Police To Question Jack Straw Over .Torture In Libya

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

Kim Sengupta The Independent.

Former ministers in Tony Blair's government are expected to be questioned by police over their alleged role in human rights abuses, in a new Scotland Yard investigation into how dissidents were sent to Libya to be imprisoned and tortured by Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

The focus of the inquiry will be the involvement of MI6 in the arrest and rendition of two men.

Jack Straw, Tony Blair’s Foreign Secretary between 2001 and 2006, will be interviewed, police and Whitehall officials pointed out, as he would have had to “sign off” operations by MI6 at the time in question.

One senior official stressed: “These [operations] were in line with ministerially authorised government policy.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, and the Metropolitan Police Service declared yesterday in a joint statement:

“The allegations raised in the two specific cases concerning the alleged rendition of named individuals to Libya and the alleged ill-treatment of them in Libya are so serious that it is in the public interest for them to be investigated now rather than at the conclusion of the Detainee Inquiry.”

The two Libyan victims are known to be Sami al-Saadi and Abdel Hakim Belhaj, who is now a senior military commander in the new Libyan government.

Mr Belhaj, 45, was living in exile in Beijing, China, when he was detained with his wife in 2004 en route to the UK where they were trying to seek asylum. He was held for six years in prisons in Libya.

A source close to Mr Belhaj, who is in the process of suing the UK government, told The Independent last night “British police are welcome to carry out their investigations here, after all we are allies now. They can have interviews and any documents needed.

“But Abdel Hakim will continue with his legal action which he only begun after failing to get an apology from the British Government.”

Files discovered by The Independent in Tripoli after the fall of Col Gaddafi’s regime contained letters from Sir Mark Allen, then MI 6’s head of counter-terrorism, to Moussa Koussa, the head of Libyan intelligence, which seemed only too keen to acknowledge his service’s role in the capture and transportation of Mr Belhaj, stressing:

“The intelligence about Abu’Abd Allah [a nom de guerre for Mr Belhaj] was British.”

At the time, Mr Belhaj insisted to The Independent that British intelligence agents who had visited him in Tripoli were aware of his mistreatment.

“They knew I was being tortured,” he said. “I hoped they would do something about it.

I was too terrified during the meeting to say out loud what was being done to me because I thought the Libyans [secret police] were taping what was going on.

When the guards left I made sign movements with my hands.

“The British people nodded, showed they understood. But nothing changed; the torture continued for a long time.”

Tony Blair, who was Prime Minister when Mr Belhaj’s rendition took place, maintained he knew nothing about the affair.

Jack Straw said: “The position of successive foreign secretaries, including me, is that we were opposed to unlawful rendition, opposed to torture or similar methods and not only did we not agree with it, we were not complicit in it, nor did we turn a blind eye to it.”

He added: “No Foreign Secretary can know all the details of what… intelligence services are doing at any one time.”

After the denials of Mr Blair and Mr Straw, the head of MI6 at the time, Sir Richard Dearlove, insisted: “It was a political decision, having very significantly disarmed Libya, for the Government to co-operate with Libya on Islamist terrorism..”

Last night, the former Foreign Secretary issued a statement, saying  he is “always happy to deal with any questions relating to his time as Home Secretary or Foreign Secretary” while refusing to discuss yesterday’s developments.

His office pointed to a previous statement in which he had welcomed the scrutiny of the Gibson Inquiry into detainee abuse – set up David Cameron last Autumn, and presided over by a retired judge, Sir Kenneth Gibson – which was “ the appropriate forum for these discussions”.

The DPP and Scotland Yard yesterday stated that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against officers from MI5 and MI6 over alleged complicity in the torture of terrorist suspects in two cases.

Binyam Mohammed, a former Guantanamo Bay inmate, had claimed that a member of the Security Service [MI5], known as Witness B, had interviewed him while he was incarcerated and mistreated in Pakistan.

The Crown Prosecution Service has already concluded there was insufficient evidence for charges to be laid.

The second investigation took place after the Secret Intelligence Service [MI6] called in the police to look at allegations that one of its agents was present at Bagram air base, in Afghanistan, when a suspect was mistreated.

The DPP and the police said they had been unable to track down the alleged victim and had failed to find evidence which contradicted the account given by the SIS operative.

The current MI6 chief, Sir John Sawers, noted that a police inquiry into the Bagram airbase allegations had exonerated the agent concerned. He continued: “We will of course be cooperating with the police on this new investigation, as we have done on the one now concluding.

“It is in the service’s interest to deal with the allegations being made as swiftly as possible so we can draw a line under them and focus on the crucial work we now face in the future.”

Rendition: What they said
Senior UK intelligence officer to Gaddafi regime after rendition of Mr Belhaj, March 2004
"I congratulate you on the safe arrival of [Belhaj]. This was the least we could do for you... I was grateful to you for helping the officer we sent out."

Tony Blair, former Prime Minister, September 2011
"We didn't support rendition as far as I know. There is no point putting stories to me about these people, I don't know about them."

Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, September 2011
"The position of successive foreign secretaries, including me, is that we were opposed to unlawful rendition, torture... and not only did we not agree with it, we were not complicit in it, nor did we turn a blind eye to it."

Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, September 2011
"It was a political decision for the Government to co-operate with Libya on Islamist terrororissm.’’


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-to-question-jack-straw-over-torture-in-libya-6289041.html

Not A Good Writing Day.

Yesterday I was abit under the weather with an upset gut; we seemed to spend mot of the day being hoisted in and out of t wheelchair.
Not a good writing day.

Tired But Happy.

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

Last night was not such a good night we were both very tired, my ms was playing nasty tricks.

So regretfully I cancelled an appointment with 3 people, my occupational therapist, and the council’s mobility advisor, and a mobility advisor from Welzorg all at 12.

Abit much when I was not feeling good, not the best way to chose a different option.

Another appointment did go ahead; I now have an arm lifter to help lift my arm.

It’s a nifty gadget which works well and seems a good addition to my aids.






















































I Last night was not such a good night we were both very tired, my ms was playing nasty tricks.

So regretfully I cancelled an appointment with 3 people, my occupational therapist, and the council’s mobility advisor, and a mobility advisor from Welzorg all at 12.

Abit much when I was not feeling good, not the best way to chose a different option.

Another appointment did go ahead; I now have an arm lifter to help lift my arm.

It’s a nifty gadget which works well and seems a good addition to my aids.

Happy with my new aid and now because I am very tired I am stopping.

Hopefully On Tuesday It Will Be Resolved.

Neither Legends Nor Figures 1930.

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

One of my teeth, not my front teeth, but one next to it, corner tooth, just sheared off, for seemingly no reason; I was not even eating something tough.

My dentist says that he thinks that brittle teeth are a symptom of MS; he has seen many people with MS whose teeth break very easily.

Now I will have to wait until next week Tuesday, during the day I am distracted.

By being busy during the day, but at night when I am tired I really feel the exposed nerve.

These last 2 nights I have inhaled alot of THC, eaten a THC sweet and taken a diazepam and managed to sleep.

It has made me aware how important teeth are, can’t eat all the things I like, without my teeth.

Hopefully the dentist will be able to do something clever and save the tooth, which I think will happen.

I remember in the Sixties, Seventies dentists pulled too many before it was realised it was not good for peoples health.

Hopefully on Tuesday it will be resolved.

Arab League Official Attacks Syria Mission As 'Farce'

 

Neither Legends Nor Figures 1930.

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

Anwar Malek, an Algerian member of the mission, says it is not acting independently and is 'serving the regime's interests.

• Martin Chulov
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 11 January 2012

An Arab League official has launched a scathing attack on the regional body's mission to Syria, claiming it has been powerless to prevent "multiple crimes against humanity" from being committed by troops loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Anwar Malek, an Algerian member of the team, said the observer mission was becoming a farce. He said it was not acting independently and was serving the regime's interests.

Malek is the first from the 60-man delegation – which has been widely criticised – to break ranks. His fierce criticism echoes regular warnings made by Syrian opposition figures who have claimed throughout the past month that the mission was being manipulated by regime officials.

In an interview with al-Jazeera, Malek claimed to have witnessed numerous incidents of torture in Syria and to have left behind a country on the verge of civil war.

"What I saw was a humanitarian disaster," he said. "The regime is not just committing one war crime, but a series of crimes against its people. The snipers are everywhere, shooting at civilians. People are being kidnapped. Prisoners are being tortured and none were released."
His comments came as the UN security council was briefed that about 400 people have been killed in Syria since the Arab monitors started working on 26 December. Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, said the figures were "a clear indication that the government of Syria, rather than using the opportunity to end the violence and fulfil all of its commitments (to the Arab League), is instead stepping up the violence."

Malek said the leader of the Arab League delegation, the former Sudanese general Mohammed al-Dabi – who has attracted controversy for his involvement in the Darfur conflict – was attempting to avoid inciting Syrian officials by acknowledging unrest, but not the scale or severity of the violence.

"The head of the mission wanted to steer a middle course in order not to anger the (Syrian) authorities or any other side," he added.

Syrian officials have also been far from satisfied by the monitors' presence, which came after the 18-member Arab League suspended Syria in protest at the 11-month regime crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.

In his third major speech since the uprising began in March, Assad condemned the Arab League for what he described as a betrayal of Syria and of Arabism.

Speaking at a rally in the heart of Damascus on Wednesday, he said the organisation was ill-equipped to sort out the crisis in Syria given its lack of achievement over the past 60 years.

Assad characterised the violence in Syria as a broad international conspiracy involving western states, terrorists, the Arab League and the global media.

Flanked by his British born wife, Asma, and their two chidren, Assad told thousands of flag-waving supporters in Ummayad Square that "victory against terrorists" was near and that "conspirators will fail".

"It is important that we maintain our faith in the future," said Assad, 46, who has made very few public appearances since the uprising against his regime began 10 months ago.

"I have that faith in the future and we will undoubtedly triumph over this conspiracy."

But while he remains in control of the capital, it is not the loyalist stronghold it was during the summer.

Elsewhere, an entrenched divide now exists between regime backers – comprised mainly of members of Assad's Allawite sect as well as Druze and Christians – and opposition groups, largely members of Syria's Sunni majority.

Assad's combative speech offered little to bring any sort of compromise, despite promising constitutional amendments in March and multi-party elections in either May or June.

Meanwhile, Malek's stance has heightened concern about the viability of the Arab League mission, which will be reviewed by officials for a second time on 19 January.

Both Kuwait and the UAE claimed on Tuesday that up to 11 monitors had been injured when pro-regime crowds encircled them on field missions.

After initially emboldening anti-government demonstrations with their presence, protesters are now increasingly wary of being filmed by Syrian officials near any of the orange-vested monitors as they are escorted around the country.

Some activists have called for the mission to be recalled the mission and regime officials to be referred to the United Nations security council.

Because Syria is not a signatory to the Rome Treaty, which enshrined the International criminal court, this would be a necessary pre-requsite for a referral to the global judicial body – a move urged by the United Nations human rights commissioner, Navi Pillay, in December.

However, Syria retains the support of key security council members China and Russia. Both have used vetoes to stop sanctions from being imposed on their ally.

Took My Needs Into Consideration.

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

What I have really noticed since my ms diagnosis is how burocratic the system is that administers aids for the handicapped.

Mismanagement, lack of care and attention, as well a lack of sympathy, empathy and understanding for people’s situation.

There were a few good people, but sadly they were outnumbered by those who were only interested in the wages not in the job.

Sadly many advisors are sales people first and advisors second, they will sell aggressively which is not a good approach for vulnerable people.

Being sales people first and advisors second means that the interests of the company are being met not the needs of their handicapped clients.

Frans from RTD Het Dorp is one of the worst examples of arrogant know it all, bullying salesman.

Who put getting the Seetech contract before my needs, his second opinion was to hijack the contract.

He did this by reducing it from 16,000 to 6,000, instead of a new system, it’s an old one, and the software is not up to date.

Only one language, Dutch no English or German and no possibility me to operate the home Servant with Seetech, my needs were totally ignored.

Now I am waiting to hear if my appeals is successful and HES who took my needs into consideration will get the contract.

Would Not Have Lost Precious Time.

The Absent Lady, 1942.

Yves Tanguy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

Being positive and optimistic is so vital for me; I only really did notice quite how true that was in 2009.

After I ended up being 24/7 in bed, with a deep pressure wound which kept me there for 2 years, from 2008 until 2010.

I was so depressed that I did not even realise until 2009, quite how down I had been up to then.

Writing my blog, every day really helped me understand what was going on. it gave me the room to think.

The other good effect was it helped me to be totally honest once more, also

with myself; this has been so good for me.

It has helped my communications with Richie and everyone else too, finally I could talk about how I was, instead of giving a blanket response of I am ok.

Being able to talk freely has been a good for me, especially as I am an open honest person, keeping people at arms length was not me.

Just saying I am ok tells me now, that I was extremely scared and no wonder it was merely two years after my diagnosis.

Only one year 9 months  and already I had an enormous pressure sore, this should not have occurred.

Not if my case manager and mobility occupational therapist at the time had done their jobs properly.

I had only been sitting in a wheelchair since 21st November 2006, if only Anita and Hanneke had done their jobs properly, I would not have lost precious time.

Amnesty Warns Of Continued Repression In Middle East

 

Through Birds Through Fire But Not Through Glass, 1943.                                                            

Yves Tanguy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

Despite the Arab spring, many governments are brutalising their populations into submission for regime survival, says report.

guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/09/amnesty-warns-repression-middle-east 

In Egypt, military rulers were behind abuses 'worse than under Hosni Mubarak', Amnesty said.

Most Middle Eastern governments are failing to recognise the significance of the Arab spring and are responding with repression or merely cosmetic change, Amnesty has said.

Reform movements showed no sign of flagging despite bloodshed on the streets and arrests last year, the human rights organisation said in its report, Year of Rebellion: State of Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa.

"With few exceptions, governments have failed to recognise that everything has changed," Philip Luther, Amnesty's interim Middle East and north Africa director, said in the report.

"The protest movements across the region, led in many cases by young people and with women playing central roles, have proved astonishingly resilient in the face of sometimes staggering repression.

"They want concrete changes to the way they are governed and for those responsible for past crimes to be held to account.

"But persistent attempts by states to offer cosmetic changes, to push back against gains made by protesters or to simply brutalise their populations into submission betray the fact that for many governments, regime survival remains their aim."

In Syria there were more than 200 cases of reported deaths in custody by the end of 2011, more than 40 times the recent average annual figure, Amnesty said.

In Yemen more than 200 people had been killed in connection with protests while hundreds more died in armed clashes.

In Bahrain it was unclear how committed the government was to implementing reform recommendations made by an independent report, Amnesty said.

The report also said that despite the optimism that had greeted the fall of long-standing rulers in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, concern remained that the gains had yet to be cemented by important institutional reforms.

In Egypt Amnesty found that the military rulers had been responsible for abuses that were "in some aspects worse than under Hosni Mubarak".

About 84 people had died under violent suppression between October and December last year, while more civilians had been tried before military courts in one year than under 30 years of his rule, it said.

In Tunisia, it was "critical" that a new constitution was drafted to ensure it guaranteed protection of human rights and equality under the law, the report said.

Amnesty also criticised international powers and regional bodies for "inconsistencies" in their response to the situations in Libya, Syria and Bahrain, and of "failing to grasp the depth of the challenge to entrenched repressive rule".

"Support from world powers for ordinary people in the region has been typically patchy," Luther said.

Positive And Optimistic Is So Vital For Me.

 

Yves Tanguy, Reply to Red, 1943
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Tanguy

 

Richie is watching football, Manchester United against Manchester City while taking own the Christmas tree, once both are over it will be time for my shower.

This can’t come soon enough for me; my legs keep spasming every now and then, think I need to do my leg exercises quite soon on the Motomed.

I have been noticing various changes that the progression of my ms, has caused.

Things like needing Richie to rearrange my body, which moves involuntarily during sleep.

It always ends up in an S bend; this becomes intensely painful, it wakes me up, calling for Richies help to untwist me.

This did not happen at all until recently, now it often happens a couple times during the night.

The other thing I have notice is how extra sensitive my skin has become; both things have made life more difficult.

 As well as how my torso muscles are so much weaker, Richie has to almost wrestle in order to get me dressed.

That is why being positive and optimistic is so vital for me.

Two Down, Three To Go.

Dora Maar, Sans Titre, 1934

If it had not been for the tremendous work of Doreen and Neville Lawrence in building such an incredible campaign, to get action taken against the gang of racist murderers.

Five racist thugs would have got away with mindlessly killing a young man, who had a promising career as an architecture student ahead of him.

They did not know him, there was no reason apart from racism, the young man was black, and that is why they killed Stephen Lawrence.

A great effort by the Lawrence’s to get two of these five racists who callously murdered their son Stephen, finally before a court of law and on trial.

Their tireless efforts since 1993 resulted in a trial after 19 years since the murder in 1993 and guilty verdicts for two of the gang on Tuesday of this week.

Since the trial, already new evidence has come to light, now people seem to feel able to give their evidence safely, since the police protection is gone.

It may mean that the other three gang members may well be in court soon too, facing charges of this racially motivated murder.

Brilliant news for the Lawrence family and for all anti racists and ant fascists, and a clear message to racists and fascists that they will not be tolerated.

 It took 19 years, but finally the law has caught up with two of the five racist thugs, two down, and three to go.

Brilliant News For The Lawrence family.

Night Fishing At Antibes, 1939

Jacqueline Lamba
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Lambal

Whilst the Dobson and Norris sentences are not really something to celebrate, but nevertheless, it was great news that two of the 5 racists had finally got prison sentences.

Prison sentences, they should have received in 1993, and not finally 19 years later; after all this time, it was good to hear that they were going to spend quite some time in prison.

For 19 years the five racists have been able to be free, to carry on with their activities, knowing they enjoyed police protection.

Apparently since the trial it seems there is new evidence, and at the same time members of the public have protested that the prison sentences were not long enough.

Now the sentences will be reviewed, it seems they may be extended to a minimum of twenty years, before they are eligible for release on parole.

Then if there any doubts whether they are rehabilitated, their sentences will get extended until they are considered safe enough to be back in the community.

I would not be surprised if they are kept in prison for a very long time, perhaps they will end up doing thirty years or even natural life.

Which would not be a surprise as the murder of Stephen Lawrence has become known worldwide.

New evidence may mean that the other three gang members may well be in court soon too, facing charges of this racially motivated murder, brilliant news for the Lawrence family.

Police Corruption Delails Trial For 19 Years.

Jacqueline Lamba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Lambal

Its quite amazing the amount of damage which occurred because of the corruption of the south London police, which stopped them, doing their jobs.

Instead of that, they were doing everything they could to protect their informant, a drug dealing gangster, who sold cocaine.

This valuable informant was the father of David Norris, one of five men, who attacked and murdered Stephen Lawrence in Eltham, London, in 1993.

The police never even bothered to arrest them, despite numerous calls coming in naming the men.

They did photograph one of the gang the day after the murder with a full bin bag outside his house, probably full of vital evidence.

But instead of following the many leads the public gave them about the racist gang, the police decided that because Stephen was black, it must be drug and gang related.  

It was not a gang fight about drugs; it was a racist attack, by a racist gang who were on the look out for black people to launch a vicious attack on.

The police did nothing until Nelson Mandela was in London; he heard about the murder of Stephen Lawrence and gave the Lawrence’s his support.

The very next day the men were arrested and their homes were searched, but of course by then nothing was found.  

If they had arrested them right away and put them on trial; they would have done their prison sentences long time by now and got on with their lives.

This did not happen; they denied it was them for 19 yrs, for 19 years Stephen Lawrence’s family fought for the people who murdered their beautiful son, to be tried in a court of law.  

Finally two of them have been sentenced; to 14 and 15 respectively, hopefully the three others will be in court soon for their trial and prison sentences.

Finally.

Helen Frankenthaler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Frankenthaler


Stephen Lawrence murder: reaction to sentencing of Gary Dobson and David Norris.
• Gary Dobson sentenced to minimum of 15 years two months
• David Norris sentenced to minimum of 14 years three months

The general feeling seems to be that the sentences are too short, although this seems to be tempered by relief that Dobson and Norris have at least been convicted, 19 years after the murder.

Vikram Dodd reports a crowd of 100 outside the Old Bailey. The Lawrence family are due to speak soon.
Brian Paddick, formerly of the Metropolitan police and now Lib Dem candidate for mayor of London, has just been speaking to the BBC about stop and search.

The Met has improved the way it carries out stop and search since Stephen Lawrence was killed in 1993, he says, but it is still carried out disproportionately against black people.

The Press Association has more quotes from Mr Justice Treacy, passing sentence today:
A totally innocent 18-year-old youth on the threshold of a promising life was brutally cut down in the street in front of eye witnesses by a racist, thuggish gang.

You were both members of that gang. I have no doubt at all that you fully subscribed to its views and attitudes.

He said that undercover police footage of the pair using racist obscenities showed "disgusting and shocking scenes", and that the murder was committed "for no other reason than racial hatred".

Scotland Yard commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has said "the other people involved in the murder of Stephen Lawrence should not rest easily in their beds", the Press Association reports.

Speaking before this morning's sentencing, he made an appeal to possible witnesses: "Anything you know, please tell us ... We can make a difference in this case still."

 The Metropolitan police "are actively reviewing the consequences of what opportunities might be presented", Hogan-Howe said.

When asked about allegations that the Metropolitan police was still institutionally racist, Hogan-Howe said: "I hope we are not but it is a bit like asking someone if they are a nice person. Are we the best people to ask?"
He said the force was "hugely different from where we were" at the time of Lawrence's death.

Mr Justice Treacy said the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence was a "terrible and evil crime" as he began sentencing Gary Dobson and David Norris today.

Sandra Laville reports that the judge ordered the Metropolitan police to continue with its investigation into the murder and praised Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, the senior investigating officer in the latest investigation.

Michael Mansfield QC, who represented Lawrence's parents at his inquest, is speaking on BBC News. He says that "it is a very important landmark that race has to be considered within the context of crime".

Mansfield points out that after Dobson and Norris have served their minimum sentences, they may not be immediately released – it may be felt that they are not eligible for parole at this point.

 "I suspect they will serve more than the minimum."
 Dobson's father shouted "shame on you all" after the sentencing, according to the BBC.

 Gary Dobson and David Norris have been sentenced for the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

 Gary Dobson must serve a minimum of 15 years and two months before he is eligible for parole.

David Norris must serve a minimum of 14 years and three months before he is eligible for parole.

The defendants did not respond, going down quietly, Sandra Laville reports from the court.

 David Norris has been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years and three months.

 Gary Dobson has been given a minimum term of 15 years and two months.

 His starting point is 12 years and he is going to adjust that up or down due to aggravating or mitigating factors, the judge says, according to the BBC. Gary Dobson is standing to hear his sentence now, according to the BBC.

Gary Dobson and David Norris, the two men convicted of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, are about to be sentenced.

The pair were 17 and 16 at the time of the murder. Their sentence will take into account as a starting point the fact that they were juveniles at the time of the fatal stabbing.

Mr Justice Treacy, the trial judge, will also take aggravating factors into account: specifically that the murder was racist, and also that the pair realised one of their group might use a knife.

According to the BBC, Treacy said Dobson repeatedly lied out of loyalty to the group he was with.

He said the encounter was chance, not premeditated, but Dobson and Norris were prepared to attack, the BBC reports.

 He said Dobson and Norris were part of a racist, thuggish gang, the BBC reports.

 There can be no mitigation for contrition, the judge said, according to the BBC.

 You lied to the court, the judge told them, Sandra Laville reports.

 Neither of you has shown any regret or remorse, he told them.

 You are now both in your mid-30s but I have to look at you as you were at the time, Treacy said.
There is nothing I have seen that suggests either of you were immature or easily led, he told them.

I must sentence you by reference to your age and maturity at the time not as the mature men you are now.
An adult committing this crime now would face life with a starting point of 30 years after changes to the law 2003, Treacey says.

Stephen Lawrence verdict: Dobson and Norris guilty of racist murder New evidence helps convict men of murder 18 years after teenager's fatal stabbing

Helen Frankenthaler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Frankenthaler

• Vikram Dodd and Sandra Laville
•  The Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/03/stephen-lawrence-verdict-guilty-murder

Gary Dobson (left) and David Norris have been found guilty of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Two men have finally been convicted of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, 18 years after a white gang fuelled by hatred stabbed the black teenager to death.

Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, were found guilty of murder on Thursday by a jury at the Old Bailey. The crime had raised searching questions about racism in Britain.

Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death 18 years ago. 

The pair were part of a group of five white men who were suspected just hours after the murder in 1993, but had escaped justice through police failings and because some witnesses were too scared to come forward.

New scientific evidence tied Dobson and Norris to the murder and exposed as lies their claims that they were not present when Lawrence was attacked. 

A covert video shot in the flat Dobson rented in 1994 showed him and Norris bragging and fantasising about inflicting violence on ethnic minorities, using explicit racist language, and having close friends who handled knives.

The case was one of the most famous unsolved murders in Britain. 

An 18-year fight for justice by Lawrence's parents led to a public inquiry which uncovered blunders by the Metropolitan police, blamed on institutional racism, which allowed his killers to escape justice.

Lawrence, 18, was murdered on 22 April 1993, as he and a friend waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London.

They were attacked by a group of five to six white youths who shouted: "What, what nigger?" and then rushed towards them.

The jury heard that Lawrence's friend, Duwayne Brooks, urged him to flee, shouting "get up and run Steve". But by then Lawrence had been caught by the white group, which "swallowed" him up through its "weight of numbers".

Prosecutor Mark Ellison QC said "hand and leg movements" were seen by a witness as Lawrence was attacked. He was stabbed twice, in his upper torso, with arteries being severed.

Ellison said: "Stephen Lawrence was likely to have been upright when wound one was inflicted, but may have been lying on the ground by the time he was stabbed in the left shoulder."

The group fled, the jury heard, leaving Lawrence dying on the pavement. 

Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead by midnight. 

His death was caused by the loss of blood from stab wounds.

Ellison said: "The only discernible reason for the attack was the colour of his skin.

The way in which the attack was executed indicates that this group were a group of like-minded young, white men who acted together and reacted together. 

They shared the same racial animosity and motivation."

Lawrence's parents, Doreen and Neville, had sat through much of the detailed evidence about their son's murder, which had begun in November.

At times it seemed to almost overwhelm them.

The blunders from the first police investigation into the murder had for more than a decade appeared to have been so severe that Lawrence's killers would not face justice in court.

But new evidence was unearthed by a cold case review which used new techniques and more rigorous methods to examine clothing from the victim and from the five main suspects.

Scientists found that on Dobson's grey bomber jacket, in the weave of its collar, was a blood spot, measuring 0.5mm by 0.25mm. 

The chances of the blood coming from anyone other than Lawrence were one in a billion.

Furthermore the re-examination found that 16 fibres from three pieces of Lawrence's clothing were recovered from Dobson's jacket, or from the evidence bag it had been stored in.

Norris was tied to the murder by two hairs belonging to Lawrence that were found in the evidence bag containing jeans recovered from Norris's bedroom. 

Ellison told the jury: "Within the debris from the packaging of the exhibit … were two short, dark brown-coloured, cut hairs. They were 1mm and 2mm in length."

They were sent to the US for mitochondrial DNA testing, which focuses on the genetic makeup of hair cells. 

The technique had not been available in the mid-1990s. 

They were found to match Lawrence's DNA or that of a maternal relative to a certainty of 999 in 1,000.

Seven fibres were also found on Norris's blue sweatshirt which potentially came from two items of Lawrence's clothes.

Dobson and Norris took the stand in their own defence, after a covert video exposing their racism and propensity for violence was played to the jury.

It helped establish in the jury's minds that the pair were – at around the time of the murder at least – racist and violent.

Norris was recorded talking about "skinning" black people and setting them alight.

Dobson was recorded also uttering racist remarks, and saying he had carried a Stanley knife and threatened to use it against a black man.

Norris said: "If I was going to kill myself do you know what I would do? I would go and kill every black cunt, every Paki, every copper, every mug that I know."

Norris later says: "I would, I would go down Catford and places like that, I am telling you now, with two submachine guns and I am telling you I would take one of them, skin the black cunt alive, mate, torture him, set him alight … I would blow their two arms and legs off and say, 'Go on you can swim home now.'

They would be bobbing around like that."

Dobson is recorded discussing a man, calling him a "nigger" and threatening him with a Stanley knife.

Dobson is caught by the camera "walking about with [a] large knife", according to a transcript. 

Other extracts show him using the terms "Paki" and "nigger".

Testifying in his own defence, Dobson admitted lying to police when, in a 1993 interview, he told detectives he did not know Norris.

For his part, Norris told the Old Bailey, he could not remember where he was on the night of the murder.

Dobson had previously been acquitted of the murder in 1996, after the Lawrences brought a private prosecution. 

In May this year the court of appeal quashed his acquittal after deciding the scientific evidence was sufficiently new and compelling.

Three other suspects remain free. Neil and Jamie Acourt, and Luke Knight deny involvement in the murder.

Detectives hope that the long-awaited convictions will lead to new evidence emerging against the rest of the gang that murdered Lawrence.

Dobson and Norris claimed that the scientific evidence against them came from contamination caused by failings in the way the exhibits had been stored over the last 18 years.

Tellingly, they did not produce a single expert to testify in support of their claims that contamination had somehow produced the evidence against them.

First Monday In 2012

Helen Frankenthaler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Frankenthaler

I am starting this New Year feeling very positive and optimistic, for the first time in ages I don’t feel I have to make the best of things.

In fact I feel that I have plenty, there’s Richie, our love for each other, that’s top of my list.

Our friendship, we enjoy each others company, and we always have something to discuss, lovely to have found such a good friend.

Feeling good about myself, understanding finally that while a fully functional body is a joy, being so extremely handicapped as I am doesn’t make me any less of a human being or a woman.

Glad I have managed to work it out for myself, with the help from all my friends, who are also on my list, friends are so important.

All the people I know mean alot to me, sadly some contacts have been lost people move away, its life.

Since I moved to Amsterdam, I met many lovely people but never made the same sort of close friends, like I did in England.

Maybe it’s the language and the culture, but whatever it is I am happy to have good friends here too.

Feels good a new year, I am looking forward, always forwards never looking back.

A Happy New Year's Eve.

 Helen Frankenthaler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Frankenthaler

New Year’s Eve was a pleasant evening, because Richie had taken the dogs out to the park first thing in the morning

They had fun in the park from 07.30 to 10.32 then came home, and then Richie took them to the pet shop which they seemed to enjoy.

Richie wanted to stock up on tripe, dog treats, as well as bones to distract them during the cacophony of noise from the fireworks storm which is unleashed to celebrate New Year.

His strategy worked very well, the dogs coped well with the noise, they stayed nice and calm, it was a succccful tactic of Richie’ which worked well

From 23.15 we watched Jools Holland’s excellent New Years Eve Hootenanny show, it was brilliant.

Betty Wright, Ruby Turner, Cindy Lauper, Sandi Shaw, Jesse J, Imelda May, were absolutely stunning, brilliant performances from them

And from many others like the Vaccines, Buddy Greco, Rico, Caro Emerald, James Morrison, Arlo Blaxx.

It was an enjoyable end of 2011 an enjoyable night, Happy New Year.

Enjoy Today,

Dorothea Tanning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Tanning

Well here it is the last day of 2011; because it’s raining I do not have to endure too many sounds of fireworks.

Here there have already, been weeks of fireworks being let off, despite it being illegal to set off fireworks before midnight on the 31^st of December.

No one tries to enforce this law, shame as fireworks causes so much injury, and I wish they would stop selling fireworks, better to have big displays.

People here drive to Belgium for fireworks, where there are fewer restrictions, and so heavier fireworks can be bought and smuggled over the border.

Things that are more like mortar bombs and nothing like crackers or bangers or catherine wheels.

My first New Year here on my own in 1982, was very scary, no one told me about fireworks, it sounded like I was in the middle of a war zone, like Beirut.

I wish people pooled their fireworks, and organised more communal displays, but after 30 years I am less hopeful.

Hoping for rain tonight so the streets won’t be too noisy, and our 3 dogs won’t get too upset, although Cyril seems to have started howling already.

I intend to enjoy today,

Happy New Year Without New Year’s Resolutions

Dorothea Tanning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Tanning

Well it’s nearly the 31st of December and the end of this year, 2011 and the start of a new year.

Of 2012, a new year and a new chance, to do things in a different way, always good to try something else.

A new year is a great chance to do something else; I don’t do new years resolutions

I found I never stuck to them, it was always something I would say I intend to do, but by January 2 all was forgotten.

This way has worked better for me, much better, I feel free to use my imagination.

Instead of reciting a list of things I won’t do suddenly as if by magic, no wonder it can’t work because there is no magic, it does not exist.

I feel happier making decisions as I need to not just because everyone makes new years resolutions.

My best new year’s resolutions were promising never to do it ever again, to never set myself up to fail.

Happy New Year without New Year’s resolutions

Syria: Human Rights Groups Challenge Leadership Of Arab League Mission.

The Chair, 1955.
Leonora Carrington.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonora_Carrington
 Doubts raised after Sudanese general says situation in Homs is 'reassuring' despite footage of monitors witnessing casualties
Julian Borger, diplomatic editor
The Guardian, Thursday 29 December
A Syrian tank moves through Homs where the Arab League observer mission began on Tuesday. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
The judgment of an Arab League observer mission in Syria has been called into question after its leader, the Sudanese general Mustafa al-Dabi, described the situation in the opposition stronghold of Homs as "reassuring", despite video footage of his monitors witnessing heavy gunfire and being shown civilian casualties.
Syrian opposition groups reported more deaths on Wednesday in Hama, where security forces allegedly used live ammunition against protesters attempting to stage a sit-in in the city centre before a scheduled Arab League mission on Thursday. Estimates of casualties range from seven wounded to six killed.
Al-Jazeera television footage from Hama showed gunfire, rising black smoke and men marching through the streets chanting "Where are the Arab monitors?" One man appeared to be bleeding from the neck.
The appointment of Dabi as the head of the observer mission was criticised on Wednesday by international human rights groups, who point to his past as a military intelligence chief and long-serving loyalist of President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the international criminal court for genocide and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region.
Dabi was a military commander in Darfur in 1999, when Arab Janjaweed militias, later accused of killing many of the local population, were co-opted by the army in a counterinsurgency against rebel groups.
Nearly 3 million people were forced to flee their homes in Darfur and the UN says about 300,000 have died, mostly from disease.
Amnesty International said Sudan's military intelligence under Dabi's command "was responsible for the arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, and torture or other ill-treatment of numerous people in Sudan".
Alex de Waal, co-author on a book on the Darfur conflict who now runs the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University, said of Dabi's time in the region: "Many were arrested during his tenure and the Darfur rebels say that his stint in the area was "the beginning of the organisation of the Janjaweed". Dabi argues that he was even-handed and that it was "necessary to show a firm hand in the face of dissent that threatened to spiral out of control".
The Arab League has defended its choice of Dabi to lead the monitoring team. Observers speculated that his selection represented a reward to the Sudanese government for its support of Qatar in opposing the Gaddafi regime in Libya and in taking a tough line on Syria.
The mission, currently 60-strong but eventually intended to comprise 150 observers, began its work on Tuesday in Homs, a city of 1 million people and stronghold of the rebel Free Syrian Army, where the government reportedly used tanks and armoured cars on Monday against the restive district of Baba Amr.
"Some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening," Dabi told Reuters on Wednesdayby phone from Damascus. "The situation seemed reassuring so far … Yesterday was quiet and there were no clashes. We did not see tanks but we did see some armoured vehicles. But remember this was only the first day and it will need investigation. We have 20 people who will be there for a long time."
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed security forces killed 15 people across the country on Tuesday, six of them in Homs. It said 34 were killed the day before.
A video distributed by activists in Homs showed Arab League monitors in a battle-scarred area of the city on Wednesday, taking cover when heavy fire rang out. Another showed the body of a little boy, purportedly killed in this week's fighting in Homs, being laid on the bonnet of an Arab League monitors' vehicle.
Omar, a Baba Amr resident and activist, told Reuters: "I felt they didn't really acknowledge what they'd seen – maybe they had orders not to show sympathy. But they didn't seem enthusiastic about hearing people tell their stories.
"We felt like we were shouting into a void. We placed our hopes in the entire Arab League. But these monitors don't seem to understand how the regime works, they don't seem interested in the suffering and death people have faced."
The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad said it was fighting a terrorist insurgency, which has killed 2,000 soldiers and police. The regime claimed to have freed 755 detainees "whose hands were not stained with Syrian blood", but according to Amnesty International 15,000 Syrians remain in detention.