I wonder if - Soros money is behind this Tommy Robinson/EDL founder gig and it's organized "supporters"?
30.05.2018 - #FreeTommy: Jailing of EDL Founder Robinson Sparks Outrage Among Supporters
#FreeTommy: Jailing of EDL Founder Robinson Sparks Outrage Among Supporters
Tommy Robinson,co-founder of controversial right-wing street protest group the English Defence League (EDL) and multiply-convicted criminal, has been jailed for 13 months for prejudicing a trial after livestreaming an hour-long video over Facebook outside Leeds crown court.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, arrived at the court on the morning of May 25 and quickly began spilling details about a long-running case, broadcasting the names of defendants and the charges and details of the allegations they faced, as well as filming the defendants and confronting them as they arrived at court.
His actions breached a strict order — which remains in place — imposed by the judge, banning public dissemination of any details relating to the proceedings. The video was viewed by around 250,000 people.
However, the livestream was abruptly halted when a number of police officers arrived at the scene and arrested Robinson. It would be a mere five hours before he was charged, and sentenced — receiving a 10-month custodial stretch for contempt of court, and a further three months for breaching the terms of a previous suspended sentence received in May 2017.
Then, Robinson similarly attempted to film defendants during a rape trial in Canterbury, Kent — in his own subsequent trial, the judge made clear his custodial sentence was contingent on him ending such activities.
Repeat Offender
In sentencing Lennon, judge Geroffrey Marson QC said
the "integrity" of the Leeds crown court case needed to be upheld, and it could cost taxpayers "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds" if a retrial had to be held. He also suggested Lennon's video had referred to some charges that had not proceeded against some of the defendants. "Nothing may occur which will prejudice the trial. Everyone understands the right to freedom of speech but there are responsibilities and obligations. Not only was it a very long video but I regard it as a serious aggravating feature he was encouraging others to share it and it had been shared widely. That is the nature of the contempt," Marson said.
Robinson's trial was also subject to reporting restrictions, put in place temporarily to avoid further prejudicing the outcome of the Leeds trial, but the gag order was lifted May 29 after a judge heard the order was already being thoroughly violated online. Both supporters and opponents of Robinson the world over had broadcast and discussed his conviction widely on social media platforms,
with high profile figures including Dutch Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders and Donald Trump Jr. backing the EDL founder.
In a video posted to Twitter, filmed from outside the British embassy in The Hague, Wilders described Robinson's prison sentence as "an absolute disgrace," and said freedom of speech was being violated all over Europe, with authorities "trying to silence us."
Moreover,
in the hours after his arrest a petition was posted on Change.org (Soros funded) calling for his immediate release from police custody — it quickly gained over 100,000 signatures, a figure that increased substantially once news of Robinson's conviction leaked into the public domain. As of May 30, it has attracted 511,575 supporters.
In the petition's accompanying statement, which is reproduced in Czech, French, German, Italian, Polish and Russian, Robinson is described as having been jailed for "reporting on Muslim grooming gangs," a "job he chooses to do with no regard for his own safety, informing the public of all the wrongs committed in the name of Allah."
"Fighting against adversity and reporting on issues that our mainstream media are too afraid to speak of. Tommy is raising issues that are affecting all of our communities, and that are being swept under the carpet and hidden from the public. Its time we stand together, stand strong, and stand by his side," the statement reads.
#FreeTommy
Robinson's arrest also sparked sizeable protests in Whitehall on May 26, with supporters carrying placards reading ‘#FreeTommy' and waving flags — including the St George's Cross, Union Jack and Ukip logo — and shouting "shame on you," among other condemnations. At least one attendee carried a 'White Lives Matter' placard. Footage showed some protesters involved in minor scuffles with police.
Robinson co-founded the EDL in 2009 and has been arrested on several occasions, both at demonstrations and fights between opposing football fan gangs, and received custodial sentences for other, non-political offenses. In October 2012, he was convicted of using someone else's passport to travel to the US, and received 10 months' imprisonment. He was released on electronic tag after serving just over a month of his sentence on February 22 2013, whereupon he reported he was dismayed to discover the EDL's ranks were now home to former British National Party members and neo-Nazis.
In January 2014, Robinson was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by misrepresentation in relation to a mortgage application, along with five other defendant and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. While at HMP Woodhill, he was attacked by several other prisoners, leading him to be moved to HMP Winchester. In June 2014 Robinson was released on license, the terms of which included having no contact with the EDL until the end of his original sentence (June 2015). He was recalled to prison before long for breaching the terms of his licence, before being released in November 2014.
In the mean time, Robinson left the EDL, announcing at a press conference in October 2013, convened by anti-extremism think tank Quilliam, that concerns over the "dangers of far-right extremism" had forced him to rethink his own views. However, after his release from prison in November 2014 he became involved with Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West),
(Pegida - also funded by Soros) a German organization founded in Dresden amid the European migrant crisis, which is accused of virulent Islamophpobia. He has also been associated with members of the ethno-nationalist Generation Identity movement, whose leaders have been banned from entering the UK.
31.05.2018 - Megan Markle's Sister Defends Tommy Robinson, Sparking Twitter Backlash
Meghan Markle's Sister Defends Tommy Robinson, Sparking Twitter Backlash
Observers on social media have opined that the Duchess of Sussex's half-sibling may be attempting to steal the media limelight with her controversial statements.
Samantha Markle, the half-sister of Meghan Markle, the new Duchess of Sussex has called for the release of the jailed head of the English Defense League, Tommy Robinson, causing a backlash online.
Ms. Markle
reportedly shared a petition calling for Mr. Robinson's release as well as a video featuring the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders engaging in a protest outside Britain's embassy in the Netherlands.
While some online supported and praised Ms Markle's outspoken stance, most have been highly critical,
with some speculating that she may be trying to capitalise on her relation to the Duchess of Sussex in order to attract the media spotlight.
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31.05.2018 - Peace Destroyers: Child Sex Abuse by UN, NGO Workers - From S. Sudan to Haiti
Peace Destroyers: Child Sex Abuse by UN, NGO Workers - From S. Sudan to Haiti
United Nations peacekeepers are meant to bring stability to vulnerable populations and deter violence. However, a growing pile of allegations against them indicates they also bring sexual abuse and exploitation, endangering the people they were sent to protect.
Sex abuse of children by NGO workers or UN peacekeepers have come under the spotlight again after it has been reported that British lawmakers are reviewing a UN report from 2001 naming 15 major aid organizations implicated in a "sex-for-food" scandal.
The report alleges that workers from more than 40 NGOs and 15 international organizations — such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) — "had sexually exploitative relationships with refugee children."
Although the allegations couldn't be fully confirmed, their sheer volume "is a critical indicator of the scale of the problem," the researchers reportedly warned.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2001 to 2005, Ruud Lubbers, at the time rejected allegations of child sex abuse by members of his staff as "gossip."
South Sudan
Allegation of sexual assault committed by Nepalese troops serving in the
UN mission is South Sudan surfaced on April 13, 2018. It was alleged that one of the teenaged girls had been "touched inappropriately" by a Nepalese serviceman in exchange for money.
The spokesman for the UN secretary general," Stéphane Dujarric" made a comment on the case, saying "any act of sexual abuse is horrendous." "One involving a child is especially heinous," he added.
As of March 2018, Nepal had 1710 troops and 344 police personnel deployed in South Sudan with the UN mission.
Overall, the UN has 14,800 troops and police in South Sudan, meant to deter violence against civilians amid the
conflict that started as a political clash between President Salva Kiir and his then Vice President Riek Machar in December 2013 and has been developing ever since.
Earlier this year, 46 UN peacekeepers from Ghana were recalled from South Sudan, after it was alleged they engages in sexual exploitation of women sheltering at the site.
"The information received indicates that some members of the formed police unit allegedly engaged in transactional sex," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the time.
Central African Republic
Nearly 11,000 UN peacekeepers have been
deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2014 to maintain the fragile peace between Islamic Seleka rebels and Christian militias.
In 2016, a report by
AIDS-Free World's Code Blue stated that UN and French troops based had abused at least 98 girls.
"Saturday, March 27, 2016, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and a delegation from
MINUSCA, the UN's peacekeeping mission in CAR, met with local leaders and victims who reported that troops from France and Gabon have sexually abused several girls in their province," a press release by Code Blue states.
The three survivors told a MINUSCA human rights officer that they had been tied up and undressed inside a camp by a military commander from the Sangaris Force — the French military in CAR — and forced to have sex with a dog.
UN peacekeepers are not subject to domestic prosecution, as they are meant to be investigated and prosecuted in their countries of origin if they commit criminal offence.
© Photo: MONUSCO
Management of Reports and Allegations Involving UN Personnel in Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions
In 2018, Paris prosecution office have closed the case against the French servicemen accused of raping children in CAR.
Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo already had accounted for nearly one-third of the 43 allegations of sexual violence by UN peacekeepers and personnel made worldwide in 2017.
Earlier this year United Nations said it had registered 18 alleged cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers and civilian personnel in DPK in 2017 — one fewer case than the 19 claims for 2016.
Fourteen of the allegations involve paternity cases or complainants seeking "care for children born out of relationships,"
said Adama Ndao, head of the conduct and discipline unit at
MONUSCO, the UN's peacekeeping mission in the country.
Haiti
According to a 2017 report by the AP news agency, at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers exploited 9 children in a sex ring from 2004 to 2007 in Haiti. Following the revelations, 114 peacekeepers were sent home but none was ever imprisoned.
The investigation also found that a teenage boy in Haiti said he was gang-raped in 2011 by Uruguayan peacekeepers who shot the reported abuse on a cellphone. Haitian women had also reported
they were raped in what was branded as "survival sex" in a poverty-ridden nation, where the majority lives on less than $2.50 a day, according to the report.
In response, the UN's head of field support said international body was aware of shortcomings in the system.
Zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse remains among UN's standards of conduct. However, despite UN's official position, the number of sexual assault revelations is constantly growing.
According to the former Secretary General of the organization, Ban Ki-moon
, swift punishment by UN member nations of sexual predators in peacekeeping missions is necessary to restore global confidence in the United Nations' ability to halt violence.
16.01.2018 - Case Against French Troops Accused of Child Sex Abuse in CAR Dismissed - Reports
Case Against French Troops Accused of Child Sex Abuse in CAR Dismissed - Reports
The French investigating magistrates have closed a case brought against a group of French soldiers accused of raping children in the Central African Republic (CAR) while on a peacekeeping mission, local media reported on Monday.
Last year, the Paris prosecution office called for the case to be dismissed over lack of convincing evidence. On Monday, the investigation stated that it could not confirm the fact of the sexual abuses, the BFMTV channel reported.
In March 2016, the AIDS-Free World organization reported more than a hundred new cases of sexual abuse, allegedly committed by foreign soldiers in CAR from 2013 to 2015. The majority of victims were said to be minors.
French troops were deployed in CAR as part of the Sangaris operation following the outbreak of the civil war in 2013. France withdrew the main bulk of the forces in October 2016, leaving only a rump force in support of the UN peacekeeping mission.
02.05.2018 - UN Received 54 Sexual Abuse Allegations in First Three Months of 2018
UN Received 54 Sexual Abuse Allegations in First Three Months of 2018
In the wake of high-profile sexual abuse revelations, the UN has been accused of exploiting people, seeking assistance within the organization. In the first three months of 2018, the United Nations received 54 separate sexual abuse cases, filed against the organization's staff as well as non-governmental organizations implementing the UN's programs. Among the alleged victims, are 13 girls under the age of 18 and 16 victims of an unknown age.
So far, two of the cases have been substantiated, the results of one are under review, while two other cases have been dismissed.
Commenting on the issue, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said that "combating this scourge, and helping and empowering those who have been scarred by these egregious acts, continue to be key priorities" for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
A total of 66 complaints have been submitted to the UN over the corresponding violations.
In recent years, the UN has fallen under strong criticism over the alleged sexual misconduct, including rape, sexual assault and transactional sex, of its staff, especially peacekeepers.
Back-dated 19.04.2017 - 'A Slap in the Face of National Dignity': UN Mission's Dark Deeds in Hatiti
'A Slap in the Face of National Dignity': UN Mission's Dark Deeds in Haiti
The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) can be described as 13 years of suffering and violations of fundamental human rights, Haitian political analyst Camille Chalmers told Sputnik Brazil.
In an interview with
Sputnik Brazil, Haitian political analyst Camille Chalmers commented on the upcoming completion of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which she bitterly described as 13 years of suffering and the violation of fundamental human rights.
Last week, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to wrap up its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti by October 15 and replace it with a smaller police-only force.
Led by Brazil, the mission was launched in 2004 when a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
"These were 13 years of pain, suffering and occupation which failed to reach its stated goals… Also, these were 13 years of fundamental human rights abuse in Haiti. The most important thing is that the UN admitted its guilt for the damage done and started the reconstruction process in order to pay its debts to the Haitians," Camille Chalmers said.
"This is why we welcome this [UN's] decision," he added, stressing the necessity of overcoming the negative impact of the UN mission now that a full review of relations with Haiti has begun.
Chalmers slammed
MINUSTAN as "a constant interference" in Haiti's recent elections, during which "attempts were made to take control of the election campaign and its results as well as influence the appointment of authorities."
According to him, "the Haitians went through it with great disappointment, anger and irritation," something that he said was reflected in the "very low voter turnout" in the November 2016 elections in Haiti.
Chalmers noted that the elections were held "in a political climate that proved unfavorable for the democratic authorities' reputation."
"This means that we are lagging behind in the processes of institutionalization and building trust between the people and the state," he emphasized.
He said in this regard, that Haitian authorities should "realize all the negative consequences" experienced in 13 years in order to "enter the true process of restoring state sovereignty."
According to Chalmers, "the occupation forces, whatever their origin, harm people; this is a slap in the face of national dignity."
He added that
"Latin American units were used [in Haiti] as an instrument within an imperial project controlled by the US and the European Union."
"The Latin American forces were used, because it is cheaper than sending US marines to Haiti. We cannot talk about a peace process in the country because there are no basic elements that could restore a safe climate in Haiti. Pervasive poverty, the polarization of wealth and drug trafficking to the US are still widely spread there," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Brazilian law expert Marcelo de Carvalho in an interview with
Sputnik Brazil commented on
reports about alleged sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in Haiti. He said that punishment for sex crimes can only be applied to the countries of the so-called Rome Statute, of which Brazil is a member and which created the International Criminal Court. "In any case, there is a list of crimes that the International Criminal Court is authorized to deal with. Among them crimes against humanity, which, in particular, include sexual harassment," Carvalho said.
Media reports said that
between 2004 and 2016, Haitians filed 150 complaints against foreign peacekeepers, including citizens of Brazil, Nigeria, Uruguay and Pakistan.
In addition, from 2004 to 2007, 114 Sri Lankan peacekeepers were withdrawn from the US mission in Haiti after they were accused of harassment of minors.
Back-dated 03.04.2016 - UN 'Turned Blind Eye' to Horrible Sexual Assaults by Its Peacekeepers
UN 'Turned Blind Eye' to Horrible Sexual Assaults by Its Peacekeepers
Over 100 girls from a province in the Central African Republic claim they were sexually abused by UN peacekeepers, the AIDS-Free World’s campaign Code Blue reported. Co-founder of Code Blue Paula Donovan told Radio Sputnik that
the reports are just the tip of the iceberg.
According to Donovan,
the United Nations has been deliberately concealing the information about sex crimes committed by peacekeepers for the sake of its reputation, leaving ‘thousands' of victims without hope. "The United Nations by being so slow and so secretive and so careful about their reputation, they're actually culpable in these crimes," she argued.
Donovan said that documents in the recent case were leaked to her organization by an insider, and that the data they received included correspondence and notes from meetings that imply that the victims were interviewed two weeks before the information was released and that the UN was notified but — for unknown reasons — never informed the civilian population or the governments involved.
"Despite the fact that the Secretary General is saying that he is going to be more transparent, that just doesn't ring true when he holds back this information and his staff holds back this information for such a long time," Donovan said.
She accused the UN of creating a culture of impunity where the perpetrators never come to justice and are being released back to the community like there was no crime.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said earlier that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "shocked to the core" over the allegations.
"Why in the world would Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon respond to these latest allegations with ‘shock'?" Donovan wondered.
"It doesn't shock any of us who's been following these stories for the past ten years."
She asserted that accusations by girls from the Central African Republic, which include such horrible abuses as forced bestiality, are the tip of the iceberg. In fact, UN peacekeepers commit similar crimes in other countries like Liberia or Democratic Republic of Congo, and
there are not even hundreds but "thousands" of women and girls who say that "their only interaction with the United Nations has been transactional sex or forced sex by peacekeepers". There's documented evidence of that happening over the past two decades, Donovan claims, and expert teams sent by the Secretary General to assess the situation informed superiors about ‘low morale' in peacekeeping missions,
but the issue was silenced and nothing was done to help the victims and persecute the criminals.
"We're reading about the Central African Republic because the media…has been shining a spotlight on that one country, and this is indicative of what we would here from other peacekeeping countries if the attention were turned in that direction," Donavan said.
Dujarric said last week that a UN team was sent to gather data regarding recently reported allegations of sexual assault and exploitation by UN and non-UN forces as well as civilians in Kemo prefecture in past two years.
Back-dated 12.03.2016 - UNSC Adopts Resolution to Repatriate Peacekeepers for Sexual Abuse
UNSC Adopts Resolution to Repatriate Peacekeepers for Sexual Abuse
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to repatriate in three circumstances peacekeepers engaged in sexual abuse or exploitation.
The resolution was adopted on Friday with 14 votes in support and 1 abstention (Egypt). Egypt's proposed amendment to make repatriation less automatic failed, with five in favor, nine against and one abstention.
The resolution calls for repatriation when "a particular troop-contributing country whose personnel are the subject of an allegation or allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse has not taken appropriate steps to investigate the allegation and/or when the particular troop- or police-contributing country has not held the perpetrators accountable or informed the Secretary General of the progress of its investigations and/or actions taken."
According a United Nations report released earlier this month, there were 99 registered allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation filed against UN staff members last year. (2015)
The number is a sharp increase on 80 similar claims filed in 2014.
An internal UN report, leaked in the spring of last year, revealed that French troops deployed in the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of a 2013 peacekeeping mission had subjected boys to sexual abuse in exchange for food and money.
In January, the United Nations said it had launched an investigation into new sexual abuse claims arising from a series of similar allegations against its peacekeepers deployed in the CAR.