Hungary Government Wants to tax prostitute

UK Iraq troops in mental agony

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:25:49

As Britain has pulled hundreds of troops out of Iraq, doctors are treating not only their physical wounds, but also the mental ones.

More than four years of conflict in Iraq, and six years of fighting in Afghanistan, have taken a toll on the armed forces, both in terms of the number killed as well as the number mentally and physically wounded, Reuters reported.

"In World War Two, a soldier generally knew when fighting was going to happen on a given day and was prepared for it," said Dr. Nigel Hunt, associate professor of health psychology at the University of Nottingham and an expert in PTSD.

"In Iraq, it's so unexpected. Nothing may happen to a soldier for days or weeks, and then on an ordinary patrol, a bomb will go off. That unpredictability can be very disturbing."

The government has taken steps to tackle both aspects of the problem, amid criticism from the families of returning soldiers and some veterans' groups that not enough is being done to assist those fighting the unpopular wars.

One move was to increase the lump-sum payments made to soldiers severely wounded in attacks to as much as $570,000.

Somalia: Strong Confrontation Over Night At the Former Spaghetti Plant in Mogadishu

(Mogadishu)

13 October 2007
Posted to the web 13 October 2007

Mogadishu

A deadly clash took place in the former spaghetti plant which is currently the base of the Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu. The sounds of big explosion followed by serious cross fire could be heard.

The battle started at around 9:15pm local time and was active for more than forty minutes.

The dwellers in Hiliwa district where the fighting occurred told Shabelle radio that they could not bear the ear drum breaking sounds of the cannons and the explosion. Some news just says that some mortars landed at some parts of Hiliwa market. But so far there is no death reported, but property damages as Abdisalan a freelance journalist reported. The battle later escalated to Ex-control Balad and around Igar factory.

"Our chests were on the ground and we were not able to leave our heads off the ground" said Mohamed Abdi a resident from the area.

It is yet unclear the damages of this combat. The city had been quite calm for the last two days. This skirmish coincides with when the people are celebrating for their Eid-ul- fitr festival.

Inside Iraq - Iraq's healthcare crisis - 12 Oct 07 - Part 1 & 2

Inside Myanmar: The Crackdown - 10 Oct 07

Suhakam's hands-off attitude slammed

BERSIH is outraged over Suhakam's hands-off attitude over the Batu Buruk incident in which two men were shot by a police officer amidst a bloody crackdown on a public assembly on electoral reform.

Suhakam's refusal to conduct a public inquiry amounts to abating the violent suppression of the right to assembly and abdicating its responsibility as the guardian of human rights in Malaysia.

It is shocking and highly disappointing that Suhakam chose to interpret the Suhakam Act in such a narrow perspective despite its preliminary fact-finding team concluding that there was evidence of police brutality and human rights violations during the incident.

Suhakam commissioner N. Siva Subramaniam said the commission was "powerless" to investigate the incident because of ongoing court proceedings. According to him, Section 12 of the Human Rights Commission Act 1999 forbids the Commission from investigating human rights violation complaints when related cases are taking place in court.

Suhakam's feeble excuse is completely unacceptable. Court proceedings should only prevent public inquiries in certain cases. For example, if one of the gunshot victims had brought a civil suit against the police for assault, then it would be reasonable for Suhakam to say that it cannot decide on a question which is precisely identical to the question pursued in the courts.

In this instance, the court case that is being used as an excuse is in fact one where the police have charged an individual for alleging destroying public property and not being able to produce his IC. This has no bearing on the shootings in Batu Buruk, and on the burning questions that must be addressed by a public inquiry including the question of how the police willfully acted from the beginning to stop a peaceful public assembly.

In recent years, civil society groups have constantly opposed and argued against the Section 12 of the Suhakam Act but have been assured by the successive chairmen and commissioners of Suhakam that the Commission would strive to ensure that all human rights violation be adequately addressed despite the existence of Section 12. This is apparently not the case in the case of Batu Buruk.

Suhakam's misunderstanding of the Act means that, in future, all the police have to do to stop any public inquiry by Suhakam into allegations of police violence and abuse of powers in a public assembly is to simply charge one of the participants in court. Surely Suhakam must understand how preposterous this is!

BERSIH also finds it unacceptable that Suhakam has bought into the Government's propaganda that the Batu Buruk incident was a riot. BERSIH is also irked by the commission's statement that the use of water cannons and tear gas "cannot at this juncture be considered as an act to curtail freedom of assembly".

The only action which Suhakam will now pursue is a discussion with the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan on the Commission's suggestion on crowd control measures and amendments to the Police Act 1997 relating to licensing for public assembly permits.

Suhakam should have persuaded the Government and the police to be more civil and responsible in its handling of public gatherings a long time ago, in light of the publication of its findings on the Kesas Highway incident in 2000, its "Freedom of Assembly" report (2001), and the KLCC-Bloody Sunday report (2006).

BERSIH therefore demands that Suhakam immediately reviews and corrects this appalling decision and establish a public inquiry to investigate the Batu Burok incident in a thorough, impartial and transparent manner.

BERSIH
10th October 2007

PAS & PKR Youth Wings insist on Royal Commission?

Background on CJ of the Federal Court

Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tun Ahmad Fairuz bin Sheikh Abdul Halim (born November 1, 1941) is the current Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia. He has held that position since 2003. In August 2007, he courted controversy by calling for the abolishment of the English Common Law to be replaced by Islamic Syariah Law. In September 2007, he was implicated in a 'judicial fixing' scandal, resulting in numerous calls for him to step down.[1]

Early life and education

Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim was born in Alor Setar, Kedah on 1 November 1941. He received his Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Singapore and later obtained his Master of Laws in International and Comparative Laws from the University of Brussels, Belgium.

Career

He joined the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service on 4 April 1967 as a Cadet Legal Officer and held various positions such as President of Sessions Court, State Legal Advisor and Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prime Minister's Department. On 1 December 1988 he was appointed Judicial Commissioner of High Court Malaya and was later appointed a High Court Judge. On 1 December 1995 he was elevated as a Court of Appeal Judge until his appointment as a Federal Court Judge on 1 September 2000. ^[1]

Lingam Tape 'Judicial Fixing' Scandal

See video clip: "Lingam Tape".

On September 19, 2007, online daily Malaysiakini broke a story on a tape released by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, where senior lawyer VK Lingam was seen talking to someone believed to be the Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz.[2] The grainy eight-minute video footage was taken in 2002 at Lingam’s Kelana Jaya house. At that time, Ahmad Fairuz was the Chief Judge of Malaya (judiciary's No. 3 post).

The video showed Lingam expressing concern that the outgoing CJ Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah was moving his 'men' into top judiciary posts. The conversation revolved around the urgent need to get Ahmad Fairuz appointed as Court of Appeal President (No. 2) and then Chief Justice (No. 1). Lingam expressed his plan to get tycoon Vincent Tan, a close ally of then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a minister in PM's Department to talk to Mahathir on the appointment of judges. Allegedly, this was in return for Ahmad Fairuz's "suffering" in the election petition cases in the past where Ahmad Fairuz had ruled against the Opposition.

In response, the Malaysian Government has set up a panel made of two senior retired judges and a former opposition politician to probe the tape's authenticity. Ahmad Fairuz has denied his involvement, and Anwar responded that he "would love to see him (Ahmad Fairuz) defend himself in the dock as to whether he was lying."[3]

Personal

He is married to Toh Puan Datin Sri Mazni bt Mohd Noor and they have two children.

Civilians bear brunt of bloody start to Iraq's Eid

source almanartv

12/10/2007 Iraqi women and children bore the brunt Friday of a bloody start to Eid al-Fitr as the US occupation military admitted to killing 15 in an air raid and a sinister suicide attack on kids shocked a "Nineteen suspected insurgents and 15 women and children were killed in an operation Thursday in the Lake Tharthar region", northwest of Baghdad, a US military spokesman said in a rare admission of civilian deaths. Further north in Tuz, a suicide bomber exploded a cart of sweets on a crowded playground on Friday, killing a child, a father and wounding 20 children. The post-Ramadan celebrations in the capital had already been marred by a suicide bomber who drove his car into an Internet cafe full of young men hours after they began. At least eight people were killed and 25 were wounded. According to the latest UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) report into human rights abuses in Iraq, released on Thursday, 88 civilians were killed in air strikes by the US occupation military in the three months between April and June. The report criticized the US military for not making public its findings into inquiries into incidents in which civilians are killed. According to the Iraqi Body Count website, which keeps an independent tally of Iraqi deaths, between 74,312 and 80,954 civilians have been killed since the US-led invasion of 2003.

IKD Forum on the Collapse of Law and Order

Anwar Ibrahim Press Conference - ACA Probe

United in a demand for justice

Pakistan clashes death toll at 250

source almanartv

09/10/2007 The death toll from fierce clashes in Pakistan's tribal belt bordering Afghanistan has risen to 250, the military said Tuesday. Fighting broke out Sunday in North Waziristan, where the United States claimed that Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network and its pro-Taliban allies have regrouped since 2001. "Twenty more gunmen were killed in the fighting overnight," a senior military said. In total 150 gunmen have been killed while 45 soldiers have also died. Residents say at least four civilians have been killed in the violence but the military has not confirmed this. Most of the fighting has been near Mir Ali, the second-biggest town in rugged North Waziristan, where President Pervez Musharraf admitted earlier this year that Al-Qaeda had a presence. Meanwhile a bomb exploded on a roadside near Bakakhel town in the same a

Feb. 14 charge against Nasrallah direct polls proposal

Mohamad Shmaysani source almanarTV

09/10/2007 Leaders from the ruling February 14 bloc lobbed sharp criticism at Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah for his proposal that the people be allowed to elect a president directly. In a speech Friday marking Quds Day, Sayyed Nasrallah called for direct popular elections to choose the next president if political parties failed to reach consensus on a candidate.Legal experts have found odd the deliberate noise made over Sayyed Nasrallah's proposal. Referendum is something that all parliamentary regimes resort to in critical situations. "Article 11 of the French constitution sanctions this sort of referendum," Dr. Yusuf Saadallah el-Khouri, the former head of the State Council said. For his part, constitution expert Ahmed el-Zein stresses the Lebanese constitution states on referendum, even indirectly. "in every country, in every regime, when things get complicated, the parliament is dissolved and new elections take place, and this is what happened in Turkey," Zein said. Saniora Calls Accusing Israel of Assassinations "Tragedy" Sayyed Nasrallah also accused Israel of being behind the serial killings in Lebanon. However the head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora described Sayyed Nasrallah's accusations as "a real tragedy." The February 14 bloc rushes to accuse Syria, without presenting evidence, every time an assassination takes place in the country. "The February 14 bloc, after minutes of each assassination, points the finger of accusation at Syria, but without evidence. I'm not saying that this bloc is killing its own leaders and I don't want to defend Syria. But using political analysis, I can say that the Israelis are responsible for killing the leaders of this bloc, after all, they are neither Israel's allies nor friends. There are historic incidents that point in this direction. The Zionists have killed Jews to force them to migrate to Palestine; it was essential for their project," Sayyed Nasrallah said in his speech. The real tragedy, according to opposition leaders, is to rule out an Israeli hand in the incidents that serve its interests and shake stability in Lebanon." The head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri echoed Saniora's position during an iftar in New York. He renewed accusations to Syria of being behind the wave of assassinations in Lebanon. "I believe Premier Saniora's response to Sayyed Nasrallah is enough." Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss said he felt distressed at the attempts "to clear Israel of crimes it accustomed us t." Speaking to the the Nour Radio Station, Hoss said those who are campaigning against Sayyed Nasrallah are allies to the US, "and I do not see any difference between what is called a US strategy or an Israeli strategy." Hariri – Ban – Court of International Character Hariri is scheduled to hold talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on ways to expedite the formation of the court of international character to try suspects in the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In addition to the tribunal and the looming presidential election, Hariri's talks are also expected to center on ways to implement other international resolutions affecting Lebanon. The Higher Judicial Council nominated 12 Lebanese magistrates in June to serve on the international court. Ban will select four out of the twelve nominated judges to serve on the court. One Lebanese judge will serve in the tribunal's trial chamber, along with two international judges, while two Lebanese judges will serve in the appeals chamber with three international judges. The deputy prosecutor at the court will be Lebanese and will be appointed by the Lebanese government in collaboration with the UN. Ban said in a report to the Security Council earlier in September that he hoped to appoint judges to the court by the end of the year. He also is expected to choose a prosecutor and someone to organize a defense team. Ban said the tribunal would not be established until the UN had an estimated $35 million to fund its operations through the first year, as well as an additional $85 million in pledges to pay for the following two years. Lebanon is expected to be billed for 49 percent of the tribunal's costs. Berri - Geneva Despite the apparent divisions between the rival political camps, Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri remained "optimistic" that a solution will soon be reached. Speaking to reporters in Geneva Monday after participating in the International Parliamentary union, Berri said: "I am hopeful that all our efforts and initiatives will bring about good results." Berri said his latest discussions with Hariri had been good, and that they would continue to build on what they had agreed so far. When asked whether Hariri's meetings with US officials had changed anything, Berri said: "The situation is good, and what we agreed upon will go, and nothing has changed." "We are optimistic about the presidential issue, and reaching a solution doesn't rely only on me, but on many sides ... and not just Hariri," said Berri. Regarding fears that Resolution 1559 would be one of the main obstacles to agreeing on a consensus president, Berri said "1559 has become a silly fear ... once a president is agreed upon, then the goal of 1559 would have been accomplished." "There should be no fears from any numbers...1559 or 1701, we are with UN Resolution 1701 and implementing it fully," said Berri. When asked about the US role in Lebanon, Berri said the US is "with and against the initiative and neutral all at the same time."

Somalia: Somalia - Sheikh Ali Deere Decree

Somalia: Somalia - Sheikh Ali Deere the Director of the Ministry of Religion And Constitution

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

9 October 2007
Posted to the web 9 October 2007

Mogadishu

Sheikh Ali Dere the director of the ministry of religion in the Somali federal government announced today that no Edul-fitri prayers can be performed unless there is go ahead from this department.

In a press conference the Sheikh said that it is an order from the ministry that he belongs to. No Eid congregational prayers can be said unless officially permitted.

The Sheikh also added that this mission will jointly be carried out by both the religion department and the security agency. Sheikh Dere said that who ever does not abide by the law will face the consequence.

He said that people should not contradict the Eid festival and he also added that they will consult the leaders of the mosques.

Bush and Blair, 'children killers'

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:36:22 source PressTV

Malaysia's ex-premier, Mahathir Mohamad

Malaysian ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad has said history should remember Blair and Bush as children killers and lying war criminals.

In a keynote speech at the 'Expose War Crimes: Criminalize War Exhibition' Mahathir Mohamad said war is in fact 'legitimized terror' orchestrated by powerful states against the weak.

He added what former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush have done in Afghanistan and Iraq is much worse than the atrocities of Saddam Hussein.

The former Malaysian prime minister also suggested that a permanent tribunal be set up for criminalizing war in order to hear charges leveled at warmongers, leaders and the governments of aggressor nations.

"History should remember Blair and Bush as the killers of children or as the lying prime minister and president," he said, adding that terrorism stems from the actions of powerful countries that kill innocent civilians, which is much worse than the crimes of terrorists.

While the suicide attacks on September 11 killed some 3,000 people, the war on terror launched by the West has claimed the lives of millions of innocent Afghans and Iraqis, he concluded.

83 arrested on US Columbus Day

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:54:53

US Police have cracked down on Columbus Day Parade protesters and arrested 83 including university professor Glenn Morris.

Glenn Morris is an associate professor of political science at the University of Colorado.

The protestors carried dismembered baby dolls covered with fake blood to protest the killing of Indians by the European newcomers.

Columbus Day is a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the October 12, 1492, the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. Americans celebrate the event since 1934 as a national holiday.

The Indians, who consider themselves the first settlers of the continent, have organized rallies in protest to the national holiday. Denver's parade, which was started in 1907, has a troubled history of arrests and confrontations between Columbus supporters and detractors. Protesters have called him a slave trader who touched off centuries of genocide and oppression against native people.

American Indian Movement activist Russell Means was also among those arrested in this year's rallies.

Talking to the daily Le Monde, a 78-year-old Indian exclaimed how it was possible to discover a land which had already been inhabited by Indians since 12,000 years ago. When Columbus claimed he had discovered the continent, 80 million Indians already lived there.

Police questions Olmert over Leumi affair

09/10/2007 source almanartv National Fraud Unit investigators arrived at Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Jerusalem residence on Tuesday morning in order to question him over suspicions that he altered a government tender for the privatization of Bank Leumi to favor a bid lodged by a consortium controlled by his friends. On Monday, Major General Yohanan Danino, head of the Israel Police's Investigations and Intelligence Office, met with the team of investigators, which is led by National Fraud Unit chief Brigadier-General Shlomi Ayalon. Olmert has cleared two days off his schedule for the investigation. At the end of his investigation, the police will form an opinion on the case, which could take a number of weeks, and present it to the State Prosecutor's Office. The suspicions surfaced in 2005 when Olmert served as acting finance minister. Olmert is suspected of having sought to advance a bid for the controlling share of the bank filed by Frank Lowy and Daniel Abrams. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the police to probe Olmert's conduct during the bank's privatization. Investigators will present the prime minister with a line of questions and try to determine whether he tried to convince Lowy and Abrams to take part in the tender and what his motives were.