wfn.org | All Africa News Agency BULLETIN No. 26/03 July 7 2003 (a)

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

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AANA BULLETIN No. 26/03 July 7, 2003 (a)

NEWS  SECTION

Botswana And US In Joint HIV Vaccine Trials Project

GABORONE (AANA) July 7 - Botswana has been nominated for international 
clinical trials, which will test a "promising" HIV vaccine candidate, 
according to the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN).

The vaccine, called EP HIV-1090, will be tested on 42 volunteers, drawn 
from the country and the United States of America (USA), according to HVTN.

Botswana's HIV vaccine initiative, Maiteko a Tshireletso (Efforts aimed at 
Protection), has responded by issuing out an invitation to 14 Batswana aged 
between 21 and 40 years, to participate in the project.

"This trial marks a new stage in global HIV research," said HVTN principal 
investigator, Dr Larry Corey, adding, "Africa is carrying the greatest 
burden of the AIDS epidemic, and it is therefore crucial that HIV vaccine 
development includes African leadership, participation and support."

Unlike previous trials by HVTN, which would start in the United States 
before being moved into other areas, participants will this time receive 
the same inoculations at the same time in the Boston, Massachusetts area in 
St Louis, Missouri, and in Gaborone.

HVTN is a global network of trial sites, linking scientists, community 
members, governments and industry in an effort to develop an HIV vaccine. 
It currently has four sites in Africa, namely, Gaborone, Durban and Soweto 
in South Africa, and Blantyre in Malawi.

"This study is a significant and hopeful step in Botswana's battle against 
the scourge of Aids," said Botswana's health minister Joy Phumaphi, 
pointing out, "The volunteers for this trial exemplify the best of the 
traditional Botswana values of altruism and selflessness."

In a statement issued mid June, HVTN said the vaccine candidate was a
multi-epitome vaccine developed by Epimmune, a San Diego-based 
pharmaceutical company.

According to HVTN, EP HIV-1090 was assembled from synthetically produced 
DNA, which manufactured specific proteins such as those in HIV. These 
proteins had elements referred to as epitomes, which in this case prepared 
the body to recognise real HIV.

The network clarified that there was no way any part of the vaccine 
candidate could cause HIV infection. No live HIV virus was used in making 
the vaccine, so there was no possible way for EP HIV-1090 to cause HIV 
infection in any volunteer.

As the body learnt to defend itself against the vaccine, the hope was that 
it would also learn to fight off real HIV, should the body ever be exposed 
to the actual virus.

Initial lab studies had shown that EP HIV-1090 may have the potential to 
induce an initial immune response against subtypes of HIV found in the USA 
and Africa.

Reported by Rodrick Mukumbira

Put People Above Personal Needs, Lutherans Urge Parties

MONROVIA (AANA) July 7 -  A Lutheran bishop in Liberia is urging parties 
signatory to the June 17 cease-fire agreement to "put Liberia and its 
war-weary people above personal interests and honour their pledge" to end 
the conflict in the West African nation.

"The violation of the cease-fire has caused a dark cloud over Ghana," says 
Bishop Sumoward E. Harris, head of the Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL), 
referring to ongoing Liberia peace talks in Ghana.

The talks, led by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 
resulted in the signing of the cease-fire agreement between representatives 
of the government, and the two rebel movements, Liberians United for 
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in 
Liberia (MODEL).

Harris stresses that the fierce June 24-27 battle between armed forces of 
the LURD, MODEL and the government over control of the capital, Monrovia, 
has cast doubts over the parties' commitment to Liberians' yearning for 
peace after 14 years of civil war.

He wants the international community and particularly the United States 
government, to play a more active role in the country's search for peace. 
The USA is represented in the International Contact Group on Liberia, a 
forum of countries that are supporting the ECOWAS peace process.

Meanwhile, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called on the United 
Nations Security Council to give urgent consideration to the situation that 
confronts the people of Liberia.

"I ask you to appeal once again to the parties in the conflict to 
re-establish a cease-fire and return to negotiations to resolve their 
differences," LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, says in a letter 
to the Security Council members.

His June 27 letter makes reference to an LCL's assessment of the critical 
situation in the West African country, and states that it is "the civilians 
who are suffering the most".

The four-day battle over Monrovia after the cease-fire arrangement left 
more than 600 people dead and hundreds more injured.

Harris maintains that although the church compound in Monrovia was not 
attacked in the recent struggle to take over the capital, the fighting in 
recent months has put the LCL in a very precarious situation.

Says he: "For two months now, we have not been able to contact some of our 
pastors and congregations, particularly in the northern part of the 
country, which is in the hands of the rebels."

Out of Liberia's 15 counties, the government controls four, including 
Monrovia.

Report by Pauline Mumia
Lutheran World Information

Sudanese Warring Factions Demand Inclusion In Peace Deal

NAIROBI (AANA) July 7 - Three small warring groups operating in southern 
Sudan want the international community to recognise their existence and 
make them part of any Sudan peace deal that could be arrived at.

Speaking to the press here on July 1, the groups said they had adopted a 
common stand on issues concerning the future of southern Sudan.

"The Machakos Peace Talks can achieve a permanent peace if all parties are 
invited to the table and reject the war option together," said Matip Nhial, 
a leader of one of the factions.

According to the groups, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army 
(SPLM/A) had "constantly misled the world into believing they were the only 
rebel group in the south", while there were more factions fighting among 
themselves there.

The parties, South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), Sudan People's Defence 
Force (SPDF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army, maintain that conflict 
between the south and the north could only be won if the south exercised 
its right of self-determination.

A week earlier, the International Crisis Group (ICG), an organisation 
monitoring conflicts in Africa, had warned that there was a real potential 
for those who felt ignored by the on-going Inter-Governmental Authority on 
Development (IGAD) peace process on Sudan to undermine any deal signed only 
between the Khartoum government and the SPLM/A.

"Their fear of being shunted aside in an SPLM/A-government peace (deal) has 
led them to intensify conflict as a way of calling attention to their 
problems before any agreement is signed," stated a June 25 ICG briefing
paper.

In April, commanders of several militia groups presented themselves at 
Sudan peace negotiations in Kenya to demand involvement in the discussions, 
asserting that they were also bona fide groups fighting for the unity of 
Sudan. "We want this agreement, which is to be signed, to be inclusive and 
comprehensive, and this is what we came for," Commander Martin Kenyi is 
reported to have said.

Reported by Muuna Wamuli

We Are Pro-Peace, Say Sudan Communities On The Ground

NAIROBI (AANA) July 7 - A recent visit to Sudan by peace facilitators from 
the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) revealed that 
majority of the Sudanese people across the divide want peace.

According to Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo, special envoy to Sudan peace talks, the 
10-day visit established that restoration of peace was top priority to the 
ordinary Sudanese.

The visit was aimed at feeling the impact of the Sudan peace negotiations 
on the ground.

Gen. Sumbeiywo, however, voiced dismay that both parties at the negotiating 
table had not involved communities they represented, with the result that 
majority of the common Sudanese did not understand details of the peace 
process.

Gen Sumbeiywo was speaking in Nairobi last Thursday upon return from the 
tour, which started on June 23.

The team visited regions under the control of Sudan government, as well as 
those held by Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

According to Gen. Sumbeiywo, one group of three visited Khartoum, Damazin 
and Kadugli, Malakal, Bentiu, Wau and Juba, all under government of Sudan 
control.

The other group, comprised of four people, visited SPLM/A-controlled areas 
of Panyangor, Kurmuk, Kauda, Malualkon, Agok, Yei, Ikitos, Yambio and Rumbek.

Meanwhile, the IGAD-facilitated peace talks resumes today (July 7) in 
Nakuru town, some 180 km north-west of Nairobi for another round of 
negotiations, focusing on power and wealth sharing.

Reported by Henry Neondo

Aid Agencies Put Pressure On Churches Over Gender Rights

MANGOCHI, Malawi (AANA) July 7 -  Church organisations supported by 
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Danish Church Aid (DCA), have been asked to 
"vigorously" advocate gender and human rights issues.

The two donor agencies have noted that the gross violation of women's 
rights in the country, and the unwillingness of society to allow them 
participation in national decision-making processes, were denying them (the 
women) a chance to uplift their socio-economic status.

The donors have subsequently warned that unless Malawian churches respect 
the rights of women and other vulnerable groups, they will withdraw funding.

At a recently concluded gender workshop in the resort district of Mangochi 
in southern Malawi, participants were urged to reflect gender sensitivity 
in their programme designs, in order to minimise gender inequalities in 
community development.

NCA and DCA argue that gender, being a cross-cutting issue, must be part of 
projects and programmes they support.

They maintain that local church organisations should embark on 
sensitisation of communities on gender, and ensure that human rights 
matters were incorporated in their project activities.

  "Unless these issues are addressed, we may consider withdrawing our aid 
to the church organisations," says part of a statement by the agencies.

NCA and DCA local partner organisations include Malawi Council of Churches, 
Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Evangelical Association of Malawi, 
Christian Services Committee, and Christian Health Association of Malawi.

Others are Church Action in Relief and Development, Association of 
Christian Educators, and the Public Affairs Committee (PAC).

The meeting observed that the family, culture, education, media, financial, 
political, and religious institutions should influence and address gender 
disparities in society.

While promising to abide by human rights requirements, PAC board chairman, 
Sheikh Mustahab Ayami, threw the buck to religious institutions, blaming 
them for promoting gender inequalities by denying women positions of 
leadership.

"If the Church can be in the lead in giving women positions of leadership, 
it would go a long way to empower their participation," said Ayami.

As Malawi prepares for general elections in May next year, women rights 
activists have been complaining of rising cases of intimidation of women 
indicating interest in high positions.

Women's Lobby, Association for Progressive Women, and Women's Voice, are 
among pressure groups pressing leaders of political parties to review their 
policies, so that women can climb up the ladder.

"There is a lot of intimidation of women candidates, which is not 
favourable for our young democracy," charges Faustace Chirwa, director for 
Women's Lobby.

Presently, only the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has made 
headway in anointing women as church ministers in its three synods.

The Roman Catholic Church is yet to consider the issue, while other 
churches are still engulfed in debates over the issue.

Out of the 193 members of parliament, only 17 are women, while the cabinet 
of 46 has 8 women.

This places Malawi at the bottom of the list of 14 member countries of the 
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), that is targeting a minimum 
of 30 percent representation of women in decision making positions by 2005.

Reported by Hobbs Gama