Zimbabwe: Human Rights Activist Jestina Mukoko appears in court

Ten people including Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project have appeared in court today on charges of recruiting people for terrorist training. Earlier this month human rights activist Mukoko had been seized from her home by armed men. Of course these charges are designed to bludgeon critics of human rights abuse into submission. The West must step up its efforts to end the Stalinist campaign perpetrated by the Mugabe regime.
According to VOA:

The reappearance of Mukoko and the other detainees follows the issuance of an ultimatum by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last week saying that if some 42 abductees were not freed and if kidnappings did not stop, he would as the governing national council of his party to end participation in power-sharing negotiations under an accord signed Sept. 15...

Unfortunately many human rights activists are still unaccounted for.

Irelands Harshest Budget in living memory-Taxpayer and Consumer blues.

This budget was set against the background of a horrific deterioration in the public finances caused by the bursting property bubble in Ireland and by international factors. In the two budgets prior to the 2007 general election the FF/PD government allowed public expenditure to grow by 25%. This growth in public expenditure was supported by huge tax inflows from the property sector. Now that these have largely dried up the Government was left high and dry. The Government is now heist on its own petard.
This was an accident waiting to happen. Taxes from the property market are notoriously unreliable.

This is the harshest budget in living memory. Even to outline some of the harsh measures sends a chill through the bones.
There are some minor beneficial changes in Social Welfare Payments and Tax Bands allied to provisions geared towards innovation and R and D. There are some aids for the property market. However this is a TAKE budget which will raise an extra €2 billion in taxes. Government Borrowing is forecast at 6.5% of GNP. This is much too high. The EU requirement is 3%. In essence the Government must borrow €13 billion.

Income tax has been increased. A levy of 1% has been placed on all income up to €100,000 and at 2% on earnings over €100,0000. This is an income tax rise by another name. The PRSI ceiling has been raised also. Mortgage relief for non-first time house buyers has been cut from 20% to 15%. A €200 tax has been introduced on all benefiting from employer provided car parking in urban areas. Motor Tax rises by 4%/5%. Those who own a second property face a new € 200 tax. DIRT ,Capital Gains Tax and VAT have been raised.

The government has cut back financial support to local authorities so a massive hike in commercial rates and water rates will filter through.

Automatic entitlement to a Medical Card for all over 70s has been withdrawn. There is to be a 20 % increase in private and semi-private bed charges in public hospitals and Accident and Emergency charges are to increase by 50% from €66 to €100 for non medical card holders who attend A&E departments without a letter from their GP. The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) threshold is being increased from €90 to €100 per month which, the Government says, will lead to savings of €15 million in drug costs.

The Registration Charge for Universities has been raised from €900 to €1500. The pupil teacher ratio in schools has been increased.
Petrol will rise by 8 cent per litre.
The budget will cost middle-income families an average of €2,500 per annum. There will be a €10 airport charge for passengers.
There are also some social welfare cutbacks.
The hair-shirt is back in Irish politics with a vengeance. It is likely that consumer confidence has been severely dented. In addition it is probable that two more harsh budgets may be in the offing.

70% Hike in School Transport Charges in 4 Months

Today has seen another hike in school transport charges. Fine Gael School Transport Spokesman, Frank Feighan TD, said that today's announcement coupled with an increase just four months ago at Easter means that school transport charges have risen by 70% in four months. His statement goes on to say:

"Just last Easter, school transport charges increased from €33 to €46 per term for students in the junior cycle and from €51 to €71 per term for students in the senior cycle. Today's increase showed charges increasing further to €56 and €78 respectively. This represents massive increases of 53% and 70%.

"That school charges have been hiked by these huge amounts highlights just how little regard there is for the financial strain such a massive increase will put on families.
"Obviously, with increases in the cost of providing school transport - including fuel prices - and charges being held constant over a period of time, there may very well be a need to increase charges. However, 70% increases seem excessive and I would like to know how Minster Batt O'Keeffe can justify such a massive hike in just four months considering that rising prices will not account for such huge rises in such a short period of time."