Photo by: REUTERS

Lawyer: Katsav ‘convinced of his innocence,’ will appeal

By RON FRIEDMAN
03/24/2011 05:04

“We believe that the District Court convicted Katsav based on shaky and unfounded testimony," Zion Amir says in interview with the 'Post.'

A day after the former president was sentenced to seven years in prison, Katsav’s lawyers are already planning their appeal to the Supreme Court. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Katsav’s attorney Zion Amir said the ex-president was convinced of his innocence and would see the case through to the end.

“Katsav will go before the Supreme Court with his head held high, with full conviction of the justness of his claims and with faith that the Supreme Court will lend an ear to his arguments,” said Amir.

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Amir said that in light of the sentencing, and particularly in light of the minority opinion expressed by Judge Judith Shevach, the defense was convinced that there is a possibility that both the sentence and the conviction would be overturned.

“We believe that the District Court convicted Katsav based on shaky and unfounded testimony.

Lawyer: Katsav ‘convinced of his innocence,’ will appeal

Photo by: RIA Novosti / Reuters

Despite attack, Netanyahu to meet with Putin, Medvedev

By HERB KEINON
03/24/2011 04:01

Quartet maintains position that Israeli-Palestinian accord could be reached by September if sides sit down to negotiate.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu left Wednesday night for a 24-hour trip to Russia, after delaying his departure for a few hours following the bombing attack in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu is scheduled to hold separate meetings in Moscow Thursday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The two held meetings in Moscow on Tuesday with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in an apparent effort to take a more active and public role in the diplomatic process.

Despite attack, Netanyahu to meet with Putin, Medvedev

Komnas HAM Papua Sesali Penahanan Perawat

Matius Murib (Dok. Jubi)

JUBI ---Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia perwakilan Papua di Jayapura menyesali penangkapan dan penahanan yang dilakukan oleh aparat kepolisian dari Polda Papua. Tindakan tersebut dilakukan tanpa koordinasi.

“Sudah ada pengaduan resmi dari koordinator demo dari perawat itu ke Komnas HAM. Kemudian, tanpa sepengetahuan Komnas, yang bersangkutan sudah ditahan Polisi. Tidak ada koordinasi dari Polisi dengan kami soal penahanan itu,” kata Wakil Ketua Komnas HAM Perwakilan Papua di Jayapura, Matius Murib saat dikonfirmasi JUBI, Rabu (23/3) malam.

Seharusnya, lanjut Murib, sebelum Polisi bertindak, harus berkoordinasi dengan Komnas, lantaran korban sudah melapor. Namun yang terjadi tidak demikian. Penangkapan dan penahanan langsung diketahui atas insiatif polisi. Murib menilai, tindakan itu gegabah dan ceroboh. “Polisi jangan asal main tangkap saja tanpa koordinasi,” ujarnya. Selengkapnya..

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: Komnas HAM Papua Sesali Penahanan Perawat: "Matius Murib (Dok. Jubi)JUBI ---Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia perwakilan Papua di Jayapura menyesali penangkapan dan penahanan yang dil..."

UNHRC to vote on six anti-Israel resolutions

Photo by: REUTERS

UN Human Rights Council focuses on Jewish State with multiple resolutions speaking of illegal Israeli activity and rights violations.

Talkbacks (25)

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to vote on six resolutions on Israel, but only one that focuses on Iran and none on Libya, as it wraps up its 16th session Thursday and Friday.

One of the resolutions asks that the Security Council consider referring the situation in the “occupied Palestinian territories” to the International Criminal Court.

Source Jpost: UNHRC to vote on six anti-Israel resolutions

PM: Israel will act ‘vigorously, responsibly and prudently’

Photo by: Reuters

by, ERB KEINON

Netanyahu says elements trying to disturb quiet with terror "will learn that the gov't, the IDF and the Israeli public have an iron will to protect the state.

Talkbacks (21)

Israel will act “vigorously, responsibly and prudently” to preserve the “quiet and security” that has existed here over the last two years, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Wednesday night, at the end of a day that saw the return of bombings to Jerusalem and the firing of Grad missiles on Beersheba.

Netanyahu’s comments came as he was boarding a plane for a 24-hour visit to Russia. Before leaving he held security consultations at the airport with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Home Front Minister Matan Vilna’i, Chief of General Staff Lt.- Gen. Benny Gantz, and Israel Security Agency head Yuval Diskin to draw up what is widely expected to be a considerable military response.

Source Jpost:PM: Israel will act ‘vigorously, responsibly and prudently’

Is academic freedom still honored in British universities?

The anti-Israel campaign has added further weight to the evidence that British campuses have become centers of anti-Western radicalism.

Talkbacks (1)

Jewish students in Britain have been bracing themselves for the annual Israel ApartheidWeek assault. This time, though, there was a difference. Twenty-four Israeli students have come to British campuses to mount a counter-campaign called Israel Awareness Week. Their presence has been good for Israel, good for British Jewish students and good for universities that once were places where we put prejudice aside and pursue truth.

Truth has been the first casualty in the vicious campaign against Israel. The charge ofapartheid, which began with the notorious United Nations 1975 resolution identifying Zionism with racism, and continued with the equally notorious Conference against [sic] Racism in Durban a week before 9/11, is both outrageous and untrue. Given all the pressures Israel has been subjected to since its birth, its record in the field of ethnic and religious tolerance has been commendable.

You have only to visit an Israeli hospital to see how people of all faiths and ethnicities are treated alike. All have the vote. All can attend universities. All can be elected to the Knesset. A Druse Arab, Majallie Whbee, briefly served as president after Moshe Katsav’s resignation while acting head of state Dalia Itzik was out of the country. A Christian Arab, George Karra, headed the panel of judges that found Katsav guilty. Are any of these conceivable in an apartheid state? Israel is one of the most religiously diverse societies in the world. Only under Israeli rule have all three Abrahamic religions enjoyed unrestricted access to their holy sites in Jerusalem. It is the only place where an Arab Muslim can freely criticize the government on national television. Israel is not perfect, but its ethnic and religious minorities have greater rights – vigilantly defended in the courts – than anywhere else in the Middle East.

Source Jpost: Is academic freedom still honored in British universities?

DPR Papua Didesak Segera Pecat Gubernur

Gubernur Papua, Barnabas Suebu, SH (flickr.com)

JUBI --- Terkait penangkapan dan penahanan para perawat Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Dok II di Jayapura, Selasa (15/3) lalu, Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia perwakilan Papua mendesak Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Papua segera memecat Gubernur, Barnabas Suebu.

“Gubernur sedang membiarkan masalah para perawat terus melebar. Terbukti, layanan kesehatan di Rumah Sakit Dok II terabaikan, puluhan pasien ditelantarkan hingga beberapa diantaranya meninggal, namun tak ada teguran dari Pemerintah. Ini bukti pembiaran yang dilakukan Gubernur,” ujar Wakil Ketua Komnas HAM perwakilan Papua di Jayapura, Matius Murib saat dikonfirmasi JUBI via ponsel, Rabu (23/3) malam.

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: DPR Papua Didesak Segera Pecat Gubernur: "Gubernur Papua, Barnabas Suebu, SH (flickr.com)JUBI --- Terkait penangkapan dan penahanan para perawat Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Dok II di Ja..."

Lamadi : Penyelesaian Status Politik Sebagai Solus...

Lamadi De Lamato (Jubi.doc)

JUBI --- Direktur Lembaga Analisa Kebijakan Daerah La-keda Institute, Lamadi de Lamato mengungkapkan penyelesaian terkait status politik Papua yang masih bermasalah hingga saat ini dengan Pemerintah Indonesia, maka jawaban dari semua gejolak politik di Papua saat ini ada pada pengembalian Otonomi khusus (Otsus) yang telah gagal dan penyelesaian ideologi Papua merdeka.

Dia menjelaskan bahwa berbagai persoalanya baik masalah, sosial, ekonomi, hukum dan politik yang selama ini terjadi di Papua tetap akan terus bergejolak, apapun kebijakan yang akan diambil dan dilakukan oleh Pemerintah Pusat tidak akan pernah menyelesaikan persoalan tersebut. "Kecuali, Pemerintah Indonesia segera membuka diri untuk menyelesaikan status politiknya bersama Bangsa Papua barat. Karena semua persoalan di Papua saat ini hanya tumbuh sebab adanya keinginan merdeka sebagai sebuah negara dan kegagalan implementasi Undang-Undang Pemerintah Nomor 21 Tahun 2001 tentang Otonomi Khusus di Papua," kata Lamadi, kepada JUBI di Jayapura, Rabu (23/3).

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: Lamadi : Penyelesaian Status Politik Sebagai Solus...: "Lamadi De Lamato (Jubi.doc)JUBI --- Direktur Lembaga Analisa Kebijakan Daerah La-keda Institute, Lamadi de Lamato mengungkapkan penyelesaia..."

Law professor Gavison wins Israel Prize for legal research

Selection committee hails ACRI founder for bravely grappling with issues of Israel’s identity.

Hebrew University law professor Ruth Gavison will be awarded this year’s Israel Prize for legal research, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

Gavison, 66, a former Supreme Court justice candidate and the founder of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), was selected for the prize by a committee made up of Professors Ruth Lapidot, Yaffa Zilbershatz and Berachyahu Lifshitz.

In selecting Gavison for the prize, the committee said her research dealt with issues at the core of Israel’s constitutional law and that her work grappled “exhaustively and courageously with forming Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state.”

“Professor Gavison’s work paves the way to facilitate coexistence between religious and secular Jews and between Jews and non-Jews,” the committee added.

The committee also mentioned Gavison’s research on the nature of the law and judicial restraint. Gavison is known for her opposition to judicial activism and it is believed that her disagreement on the matter with former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak cost her an appointment to the Supreme Court bench.

Gavison has participated in various public and state inquiry committees, most recently in the Winograd Committee, which looked into the failures of the Second Lebanon War.

In 2005 Gavison established the Metzilah Center, which aims to address the growing tendency among Israelis and Jews worldwide to question the legitimacy of Jewish nationalism and its compatibility with universal values.

Law professor Gavison wins Israel Prize for legal research

Hamas digging ‘terror tunnels’ along border with Israel

Gaza groups now have more dangerous missiles that can reach Tel Aviv, and are working on improved communications systems modeled on independent Hezbollah network established in Lebanon.

Talkbacks (5) Facing a possible new conflict against Hamas, concern is growing within the IDF regarding increased efforts by Palestinian terrorist groups to dig tunnels under the border that could be used to infiltrate into Israel and perpetrate attacks.

According to IDF sources, the number of tunnels has grown in recent years. Hamas is under orders to dig “terror tunnels” along the border.
Source..
Hamas digging ‘terror tunnels’ along border with Israel

The Indonesian Government: closing window for peac...

Just as Indonesia’s president Susilo Bambang Yudhuyono was being feted globally for being a democrat, the Indonesian government was entrenching Papua’s reputation as Indonesia’s last bastion of authoritarian military rule. Now Peace Brigades International has finally been forced out.

The latest casualty in the Indonesian Government’s efforts to seal off West Papua from international scrutiny is Peace Brigades International (PBI). In January this year the international non-government organisation was finally forced out of Indonesia. Since 1981 at the invitation of local people, PBI has been providing unarmed protection to human rights defenders at risk in conflict zones around the world. International accompaniment is literally the embodiment of the international community’s concern. The presence of internationals increases the cost of attacking human rights workers and expands the political space for local activists.

Selanjutnya...

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: The Indonesian Government: closing window for peac...

Fitch Affirms Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold's IDR...

The ratings reflect the company's leading position in the industry, strong liquidity, and sound operational and financial management. Operations benefit from low average costs, large scale and long-lived reserves. Long-term copper fundamentals benefit from short supply, modest inventories, strong demand from China and solid demand from developed nations.

The Stable Outlook reflects FCX's balanced approach to capital expenditures, dividends and financial leverage, and Fitch's outlook on the copper market.

At Dec. 31, 2010, cash on hand was $3.7 billion of which $3.1 billion would be available to the parent company after non-controlling interests and withholding taxes. Debt at Dec. 31, 2010 was $4.8 billion with scheduled maturities of $95 million in 2011, $1 million in 2012, $1 million in 2013, $1 million in 2014 and $1.1 billion in 2015.

Selanjutnya..

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: Fitch Affirms Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold's IDR...: "NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FC..."

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: LSM Berkomunikasi Dengan Organisasi Pers

Dan sebagai salah satu upayanya mendorong penyelesaian kasus yang cukup menarik perhatian dari berbagai kalangan tersebut, Kamis (18/3) Perwakilan Komnas HAM Papua, Subkoordinasi Mediasi dan Foker LSM Papua menggelar jumpa pers, dengan dihadiri pengurus PWI (Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia) dan pengurus AJI (Aliansi Jurnalisme Indonesia). Dalam pernyataan bersama antara Perwakilan Komnas HAM Papua dan Foker LSM Papua yang dibacakan dalam jumpa pers di ruang pertemuan Foker LSM Papua, bahwa kasus kekerasan seksual terhadap tahanan perempuan yang terjadi sejak akhir 2010 dan baru terungkap pada Maret 2011, merupakan bentuk kongkrit dari perampasan terhadap hak perempuan yang bersangkutan (korban).

Selanjutnya..

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: LSM Berkomunikasi Dengan Organisasi Pers: "sSikapi Kasus Oral Seks dan Percobaan Pembunuhan Terhadap Seorang WartawanSebagai organisasi yang salah satu tugasnya adalah melakukan advok..."

Julian Assange confronts Julia Gillard

“We have intelligence that your government has been exchanging information with foreign powers about Australian citizens working for WikiLeaks,” Julian Assange told Prime Minister Julia Gillard in his video question as part of ABC's Q&A on March 14.

Assange's question came after Gillard had said: “I can respect whistleblowing if your motivation is to right wrong.” But she said she did not see any “moral purpose ... at the centre of WikiLeaks”.

Gillard said she didn't have a “great deal of respect” for Assange and described his motivation as “sort of anarchic”.

Assange has made clear his motivation many times: it's actually “sort of” about open government — creating transparency and accountability.

Selanjutnya...

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: Julian Assange confronts Julia Gillard: "By Kate AusburnJulian Assange.“We have intelligence that your government has been exchanging information with foreign powers about Aust..."

Injil dibubuhi stempel Depdagri Malaysia

Federasi Kristen Malaysia menuduh pemerintah menodai Injil karena membubuhi stempel nomer serial dan memberi segel pada 5.000 Injil yang diimpor.

"Setiap Injil diberi stempel nomer seri dan diberi segel pemerintah, segel resmi departemen terkait, dan juga kata-kata 'atas perintah Menteri Dalam Negeri'," kata Ketua Federasi Kristen Malaysia, Uskup Ng Moon Hing.

"Sebanyak 5.000 Kitab Injil ditahan dulu oleh pihak berwenang dan diberi stempel nomer seriFederasi Kristen Malaysia menuduh pemerintah meno..."Selanjutnya..

SUARA BAPTIS PAPUA: Injil dibubuhi stempel Depdagri Malaysia: