

Philippines: Expressing the Sense of the Senate Supporting the ‘Declaring a State of Martial Law and Suspending the Privilege of the Write of Habeas Corpus in the Whole of Mindanao’ and finding no cause to revoke the same (29.05.2017)





Well, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the one who is on his unofficial third term President. He is running the country on a new cabinet, but not on a new mandate. As per today, the Constitution isn’t allowing him to re-run. He was temporary before his first term for a few years. He was running the Republic without elections between 2001 and 2006. Than he finally got elected in 2006 and than again in 2011. He was supposed to have ended his term in 2016, but that train has passed it due-date by a few months already.
President Kabila is already 160 days overtime, he is 5 months and 9 days. That is well over the supposed time. That is not counting the days he was in-charge without an official election between 2001-2006. So he has a history of running the 3rd Republic without any mandate. That is what he does today!
So the first he registered for an election without himself at the helm was back on the wonderful day of 6th May 2016. It is easy to forget that Kabila did that on a computer looking smart and ready. Vigilant like always, the vagabond ruling Kinshasa and the provinces as well. Today on the 28th May 2017. He was doing the same maneuver. Registering himself for an election. This time without CENI having set any dates, any regulations or credentials needed for candidates. Therefore this exercise was more PR than real. Surely paid lobbyist Bob Dole and others, who are working to better the image in the United States can smile. Since this act will make it more sincere that President Kabila wants to honor the promises of the CENCO agreement of 31st December 2016. So twice now, Kabila has registered himself to something he doesn’t plan to do. Because if he does, that means he loses and someone else will run it.
This is something Kabila knows and the world already knew. If the know the DRC and its situation this wouldn’t be surprising. At this point Kabila acts like he own the Republic and the Republic owes him a big deal. Therefore, he cannot leave and has no plans of exiting the throne that he inherited from his father. It seems like the time and present moment, that the instability and insecurity is also facilitated by the government. To create problems and make it worse. This to be able to postpone the elections and keep his ruling fist. It does seem plausible that by all means he wants to stay in power. Therefore, he has even been seen in the city of Lubumbashi with tanks in recent year, to prove to Moise Katumbi and his supporters. That this place is also ruled by Kabila.
I have no faith that Kabila will honor any agreement that doesn’t extend his rule. Not because he deserves to stay as the President. But because he has shown no signs of giving the mantle to anyone else or put some ready for succession. No-one has even been groomed, only people been doomed for wishing to become Presidential Aspirants, therefore they have ended in exile in Belgium. The nation that took DRC and built massive mansions on their looted fortunes. This is ironic, but the truth. Certainly, Kabila will not back-down and give-up quickly. He has no plan to give in. Peace.

“Acts of violence– Whether on a large or a small scale, the bitter paradox: the meaningfulness of death–and the meaninglessness of killing.” – Dag Hammarskjöld
The declared martial law in Mindanao and the repression of the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur and in the city of Marawi. The official date for the Martial Law were on the 24th May 2017. This after the Maute group really went in and created havoc in the city. Therefore the speech President Rodrigo Duterte had to the army in Lanao del Norte as he wanted to show his presence and his support to the soldiers who are fighting the terrorist group. Even though like normal, the language and rhetoric is harsh and rough, but to inspire and give hope. He showed courage as he take it all on him and says so. There would be many leaders who would flip the blame to someone else. The President said the things very clear, the Marial Law is suspending many civil functions, but it is done so the state have power to stop the guerrilla and militants can be stopped by force.
“MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 26, rallied government troops to win the war against terrorists in Mindanao, and assured them that he “alone” would be responsible for the “consequences” of his martial law declaration in the region” (…) “Sasamahan ko kayo (I’ll be with you all the way). If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law, and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible. Trabaho lang [kayo]. Ako na bahala (Just do your job. I have your back),” he said” (…) “”Ang utos ko sa tropa, lahat ng tao na hindi authorized ng gobyerno na magdala ng baril at lumaban, patayin ninyo; ubusin na lang ninyo. Kasi ganoon din ang laban (My order to the troops is to kill all those who are not authorized by the government to carry firearms, who fight back; kill them all. Because that’s what’s going to happen anyway). They will come back to fight for another day,” he said” (…) “Go for it, at may full support kayo sa akin (and you have my full support),” the President added” (Rappler, 2017).
That President Duterte takes responsibility is a clear indication of how he acts, as the representative he is of the people and not someone above the law. Even if he suspends it for the cause of fighting terrorism in Mindanao. Therefore, the public should rest assure. His support of the soldiers in this critical time is also positive as the results and the ending of the Maute Group is now main priority, as the troubles their previous activity and now also all the destruction and killings do in Marawi City.
Though, as the long-gone United Secretary Dag Hammerskjold said.. all killings are meaningless, the deaths of Marawi is the same, all of the men and woman on both sides of battles dies over nothing. They die over pride and wanting to occupy already established territory of the Republic of the Philippines. So the deaths these days are all victims of the pointless death. Even if I support the Martial law and support the attempt to stop the ones creating anarchy and destroying society in Lanao Del Sur. Still, the killings will only hurt the loved ones and the people who shared their lives.
We can hope that the Philippine Army can take the militants down and stop their vicious attempt of trying to force their caliphate in the Mindanao. That is why the army has to address it by guns and arms to make sure their legitimate and righteous rule continue. So that the Republic still has control and has peace inside their borders. This is the main objective and also to gain control of Mindanao and not having insurgency there. That is why the Martial Law and its objective is important to support, even as the killings are all pointless. Though some are needed to secure daily life and the rights of the people. Even with the sudden suspension of many of the common liberties. That is the price to pay to get rid of militants.
The ones going against the Martial law in this effort, is not living in the area or wanting to understand the massive assault on the Marawi City that has been done. As the technical operations and planned skirmish to really take control and install fear that the Maute Group did. That is why the army has to answer and also the state. Even if it cost a bit of liberties and also makes sure the civilians get to flee from the battle-zones of the Mindanao. Peace.
Reference:
Rappler – ‘Duterte: ‘I alone’ responsible for martial law aftermath’ (26.05.2017) link: http://www.rappler.com/nation/171019-duterte-responsible-martial-law-aftermath

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/

On the 19th December 2016 the last term of President Joseph Kabila went out. The Democratic Republic of Congo we’re the opposition negotiation through Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) agreement on the 31st December 2016. Still, the President hasn’t left any sign of leaving. As the Army are fighting on different front, are trying to avoid more problems, but having civil war situation in Kasai-Oriental, where the province has rebels killing and the army doing the same.
There are not been any visible signs that he is stepping down or giving way. Neither any clear signs of up-coming elections. Like there are just figment of imagination that his term went out in December 19th 2016. That is 4 months and 20 days that he is on overtime, without any consideration of the violation of the Third Republic. The Democratic Republic of Congo deserves better and should have legitimate President. Also, if you count days he has already spent total 141 days, which he shouldn’t be the Commander-in-Chief and President.
Therefore, 141 days on overtime, the news that he has unleashed a new cabinet and new set of ministers. Proves the violation and the rights of the Republic is being misused and misguided. I don’t care to look into the men and woman appointed, because that isn’t fair to the citizens of the DRC. They deserve a legit President and a regime they have elected. Not someone using the army and the resources as their personal business.
Even if on this date that the President appointed 47 Ministers and 11 Vice-Ministers. They are surely all loyal to Kabila, as they doesn’t care about the constitution, nor the laws that the Third Republic are supposed to have.
The Constitution of 2005 says clearly:
“Article 70: The President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of five years which is renewable only once. At the end of his term, the President stays in office until the President-Elect effectively assumes his functions” (Democratic Republic of Congo – The Constitution of 2005).
So he has had two terms, plus the waiting term after the assassination of his father, who also was President. Therefore, because of that, he has already had three terms in that respect, but only elected in two. Now he is on his fourth without any consent or ballots. That because cannot be elected as long as the Constitution is written like this. The thing that he didn’t do, like many other totalitarian leaders, they change the laws to fit their paradigm and continues “legally”. He is functioning as President while waiting to President-Elect assumes his functions. But with no election and no plan of doing so, there is no evidence of him leaving.
That is even more evident as he changes and appoint a new Cabinet, with lots of ministers loyal to him. It is within the law that he appoint ministers. Still, it is 141 days since he had legitimate powers and was the President. Right now, he shouldn’t be preoccupied with who leads Communications or where Lambert Mende is working. President Kabila, should be come a civilian or join Yayah Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea, even go to Togo like Mobotu!
“After a weekend of confusing reports on Mobutu’s whereabouts, CNN confirmed on Monday that he was in Togo, escaping there early Sunday just ahead of rebels advancing on his home in the northern Zairian village of Gbadolite” (…) “Mobutu — who fled Kinshasa on Friday, the day before rebels entered the capital in force — was resting in a residence belonging to his old friend, Togolese dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema, government officials in the West African nation said” (Arnett, 1997).
So if he would do the 3rd Republic a favor, he would leave the Presidency and leave the Nation. It doesn’t seem to be possible at this point. President Kabila has not conceded or tried to give way. Therefore, the trust of him leaving power, seems day-by-day unlikely. President Kabila shows that he uses his power and capacity, as the army are loyal to him. This proves that the elections seems far-fetched, since he has not showed anything feasible or even tried to even get tenders for ballots.
That President Kabila will say elections are expensive, the are to many rebellions, that the M23 are in the Kivu’s, that FDLR are doing their thing, that ADF-NALU still existing, that the Kamunia Nsapu and other groups killing in different provinces. This will all be used as tactics to postpone the elections and make sure there are no official date for elections, nor ordering ballots or securing funds for the Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI). They will all be left behind, since there are no plans or wish of the President to get a successor. That means he will leave all his power behind!
This new government is just a disgrace… and not respecting the Constitution of the 3rd Republic. Neither, it is clear disrespect of the people and republic. President Kabila doesn’t own the nation and the public doesn’t owe him anything, they deserves some who legitimate rule them. Time for Kabila to follow the fleeing President and leave for Togo! Peace.
Reference:
Arnett, Peter – ‘Mobutu in Togo as Zaire rebels assume leadership’ (19.05.1997) link:http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9705/19/zaire/index.html?eref=sitesearch

















The brutal conflict in Congo’s previously peaceful Kasai region has already displaced more than one million civilians within the country since it began in mid-2016.
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 21, 2017 – A spike of violence in the Kasai Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has now forced over 11,000 refugees to seek safety in Angola. Border points and villages inside the Southern African nation have seen a sharp increase in refugee arrivals with over 9,000 arriving so far in April. The brutal conflict in Congo’s previously peaceful Kasai region has already displaced more than one million civilians within the country since it began in mid-2016.
Those fleeing into Angola continue to arrive mainly in Dundo, the capital of north-eastern Luanda Norte Province.
Refugees reported fleeing attacks from militia groups, who are targeting police, military officials, and civilians who they believe are supporting or representing the Government. After running away from fighting rebel and Government forces, some refugees had to hide in the forest for several days before fleeing to Angola. Refugees are arriving in desperate conditions, without access to clean water, food or shelter.
The situation among children is dire, as many arriving malnourished and sick – suffering from diarrhea, fever and malaria. Two children are reported to have already died from severe malnutrition. UNHCR is concerned for the fate of others suffering from worrying levels of food insecurity and illnesses.
The new arrivals are terrified and still fear for their lives and mentioned they do not have any immediate plans to return home. Some parents have reportedly sent their children across the border, worrying they would be forcibly recruited by the militias if they had stayed in the DRC.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is currently coordinating refugee response with the Government, local authorities and partners on the ground. We are also negotiating with the Government for proper hosting sites as the current border locations are overcrowded and not suitable. UNHCR is sending an additional emergency team to Dundo this Saturday to support relief efforts.
UNHCR is in the process of shipping family tents, kitchens sets, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats and other essential relief items to the area.
Further aid is urgently needed, as refugees are forced to stay in makeshift buildings in the border villages. Angola’s wet season peaks in April, and UNHCR is especially worried about the ongoing rains –– which could further complicate living conditions and the health of refugees, especially the most vulnerable such as women, children, the elderly and the disabled.
UNHCR welcomes the response of the Government of Angola in keeping its borders open for continued refugee arrivals. We hope that this gesture of goodwill will continue as the situation remains dire in DRC’s Kasai region. UNHCR is also underlining the importance of not returning people in need of international protection to the DRC.