RDC: Declaration de l’UDCO Relative a la Decheance du Camarade Jean Claude Masangu Mulongo de sa Qualite d’Atorite Morale et President National de l’Union pour le Developpement du Congo en Sigle “UDCO” (20.05.2017)

USA: The “Thin Blue Line Act” is a shield to protect the Police, but not an amendment that will protect the civilians!

Further, an excess of legislation defeats its own ends. It makes the whole population criminals, and turns them all into police and police spies. The moral health of such a people is ruined for ever; only revolution can save it.”Aleister Crowley

This week a tabled law for House of Representative was voted in, not just any law, but one who is deciding the ability of the United States of America to put more convicts for certain crimes into death penalty. This act got the name “Thin Blue Line Act”, it was the Republican Representative of Florida Vern Buchanan. The bill had the massive amount of 21 Co-Sponsors some of them were Matt Gaetz (Florida- R), Lou Barletta (Pennsylvania – R), Tom Reed (New York – R), Ted Poe (Texas- R), Brian Babin (Texas – R) and Dana Rohrabacher (California – R). The rest was all Republican representatives as well, but just to give you an idea of who sponsored and who was behind it.

Why I am discussing this bill? Because the United States tries many times to lecture other nations about extra judicial killings and just behavior, but now in their own House of Representatives, inside the chambers who passes the laws. They have passed a significant law, that gives way to and will create possible more Police Brutality, instead of stopping the problem the Police has in the USA. The country where innocent often dies by the weapons in the hands of law-officers. In 2016 alone the Police Officers had a 145 deaths of those 63 by gunfire and 3 more by accidental gunfire. While the Police itself has had fatal shots and killed totally 963. This is official stats from the United States. Therefore, the issue is alive and the evident of vicious approach is clear.

H.R. 115th says this: “To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim”. As it continues it clear what imposition it needs, because who the victim is: “KILLING OR TARGETING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: ‘‘(A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— ‘‘(i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; ‘‘(ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or ‘‘(iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. ‘‘(B) The circumstance referred to in sub paragraph (A) is that the person was killed targeted— ‘‘(i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties;” (…) “‘‘(ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or ‘‘(iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee.’’. Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2017.

So the House of Representatives are clearly indicating with this law, that if Police Officers and Security Agents are getting in place where their life is in danger or they lose their life in their job. Than the Republic and State can prosecute the on penalty of death sentence. That means if someone put the life in danger for a Police Officer, the state can under the rule of law set precedence of what they deem as justice. This sort of law, does not answer if who fired the arms first or why the bullets hit the law-officers. Therefore, the amendment of the code for death penalty is just another shield for the Police, but not really securing the civilians or citizens. This sort of law and amendment of law will only seem to secure the lawful officers not anyone else.

This is all put forward for the ones who are either deemed unlawful or someone who breached the law already, a criminal and con-men, who are suddenly targeting the officers of law. That they are already criminal supposed to do more to conceal their crimes. So it is a possible car-chase or even just following a warrant, that if the defendant who might be unjustified deemed as a criminal, become even a greater suspect by the code of law. As the law now can give him or her a death penalty, as the possible criminal who is defending themselves against unjust lawmen can either lose their lives in a gun-rattling between officers and himself. And after the melee, the defendant can be charged with a sentence to death. So a possible amount of more innocent people dying behind bars or even get them charged for life.

Certainly this law is made to punish criminals even harder and in the time of Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, this seems as possibility as their memos and orders are to give more power to the Police Officers and their Security Agents. Therefore, the possibility that the Senate would pass this amendment so they can charge even more people with the death penalty. But hey are not thinking of the Police Officers and Security Agents who are culprits themselves in violence in the United States. As the stats of 2016 are clearly telling. There are 66 Police Officers who died, while the Police Officers killed 963. This are evidence that the system is wrong, it isn’t only the Police Officers who should get shielded and death penalty on the defendants. It should be similar to the Police Officers if they kill someone innocent. That is if justice is the same and the same crime get similar sentence. But , that isn’t an idea that the Representatives of House is interested in. They are more involved in creating an atmosphere where they are solidifying their position, but not securing general justice in society. That is what sort of amendments does. This is to shield the Blue Lines, but making sure the defendants are not returning ever.

You can wonder if the Police Officers are shielded so much that they cannot be taken or getting charged if they are doing crime. This law should also incorporate that possibility, as the police officers in the United States has killed innocent civilians, shouldn’t they get the same sort of sentence for this? This was the Blue actually being a criminal and shooting without charges or warrants. They should also get the same treatment and charges, their authority and their role in society is to “serve and protect” not to “serve and neglect”. Therefore, they shouldn’t have the ability to stand over the civilians by all means, but serve them with justice and diligence. This sort of law will only make sure that more people get 25 to life, get sentence to death and make sure the ones who are possible criminals can be detained for life. Peace.

Communique between the President of Tanzania and President of Uganda on Bilateral Talks between the Two Countries on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project on the 21st May 2017 at the State House Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (21.05.2017)

Opinion: President Duterte shows strength towards the EU!

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”George Orwell (1984).

Another former sore point in the Republic of Philippines. This being the critic and the internal squabble of internal affairs by foreigners in the Republic of President Rodrigo Duterte. These has been the United States of America, Spain, European Union and others. Now the President stands up to them, also as the power-shifts to other alliances and diplomatic partnerships. This is certainly knew to a few, but since the first days in office, even President Obama got a mouthful for the interference in the internal issues and military operations in the Philippines.

The United States and European Union have been critical of the President Duterte and his administration. Therefore, that the Duterte Administration acts now upon the European Union warnings on the Extra Judicial Killings in the Drug War is expected. That is because the European Union want their donations and their grants to have more power. This is what worries Duterte and his administration, as they want to continue their popular work in Philippines. That is the reality, even if it is controversial and the methods seems rough. The Philippines and the public are understanding why President Duterte uses those sort of Police tactics to undo the controlling drug-lords and cartels in the Republic. But take look at the reporting!

Preemptive strike by Duterte:

A government source privy to the meetings said administration officials agreed to preempt any move by the EU to cut off aid “by refusing to receive it.” Malacañang on Thursday said Duterte had already approved the recommendation of the Department of Finance to reject grants from the European Union that “may allow it to interfere” in the country’s internal affairs” (Bencito & Ramos-Araneta, 2017).

Abella explain the cutting of Grants:

The Duterte administration announced yesterday it will reject new grants from the European Union (EU), possibly forgoing some 250 million euros or roughly $278.7 million in funds for development projects in the country, particularly in Muslim Mindanao” (…) “The President has approved the recommendation of the Department of Finance not to accept grants from the EU that may allow it to interfere with internal policies of the Philippines,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters at Malacañang” (…) “The Philippines reserves the right to accept loans and grants that help attain its objectives of promoting economic development, inclusiveness, and reducing poverty, attaining peace within its borders and with its neighbors, and fostering a law-abiding society,” Abella said” (…) “It also reserves the right to respectfully decline offers that do not achieve these goals and offers that allow foreigners to interfere with the conduct of its internal affairs,” he added” (Lee-Brago & Mendez, 2017).

Text Message from Jesus Dureza Dominguez:

In a text message forwarded by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Dominguez said Duterte “approved the recommendation not to accept the EU’s offer of a grant (of) about $280 million which would involve review of our adherence to the rule of law. That specific grant is considered interference in our internal affairs.” (CNN Philippines Staff, 2017)

So the Philippines authorities was thinking instead of being slapped and humiliated by Europeans donors and their grants. They would cut it off and not accept the donations to the projects. As the possible condemnation of the Police Brutality and Drug-War would assault the works done to create more peaceful atmosphere for the citizens. This is how it can seen, as the Philippines and their President Duterte, also has a closer relationship with ASEAN and China than before. They are also more key allies than the Europeans. They are also not putting to much strains in the relationship and saying how the government of Manila are supposed to work.

The preempt strike is because the Duterte administration want space and wants to make sure their respected. Maybe, the European Union are not used, neither is the United States. But they are not someones to toy around with and show-off. The Philippines and their government deserves credit for pulling their strings and stopping from being muffled with. Many doesn’t have the courage and the pride of the Republic.

No-one would expected this as the Philippines has usual just accepted the donation and the grants with the decided perks it had, since they had too. But now the Chinese and other friends are helping the Republic out with infrastructure grants and other development projects. They are certainly not questioning the will of internal security or stopping the strong administration of Duterte. They are accepting it and also being cordial about it. One thing no-one should do, is to underestimate the President and his will. It might seem rough and might seem strange. But not all is humble subjects of other nations, and that is refreshing, as Duterte administration actually stands-up to the ones no-one anticipated.

This isn’t a new morning, but still time to smell the coffee. Peace.

Reference:

Bencito, John Paolo & Ramos-Araneta, Macon – ‘Duterte rejects EU aid’ link: http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/237044/duterte-rejects-eu-aid.html

Lee-Brago, Pia & Mendez, Christina – ‘Rody junks EU aid for Philippines’ (19.05.2017) link: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/05/19/1701437/rody-junks-eu-aid-philippines

CNN Philippines Staff – ‘Cayetano: PH will decline any foreign aid with conditions’ (20.05.2017) link: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/05/20/cayetano-ph-decline-aid-with-conditions.html

EAC: Joint Communique: 18th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community (20.05.2017)

Kenya: IEBC – Interim Report on Candidates by Political Parties (20.05.2017)

Zimbabwe: I’m not putting #ThisFlag down (Youtube-Clip)

“It is not illegal to carry the national flag. We must not allow the criminalisation of patriotism” (Evan Mawarire, 20.05.2017).

RDC: Compte Rendu de la 1ere Reunion Extraordinaire du Conseil des Ministres (20.05.2017)

A quick update of the problematic launch of the supposed verified Sim-Cards in Uganda!

Angry Pre-Registered Costumers outside the Airtel Office in Kampala

Today, as its been hours since the deadline of Sim-Card registrations in Uganda, there been reports than many who has registered and had followed the procedure of the Telecom Companies and the State, still got disconnected. The Republic and the Uganda Communication Commission and their employees is clearly overstepping their mandate. As their illegally disconnecting civilians of their communications outlet.

The cellphones that are registered and has done the following registrations should by all means, work like normal and just be in the registry. Since that, alas is not the case. The Ugandans should now march to the UCC building and also flog Minister Frank Tumwebaze who are in-charge of this mess. They are clearly been taken hostage of the exercise. Even the likes of Inspector General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura and his two phone lines is shut, also General Henry Tumukunde has lost his phone. This is clearly evidence that the UCC and Hon. Tumwebaze are incompetent in their works. Also, Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago has gotten a silenced phone line.

If your MTN SIM card has been de-activated, please dial *197*3# and enter your National ID Number, followed by Given Name and Surname as they appear on your National ID. For Foreigners, please visit the nearest MTN service centre with your Passport or Refugee ID (issued by the Office of the Prime Minister) Please note: Your SIM card will only be re-activated after NIRA verification” (MTN, 20.05.2017).

There are news that some of the ones who are cut off, as mentioned yesterday the Mobile Money services would still temporarily work. There the subscribers are sending messages together with the money they still have left. As way of sending needed communications between each other. Still, there are millions of numbers and subscribers who wasn’t verified in time, neither had the capacity to be registered. Every Ugandan couldn’t travel to central offices of the NIRA or the Telecom Companies. Therefore, the loss of airtime and the phones. Show’s that the system wasn’t ready for it. Especially, when even central men in the NRM Regime we’re cut off. Opposition leaders was expected, as they are already heavy monitored and just luky for the government who wants to punish the ones not following the program.

There are many who got their NIN and got their verification of their numbers and registered on them. Still, the numbers has been switched off. This shows that the technology and the employees inside the UCC isn’t capable of the services they now has started. People are also worried about their data-bundles and airtime, that they haven’t been able to use before the deadlines even. There are so much money at stake and which has been invested into the Telecom Communication.

This exercise are really in the hand of NIRA, UCC and Hon. Frank Tumwebaze! They really have a lot to do and this tale is not yet over. There will be many subplot and the reasoning could be for getting more money into the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), as the economy is in distress. Peace.

Hon. Tumwebaze clearly ‘beeping’ the citizens on the #Simregistration!

Hon Jacob Markson Oboth: “My wife has been trying to register for weeks but it is not successful. now having a wife who is not registered…” (In the Parliament of Uganda 18th May 2017).

There been two exercises done by the Ugandan authorities that has been hectic, it isn’t any by-election or polling. That is even worse than this, because the will of President Museveni has to honored and not the will of the ones throwing the ballots. Therefore, today’s proof of the ruthlessness of National Resistance Movement and their government. Are the decision to get the Sim-Cards of the citizens registered on the owners. So that the government can control and have oversight of who owns what number. Certainly for a government who already has the methods and known history of violating the privacy of the citizens with their interception technology. This has been done to the opposition leaders and their parties through the Chief of Military Intelligence at Mbuya hill, Kampala.

Well, this isn’t about how they have used FinFisher to track and monitor individuals that the state wants to control and get detained. This is about the general population and their cellphones suddenly has to not only get National Identification Card and Number (NIN) by National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and follow the orders of Uganda Communication Commission (UCC). Therefore, when the Honorable Frank Tumwebaze has continued to push the registration, even as the first delay was to today, but the remarkable step was yesterday, the Parliament voted for a motion. That motion was to give up-to a year, but the Minister Tumwebaze had already made his mind. Take a look!

Yesterday’s Parliament’s Motion on the Registration:

The deadline was due to expire today. Winnie Kiiza, the Leader of Opposition, moved the motion to urge the government extend the validation exercise. The shadow attorney general, Wilfred Niwagaba, seconded the motion, pointing out that some Ugandans have yet to get their national IDs due to the inefficiency of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Speaker Rebecca Kadaga concurred, ruling that the extension should take not more than a year. NIRA had earlier revealed that 15 million Sim cards have so far been validated, while more than one million have been rejected for submitting inconsistent data. Speaking to The Observer at their offices in Kololo yesterday, Michael Muganga, the NIRA assistant public relations officer, said Sim cards that were not verified either had wrong national identification numbers (NIN) or the names didn’t correspond with the NINs” (…) “However, according to NIRA’s Muganga, while telecommunication companies have submitted 18 million SIM cards for validation, the actual number of those validated is only 15 million. “We have issued around 15 million ID cards; so, if they have said 18 million, may be there are people who have multiple SIM cards,” Muganga said. According to UCC records, Uganda has got 22.8 million SIM cards, and many subscribers have got multiple SIM cards” (Lule, 2017).

MTN Addresses the Concerns of Costumers yesterday:

MTN added that “numbers that are not fully registered are on a soft suspension, from 8am to mid-day. Apologies for the inconvenience.” Experts said the suspension was one way MTN was driving awareness for registration, and also checking their systems ahead of the deadline which is midnight Friday. But many on twitter were outraged, demanding to know if regulations allowed MTN to do their tests before the deadline” (Uganda CrazyMedias, 2017).

Hon. Tumwebaze statement:

As a national security measure, government embarked on an exercise of ensuring that every SIM card of an individual gets validated and verified for purposes of ensuring secure and safer communications. For that matter, instructions were given to all telecom companies through the regulator, UCC to enforce the exercise. The same way banks embarked on their KYC (Know Your Customer) principle, same should apply to the telecom sector for SIM card holders” (…) “The deadline of 19th May set by government will be enforced at Midnight. This is therefore to confirm that the deadline stands and all unregistered, unverified and un-validated SIM cards will be switched off initially for voice communications. In other words the holders of those cards will not be able to receive or make calls” (…) “Another measure taken by government to ease the registration, verification and validation process for citizens as demanded by Parliament and citizens, is for NIRA to allow new ID applicants whose IDs are still pending processing to use their application form numbers. Once they get their IDs, with the National Identification Number (NINs) then they can re-submit online using the USSD code *197#” (Tumwebaze, 2017).

This here are a proof that there aren’t a synergy between the government, even between Parliamentarians, like the Minister Tumwebaze doesn’t even care or listen to the Motion that was voted in Parliament yesterday, the 18th May 2017. What should make you wonder is that the first deadlines seemed to be in mid-April – around the 20th April 2017. As one of the companies wrote online:

Hello Tangerians, To complete your SIM registration and avoid being disconnected, please WhatsApp your Tangerine number and a copy of your national ID to 0753333666, email registration@tangerine.co.ug or visit our offices before Thursday 20th April 2017” (Tangerine Uganda, April 18 2017).

But on the day 21st April 2017, the day after first deadline, the postpone was to the 19th May 2017. Than on the 18th May 2017, the Parliament passed a motion making it possible to extend up-to a year. Something that the Honorable Tumwebaze didn’t listen to or follow. Therefore, he in his station took the powers and overruled the Parliament, single-handed took charge and pushed through. This with the knowledge that many people will lack their phone coverage, even if only limited.

Minister of ICT and National Guidance Frank Tumwebaze has said the deadline for unverified SIM cards of 19 May will be effected at midnight. The deadline will only affect communication to enable mobile money customers to either withdraw their balances or transfer them to registered SIM cards” (NBS Television, 19.05.2017). So the Government, NIRA, UCC and the Telecom Companies have to silence many millions of Sim-cards. They are the ones who haven’t had the ability to get to NIRA to even get the National Identification Cards and the Numbers, which it contains (NIN). The National Identification Cards hasn’t been a smooth ride either for the Republic. So the need for this, is surely making it harder for villagers and the ones far from central towns. You can expect many in Northern Uganda, who will from tonight have phones that can only transfer mobile monies and not call.

This here isn’t only affecting the ones who has multiple Sim-Cards and hasn’t gotten them verified through the systems, the companies and the agencies who has to systematic it in their registry. If it wasn’t so, than this exercise would be unnecessary. Certainly, the ride has been bumpy and will not stop to be so. As even the wife of the Member of Parliament Oboth has to get registered today, as she wasn’t ready yesterday. There are many more who misses out and that isn’t cared for by Frank.

The State will leave a dozens behind, who has to scratch their monies and either find their ways to NIRA offices or the local government offices to get National Identification Card, even if they have that. They have to get to a Telecom provider who can offer help and from the up-country villages, that is a long ride and expensive one. So the city-life appears in the midst of villages, as they have to fix these issues. The millions missing will need support and will need help that the state should help with and not just use the Telecom to do their dirty works. Peace.

Reference:

Lule, Baker Battle – ‘Uganda: MPs Block SIM Card Registration Deadline’ (19.05.2017) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201705190314.html

Tumwebaze, Frank – ‘Progress on the SIM card Validation/Verification exercise’ (19.05.2017)

Uganda CrazyMedias – ‘MTN prepares for SIM-Card deadline with ‘soft suspension’ (18.05.2017) link: http://www.uganda.crazymedias.com/uncategorized/mtn-prepares-for-sim-card-deadline-with-soft-suspension/