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

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

Kenya's Flight Ban To Somalia Highlights Annan's Fears

NAIROBI (AANA) July 7 - Efforts to initiate new programmes and maintain the 
pace of existing humanitarian assistance activities for the needy Somali 
people, may be jeopardised if the modest requirements of a 2003 
Consolidated Appeal are not met in a timely manner, the UN 
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has warned.

In his assessment report on the situation in Somalia, the UN chief has 
stated that, "to achieve peace and stability in Somalia, the international 
community needs to remain fully engaged".

Although dismally low, human development index figures in Somalia have 
remained steady for the past several years, indicating the positive effect 
of humanitarian and development assistance, according to Annan.

The UN chief however, expresses fears that without increased and sustained 
donor commitment, the outlook for Somalia remains grim.

He states that any reduction in existing efforts, both for short-term 
relief and for the medium to long-term, could upset the precarious balance 
achieved, with devastating effects, particularly on women and children.

He has, in his report, called on donors not to let the demands of other 
crises negatively affect the outlook for Somalia.

But a June 20 ban on flights to Somalia by Kenyan authorities has caused a 
stir among donor-supported humanitarian agencies operating in Somalia and 
based in Nairobi.

On June 26, Medecins Sans Frontihres (MSF) complained that the blanket ban 
had hampered its humanitarian activities in troubled Somalia, since most of 
its projects were dependent on transport from Nairobi.

"Unless flights resume quickly, ongoing MSF humanitarian assistance 
programmes in Somalia, including services in three hospitals and 14 health 
centres, will be disrupted," said a statement from MSF.

Last week (July 4), United Nations Children's Fund regretted that the 
flight ban had impeded aid agency capacities to "implement humanitarian 
interventions for affected populations".

"Coming at a time when Somali leaders are discussing peace and national 
reconciliation, and trying to bring back peace to their country, the 
continuation of the ban represents a very discouraging situation," UNICEF 
Somalia Representative, Jesper Morch, said.

Kenya imposed the flight ban to and from Somalia, citing concerns of 
possible terrorist activities in its Horn of Africa neighbour. It appears 
the ban has caused a ripple effect that might highlight Annan's fears.

Meanwhile the European Union (EU), through the chairmanship of Greece, has 
strongly condemned the repeated violations of the cessation of hostilities 
declaration of October 27, 2002, in particular the recent fighting in 
middle Shebelle and Mogadishu.

EU is a major financial contributor towards efforts aimed at recovery of 
troubled Somalia.

"The EU reiterates its willingness to consider appropriate measures, 
including smart sanctions, against individuals and groups undermining the 
peace process, said a statement, issued through the Greece Embassy in 
Nairobi on June 23.

It continued:  "The EU notes the contents of the recent report of the UN 
panel of experts and calls upon all countries to strictly abide by the UN 
arms embargo on Somalia."

Reported by Osman Njuguna

Inadequacy Of Expert Staff Results In Death Of Children

BLANTYRE (AANA) July 7 - Three children died instantly on June 23, while 
three others were in critical condition at Mulanje District Hospital in 
southern Malawi, after medical personnel mistakenly injected them with 
anaesthesia instead of a prescribed vaccine.

Yusufu Mwawa, the Minister for Health and Population, confirmed the 
incident to the press on June 27, and described it as "sad".

"It is sad indeed. It is possible the officers used the wrong drug because 
the vials look similar when seen with a naked eye. I'm yet to get a full 
report," said Mwawa.

On the fateful day, three health surveillance assistants on duty allegedly 
injected six children with a drug mostly used in theatre.

They used Sexamatgnium instead of Dialyn injection drug.  Sexamatgnium is 
used in theatre treatments.

The government has already interdicted the health surveillance staff, 
pending further investigations.

The sad incident comes at a time when reports are rife that patients 
undergoing operations endure a lot of problems, due to inexperienced staff 
and inadequate hospital equipment.

Patients have generally been complaining of pain during and after 
operations, which is said to be a result of inexperienced anaesthetists.

Dr Rex Mpazanje, Director of Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health 
and Population, admitted that the country had very few trained surgeons, to 
the extent that some district health institutions had not a single expert.

He expressed concern that mishandled operational exercise could worsen a 
patient's condition, and sometimes lead to death.

"We are lobbying the government over training of more specialists, to 
reduce the doctor-patient ratio," said Mpazanje

Reported by Hobbs Gama

Clergymen Are Politically The Most Highly Rated - Research

KAMPALA (AANA) July 7 - Clergymen in Uganda are politically the most highly 
rated people, according to a study commissioned by the US-based 
International Republican Institute (IRI).

Conducted by the Nairobi-based Strategic Public Relations and Research 
Limited between May 21 and June 13, the research shows that 62 percent of 
the 3,000 respondents across a wide political, social and economic 
spectrum, trust religious leaders on political matters.

Civil society is second with a 57 percent rating. Museveni follows with 54 
percent and parliament, 51 percent.

The findings are contained in a report titled Ugandan Governance and 
Democracy Survey Report, which says that even though there is a high level 
of trust in local leaders, this depends on how close they are to the people.

For instance, in the five-tier local council system, village leaders are 
more popular than those at the district level.

The electoral commission and opposition parties are trusted least, 
according to the report. In fact, nearly half of the respondents fear that 
the latter can cause instability.

The study shows strong nationalism tendencies in Uganda, with more people 
identifying themselves as Ugandans more than their tribes.

More Ugandans feel better off, more secure and perceive democracy more on 
consensus building. More than half of the respondents want a return to 
multi-party system, though preferably, with few players.

On support for political groups, the study established that National 
Resistance Movement (NRM) is ahead with an 80 percent rating, followed by 
Democratic Party (10 percent) and Uganda Peoples Congress (seven percent).

However, respondents based their choice of parties largely on religion (38 
percent) than on party policies (eight percent).

The study comes at a time when the political environment in Uganda is 
charged with debate on anticipated constitutional changes, especially 
concerning possible removal of Presidential term limits.

The country is also weary of the Lords Resistance Army menace pushing 
downwards from the north.

The study also highlights challenges still faced by the government, towards 
increasing trust in democratic institutions rather than in personalities.

Museveni, for example, is more trusted than his movement, NRM, according to 
the report. This to critics, is indicative that power still lies on 
personalities.

The high rating for clergymen could have been caused by their consistency 
in condemning both the government and the rebels for being intransigent.

The Church has also come out strongly against Museveni's third term 
proposals and has highlighted the plight of children in the North.

Reported by Crespo Sebunya

Bishops Laud Re-Investigation Into The Death Of Colleague

NAIROBI (AANA) July 7 - Catholic Bishops here have expressed support for a 
re-investigation into the death of Rev. Fr John Anthony Kaiser, an American 
Catholic priest found mysteriously dead on August 22, 2000, by the roadside 
near Naivasha town, about 75 kilometres north-west of Nairobi.

At a press conference on July 2, the Catholics reiterated their stand that 
they were dissatisfied with the outcome of investigations carried out by 
the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Kenya's 
Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which concluded that Fr. Kaiser 
had committed suicide.

In April 2001, Catholic priests jointly rejected an FBI report released 
earlier the same month, which had concluded that Fr Kaiser had committed 
suicide by shooting himself in the head with his own shotgun.

Sensing foul play, they cited the "unprofessional and selective 
scene-of-crime evidence and apparent malpractice surrounding the 
post-mortem examination," as some of the weaknesses of the report.

The Catholic consequently called upon the Kenya Government to institute a 
public inquest into the death of Fr Kaiser, "when all witnesses can be 
examined and cross-examined".

But their request was not accepted until two years later, and under a new 
government, following sustained public pressure.

On April 2, 2003, Attorney General, Amos Wako directed that "the 
investigation file be placed before the Chief Magistrate with a view of 
holding a public inquest".

Accordingly, a mention of the case is expected on August 11 in Naivasha Law 
Courts, to set a date for the commencement of an inquest.

"We welcome the assurance by the Magistrate that there will be a mention on 
August 11, with a view to setting the date when the inquest commences," 
said the Catholic Bishops in their latest statement.

The death of Fr Kaiser was considered by observers to have been politically 
instigated.  The outspoken Catholic priest of the Mill Hill Order had been 
critical of the previous government, a fact that makes many believe that 
his death was a case of murder, and that the suicide theory was politically 
influenced.

Reported by Osman Njuguna

Conference Promises To End Inter-Ethnic Conflicts In Region

UPPER NILE, Southern Sudan (AANA) July 7 In another attempt to establish a 
common voice for southern Sudanese, People Acting Cooperatively Together 
(PACT), comprising the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC), the Upper Nile 
Task Force for Development, and Inter-Denominational Group, met in southern 
Sudan,to appease warring communities in the Upper Nile region.

The conference, dubbed Peace and Development Conference of Upper Nile 
Region, was held between June 13 to 21 at the invitation of Sudanese 
People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A) Task Force, an SPLM/A branch that deals 
with peace matters.

The last two days of the meeting were devoted to the Upper Nile Regional 
Congress, which saw the election of delegates to represent the region at a 
National Congress that will bring together other two regions of southern 
Sudan, namely the Equotoria and Bahr- el-Ghazal.

The conference was the first of its kind in the Upper Nile. It attracted 
700 participants in a bid to enhance dialogue between groups that have been 
embroiled in inter-ethnic conflicts.

The meeting was aimed at preparing communities in southern Sudan to speak 
with one voice at the National Congress.

Political leaders, such as SPLM/A chairman , Dr. John Garang, among others, 
attended the conference as observers. Other observers representing civilian 
populations included church representatives from Rumbek.

The other regions, which together with the three in southern Sudan that 
form the New Sudan, include Southern Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains.

Meanwhile Amnesty International has sent an appeal to the Khartoum 
government to stop its security forces from harassing, detaining 
incommunicado and impeding the civilian society from discussing issues 
related to the peace talks on Sudan.

The human rights agency says that all Sudanese must be free to participate 
in discussions related to their future.

"The continuing repression of freedom of assembly and expression and the 
harassment of civil society activists and political opponents are clear 
signs that the Sudan government is intent on denying the northern civil 
society the right to prepare for a sustainable peace," said Amnesty in a 
statement released mid June.

It accused the government and the security forces of having, within the 
past one month, forcibly interrupted meetings on the peace process by 
political activists and civil society groups.

One of the victims of government harassment identified by the Amnesty is 
Elhadi Tanur, a representative of the Blue Nile State who was arrested on 
June 16 and detained incommunicado for meeting with General Lazarus 
Sumbeiyo, the main mediator in the Sudan peace talks.

Reported by Joseph K'Amolo