Voice of the Voiceless

Zimbabwe: A time for change

2008-03-28T02:34:00.000-07:00

Every ones’ eye is on Zimbabwe as it goes to polls on Saturday 29th.

A change is a must. The people of Zimbabwe have suffered too long, it is time that they too must live with dignity.

A rich country in all African standard is at the verge of economic collapse.

A country that was the bread-basket of Africa has to live on food aid, shameful indeed.

According to Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR , Zimbabwe gives the following grim details,
• lowest life expectancy in the world with an average age of 37 years
• over 85% of the population lives in poverty
• worst inflation in the world at over 7000% and rising
• 3.5 million have fled the country and 1000's more flee every week
• Zimbabwe had one of the best health care systems in Africa, now is one of the worst. Only 6 healthcare workers and 1 doctor per 10 000 people
• the government has sanctioned the use of excessive force and torture by the police and military
• innocent men, woman and children are brutalized and tortured by the police on a daily basis
• in May 2005, the government launched operation "drive out trash" resulting in 700,000 people losing their homes and livelihoods
• land redistribution ordered by the government has destroyed Zimbabwe's agricultural commercial sector. Tobacco, Zimbabwe's main export, has fallen from 2 million kilograms per year to 60 thousand in 6 years
• over 7000 people arrested in the past 6 months for not adhering to government controlled prices
• in an effort to take over the mines, the government has arrested 20,000 people since 2006
• 2 million people are venerable to starvation
• international food aid is being distributed by the government to its supporters and punishes supporters of the opposition

It is to the election that everyone is looking up to though there are wide spread rumors that it will be rigged by the ruling party of President Mugabe, 84.

He has led the country since independence and the general feeling among the opposition and the international community is that it is time to pass on the baton.

According to BBC, Mr Tsvangirai, head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and Mr Makoni, an ex-finance minister and independent candidate, on Thursday issued a joint statement expressing severe concerns about the poll.

If the election is free and fair, it is quite clear that Mugabe may not stand another chance, but it is becoming more and more clear that the strong man of Zimbabwe is not willing to handover the chair of power yet.

A new website for the new comers

2008-02-26T02:22:00.000-08:00

This is our own! A product of our team work! Nine of us had been putting our minds and hearts together to beat the dead line of the launch of this new website we bad been building. This will be the 'new sensation' in the world of web about London.

This site will give to the new comers such as tourists, foreign students, visitors and immigrants a chance to peep at the interesting things that are going on in the city which are often overlooked by the main websites on London.

We are all so excited about this now project and we hope this will give a glimpse into the other little publicized parts of London.

The whole process is fun but tiring and challenging as we stay in different parts of the city. As the time of launch is drawing nearer we are beginning to breath a sigh of relief, and I hear some of my colleagues say 'oh! we are almost there.'

Visit this site and you can be guide to your visitors in London.

A sign of hope for Kenya

2008-02-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

The Kenyan economy primarily depends heavily on tourism and exports of horticulture to Europe.

The recent clashes that erupted after the election have put these into trouble.
Tourism brought Kenya a foreign revenue of about $ billion.

The horticulture was sent to Europe by the flights returning after bringing the tourists.

Now with fewer or no tourists coming to Kenya the horticulture products are left to rot in the country.

Around 20,000 people are already laid off since the election violence.

In a high tourist season around 30,000 people visit Kenya. This industry employs half a million people directly and three million indirectly.

Since the violence 20,000 people have already lost their jobs in the tourism sector.

Over a 1000 people lost their lives during the riots after the election in December ’08.

The presence of Former UN secretary General Kofi Annan’s efforts are bearing fruits and that is the only hope for that country.

The visit of UN emergency relief co-ordinator , John Holmes, to some of the key flashpoint areas of violence will bring a sigh of relief to may who are starving.

Signs of hope for Kenya

2008-01-24T12:23:00.001-08:00

A sigh of relief is seen in the willingness of the Kenyan government to set up an official investigation into allegations of election fraud in last month's disputed poll.

A three month period is given for the enquiry but the panel is yet to be agreed. It is a move in the right direction.

The Ugandan efforts seem to have contributed to this decision as the announcement was made by the Ugandan presidential spokesman.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan is also in Kenya, trying to mediate in the crisis.
The opposition claims it was cheated of victory and its protests have led to the deaths of more than 650 people and the unrest is still far from over.

The police action is increasingly being questioned. The police is accused of shooting dead protesters.

The killings have sparked outrage across the country.

On Thursday, human rights activist Okia Omtata chained himself to the barriers of the Nairobi police headquarters and, as bystanders watched, clutched a rosary chanting: "You are killing people in this country”.

Rape is on the rise in Kenya, troubled by violence which followed December's disputed elections. Rape is used as a weapon by the warring fraction.

Every day women turn up at the doors of Nairobi's hospitals and clinics telling the same story.

It is truly sad to see that in this modern times a well established country is allowed to be torn apart because of the selfish interests of politicians.

UK wants India to play a major role in the global scene

2008-01-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday announced support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, saying there have to be more representatives of the new global order.

Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi he said, “'I am pleased to announce that we support the membership of India in the United Nations Security Council and reforms of the Security Council for the future.'

It is quite fitting that India is given this opportunity to be in the Security Council. India is the biggest democracy in the world, it is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and in a way India can represent the Third World concerns.

Mr. Brown’s suggestion is a recognition of India’s growing position in the global scene.

He said India could make a contribution on issues like the environment, counter terrorism, and social justice and that should be "recognised in the reform of all our international institutions".

Today the world cannot ignore India. In addition to its growing economic strength one should take note of the fact that India has lived largely at peace with itself as a functioning democracy, since gaining independence.

Mr. Brown is proposing to spent £10 billion on commercial deals.

Kenya: the human tragedy continues

2008-01-15T00:32:00.000-08:00

As the Kenyan parliament meets for their first session the defeated opposition is trying to disrupt their meeting by sitting on the government benches.
The opposition party of Raila Odinga Orange Democratic Movement became the largest party in parliament, though it does not have an absolute majority.
The defeat of Mr. Odinga’s party is blamed on the election fraud.
About 250,000 people also fled or were driven from their homes in a country once seen as a beacon of relative stability in East Africa.
Mr Odinga's ODM is planning another three days of consecutive mass rallies around Kenya this week, beginning on Wednesday to bring president Kibaki to his knees.
Up to 500,000 people in Kenya will need humanitarian assistance in the weeks ahead if the country's political crisis intensifies, the UN has warned.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 255,000 had been forced from their homes and that malnutrition was now a growing risk.
Talks conducted by Ghanaian President John Kufuor to end Kenya's political crisis have broken down, opposition and government sources have said.
Mr Kufuor had been hoping to broker a deal between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga after last month's disputed elections.
About 600 people have died in unrest which followed the poll.
It is the earnest hope of anyone that the opposing political parties will come in terms for the same of the people and the future of the nation.

Kenya: It is time for Reconciliation

2008-01-09T14:39:00.001-08:00

It is sad and it is a shame what has happened in a so called ‘African success story’ country Kenya. In this modern times an election to be rigged, admitted even by the EU observes, is unacceptable.

Why not find a solution at least now? Mistakes have been made, but try to correct it. Innocent lives have been lost try to stop losing more lives.

The newly appointed cabinet of Kenya is causing further problem. Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (the opposition) has said that it does not recognize the new cabinet announced on Tuesday by Mr Kibaki, the president.

It is truly the hope anyone who has been witnessing the crisis that the effort made by Mr Kufuor, president of Ghana who also heads the African Union will bear some fruit.

He met President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Let’s hope at least this will bring some sense into the politicians.

Kenyan boood is spilling

2008-01-05T13:35:00.002-08:00

Kenya is facing a human disaster. It is truly heart breaking to see the events in Kenya that took place after the Presidential elections .

I have lived more than ten years in that beautiful country. Now I am studying in London but I am preoccupied with what is happening in that nation which is known as the African success story.

Its nature and people are fascinating to anyone. Tribal issues were there but no one thought it could be to this extent.

It pains anyone who has even a bit knowledge of this wonderful nation of safari to know that so many lives are lost because of the power craziness of the politicians.

Even the international observes admit serious flows in the election process, then why not admit it? A promise made by the president to form a unity government will not be acceptable to the opposition. As voiced by many the Kenyans they voted for a change, but the dreams of many were destroyed.

The saddest thing is that many innocent lives are lost and the blame game among the politicians goes on.

The division and the attack seen on tribal lines will take very long time to heal.

It is my earnest hope that the situation will calm down and good sense will prevail. The efforts made by Bishop Tutu and the other international mediators will bear fruit soon.

Ms Bhutto's Assassination

2007-12-29T14:00:00.001-08:00

It is indeed sad what happened in Pakistan and still more regrettable what is happening now after the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto.

So many lives are being cut short.

There is no doubt that she was a courageous politician who championed democracy in Pakistan which went through political turmoil ever since it’s founding.

She was also an experienced politician. She as already the Prime Minister of Pakistan twice.

She was a promising figure in the fight against terrorism. She spoke out openly about her opposition to the terrorist activities of Taliban in the northern part of Pakistan.

The whole Bhutto family had a very tragic ending. Her father, former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was hanged by a former military dictator 30 years ago.

Ms Bhutto's two brothers also died violently, one was poisoned, the other shot.
These only shows the footprints of Pakistan's bloody political scene since its inception in 1947.

Though al Qaeda is blamed for Ms. Bhutto’s assimilation it is hard to point a finger at any one at this stage.

It is only our hope that the culprits will be brought to justice and more more lives will not be taken away as the number of dead is already very high.

Kenyans deserve a true leader

2007-12-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

The final campaign of the Kenyan elections are over. It is predicted that it might be the closest election in the history of Kenya.

Kenyan politics has always been marred by tribal tones and it is our earnestly hoped that it will not happen this time.

Some politicians had been playing the tribal card at the campaign rallies.

It is hoped that the Kenyan public has grown enough to shun these and vote for political future free from tribal prejudice and vote for the development of this beautiful country.

When we look at Kenya we see that it is blessed with wonderful people, natural resources and tropical climate.

The only sad thing is that Kenya is not blessed with selfless, corruption free development oriented politicians.

May this elections give to the Kenyans a leadership they deserve so badly and from which they have suffered for so long.

The two contenders are Mwai Kibaki the present President and Raila Odinga the main opposition candidate.

Who comes to power is not as important as what they will bring in to the governing table after they have been given the mandate.

Kurdish people need recognition

2007-12-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

The latest incursion of Turkish forces into Iraq to attack the Kurdish population must be noted by the international communities.
Kurdish people are a group that has no place to call their own. They have suffered in the hands of Saddam and now by the Turkish.
Their struggle is for a land of their own, because they need a place to call home.
In the latest attack by the Kurdish they seem to have inflicted heavy losses on this group of forgotten people.
The recent Turkish incursion had been on the populated areas of the Kurdish areas in the northern Iraq.
Kurdish officials in Iraq said at least 300 Turkish troops had crossed the border for 15 hours.
It is pity that US has called to fight against the Kurdish Worker’s Party.
In the northern part of Iraq there issympathy for the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers party which is fighting for an independent state.
It is only a hope that one day they too will be able to have a homeland of their own

Climate change: an urgent issue

2007-12-14T03:53:00.000-08:00

The UN summit on climate change in Bali is coming to an end. There seems to be still disagreements about a consensus about this global and urgent issue.

The hope is that a deal seem to appear on the final day of UN climate talks in Bali, following bitter arguments about emissions cuts.

Delegats from US and Europe are positive that a compromise could be reached by the end of the conference.

EU's insistance that the final text to include a specific commitment that industrialised nations should cut their emissions by 25-40% by 2020 is rasonalble.

The two main opposing countries are USA and Canada.

The secratary general of the UN Banki Moon said "I will go back to Bali tomorrow morning again to meet with the delegations... and engage myself in continuing further negotiations," He was spaking in Dili in the capital.

The US has planned another US-lead climate summit over the President's opposition to firm cuts in green house gas emissions.

The EU is planning to boycott this summit.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's commitment to cut 80% emission by 2050 in the UK to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% is very encouraging.

It time that the US has take an active role and lead a way for the rest of the nations in this processess of bringing climatre change.

Condoleezza Rice in Africa to ease tensions

2007-12-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

The move by the Americans to send a mission to Ethiopia to try and ease tensions is seen as a very good move.

It is hoped that the untold sufferings fo the people of Africa will come to world attention.

The Democtatic Republic of Congo was battered by civil war for a very long time and an end end to it will be a great welcome to a this country with so much of natural resorurces.

An initiative by USA that of sending Miss Condoleezza Rice will have some positive effect on the situation of the African countries.

Miss Rice said that she was "increasingly concerned about several crisis spots in Africa" before starting the talks.

Her first talks were on the latest fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo, with the presidents of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as Congolese ministers.

The on-going crisis between Ethiopia and Somalia too will be addressd by Miss Rice.

The US supported Ethiopia's intervention in Somalia last year, to help the government oust Islamists from Mogadishu.

On Sudan, Ms Rice is due to discuss the tensions in the US-brokered 2005 peace deal between north and south.

The most important of all is the interest shown in the Darfur issue because of which over 200,000 thousand people have lost their lives.

She is also expected to discuss the conflict in Darfur with African officials. And let's earnestly hope something will be done to alliviate the human suffering in Darfur.

President Musharraf of Pakistan gives up Military Uniform

2007-11-28T03:36:00.000-08:00

Pakistan's military ruler President Musharraf's act of taking off the military uniform is truly a welcome gesture.

He has handed over the command of the military to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at the army's headquarters in a ceremony in Rawalpindi.

He is due to be sworn in as the civilian president on Thursday.

In his farewell address he said that the army was his "life" and he was proud to have been the commander of this "great force".

BBC reported that he was under pressure from the opposition leaders and international community to give up his post as the commander-in-chief of the Army.

The discussion with US envoy, Mr Negroponte's has contributed towards this immediate hand over of power by President Musarraf.

The opposition demand to participate in the election was that President Musharraf step down as the Army chief.

It is believed that President Musharraf allowed Former Pakistani Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif to return to pakistan hoping that he will be able to weaken Benazir Bhutto's prospects in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Iraqis return home

2007-11-21T05:52:00.000-08:00

It is indeed a welcome news that many displaced Iraqis after the US led invation of 2003 are returning back to Iraq. Iraqi authorities say that an avarage of 1,000 people a day are coming back to Iraq. Most of the returnees are from Syria. The main reason for this home-coming is the improved security in Iraq though there are isolated instances of violence.It is a good news that things are getting better. And it is my earnet hope that it will not reverse and will lead to a goverment of and by the people of Iraq. And Iraqis can truly lead a normal life

Peope of Pakistan deserve better

2007-11-16T10:52:00.000-08:00

Pervez Musharraf the military dictator of Pakistan seems to be giving in to the international pressures and to the demands of the countries opposition leaders. He has always projected himself to be a tough leader who is not shaken easily. His intention may be good, but his means of achieving them does not seem to be correct. Targeting the judiciary is a wrong stating point.

People of Pakistan has suffered too long under dictators and extremists, it is time that they have a democratic government and be able to have a say about their political and civil life. They really need change, a change in which they can decide their destiny.

Treat them as Human beings

2007-11-14T01:58:00.000-08:00

An immigrant, legal or illegal is a human being. Human rights mut be applied to them too. The reports that are coming out, about the way illegal immigrants are treated are horryfying. It is even ashaming when illegal immigrats are treated inhumanly by a developed country like UK which fights for human rights around the world.

In the BBC news at 10 of 13th Tuersday an African immegrant Appollo Okello spoke of the inhuman treatment to which he was subjected to. He was beaten repeatedly. Also reported it in the BBC news of today, 14th.

UK, a developed country which is calling the rest of the world to treat their citizens with dignity and respect must treat the poor immigrants who come into the counry because they have a lot of problems, such as economic, political, security etc. in their countries.

These in-human treatments are carried out by private firms which are contracted by the goverment. They need to be called in to answer for their abuses.