June 5, 2022 (The New Atlas) - The Oslo Freedom Forum serves as the latest iteration of the US State Department's training ground for subversion around the globe - following in line US-sponsored unrest in Ukraine in 2014 and the so-called "Arab Spring" in 2011.
Who is attending the Oslo Freedom Forum, what takes place there, and what is expected of attendees once they return to their respective nations?
References:
Thaiger - 52 year old Russian head-butted by Thai protest leader in Pattaya:
Human Rights Watch - George Soros to Give $100 million to Human Rights Watch:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/09/07/george-soros-give-100-million-human-rights-watch
Amnesty International Funding:
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/40000/fin400122010en.pdf
US National Endowment for Democracy - Thailand 2019:
The National Endowment for Democracy has as much to do with promoting "democracy" as the illegal US invasion of Iraq - code name "Operation Iraqi Freedom" had to do with bringing "freedom" to the Iraqi people. And as it turns out the same circle of regime change promoters are/were involved in both.
November 5, 2020 (Brian Berletic - LD) - I cover the US National Endowment for Democracy’s (NED) board of directors - pointing out how many of them have been involved in some of the worst crimes against humanity of the 21st century including promoting and even participating in the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003.
I also explain why taking US NED money poses a danger to national security - and specifically why Thai agitators taking the money pose a danger to Thailand’s peace, stability, and future.
References:
NED funding - THAILAND 2019: https://www.ned.org/region/asia/thailand-2019/
NED Board of Directors: https://www.ned.org/about/board-of-directors/
CBS News - Elliott Abrams, convicted of lying about Iran-Contra, named special representative for Iran: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elliott-abrams-iran-contra-named-special-representative-iran/
London Guardian - US diplomat convicted over Iran-Contra appointed special envoy for Venezuela: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/26/elliott-abrams-venezuela-us-special-envoy
NED BoD - Ambassador Victoria Nuland: https://www.ned.org/experts/victoria-nuland/
CNAS Supporters: https://www.cnas.org/support-cnas/cnas-supporters
Reuters - Leaked audio reveals embarrassing U.S. exchange on Ukraine, EU: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-ukraine-tape/leaked-audio-reveals-embarrassing-u-s-exchange-on-ukraine-eu-idUSBREA1601G20140207
NED BoD - George Weigel: https://www.ned.org/experts/george-weigel/
American Magazine - The Just War Case for War: https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/428/article/just-war-case-war
NED BoD - Scott Carpenter: https://www.ned.org/experts/scott-carpenter/
NED BoD - Senator Tim Kaine: https://www.ned.org/experts/senator-tim-kaine/Tim Kaine - Kaine Statement On Withdrawal Of U.S. Troops From Northern Syria: https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-withdrawal-of-us-troops-from-northern-syria
November 4, 2020 (Brian Berletic - LD) - iLaw is a US government-funded front petitioning the Thai government to have the entire Thai constitution rewritten and rewritten in such a way as to make it easier for US-backed opposition parties to get into power.
I cover iLaw's US government funding and why it seeks to change Thailand's constitution and how it threatens Thai-Chinese relations and ultimately Thailand's economic future.
References:
Bangkok Post - Three parties want to rewrite charter: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1485300/three-parties-want-to-rewrite-charter
Thai PBS - Thanathorn vows to bring people onto streets after rally in downtown Bangkok: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thanathorn-vows-to-bring-people-onto-streets-after-rally-in-downtown-bangkok/
Bangkok Post - Protesters reiterate 3 key demands: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1998947/protesters-reiterate-3-key-demands
Nation Thailand - iLaw launches petition for charter rewrite: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392491
iLaw - About Us: https://ilaw.or.th/about
Bloomberg - Thailand Needs Hyperloop, Not China-Built High-Speed Rail, Junta Critic Says: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-01/junta-critic-says-thailand-needs-hyperloop-not-china-built-rail
Bangkok Post - Chinese embassy condemns Thai politician's meeting with Hong Kong activist: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1769959/chinese-embassy-condemns-thai-politicians-meeting-with-hong-kong-activist
Amnesty International has called for the government to withdraw charges against anti-government protesters and asked its own supporters to send letters backing the demand to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.The protesters include middle-aged lawyer Anon Nampa of the US government-funded front "Thai Lawyers for Human Rights" (TLHR). TLHR was funded under their full name by the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in 2014 - archived here - and continue to receive money through the Union for Civil Liberty - as seen on the US NED's own official website.
The statement said the charges, which included sedition, should be immediately dropped.
Amnesty International's involvement in Thailand's internal affairs and its rush to defend US-funded agitators is simply another set of foreign fingerprints left on the protests themselves.Anon Nampa and his organization are among ongoing anti-government protests' core leadership with the US-funded front providing legal aid, promoting protests, and providing other forms of material support.
 |
| Image: Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion. The West is guilty of the worst crimes against humanity of the 21st century. That Amnesty is based in the West and funded by their governments and corporate interests is the first clue that they merely hide behind human rights advocacy, rather than advance it. |
We neither seek nor accept any funds for human rights research from governments or political parties and we accept support only from businesses that have been carefully vetted.
By way of ethical fundraising leading to donations from individuals, we are able to stand firm and unwavering in our defence of universal and indivisible human rights.Yet throughout its various financial disclosures buried deep on its website, it is admittedly funded by both governments and political groups including corporate foundations run by convicted criminals.
The Directors are pleased to acknowledge the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Oak Foundation, Open Society Georgia Foundation, the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Programme, Mauro Tunes and American Jewish World Service. The UK Department for International Development (Governance and Transparency Fund) continued to fund a four year human rights education project in Africa. The European Commission (EuropeAid) generously awarded a multi-year grant towards Amnesty International’s human rights education work in Europe.Open Society is founded by convicted financial criminal George Soros - who while attempting to appeal his conviction, used "human rights" as his defense for what was blatant insider trading.
Ron Soffer, a lawyer for Soros, said the appeal would be to the Cour de Cassation, the highest French court. If that appeal fails, he said, Soros would go to the European Court of Justice, where he could argue that his rights to a speedy trial were violated because he was not charged until 2000, long after the trading in question.
The Russian government's "case" against the leading human rights defender in Chechnya, Oyub Titiyev, is farcical--as many holes as Swiss cheese--but authorities have still locked him up for 14 months and are threatening a four-year sentence.The article Roth's post would include, leads to an opinion piece in The Moscow Times (written by fellow HRW regional director, Rachel Denber) who insists Titiyev is innocent of drug charges based entirely on Titiyev and his lawyer's own claims.
Vladimir Putin has accused US agents of directly aiding rebel fighters in the second Chechen war.In order for fighters to have contested Russian control over Chechnya, they would require equal or greater financial and military support than that committed by Moscow. State sponsorship would be the only way of achieving this and the list of potential states both capable and motivated to back Chechen militants is exceedingly short.
The maximum amount a single country can pay in any year is limited to 22% of the Court’s budget. The ICC spent €80.5m in 2007. The Assembly of States Parties approved a budget of €90.38m for 2008 and €101.23m for 2009. By April 2009, the ICC employed 743 people.The article would also explain (emphasis added):
There are two points of immediate concern regarding the ICC budget. The first that while the Court theoretically sets a cap on funding at 22% of its budget from any one country, considerably more than 50% of its 2009 budget funding came from EU member countries. Thus, the contributions to the ICC’s 2009 budget clearly illustrated the continuing European hold on the Court’s funding.
The EU, through its member states, paid 60% of the 2009 budget of €94.17m. If one includes – as the EU does in its statements regarding the ICC – those other European states which it says are candidate or potential candidate members of the EU and those other European nations that associate themselves with the EU position, the European contribution comes to a cool 63%. The EU, therefore, clearly, and probably unconstitutionally, financially dominates the ICC.A look at the ICC's finances in the form of a chart further highlights the disparity in funding and reveals the ICC not as an "international" court, but a political tool of Western Europe and in particular - the European Union. When three of the "Five Eyes" nations are included and considering Japan's geopolitical subordination to Washington - the disparity is even more obvious.
...the creation of safe-havens and humanitarian corridors, which would have to be backed by limited military power.3 This would, of course, fall short of U.S. goals for Syria and could preserve Asad in power. From that starting point, however, it is possible that a broad coalition with the appropriate international mandate could add further coercive action to its efforts.It is clear now - as the Syrian government regains control of the nation's territory and refugees begin returning home almost exclusively to territory controlled by Damascus - just how cynical the West's refugee pretext actually was.
“How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?” It was this mindset that led to the creation of features such as the “like” button that would give users “a little dopamine hit” to encourage them to upload more content.
“It’s a social-validation feedback loop … exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you’re exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology.”
 |
| Image: Dr. Judy Shelton, now Chairperson of the NED and Trump adviser, presides over an award ceremony in 2010 for US CIA asset, the Dali Lama, a decades-long integral component of American policy to encircle, contain and divide China. |
Dr. Judy Shelton was elected the new Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) by NED’s Board of Directors at its January 10, 2017 meeting. An economist who has written widely on issues of international finance and monetary policy, she has also been consulted on international economic and financial issues by the Congress, the White House, and the Pentagon. Shelton previously served on the NED Board from 2005-2014, and was Vice Chairman from 2010-2014.In other words, not only is Dr. Shelton now the new chairperson of NED, she has been directly involved with NED since at least 2005, long before, and all during NED's role in training, funding and backing the armies of regime change that swept the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) beginning in 2011. She also served on NED's board during the US-backed coup in Ukraine between 2013-2014.
NED Vice-Chair Judy Shelton (second from right) presented it in person to Berta Soler, the leader of the Damas de Blanco movement founded by Laura Pollán; Héctor Maseda Guitiérrez, Pollán's widower and a journalist who spent eight years imprisoned by the Cuban government; and Laura Labrada Pollán, Pollán's daughter and a member of the Damas de Blanco.Here, Dr. Shelton is directly involved in lending legitimacy to US-backed subversion in Cuba as part of a decades-long attempt to overthrow the government in Havana and expand US hegemony over the Caribbean.
Syrian government forces conducted coordinated chemical attacks in opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo during the final month of the battle for the city, Human Rights Watch said today.However, when qualifying HRW's accusations, it admits:
Through phone and in-person interviews with witnesses and analysis of video footage, photographs, and posts on social media, Human Rights Watch documented government helicopters dropping chlorine in residential areas on at least eight occasions between November 17 and December 13, 2016. The attacks, some of which included multiple munitions, killed at least nine civilians, including four children, and injured around 200.Watching the videos and viewing the photographs reveals that none of them actually link any of the alleged "chlorine attacks" to Syrian forces, or even to chlorine itself.
 |
| Image: "Syria Civil Defense," interviewed by Human Rights Watch, hoisting Al Qaeda's flag amid a gang of heavily armed terrorists. |
From villages in rural India to the corridors of power in Brussels, Transparency International gives voice to the victims and witnesses of corruption. We work together with governments, businesses and citizens to stop the abuse of power, bribery and secret deals. As a global movement with one vision, we want a world free of corruption. Through chapters in more than 100 countries and an international secretariat in Berlin, we are leading the fight against corruption to turn this vision into reality.Before moving onto the organisation's funding and financials, one would assume that above and beyond any other organisation in the world, Transparency International would carefully and diligently avoid any perceptions of conflicts of interest on its own part. Yet, not surprisingly, that isn't the case.
 |
| Image: The closest Amnesty International got to the prison they wrote a 48 page report on is illustrated by this photo taken from outer space. |
The research for this report took place between December 2015 and December 2016. Amnesty International interviewed 31 men who were detained at Saydnaya (also spelt Sednaya) between 2011 and 2015.The report also admits (emphasis added):
Amnesty International also interviewed four prison officials or guards who previously worked at Saydnaya; three former judges, one of whom served in the Military Court in the al-Mezzeh neighbourhood of Damascus; three doctors who worked at Tishreen Military Hospital; four Syrian lawyers; 17 international and national experts on detention in Syria, such as investigators, analysts and monitors; and 22 family members of people who were or still are believed to be detained at Saydnaya. The majority of these interviews took place in person in southern Turkey. The remaining interviews were conducted by telephone or through other remote means with interviewees still in Syria, or with individuals based in Lebanon, Jordan, European countries and the USA.In essence, Amnesty International admits to having no actual, physical evidence. It also is admitting it never stepped foot on Syrian soil, let alone anywhere around or in the prison their 48 page report covers. The report itself admits:
Despite repeated requests by Amnesty International for access to Syria, and specifically for access to detention facilities operated by the Syrian authorities, Amnesty International has been barred by the Syrian authorities from carrying out research in the country and consequently has not had access to areas controlled by the Syrian government since the crisis began in 2011. Other independent human rights monitoring groups have faced similar obstacles.So distant was Amnesty International from actually obtaining physical evidence, their only images of the prison itself included in their report are satellite photographs taken from outer space. The only other photographs included are of three alleged prisoners, before and after their alleged detention, attempting to illustrate not torture, but weight loss.
The response, unveiled just weeks before President Obama leaves office, culminates months of internal debate over how to react to Russia’s election-year provocations. In recent months, the FBI and CIA have concluded that Russia intervened repeatedly in the 2016 election, leaking damaging information in an attempt to undermine the electoral process and help Donald Trump take the White House.The "damaging information" that was leaked, however, was disseminated by Wikileaks, and likely the result of an internal whistle-blower, not Russian operatives. Questions surrounding the veracity of America's claims are owed to a substantial lack of evidence provided by US departments and agencies involved in both the investigation and the punitive measures applied in its wake.
A number of the groups and individuals directly involved in the revolts and reforms sweeping the region, including the April 6 Youth Movement in Egypt, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and grass-roots activists like Entsar Qadhi, a youth leader in Yemen, received training and financing from groups like the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute and Freedom House, a nonprofit human rights organization based in Washington, according to interviews in recent weeks and American diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks.US interference across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2011 would eventually lead to regional war, the complete destruction of Libya and near destruction of Syria as well as regime change in a number of nations including Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen.
Dion called Suu Kyi, now Myanmar’s foreign minister, “the de facto national leader” of her country “because they have a strange rule that if you have married somebody who’s not of the country, you cannot be the leader of the government and of the state.”
Suu Kyi, the internationally recognized democracy advocate, is barred from becoming president because her late husband was British, as are her two sons. The rule was crafted during Myanmar’s decades of military rule, which Suu Kyi fought against during years of house arrest before finally prevailing last fall.
