, as a "poor" nation, reminds of the merciless bombardments of Iraq and loss of so many people. There is some parallel to what happened to Haiti's democracy when U.S., French, and Canadian administrations deposed elected Haitian President Aristide.

      Malaysia: Al-Jazeera (English) has reported attacks on 4 Christian churches in rising tensions between the Islamic majority and Christian community.The government had banned non-Muslim use of the word "Allah" for God, although in large areas one word denotes the other. The ruling was overturned and the matter is in court.     Partial sources: "Malaysian churches attacked," Jan. 8, 20010, Al-Jazeera "Churches Attacked in Malaysian dispute," Seth Mydans, Jan. 8,2010, New York Times>.

      Ethiopia: genocide warning for the Oromo people, the largest population group of Ethiopia numbering up to 30 million people; the Oromo Support Group has claimed that with support of Western governments the government of Ethiopia engages in practices consistent with genocide against the Oramia and other peoples of southern Ethiopia. US.military assistance and sales to the government of Ethiopia were about forty million dollars in 2002-2006. The US supported Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia begun in December 2006. See previous 1,   2,  3,   4.  Currently to the south of Somalia the UN recently shut down food relief operations due to continuing resistance by Al-Shabab with its roots in the Somalian government forced out by the U.S / Ethiopian invasion. The U.S. military command for Africa (AFRICOM) currently based in Stuttgart Germany is meeting pan-African resistance to relocation in Africa despite recent offers of hosting by Liberia and Morocco.     Partial sources: "Genocide against the Oromo people of Ethiopia? Western influence," Dr. Trevor Trueman, Oramia Support Group "Violence, fear and confusion: welcome to the Horn of Africa," Peter Beaumont, Jan. 10,2010, guardian.co.uk; "Somalia in Obama's Agenda: Fresh Interests," Mohamed Yusuf Abshir, Jan. 12, 2010, IslamOnline.net "Africom - Latest U.S. Bid to Recolonise Continent,"Tichaona Nhamoyebonde,Jan. 13, 2010, Blacknet.co.uk; "UN suspends food aid to southern Somalia," Scott Baldauf, Jan. 5, 2010, Christian Science Monitor; "US Military Assistance to Ethiopia and Ethiopia’s Gross Human Rights Abuses / End Game," Alemayehu G. Mariam, June 2, 2009, gadaa.com.

      Netherlands: the Committee on Inquiry appointed by the Dutch government, found the US.and British invasion of Iraq in 2003, not justified by U.N. Security Council resolutions and so against international law, and against policies of a Dutch Parliament not appropriately informed when the country's political support was obtained. Protestors throughout the world understood the invasion more simply as the crime of aggression.     Partial sources: "Conclusions of the Committee of Inquiry on Iraq ," Jan. 12, 2010, Committee of inquiry Iraq [access:< http://www.onderzoekscommissie-irak.nl/#pagina=849 ]; "Dutch Inquiry says no legal basis for Iraq War: echoes LAW articles," Jan 12, 2010, Lawyers Against the War; "Iraq invasion violated international law, Dutch inquiry finds ," Jan 12, 2010, Citizens for Legitimate Government.

 

 

January 12, 2010


winter soldier [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akm3nYN8aG8 >]

 

 

January 10, 2010

      Global: a military anti-insurgent tactic initially traced to the U.S. School of the Americas, enforced disappearance is increasingly used in the "war on terror" as a population control. Terrorization and disappearances of individuals and groups of poor are followed by political takeover with corporate access to a region's resources. The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons in Kashmir alleges that 10,000 were "disappeared" by Indian security forces in the Kashmiri Separatist revolt, as unmarked graves for 1700 were recently discovered. In India the government's current "Operation Green Hunt" is threatening and with what seems to be a news blackout, pursuing, huge military operations against "Maoist rebels" indistinguishable from poor people throughout central India. In Pakistan, according to Defense of Human Rights of Pakistan 10,000 persons remain "disappeared" since the start of the US "war on terror." The names of 369 "enforced disappearances" are acknowledged as suspects turned over to the U.S.. North Americans are more familiar with the disappearances of students, radicals, union leaders, by School of the Americas trained cadre throughout South and Central America. Over 300 officials have been convicted in Chile, and 55 in Argentina so far in investigations of actions from the 60's and 70's. See Peru; see Guatemala; see Chile; see Argentina 1 and 2; see the Vanished Gallery ~ Desaparecidos and Memoria Viva on our links page. See also: School of the Americas Watch.     Partial sources:"The issue of 10,000 disappeared persons haunts Pakistan governent," Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Jan 9, 2010, OpEdNews.com; "Argentina's 'disappeared:' Justice at last or reneging on amnesty?" Sam Ferguson, Dec.24, 2009, Christian Science Monitor; Families of Missing Persons Protest in Indian Kashmir, Dec.18, 2009, New Tang Dynasty Television.

 

 

January 8, 2010

      Gaza: around midnight and in the early hours of January 8th, Israel bombed food tunnels in a heavily populated area. The tunnels bring food and necessary goods into Gaza which has remained under seige.The air strikes follow the arrival in Gaza of a caravan of activists carrying emergency medical supplies. Starting in England the caravan accompanied by British MP George Galloway, was delayed in Egypt where a number of activists were wounded by police actions. Other air strikes against urban centres and refugee camps are reported but slow to be verified. North American media are not yet carrying news of Israel's actions.     Partial sources: "Breaking News: All of Gaza under attack now," Jan. 8, 2010, Desertpeace; "Breaking News: 3 civilians killed in Gaza as Israel strikes food-tunnels," via Ayman Quaider and Sameh A. Habeeb, Jan 8, 2010, The Palestine Telegraph.

      Canada: amid media observations such as "Introducing Canada's Minority Dictatorship" (Globe and Mail Jan. 8, 2010), Prime Minister Harper maintains his proroguing (shutdown) of Parliament until March 3rd as normal procedure. Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff has claimed Liberal Ministers of Parliament will be back at work January 25th, discussing among other things Afghan detainees. Polls show that Canadians generally reject Harper's efforts to silence Parliament. A facebook group has so far a hundred thousand signers protesting the Conservative government's contempt. See previous     Partial sources: "Harper has 'crazy way' of running democracy: Ignatieff," Jan. 8, 2010, CBC News; "Majority blasts PM's shutdown," Jan. 8, 2010, thestar.com.

 

 

January 4, 2010

      Africa: the failure of the Copenhagen talks (see previous) risks African countries, Bangladesh and others to catastrophe. Revelations of this cost of industrial production, and ongoing U.S. wars, have not been addressed by wealthy nation governments. If governments hosting military and industrial production continue to contribute to the foreseen destruction of entire peoples, this will be resisted internationally. Wealthy country governments have previously risked application of the Convention aganst Genocide in response to attempts to destroy peoples of resource rich areas.

      Canada: Canadian media are presenting a low key steady reminder that the Prime Minister has shut down Parliament to avoid investigation of his government's role in alleged war crimes. See previous.
Nuclear Waste Management Organization, charged by the Canadian government with long term spent nuclear fuel management, is believed to be attempting a multi-billion dollar nuclear storage site in the Ignace area of northwest Ontario. With programs of 'education' about the benefits of the nuclear industry, the promise of jobs, and a history of furthering profit, the government is attempting to woo First Nations people of the area. There are Nishnaabe communities, as well as lakes and waterways throughout the region. In Nunavut, environmental protections written into the land claims agreement are considered a failure. In 2007 uranium exploration was allowed by the Nunavut Planning Commission. While there are First Nations groups refusing uranium exploration, mining and storage, a united and unequivocal First Peoples' stand against, is lacking. U.S. difficulties with waste storage / radiation saturation - ie. the Savannah River Site in South Carolina - suggest increasing pressure on Canada as a receiver site for radioactive waste. "No Olympics on Stolen Native Land," the banner of protest to the Olympic Games in Canada, as the Torch travels from Province to Province, explores a fault line in the government's understanding of stewardship.     Partial sources: "Snow Job in North Western Ontario Ignace Looks at Storing Nuclear Waste: We Look at the Madness of Nukes," Kittoh, Dec 29 2009, Eagle Watch #23; "Editorial: Nunavut’s Radioactive Issue," Dec. 28, 2009, Nunatsiaq News, apprec. Eagle Watch #24; recommended: Miningwatch Canada.

Note: while some First Peoples try to protect earth and water others bargain land and water rights to corporate exploitation. The mining, processing and storage of uranium damage the earth forever. The agreements profit both parties while ultimately destroying portions of humanity. The "legality" of rights bargained between two parties while affecting humanity and its future, is questionable. Occupation of a territory by one nation or tribe over the course of history can never legally forfeit the rights of all life to earth and sea. The rights of all life cannot be negotiated. Within this perspective uranium mining for example, is understood as a crime.
Lhasa de Sela, died at 37, January first in Montreal, of cancer. A song [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka2t4uA8VKA >].

 

 

 

 

 

 

A branch that comes from violence will not take root;
for a blighted root is on sheer rock, like reeds by the
banks of a river, which are dried up before any grass; but
kindness, like eternity, will never be cut off, and faithfulness
will be established forever
- from Ben Sira
(Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, Abegg et al)

 

This account is against forgetfulness. 

 
 
 

 


by j.b.gerald
graphics: j. maas
except "descubriendo un crimen," by jose guadalupe posada
except "south of spain (cadiz)," by e.b.gerald
gerald and maas night's lantern
link update september 2012
format update november 2012>
additional a name links march 2014
minor edit 31 0ctober 2022