Pakistan India Earth Quake Support

Pakistan pleads for aid as quake toll climbs 7.6-magnitude temblor kills 20,000-30,000 people across south Asia.

9, 2005, MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - Rescuers struggled to reach remote, mountainous areas Sunday after Pakistan's worst-ever earthquake wiped out entire villages, buried roads in rubble and knocked out electricity and water supplies. The death toll stood at 20,000 and was expected to rise.

In this devastated Himalayan city, wounded covered by shawls lay in the street, and villagers used sledgehammers to break through the rubble of flattened schools and homes seeking survivors.

The magnitude-7.6 quake collapsed the city's Islamabad Public School. Soldiers with white cloth tied around their mouths and noses pulled a small girl's dust-covered body from the ruins, while the body of a boy remained pinned between heavy slabs of concrete.

The United Nations said more than 2.5 million people need shelter after the magnitude-7.6 earthquake along the Pakistan-India border. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Relief said it urgently needed 200,000 winterized tents.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf complained of a shortage of helicopters needed to ferry in relief workers, food and medical supplies, and appealed for international help.

Bush pledges assistance

In Washington, President Bush said eight U.S. military choppers were being moved to help in rescue efforts, and he promised financial assistance. India, which has fought three wars with Pakistan, also offered assistance, as did Israel, which has no relations with the Muslim nation.

Bush said he spoke with Musharraf and "told him that we want to help in any way we can."

"Thousands of people have died, thousands are wounded, and the United States of America wants to help," Bush said from the Oval Office.

"We are handling the worst disaster in Pakistan's history," chief army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said.

The quake was felt across a wide swath of South Asia from central Afghanistan to western Bangladesh. It swayed buildings in the capitals of three nations, with the damage spanning at least 250 miles from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Srinagar in northern Indian territory.

In Islamabad, a 10-story building collapsed, killing at least 24 people.

Pakistan in need

Oct. 8: Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on what his nation needs in the wake of Saturday's deadly earthquake.

Late Sunday, helmeted rescuers found a survivor after hearing his cries for help. The thin man in a blue shirt, looking dazed, emerged on his own with little help and stood in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers. One rescuer patted his head, and the man waved and pumped his fist in the air.

Pakistan said the death toll ranged between 20,000 and 30,000. India reported more than 600 dead, and Afghanistan said four were killed.

"We have enough manpower but we need financial support ... to cope with the tragedy,"Musharraf said in Rawalpindi, according to the state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan.

He also appealed for medicine and tents.

Musharraf said he knew of as many as 20,000 people killed, and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said about 43,000 people were injured.

Musharraf said the only way to reach many far-flung areas was by helicopter because roads were impassable.

"Our helicopter resources are limited," he said. "We need massive cargo helicopter support."

Northern Pakistan hardest-hit

Most of the devastation occurred in northern Pakistan. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 60 miles northeast of the capital, Islamabad, in the forested mountains of Pakistani Kashmir.

"I have been informed by my department that more than 30,000 people have died in Kashmir," Tariq Mahmmod, communications minister for the Himalayan region, he said.

Pakistan pleads for aid as quake toll climbs

7.6-magnitude temblor kills 20,000-30,000 people across south Asia

By In Solidarity posted 11 October 05

Related:

Devastating quake kills 20,000 in Pakistan and India
A major earthquake on Saturday morning measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale has devastated cities, towns and villages across northern Pakistan. The official death toll in Pakistan reached 19,369 yesterday with over 42,000 people injured, but casualties are expected to climb further as rescue workers reach outlying areas. Hundreds more were killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The worst affected in both countries were the poor who lived in cheap housing built of mud brick and wood.

World races clock to help quake victims
Rescue teams and aid pledges have poured into Pakistan from around the world after the devastating earthquake that has killed about 20,000 people.

Number of prisoners sent back to jail trebles

UK/Return to prison increases 247%

UK: The number of prisoners being sent back to jail after release has nearly trebled in the past five years, according to a report published today.

Most of those people returning to prison have been sent back because they have breached the conditions of their licence - which releases them into the community under the supervision of the probation service - and not because they have committed further criminal offences, the report by the Prison Reform Trust said.

The charity, which campaigns for a more humane and effective penal system, wants the probation service to increase support to prisoners on licence in order that they understand the conditions of their release.

The prison service should also always explain to prisoners why they are back in prison, so that they have time, if appropriate, to appeal the decision, the charity said.

Enver Solomon, the author of the report, Recycling Offenders Through Prison, said today: "This story isn't just about the figures but more about why these figures have gone up, why people are returned to custody and why can't they cope?"

Mr Solomon said he knew of cases where prisoners with learning difficulties had been recalled to prison after failing, as part of their license agreements, to attend probation meetings because they were unable to distinguish between Thursday and Tuesday.

He said: "These prisoners have returned to prison not because they pose a threat to public safety but because they have needs which aren't being met."

Juliet Lyon, director of the trust, said: "The current system for breach of licence and recall sets people up to fail. Arrangements designed to be tough and fair are too often turning out to be punitive and unjust."

The number of prisoners recalled to custody for breaching their licence in 2000-2001 was 2,333, according to official figures from the Home Office. By 2003-4, that figure had soared to 8,103 - an increase of 247%.

The report revealed that in a three-month period at the end of last year, 8% of offenders on parole who had been sentenced to more than four years' imprisonment were sent back to prison for committing another criminal offence.

But for prisoners who had served shorter sentences, between 12 months and four years, the number being recalled for re-offending rose to 40%. However, the report said, reconviction rates for people serving shorter sentences were traditionally higher.

The Home Office said the increase in the number of prisoners released on license being recalled to jail reflected improved performance by the probation service.

A spokeswoman said: "The increase in recall of prisoners reflects our overriding concern to protect the public from further offending and sends a clear signal that we will not tolerate poor behaviour from those offenders serving a sentence in the community."

The report comes as the prison population in England and Wales has reached a record high of 75,877, an increase of 25,000 prisoners over the last decade.

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said the increase in the number of released prisoners returning to prison was due to Home Office targets introduced five years ago.

He said: "The Home Office set rigorous enforcement targets for prisoners so that anybody who failed to turn up for three appointments with their probation officer while on licence was automatically returned to prison. Our professional discretion was taken away. "The government has to decide whether it wants to continue to go down the path of punishment and enforcement or reintroduce professional discretion, rehabilitation and reform."

By Debbie Andalo Wednesday May 25, 2005

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Top judge says crowded prisons cannot break cycle of crime
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All the World's a Prison: History
No doubt many of my readers, even those who are well-educated or widely read, think that the prison -- the place where dark deeds are darkly answered[2] -- is an ancient institution, a barbaric hold-over from barbaric times. In fact, the prison is of relatively recent origin, and this tells us a great deal about the pretentions and realities of modern times, and the wisdom and high degree of development of the ancients.

Decade after inspector left in disgust, report tells of filth
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Youth 'murdered for officers' pleasure'
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Deaths in isolation as prison segregation increases
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Inquest blames jail for overdose death
UK: An inquest jury returned a verdict itemising a catalogue of faults at Styal prison in Cheshire, concluding that the prison's "failure of duty of care" contributed to the death of Sarah Campbell, 18, who took an overdose of tablets on the first day of her three-year sentence.

Put in the way of self-harm in a place intended to protect others
UK: Sarah Campbell, 18, spent the last hours of her life in the segregation unit of Styal prison, Cheshire. "The seg", as those places are referred to, used to be known as "the block", short for punishment block. [ Seg is a bullshit word for Punishment, Solitary Confinement, Torture, Mental Illness, Self-Harm, Human Rights Abuse and that is State Terror.]

Britain 'sliding into police state'
The home secretary, Charles Clarke, is transforming Britain into a police state, one of the country's former leading anti-terrorist police chiefs [false flag police chiefs] said yesterday.

UK solitary confinement
UK: Segregation units are prisons within prisons - the places where the most unchecked brutality is meted out to prisoners. In recent years conditions in high security segregation units have deteriorated, and the use of long-term segregation as a control mechanism has increased.

Inquiry must root out prison racists
UK: It is difficult to imagine a more brutal murder than that of Zahid Mubarek. The 19-year-old was clubbed to death by his cellmate at Feltham Young Offender Institution in the early hours of 21 March 2000. He was due to be released just a few hours later.

Prison suicides soar as jails hire 'babysitters'
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Plan to sell off juvenile jails as job lot
UK: The government is to put out to tender all its dedicated juvenile jails that hold children under 18 in a departure in Whitehall's privatisation programme.

Failure to sack 'racist' prison staff condemned
UK: Two prison officers suspended for racism are still on full pay three years after a stash of Nazi memorabilia, neo-fascist literature and Ku Klux Klan-inspired 'nigger-hunting licences' was found in a police raid on their home.

Report slams 'unjust' jailing of women on remand
UK: Six out of 10 women sent to jail while they await trial are acquitted or given a non-custodial sentence, a report published today reveals. Introducing the report, Lady Kennedy QC calls for a complete review of the use of remand and bail for women saying it is "inhumane and unjust".

Concern as UK prison suicides hit record level
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Belmarsh detainees consider suicide, says freed man
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Suicides and unrest have soared, admits Home Office
UK:The already overcrowded prison population is set to go on rising and will top 80,000 within the next three years, a senior Home Office civil servant warned yesterday.

England tops the EU in imprisonment
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AUSTRALIANS PAY BRIBE TO VISIT CORBY IN BALI PRISON:

The Corby drug trial has become Bali's latest tourist attraction. Australians are taking time off to lend moral support to Schapelle Corby.

As Corby arrived at Denpasar District Court yesterday for the final day of defence evidence, a group of Australian wellwishers looked on and expressed sympathy and amazement.

A Sydney judge and her magistrate friend - both of whom requested anonymity - said they had set aside time, to observe how the Indonesian court was handling the high-profile case.

Australians came out of sympathy for a fellow Australian and also to see the Indonesian justice system at work, so they can warn our children to lock their luggage if they come to Bali.

Corby herself has been amazed at the number of Aussie wellwishers turning up in court as well as to Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison, where a 10,000 rupiah ($1.50) bribe will get them past the prison guards to visit her. "It helps keep Schapelle going," her sister Mercedes said.

Bali is awash with drugs and is known to be the drug capital of Asia. It is obvious that no one is bringing marijuana to Bali because it is not cost-effective. However, unlike 85% of Australians, most Indonesians think Corby is guilty.

By ACADP posted 31 March 05

ACADP@ACADP.com
******************************************
AUSTRALIAN COALITION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
© ACADP Incorporated ¨
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Resource on Capital Punishment

Ed: The more younger and good looking the better the bait!

Corby won't die she is just an example piece for the Indonesian Government who have no intention whatsoever in taking her life. All they want to do is scare everyone else off and I think they're doing a fine job at that!

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Labor says divorce plan not good enough

The Federal Opposition says the Government is doing too little, and taking too long, to overhaul arrangements for divorcing parents.

The Government has unveiled plans to ensure separating couples settle child access and custody disputes through mediation, before turning to legal proceedings in the Family Court.

Church and community organisations will run a national network of family relationship centres to provide that mediation and access to information.

They will get an immediate $15 million to support their current work, and a task force will review the current child support payments scheme.

Shadow Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says the Government is making a token gesture to families.

"After so many reports and reviews and audits and recommendations, what we've come up with today is the Government putting a bit of money back into a system which they slashed money from when they were first elected and another task force and another discussion paper," she said.

"I really think separating families need more support and more action from the Government."

By My Favourite Martian 29 July 04

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Killer freed without support?

It was alleged she was abducted, raped and tortured by her estranged husband. When he was freed on bail.

The question is did he have any support or counselling? In a crisis situation in relation to domestic violence most people need support. Trish van Koeverden knew he was going to kill her. It was only a matter of time before Trish van Koeverden was going to die.

Her estranged husband Tony Bardakos, who had been charged with her abduction, rape and torture, had been freed on bail [by whom?] "She just hoped she didn't see it coming," her mother Dawn van Koeverden said yesterday. "She told the police that she did a stupid thing letting him into her life but didn't want to die because of it."

It took 14 days for Bardakos to find her and gun her down on Tuesday afternoon. Bardakos, 48, had a lengthy record for violence dating back to 1974, including a previous conviction for the abduction of an ex-wife.

But he was granted conditional bail, [by whom?] despite strong concerns being raised for Trish van Koeverden's safety.

The evidence was [allegedly] clear. Bardakos had repeatedly threatened Ms van Koeverden and her family after their relationship soured in early March.

As part of his conditional bail, he was prohibited from approaching his wife or going within 30km of her parents' home in Lake Macquarie [by whom?]

On Tuesday, 41-year-old Ms van Koeverden, a midwife, was en route to her solicitor's office when Bardakos pulled in front of her in Cameron St in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton, at 3.40pm.

In the minutes that followed, Bardakos dragged her from her car and knocked her to the ground with the butt of a rifle.

The mother-of-two begged for her life but Bardakos had no intention of sparing her. He shot her twice at point-blank range with a bolt-action shotgun and a rifle. About an hour later, police found Bardakos dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in his car in the nearby suburb of Mayfield.

"Trish knew he was going to kill her," Mrs van Koeverden said. "We can't understand why they let him out.

"We knew he was a violent man. There was no way we could protect Trish." Ms van Koeverden's family, friends, police and prosecutors are outraged that Bardakos was given bail [by whom?]

A senior prosecutor involved in one of the bail applications is believed to have become physically sick when told of Ms van Koeverden's death yesterday. The Crown had argued that Bardakos would harm or threaten to harm Ms van Koeverden if he were released. Mrs van Koeverden said Trish knew her life was in danger the moment she learned Bardakos has been released on bail [by whom?]

Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Tink yesterday said the case highlighted the pressing on-going need to reform the bail system for repeat offenders. "I will be introducing a private members Bill today to tighten the laws and take away the presumption of bail for repeat offenders," Mr Tink said.

A spokesperson for Justice Action Mr Brett Collins said, "Tink's proposal to lock more people up will cause more murder and make society more dangerous."

"Crime including murder is the result of many factors all due to being human and wider pressures on individuals to increase the pressure on some people by barbaric conditions can only make them more anti-social and dangerous." He said.

By Coun Selling May 1 03

Ed: Why blame existing laws? The magistrate whoever that was? Why wasn't the magistrate named? Granted bail in the domestic violence case when he/she had Bardakos's previous history and the current alleged offences in front of him/her. Instead of admissions that the magistrate should have used common sense and made a mistake by not holding him in custody and offering him some social support, the ruling class argue for tighter restrictions on bail laws, for the whole community.Why is that?

Abolition of 800 year old double jeopardy law a crime

The 800-year-old rule prevents a person who's acquitted of a criminal charge from ever being re-tried for that offense.

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