Ethiopia: Death penalty for blogger, prison for journalists

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Ethiopia: Death penalty for blogger, prison for journalists

NEW YORK, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A U.S.-based journalist convicted on politicized terrorism charges in Ethiopia was sentenced to death in absentia today, while two other Ethiopian journalists received heavy prison sentences in connection with their coverage of banned opposition groups, according to news reports.

Elias Kifle, exiled Ethiopian editor of the Washington-based opposition website Ethiopian Review, was handed a death sentence in absentia today, which followed a 2007 life sentence given to him also in absentia on charges of treason for his coverage of the government’s brutal repression of 2005 post-election protests, CPJ research shows. A court in the capital, Addis Ababa, sentenced Reeyot Alemu, a columnist with the independent weekly Feteh , and Woubshet Taye, deputy editor of the now-defunct weekly Awramba Times, to 14 years in prison and 33,000 birrs (US$1,500), news reports said.

“The death penalty for Elias Kifle and the prison sentences for Reeyot Alemu and Woubshet Taye are based on their writings about political dissent. This verdict has little to do with justice,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “We condemn this politicized prosecution designed to cow critical voices into silence and call on the Supreme Court to reverse all the convictions.”

The three journalists were charged in September with lending support to an underground network of banned opposition groups, which has been criminalized under the country’s 2009 antiterrorism law. Alemu and Taye were arrested in June and held for weeks on government accusations of plotting to sabotage telephone and electricity lines before they were charged. In the trial, government prosecutors presented as evidence intercepted emails and phone calls between the journalists, as well as more than 25 Ethiopian Review articles on the activities of opposition groups, CPJ research shows.

Eskinder Nega, another Ethiopian blogger, has been imprisoned since September and could be sentenced to death if convicted of similar politicized terrorism charges in connection with his coverage of banned opposition groups.

Kifle is the first journalist to be handed a death sentence in Ethiopia, according to CPJ research. Since 1992, only two people have been executed after being given the death penalty, while other death sentences have been commuted to life in prison, according to an Ethiopian legal expert.

SOURCE 

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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Press conference of Ambassador John K. Shinkaiye Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the AUC Chairperson

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Press conference of Ambassador John K. Shinkaiye Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the AUC Chairperson

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mr. John K. Shinkaiye, Chief of Staff of the Bureau of the Chairperson of the Commission, will hold a joint press conference on Friday 27 January 2012 at 15h00, at the Media Center of the AU Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

During the press conference to be held on the sidelines of the 18th AU Summit, Ambassador Shinkaiye will address the following issue:

–    Cooperation and partnership with the African Union

Journalists are invited to take part in the press conference.

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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AUC Chairperson Receives Envoys From Japan, India, Luxemburg and Georgia

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AUC Chairperson Receives Envoys From Japan, India, Luxemburg and Georgia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On the margins of the ongoing 18th African Union Summit, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, received in separate audiences in his office at the AUC Headquarters, on Wednesday 25 January 2012, the Parliamentary Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Mr. Ryuji Yamane, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of India, H.E. Mr. Madhusudan Ganapathi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg, H.E. Mr. Jean Asselborn, and the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, H.E. Ms. Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili.

The Chairperson reviewed with his guests the existing ties of cooperation between the African Union and their respective countries and explored ways and means of further enhancing relations. They also discussed other issues of mutual interest, including the agenda of the 18th AU Summit.

The visiting officials reiterated the importance they attach to multilateral relations with the African Union and the Chairperson expressed appreciation for the support, assistance and collaboration received from their respective countries.

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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IOM Airlift Returns Vulnerable South Sudanese From Khartoum

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IOM Airlift Returns Vulnerable South Sudanese From Khartoum

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM yesterday began a series of 12 flights to help 165 very vulnerable people stranded in Khartoum, together with 226 family members and escorts, to return home to South Sudan.

The airlift, which is scheduled to continue for a week, will include 11 charter flights and one commercial flight to Wau, Aweil and Juba, and will be completed by the end of the month. It will be funded by the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) and UNHCR.

On arrival the returnees will be met by IOM South Sudan officials and given help to travel on to their final destinations.

The returnees are part of a bigger group of South Sudanese who have been stranded at locations in and around Khartoum known as ‘departure points’ since late 2010, when the government of newly-independent South Sudan called upon its people to return home.

They include elderly and disabled people, pregnant women and people with serious medical conditions. Nine unaccompanied minors, identified by UNICEF, will also travel with the group to be reunited with their families in South Sudan.

IOM is supporting the governments of Sudan and South Sudan by facilitating the voluntary return home of South Sudanese citizens. In 2011, it helped some 23,000 South Sudanese to return by barge, train and air.

Conflict in border areas between the two countries and few commercial transport links mean that it is now difficult for people to return to South Sudan without help from the two governments or the international community.

Major IOM return routes include barge movements from the Kosti Way Station – a camp where more than 10,000 South Sudanese are still waiting for transport south. IOM has also helped to return people from Khartoum departure points by train. IOM air transport has been restricted to vulnerable people deemed unfit to take the journey by train or barge, both of which can take up to two weeks.

In December, IOM organized an airlift of 65 vulnerable people who were stranded at the Kosti Way Station. The returnees were transported from Kosti by road to Khartoum, where they boarded a flight to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Since South Sudan declared independence in July 2010, over 350,000 South Sudanese living in the north have returned to South Sudan through spontaneously or with help from the governments and the international community.

An estimated that 700,000 South Sudanese remain in the north. The Sudanese government has earmarked April as the final date for all South Sudanese wishing to return home. People staying in the north will subsequently have to regularize their stay.

SOURCE 

International Office of Migration (IOM)

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Eighteenth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to opens on 29 January

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Eighteenth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to opens on 29 January

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — THEME: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”.

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHEN: 29 – 30January 2012

WHERE: Plenary Hall of the new African Union Conference Center (AUCC), Headquarters of the African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHO: Organized by the African Union Commission (AUC). The Assembly meeting will be attended by Heads of States and Governments of the 54 African Union member states, or their designated representatives

WHY: The ordinary session of the Assembly of AU Heads of States and Government is a statutory meeting of the AU. It is a time for the African leadership to take decisions on African integration and development in order to achieve the vision of the AU i.e. a united, prosperous and peaceful continent

OBJECTIVES: – The AU Heads of State and Government will discuss the theme of the summit i.e. “boosting intra African trade”. They will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the Panel of the Wise; the report of Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC); and his report on the 17th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 17), that took place in Durban, South Africa, 28 November – 9 December 2011.

The Presidents and heads of delegations will also exchange views on the report of Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Africa’s Coordinator on Africa’s preparations for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) with respect to the Common Position and Strategies vis-à-vis the challenges posed by the global economy and the international governance of the environment. They will discuss the report of Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms and that of Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the 4th High Level Forum on Aid effectiveness held in Busan, South Korea, 29 November – 1st December 201.

Other issues under consideration by the Heads of State are the progress report of the Commission on the implementation of Assembly Decisions on the Hissene Habre Case and the progress report of the Commission on the transformation of the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority among others.

OUTCOME: During the Summit, the Heads of States are expected to adopt the Decisions and Recommendations of the 20th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council as well as the Declarations of the Summit. They will also agree on the date and venue of the 19th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int and visit the 18th Summit web page of the AU at the following link: http//au.int/en/summit/18thsummit.

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 18th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit on 29 and 30 January 2012 at the plenary hall of the New African Union Conference Center (AUCC) .

(Attached is the program of event of the opening ceremony. )

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

EIGHTEENTH (18th) ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION

29 – 30 January 2012

Venue: New AUC Conference and Office Complex, Large Conference Hall

DAY ONE: Sunday 29 January 2012

08.30 – 09.30 hrs Planting of trees by the Heads of State and Government and Heads of

Delegations of Member States, the Guest of Honour, the Chairperson of

the AU Commission, the UN Secretary General and Ms. Wanjiru Maathai,

daughter of the late Prof. Wangari Maathai and Executive Director of the

Green Belt Movement International (in memory of late Prof. Wangari

Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and First Presiding Officer of the

ECOSOCC of the African Union)

9.30 – 10.00 hrs CLOSED SESSION for Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegations plus one (1) member of their respective delegations proceed

to a Committee Room at the New AUC Conference Centre for consultations on the composition of the Bureau and Drafting Committee

10.30 – 12.00 hrs

I.    OPENING CEREMONY

–    AU Anthem;

–     Minute of Silence;

–    Statement by H.E. Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union;

–    Statement by H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations;

–    Statement by H.E. Mr. Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese Peoples’ Political Consultative Conference of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Guest of Honour;

–    Statement by H.E. Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti;

–     Statement by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia;

–    Statement by H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahim Al-Keab, Prime Minister of Libya;

–    Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Chairman of the African Union;

–     Election of the members of the Bureau and the Drafting Committee;

–    Acceptance Statement by the Incoming Chairperson of the Union;

–     Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards Ceremony for two (2) successful African Scientists: Prof. Oluwole Daniel Makinde, recipient of the Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation Award; Prof. Maryke Tine Labuschagne, recipient of the Life and Earth Science Award.

–     End of the official Opening Ceremony

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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Prez Mills Is A Gargantuan Failure – Sir John

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General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, affectionately called Sir John, has described President John Evans Atta Mills as a gargantuan failure who himself needs to be reshuffled.

To him, Wednesday’s ministerial reshuffle by President Mills is simply a ‘merry go round’ exercise of just adding and subtracting names.

President Mills released the highly anticipated reshuffle list of his cabinet late yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon with four ministers being casualties; namely, Information Minister, John Akologo Tia, Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Upper West Regional Minister, Issahaqu Salia and Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Col. Cyril Neku (rtd).

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the President, J. K Bebaako-Mensah, the NDC Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Fritz Baffour, is the Information Minister-designate. The statement also included some new ministerial appointments: the Interior Minister, Dr. Ben Kumbour was announced as the substantive Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa Lee Ocran is the new Education Minister-designate.

Hon. Dominic Azimbe Azumah, MP for Garu/Timpane becomes Minister of State designate at the Presidency; Ambassador Amin Amidu Sulemani, currently Ghana’s Ambassador to Egypt returns home as Minister-designate for Upper West Region while Alhaji Said Sinare takes over from him.

Whiles some political pundits consider the president’s latest reshuffle as important, especially so when the country is going into an election year, Sir John thinks otherwise.

Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, the NPP Chief Scribe said he does not see anything new with this latest reshuffle, adding that President Mills is simply trying hard to impress Ghanaians that he is busy at the Castle working.

“…the ministers who have been changed are not going to add anything new to the NDC government. It’s the same old thing that has been renamed…it does not have any importance…President Mills is a gargantuan failure and no amount of reshuffle he does will change anything. He is just adding and subtracting names…he himself needs to be removed from the seat of government…” Sir John said.

Speaking on the same issue as a panelist on PeaceFM’s “Kokrokoo” programme, Abu Jinapor, a Special Aide to the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, said the recent reshuffle can best be described as ‘a final kick of the dying horse’.

According to him, the NDC government is on the verge of collapse and this latest ‘musical chairs’ of a reshuffle will not help advance the course of the ruling party.

“The names are old wine in new wine bottles…The reshuffle will not in any way help the NDC win the (2012) election…” Abu Jinapor said.

Source: peacefmonline

PAKISTAN: Kindly initiate the inquiry against killing of a human rights defender

William Nicholas Gomes
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Dear Mr. Asif Ali Zardari,

PAKISTAN: Kindly initiate the inquiry against killing of a human rights defender, working on fishermen rights, by the land grabbers

Name of victim(s):
Mr. Imam Din S/O Haji Ali Nawaz; aged around 36 years,
Mr. Muhammad Hashim S/O Abdul Hameed; aged 17 years,
Mr. Ghulam Abbas S/O Ali Khan; aged 20 years,
Mr. Ali Muhammad S/O Muhammad Suleman; aged 48 years
(All the victims are residents of Bangri Amed Shah Waali, Wapda Colony, P.O. Tehsil Piplan, District Mianwali Punjab, Pakistan.)

Names of alleged perpetrators:
Mr. Amir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Nadir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Yasir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Ahsan Sardar, Mr. Bahawal,
Mr. Muhammad Riaz,
Mr. Jamal Din,
Mr. Muhammad Nawaz,
Mr. Muhammad Hussain
(All are residents of Chashma Village, Dsitt Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.)

Date of incident: 4th December 2011.

Place of incident: Malikhel Village, Kundiyan, District Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the murder of a fisher folk activist and human right defender by the land grabbers and the displacement of indigenous fishermen community from their ancestors’ land.

According to the information I received Imam Din‘s family is one of the other families who had to leave their lands to secure their livelihood. In 1972, they migrated from district Sanghar, Sindh to Kudiyan, Punjab and started working with a contractor named Haji Shafaullah Khan Niazi to catch fish on Chashma to earn their bread and butter.

It is known that Imam Din was a kind and brave man having a good reputation amongst the villagers, one who always stood against the unlawful decisions of the contractor. He had a great affiliation with Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum. On raising his voice against those malpractices, the contractor, his nephew and mobsters started their bitter hostility towards him. They eventually expelled Imam Din from the village along with his entire family.

Imam Din forced to migrate and started living in Paharpur District D. I. Khan near Chashma Barrage. He bought 32 acres of land near his living place and started farming to feed his family. Though he was apart from them his association with the poor fishermen never weakened, he continued to support them. The culprits started harassing Imam Din to leave his piece of land, which he bought and threatening him in an effort to hinder his actions against their unlawful practices, but failed.

Then, on December 4, 2011 a group of thirty armed men broke into Imam Din’s village (Malikhel) and started firing for almost an hour. Ultimately the contractor Haji Shafaullah Khan Niazi, his three sons Amir Khan Niazi, Nadir Khan Niazi, Yasir Khan Niazi, his nephew Kaleemullah along with the armed men attacked Imam Din and his family. They targeted Imam Din and three of his family members, Muhammad Hashim S/O Abdul Hameed, Ghulam Abbas S/O Ali Khan & Ali Muhammad S/O Muhammad Suleman. They killed Imam Din and after confirmation of his death, they fired into the air in jubilation and told everyone that the main obstacle was taken care off. Imam Din’s death was an example for others so that no one would raise their voice against their brutality.

I therefore, urge you to initiate an inquiry into the killing of a human right defender and a fisher folk activist. I urge you to arrest the perpetrators and prosecute the local police for their negligence in taking prompt action against the powerful people. The deceased’s family should be compensated and provided by life and livelihood security. The Contract system should be eradicated from other part of the country as well in order to impede such injustice with fishing community and to ensure their sustainable livelihood. The displaced indigenous fishermen must be rehabilitated to their original places with the provision of all basic facilities of their livelihood.

Yours sincerely,

William Nicholas Gomes

William’s Desk

www.williamgomes.org

Parliament Debates Intestate Succession Bill

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Parliament has inched towards the passage of the Intestate Succession Bill when the bill passed through its second reading stage.

The Bill, which was laid before the House on November 3, 2009 and referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report, seeks a more responsive approach to the needs of nuclear families whose parents and spouses die intestate.

According to members of the committee, they had spent more than two years to deliberate on the bill because of its sensitive nature. When passed, the bill will replace the Intestate Succession Act, 1985 (PNDC Law 111).

According to the memorandum accompanying the bill, its objective is to remove the anomalies in the present law relating to intestate succession and to provide a uniform intestate succession law that would be applied throughout the country irrespective of inheritance system of the intestate and the type of marriage.

Source: Daily Graphic

According to the memorandum, the present law on intestate succession appears to be overtaken by changes in the Ghanaian family system.

The importance of the extended family system was gradually shifting to the nuclear family as pertained in other parts of the world.

However, the well-entrenched family law system had provided very little protection for surviving spouses and children.

In its deliberation, the committee observed that intestate succession and its attendant socio-legal issues continued to pose challenges largely due to the pluralistic nature of the family law system of the country.

It said after over 25 years of the coming into force of PNDCL 111, there were still difficulties in its implementation due to the increasing importance of the nuclear family.

The committee’s report said some key issues that emerged during deliberations, particularly during the public hearings, had been addressed in the bill.

They included the need for enhancement of provisions for children of school age, the need to put a cap on the amount to be treated as household property, the need for enhancement of entitlements for the longest serving spouse within the context of a polygamous marriage, status of additional spouse married under customary law in relation to the spouse under the ordinance.

The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, moved the motion for the bill to go through the second reading and he was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua.

The second reading stage of a bill is a stage when the principles underlying the introduction of the bill.

But before he could move the motion for the House to debate on principles of the bill, some members from the Minority side raised concerns about the whereabouts of the substantive Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The Minority argued that a deputy minister was put in place to assist the substantive minister and in a case where there was no substantive minister, “who is the deputy minister there to assist?”.

After a lengthy debate, however, he was allowed to move the motion.

The Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, observed that the time was ripe for Ghana to take the bull by the horn and enact an interstate succession law that would stand the test of time and enhance the wellbeing of children whose parents died before they become independent in life.

Source: Daily Graphic

Rawlings mediates on the Somali parliament crises

News Ghana
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The African Union High Representative for Somalia Jerry John Rawlings paid a one day visit to Mogadishu Wednesday where he held meetings with various stakeholders as part of the AU’s continued efforts to resolve the current political standoff in the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP).

Mr Rawlings held talks with the president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) H. E. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister H. E. Abdiwelli Mohammed Ali and UN Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga at Villa Somalia before holding separate meetings with all the parties involved in the current political crises in parliament.

Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, H. E. Jerry John Rawlings said that on behalf of the African Union, he is committed to help in resolving the current crises in parliament.

Source: citifmonline

Babu claims to have a stronger herbal therapy

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The renowned retired pastor Ambilikile Masapila of Loliondo District, Arusha Region

The renowned retired pastor Ambilikile Masapila of Loliondo District, Arusha Region has made a fresh appeal to patients who took a cupful of the herbal therapy to go for a second more potent one.

The pastor popularly known as ‘Babu’ who announced the ‘cure’ in 2010, saying it was revealed to him by God in a dream, justified the second helping as having stronger healing powers.

When launching the therapy, the pastor said it was capable of treating chronic diseases, including HIV/Aids cancer and diabetes and making barren women conceive.

Speaking during an interview in ‘Super Mix’, a mid-morning East Africa radio show Masapila said that he has been told by God that he will start performing new miracles very soon using a herbal medicine that will be much stronger compared the ‘Babu cup’.

He said currently there are still people going for the cupful at his Samunge village in Arusha. He said they are from different places including Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda and Mombasa in Kenya.

“The price for a single dose of the miracle cure is 500/- per person or Kenya’s 100/-“, he said.

The retired pastor declined to state whether there were still some top government officials going for the cure.

He refuted public claims that he has constructed an expensive house worth 200m/-, saying his new residential house was worth less than 10m/-. He clarified that he owned a saloon car and a lorry which is used to fetch medicinal plants from the forest.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare endorsed the “miracle cure” as fit for human consumption, but said further medical research was being conducted on it.

Addressing the Parliament in November last year, Health and Social Welfare minister Dr Haji Mponda said that they were waiting for scientific results from a sample of not less than 200 people, conducted jointly by the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), the government and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa zone based in Brazzaville.

A Synovate Tanzania report released August, 2011 showed that at least 78 per cent of people who have drunk the herbal concoction administered by pastor Masapila were cured of diseases they were suffering from.

Only 7 per cent of the patients said were not cured.

It stated that similar concoctions were discovered in Mbeya administered by Dogo Jafferi and a woman from Tabora known as Margaret or Bibi wa Tabora.

Source The Guardian

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