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Polish revolution hero Walesa comes under attack

Ségolène — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:44:15 +0200

The cover of Time Magazine in December 1980.

Poland's political community has been thrown into turmoil over allegations that the country's former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa collaborated with the Communist-era secret police and spent years trying to cover it up.

The accusations emerged last month in a limited edition, 780-page book published by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). The authors claim that Walesa worked with the brutal "SB" service; Poland's answer to the KGB, between 1970 and 1976. The authors explain that Walesa, while still an electrician and union leader, had provided information to the SB, under the codename "Bolek", about strike organisers in the early seventies. Walesa did admit to having signed documents that were handed over to the political police following interrogations, but he categorically denies that the name "Bolek" was ever used.

What makes the news so shocking is that Walesa was an anti-communist and pro-human rights activist who founded the country's first independent trade union, Solidarity. He is considered a heroic figure in leading the country to independence in the 1989 revolution and someone who fought against the political repression of the communist regime, not alongside it. While some are ready to send him to the gallows, others have dismissed the news as sensationalist and recycled rubbish. Our Observers on both sides tell us why they're right.

This post was compiled with the help of one of our Observers in Poland, Marcin Smietana.

The rantings of an angry white farmer

Sophie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:39:39 +0200

Ben Freeth after the attack. Image from Justice for Agriculture (JAG).

While Mugabe's thugs continue to terrorise Zimbabwe, the abduction and brutal beating of a white farmer has reignited another of the country's long-standing polemics - what to do with the country's wealthy white settlers.

After talking to the press about conditions in the run-up to the election, Ben Freeth, along with his elderly parents-in-law, was kidnapped from his farm in south-east Harare by around 20 militias on Sunday evening (29 June). The three were then taken to a "political camp" where they were beaten and intimidated by around 50 of Mugabe's clan, Freeth said. He is currently undergoing surgery for head injuries.

Attacks on white farmers in Zimbabwe have been commonplace since Mugabe's instruction to redistribute land in 2000. But during the recent wave of violence that swept the country in the run up to the run-off last Friday, a growing number of settlers have been targeted.

Italy’s Roma face fingerprinting

Sophie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:16:32 +0200

One of our Observers for Italy recently alerted us to the news that as part of a major clampdown on "gypsy" communities the government plans to compile a fingerprint database of the country's entire Roma population, including children.

Under the scheme, announced by Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, authorities will randomly collect data from each of the country's Roma residents. Those without the correct paperwork will be considered illegal and deported within three months. The Berlusconi government has also announced plans to close down all illegally run or badly facilitated Roma camps as soon as possible. The plan has been condemned by the Italian left and caused a harsh reaction from the Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana.

This post was compiled with help from our Observer in Milan, Alberto Celani.

Deface Jesus and risk doing time

Ségolène — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:48:00 +0200

When vandals destroyed pieces of modern art in an exhibition in Moscow, it wasn't the perpetrators who got into trouble. According to the law, their actions were justifiable. Museum director Yuri Samodurov however, is now facing several years in prison for putting on another of the "Christianity-offensive" shows.

In 2003 the Andrei Sakharov Museum and Community Center put up artwork in a show called "Careful, Religion!" When the display was vandalised by orthodox Christians, the organisers of the exhibition were put to blame. In the opinion of the Russian court, it was the centre's fault for provoking offense, and worthy of a 200,000 Russian Ruble fine (5,400 euros). Now, the museum's director is once again facing charges for inciting religious hatred. Despite using peep-hole viewing methods so that only those people interested would look at the 2007 "Forbidden Art" show, both director Yuri Samodurov and curator Andrei Erofeev are facing prison terms for displaying defaced religious symbols.

Japan’s young smokers find a way around wrinkle-scanners

Sophie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:03:13 +0200

You can get pretty much anything through a vending machine in Japan these days - even bread. But for products that come with an age restriction, the authorities are having a hard time thinking up new ways to prevent under-agers from getting their hands on them. Blogger "Pink Tentacle" has written about the discovery by a Japanese reporter that you can trick newly introduced age-verifying scanners on cigarette vending machines by holding up a picture of somebody older.

The wrinkle-scanning machines have barely come off the production line but are already proven failures in deterring under-20s (the legal age) from lighting up. With Japan counting one of the highest smoking rates in the world, it seems like a lame attempt at tackling the problem. Our Observer in the country wonders whether the Japanese government's 50% share in the tobacco industry has anything to do with it.

The best of Euro 2008

Emmanuel F24 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:12:27 +0200

The Euro 2008 in 10 pictures. From England's absence to Spain's first victory since 1964, Franck Ribery's injury and France's disqualification, this championship had its moments. Here's our pick of the best.

To keep the men away, just cover up

Sophie — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:03:00 +0200

"You can't stop them. But you can protect yourself. Your creator has your best interests at heart."

One of our Observers in Egypt received this image in a forwarded email. The message to women: Cover up to protect yourself. We ask our Observers if whether covering up really deters unwanted attention.

According to observers in Egypt, the hijab has crept up in popularity in recent years. It's not obligatory to cover up in the Arab republic and the government does little to promote the concept, but many Muslim women choose to cover their hair and bodies. This viral campaign, spread via forwarded email, suggests that women go one step further to "protect themselves". One of our Observers for Egypt told us that the person behind it is promoting the adoption of the niqab — a garment which covers everything but the eyes. Where the email originated, however, nobody seems to know. Despite efforts by some to track it through various sources, its origins remain unknown.

Scintillating Spain set for final showdown

Nandita F24 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:01:18 +0200

Spain qualified for the finals of the 2008 European Championship for the first time in 24 years after beating Russia 3-0. They meet Germany in Vienna on June 29 for the finals. Spanish striker David Villa is most likely to miss Sunday's match because of a thigh injury.

Germany pip brave Turks to reach final

Marc F24 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:39:36 +0200

Germany qualified for the Euro 2008 final after a late goal by Philipp Lahm sealed a thrilling 3-2 win over underdogs Turkey. Despite controlling vast swathes of the game, the injury-wrecked Turkish side proved unable to stage yet another upset.

Germany: nags or subtle tacticians?

Marc F24 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:50:16 +0200

Is the German team a bunch of nags, or a group of subtle tacticians? This is the question we put to our Observers and former French international players Manuel Amoros and Bernard Bosquier, before comparing their point of view with that of Rainer Bonhof, the former German international player and coach.