THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012
PAGE 3
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CIACTED PRESS trains to jump test flight for Roswell, N.M.
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Associated Press
ASIA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cambodian supporters of Mam Sonando, one of Cambodia's most prominent human rights defenders, protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Cambodia, on Oct. 1. 300 supporters gathered to demand his release.
Radio station owner sentenced for govt. criticism
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A Cambodian court on Monday sentenced a dissident radio station owner to 20 years in prison on insurrection charges that critics claim are part of a political vendetta by the government.
Judge Chaing Sinat of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said 71-year-old Mam Sonando was convicted and sentenced on four counts related to an alleged secessionist movement in eastern Cambodia. He was charged with instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May this year and inciting armed rebellion.
Mam Sonando's Beehive Radio is one of the country's few radio stations broadcasting criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
Din Sophanara, the wife of Mam Sonando, told reporters that the verdict will be appealed. She said her husband was not involved in the alleged rebellion and had done nothing wrong.
"There is no real democracy in Cambodia. There is no justice," she said. Mam Sonando also was fined 10 million riel ($2,500).
The human rights group Amnesty International called the conviction "shocking and baseless" and said it "reflects the deteriorating situation of freedom of expression in Cambodia."
Three other people said to have been part of a political movement with Mam Sonando and accused of being major instigators of the insurrection were also sentenced in absentia. One received a 30-year prison term and the others 15 years each.
Several dozen armed security personnel kept the road in front of the court complex closed as a few hundred supporters of Mam Sonando demonstrated nearby.
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights condemned the verdict.
"Today's events represent a gross travesty of justice — an outrageous violation of Mam Sonando's right to freedom of expression and fair
trial rights, including the fundamental right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty," it said in a prepared statement.
It said no evidence was presented at the trial linking Mam Sonando to unrest involving a land dispute in Kratie province that the government alleged amounted to a rebellion. The statement also echoed widespread concerns among rights groups that Cambodia's courts act under the pressure of political influence.
The land dispute involved a 15,000-hectare (58-square-mile) tract of land that had been awarded as a concession to a Russian company but that was being farmed by villagers. The farmers resisted eviction, and in May, a 15-year-old girl was shot dead when hundreds of armed police stormed the settlement.
Land disputes have become a critical social and political issue, as powerful companies with influential connections take over land that has been worked by villagers, who receive little or no compensation.
It is not rare for deadly force to be employed in evictions.
A month before Mam Sonando was detained in July, Hun Sen had called for his arrest, charging that he was leading a plot to overthrow the government and establish a state within a state.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists had called on the government to drop the case. Shawn Crispin, the group's Southeast Asia representative, said Hun Sen "has a well-worn history of leveling unsubstantiated antisate charges against journalists to stifle criticism of the administration."
Mam Sonando had twice before been jailed for his reporting. Before he was pushed into a prison van Monday, he said he had no comment on the verdict but he was happy that he was "able to help the nation."
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentinian plays Elvis Presley in new movie
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — John McInerny, an Argentine architect and part-time Elvis Presley impersonator, plays — what else? — an Elvis impersonator in a new movie touring film festivals.
Mchenny has the role of a character named Carlos Gutierrez in the Argentine film "The Last Elvis," which premiered earlier this year.
To promote the film, McInenny has temporarily set aside his career as an architect to tour Argentina in his glittery Las Vegas-style costumes and perform with his band, Elis Living.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Sept. 28, 2012 photo, Argentinian Elvis Presley impersonator John McNairny performs during a show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. McNairny was chosen to personify the role of Carlos Gutierrez, an Elvis Presley impersonator, in the Argentine film "The Last Elvis," which premiered last April.
EUROPE
Zuckerberg urged to expand in Russia
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOSCOW — Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg was in Moscow on Monday, where top officials were pressing him to expand the company's operations in Russia.
Russia's communications minister tweeted that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevurged the social media giant's founder to abandon plans to lure away Russian programmers and instead open a research center in Moscow.
A Facebook spokeswoman, who refused to be named because she wasn't authorized to discuss the matter with the media, said the company has no immediate expansion plans for Russia.
Zuckerberg, who ditched his trademark hoodie and jeans for a suit and tie for his meeting with Medvedev, was visiting Russia on a world tour of programming contests to identify new talent.
Russian Web companies often command larger shares of
the domestic market than their U.S. counterparts. Facebook has roughly 9 million users in Russia, while domestic clone VK has around 34 million.
Medvedev has cultivated a techfriendly image since launching his modernization program while president of Russia from 2008 until this May, when Vladimir Putin returned for his third term as president.
In honor of Constitution Day, the DOLE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS and KU SCHOOL OF LAW present
America and Race The Status of Affirmative Action Under the U.S. Constitution
Tuesday, October 2nd, 7:30 PM @ The Dole Institute
The use of affirmative action in admissions decisions in higher education is before the Supreme Court for the first time since 2003. Fisher v. University of Texas will be argued at the Supreme Court on October 10, questioning whether universities can continue using race as a factor in undergraduate admissions decisions and, if so, how the race of an applicant may be considered.
Join the Dole Institute for its 2012 Constitution Day event. The panelists are David C. Frederick, who wrote a brief in support of the University on behalf of Distinguished Alumni of the University of Texas, and Erik S. Jaffe, former law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote a brief in support of the student denied admission. The program will be moderated by KU Law Professor Steve McAllister.
ROBERT J. DOLE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS KU SCHOOL OF LAW The University of Kansas The University of Kansas
EXPAND YOUR MIND
We've had the President of Colombia, a veteran TV pundit and journalist and several accomplished authors so far this Fall.
Now here are some more FREE Dole Institute programs to look for...
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 3:00 p.m. Dole Institute Afternoon Book Talk: Presidents and Civil Liberties from Wilson to Obama: A Story of Poor Custodians—with author, Sam Walker
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. Dole Institute
Campaign 2012: Debate Watch—Come watch the first presidential debate at the Dole Institute! During the debate, KU Professor, Mary Banwart, will lead a focus group of undecided voters, as they watch and rate how they feel about the discussion. We'll broadcast the results live to the program attendees and discuss the results at the debate's conclusion. If you are undecided still, we value your opinion and want to hear from you. Please find more information about participating in our debate focus group at www.doleinstitute.org.
Sunday, Oct. 14, 4:00 p.m. Dole Institute
Wednesdav. Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. Dole Institute
2012 Dole Leadership Prize: Wounded Warrior Project With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they achieve new triumphs. Join us for a candid talk with several Wounded Warriors and WWP's executive director, Steven Nardizzi.
Congratulations to this week's Queen on the Hill