Philippines: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Message on the 54th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN (08.08.2021)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigray Scholars (GSTS) – The Fate of Tigrayan Military and Security Personnel and Civilians Languishing in Ethiopia’s Detention an Concentration Camps (07.08.2021)

Ethiopia: The Government of the National State of Tigray – Press Release by the Government of the National State of Tigray (07.08.2021)

A look into NRM SG Todwong’s pity party [a response to his ODM letter]

I write to draw your attention and those of your ilk to the individual and collective comments you made against the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party, the sovereign Government of the Republic of Uganda and above all, the personal disrespect and insults you accorded His Excellency General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda and the entire Country” (Todwong, 06.08.2021).

The Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Richard Todwong has written a critical letter in response to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) press conference earlier this week. Which happened because the Deputy President William Ruto was blocked to leave Wilson Airport to Uganda. Therefore, the letter dated the 6th August 2021 is interesting, but also a lot of self-pity.

The SG of NRM has to write this way and be defensive. Because the ODM obliterated the NRM and that hurts the pride of the party naturally. Also, the remarks about Museveni must have been seen as damaging. Though all the words was in my opinion on point, but the ones living and breathing NRM will feel infuriated, because their gig is up.

It is just like magic like statement like these: “Dear Honourable Member, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party that you referred to in your hurriedly-released press conference started in the early 1960s as a student movement. This was when its founder-chairman H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whom you insulted, realized that the post-colonial administrative structures/systems we inherited could not solve the major social, economic and political questions of Uganda” (Todwong, 06.08.2021).

Because the National Resistance Army started in 1981 after the elections that year. Before that he had a short stint with the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM). Even before that Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) was emerging in 1971 but fully formed in 1973 and lasted until 1979. When he became the Vice Chairman in the Military Council until the 1980 election. The earliest group formed by Museveni was the University Students’ African Revolutionary Front (USARF) which was a political student group. Therefore, if Todwong is saying this… just like his master… than the origin of NRM traces back to University days and there is no trace of NRM there. Only that the personification of the state was the Chairman like he is today of the NRM. Since the university he has had several of outfits, but they are bursting in comparison to the NRM we know today. If it was early 1960s it must have been at Nkore school. Todwong, I would also say 67 is late 60s and not early by ordinary definition.

Todwong continues: “The State had virtually collapsed and there was nothing to talk or write about Uganda in economic terms. The NRM and President Museveni picked this country from zero and embarked on systematic rebuilding and restructuring it by restoring social order and discipline among the populations through promoting peace, stability, rule of law and democracy” (Todwong, 06.08.2021).

Just like his questionable facts or narrow fiction of the tale of NRM. He continues as he states certain things the NRM and the fellow Movement people are telling each other. However, it is with margins of error. Yes, the state was a wreck when Museveni took over in 1986. That’s because the previous leaders didn’t have stability or the core government had been in warfare for years. There was no way Museveni could do worse and he got help from donors to stabilize the economy for some time and also institutionalize things for a time being. However, with time these things has withered and the NRM cannot accept that the personification is corrupting and weakening the state.

Not like the current financial or economic status is to seek for. The underdeveloped, the lack of domestic revenue and evil cycle of recycling debt to pay for a over-bloated and expensive state organization. Which features more nepotism and lack or merits. While the state isn’t creating a sound investments or even generating policies that can be sustained or outgrow the potential of the state. Therefore, the core basics are wrong.

Last point, about the democracy in Uganda is hallow at best. There are “multi-party” democracy but only on paper in some regards. They are only there to show the world they have it. However, the NRM hold the control and the majority, by gerrymandering and controlling all the needed institutions to do so. It is not like Museveni or the NRM would make a peaceful transition to another party. No, they are rigging election, interfering and using the military to settle civilian scores. If not the military is fixing the problems, because that is what H.E. trusts and Todwong knows this.

Another very obvious lie is this one: “The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party does not and will never interfere with the internal affairs of any country” (Todwong, 06.08.2021). The SG must think people are blind and forgotten things quickly. The NRM and Museveni has entangled himself all across the East Africa and Central Africa. He has toppled the two Presidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There been questions if he was involved in the helicopter crashes of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Dr. Joseph Garang of SPLM/A of South Sudan. The NRM was also supporting the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and helped them in the takeover as allies in Rwanda in 1994. Therefore, the NRM and Museveni has done lots of foreign interference and it cannot just shaded over this easily.

Todwong continues: “The NRM party is strong and has led Uganda for the last 35 consecutive years because peace, security and human rights are our major pillars” (Todwong, 06.08.2021). We know that they have Safe-Houses, civilians in Military Courts, extra judicial-killings and keeping political prisoners. The army and authorities are allowed to kidnap and detain people without any court or warrants. The state can also suddenly block and silence critics. The state can issue warnings and suddenly use soldiers to quell demonstrations and protests without any hesitation. Therefore, the NRM and the government of Uganda doesn’t have a stellar human rights record and this is just skimming track-record that nobody should want to copy.

He further states: “Our President whom you insulted is massively elected by the population every time we go for general elections. Your statement is an insult to the sovereignty and integrity of Ugandans who always elect their leaders as mentioned above” (Todwong, 06.08.2021). Well, the rigged elections can make anyone a victor. There haven’t been parades and giant celebrations of the general public after his “victories” of late. The pre-ticked ballots and results of the Presidential Elections has been questioned, as the algorithms and stats is non-equated Math. Which only pre-fixed for the result of making Museveni the winner. If the NRM and Museveni is insulted by stating this. Maybe they should actually hold “free and fair” elections… and not just rig them like they are currently doing.

Another one of these comes here: “Uganda’s record on fighting graft is laudable, we have a well-functional institutional anti-corruption mechanism that has drastically reduced corruption at all levels of government” (Todwong, 06.08.2021). The SG must have forgotten the Presidential Handshake saga and all the other corruption scandals. All the tenders, Dott Services and whatnot who has appeared in-front of us over the years. Not to forget the Ugandan Proverb “Missing Funds” which is an implied corruption scandal. Where ghosts, demeans and inner-circle are eating of the plate with no results to show for it. Plus the additional road-costs which is vastly overpriced because of the set-up corruption schemes needed to procure, work and get the ability to construct the kilo-meters of gravel.

We know his just reckless and doesn’t care about the truth when one of his statements is: “I won’t dwell so much on poverty” (Todwong, 06.08.2021). It just shows how little they are bothered, because they know they cannot prove advancement or any justification after all these years. They have been helped, aided and had United Nations Organizations to cover their bases all along. Therefore, the NRM haven’t found proper measures or policies to create livelihoods or an economy where the majority can prosper. Because, that sort of work would not suffice or make it possible for the President and his elite to live lavish. This is why he will not dwell on it… and it shows the true character here.

In this regard… this is enough of this letter and SG Todwong should be able to be a truth-teller, but then would risk offending the Don and the ones who is blessing him on the regular. That is why he had to write like this and this doesn’t make it a fact. This is why someone had to debunk it and Todwong shouldn’t get of the hook. The NRM and Museveni cannot revise or edit history. Still, they try but people shouldn’t let them. Peace.

Opinion: Biden is lukewarm coffee Part II

We have now for some time seen the real deal of the Biden Administration. The people have been appointed and hired. The Democratic President Joe Biden who took over after a shambolic and snake-oil salesman in Donald J. Trump. Biden had the world ahead of him and with some promises of changes during the campaigns. However, the U.S. is more of the same and not a vast change from the Trump administration.

The U.S. government is still bombing Somalia. Selling weapons and arms to Middle East allies who fights wars in Yemen and elsewhere. The U.S. is still caging and detaining asylum-seekers. The President is maybe not crying foul and wanting a wall. However, the detention-centres are still a viable industry and the President has not shut this down. Neither has he address the ruthless and injustice served by the ICE agents across the Republic.

Biden is clearly lukewarm coffee. He is not hot coffee or cold coffee. No, his the boring and adherent liquid you drink in need, but not because you enjoys it. It is a tragic blend and misuse of good coffee. As you let it become lukewarm and that’s why it’s not a tasty cup of coffee.

President Biden is just that. This is why he cannot forgive student debt by Executive Order. Neither could he or his administration configure the relief for millions of people as the pandemic and lack of steady salaries possibly could evict millions of citizens from their landlords. He has just suspended the payments and the rent will sooner or later haunt the tenants who has to either save or move out at one point. While they will struggle to find another home or flat to live in.

President Biden has also made it impossible to find a measure to make Medicare for All a thing. Neither opening up for a public option. Therefore, the man who was beside Obama with Obamacare and additional measures with Medicaid. The current administration is even more mediocre with that after years of dismantling this by the Trump Administration.

Biden and his government is just a light-Republican edition. There is little to no real changes to see. Especially not from a far. The so-called “progressive” representatives and senators in the Democratic Party haven’t done much either. They are nice in the media and making statements in the press. However, they are not amending laws or policies which follows their “progressive” ideals. It is more of a posture and selling out to the rest of the Corporate democrats. Therefore, there is little difference between the “moderates” in the Democratic Party and the Republican counterparts.

This is why Biden bipartisan works makes sense. As the Democratic Party and their works are so much alike the Republican. Only difference is the party and the donors. The Democratic Party have the majority, but by what they have achieved. It doesn’t look like it. The Republican party is still in sort of control and giving the Democratic party a majority seems like a failure. Since they are not using it or trying to do what they promised.

Biden and the Democratic party will suffer and possible be hit in the mid-terms. That’s because they had the majority, but acted as a minority. They didn’t even try or use their authority for common sense polices. Policies that is popular by the general public and across the board. Yes, the donors and the budget would be bloated. However, it is not like the previous administration cared about that. The fiscal responsibility shouldn’t only be held by Democrats while Republicans can spend like drunk sea-men. This is why Biden could have spent vast funds on student debt and Medicare, which would have made legendary. However, he rather be a moderate and corporate politician who could easily be branded with an elephant instead of the donkey. Peace.

Zimbabwe: A COVID-19 Scandal [The US$89m plunder case]

If you wonder how much the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) cares? Well, their actions says otherwise. This is not the first time the ZANU-PF and the high ranking officials has looted, stolen and misused public funds. There been plenty of these over the years. The COVID-19 and the global pandemic has been another measure and a away to conceal and scheme funds away from where they where intended to go.

This is sickening, but not shocking. There been many over the years. Ghost diamonds, command agriculture and many many more. Therefore, the recent headline and the amount isn’t even triggering. It is just a systematic theft and using the state as a private bank-account. Expect ZANU-PF to do more of this. That’s because it has no punitive action against it and they are all eating of the plate of others. It has no consequences… and that’s why they ZANU-PF continues to do stuff like this.

The Nehanda Radio reports today:

The audit was funded by the World Bank. The report noted that US$89 022 103 was disbursed but could have been unaccounted for because of the “the processes of identification and assessment of intended beneficiaries was not properly co-ordinated, resulting in unreliable databases of beneficiaries, processing of payments to duplicate beneficiary names and beneficiaries who had similar identity numbers, but of different gender and dates of birth.” Chiri also noted that the easing of some controls and the streamlining of processes and procedures to facilitate emergency responses and quick actions to Covid-19 crisis, exposed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to the possible risks of misuse or abuse of public resources” (Nyashadzashe Ndoro – ‘US$89m Covid-19 funds may have been stolen, Chiwenga tried to conceal report’ 07.08.2021, Nehanda Radio).

When you have had funds of the amount of US$89m which is unaccounted for. The money has been disbursed and there is no account of it. The money have been transferred, but there is no proof of where it went. When these sorts of things happening … we know the state is thieving it and embezzling it.

They would have proven it and kept it to the books if it was a political objective behind it. If the state knew they would get good credit and possible political capital. They would have used these millions in the Ministry of Health and elsewhere in need.

No, they spent monies somewhere and the money didn’t go where it was intended too. That is not a shocker and we are not surprised. The only reason why we know this is because the World Bank audited it. If the World Bank didn’t do this… the ZANU-PF wouldn’t have revealed this or told about it. Someone had to leak this and prove the scandal itself.

The ZANU-PF and the high ranking officials has been eating and enjoying the funds. They have spent the monies on their pet-projects and possible side-dishes. We just know they have spent these and the general public will never see these funds return. The dollars has been squandered and misused. If they were in the books and done correctly, the World Bank wouldn’t have found this. That is just the reality of it all.

ZANU-PF is just following their current Modus Operandi and it is a never ending story. Peace.

RDC: Le Mouvement Citoyen Engagement Citoyen pour le Changement (ECCHA-RDC) – Communique de Presse No. 0014 (07.08.2021)

Republique Centrafricaine: Communique Gouvernemental (05.08.2021)

A look into the Amhara Prosperity Party newest piece called “No to Slavery for Freedom!!”

Today the Amhara Prosperity Party published a new piece on Facebook this time called ‘No to slavery for freedom!!’. This has happened as the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) are advancing and the central government have pledged that they could send the remaining troops at the frontline. Therefore, the words and rhetoric here is important to notice.

We know already the Amhara is clear-cut allies of the warfare, as it has invested it’s resources with the Regional Special Forces and Para-Military Group “Fano”. It has also annexed land been vital part of warfare since last year. The Regional State is now facing the blunt force from the army it attacked and seemingly is continuing its hateful content on the web. Which I will show.

First passage from the party:

This force is far from the value of Ethiopianness, it logs like locusts, robs, rapes women and mothers, and destroys infrastructure in general; The hatred of Amhara and Ethiopia is crazy and should be eradicated immediately. He should not be given rest or time. As a result, the campaign of survival will continue to intensify. Every night, the depths of the pit of the terrorist power increase. The enemy must be buried, both in deed and in thought” (APP, 06.08.2021).

We see the ideals and the acts of the APP. The ruling party from Amhara region. They are basing and saying the Tigrayans are doing illegal stuff. While we know what the Tripartite Alliance have been doing in the Tigray region. The exact things they are claiming the TDF is doing. This is a tactic and a measure which has become a staple in the conflict. As they are projecting. Also, like before from the same part. As the mountains was “a trap” today it’s “a pit” and the TPLF will be buried in it.

The APP Continues: “Although the terrorist TPLF has set out to attack Ethiopia, ranging from 12-year-olds to 70-year-old men and women, the ultimate goal of this war is to liberate the Tigrayan people who are affiliated with the TPLF. In particular, the oppressed farmer of Tigray, who lives in a shallow hut and pushes soil under a rock; It is not too late to start asking the terrorist TPLF: “Where did you throw our children?”” (APP, 06.08.2021).

Here the APP comes with it’s propaganda of the age and child soldiers, which have been use as a tool to vilify the TDF. While the PP, APP and allies have conscripted youths and untrained civilians to combat. Sending them to the frontline with barely enough training. They are the ones sending their “children” or the future of the Republic to an early grave. As they are meeting trained soldiers and guerrillas ready for battle. This is just infuriating to read, when you know the man-made famine and the ills of the state in region of Tigray. As the APP claims to free Tigray too, when they have looted, destroyed, raped and killed on large scale for months there. How dare they?

APP further states: “Although the war was aimed at bringing Ethiopia’s cancer to the grave, the barren mother of Tigray will also be liberated. Ethiopia’s national unity is demonstrating that it will not allow the unity of the state to be jeopardized by bandits and child terrorists” (APP, 06.08.2021).

Here again… the picture of an grave and death. While the mothers who was raped by the Tripartite Alliance is supposed to be freed by the APP now. That is really sickening. The mother who didn’t have food to feed it’s children. The mother who lost her livelihood and had to seek refugee. Because, the invading forces of the Tripartite Alliance came and caused systemic horrors. That mother is supposed to be saved by the same alliance? Who is the APP kidding here?

Again, with the Child Soldier propaganda…. the APP cannot help themselves and its obvious at this point. Say a lie once, everyone knows it is a lie. Say a lie twice and someone might believe it. Repeat the same lie and hope people start to believe it is a fact. That is what the state and the media houses connected are hoping for. While they are sending youth to die for a war that was futile and unnecessary.

Final point of the APP:

This force is far from the value of Ethiopianness, it logs like locusts, robs, rapes women and mothers, and destroys infrastructure in general; The hatred of Amhara and Ethiopia is crazy and should be eradicated immediately. He should not be given rest or time. As a result, the campaign of survival will continue to intensify. Every night, the depths of the pit of the terrorist power increase. The enemy must be buried, both in deed and in thought” (APP, 06.08.2021).

We are seeing here the vilification continues. Just like the “cancer” and “weeding” out which has been used in the past by the PM and APP. They are now calling their enemies “locust” and directly bastardizing them. A continued ploy to make them evil and being the berserks of the modern Ethiopia. That is how it looks.

The APP, PM and PP in general is not winding down their rhetoric. However, they are scaling up and showing no remorse. They are going straight and aiming directly. There is no middle-ground and the objective is clear.

While the APP and such is using the same propaganda to vilify the TDF or the TPLF. As they have to be the enemy and villain. Because, the state who we shouldn’t pay no mind. Is the hero and the saint, who can do no bad and no harm. Even if their report, their acts and their deviousness could easily be called into question. As the results within the Tigray region speaks for itself and make them look like terrorist compared to the TDF. They did everything they say the TPLF is doing, which is ironic and tragic at the same time. Peace.

Opinion: Abiy is projecting at TDF in concern to Lalibela, as his allies raided and destroyed sites in Tigray

“They have been bombarding churches and monasteries including in Axum and Debre Damo. The bombarding of the Debre Damo monastery was so terrifying. They destroyed the monastery residences and the life of at least one monk was lost [in the destruction]” Abune Mathias

The Tripartite Alliance in their path went all across the Tigray Region in the months of warfare. They bombed, the destroyed and looted heritage sites across the region. The Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) and Amhara Special Forces & Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano”. These allies went across the region and did the bidding.

The alliance didn’t care or have any concern of these buildings and it’s history. No, they raided Emperor Yohannes IV Museum/Palace in Mekelle. The same forces went in and massacred around the Tsion in Axum. There was several of other churches and buildings which was looted and destroyed by the Tripartite Alliance in the months of warfare.

Therefore, the use of Lalibela and being a UNESCO heritage site is just very convenient for the regime and it’s allies. They are spinning it and saying people should be worried. Like we don’t know what they did in Mekelle, Axum and elsewhere in the previous of months. The reports, the pictures and the knowledge of missing artefacts as well.

Like the Tripartite Alliance has looted the Debre Damo monastery and the Wukro al-Nejashi mosque. These are old heritage sites as well, which has significant importance for the Christian and Muslims. Where the was scrolls and manuscripts, which was looted and taken away from there. This is what the state and their allies did in the recent months.

So, when the Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister speaks ill of the TPLF and the TDF it is total projection of what they did themselves in Tigray. The state and its allies did destroy and loot heritage sites. The alliance did loot and rob factories, universities and everything else in their sights. Therefore, these statements and the ones from the outside should worry what this alliance still does in Western Tigray.

The TDF have not shown signs of destruction or looting, which the ENDF, EDF and Amhara allies has done in Tigray. The world should see what the Tripartite alliance did in the recent months and see the projection for which it is. The PM and PP knows this, but they have a vilifying story to sell. Peace.