Folks,

Exactly, this is what Majority Kenyans are asking for. Quote…. (The real suspects “The police are partisan in their arrests and cannot prosecute the suspects in this case. They are themselves suspects,” Raila said).

Kudos Rt. Hon. PM Raila!!!!!! the truth must be told and culprits charged. This will bring about meaningful healing and the United Kenya many want.

I Love to hear statements and actions of Real Change, it is medicine to the soul.

This is truely refreshing. We are looking forward to seeing Saitoti put to task and answerable according to law to all Police brutality, overhaul and appointments of fresh police leadership so to bring a total changed style and attitude to the police force when executing duties to Kenyans.

Thanks,

Judy Miriga
USA

@@@

Raila kicks off fresh amnesty storm
Published on 19/08/2008
By David Ohito

Prime Minister Raila Odinga kicked a fresh storm demanding yet again the unconditional release of more than 300 post-election violence suspects.

“We are not calling for amnesty. The youths are not guilty. There is no evidence but just trumped-up charges against innocent ODM supporters,” Raila said.

In a new development, Raila called for an independent body to investigate and prosecute cases related to post-election violence.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre), Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (left) and Prof Peter Wanyande at the conference on Restorative Justice and International Humanitarian Law at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, on Monday. PHOTO: SAIDI HAMISISpeaking at an International conference on Restorative Justice and National Humanitarian Law at the Hotel Intercontinental, Nairobi, Raila said peace and justice go together and are crucial to the healing process.

He accused Party of National Unity (PNU) of being partisan in the cases facing the suspects and said the party controlled all instruments of coercion during the violence.

The real suspects

“The police are partisan in their arrests and cannot prosecute the suspects in this case. They are themselves suspects,” Raila said.

He added: It is not about amnesty but about justice. The people must be released without conditions,”

“Amnesty presupposes guilt. There are two sides to the conflict. Security forces were following orders of the PNU, but they also killed nearly half of those who died in the violence,” Raila said.

Raila charged that the police officers should be similarly arrested and charges preferred against them.

The PM, whose duties include supervising and co-coordinating the functions of Government, said ODM supporters in custody faced charges of robbery with violence, which would not secure bail.

More than 1,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives in the violence triggered by the disputed presidential election with Government and politicians disagreeing over the official figure of toll.

While Government records peg the figure of the dead at 1,020, politicians have claimed about 1,500 people lost their lives.

He blamed the Electoral Commission of Kenya for playing ¡monkey business¢ with the tallying of election results at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre after the December 27 polling.

Historical injustices

“The people protested at the meddling with results by ECK. It became spontaneous,” Raila said.

He said the violence was a reflection of deep-seated historical injustices that must be resolved through the proposed Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

“The coalition Government is determined to resolve the problems triggered by the election dispute,” he said.

“We have the Kriegler Commission, the Waki Commission and we support the formation of the TJRC which is now before Parliament. These would go a long way in resolving the past problems,” the PM said.

He proposed that historical injustices dating back to the dawn of independence be investigated. “Just how far back should we go back with the TJRC?” asked the PM. Raila at the same time denied knowledge of a report by the Kenya National Human Rights Commission that implicated a number of politicians in the post-election violence.

“We are in the process of trying to heal the wounds that caused the conflicts in January and February,” he told participants.

Yesterday, police headquarters, which handles the post election violence cases refused to comment on the PM¢s statement. Deputy police spokesman Charles Wahongo said they had no comment on the new debate, saying the office of the PM is superior. “There is no comment on that for now. That is a superior office and some of the cases are in court,” he said.

Police have in the past said there are more than 300 suspects in various prisons.

– – –
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:05:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: Raila kicks off fresh amnesty storm