Software Vault: The Gold Collection/Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO/cdr55/afrnews6.zip/NEWS0618.93

Text File | 1993-06-22 | 41KB | 908 lines

                USENET INTER PRESS NETWORK NEWS

                UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY: TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

                LAST UPDATE: 6-18-93 AT 8:30 A.M.


From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!dziuxsolim.rutgers.edu!igor.rutgers.edu!occlusal.rutgers.edu!shemlon Fri Jun 18 08:04:57 CDT 1993
Article: 16485 of soc.culture.african
Xref: uwvax soc.culture.african:16485 soc.culture.african.american:28931
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!dziuxsolim.rutgers.edu!igor.rutgers.edu!occlusal.rutgers.edu!shemlon
From: [e-mail] (Shiyghan Shemlon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african,soc.culture.african.american
Subject: CAMEROON: HELP!!!!! OUR COUNTRY IS BEING MORTGAGED
Keywords: Cameroon, loans, cash, raw materials
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 18 Jun 93 12:30:04 GMT
Followup-To: soc.culture.african
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 137


We need help from all Africans, African-Americans and all friends of
Cameroon. Our country is being auctioned by our leaders at a price no
country has ever been before. Everything is being mortgaged because
the illegitimate Gov't is strapped for cash. All raw materials from
Timber to Crude oil are up for sale at less than 1/3 their market
value.  I am publishing below a Press release on the Crude Oil
mortgage. We need your help and support to stop this deal. This is a
campaign to stop the rape of Africa by Western imperialists and
corrupt African leaders. It is our understanding from contacts with
other Africans that similar deals are SILENTLY being made in many
other African Countries that are experiencing similar liquidity
problems. In the case of Cameroon, the raw materials that have been
mortgaged are being exploited at such an alarming speed that our
tropical rain forest is disappearing at almost 5 times the rate in
Brazil where the forest is supposedly disappearing the fastest. The
financiers are afraid that if Biya is thrown out, they may not collect
their debt so they are acting as quickly as they can to collect their
debt before the impending doom.  Get on your keyboard and give John
Reed a piece of his behind and Paul Biya a piece of your mind.

*************************************************************************

___________________________________start_________________________________


CAMEROONIANS FOR DEMOCRACY AND FRIENDS OF CAMEROON
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PRESS RELEASE                    DATE: JUNE 8TH, 1993.

CAMEROON GOVERNMENT TO MORTGAGE CRUDE OIL WITH CITIBANK FINANCING.

We deplore the mortgaging of the crude oil of Cameroon, a poor West
African country, by the CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT government of President
Paul Biya. We further deplore the financing of the mortgaging
of this oil by CITIBANK for the profit of the bank at the expense of the
poor economy of Cameroon.

Through mismangement and capital flight, President Biya, of Cameroon
has run down the economy of the West African country Cameroon. At this
time the government can not pay it's employees nor meet it's World
bank debt payment. The French government which has in the past
supported the dictatorship of Mr. Biya, because of French interest and
investments in Cameroon have come to realise the wastefulness and
corruptness of Mr. Biya`s government and are not [no longer] willing
to offer him anymore loans. Mr. Biya's back is against the wall.
In
NOVEMBER and DECEMBER 1992, ALLEGEDLY, HE MORTGAGED CAMEROON'S CRUDE
OIL WITH CITIBANK FINANCING FOR US$8.00 PER BARRELL WHEN THE SPOT
MARKET PRICE AT THAT TIME WAS US$23.00 [ie at 62% discount]
 PER BARREL.

CITIBANK is about to handle a similar transaction again to keep
the ILLEGITIMATE, NONDEMOCRATIC AND CORRUPT GOVERNMENT of Mr. Biya
in power. Mortgaging crude oil creats great losses to the economy of
an already down trodden country, Cameroon, for the benefit  [of one]
of the largest banking [and] financial institution [in the world],
Citicorp Investment Bank Ltd. THIS IS EXPLOITATION OF A POOR COUNTRY
AND IT'S PEOPLE. We find this deplorable.

We protest Citibank`s involvement in this transaction of crude oil
mortgaging, especially since it is in collaboration with a government
guilty of corruption and human rights abuse as documented by the
National Democratic Institue (NDI) report that was recently published
in Washington DC.

WE ASK ALL CAMEROONIANS AND FRIENDS OF CAMEROON TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO
STOP THIS TRANSACTION FROM PROGRESSING TO FRUITION.

Cameroonians and friends of Cameroon, write, phone, fax your protestation
to Mr. John S. Reed, CEO of Citibank.

    John S. Reed
    CEO CITIBANK
    399 PARK AVENUE
    NEW YORK, NY 10043
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Let President Biya of Cameroon, President Clinton of USA, your congressman
[or congresswoman], your state representative and your local representative
know of this deplorable situation.

[the name of the signatory and organisation in US sending out this
fax  was not very clear]

__________________________________end_____________________________________

I received this fax this morning [June 10th], and felt it was
imformation which had to be circulated as soon as possible.

Purely & simply, what citibank is doing is moral, economic and social
rape. My views of the bank are unprintable. What should be done to the
likes of John Reed is not what I can put on email. Quite frankly, such
are the things that vapourize my blood.

When Citibank indulges in such spectacular robbery, they would, at the
end of the year publish figures showing massive profits, and no doubt
Reed, glowing like palm oil over hot roasted yam, would want his
salary increased.  Do you know what, he will put down all this
"success" to his ability to sail through the storms of free market
economics rather than theft.

Free what? When Europe is coming up with import quarters, GATT talks
can not be finalised, so many Common "something" Policies from the
EEC, meant to keep competitors out, so much protectionism around, and
they talk of "Free" Market economy? Maybe I am just stupid! Before u
call me a leftie, I beg you to watch your mouth ... I beleive in
Pragmatic Market Economics not EXPLOITATIVE MKT Economics.

I should not side track. Please lets act on the attached press release
as soon as we can, especially those in the UK, whose 10 months worth
of grants (stipend) are outstanding and two academic years worth of
fees have not been paid. Peuple Camerounais, act or we perish.

Yours ever,

JTA
(UK)

PS: If anyone can help findout the email address of Citibank's
CEO on the compuserve link or any other network, please do
let me have it. Thanx

******************************************************************************

MORE FAX NUMBERS

        Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon:    (237) 22 16 99
    Prime Minister's Office, Cameroon:         (237) 23 57 65


THANX IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP

Wan Viban Shemlon
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!dxcern!abie Fri Jun 18 07:51:22 CDT 1993
Article: 16391 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!dxcern!abie
From: [e-mail] (Habtamu Abie)
Subject: ETHIOPIA : Long Live Ethiopian Unity
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Organization: CERN European Lab for Particle Physics
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1993 14:52:26 GMT
Lines: 31

                                               May 24, 1993

            Press release on the Secession of Eritrea
            =========================================

With the backing of its surrogates in Addis Ababa, the EPLF has declared
the Eritrean province of Ethiopia to be a separate sovereign state as
May 24/1993. The break away of the Eritrean province could only have
been possible by the active collaboration of the EPRDF that controls the
rest of the country in the name of the Transitional Government of
Ethiopia.

Just as COEDF has opposed the referendum process as a fraudulent exer-
cise, it rejects EPLF's declaration of independence as a tragic scandal.
Only a legitimate government based on the consent of the Ethiopian
people has the mandate to dispose parts of the Ethiopian state. The
EPRDF has neither the legal or moral authority to undertake such a task.
Furthermore, despite the opposition of the overwhelming majority of the
Ethiopian people to the secession of Eritrea, the EPRDF leadership, in
a contemptuous disregard for the patriotic and national feelings of the
Ethiopians, has joined the celebrations in Asmera.

The Paris Declaration by seven political organizations of Ethiopia is
opposed to the Eritrean referendum. More importantly, the Declaration
affirmed that the right of a future Ethiopian government to take a
different position on the Eritrean question is reserved. COEDF reaffirms
its support to the Paris Declaration and categorically rejects EPLF's
declarations of independence.

                               Long Live Ethiopian Unity!!



From uwvax!uwm.edu!caen!destroyer!vela.acs.oakland.edu!southend.cit.wayne.edu!maidstone Fri Jun 18 07:53:19 CDT 1993
Article: 16402 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!caen!destroyer!vela.acs.oakland.edu!southend.cit.wayne.edu!maidstone
From: [e-mail] (Maidstone Mulenga)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: SOMALIA:The Monkey can jump
Date: 15 Jun 1993 22:05:43 GMT
Organization: Wayne State University
Lines: 14
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: 35.210.80.141

.An African proverb from the Bemba land says a monkey jumps from the lowest
branch. It wants the bypassers to see that it can jump and yet at the same
time secure and insure its safety.
This is exactly what is happening to the United States-controlled-United
Nations. The UN did not not want to jump from the tall branch in Bosnia
but was quick to jump in Somalia, which is a lower branch where it could not
hurt itself.The killing of the innoncent women and children by UN troops is
the worst act of cowardince ever committed by the so-called. If they are
there to keep peace, why are they killing people.
It is ironical that the so-called RESTORE HOPE mission saved people from
starvation only to kill them with bullets.  I say why did you let them
starve in the first place?
Like my grandmother would say, the monkey is trying to show that it can
jump.


From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!flop.ENGR.ORST.EDU!gaia.ucs.orst.edu!ccmail.orst.edu!iyamabod Fri Jun 18 07:54:06 CDT 1993
Article: 16405 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!flop.ENGR.ORST.EDU!gaia.ucs.orst.edu!ccmail.orst.edu!iyamabod
From: [e-mail] (Didi Iyamabo)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: The monkey can jump
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 16 Jun 93 01:22:53 GMT
Organization: OSU Libraries CD-ROM Center
Lines: 14
NNTP-Posting-Host: standsx18.kerr.orst.edu


    The 'quality' and 'mindset' of some of the comments lately on the
Somalia issue are unbelieveable to say the least. How many peacekeepers must
die before you realise who the problem is? Pakistani, Nigerian, French and
American troops have been attacked and some killed by these thugs and yet
those lives don't matter right? Do we forget what it was like before the
peacekeepers arrived after the numerous appeals for help?
We must stop glorifying madmen like Aideed, Savimbi and Taylor or the day
would come when the world turns a deaf ear to your cries!!! Who cares what
madmen are called. We waste so much time on irrelevances in this newsgroup
just as we do back home.
In my heart I feel for a country and its people having to go through this.
May you never have an Aideed, Taylor or Savimbi in your backyard!
                            EODI


From uwvax!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj Fri Jun 18 07:57:58 CDT 1993
Article: 16435 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj
From: [e-mail] (The Wise Man from the East)
Subject: NAMIBIA: Sam Nujoma in Town.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Department of Mathematics.
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1993 20:28:07 GMT
Lines: 41

>From the AP:

The article says "...Financial aid from the West helped promote Namibia's free
elections..". Nonsense!! Bush gave US$500,000 for the Namibian elections.
Compare this amount to the hundreds of millions the US gave Savimbi to wreck
havoc. Fact of the matter is, the west was pissed as hell when SWAPO won the
elections and they made damn sure he got less than 2/3 majority!! And another
thing...Reagan was obsessed with the "linkage" issue, i.e. NO freedom for
Namibians while Cuban troops were in Angola. Pure nonsense!  kauta.
==============================================================================

   Clinton Hosts Namibian President,
     Hails Fledgling Democracy
                 ---
    WASHINGTON - President Clinton
Thursday called Namibia a ''shining
example'' for fledging democracies in
Africa and around the world.
    Speaking before a meeting with
Namibian President Sam Nujoma, Clinton
said he invited the African leader to
the Oval Office to highlight ''the
remarkable success that he and his
country have made in promoting
democracy and a market economy.''
    ''They've done it in a multi-ethnic
society with great complications, but
they've managed to do it,'' Clinton
said.
    Financial aid from the West helped
promote Namibia's free elections that
led to the election of Nujoma.
    Nujoma thanked Clinton and the U.S.
for relief efforts in Somalia. The
leaders also were expected to talk
about South Africa and the Angolan war.
    Nujoma told reporters that his
region, including war-torn Angola and
Somalia, still needs U.S. assistance.
--
The slogan of South AfriKKKa's post offices: We promise never to read your mail


From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj Fri Jun 18 07:58:06 CDT 1993
Article: 16436 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj
From: [e-mail] (The Wise Man from the East)
Subject: NIGERIAN ELECTIONS.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Department of Mathematics.
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1993 20:32:16 GMT
Lines: 66

>From the AP:
====================================

   Nigerian Panel Delays Naming
     Winner Of Presidential Vote
                 ---
    ABUJA, Nigeria - Nigeria's
electoral commission refused Wednesday
to declare a winner in presidential
elections because of a court case
alleging the balloting was rigged.
    The decision was a blow to attempts
to end a decade of military rule.
    It was also a possible sign that
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida wasn't ready to
give up his hold on the country.
    Partial results from Saturday's
elections gave a wide lead to Moshood
K.O. Abiola, 55, a publishing and
transportation tycoon, over millionaire
banker Bashir Othman Tofa, 46.
    Even though the votes were
tabulated, electoral commission
chairman Humphrey Nwosu said the panel
would freeze the process ''until
further notice'' to comply with a court
injunction sought by Babangida's
supporters.
    The injunction was issued Tuesday
night by the Abuja High Court.
    It barred the commission from
announcing further results pending a
court case on alleged vote rigging.
    Previously released results showed
Abiola winning 12 of Nigeria's 30
states to three for Tofa. Both
candidates are friends of the military
dictator, who created their political
parties and banned all others.
    The lawsuits were brought by a
group called Association for Better
Nigeria, which wants Babangida to stay
on. The general has promised to hand
over power to a civilian on Aug. 27.
    Some Nigerians accuse the
dictatorship of orchestrating the
conflicts as an excuse to create chaos
and stay in power.
    When it appeared that Abiola would
be declared the winner, Tofa's
Republicans began making allegations of
vote fraud.
    International election monitors
said the voting was peaceful and
orderly, but stopped short of saying it
was fair. There were scattered reports
of ballot-box stuffing and vote buying,
but very few by Nigerian standards.
=======================================

What does "...very few by Nigerian standards" supposed to mean????!!!! - kauta.



--
The slogan of South AfriKKKa's post offices: We promise never to read your mail


From uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj Fri Jun 18 07:58:13 CDT 1993
Article: 16437 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj
From: [e-mail] (The Wise Man from the East)
Subject: MALAWI: Banda's Head still in the Clouds.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Department of Mathematics.
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1993 20:36:49 GMT
Lines: 46

>From the AP:
=======================================

   Malawi Voters Reject Autocracy
     In Non-Binding Referendum
                 ---
    BLANTYRE, Malawi - Malawians
rejected the authoritarian rule of
President Kamuzu Banda and opted for
multiparty democracy by a wide margin,
according to unofficial returns
Wednesday from a referendum.
    Tendayi Dumbutsahdna, an observer
from the International Committee of
Jurists, said results from Monday's
non-binding referendum showed 63.5%
backed an end to one-party rule.
    He said the result was based on
vote counts collected by international
observers at polling stations. An
official result was expected to be
released later today, officials said.
    The referendum asked Malawians if
they preferred the one-party system
Banda imposed after taking power at
independence from Britain in 1964, or
wanted a multiparty democracy.
    Chakufwa Chihana, head of the main
opposition Alliance for Democracy
(AFORD), claimed victory Monday.
    AFORD has said it would demand
presidential and parliamentary
elections by the end of the year if
voters support multiparty rule. It also
wants a multiparty coalition to rule
until elections.
    Chihana said Tuesday that Banda
could serve as ceremonial figurehead.
    It was unclear how Banda, believed
to be in his 90s, would react to losing
the referendum. The government has
rejected a coalition leadership, saying
it would remain in power until
elections, which would be held in 1997.
--
The slogan of South AfriKKKa's post offices: We promise never to read your mail


From uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj Fri Jun 18 07:58:23 CDT 1993
Article: 16438 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!silver.ucs.indiana.edu!kautaj
From: [e-mail] (The Wise Man from the East)
Subject: South Afrika: Last Soweto Day Anniversary under Apartheid.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: silver.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Department of Mathematics.
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1993 20:40:34 GMT
Lines: 47

>From the AP:
===================================

   Hundreds Of Thousands Of Blacks
     Stage Strike In South Africa
                 ---
    JOHANNESBURG - Hundreds of
thousands of blacks stayed away from
work Wednesday, shutting down large
sectors of the economy to mark the
anniversary of a 1976 uprising against
apartheid.
    Police reported four deaths in
scattered violence, but it was unclear
if they were linked to the protests.
    Four were injured during marches in
townships outside Johannesburg.
    Protesters erected barricades and
stoned cars in scattered incidents
around Durban and Pietermaritzburg. One
police officer was injured.
    Security forces were on alert in
Johannesburg and other cities as black
groups held rallies to honor the upris-
ing by students in the black township
of Soweto, where hundreds died.
    ANC leader Nelson Mandela said the
anniversary would be the last one under
apartheid. Black and white groups are
negotiating on ending white minority
rule and giving blacks the vote.
    Police warned they would take
strong action against political groups
that attempted to stop any blacks who
want to work. Some radicals use threats
and violence to enforce strikes.
    Central Johannesburg was mostly
empty.
    Businesses were being run by white
workers and supervisors providing
skeleton services.
    Business leaders said the protests
would cost the economy millions of
dollars in lost production, but had no
overall figures.
--
The slogan of South AfriKKKa's post offices: We promise never to read your mail


From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!csus.edu!netcom.com!makobili Fri Jun 18 07:59:39 CDT 1993
Article: 16447 of soc.culture.african
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!csus.edu!netcom.com!makobili
From: [e-mail]
Subject: ETHIOPIA: Serial Killers
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1993 00:04:44 GMT
Lines: 51




The author Berhanu Zerihun once wrote, "A serial murderer often
starts out by killing a single life.  Then, in an attempt to
avoid apprehension, he kills those who witnessed the incidence.
He thus finds himself in a vicious circle, with no way out, and
has to kill the witnesses in the second round of killing, and
the process goes on till he is finally captured and brought to
justice." (The quotation is from 'Maibel, Yabeyot Wazema in
Amharic.  Both the quotation and the translation are not exact
because they are from recollection).

Berhanu, obviously, wrote these statements in reference to the
political climate the in Ethiopia at the time, and the situation
the Mengistu regime put it self: Yalemenem dem,

Enkenewa yewdam, the killing of the sixty men, the red terror,
wars all over, ...

He could have written the same statement in reference to today's
TPLF regime in Ethiopa.  The TPLF government which was quick to
paint itself as the "most democratic government Ethiopia has
ever had" has proved itself the closest of kin to that of the
Derg.  Professor Mesfin Woldemariam's recent statement,
about current human rights conditions in Ethiopia, is a good evidence
for the arguement.  Information from Wallaga, Western Shewa and
Hararghe, where the anti-TPLF resistance is the strongest reveal
the similarity between the regimes of the Derg and the TPLF with
even more clarity.

During the last week of May and first week of this month at
least 250 people were detained from Nakamte, Wallaga.  Because
the jiant prison in the city was filled to capacity many are
being transfered to the concentration camp in Dhidhesa, which
used to a military training center under the Derg.  From my home
town of Dembi Dollo alone over 400 people, mostly the young,
have been detained by the TPLF soldeirs who roam the cities with
there Khlashankov and machine guns.  Physical and mental torture
of the prisoners is the day to day life in these prisons and
concentration camps.  Just as during the last days of Mengistu
most young people went into hiding in order to avoid being
drafted today the young are in hiding in order to avoid arrest,
for no crime.

In my view the contradiction between the TPLF regime and the
peoples of Ethiopia has become irreconcialable.  The
opposition's agenda has to be aimed at the forcible ouster of
the government more than ever before.  Meanwhile war crimes have
to be documented against the TPLF leaders.



From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!virgin!mozz.unh.edu!kepler.unh.edu!llk Fri Jun 18 07:59:50 CDT 1993
Article: 16448 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!virgin!mozz.unh.edu!kepler.unh.edu!llk
From: [e-mail] (Local Genius)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Malawi update
Date: 15 Jun 1993 21:45:53 GMT
Organization: Department of Mathematics
Lines: 17
Message-ID: <1vlfuh$[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: kepler.unh.edu

The official result result of the referendum is
65% for pro-democracy forces and 35% for the
ruling Malawi Congress Party and President Banda.

When the figures are broken down to regions, the
results are more revealing - very strong support
for the president in the center and overwhelming
support for multi-party advocates in the south
and north.

--
lk(with the man in the yellow hat) | Misfortune: the kind of fortune
--Math Dept, UNH, Durham, NH03824  |              that never misses.
--FAX: (603) 862 - 4096            | Quantum Particles: the dreams that
--e-mail: [e-mail]              |              stuff is made of.




From uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!virgin!mozz.unh.edu!kepler.unh.edu!llk Fri Jun 18 08:00:02 CDT 1993
Article: 16450 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!virgin!mozz.unh.edu!kepler.unh.edu!llk
From: [e-mail] (Local Genius)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Nigeria update
Date: 15 Jun 1993 23:40:56 GMT
Organization: Department of Mathematics
Lines: 23
Message-ID: <1vlmm8$[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: kepler.unh.edu

The BBC reports that a court has ordered that the presidential
results not be published pending an inquiry into allegations
by the National Republican Convention that the NDP (the other
party whose candidate is M. Abiola) cheated bigtime. The NRC
claims that Abiola's party "bought" lots of votes in almost
every district. The Council for a Better Nigeria (?), the ones
who temporarily stopped the preparations for the elections the
day before they were to take place agree with the NRC.

The police have been put on alert in case there will be trouble.

The Abiola group and others think that the military is behind all
this wanting to maintain its hold on power.

Now back to your regular s.c.a. flame wars.

--
lk(with the man in the yellow hat) | Misfortune: the kind of fortune
--Math Dept, UNH, Durham, NH03824  |              that never misses.
--FAX: (603) 862 - 4096            | Quantum Particles: the dreams that
--e-mail: [e-mail]              |              stuff is made of.




From uwvax!uwm.edu!miller.cs.uwm.edu!beshir Fri Jun 18 08:00:08 CDT 1993
Article: 16451 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!miller.cs.uwm.edu!beshir
From: [e-mail] (Abubaker Ali  Ibrahim)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: NIGERIA SUSPENS PRESIDENTIAL RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT
Date: 17 Jun 1993 04:08:02 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Lines: 50
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.9.13

   16-JUN-1993 14:31 NIGERIA SUSPENDS PRESIDENTIAL RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT

    By John Owen-Davies
    LAGOS, Nigeria, Reuter - Nigeria's planned return to civilian rule was in
disarray Wednesday when the electoral commission (NEC) suspended any
announcement on the result of last Saturday's presidential poll "until further
notice."
    NEC chairman Humphrey Nwosu announced the dramatic decision in the capital,
Abuja, after a group of wealthy merchants and disgruntled ex-politicians wanting

extended military rule won a court order Tuesday restraining NEC from naming the

winner.
    "In the light of the current developments, the commission has, in deference
to the court injunction and other actions pending in courts, to stay action on
all matters pertaining to the presidential election until further notice," Nwosu

said in a statement.
    Aides of Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Moshood Abiola were
shattered by the news.
    Results Monday from 14 of Nigeria's 30 states showed that publishing magnate

Abiola was far ahead of his rival, fellow-Muslim millionaire Bashir Tofa.
    "This is a tragedy. It is a total travesty of democracy," said Tokunbo
Afikuyomi, an SDP member of the house of representatives.
    Despite a low turnout in many states, Nigeria's first presidential poll
since 1983 was declared generally peaceful and fair by electoral monitors,
diplomats and local and foreign media.
    Wednesday's twist was the fourth delay to military President Ibrahim
Babangida's drawn-out program for a return to civilian rule.
    Babangida's spokesman, Duro Onabule, denied claims by foreign media that the

military government was interfering in the election process, state radio
reported.
    But senior Abiola aides, who had predicted a runaway win since Sunday, felt
they were robbed of victory.
    "We suspect there is hanky-panky going on both by NEC and forces beyond
that," the SDP's national publicity secretary, Amos Idakula, told reporters.
    Nwosu's statement made no mention of a petition from Tofa's National
Republican Convention (NRC) Tuesday saying the election was marred by violations

and asking NEC to organize fresh polls.
    The statement referred only to legal moves to stop the poll by the
Association for a Better Nigeria (ABN).
    The ABN won an injunction at the Abuja high court Tuesday to stop Nwosu from

announcing more results or the winner.
    It was unknown how long that process could last but it was certain to
stretch the patience of Nigerians wanting an end to 10 years of military rule.
 REUTER


From uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!nic.umass.edu!risky.ecs.umass.edu!umaecs!amsalu Fri Jun 18 08:02:45 CDT 1993
Article: 16473 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!nic.umass.edu!risky.ecs.umass.edu!umaecs!amsalu
From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Ethiopia: Human Rights Violations Continue!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 17 Jun 93 18:51:17 GMT
Lines: 141

I saw the posting about the human rights situation in Ethiopia as reported
by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council.I would like to thank the brother who
posted it for helping the cry of Ethiopians reach the world.

I have some thing similar to presennt.About a month ago(May 5,1993) the
Chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights council,Professor Mesfin Weldemariam
spoke at Howard University in Washington D.C invited by the Ethiopian Women for
Peace & Development. Here is a summary by a person that attended the meeting.
I hope it will shine some light to the real situation of the human rights
situation in Ethiopia.
Enjoy!!
***********************************/begin included************************
The meeting at Howard University that featured Professor Mesfin Woldemariam,
Chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council was generally very civil and
everyone involved was relatively objective. I was impressed with the overall
improvement of meetings these days (tolerance, parlamentary procedures, etc);
this at least is a good sign - to listen to one another.

In any case,Prof Mesfin had shown clearly the very grim picture  of the human
rights situation in Ethiopia. On several occassions (actually, through his
speech) he had said that there are several serious violations of human rights
in Ethiopia today. He said, that Ethiopia could be in greater danger unless
these continued violations are stopped and corrected soon.To elaborate his
points, he divided the violations in 3 major segments:

1. Democratic Rights - he stressed that several  political organizations were
eliminated or their offices were closed without just cause. New ones are also
facing snags. He admitted that there seemed to be freedom of the press and
freedom of speech; however, he said that it is useless unless you can translate
that'right' into action. He used the Ethiopian proverb, "ebdina zebenay yelibun
yenagera' becha hono yekeral" to prove his point that to just speak would amount
to nothing unless you have the instruments to implement them. He stongly belives
that it should be one's right (democratic right) even to oppose the 'Charter',
oppose the banning of demonstrations without 'proper permit'. He felt it should
be challenged democratically and legally and not by sheer force and elimination.

2. Due process and rule of law:
He accused the TGE of interference in judicial matters. This interference he
said, is so prevalent that it has become a norm. By the way,  Professor mesfin
on several occassions stressed that what he is saying and printing is
substantiated with evidence and not based on rumour or hear-say. He said, the
Prime Minister's office on several occassions has instructed through 'executive
orders' to the Ministry of justice and the courts what to decide and what not
to decide. In other words, the courts are subjected to be the instruments of
the 'executive' branch and not as independent entities. For example, court
orders to release prisoners are normally ignored by the EPRDF forces, ..., etc.

The following is taken from the Council's (Human Rights Council) report:

-- mass massacare at Areka by EPRDF forces on ex-soldiers who staged peacful
   demonstration to get their due stipends, were brutally attacked. In this act
   31 were killed and 29 were wounded. The human rights council report stresses
   that the above number could be higher.

Note: The 4th. report of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council has several more
violations listed and I do not claim to have mentioned even the bulk. I just
picked the ones from my notes at the meeting and some from the report itself.
So anyone interested in the specifics should get hold of the report.

3. Human Rights:

The professor said, torture and physical abuse are still common. Folks, I do not
want to alarm anyone with the kind of graphical details of torture witnessed
during the Derg era. If you think the totures are gone with the Derg, then think
again. The same savage means are still used; like pulling nails and fingers,...,
etc. Example, a 25 year old young man with paralyzed hands was interviewed by
his office. The Chairman of The Ethiopian human rights council said that he
has documents to back his claims of other similar torture and physical abuses
elsewhere. Prof mesfin repeatedly emphasized that every violation is well
researched, verified, and documented.

-- prisoners of war:
   under EPLF in Asmara and Barentu (still in jail),
   under EPRDF in Gonder,
   under TPLF in Shire, Endaselassie

-- other prisoners: according to Human Rights council, still thousands of
   prisoners are languishing in prisons in different parts of the country
   without any due process, without any charge, and with no right to get
   out in bail.

   Most of the acts of the Government were really silly, very politically
   motivated (petty political moves).

   Example: in Baseka, K. 03 an 8 year old girl, detained in place of her
   parents (folks I am not making up or exaggerating this; I got it from one
   of the pages of the 4th. report)

-- several detained for being OLF supporters,
-- AAPO supporters,
-- EPRP supporters,
-- Moa Anbassa supporters,
-- WPE supporters,
-- one person detained - his crime, EPRP paper found in his pocket (does that
   smell like the Derg or what?)
-- etc.

Violations of the right to work: an assortment of professions and professionals
were eliminated without any recourse to the employees. The violations range
from dismissal of Council of Representatives, priests (clergy), teachers,
university professors, medical doctors, and a whopping 9000 workers of the
Building Construction Authority. Ofcourse, as everyone knows, the recent
dismissal of AAU professors is mind boggling.

Violations of property rights: confisication of property by EPRDF in different
cities in Ethiopia and and a large sum of money, about 1,334,128 Birr (it is
a large amount in Ethiopian standards) from several Ethiopian citizens by
EPLF without any due process and justification. Their crime - being
"non-Eritreans".Prof Mesfin also described a rather bizarre state of affairs
where the Prime Minister through another executive order to the Ministry of
Finance ordering the ministry to pay 4+ million Birr to the EPRDF. The
justification for the payment from the treasury of Ethiopia to the EPRDF was
for medical expenses incurred by the EPRDF to the people of Tigray, Gonder, and
Wello during the gorilla warefare years of the Front.

The professor maintained that he is not affiliated to any political group and
is not political. I grant him that; he has always been his own person, a lone
'fighter' of sorts.....(whether that is good or bad is another issue and I
am not sure I know the answer).He is also consistent about most of his
positions. Call him old-fashioned, stubborn, rigid, independent, or anything
else, he is the same person I knew about 15 years ago - always upfront,
combative; nothing seemed to change that.

Professor Mesfin stressed that his primary concern and objection to the student
movements of the past and political organizations now, is that he disagreed
and still disagrees on two principal issues: that he doesnot approve of armed
struggle and marxism.

On the same day, the Ethiopian Women for Peace, Development and Humanitarian
Aid (EWPDHA) distributed the letter they wrote to the President of the TGE on
the issue of the dismissed professors. Their letter concluded that the
professors should be reinstated to their posts immediately and they truly
believe that the dismissals constitute a curbing of the right to work. The
EWPDHA also noted that their member, a leading researcher on women, and
conflict resolution, an assistant professor at AAU, Dr. Tsehay Berhane-Selassie
was dismissed and effectively prevented from leaving the country to attend
the workshop/conference organized by this humanitarian aid group.
************************************/end*/**********************************

Selam L'Ethiopia!!
 Araya


From uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!parsifal.umkc.edu!cstp.umkc.edu!aali Fri Jun 18 08:03:52 CDT 1993
Article: 16481 of soc.culture.african
Path: uwvax!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!parsifal.umkc.edu!cstp.umkc.edu!aali
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: WARLORD AIDID & THE UN
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
From: [e-mail]
Date: 17 Jun 93 18:45:33 -0600
Organization: UM - Kansas City, Computer Science
NNTP-Posting-Host: vax2.cstp.umkc.edu
Lines: 19

On Thursday, About 1:30pm Mogadishu time, Mogadishu residents
expeirenced the heaviest fighting so far between Gen. Aidid and
the UN forces in Somalia. The US and the UN increased thier
fire power in Mogadishu over the last week in preparation of confronting
Aidid's remaining loyalists in a bid to discredit him as a leader.
Last night, the UN took their first ground offense since the 23
UN_Pakastanis were killed by Aidid's milatia and the main target was
Aidid's headquarters which is said to consist of weapon storage, command_
control, and the General's residence. After sustained bombardment,
the UN troops were able to enter the complex but Aidid and his close
ally col. Jesse were not found and are expected to be either hidding
in Southern Mogadishu or slipped out of town  before the UN attack
started.
For the last couple of days, the UN insisted that Aidid was not a target
but according to some reports the UN finally  gave the green light for his
arrest and the subsequent trial as a war criminal.