Transcripts For KCSM Democracy Now 20150105 : vimarsana.com

Electronic intifada and Phyllis Bennis of the institute for policy studies. Then to the lords of secrecy. Over the last 12 years, weve seen a shift away from democratic dissipation dissipation. The people know less about what is happening. Congress is much less involved. All of these Vital Decisions are taken secretly by National Security elites. In the tools that has been used to accomplish that is secrecy. What people dont know, they cannot have any meaningful say in. As the first u. S. Drone strike of 2015 kills nine in pakistan, we speak to human rights attorney scott horton about the National Security elite and americas stealth warfare. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now w\elcome to democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Thousands gathered in new york city on sunday for the funeral of wenjian liu, one of the two Police Officers killed in a targeted ambush last month. Lius widow, pei xia chen, paid tribute to her husband. A caring son, a loving husband, and a loyal friend. You are an amazing man. Even though you left as early, i believe he is still with us. His spirit will come to look after us. He will keep an eye on us to protect us. He is my hero. New york city mayor bill de blasio also spoke, saying the whole city is heartbroken over the Police Officers killings. All of our city is heartbroken today. We have seen it over these last two weeks. Weve seen the pain from all walks of life, the sense of appreciation for the sacrifices of this family and of the ramos family. People who have never worn uniform, understanding what it means for these families. All of this city is feeling the pain right now and all of this city wants to left up the liu and ramos families. As de blasio spoke, scores of Police Officers outside the service again turned their backs on him, as they had previously at the funeral of nypd officer rafael ramos, and at the hospital where the two officers were taken after the shooting. The officers collective snub came despite orders from Police Commissioner bill bratton to respect the mayor. It was the latest in the nypds protests against de blasio over his comments on Police Brutality and racial profiling. Late last month officers launched a virtual work stoppage, reducing or halting summonses, tickets, and arrests. Of de blasio, actions against Police Brutality and racial profiling continue nationwide. In new york city, a group of demonstrators staged a diein friday outside the manhattan studios of rightwing news channel fox news. Were protesting specifically the treatment of the cases of Police Brutality in new york and around the country by rightwing media organizations, but that extends to all Major Corporate media networks, which operate on a system of profit, not on issues of justice. Talks we want accountability. We want fair news, which fox does not provide at all. The most recent incident being that they used audio sound bites over our protesting to say we were saying horrible things about nypd and that is not what we are out here for. Were not against all police, we just want accountability for the bad ones. In ohio, the death of a mentally ill africanamerican woman in Police Custody has been ruled a homicide. Tanisha andersons family had called the police for help as she suffered from a Mental Health episode in november. A coroner found Tanisha Anderson died as a result of being physically restrained in a prone position by cleveland police. Anderson suffered from heart disease, which was also listed as a factor in her death. Her family now wants an independent prosecutor to investigate. Israel has halted the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for its bid to join the International Criminal court. On friday, palestinian officials submitted documents to join the icc in a move opposed by both israel and the United States. Palestinian un ambassador ryad mansour said the pa will seek the prosecution of israeli officials for war crimes in the occupied territories. It is a peaceful option. It is a civilized option. It is an option that anyone upholds the law should not be afraid of. It is an option that we are seeking an order to seek justice for all the victims that have been killed by israels occupying power. The last group of them, more than 500 children in gaza last summer. More than 3000 children injured and thousands more civilians killed and injured. In response, the Israeli Government is holding up 127 million it collects on the pas behalf as the occupier of the palestinian territories. The money is needed to pay salaries and provide public services. The Palestinian Authority opted to join the icc after the u. S. And israel successfully lobbied against a Un Security Council measure calling for the establishment of a palestinian state by 2017. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says he is discussing plans to resubmit the statehood resolution despite the threat of a u. S. Veto. Well have more on this story after headlines. An Egyptian Court has ordered a retrial of three al jazeera journalists jailed for over one year. Peter greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were convicted on terrorism charges including spreading false news in support of the muslim brotherhood, deemed by the government a terrorist group. On thursday, egypts court of cassation overruled the original conviction, citing procedural flaws. But the three will remain behind bars until their case is reheard. After the ruling, family members of greste and fahmy called on the Egyptian Government to release and deport them to their home countries. Crooks now that peter is essentially an innocent man, no longer a convict, it does layout room to move and steps to be taken. I cant even imagine he will stay for a year in prison. [indiscernible] to be deported to canada and be treated as a canadian citizen and continue the trial there. Im still waiting for americans to happen. A u. S. Drone strike in pakistan has reportedly killed nine people. The victims were described as foreign militants in the North Waziristan. Around two dozen civilians were killed in afghanistan last week after shelling struck a wedding party. The deaths came and misreported fighting between Afghan Forces and taliban militants just days after the Afghan Military took over formal Security Control from the u. S. Led nato occupation force. The Afghan Military says it is investigating. The u. S. Has expanded sanctions against north korea following the recent hack of the media giant sony pictures. On friday, president obama signed an executive order targeting north korean entities and individuals in what the white house called a first step in its retaliation. North korea has denied responsibility for hack, which released tens of thousands of sony emails and files. The new sanctions come as private experts are raising doubts about north koreas responsibility. The security form norse says the attack could have been the work of a former sony employee working with other propiracy hacktivists. Norse reportedly briefed the fbi last week. But the fbi says it stands by its assessment north korea was behind the hack. The fbi reportedly has begun helping mexican authorities with an investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in mexico. So far, the remains of only one student have been identified after Authorities Say police turned the students over to members of a local gang who killed them and burnt their bodies. Nbc news reports u. S. Scientists are helping to analyze forensic evidence. Meanwhile, mexican authorities arrested 10 more local Police Officers to bringing the total number of people arrested to about 90. Most of them are police. Last week, parents and colleagues of the missing students were honored in mexico seven must state by those marking the 21st anniversary of the uprising against the mexican government. A libyanal qaeda suspect snatched from the streets of tripoli by u. S. Forces has died in new york just over a week before he was due to stand trial. Abu anas allibi was accused of helping plan the 1998 bombings of u. S. Embassies in africa. He was captured in tripoli in 2013 and interrogated on a naval ship in the Mediterranean Sea before being brought to new york where he was due to face trial next week. He died on friday of complications from liver surgery. Libi was ill with hepatitis c at the time of his capture. His arrest sparked protests in libya in pressure on the beleaguered libyan government. Jury selection begins today in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect dzhokhar tsarnaev. Three people were killed and 264 were wounded when a pair of homemade bombs exploded near the races finish line. Tsarnaev faces 30 federal counts, including the bombing of a public place, malicious destruction of public property and use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. He is accused of plotting the attacks with his older brother tamerlan, who died in a firefight with police. Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, a rarity for a federal case. Thousands of undocumented immigrants lined up across california on friday to obtain drivers licenses for the first time. A law approved in late 2013 makes california the most populous state to provide drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The measure drew wide support from Police Officials and Insurance Companies as well as immigrants rights groups. A dmv spokesperson welcomed the laws implementation. This is a very, very important day for dmv and for california in general because this is the first day people who are undocumented, residents of california come are able to obtain their license in a legal manner, because the implementation is a law that allows them to obtain a license. A judge in new york is expected to decide today whether to release documents considered by the Staten Island grand jury that shows not to indict nypd officer for the chokehold death of unarmed africanamerican air garner. Garners family has sued that witness testimony the full medical examiners report and other records released. Garner died after the officer wrestled him to the ground and other officers piled on top of him while he repeatedly said i cannot breathe. Daniel donovan said he is considering running for the house do you seat to be vacated by michael grimm. Former new york governor mario cuomo has died at the age of 82. He served three terms as democratic governor between 19831995. He died just hours after his run, current new york governor andrew cuomo, was sworn him cope for a second term. And those are some of the headlines, this is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In a move opposed by the United States and israel, palestinian authorities have submitted a request to join the International Criminal court and sign over a dozen other international treaties. Riyad mansour, the chief palestinian observer at the United Nations, submitted the diplomatic documents on friday. Saying the Palestinian Authority will seek the prosecution of israeli officials for war crimes in the occupied territories. It is a peaceful option. It is a civilized option. It is an option that anyone who pulled the law should not be afraid of upholds the law should not be afraid of, and an option that we are seeking in order to seek justice for all the victims that have been killed by israels occupying power. The last group of them, more than 500 children in gaza last summer. More than 3000 children injured. And thousands more civilians killed and injured. One day after the palestinians moved to join the International Criminal court israel announced it would withhold at least 127 million in tax revenue owed to the Palestinian Authority. The money is needed to pay salaries and provide public services. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Palestinian Authoritys move to of launching a confrontation. The Palestinian Authority has chosen to launch with the state of israel and were not sitting idly by. We will not allow the idf commanders to the International Criminal court with the hague. The want to should face justice for the heads of the Palestinian Authority. The soldiers will continue to defend israel with might just as they defended us and we will defend them with the same determination and the same might. In washington, a state Department Spokesperson described the palestinian move to join the icc as entirely counterproductive saying it badly damages the atmosphere with the very people with whom they ultimately need to make peace. In the west bank city of ramallah, plo official, Wassel Abu Youssef said that palestinians would not relinquish their claims under israeli or u. S. Pressure. The palestinian leadership and people will not give up on our palestinian core issues, the right to be free and independent, the right to return, as well as the palestinian state with jerusalem as its capital. The American Administration is competing with the occupying government by saying it will not send us aid money. This will not break the determination of the palestinian leadership and people until we obtain freedom and independence of palestine. The palestinian move to join the icc came just days after the Un Security Council last week rejected a resolution demanding an end to the Israeli Occupation of palestinian territories within three years. Of the 15 members of the u. N. Security council, only the United States and australia voted against the measure. But it needed nine votes to pass, and only received eight after nigeria decided at the last minute to abstain from voting. The guardian reports both u. S. Secretary of state john kerry and israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called nigerias president , Goodluck Jonathan, to ask him to oppose the measure. The United States was expected to veto the measure if it passed. To talk more about the latest developments, were joined now by two guests. In washington, d. C. , Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the institute for policy studies. Shes written several books, including, understanding the palestinianisraeli conflict a primer and calling the shots how washington dominates todays United Nations. And joining us via democracy now video stream, ali abimah is the cofounder of the electronic intifada and author of the recent book, the battle for justice in palestine. Welcome both to democracy now lets start with the significance of these developments at the United Nations. Begin with the Un Security Council vote that ultimately did not support the israeli withdrawal from the palestine territories. Good morning, amy. Like many people, i was very relieved that the resolution failed. That might surprise some of your viewers, but the devil is in the detail which is a very bad resolution written by the Palestinian Authority without any support from any other palestinian faction. It has been condemned by palestinian political figures and legal experts because in an attempt to avoid the american veto, it undercut and undermined and watered down very fundamental palestinian rights. If this resolution had passed, it would have superseded existing resolutions which are far stronger. I will give you just one example. In your headlines, you said this resolution calls for an end to the Israeli Occupation. That is the headline. In the small print, it does no such thing. It calls for a withdrawal of Israeli Security forces that a replacement with a thirdparty presence meaning american troops or nato troops, and it allows for the israeli settlement to remain behind. So it doesnt even call for settlements to be dismantled and with drawn. That is why this resolution should not have passed and didnt. On the other hand, of course the reason the u. S. Opposed it was not out of any concerns for palestinian rights but out of the Obama Administrations commitment un