Mexican Compensated for Being Shot in the Back by Border Patrol Agent

TUCSON, Arizona – The case of an undocumented Mexican who received compensation for being shot in the back by a Border Patrol agent is a “victory,” according to activists.

“This is a great victory, because the use of lethal force by the Border Patrol has been a big problem for some time,” James Duff Lyall, a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, told Efe.

He said that when a Border Patrol agent is suspected of abuse of power, he is almost never penalized as in this case.

On Feb. 5 a federal judge awarded $500,000 in compensation to Jesus Castro Romo, who was shot in the back in November 2010 after being arrested trying to cross the border into the U.S. illegally together with other immigrants.

Border Patrol agent Abel Canales said he fired in self-defense after Castro threatened him with a rock.

U.S. District Judge James Soto ruled that Castro was in no position to throw a rock at the federal agent at the time he was hit by a bullet.

The judge went a step further and said that “a rock is not as deadly an object as a gun and requires greater degree of certainty that the object will be used than the threat or perceived threat of a gun.”

“It is often extremely difficult for an immigrant to file suit against Border Patrol agents,” William Risner, the attorney who represented Castro in the civil lawsuit, told Efe.

On many occasions the Border Patrol has made the excuse of being threatened with a rock to justify the use of lethal force.

“This is just one case – we know there is still a long road ahead and a long history of abuse and lack of responsibility on the part of this federal agency,” Risner said.

The attorney said that Castro’s health has had a number of complications due to the bullet wound and that the $500,000 compensation must be used to cover the costs of a needed operation.

Risner has another three cases pending of border agents who shot and killed someone.

One case is that of 19-year-old Carlos Lamadrid, a U.S. citizen who died after being shot several times in March 2011 in the border town of Douglas, Arizona.

He was fleeing police and was trying to climb over the border fence to the Mexican side when he was shot in the back at least four times.

The U.S. Justice Department ruled in 2013 that there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges against the border agent, identified as Lucas Tidwell.

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A-10 jets deploy to Europe from Davis-Monthan Air Force base

 

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A dozen A-10 attack jets have deployed to Europe from a Tucson base at a time of continuing tension with Russia over Ukraine.

The Air Force says the jets deployed to a base in Germany to help demonstrate the United States' continued commitment to the collective security of the NATO and peace and stability in Europe.

The Air Force says the A-10s and 300 personnel from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 355h Fighter Wing will fly training missions while in Europe.

Two Republican members of Arizona's congressional delegation said they're proud of the service members deploying in what they called "the face of continued Russian aggression in Ukraine."

Sen. John McCain and Rep. Martha McSally also said the deployment shows the wisdom of keeping the A-10s in the Air Force's fleet.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

35 killed in Borno market explosion, other attacks

MAIDUGURI—Thirty-five persons were killed, yesterday, and several others injured during attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on three Borno communities. The three communities were Biu, the largest Borno town in the southern part of the state, Alkideow and Mbuta.

Joint Military Task Force (JTF) patroling the streets of the restive northeastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri, Borno State. AFP (File photo)

In Biu, a deadly explosion from a bomb that went off in a crowded market, reportedly killed 15 people with 21 others injured, according to witnesses.

Witnesses said the injured persons and corpses were being evacuated. Biu is the largest Borno town in the southern part of the state, located 187 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.

A resident of the town, Mwajim Ali Gana said: “A suicide bomber today (yesterday) launched an attack on innocent marketers on Biu plateau”.

Another eye witness said: “I was buying some soup ingredients at the vegetable section of the market around 3:15pm and suddenly there was a heavy sound and the market was covered with dust as the entire place was thrown into confusion. Human parts littered the scene as survivors scrambled for safety”.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/35-killed-borno-market-explosion-attacks/#sthash.176qBpoi.dpuf

Ukraine battles persist before cease-fire deadline; 25 dead

Fierce fighting surged Feb. 13 in eastern Ukraine as Russian-backed separatists mounted a major, sustained offensive to capture a strategic railway hub ahead of a weekend cease-fire deadline. At least 25 people were killed across the region, officials reported.

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Students of Tehran University Protested against the Prison-Like Situation

HRANA News Agency – Students of Tehran University attended a rally at students’ accommodation calling on the officials to address their demands.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), last Saturday, on 8th of February 2015, a large number of students at Tehran University dormitory gathered in protest against rising costs and reducing capacity of the accommodation, the time limitation of hours of silence at night for students, inappropriate Internet services, increasing the price of guests in dormitories and inappropriate behavior of dormitory’s security agents with students.

The gathering started with 50 students at 8 pm in the main square of the dormitory, and students asked for officials’ presence among them.

However, after doctor Hamzehloo, general director of the Tehran University dormitories, attended, when it was associated with an increase in the students’ population, the protests got more serious.

Because of lack of clear accountability by doctor Hamzehloo, students demanded the “Student Affairs” deputy to be present among them.

After some times, doctor Behnejad, presented among the protesters, when they were about 400, and students began to express their complaints, but doctor Behnejad did not give convincing answer and also his tone was disputed by students.

Then students got more fervent and stated that they want to meet the President of the Tehran University at the dormitory.

At this time, students began a demonstration on the campus to get the other classmates with them and invite others to join the rally.

Students’ rally got bigger up to 700-800 with students slogans such as “free education is our inalienable right”, “additional fees should be abolished”, “Our problem is our union problem, lawlessness should be ended”, “zealous student support”, “university president must be summoned” and finally, they gathered again in the main square of the university dormitory and announced that they won’t leave unless the President of the University would attend the gathering.

Finally, it was announced that doctor Khezri president and general manager of public relations field and Plenipotentiary Representative of doctor Neely, president of the university, will be in the gathering in a few minutes, the students sat in the same square and started writing their demands to obtain, at least, a written guarantee from the representative of the President of the University to pursue their demands.

Doctor Khezri attended the crowd and accepted the shortcomings and promised to follow the students’ demands, and a statement was read among the crowd which contained important topics including students’ demands for extradition additional costs especially upper pears students, canceling the time of silence and prohibition of traffic from 11 pm to 6 am, repeal the law allows security forces to enter the students’ rooms, preventing security guards of the dormitory to treat the students in an inappropriate manner,  improving dormitory’s Internet, stopping disciplinary action against the students at the rally, etc.

Then, this written statement was presented to doctor Khezri and he signed that statement promising to pursue the case and guaranteed to give a report in a week.

Finally, students stated that they give one week time to deal with their demands, and announced that on 14th February they will gather again to hear the officials’ explanations and then they ended their rally.