Saddam-Prozess in Bagdad begonnen

Bagdad (Irak), 19.10.2005 – Der frühere Präsident des Irak, Saddam Hussein, ist zweieinhalb Jahre nach seinem Sturz im Irak für seine Verbrechen vor Gericht gestellt worden. Nach dreistündiger Dauer wurde der Prozess auf den 28. November vertagt.

Saddam Hussein hatte vor Gericht erklärt, er sei unschuldig, erkannte die Autorität des Gerichtes nicht an und weigerte sich, seinen Namen zu nennen, als er dazu aufgefordert wurde. Er sagte lediglich: „Ich bin der Präsident des Irak.“

Hussein wird gemeinsam mit seinem ehemaligen Vizepräsidenten Taha Jassin Ramadan, seinem früheren Geheimdienstchef Barasan Ibrahim und fünf weiteren Mitgliedern seiner Partei zunächst wegen des Massakers von Dudschail angeklagt: Am 8. Juli 1982 scheiterte ein Attentat auf Hussein, und er ließ als Strafe das kleine Dorf Dudschail bombardieren. 143 Bewohner wurden später umgebracht, die übrigen mussten das Dorf für vier Jahre verlassen. Andere wurden festgenommen und unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen gefangen genommen und gefoltert. Einige davon überlebten die Folter nicht.

Einige Anhänger Saddam Husseins protestierten in seiner Heimatstadt Tikrit gegen den Prozess mit Transparenten, auf denen Sprüche wie „Nieder mit der Besatzung und der Marionetten-Regierung“ standen.

Wenn Saddam Hussein in diesem Prozess verurteilt werden sollte, droht ihm die Todesstrafe.

Das Sondertribunal wurde im Jahre 2003 von der amerikanisch-britischen Besatzungsmacht eingerichtet. Es besteht aus fünf Richtern, deren Namen mit Ausnahme des vorsitzenden Richters aus Sicherheitsgründen nicht bekannt sind. Ein anderer Richter des Tribunals ist der Kurde Raed Dschuhi, der an dem Dudschail-Tribunal nicht teilnimmt. Er trat dem Vorwurf der Verteidigung Saddam Husseins, das Gericht sei nicht legitim, mit den Worten entgegen, das Gericht sei ein irakisches und unterliege ausschließlich irakischem Recht. Das Sondertribunal bereitet etwa zwölf Verfahren vor, darunter ein Verfahren über ein Massaker an 8000 Stammesmitgliedern des kurdischen Barzani-Stammes im Jahre 1983 und den Einsatz von Chemiewaffen gegen die Stadt Halabadscha und ihre Einwohner im Jahre 1988. Auch die Invasion in Kuwait im Jahre 1990 wird Gegenstand eines Prozesses sein. Warum die Wahl für den ersten Prozess in dieser Reihe auf das Massaker von Dudschail fiel, begründete das Sondertribunal mit dem Hinweis darauf, dass die Beweislage in diesem Fall am schnellsten gesichert werden konnte.


Aplazado el juicio a Saddam Hussein

Los abogados del ex dictador iraquí Saddam Hussein solicitaron el aplazamiento del juicio en su contra, que se inició este martes. El presidente de la corte que lo juzga, el kurdo Rizkar Mohammed Amin, accedió a la solicitud de los abogados de Hussein y aplazó la audiencia para el próximo 28 de noviembre, si bien los defensores del ex mandatario habían pedido una prórroga de tres meses. El juicio está siendo conocido por cinco jueces, cuyas identidades se mantienen en secreto.

Hussein enfrenta su primera acusación formal: ordenar la muerte de más de 140 hombres chiitas de la población de Dujail en 1982. El ex dictador, capturado en abril de 2003 por las fuerzas invasoras de Estados Unidos, se negó a decirle al juez su nombre y profesión cuando el magistrado se las preguntó y, en actitud desafiante, respondió: "¿Quién es usted?, ¿Qué quiere esta corte?". Hussein añadió, cuestionando la autoridad del tribunal: "Usted ya me conoce. Es iraquí y sabe quién soy. No contestaré a esto que ustedes llaman tribunal. ¿Quiénes son ustedes? ¿Qué son ustedes? La ocupación es ilegítima, mantengo mis derechos constitucionales como presidente de Iraq". El juez prosiguió: "Usted es Sadam Husein Al Majid, antiguo presidente de Iraq". El ex dictador aclaró, levantando el dedo índice: "Yo no he dicho antiguo presidente". Luego de la lectura de los cargos, Hussein se declaró inocente.

Khalil Dulaimi, jefe de la defensa de Hussein, dijo respecto del ex jefe de Estado que "su moral está en alto. Va al juicio muy optimista y confiado sobre su inocencia, pese a que la corte es (...) injusta".

El juicio fue transmitido en diferido por televisión.


Ouverture du procès de Saddam Hussein en Irak

Le premier procès de l'ancien dictateur irakien Saddam Hussein s'est ouvert à 11 heures à Bagdad, le principale accusé a plaidé non-coupable. Les jurés sont sous anonymat en prévention de possibles actions de représailles. L'ancien raïs est jugé pour le massacre de 143 Irakiens en 2005. Douze autres affaires sont en instruction, dont celle du gazage de Kurdes en 1988. L'accusé risque la peine de mort par pendaison, jugeemnt qui pourrait être appliqué sans que les autres chefs d'accusation soit jugés. Selon ses avocats, Saddam Hussein serait déjà jugé par les Américains et par conséquent, le tribunal ne ferait pas son travail en totale impartialité. Par ailleurs, toujours selon ses avocats, le dossier d'accusation ne leur a pas été distribué pour la mise en place de la défense. Par conséquent, ils martèlent que leur défense sera la suivante :

L'accusation repose sur 7 chefs d'accusation :


フセイン元大統領、特別法廷初公判おわる

イラク元大統領、サッダーム・フセイン被告他、前政権高官らを裁く特別法廷の初公判が、19日イラクのバグダードで行われた。

この特別法廷は、ユーゴスラビア戦争犯罪法廷などと異なり、イラクの国内法によるもので、イラクの裁判官が審理する。読売新聞などによれば、1982年にドゥジャイルで治安部隊が143人のシーア派住民を殺害された事件への関与により起訴された。ドゥジャイルはイラク中部でバグダードの北方に位置する。フセイン被告のほか7人の元政府高官が起訴されている。朝日新聞は今後クルド人殺害やクウェート侵攻なども審理の対象となる見通しであると伝えた。

報道によれば、フセイン被告は法廷の非合法性を訴え、無罪を主張した。また裁判官による人物同定質問に対し、「君は誰だ。君はイラク人だろう。私はイラクの大統領だ。私がだれか君は知っているよな」と応じ、直接の回答を拒んだ。

共同通信によれば、初公判は、証人多数が出廷を拒んだため、予定より早く閉廷したとロイター通信が報じた。また共同によれば第2回公判は11月28日に決まった。

特別法廷の法的な独立と手続きの妥当性については、国際法廷でないことから、イラクの現政権やアメリカの意向に左右されるのではないかという懸念が出ていると朝日新聞が伝えている。

共同通信によれば、フランス公共ラジオが、治安当局筋からとして、この日、初公判前に、特別法廷のおかれる米軍管理区域（通称グリーンゾーン）に迫撃弾二発が着弾したと伝えた。また日本経済新聞によれば、イラク各地でテロがあり、あわせて19人が死亡した。そのうち3人は、憲法草案の国民投票を担当する独立選挙管理委員会のスタッフだった。またアルジャジーラなどによれば、この裁判に関する取材をしていたイギリスのガーディアン紙の特派員が、行方不明になっている。


ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Sudanese president

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Procecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampohas accused Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of major crimes committed in the Darfur region. Mr. Bashir is said to have personally directed a mlitary campaign "to destroy in substantial part the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa" tribes. He has asked the ICC for a warrant to arrest al-Bashir for 10 offences including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Some have criticized the move, saying that it will spark further violence and unrest in the country

Al-Bashir came to rule power in 1989. There has been a racial conflict in the country since 2003. The Arab militia, named the Janjaweed, are a government funded group alleged to have been driving the conflict in the region. Since 2003, as many as 300,000 people have been killed and 2 million people displaced from their homes.

Al-Bashir has rejected the charges, claiming the ICC has no authority to arrest him as Sudan is not a member of the court.

The United Nations will evacuate all non-essential peacekeepers in the region however they maintain that they will continue their operation despite the deteriorating security situation.


Sudans president ønskes tiltalt for folkemord

Målform: Bokmål - Dato: 16. juli 2008 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Sudan: / Nederland: Den internasjonale domstolen i Haags sjefsaktor Luís Moreno-Ocampo meldte 14. juli 2008 at han vil tiltale Sudans president Omar al-Bashir for folkemord på de etniske gruppene fur, masalit og zaghawa i Darfur.

Sudan er ikke medlem av ICC og trenger likevel ikke utlevere sin president, men om han reiser til et av de 106 medlemslandene, plikter de å arrestere ham. Det er første gang domstolen reiser tiltale mot et sittende statsoverhode.

Tiltalen omfatter ti punkter og reises for å forhindre at 2,5 millioner mennesker dør i Darfur. ICC mener at presidenten bruker statsapparatet, de væpnede styrker i Sudan og Janjaweed-militsen til å gjennomføre folkemordet.


Illinois court rejects attempt to have governor removed from office

Rod Blagojevich, the United States governor of Illinois, will retain his position of governor after the Illinois Supreme Court stopped an effort to have him removed from office. Blagojevich insists that he is innocent and has done nothing to break the law. The court refused to hear the attorney-general's case to impeach Blagojevich on accusations that the latter was politically and legally unable to work.

Lisa Madigan, the state attorney general, voiced her disappointment over the ruling, saying that the governor's refusal to step down has resulted in an "unsustainable situation" in the state.

Blagojevich was arrested last week on charges that he tried to 'sell' President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat after the latter vacated it in order to become President. Blagojevich was wiretapped, and was recorded discussing the trading or selling of Obama's Senate seat. However, Blagojevich's lawyer, Edward Genson, argued to the House committee that the statements do not amount to illegal actions.

"This proceeding, which is basing its findings on the summary of wiretaps, is unfair and quite frankly illegal. The fact of the matter is, we in this case object, and object vociferously, to the use of this," he said.

The Illinois General Assembly can remove Blagojevich by impeachment. The proceedings to start the process of impeachment started on Monday.

Blagojevich wants the state of Illinois to pay off his legal fees.


Affaire Blagojevich : la Cour suprême de l’Illinois refuse de démettre le gouverneur de ses fonctions

Lisa Madigan, procureur général de l'Illinois, voulait que la Cour suprême de l'État prive le gouverneur Rod Blagojevich de tous ses pouvoirs. Le gouverneur est accusé d’avoir tenté de vendre le siège de sénateur laissé vacant par le président élu Barack Obama au plus offrant. Mme Madigan avait fait valoir que M. Blagojevich n’avait plus aucune légitimité pour remplir ses fonctions. Mais un porte-parole de la Cour suprême de l’Illinois a annoncé mercredi que cette requête avait été rejetée, sans fournir d’explications.

Le parlement de l'Illinois a aussi lancé lundi une enquête en vue de destituer le gouverneur. Mercredi, une commission de 21 députés s’est réunie pour la seconde journée consécutive en présence de l’avocat de M. Blagojevich pour tenter de déterminer quelles mesures – si nécessaires – seront prises contre le gouverneur. Il reviendra à cette commission de décider si la Chambre des représentants de l’Illinois devra, ou non, entamer une procédure de destitution contre le gouverneur.

Mercredi, Blagojevich s’accrochait, refusant toujours de démissionner. Il a annoncé qu’il romprait bientôt son silence pour présenter sa version des faits.

L’affaire a rejailli sur le futur secrétaire général de la Maison Blanche, Rahm Emanuel, qui, selon la presse américaine, aurait fourni à Blagojevich des noms de personnes pouvant prétendre au siège de M. Obama. Le président élu a déclaré qu’une enquête interne avait montré que ni lui, ni son équipe, n’étaient impliqués dans le scandale. Il a précisé que les procureurs fédéraux l’ont prié de ne pas révéler les résultats de cette enquête avant la semaine prochaine, par crainte que ces révélations n’entravent leur propre investigation.


Illinois governor Blagojevich removed from office

The Illinois Senate has voted unanimously to remove disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich from office. He has been replaced by Lt Governor Pat Quinn. The 59-0 vote also bars him from holding public office in Illinois ever again.

Blagojevich has been accused of attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he won the presidency. He has repeatedly denied the charge. Investigators have released secretly recorded tapes of conversations which allegedly feature him talking of how much he could make from the deal.

Officials in the state capital, Springfield, have immediately removed the ex-governor's name and face from public buildings, including the name plate on his office door. Official portraits have been changed to that of Quinn.

Democratic senator Dick Durbin released a statement saying, "It is now time to close this chapter in Illinois history. The state of Illinois is in need of a fresh start".


US-Gouverneur Rod Blagojevich (Illinois) abgesetzt

Springfield (Illinois) (Vereinigte Staaten), 30.01.2009 – Die politische Karriere des demokratischen Gouverneurs des US-Bundesstaates Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, wurde gestern vom Senat des Bundesstaates beendet. Mit einem einstimmigen Votum aller 59 Senatoren wurde der Gouverneur seines Amtes enthoben und für alle Zeit ein Verbot ausgesprochen, ein politisches Amt im Staate Illinois zu bekleiden. Dem Gouverneur wird vorgeworfen, versucht zu haben, die Nachfolge des vakanten Senatssitzes von Barack Obama an den meistbietenden Bewerber zu versteigern. Auch das Repräsentantenhaus des Bundesstaates hält den Gouverneur des Amtsmissbrauchs und anderer Anklagepunkte für schuldig. Der Ankläger des Repräsentantenhauses, David Ellis, drückte es so aus: „Der Gouverneur hat selbst immer wieder gezeigt, dass er seine Möglichkeit einen US-Senator zu ernennen als Dukatenesel betrachtete, als einen Verhandlungsgegenstand für sein persönliches und politisches Wohlergehen.“

Ein weiterer gegen Blagojevich erhobener Vorwurf lautet, er habe von der Chicago Tribune die Entlassung eines Redakteurs verlangt, sonst würden staatliche Mittel in Höhe von 150 Millionen US-Dollar für das Stadion Wrigley Field, das der Zeitung gehört, nicht bewilligt. Vom Betreiber einer Pferderennbahn soll er Spendengelder für seine Wahlkampagne erpresst haben.

Der Gouverneur war am 9. Dezember 2008 einem Haftrichter vorgeführt und gegen Zahlung einer Kaution von 4.500 US-Dollar auf freien Fuß gesetzt worden. Ermittelnder Staatsanwalt ist Patrick Fitzgerald, der gegen „Blago“, wie der Spitzname des Gouverneurs lautet, seit 2006 ermittelt. Die Ermittlungen führte das FBI unter der Bezeichnung „Operation Board Games“. Seit Oktober des vergangenen Jahres hörte das FBI auch die Telefonate des Gouverneurs ab. Auf diese Weise kamen die Mehrzahl der Beweise für das Amtsenthebungsverfahren zustande. Wegen des Verfahrens gegen Blagojevic war auch der Präsidentschaftskandidat Obama zeitweise in Bedrängnis geraten, weil der Gouverneur von Illinois (Blagojevitsch) und der damalige Senator des Bundesstaates Illinois (Obama) politische Weggefährten waren. Von Medien war die Frage aufgeworfen worden, ob Obama mit Blagojevic über die Nachfolgefrage für den vakant werdenden Senatssitz gesprochen habe, was Obama verneinte.

Blagojevich wies bisher alle gegen ihn erhobenen Vorwürfe zurück. In einer Erklärung vor dem Senat sagte er, er habe gegen kein Gesetz verstoßen. Blagojevich wird sich noch vor einem Bundesgericht in Chicago verantworten müssen, wo er wegen Vorteilsannahme angeklagt ist. Im Falle einer Verurteilung drohen ihm bis zu 20 Jahre Haft.

Blagojevich ist der erste Gouverneur des Staates Illinois, der seines Amtes enthoben wurde. Drei seiner Vorgänger wurden seit 1973 allerdings nach dem Ende ihrer Amtszeit rechtskräftig wegen Gesetzesverstößen verurteilt. Sein letzter Vorgänger im Amt, der Republikaner George Ryan, sitzt zurzeit noch eine Gefängnisstrafe ab. Ein Gericht hatte ihn wegen dunkler Geschäfte, Betrug und Korruption zu einer Haftstrafe von sechseinhalb Jahren verurteilt.

Nach der Wahl Obamas zum US-Präsidenten war dessen Sitz als Senator für den Bundesstaat Illinois freigeworden. Dem Gouverneur des Staates obliegt es, einen Nachfolger zu ernennen. Blagojevich wird dazu mit den Worten zitiert: „Ich habe dieses Ding und es ist reines Gold, und ich werde es sicher nicht für nichts weggeben.“


Imam dead in Shia mosque attack in Belgium

An imam in the Belgian municipality of Anderlecht, near the capital, Brussels, has died following a suspected arson attack at a Shia mosque.

It is thought the mosque was attacked by a man wielding an axe, petrol and Molotov cocktails on Monday evening. The imam, in his mid-forties, reportedly died of smoke inhalation while trying to put out the resulting blaze. Another person was injured during the attack.

Police spokeswoman Marie Verbeck confirmed the death, and said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the fire. Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Belgium's interior minister Joëlle Milquet said: "This person went in [to the mosque] hurling statements linked to the Syrian conflict. It appears to be a problem between Sunnis and Shias ... Belgium will not tolerate this type of act and the importing of this type of conflict on its territory".

She stressed that details on the motive for the crime are unclear. The area around Anderlecht is home to a large number of Muslim immigrants. The last imam to have been killed in an attack in Belgium's capital was Saudi Abdullah Muhammad al Ahdal, who was shot in 1989.


Imamo mortis en atako al ŝijaista moskeo en Belgio

Mortis imamo en belga municipo Anderlecht, proksime al ĉefurbo Bruselo, en brulego, kiu kredeble estis atako al ŝijaista moskeo.

Oni pensas, ke la moskeo estis atakita de viro, kiu manportis hakilon, benzinon kaj brulbotelojn. Laŭ raporto, la imamo, kiu aĝis pli ol 40, kaj kies nomo estas malkonata, mortis pro fumspirado, dum li klopodis estingi la fajron. Alia persono estis vundita pro la atako.

Proparolanto de belga polico, Marie Verbeck, konfirmis la morton kaj diris, ke suspektulo estas arestita rilate al brulego. La polico ne serĉas iun pli rilate al la krimo.

Ministrino pri enlandaj aferoj diris: "Ĉi tiu persono eniris (moskeen) kriante devizojn, kiuj rilatis al Siria konflikto. Ĝi ŝajnas temi pri problemo inter ŝijaistoj kaj sunaistoj. Belgio ne toleros ĉi tiajn agojn, nek importon de ĉi tiaj konfliktoj en sia teritorio."

Ŝi tre substrekis, ke detaloj pri la kialoj de la krimo estas neklaraj. En la ĉirkaŭaĵoj de Anderlecht estas granda nombro de islamaj enmigrintoj. La lasta imamo mortigita en Belgio pro atako okazigita en Bruselo en 1989, estis Abdullah Muhammad al Ahdal.


Un imán muere en un ataque a una mezquita chií en Bélgica

Ha muerto un imán en lo que se sospecha, ha sido un incendio provocado en una mezquita chií del municipio belga de Anderlecht, cercano a Bruselas.

Se cree que la mezquita fue atacada el lunes por la noche por un hombre que llevaba un hacha, combustible y cócteles molotov. Según se ha informado, el imán de más de 40 años y cuyo nombre se desconoce, murió por inhalación de humo mientras trataba de apagar el fuego. Otra persona resultó herida en el ataque.

La vocera de la policía belga, Marie Verbeck, ha confirmado la muerte y ha declarado que un sospechoso ha sido arrestado con motivo del incendio. La policía no está buscando a nadie más en relación con el crimen.

Azzedine Laghmish, testigo de lo ocurrido, ha declarado para el canal televisivo RTBF lo siguiente: "Una docena de devotos esperaban el comienzo del rezo cuando alguien entró con una bolsa. Dentro había un recipiente lleno de combustible que el hombre lanzó al centro de la sala. El fuego se extendió muy rápidamente. El imán trató de apagarlo pero se quedó atrapado en una sala".

No están claros los motivos del crimen. Los alrededores de Anderlecht albergan a un gran número de inmigrantes musulmanes. El último imán asesinado en Bélgica, fue el saudí Abdullah Muhammad al Ahdal, que recibió un disparo en la capital de Bélgica en 1989.


Imã morre em ataque à mesquita xiita na Bélgica


Погинуо имам у пожару у џамији

13. март 2012.Брисел-  (Beta) - У подметнутом пожару у једној џамији у предграђу Брисела у ноћи између понедељка и уторка погинуо је један имам, саопштиле су белгијска власти.

Једна особа, муслиман рођен 1978, ухапшена је након што је током ноћи у Андерлехту подметнут пожар у џамији, рекао је портпарол тужилаштва Жан-Марк Мејер.

„Изгледа да је та особа дошла и претећи окупљенима у џамији ножем и секиром, полила запаљиву течност, највероватније бензин“, рекао је Мејер.

Он је још казао да се идентитет ухапшеног још проверава јер он код себе није имао лична документа.

Белгијски лист „Соар“ преноси да је 47-годишњи имам Абдалах Даду погинуо покушавајући да угаси пожар. Још једна особа је лакше повређена у пожару.


IMF head remains in New York prison; charged over alleged hotel sex attack

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, remained in jail last night after being charged with sexually attacking a chambermaid at a New York City hotel. Strauss-Kahn has agreed to undergo forensic screening before he appears in court, and has vowed to "vigorously" defend himself against the charges, which are likely to create a leadership void at the IMF, disrupt emergency talks over the European debt crisis, and spell the end of his political career.

Strauss-Khan was the favourite candidate for the French presidency, and was expected to announce he would stand against Nicolas Sarkozy this month. But the allegations are expected to destroy the hopes of his supporters, increase infighting among the French left, and leave his political career in tatters. His arrest comes at a critical moment for the IMF, and will likely plunge efforts to stabilise the financial states of struggling eurozone countries into chaos. He was meant to discuss the bailouts of Greece and Portugal with European Union financial officials at a meeting in Brussels this week.

Eswar Shanker Prasad, a professor of international economics at Cornell University, said: "This sordid episode – no matter how it ultimately plays out – will spell the end of Strauss-Kahn as an effective leader of the IMF even if he retains his position, which is highly unlikely." The IMF, however, insisted it remained "fully functioning and operational."

Strauss-Kahn was to appear in court in Manhattan yesterday charged with three crimes, including attempted rape, but the hearing has been delayed so he can undergo forensic tests. He was taken into custody by officials while on an Air France passenger plane which was about to take off from John F. Kennedy International Airport for Paris; when detectives approached him in the first class cabin in the aircraft he reportedly asked: "What is this about?" Strauss-Kahn reportedly fled the hotel "in a hurry" after the attack, leaving a number of personal effects behind. "If our officers had been ten minutes later he would have been in the air and on their [sic] way to France," a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said.

The chambermaid reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a man staying in a "luxury suite" at the Sofitel hotel near Times Square. "The maid described being forcibly attacked, locked in the room and sexually assaulted," the police spokesperson said. Strauss-Kahn came out of the shower naked while the chambermaid was working in the room, tried to pull the woman onto the bed and locked the door, The New York Times reported, quoting police sources. She allegedly fought him off, but he sexually assaulted her again after dragging her to the bathroom, before he locked her in the room; she was reportedly hospitalized afterwards with trauma.

In 2008, a year after becoming the leader of the IMF, Strauss-Kahn was reprimanded by the organization's board after being involved in an extramarital affair with another senior executive at the bank. More recently, he was pictured driving a luxury car in Paris, causing a media furore over whether his lifestyle fitted with the socialist attitude he claims to represent. But his wife, former television star Anne Sinclair, has dismissed the accusations. She said: "I do not believe for one second the accusations brought against my husband. I have no doubt his innocence will be established."


IWF-Direktor Dominique Strauss-Kahn unter Verdacht wegen versuchter Vergewaltigung

New York (Vereinigte Staaten), 15.05.2011 – Der Direktor des Internationalen Währungsfonds (IWF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn wurde am gestrigen Samstag von der New Yorker Polizei festgenommen. Ihm wird ein sexuell motivierter Angriff auf eine 32-jährige Hotelangestellte („Zimmermädchen“) in der Luxussuite seines Hotels in Midtown Manhattan vorgeworfen. Die Anklage wird, so Reuters, auf versuchte Vergewaltigung und Freiheitsberaubung lauten. Strauss-Kahn sollte noch heute einem Richter vorgeführt werden. Sein Anwalt wird auf „nicht schuldig“ plädieren.

Der 62-Jährige soll nackt auf die zum Saubermachen gerufene Angestellte zugegangen sein und sie bedrängt haben. Nachdem sie sich losreißen konnte, soll er sie erneut zu fassen bekommen haben. Er soll im Verlauf des Geschehens auch das Zimmer abgesperrt haben. Zudem wird berichtet, er habe versucht, die Unterhose des Opfers herunterzureißen. Berichte, es sei zu Oralsex gekommen, wurden jedoch von der Polizei dementiert. Das Zimmermädchen konnte zuletzt flüchten. Wegen leichter Verletzungen wurde sie im Krankenhaus behandelt.

Nach dem Vorfall soll Strauss-Kahn zum Kennedy-International-Airport geeilt sein, wo er dann von der Polizei zehn Minuten vor dem Start aus einer Air France-Maschine geholt und ohne Widerstand festgenommen worden sei. Laut New York Times wurde er dann um 02:15 Uhr New Yorker Zeit in einer Zelle der Polizeiabteilung für Sexualverbrechen inhaftiert.

Der oft nur kurz als „DSK“ bezeichnete Politiker galt als möglicher französischer Präsidentschaftskandidat bei den Wahlen im nächsten Jahr. Dabei hatte er laut aktuellen Umfragen gute Chancen auf einen Sieg.

In zwei anderen, zurückliegenden Affairen seiner Karriere wurde Strauss-Kahn letztlich weitgehend entlastet.

Strauss-Kahn war auf dem Weg nach Deutschland, wo er die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel treffen wollte. Der IWF ist eng eingebunden in die internationalen Bemühungen zur Bewältigung der Schuldenkrise im Rahmen von Rettungsprogrammen für Griechenland, Irland und Portugal. Darüber sollte auch bei dem Treffen zwischen Strauss-Kahn und Merkel gesprochen werden. Für Montag stand ein Treffen Strauss-Kahns mit den Finanzministern im Euro-Raum auf dem Terminkalender. Auf dieser Sitzung soll über ein Hilfspaket für Portugal entschieden werden.

Laut New York Times wurde bereits ein neuer Managing Director für Strauss-Kahn benannt. Es handelt sich um den stellvertretenden Direktor des IWF John Lipsky, einen ehemaligen Banker (JPMorgan Chase & Co.), der auch schon im US-Schatzamt in einer Führungsposition tätig war.

Hochrangige französische Politiker reagierten mit Bestürzung auf die Nachricht. Ein ranghoher Politiker der konservativen Regierungspartei UMP, Renaud Muselier, kommentierte den Vorfall mit den Worten: „Das ist eine Katastrophe für unser Land und für unser Bild nach außen, denn er ist der Chef des IWF. Das mischt die Karten für die Präsidentenwahl komplett neu.“ Martine Aubry, Vorsitzende der französischen Sozialisten, sagte, die Nachricht habe „wie ein Blitz eingeschlagen“.


Συνελήφθη ο πρόεδρος του Διεθνούς Νομισματικού Ταμείου για απόπειρα σεξουαλικής επίθεσης

Υπό κράτηση τέθηκε ο πρόεδρος του Διεθνούς Νομισματικού Ταμείου Ντομινίκ Στρος-Καν στο αεροδρόμιο JFK της Νέας Υόρκης, ύστερα από καταγγελίες που τέθηκαν εις βάρος του για την σεξουαλική επίθεση σε μια 32χρονη καμαριέρα σε κεντρικό ξενοδοχείο της Νέας Υόρκης.

Ο Στρος-Καν επρόκειτο να ταξιδέψει στο Παρίσι προκειμένου να συναντηθεί το απόγευμα με τη γερμανίδα καγκελάριο Άνγκελα Μέρκελ, όταν και συνελήφθη από τις αρχές λίγο πριν αναχωρήσει η πτήση του. Η αστυνομία αναφέρει πως κατηγορείται για σεξουαλική επίθεση σε βαθμό κακουργήματος. Υψηλόβαθμο στέλεχος της Γερμανικής κυβέρνησης δήλωσε πως «η συνάντηση ματαιώθηκε», αφήνοντας να εννοηθεί πως το ΔΝΤ δεν θα στείλει αντικαταστάτη στη θέση του Ντομινίκ Στρος-Καν. Ο δικηγόρος του δήλωσε πως ο Στρος-Καν θα αρνηθεί στη προσεχή δίκη όλες τις κατηγορίες που γίνονται εις βάρος του.

Οι κατηγορίες που γίνονται εις βάρος του μπορεί να του στοιχίσουν την πολιτική του καριέρα, αφού θεωρείται ως ένας από τους επικρατέστερους για τη νίκη στις Γαλλικές προεδρικές εκλογές του 2012, ενώ μπορεί να οδηγήσουν στην απαλλαγή του από τη θέση του προέδρου του ΔΝΤ, γεγονός που μπορεί να προκαλέσει καθυστέρηση στην αντιμετώπιση της παγκόσμιας οικονομικής κρίσης. Το μέλος του Σοσιαλιστικού Κόμματος Σεγκολέν Ρουαγιάλ αρνήθηκε να σχολιάσει την κατάσταση, δηλώνοντας πως «προέχει το τεκμήριο αθωότητας και θα πρέπει να περιμένουμε την απόφαση της Δικαιοσύνης». Σε περίπτωση μη υποψηφιότητας του Στρος-Καν, πιθανή υποψήφια στις προεδρικές εκλογές θα είναι η αρχηγός του Σοσιαλιστικού Κόμματος Μαρτίν Ομπρί, ενώ δεν αποκλείεται να γίνει υποψήφιος ο Φρανσουά Ολάντ.


Detienen director del FMI en Estados Unidos por agresión sexual

14 de mayo de 2011Nueva York, Estados Unidos —

Las autoridades judiciales de Nueva York, detuvieron el día de ayer en el aeropuerto de este estado al director del Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) Dominique Strauss-Kahn de nacionalidad francesa, acusado de agresión sexual a una camarera. Fue detenido cuando estaba abordando al avión rumbo a París.

El político de 62 años, fue acusado de agresión y abuso sexual por una camarera del Hotel Sofitel, ubicado en el estado de Manhattan. El hecho se dio en que minutos antes del despegue del Air France en que abordaba, policías del estado de Nueva York interrumpieron el despegue para hablar con Strauss-Kahn y hacerle varias preguntas acerca del tema, aunque la denuncia no había sido formalmente planteada.

Strauss-Kahn, la máxima autoridad del Fondo Monetario Internacional desde 2007 y por lo tanto uno de los responsables de la economía mundial, fue arrestado según las autoridades por la agresión de la camarera y por los "actos morbosos" realizados a esta, por lo que las autoridades de Nueva York lo entregaron a los agentes de Manhanttan, específicamente las tres de la madrugada (hora del estado).

Ahora, el francés está siendo investigado por la Unidad de Víctimas Especiales de Nueva York, por lo que se encuentra detenido por la misma; este no es el primer delito desarrollado por este político, ya que en 2008 Strauss-Kahn había sido acusado por el mismo tema, es decir, por agresión y abuso sexual, por lo que el FMI abrió una investigación en contra de este y por que la posible víctima había sido una de los miembros de la Junta de esta institución encargada de la economía del mundo.

Actualmente, Kahn aseguró que en el 2012 renunciará a su cargo como director del FMI, para incluirse a la política de Francia, es decir, postularse para las elecciones presidenciales de este país europeo, aunque a estas instancias, no se logra conocer el paradero de Strauss-Kahn en este aspecto, por la investigación a la que está siendo sometido por el delito anteriormente mencionado, ya que para el día de mañana según su agenda estaba convocado a reuniones muy trascendentales para su campaña.


Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrêté à New York pour agression sexuelle

Le directeur général du Fonds monétaire international et possible candidat socialiste à la prochaine élection présidentielle française, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a été arrêté ce samedi pour « agression sexuelle » à l'aéroport John F. Kennedy à bord d'un vol New York - Paris, quelques minutes avant le décollage.

C'est le journal The New York Post qui a révélé vers minuit (GMT) cette information, depuis relayée par le New York Times et confirmée par le New York City Police Department[1]. L'enquête est menée par l'unité spéciale Special Victims Unit[2].

Dominique Strauss-Kahn est soupçonné d'avoir sexuellement agressé, plus tôt dans la journée, une femme de chambre de l'hôtel Sofitel de New York. Selon les premiers éléments de l'enquête, monsieur Strauss-Kahn, sortant nu de la salle de bains, a exigé de l'employée de l'hôtel qu'elle lui pratique une fellation. La femme de chambre, après avoir réussi à s'enfuir, a alerté ses collègues qui ont appelé la police. Elle a ensuite porté plainte. Selon l'agence AP[3], l'intéressé a quitté précipitamment sa chambre d'hôtel, y laissant ses effets personnels et son téléphone portable, pour se ruer vers l'aéroport où il a été arrêté.

Le porte-parole des autorités portuaires de New York et du New Jersey a indiqué que Dominique Strauss-Kahn a été exfiltré d'un vol Air France pour Paris, retardé pour l'occasion, par les agents de cette autorité, puis remis à la police new-yorkaise. Le directeur général du FMI a ensuite été placé en détention et interrogé par l'unité spéciale chargée de l'enquête.

Pour mémoire, Dominique Strauss-Kahn avait été en 2008 la cible d'une enquête interne au FMI, qui avait failli lui coûter son poste, à la suite d'une relation extra-conjugale, qu'il avait reconnue et regrettée, avec l'employée de l'institution financière internationale Piroska Nagy[4].

En 2007, la romancière Tristane Banon, avait accusé DSK[5] de tentative de viol cinq ans plus tôt[6]. Elle n'avait pas porté plainte. Certains journalistes indépendants s'interrogent sur le nombre d'affaires de ce type que Dominique Strauss-Kahn a réussi à étouffer en France avec ou sans complicité[7]. À titre d'illustration, Thierry Ardisson affirme avoir entendu 14 témoignages au sujet des excès sexuels de DSK[8].


Глава МВФ арестован в Нью-Йорке

По сообщению газет New York Post, New York Times и других американских и мировых СМИ, глава Международного фонда Доминик Стросс-Кан арестован в Нью-Йорке по подозрению в сексуальном домогательстве. 62-летнего Стросс-Кана арестовали в салоне бизнесс-класса самолета Air France в нью-йоркском аэропорту Кеннеди за две минуты до вылета лайнера в Париж. Сейчас глава МВФ находится в полицейском участке.

Источники в полиции сообщают, что в субботу около полудня в гостиничный номер, в котором проживал Стросс-Кан, пришла горничная. Постоялец набросился на нее, повалил на кровать и домогался. Затем он отпустил горничную, а сам уехал в аэропорт. По другим сведениям, девушка оказала мужчине сопротивление и смогла вырваться из номера.
Из-за ареста под угрозой срыва встреча Стросс-Кана с канцлером Германии Ангелой Меркель, назначенная на воскресенье.

Доминик Стросс-Кан - член Социалистической партии Франции и рассматривается, как главный соперник французского президента Николя Саркози на предстоящих в 2012 году выборах.

Некоторые французские политологи обвиняли Саркози в том, что он развязал грязную кампанию против Стросс-Кана, упирая на достаточно разгульный образ жизни последнего. В частности, говорилось, что Стросс-Кан шьет себе костюмы у того же портного, что и Барак Обама.
Однако Доминик Стросс-Кан оказывался в щекотливом положении и без помощи соперников на выборах. Так, в 2007 году он публично признал связь с одной из своих подчиненных, работающей в Международном валютном фонде.

Между тем, глава фонда женат. Его супруга Энн Синклер – известный французский телевизионный журналист.

15 мая 2011 года


பாலியல் குற்றச்சாட்டு தொடர்பாக பன்னாட்டு நாணய நிதியத் தலைவருக்கு பிணை மறுப்பு

பாலியல் குற்றச்சாட்டு தொடர்பாக பன்னாட்டு நாணய நிதியத்தின் தலைவர் டொமினிக் ஸ்ட்ராஸ்-கான் நியூயார்க்கின் ரைக்கர்ஸ் தீவு சிறைச்சாலையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டார்.

62 வயதான ஸ்ட்ராஸ்-கான் சமர்ப்பித்திருந்த 1 மில்லியன் டாலர் பிணை மனுவை நிராகரித்த நீதிபதி, ஸ்ட்ராஸ்-கான் வெளிநாட்டுக்குத் தப்பி ஓடலாம் என்ற காரணத்தினாலேயே பிணை மறுத்ததாகத் தெரிவித்தார். நியூயார்க்கில் உள்ள விடுதி ஒன்றின் பணிப்பெண்ணை பாலியல் வன்முறைக்குட்படுத்தினார் என்ற குற்றச்சாட்டில் கடந்த சனிக்கிழமை நாட்டில் இருந்து விமானம் ஒன்றில் பிரான்சிற்கு வெளியேற முற்பட்ட வேளையில் ஸ்ட்ராஸ்-கான் விமானத்தில் வைத்து அமெரிக்கக் காவல்துறையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்டார்.

இவர் மீது ஏழு குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் சுமத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. இவை நிரூபிக்கப்படும் பட்சத்தில் இவருக்கு 25 ஆண்டு கால சிறைத்தண்டனை வழங்கப்படலாம் எனத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது. அவர் 11 x13 அளவுடைய சிறைக்கூண்டொன்றில் அடைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார். தன் மீதான குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை இவர் மறுத்துள்ளார்.

பன்னாட்டு நாணய நிதியத்தின் தலைவரான இவர் பிரான்சின் சோஷலிசக் கட்சி சார்பில் 2012 அரசுத்தேர்தல் தலைவர் பதவிக்குப் போட்டிட இருந்தவர். பிரான்சின் அடுத்த அதிபர் தேர்தல் குறித்த கருத்துக் கணிப்புகளிலெல்லாம் ஸ்டிராஸ் கானுக்கு அதிக ஆதரவு இருப்பது தெரியவந்தது. பிரான்சின் அரசுத்தலைவர் நிக்கோலா சர்க்கோசியை வெல்லும் வாய்ப்பு உடைய ஒருவராக இவர் பார்க்கப்பட்டு வந்தார். கடந்த ஞாயிறன்று இவர் செருமனியின் ஜெர்மனியின் தலைவி அங்கிலா மெர்க்கெலைச் சந்திப்பதற்கு ஏற்பாடாகியிருந்தது.

இதற்கிடையில், டிரிஸ்தன் பனோன் என்ற பிரெஞ்சுப் பெண் எழுத்தாளர் ஒருவர் ஸ்ட்ரோஸ்-கான் மீது மேலுமொரு பாலியல் குற்றச்சாட்டைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் தன்னிடம் ஸ்டிராஸ்-கான் மோசமாக நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தார் என்று அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். தற்சமயம் நியூயார்க்கில் நடந்ததாக குற்றம்சாட்டப்படும் சம்பவத்திற்குப் பின்னர், திரிஸ்தன் பனோனும் ஸ்டிராஸ்கனுக்கு எதிராக வழக்கு தொடர்வது பற்றி பரிசீலித்து வருகிறார் என்றும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

செவ்வாய், மே 17, 2011


Impeached South Korean president Park Geun-hye arrested

Former South Korean Leader Park Geun-hye was arrested today over corruption allegations.

A court in Seoul issued an arrest warrant for the former president, after a hearing yesterday to determine whether she should be arrested. Park was accused of abusing her power, bribery, and illegally colluding with long-time friend Choi Soon-sil.

Park Geun-hye was accused of working with Choi Soon-sil to use foundations to accept donations from major South Korean companies. The foundations then backed the former president's policy initiatives. Park was also accused of accepting bribes for political favours from conglomerates, such as from Samsung Group's chief Jay Y. Lee.

In the hearing Park argued against her arrest that she posed no flight risk and swore she would not tamper with evidence. After her eight hour's worth of testimony, a judge at the Seoul District Court said there was sufficient evidence to arrest the former leader and said evidence could be destroyed if they did not.

Both Park and Choi deny they did anything wrong.

Park has been put in a detention facility located just outside Seoul to await further legal proceedings. Officials for the facility have said Park will be expected to adhere to the existing rules in place at the centre.

Elections to appoint a new president are scheduled to be held on May 9.


Corée du Sud : l'ancienne présidente arrêtée

Publié le 1er avril 2017   L'ancienne présidente sud-coréenne Park Geun-hye, dont la destitution avait été massivement votée début décembre par les députés et confirmée il y a trois semaines par les huit juges de la Cour constitutionnelle du pays, a été arrêtée ce matin (heure locale), après qu'un mandat d'arrêt a été émis contre elle par le tribunal central de Séoul.

Elle est accusée de corruption et d'abus de pouvoir, ainsi que d'avoir livré des secrets gouvernementaux. Elle avait échappé aux poursuites pendant des mois du fait de son immunité présidentielle. On lui reproche notamment d'être à l'origine de pressions sur des conglomérats du pays, visant à obtenir des dons pour deux fondations soutenant sa politique. Elle aurait été aidée dans cette entreprise par son amie Choi Soon-sil.

Sa détention peut durer jusqu’à vingt jours.


Ex-president Zuid-Korea gearresteerd

Ex-president van Zuid-Korea Park Geun-hye gearresteerd

Park Geun-hye , die drie weken geleden werd afgezet als president van Zuid-Korea, is gearresteerd op grond van verdenking van corruptie en machtsmisbruik tijdens haar vier jaar als president. De aanklacht tegen haar omvat in totaal dertien punten.

De Koreaanse justitie schat in dat het te gevaarlijk is om haar nog op vrije voeten te laten en ook de rechter gaat hierin nu mee. Eerder vandaag werd er dan ook een arrestatiebevel tegen Park Geun-hye uitgevaardigd


Imprisoned American journalists in North Korea pardoned, to return to US

Two imprisoned American journalists in North Korea, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, have been pardoned and are to return to the U.S.. This comes after former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the two journalists earlier today.

"Kim Jong-il issued an order of the chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist Constitution and releasing them," said the KCNA news agency as reported by Reuters.

Clinton traveled to the nation for a "private meeting" with North Korean officials to discuss the detention and possible release of Ling and Lee. ABC News earlier stated that the meeting between Clinton and the journalists was "very emotional", and that the U.S. was "hopeful" that Ling and Lee would be released. Ling and Lee left on Clinton's plane, and landed safely in Japan Wednesday.  They are expected to reach Los Angeles shortly.

Ling and Lee are journalists for Current TV based in California. Lee is the editor of the news for Current TV and Ling is one of the agency's reporters. They were said to have been shooting a video of the border region of China and N. Korea when they were arrested at the Tumen River in late March after allegedly crossing into North Korea from China illegally. They were both convicted in June of possible hostile acts against North Korea, entering the country illegally and were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a labor camp.


الإفراج عن الصحفيتين الأمريكيتين في كوريا الشمالية والإدارة الأمريكية تبارك جهود كلينتون

وصلت الصحفيتان الأمريكيتان المفرج عنهما من كوريا الشمالية إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية بعد جهود مكثفة بذلها الرئيس الأمريكي الأسبق بيل كلينتون مع الحكومة الكورية الشمالية في زيارته أمس الثلاثاء.
وذكرت مصادر أن الطائرة التي أقلت بيل كلينتون والصحفيتين لورا لينغ ويونا هبطت اليوم الأربعاء في مطار لوس أنجلوس الدولي، حيث كانت عائلتا الصحفيتين في انتظارهما، بالإضافة إلى عدد من الشخصيات السياسية الأمريكية.

واعتقلت الصحفيتان في 17 من مارس الماضي إثر دخولهما بشكل غير شرعي الأراضي الكورية الشمالية عبر الصين. وحكم عليهما بلخرق ودخول بيونغ يانغ دون تصريح.

و بارك الرئيس الأميركي باراك أوباما أمس الجهد الهائل الذي بذله كلينتون للإفراج عن الصحفيتين.
وقال اوباما للصحافيين في البيت الأبيض "بعد وصول مراسلتي التلفزيون يونا لي ولورا لينغ إلى كاليفورنيا بالطبع إننا نشعر بإرتياح شديد".

5 أغسطس 2009


Corea del Norte deja en libertad a las dos periodistas estadounidenses condenadas a 12 años de trabajo forzado

Laura Ling y Euna Lee, las dos periodistas de nacionalidad estadounidense que fueron condenadas a 12 años de trabajos forzados por haber ingresado ilegalmente a Corea del Norte ya fueron puestas en libertad luego de que Bill Clinton se reuniera con Kim Jong-il y las dos periodistas.

Según KCNA, el perdón y la liberación se produjeron gracias a que Clinton expresó "su más sincera disculpa por los actos hostiles cometidos por las comunicadoras contra Corea del Norte después de haber entrado al país ilegalmente".

Ambas periodistas, que pudieron haber cometido "actos hostiles" contra Corea del Norte luego de cruzar el río Tumen, trabajaban como reporteras en Current TV y realizaban un reportaje sobre los refugiados norcoreanos.

La Casa Blanca dijo que no hará comentarios sobre el encuentro entre Clinton y Jong Il, pero aseguró que todo fue una “misión exclusivamente privada para asegurar la liberación de las dos estadounidenses”.

La situación de ambas mujeres tensó aún más la cuerda política entre Estados Unidos y Corea del Norte en los pasados meses, luego de que Pionyang hiciera unos lanzamientos de misiles como parte de su programa nuclear, en el pasado mes de mayo. La Casa Blanca había respondido con nuevas sanciones en contra del régimen coreano.

Clinton es el funcionario de mayor rango en visitar Corea del Norte, luego de que la entonces secretaria de Estado Madeleine Albright, viajara a dicho país en el 2000. Jimmy Carter también intentó, en 1994, persuadir una posible eliminación del programa nuclear de Corea del Norte, pero su visita no dio los resultados esperados.


Pohjois-Korea vapautti amerikkalaistoimittajat entisen presidentti Bill Clintonin vierailun aikana.  Pohjois-Korean johtaja Kim Jong Il armahti rajalla maaliskuussa 2009 viisi kuukautta aiemmin siepatut toimittajat.

Laura Ling ja Euna Lee olivat rajalla tekemässä juttua pohjoiskorealaisista pakolaisista ja naiskaupasta. Toimittajat tuomittiin 12 vuodeksi pakkotyöhön kesäkuussa. Bill Clinton teki yllätysvierailun Pohjois-Koreaan ja tapasi 4.8. johtajan Kim Jong Ilin sekä amerikkalaistoimittajat. Kim Jong Il ei aiemmin ollut tavannut ketään korkea-arvoista länsimaista johtajaa.[1] Jimmy Carter vieraili Pohjois-Koreassa yksityishenkilönä vuonna 1994 ja tapasi edesmenneen Kim Il-sungin.[2]

Toimittajat pääsivät kotimaahansa samalla koneella Bill Clintonin kanssa. Reutersin mukaan Pohjois-Korea oli etukäteen luvannut vapauttaa toimittajat Clintonille ja olla kytkemättä kiistaa Pohjois-Korean ydinohjelmaan. [3]

Yhdysvallat juhli vankien vapautusta heidän laskeuduttua Kaliforniaan Los Angelesin lähistöllä  Burbankin lentokentälle. Viimeksi Washingtonista vieraili Kim Jong Il:n luona vuonna 2000 silloinen ulkoministeri Madeleine Albright. [4]

Vapautetut toimittajat työskentelevät Al Goren johtamalla Current TV –asemalla.[2]


Após negociações com Bill Clinton, jornalistas são libertadas na Coreia do Norte

Bill Clinton, ex-presidente dos Estados Unidos, conseguiu a libertação das jornalistas Laura Ling e Euna Lee, presas na Coreia do Norte sob a acusação de entrar ilegalmente no país. Clinton reuniu-se com Kim Jong-il, líder do país.

Segundo fontes citadas pela Agência Reuters, Clinton não prometeu nenhuma recompensa ao governo de Pyongyang para conseguir a libertação.


India Supreme Court overrules High Court: rivers Yamuna, Ganga no longer living entities

On Friday, the supreme court of India overruled a High Court decision which identified rivers Ganga and Yamuna as living entities. The appeal, filed by the state government of Uttarakhand from which these two rivers originate, claimed the decision was "unsustainable in the law".

Days after the Whanganui River was identified as living being in New Zealand, Uttarakhand's high court ruled in favour of granting the two rivers — Ganga and Yamuna — status as living persons. The bench of justices Rajeev Sharma and Alok Singh hearing a related case ruled the rivers "legal and living entities, having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a living person", and the director general of Namami Gange project and the chief secretary and advocate general of Uttarakhand as the legal guardians of the rivers on March 20.

The state government raised concerns that the high court ruling did not consider other states where the river flows, and hence it was outside the judicial limits of the state court. The river passes through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, as well as through Bangladesh. "Since the matter of cleaning the Ganga is not just restricted to Uttarakhand, as it also flows through West Bengal, how could the Chief Secretary and the Advocate General tackle all the issues related to the river", Uttarakhand state government spokesperson Madan Kaushik said. Granting status as a living entity would also mean the river could be sued like other citizens. The State government explained, using the example of flooding, that the "legal guardians" or the state may not be able to support financially the harm caused by the river to others.

Those rivers originate from Gangotri and Yamnotri glaciers, and are considered sacred in Hinduism. Ganga is also referred to as maa (mother). But, these rivers are among the most polluted rivers on Earth. The previous ruling of the high court could provide legal grounds to prevent industries from harming the "living entities" by disposing of toxic wastes in the rivers.

In the plea, the government said, "only to protect the faith of society, the rivers can not be declared as a legal person".


Corte Suprema de la India anula decisión que declaraba a dos ríos como entidades vivientes

El pasado viernes, la Corte Suprema de la India decidió anular una decisión de una Alta Corte que consideraba a los ríos Ganges y Yamuna como entidades vivas. El recurso de reposición, que entabló el gobierno del estado norteño de Uttarakhand, donde nacen ambos ríos, afirmaba que la decisión era "insostenible en la ley".

Días después que el río Whanganui fuera identificado como un organismo vivo en Nueva Zelanda, la alta corte de Uttarakhand falló el pasado 20 de marzo a favor de conceder a ambos ríos su estatus como como personas vivas. La audiencia con los magistrados Rajeev Sharma y Alok Singh llevó a que los ríos pasaran a ser "entidades vivas y legales, con la categoría legal de una persona y con sus correspondientes derechos, deberes y obligaciones correspondientes a una persona viva", y al director general de la organización Namami Gange (dedicada a la conservación del río), al secretario en jefe y al abogado general de Uttarakhand como los guardianes legales de los ríos.

El gobierno estatal, no obstante, elevó sus preocupaciones al respecto al considerar que la decisión de la corte no tomaba en consideración a los demás estados a través de los cuales fluyen ambos ríos y que por tanto estaban por fuera de los límites judiciales de las cortes del estado; pues los ríos atraviesan territorio que pertenece a Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand y Bengala Occidental además de Bangladés, y su cuenca drena las aguas de otros estados así como de ríos que nacen en Nepal, Bután y China. "Dado que el asunto de la limpieza del Ganges no está restringido solamente a Uttarakhand, pues también fluye a través de Bengala Occidental, ¿cómo podrían el secretario en jefe y el abogado general abordar todos los temas relacionados con el río?", declaró Madan Kaushik, portavoz del gobierno estatal de Uttarakhand. Además, permitirle a un río ser identificado como una persona, significaría que podría ser demandado como cualquier otro ciudadano, y la administración del estado explicó, mediante el ejemplo de una inundación, que los "guardianes legales" del río no podrían sostener financieramente todo el daño que el río pudiera llegar a causar a otros.

El Ganges –o Ganga, el cual es referido también como maa (madre)– y el Yamuna nacen en los glaciares Gangotri y Yamunotri y son considerados sagrados en el hinduísmo, a pesar de lo cual se encuentran entre los más contaminados del mundo. Así las cosas, la decisión anterior de la corte proveía razones jurídicas para prevenir que las industrias dañasen a las "entidades vivas" al verter desechos tóxicos al agua.

En la petición, el gobierno dijo que "sólo para proteger la fe de la sociedad, los ríos no pueden ser declarados como una persona".


印度最高法院駁回 恆河、亞穆納河失去法人地位

上週五，經過恆河與亞穆納河發源地所在的北阿坎德邦政府上訴後，印度最高法院駁回高等法院判決，撤銷恆河、亞穆納河「有生命實體，擁有法人地位」的決定。最高法院表示，將兩河視為生命實體在法律上不成立。

在紐西蘭承認旺阿努伊河為法人後，印度北阿坎德邦高等法院在今年的3月20日也賦予了恆河及其支流亞穆納河法人的地位。法官Rajeev Sharma和Alok Singh在聽證會中裁定這兩條河是法律中具有生命的實體，擁有與人類相應的權利，義務和責任。

高等法院當時並任命了幾名官員作為河流的「法定監護人」，不過北阿坎德邦政府認為高等法院沒有考慮到河流也流經北方邦，比哈爾邦，哈卡德邦，西孟加拉邦以及孟加拉國。

「高等法院的裁決已經超出了其司法管轄權權限。」北阿坎德邦政府發言人Madan Kaushik說，清理河流不該只是北阿坎德邦的事，「而且將河賦予法人地位，這意味著河也可能如同公民一樣被起訴。」，邦政府解釋道。

這兩條河源自雅母諾特里（Yamunotri）和根戈德里兩條冰川，它們都是印度教中的聖河，恆河也被稱為MAA（母親），不過恆河目前是地球上污染最嚴重的河流之一，先前高等法院裁決的目的，就是為了提供法律依據，讓工業廢水不能倒入「生命體」中。

邦政府在上訴書狀中說，「為了保護社會信仰，河流不能被宣告為法人。」


India's Home Minister quits as first political fallout of Mumbai attacks

The Union Home Minister of India, Shivraj Patil, has resigned a day after the Mumbai attacks came to an end. Patil submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which was later accepted by the President of India. It was the first political reverberation that was felt in the UPA-led government of India.

Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram has been appointed the successor of Patil. Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh would be handling the finance ministry now. Chidambaram has earlier served in internal security under the administration of Rajiv Gandhi in late 1980s. On Sunday, an all-party meeting was also convened by the Prime Minister to discuss the Mumbai attacks and evolve a consensus within all political parties on how to combat terror.

Shivraj Patil was already facing stiff criticism from Indian media and India's main political opposition party Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The key allies, such as Rashtriya Janata Dal of the ruling Indian National Congress, had already begun to raise voices for the home minister's resignation. The inefficiency of India's security and intelligence agencies to protect the people against a series of terror attacks in the past six months was one reason for Patil's resignation.

Patil's resignation comes after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) met, in which Sonia Gandhi had made it clear by expressing unhappiness over the terrorist incidents taking place at regular intervals. The meeting was hostile towards Patil, as many other Union ministers spoke against him.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh had also come under fire in the meeting. Indian media agencies have reported that he would soon follow Patil and may have to resign under pressure. The Minister of State in the office of Prime Minister (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan is reported to become the chief minister if the Congress party high command decides to replace Deshmukh.

Patil was a former Speaker of Lok Sabha but had lost the 2004 parliamentary election from Latur constituency in Maharashtra. His proximity with Congress president Sonia Gandhi managed to get him elected to Rajya Sabha in July 2004. In 2007, Patil was a serious contender for the post of president after A P J Abdul Kalam retired.

Meanwhile, the Indian government is considering to stall the five-year old cease-fire with Pakistan and to end the dialogue process in order to send strong diplomatic signals.


孟買事件激起群眾怒火 印度內政部長引咎辭職

孟買遭遇的連環恐怖襲擊已經告一段落，所有恐怖分子都已經被擊斃或者逮捕。但是印度的民眾對這個寒酸的勝利並不滿意。11月30日，印度的內政部長希夫拉杰·维什瓦纳特拉奥·帕蒂尔向總理辛格提出請辭，表示要為這起「慘無人道的恐怖襲擊」負責。至於印度國家安全顧問M·K·纳拉亚南也於今日晚些時候遞交了請辭。辛格已經接納了兩人的辭職。據分析人士指出，應該還會有更多的國防系統高級官方會因此事而引咎辭職。

不過內政部長帕蒂尔的表現一直令人質疑，媒體對他在處理今年9月連續的兩起德里爆炸案和10月發生的阿萨姆爆炸案中的處理手法不當提出很大的批評，美聯社分析這次孟買的襲擊只是加速其下台，也是政府安撫憤怒的民眾的必要措施。

以《印度時報》為代表的媒體和評論員對政府和國會平時的冷漠的批評今日來達到高潮，他們全方位地質疑印度官方的瀆職、無能——在許多明明可以組織恐怖分子行動的關頭卻毫不作為；平日的情報工作錯漏百出，即使有準確的恐怖襲擊情報也不重視；反恐設備和人員訓練滯后；多重防御措施形同虛設……

孟買的襲擊預期在短期內會重創印度的經濟，如果民眾的不滿無法消除，可能會影響至明年的國會大選。


Indiana Department of Homeland Security violates Wikipedia copyright

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security was revealed on Saturday to have violated the copyright of a number of contributors to online encyclopedia Wikipedia in a document on racial profiling by quoting Wikipedia articles without any attribution.

The PDF file, which was created as a guide for students in grades 9–12 "[t]o research positions related to the topic of racial profiling post September 11, 2001 with a primary focus on citizens of Middle Eastern descent, and to give an informative speech", quotes from seven Wikipedia articles without mentioning Wikipedia at any point. These are: Racial Profiling, USA PATRIOT Act, Bigotry, Internment, Terrorism, Counter-terrorism, and The War on Terrorism, all in the "Vocabulary" section. This is against Wikipedia's Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) License, which requires that the original author(s) be attributed.

The offending document was posted on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's website on October 30, 2009, and came to the attention of the Wikipedia community on Saturday, after a user editing under the pseudonym of Smallman12q mentioned it on the website's community noticeboard, the Village Pump. His post began, "I came across this pdf produced by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for racial profiling and found that in it [...] the vocabulary section on page[s] 3/4 [is] copied from [W]ikipedia, yet there is no attribution to Wikipedia or even a mention of it..." The document also contains typographical and grammatical errors, "[citation needed]" tags, and meaningless in-line references, due to the content being a direct copy-and-paste of Wikipedia content.

In a statement to Wikinews, Smallman12q explained that he "came across the pdf after doing a google search for ad hominem with the 'site' parameter set to .gov." He also commented on "the irony" of finding this when his whole reason for searching government sources was so that he "would[n]'t have to worry about copyright infringement" due to government works being in the public domain (he was mistaken on this point, as this only applies to works of the US federal government, while this document was created by the government of the state of Indiana). He used the document as a reference in the Internment article on Wikipedia, before realizing that "the content of the article and the pdf virtually matched". He noticed the "[1]" tag in the document, which was undefined in the PDF and corresponded to a Wikipedia in-line reference. "Looking at the other vocabulary terms within the pdf and their Wikipedia counterparts, they too were identical," he says, "I then realized that they must have been copied from Wikipedia..."

The CC-BY-SA licence states that "You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor", while the Wikimedia Foundation's terms of use specify either "a) a hyperlink (where possible) or URL to the page or pages you are re-using, b) a hyperlink (where possible) or URL to an alternative, stable online copy which is freely accessible, which conforms with the license, and which provides credit to the authors in a manner equivalent to the credit given on this website, or c) a list of all authors", none of which were given in the IDHS's document, despite it having a bibliography section.

Wikinews contacted Jimmy Wales, the founder and chair emeritus of the foundation, for a statement regarding the issue. He expressed no concern about the issue, saying that "Wikipedia is widely famous for being something that you can  freely copy, and we love it when people do it.  Yes, there are rules  about how to do it, but not everyone understands those rules at first.  I'm sure it won't happen again, and I certainly am not particularly  agitated about it."

The offending document has since been removed from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's website, Wikinews found on February 2.


Departament bezpieczeństwa stanu Indiana narusza prawa autorskie kopiując teksty z Wikipedii

W sobotę ujawniono, że departament bezpieczeństwa stanu Indiana łamie prawa autorskie używając tekstów z angielskiej Wikipedii bez podawania autorstwa oraz licencjonowania. Plik .pdf, który został stworzony jako przewodnik dla uczniów klas 9-12, jest cytatem z siedmiu artykułów (uprzedzenia rasowe, USA PATRIOT Act, fanatyzm, internowanie, terroryzm, antyterroryzm oraz walka z terroryzmem)[1]. W żadnym miejscu nawet nie wspomniano o źródle co jest niezgodne z licencją, na jakiej udostępniane są treści Wikipedii.

Dokument został opublikowany na stronie departamentu 30 października 2009. Podejrzenie naruszenia praw autorskich w sobotę 30 stycznia br. w kawiarence zgłosił Smallman12q[2]. Napisał: szukałem w tym dokumencie "dyskryminacji rasowej w śledztwach i pracy policji" i znalazłem (...) sekcję "słownictwo", której 3/4 skopiowano z Wikipedii bez najmniejszej wzmianki o źródle.... Dokument zawiera również błędy gramatyczne i typową dla wiki składnię np. "potrzebne źródło" oraz bezsensowne odniesienia będące skutkiem przeklejania tekstu bez redagowania go.

Smallman12q wyjaśnia Wikinews, że wszedł w posiadanie PDFa po wyszukaniu w Google "ad hominem" z ustawionym parametrem przeszukiwania stron przeznaczonych dla organizacji rządowych. Jak na ironię znalazłem teksty naruszające prawo autorskie, podczas gdy celowo szukałem prac publikowanych przez rząd, by nie obawiać się ich naruszenia[3]. Początkowo nie zauważył zbieżności tekstów i w haśle "Internment" utworzył przypis do rządowego dokumentu. Spostrzegł jednak znacznik "[1]", do którego nie było wyjaśnienia, a gdy porównał większą część tekstu z treścią haseł w Wikipedii, zrozumiał, że musiało to zostać skopiowane właśnie z angielskiej encyklopedii.

Treść Wikipedii jest udostępniana w oparciu o licencję CC-BY-SA 3.0. Udziela się zezwolenia do kopiowania, rozpowszechniania lub modyfikacji treści artykułów Wikipedii zgodnie z zasadami Licencji Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa-Na tych samych warunkach 3.0 Unported lub dowolnej późniejszej wersji licencji opublikowanej przez Creative Commons, która zawiera te same elementy, co niniejsza licencja. Zasadniczo oznacza to, że jakikolwiek tekst opublikowany w Wikipedii można swobodnie kopiować i modyfikować pod warunkiem podania pierwotnego autorstwa i pozostawieniu tekstu "wolnym".

Gdy sprawa wyszła na jaw, dokument zniknął ze stron departamentu.

Nie jest to pierwsze tego typu naruszenie w historii projektów Wikimedia. 11 października szerzej na Wikinews opisano sprawę reklamy zeszytów.


Indonesia arrests Jemaah Islamiyah leader

Police in Indonesia say they have arrested Abu Dujana on Saturday on the island of Java. Dujana is alleged to be the military leader of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) which stands accused of a number of attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings.

The 38-year-old Dujana was Indonesia's most wanted fugitive. Police say it took days to identify him because of his many aliases. DNA and fingerprinting were both used to make the final confirmation.

"With this arrest we have successfully stopped acts of terrorism in the future," said police spokesperson Sisno Adiwinoto. "He was a key figure in the terrorist network in Indonesia."

Adiwinoto described Dujana as a field commander, a strategic planner and a bomb expert. "He was involved generally in the first Bali bombing, Poso and others." said the police spokesman.

Dujana is likely to be charged under anti-terrorism laws, and as such, could face the death penalty.


Indonésie : arrestation d'un des dirigeants de la Jeemah Islamiyah

La police indonésienne a dit avoir arrêté Abu Dujana samedi dernier sur l'île de Java. Dujana est suspecté d'être le chef militaire de la Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), groupe islamiste, qui est accusé de nombreuses attaques, dont l'attentat de Bali en 2002.
Dujana, 38 ans, était le fugitif le plus recherché d'Indonésie. La police a indiqué avoir mis des jours à l'identifier en raison de ses nombreuses identités. La confirmation finale a été faite au moyen d'empreintes digitales et ADN.
« Avec cette arrestation, nous avons arrêté avec succès les actes terroristes pour longtemps », a indiqué le porte-parole de la police Sisno Adiwinoto. « Il était une figure centrale du réseau terroriste en Indonésie ».
Adiwinoto décrit Dujana comme un commandant, un stratège et un expert en explosifs. « Il a été impliqué dans les attentats de Bali, de Poso et autres », a indiqué le porte-parole.
Dujana est susceptible d'être mis en accusation sous le coup des lois anti-terroristes, et, par conséquent, pourrait subir la peine de mort.

Sources anglophones

Source francophone


Indonesian cleric Aman Abdurrahman sentenced to death for 'inciting others to commit terrorism'

On Friday, South Jakarta's district court sentenced Indonesian cleric and de facto leader of militant group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) Aman Adburrehman to death for "inciting others to commit terrorism" across the country. The bench of five judges was headed by Judge Ahmad Zaini, who declared Abdurrahman "guilty beyond reasonable doubt".

Abdurrahman was found guilty for masterminding at least five attacks across the country since 2016. JAD is a local affiliate of militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In 2016, JAD carried out a suicide bombing attack at a Starbucks cafe in Jakarta, the first ISIL-linked attack in the country. The attack killed four.

Abdurrahman was also found guilty of masterminding a bus terminal explosion attack in Kampung Melayu, and a Samarinda church bombing, as well as shooting/stabbing attacks, respectively, on police officials in Bima and Medan.

The spiritual leader of JAD has been in jail since 2010 but has been planning attacks from his cell, the court declared. "The defendant's religious outreach inspired his followers to commit terrorism so the defendant must take responsibility", the court decision read.

Abdurrahman is to be executed by firing squad. His lawyers were given a week's duration to accept, appeal, or reject the ruling.


Brein aanslag Jakarta ter dood veroordeeld

De rechtbank van het district Zuid-Jakarta heeft het brein achter de aanslag in Jakarta in 2016, Aman Abdurrahman (46), ter dood veroordeeld. Het vonnis moet uitgevoerd worden door een vuurpeloton. Bij de aanslag kwamen zeven slachtoffers en twee zelfmoordterroristen om het leven. Een Nederlands medewerker van de Verenigde Naties raakte gewond.

Abdurrahman gaf de opdracht voor de terroristische aanslag vanuit de gevangenis. Ahmad Zaini, hoofdrechter van een rechtbank met vijf rechters, noemde Abdurrahman "zonder enige redelijke twijfel schuldig." Zijn advocaten hebben een week de tijd om in hoger beroep te gaan. Abdurrahman is de spirituele leider van de extremistische groep Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) die gelieerd is aan Islamitische Staat (IS). Hij wordt al sinds 2010 gevangen gehouden.

Abdurrahman wordt schuldig bevonden voor de organisatie van ten minste vijf andere aanslagen in het land sinds 2016. Nog hetzelfde jaar voerde JAD ook al een zelfmoordaanslag uit in een vestiging van Starbucks, wat wordt gezien als de eerste aanslag in Indonesië die gelinkt kan worden aan IS. Daarnaast wordt hij schuldig bevonden aan de aanslag op een busstation in Kampung Melayu in Oost-Jakarta, de aanslag op een kerk in Samarinda en beschietingen en messteken op politieagenten in Bima en Medan.


Indonesians charged with people-smuggling following Christmas Island wreck

Three Indonesians have been charged with people-smuggling by Australian authorities after a shipwreck off Christmas Island last month. Over 50 people were killed when the vessel, carrying mainly Iraqi, Iranian & Kurdish asylum seekers, smashed against rocks on December 15 after its engine failed.

The trio, ages 22, 32 and 60, appeared in a Perth court charged with, "facilitating the bringing to Australia of a group of five or more persons," according to police. The case, which is now adjourned for three weeks, could result in a 20 year prison sentence. The three Indonesians will reappear in court on 15 Febuary via video link. Their attourney, David McKenzie, stated that the men are "unhappy" and that the wreck was "a total tragedy and they're very upset."

A day earlier, an Australian Customs internal report cleared both the Customs authorities and the Navy of any blame, stating that all personnel acted appropriately and exercised good judgment. Eight recommendations have been made to prevent a similar incident, including the establishment of a land-based radar system to monitor northern maritime approaches to the island. The recommendations will be implemented by June 30, 2011.


Három indonéziait vádolnak embercsempészettel az ausztrál hatóságok

A társaság ladikja december 15-én, viharos tengeren, motorhiba következtében szenvedett hajótörést a Karácsony-sziget partjainál. A balesetben több mint ötvenen meghaltak, többségük iraki, iráni, illetve kurd menekült. A hatóságok így is 42 túlélőt mentettek ki a vízből.

A 22, 32, illetve 60 éves vádlottakat a perthi bíróságra idézték be; ügyük tárgyalása február 15-én, videóközvetítés útján folytatódik. Az ellenük emelt vád után legrosszabb esetben fejenként 20 év börtönt, illetve 220 000 ausztrál dolláros pénzbírságot kaphatnak.

A vádat egy nappal az Ausztrál Határrendészet belső vizsgálatának lezárása után emelték: a hatóságok azt vizsgálták, hogyhogy csak közvetlenül az elsüllyedése előtt fedezték fel a part mentén hánykódó hajót. A zárójelentés szerint sem a határrendészet, sem a haditengerészet nem követett el hibát. A hasonló esetek megelőzésére ugyanakkor ajánlásokat tettek, amiket rövid határidővel, június 30-ig foganatosítanak majd. A nyolc javaslat között szerepel egy radarrendszer kiépítése is, amivel az északról érkező hajókat figyelnék. A Karácsony-sziget 2600 kilométerre északnyugatra fekszik Ausztrália partjaitól, de a tőle északra fekvő Indonéziától csak 300 kilométer választja el.


User:InfantGorilla/In depth: Guantanamo military commissions

One of President Barack Obama's first acts of office was to request a halt to the military commission hearings in Guantanamo Bay, a United States base on the island of Cuba.

The legal motion, signed last night by Obama and the US Department of Defense, is due to be heard Wednesday by two judges chairing the commissions.
It requests that the hearings be halted until May 20.

On Wednesday, the White House began circulating a draft executive order that called for a complete halt to the military commissions, and the closure of the detention camp within one year.

Proceedings before the Guantanamo military commissions in October and November included:

Mohammed Jawad's confession was ruled inadmissible due to torture according to the Guantanamo military commission examining his case.

The commission investigating Jawad has been the focus of several controversies, since charges were first filed. Major David Frakt, a reserve officer who is a law professor in civilian life, had expressed concern that the prosecution had been imposing delays on Jawad's access to possibly exculpatory evidence. The prosecution team had been warned about not being forthcoming with evidence by the presiding officer of the commission, Colonel Stephen Henley.
Henley had warned the Prosecution team to be more forthcoming with evidence.

Colonel Henley excluded Jawad's confessions on Tuesday October 28, 2008.
According to
The Guardian:

Jawad's Prosecution team acknowledges that Jawad was a minor at the time of his capture. Jawad, and his fellow Guantanamo captive Omar Khadr, are the only two minors to ever face charges for crimes alleged to have been committed during battle.

Jawad testified during his Combatant Status Review Tribunal and annual Administrative Review Board hearings as to
how he came to be present during the grenade attack.

According to his account he was approached outside a mosque after prayers, and offered a well-paying job clearing land-mines on the nearby Afghan border. Jawad said that his widowed mother had left him in the care of his uncles, and that he felt a burden to them, so he accepted this offer.
However, when he arrived at the mountain camp where he thought he was going to be trained in how to clear land mines his bosses drugged him. After several days of dreaminess they asked him to carry some objects in his pocket on a visit to a bazaar.

He testified that when he was asked to stay and wait for his companions, while still carrying the objects in his pocket. He acknowledged hearing a distant explosion, but it didn't really get his attention. Instead, he testified he got bored, and decided to buy some raisins from a nearby food stall.

To get at his money, to pay for the raisins he had to take the object out of his pocket. He said the stall owner exclaimed to him asked him if he didn't know he was carrying a bomb. He testified he didn't know, never having seen a grenade before. He said the shop owner told him he must immediately run to the river shore, and throw the grenade in the river, before anyone got hurt. He testified that he obeyed, yelling to other pedestrians to get out of his way.

Henley acknowledges that during his initial Afghan custody armed interrogators threatened that they would kill his family if he didn't confess. During discovery his Prosecution team acknowledged that, prior to the key confession to American interrogators, Jawad had been in Guantanamo's frequent flyer program and had been subjected to weeks of sleep deprivation.

Darrel Vandeveld, the senior member of Jawad's prosecution, resigned in October. It has been reported that his superiors insisted he submit to a psychiatric examination before he would be allowed to resign.

In interviews following his resignation Vandeveld had revealed that during the process of building the evidence for the case against Jawad he came to believe key elements of Jawad's account. That Jawad had been drugged and tricked into unknowingly playing a role in the attack, and that his confessions were coerced through questionable interrogation techniques. He had suggested that Jawad should be offered a plea deal, a short sentence, followed by entry into a rehabilitation program as Jawad has a very low level of culpability, endured abuse, and was a minor when captured.


Guantánamo deverá ser fechada em um ano

O presidente dos Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, determinou o fechamento da Prisão de Guantánamo, situada na Baía de Guantánamo, em Cuba, nesta quinta-feira (22). Obama também exigiu a suspensão de interrogatórios violentos contra suspeitos de terrorismo e as prisões secretas da CIA.

Segundo o decreto assinado, a prisão deverá ser fechada em até um ano. Cerca de 240 estrangeiros ainda estão aprisionados em Guantánamo. Ao longo da campanha à presidência, Obama se comprometeu a fechar a prisão.


International arms dealer Viktor Bout arrested in Thailand

Viktor Bout, an international arms dealer, has been arrested in Thailand. Bout was arrested by the Royal Thai Police on Thursday, after checking in at a Sofitel luxury hotel in the Si Lom district of Bangkok.

Viktor Bout is suspected of supplying arms to the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, FARC, as well as combatants on both sides of African civil wars. He has been dubbed the "Merchant of Death" by the press as well as the book Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible by Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun.

At a press conference held by Thai police they said that Bout is being investigated for "procuring weapons for terrorists and conspiring with terrorists." According to Maj. Gen. Surapol Thuanthong, Bout said "The game is over" when he was arrested.

"This multi-country operation culminating in the arrest of Viktor Bout in Thailand is a model for how suspected dangerous international criminals need to be investigated, charged and brought to justice in the 21st century," said Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble.

Federal prosecutors in the United States hope to get Bout extradited for prosecution on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

The 2005 film Lord of War has been said to have been inspired by Viktor Bout.


Затримано відомого російського торгівця зброєю

Відомого російського торгівця зброєю Віктора Бута було затримано 6 березня 2008 р. у Таїланді. Поліція заарештувала Бута в одному з елітних готелів Бангкоку. Арешт був здійснений за запитом та тісної співпраці американських та тайських спецслужб.

Правоохоронні органи країни звинувачують Віктора Бута у постачанні зброї всупереч ембарго ООН таким терористичним організаціям, як Аль-Каїда, рухові Талібан, ФАРК, а також декільком збройним угрупуванням у кількох збройних конфліктах на африканському континенті. США раніше добивалися екстрадиції Бута з Росії, але росісйське законодавство стояло на перешкоді. Преса нарекла Бута "торгівець смертю", про нього навіть вийшла книга англійського журналіста Стівена Брауна. Образ Віктора Бута, як "торгівця смертю" знайшов своє втілення у американському художньому кінофільмі «Збройний барон».

На пресконференції тайської поліції було повідомлено, що Бут був затриманий за звинуваченнями у спробі укласти договір на постачання зброї терористичним організаціям. Арешт відбувся якраз після того, як Бут завершив перемови із, як він думав представниками повстанського руху ФАРК. Насправді, агенти американських спецслужб слідкували за Бутом вже довгий час і під виглядом представників ФАРК запросили його до Таїланду, де його й було заарештовано. США заявили, що домагатимуться екстрадиції Бута. Про такі ж плани заявила і Росія, яка досі очікує офіційне подання Таїланду про затримку громадянина Росії.

8 березня 2008


International bodies express concern over Israel-Hezbollah conflict

International humanitarian organisations and human rights watchdogs have expressed concerns over the rising civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel. They have also warned the warring groups that their conduct may not comply with international laws governing the safety of civilians in combat areas.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed grave concern over the growing civilian casualties in the conflict in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and called for accountability for any breaches of international law in a statement released on Wednesday.

The statement said that indiscriminate shelling of cities and the targeting of supposed military sites which would possibly result in civilians deaths is unacceptable and unjustifiable. It called for respecting the  principle of proportionality in reacting to enemy action.

The statement reminded parties to the conflict that the obligation to protect civilians during hostilities is expressed in international criminal law, and warned that the scale and predictability of the killings in the region may attach personal criminal responsibility of those involved, especially those in positions of command and control.

The High Commissioner also warned of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, especially in southern Lebanon, where large numbers of people are
reported to be increasingly deprived of access to basic services and are forcibly displaced. She called for unrestricted and secure passage for all humanitarian assistance.

In a press briefing in Geneva, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
director of operations Pierre Krähenbühl gave the ICRC's assessment of the humanitarian situation engendered by the conflict.

He said that the large number of civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure "raises serious questions" over the warring parties' compliance  to the principle of proportionality in combat operations.

In the briefing, he stated the reported death toll as about 230 killed and 600 wounded in Lebanon and 13 civilians killed and over 150 wounded in Israel.

He said that medical assistance and evacuation for those in need is severely limited by the ongoing hostilities and that the safety of the medical mission is "deeply problematic". He pointed out that large numbers of people are fleeing the conflict zones.

He called on Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon to allow food and other essential supplies to reach the affected civilian population.

He stated that the ICRC has reminded the parties to the conflict, publicly and in private, of their obligation to distinguish between civilians and military targets, their obligation to respect the principle of proportionality, and to protect the medical aid services, to spare civilians and ensure secure access to medical help for all.

The representations have been made in Israel with the Ministry of foreign affairs and Army command, and in Lebanon with the Prime minister and also to Hezbollah, with whom the ICRC has contact.

The watchdog group Human Rights Watch warned Hezbollah on attacking civilian targets in Israel and called on Israel to allow relief convoys safe entry into and passage inside Lebanon,

A press release by the group said that Hezbollah rocket attacks on Sunday and Monday were "at best indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas, at worst the deliberate targeting of civilians" and called them serious violations of international humanitarian law and "probable war crimes". The rockets launched against Haifa over the past two days contained hundreds of metal ball bearings that are of limited use against military targets but cause great harm to civilians and civilian property, it said.

A release also said that border towns in Lebanon are already facing serious shortages of food and medicine, and are in urgent need of supplies. It called for safe passage for aid convoys in the wake on an Israeli missile attack on an aid convoy, reported by the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the UAE RC, the convoy was clearly marked as a relief operation, contained medical supplies and medicines, as well as several ambulances and that at least one person was killed in the attack.

Amnesty International (AI) today called on the UN Security Council to meet urgently in order to adopt measures to protect civilians caught up in the deepening Israel-Lebanon conflict. It alleged that G8 member states, during the recently concluded summit, had failed to "put the protection of civilians above politics" in their discussions of the conflict. AI condemned continuing attacks on civilians by both Israel and Hezbollah.

An Israeli official told the BBC "We feel that proportionality should be judged in terms of the threat we face. This is not just an issue of the kidnappings. Hezbollah has a huge arsenal and has fired 1,000 missiles at us. We are acting in self-defence". He also said that Hezbollah often hides in civilian areas and that Israel had dropped fliers and gave other warnings to civilians to leave before an attack.

Also, Vice Premier Shimon Peres questioned the reported casualty count in Lebanon, saying in an interview with CNN, "the numbers of the victims [in Lebanon] are not acceptable. We think that information coming from Lebanon is totally unreliable."

Hezbollah says its capture of Israeli soldiers was to use them in a "bargain" with Israel and that Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel are a retaliation to Israeli strikes against Lebanon and its civilians. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, said "When the Zionists behave like there are no rules and no red lines and no limits to the confrontation, it is our right to behave in the same way."


Agências humanitárias internacionais expressam preocupação com o conflito Israel-Hizbollah

As organizações humanitárias internacionais e de direitos humanos demonstraram preocupação com o crescente número de vítimas e a crise humanitária advinda do conflito contínuo na região norte do Líbano entre  Israel e o Hizbollah. Elas também advertiram aos dois grupos em guerra que as condutas deles talvez  não estejam em acordo com as leis internacionais sobre segurança de civis em áreas de combate.

A alto-comissária de Direitos Humanos das Nações Unidas, Louise Arbour, demonstrou grande preocupação sobre o número cada vez maior de vítimas no Líbano, em Israel e nos territórios palestinos ocupados. Numa declaração dada na quarta-feira ele pediu para que sejam responsabilizados aqueles que violarem qualquer brecha das leis internacionais.

Segundo sua declaração,  o bombardeio  indiscriminado de cidades e os ataques a supostos  sítios militares onde se prevê a morte de civis é inaceitável e injustificável. Ela pediu  também para que fosse respeitado o princípio da proporcionalidade na reação à ação inimiga.

A declaração lembrou as duas partes do conflito que a obrigação de proteger civis durante uma hostilidade é expressa na lei criminal internacional, e avisou que a escalada e a previsibilidade das matanças na região podem resultar em responsabilidade criminal pessoal para os implicados, especialmente para aqueles em posições de comando.

A  alta-comissária advertiu ainda sobre a situação humanitária deteriorante, especialmente no sul do Líbano, onde   grande número de pessoas, segundo se  informa, está  cada vez mais privado do acesso a serviços básicos, além de essas pessoas serem  obrigadas a  mudar de lugar. Ela pediu passagem irrestrita e segura para toda  ajuda humanitária.

Em uma nota para a imprensa em  Genebra, Pierre Krähenbühl, que é diretor de operações do Comitê Internacional da Cruz Vermelha (CICV),   fez a avaliação do órgão sobre a situação.

Ele disse que o grande número de baixas entre civis e danos à infraestrutura "levanta dúvidas sérias" sobre a vontade de se respeitar o princípio da proporcionalidade em operações de combate.

Na nota, ele citou  as cifras aproximadas de  230 mortos e 600 feridos no Líbano, e 13 civis mortos e outros 150 feridos em Israel.

Ele disse que a ajuda médica e a evacuação para aqueles em  necessidade estão severamente limitadas pela hostilidade contínua e que a segurança da missão médica é  "profundamente problemática". Ele lembrou que  grande números de pessoas está abandonando as zonas de conflito.

Ele convidou Israel a permitir que comida e outras provisões essenciais possam passar pelo bloqueio aéreo e marítimo  imposto ao Líbano e assim poder chegar até a população civil necessitada.

Ele afirmou que a Cruz Vermelha lembrou as duas partes em conflito, tanto em público quanto  em privado, da   obrigação de distinguir-se entre civis e alvos militares,   obrigação de respeitar o princípio da proporcionalidade,   proteger os serviços de assistência médica, poupar civis e garantir a todos o acesso seguro à ajuda médica.

Representações foram feitas junto a  Israel com o Ministério de Relações Exteriores e Comando  do Exército,   no Líbano com o seu primeiro-ministro e também com o Hizbollah, com o qual a Cruz Vermelha tem  contato.

A Humans Rights Watch advertiu o Hizbollah sobre atacar alvos civis em Israel e convidou  Israel a permitir a entrada segura de comboios de ajuda no Líbano.

Numa nota de imprensa, o grupo de direitos humanos disse que os ataques com foguetes do Hizbollah ocorridos no domingo e na segunda-feira foram "na melhor das hipóteses, ataques intencionais em  áreas civis, e na pior das hipóteses ataque deliberado contra civis". Disse que o Hizbollah cometeu sérias violações contra a lei humanitária internacional além de " prováveis crimes de guerra". Os foguetes lançados contra Haifa nos  dois últimos dias continham centenas de  bola metálicas que são de uso exclusivo para alvos militares, e que causam   grandes danos a civis e a suas propriedades, acrescentou a nota.

A nota  também disse que as cidades da fronteira do Líbano já enfrentam séria falta de comida e remédios, e estão em  necessidade urgente de provisões. Ela pediu a passagem segura de  comboios de ajuda, depois de lembrar que um comboio de ajuda foi atacado com mísseis, segundo informou  a Sociedade Vermelho Crescente dos Emirados Árabes Unidos. De acordo com esta última, um comboio que foi claramente marcado como de ação de emergência, que continha provisões médicas e remédios e era formado por   várias ambulâncias,  mesmo assim foi atacado e  pelo menos uma pessoa morreu.

A Anistia Internacional   convidou o Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas a fazer uma reunião de emergência  para adotar medidas para proteger civis pegos no meio do crescente conflito entre  Israel e   Líbano. Ela alegou que os estados membros do G8, durante a cúpula recentemente concluída, nas suas discussões sobre o conflito falharam em  "colocar a proteção de civis acima da política".  A Anistia condenou a continuação dos ataques contra civis tanto por  Israel quanto  pelo Hizbollah.

Um funcionário israelense disse à BBC:  "sentimos que a proporcionalidade deve ser julgada em termos  da ameaça que enfrentamos. Esta não é apenas uma questão de seqüestros. O Hizbollah tem um enorme arsenal e disparou mil  mísseis contra nós. Estamos agindo em legítima defesa". Ele também disse que o Hizbollah muitas vezes se esconde em áreas civis, mas  que o Israel  despejou de avião avisos para os  civis  partirem antes de um ataque.

Hizbollah disse que os soldados israelenses capturados servem para ser usados como "troca" com Israel e que os ataques com foguetes é uma retaliação para o ataque  israelense contra o Líbano e os seus civis. O xeique Hassan Nasrallah, o líder de Hezbollah, disse: "quando os sionistas se comportam como se não houvesse nenhuma regra, e nenhuma linha vermelha, e nenhum limite de confrontação,  é  nosso direito  comportar-se do mesmo modo."


International Criminal Court gives Myanmar till July 27 to respond on Rohingya case

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) gave Myanmar a deadline to respond to a request to extend their jurisdiction over the alleged crimes against the ethnic Rohingya. In the meeting behind closed doors in The Hague, Netherlands, ICC judges decided to set the deadline on July 27.

Myanmar's military is accused of illegal deportation of the minority Muslim community, as well as committing sex crimes, burning people and villages and killing people belonging to the Rohingya ethnic group. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called it "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Myanmar denies the accusations. Myanmar is not a member of the international tribunal and hence, ICC do not ordinarily have jurisdiction there.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people have been displaced from their home since August and nearly 700 thousand have settled in Bangladesh. Unlike Myanmar, Bangladesh is a member of the international tribunal where ICC does have jurisdiction.

In the decision, the ICC said, "Considering that the crime of deportation is alleged to have commenced on the territory of Myanmar, the chamber deems it appropriate to seek observations from the competent authorities of Myanmar on the prosecutor's request".


Birmanie : la Cour pénale internationale donne jusqu'au 27 juillet pour répondre à l'affaire Rohingya

Jeudi, la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) a donné à la Birmanie (Myanmar) une date limite pour répondre à une demande d'extension de sa juridiction sur les crimes présumés contre l'ethnie Rohingya. Lors de la réunion à huis clos à La Haye (Pays-Bas), les juges de la CPI ont décidé de fixer la date limite au 27 juillet.

L'armée du Myanmar est accusée de déportation illégale de la communauté musulmane minoritaire, d'avoir commis des crimes sexuels, d'avoir brûlé des individus et des villages et tué des personnes appartenant au groupe ethnique Rohingya. Le Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme a qualifié ces évènements « d'exemple type de nettoyage ethnique ». Le Myanmar nie les accusations : la Birmanie n'étant pas membre du tribunal international, la CPI n'y a habituellement pas compétence.

Des centaines de milliers de Rohingyas ont été déplacés de leur domicile depuis août 2017 et près de 700 000 se sont installés au Bangladesh. Contrairement au Myanmar, le Bangladesh est membre du tribunal international où la CPI est compétente.

Dans la décision, la CPI a déclaré : « Considérant que le crime d'expulsion aurait commencé sur le territoire du Myanmar, la chambre estime qu'il est approprié de demander des observations aux autorités compétentes du Myanmar à la requête du procureur ».

25 juin 2018

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International Criminal Court rules its jurisdiction includes Palestine

The International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled on Friday its territorial jurisdiction extends into the areas of Palestine, evoking objections from Israeli and U.S. officials.

Judges said the 2-1 decision was based on Palestine's membership to its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, but said the court is not ruling on the statehood of the disputed territory, nor its borders. In a 60-page legal brief, the court claimed its "territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine [...] extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem".

Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda expressed approval for the ruling's "judicial clarity", but said "[t]he Office is currently analysing this decision & will then decide its next step guided strictly by its independent and impartial mandate". Bensouda in December 2019 said "war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip", naming both the Israeli Defence Forces and Palestinian revolutionary group Hamas as potential perpetrators.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh praised the ruling as "a victory for justice and humanity". Hamas also praised the ruling, as did the Palestinian Foreign Ministry and international organisation Human Rights Watch.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision as one of hypocrisy and said "[w]hen the ICC investigates Israel for fake war crimes, this is pure anti-Semitism." In a videotaped statement, he claimed "we will fight this perversion of justice with all our might!"

Israel also accuses the international tribunal of injudiciously ruling on matters of politics and said jurisdiction cannot be extended to borders it claims has yet to be decided in peace talks. The Israeli military has systems in place to prevent misconduct, which systems have been criticised in the past as insufficient.

The United States also objected. State Department spokesman Ned Price said, in spite of President Joe Biden's promises to mend relations with Palestine the government was opposed not only to Friday's ruling but to Palestine being deemed a member of the Rome Statute at all.

In a statement, Price reiterated "As we made clear when the Palestinians purported to join the Rome Statute in 2015, we do not believe the Palestinians qualify as a sovereign state, and therefore are not qualified to obtain membership as a state, or participate as a state in international organisations, entities, or conferences, including the ICC [...] the court’s jurisdiction should be reserved for countries that consent to it, or that are referred by the UN Security Council."

Both Israel and the United States have signed, but not ratified, the Rome Statute.  They do not recognise the court's jurisdiction.

The Israeli government was widely condemned amongst the international community for constructing settlements in disputed territory — where some 700,000 people now live.


La Internacia Puna Kortumo verdiktas, ke ĝia jura aŭtoritato inkluzivas Palestinon

La pasintan vendredon, la 5-an de februaro, la Internacia Puna Kortumo verdiktis, ke la teritorio de ĝia jura aŭtoritato inkluzivas la areon de Palestino.

La decido estis akceptita de tripersona juĝistaro, je du poraj voĉoj kaj unu kontraŭa. La juĝistoj diris ke la decido estis farita surbaze de la palestina membreco je la Roma Statuto, tamen ili klarigis ke la Kortumo ne faras verdikon rilate la naciecon de la disputita teritorio, nek rilate ties landlimojn.

En sesdek-paĝa leĝdokumento, la Kortumo pretendis ke ĝia «teritoria aŭtoritato en la palestina situacio [...] etendiĝas ĝis la teritorioj okupitaj de Israelo depost 1967, nome Gazao kaj Cisjordanio, inkluzive de Orienta Jerusalemo».

La ĉefprokuroro Fatou Bensouda esprimis sian aprobon pri la «jurisma klareco» de la verdikto, aldonante ke «la Prokurorejo aktuale analizas ĉi tiun decidon kaj sian sekvan paŝon decidos strikte surbaze de sendependa kaj senpartieca mandato». En decembro 2019, Bensouda asertis: «Militkrimoj estis faritaj, aŭ estas farataj, en Cisjordanio, inkluzive de Orienta Jerusalemo», akuzante kaj la israelan soldataron kaj la palestinan revolucian grupon Hamas kiel kulpulojn.

La palestina ĉefministro laŭdis la verdikton kiel «venkon por la justeco kaj la homaro». Ankaŭ laŭdis la verdikton Hamas kaj la palestina eksterlanda ministrejo.

Dume, la israela ĉefministro Benjamin Netanjahu kondamnis la verdikton kiel hipokritaĵon, dirante: «kiam la Internacia Puna Kortumo enketas Israelon pro falsaj militkrimoj, tio estas antisemitismo.»

Israelo ankaŭ akuzas la kortumon, ke ĝi verdiktis nejuste pri politikaj aferoj, argumentante ke teritoria instanco ne povas esti etendita al landlimoj kiuj, laŭ ilia opinio, ankoraŭ ne estas deciditaj de paca intertraktado. Usono obĵetis pro similaj kialoj, kaj laŭ reprezentanto la usona ŝtatdepartamento, ĝi opinias ke Palestino eĉ ne kvalifikiĝas kiel ŝtato, kaj sekve ne posedas la rajton fariĝi membro de la Roma Statuo dekomence.

Israelo subskribis la Roman Statuton, sed ne ratifis ĝin. Do ĝi ne agnoskas la aŭtoritaton de la Kortumo.


Internet censorship study group reports on China

An international study group report released Thursday calls China's internet censorship "the most sophisticated effort of its kind in the world," and details measures used within China to limit citizen access to internet resources, including the BBC. The study found though that sites of most American news outlets were available, such as CNN, MSNBC, and ABC, as were major anonymizer and human rights sites.

The OpenNet Initiative project (ONI), made up of researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada, Harvard Law School in the US, and Cambridge University in the UK, has a mission "to investigate and challenge state filtration and surveillance practices".

The report, by the project's National Filtering team, and named Internet Filtering in China in 2004-2005: A Country Study, was published on Thursday.

Says the report summary: "ONI sought to determine the degree to which China filters sites on topics that the Chinese government finds sensitive, and found that the state does so extensively."

Topics which were found to be frequently blocked included pornography, Taiwanese and Tibetan independence, Falun Gong, the Dalai Lama, the Tiananmen Square incident, opposition political parties, and a variety of anti-Communist movements.

Volunteers in China who had assisted with the study had done so at "substantial risk", according to John Palfrey, a project leader, speaking at a Congressional hearing in Washington. Palfrey said the filtering was not openly admitted by Chinese authorities, and censorship decisions could not be appealed, encouraging self-censorship.

The report describes the Chinese system as dynamic, pervasive, sophisticated, and effective. Filtering appeared to be carried out at various control points — unlike systems in other countries — and a variety of parameters were changing over time.

According to the summary, "This combination of factors leads to a great deal of supposition as to how and why China filters the Internet. These complexities also make it very difficult to render a clear and accurate picture of Internet filtering in China at any given moment."

Most filtering was at the backbone level, with additional controls implemented by individual ISPs, and Chinese search engines, which were found to block results based on particular keywords. Chinese blog providers also were found to prevent or remove content based on particular keywords, or removed the keywords from posts.

Cyber-cafes were legally required to track customer's usage, keeping records for 60 days. This and a patchwork of other laws —  "including media regulation, protections of 'state secrets,' controls on Internet service providers and Internet content providers" — limited free expression. There was no single statute enacting the censorship.

During the years of the ONI study, the Chinese censorship system was observed to have grown "more refined, sophisticated, and targeted".

Other National Filtering reports so far released by the group are Bahrain 2004-05, United Arab Emirates 2004-05, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2004; although members have released a number of other reports individually [1].