22 February 2013 — Pambazuka News

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment & analysis, 3. Advocacy & campaigns,
4. Letters & Opinions

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1 Features

KENYA: FEARS OF POLL VIOLENCE AS MUNGIKI RE-EMERGES
Henry Makori

There are rising fears that Mungiki is regrouping to  unleash another
orgy of deadly violence should their preferred candidate, Uhuru
Kenyatta, lose the presidential contest.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86339
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THREATS, HARASSMENT OF KENYA‘S TOP JUDGE AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
Statement by Chief Justice/President of Supreme Court
Willy Mutunga

Days to the March 4 elections a gang purporting to act in the interest
of Jubilee Coalition presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta threatens
the Supreme Court president, who also complains of harassment by the
all-powerful Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet,
Francis Kimemia
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86324
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THE SCOURGE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Azwifaneli Managa and Bertha Chiroro

South African women are regularly confronted with systemic sexual
harassment, violence, and murder as the recent cases of Shrien Dewani,
Anene Booysen and Reeva Steenkamp illustrate. Sustainable development
will be unobtainable when women and children are brutalized by
violence and any other form of gender based discrimination of which
the state has a duty to prevent.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86325
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BIG OIL, HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Implications of SERAP vs. Federal Republic of Nigeria (ECOWAS Court) 2012
Olivia Kokushubila Lwabukuna

The latest court case represents a novel attempt by a regional
tribunal to indirectly ensure that businesses carried out in Africa
are socially conscious and responsible for the environment and
economic as well as social development of the communities within which
they operate
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86335
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MALI, FRANCE AND THE WAR ON TERROR IN AFRICA
Is there an imminent threat of terrorism from West Africa?
Horace G. Campbell

Africa has been demonized in the West for decades. To justify military
intervention and imperialist expansion, Africa is today being depicted
again as the scene of instability, violence and terrorism. The
progressive forces for peace and social justice should mobilize
against this planned remilitarization of the continent
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86326
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AN AFRICAN CHAPTER IN THE FAILED WAR ON TERROR
The pitfalls of French military action in Mali
Joan Nimarko

In the context of the crisis in Mali, the US intends to deploy
military drones in neighbouring Niger suggesting that Europe and the
US have not learnt from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Another
protracted war involving innocent Malians looks likely, unless a
viable regional solution can be implemented.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86327
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THE WEST’S WAR AGAINST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES
Dan Glazebrook

Tax havens, rising debt-extortion, loans to African military
dictators, capital flight, unfair trade prices, militarization of
Africa through AFRICOM are the many ways in which the West’s war
against African development continues. The recent crisis in Mali and
Algeria are being used by the West to further its domination over
Africa.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86332
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CHOLERA AND HEALTHCARE IN HAITI
Sokari Ekine

The problem with healthcare in Haiti is that there is no system, no
structures, no plan – at least not one that has been implemented. The
healthcare facilities are wholly inadequate
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/86334
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2 Comment & analysis

ANGOLA: IS THIS THE COUNTRY AGOSTINHO NETO DREAMT OF?
Abdulrazaq Magaji

The southern African nation is now peaceful and petro-dollars are
pouring in. Yet the greatest beneficiaries are the United States,
Great Britain and Portugal, the evil triad that laboured in vain to
abort the Angolan dream
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/86318
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TWO YEARS LATER UPRISINGS CONTINUE IN TUNISIA AND EGYPT
Neo-colonialism and the struggle for genuine democracy and national unity
Abayomi Azikiwe

The current struggles in Egypt and Tunisia must take into account the
historical lessons of imperialist intervention and destabilization to
create the conditions for genuine political and economic independence
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/86328
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3 Advocacy & campaigns

AFRICA CONTACT CONDEMNS SEVERE PUNISHMENT OF SAHARAWI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Africa Contact

Africa Contact strongly condemns the harsh and unjust sentences given
February 17 by a Moroccan military court to 24 Saharawis – Western
Sahara’s indigenous population – just for demanding the right to live
in their own country without Moroccan occupation and discrimination
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86323
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BREAKTHROUGH ENABLES INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL RIGHTS

The Protocol makes a strong and unequivocal statement about the equal
value and importance of all human rights and the need for strengthened
legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights in particular
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86319
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BRITISH MPS: SENTENCING OF WESTERN SAHARA ACTIVISTS “TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE”

Several British MP’s have joined prominent campaigners including film
director Ken Loach in condemning the sentencing of 24 Saharawi
activists by a military tribunal in Morocco at the weekend. In a
letter published in the Guardian newspaper, the Members of Parliament
describe the sentences, most of which ranged from 20 years to life
imprisonment as “a travesty of justice”.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86337
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BURUNDIAN GOVERNMENT MUST STOP HARASSING CIVIL SOCIETY AND MEDIA
CIVICUS and LDGL

CIVICUS, the global civil society network, and the Ligue des Droits de
la personne dans la region des Grandes Lacs (LDGL), warn about rising
levels of harassment of civil society activists and journalists in
Burundi. They urge the Government of Burundi to respect its
constitutional and international law obligations on human rights.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86336
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ERADICATING DISSENT IN POST-MUBARAK EGYPT
Civil society face new repressive laws

International NGOs would not be allowed to settle and activate in
Egypt without prior authorisation. Receiving foreign government
funding, directly or indirectly, would be flatly prohibited
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86321
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STATEMENT CONCERNING ASSASSINATION OF CHOKRI BELAID

This assassination aims at silencing voices fighting for dignity,
freedom and social justice; it aims to create a climate of fear and
hatred and to push Tunisia towards a cycle of violence
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/86320
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4 Letters & Opinions

ZUMA TARGETS PROTESTERS WHILE TAKING NO SERIOUS ACTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Unemployed People’s Movement

Our country is reeling with shock at the ongoing rape and violence
against women, rich women and poor women, white women and black women,
by men of all races and classes. And our country is reeling in shock
at the levels of corruption. The trial of the Mpsiane’s in
KwaZulu-Natal has shown just how extreme the situation has become in
terms of government corruption. But we are also reeling in shock from
the corruption scandals around MTN, the construction cartel and other
big corporates that have even go so far as to fix the price of bread.

We would have expected a decent President to announce special courts
to deal with rape and violence against women. We would have expected a
decent President to announce special courts to deal with corruption.
Instead we get special courts for protesters!

Zuma is more like Ben Ali or Mubarak than a true representative of the
people. His conduct in his own rape trial was shocking. No one could
ever say that he is a leader that has the moral authority to take a
stand against corruption. He has militarised the police and said
nothing when poor people’s movements are openly repressed by the
police and the ANC. Now he pretends that violence is coming from
protesters when we all know that in most cases it is the police that
bring violence into the equation. There is a very long list of
protesters that have been killed by the police since 2000. In fact the
number stands at more than 70! What kind of democracy is this where
the police can kill more than 70 protesters?

CONTACT

Ayanda Kota 078 625 6462 (Spokesperson, UPM Eastern Cape)

Motsi Khokhoma 073 490 76 23 (Spokesperson, UPM Free State)
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End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 254, Issue 1
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