RDC: Ministere de la Communication et Medias – “Portant Reglementation de l’Accreditation des Journalistes Etrangers en Republique Democratique du Congo” (12.07.2017)

RDC: Declaration de la CRDH Face a la Situation Securitaire de Beni-Lubero (24.07.2017)

RDC: Communique du Bureau Politique de la Majorite Presidentielle “M.P” (24.07.2017)

RDC: Communique de la Direction Politique Nationale de l’UNC (22.07.2017)

Ethiopia hit by a new strike: the ‘Anti-Tax Strike’ in Amhara and Oromia Region!

Again, has the TPLF and Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the Central Government from Addis Abeba has made decisions to hit the Amhara and Oromia Regions. This time not only with arrests and detaining people who are protesting. At some levels they sent soldiers and Aghazi squad to assassinate protesters. So now they have levied extra taxes because of the cost of the military expenses in the region. Which is offensive as the Central Government are already oppressing them with guards and bullets, now they will target these civilians with higher taxes. This is shutting down the profits and businesses. Therefore, the Anti-Tax strikes are reasonable, as it is an open-air theft of the labor and enterprising people of the Oromia and Amhara. Just take a look!

The new government proposal to boost the tax base and raise much-needed government revenue is facing different forms of protests in the country, especially in Oromia region” (Dahir, 2017).

The Addis Standard newspaper says that last week residents in one city, Ambo, damaged two state-owned vehicles, and this week businneses in other cities have shut in protest. The new tax is being levied on small businesses with an annual turnover of up to 100,000 birr ($4,300; £3,300) in an effort to boost the tax base and raise much needed government revenue. But the Addis Standard reports that business owners say tax assessors have over-estimated their revenue and are demanding too much”

Strikes have been reported in Shebel Berenta, Woreta, Dessie, Woldia while flyers calling for strikes have been distributed in a number of localities in north Shewa. As the strikes in the Oromo region have continued, Jimma Arjo district, 50 kilometers outside Nekemte has come to a standstill, according to reports reaching ESAT. The tax assessments on small businesses and vendors has faced push-backs by business owners who say assessors have overestimated their daily sales” (ESAT, 2017).

So the state, who has put the whole state under ‘State of Emergency’ last October 2016 are now targeting the rebellious regions and hurting them not only with the parts of their freedoms, but also their pockets. Just because the Central Government cannot act fair towards Amhara and Oromia, they have to sanction more taxes and pay for the security outfits there. The ones types of Police and Army that oppress and hurts the area. That is one of the reasons why the rebellion are there in the first place. If the government acted legit and was representative, then they wouldn’t need to reinforce and use Aghazi force to suppress the public.

With all of the measures done by the TPLF/EPRDF in Addis, they are not feeling the hurt or seeing the vicious attempt of governing. When the civilians are tormented and taken hostage by the army and police. Now they have to pay extra taxes to salve the government spending on these hostile forces. It is insane and shows the illegitimacy of their insurgency. They are like a foreign force in their own state and therefore, they act like it is suppress the regions a bit more. This time by the pocket, as their stolen liberty and freedom has already been taken. Like all the provisions in the State of Emergency, which take away most of the ordinary freedoms. They have even suspended dozens of papers and televisions stations. For long time taken away the telephone and internet to silence the information from the regions. So it is not like the State has not done what it can to suppress, this is one more measure in a long line of offensive moves by the EPRDF. Peace.

Reference:

BBC – ‘Ethiopia hit by anti-tax protests’ (22.07.2017) link: https://www.addistar.com/2017/07/18/ethiopia-hit-anti-tax-protests/

Dahir, Abdi Latif – ‘Ethiopia’s Troubled Oromia Region Has Been Hit with Anti-tax Protests’ (19.07.2017) link: http://onlineethiopia.net/2017/07/ethiopia-oromia-hit-anti-tax-protests/

ESAT – ‘Ethiopia: Anti-tax strike spreads to the Amhara region’ (21.07.2017) link: https://ethsat.com/2017/07/ethiopia-anti-tax-strike-spreads-amhara-region/

RDC: Declaration Politique des Deputes Nationaux du Grand-Nord sur la Situation Securitaire Deficitaire (20.07.2017)

Opinion: What use has a bulletproof coffin?

“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.” Ben Okri

I just have to ask, I know it is a foolish question, but ever since hearing that former Kenyan Minister Nicholas Biwott recently buried in a bulletproof coffin, what is the value of it? The person is beneath six-feet deep and cannot be touched. Unless, someone dig up the remains and start grave digging, which is not really respecting the dead. Alas, here we are at a situation where a former dignitary had it in his will. Just take a look!

“Former Powerful Minister, Nicholas Biwott, will be buried in a gold bullet proof coffin to protect him from enemies. In a will, Biwott said even in death enemies would be all over him. He therefore demanded that he be buried inside a bullet proof coffin so as to scare away people aimed at him. He also told his beloved ones to bury him in a golden coffin, to symbolize his social status. The tycoon’s coffin has been ordered from USA after it was established that a casket of this nature could not be found in Kenya. Anytime this week the coffin will arrive in the country under maximum security. Biwott was a man who constantly feared everyone and anyone. He was afraid of death. A secretive man, the former Minister never allowed any person near his compound unless it was a close family member. Even in death, it was his wish to be protected” (KenyaBytes, 16.07.2017).

He should have written in his will a nuclear safe bunker or a big tunnel inside a mountain, because who will shoot bullets into dirt and hope to hit a skeleton. Unless, he where he be buried with a fortune of bobs and get swarms of people digging for cash. However, that is not the case; apparently, he is buried with a bulletproof casket. A special design and kind, it amaze me.

Since he has already left for the afterlife. Not like he ghosts or the spirits cannot pass through a special made coffin. They can penetrate or reside wherever they like and that is within their power. Not as if the soul on its journey through the afterlife can decide its fortune, that is all up-to the almighty. If he grants salvation or whatnot. The bullets of the past, which is something a person has to answer for in eternity and it, is not changed by the special burial ground.

Clearly, either I have misunderstood something, the value or grandeur effect of such an investment, such a buy for eternity. That someone would go that far and order, fix and import such an artifact. Still, it boggles me, the misuse of resources mixed with the fear the person must have. Certainly, also the wealth and the stature as he can afford while living to buy such a thing.

If it was a bulletproof hat, a bulletproof car, bulletproof vest or bulletproof windows at someone’s station, as an executive, president and higher official, I can understand that to certain degree. That is while still breathing. Breathing and living, while avoid being killed. However, when you are already dead, these measures seems rather used up and has no meaning. Like you can have the nicest palace and biggest bank account. That will not be a part of your casket, but will be part of your legacy. That is what you leave behind to the next generation.

That is just me though, the simple-minded man I am, what about you?

RDC: “A cet effet, le Comite Directeur de l’ARC fait la declaration suivante” (15.07.2017)

RDC: MSR / G7 Afrique du Sud – Communique de Presse (14.07.2017)

RDC: Communique du PPRD (15.07.2017)