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CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey,
JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania
ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, Alabama
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
MICHAEL C. BURGESS, Texas
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER,
New York
MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland,
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island
TOM UDALL, New Mexico
JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi
SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia
MARCO RUBIO, Florida
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire
MICHAEL H. POSNER, Department of State
˜ EZ, Department of Commerce
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW, Department of Defense
Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ..............................................
Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Ireland ..........................
Prepared statement of Hon. Christopher H. Smith .................
Prepared statement of Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin ....................
February 8, 2012
The hearing was held at 11:30 a.m. in room B-318, Rayburn
House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Christopher H.
Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, presiding.
Commissioner present: Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman,
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Witness present: Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Ireland.
Good morning. And we know that some members of the Commission are en route, so I don't want to delay you, Mr. Foreign Minister, so we will start but they will be here shortly.
I want to welcome everyone joining us this morning, especially
Minister Gilmore, the Foreign Minister of Ireland and Chair-in-Office for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
It is a privilege to have you testify before the Helsinki Commission today, Mr. Minister, on Ireland's leadership of the OSCE. You
are continuing a tradition that we have followed for more than a
decade of hearing directly from the country holding the chairmanship of the OSCE.
While today many countries in Europe are inwardly focused on
economic crises—and that goes for the U.S. as well—the world still
cries out for global leadership, and Ireland has stepped up to the
plate, accepting the 2012 chairmanship of Europe's largest regional
security organization, the OSCE, which does its best work in promoting human rights, democracy, the rule of law and free elections.
Ireland has, for a long time, been one of the most constructive
countries within the OSCE, enhancing the credibility of the organization it now leads. Mr. Minister, I thank you and your government for taking on the responsibility—and it's a huge responsibility—to lead the OSCE.
Mr. Minister, the Helsinki Commission has a long history of engaging with the OSCE, both through and in cooperation with the
U.S. Department of State, and independently. And, as Chairman,
I am very happy with the priorities you have set for the Irish chair(1)
manship, particularly the emphasis on Internet freedom and your
plans to hold a meeting this year on that issue.
I've recently introduced and am preparing to mark up a bill in
my subcommittee, the Global Health, Global Human Rights and
Africa Subcommittee, known as the Global Online Freedom Act,
which counteracts the efforts of many governments, including some
in the OSCE, to purchase U.S. technology to transform the Internet
into a tool of censorship and surveillance.
Earlier versions of this legislation were also introduced in the
European Parliament, so I look forward to working with you on
this issue, and I think we now have the best draft ever, that really
and very incisively goes after this witting or unwitting cooperation
with dictatorships in finding, apprehending and putting into prison
dissidents and people who are seeking democracy.
Your ideas for drawing on Ireland's experience in Northern Ireland's peace process in reference to protracted conflicts elsewhere
in the OSCE region also connects a long-standing Commission priority.
Since the mid-1990s we have held, either in this Commission or
in my subcommittee—I chaired those hearings—13 hearings on
Northern Ireland's peace process, keeping a special focus on the police reform. And the problem of policing, if it went unaddressed,
would have probably unraveled the entire peace process and the
Good Friday Agreement.
Perhaps the key issue the Commission will be pursuing in the
OSCE this year is international parental child abduction. Last year
the Parliamentary Assembly passed a resolution urging the OSCE
to take up the issue of international parental child abduction, and
urging a ministerial decision on that issue.
I believe the U.S. government agrees that this is an issue which
could benefit from a ministerial decision this year. That is, the benefit would go to the children, who suffer greatly. ''Parental alienation'' is the term of art given to us by the experts in psychology.
It is a very real and a very significant form of child abuse. And
governments and national courts need to do more to live up to their
obligations under The Hague Convention.
Another important issue will continue to be the fight against
anti-Semitism, which, following a Commission hearing in May of
2002, we worked to get the issue of anti-Semitism as a front-burner
issue, resulting in a series of high-level and ministerial conferences
on anti-Semitism and a ministerial declaration on combating antiSemitism, the implementation of which has been sadly lacking.
Many countries have been very, very infirm in terms of their response, even to the chronicling of this horrific millenniums-old
The work of battling anti-Semitism is now being led by the Personal Representative Rabbi Andy Baker, and I can't emphasize too
strongly how important it is to support his work, and I know you
do, and the work of the other personal representatives to do—and
to do otherwise by any of us would be a tragic step backwards.
I know Rabbi Baker personally. I've known him for many years.
He was instrumental in helping us craft the Berlin language. I remember when certain impasses were being reached as to what the
actual text ought to look like. Now, he was, you know, brilliant in
coming up with the language that really made all the difference in
bringing that consensus to bear on combating anti-Semitism, which
is only getting worse, as we all know.
I plan on chairing a hearing on UNRWA very shortly, and the
textbook issue. I've done it before. We'll be doing it again, which,
sadly, in the Palestinian refugee camps where the textbooks are
rife with anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli and anti-American rhetoric. And
even when Fatah was in charge of the PLO, they too allowed
Hamas—or Hamas had control of education. And if you train kids
to hate—remember that famous song in ''South Pacific''? You must
be taught about hatred being passed on generation to generation.
I've read the textbooks, of course the English translations, and they
are true and authentic. We even had a witness right here, standing
where Mr. Glynn is standing, who brought textbooks with him and
read from them, and they were rife with anti-Semitic hatred.
And if you tell 12-year-olds and 8-year-olds and hold pep rallies
about how blowing oneself up is in the interest of the Palestinians
and the interest of Islam, you will get radical child soldiers, as
we've seen with Joseph Kony's group in Uganda and elsewhere, the
Lord's Resistance Army. They get radicalized.
So we will be focusing on that further in our Commission with
a hearing that's set—Mark, do we have a date for that?
Mr. MILOSCH. We have early March.
Mr. SMITH. Early March for that hearing. So it's something I
think we all need to be looking at.
Anti-Semitism is an aspect of larger problems of religious freedom in the OSCE region today. A recent example of intolerance
took place in Macedonia. I met with a number of parliamentarians
from Macedonia just last week, where a local Muslim set fire to a
local church, reportedly in response to the mocking of their own
faith by other locals.
We're all against the mocking of anyone's faith, but setting fire
to a church, that is outrageous. It takes the evil to a whole new
level, and I note with sadness how few political leaders outside of
Macedonia responded by condemning this violence against a Christian church.
I'm particularly concerned about the Coptic minority in Egypt. As
the largest and one of the oldest minorities, they're suffering portends suffering throughout the region. And make no mistake about
it, they are suffering. Coptic women and girls, some as young as
adolescents, are being systematically lured from their families or
kidnapped off the street corners and forced to change their religion
and forced to marry outside of their community.
They frequently suffer physical and psychological abuse, including rape, beatings, forced isolation, and lack of personal freedom,
both before and after their so-called marriage/conversion. The drugging of victims appears to be commonplace.
Michele Clark, who is well-known in OSCE circles for the great
work she did at ODIHR, working on human trafficking—she is an
internationally recognized anti-trafficking expert and advocate on
behalf of vulnerable women—estimates that this happens to thousands—thousands of Coptic women and girls each year. And we believe it is getting worse with the rise of Islamist groups, particularly now after the elections in Egypt.
We know of no instance where the government has prosecuted
anyone connected with disappearances. And of course Egypt is part
of our Mediterranean partnership and hopefully a real focus will be
placed there.
Punitive tax on Copts was commonplace under Mubarak, and I
and many colleagues have raised that with Mubarak both in Cairo,
on trips there, and every year when he made his trip here, but now
it's becoming the hallmark of the new regime. We had hoped for
better. We still hope. And we have tied Egypt's 1.3 billion [dollars]
in aid to its treatment of religious minorities.
There are a number of conditionality clauses in the most recently
enacted foreign ops bill. One of them is that there be no abrogation
of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. Another is religious freedom
and especially the focus on religious minorities. We expect attacks
to be prosecuted and attackers to spend significant time in jail.
Mr. Minister, one of the reasons the United States so values the
OSCE is that its work touches on so many human rights issues.
And I believe it's why you and the Irish Government, which certainly values human rights just as highly as the U.S. government—
you are truly a beacon—will find your work this year rewarding.
And I look forward to your presentation.
I would like to note, in the audience—I'm very pleased to note
that the Minister is joined here today by David Donoghue, political
director of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs; Brian Glynn,
the deputy head of Ireland's OSCE task force.
And we are also joined by Ian Kelly, Ambassador Kelly, the head
of the U.S. mission to the OSCE. Ambassador Kelly, thank you for
the good work you are doing on behalf of the United States. And,
as always, you are welcome and considered a great friend of this
Foreign Minister Gilmore, please proceed.
Chairman Smith, Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen. Thank
you, Chairman, and thank you for your introduction and for your
opening statement.
I'm delighted to be here today as Chairperson-in-Office of the
OSCE. The Helsinki Commission has made a hugely important
contribution to the work of the OSCE throughout the years, and I
wish to pay tribute to the dedication of the Commission and all of
its staff who have participated in these efforts.
The United States is a crucial player within the OSCE, and I
know I can rely on its support during our chairmanship. It is of
course always a pleasure for me to visit Washington, given the special ties which link our two countries. And I will particularly like
to thank you, Chairman Smith, long-time friend of Ireland, champion of human rights in Northern Ireland and around the globe, for
your kind invitation to me to join you today.
This is Ireland's first time to chair the OSCE. We view the task
as a unique opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the promotion of European peace and security.
In 1975, the Helsinki Final Act heralded a new vision in European security, pledging to end East-West divisions and to build a
more secure Europe. I think we can all agree that that vision has
largely been realized. The cooperative and inclusive nature of the
OSCE is its best asset, and it continues to play a significant role
in conflict resolution and in the promotion of peace, security and
respect for human rights and the rule of law.
That being said, there is no room for complacency. The need for
effective multilateralism is as compelling today as it was all those
decades ago, particularly now as we faced the most challenging political and economic crisis of recent times.
As we look towards the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final
Act in 2015, we have an opportunity to reflect on the contribution
which the OSCE can make in tackling these global challenges and
in ensuring its continuing effectiveness.
Mr. Chairman, I want to turn to some of the priorities of the
Irish chairmanship. We will be ambitious in progressing work
across all three dimensions, and we will strive to achieve concrete
results and to deliver tangible benefits through a small and balanced package of decisions and declarations for adoption at the
Dublin Ministerial Council in December.
Ireland has always attached a particular importance to the
human dimension, and we will aim to make progress in this field.
Of course, the Helsinki Commission has made a hugely important
contribution in this area.
The continuing threat to fundamental freedoms and human
rights in a number of OSCE participating states is a cause of real
concern. You have mentioned some of the issues of greatest concern. I can assure you that the Irish chairmanship is committed to
addressing specific instances where OSCE human dimension commitments are not being met, working closely with the relevant
OSCE institutions.
As you know, in Astana, participating states reaffirmed categorically the human dimension commitments are of direct and legitimate concern to all participating states and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of states.
Our key priority in this dimension will be Internet freedom. As
in other parts of the world, the threat to freedom of expression online is ever-present in the OSCE region and regrettably appears to
be growing.
Our intention is to highlight the simple fact that human rights
and fundamental freedoms do not change with new technologies
but extend into the digital age. We will work to ensure that existing OSCE commitments in relation to freedom of expression and
freedom of the media apply to all forms and means through which
they are exercised.
As part of these efforts, we intend to organize a human dimension meeting in Dublin in June, with involvement of key stakeholders such as civil society and ICT companies. I do not think it
is an exaggeration to say that many governments, including my
own, are still grappling with the implications of rampant technological change. We can all benefit from an in-depth discussion of
this kind.
Human dimension meetings are also planned on a range of other
topics. I believe that there will be particular interest in our proposal to focus on racism, discrimination, and intolerance in sport,
in view of the European soccer championships in Poland and
Ukraine this year, and the Olympic Games in London.
We are all too familiar with the manifestations of racism and
other forms of discrimination and intolerance against sportsmen
and -women. The risk that younger sports fans may inherit prejudices or have them reinforced by their role models is all too evident.
Nor is this problem restricted to the sports field. We should work
harder to address racism, intolerance and discrimination in coaching, management, and other areas in the sporting world. Happily,
sport lends itself to bringing forward good practices, and we aim
to highlight some of these practices.
We don't need to look very far for good examples. A very good
one is the work of Ambassador Dan Rooney, the United States ambassador to Ireland, who, in introducing the Rooney Rule in the
NFL helped to achieve a large increase in the number of AfricanAmerican coaches.
As chairmanship, we will also continue to prioritize the OSCE's
efforts to fight intolerance and discrimination based on religion or
belief, a subject which you addressed comprehensively in your
opening remarks.
One of the first decisions I made in January was to appoint three
personal representatives to deal inter alia with intolerance and discrimination against Jews, Muslims, Christians and members of
other religions.
I am very pleased that Rabbi Andrew Baker of the United States
agreed to continue his excellent work in combating anti-Semitism
alongside Senator Akhmetov of Kazakhstan, and Mrs. Justice
Catherine McGuinness, a retired judge of the Irish Supreme Court.
I was also delighted to appoint a special representative on gender
issues, Ms. June Zeitlin. Ms. Zeitlin, who currently works at the
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights here in Washington, DC, has been a leader on women's issues for more than 30
years, with extensive public policy experience in the United States
and globally. We look forward to her work in the year ahead to promote women's rights and gender equality in the OSCE region,
working together with the Gender Section in the OSCE Secretariat
and the gender advisor in ODIHR.
Our other human dimension priorities include trafficking in
human beings, freedom of association and assembly, professional
and ethical standards in democratic life, and freedom of religion or
belief. It is my hope that an early agreement can be reached on the
package of meetings so that detailed planning for the individual
events can begin as soon as possible.
Ireland is also committed to taking forward, in parallel, the process of review of human dimension meetings, which was begun
under the Lithuanian chairmanship. We will provide a space for
discussion of all proposals aimed at improving the functioning of
human dimension meetings, with a view to concluding these discussions in the second half of 2012.
The chairmanship is conscious that hard choices may have to be
made and that delegations will be called upon to show flexibility
and a spirit of compromise. We hope that you will put your trust
in the chairmanship.
I should like to mention just one more area of work in this dimension that is so crucial to the OSCE's work as a community of
states committed to respect for human rights, democracy and the
rule of law.
Ireland will strive to provide all necessary support to ODIHR
and the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in the crucial area
of election observation. As has been the case to date, we hope that
states holding elections in 2012 will issue timely invitations to
ODIHR to organize election missions. Of course, the United States
itself holds elections later this year, and we trust that the U.S. authorities will meet their OSCE commitments in this regard. We
will also work to ensure appropriate followup to recommendations
made in election observation mission reports.
Mr. Chairman, the confidence and security-building measures
adopted within the political-military dimension remain central to
the enhancement of security in the OSCE region. Our collective
goal, as agreed in Astana, is to work towards a genuine security
To help us to reach that goal, we will call on participating states
to reflect on the building blocks available to us in the areas of arms
control, conflict prevention and resolution, and transnational
threats. This will be the theme for the Annual Security Review
Conference in June.
We will also continue the good work carried out last year in updating the Vienna Document, and we'll work with the 2012 FSC
chairs in this regard. We will take forward work on tackling
transnational threats such as organized crime, cyber threats,
drugs, terrorism and trafficking, challenges which we face in all of
our societies.
The economic and environmental dimension has a particular resonance today, given the global economic and environmental challenges with which we are all confronted. Our central theme for the
economic and environmental forum will be the promotion of security and stability through good governance. There will be a particular focus on measures to counter corruption, money laundering,
and terrorist financing.
The first preparatory conference took place in Vienna earlier this
week, entitled ''Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism.'' The next will be held in Dublin in April. We
will also initiate a review of the 2003 Maastricht Strategy Document to ascertain whether it needs to be adopted, and to take into
account evolving economic and environmental challenges.
Conflict resolution remains at the core of the OSCE's mandate,
a fact which was highlighted by the agreement of the conflict cycle
decision in Vilnius. We will take forward the implementation of
this decision, which will assist the OSCE to deepen its involvement
in all phases of the conflict cycle, and to strengthen its capacity to
tackle conflict, from prevention to resolution.
As Chairperson-in-Office, I will seek to make progress towards
lasting settlements of a number of conflicts in the OSCE area. I
have nominated two special representatives, Ambassador Pa`draig
Murphy and Ambassador Erwan Foue`re`, to assist and advise me
on these issues. They are cooperating with international actors on
the ground, as well as maintaining close contact with the parties.
The chairmanship will seek in particular to promote confidencebuilding measures and to address humanitarian needs.
As regards Moldova and Transnistria, we look forward to welcoming the participants in the 5-plus-2 talks to Dublin later this
month. We stand ready to build on the momentum created following the successful resumption of official talks at the end of last
Ireland strongly supports the Geneva discussions as the best
forum for facilitating engagement and providing a way forward in
relation to the situation in Georgia. The first discussion under our
chairmanship will take place next month.
We also commend the continuing work of the Minsk Group cochairs in addressing the long-running dispute over NagornoKarabakh. I look forward to working closely with Ambassador Bob
Bradtke and the other co-chairs and members of Minsk Group
throughout my term in office.
Mr. Chairman, as you well know, we in Ireland can empathize
only too well with those who are engaged in seemingly intractable
conflicts. In Northern Ireland, the courage of leaders on both sides
to negotiate and make compromises in the interests of peace, together with the perseverance of the Irish and British Governments,
as well as international support, in particular from the United
States, has resulted in a lasting settlement.
While each conflict situation is different, I believe that sharing
this experience can support and encourage efforts to resolve conflicts in the OSCE region. With this in mind, I will host a conference in Dublin on the 27th of April, which would present aspects
of the Northern Ireland example as a case study. I will be joined
at the conference by the deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland,
and I am pleased that Senator George Mitchell will also share his
experience with us.
Mr. Chairman, I will now turn to some current issues within the
OSCE region. As I stated earlier, I am committed to addressing
specific instances where OSCE commitments are not being met,
and we will work closely with all participating states to ensure that
their commitments are being fulfilled.
I would like to mention briefly the situation in Belarus. Continuing erosion of human rights in Belarus is a cause for concern.
By prosecuting human rights defenders and limiting freedom of association, Belarus is regrettably falling short of its OSCE commitments.
There is no doubt that a reinstatement of an OSCE presence in
Belarus in some form will be an important step in the right direction and will send a positive signal to the international community.
I will maintain an open channel to the Belarus authorities throughout our chairmanship.
Turning to our wider neighborhood, we can see the changes that
are underway in the Southern Mediterranean. The OSCE stands
ready to share its experience with democratic transitions, where
sought, and through a partnership approach. I welcome the positive
Ministerial Council decision on Mongolia's application to become a
participating state, and we will aim to move this forward during
our chairmanship.
As we approach 2014, the OSCE will have an increasing role to
play in providing assistance to Afghanistan, building on the work
achieved to date. We will work to implement the decision on expanding the OSCE's engagement with Afghanistan through concrete projects across all three dimensions, and in close cooperation
with other international actors and organizations in the region.
As I said at the beginning, the cooperative and inclusive nature
of the OSCE means that it is uniquely positioned to play a significant role in building a comprehensive security community. A busy
year lies in store, both for the OSCE and the chairmanship, and
I will be in New York tomorrow to present our program to the
United Nations Security Council.
I am confident that through effective cooperation with all relevant actors, we can achieve good progress during 2012. Thank you
for your attention.
Mr. SMITH. Chairman Gilmore, thank you very much for your excellent statement—very comprehensive. And I know my colleagues
and I are all looking forward to your leadership. We know it will
be robust and very effective. Just a couple of questions, if I could,
on some specific issues.
You mentioned Belarus, and Belarus has been the subject of not
only hearings but trips on our behalf. I and some 11 other members were in Belarus a couple of years ago—met with Lukashenko.
It was a very disappointing, to say the least, meeting. It was more
of a he spoke, he expected us just to listen. And it was more of a
diatribe rather than a discussion.
But, that said, you know, last year 14 OSCE states invoked the
Moscow Mechanism. And I'm wondering if there's any indication
that Belarusian authorities have acted upon any of the reports, recommendations.
And, secondly, just good news. On January 3rd, the Belarus Democracy Act—and I am the sponsor of that legislation—was signed
into law by President Obama. It reiterates, strengthens a number
of provisions of our original law that we passed in 2004.
And the fact that both the Europeans and the United States
have lists of abusers that are denied visas, I think it makes it very
clear that we're not kidding, that Lukashenko increasingly is isolated. And obviously many of your friends and mine today are languishing in Lukashenko's prisons.
We had a hearing a few months ago, and one of the presidential
candidates testified, and he talked about how he was stripped virtually every day, humiliated and degraded by the KGB, and talked
about just the awful treatment that he and other political dissidents—candidates, men and women who just simply sought to
leave their country because of that—found themselves in prison.
He was one of the lucky ones who got out. There were many others who received long prison sentences. So maybe if you could
spend a little time on the mechanism, the report, and what you
think we can do even further to promote democracy and respect for
human rights in Belarus.
And I'd just say, parenthetically, I have applied for a visa. I've
been denied. I would love to go and meet with Lukashenko again—
I'll give him a copy of our bill—and bring some focus, if you will,
and Congress' angst to his ongoing persecutions of people simply
because they disagree with his dictatorship.
Mr. GILMORE. Thank you. I thank the Chairman.
I want to address first of all an issue which you raised in your
opening statement, and that is the issue of international parental
child abductions.
As a party to the Hague Convention, Ireland shares concerns
about international parental child abduction, and we are keen to
use the chairmanship to raise awareness of the Hague Convention
and to highlight the importance of ratification and implementation
of the convention by all OSCE participating states.
Regarding the possibility of us seeking a Ministerial Council decision in Dublin, we need to assess whether it will be possible to
build the necessary consensus. Obviously, to move forward without
the strong possibility of securing agreement could be counterproductive, and we're encouraging participating states who wish to
see ministerial decisions on specific topics adopted at Dublin to
work closely with other member states—participating states in the
year ahead to build support.
With regard to Belarus, there is no doubt that the situation with
regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus has
continued to deteriorate since the presidential election in 2010. The
Moscow Mechanism, as you have said, has been invoked, but the
Belarus authorities have not acted on the recommendations that
have been made.
The election observation mission, which is organized by the
OSCE's office, ODIHR, was extremely critical of the presidential
election, which was characterized by fraudulent activities. Many
opposition figures and human rights activists were arrested after
the election.
Since then, the environment for the opposition has become more
difficult, with legislation adopted on the legal requirements for
gatherings and the prohibition on political parties and NGOs from
keeping assets abroad. This has been accompanied by increased
harassment of human rights defenders.
I recently issued a statement expressing concern about the case
of the human rights defender, Ales Bialiaski, whose appeal against
his conviction for tax evasion on charges that were almost certainly
politically motivated was rejected. Bialiaski is now serving a sentence of four and a half years in a prison camp.
Ireland condemns the harassment of opposition and human
rights organizations in Belarus. I regret that the situation in
Belarus has deteriorated. Nevertheless, as OSCE Chair-in-Office, I
have to keep a channel open to the Belarus authorities.
And I might add that the situation in Belarus is discussed regularly at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, of which obviously I'm a member state, and sanctions have been considered
there; indeed, decisions made in relation to sanctions.
And, obviously, in our capacity as a member state of the European Union, we identify and support with those. But in my capacity as Chair-in-Office of the OSCE, I think it's important that we
keep the channel open to Belarus, maintain that communication
and hope that we can use our good offices—because at the end of
the day, what we are talking about, our standards which have been
agreed by all participating—including Belarus.
The OSCE—what has been agreed by the OSCE, agreed by consensus—it's right across the board—and the obligation is on
Belarus to comply with those standards.
Mr. SMITH. Thank you for that excellent answer.
Let me ask you, with regards to—and I thank you for your comment on international child abduction. In 2000 I actually wrote a
law on international child abduction. I and many members of Congress thought that, you know, with the Hague convention it was
largely taken care of, that the issue, you know, had a mechanism—
while not enforceable, it binded countries that signed it.
And I got my big education on a case that arose out of New Jersey. A man by the name of David Goldman was not even allowed
to see his own abducted son. His wife had passed away. A man, not
the father, had custody. And an expert on the Hague Convention
in Rio actually used his knowledge of the Hague Convention to the
detriment of all attempts to get his son back—David Goldman.
I traveled with him several times. I met with members of the supreme court. There were some very good jurists in both Brasilia
and in the supreme court and in Rio de Janeiro. But at the end
of the day, where there was a determined abducting party, they
were able to use—and this happens all over the world, as you
know—appeal after appeal until the child ages out and then there's
almost no chance, other than a voluntary reuniting, to get that son
or daughter or siblings back.
I found, to my shock and dismay, that we had very few tools in
the U.S. Government to—other than jawboning and pretty much
pleading, to say please send our kids back—we've got about 2,500
children—Japan never sends anybody back. There was a recent
case but it was filled with extenuating circumstances. But once
those kids get there, they don't come back. And Japan obviously is
not a signatory.
In two weeks I'm marking up a bill—maybe it will be three—
again, International Child Abduction Prevention Act of 2012. It
was my lessons learned and my staff's lessons learned from what
we can't do as a government to try to effectuate the return of these
And as I said earlier, it is under-appreciated just how bad parental alienation is, the poisoning of that child's mind vis-a`-vis the
left-behind parent. And so it's been a wakeup call to me and I
think many of my colleagues.
Our embassy did a great job with welfare and whereabouts.
They're totally empathetic to the left-behind parent. The bottom
line is I know that—and, you know, Ambassador Kelly is working
hard. It would be very important if that could be a ministerial decision, because we need to relook at this.
The Hague Convention reads beautifully, but how do you enforce
it? We're going to take some of our penalties that we learned work
on religious freedom and in the area of trafficking—and I wrote the
trafficking laws for the U.S., and I know they're working—to try
to get states to realize it's a government-to-government fight. Otherwise if it's left-behind parent versus government indifference or
complicity, they lose. They lose almost every time.
So I would ask you and appeal to you—and I know you're empathetic—do everything you can to get that on the docket because
these kids are being hurt. It is child abuse in plain sight. That if
we do more in the OSCE—who better than the OSCE to do so? So
that's pretty much an appeal as well as a question.
Internet freedom, if I could. I know that you're very strong on
that issue. I know Russia blocked the ministerial decision on this
subject in Vilnius last December. If you might want to speak to
that further because obviously we have a Global Online Freedom
Act that we will mark up in a few weeks as well.
I'm the one who chaired the hearings that had Google, Microsoft,
Cisco and Yahoo all taking the oath. And most of it was focused
on China, but we know that Belarus—we know that many countries are using the Internet increasingly to completely stop dissidents and human rights activists, and to find and put them into
prison as a result of what they post online or what their emails
might contain.
So that's a very important issue, and I would hope that at the
meeting that will be held on the Internet, there will be a focus on
anti-Semitic hate and some of the other issues that continue to exacerbate that problem. If you just want to comment or——
Mr. GILMORE. Well, thank you, Chairman.
First of all, in relation to the issue of child abduction—and you
have, I think, described very well what can happen and what is
happening in practice and how courts are used in different countries. The time elapses and the child grows up and alienation from
parents is exacerbated.
I have some experience of this as foreign minister of my country
where our consular services are called upon. And this is something
of course—we're dealing with this in, I suppose, a more modern
and sometimes more complex set of circumstances where people's
parentage of children of different countries—parents from different
countries, family arrangements, are somewhat more complex; in
some cases perhaps sometimes less stable than had traditionally
been the case. Very, very complex sets of circumstances arising and
ending up in the courts, and very real human problems associated
with it.
Can we get a decision in relation to child abduction issues
through the OSCE again? We operate on the basis of consensus,
and if there's a willingness obviously on the part of participating
states to work towards a decision on this, then certainly as chairin-office I will be happy to work with that and to facilitate that.
So it is an area that we have to keep under review.
You raised the wider issue of human trafficking, and I referred
to that in my contribution. I know that all of our OSCE partners
are unanimous in the view that it is vital that the public is made
aware, first of all, of the existence of this terrible crime, and that
national authorities take the necessary step, legislatively and operationally, to deal with the perpetrators.
Ireland has made significant progress in fighting this crime,
which knows no boundaries. Our intention would be to organize a
human dimension meeting during 2012, focused on labor trafficking, which is really a modern-day form of slavery.
And in this regard, it's vitally important to highlight that perpetrators are not limited to those involved in the physical transfer
of victims from one country to another, but includes those who recruit them, those who employ them, and those who exploit them in
many other ways.
In relation to the issue of Internet freedom and our intention to
hold a conference on Internet freedom, I'm sure you regret that it
wasn't possible to get agreement on this issue in Vilnius. The conference on Internet freedom which we planned to hold is scheduled
to take place in Dublin in June.
Our intention is to bring together experts from OSCE states from
industry, from civil society, and to look at how the OSCE commitments, in relation to freedom of expression and freedom of the
media, are being applied to the online world.
Now, we're not seeking to agree to new commitments, but to ensure that the existing commitments apply seamlessly between offline and online worlds. The intention is to shine a spotlight on particular issues which might need more attention, such as the need
for greater transparency by states in their request to—the various
requests that they make to Internet companies for data.
But I think the general principles that we've got to apply here
are the principles in relation to freedom of expression or freedom
of the media, which have already been agreed and accepted by the
OSCE, and to look at how that can be applied to online media.
Mr. SMITH. OK. Part of what we're going to be doing in our Global Online Freedom Act is to focus on the censorship issue, but even
more so on the selling of those capabilities by U.S. companies, and
what due diligence, or lack of it, those who list on the U.S. Stock
Exchange are doing relative to surveillance capabilities, to dictatorships and countries that really are using that capability just as
they would use any other weapon to undermine or arrest and jail
people who are just calling out for freedom of religion and democracy.
On trafficking, if I could share a best practice which I'm sure
you're familiar with but ask you if, during you chair in office, you
could put some additional push behind it. At the parliamentary assemblies I've raised the issue repeatedly, as the OSCE special rep
for trafficking, of what is a high-impact, low-cost effort to train
flight attendants and others as to how to spot, whether it be labor
or sex trafficking, while it's happening.
And some outstanding flight attendants have actually saved people en route. One case was from Moscow to New York, where they
noticed six women who were with one man, and it just looked
awful and suspicious. En route, while the ladies were using the
restroom, struck up a conversation, was sufficiently suspicious that
they had the pilot call upon offloading. They interviewed and found
out that all six were being trafficked.
That has morphed into a very, very robust effort of training by
Delta Airlines. Carlson, Hilton, Global Exchange Tours, others are
all doing it. We've had some hearings here where we've heard just
how—you know, situational awareness, how well it is working.
Now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has come up
with a very fine training package which should be shared, I think,
with all the OSCE countries, every country in the world. In talking
to our friends in the Netherlands, some of our Parliamentary Assembly friends have brought that. And KLM is now doing it, or
have made commitments to do so, as have a few other countries.
So, you know, it's something Aer Lingus, all of us should be
doing. And I think, you know, just perhaps having something—
we'll give you all the information, as well as the new initiative by
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is outstanding.
And it works. Eyes and ears—you know, close out the number of
places. And they've got to transport them.
You mentioned the labor trafficking, which is equally covered by
U.S. legislation and Palermo protocol as well. When Rabbi Baker
and I and Ambassador Kelly were in Prague for a very important
summit on public discourse and anti-Semitism, I learned while I
was there that there were a number of Vietnamese laborers of
questionable origin in terms of how they got there.
And I would note I've had two hearings on human rights in Vietnam. And Vietnam, like China, is now becoming one of the worst
violators of labor trafficking and are sending people all over the
world—mostly in Asia, mostly in Taiwan, but also, we believe, to
And when I learned that—I have a bill up in two hours called
the Human Rights in Vietnam Act, and it focuses on trafficking
and the fact that we need to do much more to find out who these
people are, how they got there.
And we think there's a suspicion—we haven't been able to prove
it—that many of those people in Prague, in and around obviously
in the Czech Republic—may have been trafficked, because labor
trafficking has become an extremely lucrative endeavor for the Vietnamese government.
They're selling their people all over the world. And the first case
prosecuted my law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000,
was a case involving Vietnam and American Samoa—labor trafficking, ultra-big sweatshop. So we know they're doing it, and they
have not abated. They're getting worse.
So if you could look into that, I'd appreciate that. But the airlines
issue, it's camera-ready. It's all ready to be just rolled out, and that
training can be extremely useful to everyone.
Mr. GILMORE. Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Chairman.
And, first of all, can I agree with you about the fine work that
the Parliamentary Assembly is doing. And I think this is a very important dimension of the OSCE's work that the Parliamentary Assembly—which elected representatives of the people like you and I
touch the concerns that people have. And that brings a particular
perspective and a real focus to the work of the OSCE.
It certainly is my intention to work closely with the Parliamentary Assembly during this year. And only last week we had president and the secretary general of the Parliamentary Assembly with
us in Dublin and had very good discussions with them.
I think in particular, and I think in relation to human trafficking, I think it is important that we use the best practice which
is available, and I very much welcome the initiatives that are being
taken on airlines, in training of flight attendants and so on to be
on the lookout for the trafficking of people.
Of course, not all of the trafficking is by air. You know, it may
not be as easily detected. But it is difficult to travel from one end
of a continent to another—one end of a land mass to another, however one does it, by road or rail or air, without somebody being
aware that something is going on. And I think you're absolutely
right that we do need to develop a best practice sense in that area.
On the labor trafficking area, as I've indicated, this is an area
where we intend to hold an event or a meeting on labor trafficking
particularly. And, again, I think it's important that we look here
at—that there is the trafficking, the actual trafficking aspect of the
problem, where those who are directly involved in the trafficking
per se. But I think there are issues here which we can address
about the employment of people who are trafficked.
People—individuals, households, companies, organizations who
employ people who they know are from overseas, whom they know
are in difficult circumstances and who employ them very often in
pay and conditions which are significantly less than applied generally in the local economy, they must know that they are dealing
with people who—I believe that they know that they are exploiting
those people, and they must have doubts as to how those people
came to be in the country in the first place.
And I think that, you know, we need to put some focus on the
employment side of labor trafficking. People, for example, who end
up in domestic service in the homes of some of the great and the
good sometimes, we need to—we need to sharpen our focus on that
and to deal with that problem at source, at the point of employment.
So I think there are obligations on participating states of the
OSCE, who in many cases have minimum legal standards of labor
protection to ensure that those are applied in a way that people
who are trafficked are not—[inaudible].
Mr. SMITH. Thank you.
Let me just ask one final question on the Ukraine, and with regards to former Prime Minister Tymoshenko's arrest. And with the
upcoming October elections, can the Ukrainians meet a free and
fair standard if that incarceration—or that disqualification, if you
will, from even participating is not reversed?
And, you know, your thoughts on that, because we're very concerned about the trend line, and I'm sure you are as well, in
Ukraine. Freedom House has downgraded Ukraine from free to
partly free because of this deterioration, and it seems to me that,
you know, all of us are in favor of a free and democratic Ukraine
and don't like the trend lines. Your thoughts?
Mr. GILMORE. Well, thank you. I'm deeply concerned about the
case of the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
And these concerns relate to the outcome and conduct of her trial
as well as the outcome of the appeal that concluded in December.
Concerns have also been widely expressed about reports of the conditions of her detention, and I continue to encourage the Ukrainian
authorities to address and to resolve these concerns.
And I'm conscious of the fact that Ukraine will succeed Ireland
as the Chair-in-Office of the OSCE. I believe that Ukraine's role in
the OSCE is important, and I hope that in preparing for this role,
the authorities in Kyiv will appreciate the need to address the significant concerns that have been widely expressed.
There is, as you know, a proposal for an association agreement
between Ukraine and the European Union that's currently awaiting initialing. I have long favored bringing the EU and Ukraine
closer together. I think that's a sentiment shared by the great majority of the Ukrainian people.
But this, however, is not an uncritical engagement, and the
Ukraine-EU summit which took place in December was the occasion for some strong messages from the EU side, including some
strong messages on the issue of Ms. Tymoshenko's case. It is an
issue, certainly, that we're going to give very much to the fore or
our talks and our discussions.
Mr. SMITH. Again, in closing, if I could just reiterate that strongest appeal to—and I know you will do this, so I'm talking to the
choir but, to the greatest extent, backing the three religious freedom representatives. Many of us who follow religious freedom—and
I've been in Congress now 32 years—I think it is getting worse,
and demonstrably worse everywhere.
You know, the number of anti-Semitic acts that are occurring in
the U.S., particularly on our college campuses, is rising. And, you
know, it's worth noting that—you know, sometimes people say,
well, why the emphasis on anti-Semitic hate? In the United
States—and you probably know this—the FBI tracks these acts of
hate, and in their annual report, traditionally just under 75-or-so
percent of all the incidents are directed against Jews, and under
10 percent directed against Christians, and under 10 percent
against Muslims.
And when you look at the disproportionality of the number of
Jews that actually live in the U.S., the number far exceeds—any
way you look at it, the focus is there, and we're seeing a rise in
it. And you know as well in Europe it's the same.
A few years ago we had a hearing with Natan Sharansky, the
great leader, obviously, who was finally let out—and you know this;
everyone knows it—by the KGB, did this zigzag because he just
wouldn't follow orders that the Soviet Communists imposed upon
Well, he came here twice and testified, and he brought with him
a soap opera clip, two of them. And seeing is believing. I had never
seen this before. And, as a matter of fact, I actually went to Perm
Camp 35 where he was in the 1980s, right after he got out, and
to see what this man had endured, the torture and the isolation,
and to see how he never once wavered in his commitment to freedom.
Well, he showed this video that is being now broadcast throughout Europe through satellite television, and all the modern means
of communications. And he said, this is what they feed on—''they''
being many people in the Muslim world—and this gross, grotesque
caricature of Jews that is painted.
And they actually showed this little boy named Christopher having his throat slit and the blood pouring into matzoh. And he
talked about blood libel and the other outrages committed against
the Jewish people. This is Sharanksy. And he said, then they turn
it into humor and they turn it into documentaries. And he said,
this is what they feed on. And you wonder why these kids are so
filled with hatreds towards Jews.
And even Ahmadinejad's most recent statement, and the Great
Leaders website, which I went and checked out, which talked about
the justification for the destruction of Israel because Israel is an
impediment to Islam, and all of this—you know, this hatred giving
some kind of religious basis.
You know, more than ever we need to be backing—and we certainly do in the United States—Rabbi Baker's mission, as well as
the other two, which I'm so glad you have picked people who will
really do the work. But this Commission remains absolutely committed in a bipartisan way to pushing these issues, because they
are getting demonstrably worse.
As I said before, we will be holding a hearing in March on the
textbooks and the anti-Semitism that is rife in UNRWA camps,
which, again, feeds into this whole combustible stew of hatred that
is just exploding.
So I thank you so much for your leadership. And we look forward
to working with you. Any final thoughts before we conclude?
Mr. GILMORE. Well, thank you. Thank you very much, Chairman.
It's been a great privilege to have the opportunity of exchanging
questions and answers——
Mr. SMITH. Yeah.
Mr. GILMORE. ——and thoughts with you.
I think that we have to work through 2012 and beyond to ensure
that the commitments which have been entered into by the OSCE
participating states are honored by all participating states, and
that we deepen those where we can and that—I think we also, I
think, as we approach the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final
Act, I think it is worth reflecting on the huge contribution that the
OSCE has made to peace and security in Europe and in that whole
region, from—as we say, from Vancouver to Vladivostok.
You think of the—when the Helsinki Final Act was concluded,
the state of tension that there was between two superpowers and
all of the attendant issues that surrounded that, and the progress
that has been made over that period of time.
We have the continuing conflicts, the protracted nature of those
conflicts. We still have to deal with them and make a contribution
to that this year. But we also have to deal with the new issues
which are emerging, some of which we touched on today. And I
think we have to work to find practical solutions to those.
And I think some of the talks that we've exchanged here today
and some of the suggestions that you have made, Chairman, I
think will be extremely useful to us in carrying that work forward.
So, again, I thank you for——
Mr. SMITH. Thank you.
Mr. GILMORE. ——the huge interest that you have taken and
that you are taking, and the work of the OSCE, and finally, in particular, the interest that you have taken over many years in our
issues and affairs in Ireland. And it's great to be here among
friends. Thank you.
Mr. SMITH. That's great. And I would like to thank you for Michael Collins, your ambassador. Again, I've been here over three
decades, interfaced with ambassadors and people representing
their countries. Nobody does it with greater professionalism and integrity than he does. He has been a joy to work with. And I know
members on both side of the aisle feel that way. So, thank you so
much for Michael Collins.
The hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 1:30 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
Good morning and welcome to everyone joining us this morning, especially Minister Gilmore, the Foreign Minister of Ireland and Chair in Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
It is a privilege to have you testify before us today, Mr. Minister, on Ireland's
leadership of the OSCE. You are continuing a tradition that we have followed for
more than a decade of hearing directly from the country holding the chairmanship
of the OSCE.
While today many countries in Europe are inwardly focused on economic crises,
the world still cries out for global leadership. And Ireland has stepped up to the
plate, accepting the 2012 chairmanship of Europe's largest regional security organization, the OSCE, which does its best work in promoting human rights, democracy,
the rule of law, and free elections.
Ireland has for a long time been one of the most constructive countries in the
OSCE, enhancing the credibility of the organization it now leads. Mr. Minister, I
thank you and your government for taking on the responsibility to lead the OSCE.
Mr. Minister, the Helsinki Commission has a long history of engaging with the
OSCE, both through and in cooperation with the State Department and independently, and as Chairman I am very happy with the priorities you have set for the
Irish chairmanship—particularly the emphasis on Internet freedom and your plans
to hold a meeting this year on that issue. I have recently introduced and am preparing to mark up a bill on this issue, the Global Online Freedom Act, which counteracts the efforts of many governments, including some in the OSCE, to purchase
U.S. technology to transform the Internet into a tool of censorship and surveillance.
Earlier versions of this legislation were also introduced in the European parliament.
So I look forward to working with you on this issue.
Your ideas for drawing on Ireland's experiences in the Northern Ireland peace
process in reference to protracted conflicts elsewhere in the OSCE region also connects to a long-standing Commission priority—since the mid-1990s we have held 13
hearings on Northern Ireland and the peace process, keeping the issue of police reform on our government's and the British government's agenda.
Perhaps the key issue the Commission will be pursuing in the OSCE this year
is international parental child abduction. Last year the Parliamentary Assembly
passed my resolution urging the ''OSCE to take up the issue of international parental child abduction,'' and urging a ministerial decision on the issue. I believe the
U.S. government agrees that this is an issue which could benefit from a ministerial
decision this year—that is, the benefit would go to the children, who suffer as the
number of international parental abductions continues to climb, while governments
and national courts do not always live up their obligations under the Hague convention.
Another important issue will continue to be the fight against anti-Semitism,
which, following a Commission hearing in May 2002, I and a number of other commissioners, including Co-Chairman Cardin, worked successfully to put on the front
burner of the OSCE—resulting in a series of high-level and ministerial conferences
on anti-Semitism and in a ministerial declaration on combating anti-Semitism—the
implementation of which has been sadly lacking.
The work of battling anti-Semitism is now being led by the Personal Representative, Rabbi Andy Baker, and I can't emphasize too strongly how important it is to
support his work and the work of the other Personal Representatives—to do otherwise would be a tragic step backward.
Mr. Minister, one of the reasons the United States so values the OSCE is that
its work touches on so many human rights issues—I believe this is why you and
the Irish Government, which certainly values human rights just as highly as the
U.S. Government, will find your work this year rewarding. I look forward to hearing
your presentation.
I welcome today's Helsinki Commission hearing with Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, His Excellency Eamon Gilmore, currently serving as the
Chair-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Ireland assumes this important leadership role amid numerous challenges, especially in the human dimension. Like other members of the Commission, I am grateful that the OSCE will benefit from clear-headed Irish leadership amidst this host
of trials. These include the ongoing crackdown in Belarus and lingering, unresolved
issues stemming from the outbreak of conflict in Kyrgyzstan in 2010. The unsettled
political situation in Russia, with presidential elections set for March, also warrants
our close attention.
The recent shooting of protesters by security forces in Kazakhstan may mean that
Kazakhstan's repressive government is not or is no longer as stable as it has long
claimed, and human rights violations may contribute to instability there. I want to
express agreement here with the U.S. Representative to the OSCE, Ambassador Ian
Kelly, who last year called 2010 a year of missed opportunities for reform in
Kazakhstan—reform that could have put the country on a more secure and democratic footing today.
I am also concerned about some of the areas that are not necessarily on the front
pages right now. I have visited many of the countries in the Balkans in recent
years, including Serbia last July. The OSCE has done so much to foster peace, security, and human rights in this part of the OSCE region—we must not leave business
in the Balkans unfinished now. Bosnia and Kosovo are of particular concern to
many of us right now.
And while I am greatly interested in exploring ways to transfer lessons learned
in the OSCE region to other areas, particularly in Mediterranean Partners, where
the prospect of meaningful democratic reform is now before us, we must not overlook serious human rights problems that remain in some participating States.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan remain the most repressive countries in the region,
and their egregious human rights records deserve more attention.
Even countries that have already achieved great accomplishments in advancing
democracy and human rights can sometimes experience backsliding—as the United
States knows all too well. In its most recent annual report on Freedom in the World,
Freedom House voiced particular concern about backsliding in Hungary, Ukraine,
and Turkey, warning that ''the democratic credentials of each is coming under question.'' Clearly, more must be done to ensure not only democracy's advancement, but
to prevent it from slipping away. Like the United States, the European Union must
openly address the situation in countries among its ranks if it hopes to be a credible
voice for change in other OSCE participating States.
I believe the OSCE has the potential to make significant contributions in all these
areas, and I support the Irish Chairmanship as it seeks to maximize this potential.
As Ireland takes on this task, I urge you to work with—and protect the independence of—your partners in this endeavor: the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights. Each of these institutions are making important
contributions every day, from the High Commissioner's Bolzano Recommendations
on Inter-State Relations, to the ODIHR's on-going implementation of the EU grant
for Roma integration in the Balkans, to the Representative on Freedom of the Media's tireless reporting on the day-to-day threats to journalists and free speech.
Field Missions need to be given similar independence if they are to address the
real challenges of post-conflict recovery and democratic development, including respect for the rule of law.
I welcome the reappointment of the Personal Representatives focused on combating anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance. The OSCE has developed a singular body of commitments in this area, but concrete implementation of them needs
improvement. I am encouraged by Ireland's intention to continue work toward that
Finally, this year I am concluding my second three-year term as a Vice President
of the Parliamentary Assembly. Before taking this position, I also served as a Committee Officer for several years. I have enjoyed this active engagement in the OSCE
process and believe that parliamentarians and diplomats are both essential to its
success. I hope you agree, Mr. Minister, and will strive to maximize the impact of
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
MANTECA — The Manteca Police Department SWAT team was involved in a standoff late Wednesday night near Highway 99 and Moffat Road.
A police standoff that snarled freeway traffic for hours ended when authorities took a suspected gunman into custody about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, said Sgt. Jodie Estarziau, a spokesman for the Manteca Police Department. Estarziau said the alleged gunman shot a man and fired at police officers before barricading himself in a tanker truck, beginning a standoff that lasted more than four hours.
Police initially responded to a report that a vehicle had crashed into a propane tank about 6:25 p.m. at Van Unen Miersma Propane, Inc., which is located at 20504 South 99 Frontage Road in Ripon. Before officers arrived, authorities received additional reports that someone had been shot at that location, Estarziau said.
When they arrived, authorities located a victim suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, Estarziau said. The gunman pointed a handgun at officers, who then fired shots at the man, Estarziau said. It was not immediately known whether the man was struck, but no officers were injured, Estarziau said.
The man fled into the cab of a tanker truck and barricaded himself inside, Estarziau said.
Read Wednesday's Record for more on this story by reporter Jason Anderson.


text:
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - Ivan and David
Latest Sets at WilliamHiggins.com
Ivan Cakovsky brought his buddy David Slowik to casting. He told us that he and David were great friends and long time fuck buddies. They were very keen to show us what they do when they get together so we set this scene up for them. It starts with Ivan asleep on the couch, with his dick poking out of his underwear. He turns, in his sleep and we see a back view, with his ass in his underwear, with just a hint of crack showing. Then we see David standing and watching Ivan as he sleeps. David pulls his cock out of his jeans and starts to wank as he watches. Then he moves over to Ivan and starts to caress him. Ivan turns, onto his back, and his cock is hard now. David goes down and starts to lick Ivan's leg working up to his cock and takes it in his hand and sucks it. He runs his tongue over the hard cock and sucks it deep. Ivan wakes as he feels that mouth on his dick and he starts to moan with pleasure. That cock is rock hard in David's mouth. He pulls the slipys off Ivan and laps at his balls before moving up and kissing him. Ivan is very turned on and he removes David's jeans, to reveal that he is hard too, and starts sucking his cock. The guys are clearly into each other in a big way and move to a 69 with Ivan on top. He really sucks David hard and fast, with his own dick sliding down David's throat. Then he starts to fuck his cock into David's mouth. He wants more though and turns around so his ass is over David's face. David gets the message and his tongue rims that hot hole, then a finger goes in as well. Ivan is so horny now and he sits his ass on David's cock and really rides it, with his own cock rock hard as he feels his hole filled nice and deep. Ivan wants to flip, so he slides off David's dick and lifts his legs and shoves his own cock deep in David's ass. Ivan really loves that tight ass and his dick slams in and out, pulling all the way out and ramming in again. He pulls out againa and spits on the hole before shoving his cock in again. Then they change position with David sitting on that throbbing dick and riding it. Ivan fucks that ass so hard and wanks David's dick as he does it. Ivan then pulls David into a missionary position for even deeper fucking, which sends David over the top and he blows his load with Ivan's dick deep in his ass. Ivan is ready too and shoots his load all over David's hole, and then shoves his cock back inside. He then leans over and kisses David in thanks for a really hot fuck session. What a great scene, these guys really are into each other and it was great to see them do for us what they do regularly in private.
Sebastian Mecta is from Prague and is aged 19. He is a student who enjoys skating and ice hockey. What a stunning looking guy he is, and he did a wonderful stills shoot. This is his erotic video which he starts with some shadow boxing. I must say he looks wonderful as he does. After warming himself up quite nicely Sebastian does some sit ups before removing his shorts. As he lays, prostrate on the mats Sebastian caresses his body, of which we get a nice full length view. Then, as he continues to caress himself one hand takes hold of his cock and starts to wank it. Soon it is quite hard and he lifts a leg so we get to see both cock and ass. To give us a better view of that ass Sebastian lifts the other leg and, with his hands, spreads his cheeks. Having satisfied us with that view of his ass Sebastian goes back to wanking his cock then, standing, displays a nice stiff one for our delectation. He then turns around so we can see that beautiful ass again and begins to do some squats, over the camera. What a great view we get as that ass spreads naturally with each squat. He is really into showing off now and stands again for another view of his great body and hard cock. Then he lays over a punch bag with his ass exposed again. It reall does look inviting and he moves to lay with the punch bag supporting his ass to show it again, this time with a finger just teasing the hole. Finally Sebastian lays back and starts to wank himself to a climax. He quickly unloads his cum for us, a nice creamy load, and then it is off to the shower where he takes a piss before washing himself. Well I really like Sebastian, he seems to have it all, good looks, great body, nice cocka and truly wonderful ass. I would love to see him in a shoot with another guy.
I was very keen to see Radek Besak in a scene with another guy. I so asked Boris to set something up with him. He arranged a Czech Up. Unfortunately, on the day, the second guy didn't show, so we quickly drafted in Daniel Avedon as a substitute. Radek, sporting a new hairstyle since his casting, is feeling under the weather and makes himself a soothing drink, before climibing back under his bed covers. He then slips a thermomenter under his arm to check his temperature. He confirms that he has a very high temperature and fever and calls the doctor, on his phone. The doctor duly arrives adn Radek lets him in. The doctor checks Daniel's throat for swollen glands, and looks in his mouth for any signs. He then listens to Radek's breathing, with his stethoscope. Next he checks the glands around Radek's penis, his fingers pressing into the groin. Radek's cock is soft and quite large, and just lays there as Daniel does his checks. Finding nothing conclusive Daniel decides to take the temperature of that cock and slips his thermometer into the slit in the head. It seems that Daniel is concerned at the temperature and, after removing his coat, takes hold on Radek's cock. He begins to jack the cock and feel Radek's chest. It seems that the cock is responding and Daniel goes down and takes it in his mouth. He licks and sucks the cock and it is soon very hard indeed. Radek puts his hand on Daniels head and pushes it down on his cock, loving the feeling of those wet lips. Daniel really sucks that cock good, keeping it so hard, and then he sucks Radek's low hanging balls into his mouth too. Daniel is loving that cock and licks it up and down, wanking it and sucking it. Radek is feeling much better already, and better still as Daniel undoes his pants and flops his big fat dick out, for some sucking. Radek starts to suck it, and what a mouthful it is. He sucks and lick it before Daniel grabs his head and pulls him onto the cock, making that head fuck itself deep onto the cock. It looks so good as Radek sucks and licks it. Daniel pulls out of Radek's mouth and kisses him. Daniel then gets Radek on his knees, ass exposed, with his balls hanging down and cock hard. He pulls the cock back between Radek's legs and spanks his ass. Radek's ass is spread very well and we can see his hairy hole as well as Daniel can. Daniel gloves a hand and starts to finger Radek's hole while wanking him. He really fingers that hole deep, and Radek can feel it, but his cock stays rock hard. Daniel then uses two fingers in that ass, stretching the hole nice and wide. Having loosened the hole Daniel inserts a speculum for a better inspection. He decides everythng is ok, but that Radek needs more. So he slides his big, fat cock deep into Radek's hole, and Radek loves it, pushing his solid pole back between his legs as that cock fucks him. Daniel is loving how his cock feels, wrapped by those tight ass lips and puts Radek on his back to fuck him some more. Radek is loving that cock in him and wanks himself, shooting a nice load as Daniel fucks his ass. Daniel is ready too and moves up to Radek's head and dumps a very nice load. Radeks grabs the dripping cock and suck it into his mouth to get the last drips. Daniel asks him if he is feeling better, and Radek confirms that he is much better. What a very good scene this was, with Radek the perfect patient and Daniel showing how far he will go to make the patient feel better.
Boris Flesar is aged 19 and lives in Prague. He is a student who enjoys sports, jogging and football. His favorite star is Jonny Wilkinson, to whom he bears a resemblance, so I guess he likes rugby as well. Boris is certainly a great looking guy, with a wonderful build. He also poses very well, in the wrestling suit and out of it. He really looks wonderful, as he stands there with a rock hard cock pointing skywards. He also shows some great views of his sexy ass as well. I, for one, will be looking forward to seeing him in his erotic video.


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Underground vaults to be evaluated before Nashua sidewalk repairBy KIMBERLY HOUGHTON
Union Leader Correspondent
February 04. 2013 10:41PM
NASHUA - Underground rooms, vaults and old coal chutes have been located beneath Main Street during recent sidewalk renovations, prompting the need for a structural evaluation so sidewalk work can resume this spring.
On Wednesday, the aldermanic Finance Committee will review a proposed contract to hire a Portsmouth firm charged with evaluating and recommending remediation efforts for the underground structures.
"We knew some of these smaller structures were in existence, but the staff wasn't aware of some of the larger structures," City Engineer Steve Dookran said on Monday, explaining a handful of the underground rooms extend about 10 to 12 feet from some of the buildings.
Dookran said some of the vaults were likely built in the early 1900s or late 1800s, adding there are not many records or documentation on the underground chutes. It is important to evaluate the structural integrity of the underground rooms and determine whether they can hold the weight of a new sidewalk, said Dookran, adding engineers must also determine what kinds of repairs may be needed to strengthen the underground vaults.
"Structural elements include several rooms located under the sidewalk, existing vaults, access points and possibly old coal chutes that have been sealed in the basement but not addressed under the sidewalk," says a request for proposals by the City of Nashua.
Several locations have been identified along Main Street where bulkheads, coal chutes, manholes or access hatches are still located in the sidewalk. While these areas have been sealed off in basements, it is unknown what might remain below the sidewalk, according to the request for proposals. Specifically, there are five downtown buildings where a portion of the structure extends under the sidewalk, including an office building at 143 Main St., the new Twill knitting and fabric store at 100 Main St., Martha's Exchange at 185 Main St., Fay's Cabinetry at 172 Main St. and Nashua Garden deli at 121 Main St.
There are several other locations along Main Street where access hatches, air intakes or exhaust ports are visible from the sidewalk area to various basements that must also be evaluated before sidewalk work can take place, according to the document on file at Nashua City Hall.
"We can still proceed with the sidewalk (renovation) work, but we will try to work around these - at least in the beginning," said Dookran, explaining it should not delay the start of spring sidewalk improvements.
Construction crews first became aware of an underground structure while installing a new foundation for a mast arm traffic signal at 143 Main St. last summer. An underground room was located, which extended under the sidewalk about 12 feet from the face of the building.
"As a result, site visits have been made to each building in the project area to examine the existing basements, locate areas of concern and document existing conditions to the extent feasible," says the request for proposals, adding an evaluation is necessary as soon as possible so that sidewalk reconstruction can continue once the weather warms.
Hoyle, Tanner and Associates Inc. of Portsmouth is being recommended for the estimated $45,000 underground structural evaluation.
"The vault evaluation project is unique and will require a specialized set of skills," says a letter from Christopher Mulleavey of the engineering firm.
His company has recent experience with evaluation and repairs to basements of historic buildings, and previously designed structural repairs in a crawl space of the Amoskeag Mill building in Manchester.
Ten blocks along Main Street in Nashua will undergo major sidewalk improvements within the next three years, a project that could cost upwards of $2 million.
In addition to improving all of the sidewalks, city workers will correct drainage problems and install new street lights, mast arm mounted traffic signals, benches, trash containers and newspaper boxes. Every tree along Main Street will be removed and then new trees will be planted with root barriers so that they do not destroy the new sidewalks.
Work began last summer in the downtown area, as members of the city's Public Works Department began installing new sidewalks along both sides of the Main Street Bridge.
It is the city's intention to repair sidewalks from the Main Street Bridge up to Water Street on the west side and up to Park Street on the east side, in addition to the path from West Pearl Street to City Hall.
Wednesday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Nashua City Hall.


text: I have also posted this on the apple support forum. I am posting it again here to try and expand exposure to the issue I have. I recently purchased a new MBP 15, 3 Ghz, 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive, build-to-order. The hard drive appears to be a seagate ST9500420ASG. I am experiencing a strange hard drive click followed 80% of the time by a beep. It is definitely not a beep from the speaker. Additionally, it happens at any time, even when the computer is sitting on a perfectly still table. It is exactly the same sound as what is documented at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gOhgaIMpPI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5WPNwtlwd0 and mine too appears randomly approximately 15-20 times per day. It does not appear to matter if the computer is under light or heavy use and it seems truly random when it occurs. Another user on youtube has also experienced this with their new MBP 15 and sent me a wav file with the same sound mine is making. So far, his experience is that it does NOT occur under bootcamp. This leads me to believe that it is something specific to OSX. Turning off the "put hard drive to sleep when possible" does not seem to make any difference. I have not personally tested bootcamp on my machine to confirm that mine is the same, but the original poster of the youtube video linked above also seems to think it is OSX specific. Any clues? Should I try to get apple to swap the HD for a new one? Any help is greatly appreciated.


text:
School district audit report lands with a thud
June 29. 2013 11:06PM
ON WEDNESDAY, the long-awaited audit of the Manchester School District arrived with a sobering thud. The report - running nearly 300 pages - was presented to the school board's Curriculum and Instruction Committee by Judy Birmingham, the lead auditor for Curriculum Management Systems.
She began by applauding the district for hiring the firm, which is based in the Midwest, to come in and do its work. "It's a healthy thing to do," she said.
Then it was time for the board to take its medicine.
With cold precision, the CMS report marked Manchester inadequate in column after column, and it plotted graph lines that showed declines or scant improvement in test scores over four years.
And Birmingham singled out the school board itself as part of the problem. Sometimes it takes an outsider to point out the things that can go unnoticed. A 15-member school board is exceptionally large, she noted, and to have elections every two years? "I think that presents a challenge to stability," Birmingham said.
Yes, Manchester had some good policies on paper, she said, but they are often disregarded by the very board responsible for overseeing them. "You have a fine policy that says if an employee has a concern, they should take it up with an immediate supervisor - not first to board members ... or the press," she said.
One got the sense that the board knew exactly what Birmingham was talking about - and that she had done her homework. Birmingham said she and her team interviewed 90 people and visited every classroom in the district.
Perhaps it wasn't surprising that the most hands-on member of the school board, Ward 9's Art Beaudry, didn't seem too pleased with the audit's findings. He questioned the suggestion that the board tended to "micromanage" the district.
"I can only say what I see. The board is reluctant to pursue big changes too much because that's seen as micromanaging. So they back up, or at least some board members do," Beaudry said.
The report can be downloaded from the district's website, mansd.org.
Mayor Ted Gatsas also didn't seem too pleased with Birmingham's presentation. The last time a scathing audit came down, last spring from the state Department of Education, Gatsas protested its findings, and it ended up being largely retracted.
Gatsas said many of Birmingham's findings weren't surprising to him, since they echoed the things outgoing Superintendent Tom Brennan had often pointed out during his five-year tenure.
"The common thread, that we don't do the same things everywhere, that every school is a district within a district, we could've saved a lot of money on this audit if we listened to him," he said.
The audit cost $40,000, an appropriation that Gatsas voted against in the fall.
Still, Gatsas found something to like in the report. He noted that it did not dwell on funding problems. "It's not about the level of spending. It's about what we're spending on and how to do it better," he said.
To be sure, Birmingham, like any good educator, leavened her critique with compliments. And the report is not all bad. The board will have time to parse its findings before it discusses them in greater depth at its August meeting. So enjoy the hefty new addition to your summer reading lists, school board.
Meanwhile, Ward 12 Alderman and mayoral candidate Patrick Arnold quickly embraced the audit - and used it as a cudgel against the mayor.
"The audit validates what most of us in the city already know about the state of the Manchester School District - Mayor Gatsas' failed leadership has left our school system in desperate need of a new vision for success," Arnold said in a statement Thursday.
With all the talk about the stalled negotiations with the teachers union, it's easy to overlook the talks underway with the city unions representing police support personnel and Water Works employees. And we probably wouldn't have heard much about the talks - the unions together represent fewer than 200 people - were it not for Mike Roche, the vocal union president of the Steelworkers local representing the Water Works employees.
The two sides recently began meeting, and Roche has pointed out that no fewer than four people were sitting across the table from him at the past two sessions. In addition to the attorney the aldermen agreed to hire, at a rate of $175 an hour, there was Water Works head David Paris, the human resources director and the deputy city solicitor - all people, Roche pointed out, at the top of the city's pay grade.
"It's a waste of money big time, and the people in City Hall, they're always crying poor man," he said.
No doubt, Roche wouldn't be so upset were it not for the raw deal he feels is being offered: a fourfold increase in health insurance premiums - from 5 to 20 percent - with just a half-percent raise. At least the paraprofessionals and other district employees are being offered tax cap-based raises of 2.17 percent, Roche said.
What's more, Roche says, the city's hired attorney has repeatedly said he has to run things by Mayor Gatsas, "like it was a one-person show at City Hall."
Water Works is technically an independent entity, with its own overseeing commission, on which the mayor sits.
But the notion that the mayor may be calling the shots will likely not sit well with some of the aldermen. Look for them to raise the issue at what will surely be an eventful meeting next week.
The main event at Tuesday's meeting will likely by the controversial ambulance contract. But there will probably be plenty of other early fireworks, seeing as how it will be the only meeting in the month. At least that's been the custom.
It being the end of the school year, much of Monday's school board meeting was taken up by the recognition of students and presentations. Of course, one employee is having his own graduation of sorts. It was Brennan's last full board meeting.
Board Vice Chairman Dave Gelinas took time out to mark the occasion: "We hired you on as superintendent and you fulfilled your contract, but you also gave us your friendship. You leave us as a former superintendent, but not as a former friend."
Here's seconding that motion. .
Ted Siefer may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @tbsreporter.
Education Politics Elementary High schools Middle schools Political columns City Hall Manchester


text:
Police charge Nashua couple after mishap making methamphetamineBy PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader
February 14. 2013 8:52AM
NASHUA - A Nashua man and his wife were arrested and their apartment condemned after he was burned last month while "cooking" methamphetamine inside their home and in front of their children.
Raymond Champagne, 34, formerly of 11 A Amory St., was arrested Wednesday on a charge of manufacturing methamphetamine and two counts of prohibited conduct, for making the drug in the presence of his children, ages 12 and 4. His wife Melissa Champagne, 32, is also charged with two counts of prohibited conduct.
Originally, police went to the couple's apartment on Jan. 15 after a 911 call for an ambulance for a man suffering from burns to his body. Raymond Champagne was burned while trying to manufacture or cook methamphetamine using a "one pot" method, police said.
Lt. David Bailey of the Narcotics Intelligence Division said the batch of methamphetamine exploded while Raymond Champagne was making it, burning him. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of serious burns.
"It's very dangerous," Bailey said about of the way methamphetamine is made.
Police secured the premises because of the volatile nature of chemicals used in making the drug. Members of the city's Narcotics Intelligence Division and the DEA Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team also were called to the scene.
Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the apartment, which then was condemned by housing code enforcement inspectors.
Bailey said the state Department of Children, Youth and Families are involved in the case with respect to the care of the children.
Manufacturing methamphetamine is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 or both.
Prohibited conduct is punishable up to five years in prison with a fine of not more than $10,000 or both per count.
What's next:Melissa Champagne is free on $10,000 cash/surety bail pending a March 5 arraignment in 9th Circuit Court, Nashua District Division. Raymond Champagne was arraigned on the felony charges and is detained in jail on $15,000 cash/surety bail.


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text:
Saturday Landmark: Osborne Game No. 500
Randy York's N-Sider Blog
The Official Blog of the Huskers
If you like history, Saturday's Nebraska-Minnesota game goes beyond the 29 Cornhusker seniors who will play their final game at Memorial Stadium. The game also marks Game No. 500 in which Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne will be in an official role with the Husker football program. Osborne was an assistant coach at Nebraska from 1962 to 1972. He served as NU's head coach from 1973 to 1997, winning 255 games in 25 years. After serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Osborne returned to Nebraska as athletic director in 2007.
In this, the 50-year anniversary that will celebrate consecutive home football sellout No. 325 on Saturday, it seems only fitting that Osborne's last home game in an official athletic department capacity represents another major milestone. At the same time, we all know Osborne would prefer that the spotlight focus on a senior class that has won 46 games over the past five seasons. The four-game win streak gives the Huskers a chance to win 50 games before they leave the program. There is only one way the Huskers can make that happen: Prevail in the final two regular-season games, then win the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis and then triumph in the Rose Bowl.
Pelini Recruited the Entire 2012 Senior Class
The 29-man senior class is Nebraska's largest since having the same number in 2007. The seniors making their final Tunnel Walk appearance Saturday represent the first senior class that was entirely recruited and signed by Bo Pelini, who became Nebraska's head coach in December of 2007, less than two months after Osborne was named NU's athletic director.
Twenty-four Nebraska seniors are in their fifth-year in the program. Three seniors did not redshirt – Rex Burkhead, Eric Martin and P.J. Mangieri.. Two others – Joe Carter and Daimion Stafford– were junior college transfers. The 2012 Nebraska football senior class includes 14 in-state players and represents nine more states – California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
Chance to Play in Three League Title Games
The 2012 seniors have played in four consecutive bowl games and in two conference championship games. If the Huskers reach the Big Ten title game in the next two weeks, they will play in three league championship games in five years. Since Pelini recruits character and places a heavy emphasis on academics, it's no surprise that seven members in NU's senior class already have earned their undergraduate degree. Thirteen more Husker student-athletes are on track to receive their diplomas next month.
Osborne launched that academic-first culture 50 years ago and whatever "Thanks Tom" kudos that fans see Saturday inside Memorial Stadium will be tied to that important legacy. Even though Osborne sees college athletics more in terms of winning character than winning games, we will answer the question that Nebraska fans will be compelled to ask: In the first 499 games in which Osborne has been directly connected with Nebraska football, how many games did the Huskers win? For the record, here's the bottom line:
402 wins, 91 losses and 5 ties
More importantly, the Huskers have a nation-leading total of 299 Academic All-Americans. Sometime soon Nebraska will become the first NCAA school to reach 300 Academic All-Americans – another meaningful milestone in a groundbreaking year for an athletic director set to retire on Jan. 1, 2013. Let's end this historical update with something Osborne would prefer – recognizing 29 Nebraska seniors with a chance to help write some important history of their own:
Kenny Anderson DT Omaha, Neb.
Justin Blatchford DB Ponca, Neb.
Rex Burkhead IB Plano, Texas
Joseph Carter DE Jackson, S.C.
Seung Hoon Choi OG Lincoln, Neb.
Will Compton LB Bonne Terre, Mo.
Ben Cotton TE Ames, Iowa
Jase Dean CB Bridgeport, Neb.
Taylor Dixon WR Wauneta, Neb.
Sean Fisher LB Omaha, Neb.
KC Hyland WR Lincoln, Neb.
Justin Jackson C Roca, Neb.
Micah Kreikemeier LB West Point, Neb.
Brett Maher P/PK Kearney, Neb.
P.J. Mangieri LS Peoria, Ill.
Matt Manninger LB Omaha, Neb.
Tim Marlowe WR Youngstown, Ohio
Eric Martin DE Moreno Valley, Calif.
Conor McDermott TE Omaha, Neb.
Cameron Meredith DE Huntington Beach, Calif.
Courtney Osborne S Garland, Texas
Steven Osborne WR Garland, Texas
Kyler Reed TE Shawnee, Kan.
P.J. Smith S River Ridge, La.
Daimion Stafford S Norco, Calif.
Baker Steinkuhler DT Lincoln, Neb.
Graham Stoddard FB Lincoln, Neb.
Brandon Thompson OL The Woodlands, Texas
Alonzo Whaley LB Madisonville, Texas
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