poem poem poem
poem
suppressed news
concerned with the prevention of genocide
j. b. gerald
2012suppressed news 2011
news archives
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: noting that the United States is subject to customary law as established by Nuremburg Principles, The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal has found George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes II, Jay Bybee, and John Choon Yoo, guilty of Torture. Previous. As a tribunal of conscience the Tribunal doesn't enforce its findings. According to its press release it has asked The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission to forward its findings to the International Criminal Court, the United Nations and UN Security Council, and to register the names of those found guilty in The Commission’s Register of War Criminals. Last November the same Tribunal found George W. Bush and Tony Blair guilty of Crimes against Peace and recommended application of the Nuremburg laws (previous). Within the U.S. a torture suit recently brought against John Yoo resulted in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granting him immunity (previous). Partial sources online: "Bush and Associates Found Guilty of Torture," Press release, , May 11, 2012, Criminalise War, "News of the BRussells Tribunal - May 12, 2012, The BRussells Tribunal Newsletter.
Iraq: a report on "The Situation of Iraqi Children" submitted February to the United Nations Human Rights Council, by the BRussells Tribunal and over two hundred organizations concerned with human rights finds that "Since the invasion in 2003, the US-UK occupation forces and the Iraqi authorities grossly failed to fulfill their most basic duties towards the children of Iraq." This report states school attendance has dropped from 100% to 30%. By 2008 over 3230 teachers fled the country. 467 university academics were killed (another report filed, "The Plight of Academics," indicates the killings were usually by "well-organised teams of assassins"). More than 2000 doctors were murdered, and since the invasion only 25% of Iraq's medical community remains at work, while 376 journalists/media workers were murdered as part of this decimation of the professional class. Still another report filed with the UN's Human Rights Council, "Children of Iraq and armed conflicts," indicates that 39% of the victims of US and Coalition air raids were children.... 39% of the victims of US and Coalition air raids were children. Of mortar raids (ground actions), 42% of the fatalities were children. With varying sources of casualty statistics the report notes one source finding 1.455.590 war-related Iraqi deaths by January 2012. There are 5 million Iraqi orphans with ten percent living in the streets. Girls of 11 and 12 are sold into trafficking for US$ 30,000. Indirect killings through the effects of destroyed infra-structure multiply the numbers of deaths. Casualties from remnants of cluster bombs and landmines between 1991 and 2007 rose to 80,000 people with 23.9% under age 14. Central nervous system birth defect rate for babies born in Fallujah is 33 times Europe's. Amid other evidence of abnormal rates of illness among children, the report notes "… these findings suggest the enriched Uranium exposure is either a primary cause or related to the cause of the congenital anomaly and cancer increases" (ie. depleted uranium). In visits to NATO targeted areas in the Balkans (Sarajevo) Robert Fisk has found similar patterns of cancer and leukaemia, and a refusal of authorities to research health within a context of depleted uranium and the use of phosphorous. NATO-country lawyers, judiciaries, politicians, have failed to address a genocide of the Iraqi people (for additional information). Suggested: The BRussells Tribunal [access:< http://www.brussellstribunal.org/ >]. While these reports deal primarily with the US/Coalition invasion of 2003, genocide against the people of Iraq began in 1990 with the targeting of civilian infra-structure in the bombing and missiling of Baghdad. Dr. Gideon Polya estimated the avoidable death toll of Iraqi children from the first war against Iraq, 1990-2003, as 1.2 million under five years old (see previous). The Gerald and Maas Canadian edition of The Crime of Genocide & Bill of Human Rights UN Texts, (Maine, 1989) which appeared as Common Rights & Expectations UN Texts (Ottawa, 1996) is dedicated to the children of Iraq. Partial sources online: "The Children of Fallujah - families fight back," Robert Fisk, April 27, 2012, Belfast Telegraph; "The Children of Iraq: "Was the Price Worth It?" Bie Kentane, May 10, 2012, Global Research; from reports submitted the UN Human Rights Council 19th Session, Feb. 27 - March 23, 2012: "The Situation of Iraqi Children," A/HRC/19/NGO/142, The Brussells Tribunal et al, Feb. 22, 2012, HRC United Nations General Assembly; "The Plight of Iraqi Academics," A/HRC/19/NGO/137, The Brussells Tribunal et al, Feb. 28, 2012, HRC United Nations General Assembly; "Children of Iraq and armed conflicts," A/HRC/19/NGO/143, The Brussells Tribunal et al, Feb. 28, 2012, HRC United Nations General Assembly.
Kashtin - "E Uassiuian" [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK3hOAyIn8c >]
Canada: Canada is the first NATO country ever to be visited by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Prof. Olivier De Schutter is currently touring in an investigation of food resources available to aboriginal communities, with a schedule including the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton... CBC News points out he's avoiding the north. Winnipeg Free Press announces he'll stop at God's River First Nation and the Garden Hill reserve May 10th to 12th: a loaf of brown bread reportedly costs $4.79 in God's Lake, and $1.99 in the City of Winnipeg. In the remote north (Grise Ford) milk is reported at about $7.00 dollars a litre.There's an obvious direct link between development of the north and interruption of the land's sustenance and native food chain. The Federal government has announced defunding / closing of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) which collects data on Aboriginal demographics, illness, etc.. On May 9th Makita (Nunavummiut Makitagunarningit), dedicated to discussing the plans for mining uranium in Nunavit, opened its website [access:< http://makitanunavut.wordpress.com/ >]. The Province of Ontario has announced a 3.3 billion dollar investment by Cliff's Natural Resources Inc to develop a chromite mine and smelter in the north. The move spearheads infrastructure development for resource extraction in areas accessible by air. The Chamber of Commerce speaks of a hundred year plan for a region where aboriginal rights, land rights, resource extraction protests, development protests, and the increasing strength of aboriginal rights under international law, could challenge development programs. This places additional pressures on the existence of remaining native peoples. Genocide warning. Partial sources online: "UN to get up-close look at struggling reserves," Winnpeg Free Press, May 7, 2012, eaglewatch; "Media release: Makita launches website," press release, May 8, 2012, eaglewatch; "UN food rapporteur visits Canada – but skips North," May 8, 2012, CBC News; "Canada first wealthy nation to be probed by UN food monitor," Sarah Schnmidt (Postmedia News), May 2, 2012, canada.com; "Ontario moves to open up Far North with $5.1-billion chromite deal.," Tim Shufelt, May 9, 2012, Financial Post; "Right to Food," current, Olivier De Schutter | United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food [access:< http://www.srfood.org/index.php/en/right-to-food >].The right to food is a human right recognized under international law which protects the right of all human beings to feed themselves in dignity, either by producing their food or by purchasing it. (De Schutter).
Canada: a notably large number of reports concerning Canada are to be filed at the upcoming session of the UN.'s Committee against Torture. Within Canada the issue is suppressed by the media and avoided by most politicians. Canadian legal mechanisms for dealing with torture parallel those for genocide. "Suppressed news" carries drafts of three of the final reports: "Briefing to the UN Committee against Torture, 48th Session, May, 2012, on Canada’s Transfer of Afghan Detainees into the Danger of Torture by Other Authorities from John McNamer," (partial), "Briefing to the Committee against Torture, 48th Session, May 2012, on the Omar Khadr case from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada & The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group" (previous), "Briefing to the Committee against Torture, 48th Session, May 2012, on Canada's failure to bar or prosecute George W. Bush for torture, from Lawyers against the War" (previous). The final drafts are scheduled for presentation to the 48th Session of the United Nations Committee against Torture, " on May 21 and 22, 2012 and are currently available at the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Committee against Torture [access:< http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/cats48.htm >], with nine other reports on torture related difficulties in Canada. Partial sources online: See above; "Cdn detainee transfers scrutinized by UN torture committee," Press release, May 7, 2012, Lawyers Against the War; "Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (S.C. 2000, c. 24)," current, Department of Justice Canada.
On April 25th a three judge panel at the Federal Court of Appeals ruled that the rights of Security Certificate detainee, Mohamed Harkat (see previous), have been violated and returned the case to Federal Court: electronic evidence used against Harkat was destroyed by CSIS (the Canadian spy agency). The court also ruled that the Security Certificate process was Constitutional (the ruling may be appealed). Overturning a previous judge's decision, the Court found that informants for CSIS do not have the special privilege of anonymity. On April 30th Stephen Harper's Conservative government closed the Inspector General's office which oversees CSIS. The defunding of the Inspector General deprives the public and law enforcement any monitoring and accountability of the nation's primary spy agency. According to The Toronto Star, a process of complaints and "reviews"-without-enforcement will likely be transferred to the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) which currently lacks a chairperson. Partial sources online: "Mohamed Harkat deserves new hearing, appeal court rules," Andrew Duffy (Postmedia News), April 25, 2012, canada.com; "Harkat wins partial victory in terrorism case ," April 25, 2012, CBC News; "Harkat wins new hearing while Appeal Court upholds secret trials law," Matthew Behrens, April 26, 2012, Rabble.ca; "CSIS freed from final shreds of oversight," Andrew Mitrovica, May 5, 2012, The Toronto Star.
Israel: in news generally suppressed within Israel, on May 4th, Haaretz reported 2000 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike for over two weeks asking for better treatment and for Israel to stop its policy of detention without trial. An AP report notes some prisoners on hunger strike for as long as 70 days. Bilal Diab (68 days as of May 5th) has joined ten other detainees in the hospital. Partial sources online: "Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners hospitalized," Diaa Hadid (AP), May 5, 2012, boston.com. "For Israel, punishing Palestinians is not enough," Amira Haas, May 4, 2012, Haaretz; "Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners hospitalized," Diaa Hadid (AP), May 5, 2012, boston.com.
California: currently a professor at Berkeley Law School, University of California, John Yoo counselled President Bush in the use of torture. His Justice Department memo interpreted "torture" as associated with organ failure or death, and his advice as applied to U.S. detainee Joseph Padilla, was a crime against humanity. At a peoples' court in Kuala Lumpur Yoo is under indictment for torture. Spanish Judge Balthasar Garzon attempted torture investigations of Yoo among other Bush administration officials ( 2009, 2010) but was removed from the Spanish judiciary by Spain's right wing. In Padilla's case against Yoo, on May 2, 2012 the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found the practices applied against Padilla might be torture but Yoo benefits from immunity as established by a Supreme Court decison of 1982. Granting Yoo immunity risks covering impunity in the commission of crimes against humanity. California's stance on human rights is an ongoing issue (ref. the Pelican Bay SHU hunger strike; California prisoners have requested the U.N. investigate the use and conditions of solitary confinement). In San Diego a University of California student was detained April 21 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement agents without criminal charges and held 5 days in a cell (the DEA claims 4 days) without food or water. Daniel Chong says he drank his urine for water, then broke his glasses and swallowed shards. On April 25 he was taken to hospital and survived after 3 days in intensive care. The DEA has offered its apologies. Partial sources online: "Ghraib mistake? US student drinks urine to survive prison abandonment," May 2, 2012, RT; "Student who was forced to drink his own urine after being forgotten in police cell for five days sues for $20m," reporter, May 4, 2012, Daily Mail; "Student Abandoned in DEA Cell for 5 Days to Sue for $20 Million," Russell Goldman, May 3, 2012, ABC World News; "Joe Padilla and Estela Lebron v. John Yoo," No. 09-16478 D.C. No 3:08-cv-00035-JSW, OPINION, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; "UC Berkeley's John Yoo torture suit tossed out," Bob Egelko, May 3, 2012, San Francisco Chronicle; "John Yoo, Bush's Torture Lawyer, Given Immunity," staff, May 3, 2012, Common Dreams; "California prisoners ask U.N. to probe solitary confinement," Anna Gorman, March 20, 2012, Los Angeles Times.
Boston: the Justice Department maintains a focus on community-oriented crimes rather than addressing crimes of power. The Criminal Division continues its war on those accused of being New England's "Cosa Nostra" with the arrest in Boston of Anthony L. DiNunzio. The press describes DiNunzio (age 53) as "the brutal acting leader of the New England branch of La Cosa Nostra" (AP). Last Year the Justice Department arrested 127 alleged "Cosa Nostra" affiliates including Luigi Manocchio at age 84, a former "boss" who recently admitted participating in racketeering and extortion. A media bias risks portraying Italian-American suspects (use of extravagant epithets, guilt by association with 'mafia') without respect for their heritage; Boston Irish suspects are identified with 'the mob'. In his new (May 8th) book, Most Wanted: Pursuing Whitey Bulger, the Murderous Mob Chief the FBI Secretly Protected, retired (2004) Superintendent of State Police, Thomas J. Foley, notes the F.B.I. obstructing state police to protect the F.B.I. informant who was the leader of Boston's underworld (see previous; the Federal Government's controls on the Boston region are noted). For FBI treatment of a Boston Black community leader, note the case of City Councillor, Charles Turner. Partial sources online: "Ex-Mass. state police chief rips FBI over Bulger," Scott Croteau, May 5, 2012, AP / boston.com; "Reputed mob boss ordered held sans bail in RI," Laura Crimaldi (AP), May 3, 2012, boston com; "Reputed mob boss charged in RI strip club case," Laura Crimaldi (AP), April 25, 2012, boston.com; "Bail is denied to alleged mob boss," Milton J. Valencia, May 4, 2012, The Boston Globe.
Boston / Brazil: as Brazil's dam building threatens indigenous people with genocide, on April 10th President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil visited Boston to meet with the President of M.I.T. Susan Hockfield; they signed agreements of collaboration between M.I.T's School of Engineering and Brazil's Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica (ITA). She also met with Harvard's Drew Gilpin Faust. The continuing corporate destruction of Brazil's Amazon region and its inhabitants isn't mentioned in the press reports. Brazil's president is furthering a massive buildup of 20 hydroelectric dams in the Amazon rainforest, notably the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River (previous) where indigenous peoples are fighting the eviction of 5000 families and their leaders need protection against paid assassins. Belo Monte dam workers returned to work May 4th after their two week strike was declared illegal. 17,000 workers at the Jirau dam construction on the Madeira River also ended a 2 week wage and conditions strike when Brazil's elite security forces were called in. A Belo Monte poster. Partial sources online: "Brazil's All-In Bet on Amazon Dams Jeopardizes Economic Growth," Michael Smith, April 11, 2012, Bloomberg; "Amid Brazil’s Rush to Develop, Workers Resist," Simon Romero, May 5, 2012, The New York Times; "Brazil Workers Return To Belo Monte Dam After 2-Week Strike," Paulo Winterstein, May 4, 2012, The Wall Street Journal; "Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Signs Agreements with Harvard, MIT," Renata Brito, April 11, 2012, Boston Daily; "Brazil's Rousseff deepens ties with MIT in US," AFP, April 10, 2012, Google News.
Texas: "I will forever continue the struggle for my freedom until I die." Ramiro "Ramsey" Muñiz, former gubernatorial candidate for La Raza Unida Party in 1972 and 1974, organizer for La Raza and strong force in the Mexican-American community; in 1994 he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a drug-related conviction after possibly targeted arrests and application of the third-strike law; his supporters say the charges were false; Muñiz continues to maintain his innocence. There is a national pattern of removing community leaders, activists, organizers, from their communities by putting them in prison on false charges or through misapplication of the law. See freeramsey.com. See also, "It's time to free Ramsey Muniz," Steve Fischer, Feb. 26, 2012, caller.com [access:< http://www.caller.com/news/2012/feb/26/its-time-to-free-ramsey-muniz/ >].
Carolina Chocolate Drops: "Gaelic medley"
[access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aChSCpczhzo >]
Quebec: education is a human right.
Canada:"Canada Briefing to the [United Nations] Committee against Torture, 48th Session May 2012 on Canada’s failure to bar or prosecute George W. Bush for torture, from Lawyers against the War" (Gail Davidson / LAW, April 19, 2012, Lawyers Against the War ), presents a thorough summary of Canada's reluctance to honour its laws and treaty obligations in failing to initiate criminal charges against George W. Bush on his visits to Canada. Ignoring its duties under the Convention against Torture and despite the evidence, proceedings against Bush were repeatedly sidelined by Canada's Attorney General whose approval is required. The report lists allegations of torture, the laws and treaties broken by Canada's not instigating proceedings, and Canada's violations of the Convention against Torture. The briefing offers among its recommendations: investigation and prosecution of those responsible as well as additions to Canadian law in order to hold the Attorney General responsible to the law. Background: previous; previous; previous; previous; previous; previous; previous; previous; previous. The omission of proceedings against Bush is also noted in the CCR/CCIJ report to the Committee against Torture ("Submission of the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Canadian Centre for International Justice to the Committee against Torture on the Examination of the Sixth Periodic Report of Canada"). The Amnesty International (London office) "Canada briefing to the Committee on Torture" is also concerned by Canada's refusal to initiate proceedings against Bush. It is also concerned by Omar Khadr's case (see below) among others, and carries the recommendation that "Canada should amend the State Immunity Act to allow lawsuits against foreign governments based on crimes under international law, such as torture." Amnesty's devastating report [access:< http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR20/004/2012/en/b46d9371-1b2c-414b-90e9-b97c3953cb48/amr200042012en.pdf >] covers many areas noted on these pages and is necessary reading for Canadians concerned with a gradual slide into fascism under Conservative government. Partial sources: "Canada violates Convention against Torture by not prosecuting G.W. Bush for torture," Press release, April 19, 2012, Lawyers Against the War; "Canada Briefing to the UN Committee Against Torture," 48th Session May 2012, Index: AMR 20/004/2012, Amnesty International; "The Case of George W.Bush and Canada's Violation of its Obligations under the Convention against Torture," Center for Constitutional Rights & Canadian Centre for International Justice, April 20, 2012,
email; previous.
Canada: Omar Khadr is to be returned to Canada. Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group are recommending that the United Nations Committee against Torture "Ensure prosecutions of the suspects identified by the investigation" ("Recommendations" #5) of Canadian officials complicit in the torture of and human rights violations against Omar Khadr. The report, "Canada Briefing to the Committee against Torture, 48th Session, May 2012 on the Omar Khadr case," (available here in full - .pdf) lists specific violations of the U.N. Convention against Torture [access:< http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat.htm >], articles 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, some requiring application of the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Canada's Charter of Rights and basic tenets of international human rights law. See "Background" (Gail Davidson / LAW); efforts and appeals by Lawyers Against the War are available at nightslantern's archive for Lawyers Against the War. Nightslantern political prisoners notes Omar Khadr among several children and hundreds of prisoners tortured at Guantanamo "2004 ~ 2005 ~ 2006 ~ 2007" & "2008". For recent background (since 2009) : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. Partial sources online: "Omar Khadr: Briefing to the Committee against Torture on Canada's violations of UNCAT," April 18, 2012, Lawyers against the War. "Welcome Back Omar Khadr," Mark Dunn, April 19, 2012, sunmedia.ca.
Kuala Lumpur / U.S.: The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal continues May 7 -12 with a 2nd hearing (see previous). According to its press release, George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes II, Jay Bybee, John Choon Yoo, all officials of the former Bush administration, will be charged as follows: The Accused persons had committed the Crime of Torture and War Crimes, in that: The Accused persons had wilfully participated in the formulation of executive orders and directives to exclude the applicability of all international conventions and laws, namely the Convention against Torture 1984, Geneva Convention III 1949, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter in relation to the war launched by the U.S. and others in Afghanistan (in 2001) and in Iraq (in March 2003); Additionally, and/or on the basis and in furtherance thereof, the Accused persons authorised, or connived in, the commission of acts of torture and cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment against victims in violation of international law, treaties and conventions including the Convention against Torture 1984 and the Geneva Conventions, including Geneva Convention III 1949. The lead prosecutors are Prof. Gurdial Singh Nijar and Prof. Francis Boyle. The hearing is open to the public, at the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW), 88, Jalan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur. Partial sources online: "Tribunal to Hear Second War Crime Charge Against Bush and Associates," Press release, April 12, 2012, Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission (KLWCC) / LAW; "Bush and Blair guilty of war crimes - Commission," Nov. 29, 2011, Africa Legal Brief; Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War, current [access< http://www.criminalisewar.org/ >]; "Tribunal to Hear Second War Crime Charge Against Bush & Associates," April 16, 2012, Mathaba.
Previous Historical note continued:
"Oh the Roads..." (update) Russian [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ_VR0c8E-U >]
"Kevin Barry" Irish [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFdrt3RlZYg >]
"Rebel Soldier" the American South [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8zGDChgXxk >]
"Pirate Jenny" Germany [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFP3x4bKpZE >]
"Fallujah Song" Iraq [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM12793_0Yw >]U.S.: nuclear waste storage for spent reactor fuel rods is four times over-capacity, and presents the largest concentration of radioactivity on earth. According to The Boston Globe "the United States has 71,862 tons" of vulnerable unstored nuclear waste. Despite the ongoing nuclear catastrophe at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, domestic development of U.S. nuclear plants proceeds (previous).The situation at Fukushima's No. 4 reactor remains unstable: another substantial earthquake which is predicted by some scientists, would threaten human survival. Partial sources online: "The Fuel Pools of Fukushima: The Greatest Short-term Threat to Humanity," Washington Blog, April 9, 2012, Global Research; "US stores spent nuclear fuel rods at 4 times pool capacity," Rady Ananda, March 26, 2012, Coto Report; "Fukushima Reactor 4: Life On Planet Earth in the Balance," Kurt Nimo, April 8, 2012, Prison Planet / Infowars.com;."Still critical: radiation levels at Fukushimaq can kill in minutes," David McNeill, March 29, 2012, The Independent; "Some US spent-fuel storage sites are overloaded," Jonathan Fahey Associated Press, March 24, 2011, The Boston Globe.
Military: the suicide rate for Air Force military and civilians is up 40% from the same quarter last year. In 2009 more U.S. military personnel commited suicide than were killed on the battlefield, and nationally 20% of the suicides are combat veterans of one war or another. An estimated 1.8 million women who are U.S. military veterans are homeless.- their number has doubled since 1990. Partial sources online: "Chief Roy: Suicide rate in 2012 is worrisome," Markeshia Ricks, April 5, 2012, Air Force Times; "The battle against suicide in America's military,"April 5, 2012, ITV News; "Number Of Homeless Women Veterans Is On The Rise," Mar. 26, 2012, WDSU-TV (New Orleans)
Member of "Occupy Washington" and the President of Veterans for Peace, Leah Bolger, a retired Naval Commander, was sentenced to 60 days in jail for disrupting a Congressional Committee by speaking out. What Ms. Bolger said was “The vast majority of the public want you to tax the rich, end the wars.” The judge suspended the sentence, and a fifty dollar fine but Bolger will have to perform 20 hours of community service, working for Veterans for Peace. Nearly 7000 "Occupy" movement protestors have been arrested across the U.S. since Sept. 17, 2011 [access:"http://occupyarrests.com"> ]. Partial sources online: "Retired US Navy Commander Faces Jail Over Interruption of Super Committee Hearing," Alex Kane, April 6, 2012, Alternet / VFP; "Judge Expresses Sympathy With Criticism of Government, Imposes Minimum Sentence," Press Release, April 13, 2012, Veterans for Peace.
Prison:
"...more Black people are enslaved behind bars today than were enslaved on the plantations in 1850." - Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow.
The State of Connecticut will be the 17th State to refuse the death penalty (see U.N. Covenant to Abolish the Death Penalty). The Governor is to sign the bill which replaces capital punishment with lifetime solitary confinement.
Amnesty International has issued a report finding the conditions of solitary confinement in Arizona break international law. On March 20th 400 prisoner survivors of long term solitary confinement in California's prisons petitioned the United Nations, requesting intervention for the 4000 long term solitary confinement prisoners currently held. See previous. In Pennsylvania Prison Radio Newsletter (www.prisonradio.org) reports prisoners are currently resisting abuse by guards at Frackville State Correctional Institution solitary confinement units. The Human Rights Coalition (www.hrcoalition.org/) is launching a campaign to free Russell Maroon Shoats from 21 years in solitary for holding community oriented political views. Partial sources online: "Prisoners in solitary petition United Nations: ‘CDCR destroys our minds, souls and spirits’," Mary Ratcliff, Mar.21, 2012, BayView; "The mass incarceration of the Black community: an interview with Michelle Alexander, author of ‘The New Jim Crow’." J.R. Valrey, April 4, 2012, BayView (see links); "Connecticut Votes to Replace the Death Penalty with Life in Solitary Confinement," James Ridgeway and Jean Casella, April 12, 2012, Solitary Watch.Tarek Mehanna, a U.S. citizen of Sudbury Massachusetts, was convicted of "conspiring to support" terrorism for writing online that he supports Muslims resisting occupations of their countries. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Mehanna ran into trouble with the FBI when he refused to become their informant. In his statement to the judge he said: "So this trial was not about my position on Muslims killing American civilians. It was about my position on Americans killing Muslim civilians, which is that Muslims should defend their lands from foreign invaders — Soviets, Americans, or Martians." Before an impartial court Mehanna's case could be defended as legitimate protest against wars of aggression and in the case of Iraq a genocide. Partial sources online: "Prisoner Sentenced to 17 Years Despite Free Speech Claims," Amy Goodman, April 13, 2012, Democracy Now!; "Tarek Mehanna’s Powerful Statement As He Received 17-Year Sentence Despite Having Harmed No One," Andy Worthington, April 14, 2012, & "Tarek Mehanna’s statement, read to Judge O’Toole during his sentencing, April 12, 2012," Eurasia Review
Historical note: it's a people's human right to resist aggression and a duty to resist occupation.
"Oh the roads..," Russia [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRGWNY3Dvo >].
"Gal Pavargai?" Lithuania [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXdv9QXX5xs >].
"Bella Ciao" Italy [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUFL-fvxnTA&feature=related >].
"Stil di Nakht.The Night is still," Poland [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_915bYVoLw >].
"x and y an n j" Chechnya [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdOLf_iES4 >]
Germany: Gunter Grass, the German writer with a conscience born of youth in an overtly fascist State (at 17 he was in the Waffen SS), has been barred from Israel for his poem critical of Israeli government policies, "What Must Be Said" ("Was gesagt werden muss"). He writes "And granted I've broken my silence / because I'm sick of the West's hypocrisy," and calls for a "free and open inspection" of the nuclear activities of both Iran and Israel. Initially published in Süddeutsche Zeitung, the mild poem has provoked outrage. The Prime Minister of Israel called the work "shameful". The German media has accused Grass of anti-semitism. Within a Euro-American literary community championing democracy's "freedom of expression" Grass is the only major literary voice who has dared find Israel's government a threat to world peace. Partial sources online: "German poet Günter Grass says what cowardly politicians and academics dare not," Gilad Atzmon, April 6, 2012, Redress; "Gunter Grass:'What Must Be Said'," Gunter Grass trans. Breon Mitchell, April 5, 2012, guardian.co.uk [access:< http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/05/gunter-grass-what-must-be-said >]; "Gunter Grass lashes out at 'campaign' over Israel-Iran poem," AFP, April 5, 2012, Ynetnews.com; "Günter Grass barred from Israel over poem," Harriet Sherwood, April 8, 2012, The Guardian.
Canada: the Conservative agenda is becoming more right wing and less tolerant of human rights. The Harper government has acceded to France's request for extradition of Hassan Diab (see previous), despite suspect evidence including the possible use of information obtained through torture. Mohamed Harkat, a Canadian Security Certificate detainee, imprisoned in 2002 is currently under a form of house arrest with threat of deportation to torture (previous). Glenn Carle, a retired senior U.S. CIA agent, admits giving false evidence used against Harkat (MacLeod, The Gazette). Another information source linking Harkat to "terrorists", Abu Zubaydah, a former 'ghost detainee' now at Guantanamo, was repeatedly tortured into accusations and is now considered insane. Evidence from him was expunged by Canadian court. My understanding is that for ten years Canadian intelligence services haven't produced any substantiated evidence to justify Mohamed Harkat's arrest, detention or the destruction of his family's normal life. Reflecting evidence of systemic persecution both Muslim and aboriginal peoples are at risk of severe injustices from economic, legal, and administrative policies originating with government (see genocide warnings). Among Conservative government funding cutbacks, the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) will be entirely closed down as of June 30th, saving $4,955,865 /year. Unbudgeted, NAHO's research databases, 60 million dollars worth of research on indigenous health issues, risk being lost. The Globe and Mail has pointed out that NAHO supplies information about indigenous health such as: a times six suicide rate, a times 3 infant mortality rate, ten years less life expectancy, contaminant levels in communities, a third of the peoples in extreme sub-standard housing, and other informations which, within perspective of the Convention on Genocide, could be considered evidence. Despite frequent collaboration with a right wing agenda, the CBC's budget will be cut back 115 million over three years. Generally the 2012 budget follows right wing austerity measures of Europe and the U.S., cutting 19,200 government jobs through 2015, raising public employees' pension costs, etc.. Partial sources online: "Aboriginal health org snuffed out amidst Health Canada cutbacks," April 9, 2012, Nunatsiaq News; "National Aboriginal Health Organization’s funding cut." April 9, 2012, CBC News; "Budget cuts 19,000 public service jobs," Mar. 29, 2012, CBC News' "Harper’s disregard for aboriginal health," André Picard, Globe and Mail; "Ottawa professor to be extradited to France on terrorism charges," Chris Cobb, April 5, 2012, The Ottawa Citizen; "Ex-CIA agent refutes Harkat terror links," Ian MacLeod (Postmedia News), April 9, 2012, The Gazette; "Abu Zubaydah," current, Wikipedia.
Sudan: The New York Times, George Clooney, U.S. Baptist ministers, Martin Luther King III, Genocide Watch, Amnesty International, among others concerned with human rights are currently protesting the Government of Sudan's military tactics on its new border with South Sudan, and particularly the bombing of Nuba civilians in the Nuba Mountains.(1) Reports of bombings which are often oil drums packed with explosives pushed out of planes, may seem unimpressive to a North American public which has accepted the NATO bombings of Kosovo, Yugoslavia and more recently Libya (Five Hiroshimas worth of bombs were expended on Iraqi civilians under "Operation Desert Storm"). U.S. based Genocide Watch has placed an "Emergency Genocide Warning" for the Nuba, finding the people targets for execution and extinction, but places no warning for the people of Sudan as a national group...(to continue reading "Is the crime against the Nuba peoples, Sudan's?").
Quebec. Historical note: "Speak White," Michèle Lalonde (1970) [access:, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCBCy8OXp7I ]
Sri Lanka: the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is currently listed (renewed Dec. 22, 2010) as a terrorist organization with Public Safety Canada. Wikipedia notes the LTTE on a "List of designated terrorist organizations" for Australia, Canada, EU, U.K., U.S., India. However, in heavily suppressed news, there is strong evidence that 1. Tamil are the target of genocide; 2. the war crimes against them remain avoided by global media; 3. the U.S., U.N., U.K. and France, knew of and made efforts to stop the war crimes as the Sri Lankan government proceeded with the massacre of Tamils; 4. the Government of Sri Lanka brought Tamil civilians into a "no-fire zone" and shelled them, publicly underestimated their numbers which resulted in starvation and lack of medical care for large numbers, and concealed the magnitude of massacres (Channel 4); 5. a Sri Lankan government "big lie" propaganda campaign is attempting to conceal the truth; 6. the propaganda campaign is managed by NATO country public relations firms who are now complicit in what may be a genocide; 7. despite evidence of genocide, Canada's Conservative government has not updated its commitment to the Government of Sri Lanka, or altered its immigration policy for reception of Tamil refugees; 8. signatories of the Convention on Genocide have abrogated their responsibility for protection of the Tamil peoples. Evidence for many of these points is presented by: "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" [access:< http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/4od#3303398 > (cut and paste to view entire film)]. For background on the destruction of the Tamil people during the Sri Lankan government's "war on terrorism" and military defeat of the LTTE, see previous: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Because of the powerful campaign to suppress the truth of genocide-related allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka, because of the inability of NATO governments to bend the Sri Lankan government from impunity during its massacres of Tamil civilians, because of the slowness of United Nations to protect Tamil groups, survivors, journalists, there is a continuing genocide warning for the Tamil people. Partial sources online: "Sr Lanka's Killing Fields," current, Channel 4 ( http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/episode-guide/series-2/episode-1); "Tamil civil society warned US officials on LLRC danger prior to Geneva," Mar. 18, 2012, TamilNet; "Currently listed entities," current, Public Safety Canada; "List of designated terrorist organizations," current, Wikipedia; "Sri Lankan and Pakistani Intelligence Scheme Against Eelam Tamils," March 17, 2012, Salem-News.com; "Sri Lanka postwar policies threaten peace," Krishan Francis (AP), Mar. 16, 2012, Google News; "Sri Lanka: UK, France Tried to Interfere," Mar. 18, 2012, Xinhua; "'Western agenda used' for Sri Lanka war crimes," BBC Sinhala, Mar. 12, 2012, Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS)
South Africa: on March 8, the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) requested economic sanctions against the President and Parliament of South Africa until they provide white farmers with adequate protection. TAU believes 99.9 % of farm murders are of whites, and is requesting a European Union resolution on their behalf. (1) From 2001 to 2010, 129 South Africans were granted asylum in the U.S.. Refugee claimants are reported to have difficulty finding support from U.S. academics who assess South Africa as a post-apartheid society. Suggested sites for immigration are currently the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany and Ireland. (2) A website of the Dutch based Afrikaner Rescue Action Fund, concerned with Afrikaner refugees suggests a psychology of long term exclusion, and close to a million Afrikaners in poverty and squatter camps. It claims white Africans aren't being integrated into the economy, but shows no concern for the poverty of other South Africans. In November 2011 an Afrikaner website, "Long walk since freedom," was barred by the South African government from carrying current news items... (continue reading, "Blood earth and South Africa's white farmers").
Libya: in a U.N. sanctioned NATO war investigated by a U.N. Commission, the U.N. Human Rights Council has issued a report which finds both sides of the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi (Gaddafi) engaged in war crimes. The report was unable to investigate the death of Gaddafi (the National Transitional Council withheld the autopsy) (see previous) or Mutassim Gaddafi, Libya's National Security Advisor (there were no witnesses available) although both were captured alive. The report fails to ask whether the BLU-109 bombs NATO forces expended on Libya contained depleted uranium: the words "depleted uranium" and "radiation" do not appear in the 220 page document. While NATO insists its only targets were military, reports of the bombings of hospitals, water supply (previous), areas with no military relevance, remain unexplained. Total casualty statistics are uncertain but according to Wikipedia, between 2000 to 30,000 died. Refugees International says 900,000 fled the country and "hundreds of thousands" were displaced. National Transitional Council / NATO rule is accompanied by continuing attacks on former residents of the razed city of Tawergha (previous 1, 2, 3 ). On February 6th a refugee camp of Tawerghas at Janzour near Tripoli was again attacked. The people are mostly black. The NTC ongoing refusal to adequately protect the camp suggests a policy which invites more attacks. Two British journalists for Press TV reporting atrocities against black Libyans, were arrested on February 22nd as "spies" and are yet to be released: Nick (Davies) Jones and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson. RT has featured a video showing treatment of black prisoners in a cage eating the green flag. The reports of torture, deaths due to torture, abuse of detainees continue (previous). Due partly to an affinity between use of torture and governments noted for genocide, nightslantern's genocide warning for Blacks in Libya remains. The abuse of Africans does not take high priority in a NATO media supporting a NATO installed government headed by a former professor at the University of Alabama. Sub-Saharan refugees continue to return to their birth countries. Others still hope to find their way to Italy and Europe where The European Court of Human Rights recently decided Italy was wrong in 2009 to return to death or torture in Tripoli, boats of several hundred Africans seeking asylum. IPS notes the celebration in Tripoli of a Nigerian wedding where a good time was had by all, but as well that Black migrants are being sold in a form of indenture/slavery. Canadian media feature the desecration of a Canadian war hero's (WWII) grave by militia forces, with minimal reporting of the enslavement, torture and murder of Black people resulting from neo-Conservative Canada's participatory effort. The U.S./NATO bombings of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq have led to massive destruction of societies, economies, people, families, the fragmentation of former sovereign nations and destruction of "national groups" (See the Convention against Genocide). Partial sources online: "Libya: Field Reports," current, Refugees International; "Hard to Stay in Libya, Difficult to Return," Rebecca Murray, March 1, 2012, IPS; "Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Libya," Advance Unedited Version, Human Rights Council, Nineteenth session, March 2, 2012, A/HRC/19/68 United Nations; "U.N. Faults NATO and Libyan Authorities in Report," Neil MacFarquhar, March 2, 2012, The New York Times; "European Rights Court Rules in Favor of African Migrants," Joe DeCapua, Feb. 23, 2012, VOA; "Libyan Militias Accused of Targeting African Migrants," Joe DeCapua, Feb. 16, 2012, VOA; "Canadian WWII soldier's headstone smashed in Libya," March 5, 2012, CBC News; "Tragic Massacre Of Tawerghan Refugees In The Janzour Refugee Camp Today. Take Action!" Alexandra Valiente, Feb. 6, 2012, Viva Libya; "NATO War Crimes: Depleted Uranium Found in Libya by Scientists," Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, July 5, 2011, Global Research; "Libyan rebels cage black Africans in zoo, force feed them flags," video, March 2, 2012, RT (apprec. Novajoservo); "Libyan mob desecrates grave of Canadian war hero," Reuters, March 5, 2012, Toronto Star; "'Spy' journalists reported killing of black Libyans," March 6, 2012, Channel 4 News; "Gunmen kill seven at Libyan refugee camp," Feb. 7, 2012, al-Jazeera.
Guatemala: Guatemala prepares to be the first country of the Americas to prosecute its former leader on charges of genocide. See previous. Efraín Ríos Montt is alleged to be responsible for 1771 particular deaths, 1400 human rights crimes, 29,000 displaced indigenous people. At the request of a lawyer for General Hector Mario Lopez Fuentes (previous), a co-defendant, Judge Carol Patricia Flores has withdrawn from the trial, replaced by Judge Miguel Angel Galvez. In 1977 the Carter administration refused military aid to Guatemala due to its human rights abuses (The Tablet). Thorough military aid was then assumed by the government of Israel which trained the Guatemalan military. Ríos Montt assuming power after a military coup, ruled from 1982-83. Charged with genocide in a Spanish court (1999) Montt's extradition was refused by Guatemala on the grounds that he was serving in the country's Congress. The Tablet points out that the country's current President, Otto Perez Molina, was a military commander under the Ríos Montt Presidency, while at the U.N. Guatemala votes against recognition of Palestine. Partial sources online: "Judge steps down in Guatemala genocide trial," Mike Allison, Feb. 23, 2012, Christian Science Monitor; "Guatemala judge steps down in ex-dictator's genocide case, citing removal request by defense," AP, Feb. 21, 2012, newser; "Reckoning With a Genocide in Guatemala," Lauren Wolfe, Feb. 10, 2012, the Atlantic; "Linked Arms," Irin Carmon, Feb. 21, 2012, Tablet.
Serbia: "To Entertain You" - Boris Kovac with La Campanella Orchestra [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfWjLjbOogU >]. For background on Yugoslavia see previous.
Canada: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has released its interim report. Among its conclusions are unequivocal statements that Residential Schools were "an assault on Aboriginal children," "an assault on Aboriginal families," "an assault on Aboriginal culture," "an assault on self-governing and self-sustaining Aboriginal nations," and that these assaults have been ongoing since the schools' inception and that other Canadians haven't been educated adequately to interface with Aboriginal cultures. The conclusions sustain Commission Chairman Justice Murray Sinclair's public statement on the act of placing 150,000 aboriginal children in Residential Schools: But the reality is that to take children away and to place them with another group in society for the purpose of racial indoctrination was – and is – an act of genocide and it occurs all around the world (The Globe and Mail). Among 20 specific recommendations the Interim Report urges reconciliation moving forward through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and notes the Government of Canada and Church withholding of records and documentation (point #17). So far the Commission has received about 25,000 statements from Residential School survivors. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Interim Report is not suppressed and is available at the Commission's website [access< http://www.trc.ca/ >]. It doesn't yet discuss in detail evidence of the alleged murder and disappearance of over 50,000 Aboriginal children, a focus of Kevin Annett's work for many years generally suppressed by Canada's media. See Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust [access:< http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/ >], International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State [access:< http://itccs.org/ >]. See on these pages: 1 and previous, 2, 3, 4. Annett's evidence of crimes against Aboriginal children has led him into confrontation with the church that ordained and later 'discontinued' him, the United Church of Canada, and the broader issue of child abuse as suppressed by Catholic Church hierarchy. Severely marginalised and under threat, Annett (aka Eagle Strong Voice) continues his work without adequate Canadian protection: a number of his witnesses and supporters are now dead. Nightslantern carries an ongoing genocide warning for First Nations peoples in Canada. Partial sources online: "Residential schools called a form of genocide," Chinta Puxley, Feb. 17, 2012, The Globe and Mail; Ottawa, churches withholding documents, residential schools commission says,"Tamara Baluja, Feb. 24, 2012, TRhe Globe and Mail; "Tough lessons from residential schools," Terri Theodore (The Canadian Press), Feb. 25, 2012, The Chronicle Herald; "Sinclair is correct -- it was genocide," Christopher Powell, Feb. 24, 2012, Winnipeg Free Press; "Truth and Reconciliation Commission says healing requires education," Feb. 24, 2012, CBC News.
Maine / Quebec: Franco-American families of Canadian ancestry in the Lewiston-Auburn area are being encouraged to test for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which the AP report refers to as a "genetic disorder." Dr. Robert Weiss, a cardiologist has found a disproportionate number of cases in the Franco-American community of the region. Some symptoms of the disease are: very high cholesterol levels, hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, at an early age. According to Canadian Press, a Quebec City physician indicates an FH disease rate there, six times the world average. Anglophone CBC headlines FH as a "French Canadian disease." While Franco-Americans are historically oppressed in New England there is no concern expressed for the effects of a working class diet on the entire northeast community. In the U.S. where medical care is a purchased privilege rather than the patient's human right, testing of genetically defined population groups may raise the problem of eugenics. Reliance on pharmaceuticals, surgery and testing for those who can afford medical care ignores those who can't. Note: the AP report twice refers to a Franco-American community in the Lewiston-Auburn area as "French Canadian" which would displace the community to its source 150 years ago. Note: U.S. reporting places Native Americans at equal risk of the disease, while the risk to aboriginal peoples is entirely ignored in the Canadian reports. Partial sources online: "Dangerous disease linked to French-Canadian ancestry," The Canadian Press, Feb. 20, 2012, CTV.ca; "The Franco Factor: A French Canadian genetic disorder can cause killer cholesterol levels in even the healthiest person," Lindsay Tice, Feb. 5, 2012, Sun Journal; "French-Canadian disease prompts U.S. warning," The Canadian Press, Feb. 21, 2012, CBC News; "Heart disorder high among Maine Franco-Americans," AP, Feb. 5, 2012, msnbc.com.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: a genocide of the Congolese continues to the profit of those stripping the DRC's resources. Within a political structure at the service of genocide by foreign interests, democratic elections were held November 28th, praised by some for their Congolese autonomy and broad participation, and found corrupt by others. Over 500 cases of disputed legislative elections are scheduled for hearings. The party of the re-elected presiding President Joseph Kabila gained a clear majority in the legislature. In a country which is 50% Catholic, 35 % Protestant, CENCO - the Catholic Conference of authorities, found the tallying of votes unacceptable. Three nuns and two priests were jailed as a result of protest marches December 16th - government soldiers were reported firing teargas into religious centres to prevent march attendance. The Carter Center (U.S.) has protested both the election results and the violence to Christians. In Toronto and Ottawa expatriate Congolese have protested rigged elections and the blocked media coverage. Official news of conflict areas in the DRC is lacking since the November elections, despite unofficial reports of increasing violence in Kinshasa and North Kivu. On February 12th Kabila's primary advisor Augustin Katumba Mwanke, died in a plane crash which critically injured the Finance Minister as well. Opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi representing the country's poor, has ordered his party's legislators not to participate in the Legislature. Neither the United Nations, nor the African Union has mounted effective resistance to genocide in the DRC, as the U.S. continues to pour military assistance into neighbouring countries that destabilize: Uganda, and particularly Rwanda where genocide of the Tutsi (by official account) and allegedly of Hutu (recognition of this is forbidden under Rwandan law) has furthered U.S. / NATO interests. To better understand the Congolese genocide: previous background, and a video. With international law currently unable to effect a mandate beyond corporate self-interest, the Convention on Genocide's power of prevention relies increasingly on the Congolese people as a community historically brutalized and since the death of Lumumba by familiar mechanisms of oppression. In Montreal, the Dawson College Student Union hosts Kambale Musavuli of Friends of the Congo to speak February 29th at 5:00 pm. Partial sources online: "Canadian Screenings of Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering The Truth, Toronto and Montreal" Friends of the Congo. "Protesters clear after tense moments with police," Feb. 16, 2012, CP24 (Toronto); "Kabila aide dies, minister hurt in DRC plane crash," Jonny Hogg, Feb. 12, 2012, Reuters; "Activists say nuns and priests arrested to stop religious protest of Congo elections," AP, Feb. 17, 2012, the Washington Post; Message of the CENCO to the Catholics and to the Congolese People. 'Courage and Truth'.", Jan. 16, 2012, FOTC; "Main Congo opposition calls boycott over violence," Feb. 18, 2012, Thomson Reuters; "Friends of the Congo" at our links page.
From 1965: "Sanctus" [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxEPYkXkU8 >]
Canada: a Lawyers Against the War press release notes enough evidence submitted to the International Criminal Court to require investigation of Canada's rendering Afghan prisoners to torture. Canadian Vietnam veteran John McNamer has supplied the ICC with more than 120 files affecting the Harper government's complicity in torture. McNamer's "Letter of February 14th to Canadian officials" summarizes evidence that Canadian Forces turned over prisoners to Afghan and U.S. authorities known to practice torture. His request for investigation by higher authority follows Conservative government 'reluctance' to investigate itself. In 2009 the government actively hindered investigations in Canada. Witnesses were discouraged; there were repeated attempts to shut down the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC); its chairman Peter Tinsley lost his job. Despite intimidation, public abuse, and attempts to expunge his testimony, Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified before the MPCC that Afghani prisoners were knowingly rendered to torture. In December 2009 a Parliamentary Committee Concerned with Torture in Afghanistan also focused national attention on the crime: the Prime Minister closed Parliament (previous 1 and 2). To find the issue "suppressed" is understatement. A responsibility for war crimes by policy makers is currently evaded by Conservative efforts to assert the usefulness of torture: it was recently revealed that the Minister of Public Safety has approved, in "exceptional circumstances", Canadian intelligence agency use of information obtained by torture. The policy attempts to legitimize a war crime. McNamer's letters and evidence submitted to the ICC, Canada's Attorney General and Governor General among other Canadian officials in the past, were not answered despite evidence of torture-until-death by U.S. forces, and evidence of children tortured and sexually abused by the Afghan National Security Directorate (NDS). The criminal policy was not questioned in Canadian courts (Recommended: "Letter of March 8, 2007" & "Letter of Dec.; 21, 2009," Davidson / LAW, Lawyers Against the War Archive). The Government's duty to enforce laws against torture was similarly overlooked at the Sept. 26, 2011 visit to Canada by Richard Cheney and the Oct. 20, 2011 visit by George W. Bush. Torture is a despicable crime, focusing on one victim at a time the overwhelming injustice that accompanies murder of a people and genocide. The neo-conservative agenda ignores its war crimes to further its hold on power. Partial sources online: "International Criminal Court told Canada complicit in torture of Afghan Detainees," Press release, Feb. 15, 2012, Lawyers Against the War; "CSIS may use intelligence derived from torture, Toews says," The Canadian Press, Feb. 7, 2012, CBC News; "Richard Colvin," current, "Peter Tinsley," current, Voices.
Georgia: the Shenandoah River watershed may be lost to the future by the Nuclear Regulatory's approval of two new nuclear plants at the Vogtle facility near Waynesboro (there are already two plants at the site). The new reactors will be the Westinghouse-Toshiba's AP1000 with amended design; The Hindu of India refers to the model as "an electric pressurized-water reactor". The company in charge is Southern Nuclear. The Savannah River empties into the Atlantic at Savannah Georgia. The bill for it all is passed along to customers. The U.S. NRC hasn't approved a new nuclear construction in the U.S. since 1978 due to the near meltdown at Three Mile Island. Strangely unmoved by Fukushima's multiple meltdowns which continue to contaminate Japan, the ocean and atmosphere, only one member of the five person Commission dissented from the vote for approval, Chairman Gregory B. Jaczco who said "“I cannot support issuing this license as if Fukushima had never happened,” (enenews). Commissioners Kristine L. Svinicki, George Apostolakis, William D. Magwood, William C. Ostendorff, approved the project. According to the NRC website [access:< http://www.nrc.gov/ >], "Nothing but the highest possible standards of ethical performance and professionalism should influence regulation." Wikipedia notes that despite the Vermont State Legislature's vote to close the Vermont plant, the NRC granted a twenty year extension to "Vermont Yankee," an overage reactor currently leaking radiation into the Connecticut River. The Fukushima disaster has required increased 'safety standards' for U.S. reactors but as well, higher limits of permissable radiation exposure in water and food. For background on the Savannah River watershed and its historical overexposure to nuclear radiation (nuclear warhead construction) see: "The Savannah River Watershed," of March 4, 2010. Germany is closing down its nuclear plants partly as a result of the Fukushima catastrophe. Since the multiple meltdowns in Japan, U.S. mortality rates have increased, 3.5% on the Western seaboard, 9.1% in the Rocky Mountains region, 3% in New England, etc. (CDC, fukushimafacts.com). See previous. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is currently in court to encourage the transparency of federal loan-guarantee funding to Southern Nuclear Company: the Department of Energy is withholding information from the public. Friends of the Earth, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Center for a Sustainable Coast, Citizens Allied for Safe Energy, Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions, North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, Nuclear Information and Resource Service and Nuclear Watch South, plan to challenge the Commission's decision at the U.S.Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. Partial sources online: "NRC License for New Vogtle Reactors to be Opposed," Press Update, Feb. 8, 2012, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy [access:< http://www.cleanenergy.org >]; "Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion approved 4-1," Kristi E. Swartz, Feb. 9, 2012, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / enenews; "Sick children swamp Ottawa children's hospital," Feb. 10, 2012, CBC News; "Nuclear Regulatory Commission," current, Wikipedia; "NRC approves Vogtle reactors," Walter Jones & Rob Pavey, Feb. 9, 2012, The Augusta Chronicle; "Vogtle Loan Guarantee Update: Nuclear Power Secrecy Continues," Sara Barczak, Feb. 2, 2012, cleanenergy.org; "First new U.S. nuclear reactors in decades approved," Ralph Vartabedian & Ian Duncan, Feb. 9, 2012, Los AngelesTimes; "U.S. approves first nuclear plant in decades," PTI, Feb. 10, 2012, The Hindu.
"Tango Apocalypso," Boris Kovac [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g06BtjGvvw >]Spain: Judge Garzon (see previous) was convicted by unanimous decision of Spain's Supreme Court on the first of several charges brought against him. In an attempt to strip him of support from an international community of jurists the first charge involved authorizing the illegal wiretapping of lawyers. Barring Garzon from practice the conviction ends his judicial investigations of crimes against humanity - in particular his attempt to unearth many thousand victims of Franco's slaughters and seems to place both prosecution and Court in complicity. Partial sources online: "Spain Judge Baltasar Garzon vows to fights conviction," Feb. 9, 2012, BBC News.
"A North American Political Prisoners Update." The legal systems of Canada and the U.S. make no separate recognition of "political prisoners." This encourages police malfeasance and a bending of the legal system to cope with political protest in the same manner as crimes of self-interest.... (continue)
"Killing the Blues," - Border Hop Five [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZUiM8YpWA >]
Brazil: the indigenous peoples are increasingly dispossessed by corporate and private interests. In the Mato Grosso do Sul region Survival: the movement for tribal peoples reports attacks on Guarani Indians. Paralyzed in 2009 during an armed attack on his community, Rosalino Lopes died in December 2011, saying "I am dying for the ancestral land where I was born" (Survival). The government reportedly plans to return land to the Guarani who are living in poverty and intermittently attacked by gunmen working for landholders: the land was cleared by cattle ranchers and plantations of soya and sugar cane as well. A recent report speaks of hit lists targeting Guarani leaders. Marcos Verón, leader of the Guarani-Kaiowá, ejected from his land in 2001 by police and military, was killed in 2003 attempting to return. His son has fled. A chief, Nisio Gomes, was killed in November 2011 by armed men with masks. The Guarani remain without protection. Across the border in Paraguay 95% of the people are considered of Guarani ancestry. A minimal Agence France Press filing notes that Brazilian lawmakers have issued a report claiming "ethnocide" on finding that Indians of Mato Grosso do Sul are being destroyed. In the region of Maranhão, an eight year old Guajajara Indian girl was allegedly burnt alive by loggers with no legal action resulting. The Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) states Indians have no protection against loggers and the basic tension is ongoing (There is an ongoing Genocide warning for Brazil's Indian peoples). Environmentalists protesting destruction of the rainforests recognizing the essential genocide in progress, have been murdered, as have poor farmers protesting illegal logging. These are all without adequate protection by government (Previous & previous). The issue is heavily suppressed by all corporate media as Brazil continues the Belo Monte dam project, expected to displace 16 to 40 thousand people, flooding 40 thousand hectares of rainforest, and holding back 80% of the Xingu (Amazon tributary) river. Brazilian court has discarded native peoples' rights in a ruling that denies a right to prior and informed consultation before the dam is built. Partial sources online: "Masked gunmen attack Brazilian Indian leader in shock execution," Nov. 18, 2011, Survival: the movement for tribal peoples; "Brazilian gunmen brandish tribal hit list in wake of leader’s murder," Dec.1, 2011, Survival; "Guarani man dies of gunshot wound following attack," Dec. 15, 2012, Survival; "Further threats as Guarani Indians remember murdered leader," Jan. 24, 2012, Survival; "Murder of Indigenous child provokes reaction," Raphael Tsavvko Garcia, Global Voices, Jan 10, 2012, The Castlgar Source; "Brazil lawmakers say idigenous group 'massacred'," AFP, Dec. 22, 2011, The Straits Times (Singapore); "Amnesty urges Brazil to probe killing, "Nov. 26, 2011, Sky News (Australia); "Indigenous do not have right to free, prior and informed consultation on Amazon dam, rules Brazilian court," Nov. 9, 2011, mongabay.com.
India: the government has not effectively countered persecution of Christians by Hindu extremists in Orissa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, where recent incidents include threats, attacks on a pastor's home and family, beatings, accusations of forced conversion, parading a pastor naked through the streets, generally crowd actions against isolated Christians where complaints by victims are answered by the victim's arrest. This problem is ongoing. Previous and previous. A war of attrition against Christians in the region coincides with the government's war on tribalists and a Maoist insurgency. A genocide warning remains in effect with a correlation to corporate expansion. 10 projects funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, are being implemented in the resource rich state of Orissa. Vedanta Resources of the U.K. has relied on police to evict tribal villagers from their land to be used as a toxic waste dump. Partial sources online: "India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution," current, Compass Direct News,; "Orissa executing 10 EAPs worth Rs 5,900 cr," Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar, Feb 02, 2012, Business Standard; "India land grab: Forced evictions in Orissa," Jason Overdorf, Jan 31, 2012, Globalpost - video.
Sri Lanka: See previous. The government appears to be forcing Tamil people out of the country. In the northeast, Sinhalese peoples (Buddhist) are replacing Tamil (Hindu) in the Tamil homeland as the expense of Sri Lankan Army occupation of the northeast increases poverty in the Sinhalese south. Green Left recognizes a pattern of settlements as ethnocide similar to Israel's settlement of Arab lands. An article attributed to Truthout alleges an unidentified Sri Lankan general corroborates evidence of war crimes revealed in the UN's Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka of March 31, 2011 (previous), specifically that special force death squads in white vans on government orders picked up, tortured, murdered civilians during the Sri Lankan war. "White van" allegations appear throughout human rights reports. The general also alleges extra judicial killing of surrendering LTTE forces and those taken prisoner. The general's affidavit is reported to trace blame for war crimes directly to current members of the Sri Lankan government. Other generals and witnesses alleging that killing of surrendering LTTE forces was ordered, have fared poorly. With ongoing suppression of war crimes against the LTTE and Tamil population, a genocide warning remains. Partial sources online: “The Conflict Is Still Alive,” Maryam Azwer, current, The Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka - Eng.); "Tamils seek end to occupation," Chris Slee, Jan. 28, 2012, Green Left (Australia); "Sri Lankan General Admits War Crimes; US May Hold Crucial Supporting Evidence," Emanuel Stoakes, Jan.29, 2012, Truthout.
January 31, 2012
U.S.: currently there are no U.S. political prisoners charged with genocide. On the contrary the political prisoners represent communities opposed to genocide or policies which lead to genocide warnings (see political prisoners archive). Current news of U.S. political prisoners: Mumia Abu-Jamal formerly of death row, David Gilbert who has a book out with launchings throughout Canada, Lynne Stewart the attorney imprisoned for representing her client, who is appealing the government's extension of her sentence...(continue)
Spain: the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) of Berlin and New York's Center for Constitutional Rights have filed a complaint with the United Nations protesting U.S. interference with the Spanish judicial process. Among three instances, there is evidence the U.S. interfered in the action of Judge Balthazar Garzon who was investigating torture in Guantanamo Bay among other U.S. detainment centres when he was removed from the bench (see previous). Partial sources online: "Complaint Filed with U.N. Special Rapporteur Alleges Interference with Spanish Judicial Process," Press release, Jan. 19, 2012, Center for Constitutional Rights
Libya: evidence of severe torture practised by the National Transitional Council against those sympathetic to the former ruler Gaddafi, increases. Medecins sans Frontieres states it is pulling out of Libya to avoid becoming a way station for repairing torture victims for another round of torture. Bani Walid has been re-taken by pro-Gaddafi forces, and throughout Libya the green resistance maintains its presence (previous). Partial sources online: "NATO’s Grisly Crimes in Libya," Farirai Chubvu, Jan. 27, 2012, The Herald (Zim); "Libya militias torturing detainees: Report," AFP, Jan. 26, 2012, The Times of India; "Libyan detainees die after torture, says Amnesty International," Jan. 26, 2012, BBC News; "Violence Rages in Libya," Stephern Lendeman, Jan. 24, 2012, Mathaba; "Gaddafi loyalists take back Bani Walid," Chris Stephen & Luke Harding, Jan. 23, 2012, the guardian.
"Dans Mon Shack" [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ7CkHc6D78&feature=related >]
Canada: amid wide suppression of the global effects of the Fukushima nuclear tragedy (see previous), The Gazette in Montreal suggests Canada hasn't been announcing excessive levels of radiation when these occur: in Calgary last March monitoring of rainwater read 8.18 bequerels per litre. Canada's 'safety' level for drinking water is 6 bequerels per litre. In comparison, the U.S. State of Virginia publicly reported a rainwater advisory when the radiation level reached 3.4 bequerels. In other reports, in San Francisco cesium in milk is currently reported to exceed Food and Drug Administration levels and rising; USA Today reports an increase in thyroid cancer since Fukushima. Despite the shutdown and reported stabilization of the Fukushima nuclear plants, Tokyo Electric Power Company has announced an increase in local becquerel (radiation) readings by 20% since December. An earthquake (magnitude 6.8) struck the Fukushima and northeast region of Japan on January 1, and another (magnitude 5.3) struck northeast of Tokyo January 23rd causing spikes in radiation readings. North American radiation measurements for food imports are difficult to find and verify. In 2010 Canada imported from Japan 76 million dollars of food. The Gazette`s "After Fukushima, Fish Tales," finds the Canadian radiation limit per kilogram of fish a hundred times more permissive than Japan's. Much of the available information on radiation levels in North America ceases in March and April of 2011. From a grassroots perspective various graphs of radiation monitoring are available at fukushimafacts.com. Increased exposure from precipitation may be of concern in all northern regions where snow accumulates. During 2012 China will place a radiation check on drinking water within 30 kilometers of its own nuclear facilities but publicly disclosed data from Chinese radiation monitoring is generally lacking. Partial sources online: "Radioactive iodine in rainwater: Public was in the dark," Alex Roslin, Jan.14, 2012, The Gazette; "Fukushima fallout hit home," Michael Platt, Jan. 22, 2012, Calgary Sun; "Doctors unsure why thyroid cancer cases on the rise," Shari Rudavsky / The Indianapolis Star, Jan. 15, 2012, USA Today; "California, Finland, Canada, Australia Hit By Radiation," Washington's Blog, Jan. 17, 2012, Global Research; "After Fukushima, Fish Tales," Alex Roslin, Jan. 14, 2012,
; "Nuclear Radiation Levels from Fukushima Are RISING," Washington's Blog, Jan.24, 2012, Global Research; "China to Monitor Radiation in Drinking Water around Nuclear Plants," Xinhua, Jan. 18, 2012, crienglish.com; "Japan hit by force 7 earthquake just hours after celebrating the New Year," Craig Mackenzie, Jan 1, 2012, Mail Online (dailymail.co.uk); "Radiation dose spikes thoughout Tokyo area after yesterday’s quake (CHARTS)," Enenews admin., Jan.24, 2012, Enenews.
Ottawa: French justice is questioned by those concerned with human rights for its ongoing demand to extradite Hassan Diab to face trial on terrorism charges in France. The charges against him rely on accusations believed to have been obtained through torture (previous and previous). The former professor of sociology at the University of Ottawa claims his innocence. The evidence against him made public is so flimsy the case is frightening. Partial sources online: "Diab calls French terror extradition bid a `Kafkaesque nightmare'," Chris Cobb Postmedia News, Jan. 20, 2012, canada.com, Jan. 21,The Ottawa citizen; "Activists denounce move to extradite Canadian citizen to France," Jan. 21, 2012, presstv.ir.
France: with a curious under-estimation of African intelligence and the general public, a report by French judges found Rwanda's current president, Paul Kagame, couldn't have shot down the plane carrying then President Habyarimana and Burundi's president since the missile came from inside territory controlled by Habyarimana's own presidential guard (within an American context this decision would find the J.F.K. assassination accomplished by the U.S. Secret Service). In 2006, a French court attempted to indict Kagame for the crime. The inquiry report by this team of judges coincides with the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda turning over its cases to Rwandan courts for domestic trials, and with Canada's attempt to deport Léon Mugesera to face trial in Rwanda on charges of genocide, despite the UN Committee on Torture's objections and an appeal to Prime Minister Harper by Paul Rusesabagina (known for saving Tutsi and moderate Hutu during the Rwandan genocide - ref. Hotel Rwanda). Rusesabagina, now declared a "terrorist" by Kagame's government, believes Mugesera has a chance for impartial justice before a Canadian court but not in Rwanda. A decision on Mugesera's deportation is being delayed until Jan. 23rd by a judge in Quebec. In Oklahoma, by granting Kagame immunity as a chief of state, the U.S. Federal Court threw out a lawsuit brought against Kagame by the widows of the two assassinated presidents (previous); substantial unrefuted evidence against Kagame remains, as presented by their lawyer at considerable personal risk, American professor of international law Peter Erlinder (see previous). Erlinder attempted to counsel former Rwandan presidential contender in the recent elections, Victoire Ingabire, but was imprisoned in Rwanda; he was alleged to have attempted "suicide" in custody before being returned to the U.S. on "compassionate" grounds. Ms. Ingabire, is charged with "genocide denial" and additional charges of terrorism in a trial entirely suppressed by international media. Partial sources online: "Mugasera Deportation," As it happens, Jan. 17, 2012, CBC radio; "The Rwanda Documents Project," Peter Erlinder, current [access:< http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library >]; "Rwanda genocide: Kagame 'cleared of Habyarimana crash'," Jan. 10, 2012, BBC News; "Canada to deport alleged Rwandan war criminal despite UN," Jan. 11, 2012, CBC News.
Spain: former Spanish judge Balthazar Garzon who was able to translate international outrage at the crimes of Augusto Pinochet into legal objection, is currently on trial for attempting to dig up and identify the thousands massacred by General Franco (see previous 1, 2, 3, and throughout 2010). N.B.: LAW archive": "Formal Communication for Consideration and Action Re: Judge Baltasar Garzón," from LRWC, ECCHR, ALRC, LWBC, CCR, FIDH, NLG, IADL & OMCT, May 20, 2010, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada).Update
El Salvador: as the U.S. attempts to expand its use of El Salvador for the "war on drugs" President Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena (FMLN party) has apologized deeply for the 1981 massacre of over a thousand civilians at El Mozote by the El Salvadoran military (a 1981 poster). Under the Peace Accords of 1992, perpetrators of the crime were granted amnesty. U.S. training of the Alcatle battalion responsible is discussed in detail by Mark Danner's The New Yorker article of 1993, "The Truth of El Mozote" [access:< http://www.markdanner.com/articles/show/the_truth_of_el_mozote >]. Danner noted that El Salvadoran forces excused a "no prisoners" policy by finding the peoples of contested zones "terrorists". El Salvadoran National Guard roundups for the massacres were accomplished through the use of killing lists supplied the military in the field, a tactic familiar in the shooting lists supplied by the U.S. CIA for the massacres in 1965-66 of a half million 'communists' in Indonesia (ref. "Reigns of Terror," in "Essay on State Terrorism"), and familiar in the Rwandan genocides to those applying killing lists where tribal identification was noted.
A summary of current genocide warnings: the warnings remain generally as noted on these pages January 23, 2004. Over eight years there's an increase in corporate and government funded organizations concerned with prevention of genocide but with selective focus that affirms US / NATO foreign policies. There have been numerous cases of alleged genocide at the International Criminal Court amid evidence that ICC application of the Convention is selective, functioning as a victor's court for the "first" world. With the Convention on Genocide coined to corporate interests indigenous peoples globally lack protection the United Nations Convention assures them. While Canadian law has effective means to counter genocide (the Convention isn't currently appliable within the U.S.), application shows little independence from media / Conservative government foreign policy. Apolitical approaches to preventing genocide remain heavily suppressed. Some warnings for various nations are listed at Genocide Warnings.
"Innu" - Petapan [access:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llNY6o8mBnk >]
U.S.: on December 31, 2011, the U.S. President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act 2012. Amid military authorizations, directives and funding, Section 1021 allows the indefinite detention of anyone in the U.S. or anywhere, who is suspected of complicity in 9/11 or of alliance with "Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces." Currently focused on Muslim groups the provision removes a legal safeguard for the prevention of genocide. Just who is accused, by whom, how and why, isn't revealed. The right of habeas corpus is not assured. The provision's application to U.S. citizens claims not to supersede laws already existing for detention of citizens. Section 1022 suggests that while military custody of citizens and "lawful resident aliens" isn't necessarily required, it is for other suspects. So the U.S. Congress has proposed and passed a law that strips anyone of protection against indefinite detention or disappearance, and allows the U.S. military to bear arms against its own people, if accused. The media is proceeding with business as usual. Acceptance of the unacceptable as "normal" was prepared by the administration's claiming the right to kill citizen suspects anywhere in the world (recently, Imam Anwar Aulaqi and his son among other civilians), the creation of Guantanamo Bay, secret prisons worldwide, disappearance of detainees, use of torture overtly condoned by the Bush administration, and wars of aggression. Clear violations of international law are increasingly extended in domestic applications presenting a progression of elitist controls, imposing the threat of totalitarianism to assure its continuation.Historical note"The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." Article I, Section 9, Constitution.
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger..." - from Article V, Bill of Rights.
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Article VIII, Bill of Rights
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." -from Article XIV, Section 1, Bill of Rights.
A branch that comes from violence will not take root;
for a blighted root is on sheer rock, like reeds by the
banks of a river, which are dried up before any grass; but
kindness, like eternity, will never be cut off, and faithfulness
will be established forever - from Ben Sira
(Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, Abegg et al)
This account is against forgetfulness.
