World – Page 48 – The Speaker News Journal

Villagers in Cambodia kicked off land as military moves in

January 11, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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A potential humanitarian crisis is unfolding in rural Cambodia, as over 550 families have been ejected from land that they claim to have purchased during the reign of Pol Pot. It is unknown if they have the physical documentation proving that they properly bought the land, and are thus at the mercy of the military, who have physically removed them from their village. So far, three of the village leaders have been arrested and the road leading to the area has been blockaded.

According to a source who has been in contact with displaced villagers from the area, about three weeks ago the military reclaimed the village of Phnom Tebang Bantay Sreyand and the land on which it sits. The village is approximately 20 kilometers north of Siem Reap and near the Angkor Wat temple complex. The villagers at this point are homeless and have little if any food and water, and are apparently reluctant to accept outside aid.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous and who we will refer to as Mr. White, went on to say that they possibly have a local that can assist in getting resources to the displaced villagers. “We are trying to work through a monk who may be able to find a way to get the food and water to them, [however] we will need to fund the supplies ourselves.”

He also said that the villagers themselves were frustrated and angry over the handling of the matter, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA). “Apparently [the radio station] have said that they [the villagers] are occupying illegally. They believe the government is behind this.”

Most of the confusion seems to originate in the current inability to locate the paperwork stating that the land has been properly paid for. This, according to Mr. White, is “part of the problem. The villages claim they have paid for the land but it seems no one can find the deeds.”

Solina, one of the displaced villagers, told Mr. White that they are “all hungry and scared. We have nowhere to go… We have no food or water.”

Mr. White expressed frustration that there has been little to no global response to the dire needs of the villagers, and attributes that to Cambodia’s being “on the back burner” of the world’s attention. “This is a humanitarian crisis and anywhere else in the world [this] would be front page news. Unfortunately no one really cares abut Cambodia.”

He is hopeful, however, that even though “human rights has been dragging their feet to get food on the ground,” eventually awareness of the villager’s situation will increase and more assistance will be on the way.

Mr. White offered that anyone who wants additional information about the situation, updates or to help could contact him at through this reporter.

By Brett Scott

(Email Brett Scott at [email protected])

Shortest international flight takes only 10 minutes

January 11, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Foreign media on Friday revealed the shortest international flight of Flyniki Airlines, an Austrian-nationality flight carrier from the city of Vienna to Bratislava, Slovakia. Surprisingly, the flight takes around 10 minutes to reach its destination.

A big question still remains of how would the passengers manage to settle down in the flight. Would there even be enough time for passengers to drink water, have food or go to toilet? Is there even a need for air hostesses?

Online news website, Mashable.com used the Telegraph’s news report to show that Austrian low-cost Flyniki Airlines has opened new international routes that appear to be the shortest flight with a distance of 30 miles and 10 minutes time. With the advantage of taking the shortest flying time from one city to another, the airline is expected to take off for its first-ever shortest international flight on April 1, 2015, or April Fool’s Day.

More importantly, the airline has started accepting online reservations despite the fact that some people view this as ridiculously funny. One-way ticket prices starts at 29 euros (35 dollars).

However, it is still controversial as to whether the Vienna-Bratislava flight is indeed the shortest flight in the world because, according to the Telegraph, a British news agency, this route seems to have been longer than that of Camair-Co flight of Cameroon that flies between Kinshasa city and Brazzaville of the Republic of Congo with a distance of 20 miles. The flight however takes longer since Flyniki Airlines flies faster.

Flyniki Airlines believes this new flight will help facilitate travelling between the two cities. According to Google Maps, travelling by a car takes 53 minutes. Therefore, having this flight to Bratislava would save time just by getting to the airport, going through security checks and boarding the flight. So sit back but do not relax because the flight is about to land in 10 minutes.

By Panthep Pande

France rallies in act of solidarity against terrorist attacks

September 1, 2015January 11, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

An estimated one million people marched up Boulevard Voltaire in Paris in an act of solidarity after a series of terrorist attacks last week, including an attack on a satire publication that left 12 dead.

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PARIS — As many as a million people crowded the streets of Paris on Sunday in a show of solidarity following the week’s terrorist attacks in the French capital. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as French President Francois Hollande, were among 40 world leaders present.

The crowds gathered at Place de la République, holding signs with the now familiar slogan “Je Suis Charlie” in honor of the 12 workers killed at the magazine Charlie Hebdo last Wednesday morning. Others held signs with names of other casualties last week, including three police officers and the hostages held at a Jewish supermarket on Friday.

Flowers, candles, notes and other offerings pour into the streets from the doorstep of the offices of Charlie Hebdo where 12 workers were killed by terrorists Wednesday.

Many people held high a caricature portraying the prophet Mohammed locked in a wet kiss with a Charlie Hebdo employee, one of many provocative portrayals of the prophet that have been credited with the attack by Islamic extremists.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the sea of people began slowly marching toward Place de la Nation. People waved French flags and clapped from their balconies along Boulevard Voltaire, and some blasted music from their apartment windows, including The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love.”

Organizations marched in rows holding their banners, including LICRA (International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism), Ligue des Doigts de l’Homme (Human Rights League), UEJF (Union of Jewish students of France), and a group of journalism students holding a banner reading “ECOLES DE JOURNALISME” (Journalism Schools).

Journalism students march together in a rally for solidarity and in honor of freedom of the press, which was attacked by terrorists Wednesday morning.

“One of the most important values of the republic has been attacked, freedom of speech and expression, and I think this is an opportunity for France to come together, especially since it has been split because of religious and ethnic divides,” said Simon Prigent, 27, a student at The Graduate School of Journalism in Lille, in Northern France. “Of course this march is even more important to us because it’s our future profession, but this is also a great opportunity for all of France to come together and give a strong message to terrorists.”

The journalism students held up pens and pencils, the most prevalent symbol of the rally, honoring the right to freedom of the press that was attacked. A group of young people hoisted a giant pencil made from cardboard with the rally’s anthem: “Indignation. Resistance. Solidarity. I am Charlie.” Every few minutes the sound of clapping blew through the crowd like a wave, growing louder and louder, and people of all ages chanted, “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.”

A policeman stands guard by Boulevard Saint Sebastian in Paris before the march on Sunday.

The intense military presence in Paris since Wednesday was felt heavily as armed police stood watch every few meters and snipers overlooked the crowd from rooftops next to chimneys swirling with smoke in the cold. Traffic police appeared more heavily-armed and wary in the days leading up to Sunday, especially given the week’s several bomb-threats and false alarms, including on the metros and at Trocadero, a place near the Eiffel Tower teeming with tourists.

“A lot of the military has been mobilized,” Prigent said. “I feel safe.”

Le Marais, the Jewish neighborhood, was closed Friday night as another security measure after a kosher market was holed-up on Friday, resulting in four deaths, and The Grand Synagogue of Paris was closed on a Sabbath for the first time since World War II.

“They wanted to divide us, but France is not dividing itself,” said Charlotte Belaich, 23, also a journalism student. “Yes, this march is partially about freedom of speech, but for me it’s more about French people coming together because it’s not only the press that’s been targeted, but all of France and its people.”

Ethnic and religious tensions have been on the rise in France with the escalation of terrorist groups, creating a growing rift between the populous Jewish and Muslim communities here. According to a website called The Isis Study Group, France has an estimated 700 to 900 citizens who have or are currently participating in jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, including the Islamic State, associated with Al Qaeda.

A little girl holds the French flag high alongside the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism.

The prevailing assumption in Paris is that the week’s attacks were meant to incite further divisions and fear; however, the million people marching fearlessly through the cold even until after dark fell, bearing signs of unity written in English, French, Hebrew and Arabic, showed a different reaction. “We are not afraid,” read thousands of stickers and signs waving through the sea of people of all ages and ethnicities.

Police presence remained heavier than normal Sunday evening, but Belaich is confident the pervasive fear and nervousness will fade. “It’s been a sad atmosphere, and everyone has been talking about what’s happened, at school and even at parties this weekend,” she said. “I think with time, though, other news will take over, and in the end we will show that France won’t be divided and we are not afraid.”

By Felicia Bonanno

Muslim terrorists have conducted almost 25,000 separate deadly attacks since 911 – Terrorist watch group

January 26, 2021January 10, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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Islamic terror watch organization TheReligionofPeace.com has been keeping track of Islamist attacks since the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. The number of attacks has increased steadily since that time, and is expected to reach 25,000 next month.

“The breadth and number of attacks increased dramatically in the years since 9/11,” Glen Roberts, the editor of the website, told The Speaker. He expects the toll–which currently sits at 24,815–will reach 25,000 “probably during the second week in February.”

The watch organization regularly updates a list of all deadly terrorist attacks committed by Muslims since the Twin Towers Attack, in which almost 3,000 people were killed. The killings take place at a rate of around five per day, according to the organization, and happen almost every day.

“It looks like there have been only 12 days since the beginning of 2005 without at least one Islamic attack,” Roberts told us.

TROP’s counter does not measure deaths, only attacks, Roberts said. The total number for deaths has not been tallied, although the organization records deaths among their weekly and monthly figures. Last month, for example, the group recorded 2,497 dead and 2,225 critically injured in 233 Jihad attacks in 30 countries, including 33 Allah Akbars (suicide attacks).

Roberts said that although the breath and number of attacks increased after 9/11, the date did not mark the beginning of Islamist terror.

“The rate at which people died from Islamic violence was probably much greater prior to this,” Roberts told us. “There was less attention focused on terror campaigns in places like Algeria and East Timor, for example, even though the loss of life was staggering. Another example is Bangladesh, where several million people lost their lives in the early 1970’s during independence, a great many of whom were Hindu.”

The 25,000 number is expected to be significantly lower than the actual number, however, because not all attacks are picked up by international news sources, and reported deaths are undercounted because death can occur days after reporting due to trauma, the organization qualifies.

The list is composed of incidents of deadly violence that the organization has deemed to have been motivated by the perpetrators’ interpretation of religious duty, and does not include regular incidents of violence involving nominal Muslims, according to the watch group.

“Any terrorist attack resulting in death in which religious motivation it can reasonably be assumed to have played a role is included on our list. We include honor killings on the list, but they are not a part of the overall tally since we do not want to stretch the definition of terrorism too far.”

Paris Charlie Hebdo attack: Rethinking the “War on Terror”

September 1, 2015January 9, 2015 by Joel Levi

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Two militant sieges have taken place in Paris. One happened Wednesday, January 7, which caused the death of 12 people including 10 cartoonists and columnists of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and the other happened Friday, January 9, which led to the death of several hostages and a suspect at a kosher supermarket near Paris’ Porte de Vincennes. The probable connection of the two incidents is still under investigation by the police.

Wednesday’s attack on Charlie Hebdo left the city in mourning on Thursday. Thousands gathered at a vigil held in the center of Paris to mourn the dead, but also as a protest for the freedom of speech. Vigils in memory of the cartoonists and in support of the freedom of speech were held simultaneously across the world in Lyon, Toulouse, Berlin, London, Sydney, Brussels, among other cities, with protesters holding the placards “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”).

One of the suspects in the Charlie Hebdo attack, Hamyd Mourad, 18, surrendered to the police, while the other two, the Parisian brothers Chérif and Saïd Kouachi, 32 and 34, attempted an escape but were killed in a police raid early Friday. One of the suspects of the kosher grocery shop incident, Amedy Coulibaly, 32, was killed when the police stormed the supermarket. The other suspect, Hayat Boumeddienne, 26, is still on the run. She fled the scene in the confusion of the freeing of the hostages.

Europe has been shocked by the extremity of the violence, and so has been the world. The question that needs to be asked first and foremost is who these suspects were. The Kouachi brothers are being linked to Islamist extremism, as the younger brother was convicted for his participation in a jihadist recruitment ring in Paris in 2008. Coulibaly shared a “high profile” with Chérif Kouachi by spending time in prison for assisting the escape of Islamist militant, Smain Ali Belkacem, from jail.

It seems only natural that the horror and violence that had been haunting Paris for the past three days should be tagged “terrorism” and the gunmen who killed civilians “terrorists.” In fact, media across the world were quick to follow President Francois Hollande’s statement in defining the shootings as “terrorist operations,” and the attacks “barbaric.”

President Barack Obama confirmed, perhaps unsurprisingly, in a condolence speech that “the world has seen once again what terrorists stand for.” Obama said, “They have nothing to offer but hatred and suffering. We stand for freedom and hope and the dignity of all human beings. That is what the city of Paris represents to the world and that spirit will endure forever, long after the scourge of terrorism is banished from this world.” But it is precisely in such a time of horror that one should rethink the “War on Terror,” the governmental and corporate operations that hide behind the quick tagging of “terrorism” and “terrorists.”

Violence against civilians is, undoubtedly, to be condemned. But condemnation of violence under the name of the “War on Terror” only rationalizes the elimination of enemies in the international military campaign led by the United States as the absolute enemy of humanity, and in this case the “neutralization of terrorists” in Paris. But the quest for the cause of violence should not end in “neutralization,” or the naming of it as “terrorism,” but rather, it can only end in the understanding of the conditions that prompted the acts of violence.

The slogan was first used by Present George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks to promote United States’ military intervention in Afghanistan, and continues to be used by the Obama administration. It should also be noted that France was the first ally that joined the United States in airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) in September last year.

Whether the gunmen were connected with ISIS is still uncertain. But Muslims in France and all over world already find themselves forced to apologize for actions that they have not committed or sympathized with.

Analysis by Joel Levi

Syria’s apocalypse: Any light at the end of the tunnel?

January 6, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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Four years into the Syrian struggle, there seems to be little hope of an end to this war, rightly described by Noam Chomsky as “suicidal” in an interview conducted by the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadin TV channel back in January 2013. Thus far, the death toll is staggering, as 200,000 to 300,000 have been killed by the ongoing violence— figures that vary depending on the source. The human toll, however, is far more difficult to determine, as an additional 300,000 Syrians remain detained in the nightmarish prisons and torture cells of the regime, a number that pales in comparison to the eleven million—roughly half the country’s population—that have been displaced. Combined with the “non-human” losses, which include the destruction of half of the country and the division of its territories among warring parties, the devastating toll on the hearts and minds of the Syrian people is virtually impossible to quantify, despite the magnitude of these numbers.

To date, there have been many efforts to put an end to this insane conflict, formally starting with those initiated in late 2011 by Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General. As his initiative quickly failed, he was then followed by Lakhdar Ibrahimi, the veteran Algerian-Arab diplomat, whose position as the Arab League Envoy granted him his mandate from both the UN and the League of Arab States while also situating him between the Arab World and the world at large. However, after his concerted efforts crumbled, he resigned and was replaced by Staffan de Mistura, who was appointed on July 10, 2014 by the UN Secretary General as a special envoy mandated to try where his predecessors failed.

Diplomatic landmarks pointed the way, starting from the 30th of June 2012. On that date, the Geneva I Conference on Syria was held thanks to the perseverance of Kofi Annan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and British Foreign Secretary William Hague were among the more vibrant players who attended. The conference called for the establishment of a Syrian transitional “governing body” which would include figures from both the regime and the opposition, who would collectively supervise, amongst other things, a centralized ceasefire, the release of all political prisoners, the writing of a new constitution leading to the birth of a democratic system, and the facilitation of free and fair elections in which all political parties can participate.

The position of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad remained largely undecided in light of different interpretations regarding just how such a transitional scheme would be executed. While the US advocated his removal from power during this transition, the Russians insisted that the transitional period be presided by him, something regarded by most Syrian opposition organizations as an obstacle to any real change aiming at ending the dictatorship and establishing a democratic system.

Geneva II was initiated in Montreux, Switzerland on the 22nd of January and continued in Geneva on 23rd of January 2014. Then representatives of the Syrian regime and the opposition held two rounds of direct talks. The first took place on January 24, and the second from February 10 to 15. The defiant, arrogant, and uncompromising position of the representatives of the Syrian regime prevented any meaningful results, as they reiterated the exhausted claim to be fighting a war against terrorism, labeling the entire opposition as “terrorists” in order to delegitimize their claims. Frustrated Lakhdar Ibrahimi, who remained all along too diplomatic to blame the regime, apologized to the Syrian people for his failure to have the two negotiating sides demonstrate any seriousness to end the conflict.

Now, almost a year after the Geneva II peace talks—talks that were largely ceremonial and amounted to little quantifiable or even symbolic progress—the political initiative is being taken by Russia, the main international backer of the Syrian regime. Russia’s motivation may be attributed to the need to remind all invested parties—particularly the US and its regional and international allies—of its ongoing influence in Syria.They may view this as more pertinent now than ever in light of the US-led military campaign against the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has since September 2014 seen the US-led coalition carry out hundreds of air strikes on IS positions in Syria, one month after the strikes started on IS targets in Iraq. While the Syrian regime benefited indirectly from such strikes against what is now its most formidable military rival, the Asad government is still wary of any American-engineered involvement on Syrian soil, regardless of Obama’s relentless claim to be waging a war that seeks to “degrade, and ultimately destroy” ISIL. What makes this involvement more worrisome to the Syrian regime is that it is part of a wider plan to exert military pressure on the regime by making other “moderate” groups of the military opposition reap the fruits resulting from the weakening of IS in Syria. This has been made more obvious as the US is making no secret of its plan to train anywhere between 5000 and 15, 000 additional Syrian opposition fighters on Saudi soil in the spring of 2015.

In late December 2014 the Russian foreign ministry sent invitations to representatives of the Syrian opposition, both within Syria and in exile, to hold talks with Russian officials between 26 and 29 January 2015, to be followed by direct talks with representatives of the Syrian regime. The ultimate aim, according to the declared intention of the Russians, is to reach a political solution to the struggle in Syria.
The big question here is: Would this step produce a light, however dim, at the end of the horrific (almost surreal) Syrian tunnel? The answer depends on several factors. The key factor, above all, probably lies in the sincerity of this Russian initiative, including Russia’s willingness to commit to its own endeavors beyond the point of empty rhetoric. If its efforts serve simply as a reminder to all parties involved in the Syrian conflict, regional and international, of the continued Russian influence in Syria, then there is little hope of any concrete results. This seriousness will eventually be tested during the talks between the opposition figures and the Syrian regime’s delegation. If the Russians persist in supporting the regime’s stance with regard to “leading” the transitional period of political change in Syria, then the whole process will bring forth nothing but a stillbirth. The majority of the Syrian opposition has already made a major concession by accepting to share the transitional governing body with regime figures that they claim have “no blood on their hands.”

The Russian initiative is coordinated with the Egyptian government, which will host important talks among representatives of 23 Syrian opposition organizations, to be held in Cairo on January 21 and 22, 2015. If these delegates can agree on a broad stance that would transcend the fragmentation that has thus fair plagued the Syrian opposition, this would represent a significant step forward. This latter achievement would be added to the signing in Istanbul of a “roadmap” on January 3, 2015 by representatives of most Syrian opposition forces. These include dozens of political and military organizations. The roadmap proposes, among other things, a “transitional government” with full executive powers, including those enjoyed by the president and the prime minister, and a “military council” to be equally divided between the regime and the opposition. Anticipating the stalling tactics of the Syrian regime, the signatories to the roadmap stipulate that the proposed negotiations with the regime must not drag on for more than three months.

Syria watchers will be following closely the results of such important strings of meetings, namely those held by the Syrian National Coalition in Istanbul, which ended on January 4 2015; the broader meetings of the Syrian oppositions, to be held in Cairo on the 21stand 22ndof January 2015; and the meetings between representatives of the Syrian opposition and Russian officials in Moscow, which will be followed by direct talks between opposition members and Syrian envoys from 26th of January. The final results of all these negotiations will impact the Syrian conflict for months to come, if not longer.

Analysis by Faysal Mohamad

400,000 out of school due to political crisis

January 6, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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JUBA – An estimated number of 400,000 are out of learning institutions in the country following the outbreak of last years’ political crisis.

The government and education partners working in the sector provided the figure following a joint stakeholders meeting held at the Juba Grand Hotel by Save the Children, UNICEF and the national Ministry of Education, DFID, USAID and EU.

The ministry and partners affirmed their commitment to providing quality education to all despite the current crisis.

Teachers in the rebel-controlled areas have not been able to get their monthly salaries as it is hard for the government to reach them due to insecurity.

“We cannot pay teachers in opposition controlled areas. It’s risky to me and whoever takes the money to the people supposed to be paid,” the undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, Michael Lopuke, told reporters in Juba.

He said the low salaries for teachers have been the problem of the past and the present since teachers in South Sudan have been complaining.

Lopuke said the war has also set them back but expressed commitments to focus on the challenges of the teachers as they look into the problems faced by learners.

The undersecretary announced that seven of the ten national teachers training institutes in the country are operational.

According to him, Malakal has been merged with Ranbul in Juba and Rumbek with Maridi to continue teacher training.

Statistics from the government show that only 60 percent of the teachers in the country are trained and only 13 percent of the primary teachers are female.

He also said with the current crisis, a number of schools are without teachers and others are only being assisted by volunteers.

UNICEF country representative in South Sudan, Jonathan Veitch, called education a national crisis despite the fragile gains made since independence in attendance, curriculum development and girls education.

“In terms of education in the conflict areas, it has gone to zero,” the UNICEF chief in South Sudan remarked.

“The right to quality and relevant education is fundamental to the holistic well-being of children, their families and the future of their communities. Education must be made a priority in humanitarian response and this is what we want in South Sudan.”

He commended Western Equatoria for welcoming the internally displaced persons (IDPS) and refugees adding the number of learners in a single class room went up to 150.

“We have not been able to get children in the conflict affected states due to displacement, teachers, destroyed buildings.”

He called for the need to focus on getting children back to schools as according to him, education reduces the effects of trauma, conflict resolution, peace and tolerance among rival tribes.

Veitch pointed out that the government and the opposition has signed a recommitment not to recruit children into armed groups and not to occupy schools, as many were occupied when the crisis began not only by armed groups, but by IDPs.

The country representative added that it was not good to throw out IDPs in learning institutions, saying SPLA have identified some schools to vacate mentioning one in Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state.

Asked about the number of schools vacated by armed groups, he said that they have no evidence but have been receiving commitments to leave.

According to him, less than 100 schools in the country have been occupied by armed forces from both sides of the conflict.

Commenting on the payment of teachers, Save the Children CEO, Jasmine Whitebread, said there should be ways of addressing it as it is a responsibility of the Government.

She also said they are looking for donors to support them in the area of the payment of teachers.

The CEO added that education should be prioritized, especially in the conflict-affected areas. “One priority is education because it helps to keep children safe, secondly it is the way for children to have a future and of the country,” she said.

“Again and again, we find that children and families prioritize education even in crisis situations. They say that without education, there is no future and as humanitarian actors we must listen and respond to the priorities of affected population.”

Whitebread told the displaced that there are still ways for them to continue with education, “Education can be delivered even in emergency.”

In a new survey undertaken by Save the Children, children, parents and community leaders affected by the violence say education is a number one priority.

Education is key to helping children establish a sense of structure and normalcy during crises. It lowers their risk of being exposed to violence and exploitation as well as to early marriage, and allows them to develop healthy coping strategies, according to Save the Children.

In South Sudan, an adolescent girl is three times more likely to die during childbirth than complete the primary school cycle.

Only 1.6 percent of secondary school-going age are females are enrolled in secondary school and 35.4 percent are enrolled in primary school.

With only 1 in 3 school age children across the country currently enrolled in school, the Ministry of Education, Save the children and UNICEF affirmed their commitment.

Moi Peter Julius

Poultry farmers call for out-growers to satisfy customers in South Sudan

January 6, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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JUBA – A returnee poultry group called South Farmers is urging communities and individual farmers to become poultry out-growers to enable them meet peoples’ demands.

“Since we started processing our grown up broilers we have witnessed a shift from consumer taste demanding more of locally produced broiler chicken, deviating away from the imported frozen chicken this demand makes it difficult for us to meet the needs of our customers,” James Nyikole the manager of the group said.

“Therefore, we are reaching out and calling for the potential poultry farmers in and around Juba to join our out-grower scheme where they grow the broiler chicken for us at agreeable price and weight.”

According to Nyikole, “It means farmers will have to focus on production of broilers at the farms’ level and once the chicken have reach a particular weight which has to be agreed prior we will then buy the chicken for our processing facility and we can then supply the consumer market.”

He said it is the only way to reduce the imported frozen chicken dramatically and promote local production leading to the growth of the gross domestic products.

“No single country can grow by importing products but rather engaging on local production has a larger multiplier effect on the economy.”

Nyikole added that South Sudan is the only country in the region that imports frozen chicken.

The group leader mentioned countries in the region such as Uganda and Kenya do not allow imported frozen chicken into their countries because they are protective of their local and infant poultry sectors.

“We also urge the government to follow suit and offer the poultry sector level playing ground for the benefits of our farmers. The support of the government is very crucial in developing entrepreneurial spirit in this country,” said Nyikole.

He also called on the government to join them in sensitizing the population to encourage local production and increase duties on imported frozen chicken to offer level playing field.

In addition Nyikole appealed to the government to help remove custom duties on chicken feeds and other agricultural inputs so that these goods once imported are cheaper to the farmers and they would be encouraged in their efforts.

Recently, national government officials visited the facility which is located west of Juba.

The first was on the Oct. 5–the Minister of Defence and SPLA Affairs, Kuol Manyang.

Manyang was impressed to see the facility in the country and he offered his interest to lead by example by becoming a poultry farmer at his personal level.

He also said it is important for the government to incorporate poultry farming into the demobilization commission to assist demobilized men and women in uniform get engaged in income generation activities through poultry farms which have a shorter maturity.

“This is very interesting if our leaders can lead by example, it will encourage our people to get involved in farming to fight food insecurity,” said Auditor General Steven Wondu at the facility.

South Farmers is the production of One Day Old Chicks through their hatchery facility and in supply of feeds, and other poultry inputs, managing broiler farms and slaughtering facility.

Since the project started in April this year, they have seen a number of youth and women got involved in poultry farming and this has created direct employment.

“In addition local production of poultry by the citizens will also offer an opportunity to solve the problem of insecurity in the country and the fear in consumers mind that the imported frozen chicken have healthy concerns in human body and indeed these fears are real,” said Nyikole.

According to him, some of these imported chickens are grown on feed that came from genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), having lots of hormones to make them grower faster (3-4 weeks).

“No one knows when they were slaughtered, time in high seas and the time they arrive into South Sudan so the risk is greater on human health.”

He further said, “Now we have offered the alternatives for consumers in the country now to eat fresh chicken right from the farm. Either from our own farm or smallholder farmers themselves the offer them to the consumers,”

Moi Julius

Retrial of a misjudged case 19 years after the man’s execution in China

January 3, 2015 by Joel Levi

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The fourth plenary session of the 14^th central committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) that took place between Oct. 20-23, 2014, has paved the path for a series of retrials of former misjudged cases, including the case of Huge Jiletu. Huge was sentenced to death and immediately executed after a violent inquisition process in 1996. The sentence came only 62 days after the rape and murder incident, of which, as it turned out, Huge was falsely accused. On Dec. 15, 2014, 18 years after Huge’s execution, he was acquitted by the Supreme People’s Court of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The main theme of the fourth plenary session is the “rule of law.” President Xi Jiping’s anti-corruption campaign targeting major CPC officials has been the topic of discussion on international media, official and social media in China, and at the dinner table of ordinary Chinese people for the past two years. The newly promoted strategy and doctrine, the “socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics,” appears to be a natural step forward to a further systematized rule of the CPC dominated government. But the meanings of the official report lie deep beneath the surface of the centrality of administration by law, and demands deciphering. Among many clues, a most telling one might be that the promoted “rule of law” still falls under the leadership of CPC. The report utilizes a rhetoric that separates the communist party and the CPC leading government by stating that the leadership of CPC remains above the Law, and yet, the government should be law-abiding.

The fourth plenary session, however, has brought misjudged legal cases in the past into the daylight. Huge’s case, for instance, had the chance to surface and be given a retrial on the Supreme Court of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the province where the case was first tried. Unlike 18 years ago when the case was closed with the conviction of Huge without sufficient evidence, this time Huge was finally given his long deserved exoneration. The change of the original sentence was based on the incompatibility of the confessed means of crime and the autopsy report, the lack of exclusivity based upon the results of the blood test, and finally, the inconsistency of Huge’s confessions on different occasions.

Notably, a man named Zhao Zhihong was arrested for rape and murder in 2005, and at the time had already confessed to be the true offender in the 1998 rape case. But the demand from Huge’s parents for a retrial of their son’s case, for reasons unknown never reached the Supreme Court. It forced Huge’s parents to continue appealing to higher authorities for the unsealing of the case. The case, however, remained sealed until the fourth plenary session of the CPC, and all of a sudden, at the new sweeping campaign of the “rule of law,” fell in the spotlight of legal debates.

Eighteen years ago, Huge and his friend found a naked woman’s body in a public restroom. They reported to the local police, and the 18-year-old Huge was immediately arrested by the police as a suspect in the crime. The case was tried in a rushed manner. Within a short period of only 62 days, Huge was sentenced to death and was immediately executed. The reason for such a hasty trial had much to do with the political campaign of the Chinese government at the time—local governments were told to crack down on criminal cases. The predecessor of the campaign was initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1983, with its slogan being “quicker and stricter.” The direct outcome of such campaigns was careless and heavy sentences in the short run, and disparity between laws for the campaign and the “normal laws” in the long run.

This kind of political campaign bears similarities with the “War on Drugs” in the 1970s and 80s in the United States. What often happens is the appearance of stricter administration, plus a higher efficiency in resolving crimes, obscuring the reality of “quick,” “rigid” and often times unfair judgment. But does a society eliminate crimes with harsher, hastier punishment? Or does it create space for governance that is casual and authoritative?

Moreover, the appeasing effect of a stricter administration comes from the public’s fear of disorder in the society. In both the case of China in 1983 and 1996 and the United States in the 1970s and 80s, the rise of crimes on the street coincided with the rise of unemployment rates of certain communities and the polarity of wealth in the society. Since the 1980s China has been in a process of radical urbanization, which created a large number of migrating workers in the city. These workers from the countryside became the most easily discriminated population by law and by social welfare, and many of them turned to other means of making money when the option of selling cheap labor became unavailable. The cracking down on crime not only did not help in alleviating the actual social problems, but it aggravated the inequality between poor and rich communities by covering it up.

Huge’s case also sheds light on the question of the death penalty in China. To what extent is a government justified in the kind of violence that it itself criminalizes? It is not just a question of politics and governance, but also of the irreversibility of the act of killing: when a person is put to death, a retrial retrieves only justice, but not the life that is already lost.

Analysis by Joel Levi

For an English translation of the official report of the fourth plenary session of the 14^th central committee of the CPC:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/language_tips/news/2014-10/24/content_18795510.htm

Other sources:
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-12-31/134931348804.shtml
http://www.nmg.xinhuanet.com/xwzx/2014-12/15/c_1113639596.htm

Justice is a word known to the Pakistan military

January 2, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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After the Peshawar massacre, the army decided to roll out all its canons to oppose the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) . After the All-Party Conference (APC) held on Friday, it was decided to amend the constitution in order to provide for trial of terror suspects in courts held by military officials. This amendment will be passed for a period of two long years. It shall be known as the 22nd amendment passed by the APC .

The joint declaration issued after the conference said, “The APC decided about the implementation of the National Action Plan and endorsed the proposed legislative measures, including amendments to the Pakistan Army Act to extend its jurisdiction for speedy trial of cases under specified acts and provide the constitutional cover with a sunset clause of two years from the date of enactment.” General Raheel Sharif has also cleared this misconception that this idea was mainly brainstormed by the army itself by openly saying that special courts are not the desire of the army but are the need of extraordinary times.

The creation of speedy courts is a result of the extreme pressure on the government to hang terrorists. In many instances it was proved that law officials did not have the heart of a lion. They were not ready to sacrifice the security of their family members just for the sake of hanging terrorists. After the loss of nearly a hundred school children the army has decide to break all barriers and to remove this pollution from their homeland.

The speedy courts would allow faster trials so that the terrorists could see their end as soon as possible. The speedy courts are responsible to provide justice to any individual involved in terrorist activities in the name of a sect or religion.The prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has also declared this as an act of providing sufficient impression on the enemies of the Pakistani homeland .

Opinion by Armaghan Naveed

Kiir urged to defer conduct of 2015 general elections

January 2, 2015January 2, 2015 by Moi Julius

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JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is highly concerned with the announcement that the South Sudanese national general elections will be held in May 2015–an announcement made by by the National Elections Commission (NEC) Friday.

Holding national elections while some parts of the country are in situations of significant violence is totaling unacceptable. This demonstrates that NEC is working for undemocratic national elections.

Edmund Yakani, executive director of CEPO said that the credibility of the electoral process is determined by having peaceful electoral proceeding. Secondly, having national elections without a population census, genuine constituencies’ demarcation and peaceful electoral campaigns, will result in elections without any credibility.

“CEPO is calling upon the leadership of President Salva Kiir to move forward the national general elections after peace is attained in the country, rather than conducting them in May 2015.”

He said CEPO acknowledged that the Transitional National Constitution of South Sudan of 2011 call for elections to be conducted in 2015 before the expiration of the current government mandate, which will be on July 9, 2015.

“The current situation that electorates and aspirants are facing in the country cannot allow them to participate in the election process freely,” Yakani stated.

Additionally, Yakani said the ongoing violence in the country could create an atmosphere of violent elections, intimidation and harassment during the election process of political campaigns and voting.

Opposition political parties will have to take legal measures to compel the government from holding the 2015 general elections as the conditions will not allow for a free and fair vote, according to Dr. Lam Akol, the leader of SPLM-DC.

The minority leader from SPLM-DC in the national legislative assembly, Onyoti Adigo, attacked the government’s demand for elections in 2015, saying it was unacceptable.

Yakani added that CEPO strongly believes that the current context of violence in some parts of the country–if national elections are held, the possibility of the politicians that will not win the elections joining the strategy of waging war against Juba is high since we have witnessed this practice in the April 2010 national general elections.

“Therefore CEPO is calling for the deferral of the declared South Sudan national elections, May, 2014, to be held after peace is achieved in South Sudan by the warring parties under the IGAD-led mediation in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.”

CEPO is an organization engaged in the areas of peace, conflict mitigation, human rights, and rule of law, livelihood, governance and democratic transformation. It is neutral, non-partisan, non-religious, non-race entity. CEPO is based on the principle of community empowerment and inclusive participation. Its core values are commitment, accountability and transparency (CAT).

By Moi Julius

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EU calls for peace to allow delivery of services in South Sudan

January 2, 2015January 2, 2015 by Moi Julius

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JUBA – The European Union (EU) has urged South Sudan’s warring parties to attain a peaceful settlement to the 12-month conflict so that the delivery of services to the population will be easier to accomplish.

The EU’s head of the delegation to South Sudan, Stefano De Leo, made the call while speaking during a national health consensus workshop organized by the ministry of health and World Health Organization held in Dembesh hotel in Juba.

“Peace is a better ground for stability. We want to see stakeholders coming together and we hope peace will come,” he told the participants at the workshop.

He said the EU supports the people of South Sudan in the health sector through a contribution of 11 million Euros to the health fund pool, together with other donor countries.

Stefano further said the fund finances health activities in the various states of the country to health build viable health services.

The EU head added that they also rely on the central and the state governments to allow medicine delivered to the grassroots in a timely fashion.

According to him, health, education is what contributes to the well being of the people of the country and needs to be checked.

World Health Organization country representative, Dr. Abdi Aden, said the strategic importance of strengthening health systems is absolute and that the Ministry of Health can count on the WHO for technical support.

He said the world has never possessed capabilities for curing disease and prolonged life as it does today, “Yet most health outcomes in most developing countries including ours are among the worst in the world.”

Aden said much of the ill health, disease, premature death and suffering that persists in South Sudan is needless, as effective and affordable interventions are available for prevention and treatment.

“The reality is straightforward. The health systems are too weak to deliver the interventions to those in greatest need in a comprehensive way and on an adequate scale.”

The country WHO representative said health systems that function well have shared characteristics as procurement and distribution systems that deliver interventions to those in need and staffing with sufficient health workers having skills and motivation.

Additionally, they operate with financing systems that are sustainable, inclusive and fair, and the costs of health care should not force impoverished households even deeper into poverty.

He added that the discussion on the draft national policy should set the stage for development of the health sector strategic plan, policy implementation guidelines, better alignment of structures among others goals for improved health system and effectiveness.

National Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai hailed the draft policy which he said will provide direction for the ministry and investment partners.

Gai said before the independence of South Sudan, the then government of Southern Sudan did not have a national policy of its own, calling the draft the first ever policy.

Sanctions

The European parliament last November expressed its regret over the ineffectiveness of the targeted sanctions imposed by the EU and called for the targeted sanctions imposition by IGAD, AU and the international community.

Stefano urged the warring parties–both the rebels and government–to give peace a chance.

Asked about sanctions to be imposed on those blocking peace, Australian ambassador to South Sudan Geoff Tooth said, “We want to do everything to help the peace process to reach a conclusion very quickly and fully support all those involved so that it is sustainable and long lasting.”

“Sanctions are something used elsewhere in the world. We do not have a position on that [with regards to South Sudan] and there is no consideration now by Australia.” he said.

By Peter Moi Julius

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European Union – EEAS (European External Action Service) | EU imposes sanctions on South Sudanese military leaders