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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 29-03-2001

PART #4/4 - From SUDAN to ZIMBABWE

* Soudan. Des rebelles détruisent Nyal — Des rebelles de la SPLA, l’armée nationale de libération du Soudan, sont passés à l’attaque dans le sud du pays et ont rasé Nyal, une ville de 15.000 habitants, dans la région occidentale du Haut Nil. L’attaque a eu lieu le 22 février dernier, mais la nouvelle vient d’être annoncée par la Commission Justice et Paix. Selon celle-ci, l’assaut de la ville est la conséquence de représailles entre tribus Nuer et Dinka. “C’est une démonstration de ce qu’est devenue la guerre au Soudan: un prétexte pour des actes de vengeance...”, affirment les missionnaires comboniens. (Fides, Rome, 23 mars 2001)

* Soudan. Alarme sanitaire — A peine dix médecins opèrent dans le sud du Soudan. L’alarme sanitaire a été donnée par l’Amref (Fondation africaine pour la médecine et la recherche), qui dénonce en outre le délabrement des structures, pratiquement privées de laboratoires et de salles d’opérations dignes de ce nom. Dans la région du Bahr el Ghazal, qui compte plus de 3 millions d’habitants, travaillent 4 docteurs, 2 dentistes, 3 oculistes et 1 laborantin. La pénurie la plus grave concerne les assistants médicaux. “Le sud du Soudan aurait besoin d’au moins 360 bons assistants médicaux, déclare le chef du projet Soudan de l’Amref, alors qu’ils ne sont qu’environ 80, tous âgés de plus de 60 ans et n’ayant pas eu d’ajournements professionnels depuis au moins 20 ans”. (Misna, Italie, 26 mars 2001)

* Sudan. Only 10 doctors in the south — There are only 10 doctors working in south Sudan. This is a health alert launched by the African Medical and research Foundation (AMREF), which also condemns the poor state of medical structures, practically without laboratories and operating theatres. In the Bahr Al Ghazal region which has over 3 million inhabitants, there are 4 doctors, 2 dentists, 3 opticians and 1 laboratory technician. (MISNA, Italy, 27 March 2001)

* Sudan. USA considering Sudan initiatives — The Bush administration is considering initiatives aimed at ending the 18-year civil war in Sudan, despite the administration’s stated desire to avoid foreign conflicts where US interests are not directly engaged. Human rights and religious activists say they believe the administration will shortly announce the appointment of a high-profile special envoy to Sudan as the first step in involving the US more actively in the Sudanese conflict. While the Clinton administration never adopted a clear policy on the war in Sudan, President George W. Bush is facing pressure to do so from an unusually large and diverse coalition of domestic interests. In particular, Christian religious groups that carry enormous weight with Mr Bush and Republican congressional leaders have lobbied actively for engagement by the US. Franklin Graham, a Bush confidant who is the son of evangelist Billy Graham, operates a hospital in southern Sudan that has been repeatedly bombed by government forces. Many of the victims of the war are Christians, and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom last week declared that «appalling violations of religious freedom and other human rights by that government...have already reached genocidal proportions». (Financial Times, UK, 27 March 2001)

* Soudan. La sale guerre du pétrole — Selon un article de Africa Confidential publié le 23 mars, le projet du gouvernement soudanais de devenir un grand pays producteur de pétrole conduit à l’extermination systématique des populations du Sud et à la destruction de leurs foyers, avec le soutien de compagnies occidentales et asiatiques. Les pétrodollars financent la diplomatie de Khartoum et sa guerre contre le Sud. Alors que les Dinka et les Nuer avaient été les cibles de vastes offensives dans les années 1980 et 90, actuellement on s’attaque plus particulièrement à la région de l’Eastern Upper Nile, où on a commencé l’exploration d’une vaste concession. Les milices soutenues par le gouvernement y ont déjà fait fuir des dizaines de milliers de personnes, pour faciliter la prospection. L’offensive aurait également pour but de chasser de la région les organismes humanitaires qui peuvent témoigner des atrocités. L’ONG Christian Aid, active sur place, fait les mêmes constatations. Dans son dernier rapport, intitulé “The scorched earth: oil and war in Sudan” (La terre brûlée: pétrole et guerre au Soudan), l’organisation décrit comment dans les concessions pétrolières les habitants sont tués ou violés, et les villages détruits par l’armée et ses milices. Cette politique de la terre brûlée doit ouvrir la route à l’exploration et à l’exploitation du pétrole par des compagnies étrangères. Christian Aid a appelé toutes les compagnies pétrolières occidentales à suspendre immédiatement leurs investissements et leurs implications dans le secteur du pétrole au Soudan. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 28 mars 2001)

* Tanzania. What constitutes a «non-indigenous» Tanzanian? — The Tanzanian government is preparing a policy document to improve the country’s economic situation. The Government’s proposed policy is expected, among other things, to restrict «non-indigenous» investors from investing in some sectors of the country’s economy. The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr. Idi Simba, says that the government is working on this aspect of the policy and invites ideas on the definition of what constitutes a «non-indigenous» Tanzanian. He says: «A racial connotation should not be entertained...it’s wrong to introduce racial motives». But already the government’s proposed policy seems to have hit an obstacle over the content of the definition. Prof. Samuel Wangwe, Executive Director of Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), made a policy study on the economic empowerment of Tanzanians and suggests an «indigenous Tanzanian» to be any citizen of Tanzania by birth, and whose origin can be traced back to at least three generations. However, Mr. Simba does not agree with the definition and says: «I share the anxiety of those who feel this definition is shallow and needs improvement before it’s incorporated into the envisaged indigenous policy document.» The World Bank is certainly not supporting such an indigenous policy. An economic officer from the World Bank office in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Rakesh Nangia, says the government’s policy is likely to send negative signals to strategic foreign investors. (Perege Gumbo, ANB-BIA, Tanzania, 9 March 2001)

* Tanzania/Zanzibar. Clearing and forwarding scam — Clearing and forwarding agents in Zanzibar have accused Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials of colluding with bogus agents both at the seaport and the airport. This is said to be having a bad effect on the country’s economy. The government is being deprived of revenue, and registered clearing agents are losing millions of shillings in the form of lost business. However, the TRA has dismissed the allegation of collusion. In what seems to be «passing the buck», the TRA says it is authorized agents themselves who sometimes abuse their licences by involving bogus agents. Nonetheless, the authority says it will look into the allegation. The Financial Times has reported that out of 50 clearing and forwarding agents in Zanzibar, only 16 are registered. (M. Mzee Makame, ANB-BIA, Zanzibar, 28 March 2001)

* Tchad. Déby se représente — Lors du congrès extraordinaire clôturé le 21 mars, le Mouvement patriotique du salut a investi le chef d’Etat tchadien Idriss Déby comme candidat pour les prochaines élections présidentielles, fixées au 20 mai et au 1er juillet. Déby rencontrera comme adversaires deux dirigeants de l’opposition: Jean Bawoyeu Alingué, de l’Union pour la démocratie et la République, et Ngarledjy Yorongar, de la Fédération action pour la République. Arrivé au pouvoir en 1990 par les armes, il a été confirmé à la tête du pays par les élections de 1996. — Dans son édition du 28 mars, le quotidien Le Progrès rapporte que les chefs de quinze partis politiques menacent de boycotter l’élection estimant que le recensement effectué par la Commission électorale nationale indépendante était irrégulier. Estimant que le recensement effectué est “partial et discriminatoire” parce qu’il exclu une bonne partie de la population en âge de voter, ils exigent l’annulation de ce recensement. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 29 mars 2001)

* Togo. «Turning Principles into Practice» — A joint Statement from Amnesty International and other NGOs, calls on the international community to «turn principles into practice», as Mary Robinson highlighted in her opening statement to the UN Commission on Human Rights. The case of Togo, which has systematically violated international human rights standards, will be a test case for whether the Commission on Human Rights can put effective action before political interests. As the report of the joint UN-OAU Commission of Inquiry for Togo is about to be discussed at its 57th session, the UN Commission on Human Rights must ensure a full and prompt implementation of their recommendations to address the culture of Impunity and provide justice for the victims of grave human rights violations in Togo. (Amnesty International, 26 March 2001)

* Tunisia. Academics in peril — In a a letter addressed to Tunisia’s President Ben Ali, the Human Rights Watch Academic Freedom Committee protested the deteriorating situation of human rights in Tunisia and the escalating attacks on academics advocating democratic reforms and the rule of law. In recent months, government critics have faced markedly greater levels of violence at the hands of persons believed to be linked to security forces, suggesting a systematic campaign to silence all critical voices. (HRW, 26 March 2001)

* Uganda. After the elections — Anxious to put the elections behind him, President Yoweri Museveni has begun to revamp both the body and the spirit of the army, with the promotion of 930 officers. He is also turning his attention to the airforce. 15 officers have been promoted to the rank of Colonel, 66 to the rank of Lt. Colonel, and 481 Lieutenants becoming Captains. The army is still crucial in Ugandan politics and since independence, has been used for political purposes. It was torn apart during the elections with some personnel supporting President Museveni’s rival, Colonel Kizza Besigye. There are indications that the army may be growing restless. (Crespo Sebunya, ANB-BIA, Uganda, 23 March 2001)

* Uganda. Law Society lectures Museveni — The East Africa Law Society has urged re-elected President Museveni to use his last term in office to «fully democratise» the country. The law body said the President was «uniquely placed» to transform himself into a statesman for the benefit of all Ugandans. «At the end of his term, the “mustard seedn n n n n n ” will have enjoyed 20 years of uninterrupted monopoly of political power. That singular honour is his gift from Ugandans for liberating them from tyranny. It is our humble submission that President Museveni must reciprocate this act of goodwill by using his last term in office to convert Uganda into a modern, fully fledged democratic state with a sound security system and a vibrant economy». (The East African, Kenya, 18-25 March 2001)

* Uganda. AIDS drug reductions mean little to patients — In December 2000, Uganda became the second African country (following Algeria), to win price cuts for HIV/AIDS drugs. Now, it appears that price cuts have not led to a significant increase in the number of people accessing the drugs. Only about 1.2% of the 820,000 AIDS sufferers access the drugs. Two international companies, Glaxo Wellcome and Boerhinger Ingleheim cut the price of AIDS drugs for Uganda, in December last year, after the country had started buying cheaper anti-HIV generic drugs from India. Price cuts were announced for AZT, Combivir and 3TC, by up to 50%, raising chances for more people to be able to afford treatment for HIV. Major Rubaramira Ruranga is a Ugandan who has been living with HIV for the past 16 years. In an interview, he said that the price cuts were negligible. «There are very few people on the drugs». Professor Francis Omaswa, Uganda’s Director of Health Services, says the government wants to introduce eight more centres throughout the country where people can access the drugs. There are presently only five such centres. (Vincent Paul Mayanja, ANB-BIA, Uganda, 22& 26 March 2001)

* Uganda/Congo (RDC). Ugandan occupation worsens Congo’s problems — In a 50-page report entitled «Uganda in Eastern DRC; Fuelling Political and Ethnic Strife», Human Rights Watch documents how Ugandan authorities meddled in rivalries among factions of the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). Some of these quarrels degenerated into military skirmishes in which civilians have been killed and injured. The report shows how Ugandan soldiers intervened in a long-standing dispute between Hema and Lendu peoples, in many cases lending firepower to hema, sometime sin return for payment. During more than two years of Ugandan occupation, the Hema-Lendu was claimed more than 7,000 lives and displaced an estimated 200,000 people. (HRW, 28 March 2001)

* Zambia. Chiluba’s third term as President — On 25 March, the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy announced that the party’s national executive has agreed to recommend a constitutional amendment to enable President Chiluba to stand for a third term in office. An urgent extraordinary national party convention will take place towards the end of April, and if approved, the recommendation will then go as a Bill to Parliament. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 25 March 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Grève des médecins — Le dimanche 25 mars, les médecins zimbabwéens ont entamé leur deuxième jour de grève pour réclamer de meilleurs salaires. La plupart des hôpitaux du pays ont été désertés. Les médecins réclament une hausse non spécifiée des salaires et une amélioration des conditions de travail, deux exigences rejetées par le gouvernement. Le ministre adjoint de la Santé, David Parirenyatwa, qui s’est rendu dans les hôpitaux, a reconnu que la situation était critique, mais que les centres de santé traitaient tous les malades. Le gouvernement affirme qu’il n’a pas d’argent pour satisfaire les exigences salariales des médecins. (PANA, Sénégal, 25 mars 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Commercial farmers want urgent dialogue with government — 21 March: Zimbabwe’s white farmers band together after a landmark meeting and pledge to work with the Government to resolve the nation’s land reform crisis — this after an apparent split within their ranks over the violence-wracked scheme. The farmers reaffirm their support for their union’s current leadership, express their «absolute commitment» to negotiating with the Government, and pledge to work to find a solution to the land reform crisis. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has described as «illegal and outrageous» a Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group decision to send a fact-finding mission to Harare. 25 March: The Government says it has begun paying compensation to white farmers whose land has ben seized as part of its land settlement programme. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 26 March 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Début d’indemnisations des fermiers — Le 25 mars, le gouvernement zimbabwéen a annoncé qu’il avait commencé à indemniser les fermiers blancs dont il avait confisqué de force les propriétés pour y installer des paysans sans terre. Cette indemnité ne couvre cependant que les améliorations apportées aux fermes, telles que les puits et les clôtures, et non la terre elle-même qui, aux yeux du gouvernement, est du ressort de la Grande-Bretagne, l’ancienne puissance coloniale, comme convenu dans un accord conclu au moment de l’indépendance. La Grande-Bretagne, qui s’oppose avec véhémence à cette réforme agraire, a refusé de libérer les fonds promis pour ce programme. (PANA, Sénégal, 26 mars 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Government bans foreign exams — ZANU-PF‘s attempt to establish its hegemony on the youth — under the premise of nurturing cultural identity, has now been taken to the classroom where the government has booted out foreign examinations and introduced a new curriculum policy designed to rid the country of perceived colonial relics. With effect from next year, the government has banned secondary schools from offering examinations set by foreign boards. Institutions that do not conform to this directive will be de-registered. Education minister Samuel Mumbengegwi says, «Prior to this localisation, our curriculum and examinations were an appendage of the British system of education as espoused by the University of Cambridge and Local Examinations Syndicate.» It is against this background that the ministry has banned foreign exams and has introduced a new local curriculum. The ministry believes that this will create a national identity. Raymond Majongwe, secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union (PTU) believes this is not the way to go. «The new curriculum policy and the announcement on the banning of foreign exams are both filled with flaws. We are not opposed to having locally-set exams and a locally-established syllabus, but the way for that change to happen is through consultation.». (Percy Makombe, ANB-BIA, Zimbabwe, 27 March 2001)

* Zimbabwe/Congo (RDC). Kabila meets with Mugabe — 26 March: President Joseph Kabila of Congo RDC is holding talks with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The visit is connected to the latest ceasefire in Congo RDC and the withdrawal of foreign troops from that country. Zimbabwe is Mr Kabila’s main backer in his country’s civil war, with more than 10,000 troops estimated to be in the country. 27 March: Mr Kabila meets with business leaders and then addresses a poorly-attended session of the Zimbabwe parliament. He heaps heaped fulsome praise on Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe for «coming to the rescue» of his country. He says Zimbabwe’s August 1998 military intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo was an act of solidarity on the part of Africans. By its actions, Zimbabwe had «reinforced» the South African Development Community, the OAU and the UN, he says, demonstrating «that no-one can violate international law without incurring an appropriate response». Mr Kabila’s address is boycotted by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) whose 40 MPs in an assembly of 150 members, refuse to attend on the grounds that the president of Congo is not an elected president. The MDC is also keenly aware that Zimbabwe’s military involvement in Congo is hugely unpopular. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 March 2001)