CS Fred Matiangi has unleashed a new Moi era!

Today, Kenyans should feel like their repeating history, as the Jubilee Alliance new cabinet and the crackdown on opposition starts. Yesterday, the newly minted Cabinet Secretary for Interior Fred Matiangi ordered the National Super Alliance (NASA) or the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as a Criminal Gang. That is on the 30th January 2018, the day Raila Amolo Odinga sworn-in himself as President in Uhuru Park.

Now, the CS Matiangi continues where he left off yesterday, with continued media blackout and promises actions. That has already done against critics of him, blogger Cyprian Nyakundi is behind bars awaiting trial, also his kin has been detained. This because the CS cannot keep his little pinky for himself and wants to share it with a church-girl. Instead of the CS paying for the crimes of infidelity, Cyprian and family has lost their constitutional freedoms.

Therefore, we know that Matiangi are up something special and have not learned from history. Because he is without knowing or trying actually repeating history. I will take a few articles from the 1990s, to show how the KANU and Moi era was concerning how the ruling regime was treating their opponents. You will see very similar stories today. That should worry you, since the Jubilee instead of going beyond the measures of the past; they are replicating the worst from the past.

In 1990:

“NAIROBI, Kenya — In what could be a signal of a renewed crackdown on political opposition in this one-party country, the government Saturday announced a permanent ban on the Nairobi Law Monthly, a leading voice of dissent. It was the fourth time in two years that the government had banned a politically outspoken periodical, although Kenya’s constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Under government regulations, it is now illegal for anyone to possess even a past issue of the Law Monthly, which faced numerous incidents of official harassment during its two-year life. The rationale for the banning order was not made public, but in its latest issue, the Law Monthly had called for the dissolution of Parliament and for a constitutional amendment allowing the recall of a president who acts contrary to national law, a clear challenge to President Daniel Arap Moi” (Hiltzik, 1990).

In 1992:

“NAIROBI, Kenya, March 20— President Daniel arap Moi banned all political meetings today, citing weeks of ethnic violence that Government opponents say has been allowed to spread in order to undermine a movement for greater democracy. The ban, viewed by some politicians and diplomats as a possible prelude to declaring a state of emergency, comes only four months after Kenya moved to re-establish multiparty politics, which have been banned since 1969” (Perlez, 1992).

In 1997:

“While Mr. Moi runs the risk of being seen as a tyrant, the opposition is already being blamed by some middle-class Kenyans for looting and mayhem in the streets that have shut down normal business, political analysts said” (…) “Tension has been growing for weeks over calls to reform Kenya’s Constitution and repeal colonial-era security laws, which give the President sweeping powers to disperse protests and detain political opponents” (McKinly Jr, 1997)

While NTV, KTN and Citizen TV Kenya are both, down and blocked from broadcasting, because of the crimes. The purge against NASA has started, as NASA lawyer and Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang, who was the international barrister at the swearing-in yesterday. Are now detained by the Flying Squad and taken to Nairobi PCIO. Clearly, the Police Service is starting the mission on the newly formed criminal gang and former politicians.

With the knowledge of Cyprian, now MP Kajwang and there are other come. Since the words of CS Matiangi, that its time for actions. Means the crackdown on NASA is really beginning. More faces will be charged and arrested. More of the leadership who was there, expect Hassan Ali Joho and others who was there to be behind bars.

Since now, the Moi era 2.0. is starting. The dictatorship is official, as the Jubilee, President Kenyatta and DP Ruto are sanctioning Matiangi to do as he pleases. Create offenses and make sure political opponents get behind bars. Certainly, also media will be under fire, as they already are.

Therefore, we can await a charge of treason on Raila Odinga, since he did what he did yesterday. Matiangi and the Police will not show mercy. They are not showing it to the rest. Now the Jubilee has started and certainly Kajwang is the beginning. CS Matiangi clearly missed the Moi era and wants it to return, so refreshing of him. Clearly, he has misunderstood. But it seems fair from the seat of power, but when your oppressed and harassed by the illegitimate authority. You know it is about time before the ship starts to crack. Jubilee, has the power for now, but for how long. Because they haven’t the popularity of Odinga. That was proven yesterday. That is why the Police acting with calm, but now they are starting to round up people. Expect them to cease NASA offices and Opposition Party headquarters. That is coming too. Especially if Kenyatta and Ruto let Matiangi do what he do.

We have no gone back in time, we are repeating history and the lesson is happening right in front of our eyes. Matiangi is working his magic like one of the henchmen ruling in the dark days of Moi. He is starting with crackdown on media and now opposition. We can await more swift laws, more black-outs, like social media and the internet. Don’t be surprised if VPN is the way out soon. The government will use all tools to control and oppress the citizens who are not aligned with them.

Let it be known, that the Moi days back, with the people in charge of it is Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and Fred Matiangi. They are all bringing back the good-old one-party, dictatorship, the Kalenjin and Kikuyu power-house, where all the rest just being silenced. Following orders from the State House, let the President do what he pleases and media swallows the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit is spreading of information. So that the Githeri Media is delivering the right message, massaged by the inner-circle and no dissidents allowed. The Jubilee will now control all and start purge against opposition.

It is starting, one man down, more networks and people to go. Expect more papers, internet pages like the Elephant.Info and others, if they are not connected from a far to put into jeopardy. Since, Matiangi will go against it in loyalty to the cause. The cause of strengthening the Jubilee, instead he might make Odinga even stronger. As his mission to prove the totalitarian state is in motion. Jubilee is losing at their own game and showing their true colors. While the whole world is watching.

Still, it is painful to see history repeats itself. To the Moi era return. That Kenyatta unleashed that on his people. That is what he did and how he used his power. If that isn’t sad, than nothing is. You have the ability to do good, but use it in vain and for the cause of contempt of the people. That is why Kasarani was empty on Jamhuri Day. Jubilee doesn’t have the people’s support and they know it.

Still, that is the time its good to have the police and military to back you up. So you can silence the citizens with bullets and tear-gas, because that is how you build a sustainable society. NOT!

Now, let it be known, Moi era 2.0. is now on. Let the sadness continue..

Reference:

Hiltzik, Michael A. – ‘Kenya Bans Leading Dissident Periodical : Suppression: President Moi also inveighs against church leaders and political figures urging a change in domination by his party’ (30.09.1990) link: http://articles.latimes.com/1990-09-30/news/mn-2506_1_political-figures

McKinley Jr, James C. – ‘Crackdown Bleeds Kenya’s Democracy Movement, Killing 7’ (08.08.1997) link: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/08/world/crackdown-bleeds-kenya-s-democracy-movement-killing-7.html

Perlez, Jane – ‘Kenya Orders Ban on Political Meetings’ (21.03.1992) link: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/21/world/kenya-orders-ban-on-political-meetings.html

The New York Gang doesn’t want to sanction Russian’s like the Congress do!

Today, 180 days after the ‘H.R.3364 – Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’, an act where the United States Government could sanction Russia, Iran and other countries, that the United States have less favorable relationship with. This was a reaction by the Congress, that got unanimously support in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. On the 25th July 2017, the House of Representatives voted for it 419 for it and 3 against it. Two days later on the 27th July 2017, the Senate voted, 98 for it and 2 against it. Therefore, of the lawmakers in the United States. They was all for it, in the sense of protecting the Republic from foreign powers and sanctioning them for interfering.

Clearly, the White House and the Donald Trump Administration see it otherwise. Since they are using part of the law to their advantage. So they don’t have to enact or add sanctions on Russia. It is weird, but they are writing a waiver by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who wrote to Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representative Edward R. Royce this on the 29th January 2018:

The guidance established a multi-factor approach to determining what constituted a “significant” transaction that includes, but is not limited to, the significance of the transaction to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, including its relation to cyber misconduct; the nature and magnitude of the transaction; and the relation and significance of the transaction to Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors more generally” (…) “We engaged in extensive consultations and “deep dives” with the relevant country desks at the Department of State and the Department of Defense to promulgate a comprehensive approach to implementing the legislation, identify opportunities and challenges for implementation in each affected relationship, and develop engagement approaches integrated with the entire range of bilateral priorities at stake. We extensively engaged the private sector, bot via in-person meetings and by responding to the many inquires received through our public web address, to promote compliance and identify private sector challenges” (Rex Tillerson waiver to Edward R. Royce on H.R. 3364).

We can wonder what sort of Bilateral Priorities means, as this is politician lingo, to say things of importance without specifying. If this is ExxonMobile Contracts to extract petroleum together with GazProm, who knows. If there are other initial priorities that we don’t know about. The DoD and DoS are using one by sentence to not add sanctions on Russia, and it can make any thinking man wonder:

This is taken from Sec. 231:

(1) a written determination that the waiver—

(A) is in the vital national security interests of the

United States”

(c) DELAY OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—The President may delay the imposition of sanctions under subsection (a) with respect to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, not less frequently than every 180 days while the delay is in effect, that the person is substantially reducing the number of significant transactions described in subsection (a) in which that person engages” (H.R. 3364) .

We can wonder what vital national security interests that the President Trump and Secretary Tillerson are seeing within Russia. Is the Pee-Pee tape with hookers, that the Kremlin might have? Is it possible hacked documents from the Trump Campaign. Is the possible ties to Russian Mobs and Russian Laundromat for fueling black-market monies and white-wash them for Russian Oligarchs through the Trump Organization? Is the help of Russian agents and operatives during the 2015 and 2016 Campaigns before the election victory of President Trump?

That is just simple questions we are awaiting answers on and hoping the Special Counsel Robert Mueller can answer these and find the evidence of the involvement with Russian’s in the Elections in 2016. All of the connections between the Russians and Trump. That has been uncovered with time, and more and more questions have been arisen. They will not become smaller while the investigations linger and the knowledge of the collusion from Russian operatives within the United States Presidential Election, the in-action from the current administration is saying more than words.

That the Trump Administration who has enough problematic sources, enough trying to fire anyone who investigate into the Russian Collusion, fires anyone and questions the intelligence organizations who has warned of the Russian interference. Are still being silenced. Just like former FBI Director James Comey. Also, now FDI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. The firing of Attorney General Sally Yates. And all the former who was Attorney General of Southern New York Phreet Bharara, who was also fired by Trump. Anyone he can get haul of will he fire or make it an easy with. We can just await Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who haven’t been loyal enough to Trump (in his deluded mind) and also Deputy General Rod Rosenstein, who got Special Counsel Mueller to start investigations into his affairs. We just know there will be more men to block and silence, so that people will not know the ugly truth between the Trump Organization, Trump Campaign and Russian interference. Which is evident, as the meetings, documentation and the help that is going-on until this day.

And it is not easy to escape anymore as the net is circling around the White House. With the plea deal made with Michael Flynn. The indictments of former Campaign Manager Paul Manafort and aide Richard Gates. Together with the George Papadopoulos a former campaign aide who has also told his stories to investigation. For whatever bread-crumbs these gentlemen are leaving behind, as well as the interviews and subpoena’s that the Grand Jury is delivered can clearly indict more people inside the White House. This sort of allegations and also counts who has been charged with is damning. It isn’t a civil suit, it is serious tampering of the state as agents of a foreign power. That is not something that should be taken lightly.

Therefore, that the Trump Administration isn’t answering or adding any sanctions to the Russians after 180 days, only delivering a kitty cat report of possible subjects and close aides of Putin. Shows that Trump is afraid of the consequences of adding on the already Russian sanctions made by the Obama Administration. This after all intelligence organizations are saying that the Russian did interfere and no question of a doubt. It’s like the Trump administration thinks people are stupid and ignorant. Many are because they are looking at Fox News, believing what nonsense they are saying as truth.

That is why President Trump and Tillerson is off the chain, showing more loyalty to Kremlin, than to Congress. They are showing more solidarity with Russians, than with Americans. They are actually pushing for less interference from the Americans towards Russians. It is backwards…

I still wonder, what “bilateral priorities” did Tillerson have in mind? Are they what we think they are or is it something else. Since it isn’t like people in Detroit are lining up to Russian motorcars or power-tools! How often has you seen Lada on the streets of New York? That is what you should wonder about. Because this doesn’t make slightest sense, as all of the clues that isn’t connected yet, but hopefully pieced together by Mueller. So he can report with evidence and transactions done between Trump and Russians. Peace.

A Working Paper reveals the political stakes in the Kenya-Somali Illegal Sugar Trade!

The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) have had a study into the border trade and sugar exports through Somalia into Kenya. How it is used and how it gets to the market. Clearly, the market for sugar is there in Kenya. As the Sugar Industry is struggling to deliver enough sugar and the state has embargoed imports. Still, the same actors and the same politicians are doing behind closed doors agreements that put the sugar in stores through the porous borders of the Kenyan-Somalian border.

The paper itself paint the picture very well and show the importance of the export, since the magnitude on both economies are affected by it. It is also implicating big names and their organizations. As the politicians has another black-market cartel item to sell to the public. What was striking was that the importers together with local merchants are repacking the sugar into bags of the State Owned Entity (SOE) of Mumias. The Company that has been saved the state after devastating corruption and also lacking investment into the mills. Therefore, the politicians has used this name to trade illegal sugar with name. That they even used the stickers to prove it was of Kenyan quality while selling it to the public.

The quotes I have taken, is what see as important. But its compelling to show the this illegal imports into Kenya affects the politicians and the economy in general. Take a look!

The Amount of Money:

Raw sugar accounts for 10% of total Somali imports rated at US $188 billion (Observatory of Economic Complexity 2016). In other words, sugar importing is enormously lucrative and important for the local economy on both sides of the border. The sugar imported from Somalia is central for covering the production and import deficit in Kenya. Most sugar enters through Kismayu port where it is manually loaded onto trucks and driven to the Kenyan border. There it is re-loaded onto other trucks, four-wheel drive vehicles and even donkey carts to cross the border on the so-called ‘rat routes’ that circumvent the border posts to avoid the payment of bribes, random checks by the Kenyan Revenue Authority (KRA), and the occasional confiscation. Based on interviews and observation JFJ estimates that 150,000 tons of illegal sugar entered Kenya from Kismayu in 2014 (JFJ 2015). This amounts to US $400 million worth of annual revenue divided between KDF, Al-Shabaab, local businessmen and politicians, as well as local police and border patrols, including the KRA (though this is not formal revenue) (JFJ 2015)” (DIIS Working Paper, P: 10, 2017).

KRA:

The investigator explained how his unit, in collaboration with the Kenyan Revenue Authorities (KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), had planned the raid of a warehouse in an industrial area of Nairobi. They had found tons of processed Brazilian sugar allegedly smuggled into Kenya via Somalia, and it was now being repackaged from 50 kilo sacks into 500 gram and 1 kilo bags bearing the Kenyan brand Mumias Sugar and with added stickers from KEBS showing that the product meets Kenyan standards of production and quality. The repackaged sugar is – when not confiscated by the authorities – sold to retailers as refined Kenyan sugar at a huge profit. In 2014 a one kilo sugar bag sold for KES 133 in Nairobi supermarkets, and by May 2017 prices had gone up to KES 170 with some supermarkets rationing it to one package per customer” (DIIS Working Paper, P: 12, 2017).

Political Influence:

Like the former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, the Garissa governor Nathif Jama Adam, and the Garissa-born majority speaker of parliament Aden Duale are rumoured to be implicated in the sugar trade (Rawlence 2016: 236). These rumours reach all the way to Nairobi where they can be voiced more freely than in the north. The power of the people implicated by the rumours is more distant in Nairobi, whereas in the northern parts of Kenya the secrecy associated with the rumours points to the importance and power of those involved” (…) “With devolution, local government has become more powerful and more is at stake for locally elected officials due to their increased budget responsibilities and decision-making powers. Concomitantly, local government has become more vulnerable to pressures from local stakeholders like strong businessmen, militias and other state actors. The porous border, the circumvention of border patrols, and the implication of government officials ranging from KDF to KRA means that much of the sugar is not declared to Kenyan customs officials, making Garissa county one of the largest illicit markets in the country. The flow of goods across the border and further into Kenya formally falls under the responsibility of KRA and the national government. Yet the county government is responsible for local revenue collection and enforcement at local markets and car parks, and they also issue licenses for traders. In that sense the warehouses in the region fall under county administration. The latter thus plays an important role in the possibilities for the redistribution of smuggled goods” (DIIS Working Paper, P: 15, 18, 2017).

This here is evidence of cartels, illegal trade that is benefiting the political elites in Kenya and in Somalia. They are both having knowledge of it and its undermining the embargoes and also the activity itself. Since the politicians are the ones that has put in the provisions and the laws to stop imports to secure the local sugar industry.

This paper shows how much money that is involved. It is big business and the cartels are earning fortunes on lie, where they take foreign cheap sugar and trade it as Kenyan sugar with stickers of authenticity of KEBS. That is clearly a violation in itself, but combined with the illegal sugar, they are even using sophisticated methods to trade it to the public. To make the sugar seem like Kenya, when it isn’t.

That this money is shared by many different part of government officials was implicated int the trade from Kenya Defense Force Officials, Kenya Revenue Authority Officials, Border Patrol, Politicians and even Somali terrorist organization Al-Shabab. So the Kenyan are sending military to Somali to fight Al-Shabab, but at the same time giving them revenue with illegal sugar trade. That is a striking a fact considering the use of military to secure safety for Kenyans. Therefore, the cartels are also making sure the reason they are fighting inside Somalia are funded by the stakes into the illegal sugar industry. That should put some alarm bells on. That the politicians are playing with matches and should know that this cartel plus funding of Al-Shabab might hurt them in the long-run. Instead of being just a profitable business.

This is eye-opening and also a tale of corruption and sugar-cartels using the porous borders between the republics in favor of those dealing illegal sugar and selling it on the Kenyan market. Certainly, this sort of thing will implicate bigger names, than the ones mentioned in the paper. If investigated and looked through. You could certainly also find many bigger names who has created massive wealth within short amount of time. Peace.

Reference:

Rasmussen, Jacob – ‘SWEET SECRETS: SUGAR SMUGGLING AND STATE FORMATION IN THE KENYA–SOMALIA BORDERLANDS’ (December 2017) – DIIS Working Paper 2017:11

My honest letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta after the Heinous Welcome at JKIA for Raila Odinga!

Oslo, 17th November 2017

Dear Sir, His Excellency Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta!

I am writing to Mr. President in haste as the police brutality at innocent civilians are overpowering. That several people, people just gathering to show up for their Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance lost their lives nearby Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. This is a sad day, because it is so unnecessary loss of lives. Mr. President, these deaths are done on your watch and with the decisions of the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and Cabinet Secretary of the Interior Fred Matiang’i.

The NASA did notify of their actions and did comply within the law. That NASA told the authorities and they showed up. It wasn’t until the police came with water-canons, live-bullets and tear-gas the scattering of the public became violent. That the Police Service made it worse and in the cost lives. Shows the impunity of the Police Service and your government. You should be ashamed. Especially, considering your own history when it comes to this matter.

While you in power has not allowed the NASA to welcome Odinga home on the 17th November 2017. However, when you arrived from the International Criminal Court in Netherlands on the 9th October 2014, you got the grand welcome at the JKIA. The authorities accept this and didn’t stop you from bashing in glory. It wasn’t any problem or excuses to stop it, like you have done to NASA/Odinga. Clearly, you are of a higher class than him, since you can do everything. While he can taste tear-gas and see his supports harassed by security forces. You must be proud of your actions and hypocrisy.

Also, as you have claimed the NASA only demonstrate and create trouble, you might have forgotten the days of opposition as a KANU leader, Mr. President. When Mwai Kibaki in December 2006 claimed you demonstrated together with 20 MPs illegally and used tear-gas against you. You we’re quoted at that time with this: “What has happened today is a travesty of justice” (BBC News – ‘Police tear-gas Kenyatta protest’ 05.12.2006 link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6209470.stm). ‘

I am sure what happen in Uhuru Park on the 5th December 2006 could be called a travesty of justice. The same can be said about JKIA attack on peaceful procession while meeting returning Odinga. That is also a travesty of justice. It was injustice and fatal for some. These are tragic and shows the violent security forces are against their own citizens. Instead of protecting them, they are getting rid of them. The opposite of their mission.

Today was a travesty, there we’re no need to become like that, but ended so. That this happen was unnecessary and acts of evil. President Kenyatta is this what your legacy and what you want to be remembered for? Totalitarian Musevenism and crackdown on opposition into the foolishness. Will you soon detain people for acting on twitter on other than Cyprian Nyakundi? Will you pursuit other activists and other Civil Society Organizations?

Is that what your family legacy and your name to tarnished into, that in seeking power again. You will use violence and intimidation, you will crush institutions and destroy society for your gain. Just so you can stay in power? Is that all your worth? Is that your belief of greatness and brilliance?

Kenyatta, I thought you were better and had hope when you got elected. Clearly I was wrong. I am often so. But you are just another totalitarian and autocrat who uses the power to silence opposition. You even take lives just to prove your power. Instead of showing grace and servitude, your showing arrogance and ruthlessness. Don’t believe that is wise, that will lead to your demise. Not only your name, but your legacy.

The people showing up for Odinga deserved better, they deserved to made sure the procession went in peace. Not be afraid of violent acts of oppression from the Police Service. That is sad and travesty against justice.

To use your own words again:

What has happened today is a travesty of justice” – Uhuru Kenyatta

Best Regard

Writer of Minbane

DRC: Mining Fraudster Col. Abbas Kayonga creates military stand-off in Bukavu!

That the man gets to duplicate a government office and safety commission for exports of minerals from South Kivu. Abbas Kayonga was able for years to duplicate and double commission for checking and securing exports of minerals between South Kivu and Rwanda. Clearly, he was wise enough and used his connection within the local government of South Kivu. But, they must have been tired off it and also the tricks that has been done. As some has been caught by his duplicated commission like in 2015 and others has worked together with him.

Kayonga, must have had connections with the miners and the mineral extraction industry, which means they were able to work with him and also make the documentation legalized through his duplicated operation. That must have been the reason of the colonel Kayonga rise to fortune and possible collections of weapons, as he could have a stand-off with the army after desisting to stand down from his commission. Something he didn’t want to do. But first some context, before what happen today in Bukavu, as he wouldn’t accept, because it has been his racket for years. Take a look!

South Kivu export of Minerals to Rwanda:

The situation in South Kivu is a little more difficult because of the confusion between the

commission against mining fraud, the SPC / South Kivu and the cell fight against mining fraud in

South Kivu led by Mr. ABBAS KAYONGA” (…) “ In Bukavu

information report that the head of the fight against mining fraud cell itself would be involved in

facilitating the smuggling of minerals to Rwanda. 3 main reasons seem to confirm this:

1. The people worked with the RCD (Congolese Rally for Democracy);

2. She lived in Rwanda for several years after reunification;

3. The creation of an anti-cell against mining fraud by the Governor of South Kivu parallel to

the national commission against mining fraud that has a focal point in South Kivu. To understand how the smuggling of minerals between the DRC and Rwanda was being harvested reliable data on the operation of networks operating in the minerals transit areas in Rwanda to Kigali Gisenyi, Kibuye and Shangugu” (SAM-PPA, 2015).

The technical unit in charge of the field operations of the South Kivu mining commission, Kayonga Abbas, seized 60 tons of cassiterite, coltan and olfram in 2015. It handed over these minerals to the Police of the Mines. Their owners paid the public treasury a sum of 33,380 dollars to recover their parcel. Kayonga Abbas laments the involvement of some military officers in mining fraud” (Nyota, 2016).

The Civil Society Coordination Office of South Kivu is delighted by the dismissal of Mr Abbas Kayonga from the Anti-Fraud Unit in South Kivu. Yesterday Wednesday night evening of the dead city around 19h, he would have been surprised to cross in Rwanda, a large shipment of tourmaline. He would have resisted the agents of the DGDA to the point of trying to come to arms. Fortunately he has been mastered. It is a sigh of relief for the population and especially the traders of South Kivu who were hunted down by the latter with imposition doublet, “says the message of Patient Bashombe” (…) “Remember that the anti-fraud cell of the province was a pure duplication of the DPMER. Thing that the civil society through the FEC have always lambasted. Despite the length of the night, the sun finally appears. Beware of all accomplices of fraud, embezzlement, corruption, … and other antivaleurs in the DRC, and particularly in South Kivu. These suicidal practices only accentuate the suffering of the people. The watchful eye of civil society is open and active. Here the opportunity to draw the attention of Governor Claude Nyamugabo to put order in the mining sector. There is food and drink, “says Patient Bashombe” (Lubambo, 2017)

According to security officials, the police officers were deployed to the home of the head of the Anti-Fraud Service which had been suspended on 2 November by Governor Claude Nyamugabo for harassment. This official, prosecuted official sources, is being guarded by armed men who are known neither of the Army nor the Police. The same sources reveal that there would be a cache of weapons at his home in Muhumba” (Radio Okapi, 2017).

Reports indicate that gun battle broke out following an attempt by the Governor of South Kivu province, Claude Nyamugabo, to arrest the provincial anti-smuggling Unit boss, Abbas Kayonga at his home in Muhumba Island. Sources on ground indicate that the Governor allegedly accuses Kayonga of involvement in fraudulent mining and asked him to resign after smuggled minerals were intercepted. It is believed that Kayonga refused to resign and resisted any attempt to arrest him, alleging that the confiscated smuggled minerals belonged to the sister of the area governor. Kayonga, guarded by private security, was seen with a fully loaded machine gun in his garden during the standoff in which grenades and bombs were going off in the area. The crossfire left two of his guards wounded and one of them later this afternoon was reportedly dead from bullet wounds. Eye witnesses say residents in the area were seen fleeing to avoid being caught up in the fracass. Meanwhile, other residents have taken advantage of the situation and looted a church and shops. “This has created losses for Rwandan traders.We have asked residents on Rwandan side to stay calm. We are talking to DRC officials who say that it’s an issue of indiscipline and it will resolved,” the Mayor of Rusizi, Harelimana Frederic said” (Sabiiti, 2017).

So clearly, the gig was up and the time for it stop had to appear. There been rumors of his connection to Rwanda and that he used his connections to build houses and buy land in Rwanda. While could clearly be connected with the mineral industry of Rwanda and their export networks, which is connected with the Kivu provinces. That has been going on for decades. He has just used the commission to make agreements and funds. If not he wouldn’t have all these guns and guards as a civil servant in Bukavu.

This is clearly stopping one racket out of plenty, who are living off and sponging off the mineral extraction and export from South Kivu province to far hinterland. Kayonga is just one out of many, but his story is an example of someone trying to make a government institution, when there already are one and is able to live off it for years. That is what the government has accepted and wonder why it took so long to stop it as well. Since they must have known about the double check-up and commissions who looks into the matter of mineral exports in the province. That is really unique and that Kinshasa has accepted this behavior is something you also should think about. I don’t have the answer, but a reasonable pay-off and envelopes between them might have occurred now and then. Peace.

Reference:

Nyota – ‘Fraude minière: 60 tonnes de cassitérite et de coltan saisies au Sud-Kivu’ (17.02.2017) link: http://www.nyota.net/2016/02/17/fraude-miniere-60-tonnes-de-cassiterite-de-coltan-saisies-sud-kivu/

Lumbambo, Adonis – ‘Suspension d’Abbas Kayonga : Le bureau de coordination de la société civile du Sud-Kivu jubile et charge l’incriminé’ (02.11.2017) link: http://www.laprunellerdc.info/2017/11/02/suspension-dabbas-kayonga-le-bureau-de-coordination-de-la-societe-civile-du-sud-kivu-jubile-et-charge-lincrimine/

Radio Okapi – ‘Sud-Kivu : des tirs entendus depuis le matin à Bukavu’ (05.11.2017) link: https://www.radiookapi.net/2017/11/05/actualite/securite/sud-kivu-des-tirs-entendus-depuis-le-matin-bukavu

Sabiiti, Daniel – ‘Rwandan Traders Stranded At DRC Border As Gunfire Rocks Across’ (05.11.2017) link: http://ktpress.rw/2017/11/rwandan-traders-stranded-at-drc-border-as-gunfire-rocks-across/

Save Act Mine (SAM-PPA) – ‘INTERIM REPORT OF MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE CHAIN

APPROVISIONNMENT MINERALS’ (August-September 2015)

Anthony Weiner possibly sentenced up to 2 years for sexually interacting with a teenage girl!

So he had stopped in 2012, but started again 2016? Seem like a pattern.

The former United States Congressman Anthony Weiner, the Democratic Party member and former representative we’re today the Acting United States Attorney Joon H. Kim delivered the Government’s Sentencing Memo of his latest criminal case against Weiner. The Document that is delivered before his sentencing on the 25th September 2017. Since the case is so severe and the defendant knew what he did. Therefore, the punishment should be after those standards.

This is not merely a “sexting” case. (Def. Mem. at 37-43). The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger. With full knowledge that he was communicating with a real 15-year-old girl, the defendant asked her to engage in sexually explicit conduct via Skype and Snapchat, where her body was on display, and where she was asked to sexually perform for him. (PSR ¶¶ 11, 12). That offense – transmitting obscenity to a minor to induce her to engage in sexually explicit conduct by video chat and photo – is far from mere “sexting.” Weiner’s criminal conduct was very serious, and the sentence imposed should reflect that seriousness”.

This here proves the acts of the politician, who should know better, as he was a member of legislators and also was somebody the public should look up to. Clearly, he lost his way, as he we’re getting engaged in a minor and using his grown-up capacity to lure her. This proves his ways of actually acting in a deprecating way.

The defendant’s submission repeatedly makes note of the 15-year-old Minor Victim’s various motives for communicating with Weiner and her profit from sharing those communications with the media. While careful not to cast blame on the Minor Victim outright or disclaim ultimate responsibility for his crime, he relies, in part, on the circumstances of their communications in arguing for a sentence of probation. That argument should be rejected, and Weiner should be sentenced for what he did – not what motived the Minor Victim. Weiner, a grown man, a father, and a former lawmaker, willfully and knowingly asked a 15-year-old girl to display her body and engage in sexually explicit conduct for him online. Such conduct warrants a meaningful sentence of incarceration”.

It’s hard to disagree on any part of this legal argument, as the 5-minutes of fame of the minor victim shouldn’t matter, as the politician used his position and knowledge, as well as personal history with these sorts of acts. Shows a pattern, also that he cannot help himself. That he even lures a minor victim to display her body to him online. He should have been more careful and considerate of his acts. As anyone should not go into this sort of acts, as sexually acts with a minor is breaking the law. A Congressman should know this. Even an ordinary citizen knows this. It would be betraying the law, by giving way for possible 5-minutes of fame for the victim, as that makes it acceptable to break the law. That sort of play, makes all crimes okay, as long as it makes you famous. Than, there would be less suits and court motions, whole industries built around the courts would go bankrupt by that argument alone.

Therefore, the possible time for serving behind bars makes sense:

As Weiner knew full well, the law unequivocally prohibits the online sexual exploitation of minors, no matter the app used to commit the crime or the apparent sophistication or motivation of the young teenager on the other end. The law must be respected to protect other teens from falling prey to the same conduct. The non-custodial sentence that the defendant requests would undercut this principle. A sentence within the range of 21 to 27 months would, by contrast, promote respect for the law and serve as a deterrent to others who are considering a path similar to that trodden by the defendant”.

That Anthony Weiner knew what he was doing is most likely. That he was liking what he was doing, also so. Since he also triggered the minor victim to do despicable acts. What is not surprising is that he trying to get mediocre or weak sentencing, since he as public figure should get lee-way. But the Judges thinks the principals and law should apply to him as anyone else. So that people would respect the rule of law. Also proving the public that this sort of behavior could have you punished.

We can hope that Weiner becomes state property for a long while, as an example of people should prey on minors or teenage girls to do sexually explicit acts. This sort of acts should be punished and done to honor the laws and the principals of justice. That the Southern District of New York wish to apply the sentence between 21 to 27 months, which is over a 1 ½ year or over 2 years in prison for what he did. That sort of example will prove that this far from acceptable and no one should be involved in this. Unless, it is to conceding adults who are doing it. So if Weiner was doing this with an adult woman, who wanted to this, than it would be okay. Not morally as a married man, but from a legal standpoint. Peace.

US: Hon. Michael C. Manning letter to Arizona Attorney General Michael Mukasey – “Re: Request for Civil Rights Investigation of the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona” (23.04.2008)

Trouble in Paradise Part III – Crackdown on the Opposition Continues in the Maldives!

There are more trouble at the high sea. In Male, Maldives, the President Abdulla Yameen and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Today, there we’re hold Court in secrecy where the Jumhooree Party leader Ibrahim Gasim to be sentenced for three years. There are even more MPs who has sentenced, since the President Yameen and his party really has an issue with the opposition, and their will to question the President. Therefore, he has attacked them and used the powers of office to silence them.  

As the Maldives Independent reports:

Officers from the Maldives Correctional Services meanwhile went to IGMH Friday afternoon to take custody of Gasim. According to lawyers, the criminal court has now lifted Gasim’s travel ban and the prisons authority has assured that arrangements will be made for his departure. The four-party opposition coalition has condemned Gasim’s jailing as “part of a relentless campaign of persecution” after the opposition secured a majority of parliament with defections from the ruling party last month. “The politically motivated charges and sentence were brazenly framed and fixed to strip MP Gasim Ibrahim of his Parliamentary seat,” the alliance said in a joint statement Friday. The opposition also highlighted “irregularities” noted by Gasim’s legal team, including the judge closing hearings to the media and the public, resuming the trial without preliminary hearings after the charges were resubmitted by the Prosecutor General’s office, and refusing to grant adequate time to prepare. The lawyers also noted that the prosecution only submitted excerpts from Gasim’s speech as evidence and failed to produce any witnesses to testify. “The sentencing of MP Gasim Ibrahim once again confirms the lack of transparency and independence of Maldives’ judiciary, and the breakdown of the entire criminal justice system,” reads the statement” (Maldives Independent, 2017).

It wasn’t only leader of Jumhooree leader Gasim who was sentenced during the day. There reports of 10 more Members of Parliament from the opposition. On of the news of Ahmed Mahloof MP, he was arrested while being interviewed by a journalist on Friday. This is while the Faris Maumoon MP is still lingering in jail. So the PPM and the President Yameen are really cracking down on the opposition.

Just take a look:

The Criminal Court on Thursday commenced trial proceedings of 12 opposition lawmakers over trespassing on parliament premises, issuing the official notice of the trial to the MPs. The opposition lawmakers are being charged with obstructing law enforcement officers for pushing past security barricades and forcefully entering the parliament building on July 24 despite the heavy army and police presence barring entry. This marks the first time for the state to prosecute such a high number of MPs simultaneously in a single case” (…) “The lawmakers charged with obstructing law enforcement officers are: Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Hithadhoo North Mohamed Aslam, Henveiru South MP Mohamed Abdul Kareem, Henveiru North MP Abdulla Shahid, Hithadhoo Central MP Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, Maafannu West MP Mohamed Falaah, Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz, Nolhivaram MP Hussain Areef, Maduvvari MP Mohamed Ameeth, Villingili MP Saud Hussain, Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim” (…) “If convicted of the charge, the 12 MPs would face a jail sentence of four months and 24 days, but they will preserve their parliament seats” (Maldives Times, 2017).

So the opposition MPs are really under fire. The PPM are really wanting to get rid of the opposition. To take total control of the Parliament and the legislation. Because of this the people are reacting. Since the PPM are taking total control with force and misuse of power.

There are now reports that the opposition supporters and people are planning to demonstrate because of the crackdown on them. We should really worry about President Yameen, who are now fearing rule of law and justice. Since he cannot stand their possible votes in the Parliament. They cannot manage to have them there. The Parliament votes could oust speakers in the ‘No Confidence’. Therefore, the President are in fear of their powers and has to use his executive powers to silence them. Peace.

Reference:

Maldives Independent – ‘Gasim sentenced in absentia to three years, stripped of seat’ (25.08.2017) link:http://maldivesindependent.com/politics/gasim-sentenced-in-absentia-to-three-years-stripped-of-seat-132255

Maldives Times – ‘Court begins trial process of 12 opposition lawmakers’ (25.08.2017) link:https://maldivestimes.com/court-begins-trial-process-of-12-opposition-lawmakers/