open Democracy News Analysis - rule of law - Comments

jpcruz on "Bullet to Brazil"

jpcruz — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:18:42 +0000

Agree, an important piece of the finest journalism. Violence is as old as mankind. What changed was quantity, not quality. Nowadays it's "just" more televised, the killing techonology is much more sofisticated and we are so many more in this planet. Mostly on huge cities like Rio. And, although it's not by far an exclusive of that side of the world, urban violence and widespread crime in south and north america (besides Canada) reaches very disturbing levels. And that's an interesting phenomenon.

Mario Salimon on "Bullet to Brazil"

Mario Salimon — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:12:49 +0000

Excellent text Luke. I'm very glad to have you as part of our "Becas" programme.
Best regards,

Mário Salimon

Not logged in on "Bullet to Brazil"

Not logged in — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:28:53 +0000

The violence is a global problem with the potential to wreak death and destruction on a global scale. And, because that, the decisions that we make, individually and collectively, will determine the future of our children as Silva is trying to change.

Congratulations!!!

Caroline Marim

Daniel Santini on "Bullet to Brazil"

Daniel Santini — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:22:54 +0000

Luke, you have showed sensibity and acuracy wrinting about a very complex and difficult topic. I am amazed with the result of all your research. Congratulations, my friend. I am sharing it all over Brazil, if you don´t mind.

And congratulations for Open Democracy for supporting this kind of work.

Saludos from São Paulo!

Daniel Santini

Alexandre Giovanelli on "Bullet to Brazil"

Alexandre Giovanelli — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:58:35 +0000

It´s a very nice article. I liked very much because it´s a good fotography of the Rio de Janeiro´s reality.

Congratulation to the article`s writer.

Alexandre Giovanelli

pennyauction on "Bullet to Brazil"

pennyauction — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:35:24 +0000

really nice article.. good share!

Matt Blackall on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

Matt Blackall — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:47:42 +0000

"The same laws which seem benign (to some) under one administration, could easily be used for sweeping repression under another"

Although New Labour are of course not Nazis, i can still see this (and other) legislation being used by New Labour "for sweeping repression".

Wikileaks has recently published news of secret gag orders in the UK now.

AndrewRT on "Human rights you can enforce"

AndrewRT — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:50:45 +0000

Another court where individuals can enforce their most basic human rights - the right to life, security etc - is the International Criminal Court, which can try individuals who are accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. Cases can be started from a complaint from an individuals, although jurisdiction is limited to cases that:

a) Take place within a member-country of the court

b) are committed by a national of a member-country

or c) are referred to the court by the UN Security Council or the member state concerned.

In practice, enforcement is patchy and weak; the court has no police force to execute warrants and indictments such as that of the Lords Resistance Army leader Kony have laid unenforced for years; complaints such as those in the Ivory Coast or Burundi have also remaining unactioned for a considerable time.

Agilis Lux on "Human rights you can enforce"

Agilis Lux — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:48:24 +0000

Taking about "moral force" brings Human Rights directly into your private life. Everyone of us know at some point that we are driving our SUV's with the lives of other people.
The UN is such ineffective instrument and often frightening can not be made responsible for its failures (Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Sudan) by Survivors of victims at any court. The UN stays above all, asked for financial support but beyond the reach of any judicial system in any state on this planet. Congolese people asked not to be "protected" by "Peacekeepers" from India.
A conflict first has to spin out of control that Human Rights are become a useful instrument and purpose for intervention (Kosovo was easy: to topple a government that was not wanted by the people, where all international Headquarters from NATO, EU & OSCE where close), but Congo and most of all Dafur is dragging on because of our greed on natural resources. In Dafur we will see the Human Rights situation improving when China is sending UN Peacekeepers, and is willing to receive in return black body bags. It is unlikely the Western governments will get active after what was happened in Somalia.
In India each day 4 people are die from torture in prisons (AHRC), China executes more dead sentences per year then any other country in the world and a long term prison sentences in Russia with wide spread TB is close to be a dead sentences. This is why all “Mugabes” are laughing.
Human Rights are beginning in our countries not in so called pariah- or rough states. Bullheads comment is a good example of what I mean here.

bullhead on "Human rights you can enforce"

bullhead — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:33:27 +0000

I am Russian , former Russian citizen, but my case is in European court of human rights, against British government, so I don't have any chances to expedite my case, according your article.

All my attempts to resolve my case in United Kingdom ignored maliciously by all kind of official and public establishments in United kingdom.

I can lose property; already lose all savings, refused all kind of financial support, and it done purposely.

According your article I am absolutely powerless.

Just need to wait.

Can you give me piece of advice, what I can do in such situation?

Not logged in on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

Not logged in — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:47:46 +0000

I agree that 42 days internment is a travesty and undermines the idea that the United Kingdom is trying to protect democratic principles.

I do have a feeling though those who are against repressive laws in this country are missing something in their case against the government.

There seems to be a blanket assumption that we are just copying the United States in ensuring a nicely terrified and compliant population.

But I think there may be more than this at work- for example a state of fear allows government to collect data almost unhindered- and data is the new international currency, hence the proposed national identity register.

I'd like to see more rational analysis, looking beyond neocon politics and into the marketplace where I believe Labour have become almost irretrievably enmired.

Courtney Hamilton on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

Courtney Hamilton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:06:48 +0000

90, 56, 42, 28, 7 days?

To tell you the truth, I don't really care.

The only thing we should be caring about is that no government should have the right to lock people up in prison without any evidence - period. Not even for one day.

28 days according to Liberty (UK) is the longest period of detention, without arrest, in the known Western world. We should remind ourselves of the words of Bejamin Franklin, who reminded us that 'Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety'.

sjt on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

sjt — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:14:28 +0000

The effective suspension of habeas corpus, the revival of general warrants: we are sleepwalking back to the police state of the seventeenth century. Without these freedoms, we shall have no more peace than our ancestors did.

The threat from terrorists is trifling compared to the damage being wreaked on our society by those competing to defend us.

Resistance is futile. It is time we cleaned house, and called to account those who have been mischievously drumming on public anxieties. When ministers and officials shy away from appealing to ‘security’, we shall all sleep more soundly.

Following the lead of last Sunday’s Commons Home Affairs Committee report on surveillance, we might usefully start by naming and shaming the officials behind the National Identity Register.

timbirdmm on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

timbirdmm — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:48:22 +0000

"It is right to assume that there are
indeed some horribly dangerous, racist terrorists at large ..."

Racist? Really??

Solana Larsen on "42 Days: An "abundance of caution" - "

Solana Larsen — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:54:28 +0000

People can be so shortsighted about legislation that gives this kind of power to government. I know Britain is a very stable country, but governments change. The same laws which seem benign (to some) under one administration, could easily be used for sweeping repression under another. You see this sort of thing happen all over the world. Laws that enable severe abuse of innocent people, including imprisonment without trial, should just never be passed.