FARC and Brazilian Workers' Party:the general didn't tell the truth, says former Abin superior to Veja

Brazil —
The Head Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet of Brazil, General Jorge Felix, and the director-general of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva, testifying before a commission of deputies and senators, said documents may be incorrect. They maintain the Brazilian magazine Veja, in its article "FARC's tentacles in Brazil", should not be used.

This weekend, Veja presented testimonies by people who allegedly worked on Abin's FARC-PT investigation. These contradict the explanations that General Felix gave to the commission.

Last week, the magazine Veja reported that the  Workers' Party (PT)  received 5 million dollars to be used for the political campaign of candidates in 2002 from the Colombian Communist armed group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP). The news appeared on  by Brazilian television chanells Globo and Record.

Veja said that it used as its sources the documents from Abin and the allegations of Abin's  employees. The Head Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet of Brazil's General Jorge Felix, and the director-general of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva,  said that the  documents were not reliable.

The official Abin version can be seen on its website. The agency stores and archives all data collected by the intelligence service, including  data that do not fulfill all Abin's criteria for consistency and accuracy. Every kind of document remains in Abin archive so it can be re-evaluated in the future. According to General Felix, Abin archives may contain data that are not relevant, tendentious or  completely untrue. The documents mentioned by Veja are this sort of data.

According to Brazilian  Federal Senate's website, General Félix told "the documents  were archived because they don't deserve credit, and they don't present any proof related to the allegations contained therein".

The general said: "Of course Abin  monitores all FARC activities, it is part of its job; however, in this specific case, there is no sustainable argument, and there is any credibility. Therefore, the papers are archived."

On 21 March Veja published another article named: "They know  everything about it", contradicting Abin. The article stated that two people -- a alleged spy who was in a meeting where a supposed donation by the FARC member father Medina took place, and his former Abin superior, Colonel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira -- had said that the documents were not merely information ignored by the agency, due to a lack of evidence, as the  General Félix argued.

Veja's wrote that the documents that mentioned the alleged FARC-PT relationship were considered very important  by  Abin. Veja's story told the documents were archived and the investigations into their contents ceased after the victory of the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

Veja has since claimed to have interviewed the Albin spy again, whose identity the magazine chooses not to reveal, since he is allegedly still active.

According to the spy, he infiltrated the labour union movement twenty years ago. His colleagues were PT members and Communists and his task was informing the intelligence agency about the Brazilian labor movement.

According to Veja, the spy says that he came upon the FARC case accidentally. It happened when leftists invited him to be part of a pro-FARC committee, in defense of the Colombian guerrillas. The spy claims to have agreed and he began to frequent the meetings, which were almost always secret.

Veja says that, on April 13, 2002, the spy took part of a meeting together with other   leftists, in Coração Vermelho (Red Heart) hacienda, near  Brasilia. Veja reports that the spy heard father Olivério Medina, representative of the FARC, announcing that he would donate 5 million dollars for the campaign of the Brazilian president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva in 2002.

Furthermore, according to Veja, the Abin's spy said: " Immediately I left the meeting, on April 13 and met my Abin contact, near a highway close to the Coração Vermelho hacienda. There, inside the car, I wrote the my dispatches about FARC money going to the PT. I had listened the story for the first time. Father Olivério Medina was quite happy."

The Brazilian magazine continues reporting the alleged spy story:

On April 22, I listened again to this story. It was during a meeting in a labour union. One of the friends of the FARC, a Chilean militant, said that they were 5 million dollars and that the money had been already distributed for the PT.

The Abin found the history so important that my contact, colonel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, invited me to dinner (...)

My stories are based on the facts that I see and hear. I do not know if the money was delivered. I know that, among FARC's friends, this matter was treated responsibly and secretly. The money would come from Trinidad and Tobago to 300 PT businessmen, who would distribute it for the party's committees. Moreover, I wrote this in the reports that I delivered to the colonel.

Veja claims to have interviewed Colonel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira who was Abin's employee  for seven years and who allegedly coordinated the investigation on the relations between the FARC and the Workers' Party (PT).

Colonel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, aged 49, worked for Abin during seven years. He left his job  in 2003 because of alleged differences related to the way the investigations were being carried out after the victory of Workers' Party (PT) in 2002 campaign. The colonel works for the  Military Police in  the Federal District at present time.

Veja said that the colonel told there are at least two dozen reports  describing  the PT-FARC relationships in Abin. Colonel Ferreira says that the document 0095/3100 mentioned by Veja last week is not even the most important one.

Veja said that Colonel Ferreira  told  the documents were not archived by Abin because they were  dubious. The colonel said that  the documents that describe the relations between PT and FARC were taken very seriously by Abin.

According to Veja, Colonel Ferreira said that in order to avoid the unathourized release of information, the reports were written inside the intelligence director José Milton Campana's office at that time . Campana got a promotion to Abin assistant-director by the current PT government.

Inside Campana's office, other people were in direct contact with the papers: an analyst and an adviser.

According to Veja, the colonel said: "We finished three reports on the case". The colonel said that Abin, with the help of the Federal Police, had traced part of the money that might have come from FARC to PT. There were three payment authorisations, for 1 million dollars each, with indications that they were part of the FARC's money.  The colonel said: "we cannot affirm that it was the guerrillas' money for sure. There were indications. Strong indications, but the investigation stopped after the PT won the elections and I left Abin."

The magazine Veja emphasized  that it is not deliberately accusing  the Workers'  Party (PT). The magazine  warns that some politicians can try to obtain political advantages with  the news.

Brazilian Senator Demóstenes Torres (PFL) said:  " If  both declarations are true, they  reveal that  Abin appeared to the  Congress commission  and it concealed the truth of the parliament's members. It is serious." The senator told he will ask an secret audience to hear the Abin's spy and the Colonel  Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira.

General Jorge Felix refused to comment the case explaining that everything were already had been told to the  deputies and senators commission.

Veja's last article:"They know everything about it"  was not covered by most part of Brazilian newspapers. However it appeared on television  and on some journalist's blogs.

It is known that the FARC  and PT politics have met since 1990. Many of these meetings occurred during the enconteurs of the Foro de São Paulo.

The peace talks between Colombia and the FARC guerrilla  started in 1998, during government of the  Colombian President Andres Pastrana Arango.

The FARC had sent a letter to the XI  Foro de São Paulo meeting congratulating Lula  Da Silva for  his victory  in  2002 elections (Farc felicitam Brasil pela vitória de Lula - O Estado de São Paulo).

In a interview to Valquíria Rey, from BBC, in March 6, 2003 FARC commander Pastor Alape praised the independent stance of the Brazil. He told he didn't think that Brazilian government would sign any statement including FARC on the list of international terrorist organizations.

If the Brazilian government considered the FARC as a terrorist group, all FARC members could be arrested inside Brazilian territory.

Some analysts say that the Communist Colombian guerrilla aims to extend its influence throughout other countries in Latin America.[1], [2]

After the PT candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumed the government the most visible change was the association of Abin with the Cuban service of intelligence.

Abin signed at least an agreement of cooperation with the Cuban service of intelligence. The  Abin general-director  Mauro Marcelo de  Lima e Silva  was in Havana, in  February,  this year,  discussing  an agreement  between Abin  and the Cuban service of intelligence,  the Dirección General de Inteligência (DGI). [3], [4],
[5]

The Brazilian government denied   his agents would be  trained  in Cuba.  The government affirmed that it  was only an  mere  bilateral cooperation agreement to resolve problems related to the terrorism and the traffic of weapons. [6]

The Workers' Party (PT)  released  an official statement signed by the National President  José Genoino repudiating the magazine's article  and denying all presented facts. Part of the note tells:

The note says that  the article is irresponsible,  that  it comments on facts  without any sustentable evidence . It still says that   the magazine denies  itself when later in the text it affirms that it  did not find  any solid indication  to proof  that  5 million dollars were really sent to PT by  the FARC .

Another note from the Workers' Party (PT), of  February 16, 2002 called
"The truth  about Colombia and the FARC - and  PT" tries to clarify the relationship between  the party and  the FARC.  A portion of this note  says that:

The leader of the government  Deputy Aloizio Mercadante (PT) said: "If this donation existed, which I do not believe, it was not done to   PT, but   to individuals who are alleged connected to the party.  Case  they were  identified and they  were part of  the party, they would  be forced to leave."

The deputy Paulo Rocha (PT) said that the magazine does not have any proof  that  the money transference from FARC  for  PT occurred. "The magazine admits by itself that that there are no documents verifying  any insinuation of this nature", he adds.

Deputy Paulo Rocha also says that the meetings between  FARC delegates with Brazilian politicians were part of a FARC attempt   of establishing a diplomatic representation in Brazil, which did not happened. So, according to the deputy, there were meetings between the father Olivério Medina, who worked as FARC  ambassador, with parliamentarians of diverse parties. The deputy said: "Meetings can have happened, but there is no political and financial relation with the PT." For the deputy there are no reasons to create a congress  investigation commission,  as  suggested by  oppostion parties.  [7]

The Senator Cristovam Buarque(PT) said that the case was a "sad episode, because it affected a party's credibility without anybody seeing any proof." In his opinion the case repercussion was positive "because it demonstrated that Brazil is a country capable of placing the head of its intelligence agency before the entire press and all the members of Congress and exit calmly, without a dent to its credibility."[8]

According to the Abin directors  General Jorge Armando Félix and Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva there is no solid evidences relating finantial help from FARC to PT. Because of that, there is no reason to start a new investigation and the case must remain archived.

The Veja admitted in its article that it is possible that the FARC delegate father Medina did not said the true when he told the FARC would donate 5 million dollars to  PT campaign in Coração Vermelho hacienda. Also the magazine admitted that it cannot proof the donation occurred and it says that it is possible that the  Abin documents are untrue. The magazine Veja said it didn't involve the Workers' Party, as an organization, in the case.

The National Secretary of International Relations for Workers'Party (PT), Paulo Ferreira, says that the Central Bank records show that no money entered in Brazil from Trynidad and Tobago during 2002 and 2003. [9]

The leftist Antônio Carlos Viana told to the Brazilian newspaper Correio Braziliense  that during the encounter between  FARC and PT members in Coração Vermelho hacienda there weren't any discussion about money. He said:"We believe that the path to peace in Colombia is people and Brazilian government recognizing the FARC. However we can't take any responsibility by the FARC's actions and we deny categorically any discussion about money to electoral purposes in Brazil."

According to an article in PCdoB website:  "none of the participants of the enconteur in Coração Vermelho hacienda says that father Olivério Medina offered money to PT".

The President of PT in Santa Catarina Milton Mendes says:"(...)I am perplex and honestly convinced that the article is shameful, irresponsible and a pamphlet."[10]. He criticizes  Veja because the magazine said no proofs were found related to the money donation.

Accusations against PT can be used by the political opposition in negative propaganda.

The Congress Commission which heard the Abin's directors considered the case closed on alleged FARC donation to PT.

Some opinion excerpts  from the
O Estado de São Paulo  Forum:

Magazines and newspapers must be careful with explosive news
I am not PT sympathizant and I have already criticized some points about  the party and the government(...) There is no saint in any political party, neither in the several religions, neither in the Church. However, I can't believe that someone inside PT,  after I have some knowledge about its leaders, might have received any contribution from the FARC (...) Fake dossiers have already been created relating the PSDB with foreign bank accounts and these news were denied later. The FARC donation is a  campaign gossip which is already began by PT unfortunately.  —  Antonio Carlos Rocha da Silva / São Paulo

Possibilities
The news published in Veja magazine, March 13, this year, is really daring. Saying that the PT received money from the FARC is serious and grave. If the magazine published the story, there must be, at least, some kind of information.(...)The Workers'Party members deny the fact, with no exception. But you must remember that most of them have belonged to armed groups during the militar regime.(..)If the PT did not prosecute the magazine, the doubt can cause some harm.(...) —  Jorge Cortás Sader Filho / Niterói

New story, old subject
The FARC/PT connection is older thant the Bible draft. In 2002 a deputy tryed to create a CPI [Congress Commission of Investigation]  to investigate the donation, however he didn't get enough signatures. (...)If the article is lying, the PT have to proof and expose the magazine, then prosecute it.(...) The worst blind person is who doesn't want to see.  This kind of person, the fanatic voter, is not helping in nothing Brazil. — Sonia / Rio de Janeiro


General no dijo verdad sobre caso FARC-PT, dicen personas que trabajaron en la investigación

Los principales jefes de la Abin dijeron para una comisión de diputados y senadores que las informaciones reportadas por la revista brasileña Veja sobre la donación de 5 millones de dólares del grupo armado comunista de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) al Partido de los Trabajadores (PT) no deberían ser consideradas como verdaderas. La revista Veja de esta semana, presenta el relato de otras personas de la Abin que contradicen la versión oficial de los principales jefes de la agencia de inteligencia brasileña.

La semana pasada, la revista brasileña Veja reportó que el Partido de los Trabajadores (PT), el partido del gobierno y del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recibió 5 millones de dólares de las FARC para la campaña de 2002.

La noticia fue transmitida también en los informativos de las emisoras de televisión brasileña de la Red Globo y Red Record.

La revista dijo que usó documentos provenientes de la propia Abin como fuente del reportaje, además del relato de las personas que estuvieron en contacto con esos documentos. El ministro jefe del gabinete de seguridad, el general Jorge Félix, y el director del servicio brasileño de inteligencia (Abin) Mauro Marcelo de Lima y Silva, dijeron que los documentos mencionados por la revista brasileña Veja podrían estar incorrectos.

Los responsables por la Abin dijeron que datos que forman parte de los archivos de la Abin pueden ser no relevantes, tendenciosos o incluso completamente falsos. Los documentos citados por la revista Veja formarían parte de ese conjunto de documentos. A causa de eso, ellos no deberían ser publicados.

Según información publicada en el página del Senado Federal, el General Félix dijo que "el documento fue archivado por no merecer crédito, debido a no presentar cualquier prueba de las afirmaciones en él contenidas".

El general dijo:"Claro que la Abin sigue todas las actividades de las Farc, es de su naturaleza, pero en este caso específico, no hay idoneidad, no hay confirmación, y por lo tanto la documentación fue archivada."

Pero, en reportaje de 4 páginas, esta semana, llamado: "Ellos saben de todo", la revista Veja afirma que el general Félix por lo menos no contó toda la verdad para la comisión de diputados y senadores.

El reportaje de esta semana de la revista Veja dice que por lo menos dos operarios de la Abin, el espía que estuvo en la reunión donde hubo el supuesto anuncio de la donación de dinero por el padre Medina de las FARC, y su superior de la Abin, el Coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, dicen que los documentos no eran simplemente datos abandonados por la agencia, por falta de pruebas o consistencia, como quiso hacer suponer el General Félix.

Los documentos que tratan de la relación de las FARC con El PT eran considerados documentos importantes y secretos por la agencia. El archivado y el fin de las investigaciones habrían ocurrido después que el gobierno del PT ganó las elecciones y asumió el gobierno.

La revista Veja volvió a entrevistar el espía de la Abin. La revista no revela su identidad, bajo el argumento de que él es un espía que aún está en la vida activa, debe permanecer con la identidad protegida.

Según el espía, él se infiltró en el movimiento sindical hace veinte años atrás y entre sus compañeros de militancia hay miembros del PT y comunistas. Su tarea fue siempre informar a la agencia de inteligencia sobre lo que acontece en los movimientos sindicales. Varios sindicatos brasileños están bajo el control de grupos de izquierda. Un de los más expresivos movimientos sindicales brasileños, la CUT, tiene fuertes vínculos con El PT, por ejemplo.

El espía dice que se relacionó con el caso de las FARC por casualidad. Ocurrió cuando izquierdistas lo invitaron a participar de un comité de apoyo a las FARC, en defensa de la guerrilla colombiana. El espía aceptó participar del comité y comenzó a frecuentar las reuniones del grupo, generalmente secretas.

El día 13 de abril de 2002, él participó, con los otros izquierdistas, de una reunión en la chacra Corazón Rojo, en las proximidades de Brasilia, y fue en esa reunión que él escuchó al padre Olivério Medina, representante de las FARC, anunciar que donaría 5 millones de dólares para la campaña del presidente Luis Inácio Lula da Silva en 2002.

Según la revista Veja, el espía de la Abin dijo:"Inmediatamente que salí de la reunión, el día 13 de abril, me encontré con mi contacto en la Abin, a los márgenes de una carretera próxima a la chacra Corazón Rojo. Allí, dentro del coche, escribí uno informe y hablé del dinero de las FARC para el PT. Yo había escuchado allí esa historia por primera vez. El padre Olivério Medina [de las FARC] estaba bastante feliz."

"El día 22 de abril, yo escuché nuevamente esta historia. Fue en una reunión en un sindicato. Uno de los amigos de las FARC, un militante chileno, dijo que eran 5 millones de dólares y que el dinero ya había sido repartido para el PT."

"La Abin halló la historia tan importante que mi contacto, el coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, me invitó para cena(...)"

"Mis relatos se basan en el que veo y oigo. No sé si el dinero fue pagado. Sé que, entre los amigos de las FARC, ese asunto era tratado con seriedad y secreto. El dinero saldría de Trinidad y Tobago para 300 empresarios del PT, que lo distribuirían para los comités del partido. Eso yo también escribí en los informes que entregué al coronel."

La revista entrevistó también al Coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira que trabajó durante siete años en la Abin y coordinó la investigación sobre las relaciones entre las FARC y el PT.

Coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, 49 años, trabajó durante siete años en la Abin. Él dejó su puesto en 2003 a causa de divergencias en relación a la forma como venían siendo llevadas las investigaciones sobre las FARC, después que el PT asumió el gobierno. Veja entrevistó el coronel Ferreira en cinco ocasiones diferentes. El coronel hoy trabaja en la policía militar de Distrito Federal.

El coronel dice que existen en la Abin por lo menos dos decenas de informes que describen la relación entre el PT y las FARC. El Coronel Ferreira, aún dice que el documento 0095/3100 citado por la revista Veja semana pasada no es ni siquiera el documento más importante

El Coronel Ferreira dice, que al contrario del que afirma el general Jorge Félix, los documentos no fueron simplemente archivados por la agencia, porque no había pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones. El coronel dice que ocurrió justo lo contrario, que los documentos que describen las relaciones entre el PT y las FARC fueron llevados muy en serio por la agencia de inteligencia.

Él dijo que, a fin de evitar fugas, los informes eran escritos dentro del gabinete del director de Inteligencia, José Milton Campana. Campana fue promovido a director adjunto de la Abin por el actual gobierno del PT.

En el gabinete de Campana, además de las personas envueltas directamente en la investigación, las otras personas que tenían acceso al material eran un analista de informaciones y un asesor.

El coronel dijo: "Hicimos tres informes completos sobre el caso". Según el coronel, la Abin, con la ayuda de la Policía Federal, llegó a rastrear parte del dinero que podría haber venido de las FARC para el PT. Fueron tres órdenes de pago, sumando 1 millón de dólares aproximadamente, con indicios de que se trataba de dinero de las FARC. El coronel dijo: "No podemos afirmar que era el dinero de la guerrilla mismo. Eran indicios. Indicios fuertes, pero la investigación paró cuando el PT ganó las elecciones y yo salí de la Abin."

La revista Veja dejó bien claro que no está deliberadamente acusando el Partido de los Trabajadores. Ella dijo que está tomando todo el cuidado para no relacionar el partido, como institución, en las acusaciones referentes a la donación de dinero de las FARC. La revista también alerta que algunos políticos pueden intentar obtener ventaja política a través de la noticia.

El Senador Demóstenes Torres (PFL) dijo que así que fuera publicada el reportaje de la revista, haría un pedido para oír el espía de la Abin y el coronel Ferreira. El senador Torres dijo:"Las declaraciones de los dos, si confirmadas, revelan que la Abin compareció a la comisión del Congreso y ocultó la verdad de los parlamentarios. Es grave."

El líder del gobierno Aloizio Mercadante (PT) dijo: "Si esa donación existió, lo que no creo, ella no fue hecha al PT, sino a individuos que se dicen conectados al partido. Si ellos fueran identificados y fueran del partido, serán obligados a salir."

El diputado del PT Paulo Rocha dijo que la revista no tiene ninguna prueba que hubo la transferencia de dinero de las FARC para el PT. "La propia revista admite que que no hay documentos que comprueben cualquier insinuación de esa naturaleza", dice el diputado.

El diputado Paulo Rocha también dice que las reuniones entre representantes de las FARC con políticos brasileños formaron parte de una tentativa por parte de las FARC de establecer una representación diplomática en Brasil, lo que acabó no ocurriendo. Luego, según el diputado, hubo reuniones entre el padre Olivério Medina, que actuó como embajador de las FARC, con parlamentarias de diversos partidos. El diputado dijo:"Encuentros pueden haber ocurrido, pero no hay ninguna relación política y financiera con El PT." Para el diputado no hay motivos para que sea creada una comisión parlamentaria de interrogatorio, como es sugerido por partidos de oposición. [1]

La relación de las FARC con El PT es antigua, y data por lo menos desde 1990, época en que ocurrieron las primeras reuniones del Foro de São Paulo.

Después de la posesión del Presidente Luis Inácio Lula da Silva asumió, algunas modificaciones importantes y visibles ocurrieron en la Abin . Una de ellas fue la asociación del servicio de inteligencia brasileño con el servicio de inteligencia cubano.

La Abin suscribió por lo menos un acuerdo de cooperación con el servicio de inteligencia cubano.
El director-general de la Abin, el delegado Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva, estuvo en La Habana, durante el mes de febrero, de este año para discutir un acuerdo de intercambio entre la Abin y el servicio de inteligencia cubano, la Dirección General de Inteligencia (DGI).
[2], [3]

El gobierno brasileño negó el hecho de que sus agentes estén pasando por entrenamiento en Cuba, El gobierno afirmó que hubo sólo un acuerdo de cooperación bilateral para combatir problemas como el terrorismo y el tráfico de armas.[4] [5]


FARC-PT:Abin não disse a verdade, dizem pessoas que trabalharam na investigação da Abin

Os principais chefes da Abin disseram  para uma comissão de deputados e senadores que as informações reportadas pela revista brasileira Veja sobre a doação de 5 milhões de dólares das FARC ao Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) não deveriam ser consideradas como verdadeiras. A revista Veja desta semana, apresenta o relato de outras testemunhas da Abin que contradizem a versão oficial dos principais chefes  da agência de inteligência brasileira.

Semana passada, Veja reportou que o Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), o partido do governo e do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recebeu 5 milhões de dólares das FARC para a campanha de 2002.  A notícia foi transmitida  também nos noticiários das emissoras de televisão brasileira da Rede Globo e Record.

A revista disse que usou documentos retirados da própria Abin como fonte da reportagem, além do relato das pessoas que estiveram em contato com esses documentos. O ministro chefe do gabinete de segurança, o general Jorge Félix, e o diretor do serviço brasileiro de inteligência (Abin) Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva, disseram que os documentos mencionados pela revista brasileira Veja poderiam estar incorretos.

Os responsáveis pela Abin disseram que dados que fazem parte dos arquivos da Abin podem ser  não  relevantes, tendenciosos ou até mesmo completamente falsos. Os documentos citados pela revista Veja fariam parte desse conjunto de documentos. Por causa disso, eles não deveriam ser publicados.

Segundo informação publicada no website do Senado Federal, o General Félix disse que "o documento foi arquivado por não merecer crédito, devido a não apresentar qualquer prova das afirmações nele contidas".

O general disse:"Claro que a Abin acompanha todas as atividades das Farc, é de sua natureza, mas neste caso específico, não há idoneidade, não há confirmação, e portanto a documentação foi arquivada."

Contudo, em reportagem de 4 páginas, esta semana, entitulada: "Eles sabem de tudo", a revista Veja afirma que o general Félix pelo menos não contou toda a verdade para a comissão de deputados e senadores.

A reportagem desta semana da revista Veja diz que pelo menos dois funcionários da Abin, o espião que esteve na reunião onde houve o suposto anúncio da doação de dinheiro pelo padre Medina das FARC, e  o seu superior da Abin, o Coronel  Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, dizem que os documentos não eram simplesmente dados abandonados pela agência, por falta de provas ou consistência, como quiz fazer supor o General Félix.

Os documentos que tratam do relacionamento das FARC com o PT eram considerados documentos importantes e secretos pela agência. O arquivamento e o fim das investigações teriam ocorrido depois que o governo do PT venceu as eleições e assumiu o governo.

A revista Veja voltou a entrevistar o espião da Abin. A revista não revela sua identidade, sob o argumento de que  ele é um espião que ainda está na ativa,  deve permanecer com a identidade protegida.

Segundo o espião, ele infiltrou-se no movimento sindical há vinte anos atrás e entre seus colegas de militância há membros do PT e comunistas. Sua tarefa foi sempre informar a agência de inteligência sobre o que acontece nos movimentos sindicais. Vários sindicatos brasileiros estão sob o controle de grupos de esquerda. Um dos mais expressivos movimentos sindicatos brasileiros, a CUT, tem fortes vínculos com o PT, por exemplo.

O espião diz que deparou-se com o caso das FARC por acaso. Aconteceu quando esquerdistas convidaram-no a participar de um comitê de apoio às FARC, em defesa da guerrilha colombiana. O espião aceitou participar do comitê e começou a freqüentar as reuniões do grupo, geralmente secretas.

No dia 13 de abril de 2002, ele participou, com os outros esquerdistas, de uma reunião na chácara Coração Vermelho, nas redondezas de Brasília, e foi nessa reunião que ele ouviu o padre Olivério Medina, representante das FARC, anunciar que doaria 5 milhões de dólares para a campanha do presidente Luis Inácio Lula da Silva em 2002.

Segundo a revista Veja, o espião da Abin disse:"Logo que saí da reunião, no dia 13 de abril, me encontrei com meu contato na Abin, às margens de uma rodovia próxima à chácara Coração Vermelho. Ali, dentro do carro, escrevi um informe e falei do dinheiro das FARC para o PT. Eu tinha ouvido a história pela primeira vez. O padre Olivério Medina [das FARC] estava bastante feliz."

"No dia 22 de abril, eu ouvi a história de novo. Foi numa reunião num sindicato. Um dos amigos das FARC, um militante chileno, disse que eram 5 milhões de dólares e que o dinheiro já tinha sido repassado para o PT."

"A Abin achou a história tão importante que meu contato, o coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, me convidou para jantar(...)"

"Meus relatos se baseiam no que vejo e ouço. Não sei se o dinheiro foi pago. Sei que, entre os amigos das FARC, esse assunto era tratado com seriedade e segredo. O dinheiro sairia de Trinidade e Tobago para 300 empresários do PT, que o distribuiriam para os comitês do partido. Isso eu também escrevi nos informes que entreguei ao coronel."

A  revista entrevistou também  o Coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira que trabalhou durante sete anos na Abin e coordenou a investigação sobre as relações entre as FARC e o PT.

Coronel Eduardo Adolfo Ferreira, 49 anos, trabalhou durante sete anos na Abin. Ele deixou o seu posto em 2003 por causa de divergências em relação à conduta de como vinham sendo levadas as investigações sobre as FARC, depois que o PT assumiu o governo. Veja entrevistou o coronel Ferreira em cinco ocasiões diferentes. O coronel hoje trabalha na polícia militar do Distrito Federal.

O coronel diz  que existem na Abin pelo menos duas dezenas de relatórios que descrevem o relacionamento entre o PT e as FARC.  O  Coronel Ferreira, ainda diz que  o documento 0095/3100 citado pela revista Veja semana passada não é nem  o documento mais importante

O Coronel Ferreira diz, que ao contrário do que afirma o general Jorge Félix, os documentos não foram simplesmente arquivados pela agência, porque não havia provas suficientes para sustentar as acusações. O coronel diz que ocorreu o contrário, que os documentos que descrevem as relações entre o PT e as FARC foram levados muito a sério pela agência de inteligência.

Ele disse que, a  fim de evitar vazamentos, os relatórios eram escritos dentro do gabinete do diretor de Inteligência, José Milton Campana. Campana foi promovido a diretor adjunto da Abin pelo atual governo do PT.

No gabinete de Campana, além das pessoas envolvidas diretamente na investigação, as outras pessoas que tinham acesso ao material eram um analista de informações e um assessor.

O coronel disse: "Fizemos três memoriais completos sobre o caso". Segundo o coronel, a Abin, com a ajuda da Polícia Federal,  chegou a rastrear parte do dinheiro que poderia ter vindo das FARC para o PT. Foram três ordens de pagamento, somando 1 milhão de dólares aproximadamente, com indícios de que se tratava de dinheiro das FARC. O coronel disse: "Não podemos afirmar que era o dinheiro da guerrilha mesmo. Eram indícios. Indícios fortes, mas a investigação parou quando o PT ganhou as eleições e eu saí da Abin."

A revista Veja deixou bem claro que não está deliberadamente acusando o Partido dos Trabalhadores. Ela disse que está tomando todo o cuidado para não relacionar o partido, como instituição, nas acusações referentes à doação de dinheiro das FARC.  A revista também alerta que alguns políticos podem tentar obter vantagem política através da  notícia.

O Senador Demóstenes Torres (PFL) disse que assim que fosse publicada a reportagem da revista, faria um pedido para ouvir o espião da Abin e o coronel Ferreira. O senador Torres disse:"As declarações dos dois, se confirmadas, revelam que a Abin compareceu à comissão do Congresso e ocultou a verdade dos parlamentares. É grave."

O general Félix preferiu não comentar sobre o assunto.

O líder do governo Aloizio Mercadante (PT)  disse: "Se essa doação existiu, o que não acredito, ela não foi feita ao PT, mas a indivíduos que se dizem ligados ao partido. Se eles forem identificados e forem do partido, serão expulsos."

O deputado do PT Paulo Rocha disse que a revista não tem nenhuma prova que houve a transferência de dinheiro das FARC para o PT. "A própria revista admite que  que não há documentos que comprovem   qualquer insinuação dessa natureza", diz o deputado.

O deputado  Paulo Rocha também diz que as reuniões entre representantes das FARC com políticos brasileiros foi parte de uma tentativa por parte das FARC de estabelecer uma representação diplomática no Brasil, o que acabou não ocorrendo. Logo, segundo o deputado, houve reuniões entre o padre Olivério Medina, que atuou como embaixador das FARC, com parlamentares de  diversos partidos. O deputado disse:"Encontros podem ter exisitido, mas não há nenhuma relação política e financeira com o PT."  Para o deputado não há motivos para que seja criada uma comissão parlamentar de inquérito, como é sugerido por partidos de oposição. [1]

A relação das FARC com o PT é antiga, e data pelo menos desde 1990, época em que ocorreram as primeiras reuniões do Foro de São Paulo.

Depois da posse do Presidente Luis Inácio Lula da Silva do Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), algumas modificações importantes e visíveis ocorreram na  Abin. Uma delas foi a associação do serviço de inteligência brasileiro com o serviço de inteligência cubano.

A Abin assinou acordo de cooperação com o serviço de inteligência cubano este ano.
O diretor-geral  da Abin, o delegado Mauro Marcelo, esteve em Havana, durante o mês de fevereiro, para discutir um acordo de intercâmbio entre  a Abin e o serviço de inteligência cubano, a Dirección General de Inteligência (DGI). [2], [3]

O governo brasileiro negou o fato de agentes estarem passando por treinamento em Cuba. O governo afirmou que houve apenas um acordo de cooperação bilateral para combater problemas como o terrorismo e o tráfico de armas. [4] [5]


Fatal shooting at Salt Lake City mall

Five people were killed by an 18 year-old man who opened fire inside the Trolley Square Mall on Monday evening, according to preliminary reports.

Police say they have shot dead one suspect.

The shootings started at 6:45 in The Old Spaghetti Factory on the second floor of the Trolley Square Mall.

Two employees of the Williams-Sonoma store, near the southwest corner of Trolley Square, told KSL that they heard shots and breaking glass from the area of the west parking garage. They say they saw a gunman about 6'3”, wearing a dark trench coat, carrying a shotgun, probably in his 20's. He came into the mall from the parking garage.

A witness at Trolley Square has said that there may have been a second shooter, a man dressed in normal clothing and carrying a young child. Multiple news outlets have reported an off-duty police officer from the nearby city of Ogden confronted and shot the suspect. This officer is likely the "second shooter" reported earlier.

KTVX had reported that there may have been another shooter inside the facility, however this was later found to not be the case.

The mall evacuation began at 7:00 and is progressing slowly.

The shooter has been identified as Solejman Talovic, an eighteen year-old Bosnian refugee living in Salt Lake City.


Un tiroteo en un centro comercial de Utah deja como saldo cinco muertos

13 de febrero de 2007Utah, Estados Unidos — Un centro comercial en Salt Lake City, Utah, se convirtió en una galería de disparos cuando un adolescente de 18 años armado disparó con una escopeta al azar a los clientes, resultando en la muerte de 5 personas, el tirador incluido.

El tirador, cuyo nombre no fue dado a conocimiento público, también estaba armado con un revólver y varias municiones.

Marie Smith, una trabajadora del centro, presenció el suceso, que ocurrió el martes (12) en la noche. "Su expresión era totalmente calma. No parecía enojado, o como si estuviera en una masacre", dijo Smith, quien se había refugiado en los baños junto con otros empleados.

Entre los muertos había dos mujeres de 28 años, un hombre de 52 años, otro de 24 y una niña de 15 años, además del tirador. Cuatro personas fueron hospitalizadas; entre ellos había una mujer y un hombre en condición crítica y dos hombres más en condición seria.

Afuera, las calles estaban bloqueadas mientras la policía asistía al lugar. Las autoridades solamente informaron que cuatro policías se habían envuelto en un tiroteo con el tirador.

Barb McKeown, de 60 años, estaba en una tienda de antigüedades cuando dos mujeres frenéticas entraron. "Luego de eso, escuchamos tiro tras tiro - cada vez más ruido", dijo McKeown, que dijo que oyó alrededor de 20. Ella y las mujeres se escondieron bajo las escaleras hasta que todo terminó.


Fatal shooting at school in Pennsylvania, USA

Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old delivery man for a local milk company, shot and killed three girls and injured seven others before killing himself during an attack on a one-room Amish school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. Of the wounded, two girls have died in the hospital.

The gunman entered the school located in the village of Nickel Mines (near the town of Paradise) and proceeded to tell all boys and some adults to exit the school, including a pregnant woman and some women with infants. He was believed to be armed with an automatic handgun and a shotgun. He then restrained the remaining girls with ties and plastic cuffs, blocked the doors with desks and wood that he brought in, and shot the girls in the head.

According to the BBC, the classroom contained 15 male pupils, 10–12 female pupils, one teacher and a number of assistants.

Police were called shortly after shots were fired at 10:36 a.m. local time (14:36 GMT).

Police arrived at the scene at 10:45 a.m. and surrounded the building. Police tried to make contact with the gunman, but were unsuccessful.

During this time, an emergency operator located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania received a call from someone claiming to have been called by the gunmen.  In this phone call the gunman warned that if the police did not pull back from the area he would open fire. This message was then sent to the officers on scene but during the sending of the message, shots were fired in quick succession inside the school. Police then stormed the school to find the three girls dead, all shot in the head.

According to his wife, the gunman had seemed perfectly normal in the morning. However, when she returned to the family home around midday, she discovered suicide notes addressed to each of his three children.

At 11:00 a.m. she received a call from Roberts saying he was attacking the school and taking hostages to get "revenge for something that happened 20 years ago," said Jeffrey Miller, the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner.


Massaker an einer Schule in Pennsylvania

Nickel Mines (Vereinigte Staaten), 03.10.2006 – Bei einem Massaker in einer Schule in Pennsylvania hat es gestern mindestens vier Tote und sechs Schwerverletzte gegeben. Unter den Toten ist auch der Angreifer selbst. Meldungen zufolge hat ein bewaffneter Angreifer am gestrigen Vormittag während des Unterrichts das Schulgebäude gestürmt und sich darin verbarrikadiert. Dann habe er mehrere Schülerinnen an den Füßen gefesselt, sie an der Tafel aufgereiht und durch Kopfschüsse im Exekutionsstil getötet. Alle Jungen habe er freigelassen.

Drei Mädchen starben sofort durch die Schüsse, ein weiteres Kind erlag seinen Verletzungen im Krankenhaus. Sechs weitere Kinder befinden sich noch im Klinikum, zwei davon sind in einem kritischen Zustand.

Nach Polizeiangaben soll der Täter zunächst versucht haben, in der Schule Geiseln zu nehmen. Anderen Berichten zufolge soll der Mann mit gezogener Waffe in den einzigen Unterrichtsraum der Schule eingedrungen sein und alle Jungen aufgefordert haben, den Raum zu verlassen. Die Schule von Nickel Mines ist klein. In ihr werden nur zwischen 20 und 30 Kinder im Alter bis 14 Jahren unterrichtet.

In Nickel Mines, einer 30.000 Mitglieder umfassenden Amishgemeinde, gibt es keine Polizisten, da diese Gemeinde als kriminalitätsfrei galt. Die Amish sind Nachfahren deutsch-schweizerischer Einwanderer, die moderne Technik strikt ablehnen und sehr zurückgezogen leben. Sie sind nicht einmal an das örtliche Abwassersystem angeschlossen.


Tiroteio em escola da Pensilvânia deixa vários mortos, diz polícia

Pelo menos uma pessoa foi ferida e levada ao hospital após um tiroteio na escola Wolf Rock, onde estudam apenas 27 alunos de diferentes idades em uma única sala na cidade de Paradise, no condado de Lancaster, na Pensilvânia. Segundo informações da rede de TV Fox News, o número de feridos pode ser bem maior. Mais de 12 ambulâncias e helicópteros foram deslocados para a cena.

"Várias pessoas foram mortas, incluindo o atirador, mas ainda não sabemos o número exato", disse o policial Ralph Striebig à rádio local KYW News. A reportagem do G1 está acompanhando o caso pela rádio e trará novas informações nos próximos minutos.

Ainda segundo a Fox, duas escolas da região de Las Vegas, nos Estados Unidos, foram fechadas no início desta segunda-feira (02), enquanto a polícia procura um jovem armado, no que pode ser o terceiro incidente envolvendo violência nas escolas do país em uma semana.

Segundo a Fox News, uma pistola foi encontrada numa igreja da região, e a polícia  está fazendo buscas com equipes especiais e cães treinados. O jovem é um ex-aluno da escola Mohave High, ele teria tentado entrar armado numa das escolas e fugiu ao ser descoberto, passando a ser perseguido e procurado pela polícia.


Fatal stabbings kill three at Belgian day care center

Two children and a woman have been stabbed to death by a knife-wielding man at a crèche (day care center) in Dendermonde, Belgium. Officials have confirmed that the deaths occurred due to knife wounds inflicted by an unidentified man wearing white face paint with blackened eyes, who arrived by bicycle at the crèche in East Flanders.

The Associated Press reports local prosecutor Christian Du Four telling a news conference, "We have three people dead and 10 in various hospitals." The injured have been taken to the University Hospital in Ghent and other neighbouring hospitals.

The alleged attacker, said to be a 20-year-old, rang the doorbell of the crèche at 09:00 UTC (10:00 local), then ran upstairs when the door was opened. He fled the scene by bicycle and was arrested at 10:30 UTC. He was reported as being injured as he was detained. State broadcaster VRT described the man as being local, whilst AP reports Leene Du Bois, a Flemish government official, as saying that he had no connection with the crèche.

The crèche had 18 children in its care, with six adults in attendance.

Police arrested the suspect at a nearby shop. Reuters reports that Belgian media believe the suspect to be a psychiatric patient.


Mann dreper tre i belgisk barnehage, skader tolv

Målform: Bokmål - Dato: 23. januar 2009 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Belgia: To barn under tre år og ei kvinne ble drept og ytterligere ti barn og to kvinner ble såra da en 20-årig gjerningsmann tok seg inn i en barnehage i Dendermonde og stakk vilt rundt seg med kniv.

Angriperen, som hadde malt ansiktet hvitt med svart rundt øynene, ringte på døra ca klokka 10.00 (lokal tid), og unnskyldte seg med at han skulle spørre om noe. Da døra ble åpna gikk han rett til babyavdelinga og stakk vilt rundt seg. Kvinnen og ett av barna døde på stedet, mens et annet døde på sykehuset. En av de to skadde kvinnene forsøkte å stoppe mannen, men ble selv skadd under angrepet. Det var atten barn under tre år og seks voksne til stede under angrepet, av disse ble altså to barn drept og ti skadd, samt én drept kvinne og to såra.

Etter angrepet flykta mannen av gårde på sykkel. Etter nasjonal alarm ble mannen pågrepet i nabokommunen Lebbeke, muligens på vei mot andre barnehager. Han ble skada under pågripelsen, og nekter å samarbeide med politiet. Han har blant annet oppgitt flere forskjellige navn underveis, og skal ha vært latterfull under avhør. Han var ikke påvirka av alkohol eller narkotika. Det er ikke noe kjent motiv for drapene.

Det gikk først rykter om at han hadde rømt fra en psykiatrisk institusjon, men dette stemmer ikke, i følge politiet. Gazet van Antwerpen melder at mannen hadde skuddsikker vest og en sekk full av kniver.

Det vil bli holdt minnestund for de drepte ved barnehagen mandag 26. januar kl. 18.00.


FBI arrests four in alleged plot to bomb Bronx synagogues, shoot down plane

United States law enforcement officials announced the arrest Thursday of four men in connection with a plot to blow up two synagogues in The Bronx, a borough of New York City, and shoot down military airplanes flying out of the Stewart Air National Guard Base.

The men allegedly placed car bombs wired to cell phones outside the Riverdale Temple and nearby Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx area of the city. New York City Police Department commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said one of the suspects placed what he believed were homemade bombs, or improvised explosive devices, in separate vehicles parked outside the synagogues. The other three suspects served as lookouts.

According to a joint statement released by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the FBI and the New York City Police Department, the men were returning to the vehicle and were planning to attack aircraft at the Air National Guard base at Stewart airport in Newburgh, with Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles when law enforcement stopped them.

As the men were returning to the vehicle, the signal was given for the arrest. An 18-wheel New York City Police Department vehicle blocked the end of the street. The FBI informer also served as the driver of the suspects’ vehicle. Another armored vehicle arrived, and officers from the department’s Emergency Service Unit, according to witnesses, smashed the blackened windows of the SUV, removed the men from the vehicle, and handcuffed them on the ground. None offered resistance.

The men had previously conducted surveillance of military planes at the Air National Guard base including taking photographs.

Both the car bombs and the missiles were actually fakes given to the plotters with the help of an informant for the FBI, who posed as a Pakistani militant affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Each of the two homemade bombs was equipped with about 37 pounds of inert material labeled as C-4 plastic explosives, but the devices had been 'totally disabled by the FBI," and "there was no danger to anyone," Commissioner Kelly said.

"While the bombs these terrorists attempted to plant tonight were – unbeknownst to them – fake, this latest attempt to attack our freedoms shows that the homeland security threats against New York City are sadly all too real," said Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City.

The suspects are reported to be four Muslim men; three U.S. citizens, one Haitian. The Daily News reports that three of the men are jail-house converts to Islam.

James Cromitie, 53, the reported leader, claims that his parents live in Afghanistan and told the FBI informant that he was angry about the U.S. military killing Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He had lived in Brooklyn and had a record of "as many as 27 arrests" for minor crimes "both upstate and in New York City."

The other suspects are David Williams, Onta Williams, and Laguerre Payen a native of Haiti.

At the arraignment held Thursday, attorney for Laguerre Payen, Marilyn Reader, told the court that Payen has "a very low borderline" intelligence quotient and receives medication for schizophrenia.


توقيف أربعة أشخاص حاولوا تنفيذ هجمات في نيويورك

اعتقلت السلطات الأمريكية أربعة أشخاص بتهمة التخطيط لتفجير كنيس يهودي ومركز اجتماعي ملحق به في نيويورك وإسقاط طائرات عسكرية بصواريخ.

وقال بيان مشترك أصدره مكتب المدعي العام للمنطقة الجنوبية في نيويورك ومكتب التحقيقات الاتحادي (إف.بي.آي) وشرطة نيويورك إن: "المشتبه بهم وجهت إليهم اتهامات بالتخطيط لنسف متفجرات قرب كنيس يهودي في ريفرديل بضاحية برونكس في نيويورك".

وأضاف البيان أن: "الرجال الأربعة وجهت إليهم أيضا تهمة التخطيط لإسقاط طائرات عسكرية تعود لقاعدة للحرس الوطني الجوي لنيويورك في مطار ستيوارت في نيوبرج في ولاية نيويورك باستخدام صواريخ موجهة أرض-جو من نوع ستينجر".

وكان جيمس كروميتي المعروف بعبد الرحمن (أحد المتهمين) قد قال لعميل فيدرالي يعمل لصالح مكتب التحقيقات الفيدرالي في يونيو الماضي إن والديه كانا يعيشان في أفغانستان، وإنه مستاء جدا لقيام القوات الأمريكية بقتل المسلمين في تلك البلاد وفي باكستان، حسبما جاء في بيان الادعاء، وأضاف كروميتي للمخبر أنه لو مات شهيدا فسيذهب إلى الجنة، وأنه مستعد "لإيذاء أمريكا".

وجاء في بيان الادعاء أيضا أن كروميتي قال للمخبر في يوليو الماضي إنه يريد الانضمام إلى "جيش محمد"، وهو تنظيم باكستاني مسلح تصنفه واشنطن إرهابيا، لأجل "القيام بالجهاد"، مضيفا أنه: "ورفاقه بدءوا في شهر أكتوبر الماضي سلسلة من الاجتماعات في دار في ضاحية نيوبرج للتخطيط للهجمات التي كانوا ينوون القيام بها، وقد اختاروا في أبريل الماضي الكنيس، وبدءوا فعلا بمراقبته"، بحسب بيان الادعاء.


FBI asks Wikimedia Foundation to remove seal from websites, Wikimedia declines

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF), host of Wikinews and its sister projects, to take down its image of the FBI seal from its websites. However, the WMF declined, saying that FBI lawyers had misinterpreted the relevant federal law.

In a letter dated July 22, David C. Larson, Deputy General Counsel of the FBI demanded that the WMF remove the seal from its websites within fourteen days, claiming that "it facilitates both deliberate and unwitting violations of these restrictions by Wikipedia users."

Larson cited 18 U.S.C. 701, which states: "Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."

Larson went on to say that use of the FBI seal may be authorized only by the director of the FBI; the FBI director has not given such permission to WMF.

The WMF, represented by General Counsel Mike Godwin, responded, saying in a letter dated July 30, that Larson's interpretation "is both idiosyncratic (made especially so by your strategic redaction of important language) and, more importantly, incorrect."

Godwin said that "while we appreciate your desire to revise the statute to reflect your expansive vision of it, the fact is that we must work with the actual language of the statute, not the aspirational version" Larson provided. According to the relevant case law, it "was intended to protect the public against the use of a recognizable assertion of authority with intent to deceive."

Godwin asserted that the use of the FBI seal by the WMF and its projects do not fall under the purview of that law.

The websites of the Wikimedia Foundation are filled with user-generated text, pictures, and other materials, uploaded and curated by independent, often anonymous, volunteers, who change the websites minute by minute. The most well-known sites are the Wikipedias, encyclopedias with over 13 million articles in hundreds of languages. However, the foundation also hosts an image and media library, dictionaries, the Wikinews news websites, book websites and many other educational collaborations.

Cindy Cohn, legal director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (where Godwin was once staff counsel), said that the WMF's constitutional right to free expression allows it to use the FBI seal. "I have to believe the FBI has better things to do than this," she said. The reason for the FBI's request is unknown, as the FBI seal is published on many other websites, including Encyclopedia Britannica.


Fundación Wikimedia y FBI en polémica por logotipo de la agencia

El diario estadounidense The New York Times hizo pública una polémica entre el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) de Estados Unidos y la Fundación Wikimedia, debido a que el primero reclamó sobre el uso del logotipo de la agencia en el artículo dedicado a ella en Wikipedia, dado que la ley estadounidense lo prohíbe. La fundación respondió al FBI está haciendo una interpretación incorrecta de la ley, y dijo que no retirará de sus servidores la insignia, medida que toman otros sitios que la muestran ante una medida similar.

El FBI dirigió una carta a la fundación para retirar su insignia del artículo de Wikipedia y del repositorio de los proyectos Wikimedia Commons, debido a que en su interpretación se violaría lo dispuesto en el título 18, apartado 701 del Código de Estados Unidos, que prohíbe reproducirlo con fines de lucro, y de no hacerlo, tomaría medidas legales en contra de la fundación, que sostiene a Wikipedia, entre otros proyectos.

Michael Godwin, director jurídico de la Fundación Wikimedia, respondió en una carta al FBI reproducida por The New York Times, que ese organismo está haciendo una interpretación incorrecta de la ley, y que defenderá su uso sin fines de lucro en Wikipedia, ya que bajo el principio legal de ejusdem generis "y el sentido común, nosotros podemos ver que (el inciso de la ley de la FBI) 701 no aplica en el uso de la imagen en una enciclopedia en línea".

Godwin apeló en la misma comunicación a que no retirará el archivo, y que espera solucionar fuera de los tribunales el problema, pero que de no ser así, la fundación está preparada para argumentar su punto de vista ante la justicia.


FBI document reviews symbols used by pedophiles

In an exclusive report, Wikinews has obtained an internal FBI document from Wikileaks detailing symbols used by organized pedophiles to identify one another.

Wikileaks obtained the document via Spanish "childhood erotica" networks. According to Wikileaks, the unclassified parts of the document were only briefly published by the Ann Arbor, Michigan police department in a newsletter, which was later removed from the internet.

The document, which is titled Symbols and Logos Used by Pedophiles to Identify Sexual Preferences states that "pedophiles, to include those who sexually abuse children as well as those who produce, distribute, and trade child pornography, are using various types of identification logos or symbols to recognize one another and distinguish their sexual preferences."

According to the FBI, there are at least three groups that pedophiles can use to identify what age and or gender they prefer such as "boylove, girllove and childlove." Most of the logos have been found to be printed on coins, necklace charms and rings.

The first logo, 'The BoyLover logo' (BLogo) "is a small blue spiral-shaped triangle surrounded by a larger triangle, whereby the small triangle represents a small boy and the larger triangle represents an adult man. A variation of the BLogo is the Little Boy Lover logo (LBLogo), which also embodies a small spiral-shaped triangle within a larger triangle; however, the corners of the LBLogo are rounded to resemble a scribbling by a young child," said the document.

The second logo, 'The GirlLover logo' (GLogo) is "a small heart surrounded by a larger heart, which symbolizes a relationship between an adult male or female and minor girl," the document stated.

The last logo, 'The ChildLover logo' (CLogo), "resembles a butterfly and represents non-preferential gender child abusers," added the document.

It is not known how the document came to be in the hands of Spanish childhood erotica enthusiasts. The logos were found during raids on computers and other items related to pedophile investigations.


Un document du FBI dévoile les symboles utilisés par les pédophiles

Dans un reportage exclusif, Wikinews a obtenu un document interne du FBI provenant du site « Wikileaks » détaillant les symboles utilisés par les pédophiles organisés pour s'identifier entre eux.

Wikileaks a obtenu le document via les réseaux « childhood erotica » Espagnols. D'après Wikileaks, les parties non classées du document ont seulement été publiées brièvement par le département de police d'Ann Arbor dans le Michigan dans une dépêche, qui a ensuite été enlevée d'Internet.
Le document, intitulé Symbols and Logos Used by Pedophiles to Identify Sexual Preferences[1] déclare que : « les pédophiles, incluant ceux qui abusent sexuellement d'enfants, autant que ceux qui produisent, distribuent, et échangent de la pornographie pédophile, utilisent différents type de logos ou symboles d'identification pour se reconnaitre et distinguer leur préférences sexuelles ».

D'après le FBI, il y a au moins, trois groupes que les pédophiles peuvent utiliser pour identifier quel âge ou quel sexe, ils préfèrent tel que boylove', girllove and childlove. La plupart des logos ont été trouvés imprimés sur des pièces, des pendentifs ou des bagues.
Le document dit que le premier logo, le « BoyLover logo » (Blogo) « est un triangle en forme de spirale entouré par un triangle plus grand, où le petit triangle représente un petit garçon et le triangle plus large un homme adulte ». Le Little BoyLover logo (LBLogo) est une variation du BLogo, «  prenant aussi la forme d'un triangle en spirale à l'intérieur d'un plus grand triangle, cependant, les angles du LBLogo sont arrondis pour ressembler à un gribouillis de jeune enfant ».
Le deuxième logo, le « GirlLover logo » (Glogo) est « un petit cœur entouré par un cœur plus gros, qui symbolise la relation entre un adulte homme ou femme, et une fille mineure » indique le document produit par le FBI.
Le document ajoute que le dernier logo, le «  ChildLover logo » (Clogo) : « ressemble à un papillon et représente des exploiteurs d'enfants sans préférence de sexe ».

On ignore comment le document est arrivé entre les mains des pédophiles espagnols. Les logos ont été trouvés au cours de saisies sur des ordinateurs et d'autres objets liés à des enquêtes sur les milieux pédophiles.


FBI suspect Jesse James captured in Rio after five years on the run

Brazilian federal police arrested Jesse James Hollywood, aged 25, in Saquarema city, Rio de Janeiro, on March 8.

James had been sought by the FBI for more than four years.

According to the police, he was living in Saquarema with a woman who is pregnant. His arrest occurred while they were in a mall.

James was deported to the United States for trial. The two countries do not have a formal extradition treaty.

On Friday, James appeared in a Santa Barbara, California court for arraignment on charges of kidnapping and murdering a 15-year-old boy.

James will plead not guilty, according to his attorney, James E. Blatt.

Blatt also criticized the portrait prosecutors had painted of his client.

"Have you ever seen a 20 year-old mastermind? He was not the shooter. He was not at the scene," said Blatt.

Blatt requested that the trial be continued on April 4.


Jesse James złapany przez FBI po 5 latach poszukiwań

Brazylia – Brazylijska Policja Federalna aresztowała w czwartek, 8 marca, Jesse Jamesa Hollywooda w mieście Saquarema (Rio de Janeiro).

Dwudziestopięcioletni James był ścigany przez FBI przez 5 lat. FBI poszukiwało go za porwania, morderstwa i handel narkotykami.

Jak donosi policja, mieszkał w Saquaremie z kobietą będącą w ciąży. Został złapany, gdy był na poczcie.

James został deportowany do Stanów Zjednoczonych, więc może być przesłuchany przez tamtejsze władze.


Fugitivo do FBI Jesses James capturado no Rio

A Polícia Federal prendeu Jesse James Hollywood, 25 anos, na cidade de Saquarema, no estado do Rio de Janeiro, no dia 8 de março, terça-feira.

James estava sendo procurado pelo FBI há mais de quatro anos.

Segundo a polícia brasileira, ele vivia na cidade de Saquarema com a mulher, que está grávida. Sua prisão ocorreu quando ele estava num shopping center.

James foi deportado para os Estados Unidos para que possa ser julgado. Brasil e  Estados Unidos não têm ainda um tratado formal de extradição.

Na sexta-feira, James apareceu no tribunal de Santa Barbara, Califórnia, para ser julgado pelas acusações de seqüestro e assassinato de um garoto de 15 anos.

De acordo com o seu advogado James E. Blatt, James irá declarar-se não culpado. Blatt também criticou o retrato de seu cliente que é pintado pelos promotores. "Você já viu inteligência em algum com 20 anos de idade? Não foi ele quem atirou. Ele não estava na cena", disse Blat.

Blatt solicitou para que  o julgamento continue no dia 4 de abril.


Federal judge rules warrantless wiretaps illegal

A United States District federal judge ruled Thursday that the Bush administration's wiretapping program is "unconstitutional" and that it "must be halted immediately." The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) challenging federal intelligence agencies'  eavesdropping of international phone calls without obtaining court warrants.

The defendants, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Central Security Service and NSA Director and Chief of the Central Security Service, Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander asserted that they cannot defend their case without exposing state secrets.

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, US District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, wrote in an opinion that the  defense argument was "without merit".

"Defendants have supported these arguments without revealing or relying on any classified information," Taylor wrote in an opinion accompanying the ruling.

Judge Taylor also ruled  that the tapping violates "the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution, privacy and free speech."

The Bush Administration has been firmly committed to the wiretapping, known as the Terrorist Surveillance Program  (TSP), and said the practice has a valid basis in law, despite public criticism. Defenders of the program contended that the President has the authority under the AUMF and the Constitution to authorize the continued use of the TSP.

Judge Taylor wrote in her 43-page opinion that, "We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution. There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all 'inherent powers' must derive from that Constitution."

The ACLU filed the lawsuit to protect the privacy and unreasonable search of lawful verbal exchanges by journalists, lawyers and scholars among others. The court order ruled that powers granted by TSP violated the U.S. Separation of Powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the First and Fourth Amendments.

An appeal over the court decision is expected.

In 2001, President George W. Bush approved a program that allowed the NSA to monitor international calls for possible terrorist activity when one party to the call was outside U.S. territory. The government argued that the program is well within the president's authority. The Justice Department wrote, "In the ongoing conflict with al Qaeda and its allies, the president has the primary duty under the Constitution to protect the American people".


US-Bundesbezirksgericht erklärt Lauschprogamm der Regierung für verfassungswidrig

Detroit (Vereinigte Staaten), 18.08.2006 – Gestern wurde am Bundesbezirksgericht für den östlichen Bezirk von Michigan in Detroit durch die zuständige Richterin Anna Diggs Taylor im Prozess der American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) gegen die National Security Agency (NSA) entschieden, dass der US-Präsident mit der Anordnung zur Überwachung von Telefongesprächen durch den Geheimdienst NSA gegen die US-Verfassung verstoße.

In ihrem 44-seitigen Urteil erklärte sie, dass die ohne richterliche Anordnung durchgeführten Überwachungen von Telefongesprächen von US-Bürgern ein unzulässiger Eingriff in die durch den 4. Zusatzartikel zur Verfassung der Vereinigten Staaten festgeschriebenen Grundrechte auf Meinungsfreiheit seien und den Schutz vor unangemessenen Durchsuchungen verletzten. Zudem verstoße die Überwachungsanordnung gegen das in der Verfassung verankerte Gebot der Kontrolle der Machtbefugnisse des Präsidenten.

Datenschutzbelange wurden nicht nur durch das Abhören von Telefonaten und das Sichten von E-Mails berührt, sondern auch durch die Anlage eines umfangreichen Archivs abgehörter privater Telefonanrufe. Die Datenbestände des Nachrichtendienstes NSA sollen Millionen von Datensätzen enthalten. Gegen die an den Abhöraktionen beteiligten Telefongesellschaften wurde ebenfalls Klage eingereicht.

Für die US-Regierung stellt das Urteil einen Rückschlag im Kampf gegen den Terror dar. Im Vorfeld der Verhandlung hatte die Regierung das Gericht aufgefordet, den Fall gar nicht erst zu verhandeln, damit keine geheimen Informationen über die Überwachung an die Öffentlichkeit gelangen können.

Die Regierung gab keine Stellungnahme zu dem Urteil ab, lediglich das Justizministerium erklärte, es anfechten zu wollen.

Der Direktor Anthony D. Romero der Bürgerrechtsorganisation ACLU, die gegen die Überwachung geklagt hatte, bezeichnete das Urteil als „Grundsatzentscheidung gegen den Missbrauch von Macht, die zum Markenzeichen der Bush-Regierung geworden“ sei.


Fifth-graders have sex in class, charged with obscenity

Five fifth grade students were charged with obscenity after allegedly having sex in an unattended classroom. Two 11-year-old girls, a 12-year-old boy, and a 13-year-old boy were charged with obscenity, a felony. An 11-year-old boy was posted as a lookout at the door to watch for teachers. The lookout has been charged as an accessory.

Local authorities said the incident occurred on March 27th, with 10 other students in the classroom at the time the incident took place. Local sherriff Bob Buckley told the Associated Press that "...after 44 years of work, nothing shocks me. But this comes pretty close."

The students were alone for about 15 minutes. Authorities did not learn of the incident until a day later, on March 28th. A student, who asked to remain anonymous, told a high school student, who reported it to a teacher, who subsequently told the local officials.


Louisiana: Fünftklässler sollen wegen Sex im Klassenraum angeklagt werden

Spearsville (Vereinigte Staaten), 08.04.2007 – Im US-amerikanischen Bundesstaat Louisiana wurden fünf Schüler der fünften Klasse kurzzeitig verhaftet, nachdem sie angeblich Sex in einem unbeaufsichtigten Klassenraum hatten. Zwei elfjährige Mädchen, ein zwölf- sowie ein dreizehnjähriger Junge wurden wegen „Obszönität“ angeklagt, was in den USA als Kapitalverbrechen gilt. Ein elfjähriger Junge soll an der Tür Schmiere gestanden und Ausschau nach Lehrern gehalten haben. Hierfür wurde er als Helfer angeklagt.

Nach Aussage der örtlichen Behörden ereignete sich der Vorfall am 27. März mit zehn weiteren Schülern im Klassenraum. Der örtliche Sheriff Bob Buckley äußerte sich dazu gegenüber Associated Press mit den Worten: „Nach 44 Jahren im Dienst schockiert mich fast nichts mehr, aber dies hier ist nahe dran.“

Die Schüler waren etwa 15 Minuten lang allein. Die Behörden erfuhren erst einen Tag später von dem Vorfall, am 28. März. Ein Schüler, der ungenannt bleiben möchte, erzählte davon einem Oberstufenschüler, der den Vorfall einem Lehrer meldete, der ihn wiederum an die örtlichen Amtspersonen weiterleitete.

Jetzt muss durch eine Gerichtsverhandlung geklärt werden, welche Strafen die Jugendlichen zu erwarten haben.


Fiji Military Coup possibly underway

Fiji’s fourth coup in 20 years rose today as troops disarmed Fiji's only armed police unit. This is the first step in the long expected military coup.

Fiji's president dissolved parliament on Tuesday and sanctioned the military to remove embattled Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, said New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark

Qarase, who is in his residence in Suva, said the military was staging a coup and he would not resign but would have to be forcibly removed from office.

"I am not going anywhere," Qarase told Reuters.

"I am the democratically elected prime minister of the people of Fiji. They will have to move me by force."

"I have been advised this morning that the president of Fiji has acted outside his constitutional powers and supported the removal of the democratic prime minister by the military," Clark said in a statement to the New Zealand parliament.

Acting Police Commissioner Moses Driver denied that any take over had occurred. He said soldiers arrived to inspect police weapons, and were waiting for approval for that inspection. Troops later surrounding the Nasova Police Academy in Suva demanding the handover of weapons, and occupied the main police station in Suva. No shots were fired when the police were locked out.

At a news conference inside the main Suva barracks, Commander Frank Bainimarama said that police weapons were confiscated so that "dissidents" did not use them against the military.

There are also reports that military checkpoints are been set up around the capital. There are approximately four roadblocks with 20 soliders at each.

Troops tried to arrest the Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, in the afternoon by setting up a roadblock between Suva and the province where Mr Qarase was attending a meeting, but he escaped in a helicopter, and has since been in hiding. The Prime Minister and his cabinet are understood to be in safe, secure places, and some of them separated for extra security.

The army kept up the pressure on Mr Qarase when he was later summoned to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo's residence.

Mr Qarase drove to the estate, but was told by soldiers at a roadblock outside that he would have to walk the rest of the way. A witness inside the grounds said the prime minister, whose bodyguards were also disarmed by the military, refused and returned to his office.

Mr Qarase will make another attempt to meet President Iloilo on Tuesday morning.

Military chief Commander Frank Bainimarama had repeatedly threatened to remove Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's government unless it drops several pieces of legislation, including a bill that would grant amnesty to those involved in a coup in 2000. Commander Bainimarama has laid allegations on PM Qarase of stalling his pledge of ditching of the controversial legislation.

However Bainimarama is denying a coup is under way. "This is not a coup," Bainimarama said today. "Everything is normal. Nothing is going on."

He had earlier imposed a deadline of noon (0000GMT) on Friday, December 1 but that deadline was extended to today as there was the annual rugby game between the police and the military. Commander Bainimarama is both an avid rugby fan and active church goer. The police won the rugby game. "I maintain my demands and the deadline still stands and I will make a commitment to my stand after the rugby match," he said.

Mr Qarase told Fiji radio on Monday morning that he remained in control and has called an emergency cabinet meeting for Tuesday.

Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs called for calm on Monday and for the military to return to negotiations with the government.

Local radio reported seven government vehicles used by ministers and parliament's Speaker had been confiscated by the military since Monday night.

World leaders have commended Commander Bainimarama actions. Including New Zealand which has banned Commander Bainimarama from entering New Zealand except if he is attending political crises talks. Helen Clark described the situation as "...it's a very disturbing situation." Some of Commander Bainimarama's close family live in New Zealand.

Conditions on the street of Fiji are said to be mixed, with some apprehension.

The United Nations might discontinue use of Fijian soldiers in peacekeeping operations of which is a large source of Fiji's income. Also the British army might not use Fijian soldiers. The International Community have said they will discontinue aid to Fiji which is worth millions annually.

Fiji has suffered three coups since 1987.

On the morning of May 14, 1987, 10 masked, armed soldiers entered the House of Representatives.

Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, dressed in civilian clothes and motivated by claims of racial discrimination against ethnic Fijians, approached Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra from the public gallery and ordered MPs to leave.

The bloodless coup was a success but subsequent talks proposed a government of national unity under the leadership of the governor-general, involving both the deposed government and the indigenous-supported Alliance Party.

Fearing the gains of the first coup would be lost, Mr Rabuka staged a second coup on September 25 that year.

This time he severed ties with the British monarchy, who held the title Queen of Fiji (Ilisapeci-Na Radi ni Viti kei Peritania, or interpreted Elizabeth- Queen of Fiji and Great Britain) and proclaimed a republic.

A new constitution ratified in 1990 guaranteed indigenous Fijians the offices of President and Prime Minister, along with two-thirds of the Senate and a substantial majority of the House of Representatives.

But these provisions were overturned by a constitutional review in 1997.

Hardline Fijian nationalists led by bankrupt businessman George Speight led a further coup in May, 2000, when they overthrew the nation's first Indo-Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudry, holding him hostage inside parliament for eight weeks along with most of his cabinet and many MPs and their staff.

Mr Speight declared himself Prime Minister, and ordered the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to step aside as president. Mr Mara refused to negotiate with the plotters, and decided instead to dismiss the kidnapped government and assume emergency powers himself. His move backfired, however. In what politicians called "a coup within a coup," Ratu Mara was whisked away on the naval ship Kiro on 28 May, where he was allegedly approached by a group of present and former military and police officers and ordered to suspend the Constitution. When he refused, ("If the Constitution goes, I go," he defiantly declared) the group, are alleged to have asked for, and possibly forced, Mara's resignation.

Frank Bainimarama then declared martial law, abrogated the constitution and set up an interim government.

Commander Bainimarama was almost killed in a failed, bloody mutiny linked to the 2000 coup on the 2 November that year, when rebel soldiers mutinied at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The mutiny resulted in the death of four loyal soldiers, and blames Mr Qarase for being soft on those behind it.

He appointed Laisenia Qarase as prime minister before handing power to an interim administration headed by Ratu Josefa Iloilo as President.

Mr Speight was arrested on July 27 along with 369 supporters.

The government reneged on an agreement granting Speight immunity from prosecution, Commander Bainimarama saying the military had signed it "under duress".

Mr Speight remains in prison on an island off Suva.


Anzeichen für einen bevorstehenden Militärputsch in Fidschi

Suva (Fidschi), 04.12.2006 – Heute haben Soldaten in Suva, der Hauptstadt Fidschis, Polizisten und die Leibgarde des Premierministers und seiner Minister entwaffnet. Bei den betroffenen Polizisten handelt es sich um Beamte einer Spezialeinheit, die als einzige ihres Berufsstands auf den Inseln Waffen tragen. Nach Angaben der Zeitung „Fiji Times“ sind bewaffnete Soldaten in eine Polizeikaserne am Rande Suvas eingedrungen. Polizeichef Moses Driver sagte auf einer Pressekonferenz, dass es zu keiner gewaltsamen Konfrontation zwischen Polizei und Armee kommen werde. Soldaten errichteten des Weiteren einen Ring von Kontrollpunkten um Suva. Das Vorgehen der Armee wird in Artikeln verschiedener Medien als Anzeichen für einen bevorstehenden Militärputsch gedeutet.

Laut „news.bbc.co.uk“ will Commander Frank Bainimarama, der Chef der Fidschi-Armee, keine Angaben darüber machen, ob ein Putsch unmittelbar bevorstehe. Die jüngste Aktion der Armee solle einem möglichen Gewaltausbruch vorbeugen, so der Armeechef. In einer Stellungnahme vor Journalisten äußerte sich Frank Bainimarama nicht zu Berichten lokaler Medien, wonach der Armeechef bereits ein 13-köpfiges Übergangskabinett ernannt hat. Diese Information war zuvor von der Zeitung „Fiji Daily Post“ verbreitet worden. Zuletzt hatte der Armeechef der Regierung ein Ultimatum gestellt, das am Freitag abgelaufen war. Die Armeeführung hatte die Regierung von Premierminister Laisenia Qarase mit ihrem Ultimatum zum Rücktritt bewegen wollen. Der Premierminister befindet sich in seiner zweiten Amtszeit, nachdem er im Mai dieses Jahres wiedergewählt worden war. Noch am Wochenende hatte sich der Armeechef in einem Fernsehinterview zuversichtlich gezeigt, dass Laisenia Qaras seine Forderung spätestens bis zum heutigen Montag erfüllen werde. Premierminister Laisenia Qaras ließ heute verlauten, dass er noch im Amt sei, und gab die Einberufung einer außerordentlichen Kabinettssitzung bekannt, die morgen stattfinden soll. Auf der Sitzung soll über die Forderungen der Armeeführung beraten werden. Unterdessen kündigte die Armee laut „Netzeitung“ „Säuberungsaktionen“ an – für den Fall, dass die Regierung ihre Forderungen nicht erfülle. Die „Netzeitung“ berichtet, dass die Armee 1.000 Reservisten einberufen habe, womit sich die Zahl der Soldaten in Fidschi auf insgesamt 4.000 Personen erhöhe.

In Fidschi gibt es bereits seit einigen Monaten einen Konflikt zwischen der Regierung und der Armee. Der Konflikt geht auf einen ethnisch motivierten Putsch im Jahr 2000 gegen den ersten indischstämmigen Premierminister zurück, an dessen Niederschlagung Frank Bainimarama beteiligt war. Der aktuelle Streit entzündete sich an einer Gesetzesvorlage der Regierung, mit der die Putschisten aus dem Jahr 2000 begnadigt werden sollen. Frank Bainimarama ist dagegen der Meinung, dass die Regierung noch nicht genug getan habe, um die Anführer des Putsches zur Verantwortung zu ziehen. Daneben wirft der Armeechef dem Premierminister Korruption vor. Die Arbeit an einem Amnestiegesetz hat die Regierung Medienberichten zufolge bereits ausgesetzt. Das Gesetz hätte auch vorgesehen, Land an ethnische Fidschianer zu verteilen. In Fidschi leben 51 Prozent Fidschianer, die ursprünglich melanesischer beziehungsweise polynesischer Abstammung sind, 44 Prozent der Bevölkerung des Südseestaates sind indischer Abstammung.

Australische und neuseeländische Regierungsvertreter äußerten sich besorgt über die Situation in Fidschi. Der australische Außenminister Alexander Downer sagte vor dem Parlament, es sei eindeutig, dass sich Fidschi am Rande eines Putsches befinde. In einem australischen Radiosender spekulierte Alexander Downer über eine mögliche Uneinigkeit innerhalb der Armeeführung hinsichtlich der Taktik gegen die Regierung. Demnach gäbe es in der Armee einige Widerstände gegen einen Putsch – es wäre der vierte Militärputsch seit 1987. Die neuseeländische Ministerpräsidentin Helen Clark richtete mahnende Worte an den Armeechef. Laut Helen Clark könnte Neuseeland als Reaktion auf einen Militärputsch Sanktionen gegen Fidschi verhängen, zum Beispiel ein Einreiseverbot für Frank Bainimarama, der Familienangehörige in Neuseeland hat. Die Nachbarstaaten fürchten negative Auswirkungen für die Wirtschaft, sollte es zu einem Militärputsch in Fidschi kommen. Australien hat aufgrund der politischen Krise in Fidschi Schiffe der Marine in die Region entsandt, um im Notfall australische Urlauber in Sicherheit bringen zu können.


File sharing site The Pirate Bay sold

Popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay was sold yesterday for 60 million Swedish krona (£4.7 million).  Swedish gaming company Global Gaming Factory (GGF) was the purchaser, paying half the price in cash and the rest in shares of the company.

In April 2009, the owners of The Pirate Bay, Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Carl Lundstrom and Peter Sunde, were found guilty of copyright infringement, fined SEK30 million and sentenced to a year in jail.  They are currently appealing the sentence, with allegations the judge, being a member of various copyright protection lobbies, was not impartial.

GGF has plans to start paying for copyright content linked from the site, although it is unclear exactly how this will work at the moment.

Peter Sunde was quoted as saying, "We feel that we can't take The Pirate Bay any further. We're in a bit of a frozen situation where there's not much happening and there are neither people nor money to develop things."

Hans Pandeya, the head of GGF, said in a statement, "We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site.  Content creators and providers need to control their content and get paid for it."

It is also unclear what will happen to the newly launched site, The Video Bay. Launched by The Pirate Bay founders, it will offer streaming of copyrighted content.


Site de downloads Pirate Bay é vendido

O popular site downloads da internet The Pirate Bay foi vendido ontem por US$ 7,8 milhões. A companhia de jogos Global Gaming Factory (GGF) foi a compradora, pagando metade do valor em dinheiro e o resto em arquivos da companhia.

A GGF tem planos de começar a pagar aos seus usuários pelos arquivos e copyright a serem colocados no site; e também tem planos de colocar o Pirate Bay na legalidade.


Filesharing software distributor LimeWire ordered to close by court

One of the world's largest distributors of Filesharing software, LimeWire, has been placed under permanent injunction by the US District Court in the Southern District of New York, to cease distributing and supporting its software.  The injunction, requested by multiple parties including Bertelsmann Music Group, Motown, Capitol Records, and Sony Entertainment, was filed and approved 26th October and was issued under Title 17 U.S.C §502, covering infringement of copyright.

The injunction states that LimeWire "intentionally encouraged direct infringement" and "...failed to implement any meaningful technological barriers or design choices aimed at diminishing infringement."  Since the order was approved, LimeWire has closed its website, posting a notice on the front page explaining the situation, with a link to a copy of the injunction.

As ordered, the software is no longer downloadable from its website. LimeWire is now only responding to inquiries from the press and paid customers of LimeWire Pro. LimeWire could not be reached for comment.


LimeWire es obligado a cerrar por corte de Nueva York

28 de octubre de 2010Nueva York, Estados Unidos —

En una decisión de la Corte Federal de Nueva York, se dictaminó el cierre del sitio y cliente LimeWire, junto con imposibilitar el intercambio y búsqueda de archivos, y terminar las descargas de su cliente. Este cierre se produce tras la presentación de antecedentes por parte de la Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), argumentando que el software es usado para llevar constantes violaciones de derechos de autor por las descargas ilegales.

En el día de ayer se informó la sentencia por parte del juzgado y en el sitio web quedó plasmado el cierre definitivo del sitio, lamentando la pérdida de este espacio para compartir archivos. Este juicio se suma a la victoria obtenida por la industria discográfica contra The Pirate Bay, el cual se ha visto cada día más arrinconado en sus operaciones debido a las múltiples demandas de infracción de los derechos de autor que se ha acusado.

Los próximos objetivos de la RIAA sería demandar a los clientes que son usados para descargar información desde redes P2P como eMule y uTorrent.


Finland considers tougher gun laws

Finland is considering toughening gun legislation in light of this week's Jokela school shooting. Nine people, including the gunman, were killed when Pekka-Eric Auvinen, 18, went on a shooting spree at his local school.

Until now, Finland has actively resisted plans for all European Union member states to limit gun ownership to persons aged 18 and over. Currently, the law stipulates that Finns may apply for a gun permit at age 15.

However, Anne Holmlund, Finnish interior minister, told reporters today that "Finland has changed its position to the EU firearms directive." Holmlund told the press that the intention is now to raise the age for ownership to 18, and require those aged 15-18 to be under parental supervision when carrying or using a firearm.

Prime minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen had earlier commented that the shooting would likely cause a change in Finnish gun control policy, but Holmlund denied a direct connection. "There is no direct link (to the school shooting). ... It is important that our new position is clear," Holmlund said.

"We were the only EU member country that was willing to keep its regulations untouched and it was obvious we would be left alone." She added.

"As all other EU countries are ready to accept the age limit of 18 years for the acquisition of firearms ... Finland does not want to oppose the said amendment to the directive under the circumstances."

"The cabinet is ready to agree on a proposal which says that those under 18 years old can use a gun only under parental or adult guidance," commented cabinet spokeswoman Sanna Kangasharju.

Ministry spokesman Ilkka Salmi agreed that a potential change in legislation was being considered months beforehand, but added that, "It's obvious that this kind of tragic incident has probably sped up the decision."

Auvinen had obtained a license for his .22 caliber handgun via a local shooting club just weeks prior to the attack, on October 19. He opened fire on students and staff shortly before lunch break was due to start, killing five students and two staff members with the gun, which he called 'Catherine' in internet discussions, before turning it on himself. He later died in hospital. There is also evidence he attempted to set the building on fire.

Police have commented that he had apparently acted with intent to kill as many as possible, but selected his victims at random. The day prior to the incident, he posted a video on YouTube announcing his intentions. Police have also recovered a suicide note that said that he hated society.

In related news, police are investigating after an internet posting claimed Kirkkoharju middle school in Kirkkonummi was going to be the subject of another attack. Police say they are treating the incident as a "bad joke".

Finnish gun ownership per capita is the third highest in the world, due largely to a long tradition of hunting sports in the country, but fatal attacks are exceedingly rare. Around 13% of the 5.2 million inhabitants own a gun, with only the United States and Yemen having higher levels of gun ownership.


Suomi taipuu EU:n asedirektiiviin

9. marraskuuta

Suomi ei enää vastusta EU:n kaavailemaa asedirektiiviä, joka kieltää aseen hallussapidon alle 18-vuotiailta.

Suomi on ottanut uuden kannan Euroopan unionin ampuma-asedirektiivin muutokseen, jonka yhtenä osana on jatkossa tuliaseiden hallussapitoon oikeuttavan luvan epääminen alle 18-vuotiailta. Aiemmin Suomen kanta muutokseen oli kielteinen, sillä perinteisesti metsästysharrastus ja sen taidon kehittäminen on nähty tärkeänä. Valtiosihteeri Jari Luodon mukaan asia tulee nähdä nyt uudessa valossa. Tällä valtiosihteeri viittasi toissapäivän traagiseen tapaukseen, jossa 18-vuotias koululainen ammuskeli Jokelan koulukeskuksessa.

EU:n direktiivimuutokseen tähtäävää esitystä perustellaan mm. sillä, että väkivalta ja itsemurhat, joihin usein liittyvät aseet, ovat 15–44-vuotiaiden kuolinsyiden kärkipäässä.

Direktiivin muutos ei lopeta nuorten metsästysharrastusta, sillä he saavat ampua jatkossakin huoltajan läsnäollessa. Tällöin huoltajalla tulee olla aseeseen hallussapitolupa.


Finnish internet censorship critic blacklisted

The Finnish police have added Finnish hacker Matti Nikki's website lapsiporno.info criticizing Internet censorship to Finland’s new national child porn filter. The blacklisting was noticed when Finland's second largest Internet service provider Elisa started blocking the page today. More of the ISP's are expected to join the filtering when their blacklists are updated from the police's master list.

The banned site has been a harsh critic of Internet censorship over the last three years. It contains information and news about how censorship has been discussed and developing in Finland.  Although the site's provocative name is lapsiporno.info ("childporn.info") there is no child porn on the site - the content is mainly text.

Tekniikka & Talous magazine asked Commissioner Lars Henriksson of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) why the page was censored. His answer was that he cannot discuss individual sites, but said that sites which are linking to child porn pages are also within the scope of the law. This interpretation, however, seems to conflict with the actual laws, the scope of which was supposed to be only sites with illegal pictures in foreign countries.

On Wednesday, NBI confirmed that site was censored because it published and maintained an incomplete version of the Finnish child porn blacklist. Nikki's list contained roughly two-thirds of the 1500 blacklist entries, and it was created by scanning a large amount of sites and logging the censored pages.

The scan also found that the top three results of a Google search for "gay porn" are blacklisted, and that most of the blocked sites are actually physically located in the United States or the European Union.

Leena Romppainen of Electronic Frontier Finland commented that "The local authorities have taken no action on these sites. Therefore, either the sites do not contain child pornography or the NBI has not informed the local authorities. Both of the alternatives are equally scary."

Matti Nikki's opinion is that the majority of the censored sites are legal adult sites and that the police are not doing that much research when they are deciding which sites to block.

Internet censorship has been a hot topic in Finland as of late. There have been proposals of extending Internet filtering to Internet gambling sites, sites related to terrorism and violence, and torrent-tracker The Pirate Bay.


Suomalainen internetsivusto sensuroitiin lapsipornona

Matti Nikin internetsensuuria voimakkaasti vastustava lapsiporno.info-sivusto on lisätty "lapsipornosuodatuslistalle". Tällä hetkellä sitä sensuroivat suomalaisista operaattoreista ainakin Elisa, Saunalahti ja Kymp. Sivusto on pääosin tekstimuotoinen eikä siellä ole lapsipornoa. Sivustolla on kuitenkin lapsiporno- ja internetsensuurin vastaista kritiikkiä, tietoa Suomessa käytetystä suodatuksesta sekä ohjeita sen kiertämiseen. Lisäksi siellä on julkaistu joitain suodatuksen kannalta kiusallisia väitteitä.

Väitteisiin kuuluu se, että suurin osa suodatetuista sivustoista sisältäisi laillista pornografiaa tai, että poliisin lapsipornosuodatuksen yhteydessä tulevan lakisääteisen ilmoituksen yhteystiedoissa ollut sähköpostiosoite olisi ollut väärin eikä siihen lähetettyä postia olisi lukenut kukaan. Jälkimmäistä väitettä tukee se, että osoite vaihdettiin pian ilmoituksen jälkeen.

Matti Nikin mukaan poliisi ei ole ollut häneen yhteydessä tai ennalta varoittanut suodatuslistalle joutumisesta. Sensuuri-blogin mukaan KRP:n Rikostietopalvelu on antanut sille 13.2. seuraavan vastauksen sensuurin syystä:

Tämäkin syy on ongelmallinen, koska laki lapsipornografian levittämisen estotoimista lähtee perusteluissaan selkeästi siitä, että sillä on tarkoitus sensuroida ulkomaalaisia lapsipornoa sisältäviä sivustoja. Tässä tapauksessa kumpikaan noista ei toteudu, kun sivuilla ei ole lapsipornoa ja palvelinkin sijaitsee Espoossa.  Suodattamisen puolesta puhuu se, että lain lähtökohtana selkeästi on listan pysyminen salaisena. Laissa ei kuitenkaan ole huomioitu listan sisällön helppoa selvitettävyyttä.

Esimerkiksi Nikin lista suodatetuista osoitteista on luotu menemällä automatisoidusti läpi kaikki tiedetyt pornosivustot ja poimimalla tuloksista suodatetut. Lisäksi listaa on täydennetty testaamalla myös tunnetusti muualla sensuroituja sivustoja ja katsomalla mitkä niistä jäävät suodatukseen. Tällä hetkellä suodatuslistalla on poliisin mukaan noin 1 500 osoitetta joista 1 048 löytyy Matti Nikin listalta. Nikin mukaan suurta määrää selittää se, että Ilmeisesti suodatuslistalle pääsee pornografinen materiaali hyvinkin kevyin perustein, eikä tarkoituksena taida edes olla millään tapaa varmistaa että suodatus kohdistuisi pääasiassa laittomaan sisältöön.

Wikiuutiset vahvistaa esimerkiksi Nikin väitteen siitä, että suodatuksessa on esimerkiksi Googlen "Gay porn" -haun kolme ensimmäistä tulosta. Nämä 3 ovat muihin sivuihin linkittäviä etusivugallerioita, joista kaksi näyttäisi olevan selkeästi aikuispornoon suuntautuvia ja yksi (oletettavasti lailliseen) teinipornoon suuntautunut. Muutenkin silmämääräisesti listalta tyyli näyttäisi olevan "en tiedä onko tämä laitonta, mutta ainakin sen pitäisi olla", eikä se ole mitenkään rajoittunut puhtaaseen lapsipornoon. Listalta löytyy väkivaltapornoa, lapsimallisivustoja ja ns. turvallisissa maissa olevia sivustoja. Viidennes suodatetuista osoitteista osoittaa palvelimiin, jotka fyysisesti sijaitsevat EU-maissa (pääosin Hollannissa, Britanniassa ja Saksassa), joissa viranomaiset ainakin toivottavasti sulkevat todellista lapsipornoa sisältävät sivut nopeammin kuin mikä Suomen suodatuslistan ilmoitettu viikon parin päivitysviive on.


Un site critiquant la censure finlandaise sur Internet a été fermé

Publié le 29 février 2008   La police finlandaise a ajouté le site internet de Matti Nikki, opposant à la censure de l'internet en Finlande, à leur nouveau filtre de sites pédophiles. En effet, depuis le début 2008 les fournisseurs d'accès finlandais bloquent certains sites d'après une liste noire fournie par la police. Il a été remarqué que le site de Matti Nikki (lapsiporno.info) a été censuré lorsque l'un des plus grands fournisseurs d'accès du pays a commencé à bloquer son site. Il est attendu que les autres fournisseurs suivent sous peu, lorsqu'ils mettront à jour leur liste noire, coupant l'accès au site de Nikki pour tous les finlandais.

Le site de Nikki critiquait vivement, depuis trois ans, la censure de l'internet. Il contenait de l'information et des brèves à propos de la façon dont la censure a été débattue et sa mise en place en Finlande, ainsi qu'une liste des sites actuellement censurés.

Le magazine finlandais Tekniikka & Talous a demandé au commissaire Lars Henriksson du bureau national d'investigation pourquoi le site de Nikki avait été bloqué. Sa réponse fût qu'il ne pouvait parler de cas particuliers, mais que les sites qui comportent des liens vers des sites pédophiles entraient dans le cadre de la loi. Cette interprétation semble pourtant en contradiction avec la législation finlandaise, qui est supposée s'appliquer uniquement à des sites comportant des images illicites, situés hors du pays. Lapsiporno.info ne pouvait en rien permettre l'accès à un contenu pédophile.

Mercredi, le NBI a confirmé que le site de Matti Nikki avait été bloqué car il énumérait les sites filtrés. La liste de Matti Nikki comportait les noms d'environ trois-quarts des sites censurés en Finlande, et démontrait que la liste noire de la police ne contenait pas uniquement des sites pédophiles. Nikki avait identifié les sites censurés en scannant un grand nombre d'adresses pour déterminer si l'accès y avait été interdit.

Le site de Matti Nikki montrait que les trois premiers résultats d'une recherche Google pour « pornographie gay » étaient censurés par la police, et que la plupart des sites bloqués est hébergée dans l'Union européenne ou aux États-Unis.

Leena Romppainen de l'Electronic Frontier Finland, organisation de défense des libertés individuelles, a précisé que les sites hébergés dans l'Union européenne auraient dû faire l'objet d'une action directe par les autorités locales s'ils contenaient véritablement un contenu illicite, au lieu de faire l'objet d'une censure. Elle a admis être déconcertée par le fait que soit son gouvernement censure illégalement des sites Internet, soit que certains pays de l'Union européenne restent dans l'inaction devant des sites pédophiles.

Matti Nikki pense que la majorité des sites bloqués sont surement des sites adultes légaux, et la police ne doit pas faire pas assez de recherche quand ils décident de les bloquer.

Le débat sur la censure sur l'internet fait rage dernièrement en Finlande. Des propositions sont sur la table pour étendre le filtrage des sites aux sites de paris en ligne, « sites liés au terrorisme », à la violence et aux sites qui ne respectent pas les lois sur le droit d'auteur.

Sur son site, Matti Nikki parle longuement, en finlandais et en anglais, des dangers posés par la censure à une époque où toute information aura comme support le réseau informatique, et peut être supprimée de façon immédiate et sans trace.