[Prec. per data] [Succ. per data] [Prec. per argomento] [Succ. per argomento] [Indice per data] [Indice per argomento]

Weekly anb03275.txt #6

_____________________________________________________________
WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 27-03-2003      PART #5/6
* Rwanda. Government calls for help on demobilisation, reintegration - The Rwandan government is appealing to NGOs and public and private institutions to help thousands of former soldiers and militiamen needing advice on how to reintegrate themselves into their communities after demobilisation. Under a government demobilisation scheme, former fighters are given money to start earning a living through a project of their choice. The projects have to be approved by Community Development Committees (CDC)s, which check that they are financially viable, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable. But the government is concerned that the committees are not up to the task. So far, the response from NGOs to the appeal had been limited, and that the government was advertising for their help. The ex-fighters who can benefit from the demobilisation package fall into three categories -- soldiers from the Rwanda Defence Force (formerly the Rwanda Patriotic Army), soldiers of the former Rwandan armed forces, and members of former armed groups, including militiamen who fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the 1994 genocide. When they demobilise, they can qualify for a variety of financial packages, including a reintegration grant of about US $360. Most of them come from rural areas and choose to start an agricultural project such as livestock rearing. About 20 per cent tend to choose a business such as carpentry or masonry. (IRIN, Kenya, 20 March 2003)
* Rwanda/Uganda. Plots and prisoners - 25 March: At the end of last week, 22 men were paraded in front of the press at a military barracks in north-west Uganda. They sat on the ground in dirty tattered clothes, some with gunshot wounds. The Ugandan military say they are a rebel force set up by dissident Ugandan soldiers called the People's Redemption Army. They say this is conclusive proof that the authorities in neighbouring Rwanda have been harbouring and training dissident Ugandans with the aim of destabilizing the country. But Rwanda has vigorously denied accusations that it is involved, and is accusing Uganda of linking up with enemy forces of Rwanda. What is clear is that tension is increasing between the two countries. (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 25 March 2003)
* Rwanda/Ouganda. Inquiétudes - Dans un communiqué rendu public le 26 mars, à Addis-Abeba, M. Amara Essy, président de la Commission de l'Union africaine, a appelé le Rwanda et l'Ouganda à s'abstenir de toute action susceptible de compromettre le processus de paix en cours au Congo-RDC. "La tension qui couve entre les deux pays est inopportune et très alarmante", a-t-il affirmé. La tension entre le Rwanda et l'Ouganda s'est accrue début mars, quand les troupes ougandaises se sont déployées dans la province congolaise de l'Ituri. Le Rwanda accuse l'Ouganda de chercher à l'attaquer sous couvert des forces présentes dans l'est du Congo et qui lui sont hostiles, et parle d'un plan pour déstabiliser son régime. Par ailleurs, au Rwanda, de nombreux habitants craignent pour la sécurité de leurs proches vivant en Ouganda, si la tension actuelle devait évoluer vers un affrontement armé. On estime à 30.000 le nombre de Rwandais vivant à ce jour en Ouganda. La plupart d'entre eux sont des anciens réfugiés établis sur place depuis 1959. L'inquiétude règne aussi chez la plupart des commerçants rwandais qui font la navette entre les deux pays pour importer leur marchandise, l'Ouganda étant la voie de transit pour 80% des exportations et importations du Rwanda. (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 26 mars 2003)
* Sahara occidental. Plan sans réponse - Le 25 mars, le Conseil de sécurité a décidé de proroger jusqu'au 31 mai le mandat de la mission de l'Onu au Sahara occidental (Minurso), qui devait expirer le 31 mars, "afin de donner aux parties le temps d'examiner les termes d'une proposition qui leur a été présentée par James Baker", envoyé de Kofi Annan. Le Conseil a aussi révélé que, jusqu'à présent, aucune des parties concernées par ce conflit (Maroc, Algérie, Front Polisario et Mauritanie) n'a soumis sa réponse à cette proposition, intitulée "Plan de paix pour l'autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental", présentée en janvier dernier. (PANA, Sénégal, 26 mars 2003)
* Western Sahara. Security Council extends MINURSO's mandate - The UN Security Council has extended by two months the mandate of its Mission in Western Sahara, to allow the parties more time to consider its proposal on the political solution to the dispute on the territory. The Mission has the responsibility of organising a referendum in the former Spanish territory clamouring for self-determination from Moroccan domination. The Council's unanimous decision on 25 March to extend to May 31, the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), followed a request by Secretary General Kofi Annan last week, seeking more time for the exercise. (PANA, Senegal, 26 March 2003)
* Sierra Leone. Retrait "progressif" de la Minusil - Dans son dernier rapport au Conseil de sécurité, M. Kofi Annan a recommandé un retrait progressif des casques bleus en Sierra Leone et une prolongation de six mois de leur mandat, soulignant que ce pays n'est pas encore en mesure d'assurer sa sécurité sans l'aide des Nations unies. Le rapport a aussi souligné certains éléments essentiels pour une paix durable en Sierra Leone: notamment, empêcher les jeunes gens de se sentir exclus, contrôler l'exploitation diamantifère et créer des opportunités de réintégration pour les ex-combattants. M. Annan a encore insisté sur le fait que "la sécurité en Sierra Leone ne peut être totalement assurée alors que le conflit au Liberia persiste", appelant la communauté internationale à contribuer à mettre fin à ce conflit. (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 22 mars 2003)
* Sierra Leone. EU reiterates its support for Special Court - 26 March: The European Union hails the Special Court for Sierra Leone for its speedy operation, saying its performance was an important stage in the achievement of peace, justice and national reconciliation in the country. In a statement issued in Brussels, the EU emphasises "firm support" to the special court in its essential task of bringing to justice persons accused of serious violations of international humanitarian law during the civil war in Sierra Leone. (PANA, Senegal, 26 March 2003)
* South Africa. Cardinal Napier meets Swiss Foreign Minister - The President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC), Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, today met with the Swiss Foreign Minister, Ms Calmy-Rey, in Berne, Switzerland. The meeting addressed the current social, political, and economic situation in South Africa, including the campaign for apartheid debt cancellation and reparations from Swiss banks and businesses. Cardinal Napier is currently on a two-week visit to Switzerland at the invitation of the Catholic Church development agency Fastenopfer for the annual Swiss Lenten Campaign organised by the Swiss churches. The Cardinal will: Address several church and public gatherings; meet civil society and government development agencies such as Fastenopfer, Swiss Inter-Church Aid, Bread for All, the Swiss Coalition of NGOs, the official Swiss Development Cooperation agency, and others; meet members of the Swiss parliament; meet church leaders from the Swiss Catholic Bishops' Conference and other churches, and church structures such as Justice & Peace; meet government representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Secretariat for Foreign Economic Affairs; and give several media interviews. (SACBC, 19 March 2003)
* South Africa. "Reparation is key to reconciliation" - The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) welcomes the hand-over of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) final report to President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria, the SACBC said in a statement issued today. "This point in the TRC's work marks the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa's transformation from apartheid to a new society," said SACBC spokesperson Archbishop Buti Tlhagale. "The report has been the focus of many deeply emotional challenges that have tested the resolve of our society to come to terms with its past. However, the delivery of the report to the President today marks the beginning of the equally important challenge of ensuring reparation for the communities and individuals who suffered severe damage as a result of apartheid abuses. Since the delivery of the first TRC report, the question of reparations has remained unresolved. Our society will be reconciled to the extent that the perpetrators and beneficiaries of apartheid crimes open their hearts to ensuring that apartheid's social and economic imbalances are overcome through reparations programmes for the reconstruction and development of poor communities. While significant progress has been made in regard to the provision of housing and education, more effective programmes must be implemented for job creation, land reform, and the treatment of people with HIV and AIDS. When that happens, then the work of Truth and Reconciliation will be complete," he said. "While the government must play a strong role in guaranteeing reparations in the spirit of the TRC, this is not the responsibility of the government alone. Private companies, banks, and individuals who made huge profits under apartheid must also be held accountable for reparations, both within South Africa and internationally". (SACB, 21 March 2003)
* South Africa. AIDS protesters accuse ministers of manslaughter - On 20 March, hundreds of AIDS activists gathered illegally and marched into South African police stations to begin a campaign of civil disobedience against the government for its refusal to provide life-extending drugs to those with HIV. Chanting, singing and waving banners, they laid accusations of manslaughter against two cabinet ministers they say are letting 600 people die every day by denying the medicine to South Africa's 4.7 million infected people, more than any other country. They blame the health minister, Manto Tshabalala Msimang, for denying anti-retrovirals to state hospitals and clinics, and trade and industry minister, Alec Erwin, for blocking production of the drugs in South Africa. The accusations relate to 16 specific deaths. The government continued to recommend people infected with the virus to boost their immune systems with garlic, onions, olive oil and "African potato", an African corm, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, used in traditional healing with has attracted medical attention in recent years as a protection against the onset of AIDS. The activists vowed to revive the African National Congress's tactic against apartheid, of committing peaceful but illegal acts which prompt mass arrests and result in police detention cells overflowing. (The Guardian, UK, 21 March 2003)
* South Africa. Mining groups suffer tax blow - On 20 March, South Africa unveiled a new tax regime which will force mining companies to pay royalties of 8 per cent of gross sales. Some within the industry said the move was excessive and would deter investment. However, De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer, announced it would invest more than $150m in the country this year. The long-awaited Mineral and Petroleum Royalty Bill ends a decades-long virtual tax holiday for mining companies in South Africa. It proposes a sliding scale of royalties on gross sales, ranging from 1 per cent for deep-water oil and gas to 8 per cent for diamond producers. Royalties on gold and platinum are respectively 3 and 4 per cent. The provisions will be phased in over four years and the full royalty regime will be in place by 2007. "The rates are eminently reasonable," Trevor Manuel, the finance minister, said yesterday. Royalties will be deductible against income tax but will significantly boost fiscal revenue. "If they had been introduced last year they would have brought in R4.2bn ($518m)," he said. However, disappointed mining executives warned that the royalties were at the high end of internationally competitive ranges and would result in significant additional costs for miners in South Africa. Analysts said the discounts at which South African companies trade would likely be reinforced. "This bill makes investing in Chile a hell of a lot more attractive," a Johannesburg-based mining executive said yesterday. Chile does not impose mining royalties. The bill gives effect to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act -- approved last year -- and transfers all mineral rights from the private sector to the State. The accompanying Mining Charter, which sought to promote black economic empowerment, or affirmative action, caused panic among investors last year when a first draft suggested a 51 per cent black ownership target for the sector within 10 years. A revised and more industry-friendly charter was approved last October, but mining shares have yet to recover fully from last year's selling spree. (Financial Times, UK, 21 March 2003)
* Afrique du Sud. Commission vérité et réconciliation - Le 21 mars, Mgr Tutu a remis au président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki le rapport final de la Commission Vérité et Réconciliation (TRC), cinq ans après la fin des audiences. Si le rapport final a été rendu si tard, c'est qu'il a fallu du temps pour calmer les esprits et empêcher les antagonismes de ressurgir. Des personnalités encore dotées d'un énorme poids politique, comme Winnie Mandela et Buthelezi (chef de l'Inkhata), ont en effet été reconnues "responsables" par la TRC de violations des droits de l'homme pendant l'apartheid. Faute d'avoir demandé l'amnistie, elles devraient en principe encourir des poursuites pénales. Il en va de même pour 5.000 personnes, d'anciens tortionnaires blancs pour la plupart. Mais "s'ils devaient tous être poursuivis, le fardeau pour notre système serait insupportable et le coût astronomique", a commenté Mgr Tutu. C'est surtout pour préserver le statu quo politique qu'aucun procès ne sera intenté. Pour beaucoup de Sud-Africains, la TRC aura laissé un goût amer. L'absence de remords des anciens responsables politiques de l'apartheid reste difficile à admettre pour la majorité noire. Des reproches sont aussi adressés au Congrès national africain (ANC), qui n'a pas commencé à verser des réparations pourtant promises aux victimes. Sur le front de la réconciliation, beaucoup reste à faire. (D'après Libération, France, 22 mars 2003) 

Weekly News anb0327.txt - 5/6