Anders Breivik trial Norway, Day Four

19/04/2012

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Day four of the trial of Anders Breivik who killed 77 people and injured more is under way April 19, 2012. Far from showing any remorse Breivik has continued to maintain that he would do it all again. For him there are only two possible outcomes from this trial. One is that he is acquitted and the other is death. With no death penalty in Norway and no doubt that he was guilty of the murders neither outcomes seem likely.

On the stand today Breivik has been recalling the killing of 69 people on the island of Utoya. He claims that he had hoped to kill all of those present. He went on to say that he wanted to frighten the survivors to take to the water and drown.

One woman in particular on the island was a wanted person by Breivik. This was  the former prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, who Breivik wanted to kill. The killing would have been caught on video by Anders and posted online. He planned to behead her in what he called an execution

Day four has involved details of Breivik's plans being revealed. The statements have resulted in people openly weeping in the court. A break was taken for people to be able to compose themselves.

The trial continues.
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Egypt: Activists set for trial, include Americans

26/02/2012

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Photo: AP
Egypt is about to put 43 pro-democracy activists on trial. The Arab Spring in 2011 which resulted in the ousting of Egyptian President Mubarek has not brought the new future the people hoped for. This year there have been protests on the streets again. A new democratic government is still on the horizon but to date the Military have been reluctant to release their grip on power.

The 43 people set for trial include 16 Americans. They are all charged with receiving foreign funding, including from the US, to topple the old regime. Suffice to say diplomatic relations between the US and Egypt are strained to say the least. 

The BBC has reported a senior official telling AP that, "We are in intense discussions with the government of Egypt to try to resolve the situation with the NGOs within days."  Talks are ongoing.

The BBC report goes on to say,"A number of the Americans have taken refuge in the US embassy after being refused permission to leave Egypt. Some defendants were already abroad when the travel ban was ordered. It is not clear if any of the accused Americans will appear in court. Reports are mixed as to whether 16 or 19 US citizens are charged in the case.The other defendants are also said to include Egyptians, Germans, Palestinians, Norwegians and Serbs".

Whilst both sides go into propaganda mode it is hard to know exactly who is at fault. The US has threatened to cut funding to Egypt. Arrests have been ongoing since December 2011 and Human Rights groups have expressed concerns. The arrests however have won support from the Egyptian people.

Opinion: Perhaps the West and especially the US has now learned their lesson about interfering in what are civil wars. We now have a thoroughly destabilised Middle Eastern region. Was oil worth the price being paid?.
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