POPE FRANCIS SOUNDS ALARM OVER THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
In his homily during the canonisation ceremony on Sunday, Pope Francis sounded the alarm over the persecution of Christians today, stating: "We ask God to sustain the many Christians who, today, in many parts of the world, right now, still suffer violence."
Apart from Vatican’s concern over attacks on Christians in the Middle East, including Egypt's Coptic Christians, churches in Nigeria suffer a great deal in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, Boko haram. Churches have been bombed in Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Syria, just to mention a few.
Since Islamists rose to power after Egypt's 2011 uprising that forced out longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Christians have grown more fearful of intimidation and violence from fellow Egyptians, especially ultraconservative Salafis.
Muslims have attacked churches there and forced Christians to close their shops. Members of the Christian man's family have been arrested, including his mother and father, after a prosecutor accused them of collaborating in hiding the woman.
In the past, similar incidents have triggered deadly sectarian violence. In 2010, the ultraconservative Muslim Salafis claimed that Camilla Shehata, a Coptic Christian wife of a priest, had converted to Islam, but was abducted by the church to force her to return to Christianity.
Iraq's branch of al-Qaida used the incident as justification for an attack on a Baghdad church that killed 68 people, and threatened to conduct similar attacks in Egypt until the church released her. On Dec. 31, 2011, a suicide bomber killed at least 21 Christians at a church in the port city of Alexandria — an attack linked to the Shehata case.
In May 2011, at least 12 people were killed and a Cairo church was burned in clashes after a Christian woman had an affair with a Muslim man. When she disappeared, the man alleged that Christian clergy had snatched her and were holding her prisoner in a local church because she had converted to Islam.
Separately, dozens of mostly masked protesters hurled stones and firebombs in clashes with riot police at Egypt's presidential palace in a Cairo suburb. Protests have become a weekly occurrence in Egypt with unrest continuing since the 2011 uprising.
In Asia the story is the same. Asia News recently published a terrifying story. “Christian tombs were recently desecrated and a young Christian woman was gang-raped for an entire night. In both cases, police refused to file a First Information Report, allowing the culprits to escape justice.”
The Christian minority in Pakistan is persistently abused. “Whether it involves Christian-owned land and property or individuals who are targeted because they are defenceless, victims will not find justice with the country’s legal system.
The Pakistan Christian Post reports: “Muslim landowners destroyed and desecrated a Christian graveyard, using a tractor to plough over a number of tombs. Buried coffins were broken and the bones of the dead were brought to the surface. The local police refused to open an inquiry, whilst the landowners utter threats against local Christians to get them to stop legal proceedings.”
Islamic Jihad circulated this frightening report from Pakistan: “A powerful Muslim businessman, with the help of a group of accomplices, kidnapped two Christian sisters, forced them to convert to Islam and marry him.
“The girl’s father reported the kidnapping to the police but the police blocked investigations by reversing the facts: the daughters fled because of their father’s violence.
“A priest from the diocese of Faisalabad points out that the kidnapping of young women has become “common practice”, because the authorities and police are “puppets in the hands of extremists.”
The word "violence" can be defined to extend far beyond pain and shedding blood. It carries the meaning of physical force, violent language, fury and, more importantly, forcible interference.
Violence also refers to that which is psychologically destructive, that which demeans, damages, or depersonalizes others. In view of these considerations, violence may be defined as follows: any action, verbal or nonverbal, oral or written, physical or psychical, active or passive, public or private, individual or institutional/societal, human or divine, in whatever degree of intensity, that abuses, violates, injures, or kills.
Some of the most pervasive and most dangerous forms of violence are those that are often hidden from view (against women and children, especially); just beneath the surface in many of our homes, churches, and communities is abuse enough to freeze the blood.
Moreover, many forms of systemic violence often slip past our attention because they are so much a part of the infrastructure of life (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism). Thus, under his definition, Christian violence includes "forms of systemic violence such as poverty, racism, and sexism.
Approximately 10 per cent of the 2 billion Christians in the world suffer persecution. This means that some 200 million Christians suffer harsh repercussions because of their religion.
Persecution of Christians often serves as an indicator of the status of religious freedom for other minorities, since where Christians are persecuted, other religions tend also to suffer.
A more startling figure on Christian persecution was published by the German news agency, IDEA. It claimed that since the crucifixion of Christ, more than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith.
It includes persecution of Catholics mostly, before and at the beginning, of the Spanish Civil war (1936–1939) which involved the murder of almost 7,000 priests and other clergy, as well as thousands of lay people, by sections of nearly all the leftist groups because of their faith.
The Republican government which had come to power in Spain in 1931 was strongly anti-Catholic, prohibiting religious education – even in private school, prohibiting any education by religious institutes, seizing Church property and expelling the Jesuits from the country.
During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, and especially in the early months of the conflict, individual clergymen and entire religious communities were executed by leftists, which included communists and anarchists.
The death toll of the clergy alone included 13 bishops, 4,172 diocesan priests and seminarians, 2,364 monks and friars and 283 nuns, for a total of 6,832 clerical victims. On the night of 19 July 1936 alone, some fifty churches were burned. In Barcelona, out of the 58 churches, only the Cathedral was spared, and similar desecrations occurred almost everywhere in Republican Spain.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
KENYA & WORLD: PRESS DAY MARKED AS TWO JOURNALISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013
Today is World Press Freedom Day. Although the day gives people the chance to pay tribute to media professionals who risked or lost their lives in the line of duty, in Kenya as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports-Kenya: 2013 - Committee to Protect Journalists, the day is marked at the time two investigative journalists have received death threats.
Mohammed Ali and John-Allan Namu, investigative journalists from the private KTN television network received threats from anonymous callers and via social networking sites on Wednesday, according to Namu and Willis Angira, associate producer for KTN.
David Ohito, news editor of The Standard, which is also affiliated with KTN, told CPJ that the threats were linked to an investigative story aired on KTN two weeks ago, called "Inside Story: Death in Ten Minutes" that suggested foul play in a helicopter crash that killed former Interior Minister George Saitoti.
It is also being celebrated at the time police were also implicated in the January 2009 murder of Weekly Citizen journalist Francis Nyaruri, shortly after he investigated corruption within the police department.
Nyaruri was brutally murdered in western Kenya in January 2009 while investigating suspected corruption in a police construction project. The investigation has not yielded arrests to date.
Just recently a correspondent for The Star daily newspaper was found dead Sunday morning in his house in the coastal city of Mombasa. A housemate found reporter Bernard Wesonga with blood on his nose and mouth at around 11:30 a.m. according to Star Deputy Editor Charles Kerich.
Local journalists said Wesonga, 27, was with friends at a local pub in Mombasa Saturday night, leaving around 10 p.m. Wesonga had told friends he recently received anonymous threats via text message in connection with a story that described allegations of unlawful shipment and sale of fertilizer that had exceeded its expiration date. Authorities have not established a cause of death.
Against the background that on Saturday, March 9, 2013, US President Barack Obama made a statement in a gala for journalists in Washington that appeared to suggest that Kenya is not a safe destination for foreign correspondents.
"They've risked everything to bring us stories from places like Syria and Kenya, stories that need to be told," he said. Syria is currently in the midst of a bloody civil war that was started on the pretext of removing its dictatorial ruler Assad from power. The conflict in Syria has killed more than 70,000 people.
The period following the Kenya's last presidential elections in 2007 was marred by widespread ethnic violence. Over a thousand people were killed. Kenya's journalists, especially those working independently, found themselves the targets of public anger, police intolerance and political fury. Many were threatened, injured, attacked and had equipment damaged or taken.
In Nairobi the day will be marked with two key celebrations:
1)The regional journalists convention - Second Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) Gala, an event that seeks to acknowledge, identify and promote excellence in media in Kenya
2) The Executive Council meeting of World Association of Press Councils (WAPC, which will draw participants of press councils from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia Burundi, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Nepal, the United States of America, Pakistan, India, Malawi, and North Cyprus among others.
These events will focus on safety and protection of journalists and encourage Development Journalism in Kenya in respect to Vision 2030.
Each year since 1997, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded to honor the work of an individual or an organization defending or promoting freedom of expression, especially if it puts the individual’s life at risk.
The award is named after a journalist murdered in 1986 after denouncing drug barons. Last year it was awarded posthumously to a Russian investigative reporter who was murdered in a contract-style killing in 2006.
Established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993 as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, World Press Freedom Day has only been celebrated since 1993. This seminar took place in Namibia in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media.
It has much deeper roots in the United Nations, Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights which states that everyone “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers".
The Windhoek Declaration called to establish, maintain and foster an independent, pluralistic and free press. It emphasized the importance of a free press for developing and maintaining democracy in a nation, and for economic development. World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3, the date on which the Windhoek Declaration was adopted.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
USA: Shut down Guantanamo
From: Manuel de Lizarriturri
Below is an email from Manuel de Lizarriturri, a MoveOn member who started a petition on the MoveOn website, where anyone can start their own online petition.
President Obama: Deliver on your campaign promise and shut down Guantanamo.
Sign the Petition!
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=289657&id=67060-21095459-cBVl2Yx&t=4
Dear MoveOn member,
President Obama promised during his campaign that one of his top priorities would be closing the prison at Guantanamo. The New York Times reported on April 25 that the treatment of detainees is inhumane. It's time for the president to deliver on his promise, and for Congress to allow him do so.
That's why I started a petition to the United States Congress and President Barack Obama, which says:
Mr. President, when detainees with no hope of release go on a permanent hunger strike and are force-fed through nasal tubes, America can no longer claim to be the worldwide champion of human rights. How can you sleep at night knowing you have reneged on your campaign promise? Please close the Guantanamo Bay prison now!
visit the address here below to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=289657&id=67060-21095459-cBVl2Yx&t=5
Thanks!
–Manuel de Lizarriturri
This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Manuel de Lizarriturri didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.
Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in at web address below.
https://civic.moveon.org/donatec4/creditcard.html?cpn_id=457&id=67060-21095459-cBVl2Yx
Kenya: GOD FINALLY HEARS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE BY BUTERE GIRLS
From: Ouko joachim omolo
*The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images*
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013
At last the High Court has lifted a ban on the controversial play ‘Shackles of Doom’ by Butere Girls High School saying the move by the government was unlawful. Justice David Majanja ordered that the play must be shown because the Constitution does not allow a ban and it is not enough for the ministry of Education to ban it without reason.
Banned without reason because what the play depicts is real in Kenya. The play captures national ills of nepotism and tribalism which has tempered with development in Kenya since 1963 when Kenya got independence. The play was allegedly banned by the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival Executive Secretary Patrick Sirengo Khaemba.
The suit was filed by human rights activist and a long time friend of mine Okiya Omtatah.
The Permanent Secretary for Education George Godia and Attorney General Githu Muigai were listed as respondents.
Shackles of doom is play that depicts a film shoot set in the land of the Kanas, who refer to themselves as the TRUE KANAS, their land is oil rich but they are ignorant of the treasure that lies beneath their soil….a delegation arrives to their land and offer a beautiful lady – Wamaitha, to be married off to Lopush who is “Kana” in exchange of land where they settle.
Wamaitha is 3 weeks pregnant when they come and Kimani who is purported to be her guardian is responsible, she is married off against her will and her community with great determination and strong will construct “Mafuta Oil Refinery Company”.
During appointing of human resource, job opportunities are given with biasness and nepotism! The people of Kana demand for equal opportunities but are dismissed; only one person is considered from the marginalised community but as a watchman.
On the eve of Lopush and Wamaitha’s wedding, Kimani who is the CEO of the refinery company has an order to deliver 600 barrels of oil and dictates that everybody works on the night shift including those who were on duty during daytime. Lopush is not spared either because of his wedding that is coming up at the break of dawn; he is forced to be on duty as a security officer.
Kimani invades Lopush’s house demanding for intimacy from Wamaitha, of which she declines and they are caught up in the argument by Lopush who has absconded his duty in rebellion. Kimani hides in the children’s bedroom but unfortunately Lopush finds him, Wamaitha insists that the daughter can bare her witness that she did not fornicate.
As a matter of bad fortune she finds the daughter dead, still and lifeless when she goes to wake her up. Kimani is accused of her demise. A technical hitch occurs in the Mafuta Oil Refinery Company and there is a fire breakout at about the same time, angry villagers are summoned and just when they want to deal with the accused murderer (Kimani), his wife calls and says they are trapped in an inferno and Lopush has the keys to all the exits.
The whole village rush to help but they find a tragic scene, everyone has been consumed by the inferno, Wamaitha breaks news that her dead daughter was Kimani’s child.
The film director calls for cut and signifies end of their shooting, one member of the cast however retorts that the film has no credible resolution and cannot compete favourably, she suggests that all the communities be equally represented in employment opportunities for good relations, harmony and peaceful coexistence. Cameras were rolling in the meantime and the director terms the resolution to be credible.
The play is* written by award winning play-wright Cleophas Malalah, the Kakamega MCA for Mariakalo Ward. The play won Zonal, Divisional, District, Regional levels but banned from being staged at the National Drama Festivals set for Mombasa this month on claims that play is hate speech.*
* *
*The play calls for a thorough clean up of the mess in government key position jobs awarded to one particular ethnic and regional community. It calls for clean up in the *Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administrative beginning with Permanent secretary post, CID Director, GSU post, NSC – Peace and Conflict Management, Government Printer and Senior Director Administration/Internal Security.
Other messes that the play calls upon for a clean up include the Finance Ministry beginning with Permanent Secretary, Pensions secretary, ERD director, D/Finance secretary, and Controller and Auditor General.
Another key position the play calls upon for a clean up include Central Bank beginning with its Govern, Deputy Governor, Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Board Secretary, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement, Deputy Commissioner, Administration and Deputy Commissioner Procurement.
Other key positions that need clean up include Commissioner for customs services, Senior Deputy Commissioner (Customs), Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Commissioner Domestic Taxes (LTO).
Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region and Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement post- Kenya Airports Authority MD, and General Manager Finance.
General Manager Marketing and Business Development, General Manager Information and Communication, Technology, General Manager Security Services, Head of Corporate Communications / PA to the MD, and Head of Procurement and Logistics.
Ministry of Industrialization, Chairman of the National Standards Council, Permanent Secretary, and Chairman of the Board-Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)- Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Company Secretary, Chief Manager, Energy Transmission, Commercial Services, Distribution Chief Manager, Planning, Research and Performance Monitoring; Eng. Kenya Petroleum Refineries General Manager, Finance Manager, Human Resource Manager and Engineering Manager.
It is Kenyan people’s hope that after Sunday performance by Butere Girls High School Drama Club, current government headed by Hon Ohuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto would have heard the cry of these tender girls, crying for their beloved country Kenya-to act and made balance in these key posts among other posts.
*Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ*
*Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578*
*E-mail **omolo.ouko@gmail.com***
*Facebook-omolo beste*
*Twitter-@8000accomole*
* *
*Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.*
*-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ*
*UN Disarmament*
*Conference, 2002*
* *
?AIDS Rights? The statement about Japanese writer Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO was again refused to enter into Mainland China 20130405
From: Chang Kun
Changkun2010@gmail.com
April 5, 2013
Through the mail from him:“ today I , ASO SEIICHIRO, was again refused to enter into Mainland China at Lo Wu Control Point in Shenzhen City. Why? I always have a good influence in Chinese NGOs, the government is unhappy? They also closed the Dali's film festival today.” We regret to hear that, and are unhappy about what that had happened.
Last time when he was refused to enter into Mainland China was on November 5, 2012. He planned to enter into China from Beijing international airport, but the police stopped him and arranged for his return to Tokyo. Later we learned that it was the first time he was refused to enter into China. Because of at the eve of the eighteenth Congress of the Communist Party of China, some of friends blind encourage him that it was just an accident. If he chose Pudong International Airport or Guangzhou, Shenzhen, maybe everything is going well.
But it is inexplicable to hear he is again refused to enter into Mainland China at Lo Wu Control Point in Shenzhen City. We are also quite angry for it. Even thousands of mountains also could not prevent the flow of a stream. Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO is a very gentle man. He lets more Japanese people to know civil society of China by his own thinking and writing. He promotes the exchanges of culture between China and Japan, and strengthens the understanding and reduces conflicts. How commendable things there are! What’s more precious, ASO SEIICHIRO has been visiting many activists no matter how hard. He introduces the Japanese how the activists’ work and their ideas. Is that really a problem?
I strongly believe that the decision involve Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO is very unwise.
In summer of 2010, I and Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO was acquainted with each other. Since that, he came into China nine times. No matter where he was, such as in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chongqing etc, he always visited to my office, have fun with our friends. We talked and even debated something, but still more tolerance and understanding.
During the communication with Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO, his strong civic spirit and civil society consciousness deeply touched my friends and me. For example, he doesn’t give others in trouble as soon as possible. It is something like the consciousness of rules, and also it has become the important language during the AIBO Youth Center’s education work of “Rule Consciousness”, which is a public service community, was started on May 4th, 2010, in Linquan City, Anhui Province which is mainly to carry out the work of civil rights education and change the social environments of my hometown.
Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO is more than 20 years older than me. But our friendship is so profound that it cannot use any simple word to describe. I can’t forget when he bought bottled water to flush the toilet in the middle of the night, and then he seriously said that he would suicide if he didn’t do it. That’s a day the water supply was cut off without note.
In December last year, Japan's Kyodo News agency reporter Mr. WATANABE Yasuhito went to Zhengzhou City to interview me about the good friendship between ASO SEIICHIRO and me, which made me surprise.
Today, the gentle man, Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO who is promoting people-to-people culture exchange and strengthening the understanding and reducing conflicts between China and Japan was again refused enter into Mainland China. I was very sad and can’t understand about it.
We hope the relevant departments can truly know more about Mr. ASO SEIICHIRO, and allow his free enter into Mainland China in accordance with the law.
At the same time, we are firmly opposed to swindle or infringe behavior upon the interests of our country, such as swindling the money in the name of the so-called “stability, deliberately making the barriers to the social development and progress in the name of the so-called “merits”.
Contact ASO SEIICHIRO:
Telephone in Tokyo: 08054124915
Telephone in China: 15820785674
Mobile phone in Hong Kong: 852-56250302
E-mail: gikyoudai@hotmail.com
Contact Chang Kun:
Telephone: 13349108944
E-mail: Changkun2010@gmail.com
KENYA: UNCOVERING NEPOTISM ISN’T HATE SPEECH
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013
Butere Girls High School drama club and the entire school are so disappointed. Their drama, ‘Shackles of Doom’, which depicts unequal distribution of resources and dominance of top positions by main ethnic groups, will not be staged at the national drama festivals, despite topping the western region contest.
The play was stopped by the Drama Committee even after Butere District Education quality assurance officer Isaac Ngaya said he watched the play and found no offending sections that warranted censorship. The claim was that the play contained hate speech and for that matter it was offensive.
The play acted by two girls wondered whether nepotism will really end in Kenya. Even before Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have not been sworn in their government has been accused of nepotism.
The girls were wondering why in Kenya any leader who comes to power immediately exercises nepotism. Among the most powerful posts have been awarded to Uhuru Kenyatta’s Central and GEMA as well as Ruto’s Rift- Senate Speaker ... Ethuro ... Rift, Nat. Assembly Speaker ... Muturi ... Eastern-the girls were crying and wondering who will represent Western, Northern and Coastal who feel cheated by Rift Valley and Central!
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is not spared either. He made sure his ODM party awarded his elder brother Oburu Odinga by nominating him to parliament after people rejected him during the ODM nominations.
Similar case applies to his sister Ruth Odinga who has been awarded 'deputy governor' even after Kisumu people rejecting her. Ruth had known before general election that she was going to be awarded the post of deputy governor.
Celebrating Valentine's Day a day late with pupils at Shiners Centre in Kisumu town on February 14, 2013, Ruth introduced herself to the pupils and staff as "the Kisumu County Deputy Governor and Raila's sister". She signed the visitors’ book 'Deputy Governor Kisumu County'.
This could imply that even if Raila became the president nepotism was not going to end. Earlier on Raila had been accused for having allegedly favoured his relatives and friends as well as the financial heavyweight Luos in the former cabinet appointment to the grand coalition government.
Dr. Oburu Oginga was appointed an Assistant Minister of Finance. The other centre of controversy was the appointment of Mr. Phillip Onyango Sika as the PS in the Ministry of Metropolitan development. The new PS hails from gem constituency also in Siaya and is the relative of the Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo whose mother is the younger sister of Raila Odinga’s mother.
Critics blamed Raila for having ignored Migori, Rachuonyo, Kisumu and Nandio districts only concentrating with appointment of people from Siaya and Bondo districts.
Even Kenyatta was not spared either. He used nomination slots to nominate his relatives. He paid back his first cousin Beth Mugo with a TNA nomination to the senate after Mugo stepped down in favour of Mike Sonko who was elected Nairobi senator.
One of the adjudicators at the regional level, Prof Christopher Odhiambo of Moi University, said their role is not to censure but to suggest improvements in case a play contains offending information.
The author of the play, Cleophas Malala is a politician and a scriptwriter, but his play has been adjudged to be politically incorrect. Despite the ban, Mr Malala says his plays are motivated by his desire to fight for the rights of the oppressed, especially the marginalized ethnic communities in Kenya.
In the zonal, district and regional competitions the play by Butere Girls emerged the winner despite the fact that someone loyal to the government thinks it has a political twist.
The play was motivated by unequal distribution of resources in the country. The play depicts a film shot in the land of the ‘Kanas’, who refer to themselves as the ‘True Kanas’. Their land is rich in oil, but they are ignorant of the treasure that lies beneath their soil.
Malala cited an audit by the Commission for Integration and National Cohesion (NCIC) on distribution of public appointments which showed glaring inequalities in public jobs.
“I am just replaying what happens in our society and even NCIC knows that, so what is my sin?” Malala wonders.
The fact however, remains that the unequal distribution of wealth has always been a huge problem in Kenya since independence that has plagued society throughout the ages. Even as forms of governments of Kenya have changed, the unequal distribution of wealth has remained a constant.
That is why the Butere girls’ actress were crying wondering who will save Kenya from these evil ills. They were crying because the unequal distribution of wealth makes the living conditions of the less fortunate undesirable, because the upper class is usually concerned about gaining and maintaining their own wealth first and concerned about others second.
The girls were crying because it is difficult for the poor to rise above the poverty level, because they are dependent upon what the upper class deems is a fair wage for producing the goods that they make.
Against the background that Karl Marx saw conflict as necessary and desirable to bring about social change. This social change would then result in the equal distribution of wealth and resources.
After viewing the suffering of the masses, Karl Marx hoped that they would rise up against oppression and bring about a social change where there would be an equal distribution of resources.
The conflict that Marx spoke about was not necessarily violence. Conflict referred to tension, differences in beliefs and values, conflict of interest and competition. These all exist in every society and according to Marx, they are the basis for social change.
The play reminds me of my own play I wrote in early 1990s when I was the Rector of Keserian Juniro Seminary. The play “But Why” was banned by the Kajiado Drama Committee because it was asking why The Central Bank of Kenya had been used to provide liquidity to politically well connected financial institutions such as Trade Bank, Pan African Bank and Exchange Bank.
Such banks were being used to launder the residential campaign money into convertible currencies abroad. In 1992 alone, the Central Bank printed and released for circulation more than 12 billion Kenya shillings.
This was the time 7 billion shillings was used by Kanu as slush fund to manipulate the electoral process according to Finance Magazine, March 31, 1993. It was also the time 500 and 200 notes were printed, YK' 92, used most of 500 notes to campaign for bribery and corruption machinery to make Kanu win the elections.
The printing of 500 notes, 200 and 100 was an addition to 2.35 billion. As of the end of September 1992, the amount of currency in circulation in Kenya was 15.85 billion. It was also during this time that Lake Basin Development Authority had been pushed to near collapse due to general elections.
During that time Kenya had been ranked by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as the 24th poorest country in the world a gross national product per capita of $370 per year-down from the$400 plus attained by the end of the eighties.
The average annual growth rate per capita had therefore been either zero or negative for the eighties. By the year 2000 Kenyan economy was rated negative 0.3 percent according to East African Standard, June 8, 20001.
This was the lowest ever recorded since the collapse of the shilling in 1993 in the wake of the Goldenberg scandal and paper money and the crisis of the 1990's-instead of answering the question but why the play was banned.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
EAST AFRICA LAWYERS CONDEMN KISUMU KILINGS
By Agwanda Saye
Lawyers from East Africa have accused police officers of shooting to kill demonstrators in Kisumu over the weekend.
They called for prosecution of the trigger happy police officers towards bringing to an end perpetual shooting of demonstrators using live bullets.
The East Africa Law Society President James Mwamu said firing of live bullets when quelling down demonstrations at the lakeside city must stop.
“We demand an explanation from the police force as the officers seemed to have been given orders not only to shoot but shoot and kill,” Mwamu said.
Mwamu said that several of the civilans who are nursing gunshot wounds at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Provincial Hospital were shot while running away.
“It seems that it is has become a rule in the police force that every time there is demonstration in Kisumu live bullets must be used,” Mwamu said.
The EALS President said that the security officers have in the past five years shot to kill protestors at the lakeside city.
Mwamu was reacting to media reports following demonstrations that rocked parts of Kisumu after the Supreme Court upheld the Presidential election of Uhuru Kenyatta.
Gun shots were heard up to almost midnight as armed police officers dispersed youth from Kondele and chased them to areas such as Nyawita, Obunga and Nyalenda.
“The Constitutional right to life must not be taken for granted and can only be taken away legally,” Mwamu said.
Article 26 of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to life and shall not be deprived of life intentionally except when authorized by the Supreme Law.
“We strongly condemn the shootings in Kisumu that led to the death of two civilians and injuring several others on Saturday evening,” Mwamu said.
The EALS President said that the police must up hold the rule of law arguing that use of excessive force must stop under the new Constitutional dispensation.
Ends…..
Kenya: Dictatorship slowly creeping in as we all watch
From: odhiambo okecth
Friends,
A few things have been disturbing me, and as is in my nature, I will not keep quiet.
Is Kenya becoming a Police Dictatorship? Why is the Inspector General of Police keen on gagging Kenyans and denying us our freedom to assemble, talk and associate?
We have come a long way with our fight for democracy and reforms. Many Kenyans have been killed in this journey, while many more have been maimed, tortured beyond repair and suffered stints in detention for agitating for change and reforms.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AV7BLbtR0Fs/UUr07q9mmuI/AAAAAAAADWc/YuyuVZajW-4/s1600/DSCF8151.JPG
The more garbage we clear, the more garbage we generate.
We have come full circle and going by the results of the last General Elections which have been disputed, many Kenyans care less about reforms and democracy. But we all care about our freedoms.
The Civil Society have effectively undergone a complete metamorphosis and no one cares about the tenets of democracy any more. Many care only about the many hotel seminars that they attend and the attendant perks that come with such lofty engagements.
This is why many issues of Governance and Peace are only held in seminars and in hotels where the people who attend are the same same people who keep meeting about such things. They move to congregate from one hotel to another in different locations and they have largely remained isolated from the common reality.
Who is going to talk for the common man whose rights of speech, association and assembly is now being slowly eroded by the new Sherrif in Town? Is the Sherrif acting within the law when he declares all meetings illegal? Is he acting on behalf of some other unseen face? Or, is he afraid of something we all do not know?
Our agitation for repeal of Section 2A led to the first Multi Party elections where the Professor of Kenyan politics Mzee President [rtd] Daniel Arap Moi won albeit with a slim majority the General Elections of 1992. He again won in 1997 to complete his two terms in office.
During this time, there was acceleration of reforms and the gains we had made were never eroded.
Then in 2002, we all rallied behind Mzee President Mwai Kibaki. We started seeing systemic attempts to erode the gains we had made. The first such attempt was in 2005 when we were saddled with a watered down version of a Constitution which we effectively rejected.
The second such attempt has been the question of the County Commissioners. The Courts nullified their appointments but the Executive Wing of Government simply ignored those orders. They have now ordered the Ministers who won other posts to resign and that will be effected. It does not matter how much noise the Prime Minister may make on this.
We have seen nothing in the form of national healing and cohesion. Jobs have been given out in a manner that left many people wondering where Kenya was heading to. And the constant rejoinder was that people were being appointed based on their competency. Competency hence become the justification. And Kenyans watched with baited breath as some key State Offices become a preserve of competencies from the appointing authority.
We then went through a General Election that was generally flawed in 2007 and Mzee KIbaki reached a common agreement with Raila Odinga and they formed a Coalition Government. They forgot to punish the people who messed the election that severely caused friction between them. 1,133 Kenyans were killed at that time, 600,000 more were uprooted from their homes and property of unknown value was destroyed across all Kenya. And no one has been punished for this! And now, we are being warned not to talk, not to assemble and not to freely associate!
The International Criminal Court is also now realizing how tough it is to deal with the dark forces of impunity.
As we speak, there is a game of cats and mice going on with regard to resettling those who were Internally displaced. I thought these people were displaced from somewhere, and now that we have peace between the then protagonists, people can just happily go back to where they were displaced from.
I bet Kenya is facing more serious problems and the attempts by the IGP are simply therapeutic. I do not want to believe that we have gone full circle and all that we fought for have come to nothing.
It is also good to realize that material wealth has replaced ideals. Many people have at long realized that ideals do not place bread on the table, while money does. Many are hence throwing all caution to the wind in pursuit of power, raw power and money. And with it, Kenya is being saddled with a leadership that will shame the whole country.
Pray, why must we elect journeymen into our Legislative Bodies- the National Assembly and the Senate? What is the problem with us? The gods must be absolutely crazy and they must be dancing on the graves of all those gallant sons and daughters of Kenya who fought for reforms and return to Multy Party Politics.
I really would not want to imagine that the Police are willing to be major players in silencing Kenyans, or, clubbing Kenyans into submission at a time thugs are running amok across Kenya!
Crime is escalating and the Police are looking helpless about it. Yet, they have the audacity to come policing innocent Kenyans whose only crime seems to be Freedoms of association, assembly and speech.
I would want to believe that their hands are tied and they have enough to justify for their existence.
The dark clouds are gathering and everyone seems to be taking off as the Inspector General of Police assumes new powers hitherto not known in Kenya.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
Komarock Nairobi
World: ?AIDS Rights? A letter from an accuser
From: Kun Chang
Accuser: Chang Kun, male, born on June 6th ,1985, Han nationality, live in 53-2, Fulin Road, Chengguan Town, Linquan County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province.
Accused person: Public Security Bureau?PSB?, Linquan County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province.
Legal Corporate Representation: Chen Qi, director-general of the Linquan City Public Security Bureau.
Accused person: Chen Jie, male, the inspector of Linquan City Public Security Bureau in Dongguan Local Police Station. The telephone number is 13966587511.
Accused person: Gu Jian, male, the original instructor of Linquan City Public Security Bureau in Dongguan Local Police Station. The telephone number is 13805610988.
The request from the accuser:
A?That Chang Yingbin attacked Chang Kun is illegal. Linquan City Public Security Bureau, Anhui Province, should look into the case and Chang Yingbin shall be investigated for his responsibility.
B?Linquan City Public Security Bureau and the Local Police Station in Dongguan didn’t punish the illegal behavior of Chang Yingbin. So the accuser think they are illegal.
C?The accused person Chen Jie and Gu Jian shall be investigated for their misconduct.
The facts and reasons from the accuser:
A?The illegal crime fact of Chang Yingbin attacked Chang Kun. Chang Yingbin was the original deputy director of the Guangming community, Chengguan Town, LinQuan County.
At around ten o 'clock in the morning on April 4, 2012, Chang Yingbin abused Chang Kun in the crossings of Xinjian Road and Gangkou Road (now it is a waste transfer station). Suddenly, Chang Kun was attacked by someone in the back. Then I ran out, and calling "police, someone is hitting me,". They drag and hit me a lot, and I stood up finally , taking hold the box car behind me. The police come over, and also there had some riot police. They asked Chang Kun to the police station and assisted in the investigation. Chang Kun stand on the steps, back against the box car, and said to villagers around" I've just been attacked, now the police Meng Xianjing (telephone is 13966583485 )asked me to go to the police station to assist their investigation, I am not caught! I'll come back soon!" the police Meng also loudly said "yes!"
On April 4, at about eleven, Chang Kun was in Dongguan Local Police Station to be investigated. Then he asked the police, why not control the attackers, otherwise they would continue to hit. The instructor of Dongguan Local Police Station GuJian (telephone is 13805610988) said a lot about to protect Chang Kun. At this time, Chang Kun heard that the attackers hit someone again. At last I knew that my mother was attacked by the brain when she was on the phone. She was taken to a hospital by emergency ambulance.
At 12:38 on April 4, Chang kun’s head suddenly was very heavy. Chang Kun can hardly support and put the head on the chair. Chang kun required the police to make a record of the happenings , and the police did it.
But at 14:10 on April 4, Chang kun and some friends came to conference room on the third floor of Kaiyue Wangchao Hotel, Linquan County. When Chang Kun sat on the chair and looked on the phone. Chang Yingbin and some other people suddenly rushed into the conference room. I fall on the floor on my back and lost consciousness.
About 19 o 'clock on April 4, the police Meng (his telephone is 13966583485)came to the Brain Surgery in-Patient Department 11 beds of People's Hospital in Linquan County to find Chang Kun. He made a record for Chang Kun. At that time Chang Kun have woke up, and the brain consciousness was relatively clear. But Chang Kun had difficulty in speaking and couldn’t completely say a word. Chang Kun’s upper body can’t move flexible, especially the head can’t turn.
B?The Public Security Bureau took sides in the criminals and his negative act is illegal.
(a), The police on the scene did not take measures to stop the criminal Chang Yingbin, and also didn’t take appropriate measures after the case happened. So that it led directly to Chang Kun and Chang Kun’s mother were attacked again.
At about ten in the morning on April 4, 2011, two policemen in Dongguan Local Police Station arrived at the scene. But they didn’t stop Chang Yingbin’s bad behavior, but took Chang Kun to the police station to make a record. Chang Yingbin beat Chang kun in the presence of the police. So Chang Kun was repeatedly attacked, and the clothes were also tore lousy. When Chang Kun asked the police, why not control the attackers, otherwise they would continue to hit someone? Amazingly, Gujian, the original instructor of Linquan City Public Security Bureau in Dongguan Local Police Station, said what they did are trying to protect Chang Kun. If so, Why don't you put the violent catch up? Why don’t you stop the attackers when Chang Kun was under beaten? It’s all nonsense, Gujian and the attackers are in the same gang. He is an accomplice dressed in the police uniform. Chang Kun suggest to the leaders that you should get rid of him. Chang Kun’s mother was attacked by the brain when she was on the phone. She was taken to a hospital by emergency ambulance. It’s really can’t speak all his bad behaviors!
On 14:10 in the April 4, Chang Kun was in the conference in Kairui Wangchao
Hotel. Chang Yingbin rushed in it and hit Chang Kun. Chang Kun lost consciousness. The Public Security Bureau took sides in the criminals. May be they are in the same gang?If they don't have interest relations, how can they neglect Chang Yingbin’s so bad behavior? They are really in for their own selfish, disregard to the state dignity and the law? !
(b). The negative act of LinQuan County Public Security Bureau and the Dongguan Local Police Station is illegal.
on April 4, 2011 at 11 o 'clock, when Chang Kun was taken to Dongguan Local Police Station to make a record, Chang Kun’s mother was also attacked. On April 4, 2011 in the afternoon, the Public Security Bureau took sides in the criminals and led Chang Kun was attacked again to coma in hospital. All the things, Chang Kun’s father repeated visited LinQuan County Public Security Bureau and Dongguan Local Police Station to ask to punish the murderers all the year. But they all did not take any effective measures, and lack of supervision. In close to a year, they didn’t have any processing results about the case. The criminal Chang Yingbin are still at large.
In addition, Chen Jie(the telephone is 13966587511), the inspector of Dongguan Local Police Station, answered that they were waiting for the instruction of Ge Jinhai, secretary of Chengguan Town.
I am very confused about the relationships between LinQuan County Public Security
Bureau and Chengguan Town? Why the inspector of Dongguan Local Police Station Chen Jie actually need to the instruction of secretary of Chengguan Town GeJinHai? If not so, why LinQuan County Public Security Bureau still don’t handle the case?
According to ninety-ninth regulation of "L aw of the PRC on Penalties for Administration of Public Security": " Public Security Bureau has a time limit about the cases, from the date of acceptance of not more than thirty days; if the case is grave and complicated, the Public Security Bureau can prolong thirty days at the next higher level for approval."
LinQuan County Public Security Bureau neglect the legal regulations of our country.
They maliciously dragged on the case, which is a serious violation of the rights of the accuser Chang Kun! The negative act is illegal. As its agencies, Dongguan Local Police Station disregard our national law, took sides in the criminals, and it is unable to perform a national legal obligation.
In all, the accuser request that the relevant authority should handle the letter. Supervise and correct the wrong act of LinQuan County Public Security Bureau and Dongguan Local Police Station, especially about their negative act and took sides in the criminals. Chang Kun request to punish the criminal Chang Yingbin. Please look into the possible malversation!
Best wishes
Fuyang City Public Security Bureau!
The accuser: Chang Kun
December 17, 2012
Copy to: People's Congress Standing Committee of LinQuan County, People’s Procuratorate of LinQuan County, LinQuan County Commission for Discipline Inspection, Linquan County Supervision Bureau, People's Congress Standing Committee of Fuyang City, Fuyang City Commission for Discipline Inspection, Fuyang City Supervision Bureau, People's Congress Standing Committee of Anhui Province, Anhui Province Commission for Discipline Inspection ,Anhui Province Public Security Bureau, Anhui Province Supervision Bureau, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Ministry of Public Security, State Bureau for Letters and Calls.
CAMEROON & USA: FEB 2008-TH FEB 28TH 2013-COMMEMORATION RALLY
From: P. Sylvie Yonke
[image]Paul Eric Kingue (left, beige suit), Ex Mayor of Njombe-Penja still in jail, Lapiro de Mbanga (right, yellow shirt) liberated
[image]Joe La Conscience was liberated, but hundreds or thousands of people arrested in February 2008 are, five years later, still in the various rotten and inhumane jails across Cameroon and many have certainly died there as well.
RALLY THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28TH 2013, FROM 11AM TO 2PM.
IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY OF CAMEROON TO THE USA, 3400 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20008 OFF CONNECTICUT AVE,
VAN NESS-UDC METRO STATION
CALL NAPI TAGNIDOUNG ABOUT CARS LEAVING FROM YOUR AREA 203-434-2832
©2013 Balafon Communications | New York, NY
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KENYA: WHY UHURU MAY NOT IMPLEMENT CONSTITUTION
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2013
Given that Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta will be voted as the fourth president of Kenya by some sections of Kenyans only, that is Gema and Kalenjins, the communities that have the highest registered voters it will be difficult for him to implement the new constitution.
Kenyans will not stand steadfast in their demand for the truth based on a new constitution because they will have the president who will serve the interest of the communities that voted him.
In this way the constitution will not be people driven because it will not be at the center of people themselves but the parliament or politicians. This will kill the constitution preamble," We Kenyans".
Parliament will be forced to amend the constitution that gives much power to those in authority. As such they will use it to intimidate and dictate to people whatever they feel it is on their favor. They will use it to intimidate and dictate because it would have no objectives and visions.
It will not talk about democratic principles that Kenyans should be committed to. It will give the president all the powers to use it in any way he likes. As such it will fail to define the duties of the head of the state and those of head of Government. It will place the president above the law. It will give him power to appoint ministers, public and constitutional officials of his own and taste.
Since the amendment will make president to be above the law, he can dissolve the parliament any time he feels like. He will also not be impeached. With its weakness and indecency, the amended constitution will not protect violation of human rights, guarantee free and fair elections, or directive principles on the management and use of natural resources such as public land, forest, water, wild life, etc.
It will mean that Kenya will be taken back when the police wantonly broken-up peaceful meetings of lobby groups and political parties, even clobbering harmless journalists covering such stories.
It will take us back where many opposition supporters have been inhumanly beaten, injured, and even died. This will give birth to the informal groupings as chinkororos, Jeshi la Mzee and Bagdad boys. In such well planned violence no arrests will be made.
It will also mean that Kenyan people will not unite actively together to re-build Kenya. As such it will deter a clear reflection of the past, a critical look at the present and a focused charting out of the way forward in resuscitating our country and giving it a new lease of life, in the firm belief that we can and are able to reshape our nation's destiny.
Even churches will have no voice to call to an end the restoration of the separation of powers between Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary, the restoration of the security of tenure of office, the judges, attorney general and the controller and auditor general.
It will take us back when President Jomo Kenyatta’s had little change in cabinet after the General Election of October 1974. He kept Moi, Mbiyu Koinange, Julius Kiano, Mwai Kibaki, Jeremiah Nyagah, James Gichuru, Jackson Angaine, Isaac Omolo-Okero and Charles Njonjo in their jobs, the most stable ministerial team Kenya has ever seen. It will mean appointing only few new ministers.
For his government to be protected Jomo Kenyatta had to bring in Munyua Waiyaki, who had resigned in 1966 in sympathy with former Vice-President Oginga Odinga, not only to replace Njoroge Mungai as foreign minister but also brought in Daniel Mutinda to replace Eliud Mwendwa as the minister for Ukambani among others.
Against the background that amongst Kenyatta’s 12 nominations to Parliament were two representatives of Kenya’s increasingly influential ethnic or tribal unions: Njenga Karume, chairman of Gema, and Mulu Mutisya, leader of the New Akamba Union (NAU).
In this way Kanu was used by Jomo Kenyatta to discriminate the minority ethnic groups such as Kalenjin, miji kenda, Maasai, Luhya, among others. Kanu was predominantly Luo and Kikuyu party.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
Globalizing Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition
From: Yona Maro
This report focuses mainly on human rights abuses associated with the CIA's post-September 11, 2001, secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations.
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Kenya: LSK on Limuru Country Club
By Agwanda Saye
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) wants the Limuru Country Club to uphold gender rights under the Constitution.
LSK CEO Apollo Mboya said that the exclusive club had breached the constitutional provision on non-discrimination on gender.
He said that Article 27 of the Constitution provided that every person was equal before the law and had the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
“Equality includes the full benefit and equal enjoyment of all rights and fundamental freedoms – irrespective of gender,” Mboya said.
The CEO said that men and women had the right to equal treatment including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres.
The Board of Directors of Limuru Country Club held a meeting on December 18, 2012 and allegedly made a by law to disenfranchise lady members, according to documents at LSK.
“We (LSK) call on the Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch and the National Gender and Equality Commission to intervene on the stalemate,” Mboya says.
The CEO said that the issue was before the LSK Gender Committee which would advise the Governing Council on legal steps to take.
“We shall consider legal necessary legal action if the matter is not resolved amicably,” Mboya said.
Mboya said that LSK was in possession of documents showing that the Board of the golf club passed a discriminatory by law that was not in line with the Constitution.
“The by law says that the golf committee was a male affair …lady golfers can only attend its meetings as guests,” Mboya said.
Rose Mambo, Dr Caroline Wangari and Martha Vincent who are members of the club have instructed their lawyers Murgor & Murgor Advocates to write to the club over the matter.
Lawyer Philip Murgor copied the legal letter to Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Ababu Namwamba and National Gender and Equality Commission chairperson Winnie Lichuma.
Murgor said that the Board of Directors had taken away voting rights of the women and consigned them to mere guests during general meetings.
“We are concerned because Dr Wangari and Ms. Vincent have even served as Lady Golf Captains at the exclusive club,” Mboya said.
He said that LSK was concerned that constitutional provisions as stipulated under the Bill of Rights were increasingly breached on economic, social, political spheres.
“It is high time we accept that society has undergone a complete transformation and the Constitution should be our guide,” Mboya said.
Ends
WE DEMAND THE RELEASE OF THE ARRESTED EDITOR OF ALMIZAN NEWSPAPER AND A REPORTER
From: Maurice Oduor
I want to add my voice here to condemn this inhuman act. Those journalists should be released right away and compensation paid to them and their families for the inhuman treatment meted upon them.
Courage,
Oduor Maurice
- - - - - - - - - - -
On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:57 AM, Yona Maro wrote:
Press Release
WE DEMAND THE RELEASE OF THE ARRESTED EDITOR OF ALMIZAN NEWSPAPER AND A REPORTER
In a clandestine operation by combine security operatives (SSS ARMY AND MOPOL) that took place in the early hours of Monday 24th December 2012, the Editor of Al-Mizan newspaper, Malam Musa Muhammad Awwal and a Reporter with the Newspaper, Malam Aliyu Saleh have been whisked away to an unknown destination.
The security operatives, so...me of whom were dressed in military uniforms clampdown on the house of Malam Aliyu Saleh located at Rigasa Kaduna, where they odered all the people in the compound including women and children to to lay flat on the ground despite the cold weather. Malam Aliyu was brutally beaten by the security operatives. They were carrying sophisticated weapons and detectors and they seized their cell phones after harrassing them.
They searched every nook and corner in the house without coming up with anything having not presented any search warrant to their victim.
They whisked away Malam Aliyu Saleh without any arrest warrant, and his wife and went to the house of Malam Musa located close to Makarfi road by Nnamdi Azikiwe way. There, the security operatives harrassed his wife and beat her up, his son was beaten despite his deteriorating health condition and they also took away cell phones and undisclosed amounts of money. They whisked away Malam Musa Awwal without any arrest warrant as well after thoroughly searching his house and his car.
The wife of Malam Aliyu was later dropped along Makarfi road while they did went away with the two journalists, Malam Musa Muhammad Awwal and Malam Aliyu Saleh in separate vehicles.
The wives and children of the affected journalist have confirmed the incident mentioning that the sophisticatedly armed security operatives numbered more than 40 in vehicles numbering more than ten including an amoured vehicle stationed in strategic locations around the area.
Meanwhile, all security points visited have refused to officially confirm the incident although some of the personnels confirmed knowledge of the incident asking for anonimity.
Although it is not clear why they have been arrested, however it might not be unconnected with the lead story of the current edition of the Al-Mizan Newspaper which revealed the attrocities of the Joint Task Force in Potiskum in which 84 persons have been abducted.
The way and manner those charged with managing insecurity in the troubled areas are operating is not encouraging at all because of the way and manner they highten tension and violate the civil rights of their victims.
On behalf of the I.M.Publications, publishers of Al-Mizan Newspaper, we hereby call for the immediate and unconditional release of our staff whose arrest has violated due proccess and their individual human rights.
We shall not relent in all efforts of making this issue publicized all over the world which will subsquently reveal the inadequacies of the security operatives. We hereby call on the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Guild of Editors, Press Union of the Islamic World, Human and Civil Rights groups as well as all concerned and well meaning personalities that believe in fairness and justice to humanity to outrightly denounce this atrocity perpetrated by security personnels in the name of providing security.
Signed
Ibrahim Musa
(Editor-in-chief, Al-Mizan Newspaper)
2348037023343
Picture 1&2 3 Malam Aiyu Saleh Senior Reporter of Almizan and his Bedroom, 4. Malam Musa Muhammad Awwal Editor of ALMIZAN
Images_WE_DEMAND_THE_RELEASE_OF_THE_ARRESTED_EDITOR_OF_ALMIZAN_NEWSPAPER_AND_A_REPORTER_.mht
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ICTs as a key driver for governance in sub-Saharan Africa?
From: Yona Maro
Do ICTs drive governance in sub-Saharan Africa? Do citizens? Danida, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, held a conference in Copenhagen on April 12 on the the theme, 'ICT as a key driver for governance in sub-Saharan Africa: Strategies for using the transformative power of mobile phones and social media.' Guest speakers debated the potential for mobile phones and technology to boost democracy, transparency, accountability and citizen agency.
Links:
http://www.u-landsnyt.dk/kalender-indhold/konference-informations-og-kommunikations-teknolog
http://twaweza.org/index.php?i=901
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Kenya & World: What democracy? Annan and his ilk pre-rigging the Kenya polls and justice
From: maina ndiritu
It is becoming increasingly clear that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto do not stand a chance of a fair trial at the ICC over the crimes against humanity charges against them.
With sickening regularity in recent weeks and months, key figures involved in the prosecution and in the so-called continuing mediation efforts are making reckless pronouncements designed to hopelessly prejudice these cases.
The ground is clearly being expertly prepared for a massive miscarriage of justice and the first international show trial of the 21st Century.
Indeed, on Monday last week, Uhuru significantly observed: “Even suspects have their own rights, in their own nations. From the time we were named, we said we were determined to follow due process to clear our names, but this does not mean we should be denied our rights.”
The Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and the head of the Kenyan post-election violence mediation process, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have made remarks that are explicitly intended to stand in the way of Uhuru and Ruto’s ultimate political ambitions. And both have brazenly denied they were interfering in Kenyan electoral politics. The double-speak has been astonishing.
A couple of weeks ago, soon after a week-long visit to Kenya, Bensouda issued a statement in which she made clear for the first time the extent to which she would rely on evidence adduced by hidden witnesses against Uhuru. These people also happened to have been self-confessed former senior members of Mungiki when it was a murder cult.
Such ‘evidence’ and such ‘witnesses’ are the stuff the show trials in the totalitarian states of the 20th Century contained. Even Uhuru’s worst enemies can see that the ICC really has it in for him.
And then, this week, in remarks that somehow coincided with the announcement of Uhuru and Ruto’s joint ticket for the 2013 presidential race, Annan parachuted into the centre of Kenya’s General Election campaign.
In a weird performance on BBC, he told Kenyans that it is “not in the interest of the country” for the electorate to elect a leader “who will not be able to freely interact with the rest of the world, including travelling to some countries”.
When the BBC reporter urged Annan to come out and state whether he was, in fact, urging Kenyans not to elect Uhuru and Ruto, he denied this and snapped: “Do not put words in my mouth”.
Even the idiot in every Kenyan (or other) village could see right through such cynicism and advance-rigging.
Mr Annan’s truly frightening double-speak is the kind of hypocrisy that produced the bizarre accusations against Uhuru and Ruto in the first place.
If this is how he can behave on-air speaking to a global broadcaster like the BBC, how does he behave behind closed doors at, say, the Kenyan Judiciary, where he has met Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, not once, but twice, in recent weeks?
As for the juvenile fiction that presidential and deputy- presidential visits to foreign countries are show-stoppers of the highest significance, go tell it to the birds! The assertion about Kenya’s isolation in the event of Uhuru and Ruto being elected is nonsense.
For completely different reasons, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta did not travel abroad after 1964 for the rest of his life, yet Kenya enjoyed a profile that was higher than anything since.
A competent, high-profile head of the Foreign Office (the Foreign Secretary), the rest of the Cabinet outside the presidency, and the Brand Kenya Board launching a particularly creative nation-branding campaign, is all we would need.
Many Kenyans do not trust Mr Annan. The reverse is also true — there are millions of Kenyans who blindly support him and name themselves, their new-borns and even matatus after him.
The thing to note is that we are looking at a political fault-line here, a political divide, the fruit of adversarial politicking and negative ethnicity.
And yet Annan can stand there and assure the world that the ICC process is devoid of politics. From where I stand, he is himself a political player now and anyone who says otherwise is a psychopathological liar.
Enough of mind games: The ICC is clearly out to bring down its biggest prey yet — two top political leaders from a functioning, not a failed, State. This is an act of desperation; it is not justice.
In fact, it is the ICC itself that runs the highest risk of isolation and international opprobrium in 2013 should the perception gain ground inside Kenya, and elsewhere in Africa, that a free and fair trial is just not possible at The Hague for these two leaders.
Mr Waikenda is the TNA director of communications.
http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Annan-and-his-ilk-pre-rigging-the-Kenya-polls/-/440808/1646980/-/item/1/-/noavcj/-/index.html
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Why should we not all live in peace and harmony ? we look up the same stars we are fellow passengers on the same planet and dwell beneath the same sky , what matters it along which road each individual endeavours to reach the ultimate truth ? the riddle of existence is too great that there should be only one road leading us to an answer
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QUINTUS AURELIUS SYMMACHUS
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World: State of Civil Society 2011
From: Yona Maro
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance of civil society working to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are challenged. This report is published by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and is the first report on the changing health and state of civil society.This report looks at five key thematic areas across civil society: civil society response to emergency and crisis; protest, activism and participation; the space for civil society; the resourcing of civil society; and civil society’s role in the multilateral arena.
Link:
http://socs.civicus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/State-of-Civil-Society-2011.pdf
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Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2012
From: Yona Maro
Human trafficking is a crime that ruthlessly exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. This global crime generates billions of dollars in profits for the traffickers. The International Labour Organization estimates that 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation. While it is not known how many of these victims were trafficked, the estimate implies that currently, there are millions of trafficking in persons victims in the world. Human trafficking requires a forceful response founded on the assistance and protection for victims, rigorous enforcement by the criminal justice system, a sound migration policy and firm regulation of the labour markets
Link: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/Trafficking_in_Persons_2012_web.pdf
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China: AIDS Rights 20121201 Chang Kun Statement, Wrongfully Accused, Confiscation of Magazine
Statement regarding Chang Kun being wrongfully accused and the seizure of the magazine edited by him “Youth and AIDS”
From: Kun Chang
I am Chang Kun, in charge of the organization AIBO AIDS Relief, Zheng Zhou CityHe’rbutong Center - based HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment organizationin Henan Province, China. I state responsibly as follows: I will take all legal and humanitarian steps to maintain my dignity and value! I am against any form of misinformation to pretend I have done wrong !
Since October 25th ,2012, there have been a series of strange things happening in He’rbutong. First, someone wrongly claimed that I am moving to other city. Then, from November 8th to 11th, our office internet was broken for two days without any reasonable explanation.
At 15:30 on November 15th , the Domestic security team of the Public Security Bureau of Zhengzhou City, Cultural Market Comprehensive Enforcement Team of Zhengzhou City and the Wenhua Road Branch Office of Zhengzhou Public Bureau came to our office to check up. None of them wore work uniforms and they didn’t show the Work Permit. They seized and held in their custody the Youth and AIDSmagazine with the excuse that the magazines didn’t pass the relevant departments audit and they would to do an appraisal. On the Seizure Sheet, there was no official seal and only one police officer signed her name. I have no idea which Joint Law Enforcement organization the Seizure Sheet belongs to?
After this series of events happened, I had to cancel a meeting in Hangzhou, andcome back to Zhengzhou City by train overnight on November 17th.
On November 19th, I met with two department leaders of Zhengzhou City Politics and Law Committee who are responsible for AIDS and ideology. So far we knew that some people set me up by saying that I have some relation to an event—4 young people tore up a picture of the leader Mao Zedong in public at the Zhengzhou Zijingshan Square on October 25th. I only know three of the four people, but I had nothing to do with their actions. I am curious how they thought that I am behind the scenes of this affair, merely because I know the three people ?
What the most important is that no one has contacted me in any way to check regarding these events until I communicated with the leaders of the Zhengzhou City Politics and Law Committee. And they continue to set me up and harassed my colleagues! They may cheat their leaders and set me up in the name of their duty , I'm so frightened!
On November 26th , all my colleagues together went to the Domestic security teamof the Public Security Bureau of Zhengzhou City. We met some leaders and clarified some facts. We refused to be framed! However, until now, the Youth and AIDS have not sent back to our office.
On December 1st, 2012, the Word AIDS Day, There are 7 people with me had taken Hunger Strike for HIV/AIDS action.
I, Chang Kun, am engaged in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS since 2004. I am always doing my best and study hard, though there are some rough roads in my life. I found my life fun in the field of AIDS and I aimed to the prevention and control of AIDS for all my life! I gradually achieve my ideal, business, profession and life unification. But now I really can’t understand why someone would set me up!
In the past eight years , I did my best to serve my country and people, actively undertook the state and national responsibility of the epidemic of AIDS, and got my parents, sister and brother’s support. I worked hard myself in various environments during these years, I coordinated the relationships between various departments, all of this I did solely to solve the problem of HIV/AIDS in China. But today someone told me to end my own life! Am I so afraid of death? I made and kept a will since 2007. The one who said “take your own life” to me, do you have a will? I had a plan to die once, and I was threatened with death from by Email when I criticized one foundation. But this is the first time, that I was told with a word to end my own life. I am very angry!
I am always honest and public on my work. I will acknowledge anything if I really did it, but on the contrary, no one should be able to set me up if I really didn’t do it!! The 25th World AIDS Day is coming, our country and relevant departments are becoming active to improve AIDS people and their survival/condition. These departments have a series of documents which guarantee the treatment rights ofHIV/AIDS patients and state that no one can refuse and prejudice them. The documents also said that the prevention of AIDS is a complicated work, which requires the whole society’s participation; there is a need to provide the necessary support and help NGOs. Only according to the central requirements about innovation and social management, can we gradually establish and perfect the work mechanism of folk NGOs to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control cause!
What about the current situation? Someone has framed an AIDS activist, which is not only a disservice to our country and government, but also makes trouble for no reason!
I would like to solve the problem peacefully, but the someone must seek truth from facts ! Sent the Youth and AIDS back to AIBO AIDS Relief, ZhengZhou CityHe’rbutong Center as soon as possible.
Chang Kun(13349108944)
Changkun2010@gmail.com
SKYPE:chinachangkun
December 1st, 2012 World AIDS Day
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Chang Kun
Director
Zhengzhou City He'rbutong
Tel:0371-87512825
Phone: 18697332373 13349108944
Email/MSN: heerbutong2011@hotmail.com
ADVENT: TIME TO WAIT IN JUSTICE
from: Ouko joachim omolo
News Dispatch
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012
Today is first Sunday of Advent, a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It means watchfulness, living in God's presence and according to his criteria, that is living in justice.
As Pope Benedict XVI states, waiting for justice in the Christian sense means above all that we ourselves begin to live under the eyes of the Judge, in accordance with the criteria of the Judge; that we begin to live in his presence, doing justice in our own lives (L'Osservatore Romano-Jan 2008, English Edition).
This is because as Desmond Tutu, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1984 argues, “a true peace can ultimately be built only on justice”. Thus, by doing justice, putting ourselves in the Judge's presence, we wait for justice in reality. And this is the meaning of Advent, of vigilance.
This is again, because the watchfulness of Advent means living under the eyes of the Judge and thus preparing ourselves and the world for justice. In this way, therefore, living under the eyes of the God-Judge, we can open the world to the coming of his Son and predispose hearts to welcome "the Lord who comes".
In his expectation, therefore, the believer becomes an interpreter of the hopes of all humanity; humanity yearns for justice and thus, although often unconsciously, is waiting for God, waiting for salvation which God alone can give to us.
Justice is here taken in its ordinary and proper sense to signify the most important of the cardinal virtues. It is a moral quality or habit which perfects the will and inclines it to render to each and to all what belongs to them.
For those who recite the Divine Office the word cardinal as applied to the virtues means a hinge, that on which a thing turns. We need fortitude (courage) to work for justice. Fortitude allows us to overcome fear and to remain steady in our will in the face of obstacles.
We also need prudence and justice. Theses are the virtues through which we decide what needs to be done; fortitude gives us the strength to do it. Fortitude is the only one of the cardinal virtues that is also a gift of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to rise above our natural fears in defense of the Christian faith.
While fortitude is concerned with the restraint of fear so that we can act, temperance is the restraint of our desires or passions. In other words, temperance is the virtue that attempts to keep us from excess, and, as such, requires the balancing of legitimate goods against our inordinate desire for them.
This is the time we need to examine our consciences in accordance to the Catholic social teaching. Do I respect the life and dignity of every human person from conception through natural death? Do I recognize the face of Christ reflected in all others around me whatever their race, class, age, or abilities?
Do I work to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened? Am I committed to both protecting human life and to ensuring that every human being is able to live in dignity? Do I try to make positive contributions in my family and in my community?
Are my beliefs, attitudes, and choices such that they strengthen or undermine the institution of the family?
Am I aware of problems facing my local community and involved in efforts to find solutions? Do I stay informed and make my voice heard when needed? Do I support the efforts of poor persons to work for change in their neighborhoods and communities? Do my attitudes and interactions empower or disempower others?
Do I recognize and respect the economic, social, political, and cultural rights of others?
Do I live in material comfort and excess while remaining insensitive to the needs of others whose rights are unfulfilled? Do I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that the rights of persons in need are realized?
Do I urge those in power to implement programs and policies that give priority to the human dignity and rights of all, especially the vulnerable? Do I give special attention to the needs of the poor and vulnerable in my community and in the world?
Am I disproportionately concerned for my own good at the expense of others?
Do I engage in service and advocacy work that protects the dignity of poor and vulnerable persons?
As a worker, do I give my employer a fair day’s work for my wages? As an owner, do I treat workers fairly? Do I treat all workers with whom I interact with respect, no matter their position or class?
Do I support the rights of all workers to adequate wages, health insurance, vacation and sick leave? Do I affirm their right to form or join unions or worker associations?
Do my purchasing choices take into account the hands involved in the production of what I buy? When possible, do I buy products produced by workers whose rights and dignity were respected?
Does the way I spend my time reflect a genuine concern for others? Is solidarity incorporated into my prayer and spirituality? Do I lift up vulnerable people throughout the world in my prayer, or is it reserved for only my personal concerns?
Am I attentive only to my local neighbors or also those across the globe?
Do I see all members of the human family as my brothers and sisters? Do I live out my responsibility to care for God’s creation?
Do I see my care for creation as connected to my concern for poor persons, who are most at risk from environmental problems? Do I litter? Live wastefully? Use energy too freely? Are there ways I could reduce consumption in my life? Are there ways I could change my daily practices and those of my family, school, workplace, or community to better conserve the earth’s resources for future generations?
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
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