Daily life in Bilin
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid= 1
Military Incursions continue in the Occupied village of Bil'in. Bil'in 11 - 23 - 2010 at 2:30 am, Israeli forces stormed the village of Bil'in in a night raid. Four soldiers raided the home of Adeeb Abu Rahma, one of the prominent organizers of the non-violent demonstrations against the Wall. Adeeb Abu Rahma has been imprisoned by Israel for the last 17 months. Tonight, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Adeeb Abu Rahma, Adeeb's son, who is under 16 years old. It is unknown where he was taken. Mohammed is Adeeb's only son. He was helping the family with their affairs while Adeeb remains unjustly detained by Israel. Seven daughters and Adeeb's wife also live in the home that was raided. In this inhumane attack on the Abu Rahma house, Mohammed was beaten by the Israeli soldiers when he peacefully resisted arrest. During filming of the raid, local journalists Haitham Al-Khatib and Hamde Abu were mercilessly beaten by Israeli Occupation Forces and caused extensive damage to Haitham's Camera, wanting Haitham to stop filming what was happening during the incursion. This is what happened in Bil'in today and this is what happens in the village of Bil'in and other Palestinian villages every day.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Burmese Aids patients ordered to leave shelter after Aung San Suu Kyi visit
The TELEGRAPH
Burma Myanmar
By Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok
5:04PM GMT 21 Nov 2010
Burmese authorities ordered more than 80 Aids patients and staff to leave a shelter hours after they gave Aung San Suu Kyi, the freed democracy leader, a rapturous welcome.
A throng of about 600 turned out to see Aung San Suu Kyi at the clinic in the city's eastern suburbs Photo: AP
The patients and staff, who need permits renewable monthly to live at the shelter on Rangoon's outskirts as they are not from the former capital, were told to go after the Nobel laureate's high-profile visit.
Few are in any doubt the authorities' notification that the 82 patients would have to leave or face legal action was a direct result of Ms Suu Kyi's trip last Wednesday and the regime's efforts to stymie her.
"We have been allowed to renew our permits in the past," said Zeyar, who uses only one name and is a member of Ms Suu Kyi's disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) party. "I think the authorities want to pressure us because of [Mrs Suu Kyi's] visit."
A throng of about 600 turned out to see Ms Suu Kyi, 65, at the clinic in the city's eastern suburbs, where she called for more medical assistance for the shelter's 82 inhabitants, which include young children.
It came four days after she was freed without strings from seven years of house arrest - the latest detention of 15 of the past 21 locked away - when she pledged a "peaceful revolution" while seeking dialogue with the autocratic generals who rule.
The simple shelter, a wooden house and a two-storey structure with thatched walls, was set up by Phyu Phyu Tin. A prominent member of the NLD's youth wing, he wanted to cater to a few of the estimated 240,000 Burmese living with Aids.
Many Aids sufferers had lived in monasteries and were nursed by monks in the past. But since the 2007 monk-led uprising, the so-called "Saffron Revolution", patients are no longer allowed to stay in monasteries.
Htin Aung, a patient at the Rangoon clinic, told the BBC Burmese Service the shelter which provided food and medicines was his slender lifeline and only option.
"I don't think we can move out," he said. "In our home towns we see all the patients die. Here we have systematic treatment and we have medicines."
Burmese Junta same ol' same ol'. It's mainly drug money from opium production that buys their guns, pays their soldiers and maintains their rule.
Burma Myanmar
By Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok
5:04PM GMT 21 Nov 2010
Burmese authorities ordered more than 80 Aids patients and staff to leave a shelter hours after they gave Aung San Suu Kyi, the freed democracy leader, a rapturous welcome.
A throng of about 600 turned out to see Aung San Suu Kyi at the clinic in the city's eastern suburbs Photo: AP
The patients and staff, who need permits renewable monthly to live at the shelter on Rangoon's outskirts as they are not from the former capital, were told to go after the Nobel laureate's high-profile visit.
Few are in any doubt the authorities' notification that the 82 patients would have to leave or face legal action was a direct result of Ms Suu Kyi's trip last Wednesday and the regime's efforts to stymie her.
"We have been allowed to renew our permits in the past," said Zeyar, who uses only one name and is a member of Ms Suu Kyi's disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) party. "I think the authorities want to pressure us because of [Mrs Suu Kyi's] visit."
A throng of about 600 turned out to see Ms Suu Kyi, 65, at the clinic in the city's eastern suburbs, where she called for more medical assistance for the shelter's 82 inhabitants, which include young children.
It came four days after she was freed without strings from seven years of house arrest - the latest detention of 15 of the past 21 locked away - when she pledged a "peaceful revolution" while seeking dialogue with the autocratic generals who rule.
The simple shelter, a wooden house and a two-storey structure with thatched walls, was set up by Phyu Phyu Tin. A prominent member of the NLD's youth wing, he wanted to cater to a few of the estimated 240,000 Burmese living with Aids.
Many Aids sufferers had lived in monasteries and were nursed by monks in the past. But since the 2007 monk-led uprising, the so-called "Saffron Revolution", patients are no longer allowed to stay in monasteries.
Htin Aung, a patient at the Rangoon clinic, told the BBC Burmese Service the shelter which provided food and medicines was his slender lifeline and only option.
"I don't think we can move out," he said. "In our home towns we see all the patients die. Here we have systematic treatment and we have medicines."
Burmese Junta same ol' same ol'. It's mainly drug money from opium production that buys their guns, pays their soldiers and maintains their rule.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Aung San Suu Kyi aims for peaceful revolution
BBC
15 November 2010
Last updated at 07:30 ET
Newly-freed Aung San Suu Kyi, on 14 November 2010 Aung San Suu Kyi says she wants to hold wide-ranging talks on Burma's future
Two days after being freed from house arrest, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said that her aim is for a peaceful revolution in Burma.
Speaking to the BBC at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy, she said she was sure democracy would come to Burma eventually, although she did not know how long it would take.
She said she would take any opportunity to speak to ruling generals.
Her release came six days after Burma held its first election in 20 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi's party won the last election overwhelmingly but was never allowed to take power.
This poll was won by the biggest military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), but denounced by the West as being neither free nor fair.
'Dialogue process'
The BBC's World Affairs editor, John Simpson, said several security officials watched the interview from across the street at NLD headquarters but did not intervene.
Aung San Suu Kyi said she did not want the junta to fall but to change and serve the country better.
"I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism," she said.
"I think it's quite obvious what the people want; the people just want better lives based on security and on freedom."
But the pro-democracy leader also said she hoped for a non-violent end to military rule.
"I think we also have to try to make this thing happen... Velvet revolution sounds a little strange in the context of the military, but a non-violent revolution. Let's put it that way," she said.
The 65-year-old also confirmed that she was not subject to any restrictions on her freedom.
But she said that she was fully prepared to take the consequences if the military government decided to lock her up again for what she said or did.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention. She was released on Saturday when her latest period of house arrest expired.
On Sunday, thousands of jubilant supporters gathered to hear her speak, as she urged Burmese people to unite.
The most senior American diplomat in Burma, Charge d'Affaires Larry Dinger, told the BBC the US wanted to encourage reconciliation between the Burmese government and Ms Suu Kyi but no more.
"I don't think it's for the United States to determine her course or Burma's course, frankly. From our perspective it's for the Burmese people to work that out," he said.
"And the role that perhaps we can best play is to encourage all sides - the various players in the democratic community and the ethnic groups, the government in (the capital) Naypyidaw, to work through their issues."
'Dialogue process'
Around the region, Asian nations have responded to her release with varying levels of enthusiasm, the BBC's Vaudine England reports.
Asia's democracies have issued statements supporting her in what they hope is a broader shift towards democratic reform.
"The next challenge now is how to ensure that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters can become part of the solution to the situation in Myanmar [Burma], can be part of those who promote democratisation in Myanmar," said Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
Satoru Sato, press secretary to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, echoed that view.
"Now we are expecting the government of Myanmar to take further positive measures to realise the improvement of human rights situation and promote democratisation as well as a national reconciliation," he said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said it did not make sense "to think that one particular event would be big enough to signal some kind of radical change".
"The challenge more is to see how the post-election scenario shapes up," he said.
Thailand is one of the leading trading nations with Burma along with China, Singapore and India. Thailand also wants stability in Burma in order to reduce the flow of refugees over the border.
By contrast, China, Singapore and Vietnam, have said little about Ms Suu Kyi's release, our correspondent says.
Some analysts suggest that if Aung San Suu Kyi's release leads to a change in the sanctions against trade and investment in Burma, China's leading role in the economy could be challenged.
15 November 2010
Last updated at 07:30 ET
Newly-freed Aung San Suu Kyi, on 14 November 2010 Aung San Suu Kyi says she wants to hold wide-ranging talks on Burma's future
Two days after being freed from house arrest, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said that her aim is for a peaceful revolution in Burma.
Speaking to the BBC at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy, she said she was sure democracy would come to Burma eventually, although she did not know how long it would take.
She said she would take any opportunity to speak to ruling generals.
Her release came six days after Burma held its first election in 20 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi's party won the last election overwhelmingly but was never allowed to take power.
This poll was won by the biggest military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), but denounced by the West as being neither free nor fair.
'Dialogue process'
The BBC's World Affairs editor, John Simpson, said several security officials watched the interview from across the street at NLD headquarters but did not intervene.
Aung San Suu Kyi said she did not want the junta to fall but to change and serve the country better.
"I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism," she said.
"I think it's quite obvious what the people want; the people just want better lives based on security and on freedom."
But the pro-democracy leader also said she hoped for a non-violent end to military rule.
"I think we also have to try to make this thing happen... Velvet revolution sounds a little strange in the context of the military, but a non-violent revolution. Let's put it that way," she said.
The 65-year-old also confirmed that she was not subject to any restrictions on her freedom.
But she said that she was fully prepared to take the consequences if the military government decided to lock her up again for what she said or did.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention. She was released on Saturday when her latest period of house arrest expired.
On Sunday, thousands of jubilant supporters gathered to hear her speak, as she urged Burmese people to unite.
The most senior American diplomat in Burma, Charge d'Affaires Larry Dinger, told the BBC the US wanted to encourage reconciliation between the Burmese government and Ms Suu Kyi but no more.
"I don't think it's for the United States to determine her course or Burma's course, frankly. From our perspective it's for the Burmese people to work that out," he said.
"And the role that perhaps we can best play is to encourage all sides - the various players in the democratic community and the ethnic groups, the government in (the capital) Naypyidaw, to work through their issues."
'Dialogue process'
Around the region, Asian nations have responded to her release with varying levels of enthusiasm, the BBC's Vaudine England reports.
Asia's democracies have issued statements supporting her in what they hope is a broader shift towards democratic reform.
"The next challenge now is how to ensure that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters can become part of the solution to the situation in Myanmar [Burma], can be part of those who promote democratisation in Myanmar," said Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
Satoru Sato, press secretary to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, echoed that view.
"Now we are expecting the government of Myanmar to take further positive measures to realise the improvement of human rights situation and promote democratisation as well as a national reconciliation," he said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said it did not make sense "to think that one particular event would be big enough to signal some kind of radical change".
"The challenge more is to see how the post-election scenario shapes up," he said.
Thailand is one of the leading trading nations with Burma along with China, Singapore and India. Thailand also wants stability in Burma in order to reduce the flow of refugees over the border.
By contrast, China, Singapore and Vietnam, have said little about Ms Suu Kyi's release, our correspondent says.
Some analysts suggest that if Aung San Suu Kyi's release leads to a change in the sanctions against trade and investment in Burma, China's leading role in the economy could be challenged.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Views from Mazin Qumsiyeh
The Israeli judges of the "supreme court" today seemed at first
sympathetic to the plight of the villagers of Al-Walaja whose houses are being
surrounded on all sides as they get separated from their agricultural lands
(and all their water sources). But the system was clearly stacked against
natives. Half the people who were slated to go from Al-Walaja to the court
were denied entry to Jerusalem where the court is held (this includes people
impacted directly like farmer Abu Nidal, the village council head, other
members of the village council, and me!). The judges ruled to postpone for
another hearing in 45 days and allowed the apartheid government to continue
building the wall in the meantime! This is to give the government time to
come-up with confiscation orders for land that will be now on the other side
of the wall (maybe even the graves of Abu Nidal's family members). My wife
and many international observers attended the hearings but it was all in
Hebrew and so they could not understand much of what was going on. With
Israeli Zionist judges using Zionist laws (contrary to International law)
and judging between the Israeli Zionist government and native occupied
Palestinians, it is hard to be optimistic about the legal discourse (but it
is attempted anyway and must be accompanied by other actions). There are
other cases of abortion of justice in the past week:
[Israel] Supreme Court ruling allows Jews-only housing in Jaffa [Arab]
neighborhood
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/supreme-court-ruling-allows-jews-only-h
ousing-in-jaffa-neighborhood-1.323421
Israeli court in Haifa continues the charade and killing prospects of
justice for murdered Rachel Corrie (a victim of the apartheid state).
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/middleeast/08corrie.html?_r=1&ref=wo
rld
And the Israeli government just approved tenders for 1300 new buildings in
illegal Jewish colonial settlements in Arab East Jerusalem (contrary to
International law including the fourth Geneva Convention and a number of UN
Security Council Resolutions. This while Netanyahu is visiting the US
demanding they attack yet another sovereign country (Iran) to please his
agenda. Meanwhile, the human and material cost of the Zionist-inspired wars
on Afghanistan and Iraq continue to escalate.
[I cannot overemphasize how critical it is fior all people to watch this
hebrew language documentary (English subtitles). Simply stunning expose of
a history the Zionist movement worked very hard to suppress. The data here
should put the final nail in the coffin of the idea that Zionism is good for
those who believe in Judaism]. The Antisemitic Side of Zionism
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4452153918748081072#docid=902406897
2366598651
(Glilad Atzmon, ex-Israeli saxophonist comments on this film:
http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/gilad-atzmon-the-anti-semitic-side-of-zionis
m-must-watch.html
[stunning and uplifting] This soulful song by the great Mahalia Jackson, and
accompanied by striking images, is dedicated to all the ordinary citizens of
the world, who have dared challenge the brutal blockade of Gaza. In
particular, it pays homage to the martyrs aboard Mavi Marmara, who were shot
in cold blood by the Israeli Defense Forces. The video was put together by
Sana Kassem of goldstonefacts.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbZogbTY3Q
Israeli documents show deliberate policy to keep Gazans at near-starvation
levelsþ
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21799
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://www.qumsiyeh.org
http://www.pcr.ps
sympathetic to the plight of the villagers of Al-Walaja whose houses are being
surrounded on all sides as they get separated from their agricultural lands
(and all their water sources). But the system was clearly stacked against
natives. Half the people who were slated to go from Al-Walaja to the court
were denied entry to Jerusalem where the court is held (this includes people
impacted directly like farmer Abu Nidal, the village council head, other
members of the village council, and me!). The judges ruled to postpone for
another hearing in 45 days and allowed the apartheid government to continue
building the wall in the meantime! This is to give the government time to
come-up with confiscation orders for land that will be now on the other side
of the wall (maybe even the graves of Abu Nidal's family members). My wife
and many international observers attended the hearings but it was all in
Hebrew and so they could not understand much of what was going on. With
Israeli Zionist judges using Zionist laws (contrary to International law)
and judging between the Israeli Zionist government and native occupied
Palestinians, it is hard to be optimistic about the legal discourse (but it
is attempted anyway and must be accompanied by other actions). There are
other cases of abortion of justice in the past week:
[Israel] Supreme Court ruling allows Jews-only housing in Jaffa [Arab]
neighborhood
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/supreme-court-ruling-allows-jews-only-h
ousing-in-jaffa-neighborhood-1.323421
Israeli court in Haifa continues the charade and killing prospects of
justice for murdered Rachel Corrie (a victim of the apartheid state).
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/middleeast/08corrie.html?_r=1&ref=wo
rld
And the Israeli government just approved tenders for 1300 new buildings in
illegal Jewish colonial settlements in Arab East Jerusalem (contrary to
International law including the fourth Geneva Convention and a number of UN
Security Council Resolutions. This while Netanyahu is visiting the US
demanding they attack yet another sovereign country (Iran) to please his
agenda. Meanwhile, the human and material cost of the Zionist-inspired wars
on Afghanistan and Iraq continue to escalate.
[I cannot overemphasize how critical it is fior all people to watch this
hebrew language documentary (English subtitles). Simply stunning expose of
a history the Zionist movement worked very hard to suppress. The data here
should put the final nail in the coffin of the idea that Zionism is good for
those who believe in Judaism]. The Antisemitic Side of Zionism
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4452153918748081072#docid=902406897
2366598651
(Glilad Atzmon, ex-Israeli saxophonist comments on this film:
http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/gilad-atzmon-the-anti-semitic-side-of-zionis
m-must-watch.html
[stunning and uplifting] This soulful song by the great Mahalia Jackson, and
accompanied by striking images, is dedicated to all the ordinary citizens of
the world, who have dared challenge the brutal blockade of Gaza. In
particular, it pays homage to the martyrs aboard Mavi Marmara, who were shot
in cold blood by the Israeli Defense Forces. The video was put together by
Sana Kassem of goldstonefacts.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbZogbTY3Q
Israeli documents show deliberate policy to keep Gazans at near-starvation
levelsþ
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21799
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://www.qumsiyeh.org
http://www.pcr.ps
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About Me
- Steve Lewis
- Prophesy bearer for four religious traditions, revealer of Christ's Sword, revealer of Josephine bearing the Spirit of Christ, revealer of the identity of God, revealer of the Celestial Torah astro-theological code within the Bible. Celestial Torah Christian Theologian, Climax Civilization theorist and activist, Eco-Village Organizer, Master Psychedelic Artist, Inventor of the Next Big Thing in wearable tech, and always your Prophet-At-Large.