29 April 2013 — Pambazuka News

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment & analysis, 3. Advocacy & campaigns, 4.
Obituaries, 5. Books & arts


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1 Features

THATCHERISM AND AFRICANS: BEYOND THE REVISIONIST HISTORY
Horace Campbell

Hagiographic obituaries and analysis of Margaret Thatcher in the US and UK
seek to revise the reality that not only was Thatcher a divisive politician
but her government laid the ideological foundation for the rampant
neoliberalism alongside, racism, militarism, imperialism that exist today.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87110
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JIM CROW 2.0 PREVAILS: US BLINKS IN STANDOFF WITH THE WORLD BANK
Phyllis Muhammad

Despite legislation of 2005 and 2012 to ensure the civil and constitutional
rights of all Americans are upheld, the World Bank continues to
systematically discriminate against Blacks in general and African Americans
in particular.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87109
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CANADA’S GROWING ROLE IN PARTNERSHIP ALONGSIDE US IMPERIALISM
Military intervention and mining interests guide current foreign policy
Abayomi Azikiwe

Canada seems to be a quiet and unknown imperialist state. However, it has
also invaded and occupied Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia and Haiti alongside
pursuing significant mining interests in a number of African countries.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87108
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WHY SHOULD YOU BE ANGRY AT NIGERIA’S CULTURE OF RAPE?
Ijeoma Ekoh

The question of rape has not received adequate attention in Nigeria. It
must be emphasized that women have a right to their own bodies and
sexualities
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87119
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A LETHAL COCKTAIL FOR AFRICA
Religious extremism, endemic corruption and bad governance; but now NGOs
too!
Abdul Ghelleh

The overwhelming majority of non-governmental organisations do more harm
than good to livelihoods and sustainable developments in Africa
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87180
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‘OPERATION GHETTO STORM’: THE NEW FACE OF US FASCISM
Ajamu Baraka

Massive human rights violations are taking place in the US and contradict
American efforts to project itself as a champion of human rights, even as
it subverts governments around the world, engages in high-tech terrorism
and kills its own citizens
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/87121
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2 Comment & analysis

NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CONVENTION IN ZAMBIA LOST PLOT ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Anneke Meerkotter

At the recent convention, debates on what was initially a very progressive
draft constitution became a distorted fascination with limiting rights as
opposed to ensuring their universality
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/87106
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NIGERIA: AMNESTY AS DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Abdulrazaq Magaji

Let the government of Nigeria proceed with an amnesty for Boko Haram. But
it should also announce a package of compensation for individuals and
organizations that suffered injustice at the hands of terror group
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/87181
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REFLECTIONS ON A BRAZILIAN SOAP OPERA AND PAN-AFRICANISM
Edwin Rwigi

How can ties of solidarity be strengthened between continental Africans and
black movements in Brazil? To start with, a deep appreciation of a shared
of heritage of the two peoples is necessary
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/87107
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3 Advocacy & campaigns

KARUTURI GUILTY OF TAX EVASION
Global flower industry giant found breaking the law in Kenya

Multinational used transfer mispricing to avoid paying the government of
Kenya nearly US$11 million (EUR8 million) in corporate income tax
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/87111
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MINISTER OF POLICE TO PAY DAMAGES TO ABAHLALI MEMBERS FOR POLICE BRUTALITY
Abahlali baseMjondolo, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa
(SERI)

Police ministry agrees to pay damages after police brutality against
Abahlali baseMjondolo members in 2006
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/87112
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AFRICA PROGRESS PANEL WELCOMES EUROPE’S NEW RULES ON TRANSPARENCY

New European rules move the world closer to a global standard on
transparency. Now other regions and countries must follow this example.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/87113
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SHINING LIGHT ON BASHIR’S CRIMES IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY
Julia Boccagno
BashirWatch

Activists pile pressure on the Chadian government to prohibit international
crimes suspect Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir from entering the country
for the fourth time
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/87114
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EXTRA-JUDICIAL EXECUTION OF FOOTBALLER KENNETH MWANGI
Rights Promotion and Protection Centre

On April 14, 2013 at around 17.00hrs, a police officer by the name Martin
Kiteu alias ‘Kin’gei’ attached to Kasarani Police Station, Nairobi,
confronted one Kenneth Mwangi, a footballer with Mathare United FC, over an
alleged theft of a mobile phone at the Githurai stage. The officer pushed
Mr. Mwangi to the ground and shot him fatally and at point blank range
three or four times on the jaw, throat and head. This incident was
witnessed by several people who were at the scene.

Rights Promotion and Protection Centre (RPP) is deeply disturbed by the
level of impunity exhibited by the police and in particular the
continuation of the activities of death squads within the Kenya Police.
While great strides have been made in creating the necessary legislation to
reform the police, there is little reflection of this on the ground and
police continue to engage in unlawful killings.

Kasarani Police Station, in particular remains, a major host of the police
death squads. The police station also plays host to another policeman known
by the nickname ‘Denno’. RPP believes Denno was involved in unlawful
shootings in the Kondele area in Kisumu during the 2007/8 post election
violence. Other members of this death squad , known by their single names
are:- Marel, Maiyo, Fielo and Mutisya.

RPP calls upon all concerned to send a petition to the Independent Policing
Oversight Authority to investigate this incident and the continuing
operations of death squads in Kasarani and other areas.

CONTACT

Odhiambo Oyoko
Executive Coordinator Rights Promotion and Protection Centre (RPP)
Upperhill Gardens, Block D-14, Third Ngong Avenue off Ngong Avenue. P.O Box
4636-00200 Nairobi. Tel: 020 2692071 Cell: 0717 431 738 E-mail:
rpprights@gmail.com/info@rpprights.org Website: http://www.rpprights.org
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KENYAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST NOMINATED FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Ruth Mumbi has been nominated for this years Front Line Award for Human
Rights Defenders at Risk. The award is to recognise outstanding
contributions made by human rights activists. Ruth is one of six nominees
selected from a total of 90 nominations. Two of her fellow nominees are
currently in prison.

Congratulations go to Ruth. Her work has included mobilisation of women
around the new constitution in Kenya. She has also focused on the rights of
women farmers and their communities in Kenya, facing threats from armed
thugs in the process.

See below her Bio from the Front Line Defenders Website.

Ruth Mumbi – Kenya – is a passionate community mobiliser, and is the
founder and current National Coordinator of Bunge la Wamama, a women’s
chapter of Bunge la Mwananchi a movement that conducts strong advocacy and
campaigning on issues of social justice and accountability in different
parts of Kenya.

She was born and still lives in Kiamaiko, a Nairobi slum and she began her
involvement in community mobilisation initiatives in the late 1990s, when
she was barely 16 years of age.

For more information: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/21431
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WAS THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE IN KENYA A LOST CAUSE?
National Land Accord

The struggle for freedom from colonialism in Kenya was based on the wish to
recover lands that had been forcibly acquired by the colonial settlers.
After independence, freedom fighters were not given back their land. It
remains a crying shame
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/87117
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4 Obituaries

CONDOLENCES TO THE GQOBOSE FAMILY
Passing on of the oldest freedom fighter in South Africa
Motsoko Pheko

The spiritual transition of Cde Gqobose to his Creator and to the ancestors
is not to be mourned, but to be celebrated with gratitude to God who lent
Gqobs to this family and to South Africa and indeed, to humanity as whole
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/obituary/87120
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5 Books & arts

WHERE IS HOMELAND?
Nick Edgeworth

The collection of poems tells a story on many levels. It is an
autobiographical account of a black child growing up within the private
fostering system. But the story extends back to the lives of the poet’s
African grandparents and outwards to the experiences of other immigrants to
the UK
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/87118
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