OR IT COULD BE

HERE

[H E A D L I N E S]

Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.

Charles de Gaulle

The Amadou Diallo Inquiry

[Amadou Diallo - AP] Law enforcement sources say that the investigators reviewing the shooting of Amadou Diallo are increasing their focus on how long it took the four police officers involved to fire the 41 bullets at him.

The duration of the barrage could help determine the officers' intentions when firing so many times at the unarmed West African immigrant, in the vestibule of his Bronx apartment building on Feb. 4. The officers have been charged with second-degree murder.

One official said this was being done through the enhancement of the audiotapes of telephone calls to 911 about the shooting, to see if any gunfire can be heard. The sound of gunfire in such a phone call, whose time could be determined, could help prosecutors establish how long the shooting took. One of the callers to 911 has told investigators that she held the phone toward the street during the incident so the police operator could hear the shots. She is said to have called at 12:41 a.m., about 14 seconds after the first call to 911 reporting the shooting. An official says however that gunfire cannot be heard on the tape of her call, and that she never told the operator that she was holding up the phone.

Neighbors told investigators that they first heard three shots that night, followed by a short pause, and then a volley of gunfire as all the officers apparently began shooting. Two of the officers fired 16 times. One shot four times and a fourth fired five bullets. A total of 19 of those bullets fatally struck Diallo. The weapons used by the officers, 9-millimeters, can fire 16 rounds in 5 to 10 seconds according to firearms experts.

While the officers' lawyers claim the shooting was lightning-quick, and that the officers had no time to catch themselves after at least one mistook Diallo's black wallet for a gun, the Bronx District Attorney's case is based on the theory that the officers clearly had the time, and the opportunity, to recognize their mistake before firing some of the shots. Though the officers assert that Diallo continued to stand even after 19 bullets hit him, one lawyer has acknowledged this week that a shot might have struck Diallo as he was falling.

A pathologist, working with the lawyers representing the Diallo family, says the autopsy indicates Diallo was knocked down and paralyzed quite early in the barrage by a shot that ruptured his aorta and perforated his spine. Thelawyers argue therefore that, based on bullet trajectories, at least two shots were fired after Diallo fell, including one that went through the sole of Diallo's right sneaker.

Several forensic experts said that the shorter the duration of the shooting, the less contradictory these versions become. If the shooting truly occurred in a matter of seconds, then even if one of the first bullets caused him to fall, many others might have struck him simultaneously or as he fell, an event that often takes as long as two seconds.

The officers themselves have given only a sketchy account of what happened that night, and though several people have told investigators they saw some of the shooting or its aftermath, no one besides the officers has said they saw everything. Consequently, the physical evidence is paramount.

A Man Is Charged In Court For The London Nail Bombings

[D Copeland Remanded In Custody -P Hackett] A 22-year-old man appeared in court Monday, charged with murder after three London nail bombings killed three people and injured and maimed more than a hundred.

David Copeland, an engineer, was arrested at his home in southern England Saturday, and charged with three counts of murder and three counts of causing explosions with intent to endanger life. He was remanded in custody until May 10 and no plea was entered.

Three people died and many of the 65 wounded in the bombing of a gay pub, in London's Soho neighborhood, suffered terrible injuries from flying glass and nails. Two of the dead were a pregnant woman and the best man at her wedding who were having a drink at the pub before going to the theater. The woman's husband was seriously injured.

Police said there were no suggestion the arrest was linked to the right-wing groups who claimed responsibility for the nail bombs that struck terror in the British capital in the past weeks.

The two previous bombs had exploded on April 17 in the largely black area of Brixton and, on April 24, in the Bangladeshi neighborhood of Brick Lane.

Before the murder charge was announced, Prime Minister Tony Blair had urged Britons to unite against hatred. He told delegates at a Sikh congress in Birmingham that : "When one section of our community is under attack, we defend them in the name of all the community," adding that "The true outcasts today, the true minorities, those truly excluded, are not the different races and religions of Britain but the racists, the bombers, the violent criminals who hate that vision of Britain and seek to destroy it."

Finally, the sufferings caused by Hurricane Mitch, the earthquake in Colombia, the earthquake in Iran, the tornadoes in the US, and as you see and hear daily on the news, the Kosovo massacres, are still painfully acute. The following organizations and agencies will channel your donations, be they financial or otherwise, to those so much in need of your compassion and empathy.

Humanitarian Aid NGOs

DisasterRelief.org
Worldwide disaster aid and information - stories, press room, library archives, forum, and how to give, and get, help.
AFCA
Association Française pour la Communauté Atlantique,a French section of the Atlantic Treaty Association, an NGO related to NATO.
AVSO Voluntary Service in Europe
Information about member organizations, voluntary service opportunities and EU policy issues from Association of Voluntary Service Organisations.
Action Without Borders
Searchable directory of thousands of nonprofit and community organizations throughout the world.
American-Iranian Council
Publications, news, and membership details from non-profit research think tank focusing on American-Iranian relations.
Amnesty International
Details of this human rights organization's campaigns and publications, plus links to Amnesty sites worldwide.

Asia Society
Asia related cultural exhibitions, business and education programs, publication and briefings, and notification of events from content rich site.
CARE
World's largest private relief and development group offers a sight-and-sound gallery and outlines its programs.
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Funds programs for children's education, reduction of violent conflict, and economic development.

Community Aid Abroad
Australian Oxfam organization promotes social justice and the alleviation of poverty. Find news and events, campaigns, policy, and publications.
Contact Network Center
Large directory of nonprofit organizations with extensive links to groups, publications and directories nationally and overseas.
Delta Phi Epsilon Fraternity
Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Fraternity, founded in 1920, is the oldest organization of persons interested in foreign service.

Doctors Without Borders USA
News from nonprofit, private international humanitarian organization whose objective is to provide medical relief to populations in crisis.
Duke International Affairs Index
Links to research groups, educational institutions, governments, international organizations and World Affairs Councils.
East-West Center
Center analyzes Asia-Pacific Region, including US, drawing on scholars, government and business leaders, educators, journalists, professionals.

Global Communications Institute
Large directory of progressive organizations divided into five categories: PeaceNet, EcoNet, ConflictNet, LaborNet and WomensNet.
GreenNet
UK and European-based network for development and human rights concerns. With headline news, a directory of hosted member sites, and newsletters.
Greenpeace International
Information on current campaigns and membership, audio and video archives of Greenpeace in action and a chat group.

Habitat for Humanity International
Christian ministry committed to providing shelter offers world housing statistics and volunteer details.
IFRC
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies outlines situation reports. With links to national chapters.
IGC-APC
Institute for Global Communications and the Association of Progressive Communications provide networks for non-governmental organizations.

IONet Resources
Pointers to sites for international organizations, publications, government agencies and regional information.
Indian Air Force History Site
Learn about he history of the sixth largest air force in the world. Find photos, crash list, gallantry gallery, roll of honor, and trivia.
InterAction
Coalition is an advocate of humanitarian assistance to the world's poor. With news and links for the NGO community.

International Federation on Ageing
Learn about this international campaign to enhance the well being of the elderly. Find info. on projects, publications, and conferences.
International Red Cross Committee
Relief organization's official site includes features on international issues and photographs illustrating its work.
International Service Agencies
Group helps those suffering from hunger, poverty and disease or war or natural disasters. With profiles of members.

Legacy International
Professional development for educators and entrepreneurs and leadership training for youths, using multi-cultural elements.
NGO Global Network
Resource for non-governmental organizations that are active within the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
OXFAM
British/Irish relief organization working for a fairer world offers policy papers, a newsletter and features on land mines.

OneWorld Partners
OneWorld hosts sites for groups involved in development, humanitarian relief, human rights and related issues.
Partnership For Sri Lanka
Nonprofit sustainable development project focuses on aid for women and children. Learn about the project and how to donate.
Refugees International
Washington DC-based advocacy group for world refugees keeps a database of reports on international crisis situations.

Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Funds programs in the areas of resource sustainability and world security.
Rotary's Foundation
Funds international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.
The Washington Institute Homepage
Public educational forum devoted to research and debate on US interests in the Middle East. Learn about internships, publications, and programs.

The World Lebanese Organization
Movement dedicated to the liberation of and religious rights of Lebanon. Find news headlines, bulletins, declarations, and lobbying information.
The World Network
Free resource and link archive designed to assist activists concerned with social and environmental issues. Membership on the network is free.
Union of International Associations
Clearinghouse for information about a huge database of organizations. Hardcopy and CD-ROM versions available for sale.

Veterans Viet Nam Restoration
Non-profit organization sponsoring project that gives veterans an opportunity to work on humanitarian projects in Viet Nam.
WebActive International Affairs
Links to human rights, development, relief and peace organizations, as well as a few government agencies.
World Lebanese Organization
Movement dedicated to the liberation of and religious rights of Lebanon. Find news headlines, bulletins, declarations, and lobbying information.

World Malayalee Council
Learn about the councils efforts to enhance growth and social development in Malaysia. Find news, journals, and mission statement.
World Vision
Nonprofit Christian humanitarian organization gives an overview of its programs, special projects and employment opportunities.

Sources : BBC Online, AP.

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