Redaction Challenge

[robert_viera]

I've posted an image of a transcript I made of an interview with an MP that I watched on-line, minus the interviewer's questions, here:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/8702227_04876ee3fa_b.jpg

I've blacked-out, or 'redacted', many of the details so that it is not too easy to identfy the MP, though the subject of the interview should not be too difficult to guess.

If no one is able to guess both the story and the MP, I will post a link to a video of the interview and a link to an un-redacted image of the transcript later today.

Good luck!

Edited December 19, 2009 by robert_viera

[robert_viera]

OK. To make this a little easier, here is the redacted interview in plain text form:

I'm eager to explain my outrage at what's happened. I can't believe that _____________________________ is saying that they will not allow Parliamentarians in to verify that there is not human rights abuses in _______________________________________. I think it's incredibly suspicious and it leads me to believe that what everyone has been saying, that there is breeches of international obligations, there is breeches of human rights, and there is deplorable conditions. I think it's true. I think ________ is hiding something, because why else, would they in any world, refuse Parliamentarians access ________________.

Well, Canada is concerned about the ________________________________ and that's why we intentionally _____________________________, not to the __________ Government, which personally I have no confidence or faith in. We ____________________ directly to international aid organizations like the Red Cross that are working specifically to help ___________ that are in grave danger right now, and, what I find very depressing about this whole ordeal is I looked a constituent of mine in the face, __________________, and she told me that she had _______________________________, and I was hoping that I could go there, take ___________ forms there, help _______ them to ______ Canada, see this _________________ process take place, and the __________ Government is not allowing me to even share ___________ paperwork. It is ridiculous. In my opinion it is beyond reason why their government is being so secretive. They're obviously hiding some very dirty laundry. There's thing happening, in my opinion, in ________ right now, that they do not want the world to see.

Well, they have said very clearly "no". I'm happy to try again, but in my opinion we should view this (as) what it is. It's a slap in the face for _______. The __________ Government is not allowing Parliamentarians to observe __________, and I think _______ should look at next steps. You know, quite frankly, we should be looking at statements we can make to the world about the situation in _________, because I believe that it is graver than we have been reading in the papers.

I think maybe we should be looking at a very strong statement and whether that is making a pitch to ________________ that _________ should be excluded, suspended from _________________, or whether we should echo that opinion in _____ international bodies. Coming up in ___________________ is a meeting of the ______________. That may be an opportunity in _________ to express our outrage. Another opportunity is, _________ is very much looking forward to hosting the 2010 _____________ Games, at which _______ will be the centrepiece of those games. In _________ there is obviously a lot of affection for _______, and if ____ lose their ability to host that games because of the flagrant human rights abuses that are likely taking place in ________, I think it would send a strong message to ____________ that the international community will not stand for this, and there is consequences for their behaviour.

I think the problem right now is that __________ is going about this in a manner where they believe there is no consequences for their behaviour, and their behaviour is un-democratic and I personally believe there is probably numerous human rights abuses occurring in ___________ and we need to do whatever we can to stop them. We need to use whatever persuasive tool we can to protect our _______ that are in _________, and there is __________ thousands of ______ in Canada, who have loved ones in __________, and this is what this is about. It's about the brothers, the uncles, the ______, the sisters, who are _____________ where ________ could be an issue, where lack of _______ could be an issue, where ___________ could be an issue. There is massive concern and it needs to be addressed.

Any ideas? Opposition MP or government? Party?

Thanks for looking!

Edited December 19, 2009 by robert_viera

[DrGreenthumb]

Is it Jack Layton?

Maybe Dewar?

3rd guess would be ujjal dosanj

It is somebody quite rightly expressing their disgust at the way this Government has handles the detainee abuse issue.

[robert_viera]

Is it Jack Layton?

Maybe Dewar?

3rd guess would be ujjal dosanj

Good guesses, but it's actually a government MP!

It is somebody quite rightly expressing their disgust at the way this Government has handles the detainee abuse issue.

That was definitely the story I was trying to suggest, but the interview was not about the Afghan detainee issue.

Edited December 20, 2009 by robert_viera

[robert_viera]

It's Conservative MP Patrick Brown.

Conservative MPs Denied Visa to Sri Lanka

An un-redacted image of the transcript is here:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/8706305_82c4f55f80_b.jpg

The un-redacted text:

I'm eager to explain my outrage at what's happened. I can't believe that a fellow Commonwealth country is saying that they will not allow Parliamentarians in to verify that there is not human rights abuses in these international displaced persons camps. I think it's incredibly suspicious and it leads me to believe that what everyone has been saying, that there is breeches of international obligations, there is breeches of human rights, and there is deplorable conditions. I think it's true. I think Sri Lanka is hiding something, because why else, would they in any world, refuse Parliamentarians access into their country.

Well, Canada is concerned about the Tamils in the IDP camps in Sri Lanka and that's why we intentionally gave 22 million dollars of funding, not to the Sri Lankan Government, which personally I have no confidence or faith in. We gave 22 million dollars directly to international aid organizations like the Red Cross that are working specifically to help those Tamils that are in grave danger right now, and, what I find very depressing about this whole ordeal is I looked a constituent of mine in the face, Ranjiv Sureshkumar, and she told me that she had her uncle and had relatives in a camp, and I was hoping that I could go there, take immigration forms there, help sponsor them to come to Canada, see this family reunification process take place, and the Sri Lankan Government is not allowing me to even share immigration paperwork. It is ridiculous. In my opinion it is beyond reason why their government is being so secretive. They're obviously hiding some very dirty laundry. There's thing happening, in my opinion, in Sri Lanka right now, that they do not want the world to see.

Well, they have said very clearly "no". I'm happy to try again, but in my opinion we should view this (as) what it is. It's a slap in the face for Canada. The Sri Lankan Government is not allowing Parliamentarians to observe those camps, and I think Canada should look at next steps. You know, quite frankly, we should be looking at statements we can make to the world about the situation in Sri Lanka, because I believe that it is graver than we have been reading in the papers.

I think maybe we should be looking at a very strong statement and whether that is making a pitch to the Commonwealth that Sri Lanka should be excluded, suspended from the Commonwealth, or whether we should echo that opinion in other international bodies. Coming up in Trinidad & Tobago is a meeting of the Commonwealth. That may be an opportunity in November to express our outrage. Another opportunity is, Sri Lanka is very much looking forward to hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games, at which cricket will be the centrepiece of those games. In Sri Lanka there is obviously a lot of affection for cricket, and if they lose their ability to host that games because of the flagrant human rights abuses that are likely taking place in Sri Lanka, I think it would send a strong message to Sri Lanka that the international community will not stand for this, and there is consequences for their behaviour.

I think the problem right now is that Sri Lanka is going about this in a manner where they believe there is no consequences for their behaviour, and their behaviour is un-democratic and I personally believe there is probably numerous human rights abuses occuring in these camps and we need to do whatever we can to stop them. We need to use whatever persuasive tool we can to protect our relatives that are in Sri Lanka, and there is hundreds of thousands of Tamils in Canada, who have loved ones in these camps, and this is what this is about. It's about the brothers, the uncles, the mothers, the sisters, who are in those camps where flooding could be an issue, where lack of nurture could be an issue, where kidnappings could be an issue. There is massive concern and it needs to be addressed.

The point of this little exercise was to illustrate how difficult it is to get to the truth if one does not have all the information.

Edited December 20, 2009 by robert_viera