Newsflash


Human rights activists are calling for new measures to tackle hate crime following the release of figures which show the problem has doubled in the last year alone. The alarming findings reveal that 73 people have died from racially motivated attacks in 2008, with more than 200 incidents in total.

The Slav Union is typical of the kind of organisation behind the problem. It calls for Russia to get rid of ethnic minorities.

Four of its members have been given life sentences for staging an explosion at a market that killed 14 people two years ago.

In another high profile case, 13 teenage skinheads are currently on trial for a spate of apparent hate crimes, including beating a Yakut chess player to death with a baseball bat.

One of their members is Viktor. He holds a steady job as a building site inspector but in his role with the Slav Union commands a squad of fifteen activists, trained in knife combat and martial arts.

He told RT: “There is a place for hard-line methods. You know what I am talking about? Whatever the immigrants do to us, we'll do to them. We are preparing our men. If they come out on the battlefield, we will match them man for man.”

But more and more of his acquaintances have recently been tried at the Moscow city court. And many are going to spend decades behind bars.

Interior Ministry spokesman Oleg Yelnikov said: “If we suspect something as a hate crime, we put the case under special supervision. We try to make sure that every such case is solved, and the perpetrators are punished accordingly.”

But independent observers say that while the federal government and some local police forces have homed in on these crimes, others are turning a blind eye.

Kamildjan Kalandarov of the Human Rights Institute said: “Unfortunately, a lot of people who are meant to be fighting these crimes actually share the nationalist views of the criminals. And a lot of the politicians pander to certain moods prevalent in society.”

Nevertheless, with the increased pressure on his organization, Viktor admits that some of his associates have started to desert.

“The authorities are tightening the screws, but for those who truly believe, this only makes them more determined. And those who are leaving were only doing it for the image.”

Viktor is one of those who will stay to the end. But more than ever, the authorities know who he is, and the end may come sooner than he thinks.

 

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Michael Jackson's Memorial Service Details To Be Announced FridayPDF Print E-mail
Written by Admin
Thursday, 02 July 2009

Representatives for the Jackson family confirm that official details for the public memorial service will be made known on July 3 at 10 a.m. PT.

Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson: the unreleased album
Michael Jackson Photo: AP

 

LOS ANGELES — Official plans for Michael Jackson's public memorial service will be revealed Friday morning (July 3) at a press conference to be held by Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of AEG, the parent company that owns the Staples Center, the venue where the memorial is due to take place.

Representatives for the Jackson family announced the media briefing late Thursday night. At the briefing, which will take place at 10 a.m. PT, Leiweke is expected to announce details, including how the public will be given the opportunity to register for the 11,000 tickets available for the service. The tickets are free, but are limited in comparison to the venue's capacity, reportedly over 20,000 seats.

Jermaine Jackson appeared on "Larry King Live" on CNN Thursday night and expressed concern over the Staples Center location.

"There's 20,000 people just coming from the U.K.," the elder brother told King when asked about the capacity. Jackson also confirmed that a private service for the family and select friends will be held on Tuesday prior to the public service. He also said the services will be the first of many that will take place across the country.

ABC News reports that sources close to the planning said that over 750,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the memorial. According to the same report, over 2,500 police will be on hand to help with the huge crowds occupying the downtown area. A number of public and private travel partnerships have noted the upswing in arrivals into the Los Angeles airport and hotels, in addition to the already high number of holiday travelers into the city.

Previous reports suggested the services for the late King of Pop would take place anywhere from his Neverland Ranch to the Los Angeles Coliseum.

On Wednesday (July 1), however, police began to barricade Chick Hearn Court, the street located directly in front of the Staples Center. The move, along with reports by the Hollywood Reporter and CNN, confirmed that the services would in fact be held at the Staples Center. The venue is controlled by AEG, the company that also was promoting Jackson's upcoming 50-show run in London.

To accommodate the huge number of fans expected to attend the services, large screens are will be placed outside the Staples Center. As of press time, workers are placing Michael Jackson signage around the arena. A representative for the company that created the material told MTV News that a number of items that will be on display were made in just a few hours for the services.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

 

 

 

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