Weekly anb02287.txt #7

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

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 28-02-2002      PART #7/7

* Ouganda. Numéro de "Vivant Univers"  -  La revue Vivant Univers (e-mail: 
vivant.univers at skynet.be) vient de faire paraître un numéro (n. 456) sur 
l'Ouganda, sous le titre: "un modèle qui se lézarde". Après un état de 
grâce qui a duré environ huit ans, et durant lequel les dirigeants de la 
planète ne tarirent pas d'éloges à l'égard de Museveni, quelques fêlures 
ont quelque peu flétri le modèle: insécurité, augmentation de la 
corruption, maintien des troupes au Congo-Kinshasa. (Prix au numéro: 6 
euros + frais de port).   (ANB-BIA, Bruxelles, 22 février 2002)

* Ouganda/Congo-RDC. Coltan disparu  -  Le mystère demeure autour de 
l'affaire d'un camion chargé de coltan, braqué la semaine dernière et 
retrouvé vide dans la zone de Mpigi, à moins de 30 km au sud-ouest de 
Kampala. La police est toujours à la recherche d'indices. Le véhicule 
immatriculé en RDC venait de Goma et se dirigeait probablement vers le port 
de Mombasa pour embarquer sa marchandise à bord de navires allant à 
l'étranger. D'après une première reconstitution, le camion avait deux 
hommes à bord quand il a été stoppé par des braqueurs. On ne connaît 
toujours pas ni les uns ni les autres. L'aspect le plus paradoxal est que 
personne n'a encore dénoncé ni le vol du camion ni celui de son chargement, 
dont la valeur devrait équivaloir à près de 1,15 million d'euros.   (Misna, 
Italie, 21 février 2002)

* Uganda. Bishops press Museveni to withdraw from OIC  -  On 21 February, 
Ugandan bishops continued to criticise President Yoweri Museveni's close 
ties with Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Kadhafi, and Kampala's membership 
in the Organisation of Islamic Conferences (OIC), demanding that the state 
should withdraw from the body. In a second statement in a month signed by 
Church of Uganda Provincial Secretary, the Reverend Canon George Tibesigwa, 
the prelates argue that by joining the OIC, it implies that Uganda is an 
Islamic nation. "Uganda is not an Islamic or Christian nation, even with 
its over 80 percent Christian population out of an estimated 23 million 
people," the statement reads. Muslims account for 14 percent of Uganda 
whose numbers were boosted during the eight-year rule of Field Marshal Idi 
Amin Dada, exiled in Saudi Arabia since 1979. The six percent caters for 
both traditionalists and pagans. The bishops cited the country's 
constitution that rules out Uganda from adopting any form of a state 
religion. "Uganda shall not adopt a state religion," the document reads in 
part. "This automatically implies that Uganda is a secular state," the 
statement says. The OIC, in which Museveni enroled Uganda as member, has 
attracted outrage from Christian prelates in the country and a host of 
other civic and political groups. The organisation's charter aims at 
strengthening Islam among member states struggling to safeguard the 
dignity, independence and national rights of Muslims. It also seeks to 
safeguard the Holy Islamic sites and supports the Palestinian struggle. 
Museveni has reacted angrily to the bishops' criticism, saying that he will 
soon explain to the bishops why he took such a stand. "I will get time and 
lecture all Bishops about the story of the Good Samaritan which they know 
very well. Kadhafi is a Good Samaritan to Uganda which he has aided much in 
the present peaceful governance brought in by the National Resistance 
Movement," Museveni said.   (PANA, Senegal, 21 February 2002)

* Uganda. The race for Mayor of Kampala  -  The many-months-long ritual of 
national and local government elections ended in most of the country last 
week with elections for municipality and city mayors and district leaders 
and councillors. It was a typical Ugandan election, with a few candidates 
killed, many ballot boxes stuffed, the State House and the secretariat of 
the ruling Movement putting money and political backing behind a few chosen 
candidates, and security agencies arresting an MP here, abducting another 
there, and beating a couple of supporters of the "wrong" candidate. It is 
the kind of mix that passes for a "free and fair" election in Uganda. On 
election day itself, (14 February), things were uncharacteristically dull. 
Hardly any violence. Most eyes were on one seat -- the race for mayor of 
Kampala. On one side was the incumbent mayor, John Ssebaana Kizito, a rich 
businessman and politician linked to the largely banned pro-multiparty 
opposition. On the other was Wasswa Ziritwawula, the candidate of the 
Movement. President Museveni had brokered a deal in which two Movement 
aspirants for the seat, the colourful Resident District Commissioner Naava 
Nabagesera -- once a favourite of city gossip circles -- and Wasswa 
Biriggwa, a failed aspirant for the job in two previous elections, made way 
for Ziritwawula to stand as the sole Movement man. Support for Museveni and 
the Movement tends to be low in urban areas, and the elite who once adored 
the president are less enthusiastic about him after 16 years. As a result, 
in recent years, Kampala has fallen into the arms of the opposition. That 
was partly Ziritwawula's undoing. However, matters were not helped by the 
fact that he is the least charismatic politician ever to stand for mayor in 
Kampala. Add to that his reputation as a political turncoat, and nothing 
could have saved him. The clearest sign that he was headed for the woods 
came two days before the polls, when Museveni cut his losses and distanced 
himself from Ziritwawula, saying he hadn't really campaigned for him. 
Ssebaana defeated Ziritwawula by a whopping 106,000 votes, the biggest rout 
of this round of elections. The brazen attempt by the Movement to win 
Kampala for Ziritwawula turned what would have been an ordinary defeat into 
a political massacre.   (The East African, Kenya, 18-24 February 2002)

* Ouganda. HRW: alerte pour les libertés  -  Le 21 février, Human Rights 
Watch a averti que les droits de l'homme étaient menacés par trois projets 
de lois qui doivent passer devant le Parlement ougandais. L'organisme est 
particulièrement préoccupé par l'amendement relatif à l'enregistrement des 
organisations non gouvernementales. Selon HRW, le projet de loi permet de 
suspendre des ONG qui ne se conforment pas aux politiques ou aux plans du 
gouvernement, et les dirigeants d'ONG peuvent se retrouver avec des peines 
de prison allant jusqu'à un an s'ils violent cette loi. Un projet de loi 
concernant la suppression du terrorisme fait craindre que des personnes 
innocentes ou de petits malfaiteurs ne soient considérés comme 
"terroristes", dit Alison Des Forges, conseillère de HRW. Quant au projet 
de loi sur les organisations politiques, "il cherche à renforcer le système 
de parti unique qui existe de facto en Ouganda; il limite les activités des 
partis politiques et viole la liberté d'association et 
d'expression".   (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 22 février 2002)

* Zimbabwe. "A Time for Deciding"  -  In a Press Statement issued on 8 
February, the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers of Zimbabwe said: "Even if agents 
of the state go outside their legally defined duties of preventing crime, 
protecting citizens, apprehending criminals, and defending the state, we 
Christians are bound to defend and protect the victims of such violence. 
The Jesuits in Zimbabwe have decided that, in the present crisis of 
violence and anarchy, we shall do what we can to prevent such violence and, 
when we can, to protect victims of such violence. And when this comes to 
late, to assist the victims. To refrain from such a stance in the present 
situation would be a failure to respond to the immediate needs of the 
people of Zimbabwe. It would be a failure to assist in taking up the Cross 
which evil people have laid on the back of the people of God".   (Jesuit 
Fathers and Brothers of Zimbabwe, 8 Feb. 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Meetings et observateurs  -  22 février. Après l'Union 
européenne, les Etats-Unis vont à leur tour sanctionner le Zimbabwe en 
interdisant l'entrée de leur territoire au président Mugeba, à sa famille 
et ses ministres. Le président Bush a signé un texte en ce sens. - D'autre 
part, deux observateurs sud-africains à l'élection présidentielle des 9 et 
10 mars ont été blessés, ainsi que cinq militants de l'opposition lors 
d'une attaque des locaux du Mouvement pour le changement démocratique (MDC, 
opposition) dans la ville de Kwekwe (centre). Ce même jour, une délégation 
sud-africaine parlementaire de 20 observateurs représentant plusieurs 
partis, s'est également rendue au Zimbabwe dans la perspective de la 
présidentielle. - Le dimanche 24 février, lors d'un meeting du MDC dans la 
ville de Chinhoyi (nord), où parlait notamment Morgan Tsvangirai, plusieurs 
personnes ont été blessées à l'issue de violences provoquées par des 
sympathisants du parti au pouvoir. Les violences se sont déroulées sous le 
regard d'observateurs internationaux, qui se sont cependant abstenus de 
commenter les faits. Par ailleurs, le président Mugabe s'est élevé contre 
le Syndicat national des travailleurs et contre l'archevêque de Bulawayo, 
Mgr Piu Ncube, les accusant tous les deux d'avoir épousé la cause du 
MDC.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 25 février 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai inculpé de trahison  -  Le leader de l'opposition, 
Morgan Tsvangirai, a annoncé avoir été officiellement inculpé, le lundi 25 
février, de trahison pour un présumé complot d'assassinat contre le 
président Mugabe, à deux semaines de l'élection présidentielle. M. 
Tsvangirai a indiqué avoir signé la notification d'inculpation, un document 
l'informant qu'il fait l'objet d'une enquête pour "avoir sciemment et 
intentionnellement planifié l'assassinat du président Mugabe". "Le 
chronométrage est évident, nous allons avoir une élection présidentielle et 
c'était la stratégie de la ZANU-PF que de me tenir écarté de la 
compétition" électorale, a-t-il ajouté. Le 13 février, la chaîne 
australienne Special Broadcasting Service avait diffusé une émission dans 
laquelle un ancien agent secret israélien, Ari Ben-Menashe, soutenait que 
M. Tsvangirai fomentait un attentat contre le président Mugabe. - Le 26 
février, deux autres figures de premier plan du MDC ont également été 
inculpées de trahison: le secrétaire général, Welshman Ncube, et le 
parlementaire Renson Gasela. Quant à M. Tsvangirai, il a l'intention de 
poursuivre sa campagne électorale, a indiqué son avocat.   (ANB-BIA, de 
sources diverses, 26 février 2002)

* Zimbabwe. La Cour suprême intervient  -  Coup dur pour le régime de 
Robert Mugabe à deux semaines de l'élection présidentielle. Le 27 février, 
la Cour suprême du Zimbabwe et la Haute Cour ont rejeté plusieurs 
dispositions de la réforme électorale sur mesure que Mugabe venait de faire 
voter, rétablissant notamment le droit de vote pour des milliers 
d'électeurs de la minorité blanche. Un juge de la Haute Cour a reporté la 
mise en oeuvre de nouveaux textes sur la citoyenneté, qui auraient écarté 
des urnes des dizaines de milliers de migrants pauvres venus des pays 
voisins, et surtout les membres de la minorité blanche. La Cour suprême, 
elle, a annulé les amendements qui auraient notamment donné aux officiers 
électoraux des pouvoirs considérables et qui restreignaient toute 
supervision des élections.   (AP, 27 février 2002)

* Zimbabwe. Pre-election fever  -  19 February: Amnesty International is 
concerned that the withdrawal of the EU's observers will escalate human 
rights violations in Zimbabwe. 20 February: A day after European Union 
observers pulled out of Zimbabwe, the South African election observer 
mission has expressed concern over violence in the capital, Harare. The 
mission is also alarmed by a recent decision to prevent some South African 
media organisations from covering the upcoming elections. The head of the 
South African election observer delegation, Sam Motsuenyane, says he plans 
to raise the press ban with the Zimbabwean Government. The Zimbabwean 
Government has refused accreditation to several foreign news organizations 
whose coverage has been unfavourable, including many from South Africa. The 
government accuses the banned journalists of fabrication, exaggeration and 
bias. "We will be taking up matters with the authorities on an on-going 
basis," Mr Motsuenyane said. "Critical at this stage is the accreditation 
of South Africa media in particular. We believe that the media should be 
given access to the electoral process in a free way. We are optimistic that 
the problem of accreditation will be resolved amicably and speedily with 
the Zimbabwean authorities." 21 February: President Robert Mugabe says he 
can resist the EU sanctions imposed on him and his close associates. He 
told a rally in the remote district of Nkayi, 600 kilometres west of the 
capital Harare, that he does not need Europe. "What will I be wanting in 
Europe? We can visit other countries in Asia and Africa," the president 
declared. He enjoys the backing of many African leaders who regard EU 
sanctions as an attempt by Europe to undermine Africa's democracy. 22 
February: The offices of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic 
Change (MDC), in the central town of Kwekwe are attacked by suspected 
pro-government militants while two members of South Africa's elections 
observation team were inside. About 200 youths throw stones, smashing 
office windows and damaging the observers' car, Samuel Motsuenyane, the 
head of the South African delegation says. Mr Motsuenyane says that the 
attack was clearly politically motivated, but that his team of observers 
would not be deterred. South Africa and the 14-member Southern African 
Development Community have the largest number of foreign observers in 
Zimbabwe since the EU pulled out earlier this week. --There are reports of 
violence elsewhere. The opposition say police fired twice on a convoy of 
vehicles carrying its presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, and party 
officials. No one is injured. -- Opposition spokesmen also say police used 
tear-gas to break up a rally south of the capital Harare after claiming 
there had been no authorization for the gathering. --The United States has 
imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe in protest at political violence and 
intimidation in the run-up to presidential elections next month. The travel 
sanctions ban President Robert Mugabe, his cabinet ministers and their 
family members from entering the United States. The ban will also include 
people who, through their business dealings, benefit from the policies of 
the government in Harare. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the 
action was being taken because "conditions for a transparent election 
process in Zimbabwe have eroded". 24 February: Commonwealth officials say 
they will make a fair assessment of next month's presidential election in 
Zimbabwe, where campaigning has been marred by political violence. The head 
of the Commonwealth team -- former Nigerian head of state Abdulsalami 
Abubakar -- says he has about 40 observers on the ground monitoring the 
run-up to the poll. 25 February: Morgan Tsvangirai has been ordered to 
report to Harare's central police station. The summons is in connection 
with an alleged plot assassinate President Mugabe, which was shown by 
Australian television. He is charged with high treason. The police 
cautioned the MDC's leader before releasing him without restrictions. 
Tsvangirai says the charge, which he denies, is part of government moves to 
wreck his campaign to remove Mugabe. 26 February: Welshman Ncube, the MDC's 
secretary-general, and the shadow agricultural minister Renson Gasela, have 
been charged with being part of the plot. -- The London Times has carried a 
report that President Mugabe is ready to flee abroad if the Opposition win 
the elections. The presidential helicopter is reported to be ready on a 24 
hour basis for take-off from the garden of the President's residence in 
Harare. 27 February: The Supreme and High Courts give judgements against 
the Govt. The General Laws Amendmnt Act is struck down by the Supreme Court 
in a four to one judgement. The High Court ruling extends the period during 
which residents with dual citizenship may renounce foreign citizenship. -- 
Morgan Tsvangirai is temporarily detained by the police on charges of 
holding an illegal gathering.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 28 February 2002)

Weekly anb0228.txt - #7/7 - THE END

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Un homme meurt chaque fois que l'un d'entre nous se tait devant la tyrannie 
(W. Soyinka, Prix Nobel litterature)
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Everytime somebody keep silent when faced with tyranny, someone else dies 
(Wole Syinka, Nobel Prize for Literature) *
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