Human Rights
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Yingluck Shinawatra expects to be confirmed as Thailand's first female prime minister next month, enabling Washington and Bangkok to resurrect their collaboration in America's war on terror which entwined the two democracies before the military toppled her brother's government five years ago.
Mrs. Yingluck (pronounced: "Ying-luck") is the public, smiling face representing her self-exiled, authoritarian brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr. Thaksin's previous controversial relationship with Washington provides important clues as to how Mrs. Yingluck's new government could shape its political, financial and military policies concerning the U.S.
As prime minister, Mrs. Yingluck is expected to orchestrate an "amnesty" to allow her brother to dodge a two-year prison sentence for corruption, return to Thailand a free man, and receive a refund for $1.2 billion in assets which the government seized from Mr. Thaksin after the 2006 coup.
Mrs. Yingluck's Pheu Thai (For Thais) party won a majority in a nationwide election on July 3.
Mrs. Yingluck (pronounced: "Ying-luck") is the public, smiling face representing her self-exiled, authoritarian brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr. Thaksin's previous controversial relationship with Washington provides important clues as to how Mrs. Yingluck's new government could shape its political, financial and military policies concerning the U.S.
As prime minister, Mrs. Yingluck is expected to orchestrate an "amnesty" to allow her brother to dodge a two-year prison sentence for corruption, return to Thailand a free man, and receive a refund for $1.2 billion in assets which the government seized from Mr. Thaksin after the 2006 coup.
Mrs. Yingluck's Pheu Thai (For Thais) party won a majority in a nationwide election on July 3.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Evoking Charlie's Angels, 007, and The Bourne Identity, Thailand's most famous female detective adjusts her spy gadgets while preparing to hunt murderers, thieves, corrupt officials and people who cheat on lovers.
Neatly incognito and classically clandestine, Aumnaoyporn Maneewan, 42, follows her "target" anywhere, and usually confirms the crime.
"I am a private eye."
During 14 years of sleuthing, most of her cases have included lusty married men who enjoy secret trysts with a "second wife" or "minor wife," popularly known as a "mia noi."
About 90 percent of those adultery cases are true, says Aumnaoyporn, speaking a mix of English and Thai during an interview at her Decha & IBS Ltd office (http://www.decha.com).
"The first wife gives me the details, about what she suspects of the mia noi. I follow the husband, sometimes driving a car, sometimes walking. I use a tiny video recorder and other gadgets.
"Anywhere the husband goes, we will be there, in the market, in the office, in the restaurant, anywhere he goes. I lead a three-person team.
Neatly incognito and classically clandestine, Aumnaoyporn Maneewan, 42, follows her "target" anywhere, and usually confirms the crime.
"I am a private eye."
During 14 years of sleuthing, most of her cases have included lusty married men who enjoy secret trysts with a "second wife" or "minor wife," popularly known as a "mia noi."
About 90 percent of those adultery cases are true, says Aumnaoyporn, speaking a mix of English and Thai during an interview at her Decha & IBS Ltd office (http://www.decha.com).
"The first wife gives me the details, about what she suspects of the mia noi. I follow the husband, sometimes driving a car, sometimes walking. I use a tiny video recorder and other gadgets.
"Anywhere the husband goes, we will be there, in the market, in the office, in the restaurant, anywhere he goes. I lead a three-person team.
Pete Eyre and Ademo Freeman (aka Adam Mueller) were arrested outside the Franklin County Jail by Todd M. Dodge of the Greenfield Police Department as they attempted to record the bailing out of a friend last July. On Monday, July 18th they hope to finally be vindicated at their trial held at Greenfield District Court.
The pair - advocates of transparency active with CopBlock.org and LibertyOnTour.com - have since their arrests sought to hold accountable those who violated their rights. Today two charges - a felony and a misdemeanor - against Eyre stemming from an unjust search of his vehicle parked blocks from the incident location, were dismissed. This is very telling.
Felony wiretapping is the most-serious remaining charge, though they are confident it too won't stick as they were told by a supervisor at the jail that they could film, no posted ban against filming existed, and no policy was ever produced to support later claims that recording was prohibited.
The pair - advocates of transparency active with CopBlock.org and LibertyOnTour.com - have since their arrests sought to hold accountable those who violated their rights. Today two charges - a felony and a misdemeanor - against Eyre stemming from an unjust search of his vehicle parked blocks from the incident location, were dismissed. This is very telling.
Felony wiretapping is the most-serious remaining charge, though they are confident it too won't stick as they were told by a supervisor at the jail that they could film, no posted ban against filming existed, and no policy was ever produced to support later claims that recording was prohibited.
For most Palestinians, leaving Gaza through Egypt is as exasperating a process as entering it. Governed by political and cultural sensitivities, most Palestinian officials and public figures refrain from criticizing the way Palestinians are treated at the Rafah border. However, there is really no diplomatic language to describe the relationship between desperate Palestinians -- some literally fighting for their lives -- and Egyptian officials at the crossing which separates Gaza from Egypt.
"Gazans are treated like animals at the border," a friend of mine told me. She was afraid that her fiancé would not be allowed to leave Gaza, despite the fact that his papers were in order. Having crossed the border myself just a few days ago, I could not disagree with her statement.
The New York Times reported on June 8: "After days of acrimony between Hamas and Egypt over limitations on who could pass through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Hamas said Egypt had agreed to allow 550 people a day to leave Gaza and to lengthen the operating hours of the crossing."
And so the saga continues.
"Gazans are treated like animals at the border," a friend of mine told me. She was afraid that her fiancé would not be allowed to leave Gaza, despite the fact that his papers were in order. Having crossed the border myself just a few days ago, I could not disagree with her statement.
The New York Times reported on June 8: "After days of acrimony between Hamas and Egypt over limitations on who could pass through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Hamas said Egypt had agreed to allow 550 people a day to leave Gaza and to lengthen the operating hours of the crossing."
And so the saga continues.
Whistleblower Nuovo fired by OSU Medical Center for exposing alleged fraud
OSU is facing a very public scandal as a result of Coach Jim Tressel's resignation under embarrassing circumstances and allegations of unethical behavior affecting its many football fans. However, the scandal involving OSU's medical center and Dr. Gerard Nuovo affecting the health and well-being of many female patients, are potentially more explosive and costly to the university.
The Columbus Free Press obtained public records documenting that the Ohio State Medical Center recently fired whistleblower Dr. Gerard Nuovo for allegedly filing frivolous charges of scientific misconduct against Sanford Barsky, M.D.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- One year after troops crushed a nine-week insurrection in Bangkok which left 91 people dead and 2,000 injured, the government and rebellious Red Shirts remain polarized, demanding prison sentences for leaders on both sides while preparing for a nationwide election.
To mourn the tragic anniversary, at least 15,000 Red Shirt supporters gathered on Thursday (May 19) in the heart of Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection, which they had occupied last year after installing bamboo barricades, makeshift shelters, electricity lines, water supplies, ramshackle restaurants, market stalls and other extensive infrastructure.
The intersection, flanked by five-star hotels, lavish shopping malls and expensive condominiums, was where many of the 91 mostly civilian deaths occurred when U.S.-trained troops used armored personnel carriers and snipers to storm the barricades.
Today, the Red Shirts continue to demand a reversal of the military's bloodless 2006 coup which toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after he won three elections.
To mourn the tragic anniversary, at least 15,000 Red Shirt supporters gathered on Thursday (May 19) in the heart of Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection, which they had occupied last year after installing bamboo barricades, makeshift shelters, electricity lines, water supplies, ramshackle restaurants, market stalls and other extensive infrastructure.
The intersection, flanked by five-star hotels, lavish shopping malls and expensive condominiums, was where many of the 91 mostly civilian deaths occurred when U.S.-trained troops used armored personnel carriers and snipers to storm the barricades.
Today, the Red Shirts continue to demand a reversal of the military's bloodless 2006 coup which toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after he won three elections.
On April 20th 2011 a year will have passed since the state of Ohio took the life of Da'rryl Durr. He had spent 22 years on Death Row. In that time he wrote to many people and if you are reading this then you may well have been someone who enjoyed hearing from Da'rryl and being challenged by his views and outlook on life despite the dreadful life he had lived on Death Row for so many years.
Less than three hours before he died Da'rryl spoke on the phone to Erwin James a reporter from the Guardian newspaper. Da'rryl told him "If there is a difference that you can make in the life of another person, you want to make that difference." He went on to say, "Please give my love to everybody that supported me and tried to help me. And when you write about me, do me a favour and please – are you familiar with St Paul's treatise on love?" .... "Tell them that's what I believe: in faith, hope and love – and that the greatest of these is love."
Less than three hours before he died Da'rryl spoke on the phone to Erwin James a reporter from the Guardian newspaper. Da'rryl told him "If there is a difference that you can make in the life of another person, you want to make that difference." He went on to say, "Please give my love to everybody that supported me and tried to help me. And when you write about me, do me a favour and please – are you familiar with St Paul's treatise on love?" .... "Tell them that's what I believe: in faith, hope and love – and that the greatest of these is love."
I am writing about my personal life saving experience. I am not in Ohio but live in NY. I met Dr. Nuovo when I was diagnosed with cancer in my uterus. I was shocked, heartbroken and scared. I am a 53 year old women, fit and in great health, how could this have happened to me? My Gyn scheduled me for a full hysterectomy. I asked Dr. Nuovo to review my slide at the advice of a friend.
Dr. Larry C. James, who worked as Chief Psychologist at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, is one of those psychologists. In this role, Dr. James oversaw abusive interrogations and designed programs to exploit the psychological weaknesses of detainees. During his tenure at the detention center, boys and men were systematically abused. Techniques included threats of rape and death; forced nudity; sleep deprivation; extreme isolation; short-shackling into stress positions; and physical assault.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Counterfeit identification cards of U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Interpol, airline cabin crew and other officials are openly sold in the street for $25, produced in a few hours, and can include anyone's name and photo.
Freshly printed, mint condition, plastic ID cards -- based on genuine U.S. and international documents -- are available at souvenir stalls on tourist-packed Khao San Road near Bangkok's fabled Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Big signs plastered with dozens of counterfeit cards are erected each day on the walking street among stalls and shops offering inexpensive Thai food, clothing, jewelry, airline tickets, massages, tattoos, music and video discs, a Burger King, banks, beauty parlors and other goods and services.
Amazed and amused customers, from all over the world, browse through thick folders of pictures showing hundreds of different counterfeit cards including California, Texas, New York and other U.S. and foreign driver licenses, plus Air France, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and other international "Cabin Attendant, Cabin Crew" staff cards.
Freshly printed, mint condition, plastic ID cards -- based on genuine U.S. and international documents -- are available at souvenir stalls on tourist-packed Khao San Road near Bangkok's fabled Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Big signs plastered with dozens of counterfeit cards are erected each day on the walking street among stalls and shops offering inexpensive Thai food, clothing, jewelry, airline tickets, massages, tattoos, music and video discs, a Burger King, banks, beauty parlors and other goods and services.
Amazed and amused customers, from all over the world, browse through thick folders of pictures showing hundreds of different counterfeit cards including California, Texas, New York and other U.S. and foreign driver licenses, plus Air France, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and other international "Cabin Attendant, Cabin Crew" staff cards.