Burma: Statement on the Military Coup in Myanmar Basic Diplomatic Skills Training (Batch-39) – (13.02.2021)

Benin: Communique de la Mission Pre-Electorale de la CEDEAO en Republique du Benin (12.02.2021)

Opinion: The dead won’t scream [and that’s why we got to do it]

With everyday there is never ending trail of violence, abductions and extra-judicial killings. As bodies are dropped, people are gone for months and stories of torture is coming in the press. Still, the government is acting naive and its spokespeople isn’t saying much either. People are being arbitrary arrested, abducted and even killed. They are harmed because of their political affiliation and their activism for an opposition candidate and the new party National Unity Platform (NUP).

There is unverified reports of thousands upon thousands of people collected by the security organizations. They are kept in undisclosed locations and incommunicado for days. Nobody allowed to access them and the loved ones have no idea why they were arrested in the first place. These drones are taking civilians without any due process. They are “guilty of a crime” before they gotten warrants, charged or even sentenced. That is a violation of their rights and is pure injustice.

The stories of how it is happening is repeated…. the drone is coming at night. The plain-clothed security agents are storming a home. Knocking on doors and invading privacy. These folks are taking the activists, candidates and even elected representatives without any forewarning. Where they are put in a ungazetted “safe-house”. This is where they are tortured and detained without legal justification. Some is so badly treated that they are dumped in a random location or a field. Because, the state and security agencies will not bury them. They could could arrest them and torture them, even kill them, but will not honour their bodies and soul with a burial.

That is how dangerous and the security organizations are working tirelessly. The white drone is passing by without a numberplate. Spreading fear and violence. There is no peace, but only brutal reign. Where the NUP is beaten and destroyed. The state is letting people vanish out of thin-air. People are worried for their lives and seeing neighbours, friends and relatives suddenly taken by state.

Life has no value to the rulers. Law is meaningless, when life is cheap. When you can take a life with no justification or reason. Then there is “rule of law”. When the “Habeas corpus” principal is practically dead and other principal of “equal before the law” is in coma too. There is no way these principals matters, when people lose their rights overnight and nobody knows what happens.

The state acts oblivious and even like they don’t know. When everyone is hearing stories and people writing stories about “loved ones” taken away. When there is stories of sudden dumps of bodies without any reasoning. The lives are taken and the Republic is burning. The state is driving this and the various of state security apparatus is behind it. They are doing it and there is no retribution for it. They are allowing it and letting the ones sanctioning it off the hook.

Just like the Police Force needed the Presidential Approval to continue the investigation into Zebra Mundo’s death of last year. That is not solved, because the President haven’t accepted continued investigation of it. There is certainly more inside orders and play, which we have no idea of. If we did, it wouldn’t be so mystified and uncertain.

The state wants the NUP and Bobi Wine to be silenced. They are trying to do that with autrocities and depreciative means. Total destruction and hopeless violence, which will only show how the naked the emperor is. Since he got no moral authority, but only have the shackles of innocent men. Only have the skulls of dissidents and unnamed bodies in the fields of the Republic. That what Museveni has now.

He can address the nation, but the skulls and the shackles of his citizens speaks louder than his words. It shows his fear and intimidation. As he uses the armed and monopoly of violence on his citizens.

The Drones the modern “Panda Gari’s” is the flesh and blood of this regime. It is what the state is resembling. Because it cannot be popular or loved, when civilians are treated in this manner. There is no way the President and his men is guaranteed to be “stewards” of the Republic. No, they are people who needs to military punishment of civilians to reign supreme. That is medieval and not progressive, but what “liberators” of the past is offering the people of today.

If a innocent dies in the hands of the President. We got to tell their stories. We got to scream their names and we got remember their legacy. Because, the state took them and ended their lives early. Their lives was taken without mercy or justice. These innocent people shall be remembered and be reason to rebuke the leadership of today.

President Museveni cannot run away or look smug in the midst of this. He cannot insight more fear or institutionalized brutality. Unless, he wants soldiers to run from house to house to scare even more. That is the only thing he has left. Because all other sort of punitive action he has used without public orders. The President has used vicious means and this cannot last forever. He knows that, but still he persist with it. Hoping it doesn’t cause an outcry or spark a revolution. Still, at one point…

He might kill the wrong brother for no apparent reason. Someone who matters and who is the voice of a generation. Even someone who is the breathing ideal of the times we are living. With the extensive measure and means of oppression. At one point he might nail that coffin and shut the case without knowing it. As his security officers are killing someone who can spark a flame he cannot blow-out with a few meaningless words. No, there is no way he can change the history or revise the blood.

The bloodshed is already there and this is the legacy of Museveni. That he turned into the same, as the ones he overthrew. What is worse… is that Museveni knows better, but he see himself as the exemption. Alas, that isn’t the case. In the end of all things. He will meet the maker just like all of us. Then he has to ask for grace and mercy for his actions. Then God will decide his fate. That is not for us to judge, but we can hope God answer our prayers. As there have been no vindication while we was walking on earth. Peace.

Republique Centrafricaine: UNHCR appeals for access as Central African displacement soars (12.02.2021)

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 12, 2021 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is appealing for humanitarian access to reach tens of thousands of people in dire need after they fled  escalating violence, clashes, and military operations in the Central African Republic (CAR), a country where almost one third of the population is now forcibly displaced.

Increasing attacks against humanitarian workers and blocked key supply routes are hampering UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations’ ability to assist internally displaced Central Africans. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated, increasing the suffering of an already vulnerable population.

Humanitarians have been targeted and have had their offices looted and their vehicles stolen. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 66 such incidents occurred in January, the highest number ever recorded in a single month in CAR. In December 2020, one humanitarian worker was killed, and five others injured.

Clashes, military operations, and blockades along the main road connecting CAR to Cameroon are preventing the delivery of supplies, causing prices in affected areas to skyrocket as much as 240 per cent for imported staple foods and up to 44 per cent for local goods. This also impacts the delivery of humanitarian relief from the capital Bangui with dire consequences for people in urgent need of food, health care products, water and sanitation, essential household items, and shelter.

Despite these challenges, UNHCR is working closely with national authorities, humanitarian partners, and the United Nations peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA, to continue distributing lifesaving items at accessible sites. Last week, our supplies reached some 4,600 people from over 740 households in Bouar, a town some 450 kilometers from Bangui.

Since December when the crisis began, OCHA estimates that more than 100,000 people have been displaced inside CAR. Most are living in deplorable conditions in the bush for fear of fresh attacks on their villages.

According to figures from state authorities in neighbouring countries, at least 107,000 people have also fled across borders into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (92,053), Cameroon (5,730), Chad (6,726), and the Republic of Congo (2,984). This brings the total number of Central Africans displaced in their country and across the region to over 1.5 million – nearly a third of the country’s total population of 4.8 million.

Inside CAR, UNHCR continues to receive reports of grave human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, torture, extortion, armed robbery, assault, restricted movement, expropriation and looting. Sexual violence – including against young children – is on the rise as insecurity creates a climate of lawlessness and impunity.

UNHCR teams have reported recurrent violations of the humanitarian principles of the IDP sites. We reiterate our call for meaningful dialogue to de-escalate tensions, as well as sustained and robust support from the international community to ensure that the effective humanitarian response is resumed and prospects for solutions are strengthened.

Ethiopa: A “Superior Order” restricts medical and hospital treatment for political prisoners

Today on the 13th February 2021. After my calculation the Oromo Political Prisoners are on their 17th day of hunger strike in Kaliti Prison. There has already been reported of several of the Oromo Political Leaders in critical conditions and very weak as well. That is not shocking, considering how long this hunger strike has lasted and the body can only carry so long before it gives way.

The Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team have followed the conditions and the treatment the Oromo political prisoners have gotten. They are working on their release, but the state is keeping them behind bars.

They stated this yesterday: “Jails and prisons are full of Oromos, more than any other group in the country. Currently there are more than 50,000 Oromo political prisoners in Ethiopia. In Kaliti alone there are more than 5,000 Oromo political prisoners, constituting 90% of the nation’s entire prisoners” (Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team, 12.02.2021).

These numbers should shock anyone and be a warning about what the state does to dissidents in the region. When they can arrest and detain such vast numbers. At this scale there is injustice and impunity towards the political active who is not part of the Prosperity Party. These are the ones challenging PP in Oromia and therefore behind bars.

What is even worse is the “Superior Orders” which is blocking their freedom, liberty and ability assemble. The state is also now restricting medical treatment… that should send shock-waves and outrage, as that is a dire need after days of hunger strike.

Medical Update From Kaliti Prison:

Jawar Mohammed et al. doctors have announced today on Oromia Media Network (OMN) that they have halted providing health services to the political prisoners. They explained their decision was because they were not able to treat the prisoners at a private hospital as needed. Per court order, they were given permission to see their private doctor and hospital, yet the prison administration has not honored the court order. The prison administration said a superior order has restricted Mr. Bekele Gerba today from receiving urgent treatment at the hospital of his option. Since the prison administration is not complying with the court order, Jawar Mohammed et al. told their doctors not to come anymore. Dr. Ilili Jemal, one of the private doctors of the prisoners told OMN that from today onwards they are obliged to stop rendering health services to the political prisoners” (Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team, 12.02.2021).

This shows how far the Federal Government goes. They don’t value the lives of the political prisoners. The enemies of the state. The ones charged and behind bars. Just because they are dissidents and in opposition to the central government in Addis Ababa. That is all it takes and your rights as a citizen is revoked over night. This is why these ones are suffering and not getting the health care they need.

The state even uses a “superior order” to restrict and block doctors from helping the prisoners. That is breaches of human rights and its inhumane. This shouldn’t happen to anyone, but the Prosperity Party clearly have no issues to violate people for their political gains. Peace.

Zimbabwe: MDC-Alliance – Communique on 12/02/2021 National Executive Committee Meeting (13.02.2021)

Republique Centrafricaine: Conseiller en Matiere de Securite Nationale – Communique de Presse (11.02.2021)

Tchad: Ministere de la Securite Publique et de l’Immigration – Arrete No. 013 (11.02.2021)

Bank of Botswana: New Emission of the Plymer P10 Banknote Bearing Portrait of His Excellency the President (12.02.2021)

Ethiopia: UNICEF – Children in Tigray in acute need of protection and assistance (12.02.2021)

Home to about 170,000 residents, Shire now hosts at least 52,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), and more arrived on each day of the mission.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 12, 2021 – As more supplies and emergency personnel reach crisis-affected people in Tigray, an incomplete but troubling picture is emerging of severe and ongoing harm to children.

Between February 4 and 7, a UNICEF team accompanied by the Regional Health Bureau Head traveled from Mekelle to the town of Shire in Central Tigray, with six trucks filled with 122 tons of emergency supplies. This was the first UN mission to Shire since the conflict erupted on 4 November 2020.

Home to about 170,000 residents, Shire now hosts at least 52,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), and more arrived on each day of the mission. There was no drinking water, as the town’s water treatment plant is not functioning, so UNICEF and ICRC are trucking water to residents and IDPs. Many IDPs are sheltering at schools, none of which are operational. Conditions at the displacement sites are dire – the few toilets are broken, there are no showers, and there is very little safe water. Many families were separated as they fled, and there were many unaccompanied or separated children among the IDPs.

Many families reported deep psychosocial distress and said they did not feel it was safe to return home, speaking of a persistent and pervasive fear of present and future harm.

The hospital in Shire was partly operational. Two out of four health centers were providing outpatient and maternal services, and one health facility has resumed some vaccinations. Staff have received partial payments of their salaries. Outside the town center, only one of seven rural health facilities assessed was functional; the others had been damaged or looted and staff had fled. Immunizations ground to a halt three months ago and the town’s entire stock of vaccines was damaged due to power cuts. Electricity is restored, but the city still experiences frequent power cuts.

The IDPs said their most urgent need was for food. One assessment conducted by partners found the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition – which is potentially life threatening, especially when combined with diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, or measles – at 2.1 per cent. This is above the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold. The very real risk of disease outbreak, coupled with poor access to water, sanitation, hygiene and health services, rising food insecurity and inflation in food prices, poses grave threats for malnourished children.

The mobile network, internet and banking services were still not operational.

UNICEF has dispatched 655MT of supplies including emergency health kits, therapeutic food and high energy biscuits, and personal protective equipment, and more supplies are en route. As of the end of January, other areas of UNICEF’s emergency response in cooperation with government and other partners in Tigray and neighbouring regions included:

  • Screening over 465,000 children below five years old for malnutrition, and providing lifesaving treatment to over 2,750 of children found to be severely malnourished;
  • Reaching over 137,000 people including refugees, displaced persons and host communities with water supplies and services;
  • Providing over 5,400 adolescent girls and women with dignity kits.

The partial picture emerging of the impact the crisis in Tigray has had on children – and the systems and services they rely on – make clear that children are in acute need of protection and assistance. Crucially, the humanitarian community still needs to get beyond major cities and towns into the rural areas, where most of the population live, in order to have a true picture of needs.

Above all, children must be protected from harm.