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Reporting
on Human Rights, Democracy & Development
Vol.
1 No. 11 March 2, 2001
CONTENTS
1. EDITOR'S COMMENTS
2. RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
3. REFUGEES
4. HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT
5. DEVELOPMENT
6. ELECTIONS WATCH/WEST AFRICA
7. MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
8. GRANTS
9. ECOWAS-NEWSLINE
10. WORLDBANK-PIPELINE PROJECTS
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS
12. ABOUT US
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1. EDITOR'S COMMENTS
In our last week's edition, we ran a story about the World Credit Union (WOCCU), and the commitment made by WOCCU President Mr. Arthur Arnold, " to Africa and the national movements of the continent-to narrow the economic gap-and reach millions Africans". Bah Toure of Senegal wanted to know the rational for WOCCU investing US$2.997 million on a public library in Rwanda, at this time? While Paul Kaikai of Kenya does agree that a library is very important to a nation, but his concern is who will actually use the library when the supposed citizens are busy killing each others? He suggested by asking a question, "would it not have been better to spend that money helping to meet the health needs of dying children and mothers in the various refugee camps?" The sixth e-mail on this story came from Abdul Yormie of Lagos, Nigeria, he summed up the whole situation in the great lakes region this way, "I hope and pray that papa Mandela shutter diplomacy will achieve lasting peace for the unborn children of the region, so they can be able to read history books about their grandfathers and fathers senseless civil war in the library".
2. RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
The torture trade spreads while governments fail to act http://www.web.amnesty.org/ Torturers are arming themselves with increasingly sophisticated equipments-according to a new report released on Monday by Amnesty International. The equipment includes high voltage electrical stun weapons and chemical crowd control devices. Sexual violence within the Sierra Leone conflict http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/ Throughout the nine years Sierra Leone conflict there has been widespread and systematic sexual violence against women and girls including individual and gang rape, sexual assault with objects such as firewood, umbrellas and sticks and sexual slavery. (source: Human Rights Watch) Opposition Leader Calls for End to Guinea-Liberia Conflict http://allafrica.com/stories/200102260441.html
The opposition Union pour le progress de la Guinee (UPG) has called on Presidents Lansana Conte of Guinea and Charles Taylor of Liberia to stop Sheltering each other's enemies on their territory, AFP reported on Monday. Government Wants Immediate Sanctions Against Liberia http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200102260446.html Sierra Leone has joined Guinea's call for immediate sanctions against Liberia, reversing an earlier decision by Freetown supporting a proposal for a delay in action. (source: IRIN) Liberia: Dissidents launch fresh attack http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/02/28/liberia.guinea.reut/index.html Liberia's defense minister said dissidents backed by Guinean artillery had launched a fresh attack on the northern town of Voinjama, wounding three people. (source: Reuters) 25 Years of Sahara Conflict Marked http://www.cnn.com/ms_index.htm Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of the armed conflict about the Western Sahara Territory. (source: afrol) Guinean Forces Kill, Wound Civilians in Sierra Leone http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/02/guinea0227.htm
The Guinean military has killed and wounded dozens of Sierra Leonean civilians in discriminate attacks against rebel-held areas of northern Sierra Leone, Human rights Watch said Wednesday. UN moves toward ban on Liberia diamond exports http://www.excite.co.uk/news/story/ UN security Council members have moved towards punishing Liberia with diamond ban for fomenting war in Sierra Leone but face objections from West Africans who must enforce the embargoes. (source: Reuters) Togolese government rejects international report http://www.afrol.com/ms_index.htm Togolese officials have denied the conclusions of an International Commission of Inquiry investigating charges of hundreds of extra judicial executions in Togo in 1998. The Commission was set up by the UN and the OAU at the request of the government to investigate allegations made by Amnesty International in its 1999, annual report. (source:misnet) Narcotics Control http://www.state.gov The 2000 International Narcotics Control strategy annual report was released March 1, by the US State Department. West Africa had six representatives in the report. Nigeria remains a worldwide hub of narcotics trafficking and money laundering activity. In Senegal there exists trafficking of all types of drugs, primarily heroin, cocaine, and synthetics. Togolese authorities took aggressive action against traffickers in 2000, by enforcing the government's tough 1998 antidrug law. In Ghana active stance has been taken against drug abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. Cote D'ivore has been a major transit point for narcotics from Latin America and Asia to Europe and to a lesser extent North America. While Benin continues to make progress in the fight against illegal narcotics trafficking, according to the report. For more details visit the website.
3. REFUGEES
First convoy reaches Guinea's "Parrot Beak" region http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf The first humanitarian convoy since last autumn to deliver aid to tens of thousands of stranded refugees in the beleaguered Parrot's Beak region of southwestern Guinea arrived in the town of Temessadou on Monday. Britain increases humanitarian assistance to Guinea and Sierra Leone http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development committed a further 5 million Pounds to stem the growing humanitarian crisis in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Corruption would be an "appalling failure" of UNHCR http://www.unhcr.ch/refworld/cgi-bin/newshcr.pl Allegations of corruption in refugee resettlement programs in Kenya, if proved true, represent an 'appalling failure' by the UN refugee agency; the organization's head said last Friday. (source: Associated Press)
4. HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT
TIME and Netaid.org Collaborate to raise funds for Victims of the Epidemic http://www.undp.org/dpa/pressrelease/releases/2001/february/5feb01.html In an effort to help people hardest hit by HIV/AIDS epidemic, Netaid.org and Time Magazine are providing an easy way for internet users to learn about support a variety of prevention, care, and outreach initiatives in Africa and Southeast Asia. The World Health Report 2000 Health Systems: Improving performance http://www.who.int/whr Health systems provide the critical interface between life-saving, life-enhancing interventions and the people who need them. Making Motherhood safer: Report Details UN Population Fund's Efforts to Reduce Maternal Mortality http://www.unpfa.org/news/pressroom/2001/mmupdate.htm
A new report enumerates the actions the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is taking to make motherhood safer in developing countries. AFRICA 2001: The first Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century! http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/eclipse2001.html The first great celestial event of the new Millennium will take place on Thursday, June 21, 2001. The African 2001 total eclipse of the sun will be visible from with a narrow corridor, which traverses the Southern Hemisphere. KnowNet Initiative http://www.knownet.org Knownet Initiative aims to catalyze knowledge Networking for human Development in developing countries through the use of Information and Communication Technology. The Traffic Network http://www.traffic.org
The only journal devoted exclusively to wildlife trade issues worldwide.
5. DEVELOPMENT
UNDP launches major recruiting drive http://www.undp.org/dpa/index.html UNDP has launched a global drive to strengthen its expertise in key areas to help energize its worldwide campaign against poverty. The organization is seeking more than 60 specialists. 50 Countries Endorse Draft UN Resolution On Volunteering http://www.iyv2001.org/infobase/press/01_02_27ENG.htm
The UN Commission for social Development has approved a draft resolution on volunteering and social development, which calls on government to recognize and further study the impact of voluntary effort in society. EnterpriseWorks Launches First Enterprise Development Web Search Engine http://www.enterpriseworks.org EnterpriseWorks Worldwide announced the launch of EnterpriseSearch, a powerful first-of-its-kind, search engine for information on efforts to fight poverty and promote sustainable development in Africa, Asia, and Latin American. Fighting Child Poverty around the World http://www.worldbank.org/developmentnews/stories/html/022701a.htm
World Bank calls on rich countries to open their markets for the poor and their children-that overseas aid to Africa had fallen drastically from US$32 per head in 1990 to just US$19 in 1998. Cote d'Ivoire: World Bank Places Cote d'Ivoire in Non-Payment Status http://www.worldbank.org/news/pr Effective March 1, 2001, the World Bank has placed all international Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loans and International Development Association (IDA) credits to or guaranteed by the republic of Cote d'Ivoire in non-accrual status.
6. ELECTIONS WATCH/WEST AFRICA
Election thriller on Cape Verde http://www.afrol.com/ms_index.htm In a situation where only 533 votes part the two Presidential candidates in the preliminary results of the second round of the elections the final, recounted results will not be known before 3 March. Benin Presidential election will take place on 4 March Senegal Parliamentary election will take place on 29 April.
7.MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
Government Closes Four Newspapers http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200102260442.html Liberia's government has denied that the closure of four private newspapers, just after the arrest of four journalists in connection to reports carried in their daily, is part of a crackdown on the media. (IRIN) Journalism Fellowship to Cover UN Small Arms Conference in New York http://www.peacenet.org/disarm The Disarmament Journalists Network (DJN) of the NGO Committee on Disarmament is offering fellowships to journalists from developing countries to cover the United Nations Conference on Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms (New York, 9-20 July 2001). The fellowships will cover the cost of air travel to and from New York and living expenses in the City from 7 to 21 July.
8. GRANTS
Seeking Grant for Your Organization http://www.kabissa.org/lij Every edition of WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER, we will include five Donors web links that you could contact for information about their grant programs. 1. http://www.unchildren.org 2. http://www.adf.gov 3. http://www.aglimmerofhope.org 4. http://www.bni.org 5. http://www.brothersbrother.com
9. ECOWAS-NEWSLINE http://www.ecowas.int/index2.htm
ECOWAS Industry Ministers Approved Industrial development Policy ECOWAS reiterates stance Against Immediately Sanctions on Liberia ECOWAS Executive Secretary Briefs Nigeria's Defense Chief on Liberia Senior Officers Appointed for the African Monetary Institute
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
In Search Of A Job in the Developmental Sector Visit Devjobs website: http://www.devnetjobs.org
11. ABOUT US http://www.kabissa.org/lij
This is the WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER, a new source for reporting on human rights, democracy and development news and networking. Produced and distributed free of charge by the International Center, 731-8th SE, Washington, DC 20003, and Liberia Institute of Journalism, Kashour Building, 2nd Floor, Corner of Broad and Johnson Streets, P. O. Box 2314, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.
This project is funded by a grant from the International Center to Liberia Institute of Journalism.
To subscribe or stop subscriptions, please place "subscribe or unscribe WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER (WAN), in the subject heading and email to: LIJ@KABISSA.ORG We also welcome articles or information for publication in WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER (WAN). Please send them to the editor: VINNIE HODGES at LIJ@KABISSA.ORG
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