NOVAYAGAZETA

This is, was, Stanislav Markelov - more about him later.

We often condemn the press for their gung-ho attitude towards privacy – censure them for the methods they use to get their stories – it’s called freedom of the press, and when we consider freedom of speech an important right, we should accept those times when the reporting, (and reporters), seem to overstep the mark. I’m not referring here to tabloid crap headlines and sensationalism that appeal to those somewhat less than literate individuals who are only interested in the sports pages together with pictures of semi-naked women. (The joke about Times readers running the country and Sun readers not caring who runs the country as long as she’s got bit tits has an element of truth in it).
Have you heard of, or read, Novayagazeta? Probably not, but you ought to if you care about transparency and human rights - care about the right of journalists to inform.
Russia is desperate to be accepted by the USA and EU, , (in spite of its playing "big daddy over gas supplies), and there have been big changes since Glasnost; but more changes are necessary before we can truly believe they are a democratic country with the right to free speech and laws protecting human rights.
I’m sure that, as with Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park London, you can speak out on any subject you choose in the centre of Moscow. The difference is - you are highly unlikely to be assassinated in London if you do.
Not only that, if you were, (assassinated that is at Speaker's Corner), there is a general feeling of security when it comes to the judicial system – well, sort of, given the type and length of sentences some of our judges hand down, (one does wonder how a few bewigged buffoons function in today’s world).
Russia? It seems that corruption throughout the legal system, starting with the police, is rife. I know from Russian friends that the police frequently supplement their incomes by demanding on the spot payments for traffic offences, and that is at the bottom of Russia’s legal and judicial system. One dreads to think what happens higher up the food chain.
Back to journalists.
Stanislav Markelov is, was, a human rights lawyer, and was sent packing with a bullet to the back of the head in the street in broad daylight – January this year. A trainee journalist, Anastasia Baburova, was then shot. She died later from here injuries. Who did she work for? Novayagazeta.
Novayagazeta specialises in human rights stories, and Anastasia is not the first of their journalists to be killed.
Anna Politkovskaya was also a journalist for the paper – she died in 2006. Deliberations on the trial of accomplices to her killing seem to suggest that many want the procedure to be held “in camera”, (what a dumb expression for in secret).
Only this week there has been a heated discussion between Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso said the killing of Markelov and the trainee journalist in January was causing the EU concern. Putin? He retaliated by accusing Barroso of hypocrisy and saying the EU is guilty of human rights abuses in its prisons and when handling illegal immigrants. A cornered animal can be dangerous, and will lash out.
Are we, the EU, guilty of the crimes Putin accused us of? I don’t think any prisoners or illegal immigrants have been shot dead in cold blood recently, and, even if this did happen, I believe the due process of law would go ahead to the satisfaction of the public.

Russia, as in its government and judicial system, has a long way to go and a lot of muck raking to do before it can be accepted as having moved on from the days of the Soviet Union.

Thank what ever god you choose to worship that the owners and people working for this newspaper carry on, in spite of the risk to themselves. Take a look at the online version of the newspaper in question – it has a page in English.
http://en.novayagazeta.ru/
See ya

OURS NOT TO REASON WHY?

I am not making comment on this - yet. Just stating the case as reported today.

Binyam Mohamed was a British resident, not a citizen, and was held in The U.S. government's more than dubious Guantanamo Bay camp. He claims his confession was obtained under torture - the torture being carried out in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, (and that is another bag of worms as yet not fully opened). Just as the Americans coined the phrase, "collateral damage" for the death of inoocent people in war, they, too named torture, "Enhanced Interrogation Techinques". Once again, beautiful euphemisms,

The British government was given a week to consider its refusal to disclose material involving Mr. Mohamed in August 2008, (High Court Judge ruling . Our stalwart British government argued the disclosure of its material would cause "significant damage to national security of the United Kingdom".

The wheels of the governmental bus go round and round exceedingly slowly when they choose.

Mr. David Davis, a senior Conservative and former shadow home secretary, said that a High Court ruling today, Wednesday 4th of February 2009, suggests the US threatened to withdraw intelligence help from the UK if details were released.

Now, if true, it comes as no surprise to me, given the "I rule the world" attitude of the ex-President, Mr. George "Human beings and fish can live together" Bush.

Mr Davis said the Judge had stated in Wednesday's ruling that information in the case was in the public interest although it was "potentially embarrassing" to the government.

And that is the nub of this matter, isn't it? Bad enough that the government are being continually embarrassed over other matters without adding more fuel to the fire

Mr. Mohamed? Guilty or innocent of the accusations against him, the public have a right to know considering all the rhetoric, (diatribe?), put out by the governments concerned over human rights. It seems the phrase "national security", is a very useful tool to cover a multitude of sins today, and used by many governments, even those in the so-called "free" world

Mr. Mohamed is to be released - interpret that how you will!

Mr. Mohammed is being represented by the group Reprieve - a group of human rights lawyers who have worked for many UK detainees in Guantanamo, ( http://www.reprieve.org.uk/index.html ).

There is a video on the Reprieve site - I tried to embed it here but it was taking too long to download.

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine, (Thomas Jefferson).

See ya

Gao Zhisheng

Gao Zhisheng is a self-taught human rights lawyer, and has been very active in this field. His problem? He is Chinese and lives in China.
He was last heard of on January 19th, and has not been seen or heard from since. He left the communist party in December 2005, and was very active in denouncing the Chinese government's treatment of the Falung Gong - this brought him to their attention in October of the same year when he wrote open letters to government officials - not a way to endear yourself to such dictators. He and his family have been under surveillance ever since.
Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch said, and I quote, "We are intensely fearful for Gao Zhisheng's safety at this time, given the security authorities' long history of abusing him and his family. He has given detailed accounts of how he was tortured in police custody in the past and he may well be suffering more of the same right now."
Wonder if British wonderboy and Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked after him during his meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao?
Highly unlikely - he was too busy kissing arse to worry about some self-educated lawyer who was born in a cave.
Those who sup with the devil should take a long spoon - doubtful Gordon's is long enough.
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OUR ROMA COUSINS

What a pretty picture they make in this early 20th century photo - Romanis in England ready for hop picking.

The Roma people experience far worse discrimation in Italy, I know. The discrimination there can only be viewed as pure racism reminiscent of Mussolini and his Nazis.

However here in the U.K. there is prejudice and bigotry, if not on the same scale as in Italy,

So who are they then, these travellers?

Well the name travellers covers many types, including thr Roma people.

And not all travellers are good people believe me.

The word travellers is associated in the minds of many with slums, squalor and lack of education.

The Roma are a proud people with a different culture to mainstream Britain, and, (as throughout history), those who dance to the sound of a different drum are viewed as suspicious.The law says that local councils must provide permanent sites for these people, but many local residents, viewing all travellers as trouble makers and vermin, fight the establishment of such sites vehemently.

As always, prejudice cannot be legislated against.

If only the Roma still travelled around in picturesque horse-drawn caravans - very selfish of them to want modern warm waterproof caravans to raise their children in.

See ya

HOW EASY WE ACCEPT

Emotive photo? Yes, I guess it is, especially if you've just had your breakfast, I guess we have become accustomed to such images,and seeing them regular sort of numbs us about the real human horrors of such situations - maybe even sets us thinking "What the hell? Been happening for centuries?".
Score so far? Deaths - Israel 13 Gaza 1,000.
Am I imagining it? Or is there something a bit disproportionate here?
It is well known that the U.S. government supports the Israeli administration, and that's understandable seeing as how lobbying, (especially from Jewish groups), influences politics. (NO, I am not anti-Jewish, and YES, I am anti-lobbying when policies can be determined by non-elected individuls or groups).
It seems, (so far anyway), that Obama has no intentions of changing the situation, and I quote, "My view is that the United States' special relationship with Israel obligates us to be helpful to them in the search for credible partners with whom they can make peace, while also supporting Israel in defending itself against enemies sworn to its destruction,"
That special relationship is, I am sure, determined by the funding supplied by the lobbying groups. So there.
Do I have a soluton to this Middle east problem?
NO, but it does not stop me, (or many others), condemning the Israeli war machine and those who guide it.
I believe the U.S. military call it collateral damage - what a beautiful euphemism for what actually happens on the ground. Sick to my mind too - bloody sick.
Wonder if the use of that term gives any comfort to the man in the photo above? Wonder if it comforts the 1,000's of people who suffered similar losses.
There are no winners in war - the so-called winning side often loses moral integrity - loses a little something of their humanity.
The U.N.? Yeah yeah - as with all organisations, they sit in splendid isolation in their ivory tower in New York, immune from the real horrors, except for those representatives that venture out to see it for themselves, those who actually witness and experience the horror of grieving families and the rank metallic smell of spilt blood in the streets and hospital corridors, the smell so strong that you can taste it. The sickly sweet lingering odour of decomposing bodies. God forbid non-elected national representatives from most countries should experience such things. They're too busy fluffing up their feathers in the hope of achieving status in the competitive corridors of power.
If you imagine the U.N. is a powerful, influential, body, then think again. Look at some of its member states.
Italy - treating the Roma people like scum of the earth, much the same as the Nazis treated them in WWII.
Saudi Arabia - total failure to accept the U.N. Bill of Human rights in almost every way.
The U.N. reaction to these, and many other such states? A quick slap on the wrist then back into bed to continue politically shagging each other.
The list is never-ending.
If i succeed in making just one person stop and think then I'm happy, because that 1 might just talk to others. You know what I mean - six degrees of separation and all that.
See ya

BACK AGAIN

I have not written anything since last year. Personal sort of crisis when my partner walked out on me without saying a word - went missing.
Not really a good excuse for ignoring human rights abuse. Never have ignored them really, but could not write anything worth reading.
I'm back now and will soon be making entries.
WATCH THIS SPACE!

BACK AGAIN