INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014

Socialists launch campaign for European elections ROME: European Socialists yesterday Participants at the congress included going and warm but also tough, some- launched their election campaign by Austrian Chancellor Chancellor Werner times brutally so, and he has earned a rep- anointing Martin Schulz as their candi- Faymann, French Prime Minister Jean- utation in Brussels as a politician who date for European Commission president Marc Ayrault, Italian Prime Minister does not mince his words. “You have to and adopting a manifesto calling for Matteo Renzi and Romanian Prime talk straight so that people understand urgent social action. The Party of Minister Victor Ponta. Social-democrats you,” says this dyed-in-the-wool pro- European Socialists, which brings togeth- are in a minority in Europe, holding pow- European, who was first elected to the er social democrats from 28 EU member er in 11 countries sometimes in coalitions European Parliament in 1994. states, was to give its backing to Schulz, a with the right-and the PES has 195 law- It is ironic that his candidacy is taking former bookseller from Aachen in makers at the European Parliament com- place in Rome since he really made his Germany who is president of the pared to 275 conservatives. name in a confrontation with then Italian European Parliament. The manifesto due The latest polls, however, show them prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2003. to be approved at a congress in Rome neck and neck with the European During a debate, Schulz referred to “the ahead of European Parliament elections People’s Party or even slightly ahead. virus of conflict of interests” in politics, a in May accused the right wing of creating Their manifesto called for an end to barely veiled swipe at billionaire tycoon- “a Europe of fear and austerity” in five “social dumping” through worker turned-politician Berlusconi, provoking an years of a conservative majority. The exploitation and precarious contracts, as infamous retort. “Mister Schulz, I know a socialists said their program “will bring well as “decent minimum wages across ROME: European Parliament President Martin Schulz delivers a speech to delegates producer in Italy who is making a film back job creation, a productive economy, Europe”. They also said that “austerity- during a meeting at the PES (Party of European Socialists) electoral congress yes- about the Nazi concentration camps. I a sense of community and respect for only policy” had harmed Europe’s econo- terday in Rome. — AFP could see you in the role of a Kapo-You people”, calling the struggle against my and it was time to bring down public would be perfect,” Berlusconi said. Schulz unemployment “our first and main priori- budget deficits in “a sustainable and fair Straight-talker European Commission. Unlike the EPP refused to respond in kind. “My respect for ty”. way”. “We will be tough guardians of For the first time this year following conservatives, the PES chose its candidate the victims of the Nazis forbids me to “It is time to put jobs first and to build public money, enhancing the quality of the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon, for the post-Schulz-months ago and respond,” he said, immediately deflating a social Europe,” former Bulgarian prime public spending, cutting out waste and member states will have to take into Saturday’s congress is only his formal des- Berlusconi’s barb and winning plaudits for minister and PES leader Sergei Stanishev directing expenditure to get the best val- account the result of the European elec- ignation. The 58-year-old is a man of char- his self-control and restraint on such a said in a speech at the meeting. ue”, it read. tions when they pick a president for the acter and determination who can be out- sensitive issue. — AFP

News Divorce debate challenges Pope in brief Pontiff promises to put Church in touch with modern life Chile and US seal visa waiver deal VATICAN CITY: The issue of divorce is led to acts of defiance. The German dio- WASHINGTON: Citizens of Chile will no longer stoking a spirited debate between cese of Freiburg im Breisgau last year said need a visa to travel to the United States for busi- Catholic cardinals and revealing the chal- it was authorizing re-married divorcees to ness or pleasure. Chile is the only country in Latin lenges and expectations for Pope Francis receive Holy Communion on a case by America to enjoy this status, joining 37 other coun- after his promises to put the Church more case basis-prompting a quick telling off tries in the US visa waiver program. The deal in touch with modern life. The question is from the Vatican. announced in Washington on Friday also means whether divorcees who re-marry should The issue would affect millions of that US citizens no longer have to pay a $160 “reci- be allowed to take part in the most Catholics around the world, with around a procity fee” when they enter Chile. Nearly a quar- sacred point of Catholic mass, Holy quarter of Catholic marriages ending in ter-million Chileans traveled to the United States Communion, which is forbidden under divorce in the United States alone. Some last year, 90 percent of them for tourism or busi- current rules that in practice are often not theologians and clergymen have called for ness purposes. Starting May 1, any of these observed. Changing the doctrine could in changes to facilitate the annulment of Chileans carrying an electronic passport will no turn alter Church rules on marriage annul- marriages in cases in which it could be longer need a visa for stays of 90 days or less, as ments and raise broader questions about argued that the wedding took place under long as they apply online for advanced authoriza- the institution of marriage, prompting social pressure or was not fully under- tion from the US Department of Homeland lively exchanges between traditionalists stood. Re-marrying would then be Security. and reformers. allowed under Church rules and the cou- Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the arch- ple would be allowed to take Holy 4 shot in Detroit after bishop of Lyon in France, told Vatican Communion. Another possibility could be fight over tax refund radio that a meeting of cardinals from the Orthodox model, which allows some DETROIT: A man involved in a dispute over a tax around the world in the Vatican this divorcees to re-marry in church and take refund check opened fire at a Detroit tax prepara- month devoted “80 to 90 percent” of the Holy Communion but gives only a bless- tion business on Friday afternoon, wounding four time to discussing the issue. German ing for the second marriage and does not employees. Police say the alleged gunman was Cardinal Ludwig Mueller, head of the consider it a sacrament. arrested running from the scene and a woman Church’s doctrinal watchdog, the Francis mentioned the Orthodox solu- VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis gestures, flanked by the Prime Minister of Romania involved in the dispute turned herself in later in Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, tion as a “parenthesis” on the plane during Victor Ponta and his wife during a private audience in the pontiff’s studio at the the day. The shooting happened at Tax City Tax has said the current rules are “impossible his return from a visit to Brazil and it was Vatican yesterday. — AFP Service on the city’s east side. Deputy Police Chief to change” and that people should stop raised again by some cardinals in their Rodney Johnson said the woman became upset thinking of marriage as “a party in a consistory this month in which they said it when her tax refund wasn’t ready Friday and start- church”. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres could happen following “a period of peni- ed scuffling with the guard. Johnson said the man Rodriguez Maradiaga, a member of the tence”. The issue is likely to dominate a with her pulled a gun and started shooting. The council of eight cardinals established by synod of world bishops planned for later Adopted children fight Irish security guard was wounded, as were three other the pope to advise him, has taken a more this year and another one in 2015, which employees. One victim was in critical condition, lenient line and has asked Mueller to be Francis has said should focus on families. state secrecy to find parents while the other three were listed in serious condi- “more flexible”. The divorce debate was raised in an tion. “There were no fatalities, thank goodness,” A survey by the Spanish-language net- unprecedented questionnaire sent out to OMAGH: Catherine Droogan turns 40 this ernment parties and former government par- Johnson said. Johnson said a passer-by flagged work Univision in 12 mainly Catholic coun- dioceses worldwide to find out the year. That’s one of the few personal details she ties because they know the extent to which down a police officer and pointed out the suspect, tries found that 75 percent of Europeans, approach taken by parishes on many can be sure of. Adopted at four weeks from a state and church colluded to abduct children who was arrested less than a block from the shoot- 67 percent of Latin Americans and 59 per- issues, including same-sex couples and convent in eastern Ireland, Droogan doesn’t and they colluded in forced adoption,” said ing. Police had been looking for the woman, but cent of Americans were at odds with the pre-marital cohabitation. Vatican expert know who her parents were or where she was Susan Lohan of the Adoption Rights Alliance. Johnson said she walked into a police precinct and Church on the issue, while in Africa 19 per- Henri Tincq, writing on the website born. She is not even certain who actually Fitzgerald said that was not the case. “The turned herself in Friday evening. cent of respondents disagreed. The issue Slate.fr, said the divorce issue is particular- named her Catherine. Lying on her kitchen Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is one of very personal anguish for many ly complex on a theological level since “a table in the Northern Ireland town of Omagh absolutely rejects the proposition that she is, Uganda accuses World Catholic couples, who say they are being sacrament is given by God and can never is a one-page document that the state has in any proactive way, trying to block adoption Bank of gay ‘blackmail’ treated as second-class believers, and has be taken back”.— AFP given her about her parents, containing and information legislation. The opposite is KAMPALA: Uganda accused the World Bank of what’s known as “non-identifying informa- the case,” her department said in an emailed blackmail Friday after the lender stalled a $90-mil- Former Gitmo inmate denies tion”. It took her a year to get from Ireland’s statement. “The birth parent has certain con- lion loan over the east African nation’s adoption of health service and tells her that her father was stitutional rights to privacy which reflect the a draconian anti-gay law. “World Bank is a multi- Syria-related terror charges a blue-eyed factory worker in his early 20s, fact that the original adoptions were provid- lateral institution that should not blackmail its and her mother was a catering assistant who ed for under the Adoption Acts on the basis members however small,” government spokesman liked to read and dance. There are no names of confidentiality. “There are legal and consti- Ofwono Opondo said on Twitter. The World Bank LONDON: A British man once held at came as concerns mount in Britain over or addresses. tutional difficulties in retrospectively over- announced on Thursday that it was blocking the Guantanamo Bay turned human rights the number of its nationals travelling to International laws say all children should turning considerations of confidentiality oth- loan, which was intended to help Uganda campaigner told a court in London yes- Syria to help rebels fighting President know their parents and be able to establish er than on the basis of consent.” Since strengthen its health-care system. “We have post- terday he would plead not guilty to pro- Bashar Al-Assad. their identity. But adopted people in Ireland “Philomena”, applications to join a register poned the project for further review to ensure that viding training and funding terrorism in Police fear they may become radical- have no automatic right to their birth records, that tries to match adopted people with their the development objectives would not be Syria, police said. Moazzam Begg, 45, who ized by Islamists or attend terrorist train- and no legal right to tracing services. Pressure birth parents have doubled to 30-40 a week, adversely affected by the enactment of this new was released without charge from the US ing camps before returning to Britain to change this has risen since “Philomena”, an said the state-run Adoption Authority. Nearly law,” a World Bank spokesman said. Earlier this military prison in Cuba in 2005, was where they could pose a security risk. Oscar-nominated movie, was released last 11,000 people are now on the register: It has week, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed detained at his home in Birmingham in British police had already arrested 16 year. It tells the true story of Philomena Lee, made 660 matches since 2005. The off on one of the world’s toughest anti-gay laws central England last week and charged people on suspicion of terrorism offences an Irish woman whose son was sold as a tod- Authority’s chairman said it was examining despite warnings from his Western allies. Museveni with terrorism offences dated between related to Syria this year, some as young dler by nuns to a US couple. “When I was how future laws might work. “We are explor- capped his defense of the law-which could see October 2012 and April 2013. He as 17, compared to 24 such arrests in all younger I thought someday there will be this ing all possible avenues,” Geoffrey Shannon homosexuals jailed for life and requires people to appeared at Westminster Magistrates of 2013. Security assessments estimate big reunion. As I got older, I got a bit of sense. told Reuters. “I’m quite optimistic that we are denounce them-with a lurid description of his par- Court yesterday and was remanded in that up to 500 Britons have gone to Syria But just to know who I am is my biggest want. moving into a much better place in this area.” ticular revulsion to oral sex. Museveni has been in custody to appear at London’s Old Bailey in the past two years of which about half That’s what really bugs me, that I can’t know power for 28 years, a record in East Africa. Opondo criminal court on March 14. are thought to have returned home. This the simple things,” said Droogan, who has two Hand in glove argued in another tweet that the bank’s “so-called It is the first time he has ever faced any number includes those engaged in aid or children of her own. “My eldest son wants to The Catholic Church ran many of Ireland’s ‘cut’ is attempted blackmail to set Ugandans charges. Begg was held by the US gov- humanitarian efforts. British law was know who he looks like. He is the double of social services in the 20th century, including against their government.” US Secretary of State ernment at Bagram detention centre in changed last year to make it easier for the me.” Catholic Ireland’s system of compelling mother-and-baby homes where tens of thou- John Kerry, who earlier this week likened the law Afghanistan, then Guantanamo Bay in government to confiscate the passport unwed mothers to give up their babies to sands of unwed pregnant women, including to anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, Thursday called secret adoptions ended in the 1980s, but rape victims, were sent to give birth. Cuba, for nearly three years after being from anyone whose “actual or suspected” the Ugandan leader to express Washington’s “deep thousands of mothers and children are still Unmarried mothers and their children were disappointment” about the legislation. arrested in Pakistan in February 2002 sus- activities are deemed contrary to the being kept apart. Politicians blame the law. seen as a stain on Ireland’s image as a devout, pected of being a member of Al-Qaeda. public interest. — Reuters Successive Irish governments have argued Catholic nation. They were also a problem for Taiwanese arrested for After his release, he founded Cage, a that a 1998 Supreme Court ruling prevents some of the fathers, particularly powerful fig- second hammer killing human rights organization that cam- them from automatically opening adopted ures such as priests and wealthy, married TAIPEI: A Taiwanese man has been arrested on paigns for the rights of people detained people’s birth files because it emphasized the men. Like the Magdalene Laundries, where suspicion of murdering his grandmother with a during counter-terrorism operations. mother’s right to privacy, and said mothers single women and girls were sent because hammer, seven years after he killed his father Cage accused British authorities of should be consulted. No administration has they threatened Ireland’s moral fibre, the using the same weapon, police said yesterday. The “retraumatizing” Begg by refusing to yet drawn up laws to clarify the situation. Nor mother-and-baby homes were run by nuns man, identified by his family name Lee, has a histo- grant him bail, saying this was part of a has any government tried to challenge the but received state funding. They acted as ry of mental illness and allegedly attacked his campaign to criminalize legitimate judgment. In 2001, a junior minister proposed adoption agencies and in that capacity were grandmother on Friday, hammering at her head activism. “This is a politically motivated criminal prosecution, and possibly jail, for any overseen by the state. and face while stabbing her eyes with a screwdriv- arrest and very much bears the hallmarks adopted person who tried to contact a birth er in their house in southern Taiwan, police said. of trying to criminalize legitimate Muslim parent who didn’t want to be approached, Adoption legislation Lee, 35, woke his mother up after the alleged activity by reinforcing a climate of fear,” and for any parent who tried to contact an Major parts of adoption legislation were crime and when police arrived they found the 85- said Asim Qureshi, research director of unwilling child. That idea was dropped after a written to the wishes of the Catholic hierarchy year-old lying dead on the floor with her face Cage. storm of protest. in the 1950s and 1960s and are still used to bloody and disfigured while Lee’s face and hands Begg was one of four Britons arrested Ireland’s current Minister for Children and regulate adoption today. Irish government were dotted with blood. Lee claimed he suffered last Tuesday in central England on sus- Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, has said she officials followed the Church’s preference for hallucinations and that he would have “gone out- pected Syria-related terrorism offences. is working on legislation to formalize tracing secrecy, despite the fact psychologists side to kill somebody else” if he did not kill his Another of those, 44-year-old woman and access to birth records for adopted peo- stressed the importance for adopted children grandmother, said the Apple Daily Newspaper. Lee Gerrie Tahari, also appeared in ple. Originally meant to be unveiled in 2013, it of knowing where they came from. “There is was arrested in 2007 for murdering his father with Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday is now expected sometime this year. She has no other issue I’ve come across in my studies a hammer, claiming he was angry that the victim charged with facilitating terrorism over- told parliament that the new law will have to where the state and the church was more was having an affair and abused his mother. He seas. “When asked to give an indication of reflect the “constraints” arising from the 1998 hand-in-glove than on this particular issue,” was not indicted as he was deemed to be in a state Supreme Court ruling. Campaigning group said Robbie Roulston, a lecturer at University how they intended to plead they both of insanity and was ordered to be hospitalized for the Adoption Rights Alliance, which is work- College Dublin. Ireland is not the only country five years. Lee has been in and out of hospital for replied not guilty,” said a statement from ing with Philomena Lee, believes the state has where children were taken from their moth- the past two years and two weeks ago his mother West Midlands police. Tahari was also a “deny till they die” strategy, stalling until ers. Australia’s former Prime Minister Julia arranged for him to come home to spend some remanded in custody to appear on March most birth mothers are dead to avoid contro- Gillard apologized last year for some 150,000 time with the family. He was scheduled to be read- 14. Two other men, aged 20 and 36, who versy and lawsuits. “There is a fear and forced adoptions in that country between mitted last Monday, the newspaper said. were arrested the same day, remain in Former Guantanamo Bay detainee loathing about this whole issue amongst gov- 1950 and 1970.—Reuters police custody, police said. The arrests Moazzam Begg