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Weekly anb02066.txt #6

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 06-02-2003 PART #6/6
* South Africa. Mandela reacts to Powell's speech - Former South African President Nelson Mandela said Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations undermined the UN's own efforts to determine whether Iraq was concealing weapons of mass destruction. Speaking before Powell's speech to the world body, Mandela said chief UN weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei were the only ones with the authority to determine whether Iraq was complying with UN resolutions, regardless of what Powell said. "We are going to listen to them and to them alone. We are not going to listen to the United States of America. They are not telling us how they got that information," Mandela told reporters. Mandela has repeatedly criticized the United States and Britain, saying they were ignoring the will of the United Nations and pursuing their own belligerent policies against Iraq. Last week, the Nobel Peace laureate lashed President Bush, calling him arrogant and shortsighted and saying he wanted a war to get his hands on Iraqi oil. (CNN, USA, 5 February 2003)
* Afrique du Sud. Les évêques lancent un appel à la paix - Unissant leur voix à tous ceux qui demandent la paix dans le monde dans le respect de la sécurité de tous, les évêques d'Afrique du Sud ont lancé un appel au Président M. Georges Bush, et au Premier Ministre britannique, M. Tony Blair, pour qu'ils empruntent la voie de la paix pour résoudre la crise irakienne. Les évêques rappellent avec force que seule l'ONU a l'autorité pour résoudre la crise. "Nous sommes profondément convaincus que l'une des causes principales du terrorisme est l'indifférence envers les revendications justes des peuples qui se sentent exclus, exploités et opprimés socialement et économiquement", déclarent les évêques. (D'après Fides, Cité du Vatican, 5 février 2003)
* Sudan. Amnesty International's visit - On 31 January, In a press release, Amnesty International said that its delegates visiting Sudan in the first official mission allowed for 13 years, welcomed the growing openness in the country, but expressed concern at continuing arbitrary and incommunicado detention, unfair trials as well as the forced recruitment of children n and displacement of civilians by all sides in the armed conflict. (Amnesty International, 31 January 2003)
* Sudan. Rivals strengthen truce - 4 February: The Sudanese Government and rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) have agreed to strengthen the truce they signed last year. International observers will help reinforce the role of a committee which will monitor the ceasefire, which is supposed to last while peace talks in Kenya continue. Each side has accused the other of breaking the ceasefire, and all territory seized since it was signed will be returned to the party that was holding it at the time. The current round of talks is the third to try to end the conflict between the government in the mainly Muslim north of the country and the rebels in the Christian and animist South. They sign a Memorandum paving the way for future agreements. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 4 February 2003)
* Soudan. Nouvel accord à Karen - Mardi 4 février, le gouvernement soudanais et l'Armée de libération du peuple du Soudan (APLS) ont signé à Karen, dans la périphérie de Nairobi, un nouvel accord afin de renforcer le pacte de cessation des hostilités conclu l'année dernière. Les pourparlers avaient repris le 22 janvier, sous la présidence de l'envoyé spécial du Kenya, Lazaro Sumbeiywo. Les deux parties renforcent ainsi le Mémorandum d'accord sur la cessation des hostilités, adopté le 17 octobre 2002 à Machakos. Dans ce dernier accord, l'APLS et le gouvernement soudanais ont convenu de notifier à l'avance, au comité des communications, tous les mouvements de leurs troupes, notamment les rotations ainsi que les livraisons et ravitaillement en produits non destinés au combat. L'accord enjoint aux parties de préciser au comité du Mémorandum d'accord l'identité de leurs propres troupes ainsi que de toutes les forces alliées et milices affiliées. Elles sont également tenues de donner des informations sur leur emplacement. (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 5 février 2003)
* Ouganda. La LRA prête à la paix? - Les chefs des rebelles de l'Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA) se sont déclarés prêts à engager des colloques de paix avec le gouvernement ougandais avec l'aide de médiateurs internationaux, a révélé l'archevêque de Gulu, Mgr Odama, dans une conférence de presse. Le 1er février, il a reçu une lettre du numéro deux de la LRA, Vincent Otti, dans laquelle le leader rebelle propose d'engager des colloques de paix, indiquant que son groupe nommera sous peu une délégation chargée des négociations. Rappelant que 800.000 personnes déplacées risquent de mourir de faim en territoire acholi, l'évêque a conclu: "Nous menons cette médiation pour sauver des vies. La faim est une guerre de plus qui tue la population locale". La LRA combat depuis plus de 16 ans les forces gouvernementales, semant l'insécurité et la mort dans le nord de l'Ouganda. (D'après Misna, Italie, 3 février 2003)
* Zambia. Free land on offer - 3 February: The Zambian Government has announced that it will soon allocate free land for farming purposes to fight hunger in the country. A total of 90,000 hectares of land are to be given to commercial farmers with capital to start work immediately. More than two million people are in need of food aid in Zambia because of the severe drought which has caused total crop failure in the south of the country. Some 14.4 million people face critical food shortages across southern Africa as a result of the drought. The land will be divided into plots of 1,000ha for farmers to grow maize, fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers, coffee and tobacco, according to agriculture ministry officials quoted by Reuters news agency. "If an investor wants 10,000ha and can show that they have the capacity to till it, we shall give it to them," Deputy Finance Minister Patrick Kalifungwa says. "The idea is to ensure that we start putting all our land to proper use." Less than 10% of Zambia's arable land is utilised, in spite of the fact that it has five rivers and a high water table ideal for irrigation farming. Most Zambians live in urban areas, in contrast to many African countries which remain largely rural. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 3 February 2003)
* Zambia. Govt moves to diversify economy - As part of continuing efforts to move away from its dependence on mineral exports the government has earmarked substantial tracts of land for agricultural development in central and southern Zambia. On 4 February, Deputy Finance Minister Patrick Kalifungwe said that the pilot project would start soon by offering 90,000 ha of farmland in Serenje, central Zambia, and 100,000 ha in Kaoma in the south to farmers interested in producing non-traditional export crops such as cotton, paprika and sugar. "There is strong evidence that our economy is responding to our efforts to diversify the export base. Government has already allocated 10 billion Kwacha (about US $2 million) for infrastructure development in these two farming blocs. Commercial and small-scale farmers are welcome to invest in these areas provided they are able to show they can produce non-traditional export crops," Kalifungwe said. (IRIN, Kenya, 4 February 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans struggle on despite failed rains - Betty Maravanyika weeds her field, examines her shrivelled maize crop and murmurs as she looks up to the sky as if to ask: "Why me Lord?" Midway into the planting season, her maize crop is barely 12 centimetres tall, parched and even if the rains do improve now, she has little hope of a good harvest. With the first showers in early November, Mrs Maravanyika, like many villagers in this district, did what she has always done and planted early in anticipation of a good season. But the rains dribbled to a halt. The storm clouds passed, and a sweltering heat returned to sear the early crop. "This year is the worst. Last season was bad but at least we harvested something," Mrs Maravanyika says. "This is the second crop I have planted. The first crop was scorched by the sun." For produce-dependent households like Mrs Maravanyika's, the consequences are devastating. With the failure of her first crop, she no longer has enough money to buy additional fertilizer to try again properly. Prices of fertilizer have risen sharply in a country where farmers' earnings have fallen with each successive season. What is worse is that the chances of the government coming to her rescue and that of others in the same predicament, is almost nil. Chamunorwa Marufu, a mother of five from the same village, has been waiting for government food aid in vain. "I doubt my maize crop will make it this season. I am pleading for help. The government had promised to give us aid a week ago but I have seen nothing," she says. "We're surviving on bread but it's now very expensive, if you are lucky enough to get it." (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 30 January 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Collision ferroviaire - Le 1er février, près de Dete dans l'ouest du Zimbabwe, un train transportant plus d'un millier de personnes a heurté de plein fouet un convoi de marchandises transportant des produits inflammables. La collision a fait plus de 50 morts et 64 blessés, dont plusieurs dans un état grave. Selon la compagnie des chemins de fer, les deux trains roulaient sur la même voie en sens inverse, et leurs conducteurs n'ont pu éviter la collision frontale, après laquelle les deux trains ont pris feu. Les autorités imputent le drame à une erreur humaine au niveau de la signalisation des voies. Le gardien du poste d'aiguillage a été arrêté. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 3 février 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Chaos at Tsvangirai's trial - 3 February: The treason trial of Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has begun after a delay of several hours. Riot police surround the Harare High Court early morning and used batons to disperse crowds of journalists, lawyers, diplomats and others who wished to attend. Mr Tsvangirai's lawyers protest and Judge Paddington Garwe orders that journalists and members of the public be allowed into the courtroom. Mr Tsvangirai and two senior colleagues in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are facing treason charges over an alleged plot to kill President Robert Mugabe. All three plead not guilty to the charges. The MDC leader says the charges were fabricated by the authorities to try to remove him from the political scene. If found guilty, they face the death penalty. During the chaotic scenes, diplomats from the UK, the Netherlands and Germany are forcibly turned away from the High Court but United States ambassador Joseph Sullivan is allowed in. Police make several arrests, including two journalists. They say the courtroom is filled to capacity, but lawyers inside said the public benches are virtually empty. After the judge's ruling, only those journalists with press cards issued under a strict new media law are allowed into court. Most foreign correspondents and journalists from the private sector have not yet received their accreditation. 4 February: The United States expresses concern after police prevented diplomats and journalists from attending the treason trial of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. The US State Department speaks out about the trial after it opened. "This trial has very important implications for the rule of law and the state of democratic pluralism in Zimbabwe," spokesman Richard Boucher said. -- The key witness in the trial, former Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe, says Mr Tsvangirai left "no confusion" in his mind about his intentions. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 4 February 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Procès de Tsvangirai - Le 3 février, le procès pour trahison intenté au chef de l'opposition Morgan Tsvangirai et deux de ses adjoints a débuté à Harare sous haute surveillance de la police, qui a arrêté deux journalistes et tenté d'empêcher la majorité des autres à suivre l'audience. Plusieurs diplomates ont en outre été refoulés, dont ceux de la Grande-Bretagne, d'Allemagne et des Pays-Bas, parfois sans ménagement. La défense a demandé l'ajournement du procès jusqu'à ce que l'ensemble des journalistes et le public soient autorisés à y assister. Après trois heures et demie d'attente, la cour a accepté "que les membres du public et les autres personnes intéressées soient admises" au tribunal. MM. Tsvangirai, Ncube et Gasela plaident non-coupables. Ils risquent la peine de mort si la cour prouve leur culpabilité. Ils sont accusés d'avoir "conspiré pour renverser le chef de l'Etat, le gouvernement, et prendre le pouvoir". (La Libre Belgique, 4 février 2003)
* Zimbabwe. L'UE toujours en désaccord - Le 29 janvier à Bruxelles, les pays de l'Union européenne ont à nouveau échoué à se mettre d'accord sur la question de la prolongation des sanctions à l'encontre du Zimbabwe. Lors d'une réunion entre les ambassadeurs des Quinze, seul le Portugal a refusé d'endosser un compromis préparé par la présidence grecque de l'UE. La question, qui doit être tranchée à l'unanimité, sera réexaminée le 5 février. - Par ailleurs, selon un article paru dans Le Monde du 4 février, un "accord secret" aurait été passé entre Londres et Paris au sujet de l'invitation du président Mugabe au sommet France-Afrique, et cela à l'occasion du sommet européen de Copenhague en décembre dernier. Londres aurait accepté la venue de Mugabe au titre des "dérogations" prévues, alors que la France aurait accepté en échange de voter la prorogation des sanctions. -- Lors d'un point de presse conjoint avec le Premier britannique Tony Blair, mardi 4 février, M. Chirac a justifié cette invitation en soulignant que des discussions sur la question étaient ouvertes au niveau européen. "Nous ne voulons rien prouver et nous ne voulons être agressifs à l'égard de personne", mais "nous avons estimé devoir inviter tous les présidents", a-t-il déclaré. (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 5 février 2003)
* Zimbabwe. Sanctions elude EU - The European Union last night failed again to agree to renew its sanctions against Zimbabwe. With time running out before the measures expire, EU ambassadors were unable to finalise a deal under which the "smart" sanctions will be extended for a year from next month but still allow President Robert Mugabe to attend a Franco-African summit in Paris. Diplomats said that an EU-Africa summit, scheduled for Lisbon in April, may be postponed or dropped to avoid a mass boycott by EU heads of government. Britain and several other countries have made it clear their leaders would stay away if Mr Mugabe was present. Ambassadors will meet to discuss the problem again next week, their last chance before February 18, when the sanctions lapse. The measures ban travel to Europe by Zimbabwe's leaders, freeze their financial assets and maintain an embargo on weapons that might be used for internal repression. A compromise may allow member states to be exempt from applying the travel ban if they are hosting an international conference such as an EU summit or an event convened by the UN. (The Guardian, UK, 6 February 2003) 


Weekly anb0206.txt - #6/6 - 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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