


USA: Jason Chaffetz letter to Acting Director Andrew McCabe on Comey’s Memos (25.05.2017)







If you feel worried and wonder why the reasons for a Martial Law in the Mindanao in the Philippines, than your not trusting the central government and President Rodrigo Duterte. It is time to so, because this is the last measure of the government. Since the Maute Group, a Militant Islamic group who started their violence in 2016 in Butig town in Lanao Del Sur part of Mindanao.
Maute Group:
“The group is named after its leaders, the Maute brothers, both Filipinos with extensive ties to the Middle East, according to the military” (…) “Military intelligence said the Maute brothers also had links to two of the region’s most dangerous militants – Indonesian Ustadz Sanusi and Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. Both were killed by Philippine security forces, Sanusi in 2012 and bin Hir in 2015” (Mogato, 2017).
So it is not like the Maute group who has already besieged Butig in 2016 was unknown to the President. The militants was known, but the sudden attack and clashes in Marawi over the last days has been massive. The burning of state buildings, kidnapping of several key figures in the city, as well as beheading the city Police Commander. Therefore, this weeks assault on the Marawi city is really disturbing and should be worry.
There are the ones that are addressing the Martial Law and saying it is wrong. Well, it should be wrong to totally to besiege Marawi City. That is what is happening and the Philippine National Army are now trying to fight back the Maute Group. The pictures leaked of the militants as they went into the city. They had modern military equipment as they took the town. The clips of the actions and skirmishes in town proves the army doing what they can to battle them back. That can also be seen with the 13 militants defeated in the latest day.
That President Duterte has delivered the Martial Law to the two houses in Parliament proves that he is following the procedure of the constitution. As well as other things are working like normal, not only Finance Minister Carlos Dominguez saying the business will go as normal. Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is supporting it. So it is not controversial everywhere, it is in the states and parts of the Republic, which isn’t affected by the Marital Law. The people of Mindanao are supporting it.

That is because the insurgency and the violence are happening around their homes and close to their friends and family. If they doesn’t give away some freedoms and liberties, than the state might not get a chance to weaken and get rid of militants in the area. That the public has to wear-ID and has to cross dozens of checkpoints on their way. Is a little price to pay to give the army and their intelligence needed space to defeat the Maute Group. The deaths and destruction in Marawi is proof of the cure of terrorism.
That Martial Law is taking away ordinary liberties and freedoms is expected, that the public has less power and cannot walk around as free as normal. Is the price that the government needs to stop the Maute group from growing and also create more havoc in Lanao Del Sur in Mindanao. There are guidelines and advice for citizens to follow under Martial Law. As the extensive force for the army and less ordinary capacity for justice, as the Martial law suspends the normal courts in away.
The Martial Law is not controversial in Mindanao, but in Luzon and Metro Manila. Therefore, the ones that get their freedoms taken away and see the value is accepting it. They give the state and the army more freedoms so they fight the Maute group. As they are destroying and continuing to destabilize the Mindanao island. This should been seen as why we should support the Martial Law. Not because the state should sanction this for longer time needed, but as long as the militants kills, destroys and create havoc for ordinary people. As long as Maute guerrilla warfare continues to cause nothing but bloodshed and destruction. President Duterte is reacting to it with force of his arm and the tools at his disposal.
If you want a peaceful Mindanao, you need to support the Martial Law, as it might sanction and also take away basic freedoms, but it gives the army needed space to battle with the Maute group. That should be enough reason to stand behind it and with the knowledge that the citizens of Mindanao, also supports it! Should also be a secondary reason for being behind it. If the Luzon and Metro Manila is fearing the Martial law, they should know that the people of Mindanao fears the militants. They do not fear the army and their protecting force. Peace.
Reference:
Mogato, Manuel – ‘Maute background, links: Little-known group becomes formidable force in PH’ (25.05.2017) link: http://www.interaksyon.com/maute-bakground-links-little-known-group-becomes-formidable-force-in-ph/

You would think the misuse of government funds would have an end in the Republic of Uganda? But the misuse of State Reserves are endless. Especially by the Ministers and Members of Parliament, that really use every reason in the book to eat of the government plate. That Honorable Ronald Kibuule stepped out of line and used government transport without sanction is clear. That the Minister for Water using for a private visit a Police Helicopter is just disgusting. It proves how little the Minister thinks of the cost of his lifestyle and secondly how it may look. There are clear he just wants to sponge of the state and use the available resources to extend his luxury. If the Minister had use the monies from the suits from the President or even used the car provided by Parliament, than he still would seen as one living life within the means of his public office. But taking a helicopter to visit his in-laws are really showing disrespect to the rest of the citizens. Just take a look!
“The State Water minister, Mr Ronald Kibuule, on Tuesday stirred residents of Ntungamo Town in southwestern Uganda when he swung by in a police helicopter to check on his father-in-law.
After the police Agusta AW109 Grandnew chopper landed at Ntungamo Sacred Heart Parish adjacent to the police station at about 4.30pm, curious onlookers crowded to catch a glimpse of the government official they mistook for the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura” (…) “But a few minutes later, minister Kibuule sauntered out of the helicopter with another man and five police guards and headed to his father-in-law John Tumuhimbise’s residence, a short distance from the police station.
“We thought it was the IGP; some police officers even had to run [home] to dress up. But I think this is pure misuse of government resources; there is no police officer that can ask for this or even a motorcycle while going home, and it is given to him,” one police officer said on condition of anonymity to avoid possible reprimand” (Rumanzi & Kasasira, 2017).
This is a total disregard and disrespect of the people, the taxpayers and the donors. That the state are using and paying for private travels with police helicopter. This should have been taken care of with other means. The Police Helicopter should been used by the Police Force only and for the use in Police functions. Not used for a private trip for the State Minister of Water Kibuule. Kibuule should reimburse the costs of the trip back to the state and assure the citizens that he doesn’t misue the funds in this manner. This disgrace as a minister to use state transportation to for personal travels. As the MP’s and Minister’s are already getting massive salaries and allowances, plus cars and other benefits that the average Ugandan couldn’t afford. Therefore, this is just a proof of how the NRM regime and their cabinet members see themselves, as they can just use State Transportation when needed and without consideration of the spending in doing so. Peace.
Reference:
Rumanzi, Perez & Kasasira, Risdel – ‘Minister flies chopper to visit in-laws’ (25.05.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Minister-chopper—inlaws-Ronald-Kibuule/688334-3940918-xxausg/index.html

José Graziano da Silva, head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WFP’s David Beasley made the call during a visit to the former Unity state, one of the areas in South Sudan worst hit by the current hunger crisis.
WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, May 25, 2017 – Despite “appalling conditions” in South Sudan, it is not too late to save more people from dying, the head of the United Nations agriculture agency said today, joining the World Food Programme (WFP) chief in a call to all parties enmeshed in the country’s conflict to end the violence and work together to ensure access to food and other life-saving support.
José Graziano da Silva, head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WFP’s David Beasley made the call during a visit to the former Unity state, one of the areas in South Sudan worst hit by the current hunger crisis.
“We can still avoid a worsening of the disaster, but the fighting has to stop now,” Mr. Graziano da Silva said. “There can be no progress without peace. People must be given immediate access to food, and farmers need to be allowed to work on their fields and tend to their livestock,” he added.
Around 5.5 million people in South Sudan, or almost half the population, face severe hunger ahead of the lean season, which peaks in July. Of these, more than 90,000 face starvation with famine declared in parts of former Unity state while another one million teeter on the brink. The UN stresses that this unprecedented situation reflects the impact of ongoing strife, obstacles to delivering humanitarian assistance and declining agricultural production.
Both UN officials stressed that an immediate, massive response is critical, combining emergency food assistance and support for agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
In the former Unity state, they visited people coping with the hunger crisis with the support of both agencies and met with people facing famine on Kok Island, a refuge in the Nile River where many people have sought shelter from fighting.
The two agency heads saw aid workers from international and local partner organizations distributing WFP food and nutrition treatments, as well as seeds and FAO fishing kits.
“Food, treatment for malnourished kids, kits that help people fish and grow vegetables – these are the difference between life and death for people we met in Unity state,” Mr. Beasley said. “But we can’t keep scaling up forever. The fighting has to end to make the kind of investments that give the children of South Sudan any hope for the future they deserve.”
The two UN agency heads visited an FAO project aiming to provide women farmers and pastoralists with a place to process milk. With rising malnutrition levels across the country, the project is an innovative way to increase the availability of safe, quality milk and milk products – a major dietary staple and a source of protein vitamins and minerals, essential components for a healthy diet.
Mr. Graziano da Silva highlighted that saving livelihoods also saves lives, saying “South Sudan has great potential – it has land, water and courageous people. If it also has peace, then together we can work to end hunger.”
Both agency heads underscored the need for further international support to confront a $182 million funding gap over the next six months.
Mr. Beasley assured that while WFP would continue to stand by the South Sudanese, its leaders “must show good faith by facilitating humanitarian efforts, including getting rid of unnecessary fees and procedures that delay and hinder aid.”

The Local Government Budget Framework Paper for the Financial Year of 2017/2018 for the Moyo District of the Republic of Uganda is daming. It is tragic, the ways the budget is inadequate and is proving the lack of will of governance. The way the district is being underfunded and not spending needed tax-payers monies. But this is just one district in the Republic, still if this is a proof of the problems in Uganda. This is one out of dozens districts, but the little drops of issues has also been showed in the MPS of the KCCA for the coming financial year. Therefore, the quotes from the Moyo District, proves the lack of care of the local district institutions and their staff. As the lacking structure is evident by the Framework paper. Take a look!
Hampering implementation:
“Poor road conditions and inadequate infrastructure limiting community access to productive land, increasing cost of production and access to markets and social services, inadequate and limited supply of electricity that hinders promotion of value addition and food processing, inadequate skilled manpower and under staffing where the current staffing level is at 52%, negative community attitude and cultural practices that impact negatively on health seeking behaviour and access to education, high population” (Vote: 539, 2017).
Cutbacks to Local Government budget:
“Total planned revenue for FY 2017/2018 is Uganda Shillings 22,463,673,000 compared to FY 2016-2017 of Uganda Shillings 25,617,772,000 indicating a decline of 12% in revenue budget. The FY 2017//2018 total revenue has reduced by Uganda Shillings 3,154,099,000,000 .The major decline in revenue budget has been witnessed in Donor funding by Uganda Shillings 2,396,897,000 mainly UNICEF, UNFPA and . Secondly Locally Raised Revenue and Conditional Grants have been reduced” Vote: 539, P: 3, 2017).
Planned Revenue for 2017/18:
“(i) Locally Raised Revenues
(ii) Central Government Transfers
(iii) Donor Funding
Out of total Local Revenue of Uganda Shillings:
699,937,000, Uganda Shillings 148,794,000 is Taxes and Uganda Shillings 551,142,000 is Non taxes.. The major sources of the taxes include; Land fees of Uganda Shillings 9,060,000, Application fees of Uganda Shillings 8,200,000, Business licenses of Uganda Shillings 33,000,000, and other licenses of Uganda Shillings 24,721,000 Animal and crop related levies of Uganda Shillings 30,521,000, Registration of Businesses of Uganda Shillings 13,222,000,
The Total Central Government Transfers:
Is Uganda Shillings 18,059,155,000. The Conditional Grants amount to Uganda Shillings 13,813,,307,000 (76.5%), Dicretionary Grants amount to Uganda Shillings 3,698,541,000 (20.5%), Other Transfers of Uganda Shillings 547,307,000 (3%) Major source of the Central Government Transfers are; Sector Conditional Grants ( Health, Education, Production and Maketing, Water, and Administration), District Discretionary Development Grants and District Discretionary
The total Donor funds:
To the district is only UGX 3,704,581,000. The low allocation of was because some of the development partners like BAYLOR Uganda and SuSTAIN are no longer receving funds from their Donors outside Uganda” (Vote: 539, P: 6, 2017).
“Low Primary and Secondary School completion rates
The Primary School completion rate stands at 26.1% which is far below the national average. Drop out rates at Secondary schools is also high at 35%. The challenge is caused by low parental/ community participation and involvement in schools.
Inadequancy of teachers houses in Schools and poor school sanitation
Only 29.2% of the teachers in Primary Schools are accomodated at school. This causes tardiness and late coming among teachers. Besides effective transfer of staff is a big challenge. The Pupil Stance ratios in schools are still appalling.
Inadequancy of Science and Mathematics teachers in secondary schools:
It is extremely hard to attract and retain science and Mathematics teachers in the secondary schools. The few available once retired or died and never replaced by the Ministry of Education and Sports” (Vote: 539, P: 15, 2017).
“The three biggest challenges faced by the department in improving local government service:
Lack of Transport: Planning Unit has no running vehicle nor motor cycle hence affects programme implementation.
Weak internet connection: The internet installed for Birth registration is weak hence affects data entry and demotivates the Data entrants since payment is according to records entered.
Erratic power supply: The line connecting the Unit has been constanly inturrupted during printing hence leading to loss of records” (Vote: 539, P: 23, 2017).
It isn’t only on the Framework Paper that the troubles of Moyo District comes to surface, as the issues of the District is evident. The Moyo district needs certainly more funds and more direction, as the district is understaffed. This is with the mind of not only having enough people in the needed positions, but also have the equipment and buildings for the state to deliver needed services for the citizens.
“Moyo district councilors have protested what they call deliberate refusal to pay their sitting allowances by the office of the Chief Administrative Officer. During a council meeting to pass the 2017/18 budget, the councilors almost paralysed the sitting after putting to task the Chief Administrative Officer to explain why they were not being paid their arrears” (…) “Chaiga Warned the CAO to be serious in handling the matters of the councilors because such delays can embarrass in the eyes of their electorates. “We should not make such things to occur again in the lives of the councilors”, he said” (…) “Grandfield Omonda, the Chief administrative officer however blamed the delay in paying the councilors to low local revenue generation. Omonda said the district performed poorly in terms of local revenue collection leading to delay in clearing the arrears. “We have performed low in collecting the local revenues and money to pay the council sittings comes direct from the collection and the money is generated from lower local government at sub county levels”, Mr Omonda said” (Iceta, 2017).
So the Local Government are blamed by the appointed men of the Central Government, as the Budget Framework Paper is showing how it is lacking. Even the CAO and the Councilors are trading shots of the lack of funds and their salaries, as the representatives in the district isn’t even getting their supposed allowances. But they are not the only who has misgivings, the are on the top and still isn’t getting what they are supposed to. The whole districts lacks the needed manpower and revenue to run. That is a systematic maladministration that is totally normal under the National Resistance Movement. This is their system and their works over decades rule. Therefore, the NRM haven’t had the priority to fix or make sure the districts are running sufficiently. That is why the basics isn’t there and the CAO of Moyo Oryono Grandfield Omonda, who reported this all to the Parliament for the voting. Peace.
Reference:
Iceta, Scovin – ‘Moyo District Councilors Protest Unpaid Arrears’ (25.05.2017) link: http://westnilepress.org/moyo-district-councilors-protest-unpaid-arrears/
Republic of Uganda – ‘Vote: 539 Moyo District’ – Local Government Budget Framework Paper – Financial Year 2017/2018

Again, the House of the Representatives passed the baby of President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. This is the American Health Care Act, it was passed on the 4th May 2017 and it 20 days after it’s passing the CBO came. This shows the disregard of checks and balances of the Congress. That the Representatives couldn’t trust the results of the Act and the bill, shows the proof that there are certain damaging reports in the report. The Republican Party representatives are clearly afraid of insights into the act. Therefore, the AHCA are really explosive, even as the knowledge of certain representatives didn’t even read it before voting for it.
“Republican Rep. Chris Collins admitted Thursday that he did not read the full health care bill before voting for it. “I will fully admit, Wolf, I did not. But I can also assure you my staff did. We have to rely on our staff,” Collins told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room.” (Manduley, 2017). So when the Republicans cannot even read their legislation, the paperwork that can affect millions of citizens. It shows disregard for the public and for the ones they represent, but clearly it is more important to take the calls of donors. Than the citizens who needs health-care. So I will not go through how much monies this ACHA does, and possible change the economy. What I will look into is the estimated people who are cut-off from health-care and insurance. As the ACHA might be damaging for the people, as the former CBO on the TrumpCare was really bad. Therefore, we can expect this one to be destroying lives for the poor Americans. So here are the quotes I think is worth remembering, as this proves what the Republican Party does to the ones they represent.
“CBO and JCT estimate that, in 2018, 14 million more people would be uninsured under H.R. 1628 than under current law. The increase in the number of uninsured people relative to the number projected under current law would reach 19 million in 2020 and 23 million in 2026. In 2026, an estimated 51 million people under age 65 would be uninsured, compared with 28 million who would lack insurance that year under current law” (CBO, P: 4, 2017).
That the ACHA is damning, is seen by just this 14 million more people will lose their insurance, in 2020 it would reach of 19 million and in 2026 would be 23 million. Therefore the estimated 51 million by 2026. With current ObamaCare it would be 28 million, which is also to many, but the new law doubles the amount of people without health insurance.


These two stats, show the damaging effects of the Republican bill, as not only massive amounts people without insurance, but also the different prices on the insurance after the repealing on the bill. These statistic is telling and the reason why the Republicans doesn’t want to understand their efforts to work of the private healthcare industry and insurance companies, instead of for the people who needs the health care. Peace.
Reference:
Congressional Budget Office – ‘H.R. 1628 – American Health Care Act of 2017 – As passed by the House of Representatives on May 4, 2017’ (24.05.2017)
Manduley, Christina – ‘Congressman admits he didn’t read full health care bill before voting’ (04.05.2017) link:
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The 10th Parliament went on a visit to the Nalufenya detention facility on the 19th May 2017, that the Security Agencies in charge of the facility has made this sort environment and this allegations of torture there. Doesn’t come from the wind, but from the certain leaked photos and leaked information from former detainees at the facility. That is certainly the reason for the fear of ending in the dungeons of Nalufenya, as the report is clearly saying more than enough. Also, that the Police together with other security agencies worked to clean up the place and make sure the most hurt detainees was moved. If not the committee would have seen the real-deal. The manufactured story they tried to make, as the sudden massive move of detainees proves the state tries to cover-up their misgivings. Certainly, there are more untold, than told, but the indications are strong enough at this given time.
“Nalufenya Detention Facility is a gazetted police station that has been in existence since independence and was initially gazetted for the population of Jinja because of high crime rates in the district” (…) “Nalufenya operates as a special police facility dedicated to handling “handling profile cases” where suspects are brought from any part of the country for investigation and interrogation” (…) “The Committee was informed by the officers (SSP Henry Mugumya) that the police in carrying out the “special operations” works jointly with other sister security agencies such as Internal Security Organization (ISO), External Security Organization (ESO), Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) among others” (Parliament, P: 6, 2017).
“From the inspections of the look of the lock up book/ register, the Committee found that within the course of one week, many detainees were transferred to Luzira Maximum Security Prison and other detention facilities. The Committee therefore, could not establish whether there had been overcrowding or not or whether those transferred had been tortured at the facility” (Parliament, P: 11, 2017).
“The Committee observed that detainees at Nalufenya detention facility are held incommunicado. All inmates noted that since their detention, their families are not aware of their whereabouts. They were therefore concerned of the psychological torture of their families” (Parliament, P: 13, 2017).
“The Committee is gravely concerned by the lack of coordination in the security agencies in executing arrests of suspects. It is apparent that owing to lack of coordination, the Police cannot always account for the cases of torture” (Parliament, P: 14, 2017).
“The detainees seem to live under fear and there is a general fear of disclosure of information to any person. Hence, even when the detainees would want to disclose information, they are constrained” (Parliament, P: 14, 2017).
That the level of fear inside the facility, that the state and their security agencies are really using all methods to pour the power over the detainees. As they are locked away from the world and their families left in the dark. That the usual openness of this report is rare, even as the covering-up and clearing the shop before the Members of Parliament came for visit. Is clear by the Lock-Up book and other initial part of the report. Since the leaked pictures and intelligence from the Nalufenya detention facility, therefore hard to believe that there isn’t anything illegal or torture happening at the place. The Committee of the Parliament couldn’t prove, because the clear moving of detainees and the other factors was shuffled away for the visit. Also, the proof that the Police cannot account for the cases of torture, since it might be other security agencies behind the violence on inmates, might show there are not only possible, but more likely for it there.
So with the little said in the Parliament report, it says enough to know there are implications and problems underneath the surface that the State and their security agencies was covering up, as the level of fear, the level of unaccounted affairs from other agencies and also the sudden move of detainees, are as proof of it as it need to be. There been lot of work and preparation by the Police Force before the Members of Parliament showed-up, to make sure that they couldn’t verify or indicate the leaked information was real. Peace.
Reference:
Parliament of Uganda – ‘Report of the Human Rights Committee on the Alleged Cases of Torture at Nalufenya Detention Facility in Jinja District’ (May 2017)




