The Gazetted Constitutional Amendment will give Life Presidency to Museveni!

That the Minister of Justice Kahinda Otafiire and Constitutional Affairs has The Uganda Gazette on the 8th June 2017, so the Constitutional Review Commission will look into needed changes in the 1995 Constitution, that was last amended in 2005, so that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni could continue to run the Republic and make sure the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Still had the full-control of the state. This is how it has been today, since the two presidential terms got abolished in 2005, but now the age limit of the President is planned to scrapped to fit the age of President Museveni. So he can be the President until death.

President Museveni wasn’t a democratic demigod, instead he is the true President for Life, who doesn’t care about his own legacy and the state of affairs. This because the Republic are totally connected with him. Nothing else matter. This is the proof of the new Amendment, which most likely are made to be fitted his future. The future of a life presidency of Museveni. Nothing else, it is that simple. That a former revolutionary and liberator keeps now his republic captive.

He has captured the state and now keeps it hostage, he uses and spends the state reserves on his own, the crony capitalism, as the envelopes runs wild. There been reports earlier in June that the Members of Parliament to vote for a Constitutional Amendment would mean that they would cash-out Shs. 300 million. That means 426 MPs was elected and sworn-in after the General Election of 2016. That would mean in vast sum of Shs. 127bn. Which is more than the Presidential Donation budget in the Financial Year of 2017/18. And in the budget made for the Financial Year of 2017/18 he was given Shs. 70Bn, which means if the MPs are getting paid from the proposed Presidential Donations it would miss 56bn.

But, hey by then they already have new suits and shiny shoes fitting their brand-new SUVs granted on their Swearing-in as MP. Surely, the easy money as much all the other benefits for being representatives must be swell. The enrichment of becoming politician and representative in the 10th Parliament, if this means that the State House controls it and makes all the political organs as a vassal state. Because they just have to follow orders and comply. The Motion and the Bill might be written by Minister Otafiire, but he is only being a loyal subject of the President.

Since it isn’t the first time they tried to get the amendment of the 1995 Constitution and the changed one again in 2005. Therefore, the try in 2015 wasn’t successful, but now after recent election the MPs thinks it isn’t that striking the plan of the old-man. He just want to rule and without any consideration of the state, which is his vassal. They are just subordinate to his rule and all his subjects. Nothing else. It is so simple, the mere fact of the whole situation. Now if this law is enacted and becomes law, if they found a formula to make the Presidency owned by one man and continues to extend his powers. There aren’t any real state functions that matters, unless it gets his blessing and his provisions. They are all mere subjects, with titles and salaries, but not real ones, because they all just follows his whispers and his commands.

With the Life Presidency, the Vassal State under President Museveni will be official, not only mafia state, a despotic state, but a Vassal State, that is totally separated by the State House where all the powers reside and the decisions are made. Peace.

The Stormont talks stalled as DUP and Sinn Fein cannot find common-grounds for their Power-Sharing!

Today the Stormont talks in Northern Ireland was stopped after the negotiations wasn’t bearing fruit, the differences between Sinn Fein and Democratic Unionist Party we’re to big. Their approach to the devolution and previous agreements was apparently different. That is why the stalemate in Northern Ireland continues. This because the DUP are now in a ‘Confidence and Supply’ agreement with the Conservative Party.

It is ironic and sad that the DUP of Northern Ireland has to ask for the Taoiseach and Prime Minister of United Kingdom to participate in the talks. As the parties cannot find solutions or just actions to the problems ahead. Especially since the Prime Minister are already loyal to her partners in the DUP and not the Northern Ireland as a whole. She needs the DUP to have majority support in the House of Commons. They are a needed party to suffice her powers in London. That there are devolution problems and grand impartiality problems involved seems to come to the forefront.

That the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) seems to dwindle away, together with the 3 strands. There are little movement and any significant proof that Prime Minister Theresa May will salvage this now. She has already gotten invested with the DUP and that will over-power the Republicans of the Northern Ireland.

That Downing Street says James Brokenshire will engaged in the talks between the parties this coming week, isn’t giving me much ease. He is a crony of the London mob and the Conservative Party. It is not like he can deliver anything else than the memo’s and assigned mission of London. Not that the Sinn Fein or other parties of Northern Ireland will be respected. The Impartiality of London and United Kingdom is clearly a balance they cannot find now. That is why the talks are stalling and the deadline for devolution has passed.

It doesn’t matter what was said in the direct agreement between the DUP and Conservative Party, neither the Queens Speech. That is knickknacks of it all, but should not surprise anyone of the seriousness of the stalled approach to the GFA and devolution from London. As Sinn Fein came with this statement today:

Commenting after talks at Stormont today Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said:

Talks in Stormont broke up tonight without any agreement” (…) “The Sinn Fein negotiating team will be back at Stormont Castle tomorrow” (…) “After weeks of negotiations there is still no agreement by the DUP on the issues, of Acht na Gaeilge, the Bill of Rights, marriage equality, anti-sectarian measures, integrity and legacy, which collapsed the Assembly in January.” (Gerry Kelly, 30.06.2017).

That the other parties want to end the stalemate and give a new try for a power-sharing agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein is clear. As they want the government running and make sure policies which is good for Northern Ireland appears again. Even if that means the misspending DUP and their Energy development needs to handled. Before the DUP uses their powers into new shady deals, even if they now have the support and the possible hand in the cookie jar in London. That can be seen by the massive tax-money spending in Northern Ireland. This because of the coalition between the DUP and Tories.

We can just see if the DUP and Tories will break the GFA totally, if they will stall the power-sharing or really create a non-government in Northern Ireland. So the devolution from Ireland and United Kingdom will not proceed in Belfast. Peace.

Tories-DUP Deal: UK Government Financial Support for Northern Ireland (26.06.2017)

Tories-DUP Deal: “Agreement between the Conservative and Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party on Support for the Government in Parliament” (26.06.2017)

A New Report finds that the Tories and EU are “in deep water” concerning the implementing the Brexit and at the same time honoring the Good Friday Agreement!

There are enough troubles over the seas and between the British Islands. It isn’t enough that a Northern Irish political party is forming a coalition with the Conservative Party. The Tories and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that is enough for breaking the impartiality in the devolution and following the Good Friday Agreement alone. But there are other parts of the Belfast Agreement or Good Friday Agreement that get touched in the possible break-up between the European Union and United Kingdom, which has the Northern Ireland as part of it. Therefore, the released report from House of the Oireachtas is important. What the reports point at is all the aspects that will affect the Northern Ireland and their citizens. As well, as the promised possibilities of movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom is jointly part of the Good Friday, they both have responsibilities towards the peace process and the devolution in Northern Ireland.

But to not put word in the mouth of the report. The issues it address, it does well on it is own!

For Strand 1 (Assembly and Executive), the question arises of whether powers held now at EU level will be devolved unchanged to the Assembly if the UK passes a ‘Great Repeal Bill’ intended to repatriate powers from the EU to the UK. Should it be decided to first change and then devolve these powers (e.g. in relation to employment rights or environmental standards), it is possible that there would be implications for the rights guaranteed by the Good Friday Agreement” (…) “For Strand 2 (North-South cooperation) it has been noted that the limited scope of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and North-South implementation bodies means that much of their focus at present centres on EU-related work, for example management of EU funding and coordination on compliance with EU regulations. If Brexit means there is no longer an EU focus to Strand 2 the question arises as to how to ensure this Strand remains meaningful. It has been suggested that Strand 2 might provide a mechanism for enhanced North-South cooperation in the event of Brexit” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 11, 2017).

In total, since its inception 21 years ago the PEACE programme has provided over €2.2bn for important reconciliation work in Northern Ireland and the Irish border region, and INTERREG, since its inception 25 years ago, has provided over €1.1bn to encourage cross border cooperation in job creation and infrastructure development in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 23, 2017). “One of the main concerns expressed by many witnesses is the future of PEACE and INTERREG when the current programmes finish in 2020. The Committee notes and welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to guarantee EU funding until the end of 2020 but the uncertainty after that period is deeply worrying” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 24, 2017).

Now, more than ever before in the face of such political and economic uncertainty and instability in Northern Ireland, the importance of programmes that address issues such as intercommunity conflict, reconciliation, cross border cooperation and relationships, the development of infrastructure and jobs, needs to be recognised and these programmes protected. The Committee urges the Government to ensure the matter of EU funding for Northern Ireland and the border region remains high on the agenda and an expeditious solution is found for successor programmes after 2020” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 26, 2017).

The statements of the UK Government and the European Union acknowledging the importance of not returning to a hard border are welcome. Yet the uncertainty around what arrangements will be put in place and how these might affect trade flows, businesses with branches on both sides, movement of people living on one side and working in another is already taking a heavy toll. Brexit has also sharpened the focus on the immense gains of an invisible border, gains that for many had been heretofore taken for granted and underestimated but that are now keenly appreciated as their existence becomes threatened. These include economic gains (see the unemployment statistics below), as well as social, cultural and most importantly psychological gains” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 27, 2017).


“This weakness is likely to be compounded by Brexit with an expected reduction in cross border trade and economic cooperation, loss of FDI and loss of EU economic development funding. Northern Ireland’s anticipated 12.5% corporation tax rate was expected to boost inward investment however this was largely predicated on continued EU membership and access to the single market. The Committee further heard that the Brexit vote had already brought a considerable degree of uncertainty which is negatively impacting businesses and SMEs and is likely to remain for years. Businesses are less likely to invest in an unstable climate and Brexit is already creating barriers to the efficient conduct of business. Smaller businesses (SMEs) dependent on exports to Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are being particularly badly hit” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 28, 2017).

The Common Travel Area predates Irish and British EU membership. It allows for free movement of Irish and British citizens between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain and guarantees the rights of Irish and British citizens to live and work in each other’s jurisdictions. However, there is no precedent for its operation with one State inside the EU and the other outside it” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 30, 2017).

The Committee acknowledges that much progress has been made but there remains a long way to go in addressing many outstanding legacy issues, dealing with ongoing justice and security matters and breaking down barriers and divisions between communities, both at a psycho-social level and in terms of access to services. Northern Ireland still faces enduring challenges of building and restoring inter-community harmony and addressing the legacy of its troubled history. It should be noted that the issue of sectarianism remains a significant problem in Northern Ireland. According to Cooperation Ireland, 95% of social housing in Northern Ireland is segregated; just 5% of children go to integrated schools. There were 18 so-called “peace walls” before the Good Friday Agreement, but there were 88 of them in 2008 – an incredible 70 additional walls erected since the Good Friday Agreement” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 34, 2017).

The Good Friday Agreement, in effect, provided equal identity to all. Many have availed of their right to hold an Irish passport. This gives rise to the unprecedented situation in which several hundred thousand Irish citizens, resident in Northern Ireland, will, overnight, and in most cases against their will, find themselves outside the European Union. As noted by Cooperation Ireland, “leaving the EU could raise issues of identity in ways that none of us can yet see.” (…) “Dr Morrow further cautioned that “unilateralism in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and uncertainty are both really serious and significant issues, all of which have potentially very major knock-on effects in a context of fragility.” (Houses of the Oireachtas, P: 35, 2017).

Brexit must not be a distraction from the important work of reconciliation, the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, addressing legacy issues and building cooperation. Northern Ireland’s concerns for stability and a continuing and seamless expression of Irish citizenship and identity require a unique answer and focus. We cannot see restrictions on movement of people again. Brexit is already having a psychological impact. It is absolutely essential to ensure there is no diminution or unravelling of the still fragile peace process. Dialogue must be encouraged at all times, between all parties and stakeholders within Northern Ireland, and on an all island basis” (House of the Oireachtas, P: 36, 2017).

Clearly, the Brexit implicates the Northern Irish very much not only the impartiality of the Tories government with a DUP infused powered cabinet. The Tories have to make sure the Good Friday Agreement are respected as part of the negotiations in the Brexit agreements. Therefore, the movement of Northern Irish together with a soft border between the Republic and the Northern Ireland is important. As both states United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland has stakes in Northern Ireland. The citizenship and devolution has to work together with becoming independent from the European Union. That is a hard bargain. The dialogue between the parties in Northern Ireland and the Tories government.

We can just see how the much all parties will respect the Good Friday Agreement, if the United Kingdom or the European Union together with their Member State Republic of Ireland want’s to honor the Northern Irish constituents. Certainly, the negotiations are just starting as the Brexit time table is only beginning for the Tories and their team. However, the Good Friday Agreement and the implications should be well-known for the United Kingdom and European Union. Therefore, to respect the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, should be very important, so that the state of affairs and the peaceful progress of the Belfast Agreement can implemented and also create a sustainable peace. There are enough stirring waters already, doesn’t need questionable behavior from London to make it worse. But that is only what time would tell. Clearly, the Tories government has to either sink or swim, but no matter what their feet will get wet. Peace.

Reference:

Houses of the Oireachtas – ‘Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement – The Implications of Brexit for the Good Friday Agreement: Key Findings’ (June 2017).

Tories-DUP: Not able to seal the DUP deal before the Queens Speech, PM May is wobbling into the future!

Theresa May is still struggling to have a majority government, as he the Queens Speech are happening within hours. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is playing hard with them and showing them how to negotiate. As they know they have most of the leverage and what Prime Minister Theresa May needs after a flawed and botched election campaign.

The Conservative Party under PM May looks like chaos and talks like chaos. Brexit Minister David Davis had to give way and accept the terms of the European Union, since the Cabinet and Parliament isn’t put into play yet, as the Queen hasn’t blessed the hallow halls in London. Certainly, the minority power of Northern Ireland is now playing with her.

Theresa May are clearly between rocks and no soft spaces. She is stuck between either a worse place or axing. Even as the disarray and uncertainty is not the stable government she pledged during the election, neither the reason for the election in the first place. The Tories isn’t building bridges or structures worth trust. More making sure they stay in office, than actually having plans and things in order. Just like it was revealed after the Brexit Referendum election, the Brexiteers who was running the campaign like Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson really had white paper on how to leave the Union. Instead, that has come in the months after the campaign and it has been very light reading.

The Tories, PM May are hanging by the thread since the 10 MPs that gives majority to Conservative Government is clearly not an easy buy-out for power. Since Arlene Foster now officially can control the Tories and their agenda for the next term. That is why the Queen has to be in the sorry state, where the Prime Minister and the Cabinet cannot inform her on the policy changes or more constructive legislation to speak-off. Since we don’t know if they are going to have orange marches in Oxford and London now. As a part of the agreement between Tories and DUP. They could even offer the most amazing infrastructure plan for Northern Ireland and lax border-control between Ireland and Northern Ireland. But who knows what sort of way the Tories has go to please the DUP?

Certainly, DUP can push their policies and what they need to deliver to their constituencies. The same can be said by the Tories, but the Tories are the partner who needs DUP. Not the other way around. The DUP and Tories if they are going together has lose key causes. That is the normal for any sort of agreement between two political parties forming a government or a coalition. If it wasn’t giving and taking, it would be one-party majority who did as they pleased. Something the Tories did until the election, which is ironic.

Arlene Foster can bushwhack London government and with full velocity, something they have clearly already done. The sources to Sky News and BBC News hasn’t been hopeful today, and seemingly, the chaos that May promised the voters if they voted for either SNP, Lib-Dems or Labour, has happen to her. It has hit the Tories like a wrecking-ball, we can just wait now for the back-stabbing and the ugly internal notes leaking to the press. This will describe the in-fighting and centralized control under May.

It isn’t only that DUP have control of the coalition, but the problems it can create in the negotiations after the peace-agreements in Northern Ireland and the National Assembly of Stormont. The outspoken Sinn Fein and others has their rights to be skeptic about the whole arrangement. The impartiality is out of the window with the clear gateway into Cabinet policy in London. The Belfast and Northern Ireland Peace Agreements are torn when the ink on the paper between DUP and Tories are official. That historical document will seal the definition of London Accord of forgetting the Good Friday Agreement.

Certainly, we will then officially know what is the most important for the Tories, not the United Kingdom, neither stability for the British Isle’s, only keeping themselves in power, and that by any means. Since they haven’t had good and thorough plans for Brexit, neither for the coalition, therefore the Tories are stumbling from one crisis into another. With all of this they might start eating “a whole other kettle of fish”. But as long as May stay in power the Tories thinks they are fine. But the Brexit negotiations might be hard and troubling as 7000 deals with the European Union (EU) has to be finalized during the next two years. At the same time they now has to consider more often the implications of the peace agreements in Northern Ireland and also kiss the ring of Arlene Foster.

Certainly, this will not be a walk in the park. This will be hurdle after hurdle. Wonder when it going to end and how this story is ending in certain peace. Since the Tories, PM May and Foster are clearly playing with high-stakes and not considering the implications of their actions. Since they just reacts and trying to save face by any means! Peace.

DUP Letter on ‘Civil Partnership’ to Marco Biagi MSP (04.09.2015)

European Committee of the Regions – Staff Notice – “Very Hot Weather – Early Leaving Option” (19.06.2017)

Brexit: Terms of Reference for the Article 50 TEU negotiations (19.06.2017)

Brexit: DUP-Tories makes it sound like a ‘Pick-and-Mix’ not divorce of a longstanding Union!

It is come to many ones ears what sort of reality the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is living in, as she is now a power-broker in London and in Belfast. As her steady relationship with Ireland is also needed. Therefore, that she states this about Brexit, seems a bit far fetched, but let’s take a bit of look into her words:

She described her meeting with Mr Varadkar as “very useful and pleasant” (…) “We want to see a Brexit that works for everybody, not just in Northern Ireland from my perspective but in the Republic of Ireland as well, so it is about a sensible Brexit,” she said. “I know people want to talk about soft Brexit, hard Brexit, all of these things but what we want to see is a sensible Brexit and one that works for everybody.” (BBC, 2017).

Conservative Party or the Tories under the leadership of Theresa May have to work directly with Arlene Foster. It is not Prime Minister May has come with Red, White and Blue Brexits, talked about hard or soft Brexit. They have come with all sort of combo’s that even a fast-food restaurants would be proud of. Like you can pick between a set-meal or add different sides.

It is not like there will be guidelines from Brussels, like the Member States of the European Union and the already set agreements between United Kingdom and the EU has to be settled. Also the finalization of border-control between them. The movement of workers, trading, certifications, licensing and legal framework. Therefore, it isn’t just a subject of getting polish workers to move back to the Union instead of working on low-pay at a building-site in Cardiff. It is more complex than that.

The whole process from the United Kingdom has been erratic and been a circus. The Brexit planning has been a shadow of bureaucracies that the Commonwealth and former Empire was so proud of. Instead, the government have been meager and weak, they haven’t delivered and not given them any flesh on the bones. Just a jellyfish, not even a proper tuna. The mellow belly-waging and wobbly progress will not leave anything behind.

That PM May only cares about her power, as she would have in the months ahead of the negotiations come with guidelines and also delivered some scope of how they anticipated the outcomes could be. However, the EU have put forward certain key aspects and motions that has to be put in order. Something that UK should have worked with and taken serious as a Member State leaving. Instead, they have had enough internal issues and lacking movement to be taken serious.

That the DUP and Tories coalition will make it harder is evident as the UK Government has to be more careful of the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That is how the Irish are supposed to co-exist. Not only if the Brexit will cut off the trading agreement between London and rest of Europe, but also if the Schengen passports and such is still relevant. This will not a be easy trade-off and be as anyone expect. The UK and EU will be former mates, trying to figure out an agreement that benefits the EU Member States and what completes the wishes of United Kingdom.

Certainly, that will not be sensible, but will be painful and also in the beginning hurt both the EU and UK. Since, they leaving and has to create another types of boundaries and border legislation. This will consider everything that today makes the imports and export working, as well as the production and all other aspects of modern-Britain.

Therefore, when I hear comments like this from Arlene Foster and DUP, also remembering the words of Theresa May, which has been staggering in the sense of Brexit. It seems like she thinks she had total control and could explain Brussels how it would be to leave. It wasn’t to cut the contract of gym-club, but the grand-partnership between the EU and UK. So she said this after triggering the Article 50: “ So Mr Speaker, in the letter that has been delivered to President Tusk today – copies of which I have placed in the library of the House – I have been clear that the deep and special partnership we seek is in the best interests of the United Kingdom and of the European Union too” (…) “We will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union that allows for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU’s member states; that gives British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets; and that lets European businesses do the same in Britain” (…) ‘Because European Leaders have said many times that we cannot ‘cherry pick’ and remain members of the Single Market without accepting the four freedoms that are indivisible. We respect that position. And as accepting those freedoms is incompatible with the democratically expressed will of the British People, we will no longer be members of the Single Market” (Morley, 2017).

Still, at this point and within her speech on the triggering. It seemed like a giant wish-list and easy taking the wishes and want the UK might need in the future. Instead of seeing the truth or telling the sincerity of it, which means that UK has to follow suit of the EU and European Commission. Even if they leave and has taken an important place in the Union. They now has to leave with the binding agreements they have signed in the past, the co-operative organizations and legislation that has to be left behind. This means it will not be little things to cover in the 2 years time and neither the aspects of just movement between the UK and the EU.

The UK cannot pick-and-mix with the EU. They never have and never will, they have to try to use leverage and fear. The Tories and DUP will clearly have issues on the 19th June 2017, when the negotiations start. As even the DUP are thinking of taking the sweat candies and either asking for cup of coffee or tea.

The Brexit will be costly for both the EU and the UK. How much and how dire, the time will tell, the internal affairs in both camps will be bloody. The dossiers and notes from the political sides will really show the effects and the true feelings of the negotiations. That even the most conning politicians doesn’t want to reveal. Peace.

Reference:

Morley, Nicole – ‘Theresa May’s speech as she triggers Article 50 and starts Brexit process’ (29.03.2017) link: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/29/theresa-mays-speech-as-she-triggers-article-50-and-starts-brexit-process-6540860/