As for Michelle Leslie’s chameleon-like religious affiliation which had changed hue faster than an oscillating kaleidoscope, she has been adamant that she still considers herself a Muslim.
At a press conference on her arrival at Sydney airport, her spokesman, Sean Mulcahy, immediately terminated the session with the media, when an Aussie Channel 7 reporter questioned the dodginess of her conversion to Islam. He rejected scorns that Leslie had been less than truthful about her religious belief, and said:
"The criticism only hampers her attempt to progress and further her religion. I can only liken it to learning the piano. When you first start playing the piano you are not very good. If people continually criticise you and tell you how bad you play, you give up. She doesn't profess to be the greatest Muslim that's lived; she's learning the religion. There are various levels of religious beliefs and Michelle doesn't share extremist views of that."
Well, well, well - so she doesn't profess to be the greatest Muslim that's lived?
If we were to use Mulcahy's piano-playing analogy, Leslie with her burqa donned when under arrest in Indonesia, was then playing Tschaikosky’s first piano concerto brilliantly like a young Beethoven, but now, back in Australia, she can’t even hit out a simple doh-ray-mee.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Shut Up Michelle Leslie!
Michelle Leslie has threatened to tell all to clear her name. She claimed that the scions of very senior Indon officials, including a Minister's son, were there with her. The ecstasy pills were meant for them and came from their supplier, a Balinese man who was also in the car when Indon police found Leslie and the drugs.
As her story went, when the police stopped their cars, the passengers conducted some names dropping of who their dads were and the traditional pungli (pungutan liar or pickings sans authority). The police then agreed to release everyone except, strangely, only Leslie. They even created a false driver’s identity so that the rest would be untraceable. Wasn't it strange that after all the alleged corrupt coverup, the police and Leslie's friends, including her fellow model Mia or Siti Narima, left only Leslie to face the music and tell the tale – wait, Leslie said she was warned she would be assassinated if she spilled the beans. She also asserted that her positive blood and urine tests to ecstasy were ‘doctored’.
You know, I am acquainted with a very very young but smart boy who looked at me in disbelief when I told him the story. Leslie's tale is interesting enough to make it into a Walt Disney movie but its plausibility is truly so laughable.
What Leslie's camp told the media has been a situation of high drama where there were corrupt Indon police, Indon yuppies with powerful political connections, a false driver’s identity in the police report to prevent any subsequent tracing, and oh oh oh, don’t forget fellow model Siti Narima or Mia, all scooting off scot free, but leaving the Oz virgin princess, high profile Leslie, an orang asing (foreigner) to face the music with a sinister threat that she must obey the laws of the omerta.
Then it went on that money was passed around, something to the tune of $100,000, to be divided among police, judicial figures and others, and also to manufacture a story that could see Leslie released within three months.
Hmmm, rather convoluted and messy arrangement, don't one think so, when Leslie could have been released together with those Indon yuppies and her modelling pal, Siti Narima?
Yes indeed, if money was passed around by powerful politically connnected Indons, why not just take her along instead of leaving her behind to help police trace them and spill the beans? Why allow Siti Narima to escape but not Leslie? Why the fabrication of a "mysterious" Mia? Why the subsequent emergency need for a burqa?
Not surprising, some insiders scornfully dismissed her story, especially her claims that she was ignorant of the ecstasy pills in her handbag - afterall, didn’t she confess to the psychiatrist that she took ecstasy?
The Herald newspaper were informed that bribes were paid (but not by those Indon yuppies) to ensure Leslie's release, which has been confirmed by a source close to Leslie's legal team, but who refused to disclose the amounts. I guess that explained it all - a case of corrupt Indons versus the innocent Oz virgin princess. A Bali prosecutor, Suhadi, suggested that Leslie report the bribery allegations to the police. No such report has yet been made.
In Australia, former judge Marcus Einfeld beat me to it (dash it!) by warning Leslie to shut up and not say anything to humiliate the Indons just to repair her name, because the next Aussie who get into trouble in Indonesia would receive the full fury of the Indons.
I reckon in the Schapelle Corby’s case, the froth whipped up here by some irresponsible local media leading to threats against and harrassment of Indon Embassy officials in Canberra and Perth, and the public insults of President SBY by some hot-heads, might have contributed to her harsh sentence.
Judge Einfield also told the media to keep a low lid on Leslie's chameleon-like religious inclinations as it is a highly sensitve issue in Indonesia.
PM John Howard agrees, warning Leslie against jeopardising the cases of other Australians facing drugs charges by insulting the Indon legal and police system, and also against selling her story. Howard believes it would be wrong for her to profit financially from her crime, apart from the fact that there’s an Aussie law against that.
As her story went, when the police stopped their cars, the passengers conducted some names dropping of who their dads were and the traditional pungli (pungutan liar or pickings sans authority). The police then agreed to release everyone except, strangely, only Leslie. They even created a false driver’s identity so that the rest would be untraceable. Wasn't it strange that after all the alleged corrupt coverup, the police and Leslie's friends, including her fellow model Mia or Siti Narima, left only Leslie to face the music and tell the tale – wait, Leslie said she was warned she would be assassinated if she spilled the beans. She also asserted that her positive blood and urine tests to ecstasy were ‘doctored’.
You know, I am acquainted with a very very young but smart boy who looked at me in disbelief when I told him the story. Leslie's tale is interesting enough to make it into a Walt Disney movie but its plausibility is truly so laughable.
What Leslie's camp told the media has been a situation of high drama where there were corrupt Indon police, Indon yuppies with powerful political connections, a false driver’s identity in the police report to prevent any subsequent tracing, and oh oh oh, don’t forget fellow model Siti Narima or Mia, all scooting off scot free, but leaving the Oz virgin princess, high profile Leslie, an orang asing (foreigner) to face the music with a sinister threat that she must obey the laws of the omerta.
Then it went on that money was passed around, something to the tune of $100,000, to be divided among police, judicial figures and others, and also to manufacture a story that could see Leslie released within three months.
Hmmm, rather convoluted and messy arrangement, don't one think so, when Leslie could have been released together with those Indon yuppies and her modelling pal, Siti Narima?
Yes indeed, if money was passed around by powerful politically connnected Indons, why not just take her along instead of leaving her behind to help police trace them and spill the beans? Why allow Siti Narima to escape but not Leslie? Why the fabrication of a "mysterious" Mia? Why the subsequent emergency need for a burqa?
Not surprising, some insiders scornfully dismissed her story, especially her claims that she was ignorant of the ecstasy pills in her handbag - afterall, didn’t she confess to the psychiatrist that she took ecstasy?
The Herald newspaper were informed that bribes were paid (but not by those Indon yuppies) to ensure Leslie's release, which has been confirmed by a source close to Leslie's legal team, but who refused to disclose the amounts. I guess that explained it all - a case of corrupt Indons versus the innocent Oz virgin princess. A Bali prosecutor, Suhadi, suggested that Leslie report the bribery allegations to the police. No such report has yet been made.
In Australia, former judge Marcus Einfeld beat me to it (dash it!) by warning Leslie to shut up and not say anything to humiliate the Indons just to repair her name, because the next Aussie who get into trouble in Indonesia would receive the full fury of the Indons.
I reckon in the Schapelle Corby’s case, the froth whipped up here by some irresponsible local media leading to threats against and harrassment of Indon Embassy officials in Canberra and Perth, and the public insults of President SBY by some hot-heads, might have contributed to her harsh sentence.
Judge Einfield also told the media to keep a low lid on Leslie's chameleon-like religious inclinations as it is a highly sensitve issue in Indonesia.
PM John Howard agrees, warning Leslie against jeopardising the cases of other Australians facing drugs charges by insulting the Indon legal and police system, and also against selling her story. Howard believes it would be wrong for her to profit financially from her crime, apart from the fact that there’s an Aussie law against that.
Bush wanted to attack al Jazeera
al Jazeera news online has in the past few years provided a fresh perspective of news and current affairs that have been different from those of western media, especially the American version. Recently it recruited a top media personality, David Frost, as part of it expanding plans and programme.
Al-Jazeera's reporting of the war in Iraq, including the publishing of captured or killed US soldiers, have greatly angered Washington. The station has also broadcast messages by Osama bin Laden and the beheadings of Western hostages by insurgents in Iraq, as well as Iraqi civilians killed by the US military.
There have been a US military ‘accidental’ attacks on its Kabul office. Now, revelations coming from London showed that that attack might not have been ‘accidental’ afterall.
The British Daily Mirror has come across a Downing Street Top Secret memo stating that US President George Bush had planned to launch a military strike on al-Jazeera station in Dona, Qatar, but was talked out of it by Britain’s PM Tony Blair.
The memo was a transcript of a Bush-Blair talks during Blair's visit to Washington in April last year. Blair feared such a strike, in the business district of Doha with all its collateral damage would definitely invite severe revenge attacks. Besides, Qatar is a key western ally in the Persian Gulf. The language in the memo showed that Bush was deadly serious, but so was Blair in persuading Bush not to launch the attacks.
Downing Street has refused to comment on the leaked memo.
The Daily Mirror said such a strike would have been "the most spectacular foreign policy disaster since the Iraq war itself".
The USA – paragon of press freedom!
Al-Jazeera's reporting of the war in Iraq, including the publishing of captured or killed US soldiers, have greatly angered Washington. The station has also broadcast messages by Osama bin Laden and the beheadings of Western hostages by insurgents in Iraq, as well as Iraqi civilians killed by the US military.
There have been a US military ‘accidental’ attacks on its Kabul office. Now, revelations coming from London showed that that attack might not have been ‘accidental’ afterall.
The British Daily Mirror has come across a Downing Street Top Secret memo stating that US President George Bush had planned to launch a military strike on al-Jazeera station in Dona, Qatar, but was talked out of it by Britain’s PM Tony Blair.
The memo was a transcript of a Bush-Blair talks during Blair's visit to Washington in April last year. Blair feared such a strike, in the business district of Doha with all its collateral damage would definitely invite severe revenge attacks. Besides, Qatar is a key western ally in the Persian Gulf. The language in the memo showed that Bush was deadly serious, but so was Blair in persuading Bush not to launch the attacks.
Downing Street has refused to comment on the leaked memo.
The Daily Mirror said such a strike would have been "the most spectacular foreign policy disaster since the Iraq war itself".
The USA – paragon of press freedom!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Michelle Leslie & "Mysterious" Mia
It seems the initial press report that Michelle Leslie and Siti Namira, otherwise known as Mia, Woman of Mystery, met in Singapore and ‘reconciled' was incorrect. There was no 'reconciliation' – technically, that is.
The ‘reconciliation’ word was employed by the media in their understanding of what they had learnt from Leslie’s statements, that poor poor poor Leslie was sabotaged by Mia or Siti Namira, who played dirty and placed the ecstasy tablets in Leslie's cute sweet handbag during a party on the night of the arrest. Oh, how nasty could Mia be?
Surely, given the nastiness, the media would imagine, rightly so, that any get-together between them must be a form of 'reconciliation '– between the saboteur and the sabotaged.
Personally, I thought Leslie’s “dunno” about the ecstasy pills sounded unbelievable because of one fact that stood out like the proverbial you-know-what. Psychiatrist Dr Denny Thong who had examined her, provided evidence to the court that she, Michelle Leslie, had confessed to using ecstasy. So, can Leslie claimed "dunno"?
Anyway, now her lawyer Sean Mulcahy, in confirming that yesterday Leslie met fellow model Siti Namira, otherwise known as Mia, said:
"There was no reconciliation needed because they were already friends."
There you have it – not only did we learn that Mia wasn't as "mysterious" and unknown as the courts were told, we have to conclude there wasn’t any sabotaging because there wasn’t any grudge.
Hmmm, what does that tell us about Michelle Leslie's story?
Related:
Michelle Leslie's "Mysterious" Woman Identified!
The ‘reconciliation’ word was employed by the media in their understanding of what they had learnt from Leslie’s statements, that poor poor poor Leslie was sabotaged by Mia or Siti Namira, who played dirty and placed the ecstasy tablets in Leslie's cute sweet handbag during a party on the night of the arrest. Oh, how nasty could Mia be?
Surely, given the nastiness, the media would imagine, rightly so, that any get-together between them must be a form of 'reconciliation '– between the saboteur and the sabotaged.
Personally, I thought Leslie’s “dunno” about the ecstasy pills sounded unbelievable because of one fact that stood out like the proverbial you-know-what. Psychiatrist Dr Denny Thong who had examined her, provided evidence to the court that she, Michelle Leslie, had confessed to using ecstasy. So, can Leslie claimed "dunno"?
Anyway, now her lawyer Sean Mulcahy, in confirming that yesterday Leslie met fellow model Siti Namira, otherwise known as Mia, said:
"There was no reconciliation needed because they were already friends."
There you have it – not only did we learn that Mia wasn't as "mysterious" and unknown as the courts were told, we have to conclude there wasn’t any sabotaging because there wasn’t any grudge.
Hmmm, what does that tell us about Michelle Leslie's story?
Related:
Michelle Leslie's "Mysterious" Woman Identified!
Azahari's men selling phone vouchers to survive
Indonesia's police chief said that since Dr Azahari was killed and Noordin Top on the run, their terrorist group has been struggling for funds to survive. Intelligence reports indicate that the fugitive group has been selling mobile phone vouchers to survive. They make about RM2000 per day.
He said that previously the group had received funding from Saudi Arabia but police had cut off this avenue. He didn’t mention anything about Malaysian funding, though in my previous posting on this issue, I did mention a foreign diplomat being involved as the channeller or courier.
Related:
Dr Azahari's activities funded by Malaysians
He said that previously the group had received funding from Saudi Arabia but police had cut off this avenue. He didn’t mention anything about Malaysian funding, though in my previous posting on this issue, I did mention a foreign diplomat being involved as the channeller or courier.
Related:
Dr Azahari's activities funded by Malaysians
Michelle Leslie's "Mysterious" Woman Identified!
Remember Michelle Leslie’s “mysterious” lady friend Mia, the woman who gave her the ecstasy pills on the night of Leslie’s arrest but disappeared into thin air?
Well, if you don’t, according to Leslie, Mia had been the culprit who obtained the drugs for her. Mia brought the ecstasy pills for Leslie, informing the poor innocent model that it was the medication Ritalin which Leslie claimed she was addicted to.
But things went awry for Leslie when a psychiatrist Denny Thong, who is a member of the Bali Narcotic Board, was enlisted by Leslie’s team to testify on her behalf. They wanted the good doctor to tell the court that she was a Ritalin addict and thus as an addict, under Indon laws, should merit only a very short sentence. But the following was what the psychiatrist told the court.
Dr Thong said Leslie used ecstasy, but was not addicted to it or Ritalin. He had medically interviewed Leslie in Bali last month at her lawyers' request. The doctor confirmed that Leslie was not sick nor could be classified as an addict. In fact he stated that Leslie herself had admitted to him she had used ecstasy, but was not addicted to it. Additionally, the doctor clarified that while one may use Ritalin, which is a lawful medication, one doesn’t get addicted to that medication.
Of course throughout her trial, the “mysterious” Mia, being a mystery, naturally could not be found, and wasn’t it truly fortuitous for Leslie that despite this hearsay, the addiction and Ritalin bullshit, the judges of Bali court still believed her?
OK, all’s well that ended well, as it did for Michelle Leslie. She’s now free, and suddenly, miracles of miracles, the “mysterious” Mia has now emerged (or descended) from the divine heights of Bali’s sacred mountain, or more correctly, on the plains of Singapore.
And Mia has a real name too. She is Siti Namira. Oh, but wait, there’s more!!!
Siti Namira is not all that “mysterious” afterall, for she is Leslie's fellow model. Poor Leslie, her trauma in Bali made her terribly forgetful, both about Narima's name and their professional acquaintance. But how sweet, Leslie and Namira has 'reconciled', whatever that means. In fact, Namira has now ‘fessed up to the whole sordid affair.
Appeared out of the blue, has a name, oh-they were fellow models, reconciled, confessed - good lord, what's happening? And mate, there’s more – all skullduggery and whatnot – threats of murder directed at poor Leslie in prison, etc etc etc.
To help clear Michelle Leslie's name of course. It’s part of her social “rehabilitation”. Yessirree, Leslie is not a former Indon convict but an innocent victim. Alhamdullilah!
Incidentally, I wonder whether Leslie could legally clear her name in Australia, because if she can, wouldn’t it be marvellous that she can then keep the money the media has been dying to pay for her news breaking story. Insha Allah!
Well, if you don’t, according to Leslie, Mia had been the culprit who obtained the drugs for her. Mia brought the ecstasy pills for Leslie, informing the poor innocent model that it was the medication Ritalin which Leslie claimed she was addicted to.
But things went awry for Leslie when a psychiatrist Denny Thong, who is a member of the Bali Narcotic Board, was enlisted by Leslie’s team to testify on her behalf. They wanted the good doctor to tell the court that she was a Ritalin addict and thus as an addict, under Indon laws, should merit only a very short sentence. But the following was what the psychiatrist told the court.
Dr Thong said Leslie used ecstasy, but was not addicted to it or Ritalin. He had medically interviewed Leslie in Bali last month at her lawyers' request. The doctor confirmed that Leslie was not sick nor could be classified as an addict. In fact he stated that Leslie herself had admitted to him she had used ecstasy, but was not addicted to it. Additionally, the doctor clarified that while one may use Ritalin, which is a lawful medication, one doesn’t get addicted to that medication.
Of course throughout her trial, the “mysterious” Mia, being a mystery, naturally could not be found, and wasn’t it truly fortuitous for Leslie that despite this hearsay, the addiction and Ritalin bullshit, the judges of Bali court still believed her?
OK, all’s well that ended well, as it did for Michelle Leslie. She’s now free, and suddenly, miracles of miracles, the “mysterious” Mia has now emerged (or descended) from the divine heights of Bali’s sacred mountain, or more correctly, on the plains of Singapore.
And Mia has a real name too. She is Siti Namira. Oh, but wait, there’s more!!!
Siti Namira is not all that “mysterious” afterall, for she is Leslie's fellow model. Poor Leslie, her trauma in Bali made her terribly forgetful, both about Narima's name and their professional acquaintance. But how sweet, Leslie and Namira has 'reconciled', whatever that means. In fact, Namira has now ‘fessed up to the whole sordid affair.
Appeared out of the blue, has a name, oh-they were fellow models, reconciled, confessed - good lord, what's happening? And mate, there’s more – all skullduggery and whatnot – threats of murder directed at poor Leslie in prison, etc etc etc.
To help clear Michelle Leslie's name of course. It’s part of her social “rehabilitation”. Yessirree, Leslie is not a former Indon convict but an innocent victim. Alhamdullilah!
Incidentally, I wonder whether Leslie could legally clear her name in Australia, because if she can, wouldn’t it be marvellous that she can then keep the money the media has been dying to pay for her news breaking story. Insha Allah!
Michelle Leslie - to Islam & back
The transformation of Michelle Leslie has come full circle, from lingerie and underwear model, sometimes donning only body paint, to a staunt Muslim wearing the burqa after she was arrested, and back to her old pre-arrest self.
Ameer Ali, a community leader of Aussie Muslims has this to say:
"I have no message for her and the message for Muslim community, just ignore the issue, don't react to these things, this is one person, she want to be a Muslim now she is renouncing it ... so what? We don't lose anything by that."
"The community does not become strong by Leslie becoming a Muslim or weak by she not becoming a Muslim, so it's a non-issue for us and I don't know why the fuss about the whole thing."
Leslie faces questioning from the media on her arrival in Australia about her Islamic conversion. Virtually everyone has been sceptical about her so-called covert conversion.
Ameer Ali, a community leader of Aussie Muslims has this to say:
"I have no message for her and the message for Muslim community, just ignore the issue, don't react to these things, this is one person, she want to be a Muslim now she is renouncing it ... so what? We don't lose anything by that."
"The community does not become strong by Leslie becoming a Muslim or weak by she not becoming a Muslim, so it's a non-issue for us and I don't know why the fuss about the whole thing."
Leslie faces questioning from the media on her arrival in Australia about her Islamic conversion. Virtually everyone has been sceptical about her so-called covert conversion.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Nguyen's Execution is Inevitable
Sad as it may be, there is no doubt in my mind that at dawn on 02 December 2005, Nguyen will be executed by hanging. His family, including his twin brother for whom Nguyen claimed needed the earnings from the trafficking assignment to settle debts, have flown to Singapore to be with him in his final days, but not at the final moment.
The farewell message of the Singapore Hangman will be the last words he will hear before he, as promised by the hangman, 'goes to a better place than this one.'
Aussie PM John Howard has put in his personal appeal to Singapore PM Lee. Howard grumbled a bit about Lee's failure to inform him that the execution date had been decided when the personal appeal was made. But I think that's that.
Howard has demonstrated his 'concerns' for Nguyen's draconian fate, but will not sour relationship with an important ally and trading partner over a drug trafficker. In fact, in Nguyen's case, Howard has already gone beyond what he would do under similar circumstances for another Aussie.
Even the raging froth demonstrated by Aussie public for Shapelle Corby's case when she was arrested by Indonesian police didn't persuade Howard to appeal to the Indonesian President, well, at least he didn't publicly. What Howard did in that case was to make available an 'open cheque' for Corby's defence.
Two Popes had appealed to Singapore for clemency to be shown in Nguyen's fate. The UN has voiced its concerns. Aussie Foreign Minister Downer promises to keep trying but he doesn't hold up any hope, given Singapore's refusal to concede to any compassionate leeway.
Though the Australian Opposition, Labour and the Democrats have suggested protests and boycotts, I don't believe those are realistic proposals. Howard is the PM and unlikely to resort to such acrimonious confrontations.
There is a last resort proposal to take the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but such an application requires the agreement of both parties, meaning the Singapore government must accept the move. Aussie Foreign minister said it's unlikely Singapore would accede to any arbitration by the ICJ. I reckon so, especially in a case where Singapore is determined to prove it can't be shaken by appeals or pleas for compassion.
The Aussie public is certainly appalled by the heinous punishment of so young a man, and for what social benefit to Singapore society? But they are hardly likely to sway the Sinagpore government into clemency for Nguyen. I am afraid that in real life, the compassionate 'cavalry' won't arrive just in time. Unlike movies or TV shows, there won't be a last minute phone call from the Singapore President to stop the hangman from pulling the lever.
10 days remain for Nguyen till dawn on the 02nd of December. Time pass very swiftly.
The farewell message of the Singapore Hangman will be the last words he will hear before he, as promised by the hangman, 'goes to a better place than this one.'
Aussie PM John Howard has put in his personal appeal to Singapore PM Lee. Howard grumbled a bit about Lee's failure to inform him that the execution date had been decided when the personal appeal was made. But I think that's that.
Howard has demonstrated his 'concerns' for Nguyen's draconian fate, but will not sour relationship with an important ally and trading partner over a drug trafficker. In fact, in Nguyen's case, Howard has already gone beyond what he would do under similar circumstances for another Aussie.
Even the raging froth demonstrated by Aussie public for Shapelle Corby's case when she was arrested by Indonesian police didn't persuade Howard to appeal to the Indonesian President, well, at least he didn't publicly. What Howard did in that case was to make available an 'open cheque' for Corby's defence.
Two Popes had appealed to Singapore for clemency to be shown in Nguyen's fate. The UN has voiced its concerns. Aussie Foreign Minister Downer promises to keep trying but he doesn't hold up any hope, given Singapore's refusal to concede to any compassionate leeway.
Though the Australian Opposition, Labour and the Democrats have suggested protests and boycotts, I don't believe those are realistic proposals. Howard is the PM and unlikely to resort to such acrimonious confrontations.
There is a last resort proposal to take the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but such an application requires the agreement of both parties, meaning the Singapore government must accept the move. Aussie Foreign minister said it's unlikely Singapore would accede to any arbitration by the ICJ. I reckon so, especially in a case where Singapore is determined to prove it can't be shaken by appeals or pleas for compassion.
The Aussie public is certainly appalled by the heinous punishment of so young a man, and for what social benefit to Singapore society? But they are hardly likely to sway the Sinagpore government into clemency for Nguyen. I am afraid that in real life, the compassionate 'cavalry' won't arrive just in time. Unlike movies or TV shows, there won't be a last minute phone call from the Singapore President to stop the hangman from pulling the lever.
10 days remain for Nguyen till dawn on the 02nd of December. Time pass very swiftly.
Iraq Imploding
At the recent Iraqi reconciliation conference in Cairo, the Iraqi Shia and Kurdish groups staged a walkout when the Iraqi Christian spokesman accused them of being US stooges, saying the entire Iraqi political process was illegitimate and orchestrated by Washington.
But they returned when the accuser apologised.
I am not entirely surprised that there would be the walkout. In fact the miracle has been the attendance of the Shiites and Kurds. The Conference was called for by the Arab League, almost all of whom are Sunni Arabs, obviously not partial towards a Shia or non-Arab group.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive with the way things are developing, or in fact has already been established. The Saudis don’t fancy a powerful Shiite neighbour, with increasing Iranian influence spreading towards their Kingdom. If there is anyone the Wahhabis hate more than the Israelis or Americans, as if that is possible, yes, it’s a Shiite. And that’s the terrible truth.
Saudi Arabia has already grumbled to the USA about the inter-religious and inter-ethnic turmoil in Iraq. It worries that their Sunni compatriots will be completely marginalised form power in Iraq, leaving the Saudi Kingdom totally exposed to encroahing Shiite and Iranian influence and activities. In years past the USA has used that Mother of Them All, Saddam Hussein and his secular but Sunni dominated party to provide the buffer for oil-resource rich Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Bush junior, that Sunni buffer has been dismantled.
Politics make strange bedfellows where we see the Iraqi Christians and Sunnis sharing common concerns and thus are allies. Both had enjoyed influence and positions under Saddam Hussein, but now fears marginalisation under the Shiites and Kurds. And their cause of fear is well founded, as the Iraqi Shiite majority and Kurds, especially the latter, are already eyeing Chritian land in the north.
I doubt that much can or will be achieved at the conference. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, has already voiced his firm opposition to the inclusion of the former Saddam loyalists. Therein lies the divisive seed of acrimony, hatred and violence.
If there isn’t any reconciliation, I suspect the Sunni Arab community will probably foster and support the Sunni insurgency. I wouldn’t be surprised if Saudi Arabia will fund the whole lot. While there may be several religious/ethnic elements warring in Iraq, the principal conflict will be one of Sunni Arabs versus Shiite Arabs. And I wouldn't be surprised too when Iran chips in to support and train the Shiites.
As for the Kurds, the Turks will move in to confront them. If it's the Turks, will the US and Israel interfere?
But they returned when the accuser apologised.
I am not entirely surprised that there would be the walkout. In fact the miracle has been the attendance of the Shiites and Kurds. The Conference was called for by the Arab League, almost all of whom are Sunni Arabs, obviously not partial towards a Shia or non-Arab group.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive with the way things are developing, or in fact has already been established. The Saudis don’t fancy a powerful Shiite neighbour, with increasing Iranian influence spreading towards their Kingdom. If there is anyone the Wahhabis hate more than the Israelis or Americans, as if that is possible, yes, it’s a Shiite. And that’s the terrible truth.
Saudi Arabia has already grumbled to the USA about the inter-religious and inter-ethnic turmoil in Iraq. It worries that their Sunni compatriots will be completely marginalised form power in Iraq, leaving the Saudi Kingdom totally exposed to encroahing Shiite and Iranian influence and activities. In years past the USA has used that Mother of Them All, Saddam Hussein and his secular but Sunni dominated party to provide the buffer for oil-resource rich Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Bush junior, that Sunni buffer has been dismantled.
Politics make strange bedfellows where we see the Iraqi Christians and Sunnis sharing common concerns and thus are allies. Both had enjoyed influence and positions under Saddam Hussein, but now fears marginalisation under the Shiites and Kurds. And their cause of fear is well founded, as the Iraqi Shiite majority and Kurds, especially the latter, are already eyeing Chritian land in the north.
I doubt that much can or will be achieved at the conference. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, has already voiced his firm opposition to the inclusion of the former Saddam loyalists. Therein lies the divisive seed of acrimony, hatred and violence.
If there isn’t any reconciliation, I suspect the Sunni Arab community will probably foster and support the Sunni insurgency. I wouldn’t be surprised if Saudi Arabia will fund the whole lot. While there may be several religious/ethnic elements warring in Iraq, the principal conflict will be one of Sunni Arabs versus Shiite Arabs. And I wouldn't be surprised too when Iran chips in to support and train the Shiites.
As for the Kurds, the Turks will move in to confront them. If it's the Turks, will the US and Israel interfere?
Malaysia Forced to Dance the Tinikling
Deputy PM Najib is in damage control. He declares that Malaysia is NOT a breeding ground for Islamist terrorists.
Obviously embarrassed by the Jemaah Islamiyah duo of Noordin Top and the late Dr Azahari, and allegations of Malaysians funding those bomb terrorists, and with the added headache of the current unrest in southern Thailand where Thai Muslim secessionists are known to be harbouring in Kelantan, and sometimes operating from that Malaysian state, he sets about assuring neighbours and the global audience that the Malaysian government is not another Pakistan – OK, he didn’t use that word ‘Pakistan’, but you know what I mean.
The fact is the Malaysian federal government was and has been presented with tricky embarrassing issues by some State governments who saw or even see cross-border issues in a different light.
Years ago, it was common knowledge that a former Chief Minister of Sabah was funding Moro separatists in southern Philippines. The bloke fancied himself as a potential Caliph or Sultan of a confederation comprising Sabah and Mindanao groups of islands. The federal government was bloody wary of his ambition. While the Philippines government showed its pissed-off feelings, at times very vocally, Kuala Lumpur would, as Malaysians term it, “act dunno”.
Over on the Peninsula, the Thai separatist group PULO and its subsequent splinter groups had enjoyed and probably are still enjoying safe havens in Kelantan. As I mentioned, that doesn’t mean Kuala Lumpur was or is in the thick of it.
But it gets trickier when the opposition State governments corner Kuala Lumpur into defensive "parallel-talk" (I use this term rather than "double-talk"). The ruling party UMNO obviously doesn’t want to appear to the Malay-Muslim constituencies that it has been unsympathetic to Islamic brethrens across the borders. So the parallel-talk would seek, on one strand, to provide the required sympathetic noises for the benefit of the domestic audience while the second official strand would be to assure neighbouring nations that all have been above board.
But political parallel-talking is like dancing the Tinikling, the national folk dance of the Philippines - one wrong step and it's ouch! - soon both sides won’t believe a damn thing.
Related:
(1) Dr Azahari's activities funded by Malaysians
(2) PAS does not believe Dr Azahari was a terrorist
(3) Thai-Malaysian War of Words
(4) Is Malaysia a Good Neigbour?
(5) Thai Muslim Separatists on Charges
(6 )Thai Muslim Insurgents Slaughtered Buddhist Monk
(7) Thai PM told Hishammudin to Piss Off
Obviously embarrassed by the Jemaah Islamiyah duo of Noordin Top and the late Dr Azahari, and allegations of Malaysians funding those bomb terrorists, and with the added headache of the current unrest in southern Thailand where Thai Muslim secessionists are known to be harbouring in Kelantan, and sometimes operating from that Malaysian state, he sets about assuring neighbours and the global audience that the Malaysian government is not another Pakistan – OK, he didn’t use that word ‘Pakistan’, but you know what I mean.
The fact is the Malaysian federal government was and has been presented with tricky embarrassing issues by some State governments who saw or even see cross-border issues in a different light.
Years ago, it was common knowledge that a former Chief Minister of Sabah was funding Moro separatists in southern Philippines. The bloke fancied himself as a potential Caliph or Sultan of a confederation comprising Sabah and Mindanao groups of islands. The federal government was bloody wary of his ambition. While the Philippines government showed its pissed-off feelings, at times very vocally, Kuala Lumpur would, as Malaysians term it, “act dunno”.
Over on the Peninsula, the Thai separatist group PULO and its subsequent splinter groups had enjoyed and probably are still enjoying safe havens in Kelantan. As I mentioned, that doesn’t mean Kuala Lumpur was or is in the thick of it.
But it gets trickier when the opposition State governments corner Kuala Lumpur into defensive "parallel-talk" (I use this term rather than "double-talk"). The ruling party UMNO obviously doesn’t want to appear to the Malay-Muslim constituencies that it has been unsympathetic to Islamic brethrens across the borders. So the parallel-talk would seek, on one strand, to provide the required sympathetic noises for the benefit of the domestic audience while the second official strand would be to assure neighbouring nations that all have been above board.
But political parallel-talking is like dancing the Tinikling, the national folk dance of the Philippines - one wrong step and it's ouch! - soon both sides won’t believe a damn thing.
Related:
(1) Dr Azahari's activities funded by Malaysians
(2) PAS does not believe Dr Azahari was a terrorist
(3) Thai-Malaysian War of Words
(4) Is Malaysia a Good Neigbour?
(5) Thai Muslim Separatists on Charges
(6 )Thai Muslim Insurgents Slaughtered Buddhist Monk
(7) Thai PM told Hishammudin to Piss Off
Australia to Take Singapore to ICJ?
The Australian outrage is so great over the impending execution of Nguyen Van Tuong that the Australian Government is succumbing to pressure totake Singapore to the International Court of Justice to stop the hanging.
Aussie AG Philip Ruddock has set his legal advisors to look into the legal aspects. It seems that PM John Howard, who has been reluctant to pursue the case too vigorously because of close relationships with Singapore, has now taken a renewed interest in the case – probably due to intense public pressure.
Howard has even advised Singapore that Aussies are not going to allow the execution of Nguyen passed unnoticed. This statement is an extent of the Aussie outrage.
The prospects of Nguyen are not necessarily good even with such a step because Singapore may ignore the jurisdiction of the international court over the death penalty. But others argued that since Singapore has taken action before the international court over regional territorial disputes, it would be difficult of rthe island nation to ignore the the court's jurisdiction in this matter.
Aussie AG Philip Ruddock has set his legal advisors to look into the legal aspects. It seems that PM John Howard, who has been reluctant to pursue the case too vigorously because of close relationships with Singapore, has now taken a renewed interest in the case – probably due to intense public pressure.
Howard has even advised Singapore that Aussies are not going to allow the execution of Nguyen passed unnoticed. This statement is an extent of the Aussie outrage.
The prospects of Nguyen are not necessarily good even with such a step because Singapore may ignore the jurisdiction of the international court over the death penalty. But others argued that since Singapore has taken action before the international court over regional territorial disputes, it would be difficult of rthe island nation to ignore the the court's jurisdiction in this matter.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
China Gives 'Face' to Bush
In a move to placate the US complaint about China’s trade surplus, expected to be US$200 billion this year, Beijing has ordered 70 Boeing 737 jets worth US$4 billions to coincide with President Bush’s visit to China. That will give Bush mucho ‘face’ and lessen the pressure for China to monkey around with its currency issue.
China has also taken an option for another 80 Boeing jetliner, which undoubtedly will set champagne popping in Seattle.
A couple of years ago, I read a Boeing Company’s forecast which predicts China buying over the next 20 years some 2,400 jetliners. What a scrumptious picture!
That’s why American business are at odds with the Christian Right (and pro-Taiwan lobbies) over US relationship with China. The former wants a cordial relationship based on trade while the latter wants to sermonise to China about religious freedom and an independent Taiwan. The President has a hard time trying to please both sides.
And of course China will tweak and tune affairs to its favour by judicious and enticing purchases of American goods.
China has also taken an option for another 80 Boeing jetliner, which undoubtedly will set champagne popping in Seattle.
A couple of years ago, I read a Boeing Company’s forecast which predicts China buying over the next 20 years some 2,400 jetliners. What a scrumptious picture!
That’s why American business are at odds with the Christian Right (and pro-Taiwan lobbies) over US relationship with China. The former wants a cordial relationship based on trade while the latter wants to sermonise to China about religious freedom and an independent Taiwan. The President has a hard time trying to please both sides.
And of course China will tweak and tune affairs to its favour by judicious and enticing purchases of American goods.
Malaysian Wounded in Thai Bomb Blast
A Malaysian tourist has been wounded in southern Thailand as a result of 2 bomb blasts. 11 others have been wounded too.
The first blast occurred at a Narathiwat restaurant 1930 hours or 7:30 pm Malaysian time, while the 2nd bomb went off five minutes later around the same restaurant.
3 Thai policemen were also wounded. Police informed that one Thai man is in a critical condition. Since the bombings began January last year, more than 1000 people have been killed in Thailand's three southern provinces.
The first blast occurred at a Narathiwat restaurant 1930 hours or 7:30 pm Malaysian time, while the 2nd bomb went off five minutes later around the same restaurant.
3 Thai policemen were also wounded. Police informed that one Thai man is in a critical condition. Since the bombings began January last year, more than 1000 people have been killed in Thailand's three southern provinces.
Michelle Leslie & the Sweet Aroma of Notoriety
AAP photo from Sydney Morning Herald 20 Nov 2005Aussie lingerie and underwear model, Muslim convert, Michelle Leslie will arrive in Australia today after a brief reunion with her family in Singapore. Her No 1 priority after the harrowing experience is to marry her millionaire boyfriend, Scott Sutton, heir to a car dealership - lucky bloke!
There were talks of her lawyers negotiating TV rights on her story, but as I mentioned, Australia has a law that forbids profiting from crime. So serial killers, husbands or wives’ murderers, terrorists, bank robbers or those convicted of drug offences may not earn money from media interviews, stories, books, whatever, including endorsement of kitchen knives (it went into the bitch like laser cutting butter), agricultural fertiliser (guaranteed to blow up your hibicious size), or the burqa (your portable privacy in a non-private world).
Because she had received a guilty verdict, the plans to auction her story to Aussie TV have to be abandoned, but no worries, she still has her old job in the fashion business, and unbelievably (or should it be?), the Australian fashion industry has flocked to Leslie’s modelling agency, Chic, promising lots of work and support. Notoriety certainly has the sweet aroma of appeal.
Sorry, Kate Moss, eat your heart out – you aren’t Aussie.
Hypocrisy of Singapore in Nguyen's Execution
Singapore's leading opposition figure, Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party, in a television interview with renown journalist/presenter Helen Vatsikopaulos on ABC’s programme Asia-Pacific Focus, gave the low-down on the Singapore’s hypocrisy in the Nguyen Van Tuong’s affair.
We need to be aware that Dr Chee is of course the Singapore opposition leader, therefore his views won’t be entirely favourable to the Singapore PM and his cabinet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t listen and assess how substantial have been his opinions and comments. Afterall, we won’t get unbiased news from the Singapore ruling PAP either.
Firstly, Dr Chee asserted what I have had alluded to before in my postings on the Nguyen Van Tuong’s case. Singapore is stubbornly holding fast to a doctrine that no longer applies for a 1st World nation, especially today. Dr Chee said the cold-blooded insistence on executing Nguyen is based on Singapore’s policy of showing the world that it could and would ‘act tough’. That’s all.
That was why Sydney Cardinal George Pell described the draconian sentence as *disproportionate*, a humongous overkill. It certainly is *disproportionate* – even the US state of Texas, notorious for its many state executions, don’t send people to the gallows for possession or trafficking in drugs.
The ‘act tough’ attitude might have served a 'newly born' Singapore in the past, to promote national resilience, assertion of national sovereignty and a picture to outsiders that they ‘don’t f**k around with Singapore’.
That was how Singapore, some years back, insensitively thumbed its nose at its ASEAN Muslim neighbours when it deliberately hosted an official visit from the President of Israel, while Catholic Philippines backed away and cancelled the visit by the same Israeli persona non grata.
Michael Hill, writing in the Asian Studies Institute, had this to say:
My underlining and bold-ing
OK, that had been the ideological framework of a rising Singapore nation in the ‘60’s, which served them well. Today, Singapore is officially established as a 1st World nation. Unfortunately Singapore chooses to still retain that same old archaic ‘caveman’ formula when in reality that doctrine has outlived its usefulness and may be counterproductive to its 1st World international image. In fact there are now international questions as to its 1st World credentials if it fails in the morality and humanity departments.
Be that as it may – it’s still Singapore’s right and sovereign decision.
But Dr Chee said that Sinagpore's ‘tough’ act collapses like a house of hypocritical cards when we compare Singapore’s stubborn intention to execute a nobody like Nguyen, while it has a booming trade with Burma, one of the world's biggest producers of opium. Isn’t that just sickening?
What can Singapore say to this double standards of the worst kind - killing a man for drug trafficking, while dealing with and profiting from the association with a larger drug trafficker?
Dr Chee also mentioned that ‘mules’ like Nguyen have sometimes been used as sacrificial diversionary bait. The drug syndicate would provide the mules with small quantities of drugs, report their itinerary to the authorities to have that mule arrested, and while the anti-drug force was focused on the mule, larger quantities of drugs would be slipped through elsewhere undetected.
This trafficking tactic has really blown out of the water some people’s arguments that capital punishment is a deterrent against drug trafficking. All it does mean is that those who are caught would be executed but god knows how many more have slipped through? And according to Dr Chee, those caught and executed could well be those sacrificial mules.
But the most damning revelation is Singapore's hypocritical dealings with the repressive and criminal Burmese regime.
We need to be aware that Dr Chee is of course the Singapore opposition leader, therefore his views won’t be entirely favourable to the Singapore PM and his cabinet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t listen and assess how substantial have been his opinions and comments. Afterall, we won’t get unbiased news from the Singapore ruling PAP either.
Firstly, Dr Chee asserted what I have had alluded to before in my postings on the Nguyen Van Tuong’s case. Singapore is stubbornly holding fast to a doctrine that no longer applies for a 1st World nation, especially today. Dr Chee said the cold-blooded insistence on executing Nguyen is based on Singapore’s policy of showing the world that it could and would ‘act tough’. That’s all.
That was why Sydney Cardinal George Pell described the draconian sentence as *disproportionate*, a humongous overkill. It certainly is *disproportionate* – even the US state of Texas, notorious for its many state executions, don’t send people to the gallows for possession or trafficking in drugs.
The ‘act tough’ attitude might have served a 'newly born' Singapore in the past, to promote national resilience, assertion of national sovereignty and a picture to outsiders that they ‘don’t f**k around with Singapore’.
That was how Singapore, some years back, insensitively thumbed its nose at its ASEAN Muslim neighbours when it deliberately hosted an official visit from the President of Israel, while Catholic Philippines backed away and cancelled the visit by the same Israeli persona non grata.
Michael Hill, writing in the Asian Studies Institute, had this to say:
The Singapore government's response, articulated by Malay members of the PAP, was to view with grave concern interference by foreign (Malaysian) politicians in Singapore's internal affairs. Both the assiduous encouragement of the reporting of foreign comment, as in the visit of the Israeli resident, and the outraged dismissal of it, as in the SAF controversy and in various alleged incursions of the United States into Singapore's internal politics, have the function of securing the legitimacy of the state; on the one hand by highlighting the external threat and on the other by emphasising the government's ability to act independently.
At all events, this latter aspect was re-emphasised in a further statement by Lee Hsien Loong in which he recounted the history of ethnic distribution in the Singapore Armed Forces, argued that despite intensive efforts at nation-building Singapore society still was not fully integrated, as evidenced by reaction to the Israeli President's visit, and concluded: "This is a Singapore problem. We will solve it ourselves. Only Singaporeans can determine our own future and destiny".
My underlining and bold-ing
OK, that had been the ideological framework of a rising Singapore nation in the ‘60’s, which served them well. Today, Singapore is officially established as a 1st World nation. Unfortunately Singapore chooses to still retain that same old archaic ‘caveman’ formula when in reality that doctrine has outlived its usefulness and may be counterproductive to its 1st World international image. In fact there are now international questions as to its 1st World credentials if it fails in the morality and humanity departments.
Be that as it may – it’s still Singapore’s right and sovereign decision.
But Dr Chee said that Sinagpore's ‘tough’ act collapses like a house of hypocritical cards when we compare Singapore’s stubborn intention to execute a nobody like Nguyen, while it has a booming trade with Burma, one of the world's biggest producers of opium. Isn’t that just sickening?
What can Singapore say to this double standards of the worst kind - killing a man for drug trafficking, while dealing with and profiting from the association with a larger drug trafficker?
Dr Chee also mentioned that ‘mules’ like Nguyen have sometimes been used as sacrificial diversionary bait. The drug syndicate would provide the mules with small quantities of drugs, report their itinerary to the authorities to have that mule arrested, and while the anti-drug force was focused on the mule, larger quantities of drugs would be slipped through elsewhere undetected.
This trafficking tactic has really blown out of the water some people’s arguments that capital punishment is a deterrent against drug trafficking. All it does mean is that those who are caught would be executed but god knows how many more have slipped through? And according to Dr Chee, those caught and executed could well be those sacrificial mules.
But the most damning revelation is Singapore's hypocritical dealings with the repressive and criminal Burmese regime.
Virginity in Tamilnadu Vital to Tamil-hood
Journalist Swati Das of the Times of India advised readers not to speak the truth in Chennai – Madras for pro Brit people.
What does he mean? Well, the story started with what Indian movie star Khushboo had said. She is now in deep shitttttttt.
She was detained but just allowed bail with an admonition from the judge for her to shutup. Even movies starring her have been banned or had her part clipped off.
Khushboo had said casually that men should no longer expect their brides to be virgins (what's that?). Then she gave good advice to youngsters to use protection when indulging in premarital sex, because of the danger of contacting AIDS.
This was what Das said of her remarks:
Suddenly Khushboo found that there were 25 defamation cases against her for suggesting to men not to expect their brides to be virgins. Das lamented that as ‘cultural ayatollahs’, courts and police hounded Khushboo, there were very few people in Tamil Nadu who was ready to defend her and her freedom of speech.
However another actress, Suhasini did, apologising to Khushboo on behalf of the Tamil people, but subsequently found she was subjected to the same harrassment by Tamilnadu's cultural ayatollahs'. The pressure was so punishing that she was forced to withdraw her support for Kushboo and instead apologise to Chennai's film industry.
Das pointed out that the Congress Party lacks balls as well (actually he put it in a less colourful manner). He noted that Jayanti Natarajan, a party leader, merely said that people have a right to express their views but Khushboo shouldn’t have hurt a section of people [this having-it-two-ways reminds me of PAS stand with regards to the slaying of Dr Azahari].
Das condemned the Indian media (apart from The Times of India) for remaining largely mute during the controversy instead of providing balanced information.
Das said two political parties, Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) have equated chastity (meaning virgin brides and no premarital sex) to Tamil-hood. Hence these Tamil Talibans went for the jugulars of liberal-minded people like Khushboo and Suhasini.
Yes, it happened in India, the world's largest democracy.
What does he mean? Well, the story started with what Indian movie star Khushboo had said. She is now in deep shitttttttt.
She was detained but just allowed bail with an admonition from the judge for her to shutup. Even movies starring her have been banned or had her part clipped off.
Khushboo had said casually that men should no longer expect their brides to be virgins (what's that?). Then she gave good advice to youngsters to use protection when indulging in premarital sex, because of the danger of contacting AIDS.
This was what Das said of her remarks:
“Anywhere else, Khushboo would have been called an anti-AIDS spokesperson and perhaps even feted, but not Tamil Nadu with its insular politics and blinkered politicians.”
“It was almost as if the state was being guided by some Taliban-type morality inspectors. Police have in recent weeks closed a star hotel after local papers published pictures of a private party where couples were seen kissing, and hauled up other couples just walking in parks."
"Over a year ago, a few women poets were lambasted by their male colleagues for writing about women's sexuality. One said these women should be slapped!”
Suddenly Khushboo found that there were 25 defamation cases against her for suggesting to men not to expect their brides to be virgins. Das lamented that as ‘cultural ayatollahs’, courts and police hounded Khushboo, there were very few people in Tamil Nadu who was ready to defend her and her freedom of speech.
However another actress, Suhasini did, apologising to Khushboo on behalf of the Tamil people, but subsequently found she was subjected to the same harrassment by Tamilnadu's cultural ayatollahs'. The pressure was so punishing that she was forced to withdraw her support for Kushboo and instead apologise to Chennai's film industry.
Das pointed out that the Congress Party lacks balls as well (actually he put it in a less colourful manner). He noted that Jayanti Natarajan, a party leader, merely said that people have a right to express their views but Khushboo shouldn’t have hurt a section of people [this having-it-two-ways reminds me of PAS stand with regards to the slaying of Dr Azahari].
Das condemned the Indian media (apart from The Times of India) for remaining largely mute during the controversy instead of providing balanced information.
Das said two political parties, Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) have equated chastity (meaning virgin brides and no premarital sex) to Tamil-hood. Hence these Tamil Talibans went for the jugulars of liberal-minded people like Khushboo and Suhasini.
Yes, it happened in India, the world's largest democracy.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Michelle Leslie Left Bali
Michelle Leslie has flown out of Bali at around 10:00 pm Malaysian time, on her way to Singapore. I doubt she’ll drop in on Nguyen Van Tuong. She will be fairly busy with her lawyers negotiating the best deal for an exclusive Aussie TV interview, though by Aussie law, her 3-month conviction by the Bali courts has automatically made it illegal for her to receive any profits from her Bali experience, whether by the TV interview, film, book or talkshows, etc.
Magic Transformation of a Balinese Goddess
In Barung, the Balinese dance drama, the hero Sadewa killed the evil witch Rangda. However, Rangda's servant, Kalika, obviously a powerful magician herself, could transform herself into a wild boar, bird, and even the slain Rangda herself in her fight against Sadewa.
Yesirree, in Balinese Hindu beliefs, magic transformation was frequently used to avoid adversity.
Flash forward to the future - 2005!
as expected Michelle Leslie,
Aussie model for underwear and lingerie,
sometimes only in body paint,
arrested for possession of 2 ecstasy pills in Bali,
an 18 months covert Muslim convert (revealed only after her arrest),
dressed piously in middle eastern burqa,
apologised to Indonesia and people,
claimed “mysterious” woman gave her pills,
claimed Indon minister’s sons with her on night of arrest,
smiled confidently in court before sentence read out,
her lawyers denied she has already been informed of the verdict,
sentenced to 3 months for illegal possession instead of the 15 years
initially announced, and
also on the mitigating grounds that the pills were brought for her,
by a “mysterious” woman who wouldn’t be found, but which story the Bali court unbelievably believe,
(Schapelle Corby, eat your heart out – they didn’t believe you story but they believe Michelle Leslie’s),
judges said some sweet encouraging words about her -
polite, remorseful blah blah blah,
will be deported tonight,
released from prison,
no longer dressed in burqa,
but in skin-tight jeans, a tight tank-top (wow),
thongs, designer sunglasses with heavy makeup,
two questions,
will she still be a Muslim when she arrives in Australia?
will her burqa transform to body paint?
Yesirree, in Balinese Hindu beliefs, magic transformation was frequently used to avoid adversity.
Flash forward to the future - 2005!
as expected Michelle Leslie,
Aussie model for underwear and lingerie,
sometimes only in body paint,
arrested for possession of 2 ecstasy pills in Bali,
an 18 months covert Muslim convert (revealed only after her arrest),
dressed piously in middle eastern burqa,
apologised to Indonesia and people,
claimed “mysterious” woman gave her pills,
claimed Indon minister’s sons with her on night of arrest,
smiled confidently in court before sentence read out,
her lawyers denied she has already been informed of the verdict,
sentenced to 3 months for illegal possession instead of the 15 years
initially announced, and
also on the mitigating grounds that the pills were brought for her,
by a “mysterious” woman who wouldn’t be found, but which story the Bali court unbelievably believe,
(Schapelle Corby, eat your heart out – they didn’t believe you story but they believe Michelle Leslie’s),
judges said some sweet encouraging words about her -
polite, remorseful blah blah blah,
will be deported tonight,
released from prison,
no longer dressed in burqa,
but in skin-tight jeans, a tight tank-top (wow),
thongs, designer sunglasses with heavy makeup,
two questions,
will she still be a Muslim when she arrives in Australia?
will her burqa transform to body paint?
Messages from Osama bin Laden (2)
Carrying on from Messages from Osama bin Laden (1), as published by Verso we get more of Osama’s words, but this time with some double talking.
This bloke who has been condemned worldwide for killing 3000 innocent civilians in September 2001 had the brazen nerve to say that killing the innocent is wrong. He must be living deep in a cave in Pakistan’s border region, for hasn’t he heard of what had happened in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia, all Islamic or Muslim-dominated nations?
However, he affirmed that there is a global conflict underway between the umma, or Muslim community, and unbelievers. I would like to correct him, by declaring that there is a religious slaughter among the umma, for we see Islamist militants killing other Muslims, in fact more than they have killed non-believers.
Now here’s the cheeky bit, or should we say, utter arrogance. Osama will accept the surrender of the United States of America but only if the American nation fulfils the following 10 points:
(1) convert to Islam - I wonder what Ayatollah Pat Robertson will say?
(2) ditch its constitution
(3) abolish banks (what about ATMs?)
(4) jail homosexuals - careful there, as Pat Robertson may agree
(5) ban alcoholic drinks (KTemoc objects)
(6) ban gambling
(7) bar women from appearing in the press (stuff like photos or in ads) (KTemoc objects)
(8) bar women from serving passengers, visitors and strangers (KTemoc objects)
(9) stop US oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among their people
and the best one,
(10) sign the Kyoto climate change treaty (KTemoc supports)
;-)
This bloke who has been condemned worldwide for killing 3000 innocent civilians in September 2001 had the brazen nerve to say that killing the innocent is wrong. He must be living deep in a cave in Pakistan’s border region, for hasn’t he heard of what had happened in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia, all Islamic or Muslim-dominated nations?
However, he affirmed that there is a global conflict underway between the umma, or Muslim community, and unbelievers. I would like to correct him, by declaring that there is a religious slaughter among the umma, for we see Islamist militants killing other Muslims, in fact more than they have killed non-believers.
Now here’s the cheeky bit, or should we say, utter arrogance. Osama will accept the surrender of the United States of America but only if the American nation fulfils the following 10 points:
(1) convert to Islam - I wonder what Ayatollah Pat Robertson will say?
(2) ditch its constitution
(3) abolish banks (what about ATMs?)
(4) jail homosexuals - careful there, as Pat Robertson may agree
(5) ban alcoholic drinks (KTemoc objects)
(6) ban gambling
(7) bar women from appearing in the press (stuff like photos or in ads) (KTemoc objects)
(8) bar women from serving passengers, visitors and strangers (KTemoc objects)
(9) stop US oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among their people
and the best one,
(10) sign the Kyoto climate change treaty (KTemoc supports)
;-)
Accepting the Chinese ‘kick in the arse’
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, has been notorious for his crude and bigoted comments, which have been a constant source of embarrassment both to Buckingham Palace and the British government.
For example, while visiting China some twenty years ago, he told a group of Scottish students in the city of Xian that Beijing was ghastly and added his bigoted remarks about the danger of the students returning to Scotland with slitty eyes if they stayed in China too long.
It seems his son, Prince Charles, has inherited his love for making such comments, though the younger prince has been more circumspect by only making them in his private journals on his official travels. Unfortunately he circulated his journals to a hundred friends, relatives and contacts. Invariably one fell into the hands of Associated Press. The prince is now suing the news agency for publishing extracts from his journal.
On the handover of Hong Kong back to its rightful owner in 1997, where he represented Britain, he titled the journal The Handover of Hong Kong - or The Great Chinese Takeaway.
Obviously the second part of the title indicated his chagrin with Britain, a has-been world-power, losing back to the Chinese what it had robbed from China in the first place
In the journal he described Chinese diplomats as ’appalling old waxworks', the ceremony as an ‘awful Soviet-style’ performance and ‘ridiculous rigmarole’, and dismissed a speech by then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin as propaganda.
I am sure we can understand why he was upset about what he described as ‘The Great Chinese Takeaway’.
Britain was once a mighty world power with the most powerful navy on the planet Earth. It went to China, kicked some Chinese arses, consficated Hong Kong and dominated the region for eons.
In 1997, the roles were reversed. Despite the ostentatiously friendly handing over-taking over ceremony, as the official representative of an emasculated power and probably the twilight element of a once powerful dynasty, he must have hated being assigned the degrading role of accepting the Chinese ‘kick in the arse’ out of Hong Kong.
For example, while visiting China some twenty years ago, he told a group of Scottish students in the city of Xian that Beijing was ghastly and added his bigoted remarks about the danger of the students returning to Scotland with slitty eyes if they stayed in China too long.
It seems his son, Prince Charles, has inherited his love for making such comments, though the younger prince has been more circumspect by only making them in his private journals on his official travels. Unfortunately he circulated his journals to a hundred friends, relatives and contacts. Invariably one fell into the hands of Associated Press. The prince is now suing the news agency for publishing extracts from his journal.
On the handover of Hong Kong back to its rightful owner in 1997, where he represented Britain, he titled the journal The Handover of Hong Kong - or The Great Chinese Takeaway.
Obviously the second part of the title indicated his chagrin with Britain, a has-been world-power, losing back to the Chinese what it had robbed from China in the first place
In the journal he described Chinese diplomats as ’appalling old waxworks', the ceremony as an ‘awful Soviet-style’ performance and ‘ridiculous rigmarole’, and dismissed a speech by then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin as propaganda.
I am sure we can understand why he was upset about what he described as ‘The Great Chinese Takeaway’.
Britain was once a mighty world power with the most powerful navy on the planet Earth. It went to China, kicked some Chinese arses, consficated Hong Kong and dominated the region for eons.
In 1997, the roles were reversed. Despite the ostentatiously friendly handing over-taking over ceremony, as the official representative of an emasculated power and probably the twilight element of a once powerful dynasty, he must have hated being assigned the degrading role of accepting the Chinese ‘kick in the arse’ out of Hong Kong.
Nguyen's Execution - Singapore in the Dock
The horror of Nguyen Van Tuong’s pending execution has struck home in Australia truly well and good. Public anger has erupted against Singapore’s cruelty in proceeding with his execution, scheduled for the dawn of 02 December 2005.
That has been why PM John Howard made a last minute appeal to his Singapore counterpart despite an earlier refusal to do so. That’s why Howard continues to grumble in public on why he hasn’t been satisfied with Singapore’s failure to inform him of the execution date, already determined prior to his appeal to PM Lee. Howard is the consummate politician who knows he must ‘fall into line’ with Aussie public feelings, and be seen to be doing so.
Was Nguyen guilty of drug trafficking? Yes. Then what’s the issue?
Sydney Catholic Archbishop, and the principal Catholic primate of Australia, Cardinal Goerge Pell summarised it best. He said of the execution:
"I deplore the decision of the Singapore Government to proceed with this execution. Illegal drugs are a scourge, but the punishment in Van's case is completely disproportionate to the crime he has committed."
*Disproportionate!*
The punishment is totally *disproportionate*, and reflects the Singapore government's stubbornness in holding fast to a national doctrine against drug trafficking that has proven to be ineffectual. Singapore has already executed hundreds of drug traffickers, of small and large quantities of the illegal substance, yet those traffickers have not stop coming. Yes, they should be arrested but the solution lies not in hanging them.
In fact, if punishment is intended to be punitive, wouldn’t it be more effective by confining the criminal behind bars for long periods to let them reflect on (or ‘stew’ over) the seriousness of the crime?
If the intention of the draconian sentence is to deter other potential drug criminals, as it should be, then wouldn’t it be more terrifying to let those intending to commit the same crime know that years and years of confinement await them, without parole or reduction of the pronounced sentence, that they may never see the outisde of their prison walls for the next 30 or 50 years again?
While some argue the death sentence is a mighty terrifying deterrent, others have argued that criminals, most from desperate backgrounds with little to lose other than their lives, are prepared to take the risk and die if necessary.
Their common desperate attitude seems to be “It will just end my miserable life here anyway”, echoing the Singapore Hangman’s farewell message of “I am going to send you to a better place than this”.
Decades of languishing in restricted confinement, growing old behind in a prisoner’s cell, never ever returning to society again – surely, that’s more terrifying than swift death for would-be drug traffickers.
Economically, politically and administratively, Singapore has worked its way admirably into the ranks of the 1st World nations in just 40 years, yet it is now failing that ranking by its abysmal moral standards with regards to the value of a human life.
Related:
2 Weeks of Life Left for Nguyen Van Tuong
That has been why PM John Howard made a last minute appeal to his Singapore counterpart despite an earlier refusal to do so. That’s why Howard continues to grumble in public on why he hasn’t been satisfied with Singapore’s failure to inform him of the execution date, already determined prior to his appeal to PM Lee. Howard is the consummate politician who knows he must ‘fall into line’ with Aussie public feelings, and be seen to be doing so.
Was Nguyen guilty of drug trafficking? Yes. Then what’s the issue?
Sydney Catholic Archbishop, and the principal Catholic primate of Australia, Cardinal Goerge Pell summarised it best. He said of the execution:
"I deplore the decision of the Singapore Government to proceed with this execution. Illegal drugs are a scourge, but the punishment in Van's case is completely disproportionate to the crime he has committed."
*Disproportionate!*
The punishment is totally *disproportionate*, and reflects the Singapore government's stubbornness in holding fast to a national doctrine against drug trafficking that has proven to be ineffectual. Singapore has already executed hundreds of drug traffickers, of small and large quantities of the illegal substance, yet those traffickers have not stop coming. Yes, they should be arrested but the solution lies not in hanging them.
In fact, if punishment is intended to be punitive, wouldn’t it be more effective by confining the criminal behind bars for long periods to let them reflect on (or ‘stew’ over) the seriousness of the crime?
If the intention of the draconian sentence is to deter other potential drug criminals, as it should be, then wouldn’t it be more terrifying to let those intending to commit the same crime know that years and years of confinement await them, without parole or reduction of the pronounced sentence, that they may never see the outisde of their prison walls for the next 30 or 50 years again?
While some argue the death sentence is a mighty terrifying deterrent, others have argued that criminals, most from desperate backgrounds with little to lose other than their lives, are prepared to take the risk and die if necessary.
Their common desperate attitude seems to be “It will just end my miserable life here anyway”, echoing the Singapore Hangman’s farewell message of “I am going to send you to a better place than this”.
Decades of languishing in restricted confinement, growing old behind in a prisoner’s cell, never ever returning to society again – surely, that’s more terrifying than swift death for would-be drug traffickers.
Economically, politically and administratively, Singapore has worked its way admirably into the ranks of the 1st World nations in just 40 years, yet it is now failing that ranking by its abysmal moral standards with regards to the value of a human life.
Related:
2 Weeks of Life Left for Nguyen Van Tuong
Friday, November 18, 2005
Messages from Osama bin Laden (1)
Professor Bruce Lawrence, an Islamic scholar teaching at Duke University, North Carolina, has described Osama bin Laden as one of the best prose writers in Arabic. But he lamented that a large number of past translations of Osama’s words had been disgracefully wrong.
So Verso, reputed to be largest English-language radical publisher in the world, has compiled Osama’s messages into a volume as an important resource for the study of terrorism. It’s titled, as you would have guessed, 'Messages to the World – the statements of Osama bin Laden'.
This compilation of 10 years of Osama's messages may be likened to Mao's dictums in his 'Red Book' - thus, let's call Osama's the 'Green Book'. Professor Lawrence has edited out forgeries and what he has described as 'horrendous' pieces of mistranslation.
An interesting example of one of the big Kahuna's messages uttered in October last year is as follows:
“We continue to make America bleed profusely to the point of bankruptcy, Allah willing. And that is not too difficult for Allah. Whoever says that Al Qaeda triumphed over the White House administration, or that the White House administration lost this war—this is not entirely accurate, for if we look carefully at the results, it is impossible to say that Al Qaeda is the only cause of these amazing gains.”
Hmmm, a bit of unusual humility here?
“The White House policy, which strove to open war fronts to give business to their various corporations—in armament, oil, and construction … also helped accomplish these astonishing achievements for Al Qaeda. It appeared to some analysts and diplomats that we and the White House play as one team to score a goal against the United States of America, even though our intentions differ.”
Well, well, well, what can we say?
There you have it – Osama himself acknowledging - and perhaps at the same time, twisting his verbal knife into Bush's side another couple more centimetres - that the USA has unwittingly played and still is playing the role of Osama’s partner in fostering the rise of terrorism, for without the USA rapacious conduct, what would Osama be other than a two-bit grade B terrorist and fugitive, exploding devices in US embassies in Africa and such likes.
But the avarice of Bush and his cohorts in invading Iraq, and the subsequent insurgency in that country have raised the status of al Qaeda, once nothing more than an extremist fringe terrorist group, to a political level equivalent to the Vietcong as national freedom fighters.
To be continued ........
So Verso, reputed to be largest English-language radical publisher in the world, has compiled Osama’s messages into a volume as an important resource for the study of terrorism. It’s titled, as you would have guessed, 'Messages to the World – the statements of Osama bin Laden'.
This compilation of 10 years of Osama's messages may be likened to Mao's dictums in his 'Red Book' - thus, let's call Osama's the 'Green Book'. Professor Lawrence has edited out forgeries and what he has described as 'horrendous' pieces of mistranslation.
An interesting example of one of the big Kahuna's messages uttered in October last year is as follows:
“We continue to make America bleed profusely to the point of bankruptcy, Allah willing. And that is not too difficult for Allah. Whoever says that Al Qaeda triumphed over the White House administration, or that the White House administration lost this war—this is not entirely accurate, for if we look carefully at the results, it is impossible to say that Al Qaeda is the only cause of these amazing gains.”
Hmmm, a bit of unusual humility here?
“The White House policy, which strove to open war fronts to give business to their various corporations—in armament, oil, and construction … also helped accomplish these astonishing achievements for Al Qaeda. It appeared to some analysts and diplomats that we and the White House play as one team to score a goal against the United States of America, even though our intentions differ.”
Well, well, well, what can we say?
There you have it – Osama himself acknowledging - and perhaps at the same time, twisting his verbal knife into Bush's side another couple more centimetres - that the USA has unwittingly played and still is playing the role of Osama’s partner in fostering the rise of terrorism, for without the USA rapacious conduct, what would Osama be other than a two-bit grade B terrorist and fugitive, exploding devices in US embassies in Africa and such likes.
But the avarice of Bush and his cohorts in invading Iraq, and the subsequent insurgency in that country have raised the status of al Qaeda, once nothing more than an extremist fringe terrorist group, to a political level equivalent to the Vietcong as national freedom fighters.
To be continued ........
Karma of 3 Aussies
Three Aussies convicted with drug offences ended up with vastly different sentences and therefore fates. They are:
(1) Nguyen Van Tuong arrested with 389 gms of heroin in Singapore – sentenced to death by hanging, scheduled for dawn on 02 December, in two weeks time.
(2) Schapelle Corby arrested with 4.2 kilograms of marijuana in Bali – sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, but reduced to 15 years under Indonesia auspicious day reduction.
(3) Michelle Leslie arrested with 2 ecstasy pills – sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, which she would have completed by midnight tomorrow. She will be deported to Australia after tomorrow.
The 3 had received different media attention, with Nguyen virtually ignored until the Australia public realises that one of its young citizens is about to have his life extinguished shortly.
The two beautiful women naturally were powerful magnets for public attention, with Corby being ‘sacrificed’ with her heart and guts ripped out and blood flowing to appease the Gods of Media Ratings. Society’s vultures, ghouls and vampires hovered around her, hoping to suck her notoriety to satiate their avaricious thirst and hunger.
In the 3rd case, Leslie’s powerful defence and PR team have ensured she was shielded from the media circus while they worked quietly away from the magnifying glass of the public, within Indonesia’s legal framework, in a halus (refined and tactful) and humble fashion, the way Indons would appreciate it.
There have been allegations that Leslie’s party had bribed the judges but they rejected such allegations as baseless. Her lawyer said:
"We have seen in history that these things have played out in a different way when people have claimed innocence, certainly in Indonesia.”
Obviously referring to Schapelle Corby.
"We didn't have all the evidence at hand and therefore we played it out with the cards we were dealt with. She was facing the possibility of 15 years in prison. I think it'd be only a fool to rock that system and it's best that she received the three months and she can return home at the next available opportunity and she can clear her name."
Intelligently pronounced. That's the value of having the best lawyers a rich boyfriend's money could provide.
BTW, do Malaysians know that the man waiting to die, Nguyen Van Tuong, was born in Malaysia while his mum was a refugee? Does that make him part Malaysian?
(1) Nguyen Van Tuong arrested with 389 gms of heroin in Singapore – sentenced to death by hanging, scheduled for dawn on 02 December, in two weeks time.
(2) Schapelle Corby arrested with 4.2 kilograms of marijuana in Bali – sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, but reduced to 15 years under Indonesia auspicious day reduction.
(3) Michelle Leslie arrested with 2 ecstasy pills – sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, which she would have completed by midnight tomorrow. She will be deported to Australia after tomorrow.
The 3 had received different media attention, with Nguyen virtually ignored until the Australia public realises that one of its young citizens is about to have his life extinguished shortly.
The two beautiful women naturally were powerful magnets for public attention, with Corby being ‘sacrificed’ with her heart and guts ripped out and blood flowing to appease the Gods of Media Ratings. Society’s vultures, ghouls and vampires hovered around her, hoping to suck her notoriety to satiate their avaricious thirst and hunger.
In the 3rd case, Leslie’s powerful defence and PR team have ensured she was shielded from the media circus while they worked quietly away from the magnifying glass of the public, within Indonesia’s legal framework, in a halus (refined and tactful) and humble fashion, the way Indons would appreciate it.
There have been allegations that Leslie’s party had bribed the judges but they rejected such allegations as baseless. Her lawyer said:
"We have seen in history that these things have played out in a different way when people have claimed innocence, certainly in Indonesia.”
Obviously referring to Schapelle Corby.
"We didn't have all the evidence at hand and therefore we played it out with the cards we were dealt with. She was facing the possibility of 15 years in prison. I think it'd be only a fool to rock that system and it's best that she received the three months and she can return home at the next available opportunity and she can clear her name."
Intelligently pronounced. That's the value of having the best lawyers a rich boyfriend's money could provide.
BTW, do Malaysians know that the man waiting to die, Nguyen Van Tuong, was born in Malaysia while his mum was a refugee? Does that make him part Malaysian?
Saddam Hussein's Court Fisticuffs - Round 2
For the second time, Saddam Hussein was assaulted in an Iraqi court.
While questioned about his military targeting of the shrines of the Shiite imams Hussein and Abbas when his regime was attempting to seize back control of Karbala, Saddam initially appeared or pretended not to understand what was being asked of him. Then he let loose an obscene word, which immediately had two court officials jumping on and assaulting him.
Like the first time, a fisticuff ensued. Th American military guards loitering nearby stood by idly and smiled while the Iraqis set upon each other.
Hmmm, sure as hell doesn’t give one confidence about the new Iraqi legal system.
Related:
Saddam Hussein in Court Fisticuffs!
While questioned about his military targeting of the shrines of the Shiite imams Hussein and Abbas when his regime was attempting to seize back control of Karbala, Saddam initially appeared or pretended not to understand what was being asked of him. Then he let loose an obscene word, which immediately had two court officials jumping on and assaulting him.
Like the first time, a fisticuff ensued. Th American military guards loitering nearby stood by idly and smiled while the Iraqis set upon each other.
Hmmm, sure as hell doesn’t give one confidence about the new Iraqi legal system.
Related:
Saddam Hussein in Court Fisticuffs!
Vice President for Torture
Who in the Bush Administration was responsible for approving the use of torture by American interrogators?
Well, it’s out in the open now. None other than Admiral Stansfield Turner, a former CIA director, has accused US Vice President Dick Cheney of being that man.
According to Turner, Cheney oversaw the approval of torture policies. Cheny has f**ked up the proud reputation of a nation that once was admired throughout the world, even by its enemies.
Turner said, "We have crossed the line into dangerous territory. I am embarrassed that the USA has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible. He (Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it? I just don't understand how a man in that position can take such a stance."
No sir, neither can we!
Well, it’s out in the open now. None other than Admiral Stansfield Turner, a former CIA director, has accused US Vice President Dick Cheney of being that man.
According to Turner, Cheney oversaw the approval of torture policies. Cheny has f**ked up the proud reputation of a nation that once was admired throughout the world, even by its enemies.
Turner said, "We have crossed the line into dangerous territory. I am embarrassed that the USA has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible. He (Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it? I just don't understand how a man in that position can take such a stance."
No sir, neither can we!
Noordin Top Threatens Australia
Noordin Top, a Malaysian fugitive who is one of Jemaah Islamiyah’s top operatives and master strategist, has in a video message, a la al Qaeda, threatened Australia and in particular PM John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
Though appearing masked in balaclava in the video message, Indon police has identified him as the hooded figure delivering the threat.
He described the USA, England, Australia and Italy as the ‘enemies’. He raged against Australia for participating in the war against Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, he warned that Australia will be the prime target of new 'intimidation and terror' attacks while its troops remain in Iraq. Needless to say, he raved and rant like a religious bigot that he is. Here’s an extract of what he said:
"And, we specifically remind Australia that you - Downer, John Howard - have led Australia into darkness, into disaster and terrorism by mujahideen. As long as you keep your invader troops on Iraq and Afghanistan's soil, as long as you intimidate Muslim people, for as long as that you will feel the intimidation of our terror. Remember that!"
The Indon police said his message in a video message is meant more as a recruiting ad, designating Australia rather than other nations as a principal target, as Indons are more conscious of and familiar with neighbouring Australia.
Though appearing masked in balaclava in the video message, Indon police has identified him as the hooded figure delivering the threat.
He described the USA, England, Australia and Italy as the ‘enemies’. He raged against Australia for participating in the war against Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, he warned that Australia will be the prime target of new 'intimidation and terror' attacks while its troops remain in Iraq. Needless to say, he raved and rant like a religious bigot that he is. Here’s an extract of what he said:
"And, we specifically remind Australia that you - Downer, John Howard - have led Australia into darkness, into disaster and terrorism by mujahideen. As long as you keep your invader troops on Iraq and Afghanistan's soil, as long as you intimidate Muslim people, for as long as that you will feel the intimidation of our terror. Remember that!"
The Indon police said his message in a video message is meant more as a recruiting ad, designating Australia rather than other nations as a principal target, as Indons are more conscious of and familiar with neighbouring Australia.
China now APEC's leader
Dr Mahathir would have like this, that China has replaced the USA as APEC’s leader both economically and politically. Its mega economic boom is racing away at a blistering pace, while the USA has been preoccupied with its disastrous and debilitating adventure in Iraq, and trade deals with other less significant regions.
The additional news that may delight Dr Mahathir is that China is ASEAN’s biggest export market. China-ASEAN trade shot up by 25% to almost US$60 billion in the first half of 2005, while ASEAN is now China's 5th largest export market and 4th largest trading partner
If I am not mistaken, Mahathir’s aspiration was to create an East Asian trading bloc to rival the EU and NAFTA. It certainly has the faint possibility of coming true, though I doubt that China, Japan and Korea would ever abandon the USA and EU as principal trading partners.
For example, China's trade suplus with the USA last year was US$162 billion and the year before, US$123 billion - those are humongous sums, but this year, 2005, the trade suplus in China's favour is expected to rocket up to US$200 billion.
Precisely because of these rather nice set of figures, China is unlikely to go to war anywhere, save over Taiwan, and only if Taiwan abandons the common 'One China' policy in a provocative manner, like making Beijing 'lose face'.
Why go to war when making money is more fun and profitable? So Dr Mahathir's dream of an East Asian trading bloc must wait that bit longer while China sells as much as possible to America.
The additional news that may delight Dr Mahathir is that China is ASEAN’s biggest export market. China-ASEAN trade shot up by 25% to almost US$60 billion in the first half of 2005, while ASEAN is now China's 5th largest export market and 4th largest trading partner
If I am not mistaken, Mahathir’s aspiration was to create an East Asian trading bloc to rival the EU and NAFTA. It certainly has the faint possibility of coming true, though I doubt that China, Japan and Korea would ever abandon the USA and EU as principal trading partners.
For example, China's trade suplus with the USA last year was US$162 billion and the year before, US$123 billion - those are humongous sums, but this year, 2005, the trade suplus in China's favour is expected to rocket up to US$200 billion.
Precisely because of these rather nice set of figures, China is unlikely to go to war anywhere, save over Taiwan, and only if Taiwan abandons the common 'One China' policy in a provocative manner, like making Beijing 'lose face'.
Why go to war when making money is more fun and profitable? So Dr Mahathir's dream of an East Asian trading bloc must wait that bit longer while China sells as much as possible to America.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
2 Weeks of Life Left for Nguyen Van Tuong
Two popes, John Paul II and his successor Pope Benedict XVI, had appealed directly on his behalf. The PM of Australia and various cabinet ministers including the Opposition Leader have appealed as well. So has the United Nations. But alas, the Singapore government is going ahead with the execution of convicted drug smuggler, 25-year old Nguyen Van Tuong. Nguyen was caught with 398 gm of heroin while transiting Singapore.
In fact, his execution has been set for dawn on the 2nd of December. The 25-year old man has just 2 weeks’ of life left.
PM John Howard has been pissed off that his Singapore counterpart didn’t inform him on the decided date of execution when they met recently in Korea, other than to reject his personal appeal.
There has been tremendous domestic pressure on PM John Howard to make such a personal appeal, which he initially had refused to do. But Howard is a man very sensitive to the political mood of Australia, and sensing that the general Australian public wants him to make the appeal, has done so.
I have blogged previously that it would be completely out of character for the Singapore government to ever show any form of compassion. For an island nation where the most popular and revered deity is Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, Singapore’s sternness and non-compassionate character has been shaped by Kuan Yew, the God of No Mercy.
In fact, his execution has been set for dawn on the 2nd of December. The 25-year old man has just 2 weeks’ of life left.
PM John Howard has been pissed off that his Singapore counterpart didn’t inform him on the decided date of execution when they met recently in Korea, other than to reject his personal appeal.
There has been tremendous domestic pressure on PM John Howard to make such a personal appeal, which he initially had refused to do. But Howard is a man very sensitive to the political mood of Australia, and sensing that the general Australian public wants him to make the appeal, has done so.
I have blogged previously that it would be completely out of character for the Singapore government to ever show any form of compassion. For an island nation where the most popular and revered deity is Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, Singapore’s sternness and non-compassionate character has been shaped by Kuan Yew, the God of No Mercy.
Hail the 44th Sultan of Melaka!
Bloke has claimed to be the 44th Sultan of Melaka, and can trace his genealogy all the way back to Sultan Mahmud Shah who ruled over Melaka at the turn of the 16th Century.
This is truly great stuff. As we all know, Melaka has one of the highest productions of Datuk-ship each year. With a real Sultan at its helm, the Datuk-ships will now acquire a royal glitter of glamour, and the asking price will surely skyrocket. Ah, the wheels of market force and what an economic windfall for Melaka.
But wait, didn’t Hang Li Poh advise Sultan Mansur Shah that “44” is bad feng shui?
This is truly great stuff. As we all know, Melaka has one of the highest productions of Datuk-ship each year. With a real Sultan at its helm, the Datuk-ships will now acquire a royal glitter of glamour, and the asking price will surely skyrocket. Ah, the wheels of market force and what an economic windfall for Melaka.
But wait, didn’t Hang Li Poh advise Sultan Mansur Shah that “44” is bad feng shui?
Hebrew Warrior Smote Evil Canaanite
I blogged on this story before (last year, I think?).
To recapitulate, Iman al-Hams, a young 13 year old girl was not only wounded or shot dead by Israeli troops but subsequently had more than a dozen bullets pumped into her even when she was lying immobile.
The perpetrator of the act of hatred? An Israeli captain who yelled to his troops: "Anything that's mobile, that moves in the zone, even if it's a three-year-old, needs to be killed."
His own troops reported his act of sheer hatred and utter cold blooded brutality.
The Israeli Army tried to cover up his vile act, by lying that they shot a 16-year old girl running away after she had planted explosives at an army outpost. Obviously the Army had to jack up the age to that of a probable fighter (not good for the world to see a captain of the much vaunted Israeli Defence Force slaughtered a 13 year old girl) and fabricated the inclusion of explosives to spin a Palestinian act of evil, all in order to exonerate the perpetrator.
But as a result of its own troops' admissions, the Army had to revise that bullshit - it withdrew the part about the explosives.
It then quickly held an internal military investigation to clear the soldiers from any wrong doing, but unfortunately for them an Israeli TV station somehow obtained military communication tapes showing that those soldiers were aware the target was a wounded girl of about 10, who was scared to death and trying to run away. Of course by then , the captain had walked over to her and pumped a dozen bullets into her.
Using its usual delaying tactics for such incidents, the Israeli military deliberately dragged the re-trial until it felt that everyone might have forgotten about the incident of brutal murder.
It has now acquitted the captain who had actually ADMITTED firing DELIBERATELY into a PROSTRATE Palestinian schoolgirl last year. The accused had also ADMITTED ordering his soldiers to kill anyone who entered a free-fire zone even if it's a three-year-old.
However, records indicated that the accused had initially denied emptying an entire magazine load of bullets into the child. He lied that he had come under fire from unknown Palestinian gunmen while inspecting her body, and thus fired into the ground beside her body in response.
Somehow the more than a dozen bullets went into the little girl's body.
Then he switched his story and claimed in his trial (probably briefed by his defence lawyer or even the Israeli Army) that ‘confirmation of kill’ was SOP or standard operating procedure. The phrase ‘confirmation of kill’ referred to the Israeli army terminology for shooting a fallen person at close range to ensure they are dead.
In that tragedy, the ‘fallen’ Palestinian was just a mere 13-year old girl who was either wounded or already dead. And it took the "brave" Israeli army captain to unload a whole magazine of bullets to 'confirm' the kill.
Given all that, the captain was only charged with a minor misusing of his weapon and attempting to persuade his troops to give false evidence. Yesterday, perhaps feeling that the affair had already blown by, the Israeli army military court acquitted the officer of the Givati Brigade completely of all charges, even those minor ones.
Forget about the usual Israeli military lies when they brutally killed innocent Palestinians. Afterall, it was a heroic episode of an intrepid mighty Hebrew warrior who smote an evil Canaanite.
QUESTION:
Which case has been more evil? This one or the beheading of teenage girls in Sulawasi as blogged in my earlier posting Beheading of Teenage Girls - 5 Suspects?
To recapitulate, Iman al-Hams, a young 13 year old girl was not only wounded or shot dead by Israeli troops but subsequently had more than a dozen bullets pumped into her even when she was lying immobile.
The perpetrator of the act of hatred? An Israeli captain who yelled to his troops: "Anything that's mobile, that moves in the zone, even if it's a three-year-old, needs to be killed."
His own troops reported his act of sheer hatred and utter cold blooded brutality.
The Israeli Army tried to cover up his vile act, by lying that they shot a 16-year old girl running away after she had planted explosives at an army outpost. Obviously the Army had to jack up the age to that of a probable fighter (not good for the world to see a captain of the much vaunted Israeli Defence Force slaughtered a 13 year old girl) and fabricated the inclusion of explosives to spin a Palestinian act of evil, all in order to exonerate the perpetrator.
But as a result of its own troops' admissions, the Army had to revise that bullshit - it withdrew the part about the explosives.
It then quickly held an internal military investigation to clear the soldiers from any wrong doing, but unfortunately for them an Israeli TV station somehow obtained military communication tapes showing that those soldiers were aware the target was a wounded girl of about 10, who was scared to death and trying to run away. Of course by then , the captain had walked over to her and pumped a dozen bullets into her.
Using its usual delaying tactics for such incidents, the Israeli military deliberately dragged the re-trial until it felt that everyone might have forgotten about the incident of brutal murder.
It has now acquitted the captain who had actually ADMITTED firing DELIBERATELY into a PROSTRATE Palestinian schoolgirl last year. The accused had also ADMITTED ordering his soldiers to kill anyone who entered a free-fire zone even if it's a three-year-old.
However, records indicated that the accused had initially denied emptying an entire magazine load of bullets into the child. He lied that he had come under fire from unknown Palestinian gunmen while inspecting her body, and thus fired into the ground beside her body in response.
Somehow the more than a dozen bullets went into the little girl's body.
Then he switched his story and claimed in his trial (probably briefed by his defence lawyer or even the Israeli Army) that ‘confirmation of kill’ was SOP or standard operating procedure. The phrase ‘confirmation of kill’ referred to the Israeli army terminology for shooting a fallen person at close range to ensure they are dead.
In that tragedy, the ‘fallen’ Palestinian was just a mere 13-year old girl who was either wounded or already dead. And it took the "brave" Israeli army captain to unload a whole magazine of bullets to 'confirm' the kill.
Given all that, the captain was only charged with a minor misusing of his weapon and attempting to persuade his troops to give false evidence. Yesterday, perhaps feeling that the affair had already blown by, the Israeli army military court acquitted the officer of the Givati Brigade completely of all charges, even those minor ones.
Forget about the usual Israeli military lies when they brutally killed innocent Palestinians. Afterall, it was a heroic episode of an intrepid mighty Hebrew warrior who smote an evil Canaanite.
QUESTION:
Which case has been more evil? This one or the beheading of teenage girls in Sulawasi as blogged in my earlier posting Beheading of Teenage Girls - 5 Suspects?
Dr Azahari's activities funded by Malaysians
Isn’t this just great – Malaysia in the news again.
Via the Star Online, Media Indonesia, a very influential Indon newspaper reported that funding for Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists, Dr Azahari and Noordin Mohd Top, came from Malaysia.
Really, we shouldn’t be surprised because as I mentioned in a number of postings, those two fugitives have many Malaysian sympathizers.
Then the plot thickens – a foreign diplomat with diplomatic immunity has been the intermediary for the fund donors and receipients. He has been the bloke responsible for channeling the funds to Azahari and Noordin. According to the Indon news, he wants to create instability in the region, which I must say, he has certainly succeeded.
The Indon news went on to name a courier as Suf, the person who provided the two Malaysians with access to the funds from Malaysia.
I wonder who that foreign diplomat could be? I bet you he is not from Denmark or Ireland.
Via the Star Online, Media Indonesia, a very influential Indon newspaper reported that funding for Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists, Dr Azahari and Noordin Mohd Top, came from Malaysia.
Really, we shouldn’t be surprised because as I mentioned in a number of postings, those two fugitives have many Malaysian sympathizers.
Then the plot thickens – a foreign diplomat with diplomatic immunity has been the intermediary for the fund donors and receipients. He has been the bloke responsible for channeling the funds to Azahari and Noordin. According to the Indon news, he wants to create instability in the region, which I must say, he has certainly succeeded.
The Indon news went on to name a courier as Suf, the person who provided the two Malaysians with access to the funds from Malaysia.
I wonder who that foreign diplomat could be? I bet you he is not from Denmark or Ireland.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Dr Azahari Returns to Malaysia Tomorrow!!!
Indonesian Police Headquarters announced that the body of Dr Azahari will be flown back to Malaysia tomorrow, 17 November. It will depart at 1545 hours or 3:45 pm West Indonesian Time. Malaysian time will be 1 hour later. Allow for a couple of hours flight time and it should reached Malaysia at around 7 pm.
The departure or arrival points were not mentioned.
The Police also mentioned that the family of the deceased terrorist has identified his remains by his teeth and certain marks on his body.
The departure or arrival points were not mentioned.
The Police also mentioned that the family of the deceased terrorist has identified his remains by his teeth and certain marks on his body.
Saint (Dr) Azahari the Pure
Over at Malaysiakini, probably Malaysia’s only independent news online, a reader under the name of Arbibi Ashoy wrote in to defend Dr Azahari.
According to Ashoy, poor Dr Azahari was ‘nauseous and upset’ by the US invasion of Iraq, where many innocent Iraqis were killed. To cut the story short, Ashoy explained that was the reason that Azahari went on the rampage to revenge those Iraqis. As Australia is a member of the Coalition of the Willing, Azahari targeted it and its citizens.
Like Malaysia's opposition Islamist party, PAS, Ashoy wants to have his cake and eat it as well. He defends Azahari, mind you, as a ‘jihadist’ and not a ‘terrorist’, while lamenting the late doctor had gone too far by killing innocent Aussies.
Then predictably, Ashoy concluded his letter by praising Azahari, killer of many innocent people including innocent Indonesians. Ashoy said:
“Thus, Azahari's intentions may have been pure but his methodology was not. Islam forbids ‘collateral damage’. We Muslims cannot kill the children of our enemies just because our enemies kill our children.”
“However, give Azahari his due. At least he did sacrifice his life with the hope of liberating the Iraqi people. The rest of us apathetic Muslims go on with life pretending that the sufferings of Iraqi Muslims are none of our business.”
Azahari’s intention pure? Give Azahari his due?
Now what did I say about Malaysian sympathisers of Azahari? Yet one reader didn’t believe me.
Related:
PAS does not believe Dr Azahari was a terrorist
According to Ashoy, poor Dr Azahari was ‘nauseous and upset’ by the US invasion of Iraq, where many innocent Iraqis were killed. To cut the story short, Ashoy explained that was the reason that Azahari went on the rampage to revenge those Iraqis. As Australia is a member of the Coalition of the Willing, Azahari targeted it and its citizens.
Like Malaysia's opposition Islamist party, PAS, Ashoy wants to have his cake and eat it as well. He defends Azahari, mind you, as a ‘jihadist’ and not a ‘terrorist’, while lamenting the late doctor had gone too far by killing innocent Aussies.
Then predictably, Ashoy concluded his letter by praising Azahari, killer of many innocent people including innocent Indonesians. Ashoy said:
“Thus, Azahari's intentions may have been pure but his methodology was not. Islam forbids ‘collateral damage’. We Muslims cannot kill the children of our enemies just because our enemies kill our children.”
“However, give Azahari his due. At least he did sacrifice his life with the hope of liberating the Iraqi people. The rest of us apathetic Muslims go on with life pretending that the sufferings of Iraqi Muslims are none of our business.”
Azahari’s intention pure? Give Azahari his due?
Now what did I say about Malaysian sympathisers of Azahari? Yet one reader didn’t believe me.
Related:
PAS does not believe Dr Azahari was a terrorist
Alisha in Bolehland
We Malaysians have a marvellous way of tackling our problems and solving our woes. We should package the method and promote it throughout the world.
First, we have police corruption – easily solved! We make those officers wear a slogan saying they won’t accept bribes.
Then, we have corrupt government bureaucrats (including our incredibly corrupt police) – easily solved! We have a National Integrity Day.
Thirdly, we have pathetic standards in our universities, which continue to plummet – easily solved! We erect self-congratulatory signboards and hang banners with similar messages.
Moving on (‘cause we still have lots of woes), we have unexplained cases of favoured individuals receiving more than their share of Automobile import Permits (AP) – easily solved! The minister responsible cried and all have been forgiven (or forgotten).
Then a couple of other embarrassing public issues occurred indicating lack of governance occurred – easily solved! The ministers and departmental heads merely responded “they didn’t know”.
Innocent bystander shot by gungho government officer (who's not even a policeman); roads, bridges falling down, and landslides blocking highways, even Parliament House was not spared the Humpty Dumpty syndrome; recognition of overseas medical degrees switched on and off like a "coloured" yo-yo; seditious acts perpetrated by members of parliament; crimes perpetrated by law officers (the most dangerous place in Malaysia is inside a police station); banks being "robbed" in broad daylight by the hundreds, if not thousands of millions ... etc etc etc.
What else is there to mention in Alisha in Bolehland?
First, we have police corruption – easily solved! We make those officers wear a slogan saying they won’t accept bribes.
Then, we have corrupt government bureaucrats (including our incredibly corrupt police) – easily solved! We have a National Integrity Day.
Thirdly, we have pathetic standards in our universities, which continue to plummet – easily solved! We erect self-congratulatory signboards and hang banners with similar messages.
Moving on (‘cause we still have lots of woes), we have unexplained cases of favoured individuals receiving more than their share of Automobile import Permits (AP) – easily solved! The minister responsible cried and all have been forgiven (or forgotten).
Then a couple of other embarrassing public issues occurred indicating lack of governance occurred – easily solved! The ministers and departmental heads merely responded “they didn’t know”.
Innocent bystander shot by gungho government officer (who's not even a policeman); roads, bridges falling down, and landslides blocking highways, even Parliament House was not spared the Humpty Dumpty syndrome; recognition of overseas medical degrees switched on and off like a "coloured" yo-yo; seditious acts perpetrated by members of parliament; crimes perpetrated by law officers (the most dangerous place in Malaysia is inside a police station); banks being "robbed" in broad daylight by the hundreds, if not thousands of millions ... etc etc etc.
What else is there to mention in Alisha in Bolehland?
Are we Moabites or Ammonites?
This is truly one of the saddest story I have read.
A couple married but to their woes, the sacred matrimony was not recognised. Why?
One of the couple, the bride, was a man before he medically converted himself into herself – he underwent a sex change and she should be now a woman.
But the Malaysian law says no because it does not recognise marriage of two persons of the same sex. But … but …. but … Absolutely not, regardless of the medical sex change. The poor bride’s IC still says she is a he.
Bloody more things have changed than just a gender declaration in an IC. Laws have changed, the jury system has changed/disappeared, the constitution can be and has changed, elections of local councils have been abandoned to where we are now served by unrepresented self-serving swill, yes, national policies, education policies, & whatnot policies can all changed, but not the gender declaration in a person’s IC. What utter bullshit.
But wait, there is more. Let's leave the state and move on to the Church.
The church also says nix to the marriage too. National Evangelical Christian Fellowship secretary-general Reverend Dr Wong Kim Kong said the church does not approve of same sex marriages even after one partner has changed his or her sex.
Why?
He uttered sanctimoniously: “It’s clearly stated in the Bible. There is no such thing as creation of half-half. Therefore, biologically and genetically, there is only male and female. Therefore, there is no chance it (the marriage) will be condoned by the Christian church. As a religious group, we have to follow the religion based on the Bible.”
Bullshit. Read this about the Bible!
Aside from what that link says about the Bible, pray (no pun intended) tell us where is it in the Bible that says there can be no sex change? Those biblical characters were still resorting to stones to kill women suspected of having a quiet nookie or other blokes praying to different gods.
So what is the dear Reverend talking about genes and biology. According to the Bible, we were created out of dust and stepped off a big sampan together with a couple of pygmy-sized dinosaurs, among other creatures including pigs.
And double bullshit to his “only male and female” because angels are androgynous. And what about God Himself, or should it be Herself?
Besides, the Bible was written by some blokes slaving away in captivity in Babylon, which would be enough to kill all sex drives. So what did they know about sex other than being screwed good and proper by the Babylonians?
And as in the State's case, the Church has had so many changes that it's laughable Reverend Dr Wong talked as if the Bible was handed down to us by God Himself/Herself. There was the original church in Jerusalem, then from it we have the Coptic, Maronite, Assyrian, Othordox, Catholic, Protestant churches, etc. And don't forget the Council of Nicea where mortal men decided on a wee biblical editing.
Then, further editing occurred when from the Protestant Church we get a zillion branches of denominations. But wait, there's more as we then get the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints) as well as King Henry VIII's Church of England, born out of his need to divorce Princess Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne, and bugger the Pope's excommunication plans.
Which Bible was the Reverend Dr Wong referring to?
What next may we expect from Reverend Dr Wong? That brothers and sisters must copulate with each other to bear children as did the children of Adam and Eve? What do we call the offsprings of such incestous multiplications? Moabites or Ammonites?
The Reverend cannot have it both ways. If God was or is the Creator, then He (or She) created this married couple regardless of whether sex change has been involved. In fact, one would aver that the sex change and the union of love has been God’s will. It has only been men's prejudice and will that now denies the couple their blessed union.
Related:
(1) Dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
(2) Why Orthodox Jews don’t eat Pork
A couple married but to their woes, the sacred matrimony was not recognised. Why?
One of the couple, the bride, was a man before he medically converted himself into herself – he underwent a sex change and she should be now a woman.
But the Malaysian law says no because it does not recognise marriage of two persons of the same sex. But … but …. but … Absolutely not, regardless of the medical sex change. The poor bride’s IC still says she is a he.
Bloody more things have changed than just a gender declaration in an IC. Laws have changed, the jury system has changed/disappeared, the constitution can be and has changed, elections of local councils have been abandoned to where we are now served by unrepresented self-serving swill, yes, national policies, education policies, & whatnot policies can all changed, but not the gender declaration in a person’s IC. What utter bullshit.
But wait, there is more. Let's leave the state and move on to the Church.
The church also says nix to the marriage too. National Evangelical Christian Fellowship secretary-general Reverend Dr Wong Kim Kong said the church does not approve of same sex marriages even after one partner has changed his or her sex.
Why?
He uttered sanctimoniously: “It’s clearly stated in the Bible. There is no such thing as creation of half-half. Therefore, biologically and genetically, there is only male and female. Therefore, there is no chance it (the marriage) will be condoned by the Christian church. As a religious group, we have to follow the religion based on the Bible.”
Bullshit. Read this about the Bible!
Aside from what that link says about the Bible, pray (no pun intended) tell us where is it in the Bible that says there can be no sex change? Those biblical characters were still resorting to stones to kill women suspected of having a quiet nookie or other blokes praying to different gods.
So what is the dear Reverend talking about genes and biology. According to the Bible, we were created out of dust and stepped off a big sampan together with a couple of pygmy-sized dinosaurs, among other creatures including pigs.
And double bullshit to his “only male and female” because angels are androgynous. And what about God Himself, or should it be Herself?
Besides, the Bible was written by some blokes slaving away in captivity in Babylon, which would be enough to kill all sex drives. So what did they know about sex other than being screwed good and proper by the Babylonians?
And as in the State's case, the Church has had so many changes that it's laughable Reverend Dr Wong talked as if the Bible was handed down to us by God Himself/Herself. There was the original church in Jerusalem, then from it we have the Coptic, Maronite, Assyrian, Othordox, Catholic, Protestant churches, etc. And don't forget the Council of Nicea where mortal men decided on a wee biblical editing.
Then, further editing occurred when from the Protestant Church we get a zillion branches of denominations. But wait, there's more as we then get the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints) as well as King Henry VIII's Church of England, born out of his need to divorce Princess Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne, and bugger the Pope's excommunication plans.
Which Bible was the Reverend Dr Wong referring to?
What next may we expect from Reverend Dr Wong? That brothers and sisters must copulate with each other to bear children as did the children of Adam and Eve? What do we call the offsprings of such incestous multiplications? Moabites or Ammonites?
The Reverend cannot have it both ways. If God was or is the Creator, then He (or She) created this married couple regardless of whether sex change has been involved. In fact, one would aver that the sex change and the union of love has been God’s will. It has only been men's prejudice and will that now denies the couple their blessed union.
Related:
(1) Dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
(2) Why Orthodox Jews don’t eat Pork
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Dangerous Fried Chicken
Apparently eating at or going near a chicken fast food restaurant can be bloody dangerous to one’s health.
Some people near a KFC (for oldies, that’s Kentucky Fried Chicken) found that out to their grief. 3 died while 12 others were injured.
And I am not talking about the effect of avian flu.
Today in Karachi, Pakistan, as-yet unidentified terrorists set off a car bomb explosion next to a KFC outlet. Some said the dead could have numbered 6 rather than just 3.
Pakistani Islamist militants have been targeting American businesses and outlets such as KFC and McDonalds.
I wonder whether the blast had anything to do with President Musharraf's boast 2 days ago when he expressed confidence that American hotels in the country are safe from attacks like those that had occurred in Jordan. In fact Musharraf went so far as to aver that Pakistan has those terrorists on the run.
Some people near a KFC (for oldies, that’s Kentucky Fried Chicken) found that out to their grief. 3 died while 12 others were injured.
And I am not talking about the effect of avian flu.
Today in Karachi, Pakistan, as-yet unidentified terrorists set off a car bomb explosion next to a KFC outlet. Some said the dead could have numbered 6 rather than just 3.
Pakistani Islamist militants have been targeting American businesses and outlets such as KFC and McDonalds.
I wonder whether the blast had anything to do with President Musharraf's boast 2 days ago when he expressed confidence that American hotels in the country are safe from attacks like those that had occurred in Jordan. In fact Musharraf went so far as to aver that Pakistan has those terrorists on the run.
University Déja Vu?
The University of Papua New Guinea has an Aussie Vice Chancellor who wanted to raise standards so he set stricter grading standards. That pissed off the Uni students who claimed it was unfair.
They then went on a riot and tussled with the police. Some were injured, cars torched and classes suspended. All these happened sometime in July this year.
The PNG Education Minister formed a committee to look into the matter and come up with some recommendations. It certainly just did, with the recommendation being the sacking of the Aussie VC and the entire 33 person university council.
The committee's report recommended the Aussie be sacked as his presence will cause continued unrest. It then proposed that the new vice chancellor should be a Papua New Guinean, who need not be selected purely on academic qualifications alone.
Hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it!
They then went on a riot and tussled with the police. Some were injured, cars torched and classes suspended. All these happened sometime in July this year.
The PNG Education Minister formed a committee to look into the matter and come up with some recommendations. It certainly just did, with the recommendation being the sacking of the Aussie VC and the entire 33 person university council.
The committee's report recommended the Aussie be sacked as his presence will cause continued unrest. It then proposed that the new vice chancellor should be a Papua New Guinean, who need not be selected purely on academic qualifications alone.
Hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it!
Iraqi Defence Lawyer Flees Country
Thamer Hamoud al-Khuzaie, a lawyer defending Saddam and his henchmen has fled Iraq and sought asylum in Qatar. He fears for his life as two of his defence lawyer colleagues have already been executed by unknown gunmen, and one other injured.
Although the Iraqi interim government provides protection, the lawyers suspect that those very government militia have been the ones killing them. All the defence lawyers engaged for the trial have severed connections with the Iraqi court.
Related:
Mahathir's right about Perilous Defence in Iraq
Although the Iraqi interim government provides protection, the lawyers suspect that those very government militia have been the ones killing them. All the defence lawyers engaged for the trial have severed connections with the Iraqi court.
Related:
Mahathir's right about Perilous Defence in Iraq
SILENCE - You're in McDonald
A Dutch McDonald's restaurant in Almere has banned around 15 elderly patrons for making too much noise in the Golden Arch venue. In fact, those senior citizens, all in their mid 70’s, were were ordered out after creating an unacceptable racket.
The naughty seniors admitted talking a wee loudly but gave a good reason for doing so - some of them are a bit deaf, ;-)
Reminds me of the mother of an old girlfriend – everyone has been frightened at least once, and I was no exception.
The naughty seniors admitted talking a wee loudly but gave a good reason for doing so - some of them are a bit deaf, ;-)
Reminds me of the mother of an old girlfriend – everyone has been frightened at least once, and I was no exception.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Royal Malaysian Police or Royal Malaysian Criminals
Around June this year Malaysian PM Ahmad Abdullah Badawi (AAB) launched a Royal Commission to investigate into alleged conducts of corruption, brutality and other illegal acts in the Royal Malaysian Police. The Commission came up with a hundred over recommendations, which one wonders if any has yet been implemented.
Interestingly, the Commission threw a titbit to the eager long-suffering Malaysian public who would like to see some blood spilled among the police ranks, preferably by the top brasses for their incompetence, lack of governance, and pathetic leadership. The titbit?
The hungry public was told that there was a 7-million dollar police officer, whom I have no doubt had legal and lawful possession of that sum – or that piece of news wouldn’t have seen daylight at all.
OK, so feed the public sharks a bit of berley, which hopefully should satisfy their angry hunger, and thus deflect their attention from the Home Minister and top police officers.
As for the Royal Commission, this is what Ioannis Gatsiounis of Asia Times has to say of them:
“The commissioners themselves have a wide range of backgrounds, including political, legal, activist, religious and business, and have vowed to help restore credibility to the police. In time, maybe they will. But according to lawyers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and citizens who have dealt directly with the commission, it is already showing some of the traits that are synonymous with the police: arrogance, secrecy, complacency and inefficiency.”
“NGOs and concerned citizens have been barred from some of the commission's ‘open hearings’. Uthayakumar, the human rights lawyer, said: 'They were set up to take immediate action on urgent matters. But they have not taken any action on [these cases of abuse].'"
Should we be surprised at all?
OK, leave the Commission’s lack of openness aside, now, what have happened with their recommendations?
??? - can anyone help on this?
Then, given all the above, what do we have right now?
Barely 6 months have passed since the Royal Commission handed in the recommendations, and we have very shameful cases of abuse of powers by the Royal Malaysian Police, again. Three female Chinese nationals, wives of Malaysians, have been abused by Police.
The so-called law officers demanded money from them – I believe that’s called EXTORTION.
One had her money taken without her permission – I believe that’s called DAYLIGHT ROBBERY.
Two were forced to strip and one had her breast squeezed by a police officer – I believe that’s called SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Yes, all these criminal acts were perpetrated by the POLICE. The three women were unlawfully, yes, UNLAWFULLY DETAINED for 4 days despite having the correct documents.
When the husband of one of them rushed to the police station to secure her release, the police sergeant refused to verify her passport with the Immigration Department until he paid up a sum of under-the-counter money. What the hell does one call that?
They were unlawfully detained, humiliated, stripped, sexually assaulted, extorted, and robbed at the police station.
All those crimes are punishable by law.
Now, ask yourselves how and why the Police dare perpetrate such crimes on three innocent women, wives of Malaysian citizens?
As noted commentator Dr M Bakri Musa wrote in his Malaysiakini column, the story of the PM-ship of AAB has been a legacy of lost opportunity.
What good is a Commission of Inquiry if AAB fails to institute measures to right a rotten, yes, bloody rotten police force, manned disgracefully by many uniformed criminals. And what has been AAB's action on the police force thus far? Oh yes, he made them wear stickers on their uniforms with the message that they won't be corrupt.
I am not sure whether to laugh or to cry. Malaysia Boleh!
Interestingly, the Commission threw a titbit to the eager long-suffering Malaysian public who would like to see some blood spilled among the police ranks, preferably by the top brasses for their incompetence, lack of governance, and pathetic leadership. The titbit?
The hungry public was told that there was a 7-million dollar police officer, whom I have no doubt had legal and lawful possession of that sum – or that piece of news wouldn’t have seen daylight at all.
OK, so feed the public sharks a bit of berley, which hopefully should satisfy their angry hunger, and thus deflect their attention from the Home Minister and top police officers.
As for the Royal Commission, this is what Ioannis Gatsiounis of Asia Times has to say of them:
“The commissioners themselves have a wide range of backgrounds, including political, legal, activist, religious and business, and have vowed to help restore credibility to the police. In time, maybe they will. But according to lawyers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and citizens who have dealt directly with the commission, it is already showing some of the traits that are synonymous with the police: arrogance, secrecy, complacency and inefficiency.”
“NGOs and concerned citizens have been barred from some of the commission's ‘open hearings’. Uthayakumar, the human rights lawyer, said: 'They were set up to take immediate action on urgent matters. But they have not taken any action on [these cases of abuse].'"
Should we be surprised at all?
OK, leave the Commission’s lack of openness aside, now, what have happened with their recommendations?
??? - can anyone help on this?
Then, given all the above, what do we have right now?
Barely 6 months have passed since the Royal Commission handed in the recommendations, and we have very shameful cases of abuse of powers by the Royal Malaysian Police, again. Three female Chinese nationals, wives of Malaysians, have been abused by Police.
The so-called law officers demanded money from them – I believe that’s called EXTORTION.
One had her money taken without her permission – I believe that’s called DAYLIGHT ROBBERY.
Two were forced to strip and one had her breast squeezed by a police officer – I believe that’s called SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Yes, all these criminal acts were perpetrated by the POLICE. The three women were unlawfully, yes, UNLAWFULLY DETAINED for 4 days despite having the correct documents.
When the husband of one of them rushed to the police station to secure her release, the police sergeant refused to verify her passport with the Immigration Department until he paid up a sum of under-the-counter money. What the hell does one call that?
They were unlawfully detained, humiliated, stripped, sexually assaulted, extorted, and robbed at the police station.
All those crimes are punishable by law.
Now, ask yourselves how and why the Police dare perpetrate such crimes on three innocent women, wives of Malaysian citizens?
As noted commentator Dr M Bakri Musa wrote in his Malaysiakini column, the story of the PM-ship of AAB has been a legacy of lost opportunity.
What good is a Commission of Inquiry if AAB fails to institute measures to right a rotten, yes, bloody rotten police force, manned disgracefully by many uniformed criminals. And what has been AAB's action on the police force thus far? Oh yes, he made them wear stickers on their uniforms with the message that they won't be corrupt.
I am not sure whether to laugh or to cry. Malaysia Boleh!
US Sex Terrorists Above Filipino Law
As predicted, the US intends to fly off its 6 marines who brutally raped a Filipino woman in a van until she was unconscious and then threw her out of the vehicle onto the roadside.
President Arroyo has agreed to a US government proposal to hand over custody of the six rapists to the American military authority in Okinawa, Japan. Outraged by the typically arrogant and sneaky American manoeuvre to shield its military criminals, a Filipino lawyers' group warned Arroyo that permitting that would be against the Philippine Constitution.
The spokesman for the Committee for the Defence of Lawyers (Codal) said:
"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be committing a culpable violation of the Constitution if she will allow the United States to continue exercising absolute custody over the six American servicemen accused of rape and their transfer to Okinawa, Japan."
Elaborating, Codal said that under the Philippine Constitution, anyone who commits a crime in the Philippines cannot post bail nor be released on recognisance, when they commit a capital offence and when the evidence of guilt is strong. The President of the Philippines is required to defend the constitution. It said that if the Americans are found guilty by a Philippine court, those suspects shall be jailed in a Philippine prison. It added:
"Allowing the accused to remain in US custody whether here or abroad is releasing them on 'recognisance' to the US government, which is clearly not allowed under the Constitution."
A spokeman for the President said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement with the USA, the transfer is legal and obligatory. Malacanang Palace has refused to heed demands that the rape case be brought to a speedy trial, stressing it is for the prosecution (namely the government itself) to decide. But Filipinos have accused their own Department of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy of colluding to create an escape route for the American rapists.
In Australia sometime ago, the Australian courts agreed to hand over two US service personnel to the US Navy on the American assurance that the US military courts would deal with their charges. The Aussies found out later that the US Navy reneged on that assurance and freed the 2 men without even considering the charges.
The Americans have an utter disrespect for the laws of other nations. It has always acted in a criminal manner in allowing its military personnel charged with crimes on foreign soils to escape without any legal accountability, from the horrendous war crimes like the My Lai massacre to the civil crime of manslaughter in causing the death of a dozen skiers at an Italian winter resort, or rapes in the Philippines, Korea and Okinawa, and drug & prostitution deals in South America and the Balkans. God knows what else they did in Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and any unfortunate country their military personnel have plagued?
Related:
Sex Terrorists
President Arroyo has agreed to a US government proposal to hand over custody of the six rapists to the American military authority in Okinawa, Japan. Outraged by the typically arrogant and sneaky American manoeuvre to shield its military criminals, a Filipino lawyers' group warned Arroyo that permitting that would be against the Philippine Constitution.
The spokesman for the Committee for the Defence of Lawyers (Codal) said:
"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be committing a culpable violation of the Constitution if she will allow the United States to continue exercising absolute custody over the six American servicemen accused of rape and their transfer to Okinawa, Japan."
Elaborating, Codal said that under the Philippine Constitution, anyone who commits a crime in the Philippines cannot post bail nor be released on recognisance, when they commit a capital offence and when the evidence of guilt is strong. The President of the Philippines is required to defend the constitution. It said that if the Americans are found guilty by a Philippine court, those suspects shall be jailed in a Philippine prison. It added:
"Allowing the accused to remain in US custody whether here or abroad is releasing them on 'recognisance' to the US government, which is clearly not allowed under the Constitution."
A spokeman for the President said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement with the USA, the transfer is legal and obligatory. Malacanang Palace has refused to heed demands that the rape case be brought to a speedy trial, stressing it is for the prosecution (namely the government itself) to decide. But Filipinos have accused their own Department of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy of colluding to create an escape route for the American rapists.
In Australia sometime ago, the Australian courts agreed to hand over two US service personnel to the US Navy on the American assurance that the US military courts would deal with their charges. The Aussies found out later that the US Navy reneged on that assurance and freed the 2 men without even considering the charges.
The Americans have an utter disrespect for the laws of other nations. It has always acted in a criminal manner in allowing its military personnel charged with crimes on foreign soils to escape without any legal accountability, from the horrendous war crimes like the My Lai massacre to the civil crime of manslaughter in causing the death of a dozen skiers at an Italian winter resort, or rapes in the Philippines, Korea and Okinawa, and drug & prostitution deals in South America and the Balkans. God knows what else they did in Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and any unfortunate country their military personnel have plagued?
Related:
Sex Terrorists
al Qaeda targets Queen Elizabeth II
Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of al Qaeda’s top leaders accused Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of Britain, yes, the constitutional (figure) head of Britain, as responsible for Britain's crusader laws, thus making her one of Islam’s worst enemies.
Of course it's utter balderdash! But wait, the real message would be made plain in the following.
He took the opportunity to also warn British Muslims that if they continue to be loyal to her, they have virtually classified themselves as people subject to Britain's crusader laws, and worse, submissive to Elizabeth, head of the Church of England.
Yes, those Brit Muslims are the real target of al Qaeda's message!
I reckon al Qaeda is getting desperate, resorting to such theatrics to pressure British Muslims to be unlawful citizens. It must be planning another 7/7. We may expect more outrageous violence against British innocents.
Needless to say, Brit security for the Queen has been stepped up.
Of course it's utter balderdash! But wait, the real message would be made plain in the following.
He took the opportunity to also warn British Muslims that if they continue to be loyal to her, they have virtually classified themselves as people subject to Britain's crusader laws, and worse, submissive to Elizabeth, head of the Church of England.
Yes, those Brit Muslims are the real target of al Qaeda's message!
I reckon al Qaeda is getting desperate, resorting to such theatrics to pressure British Muslims to be unlawful citizens. It must be planning another 7/7. We may expect more outrageous violence against British innocents.
Needless to say, Brit security for the Queen has been stepped up.
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