Brazil president blames white people for crisis

Brazil president blames white people for crisis

By Jonathan Wheatley in São Paulo

Published: March 27 2009 02:00 | Last updated: March 27 2009 02:00

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva yesterday blamed the global economic crisis on "white people with blue eyes" and said it was wrong that black and indigenous people should pay for white people's mistakes, writes Jonathan Wheatley .

Speaking in Brasília at a joint press conference with Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, Mr Lula da Silva told reporters: "This crisis was caused by the irrational behaviour of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing."

He added: "I do not know any black or indigenous bankers so I can only say [it is wrong] that this part of mankind which is victimised more than any other should pay for the crisis."

Mr Brown appeared to distance himself from Mr Lula da Silva's remarks. "I'm not going to attribute blame to any individuals," he said.

Mr Brown was visiting Brazil as part of a five-day tour of Europe, the US and South America in preparation for the G20 summit to take place in London next Thursday.

He made a joint appeal with Mr Lula da Silva for the world's biggest economies to provide $100bn to boost global trade.

Mr Lula da Silva also spoke out strongly against protectionism and raising trade barriers in response to the global crisis.

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The Short View

By John Authers

Published: March 26 2009 02:00 | Last updated: March 26 2009 02:00

Who is going to pay? Most of the world's leading economies are trying to spend their way out of the sudden collapse in financial activity using borrowed money. While contentious, there are ample defences for this policy.

But working out who pays is a harder question, which will be aired when the G20 heads of state meet in London next week. The air is thick with verbal barbs - from the Chinese central bank's interest in a new reserve currency, to the Czech prime minister's anger with the US deficit. Yesterday showed that the market is listening.

First, the auction of 40-year gilts in the UK saw the first "failure" since 2002. In other words, it was undersubscribed, with bids only for 93 per cent of the bonds. The instant response was as though the UK could not fund its deficit, as the Bank of England warned this week.

The yield on 10-year gilts rose from 3.35 per cent to 3.53 per cent - almost back to where it was before the BoE said two weeks ago it would buy gilts. Then the BoE bought some gilts, and the yield came all the way down to 3.27 per cent.

Auction failures are not unprecedented, and the extreme reaction showed that investors are nervous.

Sterling barely moved on these developments. Instead, it rose and fell on comments by Tim Geithner, the US Treasury secretary. He said first that he was "open" to China's proposal that the dollar should be superseded as the reserve currency. Minutes later, he said he expected the dollar to be the reserve currency "for a long time". Between his comments, the dollar dropped by 1.1 per cent, and then rebounded.

Again this is about who pays. If the US inflates out of the crisis, and the dollar falls, those holding assets in dollars will lose and, in effect, pay the bill. That is why politicians are talking so much about these issues. With markets scared, they should mind their words.

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朝鮮総連：競売訴訟　「本部の所有者は議長」　回収機構が勝訴－－東京地裁

　在日本朝鮮人総連合会（朝鮮総連）の中央本部（東京都千代田区）を強制競売するため、整理回収機構が朝鮮総連などを相手取り、実質的な所有者が総連であることの確認を求めた訴訟の判決で、東京地裁は２６日、不動産名義を総連の徐萬述（ソマンスル）議長に書き換えるよう命じた。浜秀樹裁判長は「実質的な帰属主体は総連」と述べた。

　総連には法人格がなく登記の当事者になれないため、総連本部の所有者の名義は「合資会社朝鮮中央会館管理会」。

　総連に約６２７億円の債務返済を命じた０７年６月の東京地裁判決を受け、回収機構側が中央本部の強制競売を目指したが、所有者の名義が異なるため実行できず提訴した。【銭場裕司】
　◇朝鮮総連中央本部広報室の話

　事実を無視した不当極まりない判決であり、控訴する。

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「レッドパージ名誉回復を」９２歳男性ら３人、国を提訴

2009年3月27日15時13分

　共産党員らが職場から追放された米軍占領下での「レッドパージ」で、勤め先を免職・解雇された神戸市内の７９～９２歳の男性３人が２７日、「レッドパージは基本的人権を侵害した行為であり、国はその被害者の名誉回復や職場復帰に向けた施策を講じる義務を怠った」として、国に計６千万円の慰謝料を求める訴訟を神戸地裁に起こした。

　３人は大橋豊さん（７９）＝当時逓信省（旧郵政省）神戸中央電報局＝と川崎義啓（よしひろ）さん（９２）＝同旭硝子尼崎工場＝、安原清次郎さん（８８）＝同川崎製鉄（現ＪＦＥスチール）葺合工場。訴状によると、３人は５０年８～１０月、それぞれの勤め先から日本共産党員であることを理由に突然、免職・解雇されたとしている。

　３人は、レッドパージがあった３年前の４７年には思想信条や結社の自由を保障した憲法が施行されていたと指摘。「国は連合国軍総司令部（ＧＨＱ）によるレッドパージの指示に従うべきではなく、少なくとも主権が回復した５２年以降は被害の実態を調べ、名誉回復や職場復帰、財産的補償をする法的義務があった」と主張している。

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春闘、非製造系は健闘　ゼンセン系、４５組合がベア獲得

2009年3月26日22時16分

　流通や繊維などの労働組合が加盟するＵＩゼンセン同盟は２６日、春闘の交渉状況を発表した。２０２組合で妥結し、うち４５組合が賃金改善（ベースアップ）分を獲得した。一方、自動車や電機などで作る金属労協の中堅・中小組合は、８１組合のうちベア獲得は４組合（２５日時点）のみ。非製造業と製造業で明暗が分かれている。

　妥結したＵＩゼンセンの２０２組合すべてで定期昇給分を維持した。定期昇給とベアを合わせた要求額の平均９７３５円に対し、妥結平均額は６１３９円（単純平均）で、昨年比２４６円減だった。

　ベアを獲得した４５組合の業種は、スーパー・コンビニ、化学・医薬品、専門店・ホームセンターなどで、平均は１１０４円。「自動車・電機にかかわる産業の組合は苦戦しているが、非製造業系は健闘している」と落合清四会長は話した。

　一方、自動車・電機は、中堅・中小労組も苦しい交渉となっている。金属労協によると、２５日時点で、要求をしている１３１社の組合のうち、回答を引き出したのは８１社（６２％）。昨年同時期では８割が回答を受けており、今年は景気の悪化の影響で交渉自体が難航している。

　全組合で定昇は維持。ベア回答は４社で、金額は３００～５００円。一時金については、２４組合で、最低基準としている４カ月を下回る回答を受けた。

--------------------------------
05:48 GMT, Friday, 27 March 2009
PM and Palace 'discussed reform'

State Opening of Parliament

Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to change the rules of succession to the throne, including giving royal women equal rights.

Downing Street said the scrapping of the ban on heirs to the throne marrying Roman Catholics was also discussed.

Mr Brown told the BBC that people living in the 21st Century expected discrimination to be removed.

Meanwhile a BBC poll suggests public support for reform, with 80% wanting equal succession rights for women.

A Private Members' Bill aimed at ending the discrimination is due to be debated but the government is not backing it.

But speaking during his visit to Brazil the prime minister said: "There are clearly issues about the exclusion of people from the rights of succession and there are clearly issues that have got to be dealt with.

BBC POLL: THE PUBLIC SPEAKS

* Equal rights for royal women? - 89% yes
* Heir allowed to marry Catholic? - 81% yes
* British monarchy to continue? - 76% yes
* 1,000 people polled by ICM Research, 20-22 March 2009

Why the monarchy discriminates

Send us your comments

"This is not an easy set of answers.

"But I think in the 21st Century people do expect discrimination to be removed and they do expect us to be looking at all these issues".

The BBC's poll also suggests 76% of Britons want the monarchy to continue after the Queen.

The legislation on reform has been introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, to end the "uniquely discriminatory" rules laid down in the 1701 Act of Settlement.

For centuries the rules have endured but now the government has indicated that it is prepared to look at it again, said BBC political correspondent Ben Wright.

Downing Street confirmed the prime minister would raise the prospect of the major reforms at a Commonwealth summit in November, and that dialogue with Buckingham Palace was ongoing.

Such reform would need the backing of the 15 other Commonwealth countries which have the British monarch as head of state.

Sources at Number 10 have said while the government supports the "principles and objectives" of the bill, it would not support the bill itself.

Dr Harris has cross-party support for his proposals, but a Ministry of Justice spokesman said while the government "stood firmly against discrimination" there were no immediate plans to legislate because the changes required were "complex".

'Slowly, slowly'

The Act states that heirs to the throne lose their right to be the sovereign if they marry a Catholic or convert.

In addition, male heirs are given precedence.

If the Act was changed to give royal daughters equal rights, Princess Anne would become fourth in line, behind Prince Harry. Currently she comes after the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, and their children.

As things stand, Prince William cannot marry a Roman Catholic and become king.

And if he has a daughter she cannot be queen if she has a younger brother.

Pie chart

Dr Harris's Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill is co-sponsored by Catholic parliamentarians such as Tory MP Edward Leigh, Labour's Andrew Mackinlay and John Grogan and fellow Lib Dem John Pugh.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the government was now moving "slowly, very slowly" on the issue, as it tried to deal with what a Scottish cardinal has called "state-sponsored sectarianism", said

But it may not give this particular private members bill the support it would need to become law.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The government has always stood firmly against discrimination in all its forms, including against Roman Catholics, and we will continue to do so.

"To bring about changes to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth.

"We are examining this complex area although there are no immediate plans to legislate."

Republic

Dr Harris said there was "nothing new" in the government saying it wanted to see change.

"When first elected 12 years ago they said they would end unjustified discrimination wherever it exists. But there has been no action to back that up.

"They need to support this bill today, amend it as necessary and make sure it passes. They can't wait until next year because our constitution also tells us that their time is up in June. This is the last chance."

"Very few political ideas, let alone constitutional changes, have two-thirds support"
Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris

The BBC poll, conducted by ICM Research, suggests four out of five people want to give women equal rights of succession and remove the ban on the heir marrying a Roman Catholic.

Some 89% of the 1,000 people questioned believed male and female heirs should have equal rights to succeed to the throne.

Some 81% believed that an heir to the throne should be allowed to marry a Roman Catholic and still become monarch.

According to the poll, 76% said the monarchy should continue, against 18% who said they would favour Britain becoming a republic. An additional 6% said they did not know.

Dr Harris said the results showed the government and the Conservative Party should support this bill and "end these historic injustices as soon as possible".

"Very few political ideas, let alone constitutional changes, have two-thirds support yet ending discrimination against Catholics in royal marriages and against women in the succession both have over 80% support," he said.

---------------------------
5:49 GMT, Thursday, 26 March 2009
EU warns Spain over development

Over-building on the south coast is rampant

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a report criticising Spanish property laws.

The report says Spanish legislation allowing developers to acquire private land below market rates breaches the European Convention on Human Rights.

MEPs were acting on complaints from Britons and other homeowners who feared their homes might be bulldozed.

MEPs say they hope the vote will increase pressure on the Spanish government to change its laws.

'Extensive urbanisation'

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to freeze hundreds of millions of euros in Spain's EU funding if the Spanish government does not tackle what the parliament condemned as "extensive urbanisation" practices.

Cranes at a building site

In a full vote in Strasbourg on Thursday, 349 MEPs voted in favour, 114 abstained and 110 cast their vote against the report by the Danish Green Party MEP Margrete Auken.

MEPs from the Spanish conservative PP party were among those who voted against the report while those from the governing Socialist Party abstained.

The report was drafted after more than 100 petitions by thousands of expatriates living in Spain complaining of breaches of their land-ownership rights were sent to the EU's petitions committee.

One of the main campaigners behind the case, Canadian expat Charles Svoboda, says local and regional governments often rubber-stamp planning applications submitted by developers.

FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE

More from BBC World Service

Under current Spanish laws, developers can then demand that home-owners sell their properties at prices well below the market rate.

If they refuse to sell, Mr Svoboda says, they may even have their houses demolished. MEPs backing the report say that constitutes a breach of citizens' legitimate ownership rights.

Speaking after the "yes" vote, Margrete Auken said this showed the European Parliament was willing to fight on behalf of EU citizens.

"We've shown now that this parliament can listen to the citizens and can take their case seriously and really support them.

"So it's much easier for them in the future to have the feeling that they have the EU institutions behind them."

'Endemic corruption'

The European Parliament also criticised the "endemic corruption" which it says the Spanish property market suffers from, and demanded that any plans which did not comply with EU law be halted.

This is the third time that the European Parliament has debated urban planning practices in Spain. It condemned the lack of redress Spanish and foreign residents have in the face of alleged development excesses in 2005 and 2007.

This time though, it says, Spain will suffer the consequences to the tune of millions of euros in frozen funds if it fails to act.

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18:23 GMT, Thursday, 26 March 2009
Mystery over Sudan 'air strike'

map of Egypt, Sudan and Sinai

A Sudanese government minister has confirmed reports of an air raid in eastern Sudan earlier this year.

The minister, Mabrook Mubarak Saleem, told an Arabic news channel that many people had been killed in the strike, said to have taken place last month.

Israeli officials have not commented publicly on reports that their planes may have been involved.

Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, did not confirm any raid but said Israel hit everywhere to stop terror.

"That was true in the north," said Mr Olmert, "and it was true in the south ... Those who need to know, know there is no place where Israel cannot operate."

Giving a speech in the coastal town of Herzliya, the outgoing prime minister said: "We operate in many places near and far, and carry out strikes in a manner that strengthens our deterrence."

The CBS television network said it had been told by American officials that a strike by Israeli planes in January had succeeded in preventing weapons from Sudan reaching Gaza.

Mr Mabrook Mubarak Saleem said those killed in the air raid had been civilians from a number of African countries.

'Nod and wink'

The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says Israel's response is following a traditional pattern, set when it attacked a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007, of first refusing to confirm an alleged strike and then giving a nod and a wink.

What we are getting now from Mr Olmert is clearly the nod and the wink, our correspondent says.

Much informed comment has appeared in the Israeli media, he adds, including the view of a retired general that Israel would not have had to violate anyone's airspace to carry out the strike, if it did.

Nonetheless it was a long way to fly and the assumption is that this was a serious target, our correspondent says, and that these were weapons that could have changed the game in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants.

They could have included surface to air missiles or perhaps missiles with a 70km (44-mile) range that would have enabled militants to hit Tel Aviv from Gaza, our correspondent adds.

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Offshore account holders offered tax deal

By Vanessa Houlder and Haig Simonian

Published: March 26 2009 23:32 | Last updated: March 26 2009 23:32

Thousands of British investors with up to £3bn stashed in secret Liechtenstein bank accounts will be asked to come forward voluntarily under a deal to be negotiated next week that could be the first of many worldwide.

Lawyers said the Liechtenstein plan, discussed behind closed doors with the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, could serve as an international model for other tax havens seeking to avoid an OECD blacklist.

Liechtenstein’s government announced on Thursday it would begin talks with the UK’s Revenue & Customs next Wednesday, stating it wanted to encourage “voluntary disclosure of untaxed assets”. The decision follows agreement by the tiny alpine principality to ease its bank secrecy rules and to encourage foreign account holders to come clean.

Dave Hartnett, permanent secretary for tax at Revenue & Customs, said the intention was “to open up the historic bank accounts”.

The proposed purge of undeclared bank accounts by one of the world’s hitherto most secretive tax havens reflects pressure on Liechtenstein. Germany succeeded last year in uncovering tax evaders after buying stolen customer data from a former Liechtenstein bank employee.

Liechtenstein is trying to break away from the traditional image of tax havens by proposing an imaginative long-term process to tackle undeclared assets that could benefit foreign tax authorities, without excessively penalizing the rich.

Revenue & Customs wants to prise open secret accounts by offering an “offshore disclosure facility”, along the lines of the 2007 partial “amnesty” that raised £400m from holders of undeclared offshore accounts. That would be unlikely to offer immunity from prosecution, but would provide a straightforward mechanism with limited penalties for investors wanting to put their affairs in order.

Liechtenstein banks would be asked to close accounts of customers who did not act on this offer, presenting them with difficulties finding a home for their money.

Negotiations also seek a tax-information exchange agreement, another tool to pursue tax evaders that Liechtenstein has already agreed with the US. Liechtenstein has said it is ready to negotiate bilateral agreements with other countries. It had first-round talks with Germany last week.

Separately, Monaco, the Mediterranean city-state that is home to 25,000 wealthy foreigners, pledged to meet international standards on transparency. That followed lengthy talks with the OECD, which had previous branded it – like Liechtenstein – an “unco-operative tax haven”.

Monaco has agreed to negotiate tax information exchange with all countries that want it. It will expand the scope of an anti-fraud agreement under negotiation with the European Commission to meet OECD standards. Other jurisdictions scrambled to become more transparent to stave off the threat of blacklisting at the G20 summit next week.

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首都圏にＰＡＣ３展開、破壊措置命令受けて
特集 北朝鮮情勢
航空自衛隊員に見送られながら、入間基地を出発するＰＡＣ３の発射機（ランチャー）を乗せた車＝菅野靖撮影

　北朝鮮が「人工衛星」名目で弾道ミサイルの発射準備を進めている問題で、自衛隊は２７日夜、浜田防衛相が発令した「破壊措置命令」に基づき、地上配備型のパトリオット・ミサイル３（ＰＡＣ３）の首都圏への展開を開始した。

　航空自衛隊入間基地（埼玉県狭山市）では２７日午後８時、迎撃ミサイルを搭載するランチャーやレーダー装置などを積んだ約３０台の車両が続々と出発。

　展開先となる陸上自衛隊朝霞駐屯地（東京都練馬区など）と防衛省（新宿区）内にある空自市ヶ谷基地に向かった。