There are many lessons to be learned from the recent leak of secret reports on the Afghan war. One of them should be that nobody will be out of reach of Wikileaks now. The very idea is somehow liberating...Big brother has been defeated by a smart little brother operating in a different direction to spread information, embarrass those who lie to us by hiding and customizing information to rule the masses ...
I hope Julian Assange will deliver one day some truth on that paradigm of misinformation that is the HIT...
Showing posts with label Hariri international tribunal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hariri international tribunal. Show all posts
23.7.10
''Those Who Are Conspiring Against Lebanon And The Resistance Will Fail''
From The Daily Star, Lebanon.
According to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, members of Hezbollah will be accused by the Hariri special tribunal, so says Saad Hariri who conveyed the news to Nasrallah. This is the latest attempt by this tribunal to play dirty political games in Lebanon to the benefit of Israel and Saudi Arabia against Hezbollah. March 14 are trying to achieve in Lebanon what Israel failed to achieve in 2006, kill Hezbollah and the resistance. But they lost their credibility long ago. However, what they will succeed in achieving is agitating sectarian tensions...
Nasrallah said he had information that such an indictment had been decided upon before 2008, but its announcement was being postponed to await more suitable political circumstances.
He expressed surprise that the decision to indict had been made even before the STL had summoned some Hizbullah members for questioning in April.
“Our indicators are that the indictment will be announced in September or October, given what is being prepared in Palestine and the region,” he said.
He said the charges targeted the resistance, after the failure of previous attempts to achieve the same goal. Lebanon will be pushed into a sensitive period given that the indictment will be issued soon, added Nasrallah.
...But Nasrallah rejected the indictment, stressing that his party was not afraid at all.
“Let them issue the indictment, those who are conspiring against Lebanon and the resistance, and whose projects have failed are the worried parties because their projects will fail again,” Nasrallah said.
...Tackling the STL’s expected move to absolve Syria of the crime, Nasrallah called upon March 14 officials who had accused Syria of the assassination to reconsider their positions and to engage in a “real” self-critique, “because the results of their decisions had consequences on all the Lebanese.”
He touched on the stances of March 14 coalition following the killing of Hariri, saying they had instigated sectarian tensions in Lebanon.
According to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, members of Hezbollah will be accused by the Hariri special tribunal, so says Saad Hariri who conveyed the news to Nasrallah. This is the latest attempt by this tribunal to play dirty political games in Lebanon to the benefit of Israel and Saudi Arabia against Hezbollah. March 14 are trying to achieve in Lebanon what Israel failed to achieve in 2006, kill Hezbollah and the resistance. But they lost their credibility long ago. However, what they will succeed in achieving is agitating sectarian tensions...
Nasrallah said he had information that such an indictment had been decided upon before 2008, but its announcement was being postponed to await more suitable political circumstances.
He expressed surprise that the decision to indict had been made even before the STL had summoned some Hizbullah members for questioning in April.
“Our indicators are that the indictment will be announced in September or October, given what is being prepared in Palestine and the region,” he said.
He said the charges targeted the resistance, after the failure of previous attempts to achieve the same goal. Lebanon will be pushed into a sensitive period given that the indictment will be issued soon, added Nasrallah.
...But Nasrallah rejected the indictment, stressing that his party was not afraid at all.
“Let them issue the indictment, those who are conspiring against Lebanon and the resistance, and whose projects have failed are the worried parties because their projects will fail again,” Nasrallah said.
...Tackling the STL’s expected move to absolve Syria of the crime, Nasrallah called upon March 14 officials who had accused Syria of the assassination to reconsider their positions and to engage in a “real” self-critique, “because the results of their decisions had consequences on all the Lebanese.”
He touched on the stances of March 14 coalition following the killing of Hariri, saying they had instigated sectarian tensions in Lebanon.
29.1.08
"UN Declares as “Arbitrary” the Detention of Four Officers and Four Civilians in Hariri Case"
From the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) website.
The information is clouded in mystery. It is also posted on the website of Réseau Voltaire.
I don't know who the EMHRN are. They have posted two links to the full french version of the UN document but the links are not accessible to non members as it seems. I was able to obtain from the site of their foundation the list of representatives on the foundation...I wouldn't be surprised if the UN report isn't easily accessible but we still need the original document in order to confirm this information...
UPDATE: Now the French version mentioned for the document can be accessed from what it seems to be the official blog (?) of the Lebanese center for Human Rights (CLDH) but there are no names on it. We still don't know who produced this document. The Universal Human Rights Index of United Nations Documents, which lists all UN documents concerning violations of Human Rights by country, has entries for Lebanon (scroll the page until the end), but only for violation of the rights of foreign domestic workers. There is no mention of the document at the website page of the University of Pittsburg's school of law devoted to all legal documents concerning the Hariri tribunal. It is becoming pretty much clear to me that those who published the information must come up with clear sources and names, even though one might believe that the UN might hold back such negative documents on the working of one of its commissions. Otherwise, what follows should only be considered as a rumor, for the time being.
The answer of the UN Working Group is unambiguous: This is an instance of a Category III arbitrary detention. Once again, the Lebanese judiciary and government have been repudiated.
“The deprivation of freedom of Jamil El Sayed, Moustapha Hamdane, Raymond Azar, Ali El Haj, Ayman Tarabay, Moustapha Talal Mesto, Ahmad Abdel Aa l et Mahmoud Abdel Aal is arbitrary in that it contravenes the provisions of Articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Lebanon is a party, and it falls under Category III among those categories that are applicable to the consideration of cases submitted to the Working Group.
Having expressed this opinion, the Working Group urges the government to take the necessary measures to remedy the situation of these individuals in accordance with the norms and principles set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
CLDH is dismayed at the prolonged inaction by the Lebanese judiciary insofar as the individuals who are the subject of the UN Working Group’s opinion remain in detention.
The information is clouded in mystery. It is also posted on the website of Réseau Voltaire.
I don't know who the EMHRN are. They have posted two links to the full french version of the UN document but the links are not accessible to non members as it seems. I was able to obtain from the site of their foundation the list of representatives on the foundation...I wouldn't be surprised if the UN report isn't easily accessible but we still need the original document in order to confirm this information...
UPDATE: Now the French version mentioned for the document can be accessed from what it seems to be the official blog (?) of the Lebanese center for Human Rights (CLDH) but there are no names on it. We still don't know who produced this document. The Universal Human Rights Index of United Nations Documents, which lists all UN documents concerning violations of Human Rights by country, has entries for Lebanon (scroll the page until the end), but only for violation of the rights of foreign domestic workers. There is no mention of the document at the website page of the University of Pittsburg's school of law devoted to all legal documents concerning the Hariri tribunal. It is becoming pretty much clear to me that those who published the information must come up with clear sources and names, even though one might believe that the UN might hold back such negative documents on the working of one of its commissions. Otherwise, what follows should only be considered as a rumor, for the time being.
Almost a year ago, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH)with the support of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) submitted a formal request to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – a group of independent experts – for its opinion on the detention of eight individuals in the Hariri case.
The answer of the UN Working Group is unambiguous: This is an instance of a Category III arbitrary detention. Once again, the Lebanese judiciary and government have been repudiated.
“The deprivation of freedom of Jamil El Sayed, Moustapha Hamdane, Raymond Azar, Ali El Haj, Ayman Tarabay, Moustapha Talal Mesto, Ahmad Abdel Aa l et Mahmoud Abdel Aal is arbitrary in that it contravenes the provisions of Articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Lebanon is a party, and it falls under Category III among those categories that are applicable to the consideration of cases submitted to the Working Group.
Having expressed this opinion, the Working Group urges the government to take the necessary measures to remedy the situation of these individuals in accordance with the norms and principles set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
CLDH is dismayed at the prolonged inaction by the Lebanese judiciary insofar as the individuals who are the subject of the UN Working Group’s opinion remain in detention.
28.6.07
Bashar to Ban Ki Moon: We are in the eye of the storm and you need to stay in contact with us
Revealed by Le Monde, a strange conversation took place last April between Syrian president Bashar El Assad (BEA) and UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon. It gives a fresh and new perspective on BEA as a head of state and politician but it also gives a clearer picture of the weakness of the new UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, not only toward his US masters but also toward any head of state and official he meets. It is clear from the conversation that Ban Ki Moon is considered as a US puppet and everything that is said to him by officials is meant to be conveyed to his masters. Lets turn now to the conversation's minutes partially published today by Le Monde and translated here.
The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was held on April 24th in the presidential palace in Damascus, before the UN took the decision for the Hariri international tribunal.
The situation in Iraq is mentioned but most of the conversation turns around Lebanon. BKM insists on the important role that Syria must play in order to supress Lebanon's internal divisions. He thinks Damascus must encourage the creation of the international tribunal to judge the assassins of Rafiq Hariri, and not the contrary.
The answer of BEA is pungent: "Sectarian and ethnic divisions have been deeply rooted in Lebanese society for more than 300 years. Lebanese society is very fragile and it stabilised only during the Syrian presence between 1976 and 2005 after which Lebanon entered a new period of political instability again."
"The political instability in Lebanon, added BEA, will be aggravated by the special tribunal, especially if it is under chapter seven of the UN convention, which is binding, reinforcing the constraining aspect of the tribunal. That may easily initiate a conflict and can potentially degenerate into a civil war, provoking divisions between sunnis and shias from the Meditterranean to the Caspian seas. This might have grave consequences extending beyond the Lebanese frontier.
"In the eye of the storm"
Syria, said BEA, has always played a constructive role in Lebanon, contrary to the roles played by France and the US. The influence of these two last countries is destructive to Lebanon.
Syrian foreign minister, Walid Mouallem, intervenes at that point to harshly criticize the US ambassador to Lebanon, Jeff Feltman. "Feltman must leave the country. I am ready to offer him a vacation in Hawaï."
BKM, unable to react, continues to recite his well learned lesson, and pleads for a reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria. "The present lebanese government is illegal'', replies BEA. ''The Syrian people hate the March 14th movement led by Fouad Siniora. I tried to talk to Siniora, but it is now impossible. However, if a unity government including the opposition is formed, Syria will revise its stance."
BKM continues to recite his lesson and expresses his fears concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions. "As an oriental, you must understand, replies BEA. Iran is a regional power and must be recognised as such. They have the capacity to derail the entire Middle east and beyond. (…) There will be no positive evolution on this question as long as the West does not recognise to Iran the right to be a nuclear power."
The meeeting ends with the usual thanks from BKM to BEA who then says to him: "We are in the eye of the storm. You will need to stay in contact with us."
I am not sure BKM understood the metaphor.
You can hate BEA, you can call him names, you can despise him, but you cannot deny that he is right in what he says. Arrogant yes, but right. Speaking about facts might also look arrogant for an international community which is increasingly neglecting facts, building foreign policies only on the fantasies of the neocon new world order.
The source article in French
P.S and Update: An anonymous reader protested (in an impolite way, go my Néthique's Icon at the top of the blog page if you want to understand what impoliteness) that there might be some translations problems because to plead for ''the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon'' is to ignore that there was never official representation in the first place between Syria and Lebanon.
I am sorry to tell this reader that I had to rely on the article of Le Monde, which, in turn, relied on the minutes of the meeting. The article states: ''M. Ban enchaîne, plaidant pour le rétablissement des relations diplomatiques entre le Liban et la Syrie.'' I doubt Le Monde's journalist mistranslated from the minutes, which might have been in English. However, I believe BKM, or those who wrote the script for him, are totally ignorant of the historic of the situation, which might explain the absence of historic perspective to the words he used in the meeting. As for myself I have to stick to my source, which is le Monde's article.
The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was held on April 24th in the presidential palace in Damascus, before the UN took the decision for the Hariri international tribunal.
The situation in Iraq is mentioned but most of the conversation turns around Lebanon. BKM insists on the important role that Syria must play in order to supress Lebanon's internal divisions. He thinks Damascus must encourage the creation of the international tribunal to judge the assassins of Rafiq Hariri, and not the contrary.
The answer of BEA is pungent: "Sectarian and ethnic divisions have been deeply rooted in Lebanese society for more than 300 years. Lebanese society is very fragile and it stabilised only during the Syrian presence between 1976 and 2005 after which Lebanon entered a new period of political instability again."
"The political instability in Lebanon, added BEA, will be aggravated by the special tribunal, especially if it is under chapter seven of the UN convention, which is binding, reinforcing the constraining aspect of the tribunal. That may easily initiate a conflict and can potentially degenerate into a civil war, provoking divisions between sunnis and shias from the Meditterranean to the Caspian seas. This might have grave consequences extending beyond the Lebanese frontier.
"In the eye of the storm"
Syria, said BEA, has always played a constructive role in Lebanon, contrary to the roles played by France and the US. The influence of these two last countries is destructive to Lebanon.
Syrian foreign minister, Walid Mouallem, intervenes at that point to harshly criticize the US ambassador to Lebanon, Jeff Feltman. "Feltman must leave the country. I am ready to offer him a vacation in Hawaï."
BKM, unable to react, continues to recite his well learned lesson, and pleads for a reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria. "The present lebanese government is illegal'', replies BEA. ''The Syrian people hate the March 14th movement led by Fouad Siniora. I tried to talk to Siniora, but it is now impossible. However, if a unity government including the opposition is formed, Syria will revise its stance."
BKM continues to recite his lesson and expresses his fears concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions. "As an oriental, you must understand, replies BEA. Iran is a regional power and must be recognised as such. They have the capacity to derail the entire Middle east and beyond. (…) There will be no positive evolution on this question as long as the West does not recognise to Iran the right to be a nuclear power."
The meeeting ends with the usual thanks from BKM to BEA who then says to him: "We are in the eye of the storm. You will need to stay in contact with us."
I am not sure BKM understood the metaphor.
You can hate BEA, you can call him names, you can despise him, but you cannot deny that he is right in what he says. Arrogant yes, but right. Speaking about facts might also look arrogant for an international community which is increasingly neglecting facts, building foreign policies only on the fantasies of the neocon new world order.
The source article in French
P.S and Update: An anonymous reader protested (in an impolite way, go my Néthique's Icon at the top of the blog page if you want to understand what impoliteness) that there might be some translations problems because to plead for ''the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon'' is to ignore that there was never official representation in the first place between Syria and Lebanon.
I am sorry to tell this reader that I had to rely on the article of Le Monde, which, in turn, relied on the minutes of the meeting. The article states: ''M. Ban enchaîne, plaidant pour le rétablissement des relations diplomatiques entre le Liban et la Syrie.'' I doubt Le Monde's journalist mistranslated from the minutes, which might have been in English. However, I believe BKM, or those who wrote the script for him, are totally ignorant of the historic of the situation, which might explain the absence of historic perspective to the words he used in the meeting. As for myself I have to stick to my source, which is le Monde's article.
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