Radio Nizkor

Audio Documents
HR & civil liberties in the European Union


May 2023

Fichero AudioEU - Mr Josep Borrell acknowledges that his foreign policy is based on false paradigms. Radio Nizkor, 04May23.

Calling "foreign policy" to the policy promoted by Mr. Josep Borrell is a verbal excess that decontextualises its own irrationality, not to say stupidity in the semantic sense of the term.

After months of ignoring the most elementary historical reality, Mr. Borrell declared from his Brussels pulpit: "Our prosperity was based on cheap energy from Russia. It is obvious that today we must look for energy sources within Europe..., and not exchange one dependence for another".

This statement acknowledges a reality that has existed for dozens of years and was at the industrial base of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), at the origin of the EU. The economic structure created by the fathers of the ECSC was based on the need to have the support of the Russian gas industry for the model of post-World War II Europe...

No less absurd is the claim to replace Russian gas with North American fractal liquefied gas, because Western Europe would need approximately 580 LNG carriers of large tonnage to guarantee the logistic supply line from the United States to Europe. However, at the time of Mr Borrell's brilliant discovery, there were approximately 180 LNG carriers of these dimensions in the world, most of which were and are linked to the supply of Russian gas to Japan and China under long-term contracts.

The ignorance of EU leaders has caused millions of European and non-Eurozone citizens to fall below the poverty line; it also provoked an economic phenomenon that has no solution in the short and medium term, i.e. the disaggregation of markets and supply lines.

It is very foolish to ignore the fact that Russia has a natural monopoly on many raw materials that are, by definition, irreplaceable. The effect of natural monopolies has been known in classical economics since at least the 18th century...

Behind Mr. Borrell's conception that it is possible to destroy natural monopolies are arrogance and racism. Indeed, the current policy of the so-called "Western Europe", led by Mr Borrell and the Germanic Ursula von der Leyen, promotes confrontation with the Slavic, Central Asian, Chinese, Persian and Indian peoples, and all this from an administrative post in Brussels.

No Roman emperor dared as much... Mr Josep Borrell will drag in his petty history the biggest disaster of the European Union since the creation of the ECSC.

File name Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 borrell2 00:09:28 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - M. Josep Borrell reconnaît que sa politique étrangère est fondée sur de faux paradigmes. Radio Nizkor, 02mai23.

Qualifier de " politique étrangère " celle promue par M. Josep Borrell i Fontelles est un excès verbal qui décontextualise sa propre irrationalité, pour ne pas dire " stupidité " au sens sémantique du terme.

Après avoir ignoré pendant des mois la réalité historique la plus élémentaire, M. Borrell a déclaré du haut de sa chaire bruxelloise : "Notre bien-être était basé sur l'énergie bon marché de la Russie. Il est évident qu'aujourd'hui nous devons chercher des sources d'énergie au sein de l'Europe..." Cette déclaration reconnaît une réalité qui existe depuis des décennies et qui était à la base industrielle de la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier (CECA), dont la création est à l'origine de l'UE d'aujourd'hui. La structure économique créée par les pères de la CECA fut fondée sur la nécessité de compter sur le soutien de l'industrie gazière russe pour le modèle européen de l'après-Seconde Guerre mondiale...

Non moins absurde est la prétention de remplacer le gaz russe par du gaz liquéfié fractal en provenance des États-Unis, puisque l'Europe occidentale aurait besoin d'environ 580 méthaniers de grand tonnage pour garantir la ligne d'approvisionnement logistique des États-Unis vers l'Europe. Or, à l'époque de la brillante découverte de M. Borrell, il y avait environ 180 méthaniers de cette taille dans le monde, dont la plupart étaient et sont liés à la fourniture de gaz russe au Japon et à la Chine dans le cadre de contrats à long terme.

L'ignorance des dirigeants de l'UE a fait tomber des millions de citoyens européens et en dehors de la zone euro sous le seuil de pauvreté. Elle a également provoqué un phénomène économique sans solution à court et moyen terme, à savoir la désagrégation des marchés et des lignes d'approvisionnement. La désagrégation des processus industriels provoque à elle seule des effets incontrôlables sur les marchés, détruisant les chaînes logistiques et la structure industrielle.

Il est très insensé de ne pas tenir compte du fait que la Russie dispose d'un monopole naturel sur de nombreuses matières premières qui sont, par définition, irremplaçables. L'effet des monopoles naturels est connu dans l'économie classique depuis au moins le XVIIIe siècle.

Derrière cette conception de M. Borrell se cachent l'arrogance et le racisme. En effet, la politique actuelle de la dénommée "Europe occidentale", menée par M. Borrell et la germanique Ursula von der Leyen, promeut la confrontation avec les peuples slaves, centrasiatiques, chinois, perses et indiens, et tout cela depuis un poste administratif à Bruxelles.

Aucun empereur romain ne fut aussi audacieux... Mister Josep Borrell entraînera dans sa petite histoire le plus grand désastre de l'Union européenne depuis la création de la CECA.

File name Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 borrell1 00:08:31 FRA


March 2023

Fichero AudioEU - Mr Josep Borrell reconoce que su política exterior se basa en paradigmas falsos. Radio Nizkor, 16mar23.

Llamar "política exterior" a la promovida por Mr. Josep Borrell i Fontelles es un exceso verbal que descontextualiza su propia irracionalidad, por no decir estupidez en el sentido semántico del término.

Tras meses ignorando la realidad histórica más elemental, Mr. Borrell llegó a declarar desde su púlpito bruselense: "Nuestro bienestar se basaba en la energía barata de Rusia. Es obvio que hoy debemos buscar fuentes de energía dentro de Europa...". Esta declaración da al traste con la base industrial de la Comunidad Europea del Carbón y del Acero (la llamada “CECA”), cuya creación se encuentra en el origen de la actual Unión Europea. La estructura económica creada por los padres de la CECA obedeció a la necesidad de contar con el apoyo de la industria del gas ruso para el modelo de la Europa post II Guerra Mundial...

No menos disparatada es la pretensión de reemplazar el gas ruso por el gas licuado fractal norteamericano, ya que Europa Occidental necesitaría aproximadamente 580 metaneros de gran tonelaje para garantizar la línea logística de suministro desde Estados Unidos a Europa. Sin embargo, en el momento del brillante descubrimiento de Mr Borrell existían en el mundo aproximadamente 180 metaneros de estas dimensiones, la mayoría de los cuales estaban y están vinculados al abastecimiento de gas ruso a Japón y a China mediante contrato a largo plazo...

La consecuencia de su ignorancia ha promovido que millones de ciudadanos europeos y de fuera de la Eurozona cayeran por debajo del umbral de la pobreza; además ha provocado un fenómeno económico que no tiene solución a corto y mediano plazo, como es la desagregación de los mercados y de las líneas de abastecimiento. La desagregación de los procesos industriales destruye las cadenas logísticas y la estructura industrial y, como consecuencia, la economía de costos escalables de cualquier sistema industrial.

Mr Josep Borrell arrastrará en su mezquina historia el mayor desastre de la Unión Europea desde la creación de la CECA.

Resulta muy necio no tener en cuenta que Rusia posee un monopolio natural de numerosas materias primas que son, por definición, insustituibles. El efecto de los monopolios naturales es conocido en la economía clásica desde al menos el siglo XVIII. Detrás de la concepción de Mr. Borrell de que es posible destruir los monopolios naturales están la soberbia y el racismo.

En la primera mitad del siglo XX, Alemania llegó a la misma conclusión y como solución se implementó la doctrina racial que, una vez ocupada Rusia militarmente, promovía el extermino de la población eslava y su disgregación en cientos de pequeñas naciones de base racial...

Esta ideología subyacente en la política actual de la denominada "Europa Occidental", dirigida por Mr Borrell y la germánica Ms Ursula von der Leyen, promueve el enfrentamiento con los pueblos eslavos, centro-asiáticos, chinos, persas e indios, y todo eso lo hacen desde un puesto administrativo en Bruselas.

Las expresiones racistas y colonialistas, como podrán escuchar en el presente programa, son un lugar común en el discuro de Borrell que denotan además una ignorancia doctrinal que deja en evidencia su escasa formación cultural y filosófica... Éste es el perfil del hombre que está llevando a Europa a una Tercera Guerra Mundial en el paroxismo de su odio al mundo eslavo.

File name Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 borrell 00:17:01 ESP


April 2014

Fichero AudioEU - The Court of Justice of the EU declares the Data Retention Directive to be invalid. Radio Nizkor with the collaboration of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the American University Washington College of Law, 23Apr14.

On April 8th, 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the mass storage of telecommunications data violates the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data.

The EU Data Retention Directive compelled telephone and Internet companies to retain traffic and location data as well as related data necessary to identify the subscriber or user for the purpose of the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime, such as, in particular, organised crime and terrorism.

The European Court of Justice had to issue a preliminary ruling concerning the validity of Directive 2006/24/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006. The request addressed to the European Court has its origin in a case triggered in Ireland by Digital Rights Ireland. The Court joined this case with another request made by the Austrian Constitutional Court concerning the compatibility with the Federal Constitutional Law of the law transposing Directive 2006/24 into Austrian national law.

The Court has found that data retention entails a wide ranging and particularly serious interference with the fundamental right to privacy... "The Court observes first of all that the data to be retained makes it possible, in particular :

  • to know the identity of the person with whom a subscriber or registered user has communicated and by what means,
  • to identify the time of the communication as well as the place from which that communication took place and
  • to know the frequency of the communications of the subscriber or registered user with certain persons during a given period."

"Those data, taken as a whole, may provide very precise information on the private lives of the persons whose data are retained, such as the habits of everyday life, permanent or temporary places of residence, daily or other movements, activities carried out, social relationships and the social environments frequented."

"The Court takes the view that, by requiring the retention of those data and by allowing the competent national authorities to access those data, the directive interferes in a particularly serious manner with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data."

Though the Directive has now been struck down, the issue will remain live in all the countries who have passed domestic law to implement the data retention mass surveillance regime.

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 retention1 00:10:19 ENG



Fichero AudioUE - La Cour de justice de l'Union européenne déclare la directive sur la conservation des données invalide. Radio Nizkor, 21avr14.

Le 8 avril 2014, la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne a établi que la conservation à grande échelle de données générées par les communications électroniques constitue une violation des droits fondamentaux au respect de la vie privée et à la protection des données à caractère personnel.

La directive sur la conservation des données prévoit que les compagnies téléphoniques et les fournisseurs d'accès à Internet doivent conserver les données relatives au trafic, les données de localisation ainsi que les données connexes nécessaires pour identifier l'abonné ou l'utilisateur, tout cela à des fins de prévention, de recherche, de détection et de poursuite des infractions graves, comme notamment les infractions liées à la criminalité organisée et au terrorisme.

La Cour européenne de justice a émis une décision préjudicielle portant sur la validité de la directive 2006/24/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil, du 15 mars 2006. La demande présentée à la Cour européenne trouve son origine dans une affaire déclenchée par Digital Rights Ireland. La Cour a joint cette affaire à une autre question préjudicielle introduite par la Cour constitutionnelle autrichienne concernant la compatibilité de la loi transposant la directive 2006/24 dans le droit interne autrichien avec la loi constitutionnelle fédérale.

La Cour a décidé que la conservation des données constitue une ingérence d'une vaste ampleur et d'une gravité particulière dans les droits fondamentaux au respect de la vie privée. "La Cour constate tout d'abord que les données à conserver permettent notamment de savoir:

  • avec quelle personne et par quel moyen un abonné ou un utilisateur inscrit a communiqué
  • de déterminer le temps de la communication ainsi que l'endroit à partir duquel celle-ci a eu lieu et
  • de connaître la fréquence des communications de l'abonné ou de l'utilisateur inscrit avec certaines personnes pendant une période donnée."

"Ces données, prises dans leur ensemble, sont susceptibles de fournir des indications très précises sur la vie privée des personnes dont les données sont conservées, comme les habitudes de la vie quotidienne, les lieux de séjour permanents ou temporaires, les déplacements journaliers ou autres, les activités exercées, les relations sociales et les milieux sociaux fréquentés."

"La Cour estime qu'en imposant la conservation de ces données et en en permettant l'accès aux autorités nationales compétentes, la directive s'immisce de manière particulièrement grave dans les droits fondamentaux au respect de la vie privée et à la protection des données à caractère personnel."

Bien que la directive ait été annulée, le problème ne disparaîtra pas dans les pays ayant adopté des lois pour mettre en oeuvre ce régime de conservation massive de données.

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 retention1 00:09:14 FRA


April 2012

Fichero AudioUE - L'ACTA et les plans répressifs de la Commission européenne au-delà de l'ACTA. (La Quadrature du Net). Radio Nizkor, 20avr12.

L'accord commercial anti-contrefaçon, plus connu sous le nom d'ACTA pour Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, est un accord négocié secrètement de 2007 à 2010 par 39 pays, dont les 27 de l'Union européenne, les États-Unis, le Japon et autres.

Négocié plutôt que débattu démocratiquement, ACTA contourne les parlements et est une véritable feuille de route pour des projets comme SOPA et PIPA, imposerait de nouvelles sanctions pénales et des mesures poussant les acteurs de l'Internet à « coopérer » avec les industries du divertissement pour surveiller et censurer les communications en ligne, en contournant l'autorité judiciaire.

Cet accord est donc une menace majeure pour la liberté d'expression en ligne et est porteur d'insécurité juridique pour les acteurs de l'Internet.

Le Parlement européen a désormais une occasion ultime de rejeter l'ACTA... Après avoir annoncé qu'il recommanderait le rejet de l'ACTA, le rapporteur britanique David Martin (S&D) tient ses engagements : son projet de rapport appelle le Parlement à refuser de « donner son consentement » à ACTA et souligne que « les bénéfices attendus de cet accord international sont largement inférieurs aux menaces qu'il fait peser sur les libertés civiles ».

Tout en soulignant les principaux dangers de l'ACTA, David Martin réconforte cependant les lobbies du copyright, des brevets et du droits des marques...

La conclusion du projet de rapport de M. Martin appelle la Commission européenne de « faire de nouvelles propositions pour protéger la propriété intellectuelle ».

Cela est aussi une source d'inquiétude au regard des projets de la Commission, qui s'apprête à réviser la Directive anti-partage IPRED (Acronyme pour: Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive) pour accentuer la répression des infractions en ligne au droit d'auteur...

Le vote sur ACTA en plénière au Parlement européen devrait avoir lieu au mois de juillet voire en septembre...

En attendant, « le Parlement doit absolument résister aux pressions exercées par la Commission et protéger ses prérogatives »...

Plus dérangeant encore, sans même attendre la décision du Parlement européen d'accepter ou non ACTA, le Commissaire Michel Barnier, en charge du Marché intérieur, fait déjà pression en faveur de nouvelles mesures répressives en matière de droit d'auteur, similaires à celles prévues par les lois SOPA et PIPA aux États-Unis.

Une feuille de route récemment publiée sur la révision de la directive IPRED sur le renforcement des droits de propriété intellectuelle, confirme que la Commission souhaite se concentrer sur les infractions en ligne, utilisant ACTA pour mettre en place des mécanismes de censure privée dans le droit européen...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
🔊 acta 00:07:53 FRA


March 2012

Fichero AudioEU/Bel - SABAM vs Netlog: Another important ruling for the Open Internet and for fundamental rights after Scarlet vs. SABAM. (European Digital Rights). Radio Nizkor, 19Mar12.

"A few months after the Scarlet/SABAM case, the Court of Justice of the European Union has released a new decision on the legality of filtering systems on the Internet, this time with regard to filtering of content stored on web services.

Last February 16th, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that a social network “cannot be obliged to install a general filtering system, covering all its users, in order to prevent the unlawful use of musical and audio-visual work”.

SABAM brought the social network Netlog to court to impose an injunction requiring the installation of filtering systems aimed at the prevention of infringements committed by its Belgian members (around 2 million consumers) on its website.

A social network is a set of online communication tools that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Netlog is an online platform, where members can create their own webpage with a blog, pictures, playlists, videos… and as such considered as a social network, and a hosting provider...

The SABAM v. Netlog judgment represents a new win for fundamental freedoms.

Particularly now, in a political climate where the foundations of the current Internet are at stake, the European judges have re-emphasised the importance of not overburdening communication tools with restrictive technologies. This is crucial to protect the fundamental rights value of the Internet as well as its economic significance.

For the second time in a just a few months, thanks to actions taken by SABAM have led the Court of Justice of the EU to underline the importance of an open and free Internet and the respect for fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom of communication privacy and the freedom to conduct business.

But what is the difference between the Scarlet case and the Netlog decision?. The wording of the questions was the same in both cases except that the Netlog decision specifically addresses the situation of hosting providers, while the Scarlet case involved Internet access providers...

In the Scarlet case, the issue was about an access provider, a "mere conduit" (a service consisting of "transmission" in a communication network) in the language of the E-Commerce Directive.

SABAM wanted the ISP Scarlet to install a generalised filtering system for all incoming and outgoing electronic communications passing through its services and to block potentially unlawful communications.

In First Instance, while refusing the liability of the ISP, the Brussels Court concluded that the SABAM's claim was legitimate and that a filtering system had to be deployed. Scarlet appealed and the case was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. In its decision, the Court of Justice ruled that a filtering and blocking system for all its customers for an unlimited period, in abstracto and as preventive measure, violates fundamental rights, more particularly the right to privacy, freedom of communication and freedom of information. In addition, it breaches the freedom of ISPs to conduct business..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
netlog Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:08:54 ENG


January 2012

Fichero AudioEU/USA - US intervenes in the revision of the EU data protection Directive while EU Commission postpones the publication of the proposal for its review. (Privacy and Information Security Law blog, European Digital Rights). Radio Nizkor, 30Jan12.

"According to a spokesperson at the European Commission, the publication of the proposal for the review of the EU Data Protection Directive has been postponed until late February or March 2012.

The draft proposal was scheduled to be officially released in late January after it was leaked in December 2011.

According to various sources, the proposal received negative responses from several Directorates-General over the course of the 'inter-service consultation,' some of whom have voiced their concern that the proposed new framework would be stricter than the current legal framework and thus may have a negative impact on businesses.

For example, parts of the proposal, such as the right to be forgotten, are viewed by some as potentially too burdensome for companies.

The delay in the release date for the proposal will push back the formal adoption of the draft proposal by the European Commission.

Viviane Reding, Justice Commissioner and Commission Vice-President, is said to be working on a communication in which she will outline several key goals and objectives for the draft proposal. The draft proposal has not yet entered into the legislative process and may undergo substantial changes before it reaches that stage."

European Digital Rights informs that "right at the end of the inter-service consultation process in the European Commission (the almost final step before a legislative proposal is launched), the United States Department of Commerce launched a significant lobbying campaign against the leaked draft proposal for a Data Protection Regulation. The campaign included high-level phone calls from senior figures in the US Department of Commerce to top level staff in the European Commission covering topics such as US business, multilateral and bilateral treaty organizations, PNR, national security, law enforcement, trade and innovation."

"In general, the US complained about the draft proposal arguing that it will break with international standards and might even end up being counterproductive for data protection..."

European Digital Rights has analized the most prominent exaggerations and misunderstandings in the US paper, namely those pertaining to interoperability, data breach requirements, right to be forgotten, definition of "child", adequacy, regulatory enforcement and international cooperation.

It concludes that "Most of the objections are rather specious, obviously weak or plain wrong and interest-driven, aiming to water down the standards in the leaked draft Regulation. This early-stage intervention obviously aims at reducing interference with access by the US to any data about European citizens in the course of their investigations, showing very little effort to understand the European concept of privacy."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
retention2 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:09:01 ENG



Fichero AudioUSA/EU - The proposed EU-US Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement breaches data protection, due process and other fundamental rights. Radio Nizkor with the collaboration of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the American University Washington College of Law, 30Jan12.

On 17 November 2011, U.S. and EU officials initialled a proposed agreement to authorize airlines to forward passenger name record data to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Although the agreement cannot take effect without the approval of the European Parliament and the Council, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) could read the proposed agreement only in a sealed room where they could not take notes or make copies.

The complete text on which the European Parliament will vote has finally been made public, revealing a failure to address the concerns raised by the Parliament and continued shortfalls in data protection, due process, and protection of fundamental rights.

In its resolution of 5 May 2010, the Parliament said that the Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement should take the form of a treaty, recognize the fundamental right to freedom of movement, prohibit the use of PNR data for data mining or profiling, and take into consideration "PNR data which may be available from sources not covered by international agreements, such as computer reservation systems located outside the EU."

The proposed agreement does not meet these criteria, and does not mention any of these issues...

In view of the upcoming vote on the EU-USA PNR Agreement, the Austrian Organization for the Use of the Internet and NoPNR.org, with the endorsement, among others, of The Identity Project, Friends of Privacy USA, Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights, Statewatch and Privacy International, sent an Open Letter to the European Parliament asking its Members to consider the following issues for their decision on the EU-US PNR Agreement:

  • The proposed agreement will not result in improved legal security for citizens
  • There is no access control or access logging
  • The proposed agreement does not meet the conditions set by the European Parliament
  • There is no appropriate information to travelers

This program has been prepared with information provided by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, European Digital Rights, The Identity Project and StateWatch.

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata7 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:09:39 ENG


December 2011

Fichero AudioUSA/EU - "Outside the United States, Extraordinary Rendition on Trial". (Alka Pradhan for the American Society of International Law). Radio Nizkor with the collaboration of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the American University Washington College of Law, 16Dec11.

"Three pending cases before the European Court of Human Rights highlight allegedly illegal acts committed by European countries in connection with the U.S. extraordinary rendition program.

The first, filed by Khalid El-Masri in September 2009, claims unlawful abduction and mistreatment by the Macedonian Ministry of the Interior.

The second was filed by Abd Al-Rahim al Nashiri for alleged mistreatment during his detention at a secret prison (“black site”) in Poland...

The third, most recent case was filed against Lithuania by Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn (“Abu Zubaydah”) for alleged secret detention and torture by CIA agents committed at a Lithuanian black site...

El-Masri’s petition alleges that Macedonia violated Article 3 (prohibition of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) of the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to intervene during his torture and inhuman treatment by CIA agents in Macedonia; by allowing him to be transported to Afghanistan with the knowledge that he would be tortured and inhumanly treated at the destination; and by failing to investigate his arrest, detention, and transfer to the CIA by Macedonian authorities.

Additionally, El-Masri claims that his detention by Macedonian authorities for twenty-three days, along with his transfer to CIA agents, violated his right to liberty and security of person (Article 5), and that the failure by the Macedonian criminal courts to hear his case violated his right to remedy guaranteed by Article 13 of the Convention.

Regarding Al Nashiri, his petition alleges violations of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (prohibition of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), 5 (liberty and security of person), 8 (right to private and family life), 10 (freedom of expression), and 13 (right to remedy) of the Convention, and Protocol 6 to the Convention (abolition of the death penalty)...

If the Court accepts El-Masri’s and/or al Nashiri’s applications, both the applicants and the member states will be invited to present their claims before the Court. Should the Court find that a member state has violated the Convention, it may issue a declaratory judgment, order payment of damages and legal costs, or implement other measures of reparation.

Chamber judgments may be appealed to the “Grand Chamber,” whose judgments are final. Because the United States is not a party to the European Court of Human Rights, it is not named in the applications. However, if the United States decides to participate in the proceedings, the Court has the discretion to allow a third party to intervene in the form of written comments..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
rendition Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:11:45 ENG


November 2011

Fichero AudioGbr - Met Police using blanket and indiscriminate surveillance system / Review of RIPA needed. (The Guardian, UK). Radio Nizkor, 29Nov11.

"Civil liberties group raises concerns over Metropolitan police purchase of technology to track public handsets over a targeted area.

Britain's largest police force is operating covert surveillance technology that can masquerade as a mobile phone network, transmitting a signal that allows authorities to shut off phones remotely, intercept communications and gather data about thousands of users in a targeted area.

The surveillance system has been procured by the Metropolitan police from Leeds-based company Datong plc, which counts the US Secret Service, the Ministry of Defence and regimes in the Middle East among its customers.

Strictly classified under government protocol as "Listed X", it can emit a signal over an area of up to an estimated 10 sq km, forcing hundreds of mobile phones per minute to release their unique identity codes, which can be used to track a person's movements in real time.

The disclosure has caused concern among lawyers and privacy groups that large numbers of innocent people could be unwittingly implicated in covert intelligence gathering...

Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, warned the technology could give police the ability to conduct "blanket and indiscriminate" monitoring... He added that "Such invasive surveillance must be tightly regulated, authorised at the highest level and only used in the most serious of investigations. It should be absolutely clear that only data directly relating to targets of investigations is monitored or stored." [...]

Regarding the investigatory powers act, lawyers have condemned what appears to be deception of the courts by undercover police and have called for fundamental reforms of the legislation governing covert operations.

"The revelation that a constable who infiltrated protest groups gave false evidence in court under oath triggered demands for a review of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa)...

Gordon Nardell QC, who is leading the Bar Council's working party on the operation of Ripa, said that “At the moment the law allows the police to target legally privileged communications between lawyer and client”. "The Bar Council thinks that is fundamentally wrong and creates a risk of miscarriages of justice. People accused of crime must be able to speak freely with their lawyer in the knowledge that what they say is kept from the ears of the investigating authorities.”

"We hope to persuade the House of Lords to make amendments to the protection of freedoms bill to ban the police from covertly gaining access to privileged lawyer-client communications..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
met Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:15:40 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - The Data Retention Directive should be repealed given that it does not meet privacy requirements. (Electronic Privacy Information Center, European Digital Rights, Office of the European Data Protection Supervisor). Radio Nizkor, 29Nov11.

"European Union Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx raised the possibility of repealing Europe's Data Retention Directive, which requires telecommunication companies and Internet service providers to retain user data for law enforcement purposes.

The Directive applies to traffic and location data and the "related data necessary to identify" a user. Each EU member state must retain this data for a period of six months to two years from the date of the user's communication.

The Directive also requires each EU member state to enact procedures that grant law enforcement access to the data. According to Hustinx, the Directive does not provide clear guidance about why this data must be retained or who will have access to it.

Similarly, Hustinx believes that the Directive does not sufficiently justify the necessity of the data retention, lacks foreseeability, and is overly intrusive. He also notes that statistics on access requests indicate that a retention period of up to two years 'goes far beyond' what is necessary. In light of these concerns, Hustinx has asked the European Commission to consider all other options, 'including the possibility of repealing the Directive.' [...]

On 26 September 2011, European Digital Rights and 37 other NGOs from 14 countries sent a letter to Commissioners Malmström, Kroes and Reding on the review of the Data Retention Directive.

In their communique informing of the sending of the letter, European Digital Rights states “The central mistake which we would like not to see repeated is the fallacy that all uses of retained data can be used to argue that the Directive is valuable. In reality, recently generated data is more likely to be used in investigations and such data would have been available anyway even if the Directive had never existed.”

The letter also draws attention to some of the core problems with the Directive, such as the lack of a harmonised definition of "serious crime" (and the far reaching consequences of this) and the lack of a harmonised approach to access and security.

EDRi recalls that "Article 52 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union states that limitations of fundamental rights must not restrict or reduce the right in such a way or to such extent that the very essence of the right is impaired. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled similarly on numerous occasions."

Ironically, the Directive was proposed as a measure to harmonise the approach to this policy in the European Union - even though few countries had such a policy to begin with. It managed to disharmonise the single market, by forcing the policy onto 27 countries, with vastly varying retention periods, rules for cost reimbursement, etc.

The next step in the process for the Commission will be the preparation of an "Impact Assessment", listing a number of different policy options and coming to the conclusion (as has already been politically decided) that the Directive is useful but offering some small concessions, such as a small reduction in the maximum retention period, which will be sold as major improvements in the deeply flawed legislation...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
retention1 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:10:18 ENG



Fichero AudioUN/EU - Time to Rethink Terrorist Blacklisting. (Statewatch, Jan11). Radio Nizkor with the collaboration of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at the American University Washington College of Law, 29Nov11.

"The terrorist proscription regimes enacted by the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) after the attacks of 9/11 have been seriously undermined by growing doubts about their legality, effectiveness and disproportionate impact on the rights of affected parties. [...]

Ostensibly, these 'smart sanctions' (which target groups and individuals rather than whole populations) are designed to disrupt the activities of terrorist groups by criminalising their members, cutting off their access to funds and undermining their support.

In practice, however, far too many people have been included in national and international terrorism lists. At the same time, they have been systematically denied the possibility of mounting a meaningful defence to the allegations against them. Moreover, many listings are clearly politically or ideologically motivated, undermining genuine counter-terrorism efforts and paralysing conflict resolution efforts.

The UN blacklisting regime stems from UN Security Council Resolution 1267, which created the first list of alleged terrorists "associated with Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda". [...]

The EU's terrorist lists stem from the measures it took to transpose Resolution 1373 into EU law and currently stands at 57 individuals and 47 organisations. In addition to the UN and EU lists, many states have adopted domestic blacklists, massively expanding the net of criminalisation.

Whereas the EU has adopted a particularly broad definition of ‘terrorism’, the UN has failed to reach such an understanding, despite decades of deliberation. UN Security Council Resolution 1373 thus effectively outsources the definition of terrorism to nation states, encouraging the criminalisation of groups on the basis of geopolitical, foreign policy or diplomatic interests.

The criminalisation of self-determination movements that has resulted has transformed the migrant and Diaspora communities that support them into ‘suspect communities’ and obstructed peace processes aimed at resolving such conflicts.

There is now an irrefutable body of expert legal opinion that views international proscription regimes as incompatible with the most basic standards of due process. The adverse and unacceptable impact of the sanctions on fundamental human rights is also abundantly clear and systemic violations have been recognised repeatedly in judicial proceedings, particularly within Europe.

Listing decisions are usually based on secret intelligence material that neither blacklisted individuals nor the Courts responsible for reviewing the implementation of the lists will ever see. Needless to say, affected parties cannot contest the allegations against them (and exercise their right to judicial review) if they are prevented from knowing what the allegations actually are..."

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blacklisting1 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:15:40 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - European Data Protection Supervisor says a serious policy debate on net neutrality must effectively address the protection of privacy and personal data. Radio Nizkor, 03Nov11.

This program shows the current state of the debate on what is known as "net neutrality" and the discussion points at a EU level based on the corresponding Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).

Net neutrality refers to the issue of whether Internet service providers (ISPs) should be allowed to monitor network traffic to filter or restrict Internet access, for example to block specific services or applications (for example peer to peer) or give preference access to others.

On October 7th, 2011 the EDPS, Peter Hustinx, released an opinion on the European Commission Communication on the open internet and net neutrality in Europe, a communication that had been adopted by the Commission on April 19th, 2011. (The Supervisor is an independent supervisory authority devoted to protecting personal data and privacy and promoting good practice in the EU institutions and bodies).

According to "La Quadrature du Net", an European advocacy group that promotes the rights and freedoms of citizens on the Internet, the EDPS's opinion on Net neutrality is a ground-breaking opinion. "He stresses that restrictions to Internet access inevitably harm privacy".

As the European Parliament enters in the final stage of the negotiations on its resolution on Net neutrality, this opinion underlines that the EU Commission's "wait and see" approach is bound to fail and is unjustifiable. Members of the EU Parliament - who will soon hold a crucial vote on the matter - must preserve citizens' privacy by requiring strong regulatory measures to ban discrimination of online communications.

In fact, the "Industry Committee" of the European Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution last October 20th demanding that the European Commission promptly assess the need for further legislative action...

La Quadrature du Net considers that the resolution passed by the Industry Committee is overall a positive text. However, the resolution falls short of asking for immediate legislative action to protect Net neutrality and for sanctions against Internet Service Providers who restrict access to the Internet. It also includes a loophole, which risks being interpreted as accepting such restrictions on mobile Internet on the pretext of alleged network congestion.

Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson for La Quadrature du Net, said that “While rather weak, the adopted resolution is a political commitment from the European Parliament in favour of Net neutrality, and aims to prevent telecom operators from restricting Internet access. Pressure is increasing on Commissioner Neelie Kroes and the EU telecoms regulators to come up with further legislation. Mrs Kroes must break away from her 'wait and see' approach and take action to effectively protect competition, innovation as well as citizens' freedom of expression and privacy online".

The draft guidelines on "Net Neutrality and Transparency" proposed by the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) in October 2011, have actually nothing to do with Net neutrality according to privacy groups, and instead readily accept that telecom operators can restrict access to the Internet as long as users are informed. They only prove that mere transparency and competition will not prevent operators from violating Net neutrality.

The text adopted in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy vote will now move to be adopted in plenary without the possibility of further amendments, in a vote scheduled for late-November 2011...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
netneutrality Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:40:26 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - Mandatory data retention: update and developments. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 03Nov11.

"Directive 2006/24/EC on the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or of public communications networks more frequently goes by the name of the Data Retention Directive.

The Directive requires service provider to keep communications data concerning: phone-calls, faxes, mobile phone calls (including location) and internet usage (it should be noted that the monitoring of internet usage also reveals the content).

This highly controversial legislation was passed in 2006, its path cleared by the terrorist attacks in London and Madrid. Both these occasions provided the Council with the opportunity to introduce EU-wide data retention measures

Perhaps the most well-known comment on the Data Retention Directive is that of the European Data Protection Supervisor, who referred to it as “the most privacy invasive instrument ever adopted by the EU in terms of scale and the number of people it affects.” This statement reinforced the arguments made by numerous civil society organisations, individuals and politicians.

It is because of the highly invasive nature of the surveillance and monitoring permitted by mandatory data retention that the directive was annulled or suspended by court decisions in several Member States...

However, the idea that data retention and greater surveillance of telecommunications will help in the “fight against terrorism” is persistent, and seems to be resonating across Europe. The situation in Norway and the failure of police and security services to prevent the attacks has given rise to a number of arguments for enhanced surveillance of the internet.

At the EU level, there remains a significant lobby opposing any comprehensive re-thinking of how data retention should work, or whether it is necessary at all.

A number of Member States are strongly in favour of retaining the Directive as it stands – a recent leaked paper drafted by France, Ireland and the UK states that data retention "has played a key role in maintaining public security throughout Europe."

The paper attempts to justify current data retention legislation on numerous grounds, not least through recounting tales of specific cases where retained data has been successfully utilised.

Yet it may have been entirely possible to solve these cases without mandatory, blanket retention of all telecommunications information by targeting suspects. Alternative options include a process known as “quick-freeze”, whereby law enforcement bodies are able to ensure the retention of specific telecommunications data after an investigation has begun.

The differences between Member States were reflected at a recent meeting of the Working Party on Data Protection and Information Exchange...

It remains to be seen whether the original Directive will be amended or repealed in order to better respect the rights to privacy and data protection provided by Articles 7 and 8 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the right to privacy outlined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
retention Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:08:43 ENG


September 2011

Fichero AudioEU - In these times of crisis, cuts in food aid programme for the most deprived EU citizens are highly immoral. Radio Nizkor, 28Sep11.

At the European Union Council on Agriculture and Fisheries of September 20, 2011, member states could not reach an agreement to renew the EU programme on the distribution of food products to the most deprived. Six out of the 27 member states were against it.

The total value of funds for the 2012 programme for the supply of food for the most deprived persons in the EU has been set at 113 million Euros, a sharp reduction from the near € 500 million awarded in recent years. The 2012 food aid scheme will be based exclusively on existing intervention stocks.

The scheme to distribute free food to the most deprived persons in the Community was launched as an emergency measure in the exceptionally cold winter of 1986/87, when surplus stocks of agricultural produce were given to Member State charities for distribution to people in need. The measure was subsequently formalised and based on intervention stocks.

As a result of the reform process that the Common Agricultural Policy has undergone since the early 1990s, large surplus stocks are now non-existent.

The phasing-down of systematic intervention on the markets, together with a growth in demand for staple food products, means that only small quantities are now available for the "Most Deprived" scheme. To ensure that the scheme could continue, it was amended in 1995 to allow the surplus stocks to be complemented by a financial contribution, when this was necessary...

In 2008 the Commission proposed not to limit the purchase of food aid just to times when intervention stocks are not available. Such purchases accounted for 90% of the resources allocated for the 2009 programme... Germany however challenged the practice of market purchasing, stating that the decision to purchase food for the poor falls under social policy and is therefore a national competence. The Court of Justice followed the German reasoning in its ruling last April 13th. This led to the annulment of the European provisions allowing market purchases...

The 2012 scheme will thus be based exclusively on existing intervention stocks, with member states receiving less than a quarter of what they received in earlier years. The six countries opposed to the continuation of the program for 2012-2013 are Germany, the United Kingdom, Holland, The Czech Republic, Denmark and Sweden.

The Commission estimates that 80 million people in the EU are at risk of poverty... In the current economic crisis, it would be unacceptable and immoral for Europe to abandon its most vulnerable citizens, specially if we consider, for example, that the cumulative cost of the UK's involvement in the Libya conflict to the end of August could be as high as 1.75bn pounds, that is to say, around 2.71bn US dollars, and the mission is not over yet...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
foodaid Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:17:05 ENG


June 2011

Fichero AudioEU/USA - European Commission's Legal Service says EU-USA PNR Agreement is not Compatible with Fundamental Rights. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 28Jun11.

On May 18th, 2011, the European Commission's Legal Service sent a Note to the Director-General of Home Affairs stating that it does not consider the planned agreement with the USA to exchange PNR (Passenger Name Record) data on individuals is "compatible with fundamental rights".

The Commission, which has been in charge of negotiating the agreement with the USA, has circulated the final agreement prior to formally submitting it to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament for their agreement. This draft was distributed among Delegations on May 20th, 2011.

Said agreement has not been amended to meet the concerns of the Legal Service. Formally, the European Parliament cannot amend the agreement but it has to agree it - in effect, the parliament can veto the planned Agreement.

The European Commission's Legal Service Note says that the Legal Service has reviewed the draft agreement in respect of fundamental rights and: "considers that there are grave doubts as to its compatibility with the fundamental right to data protection." It concludes in fact that the Legal Service "does not consider the agreement in its present form as compatible with fundamental rights." [...]

On this matter, Tony Bunyan, Statewatch Director, comments:

"Secret Minutes of EU-US meetings since 2001 show that they have always been a one-way channel with the US setting the agenda by making demands on the EU. When the EU does make rare requests like on data protection, because US law only offers protection and redress to US citizens, they are bluntly told that the the US is not going to change its data protection system - as they were at the EU-US Justine and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Washington on 8-9 December 2010.

This Agreement does not meet EU data protection standards of proportionality or purpose limitation, nor does it provide judicial redress to data subjects or any guarantee of independent oversight.

The European Parliament should refuse to consent to this Agreement as it is empowered to do under the Lisbon Treaty."

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pnrdata7 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:07:26 ENG


November 2010

Fichero AudioEU - European Commission announces strategy to strengthen EU data protection rules. (EPIC, Europa, European Data Protection Supervisor Press Service). Radio Nizkor, 26Nov10.

What happens to your personal data when you board a plane, open a bank account, or share photos online? How is this data used and by whom? How do you permanently delete profile information on social networking websites? Can you transfer your contacts and photos to another service?

Controlling your information, having access to your data, being able to modify or delete it – these are essential rights that have to be guaranteed in today's world.

The European Commission announced on November 4th, 2010, a strategy to "protect individuals' data in all policy areas, including law enforcement, while reducing red tape for business and guaranteeing the free circulation of data within the EU.

The key goals include, as the Electronic Privacy Information Center informs, "strengthening the rights of individuals, enhancing the free flow of information, extending privacy safeguards to police and criminal justice records systems, ensuring high levels of protection for data transferred outside of the European Union, and more effective enforcement of privacy rules. The new policy will build on the 1995 EU Data Directive which is the foundation for much of privacy law across Europe".

The current regulatory framework is basically provided by the Directive 95/46 of the European Parliament and the Council, of October 24th 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data". This general Data Protection Directive has been complemented by other legal instruments, such as the e-Privacy Directive for the communications sector..

In 2009, the Commission launched a review of the current legal framework on data protection, starting with a high-level conference in May 2009, followed by a public consultation running until the end of 2009. Targeted stakeholders consultations were organised throughout 2010.

This policy review will be used by the European Commission with the results of a public consultation to revise the EU’s 1995 Data Protection Directive. Public submissions and comments can be made on the European Commission’s public consultation website until January 15, 2011.

Building on this, the Commission will present proposals for a new general data protection legal framework in 2011, which will then need to be negotiated and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council...

Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), spoke to the press about this subject on November 15th. He emphasised the importance of the reform of legal framework for data protection and insisted on the need for a strong and effective data protection in a society where personal information is used in quantities that cannot be measured, very often without individuals being aware of it...

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epic2 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:15:56 ENG


October 2010

Fichero AudioEU - The EP and the European Commission signed a revised Framework Agreement governing working relations between the two institutions and strengthening democratic scrutiny over EU external instruments. Radio Nizkor, 25Oct10.

The European Parliament approved proposals on October 21st to give European Members of Parliament a power of scrutiny over how the European Commission finances projects intended to promote stability in non-EU countries, improve cooperation with developing and other countries and promote democracy and human rights.

Strategy papers for geographic and thematic programmes, as well as multi-annual indicative programmes drafted by the Commission for the external co-operation instruments "shall be adopted by means of delegated acts", according to amendments approved by the Foreign Affairs, Development and International Trade committees.

This would give the European Parliament a de facto veto, by enabling it to block these strategy papers and multiannual programmes and require the Commission to present amended proposals.

All five reports were adopted at first reading without any agreement having been reached with the Council and Commission on the most contentious issue, relating to the application of delegated acts. These reports pertain to the Instrument for Stability, the financing instrument for development cooperation, the financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide and the financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries.

One day before, on October 20th, the European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed in Strasbourg the revised Framework Agreement governing working relations between the two institutions. The signature brings to a successful conclusion a process that started almost one year ago with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The revised Framework Agreement adapts the existing accord from 2005 to the new Treaty framework.

However, member states threatened on October 21st to take the European Parliament and Commission to court over what the Council of ministers calls the "illegal" provisions contained in the inter-institutional agreement signed between the EP and the Commision, which gives European MPs extra powers on international negotiations and greater access to classified EU documents...

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lisbon Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:11:55 ENG


June 2010

Fichero AudioPE - El Parlamento Europeo exige al Consejo y a la Comisión mayores garantías en la protección de datos de los ciudadanos europeos. Radio Nizkor, 11jun10 (producido 21may10).

El Parlamento Europeo (PE) aprobó en su sesión de 05may10 dos resoluciones, una sobre la apertura de negociaciones relativas a un Acuerdo entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos para poner a disposición del Departamento del Tesoro de los Estados Unidos datos de mensajería financiera en el contexto de la lucha contra el terrorismo, y, otra, relacionada también con la apertura de negociaciones de los acuerdos con Estados Unidos, Australia y Canadá sobre transferencia de datos de pasajeros aéreos (PNR, en sus siglas en inglés).

El PE reitera su posición de que las transferencias de datos en masa significan una divergencia con respecto a los principios en los que se basa la legislación y la práctica de la UE, por lo que pide a la Comisión y al Consejo "que traten debidamente este asunto en las negociaciones".

Considera que las soluciones deben incluir la restricción del alcance de los datos transferidos y la enumeración de los tipos de datos que los proveedores designados pueden filtrar y extraer, así como los tipos de datos que pueden incluirse en una transferencia...

Los diputados recalcan que la opción que ofrecería "el máximo nivel de garantías" sería permitir que la extracción de datos tuviera lugar en territorio de la UE, por parte de servicios de la UE o de servicios conjuntos gestionados por la UE y Estados Unidos. A medio plazo, una autoridad judicial de la UE debería supervisar la extracción de datos...

A finales de febrero de 2010 los ministros de asuntos Exteriores de la UE pusieron fin definitivamente al acuerdo provisional de transferencia de datos bancarios de la UE a Estados Unidos a través de la red SWIFT, tras el rechazo expresado por el Parlamento Europeo el 11 de febrero. Para los eurodiputados, el acuerdo no ofrecía garantías suficientes en cuanto a protección de los datos de los ciudadanos europeos. Cuestiones como la privacidad, la proporcionalidad y la reciprocidad preocuparon al PE... La resolución de rechazo fue aprobada por 378 votos a favor, 196 en contra y 31 abstenciones.

Los eurodiputados consideran imprescindible que este tipo de datos sólo sean consultados en el marco de actuaciones antiterroristas, y subrayan la necesidad de encontrar el equilibrio entre la seguridad y el respeto de las libertades fundamentales. Además, lamentan que no se consultara al Parlamento Europeo sobre el acuerdo, y que éste fuera ratificado tan sólo un día antes de la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Lisboa, que hace obligatoria la entrada en escena de la Eurocámara...

En lo que se refiere a los datos de pasajeros aéreos, el PE también aprobó en su sesión de 05may10 una Resolución sobre el inicio de las negociaciones para los acuerdos relativos al registro de nombres de los pasajeros (PNR) con los Estados Unidos, Australia y Canadá... Subraya que la Unión Europea se basa en el Estado de Derecho y que todas las transferencias de datos personales de la UE y sus Estados miembros a terceros países por motivos de seguridad deben basarse en acuerdos internacionales con categoría de actos legislativos, con el fin de ofrecer a los ciudadanos de la UE las salvaguardias necesarias, respetar las garantías procesales y el derecho de defensa, y cumplir la legislación relativa a la protección de datos a escala nacional y europea...

Otra área en donde el derecho de los ciudadanos europeos a la protección de datos se ve afectado, es lo que tiene que ver con el mandato de la Agencia Europea para la Gestión de la Cooperación Operativa en las Fronteras Exteriores de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea, conocida como Frontex, que tiene sede en Varsovia, Polonia.

El 17may10, el Supervisor Europeo de Protección de Datos, Peter Hustinx, emitió una opinión sobre una propuesta de 24feb10 de la Comisión Europea para fortalecer las capacidades operativas de Frontex. Peter Hustinx expresó su preocupación por el hecho de que la propuesta no especifica en qué medida Frontex va a poder procesar datos personales, y, en su caso, bajo qué circunstancias, condiciones y limitaciones...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
swift Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:23:37 ESL/ESP


June 2009

Fichero AudioDeu - Demjanjuk's detention leads to a reassessment of impunity in Europe. Radio Nizkor, 04Jun09 (Original Spanish version produced on 27May09).

John Demjanjuk, a member of the SS Totenkopf and responsible for crimes of war and crimes against humanity, arrived at Munich airport on flight N250LB on Tuesday 12th May 2009 after having been deported from the United States.

In March of this year the Prosecutor's Office of Munich filed charges against him and issued an arrest order which, according to media reports, concerns his complicity in the murder of 29,000 Jews in Sobibor concentration camp in occupied Poland.

Radio Nizkor has decided to do a specific programme to clarify some of the issues concerning existing, substantially irrefutable, evidence, and to set out the history of his crimes with respect to the Nazi extermination camps. [...]

Demjanjuk entered the United States in 1952 in reliance on the Law of Displaced Persons and obtained citizenship in 1958.

The District Court for the Northern District of Ohio concluded on 21 February 2002 that Demjanjuk's citizenship should be revoked... On 28th December 2005 the then Chief Immigration Judge Michael J. Creppy, issued a removal order in respect of Demjanjuk... The countries included in the order were Ukraine or, in the alternative, Germany or Poland.

These proceedings came to an end on 19th May 2008, when the US Supreme Court rejected Demjanjuk's petition for certiorari.

On 19th June 2008, various survivors and relatives of Spanish victims of the National-Socialist regime, represented by Equipo Nizkor, filed criminal proceedings in the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) in Madrid against John Demjanjuk and three other SS... Also on 19th June 2008 the German authorities announced their interest in seeking the handover of Demjanjuk from the United States [...]

Demjanjuk's service as an armed guard in Nazi concentration camps was documented in the course of the denaturalization proceedings initiated by the US Government in 1999.

The District Court for the Northern District of Ohio which concluded in 2002 that Demjanjuk's citizenship should be revoked, relied, in reaching this conclusion, not only on official and original wartime documents - such as his identity card as a guard- but also on the professional reports of an expert on the SS Totenkopf and on this type of documentation - Charles W. Sydnor...

Dr. Sydnor prepared an expert report for this Court, followed by two supplementary reports. All of them were provided to the Spanish National Court by the relevant US authorities in December 2008 in a response to a request for judicial assistance - an International Rogatory Commission - issued by the Central Investigating Court No. 2. They form part of the documentary evidence which has been officially supplied by the US authorities.

This expert's conclusions, accepted as admissible facts by the US Courts insofar as they concern Demjanjuk's service as an armed guard in Nazi concentration camps are as follows:

    "Iwan Demjanjuk entered German service as a guard auxiliary at Trawniki Training Camp in mid-1942. Shortly after his arrival, he received Trawniki identification number 1393 and the camp administration created Dienstausweis No. 1393 for him. Demjanjuk was issued a uniform and a rifle at Trawniki and he received training there. He also received the rank of Wachmann (guard private). On 22 September 1942, he deployed to the Manorial Estate Okzow, where he served as a guard. After this service, he returned to Trawniki and deployed to the concentration camp in Lublin commonly known as Majdanek, where he served during the winter of 1942-43. At Majdanek, Demjanjuk guarded prisoners and prevented them from escaping. On 18 January 1943, he was apprehended returning to the camp after leaving the grounds in violation of the typhus quarantine then in effect. He was punished for this infraction on 21 January. After his service at Majdanek, Demjanjuk returned to Trawniki. On 26 March 1943, the Germans ordered his deployment to the SS Special Detachment Sobibor. He arrived at Sobibor on 26 or 27 March 1943 and served there for some period of time. During his service at Sobibor, Demjanjuk guarded prisoners and prevented them from escaping. He also participated in the extermination process that was Sobibor's raison d'être. Afterwards he returned to Trawniki. On 1 October 1943, the Germans ordered Demjanjuk's transfer to Flossenbürg Concentration Camp. He arrived there by 8 October, when he was again issued a rifle, along with a bayonet. Demjanjuk served at Flossenburg until at least 10 December 1944, that is, for at least fourteen months. During his service there, he guarded prisoners and prevented them from escaping. [...]

The District Court for the Northern District of Ohio established that "[G]overnment Exhibit 3 is a service identity pass from Trawniki Training Camp, issued in the name of Iwan Demjanjuk, identification number 1393" and that "Government Exhibit 3 is an Authentic German Wartime Document Issued to Defendant" and that it "is in a condition that raises no suspicion as to its authenticity."

It is worth highlighting that in February 2009 the Prosecutor's Office in Munich again submitted this document to further forensic tests and after satisfying itself as to its authenticity proceeded a few days later to demand the handover of Demjanjuk.

With reference to Demjanjuk's service at Flossenbürg Concentration Camp, where more than 150 Spaniards were imprisoned, the Court considered that: "The 'Iwan Demjanjuk' identified at entry 53 on the Flossenburg transfer roster is the same Trawniki-trained guard identified on Service Identity Pass No. 1393..."

According to a press article published by the Süddeutsche Zeiung in Germany: "The trial against John Demjanjuk will no doubt be the last Nazi war trial. These last trials were and are horrible not because the Nazi henchmen have become so horribly old, but because the German criminal justice system has taken so horribly long and been so horribly lenient..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
demjanjuk1 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:26:08 ENG


May 2009

Fichero AudioDeu - La detención de Demjanjuk abre la reflexión sobre la impunidad en Europa. Radio Nizkor, 27May09.

El integrante de las SS Totenkopf y responsable de crímenes de guerra y de crímenes contra la humanidad John Demjanjuk, llegó a la ciudad alemana de Munich en el vuelo N250LB el pasado 12may09 tras ser deportado desde los Estados Unidos.

La Fiscalía de Munich formuló cargos en su contra, librándose la correspondiente orden de detención en marzo de 2009, según información periodística por su complicidad en el asesinato de 29.000 judíos en el campo de concentración de Sobibor, en la Polonia ocupada.

Radio Nizkor ha decidido hacer un programa específico donde se clarifiquen algunos extremos con relación a las pruebas existentes, así como un resumen de su historia penal con relación a varios campos de exterminio nacionalsocialistas. [...]

Demjanjuk entró en Estados Unidos en 1952 en virtud de la Ley sobre Personas Desplazadas y obtuvo su ciudadanía en 1958.

El Tribunal de Distrito para el Distrito Norte de Ohio concluyó el 21feb02 que Demjanjuk obtuvo ilegalmente su naturalización en 1958, al ocultar su pasado de persecución, por lo que ordenó la revocación de la misma. El 28dic05 un juez de Inmigración ordernó su deportación a Ucrania, o alternativamente, Alemania o Polonia.

Este procedimiento concluyó el 19may08, con la denegación por parte del Tribunal Supremo de los EE.UU. de la petición de certiorari realizada por la defensa de Demjanjuk.

El 19jun08varios sobrevivientes y familiares de víctimas españolas del régimen nacionalsocialista representados por el Equipo Nizkor, interpusieron una querella penal ante la Audiencia Nacional española contra cuatro SS, entre ellos John Demjanjuk. Ese mismo día las autoridades alemanas anunciaban su interés en solicitar la entrega de Demjanjuk a los Estados Unidos. [...]

El servicio prestado por Demjanjuk como guardia armado en campos de concentración nacionalsocialistas ha quedado acreditado en el marco del procedimiento de desnaturalización iniciado por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos en 1999.

El Tribunal de Distrito para el Distrito Norte de Ohio que concluyó en 2002 que la naturalización de Demjanjuk debía ser revocada, se apoyó para llegar a esta conclusión, además de en documentos oficiales y originales de la época -como la tarjeta identificativa de guardia- en los informes periciales del experto en las SS Totenkopf y perito en ese tipo de documentos, Charles W. Sydnor...

El Dr. Sydnor realizó para este tribunal varios informes periciales que han sido también aportados por las autoridades competentes estadounidenses en respuesta a la solicitud de asistencia judicial cursada por el JCI No. 2 de la Audiencia Nacional española en noviembre de 2008, formando parte estos documentos probatorios de la serie de documentos enviados oficialmente por dicha autoridad.

La conclusión de este experto, aceptada después como hechos por los tribunales estadounidenses, en lo que se refiere al servicio prestado por Demjanjuk como guardia armado en campos de concentración nacionalsocialistas, es la siguiente:

    "Iwan Demjanjuk comenzó a prestar servicios para los alemanes como guardia auxiliar en el Campo de Entrenamiento de Trawniki a mediados de 1942. Poco después de su llegada, recibió el número de identificación 1393 de Trawniki y la administración del campo creó para él la Dienstausweis nº 1393. Demjanjuk recibió en Trawniki un uniforme y un rifle, así como entrenamiento. Le fue asignado el rango de Wachmann. El 22 de septiembre de 1942, fue trasladado a la hacienda Okzow, donde sirvió como guardia. Tras este servicio, regresó a Trawniki para ser asignado al campo de concentración de Lublin, comúnmente conocido como Majdanek, donde sirvió durante el invierno de 1942-43... Tras su servicio en Majdanek, Demjanjuk regresó a Trawniki. El 26 de marzo de 1943, los alemanes ordenaron su asignación al Destacamento Especial de las SS en Sobibor. Llegó a Sobibor el 26 o el 27 de marzo de 1943, y sirvió en este campo durante un tiempo. Durante su servicio en Sobibor, Demjanjuk vigilaba prisioneros y evitaba que éstos pudiesen escapar. También participó en el proceso de exterminio que constituía la razón de ser de Sobibor. Posteriormente, regresó de nuevo a Trawniki. El 1 de octubre de 1943, los alemanes ordenaron su traslado al Campo de Concentración de Flossenbürg. Llegó a este campo el 8 de octubre, fecha en que se le entregó un rifle y una bayoneta. Demjanjuk sirvió en Flossenbürg al menos hasta el 10 de diciembre de 1944, es decir, al menos durante catorce meses. Durante su servicio en este campo, vigilaba a los prisioneros e impedía que éstos pudiesen escapar." [...]

El Tribunal de Distrito para el Distrito Norte de Ohio consideró probado que "La prueba número 3 del Gobierno es una tarjeta de identificación de servicio en el Campo de Entrenamiento de Trawniki, emitida a nombre de Iwan Demjanjuk, con número de identificación 1393" y que "La prueba 3 del Gobierno es un Documento Alemán del Periodo de Guerra Auténtico, el cual le fue extendido al acusado", y "[S]e halla en un estado que no levanta sospecha alguna acerca de su autenticidad"...

Es de señalar que en febrero de 2009 la Fiscalía de Munich sometió nuevamente a pruebas periciales este documento y, tras considerar demostrada su autenticidad, procedió días después a solicitar la entrega de Demjanjuk.

En cuanto al servicio prestado por Demjanjuk en el campo de concentración de Flossenbürg, donde fueron hechos prisioneros más de 150 españoles, considera el Tribunal que "El 'Iwan Demianjuk' identificado en la entrada 53 del listado de traslados de Flossenbürg es el mismo guardia entrenado en Trawniki identificado en la Tarjeta de Identificación de Servicio No. 1393..."

Según un artículo publicado en el Süddeutsche Zeiung de Alemania: "El proceso contra John Demjanjuk será posiblemente el último proceso del nacionalsocialismo. Estos últimos procesos han sido y son terribles: no porque los esbirros nazis sean tan terriblemente mayores, sino porque la justicia penal alemana de ayer y antesdeayer estuvo terriblemente atrasada y fue terriblemente indulgente..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
demjanjuk Haz click aquí REAL PLAYER Haz click aquí MP3 00:23:35 ESL/SPA


May 2008

Fichero AudioUE - Un informe admite que algunos Gobiernos de la UE apoyaron programas de tortura de la CIA. (Agencia International Press Service). Radio Nizkor, 21may08


La connivencia entre Gobiernos de la Unión Europea (UE) y el de Estados Unidos en un programa secreto de torturas y secuestros socava las pretensiones de la UE de defender los derechos humanos, según un informe interno.

En 2001, la UE instruyó a los diplomáticos que la representan sobre los criterios para oponerse a los malos tratos sufridos por detenidos en otros países. Esas pautas tenían origen en el compromiso declarado de "desarrollar una acción sistemática y sostenida contra la tortura".

Una nueva evaluación de la UE sobre la aplicación de esos parámetros admite que algunos gobiernos practicaron un doble discurso, al implicarse en el programa denominado de "entregas extraordinarias" operado por la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA) de Estados Unidos. Este mecanismo es empleado para capturar a sospechosos de terrorismo y transferirlos, sin pasar por los tribunales, a terceros estados que cometen torturas, según activistas.

En el informe interno se especifica que se debería garantizar el "pleno respeto" a los derechos humanos al formular políticas de lucha contra el terrorismo, sin permitir la expulsión de extranjeros a sus países de origen si hay probabilidades de que sean torturados, perseguidos o asesinados allí.

Un informe elaborado en 2007 por una comisión investigadora del Parlamento Europeo concluyó que al menos 1.245 vuelos de la CIA atravesaron espacio aéreo del bloque o aterrizaron en sus aeropuertos entre fines de 2001 y fines de 2005.

El resultado de la connivencia entre la UE y la CIA es "una brecha de credibilidad" a la hora de recomendar "en otros países" medidas contra la tortura, en palabras del eurodiputado socialista británico Claude Moraes...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
uetort Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:06:08 ESL/SPA


April 2008

Fichero AudioIrq - La Unión Europea no tiene normas claras en cuanto a la actuación de mercenarios en Iraq. (Agencia International Press Service ). Radio Nizkor, 07Apr08.


La Unión Europea carece de "pautas claras" cuando recurre a empresas privadas de seguridad para proteger a sus funcionarios en Iraq.

Un informe presentado en el Parlamento Europeo señaló que la subcontratación de compañías para actividades militares resultó muy polémica desde que Estados Unidos invadió ese país hace cinco años.

Las autoridades iraquíes responsabilizaron a la empresa de seguridad estadounidense Blackwater de un tiroteo que terminó con 11 muertos en septiembre de 2007.

Las acusaciones de que mercenarios de Blackwater dispararon indiscriminadamente se vieron seguidas de una serie de quejas acerca de que esas empresas, que también ofrecen guardaespaldas a diplomáticos europeos, han demostrado prestar poco respeto a los derechos humanos.

Los gobiernos de la UE deben ser transparentes en lo relativo a esas firmas, sostiene el informe debatido el 09 de marzo de 2008 en el Parlamento Europeo.

El documento advierte que, a menos que se establezcan reglas claras para las actividades de esas empresas, "será extremadamente difícil que el Parlamento Europeo acceda a ampliar la presencia física de la UE en Iraq"...

Nombre del Fichero Formato Real PlayerFormato mp3 Duración en minutos Idioma
blackwater Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:07:07 ESL/SPA


January 2008

Fichero AudioEU - La Asamblea Parlamentaria del Consejo de Europa dice que las "listas negras" del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU y de la UE violan el derecho al debido proceso. Radio Nizkor, 27ene08


La Asamblea Parlamentaria del Consejo de Europa (PACE) considera que los procedimientos utilizados por el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas y la Unión Europea para elaborar las listas negras de individuos y grupos supuestamente vinculados al terrorismo, violan derechos básicos y son "completamente arbitrarios". En consecuencia, sus miembros insisten en que estos procedimientos deben ser revisados "para preservar la credibilidad de la lucha internacional contra el terrorismo".

El 23ene08 la PACE sometió a votación una recomendación sobre la cuestión de las listas negras del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU y de la Unión Europea. Esta recomendación fue aprobada con 110 votos a favor, 2 en contra y 3 abstenciones. Votaron en contra los parlamentarios Cezar Florin PREDA (Rumanía) del grupo del Partido Europeo de los Pueblos y Dragan ŠOC (Montenegro), miembro de la Asamblea por el mismo partido. Se abstuvieron Ryszard BENDER (Polonia), del Grupo Demócrata Europeo, Tomáš JIRSA (República Checa), también del Grupo Demócrata Europeo y Ladislav SKOPAL (República Checa), parlamentario del Grupo Socialista Europeo.

La publicación el 16nov07 del proyecto de resolución y recomendación, así como del memorándum explicativo sobre las listas negras, ha ayudado a reavivar la discusión sobre esta cuestión en los círculos políticos y académicos.

Ese memorándum explicativo o informe fue publicado por la Comisión de Asuntos Jurídicos y Derechos Humanos de la Asamblea Parlamentaria del Consejo de Europa, siendo relator del mismo el parlamentario suizo Dick Marty, perteneciente a la Alianza de los Liberales y Demócratas por Europa. Entre las conclusiones del informe, Dick Marty manifiesta que "Es lamentable y preocupante que organismos internacionales tan importantes y prestigiosos, fundados sobre la protección de los derechos humanos, el estado de derecho y la democracia, hayan decidido retroceder en estos valores, mientras el mundo permanece casi indiferente. Da que pensar cómo los estados abandonan tan fácilmente los principios recogidos en el Convenio Europeo de Derechos Humanos... Los gobiernos lavan su conciencia invocando, sencillamente, la prioridad que deben acordar a las decisiones del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU. Esto... no dispensa a los estados de abstenerse de aplicar "procedimientos" arbitrarios que son contrarios a todos los principios fundamentales de la cultura jurídica de los países civilizados. Ciertamente la lucha contra el terrorismo es una necesidad que nadie puede cuestionar. Pero consideramos inaceptable renunciar, en nombre de esta lucha, a los principios fundamentales de una sociedad democrática. Esto es intolerable desde el punto de vista jurídico, éticamente inaceptable y difícilmente defendible como una cuestión de eficacia."

"... [L]a práctica actual de las listas negras es escandalosa y mancha el honor de las instituciones que hacen uso de ella en estos términos. La elaboración de listas negras sin respetar los derechos más elementales cuestiona la credibilidad de la lucha contra el terrorismo y como consecuencia reduce su eficacia. Es posible desarrollar una prevención eficaz y una persecución rigurosa del crimen de carácter terrorista al tiempo que se respetan los principios fundamentales del Convenio Europeo de Derechos Humanos; respetar estos principios es incluso indispensable para que todos los ciudadanos apoyen y se identifiquen con esta lucha. La injusticia es un aliado importante de los terroristas: por tanto, combatámosla también. Esta es precisamente la finalidad de los textos presentados a consideración de la Asamblea por la Comisión de asuntos jurídicos."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
listas Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:26:17 ESL/SPA


July 2007

Fichero AudioEU - European Parliament passes resolution on the new EU-USA PNR agreement calling it "substantially flawed". Radio Nizkor, 19Jul07


Members of the European Parliament fear that the new Passenger Name Record agreement between the European Union and the United States, reached on June 28th, 2007, fails to protect citizens' data.

The European Parliament passed a resolution on July 12, 2007 on this agreement expressing that that the new deal still fails to offer an adequate level of data protection and it has been concluded without any involvement of parliaments from both sides, lacking democratic oversight.

While recognising the difficult conditions under which the negotiations took place, MEPs regret that the EU-US agreement for the transfer of Passenger Name Records is "substantively flawed", in particular by "open and vague definitions and multiple possibilities for exception".

Even though the European Parliament welcomed the provision that existing data protection law for US citizens (US Privacy Act) will be extended administratively to EU citizens' data processed in America, MEPs felt there is still much more to be improved... It "criticises the failure of the new PNR agreement to offer an adequate level of protection of PNR data, and regrets the lack of clear and proportionate provisions as regards the sharing of information and retention and supervision by data protection authorities; is concerned about the numerous provisions that are to be implemented at the discretion of the US Homeland Security Department"...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata6 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:13:39 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - European Commission to propose EU Passenger Name Record travel surveillance system . (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 19Jul07


After the European Union concluded on June 28, 2007 a controversial new agreement with the USA giving its agencies access to PNR (passenger name record) personal data on everyone flying to and from that country, the European Commissioner for justice and home affairs, Mr Frattini, said that he would present a Framework Decision for a EU PNR system in October.

Mr Frattini is reported as saying that, in the wake of the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow: "I suggest that all member states should equip themselves with a PNR system and share information with others when relevant".

Mr Frattini's proposal is all the more confusing as there appears to have been no reference to the implementation of the April 2004 EU Directive on the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data which had to be implemented in all member states by 5 September 2006...

The data to be sent comprises, according to said Directive, personal data on each passenger: type of travel document (eg: passport/visa), nationality, full name and date of birth, that is, the data held on the "machine readable zone" (MRZ) of passports (just four items of data). This is known as Advance Passenger Information or "API".

It appears that Spain is the first EU country to start collecting API (Advance Passenger Information) from incoming travellers as from 13 June 2007 - the UK requires Advance Passenger Information from targeted countries.

Article 3.1 of the 2004 Directive refers to transferring data "by the end of check-in". However, airlines are likely to collect Advance Passenger Information data when the ticket is booked days or weeks before the flight. This data could be passed to the national agencies well prior to check-in and be followed by a final passenger manifest after check-in.

So the question has to be asked: If the collection of Advance Passenger Information at the flight booking stage becomes the norm why is Passenger Name Record needed?...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata5 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:13:10 ENG


June 2007

Fichero AudioEU/US - EU negotiators agree that PNR data will be held for 7 years, doubling the current 3.5 years, and also that data can be access for a further 8 years. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 29Jun07


An "Extraordinary meeting" of the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) was held in Luxembourg on 12 June 2007 during the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The sole subject on the agenda was the EU-USA passenger name record (PNR) agreement.

The current "Undertakings" state that PNR data will be held for: "3.5 years from the date the data is accessed (or received) from the air carrier's reservation system. After 3.5 years, PNR data that has not been manually accessed during that period of time, will be destroyed. PNR data that has been manually accessed during the initial 3.5 year period will be transferred by the Customs and Border Protection Department to a deleted record file."

Under the proposed new agreement: "PNR data would be kept for 7 years as "active" data and 8 years as "dormant" data." Under the existing agreement data which has not been accessed for 3.5 years is destroyed. Under the proposed agreement all data will be held for 15 years...

The USA has used the successful challenge against the legal basis of the 2004 EU-US agreement (plus "Undertakings") on the transfer of passenger name records in the European Court of Justice by the European Parliament to put forward significant changes - to which the EU has agreed.

"What is particularly outrageous is that if the law changes in the USA the way the agreement is implemented changes too without any renegotiation - which is very worrying given the nature of new laws which remove the rights of suspects including habeaus corpus", commented Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor...

On June 27th, 2007, two weeks after the EU Permanent Representatives Committee meeting on the agreement, the European Data Protection Supervisor, Peter Hustinx, addressed a letter to the German Council Presidency, expressing grave concern" at the proposals to:

  • extend the time personal data is held from 3.5 years to 15 years:
  • data can be passed to a "broad range of US agencies" with "no limitation" on its further processing;
  • the absence of a "robust legal mechanism" for EU citizens to "challenge misuse" of their data;
  • and the fact that the US "wants to avoid a binding agreement"
File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata4 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:11:19 ENG


July 2006

Fichero AudioUE - La plainte de M. Al-Masri recevable selon Martin Hoffman, procureur de Munich chargé d'instruire le dossier. Radio Nizkor, 14jui06


"Au cours de nos recherches, nous n'avons découvert aucune pièce infirmant les déclarations de M. Al-Masri" qui accuse la CIA de l'avoir enlevé, a indiqué le 10 juillet devant les députés Martin Hoffman, procureur de Munich chargé d'instruire le dossier. Témoignant devant la commission temporaire sur les activités présumées illégales de la CIA en Europe, il a cependant indiqué ne disposer d'aucune preuve de la participation des autorités ou des services secrets allemands dans cet enlèvement.

Citoyen allemand d'origine libanaise, Khaled Al-Masri affirme que des agents de la CIA l'ont enlevé en décembre 2003 et détenu pendant cinq mois dans une prison secrète en Afghanistan.

Il avait raconté son histoire devant la commission parlementaire au mois de mars, affirmant qu'il avait été arrêté lors d'un voyage dans l'ancienne République yougoslave de Macédoine, séquestré durant 23 jours dans un hôtel de Skopje, interrogé, puis transporté "les yeux bandés et un capuchon sur la tête" dans une prison secrète en Afghanistan où il aurait été torturé à plusieurs reprises. Il a été finalement relâché sans qu'aucune charge ne soit retenue contre lui..."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
masri Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:08:19 FRA



Fichero AudioEU - La CIA "clairement responsable" des activités illégales en Europe avec la complicité de certains Etats membres. Radio Nizkor, 11jui06


Selon le Parlement européen, "dans un certain nombre de cas, la CIA ou d'autres services américains se sont rendus clairement responsables de l'arrestation, de l'expulsion, de l'enlèvement et de la détention illégaux de terroristes allégués" en Europe.

Le texte souligne également la complicité de certains Etats membres. La commission temporaire a reçu le feu vert du Parlement afin de poursuivre son travail pour six mois de plus.

Les députés ont adopté, le 6 juillet, un rapport intérimaire de la commission temporaire sur l'utilisation alléguée de pays européens par la CIA pour le transport et la détention illégale de prisonniers.

Le rapport de Giovanni Claudio FAVA (député italien qui fait partie du Group Socialiste européen) a été adopté par 389 voix pour, 137 contre et 55 abstentions.

Les députés rappellent que ces actions "ne correspondent pas à des concepts de droit international connus et sont contraires aux principes fondamentaux de la législation internationale en vigueur en matière de droits de l'homme".

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pecia1 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:22:37 FRA



Fichero AudioUE - La commission d'enquête temporaire sur les activités illégales de la CIA rend ses premières conclusions aux députès, ainsi qu'au Conseil et à la Commission. Radio Nizkor, 14jui06 (Cet enregistrement correspond aux évenéments du 05jui06)


Le rapporteur de la commission d'enquête temporaire sur les activités illégales présumées de la CIA en Europe s'est exprimé devant les députés, mercredi 5 juillet, ainsi que le Conseil et la Commission. Selon lui, les restitutions extraordinaires sont un "fait", réalisé avec la complicité de certains Etats membres. Les députés ont toutefois exprimé des opinions parfois plus nuancées.

Le rapporteur du Parlement, Giovanni Claudio FAVA a rappelé à l'Assemblée qu'il était question de contribuer à faire la lumière sur les abus commis au nom de la lutte contre le terrorisme. Ou dans le cas présent, rechercher "la vérité sur une négation des droits", en l'occurrence "les droits refusés à ceux qui sont accusés d'être nos ennemis mais qui, en tant qu'êtres humains, en tant que suspects, ont ces droits - à un procès équitable, à une défense, à un jury et à un traitement digne-". Selon le rapporteur, "sans cela, il n'y a pas de loi, il n'y a que la force arbitraire, exercée par certains pays et acceptée par les autres"...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pecia2 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:12:15 FRA


June 2006

Fichero AudioEU - Le PE et l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe dénoncent la collusion délibérée de plusieurs Etats européennes avec la CIA. Radio Nizkor, 26jun06


La "Commission temporaire du Parlement sur l’utilisation présumée des pays européens par la CIA pour le transport et la détention illégale de prisonniers" a indiqué dans son rapport intérimaire adopté le 12 juin 2006, que la CIA était "directement responsable" des "restitutions extraordinaires", de "la saisie illégale, l'enlèvement et la détention de terroristes présumés sur le territoire des Etats membres", qui constituent des violations du droit international.

Les députés critiquent aussi les Etats membres pour leur passivité face aux agissements de la CIA, voire leur complicité avec celle-ci.

Le rapport --rédigé par le député italien Claudio FAVA-- a été adopté par 25 voix pour, moyennant 14 contre et 7 abstentions. Il indique que la CIA a utilisé des avions pilotés par des compagnies aériennes de premier rang pour le transfert illégal de terroristes présumés vers des pays utilisant couramment la torture pour l'interrogation des prisonniers...

D'autre part, la Commission des questions juridiques et des droits de l’homme de l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe a déclaré le 7 juin 2006 que les Etats-Unis ont progressivement tissé une « toile d’araignée » de disparitions, de détentions secrètes et de transferts illégaux d’un Etat à l’autre – grâce à la collaboration ou la tolérance d’Etats membres du Conseil de l’Europe.

Dans un projet de résolution adopté lors d’une réunion à Paris et inspiré d'un rapport de Dick Marty, la commission affirme que des centaines de personnes, même simplement soupçonnées de sympathie pour des organisations considérées terroristes, se sont ainsi retrouvées piégées...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
pecia Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:08:04 FRA



Fichero AudioEU - La Cour de justice annule la décision du Conseil d'autoriser les compagnies aériennes à transmettre aux autorités américaines des données à caractère personnel. Radio Nizkor, 26jun06


Pour la justice européenne, le transfert de données des voyageurs à l'administration américaine est illégal.

La Cour de Justice européenne, dans un arrêt redu le 30 Mai 2006, a jugé illégales les autorisations de transfert des données des passagers aériens aux autorités américaines données par la Commission et le Conseil.

Un accord entre les Etats-Unis et l'UE dans ce domaine a été signé au nom de la lutte contre le terrorisme mais, visiblement, contre la loi. L'arrêt de la Cour donne partiellement raison aux critiques émises par le Parlement européen mais ne résout pas tous les problèmes...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
cour Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:12:59 FRA



Fichero AudioEu/Usa - Pour la seconde fois, le Parlement européen appelle à fermer le centre de détention de Guantanamo Bay. Radio Nizkor, 26jun06


Pour la seconde fois, le Parlement européen appelle à fermer le centre de détention de Guantanamo Bay, désigné par l’Administration américaine comme une zone de non-droit.

En février déjà, les eurodéputés avaient voté une résolution réclamant la fermeture du centre de détention.

La résolution adoptée le 13 juin 2006 par le Parlement européen sur la situation des prisonniers à Guantanamo, "appelle à nouveau l'administration américaine à fermer le centre de détention de Guantanamo Bay et demande instamment que chaque prisonnier soit traité conformément au droit humanitaire international et, s'il est inculpé, jugé sans retard, dans le cadre d'une procédure équitable et publique, par un tribunal compétent, indépendant et impartial ou un tribunal international".

Elle appelle aussi les autorités américaines "à mettre en ouvre la convention des Nations unies contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants et à mettre fin immédiatement à toutes les "techniques d'interrogatoire spéciales".

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
gtmofra Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:10:02 FRA


August 2005

Fichero AudioGbr - New army special forces regiment involved in the operation that led to the killing of an innocent Brazilian. (The Guardian, UK). Radio Nizkor, 10Aug05.


According to an article published on August 4, 2005 by the British newspaper “The Guardian”, a new army special forces regiment was involved in the operation that led to the killing of an innocent man at Stockwell tube station in south London.

The article says that the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, set up in April to help combat international terrorism, was deployed in the surveillance operation which led to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician, on July 22, according to Whitehall sources...

On August 3, Whitehall sources told the Guardian that soldiers of the Special Reconnaisance Regiment, modelled on an undercover unit that operated in Northern Ireland, was engaged in "low-level intelligence behind the scenes" when the Brazilian was shot. There was "no direct military involvement in the shooting", the sources said...

The regiment absorbed 14th Intelligence Company, known as "14 Int", a plainclothes unit set up to gather intelligence covertly on suspect terrorists in Northern Ireland. Its recruits are trained by the SAS...

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
guardian Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:04:27 ENG


July 2005

Fichero AudioEU - Update on anti-terror policies and data retention in the European Union. (European Commission Newsroom; StateWatch.). Radio Nizkor, 24Jul05.


A "Declaration on the European Union response to the London bombings", that defines the priorities to combat terrorism and indicates a strict timetable for implementing practical measures, was adopted on July 13th. 2005 in Brussels at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the European Interior ministers.

According to this Declaration, the Council will:

  • agree the Framework Decisions on the Retention of Telecommunications Data (October 2005), on the European Evidence Warrant (December 2005), and on the exchange of information between law enforcement authorities (December 2005); adopt the Decision on the exchange of information concerning terrorist offences (September 2005);
  • combat terrorist financing by agreeing by December 2005 a Regulation on Wire Transfers; adopting the Third Money Laundering Directive and the Regulation on cash control by September 2005; agreeing a Code of Conduct to prevent the misuse of charities by terrorists (December 2005); reviewing the overall EU’s performance (December 2005) and urging Member States to ensure that comprehensive financial investigation is a part of all terrorist investigations and to develop robust asset freezing powers.

Regarding the specific issue of data retention, a proposal for an EU Framework Decision on the mandatory retention of all traffic data was put forward by the UK, Ireland, France and Sweden on 28 April 2004. Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments that "...If this proposal was limited to tackling terrorism that would be one thing but it is not. It will put everyone in the EU under surveillance, be used to tackle crime in general and potentially could be used for social and political control."

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
data Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:16:03 ENG


December 2004

Fichero AudioGrc - OMCT denounces the disappearance of 502 children from a state institution in Greece between 1998 and 2002. (World Organization Against Torture - OMCT). Radio Nizkor, 09Dec04.

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
omctgrc Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:06:36 ENG



Fichero AudioCol/UE - Se celebra en la sede del Parlamento Europeo en Bruselas una Audiencia sobre Colombia promovida por organizaciones sociales y de derechos humanos y sindicatos belgas. Serpaj Europa y Radio Nizkor, 07dic04


El pasado 01dic04 se llevó a cabo, en la Sede del Parlamento Europeo en Bruselas, una Audiencia bajo el título "Derechos Humanos en Colombia: balance y perspectivas de los derechos civiles, económicos y sociales".

Esta Audiencia fue organizada por la FIDH, Coordination Paysanne Européenne, OIDHACO, Comités Ingrid Betancourt, Coordination Belge pour la Colombie, Confédération Internationale des Syndicats Libres, Fédération Générale des Travailleurs de Belgique y la Confédération des Syndicats Chrétiens de Belgique.

Contó con el apoyo de los siguientes europarlamentarios: Luisa Morgantini, (Grupo Confederal de la Izquierda Unitaria Europea/Izquierda Verde Nórdica) presidenta de la Comisión de Desarrollo; Alain Lipietz, (Grupo de los Verdes) presidente de la delegación para las relaciones con la Comunidad Andina; Luigi Cocilovo (Grupo de la Alianza de los Demócratas y Liberales por Europa), Karyn Scheele (Grupo Socialista), Giusto Catania (Grupo Confederal de la Izquierda Unitaria Europea/Izquierda Verde Nórdica) y Giulietto Chiesa (Grupo de la Alianza de los Demócratas y Liberales).

Contó asimismo con la participación como invitados del padre Javier Giraldo, Hildebrando Vélez y Wilson Higuita, entre otros.

La intención de las organizaciones era presentar a los grupos parlamentarios el punto de vista de organizaciones europeas comprometidas con la realidad colombiana de cara al debate del 02dic04, en el Parlamento Europeo, sobre la situación en Colombia.

Acerca del acto, el contexto en que se desarrolla el mismo y su objetivos nos habla Koen Warmmenbol, en nombre de la Coordinación Belga por Colombia.

File name Real Media format Mp3 format Duration Language
koen Haz click aquí REAL PLAYER Haz click aquí MP3 00:29:50 ESL/SPA


September 2004

Fichero AudioEU - Privacy groups warn that proposed retention of personal data resulting from communications is necessarily an invasive act. (Privacy International and European Digital Rights). Radio Nizkor with the collaboration of the Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights at Yale Law School, 18sep04.

File name Real Media formatMp3 format Duration Language
privacy2 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:06:20 ENG


July 2004

Fichero AudioEU - European asylum policy is leading to dismantling of refugee protection in the EU. (StateWatch Analysis). Radio Nizkor, 27Jul04.

File name Real Media formatMp3 format Duration Language
asylum Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:21:28 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - President of the European Parliament asked EU court to annul EU-US passenger data deal. (StateWatch / e-Government news from European Communities). Radio Nizkor, 23Jul04.

File name Real Media formatmp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata3 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:09:24 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue issued a resolution opposing the EU-US agreement on transfer of air passenger data. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 21Jul04.

Nombre del Fichero Real Media formatmp3 format Duration Language
pnrdata2 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:10:39 ENG


May 2004

Fichero AudioEU - EU/US agreement on passenger data denounced by human rights and civil liberties groups. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 27May04.

Nombre del Fichero Formato Real Player Formato mp3 Duración en minutos Idioma
pnrdata Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:07:25 ENG



Fichero AudioEU - Draft data protection legislation contrary to European convention on human rights. (StateWatch). Radio Nizkor, 08may04.

Nombre del Fichero Formato Real Player Formato mp3 Duración en minutos Idioma
privacy1 Click on icon REAL PLAYER Click on icon MP3 00:08:30 ENG


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