Opinion: The Trump administration wants another Bolivia in Venezuela…

The actions made today by the United States Department of Justice to indict President Nicolás Maduro Moro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a clear sign to the world. Also, that the US DOJ also issued the same sort of cases against 14 more high ranking officials of the Republic.

It is not so many months ago since the coup d’etat against the Bolivian President Evo Morales and his socialist government. This is again an assault on an independent republic in Latin America by the US government. They are really aiming harder. There is also not many months since the opposition leader and far-right Washington crony Juan Guaido participated and was a visitor at the State of the Nation in January 2020. Therefore, the actions now is showing flex towards the regime in Caracas.

Surely, the US government thinks they can get away with this and criminalizing the central government of Venezuela. They are putting big claims of drug-trafficking and other claims of illegal activity. However, the same US government propped up Guaido and has paid several of mercenaries to deal with things in the past too. Not like the US government is independent and a partial partner in the affairs here.

They want to have another far-right puppet in Latin America. Just like the enriching looting government in Bolivia now. Whose now opening up for US based companies to extract and get passes to export resources cheaply to the United States. Surely, they want the same thing done in Venezuela. Where they can get the oil reserves instead of seeing it sold to China or Russia like today. It is easy to see the game they play, because the cards are all on the table.

The Manduro isn’t saints, but the direct interference is directly disrespectful and trying to force another coup d’etat. I wonder how the United States citizens would enjoy if there was foreign forces choosing their leaders and making their representatives to puppet of Kremlin or elsewhere.

The US government wants to make Maduro into a new Morales. Put him into exile and so fourth. In our days and times. The US government isn’t even concealing their efforts, it is an open-air bazaar of actions and they using all means now.

It is not like the US has jurisdiction or can prove their allegations. This comes out of nowhere and seems like a plot from the Trump Presidency. That is why they have made love stories sweeter than the songs of Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. This is why they target Maduro and his associates. This is how it seems.

I’m not buying the stories nor the sudden indictment from a corrupt and impartial government like the US government. They are not believable. This is done as ploy for Guaido. They want another Morales served and sentenced. That is the message.

This is the “Washington Consensus” at the moment. So, I’m not buying tickets to their shows. Peace.

Opinion: Section 8 of POMA is Null- and Void, what does that mean?

Well, now the Constitutional Court came today with a striking judgment. That the Section 8 of the Public Order Management Act of 2013 is unconstitutional. Section 8 of the POMA is very clear. That gives the powers to officers and give the police the authority to block any meeting. It also gives the powers to the Police to disperse a meeting. Also, finally the sub-section also issues the officers in question the powers to assess if a person is disobeying the law or unlawfully assembles. Which makes that person liable for sentencing according to the Penal Code section 117.

Therefore, today’s judgment is vital, as the Police Force by definition now doesn’t have the authority to block any gathering. Neither disperse it or issue an order to stop the public from participate in any public meeting/gathering. This here is an direct consequence of the judgment today.

We knew this law was draconian. The whole law isn’t null and void, just one part of it, but it takes away the powers to enforce it. The Police Force, the authorities is limited by this. This law has banned concerts, public gatherings, consultation meetings, anniversary rallies, opening of political party offices and so fourth. The state has given all sorts of orders and usage of the law to an extent, where the opposition is futile. They couldn’t conduct either internal party organizations nor actually try to gain new followers, since the state stopped it or never allowed them to publicly to gather in the first place.

This law was deemed the Anti-Besigye Act, ABA, the act against Besigye and his political effort to undermine the regime. This came after the Walk to Work. Now, the opposition has one an important battle in the Courts.

There was on judge who didn’t see it like this, that was Stephen Musota. Remember that man, because he stated this, he was the one voting in favour of Section 8 of POMA. Because, there was 4-1 and therefore, it was null and void. However, Stephen stated this: “The limits are now cast in stone and are no longer at the whims or imagination of the Inspector General of Police or his authorized officers”. That is why the whims of the IGP shouldn’t be the factor to allow people to assemble or not. This is why its unconstitutional, which is stated by the other judges on this matter.

What I am suspecting will happen is that the National Resistance Movement will revise and amend this bill. To ensure they have the powers to stop meetings and such before the General Elections 2021. They have had the good need of this bill for years. This will not go away without a blast. I don’t believe the NRM will concede and give way that easily. Not when the rise of Bobi Wine and Besigye is now allowed and cannot be stopped. That is what the NRM worried about and will find new ways to silence it. Especially, when the Police Force has been preoccupied with this partisan politicking for years. Peace.

CEDEAO: Communique (25.03.2020)

Uganda: The Control of COVID-19 Rules – Important Notes from the Law

Now, the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng has put forward a text, which prescribe certain facts. Also, new measures, which should be given and made public. As this put a pre-text for how people need to revolve their lives and also what is at stake here. The implementation of it is important too. Not only making a fancy law.

This law makes it perfectly legal for medical officers to enter any premises in the Republic. They could so in search of COVID-19, as long as they have written instructions to do so.

What the President ordered of public gatherings is now put in print. This closing schools and institutions until 18th April 2020. Closing bars, cinema halls, churches, mosques, concerts, sports events and open air prayers until 16th April 2020. Marriage, weddings, vigils, funerals public meetings, including political rallies, conferences and cultural related meetings, until 18th April 2020. Also trading of live animals in designated areas for such by the local authority until 18th April 2020.

All of that is important. As this put in clear text and by law, what is legal sand such. Now, spitting in the public is illegal, near any public building or where the public has access. However, the law has no sanctions if they initially does so.

However, if you escape form the quarantine for COVID-19 or aides/facilitate a person to escape. This law clearly put in some jurisdiction and also legal basis for health care personnel.

Also, sets the boundaries for a “carrier” of COVID-19, who needs to notify the medical officers and what information the person has to give. Clearly, to able to track the spread and try to control it.

What we are not seeing is what more extension of the health care system, neither planned funds to up the ante. There are so many faulty things. This at least is a pick of a leaf from the Minister of Health Acheng and the Ministry of Health. That is positive, but not only a figment of hope. That is, if the state follows it up and make it possible for the Medical Officers to do so. Peace.

Djibouti: Communique du Ministre de la Sante (24.03.2020)

The United Nations Secretary-General: Appeal for global cease-fire (23.03.2020)

Labour MPs letter to Prime Minster Boris Johnson – *COVID-19: Urgent UK action needed to save lives* (23.03.2020)

RDC: Face a la Menace Persistante de Propagation du Coronavirus, Pendre la Mesure de la Gravite de la Situation et Agir en Consequence (23.03.2020)

Opinion: A crisis like we’re living through now is exposing the leadership

You can sit back- and enjoy the show. No, you really cannot. There is no enjoyment. Nor relaxing, as the uncertainty is growing. The howling questions of how long will this state last and what measures are truly working.

We have borders closed. Airports shut-down, schools, churches, libraries and bars/restaurant all closed for the moment. There are only the bare minimum and necessities are still open. Hospitals are getting full of people with symptoms, the lack of enough health care workers, ventilators, masks and medicine is happening. Even enough test-kits and whatnot. This is an international problem and not just a problem locally.

The leadership with this sort of affair is exposed. The lack of enough ICU beds and extra ventilators, respirators and everything else shows the lack of investment. Also, that they never thought it could become like this. There was no plan for emergencies of these levels. There was no response team or task force put in place to research this.

The state have in the sunshine days never expected this. Even if there been smaller crisis like the Swine-flu and the SARS. Now COVID-19 or the Coronavirus is exposing the matters. They are showing that the Health Care systems provided wasn’t measured for this. Neither was the will to create enough beds and equipments for a possible outbreak. Now, there is added measures and procurement. Now, other factories are creating the needs, which usually made designer cloths and fabrics. Suddenly are used to fix the issues at hand. That is good business for them, but also a proof of actual leadership.

The things done and measures put are done with good intentions. The social distancing and the washing of hands programs. The solidarity and the asking for time to fix it. However, the states itself. The leadership should ask themselves, why they didn’t deal with it better in the sun, but cries havoc in the rain. There is a need for this hindsight 20/20 and also wondering if they could have invested more and built more robust hospitals.

It is easy to catch the breath for 10 seconds and check if you cough or not like the Taiwanese experts says. It is easy to wash hands and avoid other people. Be one meter away and if you have any symptoms, be home. That is not rocket-science.

However, the barricades at home. Still, should ask the authorities and the state if they could have done more to prevent it. If there was enough warnings and signs to follow. I don’t know, but I am questioning it.

Because, the lack of leadership, the lack of taking responsibility and the adjustment from the state. Shows that some states didn’t take this seriously and therefore, the public will now suffer. Just as they have not put measures or the needed investments from the federal state nor the central government to actually do something.

The ones hit the most is usually the poor, the poorly educated and the ones whose not covered. The ones who doesn’t have a pot to piss in and the ones whose far to reach. The ignorant and the ones with to much to pride to understand the task at hand. These are the ones the state needs to shelter and give direct relief too. Not its easy, it never is and it will cost.

But, if we cannot see redemption for the weakest among us, then who are we then? We are just shallow human beings, never thinking this could strike us too. At one point, it might be a neighbour or a family member. There is no boundaries with a pandemic or a crisis like this. Sooner or later, this bitch hits home.

The only redeeming thing we have then is a cut-throat situation, where the facts remains. The results are already there, we can accept them or be defeated. We can either look into the gist, into the headlines and let it be. We can accept to be muffled and toyed with or we can also question the powers to be. By all means, follow the instructions and show solidarity, but still at the same time wonder if they did enough.

Because, when the days are over and this slows down. When this is under control and the scientists, the doctors and the pharma-industry has fixed this. Then, we can look over the measures, look over the numbers and the statistics. Look over the timeline and ask ourselves. Did the leadership enough. Did the authorities do the right thing. That is what we should ask ourselves.

Last but not least. You really see where the leadership gives a damn, where they are trying to propagandaize this and where they trying to fix it. There is really different realities. There is various of attempts, but also small cover-ups, which will come to light later. Where own personal business, where own personalities has destroyed the effects and the possible changes quickly. Instead tried to downplay the pandemic and acted a fool. The ones paying the cost is the citizens and everyone else involved. They will be remembered for that, as they could see from the outbreak to today. That there were measures to make, but instead they deflected them. That is their legacy.

Leadership of our times is exposed. They could have done, what they precautions they could have done and what they did under the sun. Says a lot, but in the rain it is more important with an umbrella. Now, they are teasing those, but need to get them quickly for all of us. Let’s hope they get enough. Peace.

Tchad: PLEPT – Communique No. 007 (22.03.2020)