UK airplane bomb plotters sentenced, sent to jail

Three men convicted of plotting to blow up seven transatlantic passenger jets were sentenced and sent to jail on Monday.

The trio's ringleader, Abdulla Ahmed Al, 28, received a minimum of 40 years in prison.  Assad Sarwar, 29, received a sentence of at least 36 years and Tanvir Hussain, 28, at least 32 years.  All three are suspected to have had links with al-Qaeda.

The three men had been accused of plotting to destroy several transatlantic passengers jets headed for North America by smuggling liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks onto the plane.  The targeted planes were all departing from the Heathrow Airport in London, bound for locations such as Chicago, Illinois, New York, New York, Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec.

The plot was said to have been only a few days from being executed when it was discovered by the authorities.

"I'm very pleased the jury gave a sentence that was proportionate to this potential crime," said the UK Home Secretary, Alan Johnson. "Our police and our national security service is a national asset, they've proven that again today."

Johnson said the sentencing "reflected the severity of this horrendous plot to kill and maim thousands of people".


விமான குண்டுத்தாக்குதல் சதி வழக்கில் மூன்று பிரித்தானியர்களுக்கு ஆயுட்தண்டனை

திங்கள், செப்டம்பர் 14, 2009, லண்டன்:

இங்கிலாந்தில் இருந்து அமெரிக்காவுக்குச் செல்லும் விமானங்களை திரவ வெடிகுண்டுகள் மூலம் வெடிக்கச்செய்ய முயன்ற குற்றச்சாட்டின்பேரில் பிரித்தானியாவைச் சேர்ந்த மூன்று முஸ்லிம்களுக்கு ஆயுட்தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

இவர்களுக்கு தண்டனை விதித்த நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதி, இவர்களில் ஒருவர் ஆயுட்காலம் முழுமையும் சிறைக்குள்ளேயே கழிக்கவேண்டி நேரலாம் என்று கூறினார்.

இவர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் குறைந்தபட்சமாக 30 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் அதிகமான சிறைத்தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டது. இக்கூட்டத்தின் தலைவர் எனக் கருதப்படும் அப்துல்லா அகமது அலி (28) என்பவருக்கு குறைந்தது 40 ஆண்டுகளும், அசாத் சர்வார் (29) என்பவருக்கு 36 ஆண்டுகளும், தன்வீர் உசைன் (28) என்பவருக்கு 32 ஆண்டுகளும் சிறைத்தண்டனையை இங்கிலாந்தின் வோல்விச் நீதிமன்றம் விதித்தது.

2001 ஆம் ஆண்டு செப்டம்பர் மாதம் 11 ஆம் திகதி அமெரிக்காவின் இரட்டைக்கோபுரங்கள் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு இடங்களில் நடத்தப்பட்ட தாக்குதல்களுக்கு சமமான ஒரு அட்டூழியத்தை நடத்த இவர்கள் சதி செய்ததாக நீதிபதி தெரிவித்தார்.

இவர்களின் சதி கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டதைத் தொடர்ந்து விமானப்பயணிகள் கொண்டு செல்லத்தக்க திரவங்கள் தொடர்பில் கடுமையான கட்டுப்பாடுகள் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இந்தச் சதிச்செயல் அல்கயீதாவால் வழி நடத்தப்பட்டதாக புலனாய்வுப்பிரிவினர் தெரிவித்திருந்தனர்.


UK animal welfare group prosecutes woman who threw cat into bin

A woman who was recorded throwing a cat into an outdoor rubbish bin has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty. 45-year-old Mary Bale, from Coventry, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom, was recorded on a security camera allegedly giving the tabby cat — Lola, aged four — a stroking and looking at her surroundings before taking the animal and dumping it into the wheelie bin before walking away from the scene.

The cat was discovered in the bin fifteen hours later by her owners, 24-year-old Stephanie Andrews-Mann and her husband, 26-year-old Darryl. She appeared to be unharmed. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — otherwise known by the abbreviation RSPCA — have now brought charges against Mary Bale under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Judith Haw, a spokesperson for the RSPCA, has stated: "The RSPCA has taken the case to court as two alleged offences have been committed: of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat and of not providing the animal with a suitable environment. As criminal proceedings are now active the RSPCA will not be issuing any further statements or completing interview requests until conclusion of the court case."

Having received a court summons from the RSPCA on Sunday, Bale is anticipated to make an appearance at Coventry Magistrates Court on October 19, 2010 at 1000 BST (0900 UTC). Bale had previously released a public apology. "I cannot explain why I did this," it read. "It is completely out of character and I certainly did not intend to cause any distress to Lola or her owners."

In a video available on Sky News Online Stephanie Andrews-Mann spoke about this incident and explained that "we thought it was probably someone coming from a night in the pub that thought it'd be hilarious to put a cat in the bin. We didn't expect to find what it was we found." When asked what she thought about the woman who committed this act, Stephanie commented: "I don't know. I don't know what could possibly go through her head to want to put a cat in a bin." Stephanie's husband Darryl explained: "It was basically after we'd found Lola in the bin that we played back the video footage and seen, obviously, what had gone on, what had happened." Describing this act, he expressed: "I think it's disgusting. I don't know how anyone could treat, um, a harmless animal that can't defend itself, just do something like that to it."


V Británii podali ochránci zvířat žalobu na ženu, která vyhodila kočku do koše

Britská žena, která byla nafilmována bezpečnostní kamerou, jak hází kočku do popelnice, byla obžalována ve dvou bodech z týrání zvířat. Pětačtyřicetiletou Mary Baleovou z Coventry v hrabství West Midlands v Anglii zachytila bezpečnostní kamera, jak čtyřletou Lolu udeřila a rozhlédla se, než ji sebrala a vyhodila do popelnice. Pak odešla.

Kočka byla v popelnici nalezena o patnáct hodin později svými majiteli, šestadvacetiletým Darrylem Andrews-Mannem a jeho čtyřiadvacetiletou manželkou. Nezdálo se, že by nějak utrpěla. Královská společnost pro prevenci týrání zvířat (RSPCA) ovšem nyní Mary Baleovou obvinila z porušení zákona Animal Welfare Act 2006. Mluvčí společnosti k tomu uvedl: „RSPCA podala podnět k soudu, že byly spáchány dvě věci: způsobení zbytečného utrpení kočce a neposkytnutí vhodného prostředí zvířeti. RSPCA se nebude k věci dále vyjadřovat, dokud soud případ neuzavře.“

Baleová se k soudu zřejmě dostaví 19. října a už se veřejně za svůj čin omluvila: „Nedokáži vysvětlit, proč jsem to udělala. … Určitě jsem nechtěla způsobit nesnáze ani Lole ani jejím majitelům.“

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy UK animal welfare group prosecutes woman who threw cat into bin na anglických Wikizprávách.


UK court jails man for trolling online tribute pages

Manchester Magistrates' court in the UK yesterday jailed a self-described online troll for posting messages to Facebook tribute pages. Colm Coss, 36, was sentenced to eighteen weeks in prison after admitting breaching the Communications Act of 2003.

Coss targeted a page in tribute to the late Jade Goody, made famous by reality TV show Big Brother, as well as a page dedicated to young Liverpool dog-attack victim John Paul Massey. Overseas deceased were also targeted, with Coss trolling tributes to a Canadian murder victim, an Australian road accident fatality and a dead US citizen.

Coss was arrested after he sent typed letters to neighbours containing photographs of himself and explaining he was "a troll". Although he initially refused to cooperate, Coss later wrote to a police officer and admitted posting the messages, in some of which he said he had had sex with the bodies of the deceased or claimed to have engaged in fictional acts of paedophilia.

"The harm and upset that this can cause is obvious," according to Paul Mitchell, prosecuting Coss. Coss was charged with 'sending malicious communications that were grossly offensive', entering a guilty plea last month. Yesterday, defence lawyer Leanne Press sought investigation of her client's psychiatric state prior to sentencing, arguing he "had a history of mental health issues." However, magistrates decided he could be sentenced without this.

Magistrate Pauline Salisbury noted sentencing guidelines of twelve weeks imprisonment, but said the offences were serious enough to warrant 26 weeks. Eight weeks were shaved off the sentence owing to his guilty plea.


Britiano estas kondamnita al malliberejo pro Interreta "trolado"

Tiu ĉi artikolo estas parta traduko de artikolo "UK court jails man for trolling online tribute pages" el la anglalingva Vikinovaĵoj, publikigita la 30-an de oktobro 2010, kaj disponebla laŭ la permesilo "Creative Commons Attribution 2.5". Vidu la liston de ĝiaj aŭtoroj.

Antaŭ du tagoj juĝistaro de Manĉestra "Magistrates Court" en la Unuiĝinta Reĝlando kondamnis mempriskribitan Interretan trolon pro sendado de mesaĝoj ĉe Fejsbukaj paĝoj kreitaj kiel memoriĝaĵoj pri mortintoj. 36-jaraĝa Colm Coss estis kondamnita al 18 semajnoj en malliberejo pro konfesita de li malobservo de la akto "Communications Act 2003".

Inter trolatakitaj de Coss paĝoj estis dediĉitaj al Jade Goody, famiĝinta per la realeca televidserio "Big Brother" ("Granda frato"), al Liverpula knabo mortigita de hundo, al Kanada mortigito, kaj al aŭstraliano pereinta en aŭtokatastrofo.

Coss estis arestita en Junio post kiam li sendis al siaj najbaroj tajpitajn leterojn kun fotografaĵoj de si, kaj klarigo, ke li estas "trolo". Komence li rifuzis respondi demandojn, sed poste skribis al policano, konfesante afiŝadon de la mesaĝoj, en iuj el kiuj estis skribite, ke li seksumis kun la korpoj de la mortintoj.

Li estis akuzita pri sendado de malicaj mesaĝoj ofendegaj, kaj konfesis sian kulpon lastmonate. Antaŭhieraŭ lia advokatino Leanne Press petis pri esploro de la mensostato de sia kliento, dirante, ke li antaŭe havis mensosan-problemojn. Tamen la juĝistoj decidis, ke li povas esti kondamnita sen tio.

Pauline Salisbury diris, ke la reguloj pri kondamno specifas daŭron de 12 semajnoj, sed la krimo estas sufiĉe serioza por 26 semajnoj. 8 semajnoj estis subtrahitaj pro la memkonfeso.


UK newspapers face libel, privacy action over murder coverage

Six UK newspapers are facing actions claiming libel and breach of privacy from Chris Jeffries, a man who attracted intense media coverage when arrested in December for the murder of Joanna Yeates. Jeffries was subsequently released and a different man has been charged instead.

Lawyer Louis Charalambous says Jeffries "seek[s] vindication of his reputation for the terrible treatment he received" from six newspapers – The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Star, The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, and The Daily Record. The papers all covered the man's arrest following the discovery of a body near the Clifton area of Bristol, England, on Christmas Day; Yeates had been missing from her flat since December 17. Jeffries was the flat's landlord.

Another man who shared the Clifton address – Vincent Tabak – was later arrested when police eliminated Jeffries from any involvement with the murder. Tabak's next court appearance is set for May 4 and the trial is scheduled to take place in October.

Media coverage of Jeffries attracted criticism at the time; Roy Greenslade wrote for The Guardian that the suspect was facing "a character assassination" and Attorney General Dominic Grieve warned papers they may be in breach of contempt of court legislation. Although no prosecutions have been launched to date, Grieve recently succeeded in an action claiming contempt of court by two of the papers targeted by Jeffries – The Sun and The Daily Mail – over their coverage of a different murder.

In addition to the six national papers that have received writs, action is anticipated against several local papers. "Mr Jefferies will not be making any statement about these claims until their conclusion, which he hopes will be in the very near future," according to his legal team at solicitors Simons Muirhead and Burton.

Charalambous has previously sued all the papers except The Daily Record - alongside The Sunday Express, The London Evening Standard, Metro, The Sunday Mirror, The News of the World and The Scotsman - while representing Robert Murat, over in excess of 100 "seriously defamatory" articles linking him to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. In 2008 Murat received £600,000 and an apology, as well as a separate undisclosed amount from broadcaster BSkyB.


Royaume-Uni : des journaux accusés de diffamation et d'atteinte à la vie privée sur la couverture d'un assassinat

Publié le 22 avril 2011   Six journaux britanniques sont confrontés à des actions en justice revendiquant une réparation pour la diffamation et la violation de la vie privée de Chris Jeffries, un homme qui a bénéficié d'une couverture médiatique intense lors de son arrestation en décembre pour l'assassinat de Joanna Yeates. Chris Jeffries a ensuite été libéré et un autre homme a été accusé à la place.

L'avocat Louis Charalambous dit que Jeffries « revendique sa réputation à la suite du traitement épouvantable dont il a été l'objet » de la part de six journaux : The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Star, Daily Express, Daily Mail et Daily Record. Les journaux ont tous couverts l'arrestation de cet homme à la suite de la découverte d'un corps dans la région de Clifton, située dans le comté de Bristol en Angleterre, le jour de Noël ; Joanna Yeates avait disparu de son appartement depuis le 17 décembre et Chris Jeffries était le propriétaire de cet appartement.

Un autre homme qui habitait à cette adresse à Clifton — Vincent Tabak — a été arrêté lorsque la police a relâché Chris Jeffries en le disculpant de toute participation à l'assassinat. La comparution de Vincent Tabak devant le tribunal est fixée au 4 mai et le procès devrait avoir lieu en octobre.

La couverture médiatique de l'arrestation de Chris Jeffries a attiré la critique à l'époque, Roy Greenslade a écrit pour le journal The Guardian que le suspect a subi « une diffamation » et le procureur général Dominic Grieve a averti les journaux qu'ils pourraient être poursuivis pour outrage à la justice. Bien qu'aucune poursuite n'ait été lancée à ce jour, Grieve a récemment intenté une action pour outrage au tribunal à l'encontre de deux des journaux visés par Chris Jeffries — The Sun et Daily Mail — lors de leur couverture d'un autre assassinat.

En plus des six journaux nationaux qui ont reçu des assignations, une action en justice est prévue contre plusieurs journaux locaux. « M. Jefferies ne fera aucune déclaration au sujet de ces allégations jusqu'à leur conclusion, qu'il espère être dans un très proche avenir », selon son équipe juridique du cabinet d'avocats Simons Muirhead and Burton.

Louis Charalambous a déjà poursuivi en justice tous les journaux sauf le Daily Record — aux côtés de The Sunday Express, The London Evening Standard, Metro, The Sunday Mirror, News of the World et The Scotsman - tout en représentant Robert Murat, sur plus de 100 articles de journaux « gravement diffamatoires » qui le relient à la disparition de Madeleine McCann . En 2008, Robert Murat a reçu 600 000 £ et des excuses, ainsi qu'un montant non divulgué de la chaîne BSkyB.


UK raises terrorism alert level to "severe"

The UK's Home Secretary said today that Britain has raised its terrorism alert level to "severe", the second-highest level, which indicates that an attack is "highly likely". The highest level, "critical", means that an attack is believed to be "imminent".

"The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has raised the threat [...] from 'substantial' to 'severe'. This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely," Home Secretary Alan Johnson said. "But I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent [...] We still face a real and serious threat to the UK from international terrorism, so I would urge the public to remain vigilant and carry on reporting suspicious events to the appropriate authorities and to support the police and security services in their continuing efforts to discover, track and disrupt terrorist activity."

"We never say what the intelligence is and it would be pretty daft of us to do that [...] It shouldn't be thought to be linked to Detroit or anywhere else for that matter," he added, referring to the alleged failed attempt to blow up a passenger airliner headed for the US from Amsterdam on December 25.

"The appraisal centre keeps the threat level under constant review and makes its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas," read a statement by the Home Secretary.

The United States Department of Homeland Security responded to the Home Office's move saying in a statement, "The UK is raising their measures to effectively where we are with the airport security measures that we have taken and announced over the last few weeks. We have enhanced our security measures and communicated specific information to industry, law enforcement and the American people."

The UK has a five-level terrorism alert system, with the individual levels being "Low", "Moderate", "Substantial", "Severe", "Critical".


Wielka Brytania: stopień zagrożenia terrorystycznego podniesiony do czwartego

W Wielkiej Brytanii został podniesiony stopień zagrożenia terrorystycznego do czwartego. To o jeden mniej od maksymalnej wartości skali.

Zdaniem ministra spraw wewnętrznych Alana Johnsona zagrożenie jest "poważne", co powoduje, że prawdopodobieństwo nastąpienia ataku terrorystycznego staje się wysokie. Mimo podwyższenia oceny zagrożenia rząd Londynu nie posiada żadnych informacji, które kazałyby przypuszczać, że atak jest nieuchronny.

"Centrum Analiz Zagrożenia Terroryzmem (JTAC) nieustannie rewiduje stopień niebezpieczeństwa i decyduje się na jego zmiany na podstawie szerokiego spektrum czynników, w tym zamiarów i potencjału międzynarodowych grup terrorystycznych na terenie Wielkiej Brytanii i za granicą" - poinformował szef MSW.


UK Supreme Court will not hear Julian Assange's appeal against extradition

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom announced it will not rule on Julian Assange's appeal on his extradition to the United States.

Stating the application "didn’t raise an arguable point of law," the court left in place a ruling from December that Assange is eligible for extradition after assurances from the US that he would be treated humanely.

Assange, an Australian, is the founder of the WikiLeaks website which published classified US military documents obtained by Chelsea Manning. He faces criminal charges in the US for unlawfully helping Manning obtain the documents. Assange's defense has been he was only acting in the role of a journalist.

Since 2019, Assange has been held at Belmarsh Prison in London. Prior to that, he stayed seven years at the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid being extradited to Sweden on sexual assault charges which were eventually dropped.

The extradition is now in the hands of UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Assange's legal team has four weeks to submit objections.


Suprema Corte do Reino Unido não ouvirá recurso de Julian Assange contra extradição

Ontem, a Suprema Corte do Reino Unido anunciou que não decidirá sobre o recurso de Julian Assange sobre sua extradição para os Estados Unidos.

Afirmando que o pedido “não levantou um ponto de direito discutível”, o tribunal deixou em vigor uma decisão de dezembro de que Assange é elegível para extradição após garantias dos EUA de que ele seria tratado com humanidade.

Assange, um australiano, é o fundador do site WikiLeaks, que publicou documentos militares americanos confidenciais obtidos por Chelsea Manning. Ele enfrenta acusações criminais nos EUA por ajudar Manning ilegalmente a obter os documentos. A defesa de Assange foi que ele estava apenas atuando no papel de jornalista.

Desde 2019, Assange está detido na prisão de Belmarsh, em Londres. Antes disso, ele ficou sete anos na embaixada equatoriana em Londres para evitar ser extraditado para a Suécia por acusações de agressão sexual que acabaram sendo retiradas.

A extradição está agora nas mãos da secretária do Interior do Reino Unido, Priti Patel, e a equipe jurídica de Assange tem quatro semanas para apresentar objeções.


UK threat level reduced to 'severe'

The United Kingdom's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), a division of the security agency MI5, has now reduced the United Kingdom threat level from 'critical' to 'severe'.

Since the terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow the threat level in the United Kingdom was at 'critical' meaning an "attack was imminent", however the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, today announced the level was to be reduced.

She said, "There is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is expected imminently. However, the reduction of the threat level to severe does not mean the overall threat has gone away."

The MI5 website stated, "This means that future terrorist attacks are still highly likely, but no longer thought to be imminent. The decision has been made by JTAC based on a review of the latest intelligence."

This reduction comes after eight arrests were made in connection to the terror attacks.


Nivel de amenaza en el Reino Unido reducido a 'severo'

El Centro de Análisis de Terrorismo (CAT) del Reino Unido, una división de la agencia de seguridad MI5, ha reducido el nivel de amenaza de 'crítico' a 'severo'.

Desde los ataques terroristas en Londres y Glasgow, el nivel de amenaza era 'crítico', lo que significaba que un nuevo ataque terrorista era inminente; sin embargo, la Secretaria de Estado para el Departamento Doméstico, Jacqui Smith, dijo que el nivel sería reducido. "No hay suficiente información para sugerir que un ataque pueda ser inminente. Sin embargo, la reducción en el nivel de amenaza no significa que la amenaza se ha ido totalmente".

El sitio web del MI5 decía: "Esto significa que futuros ataques terroristas son probable, pero no se cree que continúen siendo inminentes. La decisión fue tomada por la CAT basándose en una revisión de la información más reciente".

La reducción se dio luego de que se hubieran hecho ocho arrestos vinculados con los ataques.


UK to ban export of lethal injection drugs to US

Britain  announced Thursday  that it will ban the export to the US of three pharmaceutical drugs used for lethal injections in executions under the death penalty.

The three drugs are pentobarbital, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride.

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said the order will be formalized within the next few days.

Cable issued a statement saying, "We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and are clear that British drugs should not be used to carry out lethal injections. That is why we introduced a control on sodium thiopental last year—the first of its kind in the world. And it is also why we are now controlling the export of the other drugs used in lethal injections in the US."

Cable said he was requesting all   countries  in the EU to do the same in order to effectively control the export of these drugs.

Britain blocked the export  of  sodium thiopental in November after the human rights group Reprieve sued the government to stop its exportation to the US. Sodium thiopental had been sold to the Department of Corrections in two states, Georgia and Arizona, by a small wholesaler in London. The drug is legally used for lethal injections in the US but is in short supply there.

Pentobarbital, a sedative, is used to control continuous epileptic seizures, as well as to treat a variety of other medical conditions. After sodium thiopental became scarce in the US late last year,  the US began to use pentobarbital as a substitute.

The Death Penalty Information Center said in December that executions in the US had declined in  2010 compared to previous years, partly as a result of a sodium thiopental shortage.

The UK government said in a press release: "Having consulted UK suppliers of these drugs and other interested parties, the Government is satisfied that legitimate medical trade will not be hampered by the decision."


Великобритания планирует запретить экспорт в США препаратов, используемых для смертной казни путём инъекции

В четверг правительство Великобритании заявило о своём намерении запретить экспорт в США 3 фармацевтических препаратов, применяемых для смертной казни путём инъекции.

Указанные 3 препарата — это: хлорид калия.

Секретарь по экономическим вопросам Великобритании, Винс Кэбл, заявил, что в течение ближайших нескольких дней запрет будет оформлен законодательно.

Кэбл сказал: «Мы против смертной казни как таковой, вне зависимости от обстоятельств. Британские лекарства не должны использоваться в целях смертной казни. Поэтому в прошлом году мы стали контролировать оборот тиопентала натрия. Мы стали первой в мире страной, контролирующей оборот лекарства с такой целью. Продолжая, мы начнём контролировать экспорт и других лекарств, используемых в США для смертной казни».

Кэбл указал, что обратился с просьбой о введении аналогичного контроля и к другим странам Евросоюза. Совместными усилиями можно будет установить действительно эффективный контроль над экспортом указанных и подобных им веществ.

Великобритания прекратила экспорт тиопентала натрия в ноябре, после того как правозащитная организация «Reprieve» (дословно «Отсрочка») предъявила правительству иск с требованием прекратить экспорт указанного вещества в США. Тиопентал натрия продавался Службам исполнения наказаний 2 штатов — Аризоны и Джорджии, торговлю вела небольшая оптовая фирма в Лондоне. Указанное лекарство используется в США для смертной казни путём инъекции, однако внутреннее производство этого вещества в США не может удовлетворить спрос.

Пентобарбитал — средство из группы успокоительных — применяется при лечении эпилепсии (для преодоления эпилептического статуса), а также и для лечения многих других заболеваний. После того, как в конце прошлого года тиопентал натрия стал в США дефицитным товаром, вместо него при смертной казни стали использовать пентобарбитал.

Центр Информации о Смертной Казни (ЦИСК, англ. «Death Penalty Information Center», DPIC) в декабре прошлого года заявил, что в течение 2010 смертных казней в США было проведено меньше, чем в предшествующие несколько лет. ЦИСК считает, что частично это явление вызвано в том числе и нехваткой тиопентала натрия.

В пресс-релизе правительство Великобритании заявило: «Посоветовавшись с британскими поставщиками указанных лекарств и иными заинтересованными сторонами, Правительство с удовлетворением обнаружило, что планируемый запрет не скажется на законной торговле указанными веществами для применения их в медицинских целях».

18 апреля 2011 года


Ullrich and Sevilla suspended from Tour de France

STRASBOURG, France — T-Mobile suspended the Tour de France contestants Jan Ullrich and Oscar Sevilla, and they will not participate in the Tour de France. Ullrich's mentor, Rudy Pevenage, is also suspended.

The news was published at today's press meeting.

It is the first consequence of the big Spanish doping-scandal. The 32-year old Jan Ullrich won Tour de France in 1997. He was together with Team CSC's Ivan Basso the favorite winner in Tour de France, and the Spaniards Oscar Sevilla was one of Ullrich's most important helpers.

All three have to prove their innocence before they can be released, said the German crew who will try to get the two new bikers in the game.

Team CSC-owner Bjarne Riis said friday, when he was on his way to meet the other sports executives, and the Tour-management:

- "It is sad news. I just heard it. It is of course a shame."

Altogether 22 riders are mentioned on the list.


Jan Ullrich wegen Dopingvorwürfen vom „Team T-Mobile“ suspendiert

Plobsheim (Frankreich), 30.06.2006 – Der Radrennstall „Team T-Mobile“ teilte heute  um 09:34 Uhr mit, den Radprofi Jan Ullrich mit sofortiger Wirkung suspendiert zu haben. Dies gaben Teamsprecher Christian Frommert und Luuc Eisenga auf einer heute Morgen einberufenen Pressekonferenz in Plobsheim bei Straßburg bekannt.

Auch Ullrichs Betreuer Rudy Pevenage sowie sein Teamkollege Oscar Sevilla wurden aus dem Team ausgeschlossen. Damit wird Ullrich auch nicht an der Tour de France teilnehmen.

Die Entscheidung ist offensichtlich eine Konsequenz aus der Entwicklung des spanischen Dopingskandals. Bei einem spanischen Mediziner waren im Rahmen einer Razzia Blutkonserven gefunden worden, die mit „Jan“ und „Hijo Rudicio“ („Rudis Sohn“) beschriftet waren. Es besteht der Verdacht systematischen Blutdopings. Die Teamsprecher erklärten: „Auf Grund von Unterlagen, die wir von der Tour-Direktion erhalten haben, halten wir es für unmöglich, vorläufig mit diesen Dreien weiterzuarbeiten.“

Die spanische Guardia Civil, eine paramilitärische Polizeieinheit, soll insgesamt 58 Rennfahrer identifiziert haben. Sie sollen in ein Dopingnetzwerk um den ehemaligen Teamarzt Fuentes verstrickt sein.

Die Teammanager der anderen Teams haben sich ebenfalls heute darauf geeinigt, auch die übrigen des Dopings verdächtigten Fahrer bei der diesjährigen Tour de France nicht starten zu lassen. DW-World nennt in diesem Zusammenhang die Namen der folgenden Radprofis, die ebenfalls zum engen Favoritenkreis der diesjährigen Tour zählen: der Italiener Ivan Basso (CSC), die Spanier Francisco Manchebo (AG2R) und Joseba Beloki (Würth Team). Es gab ebenfalls Einverständnis über das weitere Verfahren, wonach keine neuen Fahrer für die wegen Dopingverdachts ausgefallenen nachnominiert werden sollen. Für das T-Mobile-Team bedeutet das, dass sich die Mannschaft auf sieben Fahrer reduziert.

Angesichts des neuerlichen Dopingskandals zeigte sich der deutsche Radprofi Erik Zabel deprimiert: „Für den Radsport könnte das wirklich zu einem Flächenbrand werden, der wahrscheinlich nicht mehr zu löschen ist. Das ist natürlich für den Sport, den du eigentlich aus Leidenschaft betreibst, schlimm. Aber in diesen Tagen schämt man sich manchmal richtig, dass man selbst den Sport betreibt.“

Der Präsident des neuen Deutschen Olympischen Sportbundes (DOSB), Thomas Bach, forderte Jan Ullrich, der sich heute noch nicht zu seinem Ausschluss von der Tour geäußert hat, zu einem DNA-Test auf. Nur so könne letzte Klarheit gewonnen werden.

Tour-Direktor Jean-Marie Leblanc lobte das konsequente Vorgehen des T-Mobile-Teams als „couragierte Geste“.


TdF 2006: Kolejne wykluczenia związane z listą dopingową

Kolejne ekipy wycofują swoich kolarzy z Tour de France. Wykluczenia mają związek z aferą dopingową.

Jak zapowiedział przedstawiciel zespołów w UCI Patrick Lefevre, kolarze nie będą zastępowani na liście startowej.

Wykluczni do tej pory to:

W zespole Würth Team wykluczono pięciu kolarzy. Zostali w nim Aleksander Winokurow, Kaszeczkin, Barredo i Sanchez Gil.

Menadżer zespołu CSC Bjarne Riis wypowiedział się na temat postępowania ekipy w związku z dzisiejszym zawieszeniem Ivana Basso:

"Pewnie większość z was zna już tą wiadomość. Dziś rano odbyło się spotkanie drużyny, gdzie podjęliśmy decyzję o odsunięciu Ivana Basso od startu w Tourze. Kolarz nie może koncentrować się na Tourze i jednocześnie odpierać zarzuty. Myślimy więc, że najlepiej dla Ivana i innych będzie jak nie pojedzie on w Wielkiej Pętli. Jeśli pozwoliłbym mu wystartować to już widzę jak by ten wyścig wyglądał - każde jego posunięcie czy wygrana byłaby śledzona i posądzana o nieuczciwość. To by nie było dobre dla Basso i drużyny, a w szczególności dla kolarstwa" - powiedział Riis.

"Pragnę jednak podkreślić, że zawsze wierzyłem i wierzę w niewinność Basso. Wszystko jest w należytym porządku, nie ma żadnego drobnego znaku do niepokoju więc ciężko nam uwierzyć w jego powiązania z dopingiem. Faktem jest jednak, że jego imię znajduje się na liście i to z tym musimy się zmierzyć. Niestety."

Artykuł wykorzystuje materiał pochodzący z serwisu pro-cycling.org (na specjalnych zasadach)


Ulster Volunteer Force announces it will put weapons "beyond reach"

The Northern Ireland loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) intends to end its decade-long campaign of violence and terror and will disarm, making it the first loyalist paramilitary to do so.

However, unlike the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the UVF will not fully decommission weapons. Instead the illegal organization will put weapons "beyond reach" of ordinary members in secure caches only known to UVF leadership.

The group, considered a terrorist group in both the United States and United Kingdom issued a statement, read by Gusty Spence, a founding member of the UVF, which stated that "as of 12 midnight, Thursday 3 May 2007, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando will assume a non-military, civilianised, role."

It also added, "All recruitment has ceased; military training has ceased; targeting has ceased and all intelligence rendered obsolete; all active service units have been deactivated; all ordinance has been put beyond reach and the IICD instructed accordingly."

However, according to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), this does not meet the requirements set out in government legislature. Although it welcomed the news of disarmament, the Commission said it was "concerned by [the UVF's] intention to deal with their arms without the involvement of the IICD".

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern suggested the UVF work with the Commission "with a view to full decommissioning". Sinn Fein welcomed the news of UVF's disarmament. "This is a welcome statement if it signals a recognition of the new political reality where there is no room for armed or violent actions," said John O'Dowd of Sinn Fein.

The British Prime Minister's office expressed cautious optimism over the UVF announcement. "We need to see how today's announcement is translated into action," said a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The group has been on a cease-fire since 1994 in response to the IRA ceasefire. The group was responsible for 427 deaths during the violent period in Northern Ireland known as the "the Troubles" some of which was notoriously violent, which included a group of members known as the "Shankill Butchers" who committed a series of grisly murders of Catholics in Belfast and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which claimed the life of 33 victims and was the deadliest terrorist incident during the Troubles to happen in the Republic of Ireland.


Irlande du Nord : l'UVF renonce à la violence

L'Ulster Volunteer Force et le Red Hand Commando, deux groupes paramilitaires protestants d'Irlande du Nord, responsables de centaines de morts civiles au cours du conflit nord-irlandais, ont annoncé aujourd'hui à minuit qu'ils renoncent à la violence. Cette déclaration est faite à quelque jours de la relance politique puisque le gouvernement partagé à Belfast et dirigé par Ian Paisley devrait prendre ses fonctions le 8 mai prochain.

Cette déclaration est surtout un signe encourageant pour la normalisation de la vie dans la province puisque l'UVF qui avait déclaré la guerre à l'IRA entre 1969 et 1998 a donc indiqué « déposer ses armes » et « renoncer aux entraînements militaires, à tout recrutement de volontaires, à la collecte d'informations » et se dit même prêt à « condamner les activités criminelles de ses membres ». Gusty Spence, membre fondateur du groupe, a aussi déclaré que le groupe jouera un rôle non-militaire dans la société civile. Le communiqué indique aussi que le groupe accepte tout à fait les dernières évolutions des structures stables, durables et démocratiques en Irlande du Nord.
L'organisation avait déjà en 1994 déclaré un cessez-le-feu mais des meurtres datant après le cessez-le-feu lui sont imputés.

Seul bémol à cette déclaration, l'UVF précise que contrairement à l'IRA, ses membres ne déposeront pas leurs armes publiquement même si le général canadien John de Chastelain de la commission internationale indépendante au désarmement (IICD) se dit prêt à travailler avec l'UVF et inquiet si l'organisation se désarme seule puisque beaucoup d'armes risqueraient alors d'être réutilisées pour des actes criminels.

Le premier ministre britannique Tony Blair et son homologue irlandais Bertie Ahern indiquent que ce choix est « potentiellement très important » mais qu'ils « attendent de voir la transformation des paroles en actes concrets ». Ils en profitent pour appeler les derniers groupes armés à déposer les armes comme par exemple Ulster Defense Association qui ne l'a pas encore fait.


UN accuses Australia of 'demonising asylum seekers'

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner has questioned Australia's tough asylum seeker policies this week, stating that Australia's mandatory detention regime has "cast a shadow" over its human rights record. Navi Pillay, the UN's Human Rights watchdog, was particularly critical of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's asylum seeker trade deal with Malaysia.

This bilateral agreement, if signed, would see 800 refugees attempting to get to Australia by boat immediately transported to Malaysia instead. In return, Australia would take 4,000 genuine refugees from Malaysia over a space of four years. However, Malaysia has not signed either the international Refugee Convention, or the Convention Against Torture.   In an interview with the ABC, Ms Pillay voiced concern over this, stating that Australia may "violate refugee law" by sending asylum seekers to a country where no laws are in place to protect them.

Pillay, a South African former anti-apartheid protester, also voiced distress over the omnipresence of political "demonising" of these asylum seekers stating, "[t]he consequence of the constant political refrain that Australia is being 'flooded' by people who are 'queue jumpers' has resulted in a stigmatisation of an entire group of people, irrespective of where they have come from or what dangers they have fled".

In her six-day trip to Australia, the UN Human Rights Commissioner visited two detention centres and said she was overwhelmed with the "grim despondency" of asylum seekers, many of whom wait over 18 months to have their case assessed.

The mistreatment of refugees was today reinforced with the release of an Australian Rights Commission report, which revealed extensive problems of self-harm and depression among detainees at the Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney.


Ο ΟΗΕ κατηγορεί την Αυστραλία για 'δαιμονοποίηση των αιτούντων άσυλο'

Η Επίτροπος για το Παρατηρητήριο των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων του ΟΗΕ αμφισβήτησε τη σκληρή πολιτική ασύλου της Αυστραλίας αυτή την εβδομάδα, δηλώνοντας ότι το υποχρεωτικό  καθεστώς κράτησης "ρίχνει μια σκιά" πάνω στο ιστορικό των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων της χώρας.  Η Νάβι Πιλλάι, θεματοφύλακας των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στον ΟΗΕ, ήταν ιδιαίτερα κριτική απένταντι στην συμφωνία για τους αναζητούντες άσυλο της  πρωθυπουργού  Τζούλια Γκίλαρντ με την Μαλαισία.

Αυτή η διμερής συμφωνία, αν υπογραφεί, θα έχει ως αποτέλεσμα 800 μετανάστες που θα επιχειρήσουν να φτάσουν στην Αυστραλία με πλοίο να μεταφερθούν αμέσως αντ'αυτού στην Μαλαισία. Σε αντάλλαγμα, η Αυστραλία θα δεχθεί  4,000 πραγματικούς πρόσφυγες από την Μαλαισία σε διάστημα τεσσάρων ετών. Εντούτοις, η Μαλαισία δεν έχει υπογράψει ακόμα την Διεθνή Σύμβαση για τους Πρόσφυγες, ούτε την Σύμβαση Ενάντια στα Βασανιστήρια.  Σε μια συνέντευξη με το  ABC, η Κα Πιλλάι εξέφρασε τις ανησυχίες της πάνω σ'αυτό το θέμα, δηλώνοντας ότι η Αυστραλία ενδεχομένως  "παραβιάζει την νομοθεσία για τους πρόσφυγες" στέλνοντας τους αιτούντες άσυλο σε μια χώρα δεν υπάρχουν αντίστοιχη νόμοι για την προστασία τους.

Η Πιλλάι, μια πρώην Νοτιοαφρικανή ακτιβίστρια ενάντια στο απαρχάιντ, εξέφρασε επίσης της απέχθειά της για την πανταχού παρούσα πολιτική "δαιμονοποίησης" των αιτούντων άσυλο δηλώνοντας που είναι   «αποτέλεσμα της συνεχούς επανάληψης ότι η Αυστραλία έχει  'πλημμυρίσει' από ανθρώπους που είναι 'λαθρεπιβάτες' που με τη σειρά του οδηγεί στον στιγματισμό μιας ολόκληρης ομάδας, ανεξαρτήτως από του που έρχονται αυτοί ή τι είδους  κινδύνους  έχουν διαφύγει».

Στο έξι ημερών ταξίδι της στην Αυστραλία, η Επίτροπος για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα του ΟΗΕ επισκέφθηκε δύο στρατόπεδα κράτησης και είπε ότι σοκαρίστηκε από την  "ζωφερή κατάσταση" των αιτούντων άσυλο, πολλοί από τους οποίους περιμένουν πάνω από 18 μήνες για να εξεταστεί η υπόθεσή τους.


UN probing allegations US is 'torturing' soldier over leaks

The United Nations is reportedly beginning an investigation into claims that Pfc. Bradley Manning is being "tortured." Manning was arrested in May, after allegedly leaking over 250,000 classified diplomatic cables to the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

Last week, it was announced that supporters for Manning lodged a complaint with the Office of The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, saying that the conditions of his cell and the treatment he is receiving, amount to "torture." According to Salon, Manning is not allowed to exercise, is denied bed sheets and pillows, and has been held in solitary confinement for 23 hours of every day since his arrest. According to Manning's attorney, David Coombs, a former United States Army major, and veteran of the Iraq War, Manning is only allowed to walk in a small room for exercise.

"[Manning is] taken to an empty room and only allowed to walk, normally just walks figure eights in the room. If he indicates that he no long feels like walking, he is immediately returned to his cell," stated Coombs to Salon.

The Pentagon denies that Manning is being tortured, saying he is being treated "fairly. We've been reviewed ... No concerns have been voiced from a (Department of Defense) perspective."


விக்கிலீக்சிற்கு ஆவணங்களைக் கசிந்த சிப்பாய் சித்திரவதைக்கு உள்ளாவதாகக் குற்றச்சாட்டு

ஐக்கிய அமெரிக்கச் சிப்பாய் பிராட்லி மானிங் என்பவரைச் சிறையில் அடைத்துச் சித்திரவதை செய்ததாக எழுப்பப்படும் குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் தொடர்பாக ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் தனது விசாரணைகளை முடுக்கி விட்டுள்ளதாக செய்திகள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. 250,000 இற்கும் அதிகமான அமெரிக்கத் தூதரக ஆவணங்களை விக்கிலீக்ஸ் என்ற செய்திக்கசிவு இணையத்தளத்துக்கு வழங்கியதாகக் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்டு மானிங் கடந்த மே மாதத்தில் கைது செய்யப்பட்டார்.

மானிங்கின் ஆதரவாளர்கள் சிலர் ஜெனீவாவில் உள்ள அகதிகளுக்கான ஐக்கிய நாடுகளின் ஆணையரிடம் கடந்த வாரம் இது குறித்து முறையிட்டுள்ளதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மானிங் அடைத்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள சிறைக்கூடம் மற்றும் அங்கு அவர் நடத்தப்படும் முறை "சித்திரவதை" என்றே கருதப்பட வேண்டும் என அவர்கள் முறையிட்டுள்ளனர். சலோன்.கொம் என்ற தளத்தின்படி, கைது செய்யப்பட்ட நாளில் இருந்து உடற்பயிற்சி நிராகரிக்கப்பட்டமை, உறங்குவதற்கான அடிப்படை வசதி மறுக்கப்பட்டமை, ஒரு நாளுக்கு 23 மணித்தியாலங்கள் தனிமைச் சிறைவைப்பு போன்றவை சுட்டிக்காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. அமெரிக்காவின் முன்னாள் மேஜரும், ஈராக் போரில் பெரும் பங்காற்றியவருமான மானிங் ஒரு சிறிய அறைக்குள் நடப்பதற்கு மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக அவரது வழக்கறிஞர் டேவிட் கூம்ஸ் தெரிவித்தார்.

"மானிங் ஒரு வெற்று அறைக்குக் கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டு நடப்பதற்கு அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறார், பொதுவாக எட்டடி நடப்பதற்கே அவ்வறைக்கு இடமுள்ளது. நடப்பதற்கு அவருக்கு மனமில்லை என அவர் தெரிவித்தால் உடனடியாக அவர் தனது சிறைக்கூடத்துக்கு கூட்டிச்செல்லப்படுகிறார்," என கூம்ஸ் தெரிவித்தார்.

இக்குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை மறுத்துள்ள பென்டகன் அதிகாரிகள் மானிங் "நல்ல முறையில்" நடத்தப்படுவதாகத் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

ஞாயிறு, திசம்பர் 26, 2010


UN reports Rwandan refugees repatriated by force

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is reporting that thousands of Rwandan asylum seekers who fled to neighbouring Burundi over the last few months have been forced to return home. Trucks laden with people have been seen leaving the camp, and some people have broken limbs after allegedly jumping to avoid returning to Rwanda.

According to a press release, the UNHCR was denied access to the Songore transit centre in northern Burundi, making verification difficult. The camp was home to at least 6,000 asylum seekers until last week. The Rwandan and Burundian governments met over the weekend and declared in a joint press release that the asylum seekers were not refugees but "illegal immigrants".

"Nothing justifies the presence of these people in Burundi. Rwanda is in peace and there is no persecution," said Burundian Interior Minister Jean Marie Ngendahayo.

This claim has been criticised by the UNHCR, which has stated that it would be illegal to return the people without first assessing their claim to asylum. Amnesty International has also claimed that Burundi's actions are contrary to international law.

"The use of verbal or physical threats to induce people to return to countries where they fear persecution is in complete contravention of international law — in particular the binding principle of non-refoulement," said Kolawole Olaniyan, Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme.

"We urge the government of Burundi to implement fair and transparent asylum procedures to establish the risks of return for every single person claiming asylum — as is their duty under international law," he added.

This action appears to be part of a wider crackdown on asylum seekers from Rwanda and Burundi. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international aid group, reported yesterday that their medical staff had been denied access to the Songore camp.

The Rwandan asylum seekers began arriving in Burundi in March. Their main concern was the Gacaca courts, village courts established to expedite prosecution of perpretators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The UNHCR is also reporting that some asylum seekers "... said they were fleeing threats, intimidation, persecution and rumours of revenge and bloodshed."

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has previously called for the asylum seekers to return home, stating that they will not be in danger.

"Gacaca is not intended to have all the people who appear at Gacaca arrested and put in prison. We want these people to show remorse and through that they will provide information and will allow people to forgive them and allow them to settle," he said.

A Wikinews reporter was in Butare recently talking to the locals. She says that the mood is generally supportive of the courts.

"People here believe in the Gacaca process. They say that people have fled now because the investigations are reaching their end and people now know that the are going to be exposed in the process. They have heard 'rumours' that may have been circulated by former leaders of the genocide — or there may not have been rumours they may merely fear the trials - that there will be reprisals and violence," she said.

Some people fear reprisals after testifying before the courts.

"Fear is also experienced by those facing testimonies at the Gacaca trial: the widows etc. who will testify against their neighbours. I have been told by several people that high levels of security have been put into place in villages to protect people from revenge attacks for testifying or for being involved," she added.

There are 8,000 Rwandan asylum seekers in Burundi, and nearly 7,000 Burundians in Rwanda, according to the UNHCR.


Burundi: Flüchtlinge aus Ruanda wurden offenbar abgeschoben

Bujumbura (Burundi), 14.06.2005 - Mehrere Tausend ruandische Flüchtlinge kehrten am Montag aus Burundi in ihr Heimatland zurück. Internationale Organisationen befürchten, dass die Flüchtlinge zur Rückkehr gezwungen wurden.

Die Regierungen von Ruanda und Burundi hatten entschieden, die Flüchtlinge aus dem jeweils anderen Land als „illegale Einwanderer“ zu betrachten. Beide Regierungen erklärten nach einem Treffen auf Ministerebene, dass die Flüchtlinge ihre jeweiligen Heimatländer „ohne guten Grund“ verlassen hätten. Das UN-Flüchtlingskommissariat (UNHCR) warnte am Montag vor den Folgen des Beschlusses und zeigte sich alarmiert.

Sollten die Flüchtlinge ohne Verfahren und Klärung ihres Status abgeschoben worden sein, wäre dies ein Verstoß gegen internationales Recht, speziell gegen die Genfer Flüchtlingskonvention, gewesen. Kolawole Olaniyan, Direktor des Afrika-Programms von amnesty international, sagte, dass der Gebrauch von verbaler oder physischer Bedrohung, um Menschen zur Rückkehr in ihr Heimatland zu bewegen, wo ihnen Verfolgung droht, ein klarer Widerspruch zu internationalem Recht sei. Hilfsorganisationen wurde der Zugang zum Flüchtlingslager Songore in der Provinz Ngozi (im Norden Burundis) nicht gestattet. Daher können das Flüchtlingskommissariat und Nichtregierungsorganisationen nicht klar feststellen, ob die Flüchtlinge freiwillig in ihre Heimat zurückgekehrt sind oder mit Gewalt abgeschoben wurden. Das Flüchtlingslager Songore, in dem sich bis Montag 6.000 Menschen aufhielten, wurde nun geschlossen.

UNHCR-Beobachter beobachteten die Situation außerhalb des Lagers. Deren Berichten zufolge haben die Flüchtlinge das Land auf LKWs verlassen. Einige Menschen seien von den Lastwagen abgesprungen und hätten sich dabei Brüche zugezogen.

Die meisten Flüchtlinge aus Ruanda waren seit März diesen Jahres wegen den „gacaca Tribunalen“ ins Nachbarland Burundi geflohen. Sie befürchten eine ungerechte Behandlung durch die örtlichen Gerichte. Die Tribunale sammeln Informationen über den Völkermord von 1994, um Verbrechen aufzuarbeiten. 1994 wurden 800.000 Tutsi und gemäßigte Hutu getötet.


Los refugiados ruandeses en Burundi son repatriados a la fuerza según informe de la ONU

16 de junio de 2005Ruanda / Burundi —

El Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los refugiados (ACNUR) informa que miles de refugiados ruandeses, que huyeron hacia la vecina Burundi durante los últimos meses, han sido forzados a regresar a su país. Camiones llenos de gente han sido vistos saliendo de los campamentos, mientras algunas personas se han roto alguno de sus miembros luego de, presuntamente, saltar de los vehículos en movimientos para evitar volver a Ruanda.

Según un comunicado de prensa, al ACNUR se le negó el acceso al centro de tránsito de Songore, al norte de Burundi, lo que dificulta la verificación. El campamento cobijaba a cerca de 6000 refugiados hasta la semana pasada. Los gobiernos de ambos países tuvieron encuentros el fin de semana anterior y declararon en un comunicado conjunto que no se trataba de refugiados sino de "inmigrantes ilegales".

"Nada justifica la presencia de estas personas en Burundi. Ruanda está en paz y no hay persecuciones", afirmó Jean Marie Ngendahayo, ministro del Interior de Burundi. Esta declaración ha sido criticada por el ACNUR, que afirma que sería ilegal regresar a dichas personas sin primero evaluar sus pedidos de asilo. Amnistía Internacional también afirmó que las acciones tomadas por Burundi son contrarias a la ley internacional.

"El uso de amenazas verbales o físicas para inducir a la gente a regresar a un país donde temen sufrir persecución es absolutamente contrario al derecho internacional, en particular al principio vinculante de no devolución", afirmó said Kolawole Olaniyan, director del programa regional para África de Amnistía Internacional, quien añadió: "Pedimos al gobierno de Burundi que aplique procedimientos de asilo imparciales y transparentes para determinar los riesgos que entraña el retorno para cada una de las personas que solicitan el asilo, a lo cual está obligado en virtud del derecho internacional."

Esta acción parece ser parte de una serie de medidas mayores hacia aquellos que buscan asilo de Ruanda y Burundi. Médicos sin fronteras, un grupo de ayuda internacional, informó el lunes que a su personal médico también se le negó el ingreso al campamento de Songore.

Los refugiados ruandeses empezaron a llegar a Burundi en marzo pasado. Su principal preocupación son las llamadas cortes de Gacaca, tribunales provinciales establecidos para acelerar la persecución de los perpetradores del Genocidio de Ruanda de 1994. El ACNUR ha informado también que algunos refugiados "... dijeron que huían de las amenazas, la intimidación, la persecución y los rumores de venganza y baños de sangre".

Paul Kagame, presidente de Ruanda, había llamado a los refugiados a volver a casa anteriormente, afirmando que no estarían en peligro. "Gacaca no está destinada para tener a todos los que aparezcan allí arrestados y puestos en prisión. Queremos que estas personas muestren su remordimiento para que den información y permitan que la gente los perdone y les deje saldar la deuda".

Una periodista de Wikinews estuvo recientemente en Butare hablando con los habitantes del lugar, y dice que la disposición en general está a favor de las cortes.

"Aquí la gente cree en los procesos Gacaca. Dicen que la gente huye ahora porque las investigaciones se aproximan a su final y que la gente ahora sabe que van a ser expuestos en el proceso. Han oído 'rumores' que tal vez hayan sido circulados por antiguos líderes del genocidio - o tal vez no hayan sido rumores sino simple temor de los juicios- de represalias y violencia", afirmó. Algunos temen represalias después de testificar ante los tribunales. "El miedo también es experimentado por aquellos que enfrentan testimonios en los juicios Gacaca: las viudas y otros que testificarían contra sus vecinos. Varias personas me han dicho que fuertes medidas de seguridad han sido llevadas a cabo en algunas aldeas para proteger a la gente de ataques de venganza por testificar o por estar involucrados", añadió.

Hay 8000 refugiados ruandeses en Burundi y cerca de 7000 burundeses en Ruanda, según el ACNUR.


Les réfugiés rwandais au Burundi sont rapatriés de force, selon les informations provenant de l'ONU

Le haut Commissariat des Nations Unis pour les Réfugiés (UNHCR) a informé que des milliers de refugiés rwandais, qui fuyaient jusqu'au Burundi voisin durant les derniers mois, ont été forçés de rentrer au pays. Des camions pleins de réfugiés auraient été apercus à la sortie des camps, bien que quelques personnes aient sauté des véhicules en mouvement pour éviter de retourner au Rwanda.

Selon un communiqué de presse, le UNHCR s'est vu refuser l'accés au centre de transit de Songore, dans le nord du Burundi, ce qui rend difficile la vérification. Le campement contiendrait près de 6000 refugiés depuis la semaine dernière. Les gouvernements des pays concernés se sont rencontrés en fin de semaine dernière et ont declaré dans un communiqué conjoint qu'il ne s'agissait pas de réfugiés mais d'"immigrants illégaux".

« Rien ne justifie la présence de ces personnes au Burundi. Le Rwanda est en paix et il n'y a aucune persécution », a affimé Jean Marie Ngendahayo, ministre de l'Interieur du Burundi. Cette déclaration a été attaquée par l'UNHCR, qui affirme qu'il est illégal de rejeter des personnes sans d'abord avoir pu évaluer leur demande d'asile. Amnesty International également affirmé que les actions prises par le Burundi seraient contraires à la loi internationale.

« L'utilisation de menaces verbales ou physiques pour pousser les gens à repartir dans leur pays où ils pourraient subir des persécutions est absolument contraire au droit international, en particulier au principe inhérent de non-renvoi », a affirmé Kolawole Olaniyan, directeur du programme régional pour l'Afrique d'Amnesty International, qui a ajouté : « Nous demandons au gouvernement burundais qu'il applique les procédures d'asile impartiales et transparentes pour déterminer les risques qu'entrainerait un retour pour chacune des personnes qui ont sollicité l'asile, qu'il est obligé de prendre en vertu du droit international. »

Ces actions paraissent faire partie d'une série de mesures majeures prises par les deux nations dans l'objectif apparent de réduction Médecins sans frontières, ONG internationnale, a déclaré lundi que son personnel médical n'avait pas non plus pu accéder au camp de Songore.

Il y aurait 8000 refugiés Rwandais au Burundi et près de 7000 Burundais au Rwanda, selon l'UNHCR.


Refugiados ruandeses em Burundi são repatriados à força segundo relatório das Nações Unidas

O Alto Comissariado das   Nações Unidas para os Refugiados (ACNUR) informou que milhares de refugiados ruandeses, que fugiram para o vizinho Burundi durante os últimos meses, foram forçados a regressar a seu país. Caminhões cheios de gente foram vistos a sair dos acampamentos. Há notícia de que algumas pessoas tiveram pernas ou braços fraturados, depois de supostamente saltar dos veículos, um tentativa para evitar voltar à Ruanda.

Segundo um comunicado de imprensa, foi negado acesso ao ACNUR para o centro de trânsito de Songore, ao norte de Burundi, o que dificulta qualquer  averiguação. O acampamento Cobijaba tinha cerca de 6 mil  refugiados até a semana passada. Os governos de ambos países tiveram encontros no fim de semana anterior e declararam num comunicado conjunto que não se tratava de refugiados, mas  de "imigrantes ilegais".

"Nada justifica a presença destas pessoas em Burundi. Ruanda está em paz e não há perseguições", afirmou Jean Marie Ngendahayo, ministro do Interior do Burundi. Esta declaração foi criticada pelo ACNUR, que afirma que é ilegal obrigar as pessoas a voltar, sem primeiro consultar seus pedidos de asilo. A Anistia Internacional também afirmou as ações tomadas pelo  Burundi e disse que elas  são contrárias à lei internacional.

"O uso de ameaças verbais ou físicas para induzir pessoas a regressar a um país, onde temem sofrer perseguição, é absolutamente contrário ao direito internacional, em particular, ao princípio relacionado de não devolução", afirmou Kolawole Olaniyan, diretor do programa regional para a África,  da Anistia Internacional. Ele acrescentou: "Pedimos ao governo do Burundi que aplique procedimentos  imparciais e transparentes de asilo para determinar os riscos de retorno para cada uma das pessoas que solicitar  asilo — o  seu dever em virtude do direito internacional."

Esta ação parece ser parte de uma série de medidas maiores para aqueles que procuram asilo de Ruanda e Burundi. Os "Médicos sem fronteiras", um grupo de ajuda internacional, informou na segunda-feira,  que foi negado a seu pessoal médico o acesso ao acampamento de Songore.

Os refugiados ruandeses começaram a chegar a Burundi em março passado. Sua principal preocupação são as chamadas Cortes de Gacaca, tribunais estaduais estabelecidos para acelerar os processos para os acusados do Genocídio de Ruanda de 1994. O ACNUR informou também que alguns refugiados "(...) disseram que fugiam das ameaças, da intimidação, da perseguição e dos rumores de vingança e banhos de sangue".

Paul Kagame, presidente de Ruanda, tinha pedido aos refugiados para voltar para casa anteriormente, afirmando que não estariam em perigo. Gacaca não foi feita para que todos que aparecem ali em Gacaca sejam presos. Queremos que estas pessoas mostrem seu arrependimento para que dêem informações e permitam que as pessoas as perdoem e permitam-na  saldar suas dívidas.

Uma jornalista do Wikinews esteve recentemente em Butare falando com os habitantes do lugar, e disse que a população em geral está a favor das cortes.

Há 8000 refugiados ruandeses em Burundi e cerca de 7 mil burundeses em Ruanda, segundo o ACNUR.


UN troops target violent gangs in Haitian slum raid

Over 700 troops stormed a Haitian slum near the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Friday to oust a gang led by a man known only as Evans, blamed for many murders, kidnappings and rapes in the area. Heavy sustained gunfire was exchanged for several hours in the operation, which  killed four gang members and wounded two U.N. peace keepers, U.N. officials said.

U.N. commander Maj. Gen. Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz said no one was arrested in the raid and no weapons were recovered, but U.N. spokesman told BBC News that the operation had taken away the Evans' gang's base in Cite Soleil.

The raid has been approved by Haitian President René Préval.

Over 8,000 UN force have been stationed in Haiti since 2004, to restore order following a coup against then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The area of Cité-Soleil is home to around 300,000 people and a neighborhood known as Boston was said to be in the control of Evan's gang.

The UN troops raided a school controlled by Evans' gang and their headquarters, called Jamaica Base. This was the largest of the several raids into gang's territory.


Les troupes de l'ONU ciblent des gangs violents lors d'un raid dans les marécages à Haïti

Plus de 700 soldats ont investi un marécage haïtien près de la capitale Port-au-Prince vendredi afin d'en déloger un gang mené par un homme connu seulement sous le nom d'Evans, accusé de meurtres, enlèvements et viols dans la région. Des échanges soutenus de tirs à l'arme lourde pendant de nombreuses heures dans l'opération, tuant quatre membres du gang et blessant deux soldats de la paix ONUsiens, indiquent des représentants de l'ONU.

Le commandant de la force des Nations Unies, le major général Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz a indiqué qu'aucun membre du gang n'a été arrêté dans le raid et qu'aucune arme n'a été retrouvée, mais un porte-parole des Nations Unies a lui indiqué que l'opération a repoussé la base du gang d'Evans dans la Cité Soleil.

Le raid a été approuvé par le Président haïtien René Préval.

Plus de 8000 hommes des Nations Unies ont été stationnés à Haïti depuis 2004, afin de restaurer l'ordre après un coup d'état contre l'ancien Président Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

La zone de la Cité Soleil abrite environ 300 000 personnes et sa proximité immédiate, surnommée Boston, est réputée être sous le contrôle du gang d'Evans.

Les troupes des Nations Unies ont attaqué une école contrôlée par le gang d'Evans ainsi que leur quartier général, appelé base jamaïcaine. Cela a été la plus importante des nombreuses opérations menées sur le territoire du gang.


UN wants Gaddafi's death probed

The United Nations and two human rights groups are pressing for an investigation into the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville from the Office of the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights said in a statement on Friday that "there seem to be four or five different versions of how he died," and that "more details are needed to ascertain whether he was killed in the fighting or after his capture."

Specifically pressed on the possibility Gaddafi was executed whilst detained, he said, "It has to be one possibility when you look at these two videos. So that's something that an investigation needs to look into."

"Summary executions are strictly illegal under any circumstances. It's different if someone is killed in combat. There was a civil war taking place in Libya. So if the person died as part of combat, that is a different issue and that is normally acceptable under the circumstances," Colville said.

"But if something else has happened, if someone is captured and then deliberately killed, then that is a very serious matter," he said.

Amnesty International, a human rights group, has urged the  National Transitional Council to reveal the circumstances surrounding Gaddafi's death.

Questions have lingered about the true cause of Gaddafi's death, with two separate videos showing him wounded and bloodied but alive and another showing him already dead with a bullet wound on his head.


Истражити околности смрти Гадафија

21. октобар 2011.Женева-  (Beta-AP) - Канцеларија УН за људска права из Женеве саопштила је у петак да је потребно спровести истрагу о околностима смрти бившег либијског лидера Моамера Гадафија.

Гадафи је у четвртак убијен недалеко од свог родног Сирта.

Портпарол високог комесара УН за људска права, Руперт Колвил рекао је новинарима у Женеви да су „веома узнемирујући“ аматерски видео снимци на којима се заробљени Гадафи прво види жив, па мртав.

Колвил је додао да ће постојећи панел УН који се бави истрагама о злоупотреби људских права у Либији највероватније испитати смрт бившег либијског лидера. Он је указао да би то тело могло да предложи националну или међународну истрагу.

Колвил је указао да жртве скоро 42-годишње Гадафијеве деспотске владавине заслужују да се спроведу одговарајуће правосудне процедуре и да се сви починиоци злочина приведу правди.


UN's Third Commission passes resolution condemning capital punishment

Yesterday, the United Nations General Assembly's Third Commission passed resolution L29 against capital punishment; the project was presented by New Zealand and Brazil, and was defended vigorously by Italy. With 99 votes in favor, 52 against and 33 abstentions, the necessary majority was met, needed in order to pass the resolution.

Italy had proposed a resolution against capital punishments several times – in 1994, 1999, and in 2003 – but had been denied in all cases. Massimo D'Alema, Italian Minister of State and Vicepresident of the Council, did not hold and expressed his content towards the result:


La ONU aprueba resolución que condena a la pena de muerte

16 de noviembre de 2007Nueva York, Estados Unidos —

Ayer, la Tercera Comisión de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas ha aprobado la resolución L29 contra la pena de muerte, proyecto presentado por Nueva Zelanda y Brasil, y del cual Italia fue su mayor defensor. Con 99 votos a favor, 52 en contra y 33 abstenciones, la mayoría necesaria para pasar la resolución (de 97 votos a favor) fue conseguida.

Italia había propuesto varias veces la resolución contra la pena de muerte – en 1994, 1999 y en 2003 – pero en todos los casos fueron negadas. Massimo D'Alema, Ministro de Estado y Vice Presidente del Consejo italiano, no se abstuvo de expresar su contento para con el resultado obtenido.

Entre tanto, la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos de América ha prohibido la inyección letal contra Mark Dean Schwab en el estado de Florida; Schwab es acusado de violar y asesinar a un niño de 11 años.


Onu: voto favorevole alla moratoria contro la pena di morte

Nella tarda serata italiana di ieri, la Terza Commissione dell'assemblea generale dell'ONU ha approvato la risoluzione L29 contro la pena di morte, presentata da Nuova Zelanda e Brasile e di cui l'Italia è la principale sostenitrice, con 99 voti a favore, 52 contrari e 33 astenuti. La maggioranza necessaria affinché la risoluzione passasse era di 97 voti e ora toccherà all'assemblea generale esprimere il proprio parere, entro la metà del mese di dicembre.

L'Italia già in passato aveva proposto delle risoluzioni contro la pena di morte, nel 1994, 1999 e 2003, ma in tutti i casi furono rigettate. Massimo D'Alema, Ministro degli Esteri e Vice Presidente del Consiglio, non ha nascosto la propria gioia riguardo all'esito favorevole di questa votazione:

Intanto, proprio ieri, la Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti ha bloccato l'esecuzione di un'iniezione letale in Florida nei confronti di Mark Dean Schwab, accusato di violenza e omicidio di un bambino di 11 anni, che sarebbe dovuta essere effettuata alle ore 18 locali (mezzanotte in Italia).


Nações Unidas aprovam resolução contra a pena de morte

A Terceira Comissão da Assembléia Geral das Nações Unidas aprovou quinta-feira (15) a resolução L29 contra a pena de morte, projeto apresentado pela Nova Zelândia e Brasil, e do qual a Itália foi seu maior defensor. Com 99 votos a favor, 52 em contra e 33 abstenções, a maioria necessária para passar a resolução (97 votos a favor) foi conseguida.

A Itália tinha proposto várias vezes a resolução contra a pena de morte – em 1994, 1999 e em 2003 – mas em todos os casos foram negadas. Massimo D'Alema, Ministro de Estado e Vice-Presidente do Conselho italiano, não se absteve de expressar sua alegria com o resultado obtido.


"Unauthorized" Tom Cruise bio hits number one on Amazon.com, New York Times best sellers list

Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography, a biography of actor Tom Cruise written by journalist Andrew Morton, has hit the number one spot on Amazon.com's Top Sellers list and The New York Times Best Sellers list.

Morton's book was published January 15, and hit number one on Amazon.com's Top Sellers list on January 18. Yesterday, the book hit the number one spot on The New York Times Best Sellers list. The book is not for sale in Britain or Ireland, and the New York Post has reported that British tourists to the United States are buying copies of the book to bring back home.

Morton makes some controversial assertions in the book, including that Cruise is second in command at the Church of Scientology, and that Scientology was the cause of Cruise and Nicole Kidman's separation.

Cruise's attorney, Bertram Fields released a statement which said that the book was "absolutely loaded with false statements." Cruise has threatened a USD$100 million lawsuit against Morton and the book's publisher, St. Martin's Press. The Church of Scientology also responded to Morton's claims in the book. In a 15-page statement, the Church called the book "bigoted" and a "defamatory assault," and said that Cruise "holds no official or unofficial position in the Church hierarchy."

Morton was interviewed by the Associated Press, and responded to some of the statements made by the Church of Scientology. When asked if he had attempted to interview Cruise for the book, Morton said "I asked Tom for an interview and he declined." In response to a statement released by Cruise's publicists that he had not interviewed "one person who has known or worked with Tom" in the past twenty-five years, Morton responded "I interviewed everyone from scriptwriters to producers to actors to actresses to teachers to girlfriends to pupils to Scientologists to people who have audited him." When questioned about his assertion that Cruise is "second in command" of the Church of Scientology, Morton stated "Scientology would be a shadow of what it is today if it had not been for the involvement of Tom Cruise."

Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote that parts of the book "push the limits of responsible reporting." A review in the Chicago Tribune was also critical, and Teresa Budasi wrote "If you read Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise with a fan’s curiosity in one hand and a thinking person’s skepticism in the other, you’ll likely end up in the same place you were before you read it: not all that interested." In his review of the book, Dave Shiflett of The Wall Street Journal commented on the litigious nature of the Church of Scientology, writing "Mr. Morton, apparently unfazed by the reputation of the group's notoriously hair-triggered legal department, leaves few stones unhurled."

Shortly before the book's publication, a video produced by the Church of Scientology featuring Tom Cruise promoting his beliefs appeared on the Internet. After the Church of Scientology sent a legal complaint to the online video-sharing website YouTube, the video was taken down from that site, but is available on Gawker.com. A group of Internet users calling themselves "Anonymous" subsequently announced a "War on Scientology" including denial-of-service attacks against the Church of Scientology's main websites. Andreas Heldal-Lund, founder of the Scientology-critical site and Norway-based non-profit organization Operation Clambake released a statement on Tuesday critical of the actions of the "Anonymous" group, saying that the Church of Scientology deserves the right to freedom of speech.

Actor Jerry O'Connell, who had previously acted alongside Cruise in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, produced a parody of the Cruise video which was released on Wednesday. Other Hollywood acquaintances of Cruise, including comedians Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, released statements defending Cruise and criticizing those who have mocked him for his beliefs. Sandler stated "To see anyone’s private life invaded and mocked like this is sickening," and Stiller commented "People lose sight of the fact that Tom Cruise is actually a person. I feel for him."

On Wednesday the Associated Press reported that Cruise will be a presenter at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony on Sunday.


Uautorisert Tom Cruise-biografi når toppen av bestselgerlistene

Målform: Bokmål - Dato: 25. januar 2008 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Boken Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography, en biografi om skuespilleren Tom Cruise skrevet av journalisten Andrew Morton, har gått til topps på bestselgerlistene til Amazon.com og New York Times.

Boken til Morton ble utgitt 15. januar i USA, og ble allerede tre dager senere Amazons mest populære bok. I går gikk boken også til topps på bestselgerlisten til New York Times. Boken er ikke til salgs i Storbritannia og Irland, og New York Post melder at britiske turister til USA kjøper med seg eksemplarer til å ta med hjem.

Morten kommer med flere oppsiktsvekkende påstander i boken, blant annet av Cruise er nestleder i Scientologikirken, og at Scientologien var grunnen til at ekteskapet mellom Cruise og Nicole Kidman sprakk.

Advokaten til Cruise, Bertram Fields, sier i en uttalelse at boken er «fullstappet av falske påstander». Cruise har truet med et søksmål i størrelsesorden hundre millioner dollar mot forlaget, St. Martin's Press. Scientologikirken har også svart på Mortons påstander, og omtaler boken som «sneversynt» og et «ærekrenkende angrep». De uttaler videre at Cruise ikke har noe offisielt verv i organisasjonen.

Morton svarte på noen av Scientologenes motangrep i et intervju til Associated Press. Morton hevdet at han spurte Cruise om en intervju under arbeidet med boken, men at Cruise nektet. Rådgiverne til Cruise har uttalt at Morton ikke intervjuet «en eneste person som kjenner eller har jobbet med Tom», noe Morton hevder er feil. Han uttaler at han «intervjuet alle fra manusforfattere til produsenter til skuespillere til lærere til kjærester til elever til scientologer til revisorer». Da Morton ble spurt om påstanden om at Cruise er nestleder uttalte Morton at Scientologikirken «ville vært en skygge av hva den er i dag hadde det ikke vært for involveringen til Tom Cruise».

Janet Maslin i New York Times skriver at deler av boken «tøyer grensene for ansvarlig journalistikk». En bokanmeldelse i Chicago Tribune var også kritisk, og Teresa Budasi skrev at «om du leser Andrew Mortons uautoriserte Tom Cruise-biografi med en fans nysgjerrighet på den ene siden og en kritisk tenkende persons skepsis på den andre siden ender du sannsynligvis opp der du startet: Ikke interessert i det hele tatt». I sin anmeldelse av boken kommenterer Dave Shiflett i Wall Street Journal Scientologenes lave terskel for å gå til søksmål mot kritikere, og skriver at «Hr. Morton, tilsynelatende upåvirket av gruppens beryktede skyteglade juridiske avdeling, lar ikke mange temaer ligge».

Kort tid før bokens utgivelse begynte en Scientologi-video med Tom Cruise å sirkulere på Internett. Etter at Scientologikirken sendte en formell klage til videodelingstjenesten YouTube ble filmen tatt ned fra siden, men den ble senere gjort tilgjengelig på Gawker.com. En gruppe Internettbrukere som kaller seg «Anonymous» (anonym) erklærte deretter «krig» mot Scientologien, og har deretter gjennomført såkalte Denial-of-Service-angrep på Scientologenes nettsider. Nordmannen Andreas Heldal-Lund, kjent Scientologi-kritiker og leder for verdens største Scientologikritiske nettsted Operation Clambake, kritiserte data-angrepene og påpekte at også Scientologene hadde krav på ytringsfrihet.

Skuespilleren Jerry O'Connell, som spilte sammen med Cruise i filmen Jerry Maguire, utgav på onsdag en parodi på Cruise-videoen. Andre bekjente av Cruise, som Adam Sandler og Ben Stiller, har derimot forsvart Cruise. Sandler uttaler at «det å se noens privatliv invadert og latterliggjort på denne måten er kvalmende», mens Stiller sier at «folk har glemt at Tom Cruise faktisk er et menneske. Jeg føler med ham».


United Kingdom expels four Russian diplomats

The United Kingdom is expelling four Russian diplomats in an extradition row related to the Alexander Litvinenko case. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but according to the BBC, they are intelligence officers.

Russia has refused to extradite the main suspect, Andrei Lugovoi, in the Litvinenko murder case, who is a Russian citizen. Under the "European Convention on Extradition 1957", Russia has the right to refuse the extradition of their citizens, and according to the Article 61 of the Constitution of Russia "The citizen of the Russian Federation may not be deported out of Russia or extradited to another state".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had "no apologies for the action we have taken" in expelling the diplomats. It is necessary to send a "clear and proportionate signal" to Russia, about how seriously the UK regards the matter.

Russia is suggesting that Britain’s request for Lugovoi is hypocritical given that British courts granted political asylum to Boris Berezovsky and Akhmed Zakayev, both of whom are wanted in Russia. “It seems to us that London’s position is immoral, given this background,” said Mikhail Kamynin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and said it would prompt Russian retaliation. "Moreover, in London they should clearly realise that such provocative actions masterminded by the British authorities will not be left without an answer and cannot but entail the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations," he continued.

In the British House of Commons on Monday, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband said, "This is a situation the Government has not sought, and does not welcome. However we have no choice but to address it."

In his statement to the Commons, Miliband highlighted the seriousness of the crime against Litvinenko and the subsequent danger to the community. "The facts...are therefore that a UK citizen has suffered a horrifying and lingering death. His murder put hundreds of others, residents and visitors, at risk of radiation contamination. And the UK Government has a wider duty to ensure the safety of the large Russian community living in the UK."

Miliband indicated that Russia is an important ally, but co-operation with Russia on a range of issues is under review. "The heinous crime of murder does require justice," said Miliband. "This response is proportional and it is clear at whom it is aimed."


Le Royaume-Uni expulse quatre diplomates russes

Le Royaume-Uni a expulsé quatre diplomates russes dans une procédure d'extradition liée à l'affaire Alexander Litvinenko. Le Foreign and Commonwealth Office n'a pas nommé les quatre diplomates russes, mais, selon la BBC, il s'agirait de quatre officiers des renseignements.
La Russie a refusé l'extradition du principal suspect dans l'assassinat de Litvinenko, Andrei Lugovoi, qui est citoyen russe. Selon la « Convention européenne sur l'extradition de 1957 », la Russie a le droit de refuser l'extradition de ses propres citoyens, et selon l'article 61 de la Constitution de la Russie, « les citoyens de la Fédération de Russie ne peuvent pas être expulsés hors de Russie ou extradé vers un autre état ».
Le Premier ministre britannique Gordon Brown a indiqué « ne pas avoir à présenter d'excuses pour les mesures prises » dans l'expulsion des diplomates. Il est nécessaire d'envoyer un « message clair et proportionnel » à la Russie, en raison du sérieux avec lequel le Royaume-Uni considère le problème.
La Russie suggère que la requête britannique concernant Lugovoi est hypocrite en raison de l'asile politique conféré par la justice britannique à Boris Berezovsky et Akhmed Zakaïev, tous deux recherchés par la Russie. « Il nous semble que la position de Londres est immorale, en raison de ce contentieux » a déclaré Mikhail Kamynin, porte-parole du Ministère des Affaires étrangères de Russie, et que cela hâterait une riposte russe. « De plus, ils doivent réaliser à Londres que de telles provocations manigancées par les autorités britanniques ne seront pas laissées sans réponses et ne pourront faire rien d'autre que provoquer des conséquences sérieuses sur les relations russo-britanniques », a-t-il ajouté.
Lundi, à la Chambre des communes, le Secrétaire d'État aux Affaires étrangères David Miliband a déclaré que « c'est une situation que le Gouvernement n'a pas cherchée, et qui n'est pas bienvenue. Cependant, nous n'avons pas d'autre choix que de la prendre en compte ».
Dans son adresse aux Communes, David Miliband a souligné le sérieux du crime contre Litvinenko et le danger qui en découle pour la communauté. « Les faits ... sont donc qu'un citoyen britannique a subi une longue et horrible agonie. Son assassinat a mis des centaines d'autres personnes, résidents et visiteurs, un risque de contamination radioactive. Et le Gouvernement britannique a un devoir ferme d'assurer la sécurité de la grande communauté russe vivant au Royaume-Uni ».
David Miliband a indiqué que la Russie est un allié important, mais que la coopération avec la Russie sur une série de sujets est en examen. « Ce crime haineux doit être traité par la justice », a indiqué David Miliband. « La réponse est proportionnée et cela est clair pour toute personne concernée ».


イギリスがロシアの外交官を国外追放─リトビネンコ事件を受け

日本経済新聞などによると、イギリスのミリバンド外務大臣は16日、議会下院での演説の中で、ロシアの外交官4名を国外に追放するとの決定を明らかにした。昨年11月に旧ソ連国家保安委員会（KGB）の元職員アレクサンドル・リトビネンコ氏が亡命先のイギリスで毒殺された事件について、イギリスはロシアに対して、実行犯とされるアンドレイ・ルゴボイ容疑者（同じくKGB元職員）の身柄引き渡しを要求していたが、ロシアは拒否しており、今回の措置はこれに対抗してのもの。

時事通信によると、ブラウン英首相は外遊先のベルリンで「無実の市民が危険にさらされた」として今回の措置の正当性を主張した。一方、東京新聞［＝共同］によるとロシア外務省のカムイニン情報局長は強く反発し、今回の「挑発行為が対抗策なしで済むことはない」と警告した。


United States Department of Justice workers among government Wikipedia vandals

Conflict-of-interest editing on Wikipedia

In response to recent accusations that United States government employees have engaged in Wikipedia vandalism and other forms of perceived negative editing of articles, Wikipedia editors have set up a webpage listing all Wikipedia edits made through IP addresses that are allocated to the United States House of Representatives and other United States government agencies. The House IP address was briefly banned from editing Wikipedia articles in the wake of the initial controversy, but the ban was lifted on January 30 after Wikipedia administrators decided that there have been a number of valuable contributions made through the House and Senate IP addresses in addition to the controversial edits.

On January 31 and February 1, however, the U.S. House of Representatives' common IP address, 143.231.249.141, were banned again for three hours due to vandalism. Because the IP address is shared by House staff members, it is uncertain whether or not the same person(s) responsible for the previous vandalism are also responsible for the latest.

Examples of contributions submitted through the House IP address included removing, "In 2005, he has come under scrutiny for accepting campaign contributions from embattled former house leader Tom Delay," from the article on Thad McCotter, removing election statistics from the article on Dan Lungren, and, in the article on Marilyn Musgrave, changing the paragraph

to

After the block from Wikipedia expired, the House of Representatives user continued to edit the article on Chris Shays. Chris Shays had co-sponsored a bill with Marty Meehan, whose staffers had previously been found to have been negatively editing Wikipedia entries, The American Civil Liberties Union said of the bill "key elements of Shays-Meehan violate the First Amendment right to free speech because the legislation contains provisions that would violate the constitutionally-protected right of the people to express their opinions about issues through broadcast advertising if they mention the name of a candidate." All mentions of the bill were removed from the article. Also removed was a paragraph about Chris Shays raising $70,000 with House Speaker Dennis Hastert at a country club event.

Again, the IP address was blocked for an eight-hour period.

Wikipedia edits in Congress are not coming from the House of Representatives alone. An edit from the Senate in July removed references to a plagiarism scandal with Senator Joe Biden, who has informally said he may seek a Democratic nomination for president in 2008. As of February 4, 2006, the edit has not fixed by Wikipedia users.

IP addresses from the CIA, the Department of Justice, the Marines, and the Navy are listed on the site as having made several cases of vandalism. Some examples of vandalism from the Department of Justice IP ranges involve articles on TV and radio shows, a baseball player, or just complaining about their work. In addition to accusations of vandalism, there have also been accusations of government employees introducing perceived bias, political spinning, or misinformation into Wikipedia articles by adding or removing information.

These cases include articles on an Irish politician, and in the George W. Bush article, introducing accusations of Hugo Chavez being a dictator, and removing information covering the George W. Bush substance abuse controversy. In addition, a person using a Department of Justice IP address edited a page covering indicted former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The editor removed two paragraphs stating a judge ruled that Tom DeLay had broken state law by not disclosing over $600,000 of fundraising money, a quote from Tom DeLay in which he stated that it drives the Democrats crazy wondering why the Republican Party institutes pro-Israeli policy, and a subsection on controversies involving DeLay's relatives. Edits to George W. Bush's article were done within the span of an hour. Edits to Tom DeLay's article were made within an hour as well, although followed by a shorter, minor second session of editing later that day.

An editor using a CIA IP address is accused of vandalizing an article on the current president of Iran. Editors using Marine and Navy IP addresses based in Pensacola, Florida are accused of vandalizing an article on a rock song and on former U.S. president Bill Clinton, and accused of adding racist comments to articles on an actor and Martin Luther King, Jr., and adding comments that are perceived to criticize the men and women in the Navy reserves.

The IP addresses of the Department of Justice, the CIA, and the Navy and Marines stationed in Pensacola, Florida were found using the American Registry for Internet Numbers at the official website. Neither the government nor the Wikimedia Foundation have released an official statement.

The U.S. House of Representatives' IP address is not the first governmental address to have been blocked after accusations of disrupting Wikipedia. The IP address belonging to a subdivision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in Alberta, Canada was blocked for three months since late 2005. An IP address belonging to the German Bundestag has been repeatedly blocked from the German Wikipedia after accusations of vandalism, including sexually explicit comments.


У Википедии проблемы с правительственными чиновниками

В ответ на недавние сообщения, что американские Правительственные служащие участвовали в вандализме в Википедии и других формах негативного редактирования статей, редакторы Википедии опубликовали список IP-адресов, которые принадлежат компьютерам Конгресса и Правительства США. Эти адреса были на короткое время заблокированы для редактирования статей Википедии. Блокировка была снята 30 января после того, как администраторы Википедии решили, что позитивный вклад, сделанный с адресов Конгресса, перевешивает негативные правки.

Однако, 31 января и 1 февраля IP-адрес палаты представителей США (143.231.249.141) был вновь заблокирован на 3 часа из-за вандализма. Так как этот адрес является общим, поэтому невозможно точно сказать, что за предыдущие  и теперешние случаи вандализма ответственен один человек или несколько.

С IP-адреса Конгресса была изменена статья Thad McCotter.

В статье Мэрилин Масгрэйв (Marilyn Musgrave) был изменён параграф:

«Как законодатель штата, Масгрэйв большую часть времени посвящала социальным проблемам, особенно разработке законопроектов, отрицающих родительские права гомосексуальных семей. Один из ее последних, неудавшихся законопроектов сделал бы это намного более трудным для гомосексуальных семей посещать своих детей в больнице в критическом положении. …»

На параграф:

«Как законодатель штата, Масгрэйв большую часть времени посвящала социальным проблемам, особенно разработке законопроектов защищающих детей и традиционные семьи, а также права владельцев оружия».

IP-адреса ЦРУ, министерства юстиции и морского флота были перечислены, как адреса, с которых были сделаны правки, оцениваемые как вандализм.
Некоторые примеры вандализма с адреса министерства юстиции:

В дополнение к случаям вандализма, также были случаи редактирования статей о правительственных служащих, чтобы изменить мнение о политиках или внести дезинформацию в статьи, удаляя или добавляя информацию.

IP-адреса ЦРУ, министерства юстиции и морского флота находящиеся в Пенсакола (Pensacola), Флорида были найдены с помощью Американского регистра интернет адресов (official website American Registry for Internet Numbers).

IP-адреса Палаты представителей США — это не первые правительственные адреса, которые были заблокированы из-за обвинения во вредительстве в Википедии. IP-адрес, принадлежащий одному из отделов министерства сельского хозяйства провинции Альберта (Канада), был заблокирован на три месяца с осени 2005 года. IP адрес, принадлежащий Бундестагу Германии, периодически блокировался в немецком разделе Википедии, после случаев вандализма, включавших сексуальные комментарии.

4 февраля 2006 года


University of North Carolina student body president murdered

Eve Carson, the student body president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was found dead on a street about one mile from campus early Wednesday morning.

The Chapel Hill Police Department responded to a report of gunshots around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, and found a young woman lying dead on the road.  She had been shot several times, including a shot in the head.  One of two 9-1-1 callers reported hearing a woman screaming.

She was quickly identified as Eve Marie Carson, the 22-year-old Student Body President at UNC.  The Athens, Georgia resident was last seen alive around 1:30 a.m. that morning

A medical examiner says there was no evidence of sexual assault.  Police currently believe it was a random act of violence, and may have involved the theft of her SUV.  Her SUV was found about a mile away, and her keys and wallet are missing.

Carson's death comes nearly a year after the death of Jason Ray, a male cheerleader who at the time performed as the school's mascot, Rameses.  He was struck by a car in a hit-and-run in New Jersey on March 24, 2007, during the Regionals of the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, and died two days later of his injuries.  Two men were charged in his death on January 18 of this year.

Several memorials were held on Thursday for Carson, drawing over 10,000 people in total.  The Student Government website is currently shut down in her memory.  The website simply has a link for providing information on her murder and the following message: "We thank you for your concern and support during this time of great loss. We ask that you allow us time to grieve."

Carson was studying political science and pre-medicine, and had studied abroad in Cuba in spring 2006. She was part of the North Carolina Fellows Program, and had served from 2006 to 2007 in student government roles including Member of Academic Advising Committee and Representative to the University Committee on Awards, Scholarships and Student Aid.


תעלומת רצח בצפון קרוליינה: מי ירה בנשיאת איגוד הסטודנטים?

גופתה של איב מרי קרסון, נשיאת איגוד הסטודנטים של אוניברסיטת צפון קרוליינה בצ'אפל היל נמצאה באחד הרחובות סמוך לקמפוס בבוקר יום רביעי. משטרת צ'אפל היל הגיעה למקום בעקבות דיווח על קולות ירי בסביבות 5 לפנות בוקר ומצאה את גופת האישה על הכביש. הגופה זוהתה במהירות כנשיאת איגוד הסטודנטים המקומי - איב קרסון, בת 22, תושבת אתנס ממדינת ג'ורג'יה במקור. קרסון נורתה מספר פעמים, לרבות יריה אחת לראשה.

מבדיקות שנערכו נראה כי קרסון לא הותקפה מינית ועמדת המשטרה בנושא היא שקרסון נפלה קורבן למקרה של אלימות מקרית, אולי אף ירי מתוך רכב נוסע, אך החוקרים עדיין לא מצאו חשודים במקרה.

זהו המקרה השני בשנה האחרונה של מוות מפתיע בקרב תלמידי אוניברסיטת צפון קרוליינה, לאחר שג'ייסון ריי, אשר שימש כקמיע קבוצות הספורט של האוניברסיטה - רעמסס, נהרג בתאונת פגע וברח בניו ג'רזי במהלך טורניר כדורסל בו עודד את נבחרתו. ריי נפטר יומיים לאחר התאונה מפצעיו. לפני כחודש הוגשו כתבי אישום כנד שני אנשים המואשמים בתאונה.

במהלך הימים האחרונים הרבו תלמידי האוניברסיטה לעסוק בשימור זכרה של קרסון, והטקסים השונים משכו יותר מ-10,000 אנשים. מנהלת הסטודנטים הורידה את אתר האינטרנט שלה לאות הזדהות, ובמקום העמודים הרגילים העוסקים בענייני היום-יום של הסטודנטים באתר ישנו דף בודד ובו פרטים על המקרה.


Uruguay ex-ruler Gregorio Alvarez dies at age 91

Military health authorities on Wednesday announced the death of Gregorio Alvarez, military ruler of Uruguay from 1981–85. He was 91 years old.

Alvarez was serving a 25-year term imposed in 2009 for 37 homicides, and other human rights violations. He was initially detained in 2007 suspected of kidnapping dissidents living in exile in Argentina. Hundreds vanished during his term.

In 1972 his brother died at the hands of militants. The following year he participated in a coup, leading an assault on the national legislature. Then-President Juan Maria Bordaberry ousted Congress and ruled with military backing. Alvarez led the army for a time before himself taking over the presidency.

Hardline rule led to protests in 1984, eventually resulting in a fresh democratic election. This was won by Julio Maria Sanguinetti; Alvarez resigned with fifteen days left to serve. A 1986 law prevented his prosecution without legislative approval, and he lived openly in Montevideo.

Pressure from relatives of those missing led to his 2007 arrest. Convicted of killing Argentinian-resident exiles, he maintained his innocence. He died in a Montevideo hospital.

"With the greatest respect, a rapist, a murderer, a torturer, a 'disappearer' doesn't redeem himself by dying," said Alvarez prosecution team laywer Oscar Lopez Goldaracena. "Kidnapping children, robbing babies, disappearances, raping men and women[....] He had an interminable list of crimes", said activist Beatriz Benzano, who says she was detained and sexually assaulted under the Alvarez regime. "[...H]e died with the secret of all the people he 'disappeared' and killed," she said.

The murders were part of Operation Condor, a South American joint venture to repatriate fleeing dissidents.

Modern-day Uruguay is ruled by a left-wing coalition comprised largely of Alvarez opponents, including ex-militants from Tupamaro. Tupamaro was the group that killed Alvarez's brother.


Último presidente militar de Uruguay, Gregorio Álvarez, falleció a los 91 años

El teniente general, Gregorio Álvarez, último militar uruguayo, presidente durante el régimen civil-militar entre 1973 al 1985, falleció este miércoles a los 91 años a causa de una afección cardíaca.

Álvarez, apodado “El Goyo”, fue un militar de carrera, ambicioso y calculador que llegó meteóricamente a los puestos más altos de las Fuerzas Armadas y a encabezar el régimen desde 1981 a 1985 al precio de generar divisiones que perduraron hasta el fin de sus días.

Álvarez fue condenado en 2009 a 25 años de cárcel por la desaparición de 40 personas trasladadas desde Argentina durante su mandato al frente del Ejército. Padecía demencia senil.

Los militares lo nombraron presidente por cuatro años en 1981, diez meses después de que la ciudadanía rechazara en un plebiscito un proyecto de Constitución que aseguraba la continuidad del régimen.

Nacido el 26 de noviembre de 1925 en una familia de militares, fue el tercero de ella en llegar a general. Fue subiendo rápidamente en el escalafón y en 1971, con 45 años, ganó por concurso los galones de general. Aún en democracia, el Congreso autorizó su ascenso.

En el convulsionado Uruguay de comienzos de los 70, el entonces general Álvarez encabezó el combate a la guerrilla urbana Tupamaros, en la que participaba el ahora expresidente José Mujica.

En una democracia que hervía por la violencia política, las protestas sociales y la represión, participó en negociaciones clandestinas con los Tupamaros sin que el gobierno de entonces estuviera al corriente.

El 25 de junio de 1972, los Tupamaros asesinaron a su hermano, el general Artigas Álvarez, y ese hecho marcó a fondo su derrotero militar y político.

Su accionar le hizo ganar liderazgo en buena parte de las Fuerzas Armadas. Sin embargo su descarada ambición personal también le generó enemistades porque las Fuerzas Armadas uruguayas eran reticentes a personalizar el régimen.

En 1978, ascendió a Comandante en Jefe de Ejército y al grado de teniente general. Al año siguiente pasó a retiro por haber acumulado ocho años en el generalato.

En septiembre de 1981, los militares lo nombran presidente en reemplazo del anciano abogado Aparicio Méndez; también designado cinco años años por los uniformados y que concluía su mandato.

La designación de “El Goyo” Álvarez como presidente generó fuertes resistencias y tensiones en los cuarteles. Solo fue nombrado cuando se le impuso como condición quedar al margen de los planes para devolver el poder a los civiles. Fue la forma de empezar a minar el poder de Álvarez.

El periodista Roger Rodríguez, que investigó profusamente los crímenes de la dictadura, lo definió como el “pequeño dictador”, por su baja estatura.

Lo describió como un obsesionado por controlar la información del Estado, “ambicioso” y “de mirada penetrante”. Cuenta además que se desplazaba en un Volkswagen escarabajo blanco junto a su perro Gran Danés.

Enemigo de los políticos, prefirió renunciar antes que entregar el poder a Julio María Sanguinetti; el líder del tradicional Partido Colorado que ganó las elecciones de noviembre de 1984 y que marcaron la restauración de la democracia.


US and Mexico to revise counter-drug strategy

On Tuesday the United States and Mexico announced a new strategy to combat increasingly violent drug movements across the border between the two countries.

According to American officials, the new plan would place more emphasis on local law enforcement, as well as providing aid to cities affected by the drug trade.  It would be based off an earlier plan, called the Mérida Initiative, that was introduced by the Bush administration three years ago.  According to Hillary Clinton, the new strategy would not supersede the older initiative, but would rather supplement and expand upon it.  Other American officials said the new plan would lead to additional efforts to introduce systems that would enable those transporting drugs to be apprehended before they reached the border, rather than just constructing a better defense at the border.

The new plan would also eliminate funding for military defense systems in favor of training for civilian police officers. Under the original Mérida Initiative, much of the $1.3 billion spent was on military equipment such as aircraft for Mexican forces.  The new plan's budget includes no money for such purchases.

The announcement came during a visit to Mexico City by several senior officials from the Obama administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who, together with her Mexican counterpart, introduced the new plan.  Other American officials included military officers as well as Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.