EU vs. Microsoft Vista

Yesterday I joined a meeting in which was included a presentation by Microsoft of their next version of windows, Vista, with a lot of new features included. But exactly the word "included" is creating a lots of problems, as a lot of other software companies might face difficulties as Microsoft seems to include practices that distort competition.
On my way back from that meeting I realised, that those "includes" was just going to be a problem. Later I learned, that also the EU commissioner on competition had also seen problems in the forthcoming new version of Windows, and had sent a letter of warning to Microsoft.

EU warns Microsoft: forthcoming Vista risks antitrust breach
from Wikinews, March 30, 2006

The European Commission has warned Microsoft that features the company intends to include in its next version of Windows known as Windows Vista may breach the European Union's antitrust laws.

The EU's commissioner in charge of competition, Neelie Kroes, wrote to Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft last week informally warning him that Microsoft's plans to include security features, search tools, copyright protection services and an application to create documents similar to Adobe's PDF files into Vista would violate European antitrust laws, according to her spokesman Jonathan Todd.

Mr. Todd said that the commission was worried that features Microsoft plans to include in Vista may prevent customers from choosing their own software combinations. He emphasised that the letter was not a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into Windows Vista.

The commission wrote the letter following a letter from Microsoft asking them to indicate if there were any possible competition issues with the new system. Mr. Todd said: ?We assume that Microsoft has its own interests at heart. It wants to launch another product without having to worry about the Commission instituting various actions under antitrust law.?

Microsoft's top lawyer in Europe, Horacio Guttierez, said Wednesday that adding such functions into the operating system was essential if Microsoft was to meet customer demand. "I know consumers want more secure computer systems," he said.

Windows Vista includes software called Windows Defender, which seeks out and removes spyware and adware. Guttierez claims that forcing Microsoft to sell Windows without Defender "is a bit like forcing BMW to sell cars without airbags".

"We have a responsibility to make our products better and more secure for our customers," he said.

Further information:
Paul Meller "New Vista for Microsoft is antitrust issue for EU". International Herald Tribune, March 30, 2006
Rory Watson "Antitrust warning on Microsoft's new system". Times Online, March 30, 2006
Michael Paige "Microsoft's Vista sparks EU concern". Marketwatch, March 29, 2006

source: Wikinews - see the original article here.

Liberia: Charles Taylor under arrest

After some confusing days, it now seem evident, that the former (too) strongman Charles Taylor actually has been arrested and has to face the consequenses of all his deed. As a strong advocate of humas rights I feel justice in on the way to be fulfilled, after too many lives were lost in the former west-african game of power.

Nigeria arrests Charles Taylor for war crimes trial
from Wikinews, March 30, 2006

Yesterday in Nigeria, former Liberian president Charles Taylor was arrested after being caught trying to flee the country. Nigeria had announced that it would allow Taylor's transfer to Liberia at the request of the new Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The government of Nigeria reported Taylor to be missing on Monday; they had made known earlier that day that they would not take responsibility for Taylor's arrest or transfer. After his flight however, he was arrested on the border of Cameroon by Nigerian authorities who transferred him to Monrovia where he was met by UN authorities who took him into custody. He is to be tried by the UN-backed War Crimes Court for Sierra Leone in Freetown.

Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program for Human Rights Watch expressed enthusiasm over Taylor's capture: "This is an extraordinary moment for the people of West Africa. Taylor?s trial should bring long awaited justice to the victims of Sierra Leone?s brutal war and promote the rule of law in a region devastated by violence."

Chief prosecutor of the War Crimes Court, Desmond De Silva, commented: "Today is a momentous occasion, an important day for international justice, the international community, and above all the people of Sierra Leone." Taylor was exiled to Nigeria in August of 2003 after leading Liberia into a civil war.

Taylor will stand trial for allegedly having the "greatest responsibility" for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international law perpetrated under his leadership; the specific charges include responsibility for murder, hostage taking, extermination, rape, murder, sexual slavery and use of child soldiers.

Charles Taylor back to Liberia to face serious charges!

I have in other blogs and websites written about the election in Liberia, in which Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf succeded to win a comfortable victory over former football champignon George Weah, who actually had a few problems afterwards to face his defeat. But - after some time - he succeded to stand up as a fair loser, and has promises to present a fair opposition to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Now the former leader of the country, Charles Taylor is the hottest issue in the debate. It's just about the time now, where he has to face a trial, with a huge range of charges against human rights violations, involvement in genocide, killings of innocent people, and a lot more. The article by Chippla Vandu is a good introduction.

Charles Taylor: As the story unfolds
by: Chippla Vandu

In August 2003, ex-Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, was flown from Monrovia to Abuja on board a Nigerian Boeing 727 presidential jet. Taylor had just been granted asylum in Nigeria as part of a deal overseen by the African Union, the United Nations (UN) and the United States, which was aimed at ending the Liberian civil war. However, in June 2003, Taylor was indicted for war crimes by a UN court in Sierra Leone, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The Nigerian government promised to hand Taylor over only when a democratically elected government was in place in Liberia.

January 2006: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as the elected president of Liberia. On March 5, 2006, she requested for custody of Charles Taylor from the Nigerian government (according to information on the website of the State House, Abuja). On March 28, 2006, Charles Taylor was declared missing from his asylum villa by the Nigerian government. A day later, he was arrested trying to flee Nigeria. At the time of writing, he should be on his way to Liberia?the Nigerian government appears to have complied with the request of the Liberian government to finally hand him over.

The English-speaking blogosphere has been saturated with in-depth reports and commentaries on the ex-Liberian leader and indicted warlord. We take a look at some of these, written before it was reported that Mr. Taylor had been captured.

The blog GlobalLawAndPolitics laments in the article ?The Rise and Fall of International Law in Africa?March 2006? about how ?big men? of Africa continue to have their way, fueling a ?culture of impunity and corruption that is eroding the continent.? It challenges African leaders to fulfill their human rights obligation by refusing to give refuge to Mr. Taylor.

Transitional Justice Forum describes Nigeria?s behavior following Liberia?s request for Taylor?s extradition as ?erratic.? It calls on President George Bush not to go ahead with a meeting with the Nigerian president (scheduled for March 29, 2006) except Taylor is found and arrested.

Black Star Journal describes Taylor?s disappearance as ?shock of shocks,? stating that Nigeria ought to have had Taylor arrested and put on a plane to Sierra Leone the moment Liberia requested for him. Africa Beat takes issue with the Nigerian president for failing to have Charles Taylor arrested before publicly announcing his intention to hand him over to Liberia.

Nigerian Times, appearing to have no sympathy for the government of the Nigeria boldly calls on the United States to hold the Nigerian president responsible for Charles Taylor?s disappearance. African Shirts in an article titled ?Taylor varnishes? describes the entire situation as a ?real muddle.?

David McCullough lashes out on Nigeria over Taylor?s disappearance. He appears disgusted by what appears to be ?Nigeria colluding with Charles Taylor? and allowing him escape. McCullough puts Taylor in the class of war criminals like Radovan Karajic of Serbia and calls on ?corrupt? Nigeria to clean up its act.

Following reports that Charles Taylor was captured and arrested by the Nigerian police on March 29, 2006, the blogosphere has also been filled with commentaries.

Parenthetical Remarks sums up the general feeling among bloggers in stating: ?a bad day for former dictators turns out to be a good day for the rest of us. Taylor will finally get his day in court, likely followed by a lifetime behind bars, right where he belongs.? Mental Meanderings says that Serbia, which is still protecting people like Ratko Mladic could learn a lesson from Nigeria and hand over its war criminals.

Mansel Report sarcastically alludes to the fact that now that Charles Taylor has been arrested, the Nigerian president can expect to have a nice meeting with George Bush where ?oil will be discussed?? and ?the violence and death [in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria] will be brushed aside at least in private.?

The Counterterrorism Blog while pleased that Taylor was arrested by Nigerian security forces and is to be on his way to Sierra Leone, cautions the American government on its relationship with the Nigerian president calling for a ?reevaluation of the close and dependent relationship? between Nigeria and the United States.

There are bloggers who see the request for Charles Taylor?s extradition as premature and indicative of pressure from more powerful governments. Grandiose Parlor finds the sudden change of heart by the Liberian leader puzzling. The Liberian president once saw Taylor as being of relatively low priority to her government.

source: Global Voices - see the original article here.