“A video of a Malawian traffic police officer allegedly receiving a bribe has gone viral on social media, as civilians continue to express mistrust in the Malawi Police Service. In the video, the alleged Malawi traffic police officer is handed MK7, 000 (approximately US$ 9.56) to let go the driver who at the time had no license.When reached for comment the Head of Malawi Traffic Police Service, Mabvuto M’bobo, said he had not seen the video because he does not have access to the Internet” (Capital FM Malawi, 07.02.2016)
Category: Leadership
Raw: Protesters Repeatedly Interrupt Trump Rally & Secret Service Agent rounds up a Journalist during the protest! (Youtube-Clips)
“A photographer was choked and slammed to the ground by a Secret Service agent during a Donald Trump rally in Virginia today” (New York Post, 03.03.2016).
Second clip of the matter:
“New footage has surfaced from Monday’s incident of a U.S. Secret Service agent grasping a TIME photojournalist by the neck and slamming him down to the ground during a Donald Trump rally in Virginia Monday – showing the agent grabbing him from behind in the moments prior to the body slam” ( Photography is Not a Crime, 01.03.2016)
In another part of the story:
“Republican president candidate Donald Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters Monday at a rally in Radford, Virginia. (Feb. 29)” (AP, 29.02.2016).
Prove the hostile forces and the issues that Trump has with demonstrators and people who has other views than him. Also see how the Police enforce it and creates more violence, as seen by what happens to the camera-man. Sad thing to see from the United States. This here proves how the Police goes to far even there. Peace.
Press Release: African Human Rights Body Cautions over Privatisation in Education in Uganda (02.03.2016)


Besigye Detention Worry EU Election Observers (Youtube-Clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3coot5v1nV4
“The European Union election observer’s team is at it again. The team reiterated their concern over the continued detention of col. Kizza besigye even after the 18th February polls. The deputy chief observer Marian Gabriel says that their concern still stands in regard to how the state has handled the opposition leader. The FDC candidate Col. Kiiza Besigye who has been under house arrest for the last 12 days lost in the recently concluded presidential elections however he contests the electoral results. Dr. Kizza has limited access both to and from his residence and has been arrested several times since the declaration of the president of Uganda. The US embassy in Uganda once released a statement calling for Besigye’s immediate release. The statement warned that Besigye’s house arrest and other actions by the authorities are impeding efforts to challenge the results of the election. The status quo however has not changed. The FDC candidate still remains under house arrest” (NBS TV Uganda, 03.03.2016)
NRM organized a sham demonstration; Doing it by facilitating the newly formed Youth Action Against Imperialism (YAAI) to create hostility towards the international community; as an reaction to the questions from the Missions concerning the recent elections.

Yesterday there was a group demonstrating in front of the European Union Embassy and the U.S. Mission in Kampala as a reaction to the involvement in the elections. As the NRM-Regime has already told the Foreign Missions during Pre-Election time to not be involved in local politics.
Malik Kiberu was the leader of the Youth Action Against Imperialism (YAAI) Kiberu is a law student at UCU in Mukono under a State House sponsorship. President Museveni has himself pledged 53bn to the group so they could do their work. Another key member of the group is Burora Anderson who is their Chairman.
They are after the ordeal in front of the embassies taken to Kabalagala Police Station. Though the notion is that they could speak their peace and let go, as they are a part of the ruling party and there not seen as criminals; as they have done this on NRM payroll and proves to what extent NRM-Regime goes to make mockery of intelligent people. Yet another proof of how they pay unemployed youth to stage a demonstration and storm embassies in the capital. It is just a sad sight. An you know there something strange behind it all when only Bukedde writes about it and express the matter. The Bukedde is part of the State Media and the Vision group. So that makes it even more suspect with the reports of how they are funded and the timing of the demonstration.

NBS wrote this yesterday:
“Group of 10 “anti-imperialism” youths arrested after they attempted to storm the US embassy. The group stormed US embassy demanding that America ceases to interfere in Uganda‘s affairs or else govt should expel all Americans” (NBS TV Uganda, 03.03.2016).
The US Embassy answered this to question about the “Attack” from a worried person on Facebook:

The whole story is suspect and sounds all to me like a fraud. I still press it though as the NRM-Regime have done lot’s of suspect things before and bend the laws to their advantage when they can. That they would create a fake organization to put pressure on the foreign mission would not be surprising thinking about that the U.S. Mission and EU Mission has asked to get the results and follow up on the announcement after the elections. That must hurt the NRM and President Museveni that they don’t automatically acknowledge and congratulate him. Peace.
If you had forgotten Ofowo Oponod wish during the Pre-Election Period:

(the Internet does not forget).
Breaking down the words: “Resistance” and “Defiance”; As the Ugandan Police will not leave Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home until “Defiance Campaign” is discontinued; Long live the Irony!

Here is what is the difference between «Resistance» and «Defiance», just as the Uganda Police and the Electoral Commission doesn’t discuss the value of the words and says FDC has to stop with their campaign of Defiance, while not stressing the “revolutionary” and bush-war political party National Resistance Movement is okay, as they are was resisting the Obote dictatorship in the 1980… and has resist his force ever since.
I will publish this for the matter of pointing out how the words mean and what kind of political play that is played out. As the Police has said they will continue to squat outside of Dr. Kizza Besigye until he gives up the ideal of defiance. Well, let see the different value of them. And since they both are words taken from the queens language let me take the official source and respected dictionary of the Oxford Dictionary.

Here is Resistance:
“The refusal to accept or comply with something: they displayed a narrow-minded resistance to change” (Oxford).
“Origin: Late Middle English: from French résistance, from late Latin resistentia, from the verb resistere ‘hold back’” (Oxford).

Here is Defiance:
“Open resistance; bold disobedience: an act of defiance the demonstration was held in defiance of official warnings” (Oxford).
“Origin: Middle English (denoting the renunciation of an allegiance or friendship): from Old French, from defier ‘defy’” (Oxford).
Resistance by understanding by the Oxford definition is refusal or to comply with something. “Hold back” from the authorities as the French did with their resistance and went behind the back of German invasion of France in the Second World War. While Defiance is OPEN resistance, not only holding back, but BOLD disobedience, that is the message Dr. Kizza Besigye sends. That is not that far from each other. When you see that defiance is to defy somebody and their rules, while resistance is to refusal to accept or comply with something. That both actually is meaning that the President is sending! That he is “resisting to comply” with something as he done since the 1980s, the resisting to become like predecessors, though apparently after this election, he became like them.
Defiance campaign of Dr. Kizza Besigye is on the same scale as Resistance. There is meager difference, the other difference that being a Resistance Movement has a meaning as well. One is open and bold while the other not following orders. So I don’t see why the Movement, the Electoral Commission and the Police should have troubles. If the continue to do so, then the NRM should fix their name. While I speak about their name, let us see what the Oxford definition is!

What Oxford dictionary says about an Resistance Movement:
“(also resistance movement)A secret organization resisting authority, especially in an occupied country: he went underground and joined the resistance’” (Oxford).
The irony about the name of NRM is National Resistance Movement. A Movement that is underground and a secret organization that is resisting authority; especially in a occupied country. I am sure the Ugandan people feel a little occupied as the soldiers and police wander down the streets and the mambas are visible in broad daylight. The NRM is not an underground organization and such, but it is ironic that they have that name and has “Resistance” in the middle, as they are “holding back” something. As the NRM gives officials warnings and Kizza Besigye and the FDC are defying the messages and open decrees that the government have given him and his party officials.
The irony is now open and in the wind. As the Police and Army should not have a reason by the definition of the words to against “Defiance” as the ruling party is a Resistance Movement and even speaking of pride of their “Resistance”. That there is viable and honest approach to the matter and that nobody has taken it and demolish the non-sense is for me weird. So if the authorities are serious and respectable. They would stop this at once, actually yesterday! While we all know, but they don’t their own words. We can see that the NRM cannot see the value of their own middle name “Resistance”, therefore their problem with “Defiance” can be seen as pointless. .But the campaign of Defiance should not be in the issue in the land of the RESISTANCE Movement! Peace.
Press Statement from MEMD: Government of Uganda receive seven bids for the First Licensing Round (01.03.2016)


Tunoi Tribunal Sworn In Despite Controversy Over Rao Age (Youtube-Clip)
“Tunoi Tribunal Sworn In Despite Controversy Over Rao Age” (Citizen Kenya TV, 2016).

#AddisTaxiStrike 2016: Taxi-Drivers today strikes for similar reasons as in 1998! Ethiopian Gov. Acts like business as usual.

Here is quick look into the new Taxi-Strike in Addis Ababa; that is escalating today into more towns in Ethiopia. That is interesting as the country has massive history. When it comes to strikes and had a giant demonstration that has toppled governments in the past. This might just be about a law, but this law comes from Federal Transport Authority. Seems like the Taxi Drivers is not interested in a new regulations and that opens the possibility of taking their licenses away.
I will bring some historic Taxi Strikes from Addis Ababa. The ones I will mention is the one in 1998 seemed to be for the same reasons actually. The other I will mention is in 1974 we’re because of the high oil-prices and also directly against the government. From the strikes of the past there are certainly things we can learn from and at the same time; see the similarities between 2016 and 1998. Just take a brief look.
The Taxi Strike of 1974:
“The second conjuncture was the steep rise in oil prices following OPEC embargo of 1973, which hit the Ethiopian economy hard. The inevitable result was galloping inflation that left a large hole in the pockets of urban wage-earners. Taxi drivers came out on strike over pump prices in February 1974 and teachers followed suit” (Nugent, 2012).”The Taxi drivers were going to go on strike as of 18 February, of Teachers’ Association decided to join them and bring the country’s educational system to a standstill on the same day” (…)”The Students, who since the late 1960s, had deliberately abandoned pursuing corporatist interests in favor of advocating a fundamental change through class boycotts, demonstrations and the distribution of anti-government leaflets, found in the taxi drivers and teachers long sought-after allies and, on 18 February, poured out onto the streets of Addis Ababa chanting revolutionary slogans and agitating resistance against the government” (Andargachew, 2009).
Lesser known Taxi Strike in 1998:
“Addis Ababa — Taxi drivers in Addis Ababa went on strike on Wednesday, July 8, 1998 in protest against new traffic regulations put into operation by the Transport and Communications Bureau of the Addis Ababa Administration as of the same date” (…)”The regulations identify several categories of traffic offences, matching them with their respective fines. The offences and their respective penalties are as follows (“Addis Zemen”, Sene 27, 1990 E.C.)”(AllAfrica.com, 1998).
More on the strike in 1998:
“Stiff new traffic safety regulations introduced: Stringent new traffic regulations have been introduced in Addis Ababa to stem a rising trend of traffic accidents in the city. According to officials, Addis Ababa currently suffers the highest rate of traffic accidents in the world with a total of 9,714 incidents recorded in the past 12 months with 300 deaths, 2,340 injuries, and a loss of property worth 11.6 million birr (approx. U.S. $1.7 million). The death toll represented a 17 per cent increase from the previous year. Announcing the move on July 3, the Transport and Communications Bureau announced the regulations put traffic offences into six categories entailing penalties raging from 40 to 140 birr, with the most serious resulting in court proceedings and the disqualification of drivers. Taxi owners, who described the new rules as “punitive rather than preventive”, held a one day strike on July 8 to protest the regulations. (The monitor, July 4-5)” (UNDP, 1998).

This Year’s Strike:
On the 29th February different parts of the City the strike started. Quickly reached all part of the city and the taxis was not to be seen. The Areas with no taxi services was verified early at Saris, Megenegna, Kassanchis, Abnet, Shiro,Meda and Jemmo. The reports early were also that workers and students from the Southern parts of Addis Ababa could not get to town. The Addis Standard told earlier in the day that buses took people from Asko, Plassa, Arat Killo and Mercato R areas. Government tried to get people to take buses as the taxis was already striking. People were stranded at Sandafa, Laga Tafo and Burayu. There was even some taxis trying to avoid being a apart of the strike, instead they ended with violent reactions as they countered the solidarity between the drivers. The strike also led to the ordinary commuters to and owners of cars taking them to gas stations and long ques at the gas stations. After some hours even Bajaj drivers joined the taxi drivers in their strike in Holota. Special Eyewitness statement during the day was one: “Taxi strike Addis and Oromia Special Zone are in a mess situation as there was strikes by public transport providers. All taxes, minibus, higers and lonchins were in strike. In response this serious transportation problem there was conflict between police and public at Burayu (Keta district) around 8.00 am”.
On the 30th February the strike continued in Addis Ababa and there were no signs of them in the streets. The government had by this time deployed 380 public buses to get people moving in the city. There outcome is longer ques and traffic jams than normally.

During the 1st March while still the strike was going on. On the ETV the newscaster had the balls to call the taxi-strikers was calling them “terrorist”. Surely the walking is going to his head as he need to walk it seems.
On the 2nd March the strike continues and at some taxi stations around towns there are more donkey carts than ever and still no taxis. As the Taxi Drivers really means business when it comes to this law and matter!
Government Should Cancel the new traffic regulation – Taxi Drivers:
Another news report after an hour after the start of the strike said this:
“As we have reported an hour ago, #addistaxistrike has continued. They are protesting a new Ethiopian law that has ignored them” (…)”BREAKING: Taxis in Addis Ababa go on strike against a new driving rule” (SiTube, 29.02.2016).
Background:
“Following the announcement of a new decree to execute Regulation Number 208/2010 that the Federal Transport Authority is said to implement on drivers, taxi drivers in the city of Addis Ababa have called for and started a strike that will last for two days. As the news of strike started circulating, Transport Authority announced its plan to postpone the implementation of the decree for three months to ‘create awareness’ in advance” (…)”Fana Broadcasting Corporate, on its news feed, has interviewed people from the Associations of Taxi Owners where they claimed the strike was called without their consent and urged the drivers to end their strike and start serving the public immediately” (Zone 9, 29.02.2016).
“Taxis stopped operating on Monday morning, leaving the Addis Ababa city short of taxis. Long queues were observed throughout the city as passengers lined up for taxis this morning” (…)”Meanwhile, the Federal Transport Authority said it is putting on hold of the traffic bill for three months. The Authority will “postpone consideration of the bill until there is wider agreement on a solution,” it said in a written statement to the state owned radio” (Fantahun, 29.02.2016).

The Law that the Taxi Drivers strike about:
“Taxi drivers in Addis Abeba and its surroundings are striking as of this morning against a new traffic regulation which started to be implemented as of Monday 22 February” (…)”In 2009 the Addis Abeba City Council favorably voted to ratify the new traffic regulation, Road Transport and Traffic Control Regulation. Following the 2009 ratification of the amended regulation, the Addis Abeba Transport Bureau (AATB) claims to have had discussions with taxi and city mid-bus owners’ associations as well as the society at large before reaching at the recent decision to implement to regulation, seen by many as too strict and unpractical” (…)”The Regulation stipulates a six month suspension of driving licenses and additional driving lessons for drivers who lost 14 -16 points due to previous offenses. A driver who has 17 -19 points deducted from his/her records will get his/her driving license suspended for a year; and any driver who gets 20 and above points deducted will have his/her driving license permanently revoked and can only re-apply for a fresh driving lessons after a gap of two years” (…)”AATB estimates that Addis Abeba is home to close to more than 4, 000 white minibuses, 8,000 blue minibuses and more than 500 mid-buses (known as Higer buses), all providing the much needed transport within the city and its environs. It is estimated that the blue and white minibuses together provide transport services to about 1.1 million commuters every day, while the 500 mid-buses transport no less than 700, 000 commuters. The Addis Abeba city bus enterprise operates more than 800 city busses that transport an estimated 1.2 – 1.3 million passengers per day” (Mahlet, 2016).
Some reasons why the strike happens:
“The latest strikes by taxi drivers is one among a growing opposition by Ethiopians against an oppressive minority government that’s facing resistance from all corners of the country. Regime’s forces on Monday reportedly detained several students who were showing their solidarity with the taxi drivers. The students were staging a protest in the sub divisions of the city called Ayer Tena and Awtobis Tera. Their whereabouts is not yet know” (ECADF Ethiopian News, 01.03.2016).

More strikes not only Addis:
“Taxis and other vehicles of public transportation in several towns in the Oromia region surrounding the capital Addis Ababa went on a strike on Tuesday. Holeta, Burayu, Ginchi, Ambo, Woliso, Asela, Bale and Robe were some of the towns hit by a massive transportation crisis. Some of the towns began the strike on Monday, on the first day of strike by taxi drivers in the capital Addis Ababa that brought the city to a halt. Even the scooters, the widely used form of transport in the smaller towns, locally known as “bajaj” were not to be seen in the streets” (…)”The government announced that the new regulations has been suspended for three months but the drivers want it scrapped altogether” (ESTA News, 01.03.2016).
Ripple effect:
“Though many taxi drivers that talked to the Voice of America (VOA) Amharic Service correspondent Eskinder Frew were skeptical that the government would scrap the directive, they said they were obeying the orders passed by their union leaders” (…)”The EPRDF government, which is facing a stiff opposition in Oromia region, is facing numerous challenges, including violent clashes in Gonder, as well as in eastern and southeastern regions such as in Gambella. When news broke that the taxis were boycotting in Addis, many mistook as the last straw that broke the camel’s back” (VOA, 02.03.2016).

This Taxi Strike is about a certain regulation and law that will make it harder for the Taxi driver and also more expensive. Also make a system where many will lose the license quick and take away the livelihood of the Taxi Drivers. This here proves that there is discontent between the professional drivers and the authorities; seems also to be based on old grudges as I am impressed to see the similarities between the 1998 strikes and the ones now. Not the ones in 1974 even if they are more “famous” and had a greater historical impact on Ethiopia. This one here is regulation and monetary matters, as it also was in 1974 when the oil-prices was high because of OPEC blockade; the issue know may also be because of high oil-prices in Ethiopia, but also because of the new law, and that was the same in 1998. There is not harmony between the government/authorities and the Taxi Drivers, as the strike seem to continue, it has been on the third day and I wonder how long they will continue. Especially since it now is also happening in other towns than in Addis Ababa. The interesting thing is to see how little international response it has gotten or in media in general on the outside of Ethiopia. Don’t you think?
Hope that was interesting, because it was for me! Peace.
Reference:
AllAfrica – ‘Ethiopia: New Traffic Regulations Trigger Taxi Drivers’ Strike’ (10.07.1998) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/199807100058.html
Andargachew, Tiruneh – ‘The Ethiopian Revolution 1974-1987: A Tranformation from an Aristocratic to a Totalitarian Autocracy” – (03.12.2009) Cambridge University Press
ESTA News – ‘Taxi strike in Oromia towns following a two day strike in the capital, cabs in Addis resume work Tuesday afternoon’ (01.03.2016) link: http://ethsat.com/taxi-strike-in-oromia-towns-following-a-two-day-strike-in-the-capital-cabs-in-addis-resume-work-tuesday-afternoon/
Fantahun, Arefayne – ‘Taxi drivers go on strike protesting traffic bill’ (29.02.2016) link: http://www.ethiopiaobserver.com/2016/02/taxi-drivers-go-on-strike-protesting-traffic-bill/
Mahlet, Fasil – ‘NEWS: ADDIS ABEBA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS HIT BY MASSIVE TAXI DRIVERS’ STRIKE’ (29.02.2016) link: http://addisstandard.com/news-addis-abeba-and-its-surroundings-hit-by-massive-taxi-drivers-strike/
Nugent, Paul – ‘Africa Since Independence’ (13.06.2012) – Palgrave Macmillan; 2nd edition edition
UNDP Emergency Unit for Ethiopia – ‘Monthly Situation Report for Ethiopia – July 1998’ (11.08.1998) link: http://reliefweb.int/report/eritrea/monthly-situation-report-ethiopia-july-1998
VOA/EthioMedia – ‘Taxis in Addis end strike after directive’s implementation postponed’ (02.03.2016) link: http://www.ethiomedia.com/1010ideas/5093.html
Zone 9 –‘Taxi Drivers of Addis Ababa on Strike’ (29.02.2016).
Tikur Sew – Teddy Afro (Music Video) – In memory of the Battle of Adwa (01.03.1896)
“Based on the historical Battle of Adwa (March 1, 1896) in which Ethiopian forces, under the leadership of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, defeated the invading Italian army and secured Ethiopian sovereignty. via Sabisa Films Production (2012)”

