LONDON – International rights groups want answers from Washington amid allegations the CIA was involved in questionable activity in war-torn Somalia.
Amnesty International and seven other human rights organizations said, in a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, that they had 'serious' concerns about allegations raised in a series of articles about the CIA's work in Somalia.
They allege the CIA was involved 'in detention, interrogation and transfer operations in Somalia that may violate domestic and international law.'
The letter points to a July article in The Nation and an August article in The New York Times that alleges the CIA is involved in the interrogation of detainees in Somali using techniques that are questionable and potentially unlawful.
They point to a 2009 executive order from Obama that requires the CIA to avoid such activity and further obligates the U.S. government to uphold its treaty obligations regarding torture and other international human rights issues.
Clara Gutteridge, an official at British rights group Reprieve, told the BBC this month that she had evidence from 'multiple, concurrent sources' that the CIA was running a secret detention center under the presidential compound in Mogadishu.
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali told the BBC the reports weren't credible but said Washington was helping to 'improve the security situation in the country.'
The letter to Obama states that 'the United States and its officials may be liable for the unlawful actions of individuals, groups, or foreign states acting under its control, or for knowingly assisting in or conspiring to commit such unlawful actions.'
The establishment of an independent electoral commission for East Africa and a panel of eminent persons to arbitrate electoral disputes are the main issues that emerged from the just-ended first consultative meeting of the region's political parties, held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
At least 60 political parties, drawn from the East African Community (EAC) member states, attended the meeting.
Government representatives, members of parliament, registrars of political parties, national electoral commission bodies, national human rights commissions, internal security sector and law-enforcement representatives also attended the meeting.
The political parties said there was a need for a lasting solution to the prevalent rejection of election outcomes in the region.
The meeting, whose theme was 'Exploring the role of political parties in EAC integration', recommended the establishment of an East African independent electoral commission, said a communique containing the meeting's recommendations availed to EANA.
The political parties recommended that there was a need to have "homegrown solutions for the arbitration of disputes arising from outcomes of democratic processes," adding that a political parties' regional polls observation forum and a regional political party centre of excellence were additional institutions that, once established, would support the regional electoral body.
"The principal of zero-tolerance to violence should be adopted and political parties in East Africa should embrace more formal party structures with set standards and sanctions against electoral malpractices as a deterrent," the parties resolved.
To bolster commitment to the recommendations, the parties called for the extension of the jurisdiction of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
"The jurisdiction of the EACJ should be extended to cover gross violations of human rights, including electoral violence, as well as other crimes against humanity," the communique further said.
Regarding an East African federation, which is the ultimate aim behind the establishment of the EAC, the parties said a regionwide referendum would be necessary to give the political federation process a solid foundation and legitimacy.
"This process should involve public education and awareness up to the grass-roots level," the parties said.
The conference was opened by Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who called on political parties in the bloc to embrace the regional integration process and asked them to make it part and parcel of their party manifestos.
EAC deputy secretary general (in charge of Political Federation) Beatrice Kiraso stressed that political parties were and would continue to be key stakeholders in the integration process and the realization of the Community’s ultimate desire for political federation.
‘’Well functioning political parties are a prerequisite to democracy, and they need to be engaged in exploring alternative policy options," she said in her opening remarks.
NDC board chairman Chrisant Mzindakaya (R) exchanges documents with National People`s Congress of China official Liu Canglong after signing a joint venture agreement between NDC and Sichuan Hongda for implementing Mchuchuma and Liganga iron and coal projects.
Tanzania and China have agreed on the implementation of a coal-fired power project at Mchuchuma and an iron and steel one at Liganga in Ludewa District, Iringa Region, worth a combined 4.8trn/-.
The agreement to that effect was signed at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam yesterday at which National Development Corporation (NDC) board chairman Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya represented Tanzania and his Sichuan Hongda Group counterpart, Liu Canglod, China.
Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, who graced the event, said implementation of the two projects was sure to accelerate Tanzania’s economic development and uplift the people from poverty as envisaged in the country’s Vision 2025.
Other prominent people at the function included Chinese Ambassador Liu Xinsheng, Members of Parliament, ministers, several other government officials and a Chinese government delegation.
Dr Bilal expressed hope that the projects to substantially boost and stabilise power generation and supply in Tanzania and unlock the country’s mineral potential.
He noted that the iron ore extraction said, would mainly seek to produce iron and ultimately expedite the growth of the country’s steel industry.
“The production of electricity and iron and steel from these projects will also lead to the development of key infrastructure, including Mtwara Port, the Mtwara-to-Mchuchuma railway and the erection of more power transmission lines,” he said.
The Vice President urged NDC and all other relevant authorities to draw up a strategy to ensure that the infrastructure was developed in a synchronised fashion to maximise the benefits arising from exploitation of the resources.
Alongside serving the projects, he said, the infrastructure so developed would help to spur the further development of other economic activities along the Mtwara Corridor.
“That will definitely make the long-envisioned Mtwara Corridor a reality and a bustling economic region in Tanzania,” he noted, adding that the government would do all its best to facilitate implementation of the projects.
Retracing relations between Tanzania and the People’s Republic of China, Dr Bilal talked of “a long history with major accomplishments”.
He said the main vivid symbol was the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara), with the others including Urafiki (Friendship) Textile Mill, Ubungo Farm Implements, Kiwira Coal Mine and the recently completed ultramodern National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Sichuan Hongda Group board chairman Liu Canglond said his company would start work on the two projects “soon after completion of the preparatory activities”, adding that it has already set aside USD600m as funding for the initial stages of the projects.
“We are sure to produce enough iron and steel for local consumption, sustainable and reliable power for domestic and industrial use while also supporting technology transfer, creating employment opportunities and stimulating the development of infrastructure,” he noted.
Dr Mzindakaya meanwhile explained that work on the projects would start in three years’ time at the latest with the generation of at least 600MW, adding that more than 40 companies bid for the projects following a tender floated in 2007.
He revealed that implementation of the power project would run in four 150-MW phases.
In earlier remarks, Industry and Trade minister Dr Cyril Chami said implementation of the project was expected to provide enough power and coal for the extraction of iron ore.
He added that the ministry had the responsibility of industrialising Tanzania and making sure that the industrial sector contributed more significantly to the national economy.
The country’s industrial sector currently grows at an annual 9 per cent, while Vision 2025 wants this to rise to 15 per cent.
Experts say Tanzania has coal reserves which could be extracted for more than 300 years.
NDC and Sichuan Hongda have also formed a joint venture company known as Tanzania China International Mineral Resources to oversee all these operations in Tanzania.
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete speaks during the ceremony
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete rings the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell at NASDAQ MarketSite at 4 Times Square, New York, Wednesday September 21, 2011
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with First Ladies, Health Ministers and Global Health Leaders cheer after the bell zanzibar
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete makes his remarks during the roundtable discussions
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with First Ladies, Health Minister for Tanzania Mainland Dr Hadji Mponda and his Zanzibar coounterpart, Mr Juma Duni Haji (third and second right respectively), Ambassador Amina Ali, AU Permanent representativ to the UN (left) and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Anbassador Yvonne Chakachaka pose after the bell.
The Roundtable in progress
President Kikwete greets Mr Andrew Whitman, Varian company's Vice President, before holding talks
President Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete shakes hands with Dr Samia Al-Amoudi, Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Al-Amoudi, CEO and Founder of the Centre of Excellence in Breast Cancer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
African Union's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Amina Ali at the roundtable
Dr Ida Betty Odinga, wife of Kenya's Prime Minister, addresses the roundtable
Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland Ministers for Health Mr Juma Duni Haji (right) and Dr Hadji Mponda, excvhange pleasantries with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Princess of Africa Foundation founder, renowned singer and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador.
President Dr Jakaya Kikwete in talks with Mr Andrew Whitman, Varian's Vice President, who has expressed keen interest to working with Tanzania in health matters.Photo State House
Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken caldera. Often referred to as "Africa's Garden of Eden," the crater is home to over 30,000 animals including elephants, lions, cheetahs, wildebeests, buffaloes, and the rare black rhinos. View Wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater to learn more about the wildlife and View Birds of Ngorongoro Crater
to discover some of the many species that are found in the area.
Ngorongoro Crater was created from a volcano that exploded creating the caldera wilderness haven. The crater is 12 miles (19 km) across and consumes 102 square miles (264 sq km) of wilderness. The rim of the crater rises just over 2,000 feet (610 m) above the caldera floor reaching an elevation of 7,500 feet (2,286 m).
Tanzania Tourist Board wishes to inform the public that Mount Kilimanjaro has been nominated as a candidate for the seven natural wonders of the world, in a competition organised by an organisation known as Seven Natural Wonders in which tourist attractions from all over the world are voted to nominated as The Seven Natural wonders of The World.
Tanzania will gain much publicity from being listed in the new list of Seven Natural wonders of the World and will be able to use this opportunity to promote Mt. Kilimanjaro as being in Tanzania.
Out of the 28 contestants which have made it to this stage, only two nominations are from Africa, these being Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Table Mountain (South Africa). There is fierce competition between the two African destinations.
Voting trends have shown that most people who are voting for Mount Kilimanjaro are those residing outside the country and that very few Tanzanian residents are voting for Mt. Kilimanjaro unlike the case for Table Mountain where large numbers of South Africans are taking participation in voting for Table Mountain.
We (TTB) would like to urge Tanzanians (in and out of Tanzania), friends and patrons worldwide to vote for Mount Kilimanjaro so that it becomes one of the New Seven Natural Wonders Of The World.
The health condition of abducted British woman held captive by Somali pirates in central Somalia is bad.
Reliable sources told Shabelle Media Network that Somali pirates removed ear-device from the British captive, Judith Tebbutt, who is believed in her fifties.
The sources added that the Briton demanded to be allowed talking at her relatives in the United Kingdom though it is not known if got permitted to the communication.
However, Iman Omar Moallim Abshir, an elder from central Somalia said it is regrettable the British citizen to held captive inside Somalia by pirates.
He said it is needed more efforts to be done to secure release of the British woman, whose husband was killed by the armed men during kidnap in Somalia-Kenya border last week.
After the abduction, the captive was brought in Jubba regions in soutern Somalia but later taken to pirate lair in country’s center.
LONDON – A high-risk terrorist jailed for helping a 21/7 bomb plotter has won an appeal to stay in Britain on human rights grounds.
Ismail Abdurahman hid would-be bomber Hussain Osman for three days after his plan to repeat the carnage of the 7/7 suicide bombings failed in 2005.
Anti-terror officers and Home Office bosses wanted to kick him out but a judge ruled he could stay as he faced “inhumane treatment or punishment” if he was returned to his native Somalia.
The judge even granted the 28-year-old bail at the hearing on September 2 – leaving him free on the streets of London. He is staying in a bail hostel.
An Immigration Service source said: “It’s frankly outrageous that he has been allowed to stay here. This is a man who gave sanctuary to a would-be suicide bomber who wanted to kill hundreds of innocent people.”
Abdurahman has been categorised as a Level 3 convict – which means police believe he poses a serious risk to others. The extremist sympathiser was jailed for 10 years in 2008 – reduced to eight on appeal – for aiding and abetting Osman, one of five would-be bombers locked up for trying to set off explosives two weeks after the 7/7 attacks which killed 52. Osman fled the country but was tracked down and jailed.
Abdurahman was due for release in 2010, after five years in custody, but was kept in locked up until the deportation hearing. The UK Border Agency said: “We are extremely disappointed and appealing the decision.”
