wfn.org | All Africa News Agency September 1, 2003 (a)

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

ALL AFRICA NEWS AGENCY
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AANA BULLETIN No. 34/03 - September 1, 2003 (a)

AANA Bulletin				Bulletin APTA
Editor -Elly Wamari		     Editor - Silvie Alemba

NEWS  SECTION

Kenya's Kobia Becomes New General Secretary Of WCC

GENEVA (AANA) September 1 - Rev. Dr Sam Kobia, currently World Council of 
Churches (WCC) Special Representative for Africa, has been elected the 
organisation's new General Secretary. He will succeed Rev. Dr Konrad 
Raiser, and will take office in January next year.

The election took place last week during a closed session of the WCC 
Central Committee, in which the 134 voting members considered two 
candidates presented by the search committee - Rev. Kobia and Rev. Canon Dr 
Trond Bakkevig.

Announcing the result, the Moderator of the Central Committee, His Holiness 
Aram I, stressed that the election process was "very smooth, responsible 
and serious".

Then he said to Rev Kobia: "I am sure you will accept this call, which we 
believe is from God, to serve the ecumenical cause."

Thanking the Committee for its confidence in him, Rev Kobia noted: "To gain 
the capacity to inspire the world, we need inner strength. Our strength 
lies also in our unity."

He went on: "As we reiterate that the WCC is first and foremost a 
fellowship of churches whose primary purpose is to call one another to 
visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, and to advance 
that unity so that the world may believe, we must work together and be seen 
to be working together."

He concluded with an African saying: "If you want to walk fast, walk alone. 
But if you want to go far, walk together with others."

A Kenyan born in 1947,	Rev Kobia is an ordained minister in the Methodist 
Church in Kenya. He holds degrees and diplomas from institutions in Kenya 
and the USA. He is married to Ruth, and they have two daughters and two sons.

Kobia has wide ecumenical experience. He has served as WCC Executive 
Secretary for Urban Rural Mission, and as General Secretary of the National 
Council of Churches of Kenya.

He helped reorganise the Zimbabwe Christian Council after the country's 
independence.  He chaired peace talks for Sudan in 1991, and in 1992, he 
headed Kenya's National Election Monitoring Unit. He returned to Geneva the 
following year to become Executive Director of WCC's Justice, Peace and 
Creation Unit.

He is an author of books dealing with social and theological issues in 
Kenya, as well as on the future of Africa.

Inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, WCC is a fellowship of 
342 churches in more than 100 countries in all continents, from virtually 
all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member but 
works co-operatively with the organisation.

By WCC Press Team

Church In Uganda Intensifies Global Appeal Against War

KAMPALA (AANA) September 1 - The campaign by the Catholic Church in Uganda 
to have the international community intervene in war afflicting the 
northern part of the country is bearing fruits, signalling the Church's 
rising role in the country's political profile.

The United Kingdom (UK) has agreed to lead efforts to pave way for 
international mediation and a possible deployment of a peacekeeping force 
to stop the war, which has cost the country US$ 1.3 billion, and killed at 
least 50,000 people, according to latest Government estimates.

Ugandan Government has been struggling to battle the Lords Resistance Army 
(LRA), a notorious rebel force that has not laid out its political agenda, 
but has succeeded in making its presence felt in the international scene.

Local attempts at mediation have yielded nothing, compelling the Church to 
appeal for international intervention, which has been greeted positively.

"There are calls for international mediation between the two sides, and for 
an international peacekeeping force," said Chris Mullin, British Minister 
in charge of Africa, who added:  "We are liaising with EU (European Union) 
partners to look at options."

He continued: "Rebel victims prefer a negotiated settlement and our High 
Commission in Kampala encourages Uganda Government to consider alternative 
options."

The move came after a concerted effort by the Church, mostly the Catholic 
Church, to launch a campaign for international intervention in what the 
clergymen describe as a "forgotten war".

Bishop Benjamin Ojwang of Kitgum Diocese in northern Uganda, handed over a 
petition to the British Prime Minister's office last month, to bring 
attention to the war and to reminded the British Government of its 
responsibility.

"You brought Christianity 100 years ago, that saved us from sin, and we are 
back to you to find a solution. If something is not done, the war threatens 
to decimate entire communities," read part of the petition.

"Our mission is to accelerate efforts that will endeavor to save 
communities from what seems like eternal suffering," Ojwang says.

However, the move to have the international community intervene is set to 
be a protracted affair, partly because some states require green light from 
the Government before taking action.

Jimmy Kolker, United States Ambassador to Uganda told the press recently 
that such intervention will rest on Government request for help.

Ugandan leadership is still reluctant to call in foreign help. Yoweri 
Museveni, Uganda's president, argues that foreign interference 
incapacitates countrys' ability to seek homegrown solutions.

Reported by Crespo Sebunya

Release Of Moroccan Captives Signifies Possible Truce

AD DAKHLA, Western Sahara (AANA) September 1 - The International Committee 
of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sealed a deal with both Moroccan Government and 
a liberation movement for Western Sahara (POLISARIO), on how to repatriate 
some 243 Moroccan prisoners released by the liberation group two weeks ago.

Soon after their release, the prisoners were interrogated privately on 
their desire to be repatriated.

ICRC spokesman, Florian Westphal, declared here that the process was in 
conformity with the international law of repatriation, which among other 
things, stipulates that prisoners may be repatriated at their own will.

On August 15, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and 
Rio de Oro (POLISARIO), announced the setting free of 243 Moroccan 
detainees at Tindouf, in the South-West of Algeria.

"This is the second time in less then six months this has taken place at 
the intervention of the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, and after 
the adoption of the resolution 1495, of the UN Security Council," stated a 
press release from POLISARIO. The statement added that so far, an estimated 
1,343 prisoners have been set free.

In response, the Moroccan Government has expressed appreciation over 
POLISARIO's action, stating that this will allow the released prisoners to 
join their families.

The conflict between Morocco and POLISARIO flared up in 1976, when Morocco 
annexed parts of Western Sahara soon after Spain withdrew its colonial 
administration.

Since then, POLISARIO, operating from Algeria, has continued to fight for 
the annexed territory to become independent.

At the beginning of August, Morocco rejected a new plan by the UN, aimed at 
sorting out the political problem that has dogged the country for the last 
29 years.

The plan envisages the holding of a referendum in four year's time, to 
allow the people of Western Sahara to make a choice between being 
independent, or become totally integrated into Morocco.

The plan has already been accepted by POLISARIO.

By AANA Correspondent

Authorities Diffuse Row Over Banning Of Big Brother Show

BLANTYRE (AANA) September 1 - Authorities in Malawi have bowed down to 
popular demands to re-introduce the television show, Big Brother Africa 
(BBA), on Television Malawi (TVM), which the Government banned several 
weeks ago.

The widely broadcast BBA caused a major row in Malawi between the 
Government and the private sector, which promotes the show in the 
country.  The dispute erupted after parliament passed a motion to ban the 
screening of the show on the state-run TVM, describing it as immoral and 
corrupting the Malawian culture by portraying scenes of sex and nude 
housemates taking shower.

Officials from the country's pay television service provider, Multi-Choice 
Malawi,  expressed concern over the banning of the show.  The 
company's  Managing Director,  Eddie Smith, pointed out the need for TV 
Malawi to consult M-Net, to make sure that some of the scenes were edited 
and made suitable for home viewing by the Malawian society.

Before the motion to ban the show, some members of parliament had defended 
it as perfectly censored,  noting that not all pictures and scenes shown on 
DSTV were included on TVM.

Parliament, however, went ahead to pass the motion on August 5, and 
directed Information Minister, Bernard Chisale, to stop the screening of 
the show on the state TV with immediate effect .

But authorities in the country's classification board concurred with the 
concerned citizens, expressing disappointment over the ban.  An official of 
the board described the ban as unjustified. Censoring officer in the board, 
Humphrey Mpondaminga, described the decision taken by parliament as 
tantamount to depriving the people of their rights to entertainment.

He suggested that it would have been better if the reality show was shifted 
to night hours to avoid children watching some scenes regarded as 
unsuitable for people under the age of 16.

The show is now back on TVM after the High Court in Blantyre ordered that 
it be reinstated. This followed the granting of an injunction filed by a 
concerned citizen, Sam Mlanjira, represented by private lawyers, Noel 
Chalamanda and Yambani Mulemba.

The show has been criticised in various other African countries, by 
religious leaders, who maintain that it is introducing an immoral culture 
that is contrary to African values.

Reported by Hamilton Vokhiwa

Leprosy Resurfaces After Much Touted Eradication

BLANTYRE (AANA) September 1 - Seven years after Malawi Government and the 
World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the country free of leprosy, 
reports now indicate that the disease is still affecting people.

In 1996, health authorities assured Malawians that the country was free 
from the skin disease, an achievement that earned spectacular headlines in 
the local press, commending the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) 
and WHO for a job well-done.

But The Harry Foundation for Development (HAFOD), a local NGO for people 
with leprosy, has charged that traces of the disease have been recorded in 
the districts of Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mchinji, Machinga, Salima and 
Zomba.	So far, six people are being treated, according to HAFOD.

Harry Khamalatha, the organisation's president, himself a victim of 
leprosy, blamed authorities for negligence in sensitising the masses.

"I'm worried that leprosy will affect a lot of people, especially the next 
generation, if the laxity continues," complained Khamalatha.

HAFOD was concerned that lack of campaign had resulted in victims not 
knowing they were suffering from the disease.  Many believed it no longer 
existed in the country.

A 40-year old man being treated at the referral Queen Elizabeth Central 
Hospital in Blantyre, Richard Chinsinga, reportedly said it took him about 
three years before he knew he was a victim.

Ministry of Health's Controller Of Preventive Health Services, Habib 
Somanje, could not give a clear statement when asked to clarify the 
situation of leprosy in the southern African country.

"The eradication of leprosy did not imply that the infection had been 
completely wiped out.  Sensitisation is district-based. We go to areas 
where there are some cases and treat them accordingly," he said, and 
continued to assert that the country was still regarded globally as having 
eradicated the disease.

Reported by Hobbs Gama

Experts Express Renewed Interests In Pure Livestock

NAIROBI (AANA) September 1 - Representatives of indigenous livestock 
keeping and breeding communities from the world over are set for a five-day 
workshop here, starting September 1.

The meeting is facilitated by the Intermediate Technology Development 
Group-East Africa (ITDG-EA) and the League for Pastoral Peoples.

It comes against a background of fear by communities, over what genetic 
engineering portends for indigenous animal breeds globally.

According to ITDG-EA, the workshop aims to promote recognition of the 
enormous contribution of indigenous livestock breeders towards future food 
security, and acknowledgement of the significance of their traditional 
knowledge of farm animal genetic diversity.

"In the interest of global justice, their proprietary rights as well as 
privileges, according to the Convention on Biological Diversity, must be 
safeguarded," says a press release from ITDG-EA.

Article 8j of the Convention on Biodiversity calls for recognition of the 
vast amount of in-situ conservation carried out by traditional communities.

In the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) this call 
is reflected in its Part III on "Farmers' Rights".

The concept of Farmers' Rights is based on the past, present and future 
contributions of farmers in conserving crop genetic diversity.

This provision grants farmers the right to save, use, exchange and sell 
farm-saved seed, to participate in decision-making, and enjoy fair and 
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of plant genetic
resources.

In the envisioned Animal Treaty, the equivalent to Farmers' Rights would be 
"Livestock Keepers' Rights".

This term was proposed during a Forum for Food Sovereignty, held parallel 
to the World Food Summit in June 2002.

Pastoralists and other indigenous livestock breeding communities have 
developed a large number of farm animal breeds with unique genetic 
adaptations.

Even in times of widespread and indiscriminate crossbreeding, ITDG-EA says 
that these marginalised people have acted as custodians of pure breeds.

It is now acknowledged that indigenous animals are endowed with very 
desirable genetic traits, such as those for disease resistance, fertility 
and general fitness, which often lack in the genetic make-up of "high 
performance" cross-breeds.

Unfortunately, the animals are not protected by any intellectual property 
regime, rendering them vulnerable to bio-piracy, fuelled by noted 
intensification of scientific and commercial interest in their genetic 
components globally.

It is these issues that the workshop is expected to address.

Reported by Henry Neondo

Churches Urged To Continue To Fight For Peoples' Rights

NAIROBI (AANA) September 1 - Churches should continue to fight for peoples' 
rights despite the many risks that would go with the mission, Kenyan 
legislator, Professor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, said here on August 22.

Launching a 117-page book, If I Die, a detailed account of what could have 
led to the "mysterious" death in 2000 of outspoken Catholic priest, Rev. 
Fr. John Anthony Kaiser, Prof. Nyong'o noted that "some people have to 
fight and die so that their lives can be a ransom for many, as did Christ 
Jesus live and die so that we may be saved from eternal damnation".

The Kenyan legislator moved the congregation, composed of human rights 
activists, clergymen, lay people, legislators and family members of the 
late Fr. Kaiser, by observing that "although the title of the book was If I 
Die, the late Fr. Kaiser had to die".

The book, whose foreword has been written by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, 
Archbishop Giovan Tonucci, was compiled from "detailed notes" the late Fr. 
Kaiser left behind.

It highlights various incidents of violation of human rights in Kenya, such 
as ethnic cleansing of the 1990s in the Rift Valley Province, against which 
Fr. Kaiser spoke openly.

"Such, among other issues... could have led to his mysterious death," 
remarked a Catholic clergyman in an interview with AANA, who requested for 
anonymity.

The book openly links the former government, with the infamous Rift Valley 
clashes. "The Moi Government... has been behind the evictions of the Bantu 
and Luo people from the Rift Valley since 1986," points out the book.

Reported by Osman Njuguna

Rwanda Elections To Open Doors For Progress, Says Envoy

KIGALI/NAIROBI (AANA) September 1 - Paul Kagame last week made history by 
becoming the first democratically elected president of the republic of 
Rwanda, after scoring a landslide victory in the August 25 elections.

Kagame scooped a convincing 94 percent of the votes, while his main 
challenger, Faustin Twagiramungu, managed 3.5 percent.

The elections marked the end of nine years of transitional rule, which was 
put in place to reconcile a highly ethnically polarised country, after a 
horrific genocide in 1994.

The last two-and-a-half years of the transitional government has been 
headed by Kagame, following resignation of Pasteur Bizimungu from the 
presidency.

The elections, which were roundly described by observers as peaceful, may 
now open doors for Rwanda to engage in progressive international 
co-operation, among other development activities.

"Now space is open for development," said a visibly elated Seth Kamanzi, 
Rwandan Ambassador to Kenya, in an interview with AANA.

"Rwanda can now apply to join the East African Co-operation," he added, 
noting that previously, the country was said to be less democratic 
"compared to the rest of the region", and as such, had been kept at bay.

Kagame, is expected to be sworn in on September 12, ahead of parliamentary 
elections scheduled for September 29.

Reported by Elly Wamari

AACC Challenges Scribes To Turn Tides Against Bad Ideals

NAIROBI (AANA) September 1 - The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) 
has urged journalists to take a forefront role in conflict resolution, and 
crusade against HIV/AIDS and economic injustices in Africa.

Delivering a keynote address on the graduation of 15 Christian 
communicators at the AACC's Communication Training Centre (CTC), acting 
General Secretary, Bright Mawudor said AACC's concern was to see that 
Africa developed responsible journalists, equipped with professional skills 
and exposed to social ethics.

"Those of us... who are actively engaged in peace and reconciliation know 
very well that reconciliation and forgiveness start by telling one's 
story.... Packaging the stories told calls for journalistic skills," he said.

"We have not developed your skills to remain mere backroom professionals 
called upon to only provide press coverage of events.  To be on the 
forefront means that you will have to subscribe to advocacy journalism, 
crusader journalism, interventionist journalism and peace journalism," he 
told the graduates, drawn from various African countries.

He urged African governments to embrace the notion of press freedom, 
saying: "No society can claim to be free if its press is not free.  It also 
means that the citizenry cannot enjoy freedom of expression when the 
channels of free expression are hindered."

Expressing concern over an invasion in Africa of foreign cultures and cults 
though media channels, Mawudor called upon the graduating communicators to 
take it as their "challenge and mission to turn the tide on such invasion".

Reported By Herman Kasili