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Africanews Jan 2001 - ACTION AND CONTACTS
AFRICANEWS - News and Views on Africa from Africa
Issue 58 - January 2001
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ACTION AND CONTACTS
Kenya
Police stops ogiek cultural festival again
Police on 24 December last year broke up a cultural festival turning
away more than 600 people who were dressed in traditional regalia
singing ceremonial songs outside Chief Tiwas Cultural Resource Center
and Indigenous Tree Nurseries. The participants mainly old men and
women who reported as early as 9.00 am were shocked to find a
contingent of more than 60 armed combined forces of regular and
administration police. "We have instructions from above not to allow
this festival to go on. The president is very bitter about the Ogiek
and therefore I cannot risk allowing you. I order this meeting illegal
and you therefore disperse" Officer Commanding Police Station
(Elburgon Station) Inspector Otundo ordering old men and women who had
turned up for the Festivals.
The Ogiek Cultural Festival was organized by Ogiek Welfare Council
(OWC) and cancelled for the second time in one month. The festival was
postponed 3 weeks ago on request from the government. "The law in this
country is applied selectively, it is used to suppress the weak and
protect the mighty and powerful" Mr Towett commenting on the
governments action while at the same day the president is presiding
over a similar festival in western Kenya. At the same time, some
cabinet ministers and powerful politicians all over the country in
different regions were celebrating similar festivals.
The Ogiek have vowed to hold similar festival as part of bringing
together the Ogiek community who have stayed in isolation on matters
affecting them for very long time.the OWC has pledged to assist the
community in organizing the festival.
The local District Commissioner Mr ole Sirian has send a message that
he would like to talk to OWC officials over the matter. Outcome of the
meeting will be send to you latter.
Reports Sang J.K
OWC
For further information Please contact:
ECOTERRA Intl.
Nairobi Node
http://www.ecoterra.net
http://www.ecoterra.org.uk
soon: http://www.ecoterra.de
ECOTERRA - FIRST PEOPLES & NATURE FIRST ! SURVIVAL & FREEDOM for
PEOPLE & NATURE
24 h EMERGENCY RESPONSE PHONE LINE: +254-733-633-000