Donald Payne: A Drum Major for Democracy and Human Rights By Alemayehu G Mariam

Grassroots Ethiopian human rights groups and activists have been stunned by the death last week of Donald Payne, our strongest ally and advocate in the U.S. Congress. His passing marks a major setback to the cause of freedom, democracy and human rights in Ethiopia and Africa. But Don Payne has left us a rich legacy of human rights advocacy and legislative action spanning over two decades. It is now our burden — indeed our moral duty — to build, to expand and to deliver on that legacy.

Somali women call for better roles in country

MOGADISHU, Mar 8 (Moment Media) – As Somali women celebrated International Women’s Day with various ceremonies in many parts of the country, calls for greater roles for women in national affairs have been voiced by women leaders. The occasion were marked with marches and rallies in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu and various ceremonies held in commemoration for the day, where key government officials attended including Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as well as other top government and community leaders.

Open letter to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

 

Mr. Prime Minister,

This letter is prompted by your short speech at the inauguration of the new African Union Headquarters built by the government of China at a cost of 200 million US$ as a ‘gift’ to Africa.

In that speech you said “China, its amazing re-emergence and its commitment to win partnership is one of the reasons for the beginning of the African renaissance,” adding “Over the past decades, China-Africa cooperation has gone from strength to strength. The future prospects of our partnership are even brighter.”

I would yes your ‘partnership’ with China is serving you well in blocking freedom of access to information from independent external sources. Communist China and your regime have a stake in denying media freedom to their citizens; respect for human rights is irrelevant!

Jomo Kenyatta once said something like this: European missionaries came with their Bibles in their hand to preach the word of God and while Africans were gazing towards the sky for mercy, the ‘holy men’ surveyed the land for the purpose of colonizing. I would like to add that the shrewd Chinese traders would do no less than the former colonial masters to protect their US$ 150 billion investment on the African continent. So, Mr. Prime Minister, the warm relation with China of which you spoke in adoration could prove detrimental to the healthy development of democracy in the third world. Go no further than the recent veto by China and Russia to stop UN resolution calling Bashar Assad to step aside in order to end the carnage being meted out by his armed forces to civilians demanding dignity and freedom.

The Dragon’s Dance with Hyenas By Alemayehu G Mariam

The Chinese Dragon is dancing the Watusi shuffle with African Hyenas. Things could not be better for the Dragon in Africa. In the middle of what once used to be the African Pride Land now stands a brand-spanking new hyenas’ den called the African Union Hall (AU). Every penny of the USD$200 million stately pleasure dome was paid for by China. It is said to be “China’s gift to Africa.” It was all lovey-dovey two weeks ago when the hyenas assembled to pay homage to the mighty Dragon:

… This magnificent…building which will now house the headquarters of our continental organization is built on the ruins of a prison that represented desperation and hopelessness… The face of this great hall is meant to convey this message of optimism, a message that is out of the decades of hopelessness and imprisonment a new era of hope is dawning, and that Africa is being unshackled and freed… It is therefore very appropriate for China to decide to build this hall — the hall of the rise of Africa — this hall of African renaissance… I am sure I speak for all of you when I say to the people and government of China thank you so very much. May our partnership continue and prosper.

There was no end to the bootlicking and praise of the “generosity of the Chinese government”, and how the “gift” represents “a qualitative leap in the relations between China and Africa”. AU president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea’s dictator since 1979, even saw “a reflection of the new Africa, and the future we want for Africa” in the glassed 20-storey tower.

The Dragon was equally obliging:

…There exists profound traditional friendship between China and Africa… China has always been Africa’s good friend, good partner and good brother…. [S]trengthen[ing] unity and cooperation between China and Africa and promot[ing] common development is an important cornerstone of China’s foreign policy, and a long-term strategic choice…

The art of bullying Ethiopians. By Yilma Bekele.

 

‘Prime Minster Meles Zenawi said on Wednesday Ethiopia could pardon politicians and journalists arrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law.’ That news was reported widely including inside Ethiopia. Normally what we hear outside and what the people are told is two different things. This time the message was meant for the Ethiopian people. It reinforces the idea of the benevolent Land Lord.

What the Ethiopian minority based regime is doing is bullying it’s own people. According to Wiki ‘Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power.’ Gaddafi was a serial bully so was Mubarak or Saleh. Meles Zenawi is a habitual bully. He uses lethal force as well as verbal aggression on a daily basis. His regime terrorizes our people both inside and outside the country.

Kulan magaalada Roma ku dhexmara ra’iisul Wasaare Abdiweli gaas oo la kulmay iyo wasiirka arimaha dibeda Talyaaniga

Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali oo booqasho rasmi ah ku jooga dalka Talyaaniga ayaa kulan dheer la qaatay Wasiirka Arrimaha Dibedda ee Talyaaniga H.E. Giulio Terzi. Kulankan ayey labada mas’uul uga hadleen xiriirka qotada dheer ee labada dal, xaalada dalka Soomaaliya, arrimaha Burcad-badeeda, arrimaha Amniga iyo Shirka London.

Kulanka ka dib ayey labada mas’uul wada qabteen shir-jaraa’id oo ay saxaafadda kula hadleen Xafiiska Wasaaradda Arrimaha Dibedda ee Talyaaniga. Ragiisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya ayaa uga mahadceliyey Dowladda iyo Shacabka Talyaaniga sida ay uga go’antahay in la sii xoojiyo xiriirka qotoda dheer iyo u gargaarida shacabka Soomaaliyeed. Labada mas’uul waxey sheegeen inay ka wada hadleen arrimo muhiim u ah labada dal, ayna rajeynayaan inay sii xoojiyaan xiriirka labada dal. Sidoo kale waxey labada mas’uul sheegeen inay ka wada hadleen shirka London oo Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya sheegay in la rajeynayo in shirkaas uu middeeyo beesha caalamka oo ay u soo jeestaan sidii xal waara loogu heli lahaa Soomaaliya, isla markaan lagu sii horumarin lahaa dadaalada socda iyo horumarka laga sameeyey dhanka Amniga, Dib-u-heshiisiinta, Xiriirka maamulada iyo Dowladda, Maamul wanaaga, Dastuurka qabyada ah iyo dib-uhabeynta Baarlamaanka. Wasiirka Arrimaha Dibedda Talyaaniga ayaa sheegay in Talyaaniga uu tagayo shirka Lodon isla markaana taageeri doono mowqifka Soomaalida si xalku u noqdo mid ay Soomalidu leedahay. 

Ragiisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya ayaa waxaa Qado sharaf u sameyey Wasiir ku xigenka Arrimaha Dibadda Talyaaniga H:E. Staffan De Mistura oo ay labada mas’uul ka wada hadleen sidii loo sii xoojin lahaa xiriirka labada dal. 

Ragiisul Wasaaaha Soomaaliya ayaa lagu wadaa inuu kulamo la qaato Wasiirada Gaashandhiga, iyo Arrimaha Gudaha iyo Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Dalka Talyaaniga.

“What’s happening, and why is there such a delay [in opening the U.N. Political Office in Somalia]?”

Pete Heinlein: “What’s happening, and why is there such a delay [in opening the U.N. Political Office in Somalia]?”

Ban Ki-moon: “First, the deployment of United Nations Political Office in Somalia [UNPOS] is a historic one, demonstrating our strong, determined will, to help transition the federal government of Somalia. This is the first time in 17 years that the U.N. Political Office is deployed permanently. I hope this will bring other international partners to Mogadishu.”

A Bumpy Road for the Somali Roadmap

Progress on the political roadmap to move Somalia out of conflict and toward stable, permanent, and representative government by August 2012 seems to be facing intractable barricades. The roadmap calls for the adoption of a new constitution by July, with parliamentary elections to take place in August of this year. With less than six months remaining and al-Shabab forces controlling much of the country, the likelihood of constituting a representative constituent assembly, finalizing a draft constitution, and conducting a national referendum is unrealistic if not impossible.

Mahiga’s Roadmap and the Future of Somalia.

 

Toronto, December, 23, 2011 – (PW)  - After twenty years, many Somalis particularly those who live outside are forgetting Somalia and are assimilating and are becoming part of the society of their host country. They are becoming less interested in what is happening in Somalia as the conflict drags on. Many of them think that Somalia is lost and there is no way that it will become back as it is used to be once upon a time. Unfortunately, they often talk how Somalia looked like before but they also Sense that Somalia reached to point of no return and can’t be saved.

Linda Polman: On Somalia: United Nations Assistance Nourishes the War in Somalia: Interview

 Introduction:

To be precise for approximately  6 months ago I wrote an  article titled:Political Ownership is it the Key to the Dispute Between Somalis and the International Community? My article explored and touched on the correlations between Aid and Politics among other issues.