Critical Observer

Turkey arrested 2 VICE journalists to deter foreign media

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lawyer representing two Vice News journalists and their assistant on Tuesday denounced a Turkish court's decision to arrest them on terror-related charges, calling it a government attempt to deter foreign media from reporting on the conflict with Kurdish rebels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The arrests have prompted strong protests from media rights advocates, the U.S. and the European Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A government official speaking on the basis of anonymity denied that Turkey was attempting to suppress journalists, and said the arrests were due to encryption software allegedly found on the assistant's computer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two journalists — British correspondent Jake Hanrahan and British cameraman Philip Pendlebury — and their Turkey-based assistant were detained late Thursday in Diyarbakir, the main city in Turkey's mostly Kurdish southeast, where renewed fighting has killed scores of people. A court ordered the three formally arrested late on Monday on charges of aiding a terror organization</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tahir Elci, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, said the arrests were a government move to prevent international media from reporting from the area, after Turkey earlier this year gave police heightened powers to crackdown on protesters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The spokesman rejected the assertion that the journalists' arrests were an attempt to silence media. The Diyarbakir court's decision "reflects the broader concern that there is a real threat toward Turkey's national security," the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules that bar officials from speaking to journalists without prior authorization.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elci, the lawyer, said they were told that the journalists were initially taken into custody because of an anonymous tip claiming that they were engaged in activities helping IS recruit followers. The court later accused them of helping armed groups, including the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and its youth wing. Exact charges would be known when the prosecutor submits his indictment, which could take several weeks, Elci told The Associated Press.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All three have rejected the accusations and the assistant has denied having any encryption system on his computer, the lawyer said. He said that he would appeal the court decision for their arrest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The arrests come amid a surge in government crackdowns on media freedoms. Authorities frequently use vague anti-terrorism or libel laws to prosecute journalists, although international journalists have rarely been prosecuted in recent years. Several prominent Turkish journalists have been fired under government pressure while access to websites is frequently blocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists wrote an open letter to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, calling on him to ensure that the Vice News journalists and their assistant are released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They "were providing badly needed coverage of current events in southeastern Turkey, which are of interest not only to domestic but also to international audiences," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said in Tuesday's letter, which was also sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, foreign diplomats in Turkey and EU officials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Reporting on sensitive issues, including talking to a variety of news sources, is not a crime and such coverage must never be equated with criminal activity," Simon said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><i><b>My Comment (not part of original article): </b>These reporters were made an example of to deter other media from getting too close and reporting the truth. This 'coalition' to fight ISIS is a farce. Turkey, which is a NATO ally, is using this as cover, to wage an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kurds while the US and other members of this 'War OF Terror' coalition strike Assad's forces in Syria, all while claiming they are fighting ISIS. These reporters made the mistake of trying to cover both sides of the story. How dare they try to poke holes in the establishment narrative.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Tuesday, police searched the premises of a business and media group close to a U.S.-based moderate Islamic cleric whom the government accuses of trying to destabilize it and detained six company officials for questioning. Critics denounced the action as a government crackdown on opposition voices before an election on Nov. 1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vice News, a New York-based news channel that produces documentaries, breaking news reports and investigative pieces, issued a statement Monday criticizing the charges as "baseless and alarmingly false." The U.S. urged Turkish authorities to "ensure their actions uphold universal democratic values, including due process, freedom of expression as well as access to media and information."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Brussels, EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said Tuesday: ""Any country negotiating EU accession needs to guarantee the respect for human rights, including freedom of expression." she was referring to Turkey's candidacy to become an EU member.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Renewed conflict in Turkey's mostly ethnic Kurdish southeast has seen about 60 soldiers, police and village guards killed since July. Clashes between government security forces and rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, also have killed around 90 rebels, according to state-run media. The fighting has derailed a 2 1/2-year-old peace process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Suzan Faser - Associated Press</span></div>

Turkey arrested 2 VICE journalists to deter foreign media

A lawyer representing two Vice News journalists and their assistant on Tuesday denounced a Turkish court's decision to arrest them on...

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Suspended Licence System

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fvik-wk3fMHtA8qhCb7Lu-B3wl8dH5k63MTtnGfcztQPVb-4UgVD7pwSCOEJkEPpV1a9uwSzbpFdueXjS-Ml8jcqhbd7MEbwnACVCUSwvnJVlyqa4t9sznvs1X7nd-SDXXRO3WeEIiI/s1600-h/0323_B69.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214047705309675794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fvik-wk3fMHtA8qhCb7Lu-B3wl8dH5k63MTtnGfcztQPVb-4UgVD7pwSCOEJkEPpV1a9uwSzbpFdueXjS-Ml8jcqhbd7MEbwnACVCUSwvnJVlyqa4t9sznvs1X7nd-SDXXRO3WeEIiI/s200/0323_B69.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Almost everyone has been pulled over with a suspended license at one point or another. And if you haven't, then you are not living on the edge like us, the cool kids. In any event and I am planning to get right to the point here, so here it goes. The N.Y.P.D. is often tardy in sending license suspension notices to drivers. My friend had been pulled over again today, unknowingly driving with a suspended license. It would be nice to know if your license is suspended before hand so you stay off the road. However it seems to me the N.Y.P.D. and the D.M.V don't do their fucking job. Just ac<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9hYPT2x4NzDVYEr7HSYTM-QKurodkIRJeAO0J_nSLgzxbQBHou__2qRpm1jYVPgYDGc-JP5UgOvLOVaOnQzilZ3Cydm5NIQLdDQUQI3wj5RUFCHzJfTJGIscL9bqpJM5xd2OovdbPGA/s1600-h/monkey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214052941550266226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9hYPT2x4NzDVYEr7HSYTM-QKurodkIRJeAO0J_nSLgzxbQBHou__2qRpm1jYVPgYDGc-JP5UgOvLOVaOnQzilZ3Cydm5NIQLdDQUQI3wj5RUFCHzJfTJGIscL9bqpJM5xd2OovdbPGA/s200/monkey.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a>ross the river in New Jersey, I have never heard of anyone who got pulled over during with a suspension without knowing it before hand. I bet if we replaced everyone who is responsible for mailing out these notices in New York city, with monkeys on typewriters, the whole system would be a lot more efficient. Their whole notification system is at best random. For a city that is considered to be the capital of the world this shit is ridiculous. Hardworking people (and taxpayers) are getting punished for the city's clerical mistakes and this shit needs to come to an end. This whole system needs an overhaul. Here are a few steps they can take but won't, to improve this situation...<br /><br />1. Replace people with monkeys. The whole system will be a lot more efficient.<br /><br />2. Set-Up a system with different levels of severity for suspensions. Here is what I mean...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAtgdLRktg_Kdb11pqZzJuGA82f8jNRj4E-8NzQOUiOL0mfWpCX5MdA8LfZH5ksjKG-oxMcPYpV0-50NuwPEAzKbiQ_MR7mueBjicCGCrdYqQ8QyNESXZeG605BmdlUszJbvBJOHmIzQ/s1600-h/dui.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214054076659688258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAtgdLRktg_Kdb11pqZzJuGA82f8jNRj4E-8NzQOUiOL0mfWpCX5MdA8LfZH5ksjKG-oxMcPYpV0-50NuwPEAzKbiQ_MR7mueBjicCGCrdYqQ8QyNESXZeG605BmdlUszJbvBJOHmIzQ/s200/dui.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">  Suspension Level 1</span> - For offenders who have have had their license suspended due to a DUI, DWI or Trafficking. Offenders pulled over with a Level 1 suspension will undergo and full vehicle search (if warranted for) and will go directly to jail or bookings and have their vehicle confiscated and license revoked pending a court hearing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTgF7lOyZN_KX2ReN80ri9dFlQOt5uS89FuHvWwB7X9eBgUtNpImhrOZqGQB1IVndOV6-T6otV8nIqfewFT3USSvBKHc-_0gfRzYaRYqQrrt2NUCre8wHrjy6gX3x8tkqOCwbgYyhcDs/s1600-h/speeding-excuse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214055299070639362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTgF7lOyZN_KX2ReN80ri9dFlQOt5uS89FuHvWwB7X9eBgUtNpImhrOZqGQB1IVndOV6-T6otV8nIqfewFT3USSvBKHc-_0gfRzYaRYqQrrt2NUCre8wHrjy6gX3x8tkqOCwbgYyhcDs/s200/speeding-excuse.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Suspension Level 2</span> -  For offenders who have have had their license suspended from speeding 40 plus    miles over the posted speed limit and serious reckless driving offenses. If the offender is caught driving with a Level 2 suspension, the offense will result in a hefty fine and the offender will go to jail pending a court hearing. For the record however, speeding tickets should not be given out if the offender is breaking the limit by at most 20mph (highway only). It will ll help speed up traffic as i ranted on about in prior articles/blog posts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNonqSs9g2QtK9pBYdJG8jT6_HuHFEI-8fLKENDBQSVsysJAe5fLiq0FewYF8RMPVh5iatk_pTWiM-ndZkAYVbd_W_wNY6BGr_yfYce0sqAByVAvhd1VZFtshyphenhypheng2ZUsdMeoJeQ-vejLUk/s1600-h/parking_ticket.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214056422524356146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNonqSs9g2QtK9pBYdJG8jT6_HuHFEI-8fLKENDBQSVsysJAe5fLiq0FewYF8RMPVh5iatk_pTWiM-ndZkAYVbd_W_wNY6BGr_yfYce0sqAByVAvhd1VZFtshyphenhypheng2ZUsdMeoJeQ-vejLUk/s200/parking_ticket.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Suspension Level 3</span> - For offenders who have have had their license suspended due to unpaid tickets or non moving violations. Offenders who get pulled over while their license is suspended on a Level 3 suspension will result in a fine of $79 for the first driving with a suspended license offense and will double for each subsequent one. Offender will NOT be arrested.<br /><br />There are too many people are going to jail for the city's clerical errors and for other minor bullshit that the person maybe was not in a capacity pay given the current economic situation. So lets stop the damn nonsense you tyrants! And on another note, if someone doesn't want to wear a seatbelt don't make them. I understand it is to save lives (its really for insurance purposes) but this is another prime example of our governments hypocrisy. So behind the wheel they care if you die or not, but when it comes to you dying alcohol and tobacco, who gives a shit, right? You should have known better. Again, hypocrisy at its best.

Suspended Licence System

Almost everyone has been pulled over with a suspended license at one point or another. And if you haven't, then you are not living on th...

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