Chiang Mai (mizzima) – Monk Ashin Gambira, arrested and sentenced to 68 years in prison for his lead role in anti-junta protests in September 2007 has had his prison term reduced by five years by a district court in Insein prison on Thursday.
The western district court reduced the sentence of Gambira, leader of the All Burma Buddhist Monks Association by five years. He was charged under the Electronics Act. The reverend monk, who was charged on 16 counts, will now have to serve 63 years in prison.
The Electronics Act 33 (a) stipulates that using the internet without the permission of the authorities is an offence and is punishable. The law became a tool for the authorities to sentence the reverend monk, who took a lead role in the September 2007 monk-led protests.
Lawyers of the monk, who is 29, and is currently detained in a prison in Kalemyo in Sagaing division, have appealed to the district court. The court said the appeals were late and rejected appeals for seven counts.
The legal counsels have now, submitted appeals on the other nine counts, and the court has scheduled a session on June 29.
Ashin Gambira, however, denied appealing but the lawyers have been acting on the request of his parents.
Authorities have also arrested the monk’s elder brother Aung Kyaw Kyaw and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. He is currently detained in Tuaggyi prison in Shan state. Similarly, his younger brother Aung Ko Ko Lwin and brother-in-law Moe Htet Lian were also arrested and sentenced to five years each and are respectively in Kyuak Pyu prison in Arakan state and Moulmein prison in Mon state.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Court adjourns Suu Kyi's trial to July 3
New Delhi (mizzima) - The special court in Insein Prison on Friday adjourned the hearing of the testimony of a second defense witness in the trial against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to July 3rd, as the country’s High Court has yet to rule on an appeal to allow the remaining two defense witnesses.
Nyan Win, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team, said the court on Friday convened at about 10 a.m. (local time) and adjourned about thirty minutes later with the judge scheduling the testimony of Khin Moh Moh, the second defense witness, for July 3rd.
“Since the decision from the High Court has not yet been announced, the lower court cannot go ahead with the case,” Nyan Win iterated.
Earlier in the week, the High Court heard arguments by defense lawyers to allow the remaining two defense witnesses – Tin Oo, Vice-Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and Win Tin, a veteran journalist and Central Executive Committee member of the NLD – to take the stand.
On Thursday, Burma’s Chief of Police, Khin Yi, told journalists and diplomats at a rare news conference in Rangoon that Aung San Suu Kyi is responsible for the secret visit by the American man, John William Yettaw, as she failed to immediately report the incident to the authorities concerned.
Khin Yi accused the detained Nobel Peace Laureate of delaying notification of Yettaw's initial visit at the end of 2008 by four days, putting authorities in a difficult situation to trace the case.
He added he suspects a mastermind behind Yettaw’s visit to the Burmese democracy icon’s house on the shores of Inya Lake in Rangoon, and that authorities are still trying to find out which group is responsible for the breech in security.
But opposition groups, including the NLD, have accused the junta of using the incident as a pretext to continue detaining Aung San Suu Kyi in order to remove her from the public realm prior to and during their planned election in 2010.
Nyan Win, a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s legal team, said the court on Friday convened at about 10 a.m. (local time) and adjourned about thirty minutes later with the judge scheduling the testimony of Khin Moh Moh, the second defense witness, for July 3rd.
“Since the decision from the High Court has not yet been announced, the lower court cannot go ahead with the case,” Nyan Win iterated.
Earlier in the week, the High Court heard arguments by defense lawyers to allow the remaining two defense witnesses – Tin Oo, Vice-Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and Win Tin, a veteran journalist and Central Executive Committee member of the NLD – to take the stand.
On Thursday, Burma’s Chief of Police, Khin Yi, told journalists and diplomats at a rare news conference in Rangoon that Aung San Suu Kyi is responsible for the secret visit by the American man, John William Yettaw, as she failed to immediately report the incident to the authorities concerned.
Khin Yi accused the detained Nobel Peace Laureate of delaying notification of Yettaw's initial visit at the end of 2008 by four days, putting authorities in a difficult situation to trace the case.
He added he suspects a mastermind behind Yettaw’s visit to the Burmese democracy icon’s house on the shores of Inya Lake in Rangoon, and that authorities are still trying to find out which group is responsible for the breech in security.
But opposition groups, including the NLD, have accused the junta of using the incident as a pretext to continue detaining Aung San Suu Kyi in order to remove her from the public realm prior to and during their planned election in 2010.
‘Lawyers of the government’ steering Suu Kyi trial
(DVB)–A witness disqualified from testifying in the defense of Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi said yesterday following his appeal that it was not “ordinary lawyers” making key decisions in the trial but government cronies.
Suu Kyi’s defense team yesterday appealed to Burma’s supreme court to admit two witnesses who were disqualified last month by judges from testifying.
One of Suu Kyi’s lawyers said that the decision was not in accordance with Burmese law. One of the witnesses, U Tin Oo, is currently under house arrest, while U Win Tin has been criticized by the junta for giving interviews about the trial to foreign media.
Both are senior members of the opposition National League for Democracy party, which Suu Kyi leads.
“I argued that there is no law there that says that [someone under house arrest]…can't testify,” said lawyer Nyan Win.
“I argued that there is nowhere in the law that says that someone who doesn't agree with the government can't testify, with regards to U Win Tin."
Three of Suu Kyi’s four witnesses were initially barred, although one was later readmitted. The prosecution team was permitted 14 witnesses, although only nine eventually testified.
Win Tin said yesterday that it was clear what the government’s attitude towards Suu Kyi’s team is.
“The people who put forward the [witness disqualification] argument are people from the central lawyers’ office…the lawyers of the government,” he said.
“I feel as if they are giving me a sign that they want to trap me legally, and sue me or intimidate me."
Rumours have been circulating in Rangoon that Win Tin could be charged by judges for refusing to return his prisoner uniform, which he has been wearing since he was released last year from a 19 year sentence.
On the subject of UN envoy Gambari’s visit to Burma, which began this morning, Win Tin said that dialogue must be sought.
"When Mr. Gambari comes, he must meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - that must be his priority,” he said.
“If he can't do that…his trip has no meaning and has no value.”
Gambari’s trip could pave the way for a visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was invited by the government to visit in July, although he has not confirmed whether the trip will go ahead.
“The main thing Mr Ban Ki-moon has to do is to try to arrange a meeting between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Than Shwe,” Win Tin said.
Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet
Suu Kyi’s defense team yesterday appealed to Burma’s supreme court to admit two witnesses who were disqualified last month by judges from testifying.
One of Suu Kyi’s lawyers said that the decision was not in accordance with Burmese law. One of the witnesses, U Tin Oo, is currently under house arrest, while U Win Tin has been criticized by the junta for giving interviews about the trial to foreign media.
Both are senior members of the opposition National League for Democracy party, which Suu Kyi leads.
“I argued that there is no law there that says that [someone under house arrest]…can't testify,” said lawyer Nyan Win.
“I argued that there is nowhere in the law that says that someone who doesn't agree with the government can't testify, with regards to U Win Tin."
Three of Suu Kyi’s four witnesses were initially barred, although one was later readmitted. The prosecution team was permitted 14 witnesses, although only nine eventually testified.
Win Tin said yesterday that it was clear what the government’s attitude towards Suu Kyi’s team is.
“The people who put forward the [witness disqualification] argument are people from the central lawyers’ office…the lawyers of the government,” he said.
“I feel as if they are giving me a sign that they want to trap me legally, and sue me or intimidate me."
Rumours have been circulating in Rangoon that Win Tin could be charged by judges for refusing to return his prisoner uniform, which he has been wearing since he was released last year from a 19 year sentence.
On the subject of UN envoy Gambari’s visit to Burma, which began this morning, Win Tin said that dialogue must be sought.
"When Mr. Gambari comes, he must meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - that must be his priority,” he said.
“If he can't do that…his trip has no meaning and has no value.”
Gambari’s trip could pave the way for a visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was invited by the government to visit in July, although he has not confirmed whether the trip will go ahead.
“The main thing Mr Ban Ki-moon has to do is to try to arrange a meeting between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Than Shwe,” Win Tin said.
Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet
Gambari in Naypyidaw
The UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is visiting Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw, to meet with junta top officials on Friday, the same day he arrived in Rangoon. It is uncertain whether he will meet Snr-Gen Than Shwe or opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
There is no sign so far of a meeting with the Burmese opposition, however.
Nyan Win, the spokesperson for the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy, said he received no notification from Burmese authorities regarding a meeting with the UN envoy.
Gambari will meet senior Burmese officials from the military government during his two-day trip.
On Saturday, the Nigerian diplomat will return to Rangoon and hold talks with Burmese officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will then return to the UN headquarters and brief UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, before Ban leaves New York for Japan on Monday, said a UN spokesperson in New York.
The UN envoy is visiting Burma to prepare for a possible visit by Ban.
Ban Ki-moon is reportedly concerned that his possible trip to Burma could be exploited by the Burmese generals, who have put Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial.
He will decide whether to fly to Burma after Gambari has briefed him on the outcome of his trip.
Some observers believe that the Burmese officials will treat the UN envoy properly this time, as they want the UN secretary general to come to Burma. They commented that the Burmese generals want to politically exploit a trip by Ban.
Western diplomats in Rangoon believe that the UN envoy will convey Ban’s demands prior to his making a visit to the Burmese generals.
Journalists at the UN headquarters in New York reported on June 11 that Ban said: “Promoting democratization, including the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, has been one of my top priorities and it will continue to be my top priority.”
More than 2,000 political prisoners are now being detained by the Burmese regime in Burma, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
Observers are hoping that Gambari’s current trip to Burma will get at least one concession from the junta before Ban makes a trip in early July.
The UN secretary general told journalists in New York earlier this month that: “When the time is appropriate and conditions are ripe, as I said many times, I’m ready to visit Myanmar. I’m working on that now.”
The NLD spokesperson, Nyan Win said, “We always welcome any movement by the UN, and we still hope for something positive to come out it.”
Aye Thar Aung, the Rangoon-based Arakanese politician who is chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, said he did not think Gambari’s trip would have much success, though he was preparing for a visit by Ban.
He said that a political heavyweight like the UN secretary general could play a useful role in pushing the Burmese regime towards national reconciliation in Burma.
“Ban Ki-moon should come to Burma anyway to discuss the situation in person with the Burmese generals,” said Aye Thar Aung, commenting that it was important that Ban saw the situation first-hand.
irrawaddy
There is no sign so far of a meeting with the Burmese opposition, however.
Nyan Win, the spokesperson for the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy, said he received no notification from Burmese authorities regarding a meeting with the UN envoy.
Gambari will meet senior Burmese officials from the military government during his two-day trip.
On Saturday, the Nigerian diplomat will return to Rangoon and hold talks with Burmese officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will then return to the UN headquarters and brief UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, before Ban leaves New York for Japan on Monday, said a UN spokesperson in New York.
The UN envoy is visiting Burma to prepare for a possible visit by Ban.
Ban Ki-moon is reportedly concerned that his possible trip to Burma could be exploited by the Burmese generals, who have put Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial.
He will decide whether to fly to Burma after Gambari has briefed him on the outcome of his trip.
Some observers believe that the Burmese officials will treat the UN envoy properly this time, as they want the UN secretary general to come to Burma. They commented that the Burmese generals want to politically exploit a trip by Ban.
Western diplomats in Rangoon believe that the UN envoy will convey Ban’s demands prior to his making a visit to the Burmese generals.
Journalists at the UN headquarters in New York reported on June 11 that Ban said: “Promoting democratization, including the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, has been one of my top priorities and it will continue to be my top priority.”
More than 2,000 political prisoners are now being detained by the Burmese regime in Burma, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
Observers are hoping that Gambari’s current trip to Burma will get at least one concession from the junta before Ban makes a trip in early July.
The UN secretary general told journalists in New York earlier this month that: “When the time is appropriate and conditions are ripe, as I said many times, I’m ready to visit Myanmar. I’m working on that now.”
The NLD spokesperson, Nyan Win said, “We always welcome any movement by the UN, and we still hope for something positive to come out it.”
Aye Thar Aung, the Rangoon-based Arakanese politician who is chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, said he did not think Gambari’s trip would have much success, though he was preparing for a visit by Ban.
He said that a political heavyweight like the UN secretary general could play a useful role in pushing the Burmese regime towards national reconciliation in Burma.
“Ban Ki-moon should come to Burma anyway to discuss the situation in person with the Burmese generals,” said Aye Thar Aung, commenting that it was important that Ban saw the situation first-hand.
irrawaddy
Tunnel Construction Pictures Spark Questions
Is the North Korean involvement in advising and building underground tunnels in Burma concentrated on military-based activities, or does it also include hydropower projects which are scattered around the country?
That is one of the questions raised by Burmese civil engineers living inside and outside Burma, since photographs of a tunnel construction site were posted on news Web sites in recent weeks including the Democratic Voice of Burma, Yale Global online and The Irrawaddy.
Unsolicited photographs and video were published in recent weeks from a number of sources including the Burmese military and Burmese activists.
Some of the photographs showing tunnel construction were sent to The Irrawaddy by an organization calling itself the Peace Creation Group, an underground group in Burma.
When The Irrawaddy editors contacted members of the group, they said the photographs were taken around Naypyidaw, but they had no knowledge of what the photographs showed.
Some images appear to show civilian workers in blue-colored uniforms, other people who appear to be foreigners from Asia, Burmese military officers, and normal construction site workers. Workers with the Ministry of Electricity normally wear blue-colored uniforms.
Burmese engineers inside and outside the country noted that the military regime currently has 12 hydropower projects scheduled, including the Ye Ywa hydropower project, 31 miles southeast of Mandalay, the largest in the country.
“I am wondering whether these photos are for hydropower projects or military purposes,” wrote one civil engineer who worked on the Paunglaung hydropower project near Naypyidaw.
“As for me, I can’t distinguish which one is military or for hydropower projects,” he said. “Hydropower project tunnels are quite large, [and] are built underground [and sometimes in] mountains,” he wrote.
Burma’s directorate of military engineers, along with private construction contractors, is involved in implementing hydropower projects and underground tunnels.
Suspicions about the exact purposes of tunnel construction in Burma were heightened recently after accounts surfaced about Burmese-North Korean military cooperation in the areas of military hardware procurement and tunnel construction projects.
According to a MoU signed between Burma and North Korea which has been obtained by The Irrawaddy, Burma plans to build a military headquarter facility with a maze of underground tunnels around Naypyidaw, the remote capital.
irrawaddy
That is one of the questions raised by Burmese civil engineers living inside and outside Burma, since photographs of a tunnel construction site were posted on news Web sites in recent weeks including the Democratic Voice of Burma, Yale Global online and The Irrawaddy.
Unsolicited photographs and video were published in recent weeks from a number of sources including the Burmese military and Burmese activists.
Some of the photographs showing tunnel construction were sent to The Irrawaddy by an organization calling itself the Peace Creation Group, an underground group in Burma.
When The Irrawaddy editors contacted members of the group, they said the photographs were taken around Naypyidaw, but they had no knowledge of what the photographs showed.
Some images appear to show civilian workers in blue-colored uniforms, other people who appear to be foreigners from Asia, Burmese military officers, and normal construction site workers. Workers with the Ministry of Electricity normally wear blue-colored uniforms.
Burmese engineers inside and outside the country noted that the military regime currently has 12 hydropower projects scheduled, including the Ye Ywa hydropower project, 31 miles southeast of Mandalay, the largest in the country.
“I am wondering whether these photos are for hydropower projects or military purposes,” wrote one civil engineer who worked on the Paunglaung hydropower project near Naypyidaw.
“As for me, I can’t distinguish which one is military or for hydropower projects,” he said. “Hydropower project tunnels are quite large, [and] are built underground [and sometimes in] mountains,” he wrote.
Burma’s directorate of military engineers, along with private construction contractors, is involved in implementing hydropower projects and underground tunnels.
Suspicions about the exact purposes of tunnel construction in Burma were heightened recently after accounts surfaced about Burmese-North Korean military cooperation in the areas of military hardware procurement and tunnel construction projects.
According to a MoU signed between Burma and North Korea which has been obtained by The Irrawaddy, Burma plans to build a military headquarter facility with a maze of underground tunnels around Naypyidaw, the remote capital.
irrawaddy
More than Half of Myitkyina Uni Students Addicted: KNG
Addiction to heroin and other drugs has in recent years become widespread among students at Myitkyina University in Kachin State, according to a Kachin News Agency (KNG) report published on Friday.
The KNG report was released on the same day that the Burmese military regime was holding a ceremony to burn seized drugs to mark World Anti-Drug Day. This year’s ceremony took place in Kengtung Township in Shan State.
The eight-page report paints an alarming picture of drug use, and in particular the use of heroin, which has infiltrated the northernmost Burmese state dramatically in recent years. The report also details the endemic use of drugs among workers in the jade mines of Hpakant in Kachin State and the complicity of company bosses and the military authorities in the region.
“Myitkyina University has become a haven for heroin,” he said.
The disturbing report outlines the increase in drug use among university students in the Kachin capital since 2003 and says that both male and female students “are fearless about taking drugs” and that they “shoot up in the classrooms and in the toilet openly.”
It says that heroin is commonly sold to students and other young people in tiny penicillin vial lids at a price of about 1,500 kyat (US $1.50) per cap, although first-time users are often given free samples to get them hooked.
The report says that Myitkyina University has become so notorious for soaring levels of drug addiction among its students that it has become a “source of shame and bitterness for the local community.”
The KNG report also notes that there are thousands of workers in jade mines in Kachin State that line up like they were at “a festival” to buy drugs and often spend more money on drugs than they are able to earn.
The report quotes a jade mine manager as saying: “When the laopan (Chinese company bosses) invite you to their houses, they teat you with opium. All of the jade brokers get addicted.”
Although day laborers earn as little as 1,000 kyat ($1) per day, the report says that a pipe of opium costs at least 3—4,000 kyat ($3-4) while a methamphetamine pill goes for about 6,500 kyat ($6.50).
The report also accuses the Burmese authorities of ignoring the drug problem that is threatening the Kachin community and, in many cases, of being involved with it.
Burma’s state-run media has reported that the country has been successful in eliminating illegal drugs with a decline of 11 percent in drug production in 2007-2008.
The New Light of Myanmar reported that the Burmese authorities had destroyed 312,700 hectares of poppy within the last two years and that Burma has been successful in the first five-year phase of its 15-year narcotic drugs eradication program that began in 1999-2000.
However, according to the 2008 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium cultivation increased 29 percent during that period, though it noted that most of this amount originated on poppy farms in the Wa region of Shan State.
Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said it will be difficult to eliminate illegal drugs in northern Burma because the political situation is unstable and many people in Shan State have to rely on income from poppy farms.
Even the ceasefire groups in Shan State have to rely on income from the opium poppy trade, he added.
Of a total of 27,700 hectares (68,419 acres) of opium poppy cultivation in all Burma, Shan State alone accounted for as much as 25,400 hectares (62,738 acres), according to the UNODC report. It is estimated that as many as 150,000 households in Shan State are involved in opium poppy cultivation—an increase of 24 percent from previous years.
irrawaddy
The KNG report was released on the same day that the Burmese military regime was holding a ceremony to burn seized drugs to mark World Anti-Drug Day. This year’s ceremony took place in Kengtung Township in Shan State.
The eight-page report paints an alarming picture of drug use, and in particular the use of heroin, which has infiltrated the northernmost Burmese state dramatically in recent years. The report also details the endemic use of drugs among workers in the jade mines of Hpakant in Kachin State and the complicity of company bosses and the military authorities in the region.
“Myitkyina University has become a haven for heroin,” he said.
The disturbing report outlines the increase in drug use among university students in the Kachin capital since 2003 and says that both male and female students “are fearless about taking drugs” and that they “shoot up in the classrooms and in the toilet openly.”
It says that heroin is commonly sold to students and other young people in tiny penicillin vial lids at a price of about 1,500 kyat (US $1.50) per cap, although first-time users are often given free samples to get them hooked.
The report says that Myitkyina University has become so notorious for soaring levels of drug addiction among its students that it has become a “source of shame and bitterness for the local community.”
The KNG report also notes that there are thousands of workers in jade mines in Kachin State that line up like they were at “a festival” to buy drugs and often spend more money on drugs than they are able to earn.
The report quotes a jade mine manager as saying: “When the laopan (Chinese company bosses) invite you to their houses, they teat you with opium. All of the jade brokers get addicted.”
Although day laborers earn as little as 1,000 kyat ($1) per day, the report says that a pipe of opium costs at least 3—4,000 kyat ($3-4) while a methamphetamine pill goes for about 6,500 kyat ($6.50).
The report also accuses the Burmese authorities of ignoring the drug problem that is threatening the Kachin community and, in many cases, of being involved with it.
Burma’s state-run media has reported that the country has been successful in eliminating illegal drugs with a decline of 11 percent in drug production in 2007-2008.
The New Light of Myanmar reported that the Burmese authorities had destroyed 312,700 hectares of poppy within the last two years and that Burma has been successful in the first five-year phase of its 15-year narcotic drugs eradication program that began in 1999-2000.
However, according to the 2008 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium cultivation increased 29 percent during that period, though it noted that most of this amount originated on poppy farms in the Wa region of Shan State.
Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said it will be difficult to eliminate illegal drugs in northern Burma because the political situation is unstable and many people in Shan State have to rely on income from poppy farms.
Even the ceasefire groups in Shan State have to rely on income from the opium poppy trade, he added.
Of a total of 27,700 hectares (68,419 acres) of opium poppy cultivation in all Burma, Shan State alone accounted for as much as 25,400 hectares (62,738 acres), according to the UNODC report. It is estimated that as many as 150,000 households in Shan State are involved in opium poppy cultivation—an increase of 24 percent from previous years.
irrawaddy
Gambari Arrives in Burma
UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari has arrived in Burma and will return to UN headquarters promptly to brief Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before he leaves New York for Japan on Monday, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.
Officials said Gambari’s visit is intended to pave the way for a follow-up visit by Ban, anticipated for sometime next week.
A UN official confirmed the envoy arrived Friday morning in Rangoon, the commercial capital, and was scheduled to travel later in the day to the remote capital of Naypyidaw to meet with the government’s military leaders.
Informed sources told The Irrawaddy much depends on Gambari’s talks with the junta as to whether and when Ban visits Burma
The visit is likely to be politically delicate coming during the contentious trial of opposition pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing a possible five-year extension of her 13 years under house arrest.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has approved an additional $10 million in humanitarian aid for the survivors affected by Cyclone Nargis last year. The aid will be distributed to individuals and communities.
irrawaddy
Officials said Gambari’s visit is intended to pave the way for a follow-up visit by Ban, anticipated for sometime next week.
A UN official confirmed the envoy arrived Friday morning in Rangoon, the commercial capital, and was scheduled to travel later in the day to the remote capital of Naypyidaw to meet with the government’s military leaders.
Informed sources told The Irrawaddy much depends on Gambari’s talks with the junta as to whether and when Ban visits Burma
The visit is likely to be politically delicate coming during the contentious trial of opposition pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing a possible five-year extension of her 13 years under house arrest.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has approved an additional $10 million in humanitarian aid for the survivors affected by Cyclone Nargis last year. The aid will be distributed to individuals and communities.
irrawaddy
A Visit to North Korea’s Arms Factories
The Burmese junta’s No 3, Gen Thura Shwe Mann, made a secret, seven day visit to North Korea last November, apparently with a shopping list for arms and sophisticated weapons systems.
Shwe Mann, chief of staff of the army, navy and air force, and the coordinator of Special Operations, was shown by his North Korean hosts around arms industry factories and defense installations. He and his 17-member high-level delegation were also taken to Myohyang, where secret tunnels have been built into the mountains to store and shield jet aircraft, missiles, tanks and nuclear and chemical weapons.
Photographs of the visit have meanwhile reached The Irrawaddy and give rarely seen evidence of the range of North Korea’s armaments industry.
irrawaddy
Shwe Mann, chief of staff of the army, navy and air force, and the coordinator of Special Operations, was shown by his North Korean hosts around arms industry factories and defense installations. He and his 17-member high-level delegation were also taken to Myohyang, where secret tunnels have been built into the mountains to store and shield jet aircraft, missiles, tanks and nuclear and chemical weapons.
Photographs of the visit have meanwhile reached The Irrawaddy and give rarely seen evidence of the range of North Korea’s armaments industry.
irrawaddy
Friday, June 26, 2009
Former Sonoma Coach Tatton Update
Sonoma Valley soccer coach faces more charges in sex case
Previous Post
BY LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
source
Lawyers for a former Sonoma Valley youth soccer coach now facing more than 30 counts of inappropriate sexual activity with one of his teenage players are trying to obtain the girl’s health records.
But that brought a strong rebuke from prosecutors as a preliminary hearing was set to begin in Sonoma County Court Thursday for Gregory Vance Tatton, 43, and ultimately led to a delay in the hearing until the issue is resolved.
Tatton entered not guilty pleas to an amended criminal complaint that added 21 additional charges against the former soccer coach. He was initially charged with 10 counts.
Tatton, who now lives in Southern California and is free on $150,000 bail, is charged with 18 counts of having sex with the girl, seven counts of lewd conduct and six counts of oral copulation with her.
None of the alleged acts include allegations of force, but by law minors cannot consent to sexual activity with adults. The girl, who was a player on Tatton’s under-17 Sonoma Valley traveling soccer team, was 15 and 16 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, according to court documents.
Tatton’s lawyers said Thursday they are seeking information about the girl’s school history and mental health care. They have subpoenaed documents from three high schools the girl attended and “treatment and counseling records from Kaiser Permanente,” said defense attorney Ethan Balogh.
Prosecutor Jason Riehl called the effort to obtain that type of confidential information about the girl and her parents “borderline harassment.”
It is improper to subpoena the girl’s interviews with psychiatrists, psychologists and medical personnel and mental health assessments and diagnoses involving the girl and her parents, Riehl said.
“These are things that very clearly should not be provided to counsel,” he said.
Balogh of San Francisco and fellow defense attorney Tamara Rice Lave of Berkeley also subpoenaed records believed held by the girl’s mother, apparently including calendars.
Judge Arthur Andy Wick said the court has already received some subpoenaed records from the girl’s current high school and Kaiser, and they have remained under seal.
Wick set a July 23 hearing discuss which records may be disclosed.
The preliminary hearing was reset for Aug. 13, after which Wick will decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
According to court documents, the girl revealed the sexual relationship to a psychologist, who alerted law enforcement.
Sheriff’s detectives said Tatton arranged to get the girl out of school during the day for get-togethers. After the parents removed her from one high school, Tatton was seen driving by her new campus, the girl’s mother said.
In December 2007, the parents got a restraining order against Tatton after they said they learned of several inappropriate incidents.
Investigators say most of the alleged sexual acts occurred in Sonoma County, but at least one happened during a soccer trip to Southern California.
In May, Tatton turned down a plea bargain after a closed-door mediation session. According to a member of the girl’s family, the deal would have included a sentence of about 4 1/2 years in prison.
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Previous Post
BY LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
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Lawyers for a former Sonoma Valley youth soccer coach now facing more than 30 counts of inappropriate sexual activity with one of his teenage players are trying to obtain the girl’s health records.
But that brought a strong rebuke from prosecutors as a preliminary hearing was set to begin in Sonoma County Court Thursday for Gregory Vance Tatton, 43, and ultimately led to a delay in the hearing until the issue is resolved.
Tatton entered not guilty pleas to an amended criminal complaint that added 21 additional charges against the former soccer coach. He was initially charged with 10 counts.
Tatton, who now lives in Southern California and is free on $150,000 bail, is charged with 18 counts of having sex with the girl, seven counts of lewd conduct and six counts of oral copulation with her.
None of the alleged acts include allegations of force, but by law minors cannot consent to sexual activity with adults. The girl, who was a player on Tatton’s under-17 Sonoma Valley traveling soccer team, was 15 and 16 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, according to court documents.
Tatton’s lawyers said Thursday they are seeking information about the girl’s school history and mental health care. They have subpoenaed documents from three high schools the girl attended and “treatment and counseling records from Kaiser Permanente,” said defense attorney Ethan Balogh.
Prosecutor Jason Riehl called the effort to obtain that type of confidential information about the girl and her parents “borderline harassment.”
It is improper to subpoena the girl’s interviews with psychiatrists, psychologists and medical personnel and mental health assessments and diagnoses involving the girl and her parents, Riehl said.
“These are things that very clearly should not be provided to counsel,” he said.
Balogh of San Francisco and fellow defense attorney Tamara Rice Lave of Berkeley also subpoenaed records believed held by the girl’s mother, apparently including calendars.
Judge Arthur Andy Wick said the court has already received some subpoenaed records from the girl’s current high school and Kaiser, and they have remained under seal.
Wick set a July 23 hearing discuss which records may be disclosed.
The preliminary hearing was reset for Aug. 13, after which Wick will decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
According to court documents, the girl revealed the sexual relationship to a psychologist, who alerted law enforcement.
Sheriff’s detectives said Tatton arranged to get the girl out of school during the day for get-togethers. After the parents removed her from one high school, Tatton was seen driving by her new campus, the girl’s mother said.
In December 2007, the parents got a restraining order against Tatton after they said they learned of several inappropriate incidents.
Investigators say most of the alleged sexual acts occurred in Sonoma County, but at least one happened during a soccer trip to Southern California.
In May, Tatton turned down a plea bargain after a closed-door mediation session. According to a member of the girl’s family, the deal would have included a sentence of about 4 1/2 years in prison.
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Berita Harian| kematian Michael Jackson, Berbuntut Panjang
Berita harian - "kematian Michael Jackson, Berbuntut Panjang". Kematian sang Raja POP Michael Jackson ternyata menyisakan kisah. Konser besar Michael Jackson membuat Panik banyak pihak, karena kematian Michael Jackson, seperti yang di kutip dari detik sport tentang "Kematian Michael Jackson" adalah sebagai berikut : Salah satu yang terguncang berat karena kematian Michael Jackson adalah promotor konser di London, AEG Live. AEG kini tengah mempelajari kontrak untuk mengklaim Rp 410 miliar kerugian yang sudah dikeluarkannya sebelum konser Jacko 13 Juli mendatang. Wow...nilai besar, yang mesti di perhitungkan, karena konser gagal karena kematian Michael Jackson,
Berita harian, seperti telah diberitakan, mulai 13 Juli 2009 Jacko akan mengadakan konser bertajuk 'This is It' di 02 Arena, London. Konser Michael Jackson yang akan berlangsung 50 kali pergelaran itu akan terus berjalan hingga Maret 2010 di tempat yang sama.
Untuk konser Michael Jackson yang menyisakan tiga pekan lagi itu promotor telah mengeluarkan dana di muka sebesar US$ 40 juta atau sekitar Rp 410 miliar. Jumalah Harga itu termasuk bayaran Jacko di muka dan ongkos produksi. Demikian detikhot kutip dari Billboard, Kamis (26/6/2009).
Berita harian, Bahkan perkembangan terakhir dari situs resmi AEG, produsen kristal Swarovski sudah berkomitmen untuk memboyong 300 ribu kristal ke atas panggung Jacko. Kristal yang akan membuat konser raja pop itu makin berkilau terdiri dari 53 macam bentuk, 40 macam ukuran, dan 27 macam warna.
Penjualan tiket konser Michael Jackson , sudah mencetak harga US$ 85 juta. Pembeli tiket pun berdatangan dari Eropa sampai Afrika. Hasil penjualan tiket termasuk tiket VIP diperkirakan akan menembus angka lebih dari US$ 100 juta. Wow......Nilai pantastik.
AEG mengatakan telah mengasuransikan konser ini. Untuk kepentingan akan hal itu ketika itu Jacko telah menjalani tes kesehatan dan lulus dengan hasil yang cukup baik.
Walau lulus tes kesehatan, tetapi jika dari hasil penyidikan ditemukan ayah tiga anak itu berpulang karena overdosis obat atau kondisi yang sudah diderita sebelumnya maka asuransi tak akan mengganti kerugian. Namun jika ditemukan celah dalam kontrak kalau penembang 'Billy Jean' itu akan mengembalikan uang yang diterima jika tidak muncul dalam konser maka ada harapan AEG bisa mengajukan kasus ini ke pengadilan untuk meminta ganti rugi.
Jika AEG mengajukan klaim ke pengadilan maka diperkirakan mereka bukan satu-satunya perusahaan yang masih berebut harta dengan Jacko pasca kematiannnya. Menurut Wall Street Journal, hingga akhir hayatnya pria yang memulai karir di grup Jackson Five tersebut masih terlilit hutang hingga US$ 500 juta.
berita harian, tentang meninggalnya Michael Jacksondan berbuntut masalah biaya konser, bisa adan abaca di detik.com.
Berita harian, seperti telah diberitakan, mulai 13 Juli 2009 Jacko akan mengadakan konser bertajuk 'This is It' di 02 Arena, London. Konser Michael Jackson yang akan berlangsung 50 kali pergelaran itu akan terus berjalan hingga Maret 2010 di tempat yang sama.
Untuk konser Michael Jackson yang menyisakan tiga pekan lagi itu promotor telah mengeluarkan dana di muka sebesar US$ 40 juta atau sekitar Rp 410 miliar. Jumalah Harga itu termasuk bayaran Jacko di muka dan ongkos produksi. Demikian detikhot kutip dari Billboard, Kamis (26/6/2009).
Berita harian, Bahkan perkembangan terakhir dari situs resmi AEG, produsen kristal Swarovski sudah berkomitmen untuk memboyong 300 ribu kristal ke atas panggung Jacko. Kristal yang akan membuat konser raja pop itu makin berkilau terdiri dari 53 macam bentuk, 40 macam ukuran, dan 27 macam warna.
Penjualan tiket konser Michael Jackson , sudah mencetak harga US$ 85 juta. Pembeli tiket pun berdatangan dari Eropa sampai Afrika. Hasil penjualan tiket termasuk tiket VIP diperkirakan akan menembus angka lebih dari US$ 100 juta. Wow......Nilai pantastik.
AEG mengatakan telah mengasuransikan konser ini. Untuk kepentingan akan hal itu ketika itu Jacko telah menjalani tes kesehatan dan lulus dengan hasil yang cukup baik.
Walau lulus tes kesehatan, tetapi jika dari hasil penyidikan ditemukan ayah tiga anak itu berpulang karena overdosis obat atau kondisi yang sudah diderita sebelumnya maka asuransi tak akan mengganti kerugian. Namun jika ditemukan celah dalam kontrak kalau penembang 'Billy Jean' itu akan mengembalikan uang yang diterima jika tidak muncul dalam konser maka ada harapan AEG bisa mengajukan kasus ini ke pengadilan untuk meminta ganti rugi.
Jika AEG mengajukan klaim ke pengadilan maka diperkirakan mereka bukan satu-satunya perusahaan yang masih berebut harta dengan Jacko pasca kematiannnya. Menurut Wall Street Journal, hingga akhir hayatnya pria yang memulai karir di grup Jackson Five tersebut masih terlilit hutang hingga US$ 500 juta.
berita harian, tentang meninggalnya Michael Jacksondan berbuntut masalah biaya konser, bisa adan abaca di detik.com.
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