Zimbabwe: Danida Hands over Murambinda Magistrates’ Court (17.09.2016)

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176 Shocking Things Donald Trump Has Done This Election | The Closer with Keith Olbermann | GQ (Youtube-Clip)

“How did we get here? It’s easy to forget. In the debut episode of his new series, “The Closer,” GQ’s Keith Olbermann tallies the most outrageous of Donald Trump’s offenses in what is now his 15-month assault on American democracy.” (GQ, 2016)

BOU says Uganda’s economy cannot handle interest rate capping (Youtube-Clip)

“Bank of Uganda has assured law makers that the country’s economy remains financial shallow, to accommodate structures such as capping of interest. A dialogue here in Kampala between Members of Parliament, and the financial sector regulator also heard that current loan defaults at 8.3%, makes lending risky. In Kenya, legislators successfully passed a motion that was signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta, capping interest rates at 14%, aimed at shielding borrowers from spikes” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Sen. John Munyes maintains he is still the chairman of FORD KENYA, even after defecting to Jubilee (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3FqDcyr0VM

“Turkana Senator John Munyes maintains he is still the chairman of FORD Kenya, even after defecting to Jubilee. This comes a few days after FORD Kenya top organ plan meets to pick an interim chairman following the defection of its national chair. However Munyes maintians that, he was among the people who participated in forming the party and he will not quit as the chairman” (K24 TV, 2016)

On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO Vice-President Delivers a Statement at the Human Rights Council (15.09.2016)

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Each year on the 15 September, the world celebrates the International Day of Democracy, highlighting the global importance of maintaining democratic values for nations and peoples. As one of its fundamental principles, UNPO is committed to advocating and supporting democracy around the world. Democracy is a form of government by and for the people, where freedom of expression, protection of human rights and the rule of law ensure that all its citizens are treated equally.  For many nations and peoples, however, autocratic governments not only fail to uphold democratic values but also are the very perpetrators of gross human rights violations. On this day, the international community turns its attention to victims of undemocratic governments and reflect on what can be done to promote inclusive, participatory, representative, accountable and transparent political systems. 

On this year’s International Day of Democracy, UNPO would like to draw particular attention to the case of Ethiopia. Despite its complete lack of democratic setup, the country is generally hailed as an African democratic role model and a beacon of stability in an otherwise troubled region. Aiming to raise awareness of the human rights abuses in Ethiopia committed by the authoritarian Tigray-dominated regime, Mr Abdirahman Mahdi, the leading representative of the Ogaden People’s Rights Organization and UNPO Vice-President, spoke today [15 September 2016] at the 33rd United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the Nonradical Party, Transnational and Transparty.

In his speech, Mr. Mahdi highlighted that “while Ethiopia, in theory, has a federalist constitution that guarantees wide-ranging autonomy for the nations-based federal states and equal participation in national politics – in practice almost all the nations have no real say in political, economic and military affairs, instead these fall under the sole control of a Tigray-dominated elite, who does not shy away from using excessive violence”.

Ethiopia is but one case of many governments that adopt features to portray itself as democratic to the international community when, in reality, the complete opposite is true. The Ethiopian government has denied its people all the fundamental democratic rights promulgated in its constitution. Elections are consistently rigged and external observers are banned from coming to Ethiopia to monitor them. Armed and security forces extend their reach through all levels all society while trying to showcase to the world that a federal system has ensured the right to self-determination to its ethnic groups, as stated in the constitution.

However, 500 people were killed since November 2015 in various protests, including the most recent protests outside of Qilinti jail against the detention of Oromo politicians and activists which, according to Mr. Mahdi, is “the latest evidence of the readiness of the government to exert brute force against civilians”. Systematic use of rape as a weapon by the Ethiopian army and paramilitary forces as a way to exercise total control through fear and violence was also highlighted by Mr Mahdi in his speech at the HRC. In addition to systematic persecution, the victims of the Ethiopian regime are silenced due to the criminalization of free speech, impeding the news of their plight to be widespread throughout the international community. Journalists from abroad are banned access and local journalists are jailed, while NGOs on the ground are forbidden to report the facts.

Against this background, recently the Oromo athlete Feyisa Lilesa’s powerful gesture of resistance at the 2016 Rio Olympics brought much-needed media attention to the plight of the Oromos and the other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Concomitantly, the European Commission’s decision not to send money from its Emergency Fund to Ethiopia in consideration of the serious violations of freedom of speech and right to protest in Ethiopia contributed to drawing the international community’s attention to the lack of democracy in the country. On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO reaffirms its commitment to its core values and will continue to raise awareness of violations committed by states which, in many cases, claim to be “young democracies” to conceal its appalling human rights records and dictatorial structure.

Uganda: Preliminary Response on Parliament’s Statement about the Media (15.09.2016)

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Joint Communique issued by the Government of the Republic of Kenya, The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and UNHCR, following a Joint Meeting held on 15th September 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya (15.09.2016)

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Burkina Faso: Communique le Ministere de l’Energie du SAMAO (15.09.2016)

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Hon. Marius Fransman resignation from the Western Cape Parliament (16.09.2016)

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Friday, 16 September 2016, at 15h00

No embargo

I have resigned as a member of the Western Cape Legislature today after 17 years of parliamentary service, of which 14 years were in ministerial positions both at provincial and national level.

My decision, in 2013, to return to the Western Cape to fight alongside the poor and the downtrodden, and to address the imbalances between the haves and the have-not’s in creating an inclusive society, is being curtailed by the ongoing ANC internal turmoil, infighting and factions, makes it near impossible to execute my duties to ensure the upliftment of my constituents.

I can no longer justify a salary without the mechanism to deliver on my calling.

I have searched my conscience; I have applied my mind; I have consulted with trusted comrades, and with my family, and I have concluded that the ANC at all levels is at an ebb in its glorious 104 year history of excellence, indicated by internal strife and contradictory statements.

We didn’t join the struggle for such strife; we joined the struggle and our glorious movement to serve, and to serve with pride and dignity. I have reflected on the “Reconstruction and Development” and the “Ready To Govern” documents prior to 1994, and I have realized how far we have drifted from it.

The community wants an ANC restored to its former splendour and I believe that I may better answer to my calling by pursuing such an objective.

It is my humble submission that the organisation must unify anew.

I will dedicate my efforts to rebuild the trust between the people, civil society and the ANC. I will continue to serve the ANC as the elected provincial chairperson of the Western Cape. I call on all like-minded comrades and friends to join me in this quest. We must always remember that the ANC belongs to the people, and not to the leaders and to us in parliament. When we have internal strife, it’s ultimately the people who suffer.

My appreciation to all members of parliament who served with me beyond party political affiliation during my parliamentary tenure, accompanies this statement.

Issued by the ANC Western Cape Chairperson Marius Fransman.

Tens of thousands of protesters call for a regime change in Ethiopia (Youtube-Clip)

“Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Gonder in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia on Sunday demanding a change of government due to the unfair distribution of wealth in the country. The protest, reported to have been staged in defiance of a government order, is also in solidarity with the Oromia protests held between November last year to March 2016 in opposition to a government development plan in the region which could affect poor farmers” (Africa News, 2016)