The Largest Minority

March 3rd, 2008 by Manila Ryce

The US has launched its fourth strike in 14 months aimed at suspected “terrorists” in Somalia. Such extrajudicial strikes are a violation of international law and target Muslims who pose a threat to American financial interests.

Two missiles destroyed a home the US claims was holding “known terrorists,” killing 6 civilians. A US official said the military was targeting an al-Qaeda suspect, but wouldn’t confirm whether the suspect was actually killed along with the civilians.

Muslim forces are currently opposed to the western-backed interim government which was installed in Somalia in 2004. Ignoring the fact that oppression is the main cause of terror, the US argues that a strong central authority (dictatorship) is needed to assert control over Somali Muslims in order to keep the country from becoming a haven for terrorists.

source

February 19th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

Well, it seems Huckabee’s suggestion to quarantine AIDS patients is being somewhat enacted in Egypt. While not specifically referred to in Egypt’s legal code, homosexual acts can be punished under laws covering obscenity, prostitution, and habitual debauchery. With this authority, Egyptian police are targeting suspected homosexuals in a campaign to crack down on HIV.

The crackdown all started when two men were arrested in October of 2007 for being involved in a scuffle. One man confessed to being HIV-positive so the two were taken to the “public morality” police branch where they were beaten for refusing to sign statements and subjected to anal examinations to “prove” that they had engaged in homosexual conduct. Police found the numbers and photos of two more men in the suspects’ wallets and arrested them as well. All four men remain in custody. Further actions have brought the total amount of HIV suspect arrests to 12.

Gasser Abdel-Razek of Human Rights Watch said, “These cases show Egyptian police acting on the dangerous belief that HIV is not a condition to be treated but a crime to be punished.” According to Human Rights Watch, HIV-positive Egyptian males are detained, interrogated about other suspects, undergo physical abuse, chained to hospital beds, and forced to undergo virus related tests. Two of the four newest detainees have tested positive for HIV.

In a joint press release, Amnesty International and HRW warned that Egypt’s actions could do more harm than good if the intention is in fact to prevent the spread of the disease. Rebecca Schleifer of HRW said, “This not only violates the most basic rights of people living with HIV. It also threatens public health, by making it dangerous for anyone to seek information about HIV prevention or treatment.”

source

February 13th, 2008 by Calypso

US film director Steven Spielberg has quit his role as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Spielberg said his decision was based on China’s role in providing Sudan with arms and not pressuring the country enough to end the suffering in the Darfur region. Over 2/3 of Sudanese oil is sold to Beijing in exchange for weapons. Furthermore, Beijing has also defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

Many atrocities continue to be committed in the Darfur conflict, which has left over 2 million people displaced and over 200,000 killed. In a statement, Spielberg said, “I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual.” He continued by saying that he would rather spend his time and energy trying to bring an end to the “unspeakable crimes” committed daily in Darfur. Though Spielberg placed blame on the government of Sudan, he also stressed that the international community, especially China, bears responsibility too.

Beijing has not responded to the new setback. The International Olympic Committee, however, has said that it was Spielberg’s personal decision, but that while it is a tragic and complex issue, it remains the UN’s responsibility to resolve. Nobel Peace Prize laureates, former Olympians, and actress Mia Farrow were among the many who welcomed Spielberg’s move. Human Rights Watch welcomed the news as well and hope it would encourage governments and corporations to pressure Beijing.

Source

February 6th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

At least 20 people have been killed and 80 wounded after twin explosions rocked a residential area in Bosaso, north-eastern Somalia…

…Bosaso, is in Somalia’s self-declared autonomous region of Puntland.

Most of those killed were Ethiopians believed to be on their way to find work in the Arab Peninsula which lies across the Gulf of Eden…

…Local officials said they were unsure why Ethiopians were targeted in the attack.

Ethiopia and Somalia have a long history of tense and, at times, violent relations.

Ethiopian troops are currently propping up a shaky UN-backed government in the southern part of the country.

read more…

February 4th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

The United Nations Security Council has condemned rebel attacks on the Chadian capital of Ndjamena in a non-binding resolution which gives other countries the green light to back the corrupt Chadian government. “The Security Council calls upon member states to provide support in conformity with the United Nations charter as requested by the government of Chad,” said current council president Ricardo Alberto Arias. An initial draft by France to support President Idriss Déby Itno of Chad “by all necessary means,” was changed to satisfy Russia for what was seen as a reference to military aid.

In October 2006, Chad was described as the world’s most corrupt nation by Forbes magazine for “what may turn out to be the single most piggish use of philanthropic funds”. $30 million in proceeds from an oil pipeline through Chad and Cameroon were not used by President Déby to assist and feed “the desperately poor people of these nations” as promised, but was used instead to buy arms to keep his government in power. Western powers have been concerned for years that continued attacks from groups possibly backed by neighboring Sudan could replace Déby with a government less subservient to their interests.

The rebels first attacked Ndjamena on Friday.

A force of 1,000-1,500 fighters, equipped with pickup trucks mounted with machine guns, arrived on the capital’s outskirts after a three-day push across the desert from Chad’s eastern border with Sudan.

They penetrated the city early on Saturday, reportedly trapping Deby in his palace.

The government launched a counterattack on Sunday and the rebels pulled back that evening in what they said was a tactical withdrawal to give Ndjamena’s inhabitants a chance to flee.

Analysts fear the fighting could broaden into a wider regional conflict.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France and the EU would send troops with the UN Security Council’s approval. He continued, “We must avoid a conflict in Chad by supporting the legitimate government.” After this call for military intervention, Sarkozy then made the ironic statement that, “In no region should weapons be a way to come to power.”

President Déby seized power in a coup in 1990 and has managed to stay in power with French-backing through various rebellions, claims of corruption, and election fraud. Déby is so unpopular that he even faces opposition from members of his own family. Western powers fear that if his government falls, a new government could start selling oil to China, giving the Chinese access to oil pipelines across Africa. Chad’s oil production is a project run by ExxonMobil and financed from loans made by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

source 1
source 2

January 31st, 2008 by Manila Ryce

Alpha Konare, the head of the African Union, said on Thursday that Kenya was facing genocide and that Africa’s leaders must make it a priority to resolve the crisis. On the opening of the three-day summit Konare said, “Kenya is a country that was a hope for the continent. Today, if you look at Kenya you see violence on the streets.” He continued, “We are even talking about ethnic cleansing, We are even talking about genocide. We cannot sit with our hands folded. If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow.”

Until a month ago, Kenya was more used to attending summits of the 53-nation AU as a respected regional peacemaker and a refuge for those fleeing wars in neighbouring countries.

Now it is Africa’s biggest crisis, torn by a cycle of ethnic bloodshed that threatens to destabilize a key regional ally of the West and damage the economies of several neighboring countries that are landlocked and rely on the Kenya port of Mombasa for the delivery of much needed supplies.

Over 250,000 Kenyans have fled their homes and 850 people have died since the disputed December 27th re-election of Mwai Kibaki. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also encouraged “the leaders and people of Kenya to calm the violence and resolve their differences through dialogue and respect for the democratic process”. Leaders and diplomats at the AU summit will be addressing peacekeeping operations in Darfur, Somalia, and upcoming elections in Zimbabwe, which is also mired in a political and economic crisis. United States assistant secretary of state for African affairs Jendayi Frazer also referred to the deaths in Kenya as “ethnic cleansing,” a remark which has been distanced by a state department official who said the comment was not that of the government.

source

January 27th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

At least 700 people have been killed and 260,000 have been displaced in Kenya since the disputed presidential election on December 27 provoked rioting and ethnic killings.

Raila Odinga, the leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) who ran against Kibaki in December’s election, alleges that the vote was rigged, thus robbing him of the presidency.

Ethnic violence flared up in Nakuru on Thursday night between gangs armed with machetes, spears and bows and arrows.

Latent ethnic and land disputes have fueled violence between Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe and members of the Luo and Kalenjin ethnic groups, who supported Odinga in the election.

Amid the continuing violence, Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general, met Odinga on Sunday at a hotel in Nairiobi, on the sixth day of his tour of Kenya.

A day earlier, Annan said he saw “gross and systematic human rights abuses of fellow citizens,” after visits to parts of the Rift Valley.

read more…

January 22nd, 2008 by Manila Ryce

Fighting for their rights, Kenyan opposition remains defiant. Grace Akumu, a member of Kenya’s opposition party, The Orange Democratic Movement, speaks with The Real News about their struggle.