Archive for July, 2010
Monday, July 26th, 2010
On Sunday (25 July) whistleblower website
Wikileaks made public over 90,000 classified US military files on the war in Afghanistan, making it one of the biggest leaks in US history. The documents give a real time account of the conflict between January 2004 and December 2009 from the perspective of US personnel. Amongst other things they reveal that coalition forces have killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents, that a secret “black” unit exists to kill or capture Taliban leaders without trial and that NATO officers fear Iranian and Pakistani intelligence are providing support for insurgents. The documents were released to
the Guardian,
New York Times and German magazine
Der Spiegel for analysis several weeks ago and whilst Wikileaks did impose a publishing embargo until July 25, they did not influence how the news reports were formulated and did not reveal the source of the leak to the news organisations. The
White House has not disputed the accuracy of the reports but “strongly condemned” the disclosure, believing that it could “threaten national security”.
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Blogger and political activist Johanna Kaschke has had her libel case against fellow blogger’s John Gray and Alex Hilton struck out today
(more…)
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
On 20 July, an employment tribunal
awarded a Stockport fire fighter £80,000 after ruling that his dismissal violated his right to freedom of expression. Christopher Bennett, who suffers arthritis, was dismissed for gross misconduct in 2008 after circulating an email to colleagues asking if they found new office chairs uncomfortable. In 2006, Greater Manchester Fire Service replaced beds used by night shift workers with £400 recliner chairs. Bennett claimed the new chairs worsened his condition. The tribunal held that the dismissal violated Bennett’s right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act.
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Burundi journalist Jean Claude Kavumbagu was arrested and
charged with treason on 17 July. Kavumbagu, the editor of online news service
Net Press, published an article that accused Burundi’s security forces of stealing and looting. It also suggested that they would be unable to prevent a terrorist attack on their country. It remains unclear why he was charged with the war-time offence of treason and not under the Burundi’s press law. On Saturday night, 15 radio stations in the capital Bujumbura
broadcast simultaneous messages calling for Kavumbagu’s release. The punishment for treason in Burundi is life imprisonment.
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Hugo Chavez’s government has taken control of a
45.8 per cent share of its biggest critic, Globovison. President Chavez has been
involved in various actions against
the independent press in the past. Since the acquiring the shares Chavez has declared that the Venezuelan government is in a position to
nominate a member of the board of directors. The President of Globovision, Guillermo Zuloaga, currently faces arrest in Venezuela and resides in Miami. In response to the news he declared that
Globovision will stay critical of the Chavez regime.
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The Crown Prosecution Service has said there is no charge to answer in the case of a newspaper vendor who died during G20 protests in London. Leah Borromeo disagrees
(more…)
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
The Italian government is to stall plans to ban intercept evidence from court cases. Giulio D’Eramo reports
(more…)
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
burmeseartsfestival.com
Zarganar, the Burmese comedian who describes himself as the loudspeaker of the people, is serving a 35 year prison sentence for criticizing the government’s handling of the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. As of last month, his already appalling punishment has been made worse by the authorities’ decision to end all family visits. His father died last week and there is no chance of his being allowed out to attend the funeral.
It is because Zarganar tells the truth and gives hope to his people that he is seen to be so threatening and the punishment of such a high profile and popular figure sends out a clear message to deter other comedians and artists. Only the most courageous dare to continue their trade. With the Burmese elections approaching (due in October), it is more important than ever to support artists. When the political process is at its most oppressive and corrupt, the artist’s message is its most potent, inspiring and giving hope that a different world is possible.
In response to this, a group of artists — Burmese and those inspired by Burma — have come together with Index on Censorship and English PEN to create the Burmese Arts Festival (October 14 — 17 Free Word Centre London) that does two important things; it brings together Burmese artists from around the world, including artists from Burma itself to present their work; and it invites these artists and other people with commitment, vision and ideas to come together to address how artists around the world can help bring about democratic change.
Fundraising event 30th July— 6.30pm — Free Word Centre
To help raise funds for the festival we have a great programme for the 30th July.
We are delighted to have an exclusive preview of ‘THIS PRISON WHERE I LIVE’ a film by Rex Bloomstein about two comedians. Whilst Zarganar languishes in prison, Michael Mittermeier is free to practise his art of humour and provocation as one of Germany’s leading stand up comedians. Two men are joined by comedy and separated by repression. . All those who are interested in Zarganar in particular and Burma in general will be fascinated by this exceptional film that features an extensive interview with Zarganar before his imprisoment and new footage of Mittermeier’s recent trip to Burma.
Burmese Theatre Workshop will be presenting their latest piece ‘Beyond Nargis’. The piece takes the audience back to Burma in May 2008 as the population struggles to cope with the effects of the worst natural disaster in living memory, Cyclone Nargis. Travelling from the country’s Golden Pagoda to the devastated Delta Region, they will present a variety of stories from those affected by Nargis.
There will also be a Burmese Arts Festival Auction in which Htein Lin and other artists taking part in the festival have very kindly agreed to auction pieces of their work.
Tickets cost £20 and all proceeds will go to the bringing artists to the festival and production costs. If you can’t make it please send a donation to Burmese Arts Festival — cheques made payable to Writers and Scholars Educational Trust.
Click here for more info and tickets
