[Ugnet] Re: [DPNet] The dogs of war still in business
Somehow, this rings hollow to me. I mean, the biggest dogs of war in Africa, are very black African. Their victims? Also very black African!!! examples: * Kony vs Museveni == eighteen years, 18 and counting! locale: Northern Uganda. * Museveni et al vs Obote == ca 5 years! Locale: Buganda's infamous Luwero Triangle In both instances, we the Africans were butchered merciless by our fellow black Africans, and were forced to live in "protected villages". If this were done by Whites against Blacks, we would all be screaming and howling racism, etc etc. But I digress. * Somalia vs Somalia == many thousands dead, country disintegrated. * Hutu vs Tutsi in Rwanda; and in Burund== mid 1990s: millions hacked down by neighbors anfd former friends, even relatives! * DRC , and on, and on, and on. It'd seem, to me anyway, that African fought for independence so they could have the freedom to kill themselves in any conceivable manner, whenever and where ever they wanted to indulge their maccabre.passions. Folks, we have seen the enemy, and the enemy is us. Only we cann't seem to be able to take responsibility for our very own actions and/or failures. Agains such a backdrop, just about any real 'dog of war' has an easy job, because we seem to be only too willing to hack each other down, and with gusto and reckless abandon -- as we have proved time and time again, and in many places in Africa. The baganda have a saying to the effect of encouraging people to fight so you can take their property more easily: (okufuyirira ezirwaana..). Dogs of war' do the same to us Africans. But I just don't see how or whay we should blame them for our stupidity and shortsightedness! It is not like they force us, is it? Mitayo Potosi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Take It or Leave It With Austin Ejiet The dogs of war still in business Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2004 From the Congo to Yemen, Biafra to Benin, and Angola to the Comoros, they have partaken in all the dubious combats, all the clandestine wars, and most of Africas military coups detat, leaving misery and chaos in their wake. They are The Dogs of War: paid thugs or mercenaries, highly skilled in the commerce of massacre.Bob Denard, Rolf Steiner, Beverly Barnard, Anthony Deval, Alexander Gay, Alan Murphy and Carlos The Jackal may now be too old, in prison or dead. But their trade which peaked in the 1960s and 1970s is alive and well. Two or three months ago, two platoons of rugged characters, originating from South Africa, were arrested in Zimbabwe because of irregularities in their travel documents. Further enquiry revealed that the good men were on their way to Equatorial Guinea in West-Central Africa, to overthrow the government of President Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. With the mercenaries claiming that they had been on their way to the DR Congo to take up employment positions as night watchmen, the whole affair degenerated into a mediocre joke. President Robert Mugabes record of roughing up foreigners of white extraction did not help. The authorities in Equatorial Guinea, however, confirmed that there had in fact been a coup in the making. Eighteen alleged coup plotters - 8 South Africans, 6 Armenians and 4 indigenous Equatorial Guineans - had been arrested and charged with high treason. President Obiang Nguema requested the Zimbabwean authorities to hand over the lot they were holding so that they could be given a proper trial in Malabo. Zimbabwe did not oblige and, frankly, the whole affair petered out into an improbable farce, until three or four days ago. Last Wednesday the South African secret service police known as The Scorpions arrested a high profile business tycoon in one of the posh suburbs of Cape Town. Sir Mark Thatcher, 50, is the son of former British Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher. Worth some 90 million Euros, Sir Mark had made Cape Town his little Eden. But The Scorpions had scented trouble, especially when the good man put his affluent home up for sale, sold his four luxury cars, and fixed his children in Texas schools in the USA. The Scorpions had also discovered some unusual money transfers linking Sir Mark with some less than legitimate business dealings in Equatorial Guinea. He was picked up on suspicion of having bankrolled the planned coup in Malabo. Another Englishman of some distinction, novelist and politician, Lord Jeffrey Archer, was also named as a co-sponsor. Now here was nothing to snigger at. The whole saga started unravelling like a Frederic Forsyth thriller. Remember Frederic Forsyth? The author of such non-fictional thrillers as The Dogs of War, The Day of The Jackal, The Godfather, and an excellent account of the Biafra war whose title has temporarily evaporated from my head? He has also done a brilliant portrait of the 1991 Gulf war titled The Fist of God or some such. For the material that went into the making of The Dogs of War, Forsyth organised a mercenary operation to mount a coup detat in a
[Ugnet] AND THE FARACAS OF UNAA CONTINUES (I told you !!!!!)
Ssemakula Ann Mugisha was a CC on the letter but the program did not show it. Em Toronto The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" - Original Message - From: musamize ssemakula To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 1:31 PM Subject: Re: [Ugnet] AND THE FARACAS OF UNAA CONTINUES (I told you !) This note seems to be signed by two people but all the text is in the first person. What is going on?Edward Mulindwa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Rosette:I hope you are well. I know that we have only a few days left to kick off our Convention in Seattle and I am concerned that one very important issue remains unresolved. I hasten to follow up on our telephone conversations and to urge you, the UNAA Board, and the local organizing committee in Seattle to reinstate Ms. Anne Mugisha on the political forum panel. Over the last few weeks and days, a lot of information, we all know, were exchanged. Our Ugandan community in North America is large and very diverse. It is very likely that because some of us have never met and are less familiar with one another and the way we conduct ourselves, it becomes easy to get into a misunderstanding especially when our primary points of contact are electronic. But that should not be an excuse for violating the noble objectives of UNAA, which are to promote social, cultural, and economic partnerships among us while remaining nonpartisan. We all came to the U.S. a nd Canada for many reasons. But we share a common bitter memory: that our Ugandan society at home has perpetually been torn apart by raw and divisive politics. We know very well that this should not be. And we cannot afford to implant it in UNAA. In fact, a conversation with the majority of Convention participants indicates that the degree of social interactions bolstered by the political accommodation we have displayed over the last few years is a big attraction and makes everyone proud. We are a hope for Uganda. How ironic it would be if we resort to practising the same type of intolerance and divisiveness for which we blame the leaders who have drained and denigrated Uganda. Many of our children will be in Seattle. This is not what we should teach them.I was invited to be on the panel mainly because I represent the Democratic Party of uganda. DP has been at the forefront of struggling for justice, the right to associate, and freedom of speech since preindependence, a nd I cannot simply stand aside as this injustice unfolds. As a fellow panelist I strongly uphold Anne Migisha's right to peacefully protest and I see no conflict between that act and her addressing the forum. I would not even worry about security because the Seattle administration and police are fully aware and are in control. Additionally, federal authorities are well informed about the conditions for the visiting President. For your information, over the next five days the Republicans will hold their Convention in New York City. To date, Cityadministration has issued 30 permits to allow different groups of protestors, ranging from 50 to half a million, to be on the streets demostrating against President Bush. Yet it was New York that worked so hard to win the bid to host the Republican Convention this year! That is democracy.I hope that you will do the right thing to reinstate Anne on the panel. I know Anne as a mature and very intelligent lady who certainly understands well her responsibilities in this case. I would not want to see us create unnecessary rifts within our community at a time when UNAA should be focusing on improved services and growth for a better future. Imagine if the entire panel and the audience decide to join the protest!I thank you so much for your attention and positive action.Richard E. Ottoo, Ph.D.Chairman, DP USA Chapter, Inc. andVice President, Ugandan American Association of Greater New York. Anne Mugisha Member, Forum for Democratic Change The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Oug
Re: [Ugnet] Move to new list manager
Kigundu This thing is pushing postings back big time Em Toronto The Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" - Original Message - From: "Kiggundu Mukasa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:42 AM Subject: [Ugnet] Move to new list manager > Sorry about the multiple test messages > UgandaNet has moved from Majordomo to Mailman > > Should be working OK now > > Kiggs > > > ___ > Ugandanet mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet > > ___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
[Ugnet] Uganda's walk down the path of tyranny
Uganda's walk down the path of tyranny By Joseph Ochieno Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2004 It is reasonably safe to say that the first ever multi-party elections to be held in Uganda were in 1961, one year before independence. The Democratic Party (DP) won those elections with 44 seats against the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) that won 35 seats. Others were Independents (2) and Uganda National Congress (1). For the record, it has to be said that the UPC won the popular vote with 494,959 against DP's 415,718. Moreover, these were against the background of massive boycott in Buganda, at the instigation of the Buganda Lukiiko. The first ever direct elections held under near-adult suffrage was for the then colonial Legislative Council (LEGICO), held in 1958. The British Colonial government had decreed that these could only be held in those "districts which wanted them". Some districts councils decided for and others against elections. The Buganda Lukiiko was among those that decided against. The UPC took this as a matter of political campaign across the country and so by 1961, the whole country was in favour of elections except Buganda. Seeds of turmoil The 1961 elections in Buganda could be argued to have been a farce; where the Lukiiko ordered boycott, it was sweepingly observed. According to the British Supervisor of Elections " The number of people who registered in the electoral districts (Constituencies) outside Buganda totalled 1,300,433 out of the estimated 1,500,00 - 1,750,000. This represents a registration of between 75 and 85 percent of those enfranchised." Meanwhile, in the 21 electoral districts (Constituencies) in Buganda, primarily due to the position taken by the Kabaka's government, only 36,000 registered as voters - a 4 to 5 percent registration resulted. The political and constitutional implications of such a figure at the eve of independence is obvious but is best left for a separate debate. Both DP and UPC were at one in campaigning against the boycott and both accepted the constitutionality and legality of the registration, polls and results. Dr Milton Obote for the UPC however, assisted by Abu Mayanja, vigorously continued to persuade and make the case to Mengo, for elections in Buganda. DP on the other side regarded the registration and poll in Buganda as defeat for Mengo, while disregarding the stark political reality that had prevented the overwhelming majority of the electorate in Buganda from registering to vote. In the 1961 elections in areas where the 'boycott' edict did not apply and where elections were "free and fair" the UPC defeated the DP by 34 seats to 24. The UPC successfully petitioned the High Court in one case and in the resultant by-election, the UPC won - increasing its seats to 35. DP had however done well in getting most of their supporters to register and vote in Buganda where they gained 20 seats against UPC's 1. To emphasise the derisory nature of the polls, in nine Constituencies contested by eighteen candidates, less than 1,000 votes were cast in each, for all the candidates! In the Constituency of the current DP leader Dr Paul Ssemogerere for instance, a total of 358 votes were cast! But voters here did better than two others were total votes were 132 and 133 respectively for all the candidates. In no Constituency in Buganda did the total votes cast reach 2,000. The UPC was not prepared to disregard the political implication that the boycott had imposed on national unity, the institution of Parliament as well as democratic governance through the ballot freely cast by the electorate. After several campaigns, efforts and protracted talks involving DP, Mengo, the British and UPC on what was becoming an imperative post independence governance of Uganda, there emerged from the London Constitutional Conference some kind of compromise: Mengo had vehemently argued in side meetings with the British, for indirect elections in all Buganda's 21 seats to the National Assembly. They got it. To DP, it was that Benedicto Kiwanuka, the Chief Minister would become Prime Minister on March 1st 1962. To the UPC, it was that fresh elections would be held in April 1962. Milton Obote and to an extent, Sir Edward Mutesa's central role in ensuring these landmark agreements are, sadly conveniently downplayed, if at all acknowledged. Further all parties agreed to the context of Buganda's federal status, although there were reservations as to whether the same contents would be extended to Bunyoro, Toro, Ankole and Busoga. Ghosts of Lost Counties Finally, on the sticky dispute between Buganda and Bunyoro over what was known as the "Lost Counties", it was resolved that the matter would be settled through a referendum. The dispute involved several counties in Buganda, being claimed by Bunyoro and in particular Buruli, Buyaga, Buwekula and Bugagainzi. Under the deal, only Buyaga and Bugagainzi would be subjected to a referendum. It was after the resolution of these matters and others hence, th
[Ugnet] Fwd: I salute these Banyakigezi
Note: forwarded message attached. Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.--- Begin Message --- Batwalidde Kabaka amakula Mw. Basesya (wakati) ngatwalira Kabaka amakula ga kimeeme wembuzi gye baamutonedde.Bya Musasi wa Bukedde ABAKIGA abaazimbye woteeri e Ndeeba batwalidde Kabaka amakula ga kimeeme wembuzi nemitwalo 20 zigende mu nsawo ye eyebyenjigiriza ne bagamba nti bali mabega we mu kaweefube gwaliko okulwanirira enfuga ya federo mu Uganda. Bino babimutegeezezza ngali ku mukolo gwokuggulawo ekizimbe kyabwe wiiki ewedde. "Ssebo Ssabasajja kino kyokoze kitukakasizza nti federo tegenderera kugobaganya bagwira abatasibuka mu Buganda ngabantu abamu bwe bataputa ensonga eyo era tugenda kubawakanya," nnannyini woteeri eno eya Popslaw, Ponsiano Besesya bwe yagambye. Owomuluka gwa Kabaka ogwe Ndeeba Hajati Rehema Musisi yayitidde mu Kabaka enkulaakulana etuukiddwako mu kitundu kino namugamba nti abatuuze bafiira ku federo.Published on: Tuesday, 31st August, 2004 I salute these Banyakigezi for openly supporting Buganda and for not not falling victim to the fear-tactics used by opponents of federo. If wna when Buganda gets federo, its benefits will be enjoyed by all residents of Buganda, regardless of their origins. We the baganda, have always welcomed non-Baganda to come join us. We are not going, and we no desire to chase foreigners from Buganda. On the contrary, we very much recognize, and appreciate the vitality they add to Buganda -- which is the reason we always welcome and accomodate foreigners who want to join us. Proof positive: about 500 years ago, there were only five (5) original clans in Buganda. Today, there over fifty (50). All are Baganda kaswa. no clan however big, is greater or less than the other, however small numerically. Come join us in building a better Buganda for all of us! Your investments and legacy are safe in Buganda, always. The process of clan formation in Buganda has never stopped. Awangaale Ssaabasajja!--- End Message --- ___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
[Ugnet] [DPNet] MPS quit DP -- What is going on ?
Dear Comrade WB Kyijomanyi [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tumusiime-Mutebile is just implementing policies ordered by foreigners; which foreigners have really no interest in the wellfare of our people. Their main concern is to maintain a junta that enforces the "peace and order" of the oppressed. And with this facade of a cover they remmit their super-profits/loot out of Africa. We have to look beyond Mutebile and focus on the real enemy - neo-colonialism. I couldn't believe that Lynda Chalker now lives in South Africa!! Was Mark Thatcher alone in the "Zimbabwe/Equatorial Guinea mercenaries" saga? Onyango-Obbo speculates that when Lynda Chalker and de Klerk visited museveni recently they came to press him to abandon his third term quest. But they could as well have been reviewing the progress of the take-over of the oil reserves in the southern part of Darfur. = WB Kyijomanyi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent : September 1, 2004 12:10:45 AM To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject : [DPNet] MPS quit DP -- What is going on ? | | | Inbox Members: This is encouraging. I suggested some of the very things: how can DP hold a delegates conference outside Uganda? I pick Kenya for obvious reasons. We need a vision, a bold one at that. Uganda has gone to the dogs and anything less than a revolutionizing vision will not do it. We need a vision on governance that is, on the federal question. We need a vision on the military. On the economy. We need a vision to address Uganda's dilemma: why is it that the economy is growing, yet poverty and hopelessness are also rising? We must be credible on all fronts. I realize how some on this list will ridicule the fact that Uganda's economy is growing, but that is an empirical fact. We need a vision on the democratic deficit too. Why is it that parties, the "gatekeepers" of democracy are themselves undemocratic? We need bold ideas on how to make MPs voices heard. How? We must embrace a presidential system where MPs can take free votes. Parliament under the parliamentary system is a rubber stamp, not just in Uganda but virtually anywhere in the world. Today, a Nigerian friend of mine shocked me: the leading candidate to succeed Obasanjo is Ibrahim Babanginda! Apparently there is no one to beat him at the polls! Without a vision we may as well forget and discard any pretense about our chances. It is time those dreaming of leading our party came out at least with their vague ideas on where they want to take our country. I find it strange that Uganda, a country where unemployment is the norm rather than the exception is so much obsessed with fighting inflation. DP has virtually said nothing about the economy. We must come out strongly against Mutebile's suicidal policies. They are hindering the real expansion of our economy and keeping our people in poverty. Ugandans must stop taking Mutebile as the semi-God. He is a disaster for Uganda. People do not eat inflation. People need jobs. Without jobs, it is useless to dwell on inflation. For starters inflation is mostly a monetary phenomenon. When people talk about inflation, they are talking about wage inflation. Now, are wages rising in Uganda? Mark you; unemployment is the norm-what is the unemployment rate in Uganda? It is fair to say no one knows. Who is in charge in Uganda: workers or employees? Why then has DP not taken on Mutebile's costly policies? A case could be made that Mutebile's tight money policies are costing Uganda real not just nominal growth of 3 percent. One percent inflation (over) tightening costs the economy 3 percent growth. That is the famous Okun gap. Why has DP given Mutebile a free pass on the economy? We need to reassure our people that we have a plan. That we are credible. Mutebile is tretaed like a semi-god when our educated manpower is unemployed and his policies are driving our educated people into kyeyo. We need our people home working for our country. It is about time DP came out swinging. We need a credible rural policy. Why are our rural farmers languishing while MPs and mandarins sit in air conditioned offices planning on the basis of how much coffee, vanilla, fish, cotton, sim sim name it will be produced. I find it curious that we now have a national planning authority. Strange, but true. Guess who heads it. Dr Frank Mabirizzi a SWASA guy! I personally see no need for a national planning authority. It is a relic of the past. We need a position on issues that matter to Ugandans. If our candidates remain ambivalent, game over. Let all those with something useful to say, say it. Let DP become a party of ideas for ideas matter. But above all, let DP become the party of vision. Let me pose a question I have posed over the years on Fedsnet and so far, nobody has dared to answer it: why is it that Dr Obote and Museveni the educated, are not different from Amin the semi-i
[Ugnet] fwd: Pssst! Free Money!
Note: forwarded message attached. Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now.--- Begin Message --- --- Abange, Mpuliddeko nti Mu7 yayiwa ba goons ba PGB mu Seattle, mbu obuwala n'obuvubuka buli eyo bweriisa nkuuli. Omugezi ayita ne magetesi, beppo nga ayoya okuwunya lubugo, oba okumuleka mu sementi! Ekirala, aba NRM-O baayiwa sente mu USA okuddukanya NRM-O USA, nga gy'obeera nti okulonda kuliba wano. So nga ne mu Uganda teri abakuba ku mukono nga ab'ebiina ebirala bwe babakikijjanya entakera. Ate, mbu ne Ssaabagabe naye ajja n'ekikapu ekiwerako nga aja okwegula. Kale abetaaga ku nsimbi oz'obwereere mweyiwe mu NRM-O USA mu zibalyeko. Ate mumale muwagire federo nga bulijjo. --- End Message --- ___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
[Ugnet] Message awaits moderator approval: Can you help here, please, Ndugu Kiggundu
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent : August 31, 2004 6:00:29 PM To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject : Your message to Ugandanet awaits moderator approval | | | Inbox Your mail to 'Ugandanet' with the subject Taylor Report: Colonial War in Sudan Is being held until the list moderator can review it for approval. The reason it is being held: Message has implicit destination Either the message will get posted to the list, or you will receive notification of the moderator's decision. If you would like to cancel this posting, please visit the following URL: http://kym.net/mailman/confirm/ugandanet/50f43364d141c9c425a35e77309f89ee28d35ce6 Mitayo Potosi Take the effort out of being organized with MSN® Calendar. MSN Premium: Join now and get the first two months FREE* ___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
Re: [Ugnet] AND THE FARACAS OF UNAA CONTINUES (I told you !!!!!)
This note seems to be signed by two people but all the text is in the first person. What is going on?Edward Mulindwa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Rosette:I hope you are well. I know that we have only a few days left to kick off our Convention in Seattle and I am concerned that one very important issue remains unresolved. I hasten to follow up on our telephone conversations and to urge you, the UNAA Board, and the local organizing committee in Seattle to reinstate Ms. Anne Mugisha on the political forum panel. Over the last few weeks and days, a lot of information, we all know, were exchanged. Our Ugandan community in North America is large and very diverse. It is very likely that because some of us have never met and are less familiar with one another and the way we conduct ourselves, it becomes easy to get into a misunderstanding especially when our primary points of contact are electronic. But that should not be an excuse for violating the noble objectives of UNAA, which are to promote social, cultural, and economic partnerships among us while remaining nonpartisan. We all came to the U.S. a nd Canada for many reasons. But we share a common bitter memory: that our Ugandan society at home has perpetually been torn apart by raw and divisive politics. We know very well that this should not be. And we cannot afford to implant it in UNAA. In fact, a conversation with the majority of Convention participants indicates that the degree of social interactions bolstered by the political accommodation we have displayed over the last few years is a big attraction and makes everyone proud. We are a hope for Uganda. How ironic it would be if we resort to practising the same type of intolerance and divisiveness for which we blame the leaders who have drained and denigrated Uganda. Many of our children will be in Seattle. This is not what we should teach them.I was invited to be on the panel mainly because I represent the Democratic Party of uganda. DP has been at the forefront of struggling for justice, the right to associate, and freedom of speech since preindependence, a nd I cannot simply stand aside as this injustice unfolds. As a fellow panelist I strongly uphold Anne Migisha's right to peacefully protest and I see no conflict between that act and her addressing the forum. I would not even worry about security because the Seattle administration and police are fully aware and are in control. Additionally, federal authorities are well informed about the conditions for the visiting President. For your information, over the next five days the Republicans will hold their Convention in New York City. To date, Cityadministration has issued 30 permits to allow different groups of protestors, ranging from 50 to half a million, to be on the streets demostrating against President Bush. Yet it was New York that worked so hard to win the bid to host the Republican Convention this year! That is democracy.I hope that you will do the right thing to reinstate Anne on the panel. I know Anne as a mature and very intelligent lady who certainly understands well her responsibilities in this case. I would not want to see us create unnecessary rifts within our community at a time when UNAA should be focusing on improved services and growth for a better future. Imagine if the entire panel and the audience decide to join the protest!I thank you so much for your attention and positive action.Richard E. Ottoo, Ph.D.Chairman, DP USA Chapter, Inc. andVice President, Ugandan American Association of Greater New York. Anne Mugisha Member, Forum for Democratic Change The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"___Ugandanet mailing list[EMAIL PROTECTED]http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet% UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
[Ugnet] Africans have good reason to be suspicious of British involvement in their affairs
Copyright 2004 Guardian Newspapers Limited The Guardian (London) - Final Edition August 31, 2004 SECTION: Guardian Leader Pages, Pg. 13LENGTH: 1250 wordsHEADLINE: Comment & Analysis: Adventure playground: Africans have good reason to be suspicious of British involvement in their affairsBYLINE: George MonbiotBODY:Here's how one estate agency, promoting homes in Mark Thatcher's Cape Town suburb, Constantia, describes the benefits of living in South Africa. "A weak rand gives you tremendous buying power if you're paying with dollars or sterling," EscapeArtist.com reveals. "Around R8,000 (£663) a month will do for a married couple. What kind of lifestyle will this buy you? A villa with a pool, a car and a daily maid . . . South Africa is one of the few places in the world where you'll find first world comforts and infrastructure, and third world prices on everything from food, to diamonds, to real estate . . . South Africa has problems, but that's what makes for opportunity."Africa, to the British upper classes, remains an adventure playground, a deer park and a treasury. And Constantia is one of those many enclaves of apartheid - to be found everywhere from Table Mountain to Mt Kenya - prospering in a post-apartheid continent.What happier roost could there be for Mark and his mother? Margaret Thatcher found that permitting British companies to break the sanctions against the apartheid regime turned South Africa's problems into our opportunities. When Mark was asked what he thought of his mother's position, he replied: "My sympathy is with the struggling white community." In 2001, Lady Thatcher announced that she would spend part of every year in Constantia with her son. Here they could live, not far from Earl Spencer and Ian Smith, as the members of their adopted class lived in Britain before the second world war. For some of their neighbours, that era has never passed. The language in the begging letter sent from prison by Thatcher's friend Simon Mann (Eton, Sandhurst, Scots Guards), comes straight from PG Wodehouse. "Smelly and Scratcher," he moaned, weren't helping their old chum. "It may be that getting us out comes down to a large splodge of wonga!"Mann and Thatcher (Harrow, too thick for anywhere else) belong to a class which still believes it has a God-given right to oversee the lives of the Africans. Among Lady Thatcher's friends with homes on the slopes of Table Mountain was John Aspinall (Rugby, Oxford, Royal Marines), the gambling millionaire, zoo-keeper and remnant of that species of upper-class British fascist that used to keep the Duke of Windsor company. Aspinall believed that most of the human population should be culled by means of "benign genocide". He argued that "medical research should be funded into abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and birth control" and described his third wife as "a perfect example of the primate female, ready to serve the dominant male and make his life agreeable". Aspinall worked with Mangosuthu Buthelezi to undermine the African National Congress. He argued that South Africa should be split into 30 bantustans."Aspers" was the hub of a circle of rightwing extremists who sought to meddle in the affairs of Europe's former colonies. Robin Birley, the son of one of his closest friends, was mauled by one of Aspinall's tigers when he was 12, but this did their relationship no harm. Birley's mother left her husband for Aspinall's chum Sir James Goldsmith, and both Aspers and Birley (who inherited Annabel's, London's poshest nightclub, from his father) stood as candidates for Goldsmith's Referendum party. Some years ago, I had a furious row with Birley after he told me that he believed he had not just a right but a duty to give help to Renamo, the South African-backed force which terrorised the people of Mozambique.Another of Aspinall's friends was the Spectator columnist Taki Theodoracopoulos. With Carla Powell, the wife of Lady Thatcher's former private secretary, he led the campaign in the British rightwing press to canonise Buthelezi. Taki once wrote of Kenya that "democracy is as likely to come to bongo-bongo land as I am to send a Concorde ticket to my children". He has complained that "Britain is being mugged by black hoodlums . . . West Indians were allowed to immigrate after the war (and) multiply like flies". In 1999, Taki and Birley funded the campaign to free Augusto Pinochet. Their PR man was Lady Thatcher's old spin doctor Lord Bell, who worked for the South African National party in the 1994 elections, and is now representing Mark.Ever since Cecil Rhodes seized Matabeleland, the British right's struggle for ideological control in Africa has been linked to its efforts to seize the continent's resources. Mann's network of nobs had its fingers in mines and oilfields all over Africa. The mercenaries who provided muscle in return for mining concessions tried to use class connections to make their operations respectable.Mann founded his company, Executive Outcomes,
[Ugnet] Kony Ready To Meet President
Kony ready to meet President By Frank Nyakairu Sep 1, 2004 GULU - A rebel commander has said the Lords Resistance Army Leader Joseph Kony is ready to talk peace directly with President Yoweri Museveni. Lt Col. Kapere who led a group of three rebel commanders to a meeting with mediators sanctioned by the government on Monday said, Kony is willing to talk even if it is with the President [Museveni] if he [president] really wants. Present at the talks were three commanders, the mediators representing the government and this reporter. The meeting took place on Monday evening at Aboga, a dilapidated primary school about 16 kilometres outside Gulu town. One of Ugandas representative at the African Union, Ambassador Joseph Ocwet led the mediators team while one Lt. Col. Kapere led the LRA group. The talks that lasted 90 minutes were characterized by accusations and demands on the LRA side and promises from the government. The linkman between the negotiating team and the rebels; Mr Bosco Lapat is known for initiating the first talks with Minister Betty Bigombe in 1993. Mr Ayena Odongo who was part of the negotiators flanked Ambassador Ocwet. Twenty-four well-armed government soldiers escorted the team but stopped two kilometres to the venue as agreed with the rebels. This reporter witnessed the talks. Their first demand was not to take their photographs. Ocwet who spoke in Luo, told the LRA team that President Museveni who had sent him is willing to forgive the rebels including [Joseph] Kony if he came out of the bush now. Kapere who kept silent for minutes, stood akimbo and closed his eyes creating tension at the beginning. Your government has always turned around and killed our messengers of peace, said Kapere a short compact dark man in his late 20s, adding, If your government is serious this round we are willing to lay down our weapons and come out because this is very, very destructive. Kapere, who kept on pacing around the empty classroom was not in military uniform but was armed. He wore a cap covering his narrow red eyes. He sometimes spoke stressing points with gestures and raising his voice. You are here in our hands we could kill you now, said Kapere, but we cant we want to stop this suffering of the population, he said. Kony is willing to talk even if it is with the President [Museveni] if he really wants. Two other LRA commanders who introduced themselves as Lt. Col. Odome and Captain Opio accompanied him. The abandoned school was completely surrounded by rebels as the two negotiators, this reporter and a contact met the commanders. The rebels accused the Kitgum RDC [Name] of sending them a gift, which contained a time bomb in it. We had built trust in him but he sent us a time-bomb in a gift to the LRA leader. When we reached somewhere and attempted to open it, it exploded and killed our officer, Kapere said. The rebels also demanded that government stops arresting rebels who surrender. This sends a wrong signal that you are not committed to peace at all, Kapere added. Ambassador Ocwet said; The government is committed to ending this war and that is why there is the amnesty commission to forgive you. Just give us your word that you are ready to talk peace and we give it a chance, he added as Kapere closed his eyes again. It took about 30 minutes to agree on another meeting. Im on orders so do not rush us. What we do not want is pressure. We do not want pressure and much as you do so let us take our time and the right thing, Kapere replied. The talks, which were conducted while standing, kicked off at 5: 45 pm and ended at 7:15 as darkness set in. The two sides agreed to start a series of formal meetings with higher commanders starting next Monday. © 2004 The Monitor Publications Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
[Ugnet] AND THE FARACAS OF UNAA CONTINUES (I told you !!!!!)
Dear Rosette:I hope you are well. I know that we have only a few days left to kick off our Convention in Seattle and I am concerned that one very important issue remains unresolved. I hasten to follow up on our telephone conversations and to urge you, the UNAA Board, and the local organizing committee in Seattle to reinstate Ms. Anne Mugisha on the political forum panel. Over the last few weeks and days, a lot of information, we all know, were exchanged. Our Ugandan community in North America is large and very diverse. It is very likely that because some of us have never met and are less familiar with one another and the way we conduct ourselves, it becomes easy to get into a misunderstanding especially when our primary points of contact are electronic. But that should not be an excuse for violating the noble objectives of UNAA, which are to promote social, cultural, and economic partnerships among us while remaining nonpartisan. We all came to the U.S. and Canada for many reasons. But we share a common bitter memory: that our Ugandan society at home has perpetually been torn apart by raw and divisive politics. We know very well that this should not be. And we cannot afford to implant it in UNAA. In fact, a conversation with the majority of Convention participants indicates that the degree of social interactions bolstered by the political accommodation we have displayed over the last few years is a big attraction and makes everyone proud. We are a hope for Uganda. How ironic it would be if we resort to practising the same type of intolerance and divisiveness for which we blame the leaders who have drained and denigrated Uganda. Many of our children will be in Seattle. This is not what we should teach them.I was invited to be on the panel mainly because I represent the Democratic Party of uganda. DP has been at the forefront of struggling for justice, the right to associate, and freedom of speech since preindependence, and I cannot simply stand aside as this injustice unfolds. As a fellow panelist I strongly uphold Anne Migisha's right to peacefully protest and I see no conflict between that act and her addressing the forum. I would not even worry about security because the Seattle administration and police are fully aware and are in control. Additionally, federal authorities are well informed about the conditions for the visiting President. For your information, over the next five days the Republicans will hold their Convention in New York City. To date, Cityadministration has issued 30 permits to allow different groups of protestors, ranging from 50 to half a million, to be on the streets demostrating against President Bush. Yet it was New York that worked so hard to win the bid to host the Republican Convention this year! That is democracy.I hope that you will do the right thing to reinstate Anne on the panel. I know Anne as a mature and very intelligent lady who certainly understands well her responsibilities in this case. I would not want to see us create unnecessary rifts within our community at a time when UNAA should be focusing on improved services and growth for a better future. Imagine if the entire panel and the audience decide to join the protest!I thank you so much for your attention and positive action.Richard E. Ottoo, Ph.D.Chairman, DP USA Chapter, Inc. andVice President, Ugandan American Association of Greater New York. Anne Mugisha Member, Forum for Democratic Change The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" ___ Ugandanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
