The Voices

Death of a Dictator, Welcome Relief?

2011-12-25T18:21:00.000-05:00

I know he is dead, Kim Jong-il. I have purposely not written about him because most intelligent people know what a cruel, sadistic, schizophrenic person he was, and quite simply I do not want to give much fanfare in his death. Like most dictators, he died of natural cause, and by that, I mean no one put a gun to his head and ended 24 million people's suffering. Now his spawn is set to take over. I wonder if he will be a figurehead like Bashar al-Assad of Syria. So much secrecy shrouds every aspect of North Korea we can only guess if the son is going to act as the leader of North Korea. North Korea is the only Communist country to pass leadership on from father to son. What started as Confucianism, giving the basis believing the Emperor has a mandate from heaven and his followers are to be loyal and obey unconditionally, eventually led to becoming communist as well; this in deference to Russia and China who established his regime. However, is North Korea a true Communist country? On the other hand, is it more a feudal kingdom using communist terminology?

Go back please to 1259 when the Mongolians defeated Koryo (Korea) after thirty years of fighting. Being incorporated into the Mogul empire was not pleasant for North Koreans. In 1254, 206,000 men were captured, the Koryo princes lived as hostages in Bejing and Koroyo was forced to donate large numbers of virgins to the Mongols. The Mongols used Korea as their base for attacking Japan.

Then the Ming dynasty began in China in 1368, and twenty years later, the pro-Ming general Yi Song-gye commandeered control of the Korean government and in 1392 rose to the throne. The Yi dynasty, also known as the Chosun dynasty, lasted until 1910. Even though it was the longest-lasting dynasty in Asian history, the governments of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il refused to accept it as a worthy precursor because, for much of that period, the Chosun were only vassals of the Chinese. Then in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Japanese and 160,000 soldiers moved in to Korea on the way to invade China. After losing their fleet to Korea's armor plated warships in 1592, the Japanese withdrew in 1598. With the epidemics, famine and peasant revolts they were unprepared and overrun by the Manchus and reduced the Chosun dynasty to a vassal state of the Chinese Ch'ing dynasty. They banned Christianity in 1786 and in 1866, 13,000 Catholics were executed.

TOTAL CONTROL—

The people of North Korea have never known freedom. After centuries of feudalism, they experienced Japanese colonialism and the Stalinism of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Social control in North Korea may seem silly unless it happens to you. Cellphones were banned because it was believed they could be used to detonate bombs. Radio tuners were rigged so that channels that were not authorized could not be accessed. Impromptu visits were made to insure people were following the rules. In 1970, Kim Il-sung directly sanctioned a program begun in 1958 in which the entire North Korean population was divided into three classes of Loyalty groups. Roughly a quarter of the people called the core class whose families were in the pre-liberation era pre -1945, were soldiers, poor farmers, workers, and office clerks, as well as the ones whose family members were killed in the war. These members of the core class were given priority over all others in housing, food, and medical care.

The wavering classes, half the population, are pre-liberation merchants, farmers, and service workers, as well as immigrants from South Korea, China, Japan, and families whose members left for South Korea, but stayed behind themselves.

The third group is the hostile class, from families that were pre-liberation wealthy landlords, or merchants, as well as religious teachers and any who uttered discontent, even in private, with the Kim’s and their command. Members of the hostile class are not permitted to live in Pyongyang. They accept the worst jobs, the poorest housing, and the least of food rations. All citizens of North Korea are scrutinized by the Ministry of People’s Security, which positions informers in workplaces and neighborhoods to betray anyone who disparages the regime, even at home. Among the crimes for which one may be castigated are perfidy to The Great Leader and to The Dear Leader, a crime that comprises permitting pictures of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to gather dust and allowing pictures of the Kim’s that appear in magazines or newspapers to be torn or folded.

Below the loyalty groups, like untouchables in the Hindu caste system, are the 250,000 people who are held in prison camps. It is not only people accused of crimes who are sent to these camps, but their families as well. Following the theory of yongoje, family purge, North Korean officials will gather up and imprison, or at least deport, three generations of the family of an offender, including uncles, aunts, and cousins. Sometimes punished as well were friends and work colleagues. One case reported by Human Rights Watch was that of Kim Young. Kim was an official of the State Security Bureau when they found that as a CIA spy thirty-six years earlier his father was executed. They instantly sent Kim Young to prison, where he met his mother, who since her husband’s execution had been imprisoned.

Brought out by former prisoners, and even escaped guards, accounts of the prison camps, are harrowing. A 2003 report identified thirty-six forced labor camps, one of which is three times larger than Washington, D.C. is. There are reports of forced abortions, babies being killed, people sent to the “Discipline Department” for laughing or for looking at their reflection in a window, and informers staying awake through the night to report on what prisoners say when they talk in their sleep. A 1987 at Onsung Prison, there was a riot that led to the killing of 5,000 prisoners. Up to nineteen hours, a day prisoner’s work and the products made by their forced labor, including clothing, and thought to be “laundered” through China were discovered on shelves in the United States.

According to one prisoner, working with livestock is a good job because it is possible to steal the animals’ food and to pick through animal dung for undigested grain. On the prison cell walls are slogans such as “adore the authorities of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il with all your heart”.

EXCESSES AND BIZARRE BEHAVIOR:

· In honor of Kim Il-sung’s 70th birthday, North Korea built a triumphal arch in Pyongyang that is a copy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but larger, and a Torch of Juche Idea monument made from 25,550 white granite blocks, one for each day of Kim Il-sung’s life, that is one meter higher than the Washington Monument.

· Peeved by South Korea’s coup in hosting the 1988 Olympics, Kim Jong-il spent $4.3 billion to prepare for the Thirteenth World Festival of Youth and Students held in Pyongyang in 1989. Large apartment buildings were built to house visitors, but without the use of construction elevators, which led to the death of more than 1,000 workers in three years.

· In 1974, Kim Jong-il decided that North Korean radio was not playing enough music. He personally listened to thousands of songs and then chose 330 to be played on air. Three years later, he added another 1,177 songs.

· Kim Jong-il never gave a major speech or spoke to a large crowd. Although the government often stages mass rallies, at which up to one million North Koreans will march in columns fifty abreast, Kim’s only known utterance at such an event was at a 1992 military parade, when he called out, “Glory to the heroic Korean People’s Army.”

· Every room in every building must display photographs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and they distribute special kits to clean the pictures.

· Every North Korean must wear a lapel pin with a photo of either Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il.

I cannot imagine a people whose rights have been trampled as long the Korean have. I am sure one of my readers will tell me but for the sake of this article, I am speaking of North Korea. What will happen to these people now that the ring in their noses has loosened some?

With high ranking officials refusing to return from abroad and Pyongyang refusing to let anyone leave, who will fight to give some relief and bring change to this beleaguered country? Will it be the puppet on stage, or the one who holds the strings behind the curtain? Only time will tell.

Secrecy Bill is Outrageous

2011-12-12T19:26:00.001-05:00

The Protection of State Information Bill passed last month by the National Assembly and now awaiting approval by Parliament would make possessing or publishing anything the government feels as "classified" an offense punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Journalists die every day to bring the truth to the world and this is how they are repaid.

African National Congress representative, Jackson Mthembu told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the bill was needed to replace apartheid- era law and safeguard state secrets. He is denying that this is a gag on the media. Mthembu wants the press to strengthen self-regulation to balance better, an individual’s right to dignity, against the media's right to publish. However, this tribunal, answering to parliament is two-thirds ANC and would be tantamount to state control.

Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are opposed to the bill. Agus Sudibyo a member of the Press Council and deputy director of the SET Foundation wants the bill withdrawn because the bill specifics are already included in the 2008 Freedom of Information Law, and criticized the punishment included in the bill.

Under the bill, the leak of highly classified material is punishable by four years in prison and 100 million Rupiah in fines ($11,000), while for classified material it is three years and 50 million Rupiah ($6500). For leaking material categorized as restricted, the given punishment is four years in prison and a 1 billion Rupiah fine. Agus pointed out that the punishments were the same for ordinary citizens and for state officials.

What does this bill really do? It certainly cannot protect secrets that are not even defined, for what can be disclosed that are not classified as secret? This is just another way to hide what is done behind closed doors, another way to hold people down and have no regard for human rights.

To Japan

2011-03-12T23:47:00.000-05:00

To Japan, I send my most heartfelt prayers to you and your people. The country is going through a very horrible time right now and I ask those of my readers to send prayers to those people in need. I pray the lost are found, the hungry are fed and the hurt to be healed. You are a very proud country who has endured so much over time and I know you will come back from this too. From me I pray;
Our Father who art in heaven, I ask that you watch over the people of Japan, give them strength and the courage they will need to come through this hardship. Guide them as you will our Father, touch them that they may know the peace in your heart. In Jesus' name I ask,
Amen

Mitch

Vote For Freedom From Hunger

2011-02-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

I have told you about this wonderful organization and the ways they help impoverished families by giving loans to women to set up their own businesses and the training they do with communities on health issues, such as mosquito netting, immunizations and checkups for their children. Now is your chance to help them help others and if you cannot give money then all you have to do is vote. That is it, vote once a day for Freedom from Hunger to give them a chance at receiving $23,000 in donations from First Preston Management. The more votes they receive the more their share of the $23,000 they will receive. All it takes is a minute of your time once a day until Feb. 28^th to vote for this charity which I highly endorse. Please learn more about Freedom from Hunger by going to their site and see for yourself the ways they help every day.

Philippines: MAHP, Freedom from Hunger's Microfinance and Health Protection program, has proven that microfinance institutions can add health protection options -- such as dental care -- for an additional cost of only 29 cents per client and still maintain a profit margin. Our little patient looks like she needs a bit more convincing!

God Bless,
Mitch

Happy Valentines Day 1984

2011-02-02T22:01:00.000-05:00

February 14th is a much celebrated holiday in most countries around the world. It is a day of love and candy and flowers. We shower our loved ones with gifts to show how precious they are to us. Well most people do but in 1984 the insensitivity and brutality of a government against its citizens, shattered the dreams of many and left them widows and orphans.

It was a sunny Friday when government police as well as the Kenya army hurriedly took men mainly from the Degodia clan of the Somali tribe into military trucks apparently to identify bandits who had been committing crimes in the district and to turn over illegal weapons.

In the silence of early morning, military men destroying and ransacking villages, ordered the residents to leave their homes immediately. The armed forces then forcibly expelled men from their homes and led them to the ineffective Wagalla airstrip, 14km west of Wajir Town. Military vehicles constantly brought in people from all parts of the district into the airstrip where many others were already being tortured. By the end of the first day, thousands of men had been held in captivity behind the razor-like wire fence. The men were then stripped naked and their movements restricted to the narrow gravel steps either forwards or backwards.

After days without food or water, under the sizzling sun, they were told to lie on their chests on the scorching runway. They spent the nights in the cold, those who defied orders were shot in the head, while others perished of exhaustion. Still others survived drinking urine as water, some were doused with gas and set ablaze all as their families watched helplessly.

Back in the village the women were ruthlessly raped, houses were torched and property looted.

“It was the most horrendous Government operation I have ever seen,” said Bishar Ismail who was then the Wagalla location chief.

“I saw men ferried in military vehicles and directed towards Wagalla airstrip,” he continued.

The exact number of death is still unclear. Government records state that only 386 people were killed but the locals estimate the number at five thousand.

Kenya’s history is riddled with impunity, injustice and torture especially in North Eastern province. Victims of heinous killings in this region are still searching for justice close to two and half decades later. Other massacres perpetrated by government security agencies in Northern Kenya and which still remains a mystery to date include the Bagalla, Garissa Gubay and Malkamaari massacres.

The 27th anniversary of Wagalla massacre will be marked February 14th in two weeks time.

Happy Valentines Day

Rejoice! Rejoice! She is Free!!!!

2010-11-13T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today the most awaited freedom has finally happened. I am so happy and ran around screaming in joy because she is free! Daw Aung Suu Kyi is finally free from house arrest. People around the world are rejoicing in her freedom but at the same time denouncing her detention in the first place. In 1989, she was detained on trumped-up national security charges and put under house arrest. She was not released until 1995 and has spent various periods in detention since then. The western nations and groups such as Amnesty international who critisize the ruling military regime have demanded her freedom for some time. The regime who was possibly trying to ease the international image of itself has said previously they would sit down to talks, but never did.

Suu Kyi plans to help probe allegations of voting fraud, according to Nyan Win, who is a spokesman for her party, which was officially disbanded for refusing to reregister for this year's polls. This could prove to be embarrasing to the ruling Junta who some have said manipulated the votes to win this past Novembers' election.
To have such tenacity, faith, and patience for a cause is to be a woman like Suu Kyi. A woman who willingly stayed under house arrest, biding her time knowing she would one day be free to continue her cause to make Myanmar free from the military fist that is squeezing the freedom out of her people. Bless you Suu Kyi, and keep fighting the fight!

I have a wish for Saturday!

2010-11-13T00:04:00.000-05:00

Saturday may be a very important day for thousands of supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi. She is supposed to be free from house arrest and right now there are scores of her supporters waiting outside her home hoping for a glimpse of the Nobel Prize laureate. Meanwhile security has been stepped up with truckloads of riot police, something the people of Myanmar have seen during times of political tension.

Jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years, Suu Kyi has become a symbol for a struggle to rid the Southeast Asian country of decades of military rule. The last election on Nov 7 showed the Junta ruling party a sweeping victory even as rumors abound that the election was manipulated.

Jailed or under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 21 years, Suu Kyi has become a symbol for a struggle to rid the Southeast Asian country of decades of military rule.

I can only wait with the world and hope that her freedom will not come with a price.

Precious Bloody Africa

2010-11-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

The news is new, yet old. Once again Africa is being robbed of her wealth, by the very people who were sent to protect her. General Amisi Kumba is being accused of installing a mining firm in return for a 25% cut of the profits, even after a ban in September. The esteemed General denies this of course and surprisingly, the firm involved also denies there was a deal.

DR Congo has turned into a battlefield once again over the lure of profits from gold. Should this be a surprise to anyone? Blood Diamonds and blood gold and bloody death, torture and rape have turned this once proud country into one that has NO SHAME in stealing from the African people. Worst of all, is the fact that the world stands by and lets it happen!

We Americans go to war with Iraq for a lie and a terrorist leader. We tear up their country and then turn around and give money to fix it, and yet rape, murder, genocide, stealing, poverty and malnutrition is tolerated by the world. Britain and America are going to give aid to Mugabe all the while the diamonds and gold are paying to arm rebels. Now they have the military come in to suppress the rebels and instead they steal from the people they are supposed to protect.

An unidentified source who was a gold digger at the mines very recently says the mine is totally run by the military and that the diggers are often beaten. DR Congo is one of the poorest countries despite the riches of minerals like gold, Cassiterite and Coltran. Through the years of war by Congolese, Uganda and Rwandan forces an estimated 5 MILLION HAVE DIED!!

Blood Diamonds Are Still Bloody

2010-11-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

Abstract

The story of blood diamonds is pretty straight forward but has been exacerbated by those who are misguided, as they try to rectify the situation by giving information that is incorrect and out of date. (Bob Boland 2007-2010, Diamond buying made easy). The term “Blood Diamonds” refers to the bloody civil war fought in Sierra Leone throughout the 90’s and finally ended in 2002. In the civil war in 1990, the Revolutionary United Front, or RUF, took over the diamond mines in Sierra Leone [such as the field of Marange.] The Executive Outcomes were hired to drive the RUF out. Then in 1996 after the election they were asked to leave by the new president Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. In short order the RUF was again back in power at the diamond fields. It was during the next six year period that the RUF teamed up with Charles Taylor and so began a gory rampage against anyone who stood in their way of gaining power. It was in this atrocious civil war that the RUF started amputating the hands of the people of Sierra Leone because they voted in the election. This article summarizes this by stating;

1. The tragedy of Sierra Leone’s civil war is over and the chapter is closed. There are no current conflicts going on where Blood Diamonds are fueling any type of unbelievable inhumanity as was witnessed in Sierra Leone. (Bob Boland 2007-2010, Diamond buying made easy).

2. You will be able to buy diamonds with confidence knowing you will not be buying “Blood Diamonds” you will likely be funding these developing countries build hospitals, schools and new roads. (Bob Boland 2007-2010, Diamond buying made easy).

This review on the literature “Diamond Buying Made Easy,” attempts to show the accuracy of the Sierra Leone civil war and the “Blood Diamonds” of Africa. Read on.....

Blood Diamonds Are Still Bloody

Civil war started in the early 1990’s and was declared over in 2002 after British and U.N. troops disarmed 45,000 rebels. During this war thousands of men, women and children were attacked and many had their limbs cut off with machetes. Their only crime was that they “might” vote. Their feet were amputated to prevent them walking to the voting places and the hands were cut off to prevent them from voting if they did make it. Another reason they were attacked was to put fear in the hearts of the people, an act of war, a brutal attack that the people of Sierra Leone still live with today.

By the time the war ended at least 120,000 people were murdered, and tens of thousands were mutilated, having noses, legs, arms or ears cut off. It was not until 2009 that the war crimes tribunal was set to hand down a verdict against three rebel RUF leaders accused of committing atrocities during the civil war. Foday Sankoh died of natural causes before he could be brought to trial for war crimes. (AFP) – Feb 24, 2009 all three men were convicted and given lengthy prison terms while as of the date of this writing, Charles Taylor has still not been tried as he awaits his trial to be rescheduled. BBC News Africa (January 28, 2010)

Most of the diamonds from the Marangue fields are directly linked to smuggling by the Zanu -PF party. (Open PR, 2010) There is not any evidence that monies from the diamond mines are being used to reform and rebuild Sierra Leone, instead countries like The United States and Great Britain have promised money for aid as has Berlin, who is the only one of the three to insist the money be disbursed through NGO’s and the World Bank. The diamonds are still being smuggled out and FBI reports that Al Quida funded its attack on September 11, 2001 by the diamonds from Sierra Leone. The same time (1998) they blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Sudan Al Queda operatives were buying up diamonds, and as recently as 3 months before the attack on the trade center Al Queda had laundered millions of dollars buying diamonds from the RUF. (Amnesty International, Diamonds 2010)

There is a bloodbath still going on today in Zimbabwe’s diamond mines. Human Rights Watch has come out strongly against the Zimbabwe government. Zimbabwe agreed to a withdrawal of its armed forces from diamond fields, yet soldiers still control most of the diamond fields. There are numerous media reports that the Marangue diamonds are funding the ruling Zanu PF party and Robert Mugabe, president is being kept by the profits. Mugabe is also accused of numerous human rights violations. (Open PR Human Rights Watch believes Zimbabwe continues selling April4, 2010)

Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi 06/18/1945

2010-06-19T00:14:00.000-04:00

It is a rare thing to be feared by a regime of military leaders. A steely gaze, the hard look of determination upon a face, the desire to change the way a country has been run for years. To be 5’ 4” tall and be a female in a world of hardened Junta and strike fear in the same is a feat not many have done. Aung San Suu Kyi is just such a person. Her beautiful face carries a look that belies her strength. She will be 65 on this day and I want to wish her a blessed and beautiful birthday. For her gift, I wish her freedom, freedom to continue with her life’s mission to bring a voice to the people of Myanmar, (formally Burma) the right to a democratic choice in their lives.

To me she is a person I wish to be like. To carry on my convictions to the best of my ability, to look neither back nor waver in my beliefs. To be strong in the face of adversity, to meet my enemies with my back held straight and my heart strong. To fight for the voices which have been silenced by those who would rule with an iron fist. I cannot free her, but I can give my voice for her and demand her freedom. I can give of myself to the cause that many share with me. I wear a bracelet in her honor; I wear my shirt with her face on it with pride and tell everyone her story in the hopes of raising awareness of her plight.

Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi!!!

World Press Freedom Day

2010-05-03T16:34:00.001-04:00

I am proud to live where I live. I am proud to be able to say what I feel like saying, when I feel like saying it. I can blog openly about my government and have the opportunity to disagree with the President of the United States if I want to. I have the right to tell my state representatives what I want in my community, tell them what laws I feel are important to me. I can complain when things seem to be going wrong, in my opinion.

If you live in Egypt you cannot blog about many of these things. You cannot tell your readers the things that are happening for fear of being jailed.

If you live in Zimbabwe, you cannot know the truth, because the state runs the television stations, the newspapers the radio and only for the brave people who tell the truth and live in fear of being caught, can you hear the truth.

In Iran, journalists who reported prisoner abuse were jailed. They stood up for human rights, and were jailed. They are being accused of "heresy" which carries the death penalty, "disrupting public order", and "propagation against the regime" which have penalties ranging from public lashing to long prison terms. As of March,2010 I ran has jailed 52 journalists. In China there are 24 in prison, in Cuba there are 22.

Today I must have my say, I want to stand tall and let the world know that every one has the right to participate in their own governance, have a say in what the needs of the people are. Everyone should know what their regime, dictator, government is up to. It is a basic human right to know what someone else plans to do with your future!

Here are some of the journalists who have been killed since 1992 for speaking the truth!

Ivan Safronov

Kommersant
Russia

Atwar Bahjat

Al-Arabiya
Iraq

Marlene Garcia-Esperat

Midland News and DXKR
Philippines

Germain Cyrille Ngota Ngota

Cameroon Express
Cameroon

Hiro Muramoto

Reuters
Thailand

Stanilas Ocloo

Télévision Togolaise
Angola

Sunday Gyang Bwede, The Light Bearer

April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Nathan S. Dabak, The Light Bearer

April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Germain Cyrille Ngota Ngota, Cameroon Express

April 22, 2010, in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Azamat Ali Bangash, Samaa TV

April 17, 2010, in Orakzai, Pakistan

Malik Arif, Samaa TV

April 16, 2010, in Quetta, Pakistan

Hiro Muramoto, Reuters

April 10, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand

Muhammad al-Rabou'e, Al-Qahira

February 13, 2010, in Beni Qais, Yemen

Rupert Hamer, Sunday Mirror

January 10, 2010, in an area near Nawa, Afghanistan

Stanilas Ocloo, Télévision Togolaise

January 9, 2010, in Cabinda province, Angola

Valentín Valdés Espinosa, Zócalo de Saltillo

January 8, 2010, in Saltillo, Mexico

Sunday Gyang Bwede, The Light Bearer

April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Nathan S. Dabak, The Light Bearer

April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Germain Cyrille Ngota Ngota, Cameroon Express

April 22, 2010, in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Azamat Ali Bangash, Samaa TV

April 17, 2010, in Orakzai, Pakistan

Malik Arif, Samaa TV

April 16, 2010, in Quetta, Pakistan

Hiro Muramoto, Reuters

April 10, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand

Muhammad al-Rabou'e, Al-Qahira

February 13, 2010, in Beni Qais, Yemen

Rupert Hamer, Sunday Mirror

January 10, 2010, in an area near Nawa, Afghanistan

Stanilas Ocloo, Télévision Togolaise

January 9, 2010, in Cabinda province, Angola

Valentín Valdés Espinosa, Zócalo de Saltillo

January 8, 2010, in Saltillo, Mexico

Edo Sule Ugbagwu, The Nation

April 26, 2010, in an area outside Lagos , Nigeria

Patient Chebeya, freelance

April 5, 2010, in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Manuel Juárez, Radio Super 10

March 26, 2010, in Catacamas, Honduras

José Bayardo Mairena, Excélsior

March 26, 2010, in Catacamas, Honduras

Clodomiro Castilla Ospina, El Pulso del Tiempo

March 19, 2010, in Montería, Colombia

Nahúm Palacios Arteaga, TV Channel 5, Radio Tocoa

March 14, 2010, in Tocoa, Honduras

Evaristo Pacheco Solís, Visión Informativa

March 12, 2010, in Chilpancingo, Mexico

David Meza Montesinos, Radio El Patio, Radio América

March 11, 2010, in La Ceiba, Honduras

Arun Singhaniya, Today Group

March 1, 2010, in Janakpur, Nepal

Joseph Hernández Ochoa, TV Channel 51

March 1, 2010, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Jamim Shah, Channel Nepal and Space Time Network

February 8, 2010, in Kathmandu, Nepal

Jorge Ochoa Martínez, El Sol de la Costa and El Oportuno

January 29, 2010, in Ayutla de los Libres, Mexico

José Luis Romero, Línea Directa

January 2010, in Los Mochis, Mexico

Bobi Tsankov, freelance

January 5, 2010, in Sofia, Bulgaria

Their World

2010-03-09T15:19:00.001-05:00

The broken glass on which my thoughts
Go slowly and bleeds, memories of a life
That may have been
I feels the shards in my bones

Black wounds that seethe and twist
My soul. Let me go let me go
Back from whence I came
Into the desert of the worlds
Never ceasing to inflame
The minds as they whirl through
Canyons of despair clutching
At your spirit, struggling to break free
Of the mindless terror of the fear
Of some who will remain aloof
To the world and those who need peace.

Children of the night
Go forth like rats
Leaving a ship in danger of sinking
Into the desert, running from the terror
Of the demons with four legs
Who slice and cut their way
Into the midst of chaos
That is already a thing of life.

I look into the eyes of old who are just born
Seeing the ache of a hunger not appeased
Nothing on which to feed nothing on which to sup
Misery the constant companion
Rape a daily thing and death
of a night too oft is ours to which
We will never accept as norm.

Written by Sue Bookman 03/09/10

International Women's Day; Thank One Today!

2010-03-07T23:18:00.000-05:00

You go about your day, making coffee, taking your shower, getting your children off to school, and then you leave for errands, or a beauty shop appointment or a day of tennis. This is just an ordinary day, like so many others. Did you call your mother lately and thank her for bringing you into this world? Probably not, any more than you thought the family on the news whose house burned down and the Red Cross took care of them.

Have you thought about your child who is in a gang because they feel they cannot get out of the bad part of town? Have you watched them dress slovenly, calling it style, have you seen the money they flash while you work your fingers to the bone to keep a roof over their heads? Have you heard the gun shots’ ringing out at night, knowing another victim was taken from their families?

Have you ever stopped and really thought about the freedom you have to worship as you choose to speak your mind, to stand in protest united for a cause?

Today is the day for thanks. Today is the day you know who gave you the freedoms, the rights you enjoy, today is the day you look around you at the women who are in your lives now and who made your life possible even back before your mother was born. Today is the day you stop taking for granted everything you have, today is the day you say I do not need a gang to make me whole, today is the day you stand up and take yourself away from the projects, the poverty, the misery. Do not say you cannot; do not say no one understands because you are wrong. Today is International Women’s Day and if these wonderful loving brave women could do the things they did, then yes, you can!

Does the name Clara Barton mean anything to you? I hope you learn her name for she is the founder of the Red Cross. You know Annie Sullivan, I am sure, just as you know who Helen Keller was. Look what she gave this young girl. She gave her a life of quality and Helen went on to greatness herself.

Ida B. Wells was born in 1862 in Mississippi and when her parents died of Fellow Fever, she took a job as a teacher to support her younger siblings. In spite of the hardships in her life, she was able to complete her studies at Rust College and in 1888 became a teacher in Memphis, Tennessee. She became editor and co-owner of a local black newspaper called “The Free Speech and Headlight” and wrote editorials under her pen name ”Iola” When a respected black store owner and friend was lynched in 1892, she used her paper to attack the evils of lynching. While attending an editor’s convention in New York, she received word if she returned to Memphis her life would be in danger. She took her cause to England to gain support and earned a reputation as a fiery orator and courageous leader of her people. Returning to the U.S., she formed the Women’s Era Club, the 1st civic organization for African American women. She never forgot her crusade against lynching and published “A Red Record” which recorded lynching in America. In 1909 she was asked to be a member of the “Committee of 40”, establishing the organization known as the NAACP!

Alice Paul made sure women were given the vote, Mrs. George Peake was the first African- American settler of Cleveland, and the list goes on and on.

Please do not think that the women who were lauded for their work are the only women of stature. There are mothers all over the world who sacrifice for their children and families, who face rape, torture and death just for water, which goes without that their children will have, your mother did the same for you. Make these brave beautiful souls proud. Prove that what they did and are doing was and is worth it.

I speak from the heart, today is International Women’s Day. Look around you, there are women of importance in your life. Do not make these women’s fight for nothing. Pick up the torch they each carried and show the women in your life that you will carry the torch for you part of the run.

Blogging For Human Rights Day

2009-12-10T00:47:00.000-05:00

61 years ago today, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In all there are thirty rights that are in the declaration. I am only going to show the first ten. Out of the first ten there are only two I did not add an atrocity to. Even my own leader of the United States is avoiding the issue of human rights in countries such as China.* If a world leader will not speak up then it falls to the people to stand against the offenders of these rights. I add my voice to those who cry for justice.

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Baad - Giving away a girl as “compensation” to settle a dispute between tribes or families
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Tell that to Sitara Achakzai, a Kandahar Provincial
Council member, who was shot dead on 12 April 2009, or Malalai
Kakar, the highest-ranking female police officer in Kandahar killed in September 2008,
Sitara Achakzai had consciously decided to keep fighting to end the abuse of Afghan women.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Afghan women are subjected to an increasingly insecure
environment. Women participating in public life face threats, harassment and attacks. In extreme cases, women have been killed for holding jobs that are seen to disrespect traditional practices or are considered “un-Islamic.”
Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Although most people may not be aware that in the 21st century slavery still exists, reports declare that the number of slaves at present is the highest it has ever been (Free the Slaves). Presently, about 700,000 children and women are trafficked around the world annually. The UN says that profits for this trafficking amount to approximately $7 billion a year (Anti-Slavery International).

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
“And then he turned to us, Croats, and he started speaking to us. ‘Listen you guys, we are going to kill all of you. We are going to burn you all. We are going to throw your ashes into the Danube, to destroy your Croat seed.’ I remember that sentence and I shall never forget it.”
A Croat from Vukovar, relating what he heard a soldier say to him and other prisoners, in the case against Slobodon Milosevic.
Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Carrie Shelver, an activist with People Opposing Women Abuse, said: "Generally there's a deficit of understanding and commitment to women's rights by the leadership of this country. It's simply not on people's agenda."
A report published by the trade union Solidarity earlier this month said that one child is raped in South Africa every three minutes, with 88% of rapes going unreported. It found that levels of child abuse in South Africa are increasing rapidly.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
What does Aung San Suu Kyi think of this right? She has been under house arrest for most of the last 19 years.
Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia, and Sao Paulo, Brazil -- The police killing earlier this year of 22-year-old clerk and expectant father Jose Carlos Barbosa in a Rio de Janeiro slum was anything but an isolated incident. He is one of more than 11,000 people slain at the hands of authorities in that city and Sao Paulo since 2003.

* Story here

Zimbabwe's Diamond Mines

2009-11-06T00:02:00.001-05:00

Zimbabwe faces the threat of being suspended from the international diamond trade after allegations of brutality from it's soldiers. Rights groups are lobbying members of the *Kimberly Process, the body that regulates trade in rough diamonds to halt exports from Zimbabwe. Activists say Mugabe's soldiers massacred about 200 people when the troops moved in last year. Witnesses told of how tear gas was thrown from helicopters, policemen opened fire on the diamond mine and raped the women who were caught at the field. Activists say local people are being forced to search for diamonds, with all the profit being taken by Zanu-PF. Human Rights Watch insists the Kimberley Process should ensure diamonds are not mined in areas where human rights are being violated.

Mugabe sympathizers argue that the Kimberley Process is meant only to ensure the profits are not used to fund conflict, so Zimbabwe should not be banned. Namibian MP Bernhard Esau, the current chairman of the Kimberley
Process, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Zimbabwe had"really serious problems" and needed help to remain "part of the family".

*
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fueled decades o fdevastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of
rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of November 2008, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant. For more information on the Kimberley Process here is the link.

Dona Nobis Pacem. Peace For All, Lift Your Voice

2009-11-04T18:25:00.000-05:00

Peace- (n) 1: Freedom from public disturbance or war. 2: Agreement and harmony among persons.

A very simple prospect don’t you agree? People who are in agreement or harmony. People who are free from war. How do you personally solve issues you may have with your friends, co-workers or family? Do you start hitting the one who disagrees with you? Do you start stabbing each other over who your leader should be? Or do you hear the others side and weigh all your options?

If you have seen any news in the past few years then you have heard about gangs who are killing each other because the other side is in their neighborhood. Men who kill their wives because she wants to be free to make her own choice. Mothers who kill their children because they want to be unencumbered and party with friends. Don’t you wish they could see what people in other countries live with daily?
There are people dying every day because one group has decided for all how their life should be lived. Here are people in this country who do not see what is in front of their own nose, freedom. The freedom to choose what they want to be in life. The freedom to practice their faith no matter what that faith is. The freedom to work where they want, to live where they want. The freedom to vote for the person they feel will do the best by them in running their country.

Then there are those who are not so lucky, because of being born where they were born. In countries where a leader kills them because they would dare to disagree or just because they belong to a different sect. Where the simple act of getting water for a thirsty child results in death. Where leaders care more about the shopping trips in far away ports then the starving people they govern.

I as a blogger pray for peace and understanding, but if someone who is free does not care then how can I expect the rest of the world to care? To have the gift of choice, the gift of freedom is a precious thing that must be treasured, for there are millions who do not even have the option of choice.

World Food Day

2009-10-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

Every 6 seconds a child dies of malnutrition. In some of Africa's poorest countries, families are cutting school, clothes and basic medical care just to give their children one meal a day. A record one billion people throughout the entire world are hungry and this will only increase if more is not spent on agriculture. The U.N. food agency reports 30 countries now require emergency aid, including 20 in Africa alone.

Somalia, ravaged by violence and anarchy for almost two decades has seen the monthly expenditure for food and other basic needs rise 85% in the past two years. A family of 6 spent $92 in March 2007 while the same amount of food in September 2009 cost $171.

In Kenya,
herders have seen scores of their animals die and crops have withered
because of drought. Today, 3.8 million people in Kenya need food aid,
up from 2.5 million earlier in the year. The world's most populous region, Asia and the Pacific, has the largest number of hungry people — 642 million — followed by Sub-Saharan Africa with 265 million.

Jacques Diouf, director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, said world leaders
are starting to understand that investment in agriculture must be
increased. He cited the goal set by the Group of Eight summit in
L'Aquila, Italy, in July to raise $20 billion to help farmers in poor
countries produce more — a shift from previous emphasis on delivering
food aid.

However, more investments will be needed to fulfill pledges like the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, which aim to halve the number of those living in hunger and poverty by 2015.

The FAO says global food output will have to increase by 70 percent to feed a projected population of 9.1 billion in 2050.

To achieve that, poor countries will need $44 billion in annual
agricultural aid, compared with the current $7.9 billion, to increase
access to irrigation systems and modern machinery as well as build
roads and train farmers.

I think today is the end of all things conventional,

Whatever had been predictable yesterday, is no more.

Forks and spoons are too rusted to use,

Jutting out of us like some perished nightmare.

Dining room tables are being used for makeshift mausoleums,

(Leave the dead, don’t waste precious energy.)

Electricity went out this morning, water this afternoon.

It reaches everywhere; the world reeks of a decomposing.

There’s a deafening silence ticking down like a giant clock;

Nothing can be heard, save the monstrous, shrieking echo of silence

That swims over our heads like crop-dusters spitting flesh.

We are so goddamn frightened! Is this the end of the world?

Has our greed and apathy finally made its way back to us?

Have our closed hands and open mouths at last climbed inside our minds?

Where are all the loud children skipping home from school?

What day is this? What time is it? What has happened?

At night there will be fireflies and the moon to feebly reassure us.

Everything we’ve ever been told about death and hunger and this moment

Sounds stupid.

All the times we’ve been told of it or witnessed such present horror

Is now speechless.

Everything is so horrifyingly quiet! The mask of life itself is waning

Like leaves falling upon autumn’s sword.

To our hands, the children. To our feast, the world

Now shaking off its parasites with winter’s cold harmony.

Of our hands, the stillness. Of our hunger, the stench

Masking any good that has ever been grown in the field

Or expressed with the sustenance of any true and decent love.

© 2009 mrp/thepoetryman

Ghosts of War, Rwanda's Living Dead

2009-08-16T08:14:00.000-04:00

In Rwanda and the neighboring Kivu provinces of the DR Congo, ghosts wander above the Great Lakes. These ghosts are survivors of a horror they will never manage to forget-those that the Rwandans call "bapfuye buhagazi" or "the walking dead." These are the young girls who had abortions after being raped by the interahamwe or Hutu militia. These are the widows, the mothers who saw their children slaughtered before their eyes, children who grew up after seeing their parents die, the killers haunted by remorse and the killers who feel no remorse at all.

They are also the bystanders who pretended there was nothing they could do, the innocents later unjustly accused of murder, the guilty harbingers of death who are afraid of being discovered. These are the ones who are known and who are being blackmailed, the Hutu refugees who never came home, the Tutsi refugees from the Congo who ran from the massacres and still linger in Rwandan camps, the madmen and the broken women.

In many ways the genocide has succeeded, managing to encase the whole country in a huge airless bubble, pretending life goes on but in too many ways it actually stopped on April 7th, 1994.

The sad thing is no one has ever apologized, no truth and reconcilitation commission has been offered them, where the real perptrators are actually present and can be cross-examined. Instead there isa stricture of the gacaca curts-set up by the Rwandan governments based on a system of community justice, where the deninciators themselves are often guilty and those attending seem more interested in staying on the good side of the present regime, rather than digging into the black past.

The new regime has made using the words Tutsi or Hutu strictly forbidden by law. How can a clear examination of the relationship between Tutsi and Hutu be made? How can you talk about disease without mentioning germs or contagion?

What about the ghosts that walk in the Western world?

Has guilt kept the West fixated on the genocide? Guilt of the Belgian colonizers who were vaguely suspected of having contributed to this mess through their old colonial policies. The guilt of the French government which had supported some of the worst excesses of the Hutu regime beyond the normal limits of political alliance. Guilt of the Americans who refused to use their military intervention when it was called for and finally guilt of the international community when the United Nations compounded it's initial blindness by displaying a massive case of multilateral cowardice.

Suu Kyi, A True Hero

2009-08-12T14:16:00.000-04:00

The world stood by and watched the sham trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, hoping for the right thing to happen but knowing in their collective hearts what the outcome would be. It could have been worse. She could have been given many years of hard labor in prison. Many think the outcome is just a way to appease the world and make it look as though they are giving her a lighter sentence, while in reality it is one way to keep her silent during the elections next year.

The Burmese regime had a miracle fall into their laps in the name of John Yettaw. It solved the problem of how they were going to keep Suu Kyi quiet while the regime was elected in 2010. In 1990 they ignored the fact that her party, the National League for Democracy won the election and Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for violating the laws that were hastily put in place to silence the dissenters. She has been under house arrest for 14 of the last 20 years. It is funny how a tiny 64 year old woman has the Junta shaking in their boots.

While the world has cried foul and demanded her release, there is one major player who will not take her side and that is China. They say we should respect Burma's laws. How do you respect laws that were made to keep someone in power, with no hope for the people of Burma to voice their opinion. How do you respect laws that only are in place for the military regime while they are being propped up by China and India? I say shame on the leaders of those countries. China is trying to prove they have improved human rights, yet continue to back the rulers of Myanmar.

Than Shwe is the head of the ruling junta and controls the army. A very hard-line leader, he is strongly opposed to allowing any political role for opposition leader Suu Kyi. He at first was thought to be more lenient than his predecessor, General Saw Maung, releasing some political prisoners and allowing human rights groups to visit Burma. but he continues to suppress all dissent.

Maung Aye is the second most powerful man in the country and is believed to have made many strong ties with Burma's drug lords in the Golden Triangle before he joined the military leadership in 1993. He is ruthless and xenophobic and is also staunchly opposed to any future political role for Suu Kyi.

To me Suu Kyi is a hero of the largest proportion. She was inspired by US civil rights leader Martin Luther King and India's Mahatma Gandhi for their non-violent campaigns. There are more heroes than her, but their voices are being silenced all over the world. I want the world to hear them!

Mugabe and the Diamond mine; A story of death and greed

2009-07-06T03:29:00.000-04:00

It is like I said in my last post, why does Zimbabwe cry for money from the western countries when it has a diamond mine that could enable the country to raise $200m a month. Thank you Human Rights Watch for calling attention to the death that has occurred in Zimbabwe's diamond mine. Mugabe is a cold hearted evil man whose soldiers he so desperately needed, systematically took over the mines to give Mugabe access to the riches the mine has afforded.
Now it is quoted that the minister in the unity government is saying "soldiers will be withdrawn in "phases". The army claims it descended on the gold fields to prevent illegal mining but rights groups claim they were involved in forced labor and an alleged massacre of diamond diggers. An investigation is currently underway to investigate the allegations of abuse.
Only time will tell if Mugabe does what is needed to help the country fight back from poverty by using the diamond fields to pave the way to a better future.

Twitter for the World Today July 4th

2009-07-04T00:45:00.000-04:00

I want to share this video with you. I may not be able to do much and this is my effort. I hope it touches you in some way.

Does Zimbabwe really need China's money?

2009-06-30T15:05:00.001-04:00

How can Zimbabwe be rising from the economic collapse when death is all around and children are being forced to be slaves for the soldiers of the ZANU PF party? When soldiers in helicopters using mounted machine guns shoot panners in the fields of Marange. Tsvangirai and the MDC are trying to convince Western donors that Zimbabwe is improving and Mugabe can be trusted. How can Mujuru's daughter attempt to sell uncertified gold and diamonds on the international market in Spain? Mujuru is a senior ZANU PF official and Zimbabwe's vice president and is a major stakeholder in the field. Why are Tsvangirai and Mugabe not setting right the diamond mine and using the money to help their own country. Why should only those in power get rich and the poorest in the country have nothing but misery, rape, torture, death, and child slave labor? Mugabe needs to see the blood on his hands and turn the black hatred in his heart to helping his own people stand up and be proud once more for Zimbabwe.

Human Rights In Iran. Are There Any?

2009-06-25T14:32:00.000-04:00

What are human rights? What do they mean to you? Do you have the right to practice a religion no matter what others think about that religion? Do you have the right to vote in matters that affect your country. Do you have the right to demand that election be fair and just? Do your rights include your children be provided with an education? Do you have the right to voice your opinion no matter your sex, creed, ethnicity, political ideals? I do have rights where I live as I am sure many others do. What of those who are not given the smallest bit of human dignity, those who are owned by their government, thrown in prison for voicing their displeasure, killed for believing in something different. Women being raped because some men believe it is a male bonding ritual. Where are their rights, that they can openly accuse their tormentors and knowing they will be heard and the unjust punished?

What has happened in Iran smacks of no rights of human beings. It tells the world that Khamenei cares not one bit what the people of Iran want, just a power hungry little man, who puts his robes on the same as every one else. Look what happened to Neda. Where were her rights? Where are the rights of those who were killed during a protest? Khamenei throws his words at the United States and what happened at Camp Davidian, it was wrong, yes it was tragic, but Khamenei look at your country. How many have died, how much blood is on YOUR hands? I am posting a letter that appeared in the latimesblogs that shows human rights at their worst. I can do this because of the rights I have in my country. I want the world to know what is happening behind the curtain of oppression.

I first met
Shahriar when I was writing for my school paper and covering student
government. He was in charge of the clubs on campus and could always be
relied on for information. His upbeat attitude was contagious, and we
quickly became friends.

Shahriar moved to the U.S. from Iran to pursue his bachelor’s
degree. His determination has been nothing short of inspirational. When
I learned a few days ago that he went back to visit Tehran, I was
shocked. Immediately, I emailed to ask how he was doing and what it was
like over there.

Here is his unedited account, which he agreed to share with our
readers. To protect his safety, the Times is not publishing his full
name.

I am scared and worried about this turmoil in Iran.

No body knows what is going to happen, I even believe the top
politicians from both sides have the same situation. They may predict
based on their analysis but Iranian people are very unpredictable in
political views and actions.

midnight chantings are very energetic and a great sign of unity

among people and they chant (Allah Akbar) which means The god is great
and its the same chant during the past revolution and its not something
against the Islamic values of this government.

during the day when I go out it seems that everything is calm but everyone is waiting to see what is gonna happen at night.

The government has a lot of anti riot forces that havent used all of
them so far, so if that happens it could create more violence.

I personally did voted for Mousavi not because he was my ideal
reformist candidate but I didnt want Ahmadinejad anymore as my
country's president.

I am all for reform in Iran and not revolution and violence.

People want a reelection and believe Mousavi should have won. But
losing life and any other sacrifice for this goal is not worthy (from
my point of view.)

Special forces who are armed civilians (supported by the government)
called Bassij is very involved in this situation and they do most of
the attacks to demonstrators. They are bunch of of young people brain
washed by radical clerics and only listen to the supreme leader. They
have bases in every mosque and basically in every neighbourhood, very
unified and willing to sacrifice they lives whenever the supreme leader
orders?? at least this is what they claim.

getting news about this situation is very hard at this time. so rumors are going around and around.
Internet
websites are blocked (but we use anti filter programs and easily pass
that) but getting news for example websites that are belong to
Mousavi's supporters are not trustworthy as before because of several
attacks and hack attempts to these websites. so we should be very
careful about the source of our news.

Satellite channels are attacked by the government with sending
noises so BBC Persian TV which was a main news source for people is now
almost unreachable. SMS service is blocked so people cant inform each
other about demonstrations. cell phones also get blocked in certain
areas of Tehran during night and evening. local newspapers get censored
even for details of their front pages and articles.

calling to the US and UK is almost impossible because they dont want
people to contact news agencies and satellite TVs to report about
demonstrations. But still this young generation recording and sending
out news from Iran. They also united to attack governmental websites
and kinda like a cyber war.

Demonstrations are not happening all over Iran and not even all over Tehran (capital city)
Its
almost from city center to north (where middle and upper class people
live) but that is even a huge number of people (Tehran has around 10
mil citizens.)

I expect a very strong attack and more violence from security forces
in short term and for the long term I predict a very police/security
controlled atmosphere for Iran. A complete dictatorship maybe like
Syria, Egypt and Cuba, specially when I see all these arrests of
opposition leaders in Tehran.
I did go to the first huge demonstration called by Mousavi and shocked by the number of people who showed up. HUGE turnout.

On the other side I know that Ahmadinejad and supreme leader also can call for the same size demonstration.

I really dont know if I ever answered ur questions but just tried to
express my feeling and concerns. Please let me know if u have any more
or specific questions.

Good luck and cheers,

Shahriar

— Amber Smith in Los Angels

Complete coverage of the Iranian elections and aftermath.

Photo: In this photograph posted on the Internet, an
Iranian protester flashes the victory sign from behind a public trash
bin set on fire at an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Saturday
June 20, 2009. Credit / AP Photo

Human beings have rights, where are theirs?

There but for the grace of God go I

2009-05-30T20:39:00.000-04:00

I found this video on a wonderful web site that tells what Doctor's without Borders are doing to show the world what is happening in Darfur. They are trying to help women who have been raped and beaten to heal and put some of the pieces back together. This is but a small portion of what they do. Please watch this moving story and then go to DarfuriWomen.org and see how you can help.

Suu Kyi, A story of bravery

2009-05-14T16:06:00.001-04:00

The Lady was in court, but with the trial being closed to the public, few knew if she wore her trademark flowers in her hair. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, known to Burmese simply as "The Lady" was dragged to the infamous Insein Prison on Thursday morning to face charges of disobeying the terms of her house arrest. On May 3rd, according to Burmese state press, an American man illegally swam across a lake to Suu Kyi's waterfront villa and snuck into her compound for two nights. Foreigners are not allowed to stay overnight in Burmese houses and she is no ordinary lady. The leader of Burma's crushed democratic opposition, she has been confined to her crumbling home by the ruling junta for much of the past two decades.

Suu Kyi's trial is due to begin on May 18th, according to her lawyers.Two housekeepers who have lived with Suu Kyi since her latest stint of jail time began in 2003 were also arrested. Even though her lawyer said she was upset to discover the uninvited guest in her home she still could face up to 5 years in prison. After much stonewalling by the Burmese regime an American diplomat was allowed to meet with the swimmer, a 53 year old former military serviceman John William Yettaw. His motives for the midnight swim remain unclear.
The health of the 63 year old is watched anxiously not only by Burma's democratic opposition but by many other Burmese who revere her with a singular-if hushed- devotion. On sensitive dates related to the doomed democracy movement, some women put flowers in their hair, a subtle show of support for the silenced activist. Now with the Lady in jail those flowers may yet bloom again.

Aung San Suu Kyi born on June 19th, 1945 Her mother Daw Khin Kyi becomes a prominent public figure, heading social planning and social policy bodies. In Jan.1948 the Independent union of Burma is established and in 1960 when Suu Kyi was 15 her mother was appointed Burma's ambassador to India. Suu Kyi accompanied her mother to New Delhi. She attended high school and then went to Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi. In 1964 she attended Oxford University and recieved a B.A. in philosophy, politics and economics at St. Hugh's College.

Her British "parents" are Lord Gore-Booth, former British ambassador to Burma and High Commissioner in India, and his wife, at whose home Suu Kyi met Michael Aris, student of Tibetan civilization.

In 1969 She went to New York for graduate study, staying with family friend Ma Than E, staff member at the United Nations, where U. Thant of Burma is Secretary General. Postponing her studies Suu Kyi joins U.N. secretariat as Assistant Secretary, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. In the evenings and on week ends she volunteers t hospital, helping indigent patients in programs of reading and companionship.
In 1972 she married Michael Aris and joins him in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, where he tutors royal family and heads the Translation Department. She became Research Officer in the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1973 they returned to England for the birth of their son Alexander in London. In 1974 Michael assumed the appointment in Tibetan and Himalayan studies at Oxford University.
In 1977 she gave birth to her second son at Oxford. While raising her children she began writing, researching for biography of her father, and assisted Michael in Himalayan studies. In 1984 she published Aung San in series of University of Queensland Press. In 1985 she published a book for young people Let's Visit Burma, also books on Nepal and Bhutan in the same series for Burke Publishing Company in London. In 1987 the family returns from Simla where Michael had fellowship at Indian Institute of Advance Studies,and where she published Socio-Political Currents in Burmese Literature1910-1940 in the journal of Tokyo University.

Back in London Suu Kyi enrolls at London School of Oriental and African Studies to work on an advanced degree. In March of 1988 she moved the family to Rangoon to take care of her mother after she had a severe stroke. In July of that year General Ne Win, military dictator of Burma since 1962 resigned. In August there was a mass uprising throughout the country and violent suppression by the military kills thousands. On August 15th Suu Kyi, in her first political action sends open letter to government asking for formation of independent consultative committee to prepare multi-party elections. On August 26th in her first public speech addressed several hundred thousand people outside Shwedon Pagoda, calling for a democratic government. On September 18th military establishes State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Political gatherings of more than four persons is banned with arrests and sentencing without trial reaffirmed. On September 24th the National League for Democracy formed with Suu Kyi general-secretary.There was a policy of non-violence and civil disobedience.

Defying the ban Suu Kyi makes speech-making tour throughout the country to large audiences. In December of that year her mother Daw Khin Kyi died and at her huge funeral procession Suu Kyi vows that as her father and dead mother had served the people of Burma, so too would she, even unto her death. January 1989 through July of same year Suu Kyi continues her campaign despite harassment, arrests and killings by soldiers. On February 17th she was prohibited from standing for election. April 5th in the incident in Irawaddy Delta she courageously walked towards rifles that soldiers were aiming at her. On July 20th Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest, without charge or trial. Her sons were with her and Michael flew to Rangoon and finds her on her third day of hunger strike. Michael asked to be jailed to join students who were arrested at her home. She ended the strike when good treatment of students was promised.
In May of 1990 despite detention of Suu Kyi, NLD wins election with 82% of parliamentary seats. SLORC refused to recognize the results of the election. In October of 1990 Suu Kyi was granted the 1990 Rafto Human Rights Prize. In July of 1991 European Parliament awarded her Sakharov human rights prize. In 1991 Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In December of that year Freedom from Fear was published in New York, England, Australia, and New Zealand. It was also translated to Norwegian, French and Spanish. On Dec. 10th Alexander and Kim accepted their mother's prize in an Oslo ceremony. Suu Kyi remained in detention having refused an offer to be freed if only she would leave Burma and withdraw from politics. Now world wide appeal is growing for her release. In 1992 she announced that she would use her $1.3 million prize money to establish health and education trusts for Burmese people. In 1993 a group of Nobel Peace Laureates, having been denied entry into Burma visited Burmese refugees on the Thailand border calling for Suu Kyi's release. Their appeal later was repeated at UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva.
In February of 1994 she has her first non-family visitors, a UN representative, a U.S. congressman and a New York Times reporter. In September and October SLORC leaders meet with Suu Kyi, who is still asking for a public dialogue. On July 10th, 1995 the SLORC releases Suu Kyi from house arrest after 6 years of detention.

On March 27th, 1999 Michael Aris died of prostate cancer in London. He had petitioned the Burmese authorities to allow him to visit Suu Kyi but his request was denied. He had not seen his wife since Christmas 1995. The Burmese government always urged her to visit her family abroad, but she knew once she left she would never be allowed back into Burma. This separation she regarded as one of the sacrifices she had to make in order to work for a free Burma.
All in all Suu Kyi has been detained on and off for the last nineteen years.

From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1991-1995, Editor Irwin Abrams, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1999
This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures.