12/6/08

PHOTO: A joint operation by Rwandan and Burundian troops resulted in the seizure of

hundreds of illegal weapons along the border of both countries.

Source: Mark Christopher, http://operationbrokensilence.org

Unstable Burundi Peace Process Inches Forward

 In the summer of 1994, thousands of genocidal, angry Hutu militiamen fled from

neighboring Rwanda after murdering over 800,000 of their Tutsi countrymen.

The fast-advancing Tutsi rebels that would be declared as the heros that would end

the genocide were sweeping south from the capital of Kigali. The Hutu militia fled.

By August, under the protection and auspices of a "French humanitarian mission," which was simply

a military operation to stop the advancing rebels, hundreds of thousands of Hutus fled into

the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began receiving enormous amounts of international aid

to feed, medicate, and protect endless numbers of refugees, while doing

the same for those responsible for the genocide.

But to the southeast, virtually no international aid was to arrive. And when the Hutu militias

stormed across the Rwandan border into Burundi, they continued their genocide against

the Burundian Tutsi population, while also creating a civil war between the predominantly

Tutsi government and the northern Hutu population.

By the end of 2007, an estimated 300,000 defenseless men, women, and children had been shot,

hacked to death, or burned alive; with no hope for peace, international military intervention,

or an end to the genocide in sight.

————————————————————————————–

Now, a year later, international diplomatic efforts, led by Uganda, have brought the warring parties

to the peace table in an effort to end the violence that began in Rwanda and spread.

While security is still a major concern, violence has subsided leading the atmosphere of war and

genocide to being dissolved into a tense, fragile ceasefire. International aid organizations have moved

into displacement camps to protect, feed, and medicate the tens of thousands that have been left homeless.

There is also talks of a War Crimes Tribunal being launched for those that are responsible for deaths

unimaginable in Burundi and Rwanda.

However, even though Burundi is closer to peace, international organizations continue to warn that

the warring parties are not disarming and that the Hutu militias still roam freely outside of the camps,

attacking civilians, raping women, and kidnapping children and forcing them to become child soldiers.

There are also eyewitness reports stating that some of these armed groups are renewing attacks on

the displacement camps by brazenly marching into them, killing soldiers and policemen that are

protecting the camps, then executing anyone they see.

Even more disturbing, though, is a report released by the United Nations earlier this year, which stated that

there was sufficient evidence supporting the long-suspected fears that plans for a genocide,

which could eclipse the scale of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, against the Tutsi population in Burundi 

were already underway, and possibly in its final stages.


Source: Mark Christopher, http://operationbrokensilence.org




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Source: Daniel Edyegu, http://www.newvision.co.ug

Federalism will end graft - Lukyamuzi


ADOPTING a federal government will rid the country of

corruption, the Conservative Party (CP) president,

John Ken Lukyamuzi, has said.

Lukyamuzi said the system would enable all the regions

in the country to manage their own resources.

This, he noted, would narrow down

the socio-economic imbalance.

One of the reasons our country is suffering from

corruption is that the leaders lack morals.

Each region should be empowered to groom leaders, Lukyamuzi argued.

He was discussing a paper on why Uganda

needs federalism, at the Islamic University in

Uganda in Mbale on Tuesday.

Lukyamuzi said the NRM Government was hesitant

to grant the people federalism because of the fear that

the President's authority to distribute national resources would be trimmed.

Each region has unique resources from which they

can collect revenue and remit a percentage to the central government.

The west has crude oil, Bugisu has arabica coffee,

Karamoja has gold and there's tobacco in West Nile, he said.

But a few people in the Government are enjoying

these resources at the expense of the owners.

Joseph Kony's LRA, Alice Lakwena's Holy Spirit Movement

and the ADF in western Uganda, Lukyamuzi remarked,

were violent expressions against regional imbalance.

Today, a region has to be loyal to Museveni if it is to

share the national cake, he noted.

When I come to power, I will get rid of such politics.

Ssemusu Mugobansonga, the young conservative's

secretary general, said they had registered over

1,000 members in Gulu, Jinja, Mbale, Luweero and Kiboga.

He said they would embark on a countrywide campaign.


Source: Daniel Edyegu, http://www.newvision.co.ug

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-

Source: Abdulkarim Ssengendo, http://www.newvision.co.ug

Cholera kills Congolese refugees

 

CHOLERA has hit Nakivale refugee camp in Isingiro district in western Uganda.

The district health officer, William Nyehangane, said two refugees died on Tuesday and another 52 were admitted in Kabahunda, Isingiro district.

He said the two refugees were from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

They fled the country following the ongoing clashes between Laurent Nkunda's rebels and the government troops. Nyehangane was speaking to journalists on Wednesday.

He added that 50 of those admitted are from the DRC and two from Rwanda.

Nyehangane said the district had not yet established the origin of the disease but they suspect it was brought by the new entrants from the DRC.

The World Health Organisation set up temporary isolation structures within the camp to house the affected refugees.

Nyehangane said he had asked the Health Ministry officials and the international community for quick intervention to control the situation.

There are about 32,000 refugees from Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Eritrea and Liberia living in Nakivale, he said.

The desk officer of south western Uganda recently reported that 3,000 refugees from the DRC had been resettled in Nakivale.

Nyehangane said on average 100 refugees from Ishasha in Congo flock to the district as a result of the war in the eastern part of the DRC.

The UPDF 2nd Division spokesperson, Capt. Tabaro Kiconco, said the situation in the refugee camps was worrying. adding that refugees lacked food, water, medicine, toilets and shelter.

The field coordinator of Mbarara Red Cross, Richard Nsubuga, said the organisation was sensitising communities about proper hygiene.

Nakivale was established in 1960 as a receiving camp for the Rwandan Tutsi who fled ethnic conflicts from the Hutu- dominated regime in 1959.


Source: Abdulkarim Ssengendo, http://www.newvision.co.ug

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Source: Isaac Baligema, http://www.newvision.co.ug

China firm sued over fake BIC pens


UGANDA Kampala Sanzhou International (UKSIL) has been dragged to the Commercial Court over importation of fake BIC pens.

SOCIÉTÉ BIC, the manufacturers of bic pens, want a court injunction to stop UKSIL from importing and circulating BIC pens with similar designs as it own.

The pens are identical to the bic crystal pens, a representation of which is registered as our trademark under no. 25793 BIC Crystal (Device).

The packaging of the pens with colours, designs, labels and slogans similar to the firm's (Société bic) and with the same shape and style of the body of the pen was intended to have and has the effect of passing off the UKSIL pens as those made by Société Bic the company said in its documents to court.

UKSIL is a big threat and it intends, unless restrained by court, to repeat acts and conducts to pass off the said pens as made by Societe yet they are not.

Société BIC acted after a tip-off from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as UKSIL was seeking clearance for the Chinese made BIC pens worth sh2.34m in October.

URA clearing agents became suspicious and alerted Société BIC after UKSIL officials tried to disguise and passed off the Chinese-made pens as those made by Société BIC.

Société BIC, a French firm, is the exclusive manufacturer of BIC pens, which have been on the Ugandan market since 1960.

As a result UKSIL's acts, Société BIC business faces a likelihood of suffering financial loss and being adversely affected.

These acts were calculated to deceive and mislead the public into believing that the pens are ours,

Société BIC lawyers said in the documents to court.

Société executive vice-president, Marie-Aimee Bich-Dufour,

stated: Counterfeit BIC pens have been on market for sometime and I believe UKSIL has been behind this.


Source: Isaac Baligema, http://www.newvision.co.ug


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12/5/08

Source: Hillary Nsambu, http://www.newvision.co.ug

Fight graft at all costs, say envoys

 

CORRUPTION is still a major challenge to Uganda and should be fought at all cost, the Netherlands and Irish ambassadors have said.

The envoys urged the Justice, Law and Order Sector to take a firm position in the fight against the vice.

Jeroen Verheul of the Netherlands and Kevin Kelly of Ireland assured Uganda of their governments continued support to fight corruption.

They said their governments would continue to support the justice sector to re-build law and order in the country.

The two were concerned with the rampant human rights abuses like torture, citing the Police as the main culprits singled out by rights bodies.

The envoys were speaking at the closure of a two-day annual Justice, Law and Order Sector review conference.

Verheul, who has been the president of the sector's donor partners for the last two years, also handed over office to Kelly.

Kelly amused the participants when he hailed Verheul for accepting to relinquish his office in a free and democratic manner.

Verheul said the sector had to lead the fight against corruption, especially in the Police and the Judiciary.

He also said there was need for the Police to account to the public for their brutality.

The envoy challenged the sector to ensure that justice was rendered in land disputes.

The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, noted that it was important that the sector's procedures and structures were streamlined and made known to the public.

He, however, regretted that although the sector had been able to register progress in various areas, there was still a backlog of cases.

Odoki said the sector had created strategies to increasing access to justice.


Source: Hillary Nsambu, http://www.newvision.co.ug



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Source:Tarek Amr, http://globalvoicesonline.org/

'Egypt: When Virginity is More Important than Murder '


Egypt is gripped with the story of a gruesome murder, in which two university students were killed,

in the upscale Sixth of October City's Sheikh Zayed district. One of the victims is

the daughter of Moroccan singer Laila Ghofran.

This murder follows in the heels of yet another horrifying crime which claimed the life of

Lebanese singer Suzanne Tameem, in Dubai, and in which an Egyptian businessman

is accused of hiring a hitman to have her killed.

"Two girls were brutally killed in 6th of October city ... But it became the talk of town because one of

the victims is the daughter of 3rd degree Moroccan singer called Laila Ghofran," writes Egyptian Chronicles.

And to make the incident more interesting to the readers, some papers started to spread rumors about the victims' lifestyle.

Taboohat writes about how the media and society as a whole are dealing with the murder:

كنت اعدة امام التليفزيون فرض عليا من امي وجدتي مشاهدة البيت بيتك
واللي كانت مستضيف اللواء معرفش مين رئيس مباحث 6 أكثوبر
واللي اعد يحكي علي الدلائل المؤكده اللي مفيش حاجة منها مؤكد واللي برضوا انا مش مهتمة بيها هنا
بس بجد اللي صدمني او وخضني هو انهاء الفقرة بتليفون من والد نادين واللي عمل حوار اد كده صدام
نبدأ والد ناين بالسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبراكاته
وحشر في النص حلفان برب الكعبة والصلاة علي النبي والحمد والشكر لوزارة الداخلية ليه عشان اثبتوا براءة وشرف بنته
...
للحظة نسيت ان البنت اتقتلت وحسيت انهم بيدورا لها علي عريس
وافتكرت تاني اما اكمل السيد اللواء ان الطبيب الشرعي اثبت انها بيت بنوت وان كل اصدقاء الاب كانوا بيبركوله ويهنئوا امام النيابة ...
بنته طلعت عزراء بجد ..
... ملعون ابوا ده مجتمع اللي خلي كل اللي فارق مع اب بينتوا اتقتلت من اسبوع ان بيتوا طلعت عزراء
وملعون ابوا ده مجتمع اللي حيفضل يحاسب البنات علي عزريتها وهي عايشة وهي ميتة
مش مهم انها اتقلت.. المهم انها عزراء

I was watching "El Beit Beitak" talkshow on the television with my mother and grandmother,

and they were hosting some police officer who was talking about the crime, but what really grabbed my attention

was the conversation he had on the phone with the parent of one of the victims - Nadine - who after saluting the audiences

started to swear in the name of God that his daughter was innocent and that she was living alone and thanked

the Ministry of Interior because they have proved that she was virgin.

And for a moment I forgot that the girl was murdered and thought that they were looking for a groom for her,

especially when the officer said that the medical examiner has proved that the girl was virgin, and then all those

who knew the victim's parents congratulated them because their daughter is now officially a virgin.

Damn such a society that makes a parent of girl who has just been murdered less than one week ago

to care to prove that his daughter was virgin.

Damn such a society that punishes girls based on their virginity, whether they are alive or dead.

It's not important that she has been brutally killed, it's only important that she is still virgin.



You may view the latest post at
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/05/egypt-when-virginity-is-more-important-than-murder/


Source:Tarek Amr, http://globalvoicesonline.org/

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L'intégrité de nos Représentants..

L'actualité récente, je sous-entends ici, les événements malheureux de Bombay..

Ont été suivis de la proposition volontaire de certaines Autorités qui ont offert leurs démissions

sous réserve de l'aval de leurs formations Politiques.

Ce courage politique qui veut que si un manquement grave est reconnu, la démarche première est

de présenter sa démission en sachant qu'on n'est pas pour autant dédouaner d'éventuelles poursuites judiciaires.

Ce processus est un signe de maturité politique..

En essayant de voir si de telles actions sont courantes dans la Région des Grands Lacs,

je dois avouer que je suis dubitatif.

Si un responsable quelconque à n'importe quel échelon était conscient qu'il /elle accountable, qu'il / elle doit

rendre compte au souverain primaire ou au citoyen lambda.

L'Afrique avancerait à pas de géant.

L'impunité n'est pas seulement de nature physique, si la conscience est associée,

le résultat est multiplié à la puissance n....

Ce concept, je l'appelle, l'intégrité...

Être intègre c'est pouvoir se raser le matin, regarder son visage dans le miroir et avoir pas

une conscience apaisée mais tranquille, à la limite, débonnaire.

Se remettre constamment en question et en balance, savoir ou se trouve la limite, la zone grise,

entre les intérêts personnels et ceux de la communauté.

Avoir l'honnêteté de se faire assister de personnes qui agissent pour une synergie maximale..

Il y'a un proverbe qui dit: ''ventre affamé, n'a point d'oreilles'' La richesse ostentatoire

est une insulte à toutes ces personnes qui ont des difficultés.

Quand on regarde les clips vidéos, c'est l'argent facile, le principe du moindre effort.

Il est écrit '' tu gagneras ton pain à la sueur de ton front'' Les gens vivent dans un monde virtuel,

c'est la seule explication à tous ces accidents de mer qui emportent les forces vives qui rêvent d'un eldorado occidental.

Vous avez d'un coté, ce mouvement de fuite des Africains et de l'autre, les fameux experts et autres consultants,

certains sont motivés par un altruisme de bon aloi, mais d'autres sont tout simplement des mercenaires à col blanc.

La fuite de cerveaux, l'État investit dans l'
Éducation de haut niveau de sa population mais si cette personne après ses études,

perçoit des revenus inférieurs à sa bourse d'étude, quelle sera sa motivation pour rentrer au bercail?

Il y'a un autre proverbe qui dit: It takes two to Tango'' Il faut pour la personne détentrice d'une parcelle de pouvoir,

se remettre constamment en question. Obtenir un poste n'est pas une finalité en soi, pourquoi moi et pas un autre?

C'est un challenge pour prouver qu'on est la crème de la crème.

Et si, on se rends compte que l'autocritique révèle des failles, la meilleure solution est de passer et laisser

d'autres personnes montrer leurs valeurs.

Le danger en s'accrochant est le renvoi de l'ascenseur..

Cette cage métallique passe d'un étage à un autre sans état d'âme, d'où l'expression..

On s'accroche et pour s'accrocher, on ferme les yeux sur certaines actions en se disant que la ou les personnes

feront de même.

L'intégrité est une valeur en voie de disparition, il faut la rechercher pour qu'elle te façonne et

par effet boomerang, la Région, le Continent en bénéficie..





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Source: http://www.number10.gov.uk

Queen's Speech 2008

The Queen has outlined the Government's priorities for the coming Parliamentary year in

the Queen's Speech following today's official state opening of Parliament.

Read the transcript - Queen's Speech 2008

The stability of the British economy in a period of economic downturn was highlighted as a key area for

Government action. Legislation will be introduced to strengthen the financial sector and protect businesses and

families through, for example, a Banking Bill and a Welfare Reform Bill.

The Queen said:

"My Government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times.

"The strength of the financial sector is vital to the future vibrancy of the economy. Therefore,

legislation will continue to be taken forward to ensure fairer and more secure protection for

bank depositors and to improve the resilience of the financial sector."

Queen's Speech 2008 - Full list of Bills:

Banking Bill

Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill

Welfare Reform Bill

Policing and Crime Bill

Coroners and Justice Bill

Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill

Equality Bill

Child Poverty Bill

Health Bill

Children, Skills and Learning Bill

Marine and Coastal Access Bill

Political Parties and Elections Bill - carried over from the 2007-08 session (not mentioned in speech)

Business Rates Supplements Bill (not mentioned in speech)

Other items in the Queen's Speech:

Constitutional Renewal

Northern Ireland

European Action 

G20 Summit

Middle East and Iran

Afghanistan and Pakistan

President of Mexico

More information

Speeches and Transcripts: The Queen's Speech 2008

About the Queen's Speech


Source: http://www.number10.gov.uk




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Source: Edwin Musoni, (Photo/ G. Barya), http://www.newtimes.co.rw


'Might does not mean right', ATRACO tell France, Germany

The Association of Taxi Drivers (ATRACO) yesterday held their protests at the German Embassy in

Kigali requesting the release of Rose Kabuye, the Director of State Protocol who was arrested at the beginning

of last month in Germany and transferred to France.

Rose Kabuye is one of the nine Rwandans targeted by the arrest warrants issued in November 2006 by

French Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière.

The protestors at the Embassy issued a statement telling France and Germany that might does not mean right and

calling for the end to abuse of the principle of Universal jurisdiction.

The protests were carried out across the whole country on different sites by all members of ATRACO.

According to the first vice president of ATRACO, Issa Ngeze, the turn-up countrywide was estimated at

around 20,000 while those who  protested at the German Embassy in Kigali were about 1,500. 

"The protests by ATRACO will continue until Rose Kabuye is released," Ngeze said.

A statement read at the German embassy pointed out that France and German are safe havens for Genocidiares and traps for liberators.

ATRACO also requested to Rwandan government to indict French officials who played a role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

'France stop attempts to confuse the world over role in Genocide, an attack on Rose Kabuye is

an attack on Rwanda, Africa unite against indignity, Rwanda defiant against injustice,' reads parts of the statement.

It also adds that indictments against Rwandan officials are a maneuver to blur the role of France in the Genocide.

ATRACO also told the international community to stop the conspiracy against Rwanda and Africa in general.

Today, Rose Kabuye has clocked 25 days since her arrest


Source: Edwin Musoni, (Photo/ G. Barya), http://www.newtimes.co.rw


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Source:

France succumbs to yellow vests

It's always impressive how quickly France adopts a fashion. One day no-one is wearing ballerine shoes, then

everyone is (à la Carla Bruni). We are now in the midst of a new sartorial craze -- le gilet jaune, or the high-visibility vest.

You may remember how the state ran a tongue-in-cheek campaign that used Karl Lagerfeld to publicise a new law

requiring fluorescent safety vests to be carried inside all vehicles. "It's yellow, it's ugly and it goes with nothing, but it can save your life," said Karl. 

The fashion icon did the trick. Suddenly Day-Glo is everywhere. Paris cyclists, who had always eschewed safety gear

as un-chic still don't wear helmets much, but yellow is their new black. The same applies to scooter riders, protest marchers and people handing out leaflets.

That's obviously commendable. More cyclists can now be seen in the winter gloom. But the really odd manifestation of t

he gilet jaune is a fashion for draping them around front car seats.

It seems to have started because people believed that the new law requires them to be visible, not stashed in the glove-box or seat pocket.

Some mistakenly thought that this would prevent police from stopping them to check their compliance

(They are still stopped because they have to carry a triangle as well). Now, somewhere about one in ten cars are sporting the yellow vest look,

according to quick surveys around the country. They are more prevalent in the provinces than Paris. The gilet jaune around the seat

has become the new version of the nodding dog on the rear shelf or the furry dice hanging from the rear-view mirror.

The fad is annoying many people and it is now seen as a joke. It has become a defining symbol of

"beaufitude" -- naffness in UK English -- like Bluetooth earpieces or wearing mobile phones on the belt

or the tourists who carry bottles of water around Paris.

The gilet-on-display fashion is so irritating that there are now about 200 groups on Facebook devoted to fighting it.

There are 70,000 members in the biggest one, called Contre les cons qui foutent leur gilet jaune fluo sur le siège auto

[Against the plonkers who stick their yellow fluorescent vest on the car seat]. Watch an anti-gilet jaune squad in street action here.

Some newspapers have studied the phenomenon. La Charente Libre, based in the west, found that drivers thought the vest

was fun on the seat because it "brightens things up". Other were doing it "because everyone else is doing it."

Their prize went to the man in a green Citroen Xsara who had equipped both front seats with yellow vests and

had two more on the back seat on top of a Johnnny Hallyday towel.

Hallyday, France's rock'n roll monument, is himself a high-grade symbol of beaufitude. Nicolas Sarkozy is a big Hallyday fan

but we don't know yet if the President has fitted a yellow vest on the seat of the black Mercedes 4x4 (SUV)

which he drives about town. Black SUVs are of course another symbol of heavy-duty beaufitude, but I'm getting off the point.

   

Source:




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Source: GREG KELLER, AP, http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Buffett's New Challenger: Electricite De France SA


PARIS — Electricite de France SA said Wednesday it will challenge famed investor

Warren Buffett's planned takeover of U.S. wholesale power generator Constellation

Energy Group Inc. by offering $4.5 billion for half of the company's nuclear power business.

France's state-controlled power company, which backed down from a full takeover bid

for Constellation in October, said it had offered to take a 50-percent stake in

Constellation's nuclear operations through a joint venture.

Shares in EdF sank following the announcement, falling 5.6 percent to euro 42.07 ($53.42)

in early afternoon Paris trading amid investor fears that a bruising takeover battle may be brewing.

EdF, which owns 9.5 percent of Constellation, said the offer values the company at

around $52 per share and that the price represents a 96-percent premium to a rival takeover proposal

for all of Constellation by Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., which is offering $26.50 per share.

The bid is EdF's "last chance to change minds, not of Constellation's management, but of

its investors," said industry analyst Peter Wirtz of WestLB Research based in Dusseldorf.

He said EdF stands little chance of succeeding despite a "clearly very attractive offer" because at

a time of global economic and financial upheaval, investors are more likely to be lured by

MidAmerican's complete takeover bid than by the more complex offer of EdF.

The French company's decision to take a second run at Constellation also shows

"it has no Plan B for the U.S. market," Wirtz said.

EdF's offer includes a $1 billion "upfront" cash infusion in Constellation, and an option to sell up

to $2 billion of "non-nuclear generation assets" to the French company in a deal that could close in six to nine months.

Constellation's nuclear business includes three nuclear power stations with five reactors located

in Maryland and New York. Nuclear power accounts for 61 percent of Constellation's total electricity generating capacity of 8,700 megawatts.

Constellation's non-nuclear assets include coal- and natural gas-fired electric plants, as well as

oil and renewable energies such as solar, geothermal and hydro power.

On Tuesday, Baltimore, Maryland-based Constellation said it likely would have filed for bankruptcy protection without

an immediate $1 billion infusion from MidAmerican, a unit of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Constellation also warned in a U.S. regulatory filing that unstable market conditions make the deal with MidAmerican critical.

MidAmerican announced in September that it offered to buy Constellation for $26.50 per share _ plus the $1 billion cash injection.

EdF pulled its $35 per share offer in October and has called MidAmerican's offer for Constellation inadequate.


Source: GREG KELLER, AP, http://www.huffingtonpost.com


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Source: admin, http://www.aminahbasir.com/

France Still Attempts to Monopolize the French Online Gambling Industry

 

As we know there are a lot of French speaking people in Canada. The reason for that should

be known from the history lessons, and we would not elaborate here on this topic. But isn't it

surprising that the governments of these two countries are jointly working on their own online gambling prohibition?

However, it is not certain whether they will reach a compromise, because as for now the Canadians are just talking and

threatening, whereas the French went a bit further in their plans and actions.

France differs from the United States, where rules the rightist prohibition, in more protectionist-like actions.

Therefore the French government would not surprise anybody if they will try to pass

their private Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. They have already made their first step,

that is to say they have suggested introducing a decree under the 2007 French Delinquency Act.

This decree would introduce technical restrains on payment processors and those French businessmen

who will deal with non-French online casinos or gambling sites (i.e. other than Francaise des Jeux and the PMU).

According to the first part of the French Delinquency Act French gamblers would not even have

an ability to enter foreign online casinos. France wants the providers of internet services to block the IP addresses

for the French players. The weak side of this decree is that people will always find a way to circumvent

the "technical impediments". The block of IP addresses can result in development of the underground movements.

This kind of actions that France is planning to take, are worrying the European Gaming and Betting Association.

The EGBA had lively reacted to the French doings and persuaded the European Commission to allow them

to make their own decision. France was then warned by the EGBA not to make any attempts on monopolizing

the online gambling industry beyond the French borders. As a consequence France can expect serious infringement hearings.

France's insubordination definitely deserves a stern admonition. For instance in February 2008 they have revealed

their plans to open a 2008 Euro Football Championships betting site for the UK and other European gamblers.

By March 31 we will see whether France will dare to act against the European Gaming and Betting Association,

and put their plans into effect. If France will continue to elude the EU law, European Commission will surely react right away.


Source: admin, http://www.aminahbasir.com/



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12/4/08

Source: JEFF LULE, http://www.newvision.co.ug

Hima Cement in $108M Expansion


EXPANSION work of the Hima cement has started. $108 million has been secured for the construction of the new plant adjacent to the old one in Kasese.

The project, which was contracted to CBMI Construction Company, a pioneer in China's cement engineering industry, is funded by Lafarge, which specialises in building materials.

Site manager Bernhard Farnbauer said this was one of the biggest investments in Africa and the first of its kind in the region. Business Vision learnt that this was aimed at increasing production capacity to meet the local demand.

Speaking during a media tour of the expansion works, Hima Cement managing director David Njoroge said the sh209.5b new plant would increase capacity from the current 375,000 tons to over 830,000 tons of cement.

This will increase Hima Cement's ability to meet the local demand which has been rapidly growing making Uganda a net importer of cement, Njoroge said.

He added that the investment, expected to be commissioned in 2010, would have a significant impact on the economy and socio-economic welfare of the people in Uganda.

Our investment will contribute to economic and socio development of the country. The direct and indirect employment, our payment of central and local government taxes and our use of inputs, he said.

Njoroge stressed that Hima Cement is among the top tax payers in Uganda with an annual wage of bill of over sh4.2b.

Hima Cement Ltd was 15th among the top tax payers in the country with a total of sh24.9b in the 2005/2006 rankings.

Njoroge added that the company pays an annual electricity bill of sh6.6bn.

The UMEME corporate communication manager, Robert Kisubi said; Hima was among the five company's customers in paying electricity bills though he declined to reveal the bills adding that Hima was in the right position.

Njoroge said: With the latest technology and complying with the Lafarge group environmental standards, the plant will be within the global environmental standards. We have been involved in environment conservation programmes in the area and we have planted over 500,000 trees in seven years and we intend to plant other 1million traditional trees by 2011.

The company has spent sh500m on community welfare programmes. It provides free anti-retroviral drugs to those infected and also gives voluntary counseling and testing to staff and the Hima community. The plant manager Allen Mate said, the company has unsteady power problem. We had to buy a generator worth $1.8m as alternative power source and we are making an additional investment of $1.5m in a gas conditioning tower. Mate explained.This had led to an increase in production costs and hence the price of cement, he added.

Mate said they also have a man power where it is only limited to the local people who are not skilled. They have 259 employees and 300 contract workers.

He said the problem this had been improved through investing in staff development in relation to Lafarge system of continuous skills improvement. The company has also carried out training to the locals and interns from various universities for further skill enhancement.

Mate said the current plant had come of age and could not meet all the standards in different aspects.

Hima took ownership of the plant in 1994 from Uganda Cement Industries in 1971. Lafarge through Bamburi acquired the plant in April 1999. $15m was injected since acquisition increasing production from 120,000 tons to 375,000 tons. However, Njoroge (MD) said, with the new plant, the company hopes to overcome most of the challenges to significantly increase production to meet both local and export demand.

He said the project is being funded by their sister companies and their savings. Hima is a subsidiary of Bamburi Cement which is part of Lafarge East Africa. Baburi Group is the leading producing and marketing Group in the Eastern Africa region.

Its subsidies include Hima Cement (Uganda), Bamburi Special Products and Lafarge Ecosystems. Bamburi Cement is a subsidiary Lafarge specialising in building materials with top rankings in all its business: Cement, Aggregates and Concrete and Gypsum. Lafarge is represented with in 76 countries and has 90,000 employees.


Source: JEFF LULE, http://www.newvision.co.ug


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Source: http://www.lusakatimes.com

President Rupiah Banda expected in Burundi tomorrow

President Rupiah Banda is expected there tomorrow to attend an emergency one day heads of state and government summit on the Burundi peace process.

Mr. Banda, who is expected to arrive at Bujumbura International Airport at about 09:00 hours, will be companied by Minister of Home Affairs, Kalombo Mwansa, Local Government Deputy Minister, Eustarkio Kazonga and other senior government officials.

Zambia's High Commissioner to Tanzania, Professor Royson Mukwena, who is also ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and the Comoros, confirmed this to ZANIS in Bujumbura today.

Professor Mukwena said Mr. Banda will join South African President, Kgalema Motlanthe, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President of Tanzania and African Union Chairperson, Jakaya Kikwete and the host President, Pierre Nkurunziza.

President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and President Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo were also invited to attend the summit but they had, by press time, not confirmed their attendance yet.

The one day summit, which will be held at the Hotel Source Du Nil in Bujumbura, has been called by the chairman of the Burundi peace process, Mr. Museveni, who is also the President of Uganda.

The summit is aimed at among other issues, stating the position of the Great Lakes region on the implementation of the peace agreements signed at the Dar es Salaam summit of 2006 in Tanzania.

The Dar es Salaam summit directed the remaining Burundi rebel group, the Pelipehutu Federation for National Liberation (Pelipehutu FNL) to stop its rebellious activities against the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

It was agreed that President Nkurunziza accommodates some members of the Pelipehutu FNL into various departments of government.

The two parties, President Nkurunziza's government and the Pelipehutu FNL, have since the 2006 Dar es Salaam summit, not implemented the agreements they signed hence the concern by Great Lakes countries and other mediators.

However, the Pelipehutu FNL leaders, who were in Tanzania and some in the bush within Burundi, started arriving in Bujumbura in May this year, which was a step towards the integration and disarmament process.
Last month, Ministers of Foreign Affairs for Tanzania and Uganda respectively, informed the two warring parties in Burundi that they had a deadline of December 31st, 2008 to resolve their difficulties and implement the agreements.

The parties should complete the assembling and disarmament of the Pelipehutu FNL and accommodation of some of its members into the government departments before the end of this year.

The other issue is that the Pelipehutu FNL should abandon the use of Pelipehutu in their grouping, which seeks to be recognized as a political party in Burundi, because the name, Pelipehutu, has tribal connotations with the Hutu tribe by December 31st this year.

The summit tomorrow is also expected to address difficulties the two parties have been facing in implementing the agreements.

President Banda, who will be backed by Zambia's Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Dr. Siteke Mwale, is expected to return to Lusaka in the afternoon after the summit.


Source: http://www.lusakatimes.com


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12/3/08

East African Ethnic Art

We deliver worldwide...

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Source: http://lesactualitesdudroit.20minutes-blogs.fr

Quand l'amour tue le droit


Substitution d'enfants dans une maternité : le truc qui fait flipper tous les parents. Mais quand il se produit, ce truc, il construit une histoire d'amour qui terrasse le code civil.

Le 4 juillet 1994, dans une maternité de Cannes, nait une petite fille qui, fait banal, présente une jaunisse. Le traitement suppose l'installation dans une pièce à part, durant près d'une semaine, avec des séances d'ultraviolets. Quelques jours de traitement, et tout va bien. La mère, Sophie Serrano, alors âgée de 18 ans, récupère sa fille, un peu surprise de la voir avec plus de cheveux qu'avant. Le petit monde de la santé, toujours rassurant, lui explique que c'est le fait des rayons que comprend le traitement. Ben voyons…

L'enfant grandit, et prend au fil du temps une peau mate : les ascendants familiaux, pense la mère, qui est d'origine espagnole. Et vont suivre deux autres enfants. Un jour, l'usure, et survient le conflit conjugal : les parents se séparent. Le compagnon, qui est tarabusté par un doute sur sa paternité, obtient du juge aux affaires familiales un test ADN. Le résultat d'expertise est déconcertant : le père n'est pas le père, mais la mère non plus. Impossible dit le test, avec un précision indiscutable sur le plan scientifique. Cette enfant que j'adore, que j'élève comme ma fille depuis quatorze ans, cette fille qui me ressemble tant, n'est pas la mienne. La biologie a parlé.

La mère porte plainte et la gendarmerie enquête. Des recherches sont engagées auprès de la maternité, et la vérité est vite rétablie. Une autre petite fille était née dans des jours très proches, et elle aussi avait eu besoin de soins à la naissance. Les deux enfants ont été bien soignées, mais la maternité s'était plantée dans l'identité des bébés, et a rendu à chacune des deux mères un bébé qui n'était pas le sien. Les parents de l'autre bébé avaient des ascendants réunionnais, d'où le teint un peu mat.

Sophie Serrano a ensuite repris contact avec les autres parents, qui habitent non loin, et elle a revu sa fille. Les deux filles ont fait connaissance.  Une rencontre qu'elle qualifie de «merveilleuse», mais les réalités sont les plus fortes : des vies s'étaient construites, des différences s'étaient crées, avec des visions du monde bien distinctes. Les amours n'ont pas trouvé de racines.  

J'admire les propos de Sophie Serrano, qui s'est expliquée publiquement ce week-end. « Je ne vois plus ma fille biologique. Les différences sociales, éducatives et culturelles, en plus de la douleur et de notre rivalité inconsciente, ont eu raison de nos relations. (…) Ce ne sont pas les liens du sang qui font la filiation ». Une grande dame qui dit avoir « accouché trois fois » mais avoir « quatre enfants dans le cœur », et qui explique que cette affaire a « renforcé ses liens avec la fille qu'elle a élevée depuis 14 ans. »

La mère entend agir en justice, et on la comprend. Deux possibilités lui sont ouvertes.

D'abord en responsabilité contre la maternité. Si j'ai bien compris, la maternité a depuis été vendue. Il faut agir contre l'assureur de l'époque, ou celui de la maternité actuelle, ce selon les actes qui ont été établis. Pour mettre en cause la responsabilité de la clinique, la mère non-mère doit établir l'existence d'une faute. Substituer un nourrisson à un autre, alors que le risque est bien connu : la faute sera vite retenue. Et si la mère hésite à agir, l'enfant, à ses dix-huit ans  pourra engager elle-même l'action. Le plus difficile sera d'apprécier le dommage causé : car l'amour est là. Sacré amour !

Ensuite, s'agissant de la filiation. Pas très compliqué juridiquement. Les tests ADN de deux couples fourniront des quasi-certitudes, permettant d'annuler les reconnaissances de filiation, et de procéder ensuite aux changements d'état civil. Facile, oui, mais ce seraient détruites les relations qui se sont épanouies. La procédure va partir au panier, au nom de l'amour que ce cœur de mère porte à la fille qui est devenue la sienne. L'amour qui transforme le Code civil en une pomme fripée.

Source: http://lesactualitesdudroit.20minutes-blogs.fr

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12/2/08

Source: John Mathews, http://enterpriseapplications.cbronline.com/

Fina Bank Rwanda implements Neptune's banking system

Fina first implemented UK-based Neptune's platform in 1995

Neptune Software has announced that Fina Bank Rwanda has gone live with its banking system in just four months.

According to the company, Fina Bank's relationship with the company started back in 1995 when Neptune's core banking system was implemented at Fina Bank, Kenya. After the acquisition of a bank in Rwanda formerly known as Bacar four years ago, the board made the decision to roll out Neptune's banking platform as a group service. The bank was initially running on Microbanker and had major issues with reporting and system interface.

Mr Steve Caley, managing director of Fina Bank, said: "The bank is planning to open more branches within the next few months and Neptune's products will provide a solid foundation for the expansion with branches networked on a single back office system."

Priscillah Kivihya, senior consultant of Neptune Software, said: "The bank's management, super users and the project team efforts were exceptional and highly commendable to achieving today's targets."

Earlier in October, Neptune's Rubikon banking system was selected by Victoria Commercial Bank, Kenya to extend its services through delivery channels such as internet and mobile banking.

Source: John Mathews, http://enterpriseapplications.cbronline.com/

-- Jean-Louis Kayitenkore Procurement Consultant Gsm: (250) 08470205 Home: (250) 55104140 P.O. Box 3867 Kigali - RWANDA East AFRICA Blog: http://cepgl.blogspot.com Skype ID: kayisa66
Source: Tere Miller-Sporrer , http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Europe rights chief criticizes anti-terror blacklists


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[JURIST] Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg [official profile; JURIST news archive] said Monday that human rights standards have been undermined by the "war on terror." Hammarberg focused on blacklists created by UN Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999) [text, PDF], the EU common position 2001/931 [text, PDF], EU Regulation 2580/2001 [text, PDF], and revisions made to EU Regulation 2580 [text, PDF]. Under these resolutions, persons suspected of involvement with terrorism can have their financial assets seized without being afforded a trial. They can submit a request for removal from the list to the UN Sanction Committee but only the country of which they are a citizen can assert any formal rights relating to the seizure. Hammarberg wrote in a column [text] posted on the COE website:
The 'war on terror' has gravely undermined previously agreed human rights standards. The counter-terrorism measures taken since 9/11 must now be thoroughly review and changed, not only in the United States and other affected countries, but also in inter-governmental organisations [sic]. Innocent victims must have their names cleared and receive compensation and steps must be taken to prevent similar injustices in the future. Those suspected of association with terrorism must not find themselves on so-called 'black-lists' without any prospect of having their case heard or reviewed by an independent body.
Placements on the UN and the EU blacklists have been regularly voided by the courts. In 2006, the European Court of First Instance [official website] annulled [judgment text; JURIST report] a decision by the Council of the European Union [official website] that froze the assets of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) [advocacy website]. In 2007, the same court overturned [JURIST report] a decision to freeze the assets of the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Jose Maria Sison and the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa Foundation. In January, the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) [official website] called the blacklists "completely arbitrary" [JURIST report]. In October, UN Special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights Martin Scheinin urged an overhaul of the blacklisting system [JURIST report].

Source: Tere Miller-Sporrer , http://jurist.law.pitt.edu




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Source: Ximena Marinero, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Obama confirms Holder attorney general nomination

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[JURIST] US President-elect Barack Obama officially announced [transition materials and transcript] on Monday that he is nominating former Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] official Eric Holder [professional profile; JURIST report] as the next US attorney general. If confirmed by the Senate, Holder will be the first African American to lead the DOJ. Holder served as Deputy Attorney General during the Clinton Administration and led Obama's VP selection team during the election. Obama said:
Eric Holder has the talent and commitment to succeed as Attorney General from his first day on the job, which is even more important in a transition that demands vigilance. He has distinguished himself as a prosecutor, a Judge, and a senior official, and he is deeply familiar with the law enforcement challenges we face– from terrorism to counter-intelligence; from white collar crime to public corruption.

Eric also has the combination of toughness and independence that we need at the Justice Department. Let me be clear: the Attorney General serves the American people. And I have every expectation that Eric will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our Constitution.
After news of the pending nomination leaked [JURIST report] last month, the Republican National Committee [party website] criticized [JURIST report] Obama's choice because of Holder's role in the pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich on the last day of the Clinton presidency.

On Monday, Obama also announced that he has asked Robert Gates, current defense secretary, to continue in the position; James Jones, a retired Marine, to serve as national security adviser; Janet Napolitano, governor of Arizona, to be secretary of Homeland Security; and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to be secretary of state.


Source: Ximena Marinero, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

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Source: Kayleigh Shebs, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Zimbabwe government to ignore African regional court order on land redistribution



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[JURIST] Government officials in Zimbabwe [JURIST news archive] said [Herald report] Monday that they will disregard a South African Development Community Tribunal [official website] ruling [JURIST report] that ordered Zimbabwe to halt its Land Reform Program [official website]. The tribunal held that the program's seizure of white-owned farms was racially motivated and therefore contrary to the Southern African Development Community [official website] treaty [DOC text], but Zimbabwean Lands Minister Didymus Mutasa [government profile] was quoted in Monday's Harare Herald as saying the program was justified because it corrected past racial disparities which had favored white farmers. Mutasa said the government would continue to operate the program and seize any remaining white-owned farms.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] has been harshly criticized [Guardian report] for his farm program, which since 2000 has sought to redistribute white-owned land among the nation's indigenous farmers. In February 2006, Mutasa said that, following controversial constitutional reforms, there are no longer any white farmers operating legally in Zimbabwe [JURIST report]. Many observers attribute Zimbabwe's disastrous economic circumstances - including an inflation rate exceeding 231,000,000 percent [Guardian report] - to the policy, under which previously productive farms have become barren under new inexperienced owners.


Source: Kayleigh Shebs, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

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Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
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Source: Tere Miller-Sporrer, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Switzerland voters approve permanent heroin assisted treatment program

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[JURIST] The government of Switzerland [official website; JURIST news archive] on Sunday announced that voters in a referendum have approved a measure [official materials, in German] making the country's heroin assisted treatment program (HAT) [official website] permanent. Sixty-eight percent [results, in German] of 2.26 million voters approved the permanent legalization of heroin [AP report] while voting against a proposal for the decriminalization of marijuana [official materials, in German] by 63.2 percent [results, in German]. The key difference between the two legalization schemes was scope. The legalization of heroin is limited to 21 outpatient clinics and two prisons where distribution is tightly controlled by prescriptions and given only to addicts who have been unsuccessfully treated elsewhere. In contrast, the proposed amendment to the federal constitution concerning marijuana [Swiss Federal Assembly website, in German] would have broadly legalized the consumption, growing, and sale of cannabis for personal use.

The HAT program began as a Swiss National Cohort Study [official website] in 1994, concluding in 1996. The study showed that the lives of the addicts in treatment at government-run centers improved dramatically. The patients in the initial study moreover reduced their dependence on crime as a source of income from 70 percent to 10 percent after eighteen months. The Netherlands and Germany [BBC report] have initiated similar pilot studies following the Swiss success.


Source: Tere Miller-Sporrer, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

--
Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
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Source: Jay Carmella, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Iraq court directs US to free photographer detained for over 2 months

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[JURIST] The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) on Sunday ordered the release of Ibrahim Jassam Mohammed, an Iraqi freelance photographer working for Reuters [news website] held by the US military. The court order, supplied to a Reuters' attorney [Reuters report], said the US military had no evidence to support Jassam's continued imprisonment. Jassam has been held since September in a military prison near the Baghdad airport after being detained after a raid [Reuters report] on his home in Mahmudiya.

Press groups have called upon the US military to act more quickly when reviewing cases involving journalists covering the Iraq war. A joint statement [text] on Jassam's case issued in November by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Iraqi-based Journalistic Freedom Observatory [advocacy website, in Arabic] noted that "Since the start of the US armed intervention in Iraq in March 2003, the worldwide press freedom organisation has recorded arrests of 12 people working for Reuters, all of whom have subsequently been released and their cases closed without further action." Currently, the US has the right to hold indefinitely anyone that it deems a threat until the UN mandate [UN press release] authorizing US presence in Iraq which expires on December 31, 2008. Last week, the Iraqi parliament approved a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) [JURIST report] that limits the US military's ability to detain uncharged persons after its January 1, 2009 implementation.


Source: Jay Carmella, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

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Source: Safiya Boucaud, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Kazakhstan falling short on reforming election laws: HRW


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[JURIST] Kazakhstan has fallen short on its pledges to reform election laws before it takes over as chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) [official website], Europe's main security and human rights body, in 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] said in a report [text, PDF] released Monday. The report focused on two fundamental areas of ensuring an open and free system of elections - the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and the failure of Kazakhstan to live up to its promises of reform in those areas. The report quoted the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) [official website] as saying that the elections "did not meet a number of OSCE commitments, in particular with regard to elements of the legal framework and to the vote count and tabulation" and "interrupted an ongoing dialogue on election legislation." The report added that proposed electoral law changes sent to parliament earlier this month fail to address the fundamental problems such as term limits for the President, his unchecked powers to dissolve parliament, his ability to appoint a third of the members of the upper chamber and choose the chair and two members of the seven-member Central Election Commission.

Some of the criticism of Kazakhstan's electoral practices has stemmed from the December 2005 election in which President Nursultan Nazarbaev [official website; BBC profile], in office since 1991, was re-elected with 91 percent of the vote. International observers raised concerns of fraud [JURIST report] after that poll, which opposition parties unsuccessfully challenged [JURIST report] afterwards. In August 2007 parliamentary elections the ruling party, Nur Otan [party website, in Russian], won 88 percent of the vote. Kazakhstan has never had elections considered fair and free by Western monitors.


Source: Safiya Boucaud, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

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Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
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Source: Tarah Park, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

Myanmar journalists sentenced to prison for possessing UN rights report



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[JURIST] A Myanmar court on Friday sentenced two reporters to seven years imprisonment for allegedly undercutting the country's military junta by possessing reports deemed seditious. Thet Zin and Sein Win Maung were found in February with a copy of a UN special rapporteur's human rights report on Burma [text, DOC], along with videotapes of last year's pro-democracy demonstrations (Independent backgrounder) during a raid of the offices of The Myanmar Nation, the now-closed newspaper for which both reporters worked. The two were sentenced [AP report] on a charge of breaking section 17/20 of the military-controlled country's Printers and Publishers Registration Act [text, DOC], and received the maximum penalty allowed [RWB press release] allowed under that law. The sentencing came on the same day as another Myanmar court sentenced 13 members of the 88 Generation Students [BBC backgrounder] to six years imprisonment for undermining stability.

The sentences are the latest in a string of harsh jail terms [JURIST report] handed out to Myanmar dissidents which have been condemned by human rights groups [Global Justice Center press release, PDF; JURIST report], Western governments, and the UN [JURIST report] as making a mockery of the military junta's announced plans [VOA report] to renew democracy in the country


Source: Tarah Park, http://jurist.law.pitt.edu

--
Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
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East AFRICA
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