Danny Morrison on how the intelligence services fought a dirty war against the IRA
"It was a bitterly cold January night in 1990 in Belfast and I was on my way to meet a man who had just confessed to being a police informer. Things were relatively quiet. There had been some raiding in the north of the city but there were no army surveillance helicopters in the air and I had encountered no checkpoints on the way to the rendezvous.
At the time, I had a high profile as national director of publicity for Sinn Fein, as the former editor of the party's weekly newspaper, a spokesperson for Bobby Sands during the hunger strike, and a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In 1981, I had made the so-called "Armalite and ballot box" speech, which summed up what subsequently came to be the dual strategy of the republican movement and Sinn Fein's involvement in electoral politics. I was a familiar figure to most British journalists." [Guardian]
Jack Straw plan for private inquests back on agenda
"Jack Straw, the justice secretary, will today revive his plan to hold inquests that involve aspects of national security in private without a jury when the coroners and justice bill is published.
The controversial measure, which could be invoked in cases like those of British servicemen killed by American forces in Iraq and the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on the London tube, was shelved last month when it faced severe criticism during the passage of the Counter-Terrorism Act." [Guardian]
Helen Bamber: From Belsen to Zimbabwe
"I have worked in human rights for 60 years. I was a member of one of the first rehabilitation teams to enter the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 and have since continued to help survivors of extreme brutality and human rights violations. At the Helen Bamber Foundation I see on a daily basis victims of torture, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, genocide and ethnic cleansing.
I find myself compelled to speak out publicly in response to comments by the immigration minister, Phil Woolas. Calling for a review of the Geneva conventions - which he described as outdated - Woolas argued that "a significant number of people who claim asylum are doing so for broadly economic reasons". " [Guardian]
Why the EU artwork is not what it seems
"As hoaxes go, this one is bound to be memorable. David Cerny, a Czech artist, admitted today that he managed to hoodwink the great and good of Brussels, and his own government, with a major artwork to mark the Czech Republic's six-month presidency of the EU.
When the giant eight tonne mosaic – supposedly the work of 27 artists from each of the EU member states – was unveiled at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers this week there was laughter as Slovenia was associated with masturbation and five Lithuanian soldiers were depicted urinating on Russia." [Guardian]
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Showing posts with label justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label justice. Show all posts
1/15/09
1/12/09
Heron's Eye: 12/01/08
Ex-minister joins private equity firm that received £15m from Whitehall agency
"Lady Amos, who was international development secretary and leader of the Lords in Tony Blair's government, has taken up a directorship with an African private equity firm, three months after it received over £15m from a Whitehall agency wholly owned by her former department.
The timing of Amos's appointment was described as "a coincidence" by the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), which approved the cash – amounting to nearly 30% of the funds raised by Travant Capital Partners, based in Nigeria." [Guardian]
Labour's new blog courts best leftwing thinkers on the web
"LabourList.org was controversial even before it was born, with established Labour bloggers complaining at being left out, and Tory bloggers warning that it would be so heavily censored as to be little more than party propoganda." [Guardian]
Peter Mandelson ushers in a virtual New Labour revolution
"The unveiling of Peter Mandelson's avatar in Second Life is part of Labour's push to beat the Conservatives in the political use of new technology, but it also has a symbolic significance. Unlike the rest of Second Life, where people drop a decade or two from their looks or masquerade as animals, Peter Mandelson will actually look like Peter Mandelson. What you see is what you get....
"How independent the blog will be remains to be seen – it has already recruited Brown's former spinster Charlie Whelan – but there is no doubt that there is a gap to be filled in generating unconventional ideas for Labour at a time when almost every policy area is in a state of flux – particularly what on earth can be done to stop the economy from imploding." [Guardian]
Gordon Brown hits back at Tory debt accusations
"Gordon Brown today accused the Conservatives of neglecting the interests of children as he and David Cameron clashed over which party has the best economic policies for Britain.
The Tory leader unveiled a new poster campaign accusing Brown of saddling every new-born baby with a debt of £17,000 because of the mounting level of public sector borrowing." [Guardian]
New babies born with £17,000 debt, claims David Cameron
"Rapidly rising government debt means every baby born in Britain starts life owing £17,000, David Cameron claimed as he launched a new publicity campaign today.
The Tory leader made the claim as his party unveiled a new poster designed to highlight what it calls Labour's "debt crisis".
The poster, which will be displayed at 260 billboard sites across the country, features a photograph of a baby and the slogan: "Dad's nose, mum's eyes, Gordon Brown's debt – Labour debt crisis: every child in Britain is born owing £17,000. They deserve better." [Guardian]
Letter: Filleted statistics
Your leader (8 January) and Marcel Berlins's plea to politicians (Let's stop fighting over the figures in 2009, 5 January) highlight the extent to which criminal justice has become a party political football. In such a fevered climate it can often seem as though statistics have been filleted to expose evidence that a political opponent has gone "soft on crime" rather than to understand what might be effective and in what circumstances. Sadly, the end product of much good work by researchers is to feed the fear of crime and pleas for ever tougher punishments. How else can we explain the lack of attention given to the excellent research into restorative justice, which shows that victims of crime who have such meetings with offenders are far more likely to be satisfied with the process than those who experience the traditional court process? Less than 1% of victims of adult offenders have access to restorative justice." [Guardian]
Gaza crisis is having 'profoundly unhealthy' effect on UK Muslims, minister warns
"The Israeli onslaught in Gaza is having a "profoundly acute and unhealthy" effect on British Muslim communities and "patience is running out", a government minister has said.
The justice minister, Shahid Malik, told the Guardian there was "immense anger" in British Muslim communities over developments in the Middle East. He said: "There is a real feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and powerlessness among Britain's Muslims in the context of Gaza and the sense of grievance and injustice is both profoundly acute and obviously profoundly unhealthy."" [Guardian]
Click here to read more information on Mr Grimsdale, King Heron and Mobius
"Lady Amos, who was international development secretary and leader of the Lords in Tony Blair's government, has taken up a directorship with an African private equity firm, three months after it received over £15m from a Whitehall agency wholly owned by her former department.
The timing of Amos's appointment was described as "a coincidence" by the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), which approved the cash – amounting to nearly 30% of the funds raised by Travant Capital Partners, based in Nigeria." [Guardian]
Labour's new blog courts best leftwing thinkers on the web
"LabourList.org was controversial even before it was born, with established Labour bloggers complaining at being left out, and Tory bloggers warning that it would be so heavily censored as to be little more than party propoganda." [Guardian]
Peter Mandelson ushers in a virtual New Labour revolution
"The unveiling of Peter Mandelson's avatar in Second Life is part of Labour's push to beat the Conservatives in the political use of new technology, but it also has a symbolic significance. Unlike the rest of Second Life, where people drop a decade or two from their looks or masquerade as animals, Peter Mandelson will actually look like Peter Mandelson. What you see is what you get....
"How independent the blog will be remains to be seen – it has already recruited Brown's former spinster Charlie Whelan – but there is no doubt that there is a gap to be filled in generating unconventional ideas for Labour at a time when almost every policy area is in a state of flux – particularly what on earth can be done to stop the economy from imploding." [Guardian]
Gordon Brown hits back at Tory debt accusations
"Gordon Brown today accused the Conservatives of neglecting the interests of children as he and David Cameron clashed over which party has the best economic policies for Britain.
The Tory leader unveiled a new poster campaign accusing Brown of saddling every new-born baby with a debt of £17,000 because of the mounting level of public sector borrowing." [Guardian]
New babies born with £17,000 debt, claims David Cameron
"Rapidly rising government debt means every baby born in Britain starts life owing £17,000, David Cameron claimed as he launched a new publicity campaign today.
The Tory leader made the claim as his party unveiled a new poster designed to highlight what it calls Labour's "debt crisis".
The poster, which will be displayed at 260 billboard sites across the country, features a photograph of a baby and the slogan: "Dad's nose, mum's eyes, Gordon Brown's debt – Labour debt crisis: every child in Britain is born owing £17,000. They deserve better." [Guardian]
Letter: Filleted statistics
Your leader (8 January) and Marcel Berlins's plea to politicians (Let's stop fighting over the figures in 2009, 5 January) highlight the extent to which criminal justice has become a party political football. In such a fevered climate it can often seem as though statistics have been filleted to expose evidence that a political opponent has gone "soft on crime" rather than to understand what might be effective and in what circumstances. Sadly, the end product of much good work by researchers is to feed the fear of crime and pleas for ever tougher punishments. How else can we explain the lack of attention given to the excellent research into restorative justice, which shows that victims of crime who have such meetings with offenders are far more likely to be satisfied with the process than those who experience the traditional court process? Less than 1% of victims of adult offenders have access to restorative justice." [Guardian]
Gaza crisis is having 'profoundly unhealthy' effect on UK Muslims, minister warns
"The Israeli onslaught in Gaza is having a "profoundly acute and unhealthy" effect on British Muslim communities and "patience is running out", a government minister has said.
The justice minister, Shahid Malik, told the Guardian there was "immense anger" in British Muslim communities over developments in the Middle East. He said: "There is a real feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and powerlessness among Britain's Muslims in the context of Gaza and the sense of grievance and injustice is both profoundly acute and obviously profoundly unhealthy."" [Guardian]
Click here to read more information on Mr Grimsdale, King Heron and Mobius
10/31/08
Heron's Eye: 31/10/08
Mr Darling, the master of contortion 31/10/08
Steve Richards highlights the lack of economic philosophy within New Labour, examining why this is the case and its effects on parliamentary strategy. [Independent]
Smith orders inquiry into MI5 and CIA torture claims 31/10/08
“Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has asked the attorney general to investigate possible "criminal wrongdoing" by the MI5 and the CIA over its treatment of a British resident held in Guantánamo Bay, it was revealed tonight.
The dramatic development over allegations of collusion in torture and inhuman treatment follows a high court judgment which found that an MI5 officer participated in the unlawful interrogation of Binyam Mohamed. The MI5 officer interrogated Mohamed while he was being held in Pakistan in 2002.” [Guardian]
Straw asked to pardon executed witches 31/10/08
“A petition calling for the posthumous pardon of women and men who were executed as witches in Britain will be presented to the justice secretary, Jack Straw, today.
Campaigners hope evidence of eight grave "miscarriages of justice" will persuade him to take action.” [Guardian]
BBC battles to calm prank storm 31/10/08
"The BBC attempted last night to draw the poison from another calamitous week by taking the unprecedented step of banning its highest paid star for three months, and accepting the resignation of one of its most senior and best-loved executives." [Guardian]
Click here to read more information on Mr Grimsdale, King Heron and Mobius
Steve Richards highlights the lack of economic philosophy within New Labour, examining why this is the case and its effects on parliamentary strategy. [Independent]
Smith orders inquiry into MI5 and CIA torture claims 31/10/08
“Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has asked the attorney general to investigate possible "criminal wrongdoing" by the MI5 and the CIA over its treatment of a British resident held in Guantánamo Bay, it was revealed tonight.
The dramatic development over allegations of collusion in torture and inhuman treatment follows a high court judgment which found that an MI5 officer participated in the unlawful interrogation of Binyam Mohamed. The MI5 officer interrogated Mohamed while he was being held in Pakistan in 2002.” [Guardian]
Straw asked to pardon executed witches 31/10/08
“A petition calling for the posthumous pardon of women and men who were executed as witches in Britain will be presented to the justice secretary, Jack Straw, today.
Campaigners hope evidence of eight grave "miscarriages of justice" will persuade him to take action.” [Guardian]
BBC battles to calm prank storm 31/10/08
"The BBC attempted last night to draw the poison from another calamitous week by taking the unprecedented step of banning its highest paid star for three months, and accepting the resignation of one of its most senior and best-loved executives." [Guardian]
Click here to read more information on Mr Grimsdale, King Heron and Mobius
10/28/08
Grimsdale's Ire: 28/10/08
The toilet roll of reason and the burger box of justice
Simon Hoggart takes a light hearted look at how crime and punishment is being questioned in the House of Commons. [Guardian]
Tory thinkers offer lesson in equality
Polly Curtis describes an influential new Policy Exchange report on reforming schools funding. [Guardian]
There's cynicism at the heart of the communities agenda
David Clements makes a concerned critique of the Sustainable Communities Act, suggesting that its motive may be to build political legitimacy rather than promote democracy. [Guardian]
Unions prepare big pay demands to offset food and fuel price rises
“Substantial pay rises are being sought to compensate for sharp increases in energy and food prices, the union-funded Labour Research Department warned last night.” [Guardian]
Child support changes could hit 25% of lone parents, warns charity
"Changes to the way lone parents receive child support could see a quarter falling through the system, a charity warned on the day government reforms come into effect. From this week, separating couples on benefits - who make up 70% of child support claimants - will be encouraged to reach their own arrangements voluntarily, leaving the government's new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to concentrate on those cases where people repeatedly refuse to pay maintenance or regularly default." [Guardian]
Click here to read more information on Mr Grimsdale, King Heron and Mobius
10/27/08
Heron's Eye: 27/10/08
Justice system should put victims first, says Jack Straw
“Jack Straw, the justice secretary, today signalled a more punitive approach to prisons by attacking the "criminal justice lobby" for putting the needs of offenders before those of victims.” [Guardian]
Police will use new device to take fingerprints in street 27/10/08
Every police force in the
Where the hell is parliament?
Henry Porter highlights how the CGHQ and Home Office are arguing for £12bn to collect data on telecommunications such as the Internet and phone calls and how the police are being issued with mobile fingerprint scanners to allow offices to carry out identity checks on people in the street. He goes on to criticise how this is occurring without having been debated in Parliament.
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