Tanzania: Burundi Refugees Tell of New Horrors (Youtube-Clip)

“One year on from the political violence that swept Burundi’s capital Bujumbura and spread across the country, new arrivals to refugee camps in neighbouring Tanzania denounce a litany of ongoing horrors at home. They say torture, disappearances, massacres of loved ones and neighbours and arrests on the border are rife” (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2016).

Sand painting on fighting corruption goes viral in China (Youtube-clip)

“Chinese local authorities are using sand painting to illustrate anti-corruption campaign. This video, promoted by the commission for discipline inspection in north China’s Hebei province, includes an image about holding wrongdoers accountable and eight images about behaviors or practices that should be banned or punished” (New China TV, 2016)

Readout of the Secretary-General’s phone call with H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya (18.05.2016)

Ban Ki Moon Phone

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 18, 2016The Secretary-General spoke today by telephone with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya following the Kenyan Government’s decision of 6 May 2016 to close the Dadaab refugee camps. He expressed deep appreciation to President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for decades of generous hospitality to significant populations of asylum-seekers and refugees. The Secretary-General assured President Kenyatta that he appreciated the enormous task and responsibility involved in hosting large numbers of refugees, amidst daunting security challenges.

Uhuru Phone

The Secretary-General urged President Kenyatta to continue to use the Tripartite Agreement, signed in November 2013 with the Federal Government of Somalia and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as a basis for the voluntary return of Somali refugees in safety and dignity. He expressed the United Nations support to Kenya, including the proposal by the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, that a high-level bilateral review on the refugee situation in Kenya be conducted by the Government of Kenya and UNHCR.

The Secretary-General mentioned that the Deputy Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Refugees would visit Kenya at the end of May. They look forward to discussing this issue forward with the Government of Kenya, and will underline the readiness of the United Nations to garner the support of the international community in addressing Kenya’s refugee challenges, with consideration for the host communities in Kenya as well as the sub-regional security concerns.

Continued Oppression of the Opposition without any level of Peace; while the NRM tries to consolidate the power amongst the Presidents family with the elevation of Muhoozi!

Besigye Nakawa 18.05.2016

Still days after the Swearing-in of both Presidents of Uganda, the Opposition is still under fire. The fire is burning and the opposition have to fight still for their liberties while the NRM-Regime tries to act as nothing happen. The National Resistance Movement and their Members of Parliament that are sworn-in tries to act normal.

Before the Courts open the Police had made roadblocks around the building and area around the Nakawa Court, so that not even boda-boda’s to pass, bicycles and cars was not allowed to enter the perimeter of the court. They did this to make sure the judgement and verdict of today’s court we’re not on public display!

As the FDC Presidential Candidate and the ones that question the Power of President Musveni, Dr. Kizza Besigye who we’re charged with Treason for his second time by NRM Regime, we’re today set in Court at Nakawa Magistrate Court. He came directly from Luzira Prison and back to Luzira in quick speed.

Besigye 18.05.2016 Nakawa

As FDC explained the Courtship of their leader:

“President Kizza Besigye has been charged with treason at Nakawa Court early this morning and remanded till 1st June. At 08:30 am Dr. Olive Kobusingye was near court but by the time she entered court at 08:40, The President was being taken away after being charged within a few seconds earlier. Media, lawyers, supporters and friends we were locked out” (Forum for Democratic Change, 18.05.2016).

Turinawe 18.05.2016 P3

Houses of Michael Kabiziguruka and Ingrid Turinawe have been closed and monitored by the Military Police.

Turinawe 18.05.2016 P1

As Ingrid Turinawe states herself:

“Comrades, police has cordoned off my house. Deployment very heavy! They have Taken positions all around the house. I can’t guess what they want to do next, it’s deep in the night. They arrived at exactly 1am. Two police trucks just parked crossing my way outside the gate” (Turinawe, 18.05.2016).

While Lord Mayor Lukwago had to hassle with Police Officers to be allowed to go to Court and defend his case, as he had today been up-to 14 days under house-arrest without a clear charge. The Police Officers accepted it finally. While he had courted a case with a legal team comprised of Hon. Sseggona, Asuman Basalirwa and Isaac Ssemakadde. The ones Judge looking over the case was G1 Magistrate, H. W Semondo of the Makindye Magistrate Court.

Lukwago 18.05.2016

The verdict was finally positive as Lord Mayor Lukwago states:

“Isaac Ssemakadde formally moved court to, inter-alia order police vacate my home and forthwith set me free. Before court could give its ruling, which is reserved for 27th May, they hurriedly fled from my home. THANK YOU all for your prayers and support. Aluta continua” (Lukwago, 18.05.2016).

The newly elected Councillor of Makerere Doreen Nyanjura her former rental room have been sieged by a commando of military Police during the night, as the Police Force seemingly doesn’t know the right house.

This here is just a few cases as there is surely more and more coming in the coming days as the NRM regime is in shock mode to silence the Opposition and crush it, like President Museveni spoke about during the campaign and after. He has no quarrels of doing so to consolidate all power, that what this term is all about, therefore seconds after swearing-in Muhoozi Kainerugba was elevated from Brigadier to Major General and also wanted to establish a higher order for the Special Force Command, which initially the son of the President is in charge of.

So the regime is centralizing more and more power as even Gen. Salim Selah have been in charge of the Operation Wealth Creation and henceforth rigged the systems and funds so that the development haven’t really been there, as the Museveni-family could eat some of the funds from there too, do you think a family connected leader inside a project, wouldn’t be there for niceness of the President, no to control it and embezzle from it.

This here is happening while the FDC and FDC members linger in a limbo, while they are detained, house-arrested and intimidated. Not only the leadership and the headquarters, but the homes and others who has been a part of the Defiance campaign!

FDC Members Makindye 18.05.2016

With that earlier today:

“FDC party members at Makindye court to answer charges of participating in the parties defiance activities. Reports Stephen Otage” (Daily Monitor, 18.05.2016).

There will be more to come and struggle continues as the National Resistance Movement and their head honcho Museveni who will use all the tools he has to silence them as he owns no legitimacy and honest leadership, as he orders inner-party and now pay the MPs to follow instructions, as the rumoured shillings 5m to vote for Hon. Jacob Oualanya for the Deputy Speaker in Parliament. So there are something brewing and the NRM Regime thinks it is back to normal, it isn’t as the FDC are still hunted and questioned at every second; also at all stages of the political spectrum. Peace.

Footage: President Kizza Besigye being driven away at break-neck speed back to Luzira prison amidst cheers from the people.

 

Kenya National Police Service – Statement on the Events of Monay 16th May 2016

Kenya National Police 1605.2016 P1Kenya National Police 1605.2016 P2Kenya National Police 1605.2016 P3

My Letter to Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet on the recent Police Brutality in Nairobi

IGP Boinnet

16th May 2016, Oslo

Dear Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet of Kenya National Police Service.

I am writing you hours after the pre-election violence in Nairobi on the third Monday of demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The 16th May 2016 was a making the streets of Nairobi into a battlefield between the citizens who was demonstrating and the brutal Police Force who showed them no mercy.

The Coalition of Democratic Reform (CORD) put into action a third time and congestion of the streets around the Anniversary Tower and the IEBC Offices. As before the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Commander Japheth Koome secured the area and dispersed the public with tear-gas and water-cannons. Not only tear-gassing them, but the Police Officers beat them until them we’re bleeding and aggressively hurt.

Nairobi 16.05.2016 P3

No matter, if the cause they are demonstrating is correct, the Police Officers should still let them demonstrate without fear and violence. The Police Officer’s hitting them with sticks and kicking them while they are lying on the ground. The Police Officers driving reckless into crowds with specially produced Anti-Riot cars imported from China, that are used now against own citizens. The Tear-Gas and the bullying the citizens is not vision of a transparent society, but of an oppressive government who wants to control its public, not be there to create security and make sure the criminals are taken down. Instead like yesterday the Police Officers had made up their mind and granted all people who showed as criminals.

What is worse is that the Police Officers are supposed to be there for the citizens and the public to make sure they are safe; instead they created violence and hurt the public. The Police did not serve the public; they served them harassment and caused havoc on the streets. They acted as vicious criminals instead of catching criminals, which is not how the Police Officers should act.

The actions of the Police were unjust, and the police should never act unjust, because the Police are supposed to be guardians and the watcher of society. Certainly the Police Officers should suffer the consequence. They should be internally displaced as cases of offensive and blatant disregard for the laws themselves. The Police Officers should be the ones that people look up to and the ones who one are supposed to trust your safety around.

Nairobi 16.05.2016 Police P1

These Police Officers acted like they hated and wanted to get rid of their citizens who was demonstrating, not as Police Officers who wanted their Citizens safe and secure, not to honor the demonstrators and acted wild-on them. These actions yesterday should be questioned and their badges should be questioned, as they as Police Officers should not act like they are over the law, as they without the Uniform and Badge are citizens like the rest of us. They are Police Officers in their gear and their weapons. We citizens give the Violence Monopoly into the State, as an assurance of the safety of our society, we do not give that away so the Police can harass and hurt fellow brothers and sisters!

If the Police Officer hurt the fellow citizens, harm fellow citizens and other vicious damage of calm of fellow human beings. What happen yesterday is unjustified and a cycle of actions, the Police Force is acting worse and the Policing are out of hand. The madness and the tear-gas most have gone to the heads of the Police Officers, the seemingly violence against fellow citizens should be scrutinized and assessed, the men who kicked and beat the man in the street into pulp should be questioned in court, internally or transparent for the public display. Because the actions of yesterday were fierce and rotten, the Kenyan National Police Service will not have this as the last memory of their acts. Certainly with the monopoly of violence comes also the responsibility of holding the authority at bay. Instead the reckless unmerciful acts of Police that does not stand any of scrutiny.

Nairobi 16.05.2016 Police P2

Even if Members of Parliament from Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) says the acts of Police is correct, trust me they are not IGP Boinnet, as you would not like it to be your uncle, your nephew or any other family member to be beaten the way on the streets of Nairobi; it could have been some loved ones or someone close to you who passed by the Anniversary Tower on the that Monday Morning! There are words for violence, but this is not justice, this is not liberty or act of trust between the Police Force and the fellow citizens.

I do not write to you about the cause or the questions of the CORD leadership, but more in mercy of fellow citizens, human beings who deserves to address their political grievance’s without fear of their life or being beating to pulp on the streets. IGP Boinnet, you cannot have these actions tarnishing your name and your career as the ruling Police Officer who answer directly to the orders from upon high. You cannot watch all of this without questioning Police Commander Japheth Koome and the one under his command. There are too many violations that you should not let go. The honor of your position is on the line, as this will threaten the trust between the public and your role as supervisor of justice in the State of Kenya. If you don’t take care of it, and doesn’t act upon it, then you walk a thin line of trust between society and the Police Force.

You do not want to be remembered as the IGP who were silent and didn’t act when your own Police Officers violated fellow citizens and if you let the Police Officers get away then they will tarnish your name and be shredded tears on your Uniform that you accepted to carry. Peace.

Best Regards

The Writer of Minbane.

Press Statement: NAADS, WFP to build grain stores to benefit 4,000 farming families in 10 districts of Uganda (17.05.2016)

NAADS

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 17, 2016The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed an agreement to construct 10 community-level grain stores in 10 districts of Uganda over the next four months in an effort to address grain storage challenges nationally while enhancing small-scale farmers’ access to quality produce markets.

Under the agreement, NAADS will provide US$1 million for WFP to construct and equip the warehouses in the districts of Adjumani, Hoima, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kiryandongo, Kyenjojo, Masindi, Mubende, Nakaseke and Napak.  Each unit will have a storage capacity of between 200 and 300 metric tons and is expected to support up to 400 farming households.

“NAADS has been focusing on providing seeds, and this has helped to increase production country-wide,” the NAADS Executive Director, Dr. Samuel Mugasi said today. “However, this partnership with WFP will take us a step higher in the value chain. It will enable NAADS to achieve its purpose of assisting farmers to reduce post-harvest food losses – including through modern storage – benefit from group marketing and improve their household incomes and livelihoods.”

Mugasi said there was no better choice of partner than WFP. He said, “WFP has built a good reputation in grain handling, mobilizing farmers for production and supporting agriculture value chains. It has a good model in place, and we are excited to be part of it. Under the MoU, WFP and NAADS will also jointly support small-scale farmer groups with soft skills and other capacity building for group marketing.”

WFP’s Country Director, Michael Dunford, said WFP’s role in Uganda primarily is to support the vision of the government, working with capable entities such as NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation in building agricultural capacity.

“Good infrastructure empowers farmers to access markets, gives them control over when they get to sell their grain and, as such, protects them from hunger,” Dunford said.

NAADS and WFP plan to work together to build another 10 stores next year. WFP has already established 60 storage facilities countrywide – using mainly funding from the United States — and farmers trading through them have been selling their grain more profitably.

Statement by Munyori Baku, Senior Director Public Communication – Statehouse: “What Does Raila Odinga want?”

Statement Statehouse Kenya May 2016

The Calvary in Nairobi went too far against the IEBC demonstrators; the escalated violence is questionable as the verdict of partiality of the Electoral Commission!

Nairobi 16.05.2016 P1

Third Monday of Demonstrations at Anniversary Tower in Nairobi as the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) continues to challenge the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) who they ask for the head of the Chairman Hassan Ahmed Issack who has questions towards partisan role toward the ruling regime.

Moses Kuria 16.05.2016

The CORD has the rights to question an appointed Commission who seems to serve the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), the Executive President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. They are using the security forces to disperse citizens who demonstrate with escalating violence. The Nairobi Metropolitan Police have today gone too far.

Seeing the vicious Police Officers beating on a citizens, kicking and using all kind of means to hurt fellow citizens are not justice. That is violating their right to demonstrate and show peaceful disobedience. Would be different if the stole from shop or even destroyed a street vendor who pays the Kanjo Kingdom and the Nairobi County Officials.

Nairobi 16.05.2016 P2

The Pre-Election period will not be peaceful when the Nairobi Metropolitan Police, tear-gas and use water-cannons like they are trying to kick them as far away from the Central Nairobi as possible, while the other Police Officers uses their sticks to beat and kick the demonstrators while they are laying on the ground.

The videos and footages shows the violence from the authorities who doesn’t care really care about their citizens. The Police just treat the public as cattle… they do not give the credit or respect that the people should have. Instead the Police are chasing and hitting them. Spreading fear and initiating violent behavior.

Nairobi 16.05.2016 P3

The CORD might be wrong, but if not then the JAP is totally wrong for hiring Police Officers who without any form of justice attacks fellow citizens. They are acting as the people are criminals before their innocent. They are trial on the street shows they are guilty of questioning the Electoral Commission, instead of silencing their voice and except what the Government and Institutions are serving them.

The Kenyan Government should have the charm and ability to be capable of having streets of protestors without turning violent towards the ones who demonstrate, if they are against maggots or lice they should still be done in peace; as much as the ones who wants to have an really independent Electoral Commission. That should not be a crime! A crime is to violate the law, not jumping on the street claiming that the Electoral Commission are far from independent; but the action of the Police towards the citizens shows that they must be a bit right.

The Kenyan Government would not have problem of being question if the citizens was wrong, the Police Force would not answer in violence if they wasn’t afraid of the truth and the Electoral Commission would not answer with silence while the citizens are beaten to pulp on the streets by Police Officers. Anti-Riot Police and their water cannons would not disperse and use the force of violence as they did today. Peace.