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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1415
Defense Ministers Express Concerns Over Venezuela
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Oct. 3, 2006 – Nations in this region are concerned over recent arms sales by Venezuela, several officials attending a security conference here said yesterday.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, along with defense ministers from 32 other Western Hemisphere nations, are meeting here this week to discuss issues of mutual concern. Several ministers mentioned Venezuela as an issue of concern, U.S. leaders attending the talks said.
Ministers from Latin American nations expressed “concern that some of the things arriving in that country could conceivably end up in the hands of terrorist groups, the (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC) or other groups,” Rumsfeld said.
Countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, are concerned over Venezuela’s recent purchase of 100,000 rifles from Russia and other purchases of high-performance fighter aircraft and boats.
“I can understand neighbors being concerned, and I guess each county has to make a judgment as to what they do, how they invest their money, what they purchase,” Rumsfeld said.
Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, who is responsible for military operations throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, said that even a year ago countries in this region weren’t as concerned about Venezuela as a threat. Now many are concerned, he said.
“(There is) some concern about the uptick in weapons purchases,” he said, noting that countries wonder, “Is it indeed a modernization, or is it something else?”
Craddock said countries have expressed more concern over the past few months “with regard to transparency and the volume” of weapons and other military equipment moving into Venezuela.
Latin American nations, through the Organization of American States, have an agreement in place to report pending weapons purchases and completed purchases, as well as to declare the reason for such purchases.
“Arms sales everywhere in the region need to be transparent,” Craddock said. “They need to comply with provisions of the OAS with regard to weapons purchases, sales (and) provisions for registering such sales.”
It’s also important to look at countries’ intent regarding weapons sales, Craddock said. Purchases of military equipment are reasonable if a country needs help with internal security threats or external threats on their sovereign territory, he said.
However, Rumsfeld told reporters traveling with him, “I don’t know of anyone threatening Venezuela.”
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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06100017.htm
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Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Lawyer optimistic on young man accused of blasphemy in Pakistan
By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan
Blasphemy accused Shahid Masih with his lawyer, Khalil Tahir
FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The lawyer of 17-year old Christian, Shahid Masih, who was accused of blasphemy last month has expressed optimism that his client would be acquitted by the court.
Masih’s lawyer, Khalil Tahir told this to ANS on Sunday, October 1.
Shahid Masih was accused by Dr. Arshad Masood, a Muslim, of ransacking his clinic and desecrating outer cover of a religious book that contained translation and interpretation of Quran till Surat-ul-Nisa.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the complainant alleged that on his “interrogation” Ghaffar confessed that he had committed alleged ransacking and desecration of the religious book along with Shahid Masih.
The FIR was filed in Police Station Sadar, Faisalabad. Shahid Masih and Ghaffar have been charged with 295-B. The alleged desecration of the religious book occurred on September 10 at Chak 208 Rab, Faisalabad.
Talking to ANS Masih’s lawyer said Shahid’s acquittal by the court may take a year due to snail-paced dispensation of cases as well as discriminatory attitude of judiciary in disposing of blasphemy-related cases.
He said the fanatic Muslim clerics also develop pressure on the judges deciding the blasphemy cases by assembling outside the courts.
Khalil Tahir talks to Shahid Masih
“The case is fictitious. According to Evidence Act article 38, 39, 40, 43 the statement of any accused cannot be used against any other accused neither in favor nor against him. Therefore, implication of my client in this case is violation of law," said Khalil Tahir, who is defending Masih.
He said he had been defending blasphemy accused pro bono since 1997. When this correspondent asked him how he was satisfying his social self he said: “I am a practicing lawyer and I plead other cases as well”.
He claimed that he does not charge victims of rape, forced conversions and blasphemy.
Asked what chances he saw of Masih’s acquittal, an upbeat Khalil said he was hundred percent sure of Masih’s acquittal.
“I have made appeals to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar, and Rapetteour of UN and also to Defender of Defenders,” he said.
When asked to name Christians accused of blasphemy in Faisalabad before Shahid Masih. Khalil said additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Shahid Rafique had convicted one Shahbaz Masih alias Kaka of life in prison in 2004.
Khalil said that the judge convicted the mentally handicapped Christian to life imprisonment despite the fact that article 84 of the Pakistan penal code prohibits the conviction of a person who suffers unsoundness of mind.
The same judge had convicted Ranja Masih who he said was accused of blasphemy.
Shahid’s family claimed that Masih is innocent, saying Arshad Masood had implicated him in a concocted case.
Asked if they had any rivalry with the complainant they said they were rather enjoying very friendly relations with him.
“My husband Munawar, a labourer is the sole breadwinner of the family. He earns Rs 100-150 per day. Implication of Masih in blasphemy case has compounded our economic woes”, said Shaid’s mother Alice, 80.
“When I went to see my son in lock up he kept weeping all the time”, she said.
“We are living in a grip of fear ever since the Dr. accused my son of blasphemy”, Shahid’s father, Munawar told ANS.
Talking to ANS Human Rights Activist and coordinator of Centre for Legal Aid and Assistance (CLAAS) Joseph Francis said that his centre’s fact finding had revealed that Shahid Masih is innocent and a blasphemy case has been invented against him.
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.