For any members who might like the opportunity to listen to Barry's stated opinions...Solent Radio are running a program (tomorrow morning MARCH 15TH we are told).

Listen in...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/solent_aod.shtml?solent/julian_clegg_solent


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...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

'Jock' Fenton wrote:

For any members who might like the opportunity to listen to Barry's stated opinions...Solent Radio are running a program (tomorrow morning MARCH 15TH we are told).

Listen in...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/solent_aod.shtml?solent/julian_clegg_solent

Any idea of the time Jock? We are 10.5 hour ahead in Oz? so it will be sometime tonight for us


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KenN

Hello Ken.The Julian Clegg program went out at at 0700 hrs GMT today 15/03/07 .I've just listened to it on line.Barry F. was on about 0710 hrs and Aurthur about 0810 hrs.Hope this helps.


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Regards Aye.Jon Windust

'Jock' Fenton wrote:

For any members who might like the opportunity to listen to Barry's stated opinions...Solent Radio are running a program (tomorrow morning MARCH 15TH we are told).

Yerrrs ... these are indeed only my opinions! More importantly, the Julian Clegg show represented more brilliant support from the Beeb.

If you're interested here is a clip from BBC Radio Solent (large file, 1.8MB):

http://www.fight4thepjm.org/documents/Media_Coverage/Solent_15Mar_1.mp3

This clip was recorded in Oz but please treat it as copyright BBC Radio Solent.


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Very well done Barry....you got the point across in no uncertain terms!...and such coverage can only but help the cause and swell our support base.

As for the individual who suggested on-air that our campaign, by employing the nomenclature of our title, 'Fight4'. was somehow being 'inappropriate'...since I do not know him, or of him, I shall be charitable.....he is very much mistaken.

Let me assure all Association members and supporters that their 'Fight4' Committee have, to a man, been most assiduously circumspect in all interactions with government officials and with Her Majesty...we have stringently scrutinized and critiqued each others work to ensure that our message was 'on track', our letters courteous and in no instance were we abusive....in all of our actions we have striven to be, 'appropriate'.

As has been widely promulgated, we at 'Fight4' are campaigning with a solitary objective in mind....permission to wear the PJM...for ALL eligible recipients.

Nothing more............Nothing less.


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...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

Anything happened on this route?

As I recall there was talk of a petition to the Beckett woman. (She who never answered a letter/email)

Also talk of "volunteers" helping to deliver said petition.

It's all gone very quiet.


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Pingat Kami - Hak Kami
651 Signal Troop,
Semengo Camp,
Kuching.

Semengo13 wrote:

Anything happened on this route?

Not as far I am aware, John.


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Thanks for that Barry.




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Pingat Kami - Hak Kami
651 Signal Troop,
Semengo Camp,
Kuching.

In any case, my answer to the first question is....................I haven't a clue!

John

Redcapfred wrote:

Good news John, but has she and her husband signed the petition....Sadly, last time I looked there were only 700 plus out of British 35,000 PJMers and their families?

Many criticisms are levelled at the practices associated with 'on-line petitions' ...particularly those produced by government owned sites....some cynics say that they are merely a technological perversion of democratic process, in that the 'petition', while providing a ready forum for people to vent their frustrations, supposedly to advise and pressure the government to alter policy... all the petition does, in actual fact, is produce an illusion of democratic involvement....it keeps the complaining faction busy, thinking that, by adding their name, they are 'doing something'...while the government, not being in any way bound by the results of the petition, continues to do nothing, which is what...(as we PJM'ers are well aware)... most governments do best.

Also; many NGOs claim the track record of online petitions is another reason to shun them, as there are remarkably few examples of this form of petition ever achieving their stated objective, and critics frequently cite the concept as an example of 'slacktivism'...used only by those who are too busy (or lazy?) to make formal complaint.

I think we are much better served by exerting pressure via written personal letters or emails to MP's, demanding that they perform the function for which they were elected.

On-line petitions are like rocking chairs...While they may give you the impression of movement....They're not getting you anywhere!

Just the opinion of a Canadian 'Prat' ........


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...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

Redcapfred wrote:

Good news John, but has she and her husband signed the petition....Sadly, last time I looked there were only 700 plus out of British 35,000 PJMers and their families?

Fred,

The BBC Radio Solent Petition is not connected with the public petition. Jo Palmer, the BBC Reporter, told us that she would take what I think she called a People's Petition to a Govt Department or No 10 (can't remember which she mentioned). She was going to produce it and deliver it personally, and a few of us volunteered to go with her. Her Petition would reflected the astonishing response from listeners that the BBC received from their PJM programs.

As for the 700 signatures, for the most part our campaign involves people in the 60's-80's age group and most are not renowned for being active "online ". Interestingly, I have been told that notice has been taken of Petitions with very few signatures - compare also the response from the Advertising Authority to complaints from a handful of people (literally below 10 in number). The Government shouls take note of those 700 signatures and the hundreds of MP's signatures on EDMs in the Commons.

Regards,

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Good news John, but has she and her husband signed the petition....Sadly, last time I looked there were only 700 plus out of British 35,000 PJMers and their families?

Barry, the Radio Solent campaign is having an effect and is reaching people who normally have absolutely no opinion on anything, my sister and her husband!

They visited me last week for the first time ever having not seen or spoken to her for over two years. They live just outside Chichester and listen to Solent all the time. Her husband is an ex Captain of Commando's (Army type) and is severly disabled having had a stroke recently so the radio is his lifeline. They were very interested to see a real PJM after having heard so much about it on the radio. My sister was very eloquent on her disapproval of the government for not allowing veterans to receive and wear it.

If you can convince her you can and should (and most likely have) convince the vast majority of ordinary, decent people of the merits of our case.

John

Terrific news Barry et al. As ever, many thanks for all the efforts, particularly "behind the scenes".

Good to hear things are still moving relentlessly towards ultimate victory (or should I say success).

My is now a

Best wishes,

John


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Pingat Kami - Hak Kami
651 Signal Troop,
Semengo Camp,
Kuching.

Hi John, Brianbart et al,

I thought it would be in order to send Radio Solent an email:

---- Forwarded by Barry Fleming/BAFleming on 27/10/2007 09:18 ----- 27/10/2007 09:19
To: "Jo Palmer-Southampton" <j.palmer@bbc.co.uk>, julianclegg@bbc.co.uk, "Ed Sherry" <ed.sherry@bbc.co.uk>, marcus.white@bbc.co.uk

Subject: Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Dear Jo and Julian, Ed and Marcus,

We spoke earlier this year about the PJM and you kindly aired our case which attracted a lot of interest. I am writing to ask a question and to update you because this story is growing and growing.

The question:

I am receiving emails from ex-servicemen asking when Radio Solent might deliver the Petition Jo had planned. We are approaching Remembrance Day and there will never be a better time. Some of our supporters, a dignified group, are anxiously waiting in the wings ready to accompany Jo - carrying their PJMs. I would like to be there too.

The Update:

1. The Rt Hon Ian Pearson MP (Minister of State for Science and Innovation), the then Foreign Office Minister who issued the PJM Ministerial Statement, has now said in writing that the discredited and inconsistent PJM recommendation in the Statement he made should be amended to allow the medal to be worn! He is campaigning for us despite being a Government Minister. This is a major advance and demonstrates the justice in our case - your Petition would help Ian enormously.

2. The Rt Hon Don Touhig MP (ex-Defence Minister at the time of Ian Pearson's Statement) has also underlined his view that the PJM recommendation is wrong. He is going to raise a debate in the Commons - your Petition would help Mr Touhig enormously.

3. Sandra Gidley (who was inspired by your program) is still on the case and wrote to a constituent yesterday that she is going to take the matter up with the PM - your Petition would help her enormously.

4. The Conservatives have reaffirmed in writing their commitment to review the Foreign Decorations Rules which they see, as we do, as having been applied "inconsistently" (!).

5. Interest in our campaign grows with more and more MPs actively involved. Our web site attracts between 1,500 and 2,000 individual visits each day (when we last spoke, the number was less than 1,000). We don't count 'hits' (which amount to tens of thousands ) - only individuals counted once per day irrespective of how many times they visit.

In closing, here is what Don Touhig said in Parliament recently

Don Touhig to Des Brown (Defence Minister) during a Debate 15 Oct 2007:

"I could not speak of the value agenda without mentioning the campaign by veterans who fought in Malaysia to be allowed to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. I have tabled early-day motion 356 on that and hon. Members on both sides of the House have generously supported it. However, we have to do more. We have a duty to honour the commitment of the 35,000 of our boys who fought in the jungles of Malaysia. They earned that medal and they have the right to wear it. A greater degree of honour falls on them than on the members of the honours and decorations committee who are resisting the legitimate request to wear that medal. I wonder how many of those who serve on that committee served in the jungle. Probably the only jungle they know is the jungle around Whitehall".

All these people need your help now more than ever. We very much hope that you will help us by delivering the Petition. We are listening and waiting with great anticipation ...

With kind regards,

Barry
- - - - - - - - - - -
Barry Fleming
Fighting for the Right to Wear the PJM at
W: http://www.fight4thePJM.org
E: mailto:barry@fight4thePJM.org
"Pingat Kami - Hak Kami"

Stockbridge Cottage etc


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia