Archivo de Febrero, 2007
Twenty Turkish Hizbullah members sentenced to life
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
DIYARBAKIR - Reuters
A Turkish court sentenced 20 members of the outlawed Turkish militant Islamist group Hizbullah to life imprisonment on Monday for killing civilians, ending a case that lasted 13 years.
The group, which killed scores of people in the late 1980s and early 1990s, targeted mostly Kurds in Turkey's southeast region during fighting between Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The ruling is the first against the shadowy organization, which has said it wants to overturn Turkey's secular state and introduce Islamic Shariah law.
Turkey's Hizbullah is not linked to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
The 20 defendants were charged with murders between 1990 and 1994.
Another two defendants were given a sentence of 16 years due to their young age when the murders were committed.
28 Febrero 2007
10:57 28/02/2007
Border Police troops kill three Islamic Jihad militants in Jenin raid
By Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
Three Palestinian militants were killed and an elite undercover Border Policeman lightly wounded Wednesday during a raid in the West Bank town of Jenin.
Meanwhile, five Qassam rockets hit the western Negev on Wednesday morning. One of the rockets damaged a fence belonging to a local town.
Three rockets hit open areas, while the fifth struck near the Gaza Strip security fence. There were no injuries in any of the strikes.
According to the Israel Defense Forces and Border Police, all three men killed in Jenin were Islamic Jihad members - Ashraf Sa'adi, a senior member of the group, and two of his aides, Mohammed Abu Nas'ah and Ala Bareiki.
Palestinian sources confirmed the three were in fact militants, adding that two civilians including a 12-year old girl were also wounded in the operation.
The 28-year-old Sa'adi was responsible for shooting attacks and bombings in the Jenin area, as well as attempts to dispatch suicide bombers to Israel. Abu Nas'ah assisted in carrying out attacks and handle finances, and according to the Shin Bet, Bareiki too assisted in carrying out attacks.
A spokesman for Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, Abu Ahmad, vowed a swift response. "This new crime will not pass without tough punishment," Abu Ahmad said in a text message sent to reporters. "Their blood will be the fuel of our holy battle. And our reaction is coming soon."
The three were sitting in a car when a black car drove up alongside them, witnesses said. According to the IDF and Border Police, Sa'adi noticed the undercover troops, and opened fire in their direction, wounding the Border Policeman in the shoulder.
The Border Police troops returned fire, killing the three passengers. The injured Border Policeman was taken for medical treatment.
At midmorning Wednesday, several thousand people, including gunmen firing into the air, joined a funeral procession in Jenin for the three dead militants.
Islamic Jihad tried last week to carry out a suicide bombing in Israel but the bomber, who was from the Jenin area, was caught in Bat Yam.
Last week, the same undercover Border Police unit killed the senior Islamic Jihad bomb maker who was responsible for dispatching the suicide bomber.
In Nablus, the IDF is continuing its large-scale operation "Hot Winter," which is focusing primarily on carrying out arrests in the casbah. Schools in the city were closed, and access routes to hospitals were blocked.
The IDF nonetheless significantly reduced its troop presence in the city Tuesday.
As of yet, several wanted men have been arrested, and troops have discovered three weapons factories and an arms cache.
Military sources said Tuesday the operation would continue in accordance with intelligence information.
Also Tuesday, a Qassam rocket hit an open area south of Ashkelon, causing no injuries. IDF troops came under fire east of Qalqilya and north of Ramallah, as well as in two separate incidents along the Gaza Strip. In all of Tuesday's incidents there were no injuries.
28 Febrero 2007
AFTER RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK IN PRISTINA A NEW ATTACK IN PEC
Explosion in Pec: No one hurt, nine vehicles damaged
PRISTINA, February 26, 2007 (Beta) - Seven OSCE vehicles and two private automobiles were damaged early this morning in an explosion in Pec, and no one was injured, advised the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) today. "Immediately upon arriving on the scene, the police noticed that seven OSCE vehicles and two private vehicles parked next to them were damaged," said a written statement, adding that the explosion occurred this morning at about 3:30. Police also advised that a second explosive device had been found where the explosion occurred, which failed to explode.
27 Febrero 2007
LAS REACCIONES DEL PRESIDENTE
De paranoias y bajos instintos
Claudia López. Columnista de EL TIEMPO.
El Presidente está a la defensiva. Dando palos de ciego, ve terroristas y guerrilleros por todas partes. Da la impresión de que siente que la 'parapolítica' es simplemente un complot en su contra. Dice sentirse solo. Parece no entender que mientras más intolerante, menos realista y más a la defensiva esté, más solo se sentirá.
La 'parapolítica' no es responsabilidad exclusiva suya ni de su gobierno, señor Presidente. Pero ¿ha caído en cuenta de que por desconocerla ha tomado, quizá, las decisiones más equivocadas de su vida política?
Para empezar ha decidido adoptar un estilo intolerante con discurso fascista, que bien puede dejarle a Carlos Castaño. Usted será un político de extrema derecha, pero no dudo de que es un demócrata, como para competir en estilo y discurso con un asesino recalcitrante que veía guerrilleros hasta en la sombra y salía a cazarlos creyendo hacer una gesta patriótica. Por esa vía creció el narcotráfico y se llegó al genocidio de la UP, a cientos de masacres y a miles de asesinatos. Supongo que usted no querrá ser el responsable de algo similar. Recuerde lo que aprendió en Harvard: duro con el problema y suave con las personas.
Ese es el segundo tema. El problema. Usted tiene el gran mérito de haber convencido a esta sociedad de que la guerrilla es un problema, no una solución. Eso lo llevó a su primera victoria y su posterior reelección. Pero el acierto de su segundo mandato y su papel histórico dependen de que se convenza y convenza a esta sociedad de que el paramilitarismo también es un problema.
Punto. Sin justificaciones. No se preocupe. No se nos va a olvidar que la guerrilla es un problema. Piénselo. Mientras más se estabilice la mejoría de los indicadores de seguridad, más legitimidad política necesitará la seguridad democrática para mantener la confianza.
Y valga decir que su evidente nerviosismo no ayuda a aquello de la legitimidad o la confianza. Su actitud inspira temor y muchas dudas. Los que tienen por qué estar alebrestados y a la defensiva son los criminales que puso presos en Itagüí y los políticos que seguirán desfilando por la Picota, no usted. Luce usted más preocupado en contener el escándalo y reaccionar a los hechos que ellos.
Con apenas unas cuantas verdades a medias y las primeras decisiones judiciales está en las que está, ¿de verdad cree que puede, o quiere, pasarse los tres años y medio que le quedan tapando el sol con un insulto diario o un golpe de opinión? ¿A qué horas va a construir el Estado comunitario si se la pasa en esas? ¿No lo deja pensando que su senadora más joven sí tenga tiempo de pensar en soluciones y usted no, y más bien tenga que salir a recogerlas como del ahogado el sombrero?
El paramilitarismo y la 'parapolítica' no son un complot en su contra. Son una realidad que atenta en general contra el país y en particular contra su legado político. Mientras más evidencias aparecen, más queda usted solo tratando de convencernos de que no hay problema, de que son apenas "unas manzanas podridas". Eso es inverosímil cuando las manzanas pululan, y cuando están casi todas en su canasta. Ahora que estamos indigestados no puede simplemente salir a golpear primero y lamentar la soledad después. Nos quejamos porque el malestar nos está matando. Y esperamos que usted, que salió a la plaza a decirnos que compráramos y nos comiéramos confiados esas manzanas (primero las mal llamadas Convivir, luego los Pedro Juanes y Rito Alejos, luego los 'parapolíticos' y los Nogueras, etc, etc.), nos ayude a curarnos. No que nos amenace o nos tape con la esperanza de que no se note la enfermedad.
El país necesita un Presidente que lidere las reformas institucionales que eviten que mafias armadas sigan intoxicándonos. Usted, señor Presidente, puede y debe ser parte de la solución. ¿Por qué escoge ser parte del problema?
27 Febrero 2007
Two Palestinians arrested for murder of Israeli man
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff
The Israel Defense Forces yesterday arrested two Palestinian youths in the murder of an Israeli whose body was found north of Hebron late Sunday. In Nablus, military operations continued for a second day, with tens of thousands of residents confined to their homes.
Police say Erez Levanon, 42, from the Bat Ayin settlement in Gush Etzion, had been stabbed by Palestinians.
Levanon, married and a father of three, regularly went alone to a wooded wadi about 300 meters from Bat Ayin. He was well-known in the Bratslav Hasidic community as a guitar player, songwriter and performer.
The suspects, Mudar Abu Dia and Musa Ahalil, both 17, from the nearby village of Khirbat Safa, were arrested overnight in a village near the murder site.
They confessed under interrogation, saying they had planned the murder in advance and visited the site several times to gather information, Shin Bet sources said.
The suspects said the murder was committed for nationalist reasons and thay they were working alone, without any connection to organized terror groups.
An estimated 400 mourners yesterday followed the funeral procession from Bat Ayin to the cemetery in Kfar Etzion.
Friends of Levanon said he used to drive daily to the secluded area in the wadi to pray, gain inspiration and write music.
The largest Israeli raid in the West Bank for months continued yesterday, with a full curfew imposed on tens of thousands of Nablus residents as soldiers raided the city's old market in search of militants and arms.
The forces, consisting of four IDF battalions and a large contingent of Border Police, uncovered an explosives laboratory, the second in 24 hours.
The laboratory, which contained two gas canisters, pipe bombs, explosives, computers and electrical equipment, was the third uncovered by the IDF since Saturday.
Earlier yesterday, a Palestinian man was killed and his son was injured during the IDF operation in Nablus. Anan al-Tibi, 50, was killed by a bullet to the neck while walking down a street with his son in the Old City, Palestinian sources said. His son sustain bullet wounds in his leg. wounded in his leg from the gunfire. The two were unarmed civilians who were in violation of the IDF curfew, the sources said.
Israeli sources said soldiers shot Tibi and his son, an armed Islamic Jihad activist, as they stood on the roof of their house. Residents threw stones at soldiers in response to the shooting.
IDF troops sealed off the center of Nablus' Old City with cement blocks and trash containers yesterday, and moved from apartment to apartment in search of seven Palestinian fugitives whose names the army broadcast over local TV and radio stations.
IDF troops also arrested the manager of the city's local television station, 43-year-old Naif Bariq.
Nablus's schools and the university remained closed on Monday, and reports from Nablus indicate that one of the schools has been transformed into a makeshift holding facility, where the IDF rounds up Palestinians and conducts preliminary investigations.
Residents said soldiers moved from house to house, searching every room. Mohammed Attireh, 47, who lives in the area, said all the residents of his building were ordered to stay in his apartment while troops searched the other apartments. Then the group of more than 20 people was taken to another house, while soldiers searched his apartment.
In a new tactic, troops broke into transmissions of local TV and radio stations Sunday and broadcast the names of the men, all residents of the old city. Soldiers warned civilians against hiding the fugitives.
Abir Kilani, director of the local TV station Gama, said her broadcasts were interrupted several times by the army.
27 Febrero 2007
Teherán, Irán. IRNA. 26 de febrero de 2007
Seyyed Mohammad Jatami, presidente de la institución internacional Diálogo de Civilizaciones y Culturas, ha manifestado dirigiéndose a un grupo religioso norteamericano que “para negociar es menester buena fe, y no condiciones previas.”
En un encuentro mantenido con sacerdotes cristianos e integrantes de grupos religiosos norteamericanos, Jatami manifestó en referencia a que tanto el pueblo iraní como el estadounidense están dotados de la cordura suficiente: “Con la ocupación de Irak, el Gobierno de Washington cometió grandes errores, siendo la consecuencia de esa acción el desarrollo de la cultura del radicalismo.”
“EEUU ha rechazado orgullosamente todos los puntos de vista de buena voluntad, y hoy la región es testigo de que Saddam ya no existe, pero de que el terrorismo y la inseguridad continúan en Irak”, agregó.
El ex presidente iraní se mostró esperanzado en que “el asunto nuclear de Irán se siga y resuelva con medidas, y de que no surja una nueva crisis en la zona ya que toda crisis perjudica a Oriente Medio, a Irán y a EEUU.”
Jatami reiteró: “Para negociar es menester buena fe y no condiciones previas; también el Gobierno norteamericano debería, al igual que su pueblo, encontrar una solución adecuada valiente y cuerdamente para solucionar los problemas.”
Jatami sostuvo que “en el inicio del tercer milenio nos enfrentamos a la inseguridad en el mundo. Esta inseguridad no está solo en Afganistán, Irak y Palestina sino también en Washington, Londres y otras partes del mundo".
26 Febrero 2007
SOUTH LEBANON: The Lebanese and Israeli armies were in a state of alert Friday from both sides of the barbed-wire fence separating the Lebanese-Israeli border, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Lebanese infantry soldiers were patrolling the road near the Fatima Gate in the border region of Kfar Kila, as part of their routine mission, when they were surprised by an Israeli patrol on the other side of the barbed-wire fence.
Some of the Israeli troops were pointing their weapons at the Lebanese, the NNA said.
In response, the Lebanese Army mobilized its troops, ready for any military action.
After 25 minutes of alertness, the Israelis withdrew to the Israeli settlement of Metulla and Spanish troops of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrolled the Fatima Gate, with three bulldozers being stationed at the location to prevent any clashes from breaking out.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
This is the third incident this month between the two armies.
Last week, the Lebanese and Israeli armies exchanged fire near Maroun al-Ras at the border after Israeli sappers reportedly searching for explosive devices crossed into Lebanese territory, according to a Lebanese Army spokesman.
Israel has insisted that it remained on the Israeli side of the border.
On Thursday, Israeli overflights drew anti-aircraft fire from the Lebanese Army after flying at a low-altitude over the South. - The Daily Star
25 Febrero 2007
24/02/2007
Jordan's Abdullah sees 'last opportunity' for Mideast peace
By Reuters
Jordan's King Abdullah said on Friday there was little time left to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that this may be "the last opportunity for peace".
"We find ourselves at this very important crossroads… What I do feel really is the last opportunity for peace for all of us," Abdullah told Israel's Channel 2 television in excerpts from an interview to be broadcast in full on Saturday.
"The opportunities that we have are diminishing and… I believe that the way the dynamics are changing is that we will find ourselves in a very short period of time with never being able to push the two-state solution," he added.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a three-way meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction signed a power-sharing pact with the Islamist Hamas group in Mecca, Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Rice's meeting appeared to do little to advance long-stalled peacemaking efforts and was overshadowed by a threatened U.S. and Israeli boycott of the unity government, which has yet to be formed.
Although Olmert said he would maintain contacts with Abbas, he played down the chances of resuming serious peace talks.
24 Febrero 2007
Iran ties turn on "strategic vision"
Iranian foreign minister proposes closer and deeper trade links with Turkey at a time when his country is faced with the threat of UN sanctions
Cengiz ÇANDAR
Istanbul – Turkish Daily News
The introduction of a “strategic vision” into the bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran was the most important part of this week's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Turkey, the minister said yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News, Mottaki said, “The trade volume between Turkey and Iran is $6.7 billion. After my discussions in Ankara, we have decided to increase it to $10 billion.” He then added, “I also presented a proposal for $10 billion.”
When asked if the plan was to increase the trade volume between the two countries to $10 billion, Mottaki said in Turkish: “No, that's not it. This is an additional $10 billion.”
Mottaki noted a previous interview, and said, “Last year, I had talked about my determination to develop more comprehensive bilateral ties. The proposal I am presenting is the result of that determination and vision.”
The cooperation Mottaki underlined is focused almost exclusively on energy and as a result is of strategic importance. Among the plans are to deliver Turkmen and Iranian natural gas to Turkey and to sell it to Europe via Turkey. This is a strategic target on its own.
As the 60 days the U.N. Security Council gave Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program expires and the threat of economic isolation looms over the country, Iran presents Turkey, and via Turkey to Europe, more than a “carrot” – a string of opportunities.
There is no doubt that Washington's eyes and ears are focused on Mottaki's visit to Turkey. Among Washington's most important foreign policy priorities is its aim to break Russia's natural gas monopoly by making Turkey the center of the route to carry Central Asian gas to Europe. However, this does not include Turkey allowing Iranian gas to reach Europe through its land. The United States wants Turkmen gas to be transported through pipes under the Caspian, via Azerbaijan and Turkey and then onto Europe.
From Turkey's perspective, both the Caspian Sea-Azerbaijan and the Iranian route can be utilized simultaneously. Moreover when one considers the “political distance” between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, a Turkmenistan-Iran route becomes more feasible.
Confident in the face of threats:
Speaking to Mottaki a day after the U.N. deadline for Iran suspending its uranium enrichment program, his obvious lack of concern about U.S. intentions was very interesting to observe. Mottaki even said that U.S. Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice had used various channels to communicate her willingness “to meet anywhere and any time.” While an official from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said they had heard of no such effort on Rice's part, what Mottaki said didn't sound too unlikely, considering only 48 hours ago Americans who had heard Rice uttering such statements were saying the same thing in Qatar. Mottaki just confirmed their statements.
When asked if Democrats would open dialogue with Iran if they came to power two weeks ago, Richard Holbrooke, their likely secretary of state, said without pausing: “Without a doubt. That's what will be done.”
When told about it, Mottaki was not surprised. The Iranian foreign minister is aware of the fact that the U.S. policies on Iran and Iraq are mutually dependent and believes if the Baghdad Security Plan that the U.S. administration is implementing in Iraq is successful, United States will have more “room to maneuver.” This means greater inclination for the United States to establish a dialog with Iran.
Cooperation between Turkey and Iran:
When asked if the growing trade links, especially concerning energy, between Turkey and Iran would come to a halt with any U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran, Mottaki said no, but also noted his belief that any such sanctions would not be too successful.
Mottaki notes the harsh criticisms voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin against the U.S. efforts to monopolize international diplomacy, and implies Russia would never allow international sanctions against Iran. He is quite confident that China will not follow the United States in the U.N. Security Council. He even believes Germany will not accept any harsh decisions against Iran.
It will be interesting to watch how the United States will react towards this new “energy routes strategy.” It was in support of the old version but the new one will allow a closer interaction between Iran and Turkey.
Currently, the only result of Mottaki's visit to Turkey is a “verbal” agreement between the two countries. In other words, there is no actual agreement with signatories.
However, when one considers Iran's “strategic vision” and determination to establish “close relations with Turkey in all fields” and Turkey's energy needs and the accompanying “strategic calculations,” it will not be a surprise for economic and trade factors to influence strategy and politics in the near future.
In the near future, the “Iran factor” will be as important in Turkish-U.S. relations as the “Iraq factor.”
23 Febrero 2007
En muy poco tiempo, varios congresistas colombianos han sido detenidos, se han producido varias dimisiones al más alto nivel, entre ellas las de la uribista y canciller del país María Cónsuelo Araújo, cuyo principal mérito era la conocida amistad con el máximo líder, y se han sucedido varios crímenes políticos contra activistas de Derechos Humanos que denunciaban y luchaban contra el cada vez más creciente poder de los paramilitares en la política colombiana, también en la economía, pues controlan las tierras y las grandes empresas. Estos acontecimientos, que en otro país hubieran provocado una investigación y tal vez la caída del presidente, el autocomplaciente Alvaro Uribe, no han originado un cambio de rumbo por parte de la dirección política; más bien lo contrario: el núcleo central del uribismo sigue ausente ante los grandes problemas, ha optado por aislarse en su búnker y arremete despiadadamente contra sus críticos y la oposición. No hay mejor defensa que un buen ataque, al menos eso piensa el inefable Uribe.
Sin embargo, pese a los inoportunos exabruptos de Uribe contra sus oponentes, criticados hasta por los medios afines al presidente (El Tiempo de Bogotá y la revista Semana, siempre tan cautos a la hora de medir sus críticas al poder bogotano y de callar oportunamente sus miserias políticas, que son numerosas), son ya muchos los que han lanzado sus dardos contra la gestión de la grave crisis que padece Colombia. Ya no se puede ocultar lo que hasta ahora era un rumor: las conexiones entre el poder político, a los más altos niveles, y los paramilitares, que controlan parte del negocio del narcotráfico y la extorsión a los campesinos en las zonas más deprimidas, es cada vez más clara y evidente, constatada judicialmente y con suficientes indicios para poner en tela de juicio a un presidente cada vez más ligado a una oligarquía poco deseosa de desligarse de tan pesada carga.
Hasta ahora la gente en Colombia le perdonaba todo a Uribe en aras de que sacara adelante sus ambiciosos programas que iban a llevar la seguridad y la protección a todos los ciudadanos, aunque ello tuviera sus costes sociales y económicos, pero, sin embargo, lo acaecido en los últimos días está comenzando a erosionar la imagen de un presidente que está contra las cuerdas. El analista y dirigente de la izquierda colombiana Alberto Navarro Wolf, desde las páginas del periódico El Tiempo, pedía inútilmente al presidente que tomara partido por los cambios en el campo de la agricultura, rompiendo con los grandes latifundistas y los paramilitares, para llevar a cabo una gran reforma de la tierra en Colombia, algo que la sociedad demanda y que crearía, a la larga, las condiciones para la creación de la tan demandada clase media en esta depauperada sociedad (las mayores bolsas de miseria, no lo olvidemos, están fuera de las ciudades, en pequeñas aldeas y villorrios). Mensaje fallido: Uribe es, en palabras de Navarro Wolf, un “finquero”.
Uribe, fiel a su herencia familiar y política, no va a llevar cabo dichas reformas y romper con el pasado para iniciar una nueva era en este país tan necesitado de cambios. Parece muy difícil que el uribismo, casi al comienzo de este segundo mandato, sea capaz de enderezar el rumbo y hacer frente a la más grave crisis que padece el sistema político colombiano desde hace casi una década. Colombia, por mucho que el presidente Uribe exhiba un triunfalismo de campaña y no sujeto a la cruda realidad, necesita algo más que palabras. Y luego queda por saber si el país podría soportar impasible esta cadena de arrestos, detenciones y sospechas continuadas de los principales responsables de la seguridad, el ejército y la administración colombiana. No hay día que pase sin un escándalo. Ante estos desafíos, que son inmensos, el presidente tiene que ofrecer algo más que la guerra total que ahora propone contra las FARC, sino alternativas reales y soluciones. Sus tácticas manipuladoras y sus huidas hacia delante ya no son creíbles, la gente no puede vivir entre el sobresalto y la indiferencia de sus poderes.
23 Febrero 2007
Anteriores
