Friday, February 6, 2015

Let me Define State and Oppositional Crimes for you

Within the expansive academic journals and books there are definitions upon definitions of what a state and oppositional crimes are. In my personal opinion there is a chapter of a book by David Helfgott's book Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice that defines and gives many examples of these two political crimes.

The first kind of crime that Hefgott defines is state crime. State crime is, "harmful activities carried out by the state or on behalf of some state agency" (Helfgott, p. 356). There are multiple types of state crimes that can be committed. Some of those would include political repression of human rights, state violence, and espionage. Within the remaining blog posts there are quiet a few examples of state crimes. 

The second kind of crime is oppositional crime. This type of crime is defined as  those who "have
strong ideological convictions that conflict with government interests" (Helfgott, p. 331). Most of the time this crime is seen as riots or protests. There are however, other types of oppositional crime including dissent, sedition, espionage, and treason. These crimes can either be violent or non-violent. However, this type of crime is not seen as much in the social media as state crimes are.

In this blog I will be providing you with 4 different examples of political crime that are occurring with the world today. The United States is not the only nation that struggles with political crime. These crimes range from Hong Kong, Egypt, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, and China. These are only a few examples of political crimes that are occurring within the world today. 



Reference
Helfgott. "Political Crime." 9 (2002). Web. <https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/1151-NAU00-CCJ-341-SEC001-6366.NAU-PSSIS/Helfgott_Chapter_9.pdf>.

Riots in Hong Kong

A protest began in Hong Kong Sunday evening when students started to gather in the streets. These students are a pro-democracy group that have been threatening to protest schools openly since the government has decided to control who runs for office. When the government did not respond to the student's demands they took to the streets.

Since Sunday the protest has grown exponentially. It has grown to the point where they are blocking traffic, emergency vehicles, and public transport. Police officers have been trying to stop the protest from growing by using rubber bullets, tear gas, and force. However, their efforts have been in vain. The protesters numbers have been growing. Growing to try to change the mind of the government officials. However, their protest have not phased the minds of government officials. The riot is still in full swing.

To read more about this protest you can read it on the CNN website or you can follow this link:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/28/world/asia/china-hong-kong-students/

The political crime that I will be focusing on for this article is oppositional crime. Now Helfgott defines oppositional crime as those people who "have strong ideological beliefs that conflict with government interests" (Helfgott, p. 331). The students and protesters that gather in the streets of Hong Kong are protesting the governments choice to control the appointment of office.

The specific oppositional crime that the protesters have committed is political dissent and it can be expressed in many ways, "political protest, acts of civil disobedience, or other expressions of opposition" (Helfgott, p. 331). The protesters of Hong Kong are protesting the government and they are refusing to obey the orders of the police force. These people are protesting something that they do not agree with. However, they are doing so in a manner that is threatening the lives of the people within the crowd and breaking the law by disobeying the orders of the police.




References
Helfgott. "Political Crime." 9 (2002). Web. <https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/1151-NAU00-CCJ-341-SEC001-6366.NAU-PSSIS/Helfgott_Chapter_9.pdf>.
Watson, I. (n.d.). Hong Kong says riot police have pulled back as protesters jam city streets - CNN.com. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/28/world/asia/china-hong-kong-students/

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Held for Espionage or Just Suspicions?

Imagine owning a coffee shop somewhere in a foreign place. A place where people came to relax, sip coffee, and learn a different language. This was the life of Canadian couple Kevin and Julia Garrett
before they were apprehended and placed within a China jail. The couple was suspected of stealing and transferring (espionage) state secrets to Canada. 

The couple had moved to Dandong with the intention of spreading the word of God to those in North Korea along with providing aid to those who needed it. These actions caused the Chinese government to become suspicious of the couple. The couple was apprehended and are now under the close surveillance of China. 

Julia has been released on bail. However, Kevin is being kept in a secret facility while further investigations are being conducted. The couple is not allowed to leave China, causing great tensions between China and Canada. 

To read the full story you can find it on the "NY Times" website or you can follow the link below: 

The Canadian government is doing all that they can to help the couple out of their sticky situation. The ever growing tension between China and North Korea are the reason why this couple was under
surveillance. The couple was living on the border near North Korea with the intentions of helping those within Korea. China, in response, deduced that the couple was only up to "no good". There was no evidence found against the couple or the couple's family for that matter. 

Governments should not decidei that someone is guilty based upon the suspicion of espionage. There needs to be facts. There needs to be evidence that proves guilt. Suspicion is not enough. This arresting and detaining Kevin and Julia Garrett is a state crime; more specifically it is political repression.

Political repression can be either violent or nonviolent. In this case it is nonviolent. "Methods of political repression range from nonviolent use of law to imprison..." (Helfgott, p. 357). Kevin and Julia were both apprehended without any evidence and are now being held prisoner within China. The couple is not allowed to exercise their rights because they are under suspicion. This is a crime towards this couple.


References
Helfgott. "Political Crime." 9 (2002). Web. <https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/1151-NAU00-CCJ-341-SEC001-6366.NAU-PSSIS/Helfgott_Chapter_9.pdf>. 

Levin, D. (2015, February 5). China Holds Canadian on Suspicion of Stealing State Secrets. Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/world/asia/china-holds-canadian-on-suspicion-of-stealing-state-secrets.html?ref=world

Abuse of Iraq and Afghanistan Detainees

This battle has been raging for more than 10 years. U.S. military personnel have taken pictures of one
another with Iraq and Afghanistan detainees who had been severely abused and sometimes killed.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) decided to sue for the release of the pictures in 2004. It was during this same time a handful of pictures surfaced on the internet and other media sources. In 2005 Hellerstein, who has continuously presided over this case, ruled that the photos were to be released. However, in 2009 the president of Iraq asked the United States to withhold from releasing the pictures. His reason was that he believed the release of the pictures would cause a destabilization within his government. So the United States decided that in order to keep the peace within Iraq the pictures would not be released. 

An investigator, Megan Weis, decided to look into the matters further and present a select few of the pictures to major military officials. The officials stated that these pictures should be kept classified. Hellerstein is not satisfied at all with the ruling and how those are responding to the case. So he gave the military and the government a week to come up with a sound reason for withholding the photographs. This ruling was last Wednesday on the 28th of January. 

To read more about this article you can find it on the "Newsweek" website or follow the link below: 

This ruling to keep the pictures hidden have not reprieved the actions of the U.S. military personnel who posed within the photographs. Below is an example of one of the 2,100 pictures. 


The pictures are essentially telling the world that it is okay to treat a detainee this way. That it is okay to abuse them because they come from an enemy country. However, these people still have basic human rights. Rights that are being stripped away from them by being beaten and then recorded within a picture. The reason behind this was for "good sport". To show the rest of the country that they were not afraid of these people, no matter how humiliating or life threatening. 

This is a state crime. More specifically it is state violence. Helfgott describes this kind of crime as, "form of political criminality that generally consists of illegal, physically harmful actions committed by a country’s coercive organizations against individuals and groups" (Helfgott, p. 357). These military personnel are depriving these detainees of their basic human rights and then documenting it.

This is a type of crime that should not go unpunished or without repercussion. This type of behavior needs to be stopped. 




References
Helfgott. "Political Crime." 9 (2002). Web. <https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/1151-   NAU00-CCJ-341-SEC001-6366.NAU-PSSIS/Helfgott_Chapter_9.pdf>.

Walker, L. (2015, February 4). U.S. Government Warned on Withholding Detainee Abuse                 Photographs. Retrieved February 4, 2015, from http://www.newsweek.com/us-government-warned-withholding-detainee-abuse-photographs-304528


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Trouble along Egypt and Gaza's border

Tension is running high along the border of Egypt and Gaza. 

Since the 29th of January, the Cairo and Hamas government have been throwing accusations at each other. Cairo accuses the Hamas government of not only associating with a known terrorist group but smuggling weapons and soldiers to fight against Egypt. On the other hand the Hamas government is accusing Cairo government of firing military weapons (guns) onto their land without any justification. (From News Services, 2015)

This situation has escalated exponentially from accusations to endangering citizens. Bombs are being planted within Egypt's border, specifically in Alexandria and Cairo. Small flash grenades are placed in public locations to cause panic and chaos. However there are bigger bombs that have been planted near the Egyptian police force and army. These bombs are killing innocent people. Egypt believes that it is the Hamas government that is planting these bombs. (From News Services, 2015)

Hamas is not the only guilty part however. Last Thursday parts of the Egyptian government, the Islamic State Egypitian affiliate, claimed that they organized 30 security personnel within the Gaza border to be killed. (From News Services, 2015)

The full story can be found within the Washington Post. Here is the link if you are interested in reading further. 

This situation with Gaza and Egypt is a domino effect. It started with accusations. Then it dramatically accelerated to an admission of killing security personnel and bombs. Both governments are at fault here. Both governments are committing state crimes. 

In chapter 9 of Helfgott's Criminal Behavior: Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice he defines state crimes as "Harmful activities carried out by the state or on behalf of some state agency" (Helfgott, p. 356). Egypt has admitted killing 30 innocent people and Hamas has started planting bombs with in Egypt killing innocent by standards. The specific state crime that I believe that Gaza and Egypt is state violence. State violence is defined as a "form of political criminality that generally consists of illegal, physically harmful actions committed by a country’s coercive organizations against individuals and groups" (Helfgott, p. 357). Both countries are guilty of this. They have and are killing people. They are depriving people of their basic human rights to live. Both countries are responding to the actions of the other. It is a domino effect and should be stopped or mediated at least. 

State violence as a state crime can be seen as reactions to other's actions. Tension is running high between both countries. Both countries have done things that the other does not like much. As a result, state crimes have ensued. 




References

Rising concerns over bombings in Egypt. (2015, February 3). Retrieved February 4, 2015, from              http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/explosion-gunfire-along-egypt-gaza- border-man-dies-in-alexandria-bombing/2015/02/03/175c76e2-abdd-11e4-ad71-        7b9eba0f87d6_story.html

Helfgott. "Political Crime." 9 (2002). Web. <https://bblearn.nau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/1151-    NAU00-CCJ-341-SEC001-6366.NAU-PSSIS/Helfgott_Chapter_9.pdf>.















Monday, February 2, 2015

So what does this all mean?

Political crimes come in all shapes and forms and from different parts of the world. This blog shows how different political crimes can come to light within the mass media. Clearly, state crimes are much more popular within the media because they are the most violent. However, crimes of opposition or oppositional crimes are also very prominent.

What we can take from this blog is that political crime is everywhere and in so many different forms. What society needs to look at is the reason behind why the crime is being committed. This reason will allow people to know which kind of political crime is being committed.

So go out and look at the mass media. See the crimes that are being committed and see if you can detect if the crime is state or oppositional.