Misc

Geneva II : Sidelines Turns Spotlights .........

Event on Durban II Sidelines Turns Spotlight Onto Repressive Regimes
Monday, April 20, 2009
By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor

The treatment of women in Iran, repression in Cuba and Libya and the plight of black Africans in Sudan’s Darfur region were among the issues aired at the “Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy.”

Libya, Iran and Cuba are among 20 countries making up a preparatory body for the U.N. conference known as Durban II. All three have human rights records that are frequently and widely criticized, and their roles in setting the agenda contributed to the controversy that has resulted in a boycott by leading Western countries.

According to the Geneva-based U.N. Watch, one of the more than 30 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the Geneva Summit, a number of participants voiced disappointment about aspects of Durban II.

The Darfur crisis is missing from the program despite being among the deadliest conflicts anywhere in the world today – and one in which, experts contend, race cannot be discounted as a factor.

The U.N. says up to 300,000 people have died in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003 between government-backed mostly Arab militias and ethnic African rebel groups.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir faces International Criminal Court (ICC) charges for alleged crimes against humanity in Darfur but, with strong backing from Islamic, Arab and African allies, is refusing to cooperate.

Gibreil Hamid, president of the Darfur Peace and Development Center, told the meeting in Geneva Sunday that while Islamic and Arab governments wanted to speak about the Palestinian issue at Durban II, they would not discuss Darfur.

Darfuris, who although Muslims are not Arabs, were treated as second-class citizens, Hamid was quoted as saying.

Dominique Sopo, head of a French anti-racist NGO SOS Racisme, said it was unbelievable that Darfur was not on the Durban II agenda.

He accused dictators of perverting the anti-racist agenda, noting that Bashir, facing the ICC indictment, sought to paint himself as a victim of Western imperialism. In reality, it was the people of Darfur were the victims and Bashir the perpetrator, Sopo said.

Irwin Cotler, a former Canadian justice minister and counsel for genocide victims, expressed regret at the involvement of Ahmadinejad. The enduring lesson of the Holocaust and other genocides was that they began with words, he said.

Iranian-Canadian human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam of the Iran-focused campaign Stop Child Executions said that when Ahmadinejad prepares to speak, representatives of countries that believe in freedom and democracy should stand up, in solidarity with the people of Iran, and walk out.

Human rights abuses and repression in communist Cuba were also spotlighted at the Geneva Summit. Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo, a dissident journalist and former political prisoner, discussed his imprisonment and the targeting of his family.

He was imprisoned during a massive 2003 crackdown, sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment but released five years later under international pressure.

Castillo described Durban II as an “oxygen booth” for dictatorships, to enable them to “continue to trample on peoples’ lives.”

Other participants in the summit included a Tutsi survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Esther Mujawayo, and Zimbabwean human rights advocate Marlon Zakeyo.

It's called facts and evidence Fred (look it up)

Dear resident hypocrite Zio-sophist,

In your lame attempt to change the conversation, in order to cover up Zionist war crimes, you accidently stumbled upon a common thread of truth.

Islamists deny their illegal Islamist nuke program of having nefarious aims,

It's called facts and evidence. People who have them, can make logically sound statements. People who don't well resort to shooting the messenger with fake outrage and concocted BS. They sound like aretarded lapdog who swallowed a dictionary. (is there really any other way to describe your so-called "prose"?)

If only the house Zionists had enough integrity to walk out on all our lives!

Speaking of integrity, read a Gay Muslim's perspective on Durban.

Accuse, divide and incite, any monkey can do; and one did.

//english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/04/2...

//english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/04/2...

Accuse, divide and incite, any monkey can do; and he did.

//english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/04/2...

Waow ...

Mahmoud a genius with heavy balls.... I'm jealous too!

Ben: all power to you

As an Iranian I've been waiting for Iranian Jews to speak up -- in a heart-felt manner -- against this criminally insane state called Israel. I hope we hear more from you, Ben. You are brave. Hope you know Gilad Otzmon.

The truth must be told, otherwise there will never be an end to atrocities.

(No subject)

a

a

Brave Man who is changing the world!

If any of the western leaders had an epsilon of Ahmadinejad's courage, the world would have been a better place by now!

In Jan. 2000, the Israeli asskisser Rudi Giuliani had a first time open speech advocating Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel despite US interest and established policy, and he invited Al-Qaeda to NY. In September the New regime of George Bush made a pimp out of Colin Powell by demanding that he boycotts the South Africa's racism conference, which signaled the pro-Israel policy of George Bush....the catalyst was set in motion and shortly after NY saw the Sept. 11th massacre.

George Bush and Giulliani paid for their Zionist racism with the blood of 4000 innocent people in NY while making a pimp out of African American Powell who had to eat crow and watch the world act for the black people while he boycotted the conference like a coward.

This time, Israelis made a pimp out of Barak-half-Kenyan-Obama by dictating a boycott of the conference on racism which is so close to his heart.

I bet Obama is so jealous of Ahmadinejad's balls!!

Invited by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Don't you know who is inviting him to these international forums everytime?

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I wonder whose houses Zionists were blowing up and whose farms

they were burning? If it did not blong to a people called Palestinians then? What were the people who lived in that land called? Oh I fogot! The jews came from all over to this deserted land and upon their arrival the desert bloomed and the rest of the bu..sh..s the world is fed by the Zionists propaganda machine. You've been hanging around here long enough to know if Palestinians lived in the occupied Palestine before they were driven out of their land. Here is link to enlighten you about Palestinian nation: //electronicintifada.net/

Islamist prudence

In reference to his Islamist prez’s dreck-talk in Geniva, the resident heavy-duty Islamist says: “every word is correct, which makes him less embarrassing than George W. Bush. But that still doesn't mean he should say them in this conference.”

When the same Islamists deny their illegal Islamist nuke program of having nefarious aims, are they being likewise prudent?

ANOTHER WASTED OPPORTUNITY

Those leaders who wallked out on Ahmadinejad should have stayed and challenged this thug on the BS he was spewing out. The plight of the Palestinian people would have been served better if civil discourse over the subject was permitted.

Who is Ignorant you or us?

I really don't care about the Israeli issue, this comment are neither about state of Israel nor Palestine it is about Iran and Iranian people.

How dare he talk about justice, equality, freedom and democracy, while millions of Iranian are oppressed, humiliated and killed and assassinated by him and his regime?

How dare he criticize other regimes while his regime discriminates all minorities?

How dare he questions the legality of another state while his regime is an occupier of the Iranian state?

How dare he uses the name of almighty and the merciful while women and children are raped by the the thugs and the criminal entity of his regime?

How dare he calls others ignorant, while his regime for 30 years ignored the people's desire for freedom and equality?

He is a cockroach and all his supporters are the menace of the world.

They must brought to justice for crime and atrocities against humanity.

Zendehbad Iran va Irani

Allow me

//current.com/items/89980012_u-s-to-boycott-u...

-YT

Creedist

To describe Ahmadinejad as racist may not do him justice and may even be inaccurate. The nearest term that can be found to decribe Mr President is Creedist as defined here:

The term “Creedist” was coined by Dr Bronwyn Elsmore,
Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at

Massey

University

to describe those religious or secular groups and individuals who actively
persecute, malign, defame and discriminate against those who hold a different
religious or philosophical view to their own. 

Any better suggestion?

FR

Mola

Totally right?

Making an entire nation homeless? When was there ever a sovereign Palestinian nation?

"a number of the delegations that remained behind applauded

Ahmadinejad's speech."

Yes there are people who disagree with the Zionist slaughter of Palestinians regardless of what the old Western colonial powers dicatate. The ones who exterminated the Jews. As for US politicians, well our politicians are in the back pocket of Zionists and there's no surprise in that.

What did Ahmadinejad say?

"Following World War II they resorted to military aggressions to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering,"  "And they sent migrants from Europe, the United States and other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in the occupied Palestine," he said

He is totally right on this. You don't have to be pro IRI or pro Ahmadinejad to agree with the above conclusions.

PLease some one answer My question!

I have a question:

When have you ever seen, any Arab statesmen or leader, ever raised their voices against the suffering of these Palestinian people? Or, how about all the injustices people of Iran are enduring right now? Do even they Arabs care?

We need of take care our own problems, starting with getting rid of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran.

Captn Ayhab

can you point out exactly where Ahmadinejad has been "racist" ?

i like to know.

Israel Lobby in trouble

No illegal regime such as Israel or IRI can last long. Such regimes are doomed to the dustbin of history. Let them have their short moment of "misery" portrayed by the paid media as "glorious." Israel apartheid and IRI dictatorship are both of the same cloth. They deserve each other. Someone should save the people of the two nations. Why are these dominators calling each other dominator? Kind of a joke.

I find it suspicious that

I find it suspicious that mass media are drowning out the message with focus on theatrics and rhetoric.

Reasonable people would want to be able to read/hear the entire message delivered by A.N. and judge for themselves. Its quite curious that we can't easily do this. Instead, our attention is forcefully focused on rhetorics and name calling. I don't know if he is racist or not, but find it disturbing that by and large the population is not allowed to judge for ourselves.

Reminds me of the years, indeed decades, of hearing from our 'trusted' officials and media that the black South Africans were terrorists and after nothing but killing all whites in S.A. Nelson Mandela and his supporters were jailed and their message was kept out of mainstream.

Seeing the same tactics makes one suspiciious. 

Iranian President Tells the Truth

At least this world leader has the courage to tell the truth about the blood sucker zio-nasis.

Thank you Mr. President.

With Ahmadinejad Iran needs two Presidents

Ahmadinejad to focus on Palestine and the other guy/gal to run Iran's affairs.

funny

It is funny how one racist bigot[Israel] criticizes another racist goon[Ahmadinejd].

Mesle bache ha az ham dige ghahr mikonan. and supposedly these stupid clowns are the leaders of so called free and so called humanitarian Western Countries.

With these types of leader, world will never see true meaning of human rights. I would love for someone to tell what is the difference between Wilder, Perez and Ahmadinejad. I certainly don't see any difference except they all look as ugly as anyone can get.

Sad thing is though, US joining regimes like Israel in boycotting the Human Rights conference. How short sighted, and how the same policies as Bush and the Gang.

New Definition: Freedom of speech = Only if we like the content.

Regards

-YT

Ben

It appears that the only person attempting to change the subject is yourself.

Your concept of "bad" cannot be compared to others, as each person views things in their own way. As someone who is a human first, as you state, that should be very clear to you.

Iran is not "caring" about the Palestinians, Ben. The IR is using and exploiting their plight to further their agenda, which is to create a larger Islamic Republic, as well as to destroy the sovereign country of Israel. Whether you like Israel or not, they are here. It's long past the time to realize that.

Yes, it is indeed sad to see what has happened to the Palestinians. Their so-called Arab "brothers' abandoned them, leaving them vulnerable, and now they are exploited by the likes of criminal elements from outside the West Bank and the Gaza Strip who placate them with some food and medicine, yet have only contributed to making their plight worse, and doing absolutely nothing to improve matters. How you could ignore such an obvious fact is beyond me.

This is not aboout Israel being "good". This is about a degenerate midget like that monkey who calls himself president showing why our country is an embarrassment.

When after 3,000 years, and after everything we have supposedly contributed to civilization and the world, to say that this piece of shit is the president, we should all be ashamed.

fs you are right

every word is correct, which makes him less embarrassing than George W. Bush.

But that still doesn't mean he should say them in this conference.

Speechless at so much Ignorance....

There will be no more IRAN and Iranians in this world, if this Evil Islamic regime remains in power, Evil I.R. is on the way of blowing up Iran and other parts of the world so Imam Zaman appears on Earth??????!!!!!!! What kind of DRUGS are you on Mr.Ahmadi-nejad? They apparently have had a very dangerous effect on you and subsequently all Iranians and others around the world...

You must seek proper treatment for the Love of GOd and Heaven's sake!!!!!

According to modern Cosmologists and Scientists (True or NOT...), The World as we know it is suppose to end in December 2012! Let's not speed up the fricking process and live 3 more years in somewhat relative Peace on this Earth!

Until then, Iranians all over the world NOW are judged and treated based on Ahmadi-nejad's UN-IRANIAN,NEGATIVE,INSULTING,OFFENSIVE, SHAMEFUL AND UN-PEACEFUL lectures (vomits).

Parvardegaare Bozrge,

Please rescue and spare us all (Iranians and None-Iranians) from this Lunatic Ahmadi-Nejad, his likes all over this world, his entire Evil Islamic Regime occupying IRAN, so called supreme leader, officials, diplomats,supporters and collaborators who have committed unbelievable and unforgivable crimes against Iranians and humanity!

Please, Free Iran and Iranians NOW!
Free this world of all Evil, Injustices and pains,
Bring us your Eternal Peace and Love...
Please GOD, PLEASE.......
Amen.

Yes he is ur president! and

Yes he is ur president! and no, you don't have to explain anything...you are an Iranian and this is a free country and anyone can say or do anything...and their reaction to his thoughts are their beliefs!!! Why is it that Iranians never back each other...this why we are the country that we are!!!!!!!!!!! Good for him!!!!! Every word is correct! We all know that he is correct but we don't want to admit it!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh great...

Here we go again. Now I've got to explain to co-workers/acquaintances yet another time that he is not "my" president and DOES NOT represent me any more than Bush did them. Thanks buddy, you're the best!

Hopefully this won't make the price of oil shoot up like it has in the past after his "thinking" has made headlines.