Two a penny

Get other General Politics hereThis thoroughly revised edition of Peter Wallensteen’s text provides a comprehensive guide to understanding conflict resolution in the contemporary global environment. Understanding Conflict Resolution draws on recent and classic research from around the world linking the theory of conflict resolution to in-depth case studies throughout. This new edition has been brought fully up to date with coverage of the ongoing ‘war on terror’ as well as events in Sudan Lebanon Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Comments (0)

.Three European tourists have been detained in Sudan for acquiring the remnants of a rare meteorite that hit a remote region in 2008, their lawyer said. .
Mr Ahmed says the trio were “just tourists, who had no intention of committing a crime”.
“They were arrested two weeks ago in Abu Hamad and were transferred on Sunday to the Bahri prison,” he said.
Sudan’s interior ministry previously released a statement confirming French and Belgian tourists had been arrested “for acquiring .
A Western diplomat confirmed the arrest of the three, without giving further details…
The meteorite, named 2008 TC3, struck north Sudan in October 2008, close to the Egyptian border. the remains of meteorites, which constitutes an offence” under Sudan’s laws governing archaeological activity.
The arrests come in the context of tense relations between Sudan and France, which is harbouring Abdel Wahid Nur, the exiled leader of a key Darfuri rebel group.
Space rocks that make it through the Earth’s atmosphere can be extremely valuable and this rare example has been the object of research by Sudanese and United States scientists.
But Mr Ahmed says the case is criminal, not political.
Paris is also a fervent supporter of the decision in March by the International Criminal Court to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudan’s President Omar al-Beshir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
He added the Sudanese authorities still had to determine the nature of the rocks in their possession.
“They are doing well, they are being well treated, they have been able to speak to their families, and I hope to be able to secure their release tomorrow,” he said.
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An Auckland man is in custody following an alleged jealous rampage in which he reportedly attacked his ex-girlfriend then damaged her new partner’s motorcycle.

The first incident happened when the 38-year-old man appeared at his ex-girlfriend’s workplace in Wiri, Manukau, at 7.

He approached her outside and was abusive, threatening to smash her car with an iron bar before, it was believed, kicking her in the stomach, Ms Clarke said. .

He yelled for the man to come outside and when he failed to appear, attacked his motorbike, Ms Clarke said.

The man then drove to her new partner’s work, having last week allegedly threatened to kill him.

By this point the man knew police were examining for him and he drove to his home in Takanini, Ms Clarke said.

A staff member at the site told police they saw what looked like a gun in the man’s pocket.”

A helicopter was sent to search for him and spotted his car in Huntly.

“Police contacted him, telling him to hand himself in (and) he’s been aggressive with police.

They did not find a gun. Police caught up with the man and took him for questioning. He has been charged with assault, threatening to kill, breaching a protection order, wilful damage and possessing an offensive weapon.

He was being held in custody ahead of an appearance in Manukau District Court tomorrow.

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Clayton Weatherston says Sophie Elliott was an attempted murderer and she has won a “contrived legacy”.

Weatherston is giving evidence for a fourth day at the Christchurch High Court in his own defence at his trial for the murder of Sophie Elliott. He says it was manslaughter, not murder, because he was provoked.

He admits killing Elliott, 22, at her Dunedin home on January 9 last year. . Weatherston, 33, has been on the stand all day, giving evidence under cross examination at his trial for the murder of Elliott, 22.

“In my view she is an attempted murderer,” Weatherston said.

Weatherston said Elliott had a “contrived legacy” and there had been a “misrepresentation of her character”.

“For it to be portrayed in a different light … that’s just the way it is.

He says he was provoked to kill Elliott by a relationship full of difficulties and an attack by Elliott on him with a pair of scissors. Society moves forward. Clearly, I’m in this position.”

Weatherston agreed he had told a psychologist that he was “over it,”referring to the case against him for killing Elliott. I was at that point a little bit frustrated. … I was exhausted,” Weatherston said

“I was saturated by it.

“That was a flippant comment.. . I just wanted an accurate depiction of events and of the characters involved..

Bates suggested Weatherston had locked the bedroom door with the intention of attacking and killing Elliott.”

Bates probed Weatherston over what had happened in Elliott’s bedroom when he stabbed her 216 times, killing her at her Dunedin home on January 9 last year.

“I’m assuming that too,” Weatherston said.

It appeared he had killed her in the corner of her bedroom, Bates said.

“Um, I think I saw.

“Um, I think I saw. … I’m not sure. I don’t know,” Weatherston said.

Weatherston said he thought the scissors and the blade he had used were left on the floor of the bedroom.

He did not recall telling an officer the knife was “probably under her” but could remember saying he had used scissors on Elliott “at the end”.

Police had found the blade underneath Elliott’s body.

Justice Potter asked Weatherston: “You were right about that, weren’t you?”

Weatherston said he was.

“Prior to the officer coming in I could see certain things around. I looked at my hand and I could see a cutting wound in my hand and I was trying to work out …” Weatherston said.

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Sea Shepherd flees whalers over boarding fears

– Monday, 09 February 2009

A militant anti-whaling organisation which has battled Japanese whalers south of New Zealand says it is pulling out, fearing they are about to be boarded. .
"I have said always said that we would do everything we can short of hurting people to end illegal whaling in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary," said he said.
In a media statement the ship's captain, Paul Watson, says the group will return with a faster and longer range ship.
The whaling fleet this year deployed acoustical devices and water cannons against the Sea Shepherd crew.
Confrontations between those onboard the Steve Irwin and the whaling fleet have resulted in numerous close calls and two collisions resulting in minor damage.38 from Fiji to intercept the Steve Irwin.
Watson claimed he had information that the Japanese government had dispatched a security vessel called the Taiyo Maru No.
"We cannot allow this documentation to be captured by Japan," said Watson.
He said the ship is believed to be carrying a special boarding unit and has orders to seize the ship and all video evidence aboard Steve Irwin. The ship had only another four days of fuel reserves to remain with the fleet before being forced to return anyway.
The Steve Irwin will be returning to Australia and is expected to arrive within the next two weeks.
"Another four days is simply not worth getting someone killed."

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Prostitutes tempt clients with deals

By KEITH LYNCH – Saturday, 07 February 2009

Stacy Squires/
NO LET UP: Christchurch brothel owner Felicity James says her business has not yet been hit by the recession. .
Even the oldest profession in the world is not recession-proof, and the city's sex workers are trimming prices and providing special services.
"The lunchtime special -$50 for 15 minutes – makes up 90 per cent of my work now because a lot of people are not going to book an hour or half an hour," she said.
Phebe, who describes herself as a busty blonde, is offering a $50 lunchtime special to attract clients. A lot of girls out there are doing things and offering services they wouldn't normally do, but I've just come up with this special and dropped my prices.
"I've also had to drop my prices to bring in the same amount of business."
Another escort, Loretta, 26, is offering a service called double-trouble to bring in business. Now you've got to have a hook or offer something different," she said.
"This is our hook. It's a tease.
"The service [which costs $80] involves one lady offering full service while another watches.
"I've been working a couple of years and people just don't have the money they used to," she said."
Loretta said the recession had hit her prices hard.
"I used to charge $100 for half an hour and $160 for the full hour.
"I used to charge $100 for half an hour and $160 for the full hour."
The Christchurch co-ordinator of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, Anna Reed, said: "The first thing that goes in a recession is discretionary income, and nobody is making much money.
"Competition is up, too, and there are girls out there offering full service for $40. "We have heard of some girls being forced to go to work in Auckland and Wellington."
She said there had been reports of prostitutes moving elsewhere to get work. Felicity James, of Felicity's brothel in Lichfield St in central Christchurch, said she had not seen a drop in business."
Not all prostitutes are being hit by the recession.
"They work their own hours, they have more independence and they have autonomy, but not the protection we can offer.
"We have seen a drop in staff levels here as women opt to work as escorts at home," she said. Ideally, I'd want 26, but I expect an influx next week when the children go back to school.
"Right now I only have 12 girls.
"People will always buy food, alcohol, drugs, coffee, and sex.
"People will always buy food, alcohol, drugs, coffee, and sex. A lot of men are stressed and want a release," she said.
"We haven't been forced to drop our prices. We get about 150 clients on average a week, and this number is staying steady."

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Woman survives bolt shot in head

and KATHERINE NEWTON Saturday, 10 January 2009

Neighbours of a woman left with a crossbow bolt lodged in her skull heard "an almighty scream" as the wayward bolt hit.
Had it struck a centimetre either way, she would be dead, police said.
The injury has sparked fresh calls for a licence system for the weapons.
An Auckland Hospital spokeswoman said staff were shocked to see the woman wheeled into the emergency department with the 40-centimetre-long bolt jutting from just above her right eye.
The 42-year-old Auckland woman was hit by the crossbow bolt which had travelled more than 30 metres as she watered pot plants on the veranda of her Glen Eden home on Thursday afternoon.
"She was very lucky," the spokeswoman said.
The woman was in a serious but stable condition yesterday after undergoing surgery.
A neighbour appears to have accidentally fired the crossbow, which was a Christmas present, into the woman's property.
The neighbour and the victim's 16-year-old son heard the woman call out and went to help her. Other neighbours said the man tried to shoot at an old stereo, but the crossbow jammed, sending the bolt flying.
"A person in a house next door to us heard a fairly almighty scream from the property .
Neighbour Murray Cramp said other neighbours heard the woman cry out as she was struck… She was lucky not to have been killed outright. She was lucky not to have been killed outright.
Inspector Joe Green, police manager of licensing and vetting, said there were no licensing laws around the use of crossbows.
Police said firing a crossbow in a residential area was irresponsible and they were considering laying charges.
Crossbows can be bought from places such as on-line auction site Trade Me, where yesterday there were at least 12 models on sale for as little as $50.
Someone who was found to have misused the potentially lethal piece of equipment could be charged with possession of an offensive weapon under the Crimes Act.
In light of the incident, former NZ First law and order spokesman Ron Mark renewed his call for the Government to introduce a licensing requirement for crossbows to bring them in line with other arms.
Mr Green said there was no evidence that crossbow incidents were on the rise. .
"These weapons are potentially lethal, with the ability to kill or maim at a range of 60 yards, yet there is no requirement for crossbows to be licensed

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Te Papa warns of big losses

The Friday, 12 December 2008

Te Papasays it is facing big financial losses as its funding comes under pressure.
In a briefing to the Government, Te Papaadvises of losses of up to $17.6 million a year as its finances take a turn for the worse and says the situation is not sustainable.
The museum receives $23million a year from the Government and $5 million from other sources, including Wellington City Council, with the rest of its $45 million annual budget coming from sponsorship and commercial activities.
The biggest drain on its finances is a lack of government funding for depreciation – but it is also losing money because of rising costs for materials, construction and staff. While it has a healthy bank balance – more than $20 million – it says those reserves will be drained within a few years as it seeks to make up the funding deficit.
But it says depreciation costs are set to rise to $16 million by 2010. The museum employs 527 people.
"As the building gets older, there will be some depreciation issues that will need to be addressed.
Arts and Culture Minister Chris Finlayson said yesterday he was aware of the issues raised by Te Papa and had discussed them. "I'm not giving any assurances to any organisation at this point."
He would not offer any hope of extra funding.

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Pair arrested for Christchurch cabbie killing

Monday, 08 December 2008

SLAIN: Abdulrahman Ikhtiari.

Cabbies tell of assault fears

Hunt on for taxi driver killers

Police recover footage of murder scene

Two teenage maleshave been arrested and charged with the murder of Christchurch taxi driver Abdulrahman Ikhtiari, police said tonight.
Securitycamera footage of twopeople fleeing the scene of the murder in the early hours of Saturday morning brought about the breakthrough this afternoon.
The pair, aged 16 and 19, will appear in the youth court tomorrow.
Ikhtiari, a 39-year-old father of five, died of a single stab wound to his chest in his taxi on Worcester Street.
Police said the footage had thrown up a lot of new information, including the registration plates of cars at the scene at the time. .
The post mortem on Ikhtiari indicates the weapon used to stab him in the chest had a blade at least 14cm long and about 2cm wide.
Police had yet to find two men believed to have been the United Taxis driver's last fare.
SECURITY
Ikhtiari's car lacked the hi-tech security system of many Christchurch taxis.
United Taxis director Trevor Ellwood said the company's lower-tech radio dispatch system was just as effective as the bigger companies and in most cases faster.
The United Taxis fleet does not have alarm systems or cameras.
"You can have GPS and cameras and all the niceties but they're $5000 per car .
"The law stipulates what the requirements are," he said…"
The firm is not a member of the Taxi Federation. It's nice to have alarm systems and everything but the guys have got to be able to activate them.
One taxi driver, who declined to be named, said the larger more recognised firms were prohibitively expensive to join, which forced people to work for less-protected operations. Drivers with member firms such as Blue Star, Gold Band and First Direct have technology and protections unavailable to drivers at other operations.
Other companies had lower subscriptions but the lack of booking work forced drivers to ply the streets for trade.
The larger companies benefited from more "radio work" phone-booked jobs that gave more stable incomes.
Over 30 taxi drivers and members of the Afghan community were at the home to lend support to the family.
Ikhtiari's home in Bryndwr was a sombre scene yesterday.
A family spokesperson, who declined to be named, expressed concern for Ikhtiari's widow who was "very frail".
A family spokesperson, who declined to be named, expressed concern for Ikhtiari's widow who was "very frail".
"She can't cope," he said.
Christchurch man Ali Tausif said Ikhtiari was known in the Christchurch Muslim community as a "very quiet, polite person".
Hagley Community College associate principal Rex Gibson said members of Ikhtiari's extended family worked at the college and Ikhtiari volunteered at the school's refugee homework programme.
Ikhtiari came to New Zealand after persecution of his Hazara ethnic group in Afghanistan by the ruling Taleban.
He was aboard the container ship the MV Tampa which created international headlines when it rescued him and more than 400 other Afghan refugees from a distressed fishing vessel but then was refused access to Australian ports. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 363 7400.
– with and

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Taxi drivers call for security camera subsidy

By KRISTIAN SOUTH – Sunday, 07 December 2008

The organisation representing taxi drivers last night called on the government to subsidise security cameras for cabbies.
The move followed the second stabbing of a taxi driver in just over a week.
Tim Reddish, federation executive director, said Australia funded the installation of cameras in cabs and New Zealand should follow.
Yesterday's brutal slaying of Christchurch cab driver Abdulrahman Ikhtiari and last weekend's frenzied stabbing of south Auckland driver Alexander Ershov, has sparked widespread worry among cab drivers and prompted the New Zealand Taxi Federation to call for a security review. .
He said the scheme had reduced taxi attacks.
"We have been in talks with the police about taxi safety and I think this demonstrates that something concrete needs to be done.
The federation's Canterbury president, Nick Jackman, also wanted taxi security to be reviewed.
"This (Ikhtiari's murder) highlights that there are differences among companies in terms of their emergency procedures and it does make a great deal of difference in protecting drivers while they're on the road. We must work to make sure that these drivers are safe," Jackman said. While many companies take the initiative to protect their drivers, there are many that don't have any protection.
"Something needs to be done to ensure drivers are safe while driving their taxis at night."
The company Ikhtiari drove for, United Taxis, was not a member of the federation, meaning there was no way of monitoring what, if any, safety measures were on board its fleet of cabs.