CIVIL LIBERTIES

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ASBURY PARK PRESS - The Attorney General's Office said last week it
doesn't know how long it will take to complete its investigation of the
state troopers union president who publicized personal information about
a radio talk show host and threatened similar action against others. How
long does it need? It's had more than two weeks already.

The case isn't complicated. Just ask David Jones, president of the State
Troopers Fraternal Association, where and how he obtained the address
and license plate number of host Craig Carton that Jones displayed at a
news conference. Then check the statutes on the lawful use and
dissemination of such information.

Next, review the tape of the press conference where Jones, in
retaliation for Carton's on-air discussions of a police message board
where posters urged a ticket blitz, tried to intimidate the radio
station's executives and sponsors, and threatened the individuals who
tipped off the radio station about the messages on the police Web site.
Then, check the criminal statutes regarding verbal threats or implied
threats and review the State Police personnel manual to see whether
Jones' behavior violated any policies.

With good police work, this investigation could be wrapped up in a day.
Attorney General Stuart Rabner needs to put his best people on the case,
with orders to report their findings to him and to the public, pronto.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/OPINION/705200361/1029


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JUDGE LIFTS HOLD ON SECRET DOCUMENTS ABOUT POLICE CONDUCT DURING THE GOP
2004 CONVENTION

NY TIMES  -  A federal judge lifted a stay that paved the way for the
release of about 600 pages of secret documents relating to police
preparations for the 2004 Republican National Convention, held in New
York. Intelligence digests created by the New York Police Department
about various political groups from October 2003 through the Republican
National Convention in August 2004. . .

Initially the city had opposed the release of the documents because,
officials insisted, news organizations and legal groups would "fixate
upon and sensationalize them," making it difficult to find jurors who do
not know about the police actions. . .

The batch of papers released today is one of two groups of documents
describing police activities related to the convention. Civil liberties
groups are still seeking the raw intelligence reports produced by
detectives and upon which the summaries were based. . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/nyregion/16cnd -
convention.html?ex=1336968000&en=85582ad095f8c148&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss


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FREE SPEECH PROTESTERS IN HONG KONG WANTED BIBLE BANNED AS INDECENT

REUTERS  -  More than 800 Hong Kong residents have called on authorities
to reclassify the Bible as "indecent" due to its sexual and violent
content, following an uproar over a sex column in a university student
journal. A spokesperson for Hong Kong's Television and Entertainment
Licensing authority (said it had received 838 complaints about the Bible
by noon on Wednesday. The complaints follow the launch of an anonymous
Web site  -  -  www.truthbible.net  -  -  which said the holy book "made
one tremble" given its sexual and violent content, including rape and
incest.

The Web site said the Bible's sexual content "far exceeds" that of a
recent sex column published in the Chinese University's Student Press
magazine, which had asked readers whether they'd ever fantasized about
incest or bestiality.

That column was later deemed "indecent" by the Obscene Articles
Tribunal, sparking a storm of debate about social morality and freedom
of speech. Student editors of the journal defended it, saying open
sexual debate was a basic right.

If the Bible is similarly classified as "indecent" by authorities, only
those over 18 could buy the holy book and it would need to be sealed in
a wrapper with a statutory warning notice.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070516/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_hongkong_bible_indecent


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SAN BERNARDINO BILLS IMMIGRANT RALLY $17 A HEAD UNDER LAW AIMED AT NOISY
HOUSE PARTIES

JONATHAN ABRAMS, LA TIMES  -  Walk planned in L.A. to promote immigrant
rights How much does free speech cost? Exactly $17,674.06, according to
Latino activist Armando Navarro, who received a bill from the city of
San Bernardino.  The tab stems from a March 17 pro - immigrant rally
that attracted about 1,000 people.

Navarro, coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights and a UC
Riverside ethnic studies professor, said his group meticulously planned
the peaceful rally beforehand, meeting with city officials and police,
and paying for permits and liability insurance.

But Navarro said the group was blindsided with the bill for
"extraordinary services" from the Police Department. It turns out that
the city won't actually enforce collection of the bill, but Navarro is
insisting on an apology. . .

The city passed an ordinance in 1991 aimed at curtailing noisy house
parties. The ordinance requires the police chief to estimate costs of
police services for large gatherings and bill the offending party.

"Perhaps there is a need for clarification of the ordinance," said Jim
Morris, son of San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris and his top aide

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la - me -
immigrants17may17,0,7790883.story?coll=la - home - center

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