Selasa, 6 Mac 2012

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim

Surveillance Inc: How Western Tech Firms Are Helping Arab Dictators

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:53 PM PST

From www.theatlantic.com

As democratic movements spread in the Middle East, governments are cracking down, and that means big business for the companies who help them do it.

Reliance means vulnerability, and the activists and citizen journalists of the Arab uprisings rely heavily on the Internet and mobile technology. They use text messaging to coordinate protests, for example, or social media sites to upload the photos and videos that then make it into mainstream global media. In the first protests in Tunisia, because traditional journalists could not get access, citizen journalists filled in, using YouTube and the live-streaming platform UStream to give the world — including, for example, the Egyptians and Syrians who later began revolts of their own — a window into the events there.

For all of the good this technology has done, activists are also beginning to understand the harm it can do. As Evgeny Morozov wrote in The Net Delusion, his book on the Internet’s darker sides, “Denying that greater information flows, combined with advanced technologies … can result in the overall strengthening of authoritarian regimes is a dangerous path to take, if only because it numbs us to potential regulatory interventions and the need to rein in our own Western corporate excesses.”

The communications devices activists use are not as safe as they might believe, and dozens of companies — many of them based in North America and Europe — are selling technology to authoritarian governments that can be used against democratic movements. Such tools can exploit security flaws in the activists’ technology, intercept a user’s communications, or even pinpoint their location. In many cases, this technology has led to the arrest, torture, and even death of individuals whose only “crime” was exercising their universal right to free speech. And, in most of these cases, the public knew nothing about it.

“The Chinese could come here and learn from you.”
Recent investigations by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News have revealed just how expansively these technologies are already being used. Intelligence agencies throughout the Middle East can today scan, catalogue, and read virtually every email in their country. The technology even allows them to change emails while en route to their recipient, as Tunisian authorities sometimes did before the revolution.

These technologies turn activists’ phones against them, allowing governments to listen in on phone calls, read text messages, even scan cell networks and pinpoint callers with voice recognition. They allow intelligence agents to monitor movements of activists via a GPS locator updated every fifteen seconds. And by tricking users into installing malware on their devices — as is currently happening in Syria – government agents can remotely turn on a laptop webcam or a cell phone microphone without its user knowing.

In Syria recently, American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Rémi Ochlik were killed by a mortar attack that may have been targeted to the locations of their satellite phones. We don’t know for sure how the Syrian army tracked them, but Lebanese intelligence had recorded Syrian officials as planning to target Western journalists, and following satellite phone signals is just one of the tech-aided ways they could have done it.

Syria and other abusive Middle Eastern regimes rely on technology companies such as Area SpA, the Italian firm that contracted with the regime there to build a surveillance center, and that pulled out only after exposure by Bloomberg News prompted protests at their Italian headquarters. There’s also the American company Bluecoat Systems. When it was reported that their Internet-monitoring equipment had been re-sold to the Syrian government, a senior VP told the Wall Street Journal, “We don’t want our products to be used by the government of Syria or any other country embargoed by the United States.”

For all the evil of Syria’s regime, it’s hard to ignore the role and often the complicity of Western technology companies that can sometimes act as dictator’s little helper. While Syria’s use of surveillance has been particularly egregious and well-documented, this problem goes far beyond just one country. For years, Western firms have been selling surveillance equipment to the most brutal regimes. And while sales to Syria often violate sanctions policy, such companies can sell to many other authoritarian countries — many of them U.S. and E.U. allies — without repercussions.

In pre-revolutionary Tunisia, surveillance firms gave discounts to a government agency because the firms wanted to use the country for testing and bug-tracking. The technology was so advanced that it prompted the post-revolutionary head of the Tunisian government’s Internet agency to remark, “I had a group of international experts from a group here lately, who looked at the equipment and said: ‘The Chinese could come here and learn from you.’”

In Bahrain, dozens of political activists have testified that the security officers who detained and beat them also read transcripts of their text messages and emails likely gathered from technology purchased from Germany-based Trovicor, a former Nokia Siemens subsidiary. According to Bloomberg News, a spokesman for the latter confirmed the sale and maintenance of this equipment to the Bahraini government.

“The bulk of this digital arms trade happens under the radar.
Qaddafi’s regime was later found to have spied on Al Jazeera journalist Khaled Mehiri by monitoring his emails and Facebook messages using technology made by French company Amesys. Mehiri was later interrogated and threatened by the head of Libya’s intelligence service. The reporters who found Mehiri’s surveillance file in Tripoli’s abandoned Internet monitoring center discovered similar files on many other journalists, human rights advocates, and democratic activists.

The mass surveillance industry is a large one — estimates now put the global market at $5 billion per year. The businesspeople getting rich from the crackdown industry don’t often talk to the media, but some of the few who do can seem less than concerned about their potential role in their clients’ violence.

Jerry Lucas is the president of Telestragies Inc, the company that runs ISS World, the trade show circuit (also known as the “Wiretapper’s Ball”) that brings these companies and their clients together. Asked by the Guardian in November if he would be comfortable knowing that regimes in Zimbabwe and North Korea were purchasing the technology from his trade shows, he responded, “That’s just not my job to determine who’s a bad country and who’s a good country.” He added, “That’s not our business, we’re not politicians … we’re a for-profit company. Our business is bringing governments together who want to buy this technology.”

This is the crux of the problem: These companies seem fully aware of what they’re doing – after all, the better they understand how to help secret police find and terrorize dissidents, the better their products will do on the market — but far less concerned about the implications. As Dutch member of the E.U. Parliament Marietje Schaake told us last week, “The bulk of this digital arms trade happens under the radar; through spin-offs of well-known companies, but mostly by players without a reputation to lose with consumers.”

Schaake, who has been leading an effort in Europe to halt the sale of surveillance technologies to repressive regimes, helped pass E.U. export restrictions to some government actors in Syria. In the U.S., Rep. Chris Smith introduced a bill in the House that would require American companies listed on the stock exchange to report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on how they conduct due diligence on human rights issues.

Unfortunately, apart from the work of a few individuals, this problem has gone mostly ignored by Western governments, and the digital surveillance trade still seems to be flourishing. Congress, the E.U., and the U.N. all have the ability act — by requiring the relevant companies to at least transparently evaluate whether or not their technology is aiding in human rights abuses, if not banning those sales outright — but so far, even as dozens of Syrians die every day, they haven’t.

Hampir Ditumbuk Samseng Umno : Nurul Izzah Beri Keterangan Pada Polis

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 05:43 PM PST

Malaysiakini

Naib Presiden PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar memberi keterangan kepada tiga pegawai polis dari Kuantan berhubung siasatan insiden pada 26 Fenruari lalu yang mana beliau nyaris menjadi mangsa ditumbuk oleh samseng semasa ceramahnya di Felda Lepar Hilir 1, Gambang, Pahang.

Selain Nurul Izzah, turut memberi keterangan, ialah suaminya, Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar dan Pengarah Komunikasi PKR, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Turut mengiringi ketika keterangan diambil ialah peguam N Surendran yang juga merupakan Naib Presiden PKR.

“Kita ada Surendran yang membantu menerangkan semula soalan semasa kejadian itu,” kata Nurul pada sidang media selepas keterangan di ambil di ibu pejabat PKR, petang semalam.

Pada kejadian itu, PKR mendakwa ceramah mereka diganggu oleh ahli Umno yang dengan sengaja menganjurkan sesi karaoke dan memasang pembesar suara di sebuah kedai kopi di mana Nurul Izzah dan Nik Nazmi dijadual berucap.

Ketika giliran Nurul Izzah berucap, “budak-budak muda” dari Umno itu dikatakan mula menyerbu ke lokasi ceramah sambil melemparkan kata-kata kesat kepada anak perempuan Ketua Umum PKR itu. Beliau kemudiannya terpaksa diiringi polis bantuan Felda meninggalkan kawasan berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun dakwaan itu dinafikan oleh Umno. Menurut ADUN Lepar Mohd Shohaimi Jusoh, lelaki yang dituduh cuba menyerang Nurul Izzah itu sebenarnya cuba “melindungi” naib presiden PKR itu.

Tindakan susulan

Katanya, pembantu beliau Asrullah Effendi Abdullah cuba merampas mikrofon dari Nurul Izzah bagi menghalang ahli parlimen PKR itu daripada terus berucap atas alasan penduduk tempatan yang membantah acara itu semakin tidak dapat dikawal.

"Beliau mahu menyelamatkannya sebelum kumpulan belia itu menyerbu ke pentas. Jadi beliau merampas mikrofon supaya Nurul Izzah berhenti daripada bercakap. Beliau takut kerana akan dipersalahkan jika berlaku sebarang kejadian yang tidak diingini,” kata Mohd Shohaimi.

Pada sidang medianya, semalam, Nurul Izzah berkata, beliau turut disoal mengenai insiden pada malam kejadian, persekitaran, dan reaksi mereka yang membuat provokasi dengan tindakan mereka memainkan muzik dengan kuat sebelum ceramah bermula

Selain itu, katanya, tindakan susulan terhadap kes seperti ini adalah penting bagi penguatkuasa undang-undang seperti polis untuk menunjukkan komitmen dan memastikan bahawa tindakan yang sewajarnya dapat diambil.

“Apa yang penting di sini ialah tindakan susulan kerana apabila penguat kuasa undang-undang seperti polis menunjukkan komitmen bagi memastikan tindakan sewajarnya diambil.

“Tidak kira apa bentuk ancaman atau serangan, sama ada secara fizikal atau mental, ke arah mana-mana individu dan tidak hanya pemimpin-pemimpin politik, “katanya.

Kes ini disiasat di bawah Seksyen 148, Kanun Keseksaan kerana merusuh.

Menjadi-jadi

Sejak kebelakangan ini, gangguan ke atas acara dan ceramah yang diadakan oleh pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang cuba menggempur kubu-kubu BN, khususnya Umno menjelang pilihan raya umum akan datang, semakin menjadi-jadi.

Pada 26 Februari lalu, Himpunan Hijau 2.0 yang diadakan di Pulau Pinang sebagai sokongan solidariti membantah keputusan kerajaan membenarkan loji pemprosesan nadir bumi milik Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) beroperasi di Gebeng, Pahang diganggu.

Dalam kejadian itu, beberapa ahli Umno dan kumpulan pendesak Melayu, PERKASA terus mengganggu acara yang dijalankan itu. Ia berakhir dengan dua wartawan cedera. Seorang daripada mereka terpkasa menerima lapan jahitan.

20 Februari lalu, kereta Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim diserang dengan lontaran batu, kayu dan mercun sehingga kemek dan cerminnya pecah ketika berceramah di Jalan Mersing, Sembrong.

13 Februari pula kunjungan Anwar ke Felda Tun Ghafar Baba, di Machap,  Alor Gajah juga dicemari oleh penyokong Umno yang mengganggu ceramah beliau.

Awal bulan lalu pula sekatan jalan raya didirikan daripda menghalang pemimpin dan penyokong Pakatan daripada menghadri ceramah yang dijadualkan di kubu Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak di Pekan.

ISU PALESTIN : Penjelasan Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Bersama Wakil Hamas Di Pulau Pinang

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 01:01 AM PST

8 Mac 2012 (Khamis)

1)    5.30 ptg – Pesta Ponggal Pulau Pinang

            Lokasi : Market Street, Little India, Pulau Pinang

2)    7.15 mlm – Solat & Tazkirah Maghrib –

           Lokasi :  Surau Al Mukminun Kota Giam, Jelutong

3)    8.30 mlm – Majlis Makan Malam

            Lokasi: Lebuh Pekaka 1, Sungai Dua, Gelugor (Belakang Subaidah)

4)    9.00 – 12.00 mlm – Penjelasan Isu Palestin Bersama Wakil Hamas

            Lokasi: Markas PAS, Pongsu Seribu, Kepala Batas

5)    Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  Bro. Muhammad As-Sabah (Tahanan Israel 8 Tahun)

iii.                Bro. Mustafa Toib dari Gaza

iv.               Ustaz Soib Mohd Amin

Debat Dengan Anwar Jika Serius Utamakan Masa Depan Negara, Kata PKR Kepada Najib

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 12:13 AM PST

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Mac — PKR sekali lagi mencabar Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk berdebat dengan Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim selepas perdana menteri itu secara terbuka menyatakan kesediaan berdebat dengan sesiapa saja yang mempunyai pemikiran yang munasabah dan yang serius mengenai masa depan negara.

Semalam Najib berkata beliau sedia berdebat mengenai politik, menambah sebagai seorang ahli politik dalam sebuah negara demokrasi, beliau tidak dapat elak daripada orang bercerita perkara buruk mengenai diri beliau.

Menurut Setiausaha Agung PKR Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (gambar), Najib wajar menerima tawaran debat Anwar yang dibuat pada tahun lalu tentang kedudukan ekonomi, Buku Jingga Pakatan Rakyat dan penyelewengan yang berlaku dalam pentadbiran negara.

"Justeru kita berharap kesanggupan Najib ini benar-benar jujur kerana tawaran Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang dibuat pada Januari 2011 untuk berdebat masih lagi terbuka," katanya dalam satu kenyataan.

"Malangnya kami belum menerima sebarang jawapan daripada perdana menteri tentang tawaran itu."

Justeru beliau mahu Najib menerima tawaran debat Anwar bagi membolehkan rakyat mendengar secara langsung dasar Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat.

"PKR sekali lagi menggesa agar Najib menerima tawaran debat ini sesuai dengan semangat demokrasi yang diluahkannya, melainkanlah Najib tidak merasakan isu ekonomi, tawaran dasar Buku Jingga, tata kelola kerajaan yang baik, kenaikan kenaikan kos hidup dan penyelewengan negara merupakan isu-isu penting untuk dibahaskan," katanya.

"Najib turut meluahkan kebimbangannya tentang keupayaan lawannya di dalam perdebatan untuk bercakap berdasarkan fakta dan mengawal emosi. Sebenarnya kebimbangan ini tidak patut wujud sekiranya beliau yakin dengan keupayaan rakyat Malaysia untuk membuat perhitungan yang tepat."

Bulan lalu, debat antara Presiden MCA  Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek dan Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng, telah diadakan menyaksikan sejumlah 800 penonton telah ditayangkan di Astro Mandarin.

Kemudiannya diikuti dengan debat antara Pengarah Strategik PKR, Rafizi Ramli, dan Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, di London.

Cabaran debat Anwar hanya disambut sekali, iaitu pada Julai 2008 dengan Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, yang ketika itu merupakan Menteri Penerangan dan disiarkan secara langsung.

Majoriti rakyat negara ini mahu melihat debat antara Najib dan Anwar.

‘RM500j Lesap Dari Yayasan Selangor Semasa BN’

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:39 PM PST

Malaysiakini

Pengurus Besar Yayasan Selangor yang baru dilantik Ilham Marzuki memberitahu Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Selangor Mengenai Keupayaan, Kebertanggungjawaban, Ketelusan (Selcat) bahawa  aset pendidikan negeri yayasan itu bernilai setengah bilion ringgit hilang semasa pentadbiran BN.

“Kajian kami menunjukkan bahawa dari 1991 hingga 2008, berlaku ketirisan sebanyak RM500 juta daripada Yayasan Selangor,” kata Ilham kepada jawatankuasa itu yang bersidang pada pendengaran awam hari ini.

“Jika tidak, aset kita (sekarang) akan menjadi RM800 juta.”

Buat masa ini, katanya, yayasan itu memiliki aset tetap bernilai RM300 juta manakala RM50 juta lagi dalam deposit tunai.

Ilham diarahkan hadir oleh kerajaan negeri dan Selcat untuk membantu Yayasan Selangor  mengaudit akaunnya bagi tempoh antara 1991 dan 2008. Tindakan itu untuk mengesan punca wang yayasan itu terus berkurangan.
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