Nya omfattande terroristlagar i Australien

7 december 2005 Australiens federala regering har godkänt nya anti-terroristlagar som är avsedda att motarbeta terrorister som verkar i lander, men som kritiker menar innebär ett allvarligt hot mot medborgarnas frihet. Lagarna skyndades genom senaten i förrgår.

De nya lagarna ger polisen och säkerhetspolisen rätt att hålla misstänkta i isolation under fjorton dagar utan att någon anklagelse riktas mot de misstänkta. Myndigheterna får också rätt att begränsa och kontrollera misstänktas rörelsefrihet, bland annat genom att förse dem med elektroniska fotbojor i upp till tolv månader.

Landets premiärminister John Howard presenterade lagförslaget i samband med bomberna i London i juli 2005. Justitieminister Chris Ellison sa inför senaten att de nya lagarna gav myndigheterna de verktyg de behövde för att bekämpa terrorismen och menade att de inte innebar någon konflikt med internationellt erkända mänskliga rättigheter.

John North vid det australiensiska lagrådet, en av förslaget fränaste kritiker, sa att jurister noga kommer övervaka hur regeringen använder sina nya maktbefogenheter: "Vi vill att regeringen ska vara medveten om att nästan 50 000 jurister följa utveckling i detalj för att försäkra sig om att lagarna inte används på bekostnad av våra medborgerliga rättigheter".

Lagarna innebär också att polisen får mycket större möjlighet att stoppa, visitera och beslagta bevis hos misstänkta. Dessutom medger de fler övervakningskameror på offentliga platser, en revidering av lagar om uppvigling.

Lagarna har starkt stöd från arbetarpartiet som de gröna och det liberala partiet anklagar för att ha sålt ut medborgarnas civilrättsliga skydd. De grönas partiledare Bob Grown dömde ut lagarna. Kritiska röster har även hörts bland många av de som varit motståndare till Australiens engagemang i Irak. Exempelvis journalister som David Marr menar att de nya lagarna är en katastrof för journalistiken eftersom all rapportering om fångar som hålls kan innebära kanske fem till sju års fängelse. Andra betraktar de nya lagarna som ett första steg mot en polisstat eftersom de ger polisen rätt att hålla människor utan att anklaga dem för något.

Kritiska röster har också pekat på att regeringen haft för bråttom när de pressat fram lagarna före jul trots omfattande protester och krav på mer debatter i parlamentet. Både premiärministern och landets försvarsminister Robert Hill tillbakavisar kritiken och menar att de har ett ansvar att skydda medborgarna och att landet faktiskt står inför ett terroristhot.


Australian town to change name to promote road safety

The residents of Speed, a small town in the south-east of Australia, have made the decision to modify the name of the town for one month in an attempt to improve road safety in the country. The name of the town will be adjusted to SpeedKills across next month.

The idea was created by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). A campaign was launched on the social networking website Facebook, saying that if 10,000 'liked' the campaign page, the name of the town — which has a population of 45 — would be changed. 'Rename Speed' has now gone on to achieve over 33,000 likes.

Previously, the government had used various advertising campaigns in an attempt to get motorists to reduce speed. However, these campaigns were in large part unsuccessful. In 2010, Australia experienced a 25% increase in deaths on rural roads . TAC spokesperson Phil Reed has stated that, with this new name change campaign, "[w]e're trying to get people to stay within the speed limits, obey road safety rules" and cause motorists to "realise that when they don't, people die".

One inhabitant of Speed has also made the decision to change his name during March. Phil Down, who grows wheat and raises sheep, has decided to change his name to Phil Slow Down. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Down explained: "It's virtually on the road to somewhere else, so we've taken our quirky name and run with it to bring the attention to the campaign of trying to get people to slow down on country roads and especially through small towns".


Australské město se na měsíc přejmenuje, aby propagovalo silniční bezpečnost

Obyvatelé městečka Speed (tedy „Rychlost“) na jihovýchodě Austrálie se rozhodli pokusit se zvýšit bezpečnost na silnicích tím, že na jeden měsíc své město přejmenují. Dočasným jménem bude SpeedKills, tedy Rychlost zabíjí.

Nápad vzešel od Komise dopravních nehod státu Viktoria a má zároveň udělat malému městu s pětačtyřiceti obyvateli reklamu. Součástí příprav totiž byla kampaň na sociální síti Facebook, která uváděla, že k přejmenování dojde, pokud alespoň deset tisíc lidí návrh podpoří kliknutím. To se už podařilo, neboť že se jim návrh „líbí“ oznámilo v této sociální síti svým přátelům už více než třiatřicet tisíc lidí.

Ze strany vládních úřadů byly v minulosti podniknuty již mnohé osvětové kampaně, jejichž cílem bylo přimět automobilisty snížit rychlost, nebyly ovšem příliš úspěšné. V roce 2010 se v Austrálii zvýšil počet úmrtí na venkovských silnicích o čtvrtinu a mluvčí Komise dopravních nehod Phil Reed nyní uvedl, že novou kampaní založenou na přejmenování města „se [komise] snaží obyvatele přesvědčit, aby nepřekračovali rychlostní omezení a dodržovali pravidla bezpečnosti silničního provozu“ a a přimět motoristy, aby „si uvědomili, že pokud to nedělají, umírají lidé“.

Jeden z obyvatelů města se navíc rozhodl, že se na měsíc přejmenuje. Phil Down (možno přeložit „Filip Sniž“), povoláním pěstitel pšenice a chovatel ovcí, se bude měsíc jmenovat Phil Slow Down, tedy „Filip Sniž Rychlost“.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Australian town to change name to promote road safety na anglických Wikizprávách.


Australian Van Nguyen executed in Singapore

Convicted Australian drug trafficker Van Tuong Nguyen was executed at Changi Prison in Singapore today. Prison officials have confirmed the execution took place at 0900 AEDT (2200 UTC Thursday).

The 25-year-old Nguyen was arrested at Changi Airport in December, 2002, while in transit from Cambodia to Australia. He was found to be in possession of 396.2 grams of heroin. He was convicted in the Singapore High Court and sentenced to death under the Misuse of Drugs Act which mandates a death sentence for trafficking more than 15 grams of heroin.

All appeals for clemency were rejected. Singapore's High Commissioner in Australia, Joseph Koh, said Singapore carefully considered appeals from Australia but decided the law must be applied consistently. "It had to treat Nguyen consistently with similar past cases, and apply the law equally to Singaporeans and foreigners," Mr Koh said.

After saying goodbye to his client, Nguyen's Australian lawyer, Julian McMahon, said Nguyen's execution was a waste. "He is completely rehabilitated, completely reformed, completely focused on doing what is good and now they're going to kill him," he said.

It was previously reported that Nguyen's mother would not be permitted to embrace her son before the execution, however, Mr McMahon has confirmed that they were allowed some physical contact. "Well I actually wasn't in the room when that happened but there was a grill and they were able to hold each other's hands and Kim was able to, at least for some time, I'm not sure how long, was able to touch Van on the face," he said. "She told me she was able to talk to him and touch his hair. That was a great comfort to her."

Prayer vigils were held outside Changi Prison and around Australia to mark the first execution of an Australian since Michael McAuliffe in Malaysia in 1993. Nguyen's body is expected to be returned to Australia on Saturday for a funeral next week.


L'Australien Van Tuong Nguyen a été exécuté à Singapour

Le trafiquant de drogue australien Van Tuong Nguyen a été exécuté aujourd'hui à la prison de Changi (Singapour). Les autorités carcérales ont confirmé que l'exécution a eu lieu à 22h00 UTC (09h00 AEDT).

Nguyen, qui avait 25 ans, avait été arrété à l'aéroport de Changi en décembre 2002, lors de l'escale d'un vol le menant du Cambodge vers l'Australie. Il a été trouvé en possession de 396,2 grammes d'héroïne. Il avait comparu devant la Haute cour de justice de Singapour et comdamné à mort pour le crime de trafic de drogue (peine encourue dès que l'on est trouvé porteur de plus de 15 grammes d'héroïne).

Tous les appels pour l'acquittement ont été rejetés. Le haut commissaire de Singapour en Australie, Joseph Koh, a déclaré que Singapour avait considéré consciencieusement les appels de l'Australie mais avait décidé que la loi devait être appliquée avant tout.


Van Tuong Nguyen avrättades i Singapore

2 december 2005 Den australiensiske medborgare som dömts till döden i Singapore avrättades klockan nio på morgonen lokal tid (21.00 svensk tid). Van Tuong Nguyen blev 25 år.

Nguyen greps på Singapors flygplats 2002 där han mellanlandat på en resa från Kombodja till Australien. han hade 396,2 gram heroin på sig. I Singapore ger innehav av mer än 15 gram dödsstraff och i Singapores högsta domstol dömdes han därför till döden. Alla nådeansökningar har avslagits.

Singapores överkommissarie i Australien1 Jospeh Koh sa i en kommentar att man noga övervägt Australiens vädjanden, men kommit fram till att lagen måste tillämpas konsekvent: "Den måste behandla Nguyen i överensstämmelse med liknande tidigare fall och lagen måste tillämpas på samma sätt på singaporeser och utlänningar".

Nguyens australiensiske advokat Julian McMahon, sa när han tagit farväl av sin klient: "Han är fullständigt rehabiliterad, fullständigt förändrad, fullständigt inställd på att göra gott och nu ska de döda hnom".

Tidigare har uppgifter förekommit att Nguyens mor inte tillåtits krama sin son innan avrättningen. McMahon sa emellertid att de medgivits fysisk kontakt. "Jag var ju inte närvarande i rummet när det hände men det fanns ett galler och de hade möjlighet att hålla varandras händer och Kim kunde, åtminstone under en viss tid, jag vet inte hur länge, röra Vans ansikte. Hon berättade att hon kunde tala med honom och röra hans hår. Det var en stor tröst för henne."

Utanför Changifängelset och runtom i Australien hölls vakor och böner. Nguyens kropp kommer att återföras till Australien och begravas på lördag i nästa vecka.


Australian writer Harry Nicolaides jailed for three years for insulting Thai Royal Family

Melbourne writer Harry Nicolaides, 41, was sentenced on Monday to three years imprisonment for defaming the Royal Family of Thailand. He had pled guilty to the lèse majesté indictment that arose from a self-published 2005 novel, Verisimilitude, of which only 50 copies were printed, and just seven sold.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Thai police charged a leading leftist political science professor, Dr. Giles Ji Ungpakorn, with lèse majesté.

The passage of concern, which comprised only 103 words or 12 lines, referred to a crown prince's love life. This allegedly insulted the lifestyle of H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the only son of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.

The Royal Family of Thailand is the current ruling house of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Head of the House of the King of Thailand. It is protected by law (Lèse majesté) from insult, with the charge carrying a maximum 15-year sentence.

"He has written a book that slandered the king, the crown prince of Thailand and the monarchy," the judge ruled. "He was found guilty under criminal law article 112 and the court has sentenced him to six years, but due to his confession, which is beneficial to the case, the sentence is reduced to three years," the judge explained.

Nicolaides earlier confessed to having slandered 81-year-old King Bhumibol and his son Vajiralongkorn. "I respect the King of Thailand. I was aware there were obscure laws (about the monarchy) but I didn't think they would apply to me," he tearfully said. He was arrested and detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on August 31 as he tried to leave the country on a routine trip. Nicolaides was unaware of an arrest warrant issued on March 17, since he was not officially notified of the preliminary investigation.

Nicolaides had even sent copies of the published book to the Thai Ministry of Culture and Foreign Affairs, the national library and the Bureau of the Royal Household, for approval. In the decision, the Thai judge clarified that Nicolaides had placed the monarchy into disrepute, even obliquely, by his "reckless choice of words". The judgment cited a passage about the novel's fictional prince which caused "dishonour" to the royals and suggested an "abuse of royal power."

The fictional passage in question goes as follows:

Nicolaides, who had worked in Thailand from 2003 to 2005 as a Chiang Rai university lecturer in hospitality and tourism, left the Bangkok court wearing a dark orange prison jumpsuit with his feet shackled. "This is an Alice-in-Wonderland experience. I really believe that I am going to wake up and all of you will be gone. I would like to apologise. This can't be real. It feels like a bad dream," said Nicolaides. He felt "dreadful," adding, "I wish my family the best."

His brother Forde Nicolaides said Harry is not appealing but will request a Thai royal pardon. "We're devastated. You might be able to hear my mother crying in the background. It's quite devastating for us. The whole case has been a massive emotional ordeal that has consumed our entire family. It's beyond belief," Forde was reported as saying.

Nicolaides' family has attributed some blame to the Rudd government for its failure to intervene in the case. Forde criticized Foreign Minister Stephen Smith: "There is a huge expectation gap between what Australian citizens think the Australian government will do when they are in trouble overseas versus what they will do."

Harry's father Socrates Nicolaides, 83, delivered an appeal letter to Mr. Rudd last week. "I said to him, as one father to another father, please Mr. Prime Minister, I plead with you to do your utmost to do everything in your power to get Harry released," Mr. Nicolaides said. His wife Despina Nicolaides, 75, collapsed when she saw the video footage of her son. "He has just written a book," she said amid tears.

Despina Nicolaides said on Wednesday she appealed to King Bhumibol for a royal pardon, but her family has not received any reply from the Thai government. "We don't know when really it will be okay for Harry to be released - they don't say anything," she said. "I'm worrying sick. I hope that they will help us too like they did the Swiss people," she added.

According to Foreign Minister Smith, an Australian consular staff in Bangkok visited Nicolaides 25 times in prison. "We understand the anxiety that is being felt by Mr. Nicolaides and his family, however, he is subject to the legal and judicial processes of Thailand," the Smith's spokesman said. Moreover, Thai laws require a waiting period of 30 days from promulgation of the sentence before Nicolaides becomes eligible to apply for a Thai King's pardon.

Smith mentioned that he had forwarded the Federal Government's letter to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya Monday for the Australian writer's pardon. "I raised Mr. Nicolaides' case with then Thai Foreign Minister Sompong when we met at APEC in November last year," Mr. Smith added.

Independent Senator Nicholas (Nick) Xenophon has called on the Australian Federal Government to exert pressure on Thailand for the early repatriation of Nicolaides who has already served five months in jail. He has been refused bail four times. Xenophon is a South Australian barrister, anti-gambling campaigner and No Pokies, independent in the South Australian Legislative Council.

"The imprisonment has taken a heavy toll on his physical and mental health. He has lost weight, he has been continually unwell for extended periods of time and obviously psychologically he has found the experience of being in prison in Thailand very challenging," his Australian lawyer, Mark Dean SC said. "Once that sentence is passed, if it's not a suspended sentence, then an application will be made for a royal pardon and we're hoping that that will be processed as quickly as possible," he added.

Acting Premier of Victoria, Justin Hulls said he has enquired about whether Victorian Government can provide assistance to Nicolaides. Hulls' legal team applied for a Thai royal pardon. His office has also communicated with lawyers of the case and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RWB, or Reporters Sans Frontières), a Paris-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press, the sentence imposed was "a serious violation of free expression." The group has expressed concern at the use of the Lèse majesté laws to suppress political discussion and dissenting voices.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Thai police filed a lèse majesté case against Dr. Giles Ji Ungpakorn, 55, a  political science professor at Chulalongkorn University and Thailand's leading leftist political analyst. "The government, the prime minister, should order that they (the lese majeste laws) cease being used against people and that a whole review of the law should take place," Giles said.

The accusations against Giles stem from the publishing a 2007 anti-military coup book, 'A Coup for the Rich,' which can be downloaded free on his blog http://www.wdpress.blog.co.uk. The 144-page critique is an academic textbook dealing with the Thailand political crisis 2005-2006, the bloodless coup of September 19, 2006 which overthrew former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Professor Ungpakorn's father Puey Ungpakorn was the Bank of Thailand's governor for 12 years and also a Thammasat University dean, and whose brother Jon Ungpakorn is a former senator.

Giles was duly informed of the charges at the central Pathum Wan Police Station. He was granted 20 days to file a sworn counter-statement to the police, who will then rule on whether to file formal charges in the courts for trial. "Lèse majesté is being used to destroy free speech," said Giles who denied the charges. "The lès majesté laws are there to protect the military and to protect governments that come to power through military action. They're not really about protecting the monarchy," he added.

The Thai people believe that King Bhumibol and the Thai Royal Family are semi-divine. Accordingly, insulting the monarchy is taken extremely seriously in Thailand. Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga earlier vowed to impose tougher regulations to implement the laws. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, however, announced last week that he was trying to "strike the balance between upholding the law and allowing freedom of expression." Pirapan has reported that more than 10,000 websites have similar criminal contents.

The Thai government had already blocked about 4,000 websites, including 2,300 websites recently, for alleged violations of lèse majesté law. As of last week, more than 17 criminal cases of insulting the royal family were still pending. About 400 more websites await a court restraining order, according to Information and Communication (ICT) Minister Ranongruk Suwanchawee.

Lèse majesté cases have been filed against several people, including Chotisak On-soong, Jitra Kotchadej, Darunee Charnchoengsilpakul, Suwicha Thakhor, Sondhi Limthongkul, and social activists like Sulak Sivaraksa who were charged in the 1980s and 1990s. The King, however, has routinely granted pardons to most people jailed for lèse majesté. In March 2007, Swiss national Oliver Jufer was convicted of lèse majesté and sentenced to 10 years for spray-painting on several portraits of the king while drunk in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jufer was pardoned by the king on April 12, 2007.

In March 2008, Police Colonel Watanasak Mungkijakarndee filed a similar case against Jakrapob Penkhair for comments made in a Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCCT) event in August 2007. In 2008 BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head was accused of lèse majesté three times by Colonel Watanasak Mungkijakarndee. In the most recent case Watanasak filed new charges highlighting a conspiracy connecting Jonathan Head to Veera Musikapong at the FCCT.

Canberra Thai Embassy Minister counselor, Saksee Phromyothi, on Wednesday defended the country's harsh lèse majesté, saying that, "under Thailand's constitution, the king was above politics and was prevented from publicly defending himself from personal attacks." Mr. Saksee explained that "99 per cent of foreigners convicted under this law get pardoned and then we deport them."


Por “insulto real” escritor australiano es sentenciado a 3 años de cárcel en Tailandia

20 de enero de 2009Bangkok, Tailandia — El escritor australiano, Harry Nicolaides, quien fuera arrestado en el aeropuerto de Bangkok y mantenido en prisión desde entonces, ha sido condenado a 3 años de prisión por el crimen de “lesa majestad”, el cual es castigado por el código penal tailandés.

El escritor fue acusado de ofender al príncipe de la corona en una novela publicada en el 2005 con el título de “Verosimilitud”.

La siguiente es una traducción del parágrafo que llevó a Nicolaides a la cárcel:

El delito de Nicolaides fue denunciado anónimamente, y su libro Verosimilitud, del que solo se alcanzaron a vender 7 copias, fue retirado del mercado. Fue emitida, en marzo de 2008, una orden de arresto contra el australiano, de la que éste no tenía conocimiento cuando ingresó al país y fue arrestado el 31 de agosto de 2008.

La monarquía tailandesa es una institución antigua, cuyo monarca Bhumibol Adulyadej es considerado un semidiós por los súbditos. Paradójicamente, el silencio del rey ante los eventos políticos que llevaron al golpe de estado contra Thaksin Shinawatra en 2006, y la consecuente inestabilidad política generada han lesionado la imagen de la familia real.

La reacción oficial ha sido, desde entonces, suprimir toda crítica a la monarquía. En este ambiente han tenido lugar la inesperada detención y la sentencia contra Harry Nicolaides.


Por “insulto real” escritor australiano é sentenciado a 3 anos de cárcere na Tailândia

Bangkok, Tailândia • 23 de janeiro de 2009

O escritor australiano Harry Nicolaides, que foi preso no aeroporto de Bangkok e desde então, detido na prisão, foi condenado a 3 anos de prisão pelo crime de "lesa-majestade", que é punível pelo Código Penal tailandês.

O escritor foi acusado de insultar o Príncipe Herdeiro de um romance publicado em 2005 sob o título “Verosimilitude”.

A seguinte é uma tradução do ponto que levou à prisão Nicolaides:

O crime de Nicolaides foi denunciado anonimamente e seu livro Vesosimitude foi retirado do mercado e só vendeu apenas 7 cópias. Em março de 2008 foi emitido um mandado de captura contra Nicolaides, de que ele não sabia quando ele entrou no país e foi preso em 31 de agosto de 2008.

A monarquia tailandesa é uma instituição antiga e o monarca Bhumibol Adulyadej e é considerado um semideus por seus súditos. No entanto, o silêncio do rei ante dos eventos políticos que levaram ao golpe contra Thaksin Shinawatra em 2006 e a consequente instabilidade política gerada havia danificada a imagem gerada da família real.

A reação oficial havia sido desde então a de suprimir toda crítica contra a monarquia e neste ambiente, bem como a detenção e sentencia caso de um escritor australiano.


Austrian man kept daughter prisoner in cellar for 24 years

Police in the Lower Austrian town of Amstetten have arrested a 73 year old man who is alleged to have kept his daughter, now aged 42, locked in the cellar of his house in Amstetten since 29th August 1984.

The man, identified by police as Josef Fritzl, is alleged to have started sexually abusing his daughter, named as Elisabeth Fritzl, when she was eleven years old, and to have subsequently fathered seven children by her. One of the children, one of a set of twins born in 1996, died of neglect shortly after birth and the body was burned by the father. The surviving six children, three boys and three girls, are currently aged between 5 and 20 years old. Three of the children were left on Josef F.'s doorstep and subsequently raised as the adoptive children of Josef F. and his wife, Rosemarie, while the other three children were left with their mother and never saw daylight until she was discovered. Rosemarie F. is said to have been unaware of her husbands' activities.

Police became suspicious when a 19-year-old daughter, Kerstin, was taken to hospital with a mysterious life-threatening illness, and the family's medical records were checked. Police say that Elisabeth F. appeared to be "greatly disturbed" psychologically, and only agreed to talk after the authorities assured her that she would not have to have contact with her father, and that her children would be cared for.

The news has shocked Austria, recalling the case of Natascha Kampusch who was kidnapped aged 10, and escaped after being held in a "dungeon" for eight years in 2006.

DNA tests are to be undertaken to confirm the paternity of the children.


Österreich: Inzestfall von Amstetten weitgehend aufgeklärt

Amstetten (Österreich), 29.04.2008 – Schock und Entsetzen löste die Aufdeckung eines Inzestverbrechens in Österreich aus. Die österreichischen Medien schrieben am Montag, es sei das „schlimmste Verbrechen aller Zeiten“ in Österreich. Unterdessen sind die Ermittlungen der Behörden so weit gediehen, dass sich ein einigermaßen klares Bild des Verbrechens darstellen lässt. Der 73-jährige Josef F. legte inzwischen ein volles Geständnis ab. Danach kann als gesichert gelten, dass er seine damals 18-jährige Tochter seit 1984 in seinem eigenen Haus wie in einem Gefängnis festgehalten und jahrelang sexuell missbraucht hat. Mit ihr hat Josef F. insgesamt sieben Kinder gezeugt. Josef F. hat außerdem gestanden, die Leiche eines Babys verbrannt zu haben, das nach der Geburt wegen schlechter Versorgung gestorben sei. Der Täter soll heute dem Haftrichter vorgeführt werden.

Das jahrezehntelange Doppelleben des 73-jährigen war am letzten Samstag aufgeflogen, weil eines der Kinder, das in dem Kellerverlies lebte, eine 19-jährige Tochter, bewusstlos wurde und daraufhin ins Krankenhaus von Amstetten gebracht wurde, wo sie intensivmedizinisch betreut wird. Die Behörden machten sich daraufhin auf die Suche nach der Mutter, die seit dem 29. August 1984 als spurlos verschwunden galt. Ein Hinweis brachte schließlich den Erfolg der Fahndung. Die Polizei veröffentlichte inzwischen viele Details des so genannten Kellerverlieses, in dem die Tochter des Josef F. sowie ihre durch Vergewaltigung hervorgegangenen Kinder ein geheimes Leben führen mussten; die drei ältesten Kinder/Enkel (19, 18 und 15 Jahre) haben seit ihrer Geburt nie das Sonnenlicht gesehen und hatten auch keine Kontakte zu anderen Menschen. Die drei jüngeren Kinder, vom Vater durch eine Adoption legitimiert, führten äußerlich ein scheinbar normales Leben, sie besuchten die Schule und verbrachten ihre Freizeit mit anderen Kindern.

Die geheime Kellerwohnung, die dem Vater Josef F. als Gefängnis für seine Tochter und die mit ihr gezeugten Kinder diente, bestand aus zwei Schlafräumen, einer Kochecke, einer Dusche, einer Toilette und einem Fernseher. Da die Deckenhöhe nur 1,70 Meter beträgt, konnte ein Erwachsener dort kaum stehen. Der Zugang zu der Kellerwohnung war durch ein Regal in einem Arbeitszimmer verdeckt. Die Ehefrau des jetzt 73-jährigen Josef F. soll angeblich nichts von dem Versteck im Keller ihres Hauses gewusst haben. Auch Nachbarn und Behörden waren allem Anschein nach ahnungslos. Das ist jedenfalls der gegenwärtige Stand der Ermittlungen,.

Die Kinder befinden sich zurzeit in psychologischer Betreuung in einer Nervenklinik. Mit Ausnahme der ältesten Tochter, die im Krankenhaus liegt, geht es den Kindern körperlich gut. Da einige der Kinder nie das Tageslicht gesehen haben und sich sportlich nicht betätigen konnten, ist unklar, welche körperlichen Schäden möglicherweise zurückgeblieben sind. Vermutungen beziehen sich auf Vitamin-D-Mangel, Sehstörungen und andere Symptome der jahrelangen Einzelhaft. Genauere Aussagen werden jedoch erst durch weitere medizinische Untersuchungen möglich sein.

Den verantwortlichen Psychologen und Behörden stellt sich nun die Frage, wie den Kindern nach der ersten Phase intensiver psychologischer und medizinischer Betreuung ein normales Leben ermöglicht und sie in die Gesellschaft integriert werden können. Ein Schutzbedürfnis besteht dabei insbesondere gegenüber einer medialen Verfolgung der Kinder. Zurzeit werden Überlegungen angestellt, die Kinder mit einer neuen Identität auszustatten, so der Bezirksvorsteher von Amstetten, Hans-Heinz Lenze, in der ORF-Nachrichtensendung „Zeit im Bild“.


Une jeune femme a été retrouvée en Autriche après avoir été séquestrée pendant 24 ans par son père

Deux ans après l'affaire Natascha Kampusch, du nom d'une jeune fille retenue pendant huit ans et demi dans le sous-sol d'un pavillon de la banlieue de Vienne entre mars 1998 et août 2006, la police autrichienne a découvert une nouvelle affaire de séquestration dans laquelle une femme a affirmé avoir vécu enfermée dans la cave de la maison familiale à Amstetten depuis le 28 août 1984, retenue par son père qui lui aurait fait sept enfants. L'affaire a éclaté à la suite de l'hospitalisation, à l'hôpital d'Amstetten, d'une jeune fille de 19 ans dans un état grave et de la tentative des médecins à entrer en contact avec la mère, Elisabeth Fritzl.

D'après les déclarations de cette dernière, âgée de 42 ans, son père Josef lui aurait administré un produit anesthésiant puis l'aurait menottée dans une pièce en sous-sol. Elle avait alors été portée disparue et aurait envoyé une lettre à ses parents en demandant qu'on arrête les recherches pour la retrouver. Alors que la police avait, à l'époque, privilégié la thèse d'une secte, la jeune femme aurait été retenue par son père qui aurait, selon elle, « régulièrement abusé d'elle ».

De ces relations incestueuses sont nés sept enfants, tous mis au monde dans le plus grand secret et dont l'un d'eux serait décédé un mois après sa naissance, faute de soins. Les autres enfants, trois filles et trois garçons, sont âgés de 5 à 20 ans dont la moitié avait été légalement adopté par le père d'Elisabeth qui avait fait croire à sa femme et aux autorités, qu'ils avaient été posés devant la porte de leur domicile à quelques années d'intervalle avec une lettre de leur fille leur demandant de les prendre en charge car elle ne pouvait subvenir à leurs besoins. Si ces trois enfants ont pu suivre une scolarité normale, les trois autres vivaient avec leur mère dans la cave aménagée en quatre appartements dotés de sanitaires et d'un téléviseur, ravitaillés par le père.


Mulher diz que foi escrava sexual do pai durante 24 anos

Na Áustria a polícia está investigando o caso de uma mulher que teria sido supostamente mantida captiva no porão da sua casa por seu pai durante aproximadamente 24 anos. A vítima, Elisabeth F., 42 anos, afirma que seu pai, Josef F., 73 anos, a estuprou repetidamente durante anos e que ele é o pai biológico de suas 6 filhas.

O caso veio à tona depois que uma das filhas de Elisabeth, de 19 anos, foi levada ao hospital por seu avô. No hospital a jovem entregou um bilhete em que a mãe pedia socorro. Os médicos conseguiram fazer um teste de DNA e verificaram que o avô era na verdade o pai biológico da garota.

A polícia está a investigar o caso e o acusado, Josef F. está sob custódia.


Austrian police find dozens dead inside lorry

Austrian police today found an estimated 20–50 decomposing corpses in an apparently abandoned lorry.

Roadworkers who spotted the vehicle, which had been there since yesterday at least, alerted police. Responding officers found it full of corpses. The lorry is on the so-called "Eastern Motorway", the A4, close to the Hungarian border. It was on the hard shoulder between Neusiedl and Parndorf, closer to Parndorf.

The victims are thought to have suffocated. Police are seeking the driver. The Krone published an image of a non-articulated food lorry on the hard shoulder, which they report is the vehicle in question. The photo shows a pool of dark liquid on the ground beside the vehicle.

Video from a passing motorist shows at least one helicopter on-scene. The truck, which has pictures of meat on the side, shows branding for Slovakian food firm Hyza. Earlier today the company's website sported an apparent anti-immigration graphic, which has since been removed.

Wikinews got in touch with Hyza. "We are truly sorry about [the] tragedy" they told us in a statement. They said they have checked GPS trackers on their fleet and all their vehicles remain in Slovakia. The statement says the lorry in question was one of 21 Hyza vehicles sold on last year. It was then sold again and exported to Hungary, where it is now registered. Hyza told us the new owners have not changed the branding on the vehicle. According to the Bild newspaper, Agrofert -- the parent company of Hyza -- said in a statement the new owners were required to do so.

Hyza says they will "actively cooperate with Slovak police", and "express [their] sincere condolences to the bereaved families."

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner called it "a dark day" and called for European Union-wide measures to protect immigrant refugees and tackle human traffickers. Neighbouring Hungary is constructing a border fence across its entire frontier with Serbia. Yesterday alone saw a record 3,241 attempts to enter Hungary illegally, according to authorities there.

Conflict in Syria and other parts of the world has led refugees to Europe. Once inside, they can move freely inside the Schengen Area, which covers most of the EU.

Austrian police earlier this week arrested three motorists suspected of people smuggling. One driver is accused of moving 34 people, ten of them children, into Austria from Serbia. The group were left by the roadside near Bruck an der Leitha and reported struggling to breathe in the van.


Zwłoki kilkudziesięciu uchodźców w ciężarówce na terenie Austrii

W ciężarówce na węgierskich tablicach rejestracyjnych zaparkowanej przy autostradzie A4 w pobliżu Parndorf we wschodniej Austrii znaleziono ciała kilkudziesięciu (od 20 do 50) uchodźców pochodzących prawdopodobnie z Syrii. Pojazd stojący od dłuższego czasu na poboczu autostrady wzbudził zainteresowanie robotników drogowych, którzy poinformowali policję.


Austrian teenager mourns captor's suicide

An eighteen year old Austrian girl, who was held captive by a 44 year-old man in the basement of his house for eight years, said that she is mourning his suicide, which he committed after she escaped from him.

Natascha Kampusch, abducted on her way to school eight years ago, had been "part of [her captor's] life." Police and investigators, unable to find a single lead or tip of her whereabouts, had all but given up hope of finding her alive and well until last week, when Natascha fled from her captor, Wolfgang Priklopil, a telecoms technician  after he left her cleaning his car to answer the telephone. Natascha's abductor, Wolfgang Priklopil, committed suicide hours after Natascha's escape by throwing himself in front of a train only minutes after he realized her escape.

After hearing of Priklopil's death, Kampusch wrote "..[Priklopil] was part of my life, that's why in a certain way I'm mourning him". Psychoanalysts believe Kampusch may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological condition in which captives begin to feel empathy, and even affection, for their captors.   Psychoanalysts are well represented in Vienna as Sigmund Freud, the founder of Psychoanalysis was Viennese. After eight years with her captor, Kampusch is spending time receiving care from psychologists at a secret location, away from the media and her parents.  Natasha spoke at first but later became more reticent and reluctant to answer questions.  A psychiatrist feared a "delayed trauma".

Kampusch's parents expressed their frustration on not being allowed to have access to their daughter. Nevertheless, psychiatric staff with the girl have said that Kampusch needs time to re-adjust to life in the outside world. In a letter to her parents, Kampush stated that they would have "...all the time in the world..." once she had become re-accustomed to the outside.  Psychologists claim she may lead a normal future life but probably will require years of psychological therapy.  Ludwig Koch, her father said, "Natascha is very thin, has very, very white skin, and patches on her whole body. I don't want to think where they come from."  She may be suppressing physical or sexual abuse. Early on she had to call her captor "master" or "lord".


Adolescente austríaca lamenta suicídio de seu sequestradror

Uma austríaca de 18 anos, que foi mantida em cativeiro por um homem de 44 anos no porão de sua casa por oito anos, disse que está de luto pelo suicídio dele, que ele cometeu depois que ela escapou dele.

Natascha Kampusch, raptada a caminho da escola há oito anos, tinha feito "parte da vida [de seu sequestrador]". A polícia e os investigadores, incapazes de encontrar uma única pista ou pista de seu paradeiro, tinham praticamente perdido as esperanças de encontrá-la viva e bem até a semana passada, quando Natascha fugiu de seu sequestrador, Wolfgang Priklopil, um técnico de telecomunicações depois que ele deixou sua limpeza seu carro para atender o telefone. O sequestrador de Natascha, Wolfgang Priklopil, cometeu suicídio horas depois da fuga de Natascha, jogando-se na frente de um trem poucos minutos depois de perceber sua fuga. Ao ouvir sobre a morte de Priklopil, Kampusch escreveu "...[Priklopil] fez parte da minha vida, por isso de certa forma estou de luto por ele". Os psicanalistas acreditam que Kampusch pode estar sofrendo da Síndrome de Estocolmo, uma condição psicológica em que os prisioneiros começam a sentir empatia e até mesmo afeto por seus sequestradores. Os psicanalistas estão bem representados em Viena como Sigmund Freud, o fundador da Psicanálise foi vienense. Depois de oito anos com seu raptor, Kampusch passa o tempo recebendo cuidados de psicólogos em um local secreto, longe da mídia e de seus pais. Natasha falou primeiro, mas depois tornou-se mais reservada e relutante em responder às perguntas. Um psiquiatra temia um "trauma tardio".

Os pais de Kampusch expressaram sua frustração por não terem sido autorizados a ter acesso à sua filha. Mesmo assim, a equipe psiquiátrica com a menina disse que Kampusch precisa de tempo para se reajustar à vida no mundo exterior. Em uma carta aos pais, Kampush afirmou que eles teriam "...todo o tempo do mundo..." assim que ela se acostumasse com o exterior. Os psicólogos afirmam que ela pode levar uma vida futura normal, mas provavelmente exigirá anos de terapia psicológica. Ludwig Koch, seu pai, disse: "Natascha é muito magra, tem a pele muito, muito branca e manchas em todo o corpo. Não quero pensar de onde vêm". Ela pode estar suprimindo o abuso físico ou sexual. No início, ela teve que chamar seu captor de "mestre" ou "senhor".


Author of Wikipedia character assassination takes responsibility

Brian Chase, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee, hand-delivered a letter to the offices of John Seigenthaler Sr. in which he admits responsibility for false information he anonymously posted in a Wikipedia article.  Initially a prank played on a friend, the false story claimed that Seigenthaler was a suspect in the assassination of President Kennedy.

The fake biography made rounds in the media after Seigenthaler discovered and denounced it in a USA Today op-ed article titled "A false Wikipedia 'biography'".  A known free speech advocate, Seigenthaler refused to press charges. He recommended that Chase be re-hired for the job he was forced to quit when reporters, following leads from ad-hoc cyber detective Daniel Brandt, 57, of San Antonio, Texas, started calling the offices of his employer.


Gefälschter Eintrag bei Wikipedia sorgt für Wirbel

Saint Petersburg (USA), 15.12.2005 – Eine gezielte Falschinformation in einem Wikipedia-Lexikoneintrag über John Seigenthaler Senior durch den US-Amerikaner Brian Chace aus Nashville (Tennessee) schlug öffentlich hohe Wellen. Das kostenlose Online-Lexikon Wikipedia, ein Schwesterprojekt von Wikinews, geriet daraufhin selbst in die Kritik.

Chase hatte den ehemaligen Zeitungsverleger John Seigenthaler, der ehemals Assistent von Robert Kennedy war, mit den Anschlägen auf die Kennedy-Familie in Verbindung gebracht. Er behauptete, der Verleger der Zeitung „Tennessean“ und Gründungsdirektor von „USA Today“ habe von 1971 bis 1984 in der Sowjetunion gelebt und sei in den Anschlag verwickelt gewesen. Die Biographie von Seigenthaler wurde somit bewusst gefälscht. Diese Falschinformation stand 132 Tage unentdeckt in einem Wikipedia-Artikel.

Der Verleger schrieb daraufhin einen Artikel in der Zeitung „USA Today“, wo er sich kritisch über die Glaubwürdigkeit von Wikipedia äußerte.

Nachdem Brian Chase durch Zurückverfolgen seiner IP-Adresse identifiziert wurde, entschuldigte er sich in einem persönlichen Brief beim Verleger und legte seine Arbeit als Betriebsmanager einer Speditionsfirma nieder. Er wollte den Eintrag als Scherz verstanden wissen, um damit einen Arbeitskollegen zu schockieren, der mit den Seigenthalers gut bekannt sei. Seigenthaler nahm die Entschuldigung von Chase an und verzichtete seinerseits auf das Beschreiten des Klageweges.

Der Vorgang löste ein vielfältiges Medienecho aus. In den USA reagierten unter anderem „CNN“ und die „New York Times“. Exemplarisch für die deutsche Presselandschaft macht ein Artikel aus der „Zeit“ deutlich, wie der Fall aufgegriffen wurde. Bezüglich der Qualität in Wikipedia-Artikeln lässt die Wochenzeitung „Die Zeit“, selbst Herausgeberin eines kommerziellen Lexikons, kein gutes Haar an Wikipedia. Sie übt harsche Kritik an der Qualität der Wikipedia-Lexikon-Artikel und schreibt, „der große Knall“ sei „überfällig“ gewesen. Sie zitiert die „Süddeutsche“ mit dem Verdikt, Wikipedia sei ein „Brockhaus des Halbwissens“. Kritisiert werden auch Journalistenkollegen, die Wikipedia als „bequeme und kostenlose Informationsquelle“ unkritisch nutzen würden. „Die Zeit“ legt den Finger in die Wunde und bezieht sich dabei vor allem auf das Qualitätsmanagement von Wikipedia. Der Fall zeige die Grenzen von Wikipedia auf: „Offensichtliche Fehler oder systematischer Vandalismus werden von den freiwilligen Helfern in der Regel schnell entdeckt und beseitigt, bei komplizierten Sachverhalten dauert es jedoch wesentlich länger – falls die Fehler überhaupt auffallen.“ Angaben zu Quellen, sofern diese überhaupt vorhanden seien, müssten sich die kritischen Leser mühsam aus der Versionsgeschichte, dem Artikeltext oder der Diskussion zum Artikel heraussuchen.

Wikipedia hat inzwischen auch auf diese Kritik reagiert. Die vorher schon lange diskutierte Möglichkeit, die Mitarbeit von anonymen Nutzern zu beschränken, wurde in der englischen Ausgabe umgesetzt. Als zeitweises Experiment ist es unangemeldeten Benutzern nicht mehr möglich neue Artikel anzulegen. Der Lexikonartikel von Seigenthaler wurde von Falschaussagen befreit und für weitere Bearbeitungen gesperrt. In einem Interview bezeichnete Jimmy Wales, geistiger Vater und Gründer von Wikimedia, diese Einschränkungen jedoch nicht als grundsätzliche Infragestellung des Wikiprinzips (der Möglichkeit für jeden Nutzer, an der Entwicklung von Artikeln und Seiten in Wikipedia mitzuarbeiten). Den Einfluss der Diskussion um den Fall Seigenthaler auf den Erfolg von Wikipedia schätzte Wales ebenfalls als gering ein.


El autor de la calumnia al asesor de los Kennedy en la Wikipedia admite su responsabilidad

Brian Chase, de 38 años y de Nashville, Tennessee, envió una carta a las oficinas de John Seigenthaler Sr. en la que admite la responsabilidad por una falsa información que puso anónimamente en un artículo de la Wikipedia. La falsa historia, que al comienzo era una broma para un amigo, afirmaba que Seigenthaler fue uno de los sospechosos del asesinato del presidente de los Estados Unidos John F. Kennedy.

La falsa biografía llamó la atención de los medios cuando Seigenthaler la descubrió y la denunció en una columna de opinión del diario USA Today titulada "A false Wikipedia 'biography'" ("Una falsa 'biografía' de Wikipedia"). Seigenthaler, conocido por respaldar la libertad de expresión, rehusó presentar cargos y recomendó además que Chase sea reintegrado al empleo al que fue obligado a renunciar cuando los periodistas, siguiendo pistas del ciberdetective ad-hoc Daniel Brandt, de 57 años y de San Antonio, Texas, comenzó a llamar a la oficina de su empleador.


Authorities at Jakarta Airport, Indonesia seize 687 endangered pig-nosed turtles

Authorities announced yesterday that last month approximately 687 endangered pig-nosed turtles were seized at the Sorkarno-Hatta International Airport in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta. The turtles were reportedly destined for the city of Hong Kong, China.

Teguh Samudro the head of BKIMP, the Indonesian quarantine said yesterday: "The packages were broken when they arrived at the airport, so we could tell what was inside"; "We don't know where they were being sent as the address on the package does not exist". He noted the turtles are to be returned shortly to their native Papua habitat.

He went on to say that, "Violators of the 1992 law on animal, fish and plant quarantines or the 1990 law on biodiversity and ecosystem conservation face up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rp 150 million (US$15,400)." The person who sent the endangered turtles has not yet been identified.

The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora aims to ensure that international trade of animals and plants a risk of extinction are restricted, the pig-nosed turtle species are listed. They are at risk of extinction after having been smuggled for many years and the The Jakarta Post reports that 15 centimeter long adult pig-nosed turtles can get up to US$2,000 on the black market.


Индонезия: 687 исчезающих черепах на грузовом самолёте на несуществующий адрес

1 апреля 2013 года власти Индонезии конфисковали 687 двухкоготных черепах с грузового самолёта в столичном аэропорту. На посылке был указан несуществующий адрес. Черепах собираются вернуть в их место обитания — Новую Гвинею.

Черепахам, которым не было и месяца, пришлось перенести полёт из восточной провинции Индонезии (с острова Новая Гвинея) в международный аэропорт Сукарно Хатта 15 марта 2013 года. По прибытию служащие увидели содержимое повреждённой упаковки. Она была записана как ручная кладь, но определить отправителя не удалось. Причины двухнедельной задержки также неизвестны.

Сотрудники предположили, что посылка могла быть неудачной попыткой контрабанды в Гонконг. По законам Индонезии, такое преступление влечёт за собой до трёх лет заключения и штраф в размере до 15,4 тыс. долларов США.

Министерство морских дел и рыболовства сообщило, что черепах передадут на лечение в Центр природных ресурсов в столице и затем отпустят в Новой Гвинее.

Отличительным признаком вида является розовый мясистый сопло-образный нос. Конвенция о международной торговле видами дикой фауны и флоры, находящимися под угрозой уничтожения классифицирует вид как исчезающий. Он также причислен к так называемым «живым ископаемым» — видам, относящимся к крупным таксонам, почти полностью вымершим десятки или сотни миллионов лет назад.

2 апреля 2013 года


Authorities in Belgium raid Church of Scientology

According to reports, authorities in Belgium have seized documents, financial records and computer equipment from the local branch of the Church of Scientology (Church) and then sealed off the building.

The reports state that the Church in Belgium is being investigated for extortion and fraud for allegedly posting false job openings in newspapers and then attempting to get those who applied to join the Church. Several ex-members of the Church have also reportedly approached authorities with accusations of intimidation and extortion.

Police in Belgium have been investigating the Church for nearly ten years which resulted in the raid on Thursday.

In a statement to the press, the Church says that the police "violated their fundamental rights" as a religious organization and accused the police of "malicious justice operations." The Church plans to contest any charges filed against it. They also state that the postings were requests for volunteers and not employees.

So far no arrests have been made, but some employees of the Church were detained and questioned by police.

The building remains closed as of publication.


Coup de filet contre la scientologie en Belgique

Selon des témoins, les autorités belges ont saisi des documents, des rapports financiers et des ordinateurs au siège bruxellois de l'Église de scientologie, avant de placer le bâtiment sous scellés.

L'Église fait l'objet en Belgique d'une enquête pour extorsion de fonds et pour fraudes. La scientologie est accusée d'avoir publié de fausses offres d'emploi dans les journaux pour ensuite inciter les candidats à adhérer à l'organisation. Plusieurs anciens membres de l'Église ont également signalé des intimidations et des extorsions. La police belge a enquêté pendant près de dix ans, avant de lancer ce coup de filet.

Dans une déclaration à la presse, l'Église de scientologie indique que la police « a violé ses droits fondamentaux » en tant qu'organisation religieuse et fustige la « mauvaise foi » de la justice belge. L'organisation conteste toutes les accusations dirigées contre elle et affirme que les offres faisaient appel à des volontaires et non à des salariés.

Jusqu'à présent, aucune personne n'a été arrêtée, mais certains employés de l'Église ont été interrogés par la police. Le siège de la scientologie demeurera fermé jusqu'à nouvel ordre.


Bali Nine ringleaders sentenced to death

The ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine were today sentenced to death by a Denpasar court. Andrew Chan received the news via translators at about 3:45 p.m. AEDT, and Myuran Sukumaran was sentenced at about 4:50 p.m. AEDT. The two were charged with attempting to smuggle 8.3 kg of heroin from Bali to Australia.

The Australian Federal Police have been criticised for allowing the Bali Nine to travel to Indonesia, where it was known they could face the death penalty. Yesterday two other drug mules, Renae Lawrence and Scott Rush, were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Prosecutors asked for the death penalty for both men. Chan was alleged to be the mastermind of the operation, and Myuran was alleged to be an enforcer. Chan, who claimed to have rediscovered his Christian faith, prayed for divine intervention prior to the sentence being handed down. Outside the court Indonesian protesters shouted "Death! Death!". Chan fell over after jostling with a media scrum,  and Sukumaran threw a bottle of water at the media.

Donald Rothwell, a Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney, has said that, unlike countries such as Singapore, it may not be long before the two are executed.

"The Indonesian judicial system is one in which death sentences are often carried out very quickly," he said.

"So unlike the situation of Van Nguyen in Singapore, where an appeal process and a clemency process played out over quite some time, this may not be the situation in Bali."

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer told parliament today that he had made a direct request to the Indonesian government that the death penalty not be imposed. "On the 18th of December last year, I wrote to the Indonesian Attorney-General reminding him that the Australian Government was opposed to the death sentence and we didn't want to see, in the context of the Bali nine, any of the Australians sentenced to death," he said.

In Bali the death sentence is carried out by firing squad.

All verdicts are consistent with the recommendations of the Indonesian prosecutors, except for Renae Lawrence. In her case prosecutors requested 20 years imprisonment.


Australiska knarksmugglare dömda till döden i Indonesien

Bali –
Ledarna för det gäng på nio personer, kallade "Bali Nine", som försökt smuggla 8,3 kilo heroin från Bali till Australien dömdes idag till döden i en domstol i Denpasar. Andrew Chan fick beskedet via en tolk vid fyratiden lokal tid och Myuran Sukumaran dömdes en timme senare.

I Australien har den federala polisen kritiserats för att ha tillåtit Bali Nine att resa till Indonesien när risken var känd att de skulle dömmas till döden. Igår dömdes två andra knarksmugglare, Renae Lawrence och Scott Rush, till livstids fängelse.

Åklagaren krävde dödstraff för båda ligaledarna — Chan, som ska ha planerat brottet, och Myuran, som genomfört det. Chan har sagt att han återfunnit sin kristna tro och bad för ett gudomligt ingripande innan han fick domen i sin hand. Utanför domstolen demonstrerade indonesier och skanderade "Döden! Döden!".

I trängseln bland de journalister föll Chan och Sukurmaran kastade en vattenflaska efter journalisterna.

Donald Rothwell, professor i internationell lag vid universitet i Sydney, sa att till skillnad från många andra länder som Signapore kommer det förmodligen inte att dröja särskilt länge innan de två avrättas.

"I det indonesiska rättssystemet verkställs en dödsdom ofta väldigt snabbt", sa Rothwell, "Till skillnad från situationen för Van Nguyen i Signapore där överklagande och nådeansökningar gjorde att verkställandet drog ut på tiden, kommer detta nog inte att ske på Bali".

Australiens utrikesminister Alexander Downer sa inför parlamentet att han begärt hos den indonesiska regeringen att dödsdomen inte ska verkställas. "Den 18 decemeber förra året skrev jag till den indonesiske justitiekanslern och påminde honom att den australiensiska regeringen var emot dödsstraff och att vi inte, i fallet med Bali Nine, ville se australiensiska medborgare dömda till döden", sa Downer.

Om Bali Nine avrättas kommer de att arkebuseras.


Baseball game suspended after three injured in shooting outside Washington Nationals–San Diego Padres game

Three people were shot outside Nationals Park in the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. during a baseball game Saturday night between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres at the bottom of the game's sixth inning.  The game was suspended until the next day.

The District of Colombia's (D.C.) Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the shooting happened outside the ballpark's third base gate on South Capitol Street, telling the The Washington Post that one woman was shot and two others took themselves to the hospital.  All three have non-life-threatening injuries.  On Twitter, The Washington Post's Sam Fortier wrote "[s]tadium employees are saying this appeared to be a drive-by shooting."

D.C. police said gunfire was shot from one vehicle to another.  Early reports by the police said four people were injured by gunfire, but this was later revised to three.

A joint statement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner said, "While MPD's investigation is ongoing, it appears the incident involved a dispute between individuals in two vehicles.  MPD does not believe the Washington Nationals, the ballpark or fans were the target".

Gunshots were reportedly audible within the stadium which led many to disperse, with players exiting the field right after and some spectators fleeing the stadium through the park's gates.  Padres players Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Manny Machado opened the gate to the field allowing parkgoers into the dugout, the The Washington Post's Andrew Golden said on Twitter.  Both Tatis and Machado along with Padres players Wil Myers and Jurickson Profar helped pull family members and spectators into the dugout's safety.

Spectators were first told to remain within the stadium, but was later being encouraged to leave through the outfield.  The park was emptied out by 10:05 P.M. ET (0205 UTC).

In a statement, the Washington Nationals team said, "During the incident last night outside of the ballpark, you handled yourselves in a very admirable manner.  You stayed calm.  You helped one another.  We have always known that we have the best fans in baseball.  Last night, you showed it. Davey Martinez said it best—our fans are our family.  Thank you."

At the game's suspension, the Padres were leading eight points to four.  The suspended game resumed yesterday at 1:08 P.M. EST (1708 UTC), where the Padres beat the Nationals 10–4, gaining two additional runs after Saturday's postponement.  The Nationals rallied and won the game already scheduled for that day against the Padres 8–7, which ended a six-game streak of losses for the Washington team.


Jogo de beisebol entre Washington Nationals e San Diego Padres suspenso após tiroteio

Três pessoas foram baleadas fora do Nationals Park na capital estadunidense de Washington durante um jogo de beisebol no fim-de-semana entre Washington Nationals e San Diego Padres. O jogo foi suspenso até o dia seguinte.

O Departamento de Polícia Metropolitana (MPD) do Distrito de Colômbia (D.C.) disse que o tiroteio aconteceu no terceiro portão do estádio, na Rua Sul do Capitólio. Ao The Washington Post confirmaram que uma mulher foi baleada e duas outras levadas ao hospital. Todos os três têm ferimentos sem risco de vida. No Twitter, Sam Fortier do The Washington Post escreveu "funcionários estão dizendo que parecia ser um tiroteio".

A polícia de D.C. disse que tiros foram disparados de um veículo para outro. Os primeiros relatórios da polícia diziam que quatro pessoas ficaram feridas por tiros, mas isso foi posteriormente revisado para três.

Uma declaração conjunta do prefeito de D.C. Muriel Bowser e do proprietário do Nationals Mark D. Lerner afirma: "Enquanto a investigação do MPD está em andamento, parece que o incidente envolveu uma disputa entre indivíduos em dois veículos. O MPD não acredita que o Washington Nationals, o estádio ou os fãs foram o alvo".

Tiros foram supostamente audíveis dentro do estádio, o que levou muitos a se dispersarem, com jogadores saindo do campo logo em seguida e alguns espectadores fugindo do estádio. Os jogadores do Padres, Fernando Tatis e Manny Machado, abriram o portão permitindo que pessoas entrassem no banco de reservas, disse Andrew Golden no Twitter. Tanto Tatis quanto Machado, juntamente com Wil Myers e Jurickson Profar ajudaram a puxar membros da família e espectadores para a segurança do abrigo.

Os espectadores foram primeiro instruídos a permanecer dentro do estádio, mas mais tarde foram encorajados a sair. O parque foi esvaziado às 22h05 EST (02h05 UTC).

Em um comunicado, a equipe do Washington Nationals disse: "Durante o incidente de ontem à noite fora do estádio, vocês se comportaram de maneira admirável. Vocês ficaram calmos. Vocês ajudaram um ao outro. Sempre soubemos que temos os melhores fãs no beisebol. Ontem à noite, você mostrou. Davey Martinez disse o melhor — nossos fãs são nossa família. Obrigado."

Com a suspensão do jogo, os Padres venciam oito pontos a quatro. O jogo suspenso foi retomado domingo às 13h08 EST (17h08 UTC), onde os Padres venceram os Nacionals por 10–4.


BBC Director-General Entwistle resigns

Director-General of the BBC George Entwistle resigned yesterday. Mr Entwistle earlier in the day said he would stay on as Director-General but yesterday evening he said he was doing the "honourable thing" by stepping down.

Earlier this week, flagship BBC investigative programme Newsnight was embroiled in controversy as it was revealed the programme had wrongly implied former Conservative chairman Lord McAlpine had been involved in child abuse at a children's home in Wales. Steve Messham said the man he had identified as abusing him in the 1970s  at Bryn Estyn children's home was not Lord McAlpine.

Although Newsnight did not name Lord McAlpine by name, the programme did allege a former Conservative figure had been involved in child abuse. Allegations then surfaced on the Internet about Lord McAlpine.

Mr Entwistle said earlier yesterday that the film should not have been broadcast. In the evening, Mr Entwistle, who started his post on September 17, said in a statement outside Broadcasting House, "In the light of the fact that the director general is also the editor in chief and ultimately responsible for all content, and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2 November, I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down from the post of director general."

He added that "the wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader".  He said it had been a "great honour" to lead the BBC.

He continued: "While there is understandable public concern over a number of issues well covered in the media — which I'm confident will be addressed by the review process — we must not lose sight of the fact that the BBC is full of people of the greatest talent and the highest integrity."

Chairman of the BBC Trust Lord Patten said: "This is undoubtedly one of the saddest evenings of my public life. ... At the heart of the BBC is its role as a trusted global news organisation."

The BBC announced BBC Worldwide chief executive Tim Davie would become acting Director-General.


Generální ředitel BBC George Entwistle odstoupil z funkce

Britská společnost BBC je ode dneška bez řádného generálního ředitele. Padesátiletý George Edward Entwistle ve své funkci skončil po pouhých 54 dnech kvůli nepravdivému obvinění konzervativního politika ze zneužívání dětí, které v rámci pořadu Newsnight BBC odvysílala 2. listopadu.

V pořadu nebyl jmenován konkrétní politik, nicméně na jeho základě se na Internetu objevily zprávy jmenující coby provinilce Roberta Alistaira McAlpina, bývalého místopředsedu konzervativců a poradce premiérky Margaret Thatcherové. BBC následně odvysílala omluvu, ve které přiznala, že jedna z obětí, Steve Messham, skutečně mylně označila McAlpina za onoho muže, který ji v sedmdesátých o osmdesátých letech zneužíval.

Entwistle již v průběhu minulého týdne uznal, že odvysílání pořadu byla chyba, ale až v sobotu se přihlásil k plné zodpovědnosti. V rámci oznámení rezignace uvedl „Ve světle toho, že generální ředitel je také šéfredaktorem a nese poslední odpovědnost za veškerý odvysílaný obsah, a ve světle nepřijatelných novinářských standardů pořadu Newsnight vysílaného v pátek 2. listopadu jsem se rozhodl, že čestným postupem pro tuto chvíli je odstoupit z funkce generálního ředitele.“ Také podotkl, že pro něj bylo velkou ctí vést BBC.

Novým ředitelem by se dle oznámení měl stát Tim Davie.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy BBC Director-General Entwistle resigns na anglických Wikizprávách.


BBC-Generaldirektor Entwistle tritt zurück

London (Vereinigtes Königreich), 12.11.2012 – Der Generaldirektor der British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) ist zurückgetreten. George Entwistle hatte zuvor noch seine Absicht geäußert, auf dem Posten zu bleiben, doch am Samstagabend sagte Entwistle, sein Rücktritt sei eine „ehrenwerte Sache“.

Entwistle übernahm so die Verantwortung für eine Reportage, die Anfang November im Rahmen der investigativen Magazinsendung „Newsnight“ ausgestrahlt worden war. Darin wurde fälschlich der Eindruck erweckt, dass der frühere Vorsitzende der britischen Konservativen Partei, Lord McAlpine, in den Kindesmissbrauch in einem Kinderheim in Wales involviert sei. Einer der Betroffenen sagte, der von ihm identifizierte Mann, der ihn in den 1970er Jahren in dem Kinderheim in Bryn Estyn missbrauchte, sei nicht Lord McAlpine gewesen.

Zwar nannte Newsnight Lord McAlpine nicht mit seinem Namen, doch wurde in der Reportage davon gesprochen, dass eine früher prominente Figur der Konservativen Partei in Kindesmissbrauch verwickelt sei. Im Internet verbreiteten sich daraufhin Gerüchte, es handle sich dabei um Lord McAlpine.

Entwistle, der erst am 17. September sein Amt angetreten hatte, sagte, dass die Reportage so nicht hätte ausgestrahlt werden sollen. Am Abend, als er seinen Rücktritt vor dem Rundfunkgebäude bekannt gab, erklärte er: „Hinsichtlich der Tatsache, dass der Generaldirektor auch der Chefredakteur und letztlich für den gesamten Inhalt verantwortlich ist, und hinsichtlich des inakzeptablen journalistischen Standards des ‚Newsnight‘-Filmes, der am Freitag, dem 2. November ausgestrahlt wurde, habe ich entschieden, dass es eine ehrenvolle Sache ist, vom Posten des Generaldirektors zurückzutreten.“

Er fügte hinzu, dass „die ganzen außergewöhnlichen Umstände der vergangenen paar Wochen mich zu dem Schluss gebracht haben, dass die BBC einen neuen Direktor ernennen sollte“. Er bezeichnete es als „große Ehre“, dass er die BBC hatte führen dürfen. „Obwohl es in der Öffentlichkeit verständlicherweise Bedenken zu einer Reihe von Punkten gibt – die, worüber ich zuversichtlich bin, durch die Überprüfungen geregelt werden – dürfen wir nicht die Tatsache aus dem Blick verlieren, dass es in der BBC jede Menge Leute mit großem Talent und von höchster Integrität gibt.“

Die BBC gab derweil bekannt, dass der Exekutivdirektor von BBC Worldwide bis auf Weiteres geschäftsführender Generaldirektor werde.


Belarussian opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya holds major rally in Minsk

On Thursday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition candidate for the Belarusian presidential election to be held on August 9, held a rally in Minsk, Belarus.  The rally was visited by several tens of thousands of people, and was reportedly one of the biggest political events in Belarus in a decade.

According to reports from the ministry of internal affairs of Belarus on Friday, and Vyasna, an independent Belarusian human rights center, on Thursday, around 18,250 to 63,000 visitors attended the rally.  A main issue discussed was the liberation of political prisoners arrested during the campaign.

The rally started around 18:00 local time (1500 UTC). During the first two hours, friends and relatives of political prisoners spoke.  Belarusian musicians made performances between their speeches.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived at at about 20:00. She spoke about her husband Siarhei, who was arrested in May, and promised to conduct new completely fair elections and hold a constitutional referendum to cancel all amendments issued by the current president, Alexander Lukashenko, since 1995.  She asked for support, specially asking voters to vote at the polls, not before election day.  Maria Kalesnikava spoke, who headed the campaign of Viktar Babaryka, who was arrested and banned from the election; and Veranika Tsapkala, wife of Valery Tsapkala, a potential presidential candidate who fled the country.

Within roughly a day before the event, Belarusian KGB arrested 33 Russian individuals, claiming them to be mercenaries, who allegedly were preparing to organize "terrorism" in association with the election.  The government strengthened security measures during the rally.


В Минске прошёл многотысячный митинг кандидата в президенты Республики Беларусь Светланы Тихановской

30 июля 2020 года в Минске прошёл митинг кандидата в президенты Республики Беларусь Светланы Тихановской.

Несмотря на то, что мероприятие проходило в четверг вдали от центра города — в парке Дружбы народов на площади Бангалор, на митинг пришли десятки тысяч человек. По оценкам правозащитников, только через пункты досмотра прошли 63 тысячи человек, ещё несколько тысяч человек остались за ограждениями по периметру основной площадки.

Акция началась в 18:00. В первые два часа выступали друзья и родственники людей, задержанных в мае-июле по политическим мотивам — Виктора и Эдуарда Бабарико, Николая Статкевича, Дмитрия Фурманова, Павла Северинца. Выступили также драматург Андрей Курейчик и белорусские музыканты.

В 19:55 на митинг прибыла Светлана Тихановская, которую сопровождали члены её объединённого предвыборного штаба Мария Колесникова и Вероника Цепкало. Тихановская, Колесникова и Цепкало выступили на митинге, призывая в первую очередь к освобождению политзаключённых и честным выборам.

Большинство флагов на митинге были бело-красно-белыми (флаг Белорусской Народной Республики в 1918 году и государственный флаг Республики Беларусь в 1991—1995 годах), значительно меньше было современных флагов республики, флагов оппозиционных партий, флагов Евросоюза. Люди приходили с плакатами в поддержку политзаключённых и солидарности с протестами в Хабаровске.

За день до митинга было объявлено о задержании 32 российских граждан (по официальной точке зрения, прибывших с целью организации массовых беспорядков), из-за чего на митинге были усилены меры безопасности: основная площадка была ограждена и оцеплена органами внутренних дел, пропуск внутрь был организован только через пропускные пункты с досмотром личных вещей на предмет наличия запрещённых предметов. Из-за того, что ограничения были объявлены за несколько часов до митинга, немало людей были вынуждены остаться за пределами ограждённой зоны.

31 июля 2020 года


白俄羅斯反對派總統候選人在明斯克舉行大型集會

週四，將於8月9日舉行的白俄羅斯總統選舉的反對派候選人斯瓦特蘭娜·齊哈諾夫斯卡婭在白俄羅斯明斯克舉行集會。今次集會有數萬人參加，據說是白俄羅斯十年來最大的政治活動之一。

據白俄羅斯內務部週五的報告白俄羅斯獨立人權中心和Vyasna週四的報告，約有18,250至63,000人參加了集會。討論的一個主要問題是釋放在運動中被捕的政治犯。

集會大約在當地時間18:00開始。在頭兩個小時裏，政治犯的朋友和親屬作了發言。白俄羅斯音樂家在發言之間進行了表演。

齊哈諾夫斯卡婭於20時左右抵達。她談到了5月被捕的丈夫謝爾蓋·季哈諾夫斯基，並承諾舉行新的完全公平的選舉，舉行憲法公投，取消現任總統盧卡申科自1995年以來發佈的所有修正案。她請求支持，特別要求選民在投票站投票，而不是在選舉日之前投票。瑪麗亞·卡列斯尼卡瓦（Maria Kalesnikava）發言，她是被逮捕並被禁止參加選舉的維克塔·巴巴里卡（Viktar Babaryka）的競選活動負責人；瓦萊里·薩卡巴拉（Valery Tsapkala）的妻子維拉妮卡·薩卡巴拉（Veranika Tsapkala）是潛在的總統候選人，她已逃離該國。

在活動前大約一天內，白俄羅斯克格勃逮捕了33名俄羅斯人，聲稱他們是僱傭兵，據稱他們準備組織與選舉有關的「恐怖主義」。政府在集會期間加強了保安措施。

【2020年8月5日讯】


Belgian justice prosecutes Scientology

The federal prosecution in Belgium has finished an investigation into the activities of the Scientology Church in the country, and is planning to file a lawsuit against the Belgian and European sections of the religious movement, and 14 individual members.

The inquiry began in 1999 after some former members accused Scientology of swindling. Now, the prosecutor has finished the inquiry. The accounts against Scientology and some of its members include blackmailing, swindling of its members, breaking trade and privacy laws, unlawfully practicing medicine, and forming a criminal organisation.

If it comes to a trial, it would be the first time the movement is prosecuted on this scale. In some countries  Scientology is recognised as an official religion, and Scientology has celebrities such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta as followers.

Members follow expensive trainings for their spiritual development, but some accuse Scientology of manipulation and brainwashing. The Church has come under controversy before with a wide variety of accusations, including a variety of criminal charges such as in 1978 when prominent members were caught engaging in wiretapping, and stealing documents from United States Internal Revenue Service. Yesterday, the European bureau could not give a reaction to the Belgian press. In the past however, the movement has repeatedly denied allegations against it.


La justicia belga procesa la cienciología

4 de septiembre de 2007Bruselas, Bélgica —

El proceso federal en Bélgica ha finalizado la investigación sobre las activididades de la Iglesia de la Cienciología en el país, y planea presentar un juicio contra las secciones belgas y europeas del movimiento religioso, y asimismo a 14 miembros individuales.

La investigación comenzó en 1999 cuando algunos ex miembros acusaron a la cienciología de estafar. Ahora, el acusador ha terminado la investigación. Los cargos contra la cienciología y algunos de sus miembros incluyen chantaje, estafa de sus miembros, violación de leyes de comercio y privacidad, práctica ilegal de medicina y formar una organización criminal.

Si el asunto llega a juicio, sería la primera vez que el movimiento es procesado a esta escala. En algunos países como Estados Unidos, la cienciología es reconocida como una religión oficial, estando entre sus seguidores varias celebridades como Tom Cruise y John Travolta.

Los miembros siguen entrenamientos costosos para su desarrollo espiritual, pero algunos acusan a la cienciología por manipular y lavar cerebros.

Sin embargo, el movimiento ha negado repetidamente estas alegaciones contra ellos en el pasado.


La Justice belge va poursuivre la Scientologie

Le ministère public de Belgique a terminé une enquête sur les activités de la Scientologie dans le pays, et planifie de donner une suite judiciaire contre les sections belge et européenne du mouvement qui se qualifie de religieux, ainsi que contre 14 personnes individuelles.

L'enquête a commencé en 1999 quand d'anciens membres ont accusé la Scientologie d'escroquerie. Le procureur a maintenant fini son enquête. Les charges contre la Scientologie et certains de ses membres comprennent lettres de menace, escroquerie de ses membres, infractions aux lois sur le commerce et la vie privée, exercice illégal de la médecine, et constitution d'organisation criminelle.

Si les suites vont jusqu'au procès, ce sera la première fois que le mouvement sera poursuivi à cette échelle. Dans certains pays comme les États-Unis, la Scientologie est reconnue comme une religion à part entière, et compte certaines célébrités comme Tom Cruise ou John Travolta dans ses rangs.

Les membres de la Scientologie suivent des stages coûteux pour leur « développement spirituel », mais certains accusent la Scientologie de manipulation et de lavage de cerveau. Hier, le bureau européen de l'organisation n'avait pu donner de réaction à la presse belge. Cependant, dans le passé, le mouvement à toujours nié les accusations portées à son encontre.


Belgian king swears in PM Van Rompuy, cabinet

The Belgian parliament on Friday approved the new Van Rompuy I Government consisting of the same five political parties that formed the last ruling coalition, temporarily ending the country's political crisis. Lower house deputies approved the Motion of Confidence by a majority of 88 votes to 45, with no abstentions. "Don't judge the government... by its intentions but by its results, but no results in the very short-term, judge us in 2011," Van Rompuy told the lawmakers.

Herman A. Van Rompuy (herman van rɔmpœy) had officially been invested on Tuesday as Belgium's third premier in a year by King Albert II. He addressed parliament Wednesday seeking quick economic measures. In his declaration, he urged the passage of bills to rejuvenate an ailing economy heading into deep recession and sought to resolve the 18 months political crisis after the country spent over nine months in caretaker rule. He also asked for full restoration of confidence amid the near-collapse of the country’s two largest banks.

"The previous government proposed such a plan (pumping 2 billion euros or $2.84 billion, into the economy next year, part of a 200 billion euro EU-wide stimulus package). It must be enacted as soon as possible," Van Rompuy said. "It is clear that in the coming weeks and months the government will take new initiatives to cope with the challenges that the crisis poses for the economy and employment," he added.

In his lower house of parliament speech, Van Rompuy also called for experts to testify in an unbiased parliamentary inquiry on Yves Leterme’s cabinet's alleged attempt to influence the judges into allowing the breakup of Fortis, once Belgium's largest bank. “The investigation should be carried out serenely and without bias,” he said.

Van Rompuy, age 61, is a conservative Belgian Flemish politician and member of the CD&V (formerly called CVP) who succeeds Yves Leterme. On December 28, 2008, he was asked by King Albert II to form a new Government after he was reluctant to take up the role of Prime Minister after the Leterme I government had fallen on 22 December 2008 due to the bank bailout scandal.

The Van Rompuy I Government became the new federal government of Belgium on December 30. It comprises 15 ministers and seven secretaries of state. Eighteen of the 22 ministers served in the same posts in Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government. Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng on Friday has sent congratulatory messages to the new Premier.

Prime Minister Yves Leterme offered the resignation of his government on December 18 to King Albert after a crisis erupted surrounding the sale of troubled Fortis bank to BNP Paribas. Leterme, Justice Minister Jo Vandeurzen, and Didier Reynders were accused of violating the separation of powers and exerting improper influence by trying to influence the Court of Appeals; this accusation was made by the First Chairman of the Court of Cassation. Three days later the resignation was accepted by the king.

Meanwhile, the Flemish opposition led by Flemish nationalist NVA party, Jan Jambon, challenged the legitimacy of Van Rompuy's government, calling it "a government which does not represent a majority of the Flemish people". Other opposition parties also questioned the created "Fortisgate" parliamentary commission of enquiry alleging it was a scheme to acquit Leterme.

The Kingdom of Belgium (ˈbɛldʒəm) is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 km2 (11,787 square miles) and has a population of about 10.5 million. Belgium shares borders with France (620 km), Germany (167 km), Luxembourg (148 km) and the Netherlands (450 km). Its total area, including surface water area, is 33,990 square kilometres; land area alone is 30,528 km2.


Belgien hat einen neuen Regierungschef

Brüssel (Belgien), 30.12.2008 – Überraschend schnell ist es in Belgien gelungen, die dritte Regierungskrise dieses Jahres zu überwinden. König Albert II. ernannte am Montag den ehemaligen Finanzminister Herman Van Rompuy zum neuen Regierungschef. Die schnelle Ernennung war möglich geworden, weil sich Vertreter der bisherigen Fünf-Parteien-Koalition nach mehrstündigen Verhandlungen am heutigen Tage auf eine Fortsetzung der Koalition unter dem neuen Ministerpräsidenten verständigen konnten. Die bisher amtierenden Minister sollen weitgehend im Amt bleiben, lediglich das Justiz- sowie das Innenministerium sollen neu besetzt werden. Rompuy tritt die Nachfolge des vor Weihnachten zurückgetretenen Yves Leterme an, der wegen des Verdachts einer unzulässigen Beeinflussung der belgischen Justiz wegen der geplanten Übernahme des Finanzdienstleisters Fortis durch die französische Geschäftsbank BNP Paribas zurückgetreten war.

Rompuy ist derzeit Präsident des belgischen Abgeordnetenhauses. In seiner Zeit als Finanzminister von 1993 bis 1999 hat er sich den Ruf eines Verfechters einer strengen Haushaltsdisziplin erworben. Der 61-jährige Christdemokrat gehört der flämischen Partei Christen Democratisch en Vlaams an. Die Spaltung des Landes in Flamen und Wallonen gehört zu den größten Problemen jeder Regierung Belgiens. Rompuy hatte in der Vergangenheit mehrfach erklärt, dass er aus persönlichen Gründen keine Regierungsverantwortung mehr übernehmen wolle. Die schwierige Lage des Landes, das von der Finanzkrise schwer getroffen ist, hat ihn nach Einschätzung des Handelsblattes jedoch zu einer Änderung seiner Meinung bewogen. Wegen der Handlungsunfähigkeit der Vorgängerregierung unter Yves Leterme drohte das Land sogar gegen Jahresende zahlungsunfähig zu werden. Zurzeit gilt ein parlamentarischer Nothaushaltsplan, der es der Regierung jedoch nur erlaubt, die laufenden Rechnungen und die Gehälter der Staatsbediensteten weiter zu bezahlen.


Belgio: Herman Van Rompuy è il nuovo primo ministro

Il re del Belgio Alberto II ha affidato al fiammingo cristiano-democratico, Herman Van Rompuy, il compito di formare il nuovo governo, a dodici giorni dalle dimissioni di Yves Leterme a causa dello scandalo Fortis.

Il nuovo esecutivo dovrà mettere d'accordo cinque partiti comprendenti i cristiano democratici fiamminghi, quelli francofoni, i liberali fiamminghi, quelli francofoni, e i socialisti della Vallonia del Sud.

Secondo il giornale Le Soir l'attuale il ministro dell'Interno Patrick Dewael dovrebbe diventare presidente della Camera al posto di Van Rompuy, mentre Guido de Padt verrà nominato al suo posto agli Interni.


Belgian ship hijacked off Horn of Africa by Somali pirates

A Belgian ship has been hijacked by Somali pirates in waters off the coast of the Horn of Africa, according to a Belgian government's crisis management centre spokesman. The vessel involved in the incident was the 65-metre, 1,850 Pompei, en route to the Seychelles islands, located further south.

The ship sent out two alarms at 04.30 and 05.00 GMT on Friday. Aboard the vessel were ten crew members, including four Croatians, three Filipinos, two Belgians and the Dutch captain.

"The ship has been spotted and we can confirm that it has been taken hostage," Benoit Ramacker of the crisis management centre said.

Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Aden, located further north, a NATO commander announced that the authorities had responded from a distress call sent by a Marshall Islands tanker, which had also come under attack by pirates.

Piracy is rampant in the waters off Africa's eastern shores, with sixty ships having been hijacked by pirates since the beginning of last year.


Piraci uprowadzili belgijski statek z 10-osobową załogą

Somalijscy piraci uprowadzili dziś (18 IV) belgijską jednostkę z 10-osobową załogą. O zdarzeniu poinformowali piraci oraz NATO.

"Porwaliśmy belgijski statek. Weźmiemy go do Haradheere" – powiedział przez telefon jeden z piratów. Nad porwanym okrętem przeleciał helikopter sił UE, potwierdzając zaszłą sytuację.

Na pokładzie statku znajduje się dwóch Belgów, czterech Chorwatów, Duńczyk oraz trzech Filipińczyków.

Dziś rano holenderscy komandosi odbili 20 zakładników i pojmali 7 piratów przy okazji odbijania 20 zakładników z greckiego tankowca.

W kwietniu piraci porwali już 12 okrętów.

Wody w obrębie Półwyspu Somalijskiego i Kenii są jednymi z najniebezpieczniejszych na świecie. Wielokrotnie powtarzają się tu porwania statków handlowych przez współczesnych piratów. O znacznym stopniu niebezpieczeństwa, jakie czyha na statki na tym obszarze świadczy fakt, że marynarki wojenne kilku krajów, w tym USA, Wielkiej Brytanii i Rosji wysłały w ten rejon okręty wojenne. W 2008 roku somalijscy piraci zaatakowali około 110 jednostek, z których uprowadzili 42.


Belgium indicts former Chad dictator accused of humanitarian crimes

Human Rights groups have welcomed the indictment in Belgium of Hissène Habré, former dictator of Chad. Habré, described by the organisation Human Rights Watch as "the African Pinochet", ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990. He now stands accused of "crimes against humanity" over a series of abuses allegedly committed during his tenure.

A 1992 "Truth Commission" in Chad heard evidence of systematic torture by Habré's government, and accused the regime of more than 40,000 killings. But the government of Chad, which until very recently, according to Human Rights Watch, included many of Habré's former associates, has never made any attempt to prosecute him.

Habré, who currently lives in Senegal, was arrested by the  authorities there in 2000, charged with torture and crimes against humanity. But the following year the Senegalese high court ruled that Habré could not be prosecuted for crimes committed in another country.

Every state has the right under international law, to prosecute the alleged perpetrators of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, wherever those crimes were committed.

In practice, Belgium is one of the few countries in the world to have enacted legislation enabling their domestic courts to exercise this right.

In June 2001, four Rwandans were convicted by a Belgian court, under the country's "universal jurisdiction" law, of participating in the 1994 genocide (recently portrayed in the film "Hotel Rwanda").

Belgium recently amended the law to reduce its scope, after a series of highly-controversial attempts to bring cases against serving world leaders, including the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. But a number of cases that had already begun were allowed to continue, including the case against Habré.

The government of Senegal recently detained Habré to prevent him from fleeing, following pressure from the United Nations. Belgium has now issued an extradition request.


ベルギー、チャド前大統領を人道に対する罪で起訴

イッセン・アブレ前チャド大統領がベルギーで起訴された。人権団体はこの起訴を歓迎している。アブレ前大統領は1982年から1990年にかけて、チャドの大統領だった。独裁者として知られ、人権団体「ヒューマン・ライツ・ウォッチ」に「アフリカのピノチェト」と形容されたことがある。今回の起訴は、在職中にかかわったとされる一連の人権侵害により、「人道に対する罪」を問うもの。

1992年、チャドの「真実委員会」はアブレ政権の組織的な拷問の証拠を入手し、4万人以上が殺されたと告発した。一方、チャド政府はアブレ前大統領を訴追するいかなる試みも示さなかった。ヒューマン・ライツ・ウォッチによれば、チャド政府には最近までアブレ前大統領の協力者が数多く含まれていた。

アブレ前大統領は現在セネガルにいる。2000年に、拷問と人道に対する罪の嫌疑でセネガル当局に逮捕された。しかし翌年、セネガルの高等裁判所は、国外で行った罪に対してアブレ前大統領を訴追することはできないと判断を下した。

国際法の元では、すべての国は、戦争犯罪人、大量虐殺、人道に対する罪について、犯行がどこでなされたかにかかわらず、容疑者を訴追する権利をもっている。

ベルギーは、国内の裁判所にこのような裁判を行う権限を法律で認めている。こうした国家は世界でも数少ない。

2001年6月に、4人のルワンダ人がベルギーの裁判所で国際法に反するとして有罪判決を受けた。4人は1994年の虐殺に加担していた。この虐殺は『ホテル・ルワンダ』として映画化されている。

イスラエルのアリエル・シャロン首相など、各国の現在の指導者をベルギーの法廷で裁こうとするいくつかの議論を呼ぶ試みが続いた後、ベルギーは最近この法律の適応範囲を狭める改正を行った。しかし法律改正前に提訴された件はこの法律をそのまま適応することが許されている。今回の起訴もそのひとつである。

セネガル政府は最近、国際連合からの圧力により、逃亡阻止のため、アブレ前大統領を拘留した。ベルギーは現在セネガル政府に対して犯罪者引渡し請求を行っている。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳に基づきます。


Berlin court issues provisional order against the Wikimedia Foundation

A district court in Berlin has issued a preliminary injunction against the Wikimedia Foundation for displaying the true name of a computer hacker on the German Wikipedia.  The family of the deceased German hacker, known as "Tron," obtained the provisional order in Berlin on December 14. The order was corrected on December 19 because it was at first addressed to Saint Petersburg, Russia  instead of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Tron became famous as the first person to crack the encryption of Pay TV and calling cards. He died in 1998, at the age of 26, in an apparent suicide. Questions have arisen as to the nature of the hacker's death.

The court has ordered the German Wikipedia to remove all forms of the hacker's complete civil name "Boris Floricic". The court states that this is justified by the fact that the hacker never worked under his civil name, but instead his Internet alias.

The legality of the order is in question, because the Wikimedia Foundation servers are not located in Germany, but instead in the United States. Whether the Foundation will comply or if the family's attorneys have any means to enforce the decision remains in doubt. The case prompted many German media outlets to publicly display the hacker's real name.

On January 17 the same court also issued a preliminary injunction against Wikimedia Deutschland e.V., the German chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation, citing the same reasons. In that injuction, the chapter was ordered to cease redirecting www.wikipedia.de to de.wikipedia.org. Wikimedia Deutschland complied, but its lawyers announced that they will appeal the decision, saying that Tron's civil name has long since been public knowledge.


Amtsgericht Charlottenburg erlässt einstweilige Verfügung gegen die Wikimedia Foundation

Berlin (Deutschland), 19.01.2006 – Das Amtsgericht Charlottenburg von Berlin hat am 14.12.2005 eine einstweilige Verfügung gegen die Wikimedia Foundation erlassen. Erwirkt haben die einstweilige Verfügung die Eltern eines toten Computerhackers aus Berlin.

Er war unter dem Pseudonym Tron bekannt geworden, als er als erster die Verschlüsselung von Pay-TV- und Telefonkarten knackte. 1998, im Alter von 26 Jahren, verstarb er. Nach dem – von einigen bezweifelten – Ergebnis der staatsanwaltschaftlichen Ermittlungen handelte es sich um Selbstmord.

Dem Wikimedia-Projekt Wikipedia soll mit der Verfügung verboten werden, den vollständigen bürgerlichen Namen zu nennen. Begründet wird dies damit, dass der Hacker nie unter seinem richtigen Namen gearbeitet habe. Wikimedia hält bisher dagegen, dass auch in Artikeln anderer Pseudonymträger der bürgerliche Name steht, soweit dieser bekannt ist.

Schwierig wird die Durchsetzung der Verfügung, da die Wikimedia Foundation ihren Sitz nicht auf dem Boden der Bundesrepublik, sondern im US-Bundesstaat Florida hat. Ob sie die Verfügung befolgt und inwieweit die Anwälte weitere rechtliche Handhabe besitzen, ist bisher unklar. Klar ist jedoch, dass der richtige Name des Hackers in den letzten Wochen in vielen anderen Medien genannt wurde.

Entgegen einigen Meldungen in anderen Medien beteiligt sich der Chaos Computer Club e.V. nicht an diesem Streitfall. Nach Mitteilung des Vereins handele es sich um Aktivitäten einzelner Mitglieder, die jedoch nicht für den ganzen Club handelten. Auch private Vermittlungsversuche durch Mitglieder sollten nicht als parteiliche Einmischung des Vereins in den Streitfall angesehen werden.

Hinweis: Auf Grund einer Abstimmung wird der bürgerliche Name des als „Tron“ bekannten Hackers nicht in diesem Artikel genannt.


Corte ordena desligar dirección Internet alemana de Wikipedia

20 de enero de 2006Berlín, Alemania — En una decisión relacionada con una demanda de no revelar la identidad del hacker alemán conocido como Tron, fallecido en 1998, cuando tenía 26 años y en extrañas circunstancias, un juez de Berlín decidió que la Fundación Wikimedia no había cumplido con una orden judicial anterior y ordenó que temporalmente la dirección URL www.wikipedia.de no remita a de.wikipedia.org.

La demanda original concierne la publicación del libro del periodista alemán Burkhard Schröder cuyo título es "Tron - Tod eines Hackers" ("Tron – la muerte de un hacker") y que contiene en su interior el nombre verdadero de Tron. Cuando se demandó al periodista la eliminación del nombre real, éste argumentó en su defensa que el nombre es tan conocido que hasta aparece en Wikipedia. Los abogados de la familia de Tron se dirigieron entonces a la fundación solicitando el retiro del nombre real, La solicitud de los abogados no fue respondida por la fundación, principalmente por razones de forma, dado que el abogado no presentó documentos que mostraran que representa legalmente a la familia de Tron.

El juez ordenó también que la Fundación nombre a corto plazo un representante en Alemania para exponer su punto de vista. Por su parte la asociación alemana correspondiente de la fundación, Wikimedia Deutschland e.V., ha informado que en su opinión los demandantes no tienen un caso válido y que defenderá el derecho a la libertad de expresión y de prensa.

A finales del día, a Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. se le permitió nuevamente incluir el enlace a la enciclopedia desde la dirección www.wikipedia.de. La restricción temporal de la corte sigue estando en vigencia, pero al cancelar la caución solicitada de €500 la asociación alemana ya no está obligada a cumplirla.


ベルリン地方裁判所がウィキメディア財団に仮処分命令

ベルリンのシャルロッテブルク地方裁判所はウィキメディア財団に対して仮差し止め命令を出した。ドイツ語版ウィキペディアにあるハッカーの本名が掲載されていたためである。「トロン (Tron)」として知られていたドイツ人ハッカーの遺族が、2005年12月14日にベルリンでこの仮命令を獲得した。この命令には最初ロシアのサンクトペテルブルクあてに書かれていたので、12月19日に米国フロリダ州セント・ピーターズバーグあてに修正された。

このハッカー、トロンは、有料テレビや電話のプリペイドカードの暗号のクラッキングを最初にした人物として有名になった。トロンは1998年に26歳で死亡した。検事の調査の結果、自殺とされた。このハッカーの死の性質について、疑問があがった。

裁判所はドイツ語版ウィキペディアに対してこのハッカーの本名をすべて、それがいかなる形式を取っていたとしても取り除くように命じた。裁判所はこのハッカーが彼の本名では決して働かず、ネット上のハンドルを代わりに使っていたという事実によって、正当性を示すことができると語った。

ウィキメディア財団のサーバーがドイツでなくて米国にあることで、命令の適法性に疑問があった。財団が応じるかどうか、また家族の代理人に執行を促進する手段があるかどうかについては、不確かなままである。この事件は、多くのドイツのメディアがハッカーの本名を公表することをむしろ促す結果となった。

同裁判所は2006年1月17日になって、ドイツ・ウィキメディア協会（財団のドイツ支部）に対し、同じ理由を持って、www.wikipedia.de から de.wikipedia.org にリダイレクトする事を止めるよう、予備命令を発した。ドイツ・ウィキメディア協会は応じたものの、協会弁護団はトロンの本名は既に長い間認知されているとして、上訴する事を発表した。

ドイツ語版ウィキニュースと英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳です


Justiça alemã aceita processo contra Wikimedia

Uma corte de justiça de Berlim acolheu em primeira instância um processo  contra a Fundação Wikimedia  que  afirma que a enciclopédia Wikipédia mostrou o nome civil completo de um hacker alemão sem a sua autorização.

O processo foi movido pela  família do hacker, conhecido como "Tron". "Tron" ficou famoso por  ter sido a primeira pessoa que desvendou o algoritmo de criptografia de canais de televisão pagos. O hacker morreu em 1998, aos 26 anos, em circustâncias misteriosas,   num susposto suicídio. Um livro sobre o hacker  do jornalista alemão Burkhard Schröder cujo título é "Tron - Tod eines Hackers" ("Tron" – a morte de um hacker) foi escrito. No livro é revelado também o nome verdadeiro de Tron.

A corte ordenou à Wikipédia Alemã remover todas as citações com o nome civil completo do hacker.  A corte argumentou que baseia sua decisão no facto de o hacker nunca ter usado seu nome verdadeiro, mas seu alias de internet.

A legalidade da ordem judicial está a ser questionada, tendo em vista que os servidores da Fundação Wikimédia não estão localizados na Alemanha, mas nos Estados Unidos da América. Ainda há dúvida se a Fundação irá cumprir ou não as determinações da justiça alemã.

Em 17 de janeiro, a mesma corte deu parecer favorável num outro processo parecido  contra  a Wikimedia  Deutschland e.V.,  a divisão alemã da Wikimedia. Na ocasião, foi ordenado à Wikimedia alemã  para não mais fazer o redirecionamento do link  www.wikipedia.de  para de.wikipedia.org. A Wikimedia Deutschland obedeceu  mas os seus advogados disseram que vão recorrer da decisão. Eles alegam que o nome civil completo de Tron já é de conhecimento público há um bom tempo.

Desde que o caso contra a Wikimedia se tornou conhecido, muitos meios de comunicação alemães já publicaram o nome completo do hacker.


Домен Wikipedia.de закрыт

В настоящий момент немецкий языковый раздел Википедии не доступен по адресу wikipedia.de. По этому адресу размещено сообщение Фонда Викимедиа Германии, что данный домен закрыт.

Фонда Викимедиа Германии поясняет, что постановлением суда района Берлин-Шарлоттенбург 17 января 2006 года пользование этим доменом временно запрещено, адрес немецкой Википедии с этого домена перенаправлен.

В настоящее время идёт проверка когда будет восстановлен, до сих пор существовавший, адрес домена немецкой Википедии. Доступ к немецкому разделу по адресу http://de.wikipedia.org функционирует как и прежде.

В английском варианте Википедии, в статье об умершем в 1998 году известном компьютерном хакере, который работал под псевдонимом Трон (Tron), происходят спекуляции. Его родители, также в суде Берлин-Шарлоттенбург, добились постановления, которое запрещает распорядителям «Фонда Викимедиа» называть настоящее имя их сына.

Хакер Трон известен тем, что он первым раскрыл кодировки платного телевизионного канала и телефонной карты. Он умер в 1998 году, в возрасте 26-и лет. Официальная версия смерти — самоубийство, но она вызывает сомнения.

Википедии запрещено называть настоящее имя Трона, на том основании, что хакер никогда не работал под своим настоящим именем. В Википедии принято другое, то есть в статьях о других людях, работавших под псевдонимами, называют также и настоящее имя, если оно известно.

Восстановление доступа к домену wikipedia.de связано с трудностями, так как «Фонд Викимедиа» зарегистрирован в штате Флорида (США), а не в Германии. Будет ли «Фонд Викимедиа» исполнять решение немецкого суда, пока не ясно. В тоже время, настоящее имя хакера названо уже во многих других СМИ.

Golem.de сообщает 19 января, что со стороны Викимедиа проблемы с хакером Троном были подтверждены. Но Викимедиа хочет обжаловать решение суда.

19 января 2006 года


Berlin court repeals preliminary injunction against Wikimedia Germany

The Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg has repealed an injunction that it had issued in January against Wikimedia Deutschland, the German chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation.

The court found that identifying the deceased Boris Floricic as the hacker Tron in an article of the German Wikipedia does not constitute a breach of the personal rights of Floricic or his parents, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. It said that those rights only protect deceased persons from libelous or disfiguring characterisations of their biography; this is not the case in the Wikipedia article. The court also found that the personal rights of the parents were not infringed upon as well, as the article does not enable anyone to identify them.

The lawyer of the parents, Friedrich Kurz, called the decision "arbitrary", "tangibly illegal" and a "misjudgment" as his clients have a unique surname which would make it possible to connect Tron to them. He announced that he would appeal the decision, even to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

The chairman of Wikimedia Deutschland, Kurt Jansson, said they are happy that the court "confirmed our interpretation of the law completely" and hoped that the attorney of the plaintiffs would refrain from taking further legal actions due to the "decidedness" of the ruling.

The court in Berlin had issued an injunction against Wikimedia Deutschland on January 17th, banning them from redirecting www.wikipedia.de to de.wikipedia.org.


Im Streit um Namensnennung von „Tron“ entscheidet Gericht für Wikimedia Deutschland

Berlin (Deutschland), 09.02.2006 – Das Amtsgericht Berlin Charlottenburg hat im Rechtsstreit zwischen Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. und den Eltern des 1998 verstorbenen Hackers „Tron“ eine Entscheidung gefällt. Dabei haben die Betreiber der deutschsprachigen Ausgabe der Wikipedia einen Sieg erreicht – die Kammer hob die einstweilige Verfügung gegen Wikimedia Deutschland nun endgültig auf.

In dem Verfahren ging es um die Frage, ob im entsprechenden Wikipedia-Artikel der vollständige Name des verstorbenen Hackers, der unter dem Pseudonym „Tron“ bekannt wurde, genannt werden dürfe. Bereits im Dezember 2005 hatten die Eltern des Toten eine einstweilige Verfügung gegen die Wikimedia Foundation in Florida erwirkt, die offenbar aber bis heute noch nicht zugestellt wurde. Im Januar erwirkte er dann eine Verfügung gegen den deutschen Wikimedia-Verein, Wikimedia Deutschland e. V., die beinhaltete, dass nicht mehr von der Domain www.wikipedia.de auf die Seite de.wikipedia.org weitergeleitet werden durfte. Wenig später wurde diese wegen Unverhältnismäßigkeit allerdings vorerst aufgehoben, am heutigen Donnerstag wurde sie nun generell abgewiesen.

Die vorsitzende Richterin begründete die Entscheidung damit, dass der Familie des Hackers ein Anspruch auf eine Streichung des echten Namens ihre Sohnes nicht zustehe, „da durch die Namensnennung dessen über den Tod hinausgehendes Persönlichkeitsrecht nicht verletzt“ werde. Das postmortale Persönlichkeitsrecht sei weiterhin darauf ausgerichtet, den Verstorbenen vor unwahren Behauptungen oder Herabsetzungen zu schützen, dies sei hier aber nicht der Fall.

Da der Streitwert des Verfahrens während der Verhandlung auf 1.000 Euro erhöht worden war, haben die Kläger nun jedoch die Möglichkeit, gegen das Urteil Rechtsmittel einzulegen. Friedrich Kurz, der Anwalt des Klägers, bezeichnete die Entscheidung der Kammer als „Fehlurteil“ und sagte dazu: „Wir werden auf alle Fälle in Berufung gehen.“ Seiner Meinung nach sei das Urteil „willkürlich und greifbar gesetzeswidrig“. Kurz verließ den Saal noch vor Verkündung des Urteils, welches ihm der Richter vorab mitgeteilt hatte. Nach Augenzeugenberichten soll er erbost gewesen sein. Bei einer Fortführung des Rechtsstreits wäre die nächste Instanz das Landgericht Berlin.