weekly anb05183.txt #6

[anb-bia <anb-bia at village.uunet.be>]

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 18-05-2000      PART #3/6

* Eritrea-Ethiopia. War resumes  -  11 May: The EU has urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to resume
peace talks immediately and unconditionally. "The EU appeals to the governments of both
countries to begin, immediately and without prior conditions, peace talks based on the OAU
Presidency statement of 5 May 2000", an EU statement said. 12 May: Fighting is reported to
have resumed along the disputed border between Eritrea and Ethiopia following the UN's failure
to restart peace talks which collapsed last week. Eritrea says Ethiopia launched an offensive early
this morning. The attack is taking place near the western border town of Mereb Setit which has
seen some of the worst fighting in the bloody two-year conflict, and around the town of
Zalambessa which is currently in Eritrean hands. There are unconfirmed reports that fighting has
also spread to the area around Bure near the Eritrean port of Assab. Eritrean warplanes have been
seen patrolling the skies around Asmara. 12 May: The Ethiopian Government says Ethiopian
forces have made considerable advances. Soldiers supported by air strikes have overpowered
Eritrean trenches. A statement released by Ethiopia says ground forces and aircraft are involved
in an offensive on the Mereb-Setit front. The UN calls for an immediate end to the fighting.
There are fears of a growing humanitarian crisis.15 May: The UN Security Council is expected
to meet today to take "immediate steps" to avert further fighting. Demonstrators throw rocks at
the US and British Embassies in Addis Ababa, during a protest against a proposed UN Security
Council arms embargo. The Ethiopian army is consolidating its military presence in western
Eritrea after a major offensive. Ethiopian trucks carrying soldiers and equipment as well as fuel
tankers has been seen by a BBC correspondent making their way along one of the tortuous roads
into western Eritrea. 16 May: The USA and the UK push the UN for an arms embargo on
Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tens of thousands of refugees from the war are at risk because of the
upsurge in fighting, says the UN. 17 May: Eritrea says that its troops have withdrawn from
Barentu inside Eritrea. The UN Security Council approves an arms embargo against Ethiopia and
Eritrea. Eritrea has appealed for UN help to cope with thousands of civilians who are fleeing the
Ethiopian advance.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 18 May 2000)

* Ethiopia. Elections  -  11 May: Ethiopians go to the polls on 14 May to elect legislators and
to affirm for the second time in five years that their country is embracing democracy. As
electioneering comes to a close, however, it has become apparent that not all Ethiopians are in
agreement with the Constitution in which their democratic rights are enshrined. If the opposition
parties turn the tables on the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF),
a review of the country's Basic Law would most likely be among the first motions to be moved
in the legislature. In general, the four main opposition parties blame Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi's government for what they describe as "doing very little to improve human rights and
justice, and to fight corruption , over the last five years. 14 May: Election Day. About 20 million
people have registered to vote. 15 May: A senior opposition leader says five people have died
in polling station violence.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 16 May 2000)

* Ghana. Ashanti in deal with Gold Fields  -  On 15 May, Gold Fields, the world's second-
largest gold producer, announced it has reached an agreement with Ashanti, the Ghanaian mining
company, to buy half of the Teberebie mining operation in Ghana. Sam Jonah, chief executive
of Ashanti, said: "The acquisition of the Teberebie gold mine transforms a mine slated for
shutdown next year, into a long-life mine with competitive operating costs".   (Financial Times,
UK, 16 May 2000)

* Guinee Bissau. Climat de tension  -  De nombreux Mauritaniens residant en Guinee Bissau sont
rentres chez eux ces derniers jours, ont rapporte les agences de presse le 15 mai. Ce sont surtout
des commercants qui quittent le pays sur les conseils du consulat de Mauritanie qui estime que
la situation est devenue peu sure. Des sources humanitaires indiquent qu'il y a des tensions entre
le gouvernement elu et une partie de l'ancienne junte militaire. Cependant, le chef d'etat-major
des forces armees a declare dans un communique publie le 13 mai, que l'armee "ne prendrait
jamais les armes pour rechercher des solutions". - D'autre part, la Banque mondiale a signale
qu'elle avait approuve, le 16 mai, un pret d'une valeur de 25 millions de dollars a la Guinee
Bissau, pour aider le gouvernement a revitaliser ses programmes economiques et sociaux.  
(D'apres IRIN, Abidjan, 16-17 mai 2000)

* Kenya. New traffic law to cut carnage  -  A new traffic Bill was announced on 2 May to curb
the ever- increasing carnage on Kenyan roads. On-the-spot fines, stiffer cash penalties and longer
jail terms are included in the Bill. In addition, drivers licenses will be endorsed under a totting
up procedure that will see repeat offenders automatically banned from the road. Alcohol testing
will also be introduced and drivers who fail breath tests will be fined up to Kshs 10,000 and
could be jailed for six months as well. The new tough rules are planned to cut the carnage on
Kenyan roads following a series of three bus crashes in April which together claimed 160 lives.
One of the main planks of the Bill is a Kenya Road Safety Authority to take over the supervision
of driving tests. It will have a council and will be controlled by a chief executive based in
Nairobi. The Authority will be concerned with all matters connected to road safety. On-the-spot
penalties will be imposed by police at the roadside on drivers who plead guilty to minor speeding
offenses.   (James Pod, ANB-BIA, Kenya, 3 May 2000

* Kenya. "Land-grab" minister sacked  -  A Kenyan junior minister has been dismissed from his
post after complaining that his land had been seized in a Zimbabwe-style farm invasion. Basil
Criticos, who was the Assistant Minister for Roads and Public Works, issued a statement earlier
this week saying squatters had moved onto his land. Kenyan radio reported that Mr Criticos had
been dismissed from his junior ministerial post with immediate effect. The announcement follows
the government's rebuttal of his "land grab" claims. Richard Leakey, the head of the Kenyan civil
service, said Mr Criticos had first complained about the squatters some time ago, before the
Zimbabwe land crisis began. He said the matter was being dealt with through the courts, and that
Kenyan law protected commercial and private property rights. Mr Criticos responded that Dr
Leakey's statement was "simply nonsense".   (BBC News, 11 May 2000)

* Kenya. Manifestants anti-dette devant la justice  -  67 personnes devront comparaitre le 22 mai
devant un tribunal de Nairobi pour avoir participe, le 13 avril dernier, a une marche de
protestation contre la dette exterieure. Parmi elles on compte le vicaire general du diocese de
Kitui, 6 religieuses catholiques, un missionnaire americain, deux pasteurs protestants et de
nombreux laics engages dans le secteur de la justice sociale. La campagne pour l'annulation de
la dette, dans le cadre de laquelle a eu lieu la manifestation, vise en particulier a denoncer la
corruption dans les pays du Sud et le lien entre la dette et la pauvrete.   (Misna, Italie, 15 mai
2000)

* Kenya. Protest march against foreign debt  -  67 people will stand trial on 22 May in Nairobi,
for having participated in a protest march against foreign debt. The demonstration took place in
front of the World Bank offices on 13 April. Those due to stand trial include Father Flavian
Mwendwa, Vicar General of Kitui Diocese, 6 Catholic nuns plus other church personalities and
laymen.   (MISNA, Italy, 15 May 2000)

* Lesotho. Elections postponed  -  "Lesotho is not ready to face a new vote, and therefore, the
parliamentary elections are postponed until next year". This announcement was made a few days
ago by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.   (MISNA, Italy, 16 May 2000)

* Liberia. Fishing in troubled waters  -  Western intelligence reports say Liberia is the main
conduit for smuggled diamonds out of Sierra Leone, while Liberia's President Taylor, a long-time
ally of Sierra Leone's rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, has supplied many of the weapons and drugs
that have fuelled the civil war. Mr Taylor still maintains close links with field commanders of
the rebel Sierra Leonean Revolutionary United Front, which now controls most of the diamond
producing areas in north and east Sierra Leone.   (BBC News, UK, 16 May 2000)

* Libye. Proces Lockerbie ajourne  -  Le 11 mai, le proces des deux Libyens accuses de l'attentat
contre un boeing de la PanAm en 1988, a ete ajourne au 23 mai prochain. L'ajournement fait
suite a un accord intervenu entre l'accusation et la defense pour faire l'impasse sur l'examen de
plus de 250 debris de l'appareil, qui aurait pris sans cela des semaines.   (Le Soir, Belgique, 12
mai 2000)

* Madagascar. La vanille  -  Madagascar reste toujours le premier fournisseur de vanille sur le
marche mondial, malgre le passage de trois cyclones qui ont frappe durement la region de Sava
(Samabava-Antalaha-Vohemar-Andapa) ou se situent les plantations. Lors d'une conference de
presse le 5 mai, le Groupement national des exportateurs de vanille (Gnev) a precise qu'en 2001
un tonnage de 800 a 950 tonnes sera assure, contre les 1.200 prevues. La liberalisation de la
filiere vanille, soutenue par l'UE (4 millions d'euros comme mesures d'accompagnement), donne
des avantages non seulement aux exportateurs, mais aussi aux planteurs et preparateurs. Selon
le Gnev, 70% du prix a l'exportation revient aux paysans. Ceux-ci sont inities aux nouvelles
techniques et de nouvelles plantations sont amenagees. Pour juin 2000, l'objectif de 2.000 ha de
nouvelles plantations intensives devrait etre atteint.   (Mathieu Ramasiarisolo, Madagascar, 15
mai 2000)

* Malawi. 6% drop in food production  -  Food production in Malawi for 2000 will drop by
about 6 percent as compared to the record bumper harvest in 1999, according to FAO estimates.
In its Food Outlook reports highlighting southern Africa's food production, the agency says the
production of Malawi's staple food -- maize -- will fall due to the late and erratic rains earlier
in the growing season and the cyclone-induced floods later in the season. "Forecasts indicate
2000 production of about 2.3 million metric tonnes, 6 percent below the record harvest of last
year," the report notes. But officials in Malawi say the news of the shortfall will not mean people
will starve. A statement from the National Food Reserve Agency said the agency does not need
to buy any more food since its silos are well stocked. It indicates that the silos are stocked with
about 180 metric tonnes of maize, which is enough to feed Malawi's population of almost 11
million people for three months in case of a food shortage. Meanwhile, a UNDP human
development report says poor households in Malawi, most of whom live on one US dollar a day,
spend most of their earnings on food. However, a 1999 FAO Telefood campaign report indicated
that nearly half of Malawi's households experience some form of food shortages in the year.
Malawi was nonetheless voted Africa's best in food surplus production in 1999 at an FAO
assembly held in Addis Ababa. Also, the majority of Malawi's estimated 86,000 tobacco growers
face financial ruin if the buyers of the crop continue offering low prices at this year's main
auction floors in Lilongwe and Blantyre.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 12 May 2000)

* Maroc. Defiles reprimes  -  Les autorites marocaines semblent avoir decide de mettre un coup
d'arret aux manifestations qui se multiplient un peu partout. Le 11 mai, la police anti-emeute a
disperse une manifestation pacifique devant l'ambassade de Tunisie pour soutenir le journaliste
tunisien Taoufik Ben Brik. Le 12 mai, c'est un rassemblement de plusieurs centaines d'ingenieurs
marocains qui a ete reprime devant les ministeres des Finances et de l'Agriculture. Selon
l'organisation marocaine des droits de l'homme, une demi-douzaine de manifestants ont ete
blesses. D'autre part, tout comme l'Algerie, le Maroc a fait savoir que la presence de Ben Brik
n'etait pas souhaitee sur son territoire.   (D'apres Liberation, France, 13 mai 2000)

* Maroc. RSF denonce la censure de la presse  -  L'organisation Reporters sans frontieres
denonce la censure exercee sur la presse par les autorites marocaines. Ainsi, Le Figaro et Jeune
Afrique ont ete interdits en mars pour avoir diffuse des articles juges hostiles a la monarchie.
Cinq journaux marocains ont fait l'objet d'une mesure similaire apres avoir aborde des sujets
sensibles comme le fondamentalisme musulman et le Sahara occidental. RSF appelle le roi
Mohamed VI a prendre des mesures necessaires pour garantir le respect de la liberte de la presse
en conformite avec le droit international.   (Reuters, 15 mai 2000)

* Maroc. Cheick Yassine "libere"  -  Apres dix annees passees en residence surveillee, le cheick
Abdessalam Yassine, principale figure de l'association Al'Adl wa al Ihssan (Justice et
Bienfaisance), est autorise depuis le 16 mai a quitter son domicile de Sale, ville jouxtant Rabat.
L'annonce officielle en a ete faite par le ministre de l'Interieur, Ahmed Midaoui, a la television.
Les policiers qui entouraient la maison de Yassine ont quitte les lieux. M. Midaoui a cependant
prevenu le dirigeant islamiste que tout comportement reprehensible serait sanctionne. "Toute
declaration, tout ecrit, toute activite non conformes a nos institutions seront sanctionnes", a-t-il
souligne.   (La Libre Belgique, 18 mai 2000)

Weekly anb0518.txt - End of part 3/6