Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoes law placing Supreme Court under power of ruling party

President of Poland Andrzej Duda promised on Monday to veto the Senate's plans to change the arrangement of the country's Supreme Court.  The new law, which passed 55 to 23 on Saturday, would place the selection of judges in the hands of the ruling political party, the Law and Justice Party (PiS).   The proposed law was met with protesters across Poland asking Duda to veto the bill and objections from officials of the European Union, who described the measure as anti-democratic. Duda also planned to veto another law that would have placed the council that proposes candidates for judgeship under the power of government officials.

"I have decided to send back to parliament — in which case to veto — the law on the supreme court, as well as the law on the National Council of the Judiciary." These laws "would not strengthen the sense of justice in society," Duda told the public. He said he made this decision after extensive consultation with experts in a variety of areas, including legal experts, and particularly anti-communist activist Zofia Romaszewska.

Specifically, the law would require every one of Poland's more than 80 Supreme Court justices resign and would empower the justice minister of the governing party to choose which justices will return to the bench and which must be replaced, and with whom.  It would also require that judges take religious values into account in their work: "In social life, apart from legal norms there also operates a system of norms and values, undefined in law but equally established, derived from morality and Christian values [...] The supreme court should take this duality into account in its rulings," it reads.

Duda expressed his intent to sign a third bill that would allow the justice minister under some circumstances to select judges and assign cases for Poland's local courts.

Supporters of the laws argued they are needed to eliminate corruption and render the court system more efficient. Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Warchol said the laws would prevent justice from "becom[ing] a form of privilege" and ensure all Poles are subject to the law. Warchol said in an essay, of PiS's legal reforms in general, "If we do not ensure a minimum of democratic control over the judiciary, there will be no counterbalance for the growing corporatism of judges. And that would mean the creation of a new order: a judiciocracy instead of democracy." Since coming to power in 2015 on a populist and anti-immigrant platform, PiS has taken control of Polish public media, limited the authority of the constitutional tribunal, the body that can rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional, and attempted a no-exception anti-abortion law, though plans for this last were cancelled in response to widespread protests. Some of these measures have been passed without any opportunity for public commentary or during nighttime sessions.

"Courts in our opinion are the stronghold of post-communists in Poland," said party leader Jarosław Kaczyński.  He went on to accuse the supreme court of "protecting people who had served the old [Communist] regime" and of being "controlled by lefties" and foreign elements.

Mikołaj Pietrzak of the Warsaw Bar Association told the press, "The courts are sometimes too slow, some of the fees payable by citizens are too high, the system of legal aid is inadequate and under-financed — we can see the problems [...] But this is like going to the doctor with the flu and he treats you by amputating your leg."

The protesters numbered in the tens of thousands in Warsaw alone, some of them singing "Highway to Hell" outside the Presidential palace, in reference to Duda's location at the time in his vacation home on the Hel Peninsula. Protests across Poland continued through the weekend, with  many holding up signs reading "3 X veto," calling for President Duda not to support the new laws and candlelit vigils on Sunday night.

Some protesters did support the government's decision.  When ombudsman Adam Bodnar gave a speech asking the Senate not to pass the bill, spectators called out, "Who elected you? No one! No one!"

University of Warsaw constitutional law expert Marek Chmaj told Gazeta Wyborcza, "The act means the abolishment of the Supreme Court in its current shape, creating a substitute court composed of completely new judges [...] Moreover, a disciplinary chamber is being created to watch the obedience of judges and representatives of legal professions."

The State Department of the United States, one of Poland's NATO allies, issued the following last Friday: "The Polish government has continued to pursue legislation that appears to undermine judicial independence and weaken the rule of law in Poland [...] We urge all sides to ensure that any judicial reform does not violate Poland's constitution or international legal obligations and respects the principles of judicial independence and separation of powers."

The European Union threatened legal proceedings if Poland were to enact this measure, which it sees as a lapse in Poland's treaty obligations to uphold democracy and the rule of law. President of the European Council Donald Tusk, himself a Pole, said, "It is my conviction that they are a negation of European values and standards, and that they put our reputation at risk [...] Politically, they move us back in time and space — backward and to the East." Legal action could result in economic sanctions or a loss of Poland's voting rights, though this last would require a unanimous vote among the E.U.'s other 27 countries, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary — one of the 27 — likened the plans for measures against Poland to an "inquisition campaign."


Prezydent Polski Andrzej Duda podważa prawo wprowadzające Sąd Najwyższy pod władzę partii rządzącej


Portuguese football club Porto in match-fixing probe

Portuguese soccer club Porto are under investigation for match-fixing and punishment, if found guilty, could be as severe as relegation to the 2nd division. Club president Pinto da Costa is also being investigated and could face a ban anywhere from 2 years to 10 years if found guilty. Porto have sent the accusations to their lawyers and have 5 days to submit their defence.

They participated in the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League where they won the tournament, SuperLiga where they won the Portuguese championship, Cup of Portugal where they were runners-up to Benfica.


Porto sob investigação

O clube português de futebol Porto, está sendo investigado por manipulação de resultados e, se punido,  poderá perder seis pontos e, se sofrer punição mais severa, poderá ser rebaixado à segunda divisão. O presidente do clube, Pinto da Costa, também está sendo investigado e poderá sofrer punição que varia de dois a dez anos, se for considerado culpado. O clube tem cinco dias para mandar a sua defesa.

O clube é acusado de manipular os resultados das partidas contra Estrela da Amadora e Beira-Mar, na temporada 2003-04. A decisão da Liga deve ser anunciada até maio. O caso, conhecido como "Escândalo do Apito Dourado", começou a ser investigado em 2004.


President Bush admits secret CIA detention centres

President Bush today confirmed that the CIA has held up to 100 terrorism suspects in secret overseas prisons. Speaking in a televised announcement, he said the CIA no longer held any prisoners and was disclosing information on the men's detention because the interrogation was complete. 14 of the men have been moved from  CIA custody to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, is thought to be among 14 suspects moved, including Ramzi Binalshibh and Abu Zubaydah.

President Bush said that the CIA interrogations had been vital in tracking down and capturing further suspects; such as Mohammed. He denied that the men were tortured: "The US does not torture. I have not authorised it and I will not." Despite the frank disclosure the President would not confirm exactly where the secret prisons had been located, although last year The Washington Post reported on the possible existence of detention centers in Eastern Europe causing deep concern in the EU. The European Parliament also protested against so called 'rendition' flights across Europe to transport prisoners to the secret centers.

The announcement comes a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of military commissions to try detainees was illegal. The president's proposal will help lay the groundwork for congressional legislation proposals, that if approved, would establish a legal basis for allowing military tribunal hearings of some prisoners held in the Cuban base. Mr Bush, speaking alongside family members of 9/11 victims, said it was now up to Congress to authorize the commissions so that, "the men our intelligence officials believe orchestrated the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001, can face justice." The new policy is more like a military tribunal than the previous proposals.

The president said he would submit the legislation today for consideration. It is reportedly causing controversy on Capitol Hill leaving Bush facing a potential rebellion from his own party, something he will be keen to avoid with his mid-term elections approaching. A spokesman for the Senate subcommittee that will consider the bill said there were "some sticking points with the administration" over the exact content.

A major part of the bill marks a role reversal by the Pentagon; previously the administration had argued that many of the detainees were "illegal combatants" and so not subject to the Geneva convention. The military commissions will now cover all Guantanamo Bay suspects with the convention, which, among other things, expressly forbids the use of torture. The president said that the bill would also ensure that individual US soldiers could not be sued by detainees in US courts.

The announcements coincide with a renewed focus on terrorism by Bush's Republican administration and comes as the party faces a tough mid-term election later this year.

The president concluded that the interrogation program had helped to prevent terrorism in America: "Were it not for this program, our intelligence community believes that al Qaeda and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland. By giving us information about terrorist plans we could not get anywhere else, this program has saved innocent lives."


Bush gab Existenz von CIA-Geheimgefängnissen zu

Washington D.C. (Vereinigte Staaten) / Brüssel (Belgien), 08.09.2006 – US-Präsident George W. Bush hat in einer Fernsehansprache am Mittwoch, den 6. September – und damit im Vorfeld des fünften Jahrestages der Anschläge auf das World-Trade-Center – die Existenz von CIA-Geheimgefängnissen außerhalb der Vereinigten Staaten eingeräumt und diese Praxis gleichzeitig mit dem Kampf gegen die Terrororganisation Al-Qaida verteidigt.

Die Insassen, unter denen sich namenhafte Hintermänner der Anschläge des 11. Septembers befinden, seien mittlerweilen nach Guantánamo verbracht worden. Es handelt sich unter anderem um Jemenit Ramsi Binalschibh, den Pakistaner Chalid Scheich Mohammed und Abu Subaidah. Der amerikanische Präsident verweigerte die Aussage darüber, wo sich diese Gefängnisse befinden. Bush betonte zugleich, die USA respektierten das Folterverbot: „Ich möchte gegenüber dem amerikanischen Volk und der Welt etwas klarstellen: Die Vereinigten Staaten foltern nicht. Es ist gegen unsere Gesetze, und es ist gegen unsere Werte. Ich habe es nicht erlaubt – und ich werde es nicht erlauben.“

Unterdessen haben Abgeordnete des Europäischen Parlaments die Mitglieder der Europäischen Union, unter anderem Polen und Rumänien, dazu gedrängt, Standorte etwaiger Geheimgefängnisse öffentlich zu machen. Der Europarat, der die Wahrung der Menschenrechte in Europa überwacht und Berichten nachgegangen war, es gebe US-Gefängnisse in Osteuropa, brandmarkte die Gefängnisse als Verletzung des internationalen Völkerrechts. „Unsere Arbeit hat dazu beigetragen, die schmutzige Seite dieses geheimen Krieges offen zu legen, der vollständig außerhalb jeder Rechtsgrundlage geführt wurde“, so Rene van der Linden, Präsident der Parlamentarischen Versammlung des Europarats, wörtlich.


Bush geeft geheime gevangenissen toe

President George W. Bush verklaart dat de CIA verdachten van terrorisme in geheime gevangenissen buiten de VS had zitten maar dat daar nu een eind aan is gemaakt. Er waren al langere tijd verdenkingen dat de VS over dergelijke detentiecentra beschikten maar de Amerikaanse regering deed er het stilzwijgen toe. President Bush zette uiteen dat deze opsluitcentra nodig waren om het terrorisme doelgericht te kunnen bestrijden en voegde eraan toe dat hij geen toestemming had verleend om te martelen en dat dat ook niet zou hebben plaatsgevonden.


President of Afghanistan uninjured after assassination attempt

At least one person was killed and nearly a dozen were injured after six Taliban militants opened fire during a celebration in an assassination attempt on the life of the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.

Karzai was taken away by body guards and was uninjured in the attack which happened in Kabul. Several other government diplomats and ministers were also present during the celebration and were uninjured. United States and British ambassadors were also present and uninjured.

"Today, the enemies of Afghanistan, the enemies of Afghanistan's security and progress tried to disrupt the ceremony and cause disorder and terror. Fortunately, Afghanistan's military forces surrounded them quickly and arrested some of the suspects," stated Karzai in a statement on national television less than two hours after the attack.

The people of Afghanistan were celebrating the 16th anniversary of the fall of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan to the Mujahideen during a parade when the militants opened fire from a nearby building using guns and rocket propelled grenades.

At least three of the militants were killed, and the other three were arrested by police.


Afghanistan: attentato a Karzai, illeso

Attentato a Kabul, capitale dell'Afghanistan, durante una parata militare per i festeggiamenti del 16° anniversario della caduta del partito comunista, alla quale partecipavano il presidente Hamid Karzai con numerosi parlamentari, ambasciatori ed almeno un migliaio di soldati.

Improvvisamente sono esplosi alcuni razzi e colpi di arma da fuoco, provocando un numero imprecisato di feriti. Tra questi vi sarebbe almeno un deputato afghano, mentre non è chiaro il numero di morti. Karzai, probabile bersaglio, è riuscito ad abbandonare l'area incolume. Non sono rimasti feriti neanche gli ambasciatori di Stati Uniti d'America e Regno Unito, vicini al presidente durante la cerimonia.

L'attentato è stato rivendicato dai talebani, che hanno parlato di sei loro uomini infiltrati, tre dei quali sarebbero rimasti uccisi in combattimento. Forze della polizia afghana parlano anche di alcuni talebani catturati durante lo scontro.

Gli scontri a fuoco sono durati 15 minuti, mentre Karzai, che era appena salito sul palco per intervenire, è riuscito subito ad abbandonare la zona ed è successivamente apparso in televisione per confermare il suo stato di salute.

In un intervento televisivo in diretta, Karzai ha detto: «Oggi i nemici dell'Afghanistan, i nemici della sicurezza e del progresso dell'Afghanistan, hanno provato a distruggere la cerimonia e causare disordini e terrore. Fortunatamente, le forze di sicurezza afghane li hanno fermati rapidamente e hanno provveduto ad arrestare alcuni di essi».


Presidente do Afeganistão sobrevive a atentado Taliban

O presidente do Afeganistão Hamid Karzai escapou ileso de um atentado neste domingo em Cabul durante comemoração da vitória Mujahidin sobre o exército de ocupação soviética. Três pessoas pelo menos morreram, entre elas um parlamentar, e outra oito ficaram feridas.

O Taliban assumiu a responsabilidade pelo atentado.

Segundo testemunhas, ao final da execução do hino nacional, tiros foram disparados em direção ao local onde estava o presidente. Tão logo foram feitos os disparos, a segurança removeu o presidente e demais autoridades do local e levou-os para um lugar seguro.


President of East Timor pardons rebels who shot him

José Ramos-Horta, president of East Timor, has pardoned rebel leader Gastão Salsinha and 22 of his followers, involved in the 2008 attacks during which he was shot in the back and nearly died.

Dr. Ramos-Horta was shot by rebels on 11th February 2008 and survived only after being flown to the Royal Darwin Hospital in Australia, where he underwent five operations. He told the Sydney Morning Herald this year that one of the rebels, Marcelo Caetano, had admitted having shot him, and had apologised, saying he had not intended to kill him. According to the newspaper Tempo Semanal, Ramos-Horta said he is releasing the rebels because they were also victims. The pardons were gazetted last Friday, but the rebels will only be released after a court order is made.

The announcement follows last year's release of Maternus Bere, a former pro-Indonesian militia leader indicted by a United Nations crimes unit over the Suai Church Massacre in 1999. Bere was allowed to return to West Timor, where he became a government official, prompting international criticism.

Ramos-Horta is a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize and a former Prime Minister of East Timor.


கிழக்குத் திமோர் ஜனாதிபதி தன்னைச் சுட்டவர்களுக்கு மன்னிப்பு வழங்கினார்

கிழக்குத் திமோர் அதிபர் தன்னைச் சுட்டுப் படுகாயப்படுத்திய போராளிக் குழுத் தலைவர் கஸ்தாவோ சல்சின்கா மற்றும் அவரது 22 போராளிகளுக்கும் பொது மன்னிப்பு வழங்கினார்.

2008 ஆம் ஆண்டு பெப்ரவரி 11 இல் தலைநகர் திலியில் இடம்பெற்ற சூட்டுச் சம்பவத்தில் அதிபர் ஜொசே ரமோஸ்-ஓர்ட்டா படுகாயமடைந்த நிலையில் ஆத்திரேலியாவின் டார்வின் மருத்துவமனைக்கு எடுத்துச் செல்லட்டு அங்கு வைத்து அவருக்கு ஐந்து முறை அறுவைச் சிகிச்சை செய்யப்பட்டது.

போராளிகளில் ஒருவரான மார்செலோ சேட்டானோ தன்னிடம் மன்னிப்புக் கேட்டார் என்றும், அவர் தம்மைக் கொல்லுவதற்கு முயற்சிக்கவில்லை என்றும் கூறியதாக அதிபர் “சிட்னி மோர்னிங் எரால்ட்” பத்திரிகைக்கு சென்ற ஆண்டு அதிபர் தெரிவித்திருந்தார். அவர்களை விடுவித்துள்ளதாக தற்போது ஜனாதிபதி அறிவித்துள்ளதாக “டெம்போ செமனால்” என்ர பத்திரிகை அறிவித்துள்ளது. இவர்களுக்கான பொது மன்னிப்பு கடந்த வெள்ளிக்கிழமை அன்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

ரமோஸ்-ஹோர்ட்டா 1996 ஆம் ஆண்டிற்கான அமைதிக்கான நோபல் பரிசை கிழக்குத் திமோர் பிரதமருடன் இணைந்து பெற்றிருந்தமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

வியாழன், ஆகத்து 26, 2010


President of Guinea-Bissau assassinated

According to officials, João Bernardo Vieira, the president of Guinea-Bissau, was shot to death on Monday in his palace by renegade soldiers.

"President Vieira was killed by the army as he tried to flee his house which was being attacked by a group of soldiers close to the chief of staff Tagme Na Waie, early this morning," Zamora Induta, a military spokesman, said to Agence France-Presse, insisting that "this was not a coup d'etat."

"We reaffirmed our intention to respect the democratically elected power and the constitution of the republic," he said. "The people who killed President Vieira have not been arrested, but we are pursuing them. They are an isolated group. The situation is under control."

Induta also said that the president was "taken down by bullets fired by these soldiers," and that afterwards they looted his home. "They were taking everything they could carry, his personal belongings, the furniture, everything," Induta said.

The assassination is believed to be a revenge for a bomb blast that killed one of Vieira's rivals, the army chief of staff General Batista Tagme Na Waie, just a few hours earlier.

The constitution says that the nation's parliament chief, Raimundo Pereira, is to succeed Vieira in the case of his death.

Jean Ping, the chief executive of the African Union, said that the assassination of the president was a "criminal act".

Guinea-Bissau, located on the western coast of Africa, has had a history of coups, and is one of the world's poorest countries. It is notorious as being a transit point for the cocaine trade between Europe and South America.

João Bernardo Vieira, born in 1939, came to power in Guinea-Bissau during a coup in 1980, but was forced out in 1999 when a civil war started. In 2005, he returned from his exile in Portugal to participate in the nation's elections, and won the vote.


اغتيال رئيس غينيا بيساو

أطلق جنود متمردين الرصاص على جواو بيرناردو ڤييرا, رئيس غينيا بيساو, يوم الاثنين في القصر الرئاسي مما أدى إلى قتله, صرح بذلك مسؤولون.

قُتل الرئيس ڤييرا من الجيش بينما كان يحاول الفرار من منزله الذي كان يهاجم من مجموعة جنود قريبين من رئيس الأركان تاجمه نا واي, صباح اليوم, صرح بذلك زامورا إيندوتا, متحدث باسم الجيش لوكالة فرانس برس, مؤكدًا أن هذا لم يكن انقلاب عسكري.

الإثنين،  2 مارس 2009


Afrikou zmítá další konflikt, vojáci zabili prezidenta Guineje-Bissau

Krátce před jeho 70. narozeninami zastřelili vojáci prezidenta východoafrické země Guineje-Bissau Joaa Bernarda Vieiru. Na prezidenta zaútočila poblíž jeho domu skupina vojáků, která ho vinila z předchozí smrti náčelníka štábu.

Tagme na Waie, známý jako Vieirův ostrý rival, byl zavražděn při pumovém útoku o den dřív neznámými útočníky, což vedlo k útokům na prezidenta. Jeho rezidence byla ostřelována a Vieira byl pravděpodobně zabit, když se z ní pokoušel uniknout do bezpečí.

Lítost nad smrtí obou osob a odsouzení násilí vyjádřil generální tajemník Organizace spojených národů Pan Ki-mun[1] i další představitelé USA, Evropské unie a Africké unie. Prezidentova rodina je teď pod ochranou OSN. Přestože se armáda pohybuje v ulicích a například zastavila vysílání rozhlasových stanic, prohlásila, že nehodlá převzít moc - Vieiru by měl dočasně nahradit šéf parlamentu.

Vieira byl v čele hnutí za samostatnost v 70. letech, v roce 1974 se Guinea-Bissau i jeho přičiněním zbavila portugalské nadvlády. Prezidentem byl s krátkou přestávkou v letech 1980-1999. V letech 1998-1999 procházela země občanskou válkou a v roce 2003 v ní došlo k pokusu o převrat, po němž se ale podařilo situaci stabilizovat a proběhly prezidentské volby, v nichž se vrátil Vieira do úřadu. V loňském roce se armáda pokusila o jeho svržení, ale s útokem na prezidentský palác neuspěla. Od té doby panovalo mezi armádou a prezidentem napětí.

V Guineji-Bissau žije asi 1,6 milionu obyvatel, země je ekonomicky velmi slabá, navíc slouží jako jedna z důležitých oblastí pro mezinárodní obchod s kokainem.


Guinea-Bissau: Präsident ermordet

Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), 02.03.2009 – João Bernardo Vieira, der Präsident des kleinen westafrikanischen Landes Guinea-Bissau, ist tot. Portugiesische Medien berichteten, aufständische Soldaten hätten den Präsidenten auf der Flucht erschossen. Quelle der Information sind die Streitkräfte des Landes. Armee-Einheiten griffen demnach am Morgen den Präsidentenpalast an, dabei habe der Präsident versucht zu fliehen und sei dann erschossen worden. Ein Augenzeuge bestätigte gegenüber der portugiesischen Nachrichtenagentur Lusa, den Leichnam des Präsidenten in der Präsidentenresidenz gesehen zu haben. Die Militärführung machte in einer Erklärung meuternde Soldaten für den Angriff und die anschließende Ermordung Vieiras verantwortlich. Zugleich hieß es, es habe keinen Militärputsch gegeben. Das Militär habe die Situation unter Kontrolle. Das Nachrichtenportal n-tv.de geht jedoch von einem Putsch aus. Die Lage in Guinea-Bissau wird von Bewohnern der Hauptstadt als chaotisch beschrieben. Durch die Straßen zögen Plünderer.

Die heutige Bluttat steht möglicherweise im Zusammenhang mit einem anderen Mord. Am Sonntag war der Generalstabschef Batista Tagme Na Wai einem Mordanschlag durch eine Bombenexplosion zum Opfer gefallen. Politische Beobachter vermuten, dass ein Machtkampf zwischen rivalisierenden Kräften in dem Land den Hintergrund für die jüngsten Ereignisse bilden. Teile des Militärs machen den Präsidenten selbst für die Ermordnung des Generalstabschefs verantwortlich. Armeesprecher Zamura Induta, erklärte, Vieira sei einer der „Hauptverantwortlichen für den Tod von Tagme“. Die Auseinandersetzungen zwischen rivalisierenden Gruppierungen in dem Land dauern bereits seit einigen Jahren an. Hintergrund eines möglichen Machtkampfes könnte Medienberichten zufolge auch der Handel mit Kokain sein. Guinea-Bissau gilt als wichtiger Umschlagplatz für den Kokainschmuggel zwischen Südamerika und Europa. Dem Jahresbericht 2008 von amnesty international (ai) zufolge sind Angehörige der Streitkräfte in den Drogenhandel verwickelt.


Guinea-Bissaun presidentti murhattu

Guinea-Bissaun presidentti, João Bernardo Vieira, on murhattu. Vieiran kohtaloksi koituivat kapinalliset sotilaat, jotka kostivat aiemmin armeijan päämajaan kohdistuneessa iskussa kuolleen kenraali Tagme Na Waien kuoleman. Vieira oli yksi suurimmista syyllisistä tapahtuneeseen. Yhdysvaltalaisen BBC:n mukaan joukko sotilaita lähti kostoretkellä presidentin asuntoon. Vieira yritti paeta mutta kapinalliset onnistuivat riistämään hänen henkensä. Vieira oli kuollessaan 69-vuotias.

Armeija kuitenkin kiistää että kyseessä olisi vallankaappaus. Guinea-Bissaun armeija on ilmoittanut, että se "kunnioittaa perustuslain määräyksiä ja demokratiaa", jolloin valtion päämies on parlamentin puhemies Raimundo Perreira. Hänellä on 60 päivää aikaa ilmoittaa presidentinvaalien aikataulu.

Vieira hallitsi Guinea-Bissauta kolmesti: 1980–1984, 1984–1999 sekä 2005–2009.


Guinée-Bissau : le président João Bernardo Vieira tué par des militaires

Le président de Guinée-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, a été tué lundi matin par des militaires. Ces derniers auraient répondu à un attentat contre le chef d'état-major des forces armées pour lequel Vieira aurait été tenu pour responsable. Le président défunt était âgé de 69 ans. Il avait passé, en outre, 23 ans à la tête de ce petit État. Les militaires ont assuré qu'il ne s'agissait pas d'un coup d'État. Le Président de l'Assemblée Nationale, Raimundo Pereira, assure actuellement l'interim. Le président de la Commission de l'Union Africaine a contesté les dénégations de l'armée : « La situation semble encore confuse, mais apparemment tout ceci a été organisé par l'armée. C'est un coup d'État. »


Megölték Bissau-Guinea elnökét

Megölték Bissau-Guinea elnökét, João Bernardo Vieirát.

Megölték ma hajnalban a nyugat-afrikai Bissau-Guineai Köztársaság 2005. október 1-től hatalmon levő elnökét, João Bernardo "Nino" Vieirát. Az elnököt a lázadó katonák néhány órával azután ölték meg, hogy pokolgépes merényletben meghalt a hadsereg vezérkari főnöke is.

Ismeretlen szemtanúk beszámoltak arról is, hogy az államfő holtteste saját házában van.

A cselekmény indítéka az lehetett, hogy tegnap az államfőnek köze lehet a vezérkari főnök ellen elkövetett merénylethez.

Szemtanúk szerint Bissau-Guinea fővárosa, Bissauban  a vezérkar főhadiszállásának táján és a város más részein is lövések és rakétatámadások ijesztő hangjai hallatszottak. Más szemtanúk azt állítják, hogy a hadsereg körülvette a főhadiszállást.

A zavargások tegnap kezdődtek, amikor este iszonyatos erejű és hangú pokolgép robbant a fegyveres erők vezérkarának épületében. A merényletben meghalt Tagmé Na Waié tábornok is. Öt ember megsebesült, közülük kettő súlyosan.

Ezek után a lázadók bevonultak az elnök házába, majd megölték.  Zamora Induta tiszt, aki a hadsereg külkapcsolataiért felelt, azt nyilatkozta, az államfő el akart menekülni, de ráütöttek az ugyancsak áldozatul esett vezérkari főnökhöz közel levő katonák.

A vezérkari főnök az év elején azt is bejelentette, hogy elkövettek ellene egy másik merényletet: az elnök palotája előtt álló katonák felgyújtották gépkocsiját. Ezt tavaly több rosszindulatú cselekmény előzte meg, ahol az elnök, a hadsereg, és a belügyminisztérium nagy ellentétek.

A hadsereg katonái múlt év novemberében is megtámadták az elnököt palotájában, akkor két testőr lett áldozata a merényletnek.


Afryka: zamach stanu w Gwinei Bissau

W wyniku zamachu stanu w Gwinei Bissau 2 marca 2009 zmarł prezydent tego kraju João Bernardo Vieira. Dziś rano został zaatakowany pałac prezydencki przez żołnierzy związanych z generałem Tagme Na Waie. Zamach został przeprowadzony w odwecie za śmierć generała, który zginął wczoraj (1 III) na skutek ran odniesionych w wyniku zamachu bombowego w Bissau. Kilka godzin później związani z generałem żołnierze przeprowadzili zamach odwetowy na pałac prezydencki.

Atak został przeprowadzony, ponieważ zabity prezydent został obarczony odpowiedzialnością za śmierć generała.

W wczorajszym zamachu, w którym zginął generał Tagme Na Waie, rannych zostało też pięciu innych ludzi. W Bissau obecnie trwają walki i niepokoje.

Tymczasowym następca Vieiry został pełniący obowiązki prezydenta Raimundo Pereira.

Vieira był prezydentem od 1 października 2005. 23 listopada 2008 Vieira przeżył nocny atak zamachowców na swój dom. Zamachowcy po trzygodzinnej walce ze strażą prezydencką, w której zginął jeden żołnierz, zdołali wtargnąć do posiadłości prezydenta. Vieira zdołał jednak opuścić dom, a zamachowcy zostali ostatecznie schwytani. W swoim przemówieniu telewizyjnym Vieira stwierdził, że celem zamachowców była fizyczna eliminacja jego osoby. Zapewnił jednak o przejęciu kontroli nad sytuacją.

Ostatni zamach stanu w Afryce miał miejsce 23 grudnia w Gwinei. 6 sierpnia nastąpił pucz w Mauretanii, gdzie władze do dziś trzyma junta wojskowa


Presidente da Guiné-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, é assassinado na residência em Bissau

Bissau, Guiné-Bissau • 2 de março de 2009

De acordo com os oficiais, João Bernardo Vieira, o presidente da Guiné-Bissau, foi morto a tiros na segunda-feira no seu palácio por soldados renegados.

"Presidente Vieira foi morto pelo exército como ele tentou fugir da casa dele, que estava sendo atacado por um grupo de soldados perto do chefe de equipe Tagme Na Waie, esta manhã", disse à Agence France-Presse, o porta-voz militar, Zamora Induta, insistindo que "este não foi um golpe de Estado".

"Nós reafirmamos a nossa intenção de respeitar o poder eleito democraticamente e à Constituição da República", disse ele. "Os homens que mataram Presidente Vieira não foram presos, mas estamos a sua prossecução. Eles são um grupo isolado. A situação está sob controle".

Induta também disse que o presidente foi "se protegeu para baixo por balas disparadas por estes soldados", e que depois que sua casa saqueada. "Eles estavam levando tudo o que poderia levar, o seu pertences pessoais, o mobiliário, tudo", disse Induta.

O assassinato se acredita ser a vingança de uma alto-bomba que matou um dos seus rivais da Vieira, o chefe do exército pessoal Geral Batista Tagme Na Waie, apenas algumas horas antes.

A Constituição diz que o chefe da nação parlamento, Raimundo Pereira, Vieira está a suceder no caso de sua morte.

Jean Ping, o chefe executivo da União Africana, disse que o assassinato do presidente foi um "ato criminoso".

Guiné-Bissau, situada na costa ocidental de África, teve uma história de golpes, e é um dos países mais pobres do mundo. É notório como sendo um ponto de trânsito para a cocaína comércio entre a Europa e a América do Sul.

João Bernardo Vieira, nasceu em 1939, chegou ao poder na Guiné-Bissau durante um golpe em 1980, mas foi forçado a sair em 1999, quando uma guerra civil começou. Em 2005, voltou de seu exílio em Portugal, para participar nas eleições do país, e ganhou a votação.


President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey, raising questions about Russia investigation

Executive Office of the President of the United States

Russian involvement in the 2016 US presidential election

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed James Comey from his position as head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Officially, Comey was fired for mishandling the issue with former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's alleged misuse of private email servers, but Senate Democrats and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have raised concerns over whether the real reason may have been that Comey was leading the investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia and possible tampering with the election that placed Trump in high office.

CNN reports a source within the White House told CNN reporter Dana Bash the President's office gave this reason intending to avoid controversy because many Democrats have also criticized Comey for mishandling the Clinton case, and some have blamed him for Clinton losing the election. Specifically, recently confirmed Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein released a memo criticizing Comey's statements in a July 2016 press conference, in which he called Hillary Clinton "extremely careless" for using private email servers to transmit government information but said she would not be charged with a crime. "The director was wrong to usurp the attorney general's authority on 5 July 2016, and announce his conclusion that the [Clinton] case should be closed without prosecution. [...] Compounding the error, the director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation," wrote Rosenstein.

"It simply defies logic that President Trump, who made the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails a centerpiece of his campaign, would all of the sudden convert to the view that Clinton was treated unfairly," said Democratic Senator Christopher S. Murphy. CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin rejected it as "absurd." He went on to compare it to the dismissal of Archibald Cox during the Watergate scandal.

Anthony Romero of the ACLU also expressed concern: "The independence of the FBI director is meant to ensure that the president does not operate above the law. For President Trump to fire the man responsible for investigating his own campaign's ties to the Russians imperils that fundamental principle."

Most Republicans agreed with Trump's decision. Senator Chuck Grassley said, "The handling of the Clinton email investigation is a clear example of how Comey's decisions have called into question the trust and political independence of the FBI." However, Republican Representative Justin Amash referred to the rationale behind the dismissal as "bizarre" and said that he and his staff would look into laws that might allow the establishment of an independent commission to continue the Russia investigation. Such a commission has also been called for by Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Bob Casey.

Minority leader Chuck Schumer said, "If deputy attorney general Rosenstein does not appoint an independent special prosecutor, every American will rightly suspect that the decision to fire director Comey was part of a cover-up."

Schumer was one of several Senate Democrats to ask for a special prosecutor or special counsel. Others, expressing themselves both by Tweet and traditional television interviews, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Cory Booker of New Jersey.  However, special prosecutors are appointed by the U.S. Attorney General, in this case Jeff Sessions who recused himself from any further involvement in the investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.  According to ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams, the responsibility would then fall to a deputy, who would be unlikey to act except in response to pressure from Congress.

President Trump responded, as is his custom, via tweet: "Cryin' Chuck Schumer stated recently, 'I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer.' Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp" and "The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!"

Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is to serve as acting head of the FBI until a replacement is confirmed.


Trump ontslaat FBI-directeur Comey

Trump ontslaat FBI-directeur Comey

James Comey, die sinds 2013 de directeur van de Federal Bureau of Investigation was, is gisteren ontslagen door de Amerikaanse president Trump. Terwijl Comey in Los Angeles een toespraak hield, zag hij ineens het nieuws over zichzelf op een televisie die verderop in de zaal hing. In eerste instantie dacht hij dat het om een grap ging, hij reageerde dan ook laconiek op het nieuws.

Het ontslag heeft, naar het heet, betrekking tot de e-mails die Hillary Clinton – toen ze nog minister van Buitenlandse Zaken was – verstuurde vanop onbeveiligde private mailservers. Volgens president Trump is Comey "niet bekwaam om het bureau te leiden". Het ontslag is verder opmerkelijk omdat Trump afgelopen oktober, aan het eind van de presidentsverkiezingen, juist nog vol lof was over Comey.

De Democratische Partij houdt er een andere mening op na. Zij zeggen dat het ontslag te maken heeft met een onderzoek dat de FBI-directeur uitvoerde om na te gaan of de Russische regering zich op enigerlei wijze bemoeid heeft met Trumps kiescampagne. Er is met verbijstering en woede gereageerd op Comeys ontslag, ook enkele Republikeinen zijn ongelukkig met de beslissing van Trump.

Het ontslag van Comey voelt bij FBI-medewerkers als een sterfgeval in de familie en wordt ook omschreven als een oorlogsverklaring. In de dagen na het ontslag werd er vanuit de FBI meermaals gelekt naar de pers. Er wordt aangenomen dat het onderzoek naar Russische connecties van Trump de belangrijkste ontslaggrond is geweest van Comey.

Vandaag reageerde Trump met een bedreiging naar Comey. Hij waarschuwde hem in een tweet dat Comey mag hopen dat hun gesprekken niet zijn opgenomen, mocht hij lekken naar de media. In een eerdere tweet trok hij van leer tegen de media, die naar zijn mening niet de waarheid zouden publiceren. Hij uitte richting de media ook nog een bedreiging: ten gunste van de nauwkeurigheid overweegt hij geen persconferenties meer te geven, maar het contact met de pers alleen nog schriftelijk af te handelen.

Door de dreigtweet van enkele dagen geleden ligt Trump onder vuur van democratische en enkele Republikeinse Congresleden. Zij eisen van de president dat hij de opnames per direct overhandigt aan de commissies van het congres die de banden de Russen met de verkiezingscampagne van Trump onderzoekt.


Трамп уволил директора ФБР

9 мая 2017 года президент США Дональд Трамп отстранил от должности директора Федерального бюро расследований Джеймса Коми.
Решение президента увязывают с расследованием истории с перепиской Хиллари Клинтон, которая была оппонентом Трампа на президентских выборах, и российском следе в ней.

Во вторник президент Дональд Трамп направил ему письмо, в котором без обиняков говорилось: «С этого момента Ваши полномочия прекращаются и Вы отстраняетесь от должности». Президент добавил, что Коми «не способен эффективно управлять бюро».

Директор ФБР назначается на один десятилетний срок. 56-летний Коми был назначен на эту должность четыре года назад.

Он находился в Калифорнии, когда узнал о своём увольнении. Пока он не делал публичных заявлений на этот счёт.

Причины увольнения Коми были описаны в двух отдельных письмах генерального прокурора США Джеффа Сешнса и его заместителя Рода Розенстайна. Фактически они обвинили Коми в том, что он решил самочинно вершить правосудие.

Розенстайн написал, что Коми «допустил серьёзные ошибки», работая с выводами расследования истории с перепиской Хиллари Клинтон, оппонента Трампа на выборах. Заместитель генпрокурора обвинил директора ФБР в узурпации полномочий генерального прокурора, когда Коми заключил, что бывшая госсекретарь не должна была привлекаться к ответственности.

Пока неясно, почему президент Трамп решил действовать сейчас, если дело касается событий, произошедших за несколько месяцев до того, как он победил на президентских выборах в ноябре.

Неожиданный шаг Трампа вызвал немедленную мощную реакцию в Конгрессе вечером во вторник, но позиции законодателей разделились в соответствии с их партийной принадлежностью.

Председатель постоянного комитета Сената по разведке Ричард Берр заявил, что он «обеспокоен выбором времени и основаниями» для увольнения Коми. Однако член комитета Сената по вопросам судебной власти республиканец Линдси Грэм считает, что «с учётом недавних споров вокруг директора… новый старт пойдёт на пользу ФБР и стране».

Республиканец Джон Маккейн, член комитета Сената по внутренней безопасности и делам правительства, комментируя увольнение Коми, сказал: «У президента есть такие полномочия. Я уважаю это решение».

Демократы из комитета Сената по вопросам судебной власти сравнили решение Трампа с действиями президента Ричарда Никсона, который отстранил от работы сотрудников правительства, расследовавших его деятельность в ходе Уотергейтского скандала в начале 1970-х годов.

Сенаторы от Демократической партии выступают за назначение специального прокурора, который продолжил бы проводимое министерством юстиции расследование предполагаемых связей предвыборного штаба Трампа с Россией.

Член комитета по вопросам судебной власти демократ Дик Дербин, выступая в Сенате, заявил, что любая попытка приостановить или подорвать расследование ФБР российского вмешательства в президентскую кампанию «вызовет серьёзные проблемы конституционного характера».

Лидер демократического меньшинства в Сенате Чак Шумер, по его словам, заявил Трампу, что он «делает очень большую ошибку», увольняя Коми на фоне расследований, связанных с предвыборной кампанией 2016 года.

«Почему сейчас? — добавил Шумер. — Будут ли люди подозревать попытку что-то скрыть? Конечно же».

Коми сыграл ключевую роль в прошлогодних президентских выборах, на которых Трамп победил Клинтон.

В июле прошлого года Коми заявил, что Клинтон была «крайне небрежна» в обращении с перепиской, касающейся вопросов национальной безопасности, когда занимала должность госсекретаря. Тем не менее уголовные обвинения против Клинтон выдвинуты не были.

Потом, в конце октября, непосредственно перед выборами, Коми заявил, что вновь открывает расследование, поскольку ФБР обнаружило письма Клинтон на компьютере Энтони Уинера — мужа помощницы Клинтон Хумы Абедин.

«Это важный шаг, направленный на восстановление доверия общественности к справедливому отправлению правосудия на федеральном уровне», — прокомментировал увольнение Коми президент некоммерческой организации Judicial Watch Том Фиттон.

«Коми, похоже, не понимал некоторые законы, касающиеся расследования, которое его просили провести, и, к сожалению, политизировал свою деликатную должность директора ФБР. Президент Трамп сделал правильный шаг, чтобы навести порядок в ФБР», — добавил эксперт.

10 мая 2017 года


Priest charged in exorcism death

A Romanian priest and four nuns have been charged in the death of a reportedly schizophrenic nun who was crucified in an exorcism. The novice, Maricica Irina Cornici, of Holy Trinity convent in northeast Romania, died last week after spending three days gagged and chained to a cross without food or water in the church’s cellar.

The 23-year-old nun was found with a towel stuffed into her mouth and had been left in the cold room while the priest delivered prayers to drive out evil spirits. An initial autopsy revealed the nun died from dehydration, exhaustion and lack of oxygen. Prosecutors are awaiting the results of a second autopsy, which is being carried out because of a suspicion of foul play.

The priest, Daniel Petru Corogeanu, and four nuns have been charged with imprisonment leading to death. They could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Father Daniel told local news that he was trying to "take the devil out of her". When asked whether the nun was in need of medical help instead of an exorcism, he replied, "You can't take the devil out of people with pills."

Ms. Cornici, who grew up in an orphanage, is said to have entered the remote convent three months earlier. There has been speculation by the Romanian media that Ms. Cornici's schizophrenic behaviour may have caused her fellow nuns and the priest to believe she was possessed by the devil.

The Orthodox Church has condemned the incident and suspended Father Daniel, who has refused to stop work at the Holy Trinity monastery. Riot police had to intervene when scuffles broke out as nuns yelled at a vicar who came to suspend Father Daniel on Sunday.


Un sacerdote ortodoxo podría ir a prisión por exorcismo que le causó la muerte a una monja

Un sacerdote y cuatro monjas serían procesados por la muerte de una monja cuya esquizofrenia fue confundida con posesión diabólica y habría sido crucificada al tratar de exorcisarla.

La novicia Maricica Irina Cornici, del convento cristiano ortodoxo de la Santísima Trinidad en Tanacu, al nordeste de Rumania, murió el pasado 15 de junio luego de estar tres días atada y encadenada de manos y piernas, sin recibir agua ni comida, en una celda de la iglesia.

La monja, de 23 años de edad, fue encontrada con una toalla en la boca mientras el sacerdote rezaba para sacar a los malos espíritus.

Una autopsia preliminar reveló que la religiosa falleció de deshidratación, insuficiencia aguda cardio-respiratoria, asfixia mecánica y otros traumas que podrían estar asociados a una esquizofrenia. Los fiscales esperan los resultados de una segunda autopsia, pues sospechan de la responsabilidad de los religiosos.

El sacerdote Daniel Petru Corogeanu y cuatro monjas podrían enfrentar una condena de hasta 20 años en prisión.

Corogeanu declaró a la prensa local que simplemente trataba de "sacarle los demonios". Al preguntársele si la monja debía ser atendida por personal médico en lugar se ser exorcisada, respondió que "los diablos no pueden ser curados con píldoras" y que la comunidad entera concordaba en que "se trataba del diablo y no de una afección psíquica".

El vicario de Husi, Corneliu Barladeanu, fue recibido con agresividad por las monjas, quienes lo golpearon y estuvieron cerca de romperle los hábitos cuando llegó al convento con la orden de suspender a Corogeanu y prohibirle celebrar misa hasta que concluyan las investigaciones. Por su parte, el portavoz del Patriarcado de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rumana, Costel Stoica, dijo que se trataba de "un acto abominable y una práctica bárbara", sin "precedentes en la historia de la vida monástica oriental". Incluso la policía tuvo que intervenir para proteger al jerarca eclesiástico.

Cornici creció en un orfanato y habría llegado al convento hacía tres meses.


Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi assaulted

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in San Raffaele Hospital overnight in Milan following an assault during an autograph session at the end of a rally.

The 73 year-old media mogul received a punch in the face from an assailant who police named as 42 year-old Massimo Tartaglia, a local man who has been undergoing mental health treatment for ten years. Tartaglia was holding a replica of Milan's famous Domo Cathedral as he struck the premier; the composition of the replica is unknown, but eyewitnesses suggest it may have been made from marble, iron or another heavy material.

The assailant is currently in custody at a police station somewhere in Milan; police have confirmed he has no prior criminal record.

The attack on Berlusconi left him requiring treatment for damage to his mouth, a broken nose, cuts to his face and, according to reports from BBC News, at least two broken teeth.  He has undergone a precautionary CT Scan.  This is not the only attack Berlusconi has received; several years ago a man hit him with a tripod, leaving him with a cut to his forehead.


Odpůrce inzultoval Berlusconiho na mítinku v Miláně

Milánský mítink, který měl sloužit jako manifestace podpory italského premiéra Silvia Berlusconiho, skončil jeho napadením ze strany jednoho z účastníků. 45letý muž ho lehce zranil, když ho zasáhl do obličeje kovovou maketou Milánského dómu.

Policie útočníka zadržela.

Berlusconi v úvodu zažertoval, že lidé nevědí, co dělají, když ho v neděli ve špatném počasí přišli podpořit. Ve svém projevu dále obhajoval politiku své vládní strany a kritizoval vysílání veřejnoprávní televize RAI a soudy.


Berlusconi es agredido en plena calle

14 de diciembre de 2009Milán, Italia —

El primer ministro italiano, Silvio Berlusconi pasó la noche en el hostipal milanés San Raffaele tras la agresión que sufrió ayer por la noche al aproximarse al público tras un mitin político.

El magnate mediático, de 73 años, recibió un golpe en la cara que le propinó un paisano, Massimo Tartaglia, de 42 años, y en tratamiento psicológico desde hace 10 años. El golpe fue el resultado del impacto de una réplica de la Catedral de Milán que le arrojó Tartaglia al presidente, cuando éste se aproximó para saludar a las masas tras un mitin político. No ha trascendido el material de la réplica que impacto en la cara del primer ministro italiano, pero testigos presenciales afirmaron que podría ser de mármol, hierro o de algún otro metal pesado.

El agresor, que tuvo que ser protegido por la policía para no ser linchado por las masas, se encuentra encarcelado en un comisaria de policía de Milán. La policía ha confirmado que el asaltante carece de antecedentes criminales.

El ataque resultó en una nariz rota, una herida interna y externa del labio, cortes en la cara y dos dientes rotos. Se le ha sometido a una tomografía de rayos X y ha pasado la noche en el hospital como medida cautelar.

Hace unos años también fue víctima de un ataque con un trípode, que le causó un corte en la frente.


Milano: Silvio Berlusconi colpito al volto dopo una manifestazione del PdL, è in ospedale

Silvio Berlusconi è stato colpito al volto da un aggressore, con un oggetto contundente (un souvenir del Duomo di Milano secondo alcune testimonianze, ma in un primo tempo si era invece parlato di un pugno), mentre si allontanava tra la folla dalla manifestazione per il tesseramento del Popolo delle Libertà.

Le immagini successive all'aggressione, mandate in onda dai telegiornali, mostrano il premier sanguinante al labbro, mentre si sporge dall'auto, in piedi sul predellino, per rassicurare gli astanti.

Il premier è stato accompagnato all'Ospedale San Raffaele per essere soccorso.

L'aggressore è stato immediatamente fermato e sottoposto ad interrogatorio: si tratta di Massimo Tartaglia, 42 anni, incensurato, residente a Cesano Boscone, comune dell'hinterland milanese.

L'uomo è da diversi anni in cura per disturbi mentali presso il Policlinico di Milano, presso cui è stato ripetutamente ricoverato in passato. Secondo informazioni della Digos, non risulterebbero legami a movimenti estremisti o antagonisti. Proseguono comunque le indagini, durante le quali la magistratura ha disposto la perquisizione del suo domicilio.

Sono giunte immediatamente attestazioni di solidarietà, da diverse parti politiche, incluse le opposizioni e il capo dello stato, Giorgio Napolitano.

L'Ospedale San Raffaele ha diramato un bollettino sanitario in cui si parla di «perdita copiosa di sangue con lesione lacero-contusa interna ed esterna e due denti lesi, di cui uno superiore fratturato».

Lo staff medico ha sottoposto il ferito a un Tac precauzionale e, sempre in via precauzionale, ha optato per uno stato di ricovero e osservazione per ventiquattro ore.

Notizie successive diramate dal portavoce parlano di infrazione all'osso nasale.

Sono sorte polemiche circa l'apparizione, sui social network, di gruppi inneggianti all'aggressione e all'assalitore. La polizia postale ha aperto un'inchiesta sul caso.

Altre controversie, di natura politica, sono legate all'affermazione, giunta da alcuni esponenti della maggioranza, circa la presunta esistenza di un nesso tra il gesto di aggressione e il clima di polemica che sarebbe alimentato dall'opposizione, o da parti di essa.


Silvio Berlusconi saldırıya uğradı

İtalya başbakanı ve Özgür Halk Partisi genel başkanı Silvio Berlusconi, partisinin Milano mitinginde saldırıya uğradı. Yüzüne küçük ve metal bir hediyelik eşya ile vurulan 73 yaşındaki İtalyan siyasetçinin iki dişi kırıldı, burnu çatladı ve dudağı patladı.

Aldığı darbenin ardından yüzü kan içinde kalan Berlusconi, yanındakiler tarafından otomobilinin içine sokuldu. Daha sonra iyi durumda olduğunu göstermek için geri çıktı ve halkı selamladı.

42 yaşındaki saldırgan Massimo Tartaglia, polis tarafından göz altına alındı. Ruhsal sorunlar yaşadığı iddia edilen saldırganın daha önceden bir suç kaydı bulunmadığı belirtildi.

En uzun süre görev yapan İtalyan başbakanı ve aynı zamanda milyarder bir iş adamı olan Silvio Berlusconi son olarak 2004'ün Aralık ayında bir saldırıya uğramıştı.


Princess Diana jury returns verdict of "unlawful killing"

The jury of the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has returned a majority verdict, by 9 to 2, saying that the Princess was unlawfully killed through "grossly negligent driving" or "gross negligence manslaughter" on the part of Henri Paul who was driving and the paparazzi who were following the Mercedes before it crashed.

The jury also specified that Henri Paul's driving, and the fact that all the passengers were not wearing seat belts, were also contributing causes to their deaths, additionally returning the same verdict for Dodi Al Fayed.

The jury was sent to make its decision on Wednesday, April 2, after Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker told them a majority of 9 was acceptable and that for a decision of unlawful killing to be delivered, then they must be sure beyond any reasonable doubt that the deaths were caused by recklessness.

Dodi Al Fayed's father, Mohammed, said that he would not accept the verdict delivered.

The verdict ends the 6 month investigation into the Princess' death, 10 years after her Mercedes crashed into a pillar in the Pont d'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France, on August 31, 1997.


L'affaire Diana est close

Le jury de l'enquête sur la mort le 31 août 1997 en France de Diana Spencer, princesse de Galles, a rendu un verdict d'homicide involontaire à la majorité de 9 voix contre 2 stipulant que la princesse avait été par un concours de circonstances - une conduite dangereuse - de la part d'Henri Paul, le conducteur, et des paparazzis qui suivaient la Mercedes avant l'accident.
Le jury a aussi précisé que la conduite d'Henri Paul, ainsi que le fait que les passagers n'avaient pas de ceinture de sécurité, ont aussi participé aux causes de leurs décès, a aussi rendu le même verdict pour Dodi Al Fayed.
Le jury a pu prendre sa décision à partir du mercredi 2 avril lorsque que le Coroner Lord Justice of Appeal[1] Scott Baker ait indiqué qu'une majorité de 9 était acceptable et que pour qu'un verdict d'homicide involontaire soit rendu, les jurés devaient être surs au delà du doute raisonnable que les morts étaient dues à la négligence.
Le père de Dodi Al Fayed, le milliardaire Mohammed Al Fayed, a indiqué qu'il n'acceptait pas ce verdict.


Prison officers' strike ends in England and Wales

Prison officers in England and Wales are on strike today as part of a continuing dispute over pay rates with employers, the Ministry of Justice.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) announced the strike, the first in its history, at 0600 (BST) on the morning of the 29th of August, just an hour before it was due to start. As the morning progressed, officers at most public prisons across the two countries locked prisoners in their cells (a "lockdown") and walked out, aiming to remain on strike until 0700 on the 30th.

The strike has been condemned by the Ministry of Justice, as a breach of the Industrial Relations Act, with Justice Secretary Jack Straw calling it "deeply regrettable and wholly unjustifiable".  Immediately following the announcement of the action, the Ministry commenced proceedings to gain a High Court injunction against the POA. Such an injunction was granted by Mr Justice Ramsey, who said that there was "overwhelming case" for it, after the court heard evidence that a Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement, agreed to prevent industrial action, had been broken.

Despite the court proceedings, the strike continued largely unabated, and was expected to run its full course.

Inmates were at one point reported to have been seen on the roof of Liverpool Prison, however the situation was brought under control without any escapees.

In Wormwood Scrubs Prison, London, all 1,300 prisoners were being looked after by just eight governors, while at
Cardiff, as prisoners, locked in their cells, shouted "You're breaking the law" to the officers standing in the car park. As a result of the lack of staff, prisoners could not be transported to court, were fed in their cells, could not be visited and could not take part in any rehabilitation or community service courses. In addition, 900 prisoners had to be accommodated elsewhere, unable to be admitted to public prisons.

This evening, this strike was called off by the POA, who issued an order to all of its members to return to work, with further pay discussions expected to come on Friday.


Oficiales de las prisiones en huelga en Reino Unido por payroll

Oficiales de las prisiones se dieron a la huelga en Reino Unido comenzando a las 7:00 a.m. (BST) de hoy. La huelga comenzó por un desacuerdo sobre el payroll.

La huelga, sin embargo, era ilegal y el Ministerio de Justicia emitió un requerimiento judicial de la corte suprema contra la huelga.

La huelga afectó a todas las prisioneros; varios prisioneros están en lockdown, que significa que aquellos que conviven en una celda están encerrado en ellas.

Se reportó incluso que tres prisioneros habían llegado al techo de la Prisión de Liverpool, pero la situación fue contenida.

En Wormwood Scrubs Prison, cerca de 745 prisioneros fueron controlados por tan sólo 20 oficiales.

En Cardiff, los oficiales en huelga incluso fueron burlados por los prisioneros que gritaban: "Están rompiendo la ley".

La huelga fue suspendida por la Asociación de Oficiales de Prisiones (POA por sus siglas en inglés), luego de haber desafiado el requerimiento de justicia del Ministerio.


Prisoners escape from Afghan jail after Taliban attack

Almost all the prisoners kept in Kandahar jail have escaped after the building was attacked by Taliban militants. Police have reported that "a suicide attacker drove his way into the main gate of the prison, it was very strong and destroyed the gate and two sides of the surrounding wall." About 350 militants participated in the attack, and 15 guards were killed, while about 1,000 prisoners escaped.

The Taliban used a combination of two suicide bombers and roughly 30 other militants on motorcycles with rockets and small-arms to attack the prison. The suicide bombers destroyed the main gate to the prison, as well as a wall. Afterwards, the other militants engaged in a massive gun attack on the prison guards, allowing prisoners to escape.

A state of emergency has been declared throughout Kandahar province, as large numbers of both Afghan and NATO forces have been deployed to track down the escaped prisoners.


Hunderte Gefangene auf der Flucht nach Taliban-Angriff auf Gefängnis in Kandahar (Afghanistan)

Kandahar (Afghanistan), 14.06.2008 – Mit Raketen und einer Lastwagenbombe sprengten Kämpfer der Taliban am Freitagabend den Weg in ein Gefängnis im afghanischen Kandahar frei. Dabei sollen laut BBC 350 mutmaßliche Talibankämpfer sowie hunderte weitere Gefängnisinsassen befreit worden sein. AFP spricht von insgesamt 1100 flüchtigen Gefangenen. Über Kandahar wurde der Ausnahmezustand verhängt.

Soldaten der NATO, die im Rahmen der ISAF-Mission, der Internationalen Sicherheitsunterstützungstruppe für Afghanistan, in dem Land stationiert sind, sowie Angehörige der afghanischen Sicherheitskräfte begannen mit einer großangelegten Fahndung nach den flüchtigen Gefangenen. BBC-Angaben zufolge findet in der Region um das Gefängnis eine Haus-für-Haus-Durchsuchung statt, um der entkommenen Häftlinge habhaft zu werden. Ein Taliban-Sprecher erklärte: „Wir haben erfolgreich alle Gefangenen befreit, auch die inhaftierten Taliban und andere Gefangene.“ Der Sprecher machte auch genauere Angaben zu den Einzelheiten des Angriffs auf das Gefängnis. Danach wurde ein Wassertanklastwagen benutzt um eine Sprengladung von 1800 Kilogramm Sprengstoff an der Gefängnismauer zu zünden. Diese Aufgabe übernahmen Selbstmordattentäter, die dabei ums Leben kamen. Durch das entstandene Loch in der Gefängnismauer seien anschließend etwa 30 bewaffnete Motorradfahrer ins Innere des Gefängnisses vorgedrungen und hätten dann das Feuer auf die Wachen eröffnet. Laut BBC wurden bei dem Angriff 15 Wachen getötet. Der Überfall war nach Talibanangaben seit zwei Monaten geplant worden.


Professional wrestler Chris Benoit and family found dead

Canadian professional wrestler Chris Benoit, who performed for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), was found dead, along with his wife Nancy, 43, and their son Daniel, 7, in their home in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday. Police are calling the deaths a "double murder-suicide."

"There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," said a statement posted on the WWE website.

Scott Ballard, Fayette County District Attorney, says that "the details (of the incident), when they come out, are going to prove a little bizarre."

Fayette County Sheriff deputy Lt. Tommy Pope stated that police found the family at about 2:30 p.m. (eastern time) when the WWE called police and asked them to do a "welfare check" after friends stated that Benoit sent them "curious text messages." It is reported that Benoit missed several meetings which prompted the call to police. Pope also stated that police were "not actively searching for any suspects outside of the house."

In a press conference, the Sheriff's Office released the details that Benoit's wife and son had both died of asphyxiation. He also hinted that the wife had been bound. TMZ.com is reporting that Benoit strangled his wife on Friday, smothered his son on late Friday or early Saturday, and then hanged himself inside his weight room on late Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.

Benoit was scheduled to wrestle in Houston, Texas for a match at WWE's Vengeance pay-per-view event on June 24. However, Benoit flew home due to "personal reasons," said Jim Ross, the announcer for WWE events.

Benoit was a professional wrestler with the nickname The Canadian Crippler, who wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. His wife Nancy was known in the wrestling ring as Woman and Fallen Angel. She was a valet and manager and also wrestled for Jim Crockett Promotions, Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.


Trovato morto il wrestler WWE Chris Benoit

Il sito ufficiale della WWE, federazione statunintense di wrestling, ha annunciato che Chris Benoit è stato trovato senza vita insieme alla moglie Nancy Daus e al figlio Daniel di sette anni nella loro casa di Fayetteville, in Georgia (USA).

Benoit era uno dei volti più noti nel mondo del wrestling ed ha acquisito una certa notorietà anche in Italia grazie agli incontri trasmessi da alcune emittenti nazionali quando combatteva nel brand SmackDown! della WWE.

La notizia è stata diffusa il 25 giugno attraverso un comunicato sul sito ufficiale della federazione:

Benoit avrebbe dovuto prendere parte a due show della federazione nella giornata di sabato e domenica; il wrestler tuttavia non si presentò agli spettacoli, comunicando che sarebbe rimasto a casa per stare vicino alla moglie ed al figlio i quali, a suo dire, lamentavano problemi di salute come una non meglio precisata malattia che avrebbe provocato loro delle emorragie.

Il rinvenimento dei cadaveri è avvenuto nel pomeriggio di lunedì 25 giugno alle 14:30 ora locale. La polizia si recò a casa di Benoit su esplicita richiesta della dirigenza della WWE, insospettita da alcuni strani SMS inviati dallo stesso Benoit a diversi wrestler nei giorni precedenti.

Nel corso della giornata di martedì 26 giugno la polizia della contea di Fayette ha annunciato di avere ragioni di credere che si sia trattato di un doppio omicidio-suicidio: Benoit avrebbe ucciso la moglie ed il figlio tra sabato e domenica, togliendosi la vita nella mattinata di lunedì. Scott Ballard, Procuratore generale della Contea di Fayette, ha tenuto una conferenza stampa nella serata di martedì, confermando buona parte delle ipotesi circolate nel pomeriggio: Benoit ha prima strangolato la moglie nella serata di venerdì, legandola inoltre alle mani ed ai piedi, quindi sabato ha soffocato suo figlio. Benoit si è impiccato nella palestra di casa nella tarda serata di sabato o nella prima mattinata di domenica. Accanto ai corpi della donna e del figlio è stata ritrovata una Bibbia. In casa di Benoit sono stati ritrovati inoltre diversi medicinali legalmente prescritti ed alcune tipologie di ormoni, i quali sembra fossero somministrati a Daniel come cura per la Sindrome dell'X fragile da cui era affetto.

La coppia visse un periodo di crisi in passato: nel 2003 Nancy chiese ufficialmente il divorzio per maltrattamenti, un'ordinanza restrittiva e la custodia del figlio, ritirando tutte le richieste qualche tempo dopo.

Chris Benoit era nato il 21 maggio del 1967, a Montreal, in Canada. Nella sua carriera di wrestler, cominciata nel 1985, ha vinto tutti i titoli WCW e quasi tutti quelli della WWE, compresi i titoli mondiali in entrambe le federazioni.

Non è la prima volta, negli ultimi tempi, che il mondo del wrestling viene sconvolto dalla morte improvvisa di uno dei suoi campioni ancora in attività. Nel 2005, infatti, Eddie Guerrero era stato trovato morto in una camera d'albergo di Minneapolis, stroncato da un attacco di cuore.


Chris Benoit e família são encontrados mortos

O wrestler profissional mundialmente conhecido Chris Benoit, o qual atuou grande parte de sua carreira na World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), foi encontrado morto, junto com sua esposa Nancy, 43, e seu filho, Daniel, 7, na casa em que residiam no estado de Georgia na segunda-feira. A polícia acredita que foi um dupl homicídio seguido de suicídio.

"Não há mais detalhes neste momento, apesar da residência familiar de Benoit estar atualmente a ser investigada pelas autoridades locais. A WWE estende seus sinceros pensamentos e orações à família de Benoit, parentes e entes queridos, neste momento da tragédia", uma declaração postada no website da WWE.

Fayette County Sheriff juntamente com Lt. Tommy Pope afirmaram que a polícia encontrou a família a cerca de 2:30 (Horário do Leste), quando a WWE emitiu um chamado policial e pediu-lhes para fazer um "bem-estar cheque". Após isso, amigos afirmaram que Benoit enviou-lhes uma "mensagem de texto curiosa". É relatado que Benoit perdeu várias reuniões o que levou a chamar a polícia. Pope também afirmou que a polícia "não era ativamente à procura de eventuais suspeitos fora de casa".

Numa conferência de imprensa, o Escritor Xerife liberou os detalhes que Benoit a esposa e seu filho tinham ambos morreram de asfixia. Ele disse ainda que a mulher tinha sido vinculada. O site TMZ.com está relatando que Benoit estrangulou sua esposa na sexta-feira, sufocada seu filho na sexta-feira a tarde ou no início do sábado, e depois se enforcou, no interior da sua sala de peso no fim do sábado, domingo ou segunda-feira.

Benoit tinha programado para lutar em Houston, Texas, para um combate do evento pay-per-view WWE Vengeance em 24 de junho. No entanto, Benoit não aceitou, devido a "razões pessoais", disse Jim Ross, o anunciador dos eventos da WWE.

Benoit era um lutador profissional com a alcunha The Canadian Crippler, e lutou para a New Japan Pro Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling e World Wrestling Entertainment. Sua esposa Nancy ficou conhecida pelos ring names Woman e Fallen Angel. Ela foi valet e  também lutou para Jim Crockett Promotions, Extreme Championship Wrestling e World Championship Wrestling.


Prosecutor investigates possible terrorist training camps in Belgium

Belgian Federal prosecutor Johan Delmulle has said in an interview published in the Flemish newspaper De Tijd today that the Federal police are investigating a possible terrorist group that recruits Belgians to commit suicide attacks in Iraq.

According to Delmulle, the Federal police started a record 106 new terrorism inquiries last year, compared to 89 in 2005, and 134 between 2004 and 2002. The trend also confirms itself in 26 cases that were handed over to the courts in 2006, compared to 14 the year before. The majority, i.e. 17 of those cases, concerned terrorist cells that were located in the capital city of Brussels.

The cases drew from 318 messages of possible terrorist activities that were received in 2006. Every single case was reviewed carefully, according to Delmulle: "We treat every report as if a real terrorist attack was pending. The margin of error has to be zero." In an interview with TV-station VTM, Delmulle attributed the increasing reports on terrorism to the increased attention for the phenomenon, and not to an increased terror threat.

The federal prosecutor told De Tijd that Belgium mostly has to deal with "sleeping terrorist cells":

Delmulle told VTM he wanted the next Justice Minister to deal with the fact that the names of investigators are mentioned in judicial files. According to the prosecutor, people in the terrorist environment are trying to get a hold on names and locations of inspectors, information about their families and so on, which in turn leads to actual threats. Delmulle himself has been under police protection for the last 5 months because he is the prosecutor in the case of Ferye Erdal and other members of the Turkish resistance group DHKPC.


Y aurait-il des camps d'entrainement terroristes en Belgique ?

Le procureur fédéral, Johan Delmulle, a révélé, selon Le Soir, « des informations faisant état de camps d'entraînement pour terroristes en Belgique. »

Dans un article publié sur le site internet du quotidien belge Le Soir, le procureur a confié au journal flamand De Tijd : « Nous avons reçu l'année dernière 318 informations sur des possibles activités terroristes dans notre pays. Nous traitons chaque information comme si un attentat était vraiment en préparation. La marge d'erreur doit être nulle. »

Cette information a été diffusée par l'agence Belga que les autres organes d'information ont repris par la suite.


Protesting Chinese villagers killed in confrontation with police

Chinese security forces have sealed off a village where police have allegedly shot and killed up to 20 people, in what has been touted as the most lethal use of force by authorities since the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Days after reports of the shooting leaked out, Beijing has confirmed that police had opened fire last Tuesday on villagers protesting against land seizures. According to government statements, three people had been shot dead as police quelled a demonstration. The incident came after months of protest against the building of a power station, which villagers say was on stolen land.

Authorities have arrested the police commander accused of authorising the shootings. Hundreds of police have blocked roads into Dongzhou village, part of Shanwei city in Guangdong province near Hong Kong.

Villagers claim that up to 20 people died in the clash. They say 300 people have been arrested for protesting in recent months. Last Tuesday's demonstration was to demand the release of three more who had been detained.

A government statement, released after a four-day news blackout, said the villagers attacked police with sticks, knives and Molotov cocktails. "Police were forced to open fire in alarm," it said. "In the chaos, three villagers died, eight were injured, three of them seriously."

However, villagers claimed that the protest was peaceful and, at most, only fireworks had been thrown into the air. One teenager said: "We didn't expect the police to open fire. They threw tear gas first and then they shot."

According to newspapers in Hong Kong, residents say that police are going from house to house offering money to take away the bodies of those who died, in order to reduce the visible death count.

Local government officials say the killings will be investigated, but rather than blame the officers who pulled the trigger or gave the order to fire, it accused three local men of stirring up unrest, adding: "They must shoulder the legal responsibility for what happened."

The report, which was carried by the state-run Xinhua news agency, made no mention of claims by villagers that up to 20 people were killed, some of whom were said to have been chased and executed.

Locals quoted in the Hong Kong and foreign media said bodies were left in the street and in the sea. Shots were reported many hours after the initial clash.


Enfrentamientos de campesinos chinos con la policía dejan 20 muertos

Las fuerzas de seguridad chinas han acordonado una aldea donde la policía al parecer disparó y mató a 20 personas, en lo que se considera como el mayor uso letal de la fuerza por parte de las autoridades desde la Revuelta de la Plaza de Tian'anmen en 1989.

Días después de que se conocieran los informes acerca de los incidentes, Pekín ha confirmado que la policía había disparado el martes (6) a los campesinos que protestaban contra una posible confiscación de tierras. Según los comunicados gubernamentales, tres personas recibieron disparos de la policía mientras ésta intentaba sofocar una manifestación. El incidente sucede meses después de una protesta contra la construcción de una planta de energía, que según los aldeanos se encontraba en tierras robadas.

Las autoridades arrestaron al comandante policial acusado de autorizar los disparos. Cientos de policías han bloqueado las vías en la aldea de Dongzhou, parte de la ciudad de Shanwei en la provincia sureña de Guangdong, cercana a Hong Kong.

Los aldeanos afirman que hasta 20 personas murieron en los enfrentamientos. Dicen también que otras 300 fueron arrestadas por protestar en los últimos meses. La protesta del martes anterior tenía como fin pedir la liberación de 3 más que habían sido detenidos.

Un comunicado del gobierno, emitido luego de una censura informativa de cuatro días, dice que los campesinos atacaron a la policía con palos, cuchillos y bombas molotov. "La policía fue obligada a abrir fuego alarmada. En la confusión, tres campesinos murieron, ocho resultaron heridos, tres de ellos de gravedad".

No obstante, los campesinos afirmaron que la protesta era pacífica y que, máximo, sólo se lanzaron fuegos artificiales al aire. Un adolescente dijo: "No esperábamos que la policía abriera fuego. Lanzaron gases lacrimógenos primero y luego dispararon".

Según los periódicos de Hong Kong, los residentes dicen que la policía está yendo de puerta a puerta ofreciendo dinero para sacar los cuerpos de los muertos, con el fin de reducir el visible número de víctimas.

Los oficiales gubernamentales locales afirman que los asesinatos serán investigados, pero en vez de culpar a los oficiales que tiraron del gatillo o dieron la orden de disparar, acusaron a tres residentes de fomentar la protesta, añadiendo que "deberían cargar con la responsabilidad legal de lo que sucedió". El informe, realizado por la agencia estatal Xinhua, no menciona las afirmaciones de los campesinos de las muertes de 20 personas, algunas de las cuales fueron, según dijeron, capturadas y ejecutadas.

Habitantes locales citados en los medios de Hong Kong y extranjeros dijeron que los cuerpos fueron abandonados en las calles y en el mar. Se informó acerca de disparos horas después del enfrentamiento inicial.

Por su parte, este martes (13), 14 intelectuales chinos han condenado en una carta abierta en internet los hechos y exigen una investigación: "Expresamos nuestra más fuerte indignación y condena contra las autoridades cantonesas, que han hecho que este sangriento incidente ocurra". Entre los firmantes se encuentra Ding Zilin, una académica retirada y madre de una de las víctimas de los hechos de Tian'anmen hace 16 años.

Mientras tanto, Qin Gang, vocero del Ministerio de Exteriores chino, manifestó su desacuerdo con quienes comparan los hechos del martes anterior con Tian'anmen y que esta última todavía está siendo investigada por el Gobierno. Sin embargo, durante la rueda de prensa en la que hizo las declaraciones, Qin evitó la mayor parte de las preguntas afirmando que "no tenía información específica" sobre lo sucedido: "por favor, dirijan sus cuestiones a las autoridades pertinentes". Las autoridades locales se han negado a responder las preguntas de la prensa extranjera en las últimas horas.


Chine : La police a ouvert le feu sur des manifestants

Les forces de sécurité chinoises ont mis en quarantaine un village dans lequel 20 personnes auraient été abattues par la police. L'usage de la force n'aurait pas été aussi brutale depuis les manifestations étudiantes de la Place Tiananmen en 1989.

Plusieurs jours après que les événements eurent été rapportés, Pékin a confirmé que la police a ouvert le feu mardi dernier sur des villageois protestants contre la confiscation de terrains. Le gouvernement a indiqué que 3 personnes ont été tuées. Cet incident intervient après plusieurs mois de manifestations contre la construction d'une usine de production d'énergie sur des terres "volées" selon les villageois.

Les autorités ont ordonné l'arrestation du commandant ayant ordonné le tir dans le but de diminuer la tension. Des centaines de policiers ont bloqué les accès au village de Dongzhou près de la ville de Shanwei dans la province de  Guangdong proche de Hong Kong.

Les villageois ont déclaré le décès de près de vingt personnes dans l'affrontement. Ils ont dit que 300 personnes ont été arrêtées ces derniers mois. La dernière manifestion demandait la libération de 3 personnes de plus (the release of three more) détenues par les autorités.

Après 4 jours de silence, le gouvernement chinois a déclaré que les habitants avaient attaqué la police avec des bâtons, des couteaux et des cocktails Molotov. "La police a été obligée d'ouvrir le feu, dans le chaos 3 personnes sont mortes, 8 sont blessées dont 3 sérieusement".

À l'opposée, les villageois s'estiment pacifistes et n'auraient utilisé que des feux d'artifices. Un adolescent a déclaré : "Nous ne pensions pas que la police allait ouvrir le feu. Ils ont d'abord lancé des gazs lacrymogènes puis ensuite tiré".

Selon des journaux de Hong Kong proches, les habitants auraient dit que la police avait fait le tour des maisons pour offrir de l'argent pour récupérer les corps pour diminuer les pertes visibles. Ce qui a été refusé selon Weï Jin, 31 ans, au "South China Morning Post".

Le gouvernement local a déclaré qu'une enquête sera menée, mais plutôt qu'accuser les officiers qui ont tiré ou donné l'ordre de tirer, il accuse 3 habitants responsables de l'agitation. "Ils devront supporter la responsabilité légale de ce qui est arrivé".

Les informations, rapportées par l'agence officielle Xinhua news ne fait mention ni de pertes humaines, ni de chasse à l'homme suivie d'exécutions.

À Hong-Kong et dans des médias étrangers il est dit que des corps auraient été vus dans les rues et dans la mer. Des tirs auraient continué plusieurs heures après le début de l'affrontement.

Zhang Dejiang, secrétaire du Parti communiste de la province du Guangdong, s'est rendu samedi à Dongzhou selon le journal hong-kongais "Ming Pao Daily News".

Le gouvernement chinois aurait déclaré que "70.000 conflits de ce type avaient été recensés en 2004".


Confronto entre camponeses e polícia deixa 20 mortos na China

Forças de segurança chinesas isolaram uma aldeia onde a polícia ao que parece disparou e matou pelo menos 20 pessoas, no que pode ser a maior repressão com vítimas fatais por parte das autoridades contra civis, desde que houve o Protesto na Praça Tiananmem em 1989.

Dias depois de que foram tornados públicos  relatórios a respeito dos incidentes, Pequim confirmou que a polícia  disparou contra camponeses na terça-feira (6), os quais  protestavam contra uma possível confiscação de terras. Segundo  comunicados governamentais, três pessoas receberam disparos da polícia enquanto esta tentava sufocar a manifestação. Este incidente ocorreu  meses depois de um outro protesto contra a construção de uma planta geradora de energia, que segundo os camponeses se encontrava em terras roubadas.

As autoridades prenderam o comandante policial acusado de autorizar os disparos. Centenas de policiais bloquearam as vias de acesso na aldeia de Dongzhou, parte da cidade de Shanwei na província  de Guangdong, próxima a Hong Kong.

Os aldeãos afirmam que até 20 pessoas morreram nos confrontos. Dizem também que outras 300 foram presas por terem participado de protestos nos últimos meses. O protesto da terça-feira anterior tinha como objectivo  pedir a libertação de 3 pessoas.

Um comunicado do governo, emitido depois de uma censura informativa de quatro dias, diz que os camponeses atacaram a polícia com paus, facas e coquetéis molotov: "A polícia foi obrigada a abrir fogo alarmada. Na confusão, três camponeses morreram, oito resultaram feridos, três deles com gravidade".

Os camponeses afirmam que o protesto foi  pacífico e que, no máximo, só foram lançados fogos de artifício para o alto. Um adolescente disse: "Não esperávamos que a polícia abrisse fogo. Lançaram bombas de gás lacrimogênio  primeiro e depois dispararam".

Segundo os jornais de Hong Kong, os residentes disseram que a polícia está indo de porta em porta pelas casas oferecendo dinheiro para quem se livrar dos corpos, com o fim de reduzir o número visível  de mortos.

Os oficiais governamentais locais afirmam que os assassinatos serão investigados. Eles também  acusaram  três moradores de fomentar o protesto, adicionando que eles deveriam ser responsabilizados legalmente pelo que se sucedeu.

A agência de notícias estatal Xinhua, não mencionou  as declarações dos camponeses sobre as mortes.

Os moradores locais citados nos  meios de comunicação de Hong Kong e estrangeiros disseram que os corpos das vítimas fatais foram abandonados nas ruas ou jogados ao mar. Camponeses    afirmaram que alguns foram executados depois de terem sido capturados pela polícia.

Na terça-feira (13), numa carta aberta divulgada pela internet, 14 intelectuais chineses  condenaram o ocorrido e exigiram uma investigação: "Expressamos nossa mais forte indignação e condenação contra as autoridades cantonesas, que fizeram este sangrento incidente ocorrer". Entre os signatários estava Ding Zilin, professora universitária aposentada  e mãe de uma das vítimas do Protesto na Praça Tiananmem.

Qin Gang, porta-voz  do Ministério das Relações  Exteriores da China, não concordou com a comparação feita com  o Protesto na Praça Tiananmem, em 1989. Durante entrevista evitou a maior parte das perguntas dizendo que não tinha ainda informações precisas sobre o que tinha acontecido. Autoridades locais recusaram-se a responder indagações feitas pela imprensa estrangeira.


Omkring 20 bönder i Kina uppges vara dödade

10 december 2005 Kina Bönder i den lilla staden Dongzhou, i södra delen av Guangdongprovinsen, protesterade den 6 december mot att deras mark sålts av tjänstemän, och ville ha kompensation från staten. Massprotesten blev alltmera orolig, och polisen öppnade då eld. Kinesiska myndigheter har nu bekräftat veckans händelse, enligt Bloomberg Press, och uppger att "färre än tjugo personer" sköts ihjäl av polisen.

Enligt bedömare vid New York Times är detta den värsta attacken på civila av myndigheterna i Kina sedan 1989. I juli i år dödades sex bönder av polisen i byn Dingzhou, och fler än hundra personer arresterades.

Under senare tid har det öppna missnöjet med korruption och beslagtagande av mark ökat. Lokal polis brukar hantera upplopp genom skrämsel, vissa tillmötesgåenden eller arrestering av dem som protesterar.

På tisdagsförmiddagen gick 500 personer till myndigheterna i Dongzhou för att kräva kompensation för den mark de förlorat till följd av att ett kraftverk ska byggas där, uppger invånare. När myndigheterna beslutat att häkta massprotestens ledare, försökte folkhopen hindra polisen. Bönder som deltog i protesten har sagt att polisen då använde tårgas och sköt in i folkmassan.

Bangkok Post skriver att de protesterande bönderna använt våld och bland annat kastat brandbomber. Polisen sköt skarpt enligt densamma tidningen även dagen därpå. En bybo har uppgett till dem att många personer saknas, och har troligen arresterats. Dussintals personer har vårdats under veckan i stadens sjukhus. Personer vittnar om att lik fortfarande ligger i skogar och i de omkringliggande dalarna. Kommunistpartiet har varnat folk från att försöka lösa sociala konflikter med protester, uppger tidningen, och manar i stället missnöjda att finna en lösning inom partiet, regeringen och systemet.

En kinesisk tjänstemän har sagt till Reuters att det var byborna som startade bråket genom att attackera polisen med bomber.

Idag bekräftar de kinesiska myndigheterna att "färre än tjugo civila omkommit", enligt tidningen Bloomberg, och meddelar också att de återkommer med mer information under söndagen.

I tordags publicerade Human Rights Watch en rapport om läget i Kina, där det framförs att tusentals personer som åker till Peking för att klaga på övergrepp från polisen och lokala myndigheter riskerar att försvinna, samt att klagomålssystemet i Kina är bristfälligt. I rapporten finns även vittnesmål om att bönder som kommit till Peking för att klaga kidnappats, torterats, återförts till sina hem, och arresterats.

De sociala klyftorna i Kina mellan bönder och stadsbor är bland de största i världen. Under 1980-talet gav Kina upp tanken på kollektivjordbruk och började tillåta privat ägande. Officiellt tillhör all mark fortfarande staten, men i praktiken har stora delar fortsatt att brukas av efterkommande till dess forna ägare i generationer. Tjänstemän har nu börjat sälja jordbruksmark till följd av industrialiseringen, vilket bönderna protesterar kraftigt emot då detta innebär att de förlorar sin möjlighet till försörjning och sina hem.

Människorättsaktivister har även engagerat sig i den juridiska aspekten av markägandet, och begärt en oberoende utredning av förhållandena. Enligt Human Rights Watch finns ingen fungerande äganderätt i Kina, och ärenden om ersättning för förlorad mark och försörjning kan därför inte tas upp i nationell domstol, enligt deras bedömning.


Puppies used to smuggle heroin

Ten puppies with bags of liquid heroin surgically implanted into their bellies were having seizures in a drug bust in Medellin, Colombia, said authorities.

"They utilized a wide range of smuggling, the most repulsive of which was the use of puppies," said John P. Gilbride, head of the DEA's New York office.

"There have been cases of animal cruelty that have led to the discovery of drug labs, but not to the extent of an animal being used to carry drugs, especially a puppy," said ASPCA spokeswoman Jo Sullivan.

Investigators believe that the dogs were used to smuggle heroin into New York on commercial flights. The drugs were then to be distributed and sold along the East Coast.

"Ten puppies, including Labrador retrievers, were rescued during a 2005 raid on a farm in Colombia," said the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Wednesday. The Agency also announced that they had made more than 30 arrests.

Authorities believe that a veterinarian, Andres Lopez Elorez (who is also believed to be a fugitive in Spain), opened the bellies of at least six of the ten puppies, inserted 500 mL bags of liquid heroin, and then stitched them back up. Three puppies had died due to infections after the drugs were removed. A total of 3 kg of heroin were recovered from six puppies. The bags were found using ultrasound.

"The surviving dogs are still alive and well, we're told," said Gilbride. "I think it's outrageous and heinous that they'd use small, innocent puppies in this way. This investigation identified the individuals who were responsible for overseeing and smuggling millions of dollars worth of heroin from Colombia to the East Coast."

The investigation revealed that the smugglers, whose ring was based in Medellin, not only used  people and puppies to conceal their drugs, but also body creams, aerosol cans, and the linings of purses and luggage.

A tipster is said to have led authorities to the puppies.

It is not known how many puppies were actually used in the smuggling operation.

Three dogs were adopted by Colombian police. At least one of those puppies will be trained to sniff for drugs.

About 24 kilograms of heroin was seized in recent raids in Colombia which have resulted in more than 20 arrests and another ten in custody in New York. A total of at least 24 kilograms have been seized in these raids.


La DEA y la Policía colombiana desmantelan red de narcotraficantes que utilizaba animales para enviar droga

2 de febrero de 2006Bogotá, Colombia — Un operativo conjunto de la DEA de Estados Unidos y la Policía Antinarcóticos de Colombia permitió la desarticulación de una red de narcotraficantes que utilizaba perros de razas Labrador y Rottweiler para enviar cocaína y heroína a Norteamérica.

Fueron capturadas 22 personas en varias ciudades de Colombia, 7 de las cuales han sido solicitadas en extradición por EUA, según afirmó el comandante de la Policía Antinarcóticos, general Jorge Alirio Barón. Ellos son Gabriel de Jesús Gil, Carlos Alberto Estrada, Blanca Flor Lobo, Diego Alejandro Fernández, Lizet Franco, Andrés Felipe Álvarez y Gabriel Jaime Echeverry. Otro fue capturado en Estados Unidos.

La banda, que operaba desde Medellín, fue descubierta después de que agentes colombianos y estadounidenses registraran una finca en la que hallaron a diez cachorros de labrador, seis de los cuales habían sido operados para insertarles 14 bolsas de heroína líquida en el estómago. Las bolsas, que fueron detectadas usando ultrasonido, pesaban en total 3 kg y valían aproximadamente US$200.000. Al retirárseles la droga, tres de los seis perros murieron, pero los demás se encuentran a salvo.

El veterinario que realizaba las operaciones es, según la DEA, Andrés López Flórez, quien al parecer está fugitivo en España. Se desconoce el número de perritos utilizados por los delincuentes.

Además de la droga, las autoridades incautaron US$80.000 en efectivo.

Tres de los cachorros fueron adoptados por la Policía Antinarcóticos. Por lo menos uno de ellos será entrenado para rastrear droga.


DEA e Polícia Colombiana desmantelam rede de narcotraficantes que utilizava animais para enviar droga

Uma operação conjunta entre a DEA dos Estados Unidos da América e a Polícia Anti-narcóticos da Colômbia permitiu a desarticulação de uma suposta rede de narcotraficantes que utilizava cachorros das raças Labrador e Rottweiler para enviar cocaína e heroína para  a América do Norte.

Foram capturadas 22 pessoas em várias cidades da Colômbia, sendo que os EUA solicitaram extradição para sete delas, segundo afirmou o comandante da Polícia Anti-narcóticos, General Jorge Alirio Barón. Os suspeitos são: Gabriel de Jesús Gil, Carlos Alberto Estrada, Blanca Flor Lobo, Diego Alejandro Fernández,  Lizet Franco, Andrés Felipe Álvarez e Gabriel Jaime Echeverry. Há ainda uma outra pessoa que foi presa nos Estados Unidos.

A suposta quadrilha, que operava a partir de Medellín, foi descoberta depois  que agentes colombianos e norte-americanos encontraram   numa chácara  dez cachorros da raça labrador, seis dos quais tinham sido operados para colocar 14 bolsas de heroína líquida no estômago. As bolsas, que foram detectadas usando ultrasom, pesavam ao todo 3 kg e estima-se que valham  cerca de  US$ 200 mil.  Na tentativa de retirar a droga três dos seis cães morreram.

O veterinário que realizava as operações é, segundo a DEA, Andrés López Flórez, que ao que parece fugiu para a Espanha. Não se sabe ao certo o número total de cachorros que já foram usados pelos suspeitos.

Além da droga, as autoridades apreenderam US$ 80 mil  em espécie.

Três dos cachorros foram adotados pela Polícia Anti-narcóticos. Pelo menos um deles será treinado para rastrear drogas.


Putin signs law increasing fines for illegal protestors

President Vladimir Putin of Russia today signed a new law increasing the fines available against those involved in unlawful protests, overriding concerns from his human rights advisor and the Council of Europe.

The measure was proposed by ruling United Russia after May 7 protests coinciding with Putin's third inauguration saw clashes between protestors and police, with 400 arrests. The United Russia-dominated State Duma voted 241–147 in favour earlier this week, ahead of a protest scheduled for Russia Day, June 12, in Moscow against Putin's twelve-year rule.

The new legislation increases maximum fines for individuals involved in illegal protests from 100 rubles (US$3) to 10,000 rubles (US$300), but those breaching "the established rules of conduct" face fines of up to 20,000 rubles, up from a previous high of 1,000 rubles. Officials caught engaging in illegal demonstrations have had their maximum penalty increased from 50,000 to 600,000 rubles (upper equivalent: US$20,000).

Organisers of protests that result in injury or damage can be fined up to 300,000 rubles. Smaller violations can be dealt with by detention of up to fifteen days, and up to 200 hours of community service is available as an alternative sentence to a fine. Protestors are banned from concealing their faces and nobody with a criminal record may organise a protest.

Supporters say the bill is required for public safety. Putin explained protests "must be organized in such way that they inflict no damages to other citizens, who do not take part in them" and insisted authorities "should apply the new law in such a way that it does not limit the citizens’ right for expression over any issue of internal or external politics, including street marches, events and rallies".

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, said the law would be published in Saturday's edition of the Rossiyskaya Gazeta; it takes effect instantly upon publication. He said the law matched similar legislation in other European nations. Irina Yarovaya, who leads the State Duma's Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, agreed that health and safety was the law's top priority.

Yarovaya noted the 'youth' of democracy in Russia, saying "We are only beginning to have the experience that other countries have been accumulating for decades and centuries." She said Putin's "political mission" is "protection of public security and national interests of the country".

Putin says he investigated the laws of European Union members, and found "There is nothing in our law which would have been more tough than similar legislation in the countries I named," which included Germany, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. He today spoke of last year's "mass riots, torched cars and robbed stores" in the UK.

The law has faced local and international criticism. Mikhail Fedotov, chairman of the Presidential Human Rights Council, urged Putin to veto the law and said much depended on enforcement, which he hoped to be "moderate". The Council claims it breaches existing legislation including the constitution.

Igor Lebedev, a prominent Liberal Democrat, said Putin's signature was "absolutely expected". The Liberal Democrats opposed the bill. Yalboko leader Sergey Mitrokhin called the law "a ban on holding rallies and political actions" which he cannot organise protests against because "Now anyone can be punished with slave labor or a crazy fine. I can’t gather people for a rally knowing that they might be sent straight to the galleys from there".

Mikhail Gorbachev, ex-President of the former USSR, characterised today's signing as "a mistake" that could leave revisions necessary. Putin himself acknowledged the possibility; "Nothing we have is frozen solid. If we find out the MPs have missed something, that something must be laid out in a different way... we can approach the State Duma deputies, look at how the law is applied and ask them to make some corrections."

Russia's opposition says Putin's true motivation is to provide a response to the planned June 12 rally against him, which stems from widespread claims of irregularities in this year's Presidential election. Ilya Yashin, a leader of the movement, called the law "absolutely irresponsible policy" that would not deter protestors. "The authorities are fighting against the protests, instead of fighting against the injustice that is causing them," said Yashin.

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly also spoke out against the law. Putin, however, cautioned that "A society which permits rallies and marches must protect itself from radicalism".