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compugrrrl
Andre Gunther
ME!
Wednesday 8 October 2008
our correspondent says
A popular Turkish singer has defended public statements that Turkey's long conflict with Kurdish rebels needs a solution - not more deaths. Bulent Ersoy made her comments at a court hearing in Istanbul, after being charged with attempting to turn the public against military service.
The transsexual singer also suggested that if she had a son she would not send him to fight. If found guilty, she faces up to four-and-a-half years in prison. Ms Ersoy made her comments about Turkey's powerful military on television last February. The Turkish army was conducting a major operation against the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq at the time.
Some 40,000 people have died since the conflict with the PKK began in 1984. Defiant stance Ms Ersoy arrived at court in her usual, flamboyant style - dressed in white flowing linen, golden gem-studded sandals and matching accessories, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, who was present at the trial.
As photographers surrounded her, a few supporters held up signs reading Long live the Diva, our correspondent says.
The prosecutor accuses Bulent Ersoy of making dangerous propaganda for the PKK, describing military service as the "sacred duty" of every Turk. But Ms Ersoy told the judge she had committed no crime. The singer said she stood by her words and her right to express her thoughts freely - as a loyal citizen of her country.
"Even if they hang me, I'll keep talking," she said. It was a defiant stance, but this case has exposed the limits on free speech in Turkey once again - a country whose military remains extremely powerful, its reputation and actions protected from criticism by law, our correspondent says.
Ms Ersoy did not show up in court when the trial opened in June, saying she had to attend a concert. 'Risky business' Ms Ersoy is Turkey's best known diva, adored across the country, our correspondent says.
She was already one of the country's most popular male singers when in 1981 she underwent a sex change operation. But questioning the Turkish military can be a risky business, our correspondent says.
Article 318 of the penal code - dissuading people from military service - is frequently used by the military against its critics. Meanwhile critics say a separate article, making it a crime to insult the Turkish nation and its institutions, is used to stifle free speech.
Story from BBC NEWS:
The transsexual singer also suggested that if she had a son she would not send him to fight. If found guilty, she faces up to four-and-a-half years in prison. Ms Ersoy made her comments about Turkey's powerful military on television last February. The Turkish army was conducting a major operation against the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq at the time.
Some 40,000 people have died since the conflict with the PKK began in 1984. Defiant stance Ms Ersoy arrived at court in her usual, flamboyant style - dressed in white flowing linen, golden gem-studded sandals and matching accessories, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, who was present at the trial.
As photographers surrounded her, a few supporters held up signs reading Long live the Diva, our correspondent says.
The prosecutor accuses Bulent Ersoy of making dangerous propaganda for the PKK, describing military service as the "sacred duty" of every Turk. But Ms Ersoy told the judge she had committed no crime. The singer said she stood by her words and her right to express her thoughts freely - as a loyal citizen of her country.
"Even if they hang me, I'll keep talking," she said. It was a defiant stance, but this case has exposed the limits on free speech in Turkey once again - a country whose military remains extremely powerful, its reputation and actions protected from criticism by law, our correspondent says.
Ms Ersoy did not show up in court when the trial opened in June, saying she had to attend a concert. 'Risky business' Ms Ersoy is Turkey's best known diva, adored across the country, our correspondent says.
She was already one of the country's most popular male singers when in 1981 she underwent a sex change operation. But questioning the Turkish military can be a risky business, our correspondent says.
Article 318 of the penal code - dissuading people from military service - is frequently used by the military against its critics. Meanwhile critics say a separate article, making it a crime to insult the Turkish nation and its institutions, is used to stifle free speech.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Tuesday 7 October 2008
MISSING - Amy Fitzpatrick
Amy Fitzpatrick went missing in Mijas in Spain on January 1st while walking home from her friends house and has not been seen since. We are asking for your help so this does not happen again!! We are also looking for volunteer's in Ireland and in European countries to help assist in our on-going campaign to get signatures on the petition to get an Alert System set into place. Please email us info@amyfitzpatrickmissing.com
Click here for Amber Alert Link
I came across this photo while googling for something else (I think it was on somebody's blog) and just felt I should add my little bit to further the search. This is not even the tip of the iceberg - if you visit Amy's dad's bebo page or any of the other web sites set up for missing persons you will see just how widespread the problem is - so I can't begin to imagine how you can combat something on such a large scale as this. But if by posting links to the occasional appeal helps in any positive way then we can feel that we have achieved something (or helped at least).
Saturday 4 October 2008
A Midsummer Night's Dream
This is excellent (not only can you read the wonderful Midsummer Night's Dream but it is also the Heath Robinson illustrated version) - click on the book for the link, or click on this link for other download options. Don't bother to download the PDF file - it has been very badly scanned. It looks as if you leave the flip book and return later it will return to the place that you left off (I expect you need to have cookies enabled too).
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