16 November 2012 — Pambazuka News
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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839
CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Announcements, 3. Comment & analysis, 4. Advocacy & campaigns, 5. Books & arts
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1 Features
KHARTOUM’S CONTINUING CAMPAIGN OF EXTERMINATION
Eric Reeves
There is hardly any meaningful international response to the horrible
suffering of up to a million Sudanese now targeted in a military
campaign by President Al Bashir – who is already indicted for crimes
against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85440
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THE PEOPLES’ POSITION ON SIERRA LEONEAN ELECTIONS
Pan-Afrikan Community Movement
This Sunday, Sierra Leoneans head to the polls where President Ernest
Bai Koroma faces his main rival Julius Maada Bio. But key issues
affecting the people have not featured in the campaigns.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85434
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LIBYA ALL IN? FAILED NATO MISSION EXPOSES US GENERALS
Horace G. Campbell
The extramarital affair cited for the resignation of CIA chief Gen
Petraeus is insignificant by far compared to his belonging to a
section of US military and intelligence elite pursuing a complex
right-wing global agenda.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85450
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NIGERIA’S POWER PRIVATISATION WILL BE A DISASTER
A call for democratic public ownership and management of the power sector
Kola Ibrahim
Nigeria is handing over the country’s strategic power sector to
private investors ostensibly to improve service delivery. This is
being done despite the glaring and costly failure of privatization in
other sectors. Nigerians should resist this fraud.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85447
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WHY FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN AFRICA FAILS
William Gumede
Most well-intentioned corruption busting remedies in Africa fail
because the root causes of corruption on the continent are often
poorly understood.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85443
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ORGANISING THE ‘PATIENCE INDUSTRY’ IN MOZAMBIQUE
Ruth Castel-Branco
There are at least 37,000 domestic workers in upper and working class
suburbs of the Mozambican capital earning low wages and working long
hours. Recent moves to include them in labour protection schemes could
change their fortunes.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85444
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THE POLITICS OF HUMAN DIGNITY
Lindela Figlan
Despite living in dehumanising conditions in their own country, the
organised shack dwellers of South Africa find dignity in working
together to resist their oppression. They build the power of the poor
from below.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85441
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MALAWI: ILLUSIONS OF ELITE ENTITLEMENT
The quota system and higher education access woes
Steve Sharra
At the heart of the quota system debate is the incredibly small number
of students who are admitted to Malawi’s public universities. Malawi
ranks bottom in the university-age cohort of young people enrolled
annually.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85439
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ELEARNING CAN SOLVE HUMAN RESOURCE GAP IN AFRICA
Bakary Diallo
Only a tiny percentage of African students are admitted to university
because of limited capacity at the institutions. Developments in
computer technology can address this problem, as the case of African
Virtual University shows.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85432
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THE ROOT OF BLACK LANDLESSNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Motsoko Pheko
The ‘New South Africa’ or ‘Rainbow Nation’ is today a country of two
nations: one is the extremely rich white settler minority and the
other is the extremely poor African indigenous majority. All this
thanks to a land law passed a hundred years ago.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85442
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2 Announcements
012 ISSUE AVAILABLE
The Fahamu Refugee Programme is pleased to announce the November 2012
issue of the Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter. The issue can be
found here ( http://frlan.tumblr.com/post/34751267370/november-2012 )
. Please feel free to share it widely.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/Announce/85448
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3 Comment & analysis
ON THE APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN TO SOMALI CABINET
Hala Alkarib
While the nomination to key ministerial posts shows commitment of the
government to involve women, it must not mask the massive day-to-day
persecution of women in Somalia. A drastic ideological change is
needed.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85435
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UNDERSTANDING CHALLENGES OF SOUTH SUDAN: A REJOINDER
Christopher Zambakari
South Sudan analyst responds to critiques of his previous articles on
the challenges of building the new nation.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85433
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4 Advocacy & campaigns
URGENT ACTION: DOZENS OF SUDANESE WOMEN DETAINED
Osman Naway
The detainees are in danger of torture and ill treatment by the
security forces. They should be released immediately or formally
charged and allowed access to family and lawyers.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85449
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THE VICIOUS ATTACK ON ACTIVIST OKIYA OMTATAH
Philo Ikonya
PEN Kenya
PEN Kenya condemns in the strongest spirit possible the attack on the
person of Okoiti Okiya Omtatah on 8 November 2012 and the attempts and
threats on his life which he has often spoken about. Regardless of the
reasons for his attack, we know Omtatah to be a voice of free
expression, a political activist as well as a writer. We know that he
has lost a tooth before after an attack by the then acting boss the
Nairobi Central Police Station Richard Mugwai (now transferred but who
was promoted after he beat up several activists) and that case is
documented. We know that Okoiti continues being a political activist
and that he was attacked outside the Nairobi Police station and he
lies in hospital with a deep gash on his head and more lost teeth.
Silencing the voices of the outspoken is meant to instil fear in one
and all. Insecurity in Kenya is a matter of grave concern. We urge one
and all not to be intimidated and condemn this case and others
fearlessly as we look to an election year. We must be secure in Kenya
and enjoy all our freedoms. May justice be served to Omtatah and his
attackers be brought to book. We must be the defenders of justice and
peace since justice and peace have been prevented from being our
shield and defender for many years now.
Philo Ikonya
Austria,Vienna
09-10.2012
Member, PEN Kenya
Board Member, PEN International
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TRADE JUSTICE: THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES
Trade justice organisations have published a new report titled,
‘Southern alternatives to EU Trade Policy’, which proposes a diverse
set of alternative to the current unjust international trade system.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85437
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GREED AND CORRUPTION IN ZIMBABWE’S MARANGE DIAMOND FIELDS
Partnership Africa Canada
A new report has found that despite government denials, the illicit
trade of Marange diamonds is alive and well, with the full knowledge
and complicity of top state officials.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85436
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5 Books & arts
A RETORT TO WHITE RACISTS
Review of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Of Africa’
Biko Agozino
Soyinka presents ‘Of Africa’ as a long overdue retort to a white
supremacist who had challenged him in Germany to admit that Africans
are inferior, otherwise Europeans and Arabs could not have enslaved
and colonised them for centuries.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/85445
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UNCOMMON DIPLOMAT: PETER PENFOLD AND SIERRA LEONE
A review of ‘Atrocities, Diamonds and Diplomacy: The Inside Story of
the Conflict in Sierra Leone’ by Peter Penfold. Published by Pen and
Sword, UK 2012
Lansana Gberie
This ‘superbly well-written, well-documented and passionate book’
reveals tragic failures of the international community in tackling the
civil war in Sierra Leone.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/85446
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End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 244, Issue 2
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The New Dark Age 