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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 15-11-2001

PART #2/4 - From COTE D'IV. to MOZAMBIQUE

* Côte d’Ivoire. Forum de réconciliation — Les quatre grands leaders politiques ivoiriens avaient été invités à présenter le 13 novembre leurs messages de réconciliation. Mais la veille au soir, l’ancien responsable de la junte militaire, le général Robert Gueï, et le président du RDR Alassane Ouattara ont annoncé qu’ils ne participeraient pas au forum. Lors de son audition, l’ancien président Henri Konan Bédié a invité le directoire du forum de réonciliation nationale à condamner publiquement le coup d’Etat militaire du 24 décembre 1999 qui l’a renversé et est à l’origine des difficultés que connaît la Côte d’Ivoire. “En moins de deux ans, le pays est devenu méconnaissable”, a-t-il dit, tout en ajoutant que son parti “ne remet pas cependant en cause le dernier scrutin présidentiel” qui a vu l’élection de Laurent Gbagbo à la présidence de la République. L’intervention de ce dernier a bouclé la série des auditions. M. Gbagbo a notamment mentionné le cas de M. Ouattara et la disposition de la Constitution qui y est associée, tout en annonçant que celle-ci ne sera pas révisée durant son mandat. Commentant le coup d’Etat, il a souligné qu’il était le résultat de la lutte de pouvoir entre les “héritiers” du défunt Houphouët-Boigny, MM. Ouattara et Bédié. Quant à l’agitation qui a suivi les élections présidentielles d’octobre 2000, qui s’était soldée par des centaines de  morts, il l’a attribuée au refus de M. Gueï d’admettre sa défaite et à un appel du RDR en vue de reprendre les élections. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 14 novembre 2001)

* Côte d’Ivoire. Talks under threat — 13 November: Two of Côte d’Ivoire’s four rival political leaders — the head of the main opposition Rally of Republicans party, Alassane Ouattara, and the former military leader, General Robert Guei — have refused to attend national reconciliation talks. Correspondents say this threatens the collapse of the talks, which are aimed at healing Côte d’Ivoire’s ethnic and political divisions. Mr Ouattara has said he will not return from exile in France without a certificate of nationality. Successive governments have barred him from politics because of claims he comes from neighbouring Burkina Faso. The justice minister, Siene Oulai says the matter is for the judiciary to decide. General Guei, has said he won’t attend unless he’s treated as a former head of state. The incumbent president, Laurent Gbgagbo, and his three political rivals had been asked to make their depositions to the forum, today. 14 November: Former President Bedie has asked the National reconciliation Forum to denounce the 24 December 1999 military seizure of power from his government. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 November 2001)

* Egypte. Procès en homosexualité — Le 14 novembre, la cour égyptienne qui jugeait 52 hommes accusés d’homosexualité a rendu son verdict: 23 peines de prison de un à cinq ans et 29 acquittements. Les poursuites judiciaires avaient été entamées après une rafle dans un bateau-restaurant sur le Nil, le 11 mai dernier. 55 hommes avaient été arrêtés; 52 d’entre eux avaient ensuite été inculpés pour débauche et mépris de la religion. La loi égyptienne ne se réfère pas précisément à l’homosexualité, mais un large éventail de dispositions punit d’emprisonnement les actes d’obscénité et ceux portant atteinte à la moralité publique. (AP, 14 novembre 2001)

* Ethiopia. Millions lost to illegal border trade — Ethiopia is losing about 700 million birr (about US $100 million) annually to illegal trading in live animals, hides and skins across the border with neighbouring countries, according to the Livestock Marketing Authority (LMA), the pro-government Walta Information Centre reported on 13 November. It quoted an LMA official, Belachew Hurisa, speaking at two-day workshop on livestock production, quality improvement and market promotion, as saying the «animals and animal products were mainly smuggled to Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Yemen». A livestock consultant with the UN‘s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Dr Kasseye Hadgu, said that mainly cattle were being sold across the border, because «pastoralists get better market prices outside than locally». He said most of the cattle were being sold on the  Kenyan side of the border. When that happened, «of course the government loses tax revenues». (IRIN, 14 November 2001)

* Ghana. Bishops press ahead to establish new university — The president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Peter Turkson, has urged the fund-raising committee of the Catholic University of Ghana to step up its activities in order to ensure the university opens next year. The Bishops’ Conference has also issued a Pastoral Letter appealing for support. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 14 November 2001)

* Guinée. Référendum constitutionnel — 11 novembre. Le référendum constitutionnel s’est déroulé dans le calme sur l’ensemble du pays (avec une lourde présence de l’armée), mais n’a pas drainé les foules. Selon des témoignages, les populations n’ont pas donné l’impression de soutenir ce scrutin. Le projet de modification du texte fondamental guinéen, combattu par l’opposition, porte notamment sur la prolongation du mandat présidentiel de 5 à 7 ans renouvelables indéfiniment et la suppression de la limite d’âge du titulaire. Une semaine avant le scrutin, les forces de l’ordre avaient envahi les rues de Conakry pour prévenir toute velléité de manifestation de l’opposition. (PANA, Sénégal, 12 novembre 2001)

* Guinea. Opposition anger at vote — Opposition parties in Guinea have reacted angrily to the results of the referendum on the presidency, saying it was a «constitutional coup d’etat» and a «masquerade». Official results show overwhelming approval for a proposal to change the constitution so that President Lansana Conte can remain in office indefinitely. Votes in favour of change totalled 98% and the turn-out was 87%, according to Territorial Administration and Security Minister, Moussa Solano. Opposition parties questioned the government’s figures, saying that less than 20% of voters had participated. The results will leave many people flabbergasted. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 November 2001)

* Guinée-Bissau. Directeur de journal arrêté — Le directeur du journal Diario de Bissau, Joao de Barros, a été arrêté le 14 novembre en début d’après-midi, a-t-on appris de sources concordantes. Le directeur du journal Gazetta de Noticias, Humberto Monteiro, a confirmé cette arrestation, ajoutant qu’il courait lui aussi le risque d’être interpellé à tout moment. Les deux journaux ont été fermés le 27 octobre dernier sur ordonnance du procureur général. M. de Barros avait déjà été arrêté en juillet, lorsque son journal avait dénoncé la corruption au sein des finances publiques où 15 millions de dollars auraient disparu. (PANA, Sénégal, 14 novembre 2001)

* Guinea Bissau. Ex-judges arrested — Two of Guinea-Bissau’s most senior judges, who  were dismissed by the President two months ago, have been arrested. They are the former president and vice-president of the Supreme Court — Emiliano Nosolini Reis and Venancio Martins. Also detained was the editor of a daily newspaper, Diario de Bissau, Joao de Barros. Criticism has been mounting both inside and outside Guinea-Bissau of President Kumba Yala’s dismissal of three top judges, including Mr Reis and Mr Martins last month. The human rights group, Amnesty International, has called the move a serious attack on the independence of the judiciary. The president said he was acting because the judges were corrupt. But correspondents say there is increasing concern in Guinea-Bissau over the president’s erratic behaviour. (BBC News, UK, 14 November 2001)

* Kenya. Media owners want Press Bill dropped — New media laws proposed by the government have been termed as «draconian and unworkable» by Kenya’s newspaper, radio and television firms. They have vowed to fight the proposals and ensure they are not enacted by Parliament. The Media owners Association warned that the proposed changes aimed at introducing «back-door» control of the media, and frustrating upcoming publications. (Daily Nation, Kenya, 31 October 2001)

* Kenya. «Unless the Lord Builds the House, They Labour In Vain Who Build» — Kenya’s Catholic Bishops have just ended their bi-annual Plenary Conference in Nairobi, and in prayerful consideration have discussed how the Lord want to build Kenya. In their Message, the Bishops spoke of Kenya’s economic situation and the importance of working for justice. The Bishops said that almost every day presents a challenge for campaigning against injustice. They spoke of their concerns regarding security, the police, education, forests, abortion, the Fr. John Kaiser case, HIV/AIDS, the situation of farmers, etc. The Bishops concluded by saying that «the best interests of the country are always in accordance with God’s wisdom and love». (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 13 November 2001)

* Liberia. Liberia’s president brandishes the rod — Liberia’s President Charles Taylor has administered publicly 10 lashes to one of his daughters after the school suspended her for indiscipline. The 13-year-old girl called Edena was made to lie flat on a table, face down before her classmates, to receive the strokes. Many African countries allow corporal punishment, though in Liberia the practice has become unfashionable since the end of the brutal seven-year civil war. The president said that he hoped his action would serve as an encouragement to parents, teachers, and guardians to instill discipline in students who appear to be uncontrollable. «As president, I have the responsibility not only for my children but all children in the country to ensure that the responsibility of nationhood will be passed on to reliable custodians.» He blamed the increasing wave of indiscipline in various schools on the lack of suitable punishment. The  JJ Roberts School principal, Ruth Doe, said she felt she had little alternative but to allow the beating. «In spite of efforts to dissuade the president from flogging his daughter in public, he went ahead but maintained it would serve as a deterrent to other children,» she explained. Mrs Doe said, they had suspended the president’s daughter along with a teenage boy for «displaying improper behaviour» on campus. The JJ Roberts foundation School is one of the most respected institutions in the country, with high academic standards and strict discipline. President Taylor also expressed thanks to the school’s administration for their patience in dealing with students including his daughter. He later donated a 25 seater bus to the school. Corporal punishment used to be a tradition in Liberian schools but the emergence of child rights advocacy groups as a result of the country’s civil war, has made the practice unfashionable. Indiscipline has become a major problem in Liberian schools. (BBC News, I>UK, 9 November 2001)

* Libya. 1986 Berlin disco bombing — On 13 November, a German regional court said Libya was largely to blame for a bomb explosion in a Berlin disco in 1986 that killed three people and heightened tensions at the time between Tripoli and the west. In a ruling with significance for the US-led campaign against terrorism, the Berlin court found four people guilty of involvement in planting the bomb on April 5 1986 in La Belle disco in the then West Berlin. The nightclub was frequented by US military personnel. Some 230 people were injured in the explosion. A German woman found guilty of murder was sentenced to 14 years in prison while a Palestinian, a Libyan and a Lebanese-born German were sentenced to between 12 and 14 years for attempted murder. A fifth person was acquitted. Judge Peter Marhofer said in a statement that «the court was convinced that the Libyan state was at least to a large extent responsible» for the disco attack. He said it was «planned by members of the Libyan secret service in senior positions in the Libyan [embassy] in East Berlin». He added that the four people found guilty had been manipulated by the Libyans into planting the bomb. (Financial Times, UK, 14 November 2001)

* Malawi. Churches take up education challenge — Educationalist from religious organisations in Malawi, have resolved to employ their own teachers in schools under their control, in a bid to improve educational standards. In a joint meeting of the Malawi Council of Churches and the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, the general-secretary of the Malawi Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Augustine Msopole said the Association of Christian Educators in Malawi, had decided on new measures, in the wake of declining educational standards, specially in government schools. The Association would also have its own conditions of service. «This is a model of how the educational decline can be arrested», said Dr Msopole. He  said the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) in the northern region, had already started employing its own inspectors of schools. The Synod was also working on a teacher’s guide. Dr Msopole said the Churches were going to play a critical role in raisin education standards in Malawi. (Hamilton Vokhiwa, ANB-BIA, Malawi 26 October 2001)

* Malawi. Information technology offers hope — Malawi is now turning to Information Technology (IT) as a tool for improving the lives of its twelve million people. Over half the population live below the poverty line. Although requiring much capital and expertise investment, donors and NGOs have led the way to show Malawi why it must join the information superhighway. Currently, there are 10,000 active users of Internet, and eight Internet Service Providers, with an increasing number of clients sending and receiving E-Mail. In October, Malawi launched the UNDP-funded Sustainable Development Network Programme (SDNP). The SDNP aims to provide, enhance and support the access and utilisation of communication through the computer, so as to improve the standard of living and socio-cultural values. Vice-President Justin Malewezi has said that IT is the «vital gateway for sustainable economic and social development. Without improved IT, all the government’s attempts to bring health, wealth and education to all citizens, will be in vain. Information and communication technology are not a luxury». (Hobbs Gama, ANB-BIA, Malawi, 23 October 2001)

* Morocco. Key climate treaty hurdle cleared — 8 November: Environment ministers at the conference on climate change in Marrakech, Morocco, have moved a step closer to bringing into force a key treaty to tackle global warming. The United Nations conference is attempting to draft the legal language to give effect to the Kyoto Protocol, which was signed in the Japanese city in 1997. This should pave the way for the protocol’s ratification next year. Delegates from the European Union and developing countries say they are upbeat on the key issue of compliance — namely the commitment by countries to stick to pollution targets and the penalty system for those that break the limits. Kyoto would commit signatories to a cut in their emissions of greenhouse gases — believed by many scientists to be warming the planet — by around 2% on 1990 levels. 10 November: All night negotiations at the United Nations conference on climate change ended early on Saturday in a compromise package, hailed by all parties as paving the way for ratification of the Kyoto protocol to reduce global warming. Russia and Japan pushed the conference into an extra 12 hours of wrangling to win concessions as the price for their crucial role in ratifying the controversial protocol, which aims by 2008-2012 to reduce industrialised countries’ greenhouse gas emissions by  a total of 5.2 per cent from their 1990 level. Russia won its demand to be allowed «credit» for an extra 33m tons of carbon a year that it claims environmental management of its vast forests will absorb. Japan succeeded in weakening the conditions for countries to be able to sell credits for «surplus» emissions or for carbon-absorbing sinks. It also got an assurance that sanctions for non-compliance — agreed this week in Marrakech — would not be increased after the treaty was ratified. Both issues were vital for Tokyo, whose individual Kyoto target of a 6 per cent pollution reduction is probably the toughest to meet because Japan is already relatively energy-efficient. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 November 2001)

* Maroc. Boukhari sorti de prison — L’ex-agent secret Ahmed Boukhari, dont les révélations sur l’affaire Ben Barka avaient été publiées fin juin, a quitté la prison le 13 novembre, selon ses avocats. Arrêté à la mi-août et condamné en appel à trois mois de réclusion pour des chèques sans provision qu’il avait émis au début des années 1990, sa détention avait été dénoncée par des organisations de défense des droits de l’homme comme une mesure de représailles. Il a été dans l’impossibilité de répondre aux convocations de la justice française qui souhaite l’entendre au sujet du rapt et la disparition de Mehdi Ben Barka en 1965. Contacté après sa libération, M. Boukhari n’a pas laissé planer de doute sur ses intentions. “Je continuerai à témoigner du passé dans les médias (...) et devant la justice française, dès que j’aurai un passeport”, a-t-il annoncé. (Le Monde, France, 14-15 novembre 2001)

* Mozambique. 120 Zimbabwéens expulsés — Les autorités mozambicaines ont expulsé 120 ressortissants zimbabwéens à la suite d’une opération coup-de-poing contre les immigrés en situation illégale dans la ville de Beira. Des boutiques appartenant à des immigrés ont été fermées, d’autres fonctionnaient avec difficulté du fait d’un déficit de personnel, selon le journal Diario. Le 7 novembre, la police a reconduit 120 Zimbabwéens à la frontière pour les expulser. Une vingtaine de Zambiens pourraient être expulsés dans les jours à venir. Les expulsés peuvent emporter leurs biens, à condition qu’ils puissent prouver qu’ils sont acquis de manière légale. La plupart des personnes que le journal a pu interroger ont nié avoir commis un quelconque méfait. (PANA, Sénégal, 10 novembre 2001)