Weekly anb02134.txt #7

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

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 13-02-2003      PART #4/7

* Eritrea. Isayas says Ethiopia is "spoilt child" of the superpowers  -  7 
February: Eritrea's President Isayas Afewerki has described Ethiopia as the 
"spoilt child of the world's superpowers". In the first part of an 
interview with the ruling party's Shaebia website, he said some countries 
were afraid of Ethiopia's "disintegration" and therefore believed "it is 
better to take care of the present regime". He accused Ethiopia of 
hindering border demarcation, because of its "desire to incorporate Badme 
into Ethiopian territory". Isayas accused Ethiopia of trying to "influence" 
the commission to change the coordinates of Mai Anbesa and Mai Tomsa in 
southern Eritrea "in order to incorporate Badme. Generally speaking, we do 
not expect many changes in the demarcation process. The technical details 
of the implementation process are well handled by the 
commission"   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 February 2003)

* Eritrea/Ethiopia. Horn border in the balance  -  7 February: The 
commission that is deciding on where the border between Ethiopia and 
Eritrea lies, is scheduled to meet in London on 8-9 February. A dispute 
over the border resulted in a two-and-a-half year long war that left as 
many as 100,000 dead. The commission has already given its judgement on the 
location of the border. However, the decision failed to clarify which 
country had been awarded the town of Badme, over which the war was fought. 
The commission is due to begin placing markers along the border in May, and 
it will then become clear whether Eritrea or Ethiopia has sovereignty over 
Badme. The meeting will be attended by senior representatives of both 
Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the United Nations and the African Union. 
9 February: Eritrea's President Afewerki accuses Ethiopia of massing troops 
at its border. The President accuses Ethiopia of trying to delay the 
border's demarcation because of a dispute over Badme. 11 February: Ethiopia 
has denied President Afewerki's accusations. Information Minister Bereket 
Simon told the UN that the last thing Ethiopia wanted was another conflict 
in the war-ravaged region.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 February 2003)

* Ethiopia. Malnutrition rates on the increase  -  Malnutrition rates in 
Ethiopia are gradually increasing despite widespread efforts to help 
millions of people facing starvation in the country, according to aid 
organisations. The UN's Country Team (UNCT) said the increase is 
particularly alarming because the so-called critical period -- when current 
harvests normally run out --has not been reached. "An increasing trend 
gives indication of a worsening nutritional and hence humanitarian 
situation," the UNCT said in its "Focus on Ethiopia" report. It added that 
typically at this time of year, when the harvests have been brought in, the 
malnutrition rates should be falling -- not slowly increasing. "When food 
is not available the nutritional status is highly dependent on timely and 
adequate food aid distributions," the report said. "It will be essential 
that food is delivered on time and in sufficient quantity to avert a major 
crisis and loss of life in the coming two to three months."   (IRIN, Kenya, 
5 February 2003)

* Ghana. Ghanaians tell of torture  -  4 February: A retired soldier became 
the twentieth eyewitness to give his testimony to Ghana's National 
Reconciliation Commission, which has been running for three weeks now. The 
main task of the nine-member commission is to document accounts of human 
rights abuses since independence in 1957, but mostly under military regimes 
when there was no ombudsman. Private Samuel Twumhene was 22 years old when 
he was detained for almost nine years without trial in 1983, by the PNDC, 
the military regime led by Jerry Rawlings before he became a civilian 
president. Mr Twumhene said he was accused of plotting to overthrow the 
PNDC, with the help of the United States Government. He told the commission 
that he was arrested with six others and interrogated by three air force 
officers in a guardroom. He said the interrogators used concrete blocks to 
pound their bodies, and beat them with truncheons until blood oozed from 
their ears. Mr Twumhene said on one occasion, three of his co-detainees 
were taken away from the guardroom. Shortly afterwards, he heard screams 
--and then gunshots. One of the three was thought to be dead initially, but 
was discovered alive with bullet wounds in the stomach. The other two were 
never seen or heard of again. Subsequently, Mr Twumhene said he spent four 
months in solitary confinement before his transfer to the Nsawam Prisons 
near Accra, where he remained until his release shortly before multi-party 
elections in 1992. He went into exile in Côte d'Ivoire, and returned home 
just two years ago. Mr Twumhene, who now works as a security officer, said 
his ear-drums were damaged and continued to hurt. Last week the commission 
heard the story of a pastor, Twumasi Ankrah, who had electric shocks 
applied to his penis whilst in detention in 1988, for telling his 
congregation that Mr Rawlings would go to hell if he had killed anyone. 
Another witness, Emmanuel Sawundi, an ex-army corporal, told of how he was 
whipped with barbed wire, his toe-nails were pulled out with a pair of 
pliers, and hot metal applied to his flesh, for allegedly plotting to 
assassinate Mr Rawlings in 1985. In the case of Alex Hammah, a retired 
trade unionist, the authorities confiscated 56,000 cedis from him in 1972, 
when one cedi was equal to one dollar. He wants his money back.   (BBC 
News, UK, 5 February 2003)

* Guinée équatoriale. Nouveau gouvernement  -  Le 7 février, le Premier 
ministre Candido Muatetema Rivas qui, la veille, avait présenté la 
démission de son gouvernement, a été reconduit dans ses fonctions par le 
président Nguema. Il devrait dans quelques jours proposer au chef de l'Etat 
les autres membres de son exécutif. Le président Nguema a dit vouloir 
former un gouvernement qualifié "d'unité nationale". Il compte pour ce 
faire sur les douze partis de l'opposition dite "démocratique", mais en 
réalité appartenant à la majorité présidentielle, dont huit avaient appuyé 
sa candidature. La véritable opposition se trouve toujours emprisonnée dans 
le pays ou obligée à l'exil. La Convergence pour la démocratie sociale 
(CPDS), principale formation d'opposition, a annoncé qu'elle ne participera 
pas au gouvernement. -- Le 11 février, le président Nguema a finalement 
constitué un gouvernement de "compromis" de 50 membres (contre 44 dans le 
précédent), au lieu d'un gouvernement "d'unité nationale". Il semble avoir 
constitué ce gouvernement pour remercier les partis et les personnalités 
qui l'ont appuyé lors de la présidentielle de décembre dernier. Seuls huit 
partis de l'opposition "démocratique" sont entrés dans ce 
gouvernement.   (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 7-13 février 2003)

* Kenya. The challenge of providing free primary education  -  7 February: 
Free and compulsory primary education for Kenyan children was one of the 
key pre-election promises that led the current government, led by President 
Mwai Kibaki, to power in December 2002. Since then an estimated 1.5 million 
children, who were previously out-of-school, have turned up to attend 
classes. "We will not be content until every child of primary school age is 
enroled. By educating the children we are investing in the future of this 
country. In the long term, educating children is one way to eradicate 
poverty," says the Minister for Education, George Saitoti. Parents and 
children alike have greeted the move with euphoria.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 7 
February 2003)

* Kenya. L'éducation primaire gratuite  -  La Banque mondiale a promis une 
subvention de 40 millions de dollars au programme kényan d'éducation 
primaire gratuite, a révélé le ministre de l'Education, George Saitoti. Le 
ministère espère que cet argent sera débloqué d'ici juin. Les fonds 
serviront essentiellement à l'acquisition de matériels didactiques et à 
renforcer les capacités des écoles, a dit M. Saitoti. L'Unicef a aussi 
promis, la semaine dernière, 2 millions de dollars à ce programme. 
L'éducation primaire gratuite est un des chevaux de bataille du nouveau 
gouvernement kényan. Les élèves affluent actuellement en masse dans les 
écoles publiques. Leur nombre devrait atteindre la barre des 7 
millions.   (D'après PANA, Sénégal, 11 février 2003)

* Kenya. KANU party HQ seized  -  11 February: The Kenyan Government has 
taken over the building which has been KANU's home since 1989. The Tourism 
and Information Minister, Raphael Tuju, said that KANU had moved into the 
International Kenyatta Conference Centre, on political grounds, and without 
making due payments. Members of KANU recently claimed that the party owned 
the building. A lawyer for KANU, Mutula Kilonzo, said the take-over was 
illegal and that the party will take the case to court.   (ANB-BIA, 
Belgium, 11 February 2003)

* Kenya. World Bank favour  -  11 February: The World Bank has told the 
newly-elected Kenyan government that it is keen to resume lending to help 
it bridge a big budget short fall. The favourable comments came as the 
Bank's vice-president for Africa, Callisto Madavo, visited the capital 
Nairobi. "We are very keen to see the building of this relationship and for 
us to provide the new administration with strong support as you begin the 
long journey to save your people," Mr Madavo said. But he did not give a 
date for when lending could resume. Budgetary aid to Kenya was halted in 
2001 due to concerns over corruption in the government of former President 
Daniel arap Moi. The offer comes as new finance minister David Mwiraria 
said the budget deficit was double that projected by the last government in 
June.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 11 February 2003)

* Liberia. Rebels agree to talks  -  10 February: LURD rebels say they are 
prepared to hold talks with the Government. This decision was taken after 
talks in Sierra Leone with West African legislators. The Liberian 
government responds positively, saying it had been calling for a meeting 
with the rebels for years. Citizens of Monrovia have cautiously welcomed 
the rebels decision but are waiting to see whether it can mean peace for 
the country.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 10 February 2003)

* Liberia. Vers un dialogue?  -  7 février. Les troupes gouvernementales 
libériennes ont repris la ville de Tubmansburg (à 60 km de la capitale 
Monrovia) et poursuivent les rebelles du LURD (Libériens unis pour la 
réconciliation et la démocratie) qui font retraite. Le LURD s'était emparé 
de la ville en début de semaine, créant des mouvements de panique dans la 
population de Monrovia. Le mardi 4 février, les dirigeants du LURD avaient 
lancé un ultimatum au président Taylor, mais ce dernier avait réfusé de 
quitter la ville. -- 8 février. Les entretiens inaugurés la veille à 
Freetown (Sierra Leone) pour mettre fin à quatre années de conflit au 
Liberia, sont déjà au bord de l'impasse. En effet, les rebelles du LURD 
demandent la démission du président Taylor et la réorganisation des forces 
armées libériennes. Toutefois, les négociations devraient reprendre le 
lendemain. Pendant ce temps, le calme est revenu à Monrovia. -- 10 février. 
Les rebelles du LURD ont accepté d'entamer un dialogue avec le gouvernement 
de Taylor. Ces pourparlers devraient se dérouler, à une date qui reste à 
préciser, sous l'égide de la CEDEAO.   (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 
février 2003)

* Libye/Erythrée. Relations bilatérales  -  Le 9 février, le colonel 
Kadhafi et le président érythréen Issaias Afeworki ont examiné à Asmara les 
moyens de renforcer et consolider les relations entre leurs deux pays, 
a-t-on appris de source officielle à Tripoli. Au cours de cet entretien qui 
a marqué la fin de la visite entamée le 5 février en Erythrée par le 
dirigeant libyen, les deux hommes ont également discuté des questions 
africaines et internationales. Libye et Erythrée seraient sur la même 
longueur d'onde. En Afrique, ils partageraient des intérêts économiques. Il 
seraient aussi d'accord sur la "façon de combattre le terrorisme en 
général". Cette communauté de points de vues les a amenés à signer un 
protocole d'accord dans différents secteurs.   (ANB-BIA, de sources 
diverses, 10 février 2003)

* Malawi. Crisis-hit Malawians survive on grass  -  The food crisis in 
Malawi is now so severe that some of the worst-hit people are reduced to 
eating grass. Aid agencies fear that nearly a third of the population -- 
about 3.3 million people -- face starvation in the coming months if relief 
funds dwindle and erratic weather does not bring much-needed rain in time 
for the harvest. Modesta says her family have nothing to eat except grass, 
like the kind she holds up in her hand. Demonstrating as she speaks, she 
says: "We take it from the ground, rub it to take away the husks, then 
grind the seeds to make flour to cook with." She says it is the same for 
everyone in her village and the next one -- up to 1,000 people in all. And 
that is just the people she knows about. "It tastes sour, and everyone is 
constipated," she says. "It is not good for the children to eat. Sometimes 
if we have a little maize we give it to the children. When we have nothing 
we all eat grass." Modesta's village is in Malawi's southernmost Nsanje 
district, near the border with Mozambique. It is rainy season right now but 
that does not mean very much. Every river we crossed for 50 kilometres was 
completely dry. It means the maize cannot grow. Here, as in other, greener, 
parts of Malawi, the aim of the aid agencies is to help people to help 
themselves -by giving them fertiliser for their maize crops or chickens, 
whose eggs add a little protein to their diets. But now in arid Nsanje the 
priority is survival. At Tengani 1,000 people wait for up to six hours to 
collect rations that will keep their family alive for a month. Drawn from 
eight villages in the area, they have all walked for hours to get here -- 
mothers with babies, the elderly, even one man on crutches. They will have 
to walk back. It is the same across this district -- thousands queue, while 
thousands more wait at home. The system targets the most needy. You have to 
be registered to receive -- no form, no food.   (BBC News, UK, 8 February 2003)

Weekly anb0213.txt - #4/7