[AnNahar] A Bahraini court on Wednesday tossed in the calaboose Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! 29 Shiites for up to 10 years for an attack on a police center in April 2012, a judicial source said.
Twenty-six of those convicted were handed 10-year prison terms and three others tossed in the calaboose Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! for three years, the source said.
The prosecution accused the defendants of attacking a police center in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, with petrol bombs and iron rods, wounding a policeman.
The defendants claimed in court that they were tortured and their confessions obtained under duress, the source said.
Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, remains deeply divided since after a quashed 2011 Shiite-led uprising, with persistent protests sparking festivities with police, scores of Shiites tossed in the calaboose Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! on "terror" charges and reconciliation talks deadlocked.
Authorities in the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom last year increased the penalties for those convicted of violence, introducing the death penalty or life sentences in certain cases.
[Ynet] KCL's Israel Society protests move, saying the decision to join the BDS movement is discriminatory against Israeli students and faculty.
Antisemitism. It's all the rage these days.
The students union of King's College London, one of the leading academic institutes in the UK, decided to endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement at its Student General Meeting on Tuesday evening.
In the successfully passed motion, the union writes that it believes "BDS is an effective tactic, which educates society about these issues, economically pressures companies/institutions to change their practices, and politically pressures the global community."
As part of the union's endorsement of the BDS movement, its members voted in favor of carrying out research into King's College London (KCL) investments, partnerships and contracted companies "that may be implicated in violating Paleostinian human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. Union members also resolved to pressure KCL to divest from Israel and from companies that support "the Israeli occupation and apartheid policies," either directly or indirectly.
Union members also voted to place plaques in all of its student centers, acknowledging its support of the BDS campaign with the following text: "KCLSU officially endorses the 2005 Paleostinian call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel until it abides by international law and ends it illegal occupation of Paleostine. KCLSU is proud to follow the example of a similar call in the 1980's, which successfully led to the end of apartheid in South Africa."
Finally, the union resolved to raise awareness of Israel's "apartheid policies and its illegal occupation" by helping the college's Action Paleostine Society with printing materials and supporting events like the International "Israeli Apartheid Week."
The Israel Society at King's College London responded to the motion in a letter to the union, calling the decision discriminatory.
"A motion to boycott Israel effectively tells Israeli students and faculty that they are not welcome at KCL, simply because of their nationality. It creates a poisonous and divisive ...politicians call things divisive when when the other side sez something they don't like. Their own statements are never divisive, they're principled... atmosphere, which can make Jewish students in particular feel very uncomfortable," the Israel Society wrote.
It also expressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... the students union's decision to support the BDS movement threatens the legal rights of Israeli students and faculty at KCL.
Boycotts, they noted, "constitute systematic attempts to shut down constructive dialogue."
"We are greatly disturbed by the thought that our university -- let alone any university - dedicated to the pursuit of truth and knowledge, could be called on to ban cooperation with the universities and cultural groups of any other country," the society wrote.
"We regard this as an outrageous assault on intellectual and academic freedom -- which all student unions should zealously protect."
Calling the BDS an "odious and repulsive movement," the Israel Society charged that the BDS campaign seeks to delegitimize Israel in order to promote a one-state solution.
"The BDS campaign, draped as it is in the language of human rights, is a seemingly-innocuous façade for a campaign to delegitimize and ultimately dismantle the state of Israel," they wrote.
"Peace is not achieved by making Israel a pariah state -- or destroying the Jewish state altogether," the Israel Society noted in their letter. "Peace is reached through bilateral negotiations, economic co-operation, academic collaboration, commercial relationships, healthy diplomatic ties, stands against racism of all kinds (whether it be Islamophobia ...the irrational fear that Moslems will act the way they usually do... or anti-Semitism), and of course, 'mutual recognition.'"
In 2006, King's College London Principal Richard Trainor rejected a proposal to boycott Israel, saying that "University institutions such as King's College London depend on freedom of speech and freedom of enquiry, which are fundamental to both teaching and research. As knowledge is worldwide, no restrictions should be placed on the location of the individuals or the institutions with which UK universities and their academics may wish to associate."
The American Studies Association voted in December 2013 in favor of an academic boycott of Israeli colleges and universities, in protest of Israeli policies towards the Paleostinians. The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association and the Association for Asian American Studies also adopted the boycott.
#5
It may be delusional, it may have unintended consequences for you, it may be suicidal, it may be hypocritical, but if it feels good it must be right.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/28/2014 19:25 Comments ||
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[DAWN] Chief of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain's peace committee Maulana Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... on Thursday said the myrmidon group had demanded release of around 400 prisoners belonging to it, while the government had sought the freedom of some important people, including Islamia College University Vice Chancellor Professor Ajmal Khan.
Talking to news hounds here, Mr Haq said the TTP-government negotiations were moving towards success and the Taliban had showed conditional willingness to release Professor Ajmal and other important people.
He demanded of the government to begin freeing people, whose release was demanded by the TTP, for the progress of grinding of the peace processor.
The TTP committee chief said both the government and the Taliban had agreed to take the dialogue to its logical end, so he was hopeful that the two sides would soon begin exchanging goodwill gestures.
He said he along with other members of the TTP committee would meet those of the government peace committee tomorrow (Friday) to discuss progress of grinding of the peace processor.
Earlier in the day, Mr Haq told a peace conference in Pabbi that Islamic countries should shun differences to counter threat from the West.
He said the Western countries were united to harm Islamic seminaries but Moslems could foil such bids by getting united.
On the occasion, general secretary of Wafaqu Madaris Qari Hanif Jalandhri said student of Islamic seminaries were protector of Pakistain's Constitution and that any attempt to ban admission of foreigners in local seminaries would be resisted.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/28/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] Taking notice of a tweet by PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Baby Bhutto Zardari ...Pak dynastic politician, son of Benazir Bhutto and grandon of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As far as is known, Bilawal has no particular talents other than being pretty and being able to memorize political slogans, but he had the good luck to be born into the right family and he hasn't been assassinated yet... in which he said that he received a threatening letter from banned Lashkar-e-Jahngvi (LeJ), Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday night directed officials concerned to probe into the matter.
Bilawal, in the tweet, also threatened to hold the Punjab government responsible for sheltering the banned krazed killer outfit and refusing to take any action against them in case an attack was launched against him.
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03/28/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] Despite a degree of optimism and feel-good impression generated by the myrmidon-handpicked committee, insiders believe the first direct face-to-face interaction with forces of Evil has hit a stalemate and unless some quick decisions are taken, it will be difficult to prolong the ceasefire. The ceasefire is to expire on Monday.
According to an insider, the forces of Evil have set two conditions for continuation of the peace talks. One, the creation of a demilitarised peace zone in mountainous Shaktoi, South Wazoo, to allow freedom of movement and two, the release of non-combatants.
The insider said the five-member myrmidons' committee sought written guarantees before they could commit to an extension in the month-long ceasefire. "For nearly seven hours, we talked to them about the destruction wrought by over a decade of violence, the loss of lives and property and displacement of people.
"We said 'let bygones be bygones, let's bury the hatchet and make a new beginning'," the insider said.
"Nothing seemed to appeal to them. I have come back really disappointed. The chances of success and continuation are not terribly bright. This is a non-starter," he said.
"We couldn't offer any written guarantees. It was not our mandate, so we came back without winning any commitment either for an extension of ceasefire or the release of non-combatants in their custody," he said. "The forces of Evil have tied the continuation of the peace talks or extension of ceasefire on acceptance of their demands."
He described the situation as a stalemate, adding it was now for the federal government to reply.
He said that forces of Evil had handed them over a list of 250 non-combatants. The list includes names of women, children and the elderly. The military has already denied they have women, children and the elderly in their custody. "We told them we will investigate the matter," the insider said.
The myrmidons' committee also handed the committee representing the state a list of some seven hundred combatants for a possible release.
He said the myrmidon leaders' argument for a demilitarised peace zone was to ensure they could move around freely. "They said it took them two days to get to the venue of the talks at Bilandkhel, crossing streams and walking through mountains."
The forces of Evil insisted the ceasefire was unilateral and accused the government of not respecting the terms of disengagement. "They brought out a list of incidents involving raids by security forces in Mohmand, Bajaur, Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... and other places.
"They said that our people were being picked up and tortured. We responded by pointing out the execution of 23 militiamen. But the argument didn't work," the insider said.
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03/28/2014 00:00 ||
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[Ynet] Turkish papers say Israel to pay Turkey $21 million for deaths in 2010 raid on Gazoo-bound ships and end Gazoo blockade, after which Erdogan will visit Jerusalem.
Israel knows nothing about a reported final compensation agreement for a deadly IDF raid on a Turkish Gazoo-bound flotilla in 2010, and did not coordinate any announcement on the matter, a source in Jerusalem told Ynet on Thursday.
The statement came after varying reports of a deal emerged in the Turkish media, including one report that Israel would end the blockade on the Gazoo Strip.
Nine pro-Paleostinian Turkish activists were killed when the commando raid aboard the Mavi Marmara turned violent, sparking a major crisis between the long-time regional allies and compensation demands from the victims' families.
According to the Daily Sabah Israel will pay Turkey $21 million in compensation and end the blockade on the Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,-ruled Gazoo Strip, as part of an agreement to end the diplomatic frost caused by the raid.
The paper quoted Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc as saying that the deal was reached last month. After Turkey's local elections on March 30, he reportedly said, the two countries would focus on striking a "binding legal resolution" on the reparations. After this date, Arınc reportedly told the paper, the official document be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for approval.
In addition, The Turkish newspaper Zaman reported Thursday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is planning to visit Israel at the end of April. According to the report, David Meidan, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's coordinator in Turkey has met with the Director of Turkish Intelligence Agency Hakan Fidan, and the two discussed the upcoming visit, reopening the embassies and potential business copperation regarding natural gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea.
Meanwhile, ...back at the Senate, the partisans of Honorius went for their knives and the partisans of Stilicho went for the doors... Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told AFP on Wednesday that his country hopes to soon end this difficult chapter with Israel.
In the diplomatic tussle since, "the gap between the expectations of the two sides is closing," Davutoglu said. "Progress has been made to a great extent, but the two sides need to meet again for a final agreement."
Sticking points have been the amount of compensation and the legal status of the deal, but Arinc said earlier this week that an agreement would soon be signed.
He said that after local elections Sunday, "our first job will be making sure the compensation is bound by a legal document".
Davutoglu also said that "an answer is expected from the Israeli side" to Turkey's demands. "It is our preference, whether it will be before or after the elections... We do whatever is right at the right time."
Turkish senior diplomat Feridun Sinirlioglu was in Israel in February to discuss the terms of an agreement, aimed to normalise relations between the Jewish state and its once closest Moslem ally.
The May 2010 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara provoked a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Ankara expelled the Israeli ambassador, demanded a formal apology and compensation, and an end to the blockade on the Gazoo Strip.
Talks on compensation began a year ago after Israel extended a formal apology to Turkey in a breakthrough brokered by US President Barack Obama We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us... In February, Erdogan said there would be no agreement without a written commitment by Israel to lift its restrictions on the Gazoo Strip, a comment that led Israel to accuse him of blocking a compensation deal.
In March 2013, Netanyahu talked with his Turkish counterpart and apologized for the outcome of the raid on the flotilla. Netanyahu's office issued an announcement saying that both prime ministers agreed to renew the relationship between the countries, and Turkey was halting the legal actions against IDF soldiers and commanders. On the compensation issue they agreed that Israel would transfer money to a humanitarian fund.
Turkey's foreign minister declined to comment on whether new ambassadors would likely be appointed as soon as an agreement is signed.
"What's important is to reach an agreement," Davutoglu said, speaking in his central home province of Konya. "The steps to be taken will be discussed when the agreement is made.
"I can say there's a positive momentum and a process in a positive direction."
[AnNahar] The cabinet approved on Thursday a security plan for the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... and areas bordering Syria as President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... said a solution to the fighting and repeated attacks was urgently needed.
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour told news hounds that the cabinet approved the recommendations of the Higher Defense Council on a security plan in Tripoli and Bekaa valley's northern areas.
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel and Interior Minister Nuhad al-Mashnouq proposed the plan to the HDC during a meeting it held under Suleiman on Wednesday.
Later, Information Minister Ramzi Greij confirmed a decision to task the army and security forces to implement a security plan.
The government also tasked them with seizing arms depots in Tripoli and taking all measures to arrest suspects involved in the fighting in the city in addition to kidnappers and assailants involved in car theft in the Bekaa.
Suleiman told the cabinet that the army will come under attack as long as it is a separation force in Tripoli.
"A security solution has become necessary," he told the first cabinet session that he chaired after the government received parliament's vote of confidence last week.
"The situation is no longer acceptable," he said.
Tripoli witnesses frequent gunbattles between two of the city's impoverished rival neighborhoods, one dominated by Sunnis who support Syrian rebels, and the other by Alawites, who are from the same sect of Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Despoiler of Deraa... Clashes in Tripoli have left scores of casualties over the past days alone.
Border areas also come under rocket attacks and shelling from Syria and have witnessed abductions in return for ransom and other security incidents.
Suleiman hailed the Arab League ...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing... summit that concluded on Wednesday, saying it supported Leb's army, the Syrian refugees, the Baabda Declaration and the Special Tribunal for Leb.
Suleiman attended the first day of the summit that was held in Kuwait.
On recent corruption scandals, he said: "The state should carry out its duties."
The financial prosecutor charged on Wednesday several National Social Security Fund (NSSF) employees with the embezzlement of funds, the National News Agency said.
On a positive note, Abou Faour announced during a presser that the prices of 629 medications will be slashed by 20 percent.
Turkey banned YouTube today, a week after banning Twitter in response to damaging leaks connected to the Turkish government.
But today's ban followed the leaking of an audio recording of brass hats discussing a possible military strike in Syria -- a security breach that prompted a furious reaction from the government.
Turkey was an early supporters of the Syrian opposition and has had several border skirmishes with the Syrian military -- including shooting down a Syrian fighter jet on March 27 that it said had entered its airspace. Today's leaked recording indicates it may be preparing to go on the offensive.
In the recording, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, National Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the military Yasar Guler, and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu are heard discussing plans for a military strike -- possibly including ground troops -- against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original... (ISIS), a jihadist group fighting in Syria.
In the recording, the four men discuss a possible attack to protect the tomb of Shah Suleiman, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey has considered the tomb, which lies on the bank of the Euphrates river about 20 miles inside Syria, part of its territory since 1921, when La Belle France, which controlled Syria at the time, granted Turkey control. It is permanently guarded by a platoon of Turkish commandos.
ISIS, the most hardline among an array of anti-regime foreign myrmidon groups operating in northern Syria, recently took control of the area surrounding the tomb and threatened to seize and destroy it. In a video posted online the Death Eaters said they would not tolerate "secular" troops on their soil.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/28/2014 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Wazoo
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
