Weekly anb05231.txt #5

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 23-05-2001      PART #1/5

* Africa. Patents focus shifts to Kenya and West Africa  -  A month ago, 
the international pharmaceutical industry was forced into a humiliating 
climbdown in a courtroom in South Africa. A group of 39 companies had 
sought to block a law passed by the South African parliament in 1997, which 
would enable the legal importation of patented medicines from countries 
where they are sold more cheaply by the same manufacturer. The industry had 
wildly underestimated the international reaction to this case, and when it 
became clear that it was facing a public relations catastrophe, it dropped 
the case unconditionally, setting an important international precedent for 
other developing countries. The last twelve months have seen an incredible 
awakening of global public awareness about the health problems of the poor 
in the developing world and their lack of access to essential medicines. A 
year ago, then chief executive of GlaxoWellcome, Sir Richard Sykes, told a 
radio reporter that, in all honesty, nobody had really raised the issue of 
high drug prices in the developing world. The main public concerns that 
drugs companies had to deal with were related to animal testing. All that 
has changed. It was clear that access issues had climbed to the top of the 
international agenda when the G8 leaders pledged last July in Okinawa to 
find global solutions to the problems of lack of effective and affordable 
medicines for TB, Aids and malaria. Initiatives are coming in thick and 
fast from all sides -- from industry, governments and activists -- 
particularly on the subject of drugs to treat Aids. The five biggest drugs 
companies initially tried to present a united front by launching an 
initiative with UNAIDS, the joint programme of the UN, World Health 
Organisation and World Bank, which would reduce the price of triple 
combination therapy in developing countries to around $1,000 per patient 
per year. But this offer -- which was of little help to the one fifth of 
the world's population who earn less than $1 a day -- has since been 
undercut by generic producers such as the Indian company Cipla, which has 
started selling triple therapy drugs to the governments of Cameroon and 
Nigeria at the cost of $350 per patient per year.   (Financial Times, UK, 
21 May 2001)

* Afrique. Clôture de la 3e conférence sur les PMA: déception  -  Le 20 
mai, le troisième sommet des Nations unies sur les pays les moins avancés 
(PMA), ouvert avec faste sept jours plus tôt, s'est clôturé sur une 
déclaration qui ne bouleversera pas l'ordre du monde. Sans grande décision 
concrète, ces conclusions recèlent un catalogue d'engagements classiques 
pour tenter de remédier à la marginalisation de ces 49 pays les plus 
pauvres de la planète (dont 33 en Afrique): accroître l'aide au 
développement, renforcer les capacités productives afin d'accélérer la 
croissance, le revenu, la création d'emplois, et d'aider les PMA à prendre 
une plus large place dans le commerce mondial. Les représentants de 
quelques centaines d'ONG ont fait part d'une grande déception. Tout au plus 
se félicitent-elles de la décision prise par les pays riches de délier 
l'aide accordée, autrement dit de ne pas obliger le pays bénéficiaire à 
affecter cette aide à des achats dans le pays donateur. Aucune avancée 
significative n'a été enregistrée quant à la réduction de la dette.   (Le 
Soir, Belgique, 21 mai 2001)

* Africa. Conference of Least Developed Countries  -  "A world society 
which leaves so many of its citizens on the margins of progress has no 
title to call itself global." This was the verdict voiced by Archbishop 
Diarmuid Martin, Holy See Permanent Observer to the UN Offices and 
Specialised Institutions in Geneva, in his address on May 16, to the third 
United Nations Conference on the Least Developed countries, held in 
Brussels 14-20 May. "In the past -- Archbishop Martin told FIDES in a 
conversation on the outcome of the Conference -- the solution to the 
tragedy of underdevelopment was seen only as a unilateral flow of aid from 
donor countries to the third world. In Brussels this time we saw a common 
commitment to work together to eliminate the scandal of the exclusion of 
nations and individuals from the circuit of development. Rich countries, 
international institutions and poor countries all agree: our task is to 
make solidarity a reality. The Conference had to admit the sad fact that 
the number of least developed countries has actually increased from 25 to 
49." He told the Conference, that this shows that in a time of such 
potential progress "as yet, globalisation has not brought its benefits to 
all." "After a week of discussion, the Conference issued a ten point 
statement outlining general policies, but not actual interventions. A 
Conference such as this has neither operative instruments nor resources: 
decisions are made at the national level or by groups such as the G8", the 
Archbishop explained to FIDES. In the statement, the third United Nations 
Conference on the Least Developed Countries reaffirms support for the 
principles of human dignity, equality and equity and its commitment to 
eliminate poverty by means of good governance and solidarity at both the 
national and international level.   (Fides, Vatican City, 22 May 2001)

* Africa. Slavery row stalls racism conference  -  A dispute pitting the 
United States and European nations against African countries has slowed 
preparations for a major United Nations conference on racism. South Africa 
is leading an African bloc that wants the conference to label slavery "a 
crime against humanity" -- a description which the UK, Spain and Portugal 
reject. The European countries and the US are also resisting African calls 
for some kind of reparations for the slave trade. UN High Commissioner for 
Human Rights, Mary Robinson, -- who will host the anti-racism conference in 
the South African city of Durban later this year -- urged delegates to 
"look for common ground" at the final meeting to prepare for the 
conference. "We can take the narrow view and argue every detail right up to 
Durban," she said on 21 May.   (BBC News, UK, 22 May 2001)

* Afrique/USA. Voyage de Colin Powell  -  Le chef de la diplomatie 
américaine Colin Powell entamera le 22 mai une tournée africaine de six 
jours. Il se rendra au Mali, en Afrique du Sud, au Kenya et en Ouganda. Ce 
voyage sera essentiellement consacré aux questions de sécurité. Mais M. 
Powell devrait également aborder le thème des relations commerciales. Le 
président américain Bush a invité la semaine dernière les dirigeants de 35 
pays africains à Washington, les 4 et 5 octobre, pour un forum économique 
et commercial.   (AP, 21 mai 2001)

* Africa. Powell trip to Africa  -  22 May: US Secretary of State, Colin 
Powell, embarks on a six-day tour of four African countries. His trip will 
focus on the AIDS epidemic and democratic and economic reform. Aides said 
he will look at trouble spots and try to access peacekeeping and 
humanitarian aid efforts. Powell will visit Mali, South Africa, Kenya and 
Uganda. He will also visit Europe at the end of his trip. 23 May: A busy 
schedule awaits Powell when he arrives in Mali, today. He is scheduled to 
hold discussions with President Konare and to visit a malaria research 
institute created with the assistance of the American National Health 
Institute.   (ANB-BIAS, Brussels, 23 May 2001)

* Algeria. France must investigate alleged was crimes  -  The French 
government should launch an official investigation into allegations of war 
crimes and crimes against humanity by French forces in Algeria, Human 
Rights Watch said on 17 May. The inquiry should examine whether the French 
government ordered or tolerated the use of torture and summary executions 
against supporters of Algerian independence in the mid-1950s, as recently 
alleged by General Paul Aussaresses, and lead to prosecution of those 
considered responsible, as such crimes are not barred by a statute of 
limitations. The government should also initiate criminal proceedings 
against General Aussaresses.   (Human Rights Watch, 16 May 2001)

* Algérie. Peines pour les délits de presse  -  Dans une lettre adressée au 
président Bouteflika, Reporters sans frontières a déploré l'adoption par 
l'Assemblée générale du projet d'amendement du Code pénal qui sanctionne 
désormais les délits de presse par de lourdes amendes et des peines allant 
de deux mois à un an de prison. "Ces nouvelles dispositions sont un net 
recul pour la liberté de presse dans votre pays", a souligné RSF, "nous 
vous demandons d'user de toute votre influence afin que le Conseil de la 
nation (le sénat) n'adopte pas ce projet d'amendement du Code pénal". Le 
projet prévoit désormais des peines de 2 à 12 mois de prison et des amendes 
variant de 50.000 à 250.000 dinars contre toute atteinte au président de la 
République en termes contenant l'injure, l'insulte ou la diffamation (par 
écrit ou dessin...). Ces sanctions sont également applicables pour ces 
délits commis à l'encontre du Parlement ou de l'une des deux Chambres, de 
l'armée et de toute autre institution publique ou corps constitué.   (RSF, 
Paris, 22 mai 2001)

* Algeria. Trappist remembers monks murdered in Algeria, five years 
ago  -  The discovery of the bodies of seven Trappist monks in Algeria on 
May 21, 1996, sent shock waves through the country and the Muslim community 
in the region. The seven, of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Atlas in 
Thibirine, had been kidnapped two months earlier by a Muslim terrorist 
group. Other Catholics --men and women religious, and even a bishop -- had 
been killed previously in the country, and even in the same diocese. But 
the case of the community of Tibhirine, which had been a symbol of the 
interreligious dialogue, overwhelmed the country. To recall the tragedy, 
Vatican Radio spoke with Father Armand Vielleux, who was the Trappist 
procurator general at the time. Q: What happened? Father Vielleux: It was a 
very intense and difficult period. A period of prayer, because we were 
almost certain, at least at the beginning, that our brothers were still 
alive. We imagined what they were going through, and wanted to live it with 
them in prayer. Q: On several occasions you have said that it is not about 
individual witnessing, but the sacrifice of a whole community. Father 
Vielleux: Yes, because it was a very united community. They made all 
decisions by common consent. They made the decision, in community, to 
remain faithful to their vocation and to the people with whom they lived. 
Q: What remains of the Tibhirine community? Father Vielleux: Now, there is 
nothing in Tibhirine. The monastery is there, but it is not possible to 
live in it. We do not have the government's permission, as it believes the 
region is still too dangerous. Because of this, at present, part of the 
Tibhirine community is in Morocco. A group of them hoped to return to 
Tibhirine this year, but it is not possible: There is too much violence in 
the Medea region. Q: Given that one can pray anywhere, and lead a 
contemplative life in any place, why is it necessary to go to live it in 
such a dangerous place? Father Vielleux: The monks of Tibhirine had 
established strong ties with the country, with the local people, with the 
Muslims, with the Christians of the area. For them, to be faithful at that 
time of difficulty was an absolute imperative. Now, the Trappists want to 
return in response to a call from the people. The Muslim people are very 
close to that monastery, they have looked after it, guarded it, and desire 
the presence of the monks. This is due to fidelity to a communion that was 
established over many years between the Muslim people and a community of 
Christian prayer.   (Zenit, Italy, 22 May 2001)

* Algeria. Berbers demonstrate  -  About half a million Berbers 
demonstrated peacefully in eastern Algeria in protest at the violence used 
by the authorities to put down a week of clashes that left dozens dead this 
month. The demonstration, organised by traditional Berber leaders rather 
than political organisations, was the largest expression of anger against 
the military-backed regime of President Bouteflika, in ten years. The 
demonstrators, many of them in black, gathered in the Berber city of Tizi 
Ouzou and called for the removal of paramilitary gendarmes from Kabylia, 
the Berber province of eastern Algeria.   (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 22 May 2001)

* Algérie. La Kabylie ne désarme pas  -  Le 18 mai, une délégation de 
parlementaires européens a entamé une visite de cinq jours à Alger, au 
lendemain de l'adoption par le Parlement à Strasbourg d'une résolution 
condamnant la violente répression des émeutes en Kabylie en avril et début 
mai. Le 19 mai, la ville de Bejaïa a été paralysée par une grève générale 
et une manifestation de 10.000 personnes en soutien des victimes des 
émeutes. Le dimanche 20 mai, 20.000 personnes ont manifesté à Tizi Ouzou à 
l'appel des étudiants de l'université Mouloud-Mammeri. Dans l'après-midi, 
des émeutes ont repris dans la région de Bejaïa. Les plus violents 
affrontements se sont déroulés à Seddouk. Par ailleurs, des comités de 
village de la Grande Kabylie ont appelé à une "marche noire", le lundi 21 
mai, à Tizi Ouzou. Au cours de la marche, qui sera suivie d'une grève, les 
manifestants ont été appelés à porter un brassard noir pour marquer le 
deuil des dizaines de jeunes tués lors des affrontements avec les forces de 
sécurité. Les comités appellent aussi au boycottage des commissions 
d'enquête mises en place par le président Bouteflika et le Parlement. Ce 21 
mai, une foule estimée à près de 500.000 personnes a manifesté dans les 
rues de Tizi Ouzou, la plus importante manifestation jamais connue en 
Kabylie. "C'est une marée humaine, un déferlement sans fin, du jamais vu", 
indiquaient les habitants. La manifestation s'est déroulée dans le calme. 
Le lendemain, 22 mai, des affrontements sporadiques ont opposé des jeunes 
manifestants aux forces de sécurité dans les régions de Tizi Ouzou et de 
Bejaïa.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 23 mai 2001)

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