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Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 17:14:38 -0800
From: Charlotte Utting <[log in to unmask]>
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Subject: [wa-afr] FW: WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER Vol 1 No 11
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From: Liberia Institute of Journalism <[log in to unmask]>
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Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2001 21:09:58 GMT
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Subject: WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER Vol 1 No 11
International Center and Liberia Institute of Journalism
WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER
Reporting on Human Rights, Democracy & Development
Vol. 1 No. 11 March 2, 2001
Please send this newsletter to anyone who would be
interested!
CONTENTS
1. EDITOR'S COMMENTS
2. RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
3. REFUGEES
4. HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT
5. DEVELOPMENT
6. ELECTIONS WATCH/WEST AFRICA
7. MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
8. GRANTS
9. ECOWAS-NEWSLINE
10. WORLDBANK-PIPELINE PROJECTS
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS
12. ABOUT US
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1. EDITOR'S COMMENTS
In our last week's edition, we ran a story about the
World Credit Union (WOCCU), and the commitment made by
WOCCU President Mr. Arthur Arnold, " to Africa and the
national movements of the continent-to narrow the
economic gap-and reach millions Africans". Bah Toure of
Senegal wanted to know the rational for WOCCU investing
US$2.997 million on a public library in Rwanda, at this
time? While Paul Kaikai of Kenya does agree that a
library is very important to a nation, but his concern
is who will actually use the library when the supposed
citizens are busy killing each others? He suggested by
asking a question, "would it not have been better to
spend that money helping to meet the health needs of
dying children and mothers in the various refugee
camps?" The sixth e-mail on this story came from Abdul
Yormie of Lagos, Nigeria, he summed up the whole
situation in the great lakes region this way, "I hope
and pray that papa Mandela shutter diplomacy will
achieve lasting peace for the unborn children of the
region, so they can be able to read history books about
their grandfathers and fathers senseless civil war in
the library".
2. RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
The torture trade spreads while governments fail to act
http://www.web.amnesty.org/
Torturers are arming themselves with increasingly
sophisticated equipments-according to a new report
released on Monday by Amnesty International. The
equipment includes high voltage electrical stun weapons
and chemical crowd control devices.
Sexual violence within the Sierra Leone conflict
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/
Throughout the nine years Sierra Leone conflict there
has been widespread and systematic sexual violence
against women and girls including individual and gang
rape, sexual assault with objects such as firewood,
umbrellas and sticks and sexual slavery. (source: Human
Rights Watch)
Opposition Leader Calls for End to Guinea-Liberia
Conflict
http://allafrica.com/stories/200102260441.html
The opposition Union pour le progress de la Guinee
(UPG) has called on Presidents Lansana Conte of Guinea
and Charles Taylor of Liberia to stop Sheltering each
other's enemies on their territory, AFP reported on
Monday.
Government Wants Immediate Sanctions Against Liberia
http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200102260446.html
Sierra Leone has joined Guinea's call for immediate
sanctions against Liberia, reversing an earlier
decision by Freetown supporting a proposal for a delay
in action. (source: IRIN)
Liberia: Dissidents launch fresh attack
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/02/28/liberia.guine
a.reut/index.html
Liberia's defense minister said dissidents backed by
Guinean artillery had launched a fresh attack on the
northern town of Voinjama, wounding three people.
(source: Reuters)
25 Years of Sahara Conflict Marked
http://www.cnn.com/ms_index.htm
Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of the armed
conflict about the Western Sahara Territory. (source:
afrol)
Guinean Forces Kill, Wound Civilians in Sierra Leone
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/02/guinea0227.htm
The Guinean military has killed and wounded dozens of
Sierra Leonean civilians in discriminate attacks
against rebel-held areas of northern Sierra Leone,
Human rights Watch said Wednesday.
UN moves toward ban on Liberia diamond exports
http://www.excite.co.uk/news/story/
UN security Council members have moved towards
punishing Liberia with diamond ban for fomenting war in
Sierra Leone but face objections from West Africans who
must enforce the embargoes. (source: Reuters)
Togolese government rejects international report
http://www.afrol.com/ms_index.htm
Togolese officials have denied the conclusions of an
International Commission of Inquiry investigating
charges of hundreds of extra judicial executions in
Togo in 1998. The Commission was set up by the UN and
the OAU at the request of the government to investigate
allegations made by Amnesty International in its 1999,
annual report. (source:misnet)
Narcotics Control
http://www.state.gov
The 2000 International Narcotics Control strategy
annual report was released March 1, by the US State
Department. West Africa had six representatives in the
report.
Nigeria remains a worldwide hub of narcotics
trafficking and money laundering activity.
In Senegal there exists trafficking of all types of
drugs, primarily heroin, cocaine, and synthetics.
Togolese authorities took aggressive action against
traffickers in 2000, by enforcing the government's
tough 1998 antidrug law.
In Ghana active stance has been taken against drug
abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics and
psychotropic substances.
Cote D'ivore has been a major transit point for
narcotics from Latin America and Asia to Europe and to
a lesser extent North America. While Benin continues to
make progress in the fight against illegal narcotics
trafficking, according to the report. For more details
visit the website.
3. REFUGEES
First convoy reaches Guinea's "Parrot Beak" region
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf
The first humanitarian convoy since last autumn to
deliver aid to tens of thousands of stranded refugees
in the beleaguered Parrot's Beak region of southwestern
Guinea arrived in the town of Temessadou on Monday.
Britain increases humanitarian assistance to Guinea and
Sierra Leone
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf
Clare Short, Secretary of State for International
Development committed a further 5 million Pounds to
stem the growing humanitarian crisis in Guinea and
Sierra Leone.
Corruption would be an "appalling failure" of UNHCR
http://www.unhcr.ch/refworld/cgi-bin/newshcr.pl
Allegations of corruption in refugee resettlement
programs in Kenya, if proved true, represent
an 'appalling failure' by the UN refugee agency; the
organization's head said last Friday. (source:
Associated Press)
4. HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT
TIME and Netaid.org Collaborate to raise funds for
Victims of the Epidemic
http://www.undp.org/dpa/pressrelease/releases/2001/febru
ary/5feb01.html
In an effort to help people hardest hit by HIV/AIDS
epidemic, Netaid.org and Time Magazine are providing an
easy way for internet users to learn about support a
variety of prevention, care, and outreach initiatives
in Africa and Southeast Asia.
The World Health Report 2000 Health Systems: Improving
performance
http://www.who.int/whr
Health systems provide the critical interface between
life-saving, life-enhancing interventions and the
people who need them.
Making Motherhood safer: Report Details UN Population
Fund's Efforts to Reduce Maternal Mortality
http://www.unpfa.org/news/pressroom/2001/mmupdate.htm
A new report enumerates the actions the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) is taking to make motherhood
safer in developing countries.
AFRICA 2001: The first Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st
Century!
http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/eclipse2001.html
The first great celestial event of the new Millennium
will take place on Thursday, June 21, 2001. The African
2001 total eclipse of the sun will be visible from with
a narrow corridor, which traverses the Southern
Hemisphere.
KnowNet Initiative
http://www.knownet.org
Knownet Initiative aims to catalyze knowledge
Networking for human Development in developing
countries through the use of Information and
Communication Technology.
The Traffic Network
http://www.traffic.org
The only journal devoted exclusively to wildlife trade
issues worldwide.
5. DEVELOPMENT
UNDP launches major recruiting drive
http://www.undp.org/dpa/index.html
UNDP has launched a global drive to strengthen its
expertise in key areas to help energize its worldwide
campaign against poverty. The organization is seeking
more than 60 specialists.
50 Countries Endorse Draft UN Resolution On Volunteering
http://www.iyv2001.org/infobase/press/01_02_27ENG.htm
The UN Commission for social Development has approved a
draft resolution on volunteering and social
development, which calls on government to recognize and
further study the impact of voluntary effort in society.
EnterpriseWorks Launches First Enterprise Development
Web Search Engine
http://www.enterpriseworks.org
EnterpriseWorks Worldwide announced the launch of
EnterpriseSearch, a powerful first-of-its-kind, search
engine for information on efforts to fight poverty and
promote sustainable development in Africa, Asia, and
Latin American.
Fighting Child Poverty around the World
http://www.worldbank.org/developmentnews/stories/html/02
2701a.htm
World Bank calls on rich countries to open their
markets for the poor and their children-that overseas
aid to Africa had fallen drastically from US$32 per
head in 1990 to just US$19 in 1998.
Cote d'Ivoire: World Bank Places Cote d'Ivoire in Non-
Payment Status
http://www.worldbank.org/news/pr
Effective March 1, 2001, the World Bank has placed all
international Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) loans and International Development Association
(IDA) credits to or guaranteed by the republic of Cote
d'Ivoire in non-accrual status.
6. ELECTIONS WATCH/WEST AFRICA
Election thriller on Cape Verde
http://www.afrol.com/ms_index.htm
In a situation where only 533 votes part the two
Presidential candidates in the preliminary results of
the second round of the elections the final, recounted
results will not be known before 3 March.
Benin Presidential election will take place on 4 March
Senegal Parliamentary election will take place on 29
April.
7.MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
Government Closes Four Newspapers
http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200102260442.html
Liberia's government has denied that the closure of
four private newspapers, just after the arrest of four
journalists in connection to reports carried in their
daily, is part of a crackdown on the media. (IRIN)
Journalism Fellowship to Cover UN Small Arms Conference
in New York
http://www.peacenet.org/disarm
The Disarmament Journalists Network (DJN) of the NGO
Committee on Disarmament is offering fellowships to
journalists from developing countries to cover the
United Nations Conference on Illicit Trafficking of
Small Arms (New York, 9-20 July 2001). The fellowships
will cover the cost of air travel to and from New York
and living expenses in the City from 7 to 21 July.
8. GRANTS
Seeking Grant for Your Organization
http://www.kabissa.org/lij
Every edition of WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER, we will
include five Donors web links that you could contact
for information about their grant programs.
1. http://www.unchildren.org
2. http://www.adf.gov
3. http://www.aglimmerofhope.org
4. http://www.bni.org
5. http://www.brothersbrother.com
9. ECOWAS-NEWSLINE
http://www.ecowas.int/index2.htm
ECOWAS Industry Ministers Approved Industrial
development Policy
ECOWAS reiterates stance Against Immediately Sanctions
on Liberia
ECOWAS Executive Secretary Briefs Nigeria's Defense
Chief on Liberia
Senior Officers Appointed for the African Monetary
Institute
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
In Search Of A Job in the Developmental Sector
Visit Devjobs website: http://www.devnetjobs.org
11. ABOUT US
http://www.kabissa.org/lij
This is the WEST AFRICA NEWSLETTER, a new source for
reporting on human rights, democracy and development
news and networking. Produced and distributed free of
charge by the International Center, 731-8th SE,
Washington, DC 20003, and Liberia Institute of
Journalism, Kashour Building, 2nd Floor, Corner of
Broad and Johnson Streets, P. O. Box 2314, Monrovia,
Liberia, West Africa.
This project is funded by a grant from the
International Center to Liberia Institute of Journalism.
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