The strange tale of the paid protesters supporting Meng Wanzhou at her extradition hearing
Detention of Meng Wanzhou - CFO of Huawei
Wed, 2020-01-22 00:18
#852
Wed, 2020-01-22 18:52
#853
Who paid for the (fake) protest outside Meng Wanzhou's hearing? We still don't know
Wed, 2020-01-22 18:58
#854
Who paid for the (fake) protest outside Meng Wanzhou's hearing? We still don't know
In a way I wonder why it matters. We know tha tthe woman has supporters and that she has money. We know a country is behind her. It is not unusual for supporters to support. If they have money and waant this to happen at distance that too. I do not like paid protestors but this is not that unique.
To me it does not change the issues which must be about right and wrong. I do not think that a protest means that they are right or wrong and I do not think that paid protestors mean she is wrong even if it is a bit distastful for some.
Thu, 2020-01-23 10:08
#855
Huawei CFO’s Extradition Case Isn’t So Complex, Say Prosecutors
Fri, 2020-05-08 12:49
#856
US Asks Court to Limit Huawei's Ability to Share American Evidence With Meng
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-us-asks-court-to-limit-...
"...Richard Kurland, a Vancouver immigration lawyer who has followed the Meng case closely, said he is baffled by the US argument. The US Justice Department is saying that Ms Meng can't get access to discovery documents in her own case, but Huawei can, he said. 'Their position is that as a fugitive fighting extradition to the US that Meng is not entitled to discovery,' he said. But the law says she is innocent until proven guilty, so she is not a fugitive. They are also saying Huawei may be entitled to discovery but not Ms Meng, but she is the CFO of Huawei, and so she would be expected to be able to defend Huawei."
As with the outrageous extradition stitch-up of another official US enemy, publisher Julian Assange, the UK vassal's kangaroo court has more than demonstrated its open animus towards Assange and its willingness to comply with the wishes of the American overlords. It is highly likely that the Canadian vassal's kangaroo court will find in favour of the US request and extradite Meng.
Tue, 2020-05-26 14:46
#857
PM Trudeau emphasizes independence of justice system on eve of key Huawei decision
Wed, 2020-05-27 11:52
#858
'The Case is Anything But Routine': Huawei CFO Lawyers Paint Picture of Conspiracy
https://twitter.com/molkoreports/status/1265653432955928577
"Decision Day. If judge decides Meng Wanzhou's alleged actions would be a crime in Canada, expect an appeal. Extradition hearing then moves to next phase - Meng alleges her rights were violated when she was arrested at Vancouver airport in December 2018. More here..."
Decision to come down around 11:00 BC time. Watch this twitter feed.
Wed, 2020-05-27 12:15
#859
Today's Court Decision on Meng Wanzhou's Extradition Could Rattle the Canada-China Relationship
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/meng-wanzhou-china-canada-kovrig-spavor...
"...Tuesday, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian issued a warning to Canada in his daily news conference. 'China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear,' he said. 'The US and Canada abused their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen without cause. This is a serious political incident that grossly violates the legitimate rights and interests of a Chinese citizen...The Canadian side should immediately correct its mistake..."
Wed, 2020-05-27 14:13
#860
This was not wise!
Premature victory lap? Meng Wanzhou poses ahead of momentous court decision
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/meng-wanzhou-photographs-posing-court-1.5582689
Wed, 2020-05-27 14:22
#861
Extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou should proceed, B.C. judge rules
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has delivered a major blow to Meng Wanzhou, ruling that extradition proceedings against the Huawei executive should proceed.
In a widely anticipated decision on so-called "double criminality," Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says the offence Meng is accused of by American prosecutors would be considered a crime if it occurred in Canada.
The 48-year-old chief financial officer of telecommunications giant Huawei is charged with fraud in the United States for allegedly deceiving banks into a possible violation of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.
In a 23-page ruling released Wednesday, Holmes said that the essence of Meng's alleged crime is fraud.
And the fact Canada doesn't have the same economic sanctions against Iran as the U.S. wouldn't stop someone being prosecuted in Canada for the same offence.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/meng-wanzhou-extradition-decision-1.5585737
Wed, 2020-05-27 14:17
#862
China may be worried that Meng Wanzhou will turn state's evidence against China
Wed, 2020-05-27 16:38
#863
Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou Loses Key Court Battle as BC Judge Rules Extradition Bid Should Proceed
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/meng-wanzhou-extradition...
"A BC Supreme Court judge has delivered a major blow to Meng Wanzhou, ruling that extradition proceedings against the Huawei executive should proceed. A statement from Huawei on Wednesday said the company was 'disappointed' in Holmes ruling and that her lawyers will continue to push for her freedom. The ruling does not necessarily mean that Meng will be extradited to the US.
The judge still has to hold hearings to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant extradition and Meng has also claimed her rights were violated at the time of her arrest. Holmes pointed out that Canada's Minister of Justice will also have a chance to weigh in on whether a decision to commit Meng for extradition would be contrary to Canadian values.* The US Department of Justice released a statement thanking the Canadian government for its 'continued assistance' in its prosecution..."
What 'Canadian values'? Constant undeviating subservience to Washington?
Wed, 2020-05-27 19:54
#864
'BC Supreme Court Judge Delivers Major Blow to Meng Wanzhou'
https://twitter.com/justinpodur/status/1265712553168195587
"In case anyone wonders how an imperial subcontractor behaves or if anyone is still under the impression that the US/Canada/UK and China are secretly chummy."
Wed, 2020-05-27 22:27
#865
What is double criminality? Meng Wanzhou ruling explained
Despite the wider ramifications, international lawyer Christopher Burkett said ahead of Wednesday's ruling that he didn’t expect politics to make a difference in the courtroom.
“I think the Canadian justice system has shown time and time again to be independent of the political arena. We have a system based firmly in the rule of law. It’s a term that’s used often, and sometimes overused, but really boiled down it is that the law is the Queen, and not the other way around,” he told CTV News Channel.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/what-is-double-criminality-meng-wanzhou-ruling-explained-1.4957739
Wed, 2020-05-27 22:29
#866
Just in case folks are wondering who Chris Burkett is
MEET THE BAY STREET LITIGATOR WHO FIGHTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Chris Burkett spends 300 pro bono hours a year representing survivors of human trafficking
https://precedentjd.com/career/meet-the-bay-street-litigator-who-fights-for-human-rights/
Thu, 2020-05-28 16:00
#867
A Bay Street lawyer who has faith in the legal system and is being quoted by BCE Inc. That proves what exactly?
Thu, 2020-05-28 16:22
#868
Our dismal relationship with China just got a whole lot worse
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china-meng-wanzhou-extradition-kovrig-spavor-1.5587636
Thu, 2020-05-28 19:25
#869
Our dismal relationship with China just got a whole lot worse
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china-meng-wanzhou-extradition-kovrig-spavor-1.5587636
I made the mistake of reading this drivel. Its exactly what one would expect from a state media outlet, a biased story chock full of government talking points.
I still don't get why China would arrest the wrong two people for low level spying. They supposedly have the most sophisticated spy system on the planet (although my money is on the 5Eyes) and they arrested the wrong people, or am I to believe that Canada has no low level spies operating in China?
Sat, 2020-05-30 15:06
#870
How a man with two wives helped deliver one big loss to Meng Wanzhou
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/meng-wanzhou-george-coll...
Sat, 2020-05-30 18:30
#871
Re Above:
I find these two examples far more relevent and interesting. Both emanate from a court system accurately described by disbarred dissident lawyer Bruce Clark as 'a legal theatre of the absurd operating completely outside the rule of law.' And so it appears.
United States vs Pitawanakwat
http://www.uniset.ca/other/cs4/120FSupp2d921.html
"Canadian government sought extradition of defendant Canadian citizen [Indigenous national] who was alleged to have violated terms of his parole by leaving Canada without permission after serving portion of sentence. Held: Defendant's offenses fell within political offense exception to extradition...Extradition shall not be granted in any of the following circumstances: (iii) When the offense in respect of which extradition is requested is of a political character..."
Leonard Peltier's Plea for Clemency
https://www.cba.org/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=b56ad198-0b04-4f07-b172-2...
"...Mr Peltier was extradited from Canada by a predecessor in your office in 1976. Unfortunately, his extradition was based on faulty evidence...See J Privatera, 'Toward a Remedy for International Extradition by Fraud: The Case of Leonard Peltier..."
Tue, 2020-06-02 10:49
#872
Bell selects Ericsson, not Huawei, to build 5G cellular network
Tue, 2020-06-02 16:43
#873
Tue, 2020-06-02 17:37
#874
Imperialism at its finest.
Tue, 2020-06-02 20:58
#875
AEP: The Kidnapping of Meng Wanzhou and What It Reveals About How the World Works (podcast)
https://twitter.com/justinpodur/status/1267313148970835969
Part 1, with KJ Noh
Thu, 2020-06-04 19:09
#876
State Department says U.S. will reassess intelligence-sharing with Canada if it lets Huawei into 5G
The United States is prepared to reassess its intelligence-sharing arrangement with Canada if Huawei is given the green light to take part in building Canada’s 5G networks, a State Department spokesperson said today. The federal government still has not announced its decision on whether the Chinese telecom giant will be allowed to participate in building […]
Thu, 2020-06-04 19:18
#877
Canada will do as its told. But wouldn't it be great if our democratically elected MP's said that they will allow it because after all we believe in global trade and then the US severed all our ties with its myriad of US security and spy agencies. Now that would be progress.
Thu, 2020-06-04 21:43
#878
AEP - 54 On the Roots of Structural Racism in Canada - On the Meng Wanzhou Case, Part 2 (podcast)
https://twitter.com/justinpodur/status/1268585905402642464
"In part 2 of the series about the Meng Wanzhou case, Dan and I get into some of the history of Canadian racism and imperial propaganda..."
Fri, 2020-06-05 19:23
#879
Mon, 2020-06-15 21:09
#880
Meng Wanzhou's Lawyers Accuse US of Misleading Court in Extradition Case
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/meng-wanzhou-extradition...
"Misstatements of fact, omissions in case record should result in stay of proceedings, defence says..."
Huawei CFO Arrest 'Highly Political' - Spy Agency
"The arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada was 'highly political' according to a recently released report from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The memo was written just hours after the Chinese executive's arrest in Vancouver. Her legal team says the security document is proof that the authorities conspired against her. RTA's Alex Mihailovich reports from Toronto."
Canada turns 'politically motivated' tricks for Uncle Sam again..
Tue, 2020-06-16 16:02
#881
Lawyers for Meng accuse U.S. authorities of misleading court in extradition case
quote:
The new claim was discussed during a case management conference convened Monday by Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes to determine scheduling in the case.
Holmes indicated she wants to consider the evidence related to the new argument first as the case proceeds.
She said it's difficult to analyze the effects of any alleged misstatements or omissions until she has an understanding of the defence's evidence and the Crown's response.
Wed, 2020-06-17 23:12
#882
Podcast: The Anti-Empire Project
https://twitter.com/justinpodur/status/1273446341235089408
Part-3, the conclusion of our series on the Meng Wanzhou case delves into 5G technology and US industrial sabotage, with George Koo.
Mon, 2020-06-22 14:37
#883
Look Who's Talking!?
"Pompeo slams China's 'politically motivated' charges against 2 Canadians nabbed after Huawei CFO arrest. Pompeo affirmed that the US 'stands with Canada', [or vice versa?] in calling for the pair's release. Washington 'rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada,' he continued. The Chinese Embassy has accused Ottawa of serving as an 'accomplice' to the US in Washington's ongoing trade war..."
Mon, 2020-06-22 20:36
#884
Thanks NDPP that is an interesting article. I did not know who Kovrig worked for. There is nothing suspicious about someone working for a US founded and funded NGO in Hong Kong that claims to be;"working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world." I guess I was silly to think he might actually be a low level spy.
Kovrig, a former diplomat working for the International Crisis Group in Hong Kong at the time of his arrest, has been accused of “gathering and stealing secrets and other intelligence for a foreign power.” Spavor, a businessman who organized trips to North Korea, was said to be providing Kovrig with “sensitive information and other intelligence.” Both were said to be engaging in “foreign espionage” and “providing state secrets.”
Here is who the International Crisis Group is. How could anyone be suspicious of something that Senator George Mitchell was involved with founding.
Crisis Group was founded in 1995 as an international non-governmental organisation by a group of prominent statesmen who despaired at the international community’s failure to anticipate and respond effectively to the tragedies of Somalia, Rwanda and Bosnia. The group was led by Morton Abramowitz (former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Thailand, then President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Mark Malloch-Brown (former head of the UN Development Programme, then UN Deputy Secretary-General and UK Minister), and its first Chairman, U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
Especially when they were involved in such selfless humanitarian missions like helping the dismemberment of Yugoslavia.
In February, Crisis Group establishes its first field presence in the Balkans financed by a $1 million contribution from George Soros following the signing of the December 1995 Dayton Peace Accords. The Bosnia program is to essentially define the organisation’s early years.
Within a month of the program’s start-up, Crisis Group deploys a team of experts to Bosnia. In August, Crisis Group issues a report calling for Bosnia’s elections, scheduled for October 1996, to be postponed (see Why the Bosnian Elections Must be Postponed). The report sends ripples through the international community, earning Crisis Group its first major public attention. While the national elections are not delayed, the warnings quickly prove prescient. Bosnian and international officials are embarrassed when the election is revealed to be deeply flawed, bolstering hard-line nationalists. Mort Abramowitz observes of Crisis Group’s efforts, “We fought hard and we lost”, but the organisation has made a distinct impression.
By the end of 1996, Crisis Group is working on a variety of other issues, from the risk of genocide in Burundi to possibilities for a democratic transition in Nigeria. In May, a group of Board members make the case for preventive action in Burundi with the UN Security Council, an early example of concerted high-level international advocacy. The Board meets twice during 1996, and the organisation begins to attract substantial funding, including from a number of government sources. In short, 1996 is the year Crisis Group begins to make its mark.
I am sure that they were merely gathering data so as to be able to bring in experts to create a new governmental system in Hong Kong if the government falls.
Mon, 2020-06-22 22:31
#885
Mon, 2020-06-22 22:50
#886
Mon, 2020-06-22 23:17
#887
This is embarassing
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-days-after-court-decision-...
Tue, 2020-06-23 11:37
#888
We never needed to detain Meng and now Louise Arbour has joined others to say so and is even on the CBC. Canada must learn to live with China, the world's oldest country.
Tue, 2020-06-23 15:21
#889
Canada Has Authority To Free Meng Wanzhou Now, Former Justice Minister, Supreme Court Justice Say
"The Canadian government has the legal authority to set Chinese telecommunications executive Meng Wanzhou free immediately and is wrongly claiming otherwise after being embarrassed over revelations of political interference in the prosecution of SNC Lavalin Group Inc last year, a former Liberal Justice minister and a former Supreme Court judge say.
The result is that two Canadians' liberty, health and perhaps their lives are at risk in China, without Canada debating the legitimate option of relenting to Chinese pressure [ as opposed to Trump Whitehouse pressure] and freeing Ms Meng, Alan Rock and Louise Arbour say. 'Canada needs 'a full debate based on a legitimate foundation of facts, rather than an incantation of rubrics like 'rule of law' and the 'independence of the courts' and the 'sanctity of the Judiciary', Mr Rock said in an interview..."
The seizure of Meng was a geopolitical power-play with Canada acting as accomplice and stooge in an act of hostage diplomacy to further US trade negotiations and global hegemony, at Canada's expense. Trump said as much when he held out the possibility of dropping the matter of Meng if China 'cooperated'. China responded accordingly. The real question is does Justin Trudeau have the courage to oppose the Trump Whitehouse, and act in furtherance of Canada's national interests? I think not. Please remember, once Meng is delivered up by Canada to the tender mercies of Washington, Canada's chances of freeing the two Michaels becomes virtually nil and the destruction of a critical trading partner virtually certain.
The present course is neither right nor of any advantage to Canada. Free Meng in return for our two Michaels.
Wed, 2020-06-24 18:27
#890
P&P (and vid)
https://twitter.com/PnPCBC/status/1275902529612713985
"19 prominent political voices have signed their names to the Prime Minister just yesterday, asking him to consider ending Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition in order to bring Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor home."
Mon, 2020-06-29 10:12
#891
72% support federal government position
Tue, 2020-06-30 09:38
#892
Speaking of Canadian 'hostages' in jails abroad for not spying, what about this poor Canadian-American 'corporate security executive' with 4 passports, just in Russia 'for a friend's wedding', minding his own business caught with an incriminating flash-drive full of ( 'planted') sensitive Russian national security information, 'falsely accused' of espionage, this one by our other official enemy, the evil Russians, using their courts as a 'political tool'.
'Severe' Sentence For US-Canadian Man Shows Russia Using Courts as 'Political Tool'
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/severe-sentence-for-u-s-canadian-man-shows-...
"...Global Affairs says Russia is using its judicial system as a 'political tool' after a US-Canadian citizen was sentenced Monday to 16-years in a maximum security prison colony. 'We are deeply concerned by the conviction of Paul Whelan, by a Russian court and by the severe sentence imposed on him,' a spokesperson said in an email to CTV. The statement comes after Paul Whelan's twin brother accused the Canadian government of silence in an interview with CTV News Channel on Monday. Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan who holds British and Irish citizenship, in addition to US and Canadian, was reportedly in Russia to attend a friend's wedding at the time of his arrest. His lawyers say the charges of spying for the US stem from a sting operation..."
Of course. Drift ends.
Mon, 2020-07-13 19:46
#893
Diplomat Says Documents Too Sensitive To Give To Meng's Legal Team (and vid)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/diplomat-says-documents-too-sensitive-to...
"The federal government is trying to block Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's access to some documents in her extradition case, arguing in affidavits that disclosing sensitive information would harm national security..."
(See also: Majority of Canadians oppose Meng Swap.)
LOL. I'll bet. Lots of forbidden hugger-mugger between Ottawa and Washington, Freeland and Pompeo, CSIS/CIA, Five Eyes etc. Obviously 2 Mikeys have been sacrificed to the over-arching anti-China agenda of American friends, unfortunately.
Tue, 2020-07-14 17:18
#894
Galloway: UK Ban on Huawei is National Self-Harm. China's Riposte Could Devastate the Ailing British Economy
Here too. 'What could possibly go wrong?' But surely all worth it if we can restore western democracy to Hong Kong!?
https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/a9108202-1449-11ea-b141-0242ac110004/?jws...
Wed, 2020-07-15 10:45
#895
Diplomatic Community: Trump Remarks
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1995291
"We're stuck. We're road-kill in this. I suppose we'll probably support the US and not choose Huawei. But who's bullying who here?" - Jeremy Kinsman, ex Cdn Ambassador to UK, Russia
Thu, 2020-07-16 19:32
#896
Gorilla Radio: Prof Harry Glasbeek on Huawei, Meng Wanzhou & China
http://www.gorilla-radio.com/2020/07/14/gorilla-radio-chris-cook-harry-g...
"583 days since the arrest of Huawei CFO (and daughter of company founder) Meng Wanzhou's forced stay in Canada. Meng's arrest has soured China/Canada relations. 'It is because it is a political issue that the controversy arises...'
Fri, 2020-07-17 19:24
#897
Canada, Huawei and the Role of Intelligence Agencies in a Modern Democracy
https://www.ceasefire.ca/canada-huawei-and-the-role-of-intelligence-agen...
"...There is another factor to consider. The respective intelligence agencies of the Five Eyes countries each have a vested interest in keeping their powerful American counterparts happy...Does this in turn mean they might not give sufficient weight to protect Canada's capacity to act independently of the US? RI President Peggy Mason asks the question another way: Does CSIS not have a direct conflict of interest when it comes to fairly evaluating the security risks to Canada of Huawei's participation in our 5G network?'
Whatever the legitimate security concerns (about which no actual evidence has yet been made public,) banning Huawei Canada from all Five Eyes 5G networks is also- and we would argue mainly - about handicapping an American strategic competitor, and reinforcing the dependence of 'anglosphere' western allies on US intelligence priorities, and forcing these same allies into a US-led economic bloc against China.
As we have written about before, this is actually in no country's interest but right-wing idealogues [eg Democratic Party centrists] in USA see it as the way to maintain US dominance ovcer traditional allies, and to keep the military-industrial complex alive and well and fully fed..."
Fri, 2020-07-17 20:59
#898
Diane Francis, Financial Post
China is an Enemy of the West and Canada Needs to Act Like It
https://financialpost.com/diane-francis/diane-francis-china-is-an-enemy-...
"Huawei Technologies is not a tech company. It is a weapon, created and subsidized by Beijing that ruthlessly gobbles up and spits out competitors and countries. It's also pushing a technology that will spread China's surveillance ability around the world...Canada should have - as Australia has done - outed China's behaviour as equivalent to acts of war, then joined the trade gang-up with the US. China is an enemy state and decoupling - politically, scientifically, diplomatically and economically - must take place. The stakes have never been higher. Is Canada a country or is it a pawn that a Chinese oligarch can hold to ransom?"
"Canada has yet to make a decision on Huawei and 5G [Bullshit. Of course it has. TBA], but given the bilateral terms between China and Canada, David Cochrane asks Huawei Canada VP Alykhan Velshi: Do you think Canadians would trust your company to play a part in what would be critical infrastructure? WATCH"
https://twitter.com/PnPCBC/status/1284260390067671042
Mon, 2020-07-27 13:13
#899
Meng Wanzhou Accuses US of Misleading Canada in 'Poisoned' Extradition Proceedings
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-meng-wanzhou-accuses-us...
"In new court filings in her battle against extradition to the United States, Meng Wanzhou is accusing the US government of not only using her as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China, but also misleading Canada's government and courts about the evidence gathered against her. The Huawei Technologies Co Ltd chief financial officer is alleging abuse of process by the American government and seeking a stay of extradition proceedings, a request expected to be heard in court in early 2021.
As expected, she is citing US President Donald Trump's comments where he said he would 'certainly intervene' in the Meng case if it would help get a better deal with China. 'These proceedings have been poisoned. They can no longer be regarded as fair..."
Tue, 2020-08-04 13:20
#900
The Anti-Empire Project: Meng Wanzhou (podcasts)
https://twitter.com/justinpodur/status/1290475440839114759
"At this point I have almost 4 hours of podcasts covering the Meng Wanzhou case, and I'm pretty confident you've heard almost none of it elsewhere, because I don't feel I understood what was going on until I did all this digging. "
[*Must Hear*]
Thu, 2020-08-06 15:13
#901
Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Christopher Black (radio)
https://www.gorilla-radio-com/2020/08/05/gorilla-radio-christopher-black...
"Twenty months into her Vancouver house arrest, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou entered a new court filing in BC's Supreme Court. In late July Meng's legal team charged that, among other things, the proceedings against their client had quote, 'been poisoned' and 'can no longer be resonably regarded as fair...' Men has already lost one appeal to throw out the extradition petition filed by the US in BC courts, and the case has predictably proven a particularly prickly political sticking point in Canada-China relations. Christopher Black is a Toronto-based criminal lawyer specializing in international war crimes cases. He's also an executive member of the Canadian Peace Congress."