Navy Army Credit Union

Headlines for June 27, 2011

Former Illinois Governor found guilty of 17 corruption charges

Verdicts in the retrial of the former Governor of Illinois are in – a jury found Rod Blagojevich guilty of trying to sell the US Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Blagojevich faced 20 corruption charges all told – he was found guilty of 17, not guilty of one and the jury deadlocked on the remaining two charges.

ICC issues arrest warrants for Libyan leaders

The International Criminal Court issued  arrest warrants today  for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and  Libyan intelligence boss Abdullah al-Sanoussi. The three are charged with crimes against humanity including murder and persecution.

UN-backed Khmer Rough war crimes tribunal opens

The long-awaited trial of the four surviving leaders of Cambodia’s murderous Khmer Rouge  began today. The elderly defendants are charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Robert Carmichael reports from Phnom Penh.

The defendants are the last surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge movement, which is blamed for the deaths of up to 2.2 million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979. The four are party ideologue Nuon Chea, known as Brother Number Two; head of state Khieu Samphan; foreign minister Ieng Sary; and his wife, the social affairs minister Ieng Thirith. All four deny charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Court spokesman Lars Olsen says today’s hearing – which comes more than 30 years after the Khmer Rouge were forced from power – is highly significant.

“Those who are accused of being the political leadership of the country, accused of designing the policies that eventually led to nationwide crimes are finally being put on trial thirty years after the alleged crimes happened.”

Three of the four defendants walked out of court Monday,  two  citing ill health and one in protest of the court’s refusal to accept a long list of witnesses. This week’s four-day session is procedural, and the trial proper is expected to start later this year. Robert Carmichael, FSRN,  Phonm Penh.

Israel directs armed forces to stop flotilla

The Israeli cabinet ordered the army today  to “firmly prevent” the Freedom Flotilla from reaching Gaza – Jillian Kestler-D’Amours reports.

The Israeli cabinet instructed the Israeli army earlier today to firmly prevent this year’s Freedom Flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip. The announcement came one day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory would not be breached.  Ten boats are expected to set sail for Gaza in the coming days. According to organizers the ships will carry nearly three thousand tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of civilians from dozens of countries. Some of the boats scheduled to leave from Greek ports have faced administrative delays posed by the Greek government. Activists say this is a result of Israeli diplomatic pressure.  Last year, Israel faced international outrage after Israeli navy commandos killed nine activists on-board Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara. The Free Gaza Movement has said this year’s flotilla will go ahead as planned despite Israeli threats and interference. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours, FSRN, Jerusalem.