Weltsozialforum 2005 in Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre (Brasilien), 26.01.2005 – Mit einer Großdemonstration wurde am heutigen Nachmittag das fünfte Weltsozialforum eröffnet. Das Motto des Weltsozialforums lautet „Eine andere Welt ist möglich.“

Nachdem das Sozialforum im letzten Jahr im indischen Mumbai stattfand, treffen sich die rund 120.000 Teilnehmer des Forums nun wieder an dessen Ursprungsort, in der brasilianischen Hafenstadt Porto Alegre. Es wurde 2001 als Gegenveranstaltung zum Weltwirtschaftsforum im Schweizer Wintersportort Davos initiiert, das ebenfalls heute beginnt.

Bis Montag, den 31.01.2005, werden die Teilnehmer des Forums auf rund 2.400 Veranstaltungen über die Folgen der ökonomischen Globalisierung, sowie über alternative Konzepte und Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten gegenüber der als neoliberal kritisierten Wirtschaftspolitik, wie sie vom Internationaler Währungsfonds und vielen nationalen Regierungen vertreten werde, diskutieren.

Die Teilnehmer aus allen Teilen der Welt lassen sich unterschiedlichen Gruppierungen zuordnen. Das Spektrum reicht von NGO-Vertretern, unabhängigen Globalisierungskritikern und Gewerkschaftsmitgliedern, Mitglieder kirchlicher Organisationen bis zu Vertretern unterschiedlicher politischer Parteien und Bewegungen, wie zum Beispiel der brasilianischen Landlosenbewegung (MST). Venezuelas Präsident Hugo Chávez gehört gemeinsam mit Brasiliens Staatschef Lula da Silva zu den prominentesten Rednern auf dem Forum, wobei es auch kritische Stimmen zu den geplanten Auftritten der beiden Politiker gibt.

Auch über die Zukunft des Weltsozialforums wird diskutiert. Es gibt Konzepte, die sich dafür aussprechen, dass künftig jährlich mehrere dezentrale Sozialforen stattfinden. Außerdem wird angeregt, als Veranstaltungsort des nächsten Sozialforums den afrikanischen Kontinent zu wählen.

Neben den unzähligen Diskussionen gehört auch ein umfassendes Kulturprogramm, unter anderen mit Auftritten von Gilberto Gil und Manu Chao, zum diesjährigen Weltsozialforum.


2006 U.S. Congressional Elections

Reform Party of the United States of America

As of 10:00 p.m EST November 8, 2006, the Democratic Party is projected to have gained control of both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate in the 2006 United States general elections. MSNBC projects that the Democrats now control 234 seats in the House of Representatives, 16 more seats than the 218 needed to control the House of Representatives as all 435 seats were up for election. In the Senate, where the balance of power is closer, one-third of all seats were up for grab. As of 10:00 p.m. EST, AP and Reuters were projecting that the Democrats had picked up all six seats they needed to retake the Senate, including the seats of incumbents Rick Santorum (Penn.), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.), Jim Talent (Missouri), Mike DeWine (Ohio), John Tester (Montana), and Jim Webb (VA). The Tester victory by less than 3,000 votes was projected at approximately 2 p.m. EST after the State of Montana announced the results of overnight recounts. Democrat Jim Webb has prevailed in that race by slightly more than 7,000 votes, though his opponent has not conceded and a recount may still occur.

Although the Bush Administration's policy on Iraq was seen as a major issue by voters, exit polls indicated that corruption was of greater concern. Republicans found themselves plagued by a series of scandals in recent months, ranging from the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal to revelations about sexual improprieties involving well-known Republicans, including Congressman Mark Foley and White House confidant Ted Haggard. Many conservative evangelical Christians, the GOP's most reliable voting block, have become disappointed by the scandals and may not vote in great numbers. Pat Buchanan, whose campaigns have often appealed to that voting block, told ABC News, "There's the spending orgy, the arrogance of power . . . . The war in Iraq, failure to protect our border, hurting the working class in Ohio, for example, the list goes on and on. We're more dissatisfied with the Republican Party than we've ever been."

Voter turnout was also influenced by a number of initiatives on state ballots. Michigan's Proposal 2 would outlaw affirmative action in virtually all government programs. Oklahoma voters were slated to decide if stores could sell alcohol on election days. In South Dakota, voters were asked if the state should make marijuana use legal for therapeutic purposes. Many states included initiatives related to eminent domain powers, same-sex marriage, and taxes. In California, voters faced a whopping 36 initiatives. Voters energized by initiatives were more likely to show up at the polls, and more likely to vote for candidates from their party.

Several races turned nasty in the closing days of the campaign, with candidates from both parties turning up the heat on their opponents and accusing their rivals of dirty tricks. MSNBC reported that the FBI was investigating calls made to voters in Virginia in an apparent attempt to intimidate and confuse voters. This follows a similar investigation in California, where staff in Republican Congressional candidate Tan D. Nguyen's campaign office sent letters to Latino voters telling them that "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time." Naturalized citizens are allowed to vote in elections.

Candidates in both New York and Michigan reported that automated telephone calls had been made to voters in the dead of night, purporting to be from their campaigns. The candidates said their campaigns had nothing to do with the calls, and had been made fraudulently in an attempt to make voters angry at them.

It was unclear whether these calls were related to other calls, financed by the National Republican Congressional Committee, that had been made to voters in several states in the previous week. Those calls had generated complaints by voters from both parties who said they were repeated several times in the same day. In at least one state, the calls were pulled when the attorney general notified the NRCC that the calls violated state law.

A different kind of "robocall" was reported in Iowa, where three Democratic candidates for the state House reported that they had been the target of anonymous attack ad calls. The calls inaccurately claimed that the candidates support free health care and college tuition for illegal aliens.

The New Jersey Attorney General's office sent deputies to polling places after Republicans reported possible fraud. The deputies reportedly found no problems.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund photographed armed men attempting to prevent Hispanic voters from entering polling places in Tucson. The photographs and reports of the incidents were sent to the FBI.

Problems with voting devices, both electronic and manual, required some polling places to remain open later than scheduled. Electronic devices were being used for the first time in about a third of the states.

Air America Radio reported that electronic voting machines in Delaware County, Indiana and Cleveland, Ohio malfunctioned, frustrating voters and election workers. A report published on the USA Today website said election workers in some parts of Florida had resorted to using paper ballots when their electronic voting machines failed to work. National Public Radio reported that some electronic voting machines in Texas had to be turned off when they improperly gave votes to candidates not selected by voters. Problems were also reported in Maine, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

A voting problem of a different type was reported in Kentucky. A Louisville poll worker is alleged to have physically assaulted a voter. Jefferson County clerk spokesperson Paula McCraney said that the voter wanted to press charges after being allegedly choked and pushed by the election worker. No information was available on what led to the incident.

Those marked * are incumbent in the 109th Congress; those marked † served in the House in the 109th Congress; those marked ‡ served in a previous Congress. Number which precedes name of candidate designates Congressional District.


Les Américains votent aujourd'hui pour le renouvellement du Congrès

Publié le 7 novembre 2006   Aujourd'hui c'est le Midterm aux États-Unis, les élections fédérales de mi-mandat présidentiel. Bien souvent, le Congrès est souvent de couleur politique inverse que celle du président en place, comme ce le fut pour Ronald Reagan ou Bill Clinton. Ce sera un test grandeur nature sur l'approbation ou non de la politique de George W. Bush notamment en Irak.

Les électeurs américains vont désigner les 435 membres de la Chambre des Représentants et 33 des 99 sénateurs, le centième siège est réservé de droit au vice-président. Bien que les sondages donnent les démocrates vainqueurs de cette consultation, il n'en demeure pas moins que les républicains disposent d'une forte capacité de mobilisation des électeurs dans les derniers moments de la campagne.

Cette dernière a pris un tour particulièrement agressif sous fonds de guerre d'Irak. Une vingtaine de députés ne se représentant pas, une lutte acharnée entre les deux principaux camps s'est engagée pour en prendre la succession. Toutefois, comme on l'a pu constaté en France, la prime au sortant est souvent de mise si celui-ci n'a pas été mêlé aux scandales de son parti ou à ceux qui le discréditent personnellement. C'est le cas de Tom DeLay au Texas, Mark Foley en Floride et Bob Ney dans l'Ohio qui ont dû abandonner leur siège.

Si le scénario catastrophe annoncé par les médias se réalise, l'hôte actuel de la Maison Blanche risque d'avoir une fin de mandat particulièrement difficile.

Le scrutin est uninominal, majoritaire à tour unique à l'exception de celui de la Louisiane qui en comporte deux. Le nombre d'élus varie d'un État à l'autre selon l'importance de la population. Chaque député est élu au sein de chaque circonscription ou district. Pour être éligible, le candidat doit avoir 25 ans et être de nationalité américaine depuis au moins 7 ans. Les représentants sont élus pour deux ans.

Il est identique que pour celui de la Chambre des représentants à la seule différence que le corps électoral élit deux sénateurs par État. Pour être éligible, le candidat doit avoir 30 ans et être de nationalité américaine depuis au moins 9 ans. Les sénateurs sont élus pour 6 ans et la Haute Assemblée se renouvelle par tiers tous les deux ans.


アメリカ中間選挙、上下両院、州知事とも民主党が過半数獲得

産経新聞によれば、7日に投票が行われたアメリカ合衆国の中間選挙で、民主党が躍進し、上下両院で過半数の議席を獲得した。また州知事選挙でも民主党候補が過半数の州で州知事となった。

7日の投票では、下院の定数435すべてと、上院定数の内改選33議席、50州の内36州の州知事職が争われた。

共同通信によれば、上院では、民主党が民主党系無所属2議席を含めて100議席中過半数の51（当選24、非改選27）を確保した。共和党が49（当選9、非改選40）である。

最後まで未確定だったバージニア州で、民主党のウェッブ候補が共和党現職のアレン議員を7,000票リードしたが、共和党のアレン候補が今月27日の最終結果確定の後に再集計が求める可能性が取りざたされていた。しかし、産経新聞によれば、アレン候補の側近は、今後結果が変わらなければ再集計を求めないという方針を明らかにした。

朝日新聞によれば共和党の副大統領が議長を務めるため、議決で1票を持ち、もし、バージニア州の議席を共和党が押さえれば共和党がかろうじて過半数を保つこととなったはずだった。

産経新聞によれば、下院は、435議席の内、民主党が229議席、共和党が203議席となった。未確定が3議席だが、いずれも民主党候補がリードしている。

朝日新聞によれば、50州の内、36州で選挙が行われた。民主党が28（当選20、非改選8）、共和党が20（当選14、非改選6）の州の知事となった。2州は未確定。


2008 Olympic torch arrives in London

Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games

The 2008 Olympic Torch has arrived in London today, with the delegation being met by Chinese ambassador Fu Ying and Minister for the Olympics Tessa Jowell at Heathrow Airport.  The torch had just arrived from St Petersburg, Russia.

Tomorrow, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will give a welcoming speech, which has already drawn criticism from other politicians for being "wholly inappropriate".

After the speech the torch will be taken on a 31 mile relay around London, beginning at Wembley stadium, and finishing at the O2 Arena, being carried by 80 athletes, dignitaries and entertainers, after initially being carried by five time Olympic gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave.

It is expected that the relay route will be lined by hundreds of people, however around 500 people are also expected to protest against the current human rights issues in the country, which has already taken place along the route. 4 people were also arrested today, 2 of which were on Westminster Bridge, after un-furling banners on the bridge.

Around 2,000 Metropolitan Police are expected to be present tomorrow at the relay, and Tessa Jowell told the BBC that she hoped the protests would be peaceful.

The arrival of the torch comes on the same day that Chinese security forces fired on Tibetan protesters, killing 8.

The torch, which has come from Greece, will make its way around the world, being transported by thousands of people, and end in China on August 8th, 2008, to light the flame during the opening ceremony.


Olympiatuli Lontooseen

Elokuussa 2008 Kiinan pääkaupungissa Pekingissä järjestettävien kesäolympialaisten olympiatuli saapui lauantai-iltana 5. huhtikuuta Lontooseen, Britanniaan. Britannian yleisradioyhtiö BBC:n mukaan Heathrow'n lentokentällä oli lyhtyä vastassa muun muassa Britannian urheiluministeri Tessa Jowell sekä Kiinan Britannian-suurlähettiläs Fu Ying. Sunnuntaina 6. huhtikuuta olympiasoihtua kantaa Lontoon kaduilla 80 urheilijaa, arvohenkilöä ja viihdetaiteilijaa. Kannettava matka on kymmenien kilometrien pituinen.

BBC:n mukaan sunnuntaina on odotettavissa mielenosoituksia Kiinaa vastaan. Mielenilmauksista ovat etukäteen ilmoittaneet kuusi organisaatiota.

Soihdun turvallista etenemistä Lontoon kaduilla on paikalla turvaamassa 2 000 poliisia.

24. maaliskuuta olympiatuli sytytettiin Kreikassa ja Lontooseen se tuli Venäjältä, Pietarista. Lontoosta soihdun matka jatkuu Pariisiin ja San Franciscoon. Ennen paluutaan olympialaisten 8. elokuuta järjestettäviin avajaisiin, käy soihtu 20 maassa.


Des incidents se sont produits lors du passage de la flamme olympique à Londres

La police britannique a procédé à près de 25 arrestations lors des 50 kilomètres qu'a parcourus la flamme olympique des Jeux Olympiques d'été de 2008  à Londres ce dimanche.

Le parcours a débuté sous la neige au Stade de Wembley où les manifestants ont brandi des drapeaux tibétains lors du passage. Par la suite, deux manifestants ont tenté d'éteindre la torche à l'aide d'extincteurs sur lequel était lequel était inscrit « extincteur de propagande », déclenchant un mouvement de panique dans la foule. La télévision a également retransmis la tentative infructueuse d'un manifestant de s'emparer de la flamme alors qu'elle était portée par la présentatrice de télévision Konnie Huq. Les deux tentatives ont échoué, interrompues par les forces de police et par le service de sécurité.

La flamme a ensuite poursuivi sa route escortée par plus de 20 agents de sécurité à travers la ville où elle a été vue par plusieurs centaines de spectateurs et huée par plusieurs groupes qui protestaient contre les violations de droits de l'homme en Chine. Son parcours londonien s'est achevé à la O2 Arena, après avoir été relayée par environ 80 athlètes, responsables et entraîneurs, dont le rameur, détenteur de cinq médailles d'or, Sir Steve Redgrave.


2008 Taiwan presidential election: First official debate with citizen journalists' participation

Before the main vote of 2008 Taiwan Presidential Election on March 22, the Public Television Service (PTS Taiwan) held the first official TV debate in the PTS Taiwan Building in Taipei, Taiwan. To improve interactions between two candidates (Frank Hsieh and Ma Ying-jeou) and potential citizen journalists in Taiwan, PTS Taiwan exclusively invited 20 nominated citizen journalists (CJs) to join this special debate and asked for their questions on-site. The new format was supported by several news organizations in Taiwan.

Before this main debate, PTS Taiwan requested several questions with "30-seconds question challenge by citizens" and ultimately selected 20 questions from varied fields including finance, economics, agriculture, industry, environment, population, territory rehabilitation policy, gender, human rights, education, diplomacy, differences between cities and countrysides, Cross-Strait (China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) relationships, national position, culture, and racism.

After the debate, the Central News Agency asked several participating CJs about their satisfaction with the debate format. However, several CJs criticized the answers to their questions as "hollowed answers", while some CJs thought the answers were unexpected for the public.

On the other side, several academic professors were satisfied with their performances and on-site reaction, and a former legislator from Taiwan, Teh-fu Huang, commented on the debate:


2008中華民國總統選舉 首場公開辯論會登場

即將於3月22日進行投票的2008年中華民國總統選舉，今（24）日首度在台灣公共電視台，舉行首場電視辯論會，主辦的台灣公共電視，為了要鼓勵公民記者與兩位候選人（謝長廷、馬英九）之間的互動，在正式辯論的前夕，首先進行了「公民30秒提問」徵選活動，並選出20位公民記者代表，參與這項辯論會，也創下歷年總統大選辯論會以來，首度出現公民記者提問的創舉，更確立了台灣的民主普及程度。

據台灣公視表示，本次公民提問的20項問題，領域包含了財政、經濟、農業、產業、國土復育、環保、人口、性別、人權、教育、城鄉教育、外交、兩岸、國家定位、文化、族群文化等項目，除了脫穎而出的問題之外，所有的提問者更在現場針對先前的問題，進行進階質詢，顯見本次辯論的激烈攻防。

另外，中央通訊社也針對本次被選出的提問者，進行質詢的滿意度調查，眾多提問者也對於兩位候選人的回應表達不滿，甚至，更有部分提問者指明兩位候選人有實問虛答之嫌，不符合人民期待；但部分學者卻以臨場應變的角度，來看這場辯論會，而大多數學者認為，謝長廷擅強攻，馬英九擅表述，各有所長，打破以往外界認定的「吵架」形象，未來將有望持續良好的「君子之爭」。


2010 UK general election results

This table shows the results for 649 of 650 constituencies in the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom (not including the delayed constituency of Thirsk and Malton, which will hold its election on 27 May).

The "Constituency" column shows the name of each constituency, linked to the relevant Wikipedia article. the "Result" column shows the winning party, and whether they held or gained the seat (and, if relevant, who they gained it from). The "Votes" column shows how many votes were received by the winning party, the "Share" column their share of the vote, and the "Swing" column the swing in the direction of the gaining party.

In the general election, people over the age of eighteen around the United Kingdom may choose to vote for a candidate at their local polling booth, and Members of Parliament are elected to each constituency based on the first past the post system. Whichever party has a majority of MPs after all constituencies have announced their results has the opportunity to form a government.

The incumbent party before the dissolution of parliament was Gordon Brown's Labour Party, exit polls suggested a small Conservative Party majority, which—when this swing is projected nationally—would cause a hung parliament. The exit polls also suggested that despite reports that support for the Liberal Democrats had surged following the first national televised leaders' debates in the United Kingdom, the Liberal Democrats would suffer from a third party squeeze.

On the morning of Friday 7, 2010 the accuracy of the exit polls was demonstrated when it was revealed that there was indeed a hung Parliament and that although the Conservative Party had the greatest number of seats and votes it would be impossible for them to achieve an outright majority. The constitution of the United Kingdom allows for the incumbent Labour Party to first attempt to form a government and incumbent Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he would allow civil servants from the Cabinet Office to help facilitate negotiations. Despite the Labour Party openly courting the Liberal Party, their leader Nick Clegg has stated that as the party with the most seats and most votes the Conservatives have the right to attempt to form a government.

Some seats were also be contested by one or more of a number of smaller parties and independents, including the United Kingdom Independence Party, the British National Party, and the Green Party of England and Wales, who all already hold seats in the European Parliament and local government authorities, all hoped to gain their first seats in the House of Commons in this  election. History was made when the Greens won their first Parliamentery with their leader Caroline Lucas winning Brighton Pavilion. In Northern Ireland the Alliance Party also won their first seat with Naomi Long taking Peter Robinson's seat.

Please refresh this page periodically to see the latest results as they come in.


Partia Konserwatywna wygrała wybory w Wielkiej Brytanii

Głosy jeszcze nie zostały podliczone, ale już teraz wiadomo, że żadna z partii nie uzyskała większości potrzebnej do stworzenia samodzielnego rządu.

W chwili obecnej wiadomo, że w Izbie Gmin konserwatyści otrzymali 294 miejsc, Partia Pracy 252, a Liberalni Demokraci 52 miejsca.

Dla Partii Konserwatywnej i Partii Pracy rozpoczyna się czas na tworzenie koalicji albo sojuszów taktycznych. Ostatni raz taka sytuacja miała miejsce w 1974 r.

Najprawdopodobniej premier Gordon Brown pozostanie na stanowisku do momentu utworzenia takiej koalicji. Jednak są przypuszczenia, że tego typu koalicja może być niestabilna. Widać to chociażby po spadku na londyńskiej giełdzie i po kursie funta.


3 out of 4 UMP voters prefer Sarkozy for President of France

On Tuesday, BVA published a telephone poll conducted for French magazine Le Figaro and news channel LCI to gauge support for right-wing presidential candidates.  73% of Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (Union for a Popular Movement or UMP) party supporters identified Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy as their preferred candidate for May's presidential election.

The UMP is one of the two major parties in France, and represents conservative politics.  It was formed in 2002 as a union of several right-wing parties, and currently controls the legislature (the National Assembly) and the executive.  Current president Jacques Chirac is aligned with the UMP.

Sarkozy's rivals trail far behind him, with Defense Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie at 5%, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin at 4% and President Jacques Chirac with 1%.  Sarkozy's support among the entire group  polled is significantly lower, at only 34%. Alliot-Marie has 4%, de Villepin and Chirac have 3% each, and the remaining 43% did not express a preference.

On Monday, de Villepin told Le Figaro that the right was united  "around the one with the best chance of winning."


France : Trois quarts des sympathisants UMP soutiendraient Sarkozy

Selon un nouveau sondage BVA-Le Figaro-LCI[1], Nicolas Sarkozy serait le meilleur candidat aux présidentielles de 2007 pour 73 % des sympathisants UMP.

Loin derrière dans un mouchoir de poche, se suivent Michèle Alliot-Marie à 5 %, Dominique de Villepin à 4 % et Jacques Chirac à un pourcent symbolique.

Le résultat est cependant beaucoup plus contrasté lorsque le sondage s'élargit à l'ensemble de la population. Nicolas Sarkozy n'obtient plus alors que 34 %, Michèle Alliot-Marie perd 1 point à 4 %, à égalité avec Dominique de Villepin suivis enfin de Jacques Chirac, qui gagne deux points, à 3 %.

Le Premier ministre a déclaré, dans un entretien accordé au Figaro le 20 novembre, que toute la droite sera rassemblé « autour de celui ou de celle qui sera le mieux placé pour l'emporter. »

Le sondage réalisé par l’institut BVA par téléphone le 20 novembre 2006 auprès d’un échantillon de 1002 personnes, représentatif de la population française âgée de 18 ans et plus, dont 373 sympathisants de droite et 179 sympathisants UMP.}}


43 dead in Iraqi bomb blast

A suicide bomber killed 43 people in Iraq Sunday, injuring an estimated 40 more.

The attack occurred southwest of Baghdad and targeted members of a government-backed militia, Sons of Iraq, also known as the Sahwa, who were waiting to collect their pay.  Early reports say the attacks killed at least three soldiers and injured an additional thirteen, while three accountants died and four more were wounded. It's not yet clear who the remaining casualties are.

A survivor of the bombing said that "[t]here were more than 85 people lined up in three lines at the main gate of the military base to receive salaries when a person approached us.  When one of the soldiers tried to stop him, he blew himself up."

An Iraqi military official said that "[t]he suicide bomber blew himself up in the biggest group of Sahwa members. We generally let them enter the base in groups of 10 for them to get their salaries."

A second suicide bombing took place in Western Iraq, when an attacker fired upon Sahwa militants in Al-Qa'im before blowing himself up, killing three people, with six more injured.

Credit for the attacks has not yet been claimed, but al-Qaeda is considered the probable culprit.

The Sahwa movement is a Sunni militia group that split from al-Qaeda in 2006, and with US support have been one of the groups fighting al-Qaeda. In recent months, members of the militia have said that they have come under attack from other militant groups, and support from the Iraqi government has been reduced.


Bagdad: zamach na członków sunnickiej milicji

W niedzielę w Bagdadzie doszło do zamachu samobójczego na członków sunnickiej prorządowej milicji - zginęły 43 osoby, a 41 zostało rannych.

Do eksplozji doszło w sunnickiej dzielnicy Radwanija, gdzie członkowie sunnickiej milicji Sahwa stali w kolejce przed wojskowym biurem, w celu pobrania wypłaty. Zamachowiec-samobójca wmieszał się w tłum ludzi po czym odpalił ładunki wybuchowe.

Bojownicy Sahwa do 2006 roku wspierali Al-Kaidę w Iraku, jednak pod koniec tego roku przeszli na stronę sił rządowych i zarazem międzynarodowych, by pomóc zakończyć wojnę. Od tamtej pory sunniccy milicjanci są obiektem zamachów w ramach zemsty za opowiedzenie się po stronie rządu.

Po obaleniu Saddama Husajan w 2003 między sunnicką mniejszością, a szyicką większością w Iraku wybuchły walki, które zagroziły krajowi wojnę domową. Mimo, iż sunnicy bojownicy Sahwa zerwali z Al-Kaidą, to sunnicy rebelianci z innych ugrupowań nadal destabilizują sytuację w Iraku, organizują m. in. ataki na szyickich pielgrzymów. Ich bastionem jest północna prowincja Niniawa z stołecznym Mosulem.


44 worshippers shot dead at Nigerian mosque

News emerged yesterday that Boko Haram Islamists are suspected to have killed 44 worshippers during dawn prayers early Sunday morning in the small town of Konduga in Nigeria. The attacks were believed to be a revenge on citizen vigilante groups forming to help the government battle Islamist extremists and occurred 35km from the state capital Maiduguri.

A further 26 people are being treated for severe injuries. Boko Haram's insurgency has killed at least 3,600 people since 2009, including killings by security forces.

In recent weeks the military has encouraged the formation of vigilante groups to help locate and arrest members of Boko Haram. Boko Haram has attacked churches and mosques. A video has been released where Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau takes responsibility for the attacks.


நைஜீரியா பள்ளிவாசல் தாக்குதலில் 44 பேர் உயிரிழப்பு

நைஜீரியாவின் வடகிழக்குப் பகுதியில் பள்ளிவாசல் ஒன்றின் மீது தீவிரவாதிகள் தாக்குதல் நடத்தியதில் குறைந்தது 44 பேர் கொல்லப்பட்டனர்.

கொண்டுங்கா என்ற இடத்தில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை மாலை இத்தாக்குதல் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது. இசுலாமியத் தீவிரவாதக் குழுவான போக்கோ அராம் போராளிகளே இத்தாக்குதலை நடத்தியுள்ளதாகச் சந்தேகிக்கப்படுகிறது.

நுகோம் என்ற கிராமத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற வேறொரு தாக்குதலில் 12 பேர் கிராமத்தவர்கள் கொல்லப்பட்டனர். கொல்லப்பட்டவர்களில் நால்வர் மக்கள் விழிப்புக் குழுவைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் எனக் கூறப்படுகிறது. போர்னோ மற்றும் அயலில் உள்ள இரண்டு மாநிலங்களில் கடந்த மே மாதத்தில் அவசரகால நிலை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டதில் இருந்து இவ்வாறான பல விழிப்புக் குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

விழிப்புக் குழுவினரைத் தேடியே பள்ளிவாசலில் தாக்குதல் நடத்தப்பட்டிருக்கலாம் என ஊடகங்கள் கருத்துத் தெரிவித்துள்ளன.

பொதுவாக இசுலாமியத் தீவிரவாதிகள் கிறித்தவ ஆலயங்களிலேயே தமது தாக்குதல்களை நடத்தி வந்துள்ளனர். ஆனாலும், தமது கருத்துக்களுடன் ஒத்துப் போகாத இசுலாமியர்கள் மீதும் அவர்கள் தற்போது தாக்குதல் மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறார்கள்.

போக்கோ அராம் போராளிகள் நாட்டின் வடக்கே இசுலாமிய நாடு ஒன்றை அமைக்கும் எண்ணத்தில் ஆயுதம் தாங்கிப் போரிட்டு வருகின்றனர்.

செவ்வாய், ஆகத்து 13, 2013


45 killed after Yemen protesters fired upon

45 people have been killed in Yemen after gunmen fired on protesters in the city of Sana'a. Several hundred more were injured.

The origins of the gunmen are not known for certain, but it is believed that both government security forces and civilian supporters of the government are responsible.

The shootings occurred shortly after midday prayers when protesters began moving towards a burning car. According to witnesses, several warning shots were fired by security forces before they fired on protesters, soon joined by gunmen on the tops of buildings.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh, however, has denied that the government is responsible for the deaths. He said that "[w]hat happened today was very regrettable, the death of our children." He also ordered a state of emergency, which would ban civilians from bearing weapons, to be declared.

One opposition leader termed the incident a "massacre," and called it "part of a criminal plan to kill off the protesters, and the president and his relatives are responsible for the bloodshed in Yemen today." Another said the events have caused there to be "no longer any possibility of mutual understanding" between the opposition and government.

Tourism Minister Nabil al-Faqih resigned in protest after the killings. Another prominent ruling-party member, Mohammed al-Qadhi, said "[w]e condemn these crimes against humanity." He had already resigned last week. "Even if it's plainclothes men firing on the protesters it is still the government's responsibility to protect them."


45 morts després de dispars contra manifestants iemenites

45 persones han mort a Iemen quan d'homes armats van començar a disparar contra els manifestants presents a la ciutat de Sana'a. Diversos centenars més van resultar ferits.

L'origen dels pistolers no se sap molt bé, però es creu que tant les forces de seguretat governamentals com els partidaris civils del govern són els responsables.

El tiroteig es va produir poc després de les oracions del migdia en el precís moment en que els manifestants van començar a moure's cap a un cotxe en flames. Segons els testimonis, diversos trets d'advertència van ser disparats per les forces de seguretat abans que aquestes dispararen contra els manifestants, aviat s'unirien al tiroteig uns homes armats a la part superior dels edificis.


Jemen: Demonstranten erschossen – Regierung verhängt Ausnahmezustand

Sanaa (Jemen), 18.03.2011 – Mindestens dreißig oppositionelle Demonstranten fanden heute bei einer Demonstration in der jemenitischen Hauptstadt Sanaa den Tod. Außerdem wurden rund 100 Menschen verletzt. Andere Quellen sprechen von mindestens 41 getöteten Demonstranten. Die Angaben stammen von Rettungskräften. Augenzeugen berichteten, Anhänger des amtierenden Präsidenten Ali Abdullah Salih hätten von Hausdächern auf den umliegenden Häusern des Platzes vor der Universität in Sanaa gezielt auf die 10.000 Demonstranten geschossen, die sich dort versammelt hatten, um friedlich den Rücktritt von Präsident Salih zu fordern, der seit 1978 in dem arabischen Land an der Südspitze der arabischen Halbinsel herrscht. Wie Saleh am Freitag mitteilte, habe der Nationale Sicherheitsrat des Landes daraufhin beschlossen, den Ausnahmezustand über das Land zu verhängen. Zuvor war die Polizei mit Tränengas und scharfer Munition gegen die Demonstranten vorgegangen.

Die Demonstranten halten den Platz seit vier Wochen besetzt. Das Massaker auf dem Platz begann, als die Demonstranten versuchten, Absperrungen abzubauen, die einen Zugang zu einer Straße blockieren sollten. Der arabische Nachrichtensender Al Jazeera berichtete, die Verletzten und Toten hätten Schusswunden an Kopf, Hals und Brust davongetragen. Für viele Verletzte bestehe noch Lebensgefahr.


۴۵ کشته در تظاهرات ضد دولتی در یمن

در تظاهرات ضد دولتی در یمن ۴۵ نفر کشته و بیش از صدنفر زخمی شدند. نیروهای دولتی و جمعی از هواداران دولت با اسلحه به تظاهرکنندگان حمله کردند و معترضان را به گلوله بستند. این اتفاق بعد از نماز جماعت ظهر روی داد. در همین حال علی عبدالله صالح رئیس جمهور یمن اعلام کرده که این کشتار کار نیروهای وی نبوده و این اتفاق را تاسف‌برانگیز خوانده‌است.

یکی از رهبران مخالفان دولت این اتفاق را «قتل عام مردم» خواند و رئیس جمهور و اطرافیان وی را مسبب این حادثه اعلام کرد. نبیل الفقیه وزیر گردشگری یمن نیز به علت کشتار مردم از سمت خود کناره‌گیری کرد.


5 reporters hurt in conflict over ex-President's monument in Taiwan

Before the Ministry of Education removed the title the "Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness" along the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, members of the public and politicians from Pan-Greens and Pan-Blues battled and demonstrated there, but 5 reporters were hit by a truck near the National Central Library when they made a SNG live report.

According to witnesses and Chien-chiang Wang from Formosa Television, they witnessed the driver deliberately stepping on the accelerator after he hit a reporter and braked. Even though the suspect, Sheng-lou Peng was under arrested by the police, he caused the public indignations and was punched by a protester.

Due to the incident, politicians from Pan-Greens and Pan-Blues argued for the responsibilities again. Eventually, a legislative candidate named Feng Mei maliciously said: "It's a show, SO WHAT?!" This behavior without respects on hurt reporters caused outrages from voters from Pan-Greens and Pan-Blues and Mei's neighborhoods.

Politicians from two coalitions like Premier of the Republic of China Chun-hsiung Chang, KMT 2008 Presidential Candidate Ying-jeou Ma, Magistrate of Taipei County Hsi-wei Chou, Minister of the Government Information Office Chih-wei Hsieh, and current President of the Republic of China Shui-bian Chen all criticized on this incident and hoped 5 hurt reporters can recover soon.


民主紀念館拆匾額 記者遭惡意撞傷 藍綠同聲譴責暴力行為

台灣民主紀念館的正大門匾額「大中至正」拆除前夕，藍綠惡鬥仍舊持續，甚至已經引起族群的對立，但在衝突的一個角落，東森電視台的攝影記者王瑞璋，卻在拍攝的途中，遭到小貨車司機的惡意撞傷，傷勢嚴重，另外也有其他四位記者遭到波及，傷者皆送往台大醫院急救，而主事的兇手彭盛露，也因為這次的惡意撞人，被依照殺人未遂、傷害、妨害公務以及選舉暴力等罪嫌聲押。

部分在場目擊者，以及民視的記者王健強表示，彭姓嫌犯路過中山南路，踩了煞車又踩油門，根本就是惡意傷害！雖然彭姓嫌犯還辯稱「不是故意的」，但是另一位記者錄下事發經過，讓他無法抵賴，而該嫌犯在被送警前，還被人揍了一拳，顯見現場的民眾對於他的不滿。

正因為這次的流血事件，無黨籍大安區立委候選人梅峰，惡意地為他辯護說：「是做秀又怎樣？」此類不把傷者放在眼裡的行徑，引起藍綠選民及其鄰居的公憤。而政治人物包含行政院長張俊雄、總統候選人馬英九、台北縣長周錫瑋、新聞局長謝志偉、現任總統陳水扁等，不分藍綠，除了為王瑞璋加油打氣外，也同聲譴責暴力，更呼籲雙方應冷靜行事。


51 suspects named by UN for war crimes in Darfur

The Sudanese Government said it will not hand over 51 suspects named by the UN for war crimes in the Darfur region.

The sealed list, presented to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, was drawn up following an investigation by the UN into claims of killings, torture and rape committed by Government forces and militias in the Darfur region. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, backed by huge protests against the UN in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, snubbed the UN resolution which was passed last week to bring suspects to trial before the court. Omar al-Bashir explained that he "shall never hand any Sudanese national to a foreign court". [1]

ICC's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said, "Now, we have a common task to end the culture of impunity," upon receiving the list of suspects at the UN headquarters in New York. He continued: "I will closely monitor ongoing crimes in Darfur as well as efforts to prevent and stop them". The Darfur case is expected to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ICC, whose purpose is to try alleged genocide, war crimes and mass human rights violations criminals.

As the ICC, based in the Hague, received thousands of pages of evidence collected by UN investigators, Sudanese protesters descended upon the gates of the UN compound in Khartoum, fiercely criticising the UN's involvement in the Darfur conflict. [2]

"We are coming here to say to America 'no' to these orders. We are not people who have to listen to orders from anybody except the Sudan," one demonstrator told the BBC. Stating that it will prosecute suspects itself, Sudan's government earlier described the UN's decision to try individuals allegedly linked to the atrocities committed in Darfur as "unfair, ill-advised and narrow-minded". [3] The UN has since said it hoped the Sudanese Government would cooperate before indictments and arrest warrants are issued, and the UN understood that Sudanese rebels will surrender to the court if they are indicted. [4]

According to the UN, at least 180,000 people have died and more than two million have fled the region since the conflict between black African rebels and Arab militia began two years ago.


2005-04-05: Rozpoczną się procesy w sprawie prześladowań ludności w Darfurze

Organizacja Narodów Zjednoczonych przedstawiła Międzynarodowemu Trybunałowi Karnemu zapieczętowaną listę 51  osób podejrzanych o prześladowania ludności w Darfurze w zachodnim Sudanie. Rezolucję o skierowaniu sprawy do trybunału uchwaliła w ubiegłym tygodniu Rada Bezpieczeństwa ONZ, a była to pierwsza tego typu decyzja rady. Prezydent Sudanu Omar al-Baszir już zapowiedział, że jego kraj nie będzie współpracował z trybunałem w Hadze. Dziesiątki tysięcy ludzi, zachęcane przez media, wzięły udział w manifestacji w Chartumie, skierowanej przeciwko ONZ.

Lista przekazana przez Kofiego Annana w Nowym Jorku głównemu oskarżycielowi MTK dotyczy osób oskarżanych o mordy, tortury i gwałty dokonywane na ludności Darfuru, a widnieją na niej nazwiska członków sudańskiego rządu i dowódców armii oraz rebeliantów.

Luis Moreno Ocampo z haskiego trybunału zapowiedział walkę z bezkarnością i okrucieństwem w Sudanie. Prezydent al-Baszir przysiągł jednak publicznie, że nie wyda żadnego obywatela sudańskiego zagranicznemu trybunałowi.

Zdaniem przedstawicieli Rady Bezpieczeństwa ONZ, władze Sudanu odpowiedzialne są za pogwałcenie praw człowieka na skalę określaną jako zbrodnia przeciwko ludzkości. Sudański rząd uważa postawę rady za niesprawiedliwą i nieobiektywną, ale mieszkańcy Darfuru powitali wieści z ONZ z zadowoleniem.

Według szacunków ONZ od rozpoczęcia trwającego już dwa lata konfliktu etnicznego w Darfurze zginęło co najmniej 180 tysięcy ludzi, a ponad 2 miliony musiało opuścić swoje domy. Odpowiedzialność za część tych wydarzeń ponosi arabskie ugrupowanie militarne Dżandżawid. Rząd Sudanu nie przyznaje się do wspierania tej grupy. Obrońcy praw człowieka oskarżają natomiast sudańskie władze o utrudnianie pomocy humanitarnej dla ofiar konfliktu.


6 Canadian soldiers injured in Afghan attack

Six soldiers were injured, Tuesday, during a mortar attack on a Canadian outpost in Afghanistan. None of the injuries sustained are life threatening, according to officials.

One soldier was treated on base while five others were flown to a military hospital in Kandahar. Two of the soldiers are being kept for observation, the others were treated and released.

The attack occurred at Forward Operating Base Wilson which is about 30 kilometres west of Kandahar in Zhari District Centre, an area that has been the target of recent Taliban attacks.
Canadian Press reports that according to its sources Taliban fighters from across southern Afghanistan have gathered in the area within the past 24 hours, preparing for battle with NATO and Afghan government forces.


6 soldats canadiens blessés lors d'une attaque en Afghanistan


60th anniversary of the end of the war in Asia and Pacific commemorated

The 60th anniversary of the end of Pacific War, has been commemorated by some people.

The first such commemoration was declared 60 years ago today, after Japan unconditionally surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as VJ Day in the Allies. In Japan it is called  "Commemoration Day of the End of the War". In Korea, one of former colonies of Japan, it has been celebrated as Independence Day, literally the Day when light was retreved. It is commemorated in the USA on 14 August, in most countries, on 15 August.

At yesterday Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi laid a wreath at the Chidorigafuchi military ceremony and today expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" for his country's past colonial rule and military aggression at the national commemoration ceremony. He also pledged co-operation with Japan's Asian neighbours to maintain peace and that his country would never go to war again. No such apologies were issued by Western governments for their past colonial rule or military aggressions at this or any other commemorations. There has been an apology made for imprisoning Japanese American citizens during WW2.

The Japanese ceremony was held at about noon, the exact time the surrender had been announced. Over 6000 people including the Emperor and Empress, political, industal, union and religious leaders as well as families of dead soldiers attended the ceremony in Budokan, Tokyo with  a wreath being laid. In Japan, this day is the Commemoration Day of the End of the War"; the dead during the war, mainly on the battlefield, are commemorated, not only from World War II, but also the Sino-Japanese War, which lasted for fifteen years from 1930. Flags were lowered to half-mast for their commemoration and at the noon bells, sirens and other means urged the people to pray for them in a minute of silence.

The national commemoration ceremony this year in Japan was characterised by the absence of any parents of dead soldiers for the first time since 1946. The number of testimonies of that period has also declined.

The Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi decided not to go to the Yasukuni Shrine which commemorates Japan's war dead, including 14 indivuduals judged Class A war criminals by the Allies. Forty-one members of the Japanese Diet did, however, visit the shrine, mostly to honour their own ancestors. Last year, Mr Koizumi's visit to the shrine sparked anti-Japanese riots in China.

Commemoration events have already taken place across the United Kingdom, including a major event at Blenheim Palace -- home of the late Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The UK previously marked the 60th VE Day and VJ Day in a combined national day of commemoration on 10 July.

Today, the Duke of Edinburgh —. Patron of the Burma Star Association and a Royal Navy veteran of the war in the Mediterranean and Pacific —. laid a wreath at the Malta Siege Memorial in central London. He later met with veterans of the Far East conflict at a service in the Imperial War Museum in London.

Prominent guests included Viscount Slim (son of the late Field Marshal Slim, commander of the British Fourteenth Army in Burma), Countess Mountbatten of Burma (daughter of the late Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Theatre), and Dame Vera Lynn.

In Bangkok, Thanpuying Poonsuk Phanomyong, Pridi's widow, attended the unveling of a new memorial dedicated to the Seri Thai at Thammasat University. An exhibition commemorating the end of the war was presided over by the Foreign Minister, Professor Eiji Murashima and Anand Panyarachun.

America's atomic bombing commemoration held in Hiroshima


戦後60年、各地で行事

日本では太平洋戦争の終結とみなされている、無条件降伏発表から60年にあたる15日、日本各地で行事が行われた。

小泉純一郎首相は、談話を閣議決定し、植民支配と侵略について「あらためて痛切な反省と心からのおわびの気持ちを表明する」と述べた。首相は、靖国神社参拝を15日には行わない見通しであることを、前日までに明らかにした。「みんなで靖国神社に参拝する国会議員の会」所属の47人や石原慎太郎東京都知事らは、15日に靖国神社に参拝した。

日本政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式は東京の日本武道館で行われ、天皇、皇后、小泉純一郎首相、扇千景参議院議長、最高裁判所長官、政党代表、遺族ら約7,500人が参列。正午に黙祷を行った。

厚生労働省のまとめでは、全国37の都道県で追悼行事が行われている。

一方、「自主平和統一のための8・15民族大祝典」に参加している大韓民国、朝鮮民主主義人民共和国他の国の代表は、日本政府に対し、過去史の歪曲を今すぐ中断せよなどとした声明を発表したと、朝鮮日報が伝えた。

今年の「全国戦没者追悼式」には、追悼式の開催以来初めて戦没者の父母の参列がなかった。

午前11時50分から日本武道館で例年通り開かれた。今年の追悼式には、遺族約5,700人の他に、小泉純一郎総理、天皇・皇后、扇千景（おおぎ ちかげ）参議院議長、町田顯（まちだ あきら）最高裁判所長官、大臣、政党の代表、国会議員、知事、都道府県議会議長など1,800人が参列した。なお、先の衆院解散を受けて衆議院議長は空席となったが、追悼式で三権の長のひとりが欠けたのは今回が初めて。

追悼式は、初めに尾辻秀久（おつじ ひでひさ）厚生労働大臣の先導で天皇・皇后が入場し、君が代を斉唱した。

「式辞」で小泉総理は「（戦没者）の尊い犠牲の上に、今日の平和は成り立っていることに思いを致し、衷心からの感謝と敬意を捧げます。」「先の大戦において、わが国は多くの国々、とりわけアジアの諸国民に対しても、多大の損害と苦痛を与えました。内外の戦没者及び犠牲者の御冥福を心よりお祈り申し上げます。」「各国との友好関係を一層発展させ、平和を大切にする国家として、世界から一層高い信頼を得られるよう、全力を尽くしてまいります。」と読み上げた。

正午から1分間の「黙とう」に続き、天皇が「苦難に満ちた往時をしのぶとき、感慨は今なお尽きることがありません。」と戦没者に「追悼の意」を表し、「世界の平和と我が国の一層の発展」を祈った。

「追悼の辞」で、扇参議院議長は、「今日の平和と繁栄の礎には、戦争の犠牲となった多くの方々の尊く重い存在と、廃虚の中で積み重ねられた国家の再建に向けたたゆまぬ努力とがある。このことを決して忘れてはならない、あの戦争を経験した者の１人としてあらためて訴える」と話した。戦没者遺族代表の依光隆夫さん（高知県）は「皆さま方が何よりも願われた平和と自由を守り通し、ご遺志にお応えすること」を誓った。

「天皇皇后両陛下御退場」の後の「献花」で、小泉総理、扇参議院議長、町田長官、各政党代表、尾辻大臣、地方自治体の代表、日本遺族会の古賀誠（こが まこと）会長、日本商工会議所の山口信夫（やまぐち のぶお）会頭、連合の笹森清（ささもり きよし）会長、日本学術会議の黒川清（くろかわ きよし）会長、日本新聞協会の箱島信一（はこしま しんいち）会長、日本宗教連盟の白柳誠一（しらやなぎ せいいち）理事長、遺族代表が献花した。

追悼式は、午後0時50分に閉式した。


61.6% of the Dutch people say 'no' to EU constitution

The end result says that 61.6% of the Dutch people vote tegen (against) the European Constitution, while 38.4% voted voor (for) the Constitution. Turnout was unexpectedly high, at 62.8%, more than the last three elections. The 'no' vote follows a similar vote in France last week that lead to the resignation of the prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

As in France, both the government and the parliament was highly pro-treaty, with Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, pleading over the past few days with voters not to be influenced by the French 'No' vote. While the citizenship's vote is legally non-binding, Mr. Balkenende and the Dutch parliament have said they will support it.

The major reasons for the 'no' vote appear to be worry over the rapid expansion of the EU, loss of a national identity, distrust as a result of the inflation (allegedly a result of the Euro) and a lack of democracy. Other motivations include unhappiness with the government and Turkey's candidate accession to the European Union.


Holanda también rechaza la Constitución Europea

1 de junio de 2005Holanda — Los primeros resultados oficiales, divulgados por la agencia oficial ANP, dan un 61,6% por el "NO" (tegen, "en contra") frente a un 38,4% por el "SÍ" (voor, "a favor"), con una participación del 62,8% de los ciudadanos habilitados, cifra que supera las previsiones más optimistas. Horas antes, la televisora local NOS divulgó unas primeras encuestas "a boca de urna", que daban al "NO" un 63% contra un 37% para el "SÍ".

De esta manera, los holandeses han seguido el camino de Francia en su rechazo a la Constitución Europea. Aunque el referendum es de carácter consultivo, el gobierno y el parlamento han afirmado desde antes de abrirse las urnas que acatarán la decisión del pueblo.

Se cree que entre los motivos para el rechazo a la carta magna comunitaria se encuentra la preocupación por la inclusión de Turquía en la UE, la posible pérdida de la identidad nacional y cierto descontento tanto con la Unión Europea como con el gobierno del primer ministro Jan Peter Balkenende, quien, decepcionado por el resultado, afirmó que de todos modos respetará la decisión: "Los votantes han dado una clara señal que no puede ser malinterpetada... debemos hacer todo lo que esté en nuestro alcance para involucrar a los ciudadanos en la Europa del futuro, y nuestro gabinete empezará a trabajar justamente en ello".


Les électeurs néerlandais disent à leur tour « non » à la Constitution européenne

Trois jours après le référendum français sur la constitution européenne, par lequel les électeurs français ont refusé la ratification du traité, les électeurs néerlandais ont à leur tour dit « non », à l'occasion du premier référendum de leur histoire.

Les électeurs devaient répondre à la question : « Bent U voor of tegen instemming door Nederland met het verdrag tot vaststelling van een grondwet voor Europa?, soit à peu près, en français, « Êtes-vous pour ou contre la ratification par les Pays-Bas du Traité instituant une Constitution pour l'Europe ? », en remplissant, sur leur bulletin de vote, l'une des deux cases « Voor » (« pour ») ou « Tegen » (« contre »).

La consultation n'avait qu'un caractère « consultatif », les parlementaires étant appelés à trancher en dernier ressort. Toutefois, les dirigeants des principaux partis politiques du pays, parmi lesquels le chef du gouvernement Jan Peter Balkenende ont répété à plusieurs reprises durant la campagne, jusqu'au derniers jours, que leurs formations respecteraient l'avis majoritaire émis par les électeurs dès l'instant où la participation dépasserait les 30 % du corps électoral.

Selon les sondages de sortie des urnes et les données encore fragmentaires transmises par les autorités néerlandaises, la participation au scrutin aurait été de l'ordre de 62 % des électeurs inscrits, tandis que le « non » et le « oui » auraient respectivement obtenu 63 % et 37 % des suffrages exprimés.

Le résultat avec 99,4 % des votes comptés est un taux de participation de 62,8 % ; « oui » 38,4 %, « non » 61,6 %.

M. Balkenende a fait part de sa « tristesse » à l'annonce des résultats, mais a aussitôt confirmé la promesse faite durant la campagne, en précisant que « le peuple néerlandais a parlé ce soir. Le résultat est clair. Naturellement, je suis très déçu ». Les députés néerlandais se réuniront jeudi 2 juin pour tirer les conséquences du vote populaire.


I dutch dicono "nee" alla costituzione europea

Dopo il voto contrario da parte del popolo francese, anche nei Paesi Bassi la Costituzione Europea subisce una pesante battuta d'arresto. Non riescono infatti ad andare oltre un misero 38.4% i sostenitori del sì, che nulla possono contro il 61,6% dei no.

La Costituzione Europea, che deve essere ratificata da tutti gli stati membri, per entrare in vigore, era precedentemente stata votata (con una vittoria dei sì) solo in Spagna. Negli altri paesi in cui è stata approvata finora, tra cui l'Italia, la ratifica era stata fatta direttamente dal Parlamento.


Holendrzy nie zaakceptowali konstytucji Unii Europejskiej

Holandia jest drugim krajem po Francji, który nie ratyfikował w referendum konstytucji Unii Europejskiej.

Za przyjęciem konstytucji opowiedziało się 38,4% Holendrów. Przeciw było blisko 61,6% uprawnionych do głosowania. Było to pierwsze referendum w historii Holandii. Ma jednak ono tylko pośredni wpływ na przyjęcie konstytucji. Ostateczna decyzja należy do parlamentu, który jednak nie zamierza się wyłamywać przy niespodziewanie wysokiej frekwencji (62,8%).

Konstytucja została więc odrzucona przez dwa państwa które tworzą Wspólnoty Europejskie od samego początku, czyli od 1951 roku. Niektórzy są zdania, iż oznacza to niechęć do dalszej integracji i rozszerzenia.

Głosującym w referendum postawiono pytanie:

Według pierwszych wyników pochodzących z sondaży exit polls, za było 63% wyborców, przeciw zaś 37%.

Wielu holenderskich polityków jest rozczarownych wynikami głosowania. Mieli oni nadzieję na bezproblemowe przyjęcie dokumentu. Premier Holandii Jan Peter Balkenende uważa, iż bez względu na odrzucenie konstytucji referenda powinny się odbyć w innych krajach członkowskich. Chociaż większość z nich nawoływało do głosowania za, społeczeństwo nie posłuchało. I ma ku temu powody. Po zabójstwie populistycznego polityka Pima Fortuyna i reżysera Theo van Gogha (przez islamskiego ekstremistę) i serii podpaleń muzułmańskich meczetów, Holandia przestała uchodzić za kraj tolerancyjny i otwarty. Holendrzy jasno stawiają sprawę: imigranci muszą się asymilować, w przeciwnym wypadku nie ma dla nich miejsca w ich kraju. Drugą kwestią jest sprawa członkostwa Turcji w UE i obawa w związku z tym z nową falą imigrantów.

Holendrzy na pewno nie są przeciwni UE i integracji. Zrobiła ona wiele dobrego dla ich gospodarki. Ale według politologa z Uniwersytetu Amsterdamskiego, Philipa van Praaga, jego rodacy nie mogą się przyzwyczaić do zbyt szybkich zmian, najpierw wprowadzenie euro, potem poszerzenie o 10 nowych państw, a teraz konstytucja. Holendrzy potrzebują czasu żeby zaakceptować powyższą przebudowę Unii. Póki co dzieje się to dla nich za szybko i dali temu wyraźny sprzeciw w referendum.

Według deklaracji dołączonej do konstytucji, w przypadku gdy poparcia konstytucji udzieli 4/5 państw, to w sprawie przyjęcia dokumentu odbędzie się spotkanie wszystkich przywódców na szczycie, którzy zdecydują co dalej. Ale z formalnego punktu widzenia, odrzucenie konstytucji minimum przez jedno państwa sprawia że nie będzie mogła ona obowiązywać na terenie całej Unii. Tymczasem po odrzuceniu konstytucji we Francji, premier Wielkiej Brytanii - Tony Blair, zapowiedział, że jeśli to samo zdarzy się w Holandii to zawiesi proces referendum. Prezydent Kwaśniewski potwierdził, że Polska nie zrezygnuje z referendum. Oświadczył że w tak doniosłej sprawie Polska musi pokazać się na arenie europejskiej, że jest liczącym się państwem, które ma własne zdanie. W podobnym tonie wypowiedziały się władze Portugalii.

Tymczasem przewodniczący Komisji Europejskiej, Jose Manuel Barosso, wypowiedział się przeciwko "jednostronnym inicjatywom" państw członkowskich, które zamierzają zawiesić proces ratyfikacyjny.


Países Baixos também dizem não à Constituição Européia

Depois de fechadas as urnas, as primeiras enquetes "de boca de urna" entre os holandeses votantes indicam a vitória do "NÃO" (63% entre os pesquisados) contra o "SIM" (37%). Os eleitores holandeses assim como os franceses  rejeitaram  a Constituição Européia.

As sondagens foram divulgadas pela televisão local NOS.

A participação na votação foi bastante superior às previsões. Dos holandeses aptos a votar 62% foram às urnas.


63% of Israelis want Olmert to quit

Almost two-thirds of Israelis want Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign, according to a public opinion poll published on Friday. The survey suggests there has been a major shift in Israeli public opinion in the wake of Israel's 34-day war in Lebanon that appeared to achieve few of Israel's military objectives. The poll published by Yedioth Aronoth, Israel's bestselling paper, also shows that 45% of Israelis would vote for Benjamin Netanyahu of the right wing Likud in an election where only he and Olmert were candidates.

A second poll published in Maariv gives Olmert 14% support compared to 26% for Nethanyahu and that Olmert's centrist Kadima party would win only 14 seats in the Knesset compared to 28 for Likud and 28 for ultranationalist Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu party. The centre-left Labor Party, which is currently in a coalition with Kadima, would win only 9 seats according to the survey. 74% of respondents want Labour leader Amir Peretz to quit his post as defense minister.

The Maariv poll showed 73 percent of Israelis opposed future unilateral withdrawals.


Umfrage in Israel: Olmert soll zurücktreten

Jerusalem (Israel), 28.08.2006 – Fast zwei Drittel der israelischen Bevölkerung (63 Prozent) wollen, dass der Ministerpräsident Ehud Olmert zurücktritt. Das ergab eine öffentliche Umfrage, die am Freitag veröffentlicht wurde. Die Befragung legt nahe, dass es einen signifikanten Meinungsumschwung in der öffentlichen Meinung als Folge des 34 Tage andauernden Krieges im Libanon gegeben hat, der – so scheint es – nur wenige der israelischen militärischen Ziele erfüllt hat. Die Erhebung, die von Yedioth Ahronoth, der auflagenstärksten israelischen Zeitung, veröffentlicht wurde, zeigt zudem, dass 45 Prozent der Israelis für Benjamin Netanjahu des rechtsstehenden Likud-Blocks stimmen würden, falls bei einer Wahl nur er und Olmert die Kandidaten wären.

Eine zweite Umfrage, die von der israelischen Tageszeitung Maariv abgedruckt wurde, bescheinigt Olmert 14 Prozent Unterstützung, verglichen mit 26 Prozent für Nethanyahu, und zeigt außerdem, dass Olmerts gemäßigte Kadima-Partei nur 14 Sitze der Knesset gewinnen würde, verglichen mit 28 Sitzen für die Likud-Partei und 28 für die Partei Israel Beytenu des ultrarechten Politikers Avigdor Lieberman. Die gemäßigt-linke Arbeitspartei, die sich derzeit in einer Koalition mit der Kadima befindet, bekäme der Umfrage zufolge nur neun Sitze. 74 Prozent der Befragten wollen, dass der Chef der Arbeitspartei Amir Peretz von seinem Amt als Verteidigungsminister zurücktritt.

Die Meinungsumfrage der Zeitung Maariv dokumentierte außerdem, dass sich 73 Prozent der Interviewten gegen zukünftige einseitige Rückzüge aussprechen.


Эхуд Ольмерт теряет популярность

Почти две третьих израильтян (63%) считают, что Премьер-министр Израиля Эхуд Ольмерт должен оставить свой пост. Такие результаты дают опросы общественного мнения. Падение популярности Ольмерта связывают с недавней 34-х дневной войне в Ливане, в которой Израиль не достиг поставленных военных целей. С другой стороны, израильтяне склоняются к поддержке лидера партии Ликуд Биньямина Нетаньяху, который получил бы 45% голосов, если бы выборы состоялись сегодня.

Согласно опросу опубликованному в газете «Маарив» (Maariv), Ольмерта поддерживают 14% избирателей, а Натаньяху — 26%. Партия Кадима, которую возглавляет Ольмерт, получила бы 14 мест в парламенте, против 28 мест партии Ликуд и также 28 мест ультраправой партии Авигдора Либермана (Avigdor Lieberman). Левая партия (Рабочая партия), которая в настоящий момент составляет правящую коалицию с партикй Кадима, получила бы 9 мест в парламенте. 74% из опрошенных считают, что лидер Рабочей партии и нынешний министр обороны Амир Перец (Amir Peretz) должен уйти в отставку.

29 августа 2006 года


Abducted German family freed in Yemen

Jürgen Chrobog, former state secretary in the German Foreign Office, his wife and their three sons have been freed, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed at a press conference.

Steinmeier said the family was doing well. They were abducted on Wednesday in the east of the country while being on a tourism trip on the invitation of the Yemeni government. The captors were demanding the release of five tribesmen held by the government. The Yemeni defense minister was apparently the one who was able to negotiate the release.

"Former German deputy foreign minister and family abducted in Yemen" — Wikinews, December 28, 2005


Familie Chrobog ist frei

Schabwa (Jemen), 31.12.2005 – Der ehemalige Staatssekretär im Auswärtigen Amt, Jürgen Chrobog, und dessen Familie sind von ihren Entführern freigelassen worden. Offenbar wurden die Forderungen der Entführer nach der Freilassung inhaftierter Stammesangehöriger von der jemenitischen Regierung erfüllt.

Das Auswärtige Amt bestätigte die Freilassung der Familie Chrobog, die sich seit Mittwochmittag in der Hand von jemenitischen Entführern befand. Die Familie, die mit einer größeren Reisegruppe im Jemen unterwegs war und von Sicherheitskräften begleitet wurde, war von Angehörigen des Al-Abdallah-Stammes aus der Provinz Schabwa entführt worden. Die Entführung wurde ermöglicht, als sich die Sicherheitskräfte zum Mittagessen zurückgezogen hatten.


Libertada família alemã raptada no Iémen

Segundo a Associated Press, Jürgen Chrobog, ex-Secretário de Estado alemão, sua esposa e seus três filhos foram libertados, informou o Governo do Iémen.

A família foi raptada quarta-feira na região leste do Iémen durante  um passeio  turístico,  feito a convite do Governo.

Os raptores  exigiam a libertação  de cinco pessoas presas pelo Governo do Iémen.


Aboriginal primacy bill introduced to the New South Wales legislative assembly

Premier of New South Wales (NSW) Kristina Keneally introduced a bill earlier today to the state's legislative assembly that will recognise Indigenous Australians as the first inhabitants of the state.

The bill, which is mostly symbolic, is set to address some "fundamental truths" and is hoped by some to be another step towards ending inequality and disadvantage in the indigenous community.

"People here [Indigenous audience members]...born prior to 1967 were people who fought wars for this nation, who died for this nation, who worked for this country, who died for this country and yet were non-citizens," Keneally stated as the bill was introduced, "This is a significant constitutional step in the right direction, I'm only hopeful it will not be the only step".

Although Opposition Leader of NSW Barry O'Farrell made statements in support of the bill, he too stressed the importance of improving conditions for the Indigenous people of the state and across the nation.

"There can be no equality of citizenship without equality of opportunity, there can be no equality of opportunity until those of the Aboriginal community have the same life choices and life expectancies as the rest of the community" O'Farrell said.

The bill's introduction took place after a traditional smoking ceremony attended by MPs from both sides of parliament and James Spigelman, the Lieutenant Governor of NSW.


Nový zákon Nového Jižního Walesu uzná Austrálce za prvotní obyvatele

Premiérka Nového Jižního Walesu Kristina Keneallyová uvedla návrh zákona, který má změnit ústavu Nového Jižního Walesu, aby uznávala za původní obyvatele státu Austrálce.

Zákon, který bude mít víceméně symbolický dopad, má podle předkladatelky reagovat na „základní pravdy“ a někteří doufají, že bude dalším krokem k ukončení nerovnosti a znevýhodňování domorodého obyvatelstva.

Keneallyová, která je členkou Australské strany práce, při zveřejnění návrhu prohlásila: „Tito lidé [myšleni austrálští posluchači] …narození před rokem 1967 byli lidmi, kteří bojovali za tento národ, umírali za něj, kteří pracovali pro tuto zem, umírali za tuto zem a přesto neměli občanská práva. Tento ústavní krok má správný směr a jsem plna naděje, že nebude krokem posledním.“

Ve prospěch zákona se vyjádřil i vůdce opozice, Barry O'Farrell z Liberální strany Austrálie, který ale zároveň zdůraznil důležitost konkrétních kroků pomoci Austrálcům: „Urovnání nemá žádný význam, pokud neznamená rovnost příležitostí, pokud neznamená délku života, pokud neznamená výsledky ve vzdělání a zdraví, pokud neznamená lepší životní možnosti, pokud neznamená, že každá osoba narozená v austrálském společenství v tomto státě může mít stejně životní možnosti jako mé děti.“

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Aboriginal primacy bill introduced to the NSW legislative assembly na anglických Wikizprávách.


ACTA rejected by European Parliament; protesters rejoice

The proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was defeated in a plenary session of the European Parliament with 478 votes against versus 39 supporting; 165 parliamentarians chose to abstain.

Pressure and activist groups across Europe celebrated the defeat of the legislation, attributing their success to mobilising the public to bring pressure to bear on MEPs. In thanking supporters, the UK's Open Rights Group (ORG) cautioned that Karel de Gucht, current European Commissioner for Trade, deferred any decision as to how the Commission will move forward until after a ruling from the European Court of Justice on ACTA's compatibility with European law.

The controversial copyright- and trademark-related trade agreement previously provoked massive rallies and demonstrations across Europe. A petition against ACTA accrued two million signatures. In an editorial on the resounding defeat, where MEPs held up placards post-vote which read "Hello Democracy Goodbye ACTA", The Guardian's technology editor Charles Arthur said the agreement "didn't stand a chance". Arthur pointed out that some of the counterfeiting problems ACTA was, in part, supposed to address are  ones which should concern people, particularly the risks associated with fake drugs. However, with the vague wording of the trade agreement raising the possibility of travellers' electronic devices being searched for copyright-infringing content at customs and border checkpoints, he concluded the secretly-negotiated deal "never stood a chance against the internet tidal wave" of opposition.

Arthur also highlighted that secrecy surrounding the drafting of ACTA encouraged widespread public opposition; negotiations began under the presidency of George W. Bush, which rebuffed requests from the Electronic Frontier Foundation stating that all but ten of 800+ pages of related material were "classified in the interest of national security". Following Barack Obama taking office, another Freedom of Information request was filed; again, access was denied with the Obama administration asserting that national security concerns justified the entire draft and related documents remaining secret.

"ACTA has become a symbol for policy made in secrecy" ((de))German language: ACTA ist ein Symbol für Politik im Hinterzimmer geworden, stated Sebastian Nerz, vice-president of the Pirate Party of Germany. "We are hopeful now that Brussels has taken a stance against lobbyist interests. Upholding fundamental rights and civil liberties online seems no longer to be merely empty words for the European Members of Parliament." ((de))German language: Dass sich Brüssel nun gegen die Interessen der Lobbyisten stellt, gibt Hoffnung. Die Wahrung der Grundrechte und Bürgerfreiheiten im Netz scheint zumindest für die Abgeordneten des Europäischen Parlaments nicht nur ein leeres Wort.

Protesters criticised the vague wording and legal uncertainty ACTA would have introduced. Widespread censorship of the internet and curtailment of freedom of speech were feared; patent regulations were  highlighted as having potentially adverse impact on access to medicines and crop seeds. The trade agreement, which US-based pressure group Accessnow.org described as "giving the U.S. a structural competitive advantage over other countries", had already amongst its signatories Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.

The long-running campaign against ACTA can in part be traced to publication of a leaked draft of the agreement on whistleblowing site Wikileaks. Their analysis concluded one part of the document was "a 'Pirate Bay killer' ", and the then-leaked draft would force internet service providers to provide "perfunctionary[sic] disclosure of customer information" and would "likely outlaw multi-region CD/DVD players."


El Parlament europeu rebutja el projecte ACTA

Després de tres anys de mobilització, el Parlament europeu ha rebutjat el project ACTA, un acord comercial que pretenia enfortir els drets de la propietat intel·lectual, especialment pel que fa el web, després d'una votació amb 478 vots en contra, 39 a favor i 165 abstencions. El gener passat, el tractat fou aprovat per 22 dels 27 governs de la Unió europea, els Estats Units, el Japó, el Canadà, Austràlia, Nova Zelanda, Singapur, Corea del Sud, Suïssa, Mèxic i el Marroc.

Segons Jérémie Zimmermann, “Aquesta votació és una immensa victòria”. El portaveu del col·lectiu “La Quadrature du Net” es felicita sobretot perquè “El text ha permès obrir un gran debat públic, fins i tot en el si del PPE, pel que fa a la necessitat d'una reforma del dret de la propietat intel·lectual a Europa.” També ha impulsat una gran mobilització internacional, ja sigui pels milions de correus electrònics enviats als diputats o pel nombre de peticions recollides, amb un total de 2.800.000 signatures.

La principal associació de promoció i defensa del programari lliure ha declarat : “El vot d'avui i el rebuig de l'ACTA constitueixen una formidable victòria pels ciutadans del món, com per la democràcia i la ciutadania europea. Igualment, és un senyal fort respecte dels responsables polítics encoratjant-los a rompre amb el cicle de les polítiques repressives i a entaular una reforma positiva del dret d'autor i de les patents.”

David Martin, ponent del projecte, ha reconegut la importància d'aquesta lluita contra el contrafaïment, però ha demanat el seu rebuig en raó de la seva perillositat respecte de les llibertats individuals.


Union européenne : ACTA rejeté par le Parlement européen

Bien qu'ayant été signé secrètement en janvier 2012 par 22 des 27 gouvernements de l'Union européenne, l'ACTA a été rejeté par le Parlement européen

Publié le 4 juillet 2012   Après trois ans de mobilisation, et par 478 voix contre, 39 voix pour et 165 abstentions, le projet ACTA visant à renforcer les droits de propriété intellectuelle notamment sur Internet a été définitivement rejeté par le  Parlement européen. Le traité avait été signé en janvier secrètement par 22 des 27 gouvernements de l'Union européenne, ainsi que les États-Unis, le Japon, le Canada, l'Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande, Singapour, la Corée du Sud, la Suisse, le Mexique et le Maroc.

Pour Jérémie Zimmermann, « Ce vote est une immense victoire ! » Le porte-parole du collectif la Quadrature du Net, se félicite notamment que « le texte a permis d'ouvrir un grand débat public, y compris à l'intérieur du PPE, sur la nécessité d'une réforme du droit de la propriété intellectuelle en Europe » et qu'il a permis une grande mobilisation internationale que cela soit avec les manifestations, les millions d'e-mails envoyés aux députés, et la pétition qui a recueilli 2 800 000 signatures.

Pour la principale association de promotion et la défense du logiciel libre, l'April : « Le vote d'aujourd'hui et le rejet d'ACTA constituent une formidable victoire pour les citoyens du monde entier, ainsi que pour la démocratie et citoyenneté européenne. C'est également un signal fort pour les responsables politiques les encourageant à rompre avec le cycle des politiques répressives et d'entamer une réforme positive du droit d'auteur et des brevets. »

David Martin, le rapporteur du texte, a reconnu l'importance de cette lutte mais a appelé au rejet du projet en raison de sa dangerosité pour les libertés individuelles.


ACTA-verdrag verworpen door Europees Parlement

Het Europees Parlement heeft het omstreden ACTA-verdrag met grote meerderheid verworpen. De meerderheid van 478 parlementsleden tegen 39 hebben het verdrag verworpen. 165 leden hebben zich van hun stem onthouden. Het ACTA-verdrag was bedoeld om piraterij op internet te bestrijden, maar veel Europarlementariërs vinden dat het verdrag teveel inbreuk maakt op de internetvrijheid.

Het Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Nederlands: Handelsovereenkomst ter bestrijding van namaak), zoals het ACTA-verdrag voluit geschreven wordt, werd verworpen na jarenlange debatten en onderhandelingen achter gesloten deuren. Eerder dit jaar werd er al een negatief advies uitgegeven door vijf commissies van het Europees Parlement en nu heeft het voltallige parlement het verdrag verworpen. De EVP, een christendemocratische, conservatieve groepering in het Europarlement, probeerde de stemming nog uit te stellen tot na het oordeel van het Europees Hof van Justitie.

Feeststemming

Volgens Europarlementariër Emine Bozkurt van de PvdA is het 'Een duidelijke overwinning voor de burgerrechten en democratie'. In Straatsburg was de sfeer na het blokkeren van het door de Europese Commissie gewenste verdrag euforisch. Veel parlementariërs hadden zich gekleed met een t-shirt met de tekst: Hello Democracy, Bye Bye ACTA. Ook hadden zich rondom de parlementszaal veel actievoerders verzameld.

Judith Sargentini van GroenLinks concludeerde dat 'het Europarlement zijn tanden heeft laten zien, net als de Europese burger. En daarmee zal er in de toekomst alleen maar meer rekening met onze mening worden gehouden. Midden in de crisis zie ik dat de democratie zich begint te vestigen in Europa'. Sargentini vindt dat het tijd is om 'serieus werk te maken van alternatieve verdienmodellen'. "we hebben veel tijd verloren met deze onzalige pogingen om het auteursrecht strenger te maken en de vrijheid op internet te beperken, zogenaamd om de kunst te redden, maar eigenlijk om de industrie de controle terug te geven. Nu moeten we snel stappen gaan zetten. We moeten samen met artiesten en internetgebruikers werken aan de voorwaarden voor artiesten om geld te blijven verdienen."

Ook volgens PVV-Europarlementariër Laurence Stassen is het verwerpen van het verdrag reden tot feest: 'Het verdrag was een regelrechte aanval op de internetvrijheid en vrijheid van meningsuiting'. Volgens Marietje Schaake van D66 'moeten we nu voorbij ACTA kijken en aan hervormingen van auteursrechten en de Europese digitale markt werken.' Partijgenoot Sophie in 't Veld zei: 'Mijn strijd voor transparantie bij de totstandkoming ban dit soort verdragen gaat onverminderd door'.

Europese Commissie

Gisteren al lag de ratificatie van het verdrag onder vuur toen een meerderheid van de Europarlementariërs zich uitsprak tegen het verdrag. De tekst van het verdrag wordt veelal 'te vaag' genoemd en er was onvoldoende garantie dat burgerlijke vrijheden gewaarborgd zouden worden. Ook waren de leden het niet eens over de vraag of het goed zou zijn om te wachten op een besluit van het Europees Hof van Justitie. De Europese Commissie wacht ondanks de massale verwerping toch op het oordeel van het Europese Hof van Justitie. Het hof is daartoe gevraagd, maar een oordeel over een mogelijke schending van de burgerrechten wacht nog ten minste een jaar op zich. Volgens de vervanger van verantwoordelijk commissaris Karel de Gucht, die gisteren zijn verlies erkende, 'zal de commissie aan de hand van dat oordeel bepalen welke verdere stappen zij zal nemen'.

Dit betekent dat de Europese Commissie nog altijd denkt aan een aanpassing aan het ACTA-verdrag, zodat deze wel zal worden aangenomen door het Europees Parlement. De commissie hoopt dat tegen die tijd de 'emotie in Europa is weggeëbd' over het verdrag.

Voorstanders van ACTA

Er zijn echter voorstanders in de creatieve industrie die gefrustreerd waren van het verwerpen. Volgens Anne Bergman-Tahon, directeur van de Federatie van Europese Uitgevers, is het ACTA-verdrag 'een belangrijk instrument om de Europese werkgelegenheid en het intellectuele eigendom te bevorderen. Helaas stapte het verdrag op de verkeerde been in het parlement daarmee kregen de belangrijke verdiensten van het verdrag niet de overhand.'

Ook Alan Drewsen, uitvoerend bestuurder bij de INTA (Internationaal Handelsmerkvereniging), was niet te spreken. Hij waarschuwde dat "Europa nu wellicht achterblijft bij het beschermen van intellectueel eigendom. Europa heeft de kans om een belangrijk verdrag te tekenen dat het intellectueel eigendom op internationaal niveau zou ondersteunen weggenomen. We verwachten dat het ACTA-verdrag doorgaat zonder de EU, wat een verlies is voor de 27 lidstaten."

Kabinet en Kroes

Twee weken geleden heeft het demissionair kabinet-Rutte al besloten het ACTA-verdrag niet te ondertekenen. In mei nam de Tweede Kamer al twee moties tegen de ratificatie en ondertekening aan. Daarin stond dat het verdrag ruimte laat voor 'onbedoelde interpretaties met negatieve gevolgen'. Ook Eurocommissaris Neelie Kroes had zich begin mei al uitgesproken tegen het handelsverdrag. De grote hoeveelheid aan protesten, waaronder 2,5 miljoen handtekeningen en protesten in landen als Polen afgelopen winter zouden volgens Kroes ervoor hebben gezorgd dat het parlement tegen zou stemmen.

Het ACTA-verdrag is omstreden omdat er gevreesd wordt dat het de internetvrijheid en het recht op privacy aantast. Door het verdrag zou het internet verder kunnen worden gecontroleerd en individuele internetters zouden aangepakt worden. ACTA is overigens alleen nog in de Europese Unie verworpen: ook Australië, Canada, Japan, (zuid-) Korea, Mexico, Marokko, Nieuw-Zeeland, Singapore, Zwitserland en de Verenigde Staten nemen deel aan het verdrag. Het verdrag was in de Europese Unie overigens al door 22 landen getekend, maar niet door Nederland.


Европски парламент одбацио контроверзни споразум Акта

5. јул 2012.Брисел/ Белгија (Beat) - Европски парламент у среду је одбацио Међународни трговински споразум о борби против фалсификовања на Интернету и пиратерије познатији као Акта (АСТА), што значи да он неће важити на територији Европске уније, иако су га потписале 22 њене чланице.

Светски медији попут Франс преса, Дојче велеа, Рашн тајмса и Асошијетед преса јављају да је Европски парламент одбио да усвоји Акту пошто је свих пет његових одбора дало негативно мишљење на садржај споразума.

Европосланици су великом већином одбацили контроверзни споразум, за који се залагала Европска комисија - 478 гласова било је против, 39 је било за, а 146 посланика се уздржало од гласања.

Дојче веле наводи да овакав исход представља „победу хиљада Европљана који су гневно протестовали против Акте“.

Протести су избили широм европског континента пошто су 22 од 27 земаља Уније ставиле потпис на тај споразум, који је неколико година уговаран иза затворених врата.

Критичари споразума су тврдили да Акта омогућава цензуру интернета, да је пристрасна у корист власника ауторских права, посебно музичке и филмске индустрије у САД, а да интернет провајдере претвара у „шерифе“ који ће контролисати шта раде њихови корисници.

Бројне потписнице су током зиме и пролећа, под жестоким притиском јавности, замрзнуле поступак ратификације док не буду виделе исход гласања у Европском парламенту - тела који има завршну реч у вези с применом закона на територији Уније.

Европска комисија је затражила од Европског суда за људска права да процени да ли је Акта у складу с европским прописима, али је Европски парламент одлучио да размотри споразум и гласа о њему пре но што суд донесе своје мишљење, што је процес који би могао да потраје и до две године.

У међувремену, сви надлежни одбори Европског парламента - за грађанске слободе, индустрију, правне послове, развој и међународну трговину - дали су негативно мишљење на Акту.

У јучерашњој расправи у Европском парламенту, европски комесар за трговину Карел де Гухт је рекао да ће Акту поново изнети пред парламент ако Суд буде дао позивно мишљење на тај документ.

Акта је уговарана од 2007. године између САД, Јапана, Канаде, Јужне Кореје, Новог Зеланда, Аустралије, Европске уније и још неколико земаља. Преговори су се водили иза затворених врата, ван светских трговинских тела, што је било нарочита мета критичара споразума.

Споразум би требало да ступи на снагу ако га ратификује најмање шест потписница.


கள்ளநாணயத் தடுப்பு ஒப்பந்தச் சட்டமூலம் ஐரோப்பிய நாடாளுமன்றத்தில் தோல்வி

ஐரோப்ப நாடாளுமன்றத்தின் முழுமையான அமர்வில் முன்மொழிந்த ஏசிடிஏ (ACTA) என்னும் கள்ளநாணயத் தடுப்பு வர்த்தக ஒப்பந்தம் 478 எதிர்ப்பு வாக்குகளுடன், 39 ஆதரவு வாக்குகளைப் பெற்றுத் தோல்வியடைந்துள்ளது. 165 உறுப்பினர்கள் வாக்களிக்கவில்லை.

ஏசிடிஏ மறுக்கப்பட்டதை அடுத்து, ஐரோப்பா முழுவதும் உள்ள போராட்டக்காரர்கள் அனைவரும் தங்களின் மகிழ்ச்சியை கொண்டாடினார்கள். பெரும்பாலும் தொழிற்சாலைகளில் வேலைப் பார்த்து கொண்டு காப்புரிமைகளையும், வர்த்தகக் குறியீடுகளையும் சார்ந்திருக்கும் ஏசிடிஏவின் ஆதரவாளர்கள் அவர்களின் வாழ்க்கைக்காகவே இதனை முன்மொழிந்தனர். ஆனால் அவர்களுக்கு வாய்ப்பு மிகவும் குறைந்துவிட்டது.

இந்தப் பன்னாட்டு வர்த்தக ஒப்பந்தத்தில் ஆசுத்திரேலியா, கனடா, சப்பான், மொரோக்கோ, நியூசிலாந்து, சிங்கப்பூர், தென் கொரியா, மற்றும் அமெரிக்கா ஆகியன சென்ற ஆண்டு அக்டோபரில் கையெழுத்திட்டிருந்தன. அறிவுசார் சொத்துரிமைகளை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துவதற்கான ஒரு பன்னாட்டு செந்தரம் ஒன்றை உருவாக்குவதற்கு இந்த ஒப்பந்தம் வழிவகுக்கிறது. சட்டவிரோதக் கடத்தல் பொருட்கள், வர்க்க மருந்துகள், இணையத்தில் பதிப்புரிமை மீறல் போன்றவற்றைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தும் பன்னாட்டுச் சட்டவடிவமைப்பை உருவாக்குவதற்கும் இந்த ஒப்பந்தம் வழிவகுக்கிறது.

சர்ச்சைக்குரிய இந்த ஒப்பந்தத்திற்கு எதிர்ப்புத் தெரிவித்து ஐரோப்பா முழுவதும் போராட்டங்களும் எதிர்ப்பு ஊர்வலங்களும் நடைபெற்றன. இத்தீர்மானத்திற்கு எதிராக 2 மில்லியன் கையொப்பங்கள் சேகரிக்கப்பட்டன.

சனி, சூலை 7, 2012


Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif captured by Taliban

On Saturday, the Afghan Taliban captured the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, giving them control over the nation's fourth-largest city and all of northern Afghanistan, amidst the withdrawal of USA troops from the country, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of August.

Abas Ebrahimzada, a provincial lawmaker, told the Associated Press (AP) the Afghan national army were the first to surrender, leading other pro-government forces to lose morale and concede to the Taliban.

Atta Mohammad Noor, a former governor of Balkh Province and who Reuters called "among the Taliban's fiercest enemies" pinned the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif on a "conspiracy", tweeting "despite our firm resistance, sadly, all the government & the #ANDSF equipments were handed over to the #Taliban as a result of a big organised & cowardly plot", and announcing he was "in a safe place now".

The capture of Mazar-i-Sharif follows the recent fall of both Herat and Kandahar, Afghanistan's second and third largest cities, respectively.  According to the AP, the Taliban now controls at least 24 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan.  Hoda Ahmadi, a local lawmaker from Logar Province, has claimed the Taliban had captured all of the Logar Province, and have also taken the Char Asiab District, located in Kabul Province and approximately eleven kilometres south of the Afghan capital Kabul.

A USA official told ABC News on condition of anonymity the USA forces have started flying to Kabul to "help in the evacuation of embassy personnel and other civilians", with USA President Joe Biden authorising the deployment of an extra thousand troops to ensure an "orderly and safe drawdown" of USA and other allied forces in Afghanistan.

Per AP, Mazar-i-Sharif was a former stronghold of the Northern Alliance, who had previously assisted the USA in 2001 in ending the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.  The AP records "makeshift camps" are appearing outside Mazar-i-Sharif, consisting mainly of ethnic Hazaras fleeing their homes.

Salima Mazari, a female district governor of 36 thousand near Mazar-i-Sharif, has said "in the provinces controlled by the Taliban, no women exist there anymore, not even in the cities.  They are all imprisoned in their homes", with a women's rights activist from Herat telling the AP Mujeeb Rahman Ansari has been appointed as the Taliban's "women's affairs minister" in the town.  The activist, who did not want to be identified, described Ansari as "strongly against women's rights".


Cidade afegã de Mazar-i-Sharif capturada pelo Talibã

No sábado, o Talibã afegão capturou a cidade afegã de Mazar-i-Sharif, dando-lhes controle sobre a quarta maior cidade do país e todo o norte do Afeganistão, em meio à retirada das tropas americanas do país, que está prevista para ser concluída até o final de agosto.

Abas Ebrahimzada, um legislador provincial, disse à Associated Press (AP) que o exército nacional afegão foi o primeiro a se render, levando outras forças pró-governo a perder a moral e ceder ao Talibã.

Atta Mohammad Noor, ex-governador da província de Balkh e que a Reuters chamou de "entre os inimigos mais ferozes do Talibã" atribuiu a captura de Mazar-i-Sharif em uma "conspiração", tuitando "apesar de nossa firme resistência, infelizmente, todos os equipamentos do governo e da #ANDSF foram entregues ao #Taliban como resultado de uma grande trama organizada e covarde", e anunciando que ele estava "em um lugar seguro agora".

A captura de Mazar-i-Sharif segue a recente queda de Herat e Kandahar, segunda e terceira maiores cidades do Afeganistão, respectivamente. De acordo com a AP, o Talibã agora controla pelo menos 24 das 34 províncias do Afeganistão. Hoda Ahmadi, um legislador local da província de Logar,alegou que o Talibã havia capturado toda a província de Logar, e também tomou o Distrito de Char Asiab, localizado na província de Cabul e aproximadamente onze quilômetros ao sul da capital afegã Cabul.

Um funcionário dos Estados Unidos disse à ABC News sob condição de anonimato que as forças dos Estados Unidos começaram a voar para Cabul para "ajudar na evacuação de pessoal da embaixada e outros civis", com o presidente dos Estados Unidos Joe Biden autorizando o envio de mil tropas extras para garantir uma "retirada ordenada e segura" dos Estados Unidos e de outras forças aliadas no Afeganistão. Por AP, Mazar-i-Sharif foi um antigo reduto da Aliança do Norte, que já havia ajudado os Estados Unidos em 2001 para acabar com o governo do Talibã no Afeganistão. Os registros da AP "campos improvisados" estão aparecendo fora de Mazar-i-Sharif, consistindo principalmente de hazaras étnicos fugindo de suas casas.

Salima Mazari, uma governadora distrital feminina de uma cidade de 36 mil habitantes perto de Mazar-i-Sharif, disse que "nas províncias controladas pelo Talibã, não existem mais mulheres lá, nem mesmo nas cidades. Todos eles estão presos em suas casas", com uma ativista dos direitos das mulheres de Herat dizendo à AP que Mujeeb Rahman Ansari foi nomeado como o "ministro dos assuntos femininos" do Talibã na cidade. A ativista, que não quis ser identificada, descreveu Ansari como "fortemente contra os direitos das mulheres".


Afghan employee kills U.S. citizen at Kabul CIA base

A U.S. citizen working for the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan was killed by an Afghan also working there. The incident took place in the CIA Annex of the U.S. Embassy at Ariana Hotel in Kabul. The victim was not named.

A second person injured in the incident was sent to a military hospital. The lone attacker was also killed. A senior Taliban commander stated that the attacker had secretly joined the insurgents after a group of Taliban approached him to remind him "of his moral and religious duty as an Afghan."

U.S. officials have stated that an investigation on the incident has started.


کارمند افغان شهروند آمریکایی را در پایگاه سیا در کابل کشت

یک شهروند آمریکایی که در سفارت ایالات متحده در افغانستان مشغول به کار بود توسط همکار افغانستانی‌اش کشته شد. این حادثه در ساختمان فرعی سیا از سفارتخانه آمریکا در هتل آریانای کابل روی داد. نام قربانی این حادثه فاش نشده‌است.

شخص دیگری که در پی این حادثه مجروح شده بود برای مداوا به یک بیمارستان نظامی منتقل شد. مهاجم افغان نیز در این حادثه کشته شد. یک فرمانده ارشد طالبان اظهار کرده‌است که مهاجم افغان پس آنکه گروهی از طالبان «وظیفه اخلاقی و دینی‌اش به عنوان یک فرد افغان» را به او متذکر شدند به شورشیان پیوسته بود.

مقامات آمریکایی گفته‌اند که تحقیقات در رابطه با این حادثه آغاز شده‌است.


Afghan government claims U.S. air strike killed dozens of civilians

In contrast with previous statements by the United States, Afghanistan officials investigating a Sunday air strike on Nangarhar province now claim that the 47 killed by the air strike were civilians rather than militants as the US stated. The US is facing similar charges over strikes two days earlier in another border area of Afghanistan.

Marwais Yasini, deputy speaker in the country's lower houses of parliament, criticized the fact that the operation was not planned in co-operation with Afghan forces, adding that, "all operations should be conducted in full co-operation with our [Afghan] security forces in the future".

Yasini continued by saying that "these operations widen the gap between the people and the government," and calling for compensation for the victims, who, according to local residents, were attending a wedding party at the time of the attack. Burhanullah Shinwari, head of the Afghan investigation team has stated that the victims "were all civilians and had no links with the Taliban or al-Qaida."

Lieutenant Rumi Nielson-Green, a spokesperson for the International Security Assistance Force, told Agence France-Presse that the military regrets any loss of civilian life and was investigating the incident.

The release of this information regarding Sunday's air strike comes after the release of a United Nations report regarding the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan. It said that seven hundred civilians have been killed this year, with 2/3rds of them by militants and another 1/3rd as a result of military operations.


טענות אפגניות: ארה"ב הרגה עשרות אזרחים במתקפת טילים

בניגוד להצהרות עבר של ארצות הברית, בכירים באפגניסטן חוקרים טענות ולפיהן מתקפת טילים מן האוויר שארעה ביום ראשון בנפת ננגהאר גבתה את חייהם של 47 אזרחים, שלא היו מחבלים כטענת ארצות הברית. ארצות הברית מתמודדת עם האשמות דומות בנוגע למתקפות אחרות שארעו יומיים קודם לכן באזור ספר אחר של אפגניסטן, בסמיכות לגבולות המדינה.

"אף פעם איננו מכוונים את כלי-נשקנו אל עבר אזרחים בלתי-מעורבים. אנו עושים מאמצים כבירים על-מנת להמנע מנפגים אזרחיים", כך מסר סגן רומי נילסון-גרין, דובר מטעם צבא ארצות הברית באפגניסטן.

מארווייס יאסיני, סגן-דובר בבית התחתון של המדינה, מתח ביקורת על העובדה שהמבצע לא תוכנן בשיתוף פעולה עם הכוחות האפגניים, בהוסיפו כי בעתיד "על כל המבצעים להערך בשיתוף פעולה ובתיאום מלאים עם כוחות הביטחון האפגניים."

יאסיני המשיך ואמר כי "פעולות אלה מעצימות את הניכור שבין ההמונים לבין הממשלה," וקרא לארצות הברית לפצות את משפחות הקורבנות, שלדברי מקורות מקומיים, נכחו בחתונה חגיגית בעת שארעה התקיפה. בורהאנאללה שינווארי, ראש צוות החקירה האפגני, הצהיר כי כל הקורבנות "היו אזרחים חסרי כל זיקה לטליבאן או לאל-קאעידה."

"טיל אחד סטה ממסלולו ופגע בחתונה מרובת-משתתפים", הסביר ג'אפור ח'אן, דובר מטעם מפקד המשטרה המקומית.

הפצת המידע ביחס לתקיפות האוויריות שנערכו ביום ראשון באה לאחר פרסום דו"ח של האו"ם העוסק במותם של אזרחים באפגניסטן. בדו"ח נכתב כי כשבע מאות אזרחים מצאו את מותם בנסיבות מיוחדות בשנה זו בלבד, כאשר כשני-שלישים מהם נהרגו על-ידי מחבלים ואילו היתר נהרגו כתוצאה מפעולות צבאיות.


Afghan pilot kills nine Americans

Eight American troops and one contractor were shot and killed by an Afghan National Army Air Force pilot Wednesday. Five Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the attack, for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.

The incident, which began around 10 a.m. Afghan time (0530 UTC), occurred in the operations room of the Afghan Air Force in Kabul International Airport. The shooter, Ahmad Gul Sahebi, was killed by NATO forces.

"Suddenly, in the middle of the meeting, shooting started," said Afghan Air Corps spokesman Colonel Bahader. "After the shooting started, we saw a number of Afghan army officers and soldiers running out of the building. Some were even throwing themselves out of the windows to get away."

The shooter's brother, Hassan Sahebi, said, "My brother was a little depressed recently, but he had served with Afghanistan's national army for 20 years. He loved his country and his people. He was a good man." He also said that his brother was facing financial troubles, but was not connected with the Taliban. A spokesman for the militia group, however, described Ahmad Gul Sahebi as an informant and sleeper agent who began planning the shooting five months ago.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai quickly condemned the attack and offered condolence to the victims and their families. He also said that the police and military would investigate the matter. Wednesday's incident is the seventh this year in which NATO or Afghan forces have been killed by rogue Afghan troops or insurgents dressed as troops.


Afghanischer Luftwaffenpilot tötet im Streit mindestens sechs ISAF-Soldaten

Kabul (Afghanistan), 27.04.2011 – Mindestens sechs Soldaten der Internationalen Sicherheitsunterstützungstruppe für Afghanistan (ISAF) starben am heutigen Mittwoch auf dem militärischen Teil des Kabuler Flughafens durch Schüsse eines afghanischen Luftwaffenpiloten. Bei den Toten handelt es sich offenbar um Ausbilder, deren Nationalität jedoch nicht bekannt gegeben wurde. Laut dem arabischen Nachrichtenportal Al Jazeera handelte es sich bei den Opfern um US-Soldaten. Bundeswehr-Soldaten sollen nicht unter den Toten gewesen sein, erklärte ein Bundeswehrsprecher.

Laut Al Jazeera erklärte General Mohammad Zahir Azimi von der afghanischen Luftwaffe, bei dem Täter habe es sich um einen Piloten gehandelt, der seit 20 Jahren in der afghanischen Luftwaffe diene.

Über die Zahl der bei der Schießerei getöteten Soldaten gibt es unterschiedliche Angaben. N-tv berichtet von bis zu zehn Toten. Al-Jazeera nennt die Zahl von acht Toten.

Vor dem tödlichen Schusswechsel war es nach Angaben des afghanischen Verteidigungsministeriums im Hauptquartier der afghanischen Luftwaffe auf dem Flughafen zu einem Streit zwischen dem afghanischen Soldaten und Ausbildern gekommen. Wie der private Fernsehsender Tolo berichtet, soll auch der afghanische Soldat ums Leben gekommen sein. Unter den Toten soll auch ein ziviler Nato-Mitarbeiter sein.

Ein Taliban-Sprecher übernahm im Namen der Taliban die Verantwortung für den Zwischenfall. Nach seinen Angaben handelte es sich bei dem Afghanen um einen Aufständischen namens Asisullah, berichtet die Frankfurter Rundschau.


Afghan president Karzai widens lead in early voting count

Afghanistan's election commission has said that President Hamid Karzai has augmented his lead over his main rival in the Afghan presidential elections, Abdullah Abdullah.

The chief electroral officer of the Independent Election Commission, Daud Najafi, said that out of 998,484 votes counted so far, Karzai obtained 422,137 and Abdullah 330,751.

The preliminary results, based on 17% of polling stations country-wide, give Karzai 42.3% of the ballot, compared to Abdullah's 33.1%. The gap has increased since Tuesday, when the incumbent only had a two percent advantage over Abdullah.

Karzai needs to take at least fifty percent of the vote in order to avoid a run-off election with Abdullah.

The remainder of the ballots went mainly to Kabul lawmaker Ramazan Bashardost, with 108,156 votes, and a former economist for the World Bank, Ashraf Ghani, who took 27,697.

Final election results are not expected to come in until mid-September.


Afganistan devlet başkanlığı seçiminde ilk sonuçlar açıklandı

25 Ağustos 2009, Salı Güncelleme: 26 Ağustos 2009

Afganistan'da 20 Ağustos 2009 günü yapılan devlet başkanlığı seçiminde, mevcut devlet başkanı Hamid Karzai'nin %40,6 oy aldığı belirtildi. Afganistan seçim komisyonu oyların %10'unun sayıldığı ve Hamid Karzai'nin %40,6 ile önde olduğunu açıkladı. Karzai'nin en büyük rakibi olarak görülen eski Dışişleri Bakanı Abdullah Abdullah'ın ise 38,7 ile Karzai'nin hemen arkasında olduğu belirtildi.

Afganistan seçim komisyonu, 26 Ağustos 2009 günü yaptığı açıklamada oyların %17'sinin sayıldığını, Karzai'nin %44,8 rakibi Abdullah Abdullah'ın ise 35,1 oy aldığını açıkladı.

Kesin sonuçların eylülün ortası ya da sonuna doğru açıklancağı duyuruldu.


Afghan presidential candidate Karzai wins majority of votes

Partial results from Afghanistan's presidential election suggest that Hamid Karzai, the incumbent candidate, has won a majority of votes.

With 91.4% of ballots having been counted, Karzai had 54.1% of votes, well above the 28.3% obtained by Karzai's chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

According to Afghanistan's election rules, a candidate must receive at least fifty percent of the ballot to prevent a run-off election.

Meanwhile, the United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints Commission said on Monday it had found "convincing evidence of fraud", and called for suspected votes to be recounted.

The UN-appointed commission, which consists of five people, has the ability to discount false votes and order a new election to be held. 720 complaints of fraud have been submitted to the committee.

Spokesman Ian Kelly with the US State department said that "it is very important that these elections are seen as legitimate in the eyes of the Afghan people, in the eyes of the international community. And I am not going to prejudge where this whole thing comes out."

"It is not going to be a matter of days or weeks, it could be a matter of months to sort out all of these allegations," he said.


Karzai vence as eleições presidenciais no Afeganistão

Resultados parciais do Comitê Eleitoral do Afeganistão dão como vitorioso o atual presidente do país, Hamid Karzai. Com 91,4% dos votos já contados, Karzai está com 54% dos votos, o que eliminaria a necessidade de um segundo turno, frente ao seu concorrente, Abdullah Abdullah, que tem até o momento 28,3% dos votos.

A oposição e vários observadores estrangeiros questionaram a imparcialidade da Comissão Eleitoral Independente (IEC), responsável por compilar os resultados e anunciar os mesmos. A Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) questionou a lisura do processo, que passará por recontagem. Entretanto, é dado como certo que será confirmado e anunciado Karzai como presidente do Afeganistão.

A Comissão Eleitoral esclareceu que, antes de proceder uma nova apuração nos colégios onde poderia haver fraude, finalizará 100% da apuração provisória.


Karzai seçimi önde götürüyor

20 Ağustos 2009 tarihinde yapılan Afganistan devlet başkanlığı seçiminde, seçim komisyonu sonuçları açıklamaya devam ediyor. Açıklanan son sonuçlara göre mevcut devlet başkanı ve adayı Hamid Karzai %54 ile seçimi açık ara önde götürüyor. Rakibi eski Dışişleri Bakanı Abdullah Abdullah ise %28,3 ile seçimi ikinci sırada götürüyor. Ayrıa oyların %92'sinin sayıldığı belirtildi. Bu sonuçlara göre Hamid Karzai yeniden devlet başkanı seçilmek için gerekli olan %50 oy barajını aşıyor.

Öte yandan Seçim Komisyonu, usulsüzlük yapıldığı gerekçesiyle 600 seçim merkezinden gelen oyları iptal ettiğini açıkladı. Seçim Komisyonuna, Afganistan devlet başkanlığı seçiminde usulsüzlük yapıldığı iddiasıyla 650'den fazla şikayet geldiği belirtildi.


Afghan Taliban occupies Kabul as president Ghani flees the country

On Sunday, the Taliban moved into Kabul, the Afghan capital.  Reports say they have seized the presidential palace.  The move comes as Afghan president Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul, possibly for Tajikistan or Uzbekistan, according to The Independent.

According to the previous report by the BBC, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban had been ordered to enter parts of Kabul for security purposes, as security forces had recently left.  He said, "Our forces are entering Kabul with all caution" and that the militants were told not to hurt the public or enter their homes.

The United States has responded by deploying 5000 soldiers to help remove their embassy staff and the Afghans who assisted them, while around 600 British soldiers have been deployed for similar purposes, the BBC stated.  Other countries are in the process of removing their own citizens from the country.

The US recently retreated from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of occupation.  The US president Joe Biden said, "endless American presence in the middle of another country's civil conflict" could not be justified.  Many Afghan civilians have also recently fled to Kabul to escape growing Taliban control, with the Taliban controlling the majority of the country's territory.  Many residents have fled to the city's airport to leave the country, including some who abandoned their cars in traffic jams and opted to walk instead.