Karpal Singh pointed out today during the Sodomy II trial that a standard form filled by a Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctor only mentions ‘attempted sodomy’ and ‘attempted oral sex’.
I had to burst our laughing when I read this reader’s comment about a Malaysiakini report ‘Sodomy II: Dent in prosecution case’ on this latest development by someone going by the name of Keturunan Malaysia:
How is SP Setia going to finance the building of the proposed new convention centre in Penang known as sPICE? It will be allowed to build an extra 1,500 homes in its existing projects in Penang, effectively increasing the density of those projects.
A haunting tribute to the fallen in Egypt’s struggle for democracy and economic justice.
But the struggle for real economic justice in the face of predatory global economic forces in collaboration with local elites is by no means over just because Mubarak has stepped down.
Ousted Tunisian dictator Ben Ali had to put up with serious insult from his wife Leila before they boarded the plane to flee the country.
“Leave me, I don’t want to go, I want to die here for my country,” pleaded Ben Ali pathetically, sounding a bit like Mubarak.
But Ben Ali’s hated political police chief, Ali Seriati, pushed him up, shouting: “For —-‘s sake, get on!”
2200: Massive crowds of infuriated Egyptians have surged outside presidential palaces and the state television station to protest against Mubarak. Mubarak and family have left Cairo for his home on the Red Sea.
0505: Mubarak throws cold water on public demands for him to quit and instead insists that he will be staying on until September.
0059: Mounting excitement in Tahrir Square as crowds gather. A lot of anticipation now as people wait for an official announcement. Whatever happens, congratulations to the people of Egypt for their inspiring courage in the face of extreme adversity.
But what happens to the regime and the ‘torturer-in-chief’ Omar Suleiman?
The spirit of the protesters at Tahrir Square is just amazing. The latest is that striking doctors and 3,000 staff from a key Cairo hospital along with 3,000 lawyers have joined the protests.
A newly appointed Cabinet Minister for Culture has also resigned. According to Aljazeera, “the NDP Secretary General Hossam Badrawi says he expects Mubarak to respond to the demands of the people before Friday. An official statement from the military is imminent”. Is this the end of the road for Mubarak and his regime?
“The great tragedy is Obama chose not to hold out his hand”: Robert Fisk on the gap between US rhetoric and action in the Egyptian uprising
When it comes to the question of the chain of command in political matters, I am reminded of the 12th century story of Thomas Becket.
Authoritarian leaders of nations these days don’t like to get their hands dirty. Instead, they tend to surround themselves with sycophants who can almost read their minds and then go out of their way to fulfil what they believe to be the leaders’ desires.
So when some dirty deed is done, the head honcho can then say, “I didn’t order it, it wasn’t me; it was the army or the police who fired at the crowd/tortured dissidents/detained political opponents without trial, etc.”