Promises in an Israeli Prison

This is a writing by Santi Soekanto, an Indonesian journalist boarded in MV Mavi Marmamara, about her experience in Israeli prison after Israel's IDF attack on Gaza Flotilla. Written in Amman Jordania after their release and deportation.

Santi Soekanto

AMMAN

"You have entered the State of Israel, so you must do it!"

The man in the blue uniform of Israel immigration authority pointed to a slot in a machine where people had their finger prints taken for some administrative purposes. He was probably losing patience, his voice rising above the din in one of the halls of the women’s prison in Bersheva in the south of the Israeli-occupied Palestine.

"I did not enter Israel. I did not come here by choice. Your soldiers kidnapped and brought me here by force," I replied, amazed, even as I was speaking, that I had the strength to be this calm.

"Are you refusing to do this?"

"I refuse."

"You must do it!" The man was now shouting now, the veins in his neck bulging. He then turned to another man, quite likely his superior, and talked rapidly in Hebrew. The second man approached me, still standing in front of a digital camera installed on the top of the machine.

"Look, this is only for ID purpose. Just place your finger there," the second man tried to reason with me.

"You have taken my picture, you have taken my passport, what else do you need? How do I know that you won’t be using my finger prints for some other purposes, to follow my movements?" I was becoming even more obstinate.

"I promise you that we won’t use it to follow you around…"

I had to laugh at that. "Your soldiers killed people. Now you are making a promise…"

"I have just traveled to some countries including Thailand, and I had to give my finger prints even there," he said again, his voice was now rising.

"You traveled. I was kidnapped."

**

Before the second man could say anything again, I scooted off towards the dozens of lawyers who had just come into the prison, presumably in response to the international uproar over Israel's raid on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza on Monday, June 1, just after the Fajr prayer.

I grabbed hold of one of the lawyers and rapidly told him about what was happening. He then strode over to the desk, talked in Hebrew, and then said to me, "It’s only for ID purpose, but you can say no," before going away to his other client.

"OK, so I am saying no then."

The first man began shouting abuse at me again. His superior, clearly exasperated, again tried to reason. "I promise you. I promise you. Just place your finger there."

"What’s your name?" I asked, staring at the name tag on his right chest and remembering that my Indonesian friend, Surya Fachrizal, was shot on his right chest during the Israeli attack, and wondering where he had been taken after we were separated by the Israeli troops.

"Dotan Smith. My name is Dotan Smith. I promise you that this is only for recognition purpose," the second man said.

I was tired - I hadn't slept for two nights, and it had been less than two days since we were attacked by the Israeli commandos. I and hundreds of other humanitarian workers onboard the Mavi Marmara aid ship to Gaza had been the target of indiscriminate shooting.

We had to watch our friends being killed and maimed before our eyes, and when the Israeli commandos had taken over the boat, we had been searched, our possessions confiscated and ransacked.

We had been prodded and kicked at, we had been handcuffed, brought to the upper deck and left to fry in the Mediterranean sun for hours and hours.

We had had Uzis, M16s, MPs, pistols pointed at our heads by soldiers who were armed to the teeth, even as they shouted abuse at us. We had been brought to Port Ashdod where huge tents had been erected, and we had been made to go through desks where officers processed our papers.

We had been mocked at and ridiculed when we refused to sign a statement that said we had entered Israel illegally so we either had to go to prison or be deported. We had been transported by prison vans to Bersheva in the south of Palestine occupied by Israel, and detained there where we had been desperate because we could not contact our loved ones.

**

So I placed my forefingers in the machine slot and endured the smug look at the first man's face. I then ran back to cell 3305 that I had been sharing with three Western women: one hard-swearing Australian journalist, a young activist from the Netherland whose arms bore bruises after she was tasered, manhandled, handcuffed and her head bagged, and a long-haired, soft-spoken Free Gaza activist who chain-smoked and refused to wear the towels, sweat-shirts and T-shirts, socks and male underwear that the prison wardens gave us.

I had told the three women that what we had undergone was nothing compared to what the Palestinians have had to endure for the past 63 years.

"This is what the Gazans have to endure day in, day out," Anne of the Netherland said.

**

I was grateful that the cell was then empty. I sat on my bunk-bed in search of solitude, before raising my hands to the sky as I prayed. "O Allah, nahnu mazlumuun. We are oppressed, violated, terrorised. Your Messenger Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam has promised there will not be anything between the prayers of the oppressed and You. Your promises are true. Rasulullah's promises are true. So please O Allah, hear my prayers..."

For the first time since the ordeal began, two hot tears came into my eyes, as I supplicated for all things that mattered most to me. The safety and integrity of my faith. The protection from Allah's wrath. The liberation of Al-Quds. The freedom of Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere and the destruction of the oppressors...

* The writer is a contributing editor of The Brunei Times who was on board the Mavi Marmara. She is also the editor of Majalah ALIA and a worker of the NGO, Sahabat Al-Aqsha, in Jakarta.
Allah be with the patient...

Raw Footage of IDF raid on Freedom Flotilla Ship - shot Iara Lee

Iara Lee, a filmmaker boarded on Gaza Flotilla, unexpectedly was able to bring a raw record of IDF attack on the ship by saving it in tiny memory card hidden under her clothes. A blessing of modern digital technology. This raw record is available in Youtube, along shot, 1 hour 2 minutes 13 seconds. 

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Live Streaming from MV Mavi Marmara en route to Gaza Strip

MV Marmara is currently (29/5) anchoring near Cyprus, waitng for other vessels. Responding to Israel threat, Bulent Yildirim, President of IHH, said, "The youngest passenger onboard these ships is only one year old. There are people in their 80s onboard as well. If Israel wants to run the risk of attacking these ships, they may do so. In case of an attack, we are going to carry out nonviolent resistance. We do not even have a jackknife here, but we will not let the Israeli soldiers onboard this ship."

Watch live streaming video from insaniyardim at livestream.com

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End The Fed: Ron Paul's new book released

Congressman Ron Paul has released his new book “End The Fed.” His long struggle to audit The Fed through the bill “The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (H.R. 1207) is still in progress and has 287 cosponsors. Here is the caption from RonPaul.com

Now Shipping: End the Fed – by Ron Paul

In the post-meltdown world, it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve.

Most people think of the Fed as an indispensable institution without which the country’s economy could not properly function. But in END THE FED, Ron Paul draws on American history, economics, and fascinating stories from his own long political life to argue that the Fed is both corrupt and unconstitutional. It is inflating currency today at nearly a Weimar or Zimbabwe level, a practice that threatens to put us into an inflationary depression where $100 bills are worthless.

What most people don’t realize is that the Fed — created by the Morgans and Rockefellers at a private club off the coast of Georgia — is actually working against their own personal interests. Congressman Paul’s urgent appeal to all citizens and officials tells us where we went wrong and what we need to do fix America’s economic policy forfuture generations.

Order End The Fed Now!

Google Chrome "The Minimalist"

Google entered browsers market by releasing Google Chrome, a free web browser. That decision seemed to challenge Mozilla Firefox, the leading free browser, to prove which one is the best. Today, Internet Explores is dominating browsers world, because it’s packed with Microsoft Windows. Firefox has been challenging position of Internet Explorer, and succeeded to become the second in use after Internet Explorer. It is not certain whether Google Chrome sided with Mozilla Firefox challenging Internet Explorer or even challenging both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

As browsers, Google Chrome has minimal interface and completely different compared to other browsers, but it does not mean that Google Chrome has bad looks. Google Chrome’s interface is very simple, toolbar only consist of navigation tools (back, forward, and reload), address, page control, and Google Chrome control (these last two are equivalent with complex toolbars in other browsers). There is also additional Bookmark Toolbar. Because of this minimal interface, I call Google Chrome as The Minimalist.

Like other browsers, Google Chrome also has ability to open multiple tabs, so users must not open many windows to open many websites. Generally, there are not any problems in performance of Google chrome, but I can recall that it does have less performance in opening multiple tabs. If users want to open multiple tabs simultaneously, especially when users press right click and choose ‘Open link in new tab’, Google Chrome can not response as fast as other browsers. Between opening tabs, users must wait a few second or more before users can open a new tab. So, this delay can become serious problem if users need to open multiple tabs simultaneously. Sometimes, delay also occurs when I want to paste characters I copied in Google chrome window. I can’t conclude whether this problem comes from Google Chrome itself or from PC performance, but I found this problem in many different PCs.

Google Chrome needs online installation, so this is a problem if users have slow internet connection. Installation using slow connection may take place for several hours. This problem is worsening if internet connection downs, installation must be repeated again from the beginning. Other problem I noticed is I haven’t found any features to disable images in Google Chrome. Sometime, to save bandwidth quota, I must disable image appearance in browser. So, I wouldn’t use Google Chrome if I need to disable images.

In my opinion, browsing ability of Google Chrome is good, similar with other browsers. I am just not satisfied with the problems I mentioned above. Generally, interface and browsing ability are good, Google just need to improve its ability in opening tabs. It would be better too if Google adds offline installation option, so users must not go online to install Google Chrome. Online installation of Google Chrome is uncomfortable for users who connect to internet using low bandwidth connection.

Israel Invades Gaza - Ron Paul Responds

Here are statements of Ron Paul concerning Israel invasion to Gaza:

• The idea for “preventive war” is spreading
• We should be on neither side; that conflict has been going on for a long time
• Even though Israel invades Gaza, we - the US - will be blamed for this
• Palestinians are confined to a “concentration camp” and are no match for Israel
• The Middle East is a powder keg
• We’re involved in too many wars and are going bankrupt
• 2009 will see inflation and a rapid deterioration of the dollar
• We’re spending too much money, borrowing too much money, and printing too much money
• Escalation in Gaza and Afghanistan means big trouble at the world stage and at home
• The attack on our personal liberties continues

Perhaps he is the most unique, or even the wisest man in House Representatives, compared to his colleagues there. But as happen before, there are much more lawmakers supporting Israel than their own country in House Of Representatives and Senate. Even if US is going bankrupt, in their mind, Israel is going first, as always.

Why can’t this man become President of United States? Shouldn’t the wise become the ruler? Like a concept laid by Plato in Greek era. Well, Plato also suggested the hole in democracy. The ruler – in democracy – will not always chosen – by public – because essential things. Non-essentials factors tend to affect people more, like rhetorical skill, genealogy, etc. Shame, shame on us, the human being.
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US Public Debt in National Debt Clock

This is a portrait of National Debt Clock, showing constantly updated US public debt and each American family shares of that debt(picture taken in April 19, 2008). This clock is located at Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Manhattan, New York City. Its Seymour Durst, who wanted to highlight US public debt, on 1989, sponsoring the idea to install the first clock on 42nd Street close to Times Square. In 2004, the clock was replaced by the new identical present clock. Seymour Durst who concerned with US public debt erected the first clock when US public debt was still around US$ 3 trillion. Now the clock that outlived Seymour Durst (died in 1995) is showing US$ public debt exceeds US$ 10 trillion, with each American family share US$ 86 thousand (It had run out its number). Seymour's son Douglas taking over responsibility for the clock through the Durst Organization.

First clock which could not run backward was dismantled on 2004 from 42nd Street and replaced by new clock which could run backwards on Durst Building, a block away from its original location (on at 1133 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue)). The clock was mounted on side wall of building facing W 44th street. This clock run out its digit on September 30, 2008, when the debt exceeded US$ 10 trillion. An overhaul to add two more digits was planned and expected to be completed in 2009.

Well, this clock has a role as symbol or metaphor, especially when the value is constantly increasing. Even if there are many arguments that even if US public debt is largest of the world, its ratio to GDP is 73%, Japan more than 100%, etc., etc., …. Living in land of debt is not so comfortable. Above is a real time US Public Debt on US National Debt Clock.org

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ABOLISH THE FEDERAL RESERVE: A Bill Introduced by Congressman Ron Paul

I have not found any ideas to write, so I post this speech of Ron Paul about his introduction of bill to abolish The Fed, please enjoy!

Congressman Ron Paul
U.S. House of Representatives
September 10, 2002

ABOLISH THE FEDERAL RESERVE

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation to restore financial stability to America's economy by abolishing the Federal Reserve. I also ask unanimous consent to insert the attached article by Lew Rockwell, president of the Ludwig Von Mises Institute, which explains the benefits of abolishing the Fed and restoring the gold standard, into the record.

Since the creation of the Federal Reserve, middle and working-class Americans have been victimized by a boom-and-bust monetary policy. In addition, most Americans have suffered a steadily eroding purchasing power because of the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. This represents a real, if hidden, tax imposed on the American people.

From the Great Depression, to the stagflation of the seventies, to the burst of the dotcom bubble last year, every economic downturn suffered by the country over the last 80 years can be traced to Federal Reserve policy. The Fed has followed a consistent policy of flooding the economy with easy money, leading to a misallocation of resources and an artificial "boom" followed by a recession or depression when the Fed-created bubble bursts.

With a stable currency, American exporters will no longer be held hostage to an erratic monetary policy. Stabilizing the currency will also give Americans new incentives to save as they will no longer have to fear inflation eroding their savings. Those members concerned about increasing America's exports or the low rate of savings should be enthusiastic supporters of this legislation.

Though the Federal Reserve policy harms the average American, it benefits those in a position to take advantage of the cycles in monetary policy. The main beneficiaries are those who receive access to artificially inflated money and/or credit before the inflationary effects of the policy impact the entire economy. Federal Reserve policies also benefit big spending politicians who use the inflated currency created by the Fed to hide the true costs of the welfare-warfare state. It is time for Congress to put the interests of the American people ahead of the special interests and their own appetite for big government.

Abolishing the Federal Reserve will allow Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over monetary policy. The United States Constitution grants to Congress the authority to coin money and regulate the value of the currency. The Constitution does not give Congress the authority to delegate control over monetary policy to a central bank. Furthermore, the Constitution certainly does not empower the federal government to erode the American standard of living via an inflationary monetary policy.

In fact, Congress' constitutional mandate regarding monetary policy should only permit currency backed by stable commodities such as silver and gold to be used as legal tender. Therefore, abolishing the Federal Reserve and returning to a constitutional system will enable America to return to the type of monetary system envisioned by our nation's founders: one where the value of money is consistent because it is tied to a commodity such as gold. Such a monetary system is the basis of a true free-market economy.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand up for working Americans by putting an end to the manipulation of the money supply which erodes Americans' standard of living, enlarges big government, and enriches well-connected elites, by cosponsoring my legislation to abolish the Federal Reserve.

Socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor

Regarding bailout of US financial system, a question has occurred everywhere. How could a promoter of capitalism take a policy that only occur in socialism. Why don’t US government leave all of the problem to market mechanism? If capitalism is analog to a religion, this policy is analog to apostasy.

Long before, there was a prediction that in advanced capitalist societies, there would be a policy to assure that more resources flow to the riches than the poors, and capitalist political economy toward large corporations will allow them to privatize profits and socialize losses. The summary is “Socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor.” Andrew Young and Martin Luther King Jr. had stated this in many occasions of their speeches. Noam Chomsky criticized application of free market, he argued that this system imposes more risk to lower class. He cited that, “the free market is socialism for the rich—[free] markets for the poor and state protection for the rich.”

This is so ironic in my eyes. If US actually committed “apostasy” from capitalism, is this system strong enough to face challenges in near future? Many enterprises promoted free market across the world, but when this situation comes, they demand governments to grant protection.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel: A new Work of Michael Moore

Michael Moore had stated that he planned to make a sequel to his successful Fahrenheit 9/11. Paramount Vantage and Overture Films will co-finance and co-produce this documentary that will do in 2009. The plan is it will be released in mid-2009.

Nick Meyer from Vantage Topper claims that this documentary will have global appeal. Most people expect that Moore will pick up anything what Fahrenheit 9/11 left off. The expected details are detailing the ongoing Iraq War, the falling approval rating of George W. Bush, and the economic crisis of 2008, or even more.

I had seen his two successful movies, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko. I only can say that he is a great and talented filmmaker. His three documentary films is in the top five high grossing documentary film across time. It is not strange that people expect more in his new film. This film is titled Fahrenheit 9/11 ½. “Fifty-one percent of the American people lacked information (in this election) and we want to educate and enlighten them,” Moore said in Thursday’s edition of Variety. “They weren’t told the truth. We’re communicators and it’s up to us to start doing it now.”