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| Europe |
| Shortlist for Europe’s Top Human Rights Prize |
| 2003-10-01 |
| OK, put the coffee down: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, slain U.N. envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello and former chief weapons inspector Hans Blix made the shortlist Wednesday for Europe’s top human rights prize. The shortlist, which was decided on by the European Union assembly’s foreign affairs committee, included International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed El Baradei for his work with Blix in Iraq. Bwahahaha!! Jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji was also named for his protest against the Tehran government. If he had protested against Bush he might have been a contender The decision on the winner of this year’s "Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought" and the $58,000 prize that goes with it will be made Oct. 16. Named for the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize is awarded annually by the European Parliament to defenders of human rights and democracy. Good thing he’s dead and can’t comment on the nominees. There was wide agreement among the six main political groups in the 626-member legislature to honor U.N. staff for their role in trying to prevent war in Iraq and in reconstruction efforts now under way. Kofi - failed, Blix - failed, Mohamed - failed, Akbar - jailed, Vieira - KIA. Vieira de Mello and nine other U.N. staffers were killed in an Aug. 19 suicide bomb attack on the U.N.’s Baghdad headquarters. The parliament gave the 2002 prize to Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya. Other winners include former South African president Nelson Mandela, East Timorese independence leader Xanana Gusmao and Ibrahim Rugova, the Kosovo leader. I’d say it should be between Vieira and Akbar, with Vieira getting my vote for his work in East Timor and dying at his desk in Iraq. I’m afraid I know very little about Akbar. |
| Posted by:Steve |
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| Posted by: Steve 2003-10-1 8:53:10 PM |
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| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-1 8:07:57 PM |
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| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-1 5:16:28 PM |
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| Posted by: TerrorHunter4Ever 2003-10-1 4:41:59 PM |
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| Posted by: tu3031 2003-10-1 3:51:48 PM |
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| Posted by: Matt 2003-10-1 3:20:51 PM |