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From: [log in to unmask]
Organization: Africa Policy Information Center
Reply-To: [log in to unmask] (Stephen Price)
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 14:57:58 -0500
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ADNA - DC area mtg minutes Feb 2001
Dear ADNA members,
Following find the draft minutes of the Feb 2001 meeting of the DC
area ADNA member organizations. Thanks to Stephen Price of the
minutes committee for producing this draft.
Regards,
Vicki Ferguson
ADNA Communications Facilitator
ADVOCACY NETWORK FOR AFRICA
Minutes of Meeting 6 Feb 2001
1) AFRICA TRADE POLICY WORKING GROUP
Next ATPWG Meeting: Feb 15, 3:00 p.m., at Wash. Office on
Africa (WOA). Efforts are ongoing on how to campaign for just
trade relations in connection with grassroots perspectives from
Africa. The Africa Grassroots Initiative of Africa Faith and Justice
Network is one such effort. ADNA organizations should also
consider signing on to the letter sponsored by the Third World
Network (to be circulated in email by ADNA shortly). Also to be
posted is the analysis of the Trade & Development Act of 2000 by
the Community Trade and Development Trust of Zimbabwe. They
have prescriptions on what advocates can do. In January the next
stage of certification began for some countries under the AGOA /
Trade and Developoment Act--a process that is gaining a lot of
media attention in Africa, although not here.
2) AIDS AND HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP
Next AHCWG meeting: Feb 8, 10:00 a.m., at location TBA. An
amendment on compulsory licensing and parallel imports for drugs
failed in the last Congress. Clinton last May 20 signed an executive
order making its provisions effective, but Bush is going to review all
executive orders. AHCWG did a sign-on letter to Bush asking him to
retain this executive order. Individual letters are needed—see
www.woaafrica.org. Just coming into existence is a Global AIDS
Alliance, to develop a global response to the crisis, especially in
Africa. A January 20 GAA meeting was held. The goal is to push
for the $4 billion / year for AIDS in Africa suggested by the UN, and
authorization and approval of $2 billion for bilateral and multilateral
U.S. efforts. The GAA will also support the Drop the Debt campaign
and the re-use of debt funds for AIDS, along with Medicines for
All—legislative action to ensure access to the lowest cost drugs for
AIDS-related conditions. The GAA listserve has a sign-on regarding
lawsuits by pharmaceutical companies against South Africa.
Contact Leon Spencer or Heather Nolen for information on joining
the GAA. Legislative strategies on AIDS for the next six months:
Heather is contacting Congress members who worked on AIDS last
Congress and who might plan more actions in the new Congress.
Please contact Heather to help call these Members to express
interest and get information. Pharmaceutical companies might be a
target of advocacy. Brazil has had success making its locally-
manufactured AIDS treatments available. Medecins sans Frontieres
have campaigns regarding pharmaceuticals. Cong. Maxine Waters'
legislation in the last Congress was commendable as proactive. The
Appropriations for the Global AIDS and TB Relief Act of 2000 will be
another point of advocacy this year. Colin Powell said AIDS is a
national security threat. President Bush raised the AIDS issue with
the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) recently, and seems to be
backing away from his initial feeling that "Africa is not important."
3) LANDMINES
CIP is actively making plans for the Landmines Week in
Washington March 5-10. The Lutheran Church is also very
involved. African campaigners, survivors, and researchers will be in
DC that week. ADNA as a group may be asked to host an event
with the CBC which will ask for more assistance for the issue. The
US is a non-signatory to the Landmines Ban treaty but is the largest
contributor to help victims. Lutherans are recruiting folks from every
state to do lobbying. A guest from the LM campaign may speak at
the next ADNA meeting March 6. On March 7 a meeting of Africa
campaigners is planned, and ADNA may host this also. Goals of the
campaign are to push the US to sign the Ban, and to get the US to
assist African countries to implement the Treaty, assist victims, and
do landmine awareness/education. Those able to help organize
events or host people, contact CIP.
4) SUDAN
Many people are now dubious about the IGAD peace process.
Political maneuvering in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) left
the SPLA as the only opposition party in the IGAD process. Bashir
won the elections and it seems al-Turabi has lost influence; now
Bashir may focus even more on his military efforts. Bombings of
the South by Khartoum have increased to 152 in 2000. The
Comboni Fathers, missionaries in Sudan, have issued a strong
statement denouncing the war and even the way aid organizations
are prolonging it. Sudanese Bishops criticized this statement as
harsh on the Church also. The new Sudan Peace Act (S.5180) was
introduced last week by Sen. Frist's office. The NDA, IGAD, and
sanctions are all omitted from the Act; slavery language is toned
down. The Act focuses on using the UN for diplomatic work. Last
year when Appropriations approved money for Sudan, it was for the
NDA. Now that the NDA has collapsed, the money is going to the
SPLA. The Sudan Working Group meets next February 7 at Human
Rights Watch The SWG will discuss whether to support this Act.
There may be action alerts forthcoming. Rep. Frank Wolf visited
Sudan and calls for a Special Envoy. He has been active on
Sudan. On March 15 the Holocaust Museum will have a program on
the Nuba Mountains conflicts in Sudan.
5) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Fr. Jean Bosco Bhala, Media Director of the Archdiocese of
Bukavu, described the regional war in the DRC, where six countries
are participating. Invaders protecting Rwanda are now some 1000
km from their border. Their true motivation seems to be minerals
and other resources. The situation is catastrophic for human rights:
Some 2 million are dead; women raped; AIDS from fighters,
genocide, cultural loss. New President Joseph Kabila claims to want
peace, but will need freedom to operate without foreign inteference.
We need to pressure him on human rights, Lusaka Accords, and
agreements that his father had signed. Rwanda is sending fighters
into DRC posing as Interahamwe to be a pretext for Rwanda to
remain involved. Uganda has less national interest in remaining in
DRC, so perhaps they can be pushed to leave. The war has
become a pretext for various forces operating without democracy in
the DRC. Democratization should be advocated, therefore—then
there will be no rebels. The proposal for peace is to send UN
Peacekeepers to the borders of DRC/Rwanda/Uganda, and keep
the Congolese dialogue going politically. Friends of DRC should
continue to ask questions on human rights in DRC, demand the end
of resource-theft, and keep dialogue going on democratization.
6) KENYA
There is a proposal to unite the popular Constitutional Review
process (sponsored by churches and mosques) with Parliamentary
proposals. Kenyans are cautious on this. Violence is increasing as
2002 elections approach. The FBI investigation of Fr. John Kaiser's
death was not complete on Decembe 15. FBI told family, fiends and
Sen Wellstone on February 4 that they are doing what they can so
far. The family feels the focus should be on the plight of all
Kenyans' human rights. A Sixty Minutes segment on Kaiser will
probably air on February 18. Kenyan human rights groups were not
interviewed. This broadcast should be the occasion for letters or
articles to explain why Kaiser was in trouble, what is going on in
refugee camps, the likelihood of recurrence, etc. Perhaps the head
of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission can help provide a
statement for us to use. Contact Kathy McNeely to work on this
media effort.
7) WEST AFRICA
The West Africa Working Group met recently. Its goal: Come up
with actions to support peace and the democratic transition in the
region. The WAWG meets monthly, usually the day prior to ADNA.
Next meeting: March 7 at Amnesty International, 600 Penn. Ave.,
S.E., time TBA. Contact Adotei Akwei.
Duni described a 10-year program called "Honoring the African
Child" which was launched in Banjul on January 26-29. Sponsors
are World Bank, National Endowment for Democracy, UN African
Needs Department, and others. Offices are in Banjul, and later in
London, Brussels, NY, and elsewhere. Goals: Child protection,
education, housing, while retaining family and cultural values. It
draws from Art. 28 and 57 of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child. An Action Plan should be out for circulation by February 15.
The next step is to register the program in West African countries,
including a regional office in ECOWAS.
8) "AFRICA HUNGER TO HARVEST" CAMPAIGN
Ray Almeida noted that Bread for the World and the Lutheran
Church, with Catholics, Episcopalians, World Vision, and others,
are beginning this new campaign. The goal is to get a clear
commitment from Congress to demand that the President set the
goal of cutting hunger in Africa in half, and devote new resources of
$1billion to this. To generate letters, BFW has produced a video,
church kit, etc.—contact BFW. A new poll by the Univesity of
Maryland School of Public Affairs shows Americans want to give
more foreign aid to end world hunger. On February 15-16 PBS
will air a program, "Journey to Freedom" with Desmond Tutu and
John Hope Franklin.
9) PREVIEW OF NEW CONGRESS/ADMINISTRATION
Bill Jackson and Ray Almeida outlined some features of the
incoming Congress & Administration: There is a surpising
rapprochement between Sens. Helms and Biden. Helms says he
wants to re-engage the Senate to help poor people and reform
USAID; his staff met with World Vision and BFW. Most subCabinet
people to be appointed will not be in place until March or April.
Career staff remain. Jendi Frasier replaces Gayle Smith for Africa
at National Security Council. Condoleezza Rice seems not to want a
high public profile at NSC and appears to have instructed her staff
to keep a low profile and operate more as a coordinating unit. At
USAID the head may be either Andrew Natsios or David Beckman.
Rosa Whitaker may stay on as Africa Trade Representative.
Possible Assistant Secretary of State for Africa: Johnny Carson?
Walter Kansteiner? Secretary Powell wants to appoint people from
within Foreign Service; he also favors increasing foreign aid up to
20% and has mentioned increases for embassy security and
poverty eradication. He has shown some interest in Sierra Leone
and DRC. Clinton did reach out to NGO's but Republicans may be
less inclined to do that.
As new appointments are announced, ADNA should seek meetings
with them right away. We need to meet with Rep. Wolf, who calls
for bipartisan policy to Africa. The conservative members are
increasing attention to Africa (e.g. Brownback's Sudan Democracy
Act is being revived). Sen Bill Frist wants to stay on as Chair of the
Africa Subcommittee; in the past he was not welcoming of us. Rep.
Hyde (R-IL) is now on Chair of the House International Relations
Committee. Ted Lantos (D-CA) is ranking minority leader, knows
little about Africa but his staff is knowledgeable. Ed Royce (R-CA)
remains chair of the Africa sub-cmte, with Payne as ranking
minority member. The CBC remains somewhat problematic and the
new chair has not confirmed a meeting time with ADNA yet. Rep.
Payne is still a key player here as well, but does not have a staff
person with Africa expertise.
Overall increased attention to Africa will not necessarily be on issues
we would support and is not likely to engage with diverse African
NGOs and civil society representatives.
To begin meetings with relevant offices, as representatives of ADNA,
however, the message that we will carry into those meetings is yet to
be agreed upon and that lead into the next part of the discussion on
the policy priorities.
10) ADNA STRUCTURES & PROCESS: ADNA POLICY
PRIORITIES
The previously-planned organizational meeting was held January 24.
It affirmed the process of working groups, multi-country updates
(now produced by Phil Reed), etc. Notes of this meeting were also
circulated to all ADNA member organizations.
Suggested overall policy priorities for ADNA in appoaching
decisionmakers requires further discussion. The draft that was
distributed prior to the meeting provided the basis for the discussion
and generated many new suggestions under each of the four
themes of Peacebuilding; Economic Justice; Democratization and
Human Rights; and Health. Further suggestions will be received by
e-mail until Feb 13, at which time the drafting committee will
schedule a meeting to produce another draft.
However, in discussion there was a feeling that certain other issues
that were omitted may actually have broader constituency in ADNA:
E.g., Conflict diamonds, Landmines, Child Soldiers, and certain
other conflict regions are equally important with those listed.
Perhaps it is possible to have both these and the ones suggested by
the committee. We also need to be able to engage constituents
outside DC who are interested in these other issues (some of which
are not Africa-specific but heavily relevant to Africa). These are not
a comprehensive list, but collect together a number of central
issues. It is key to choose issues correlated to legislation, which is
essential for dealing with practical-minded Congressional staff. By
including the issues we used to work on, we are not breaking new
ground, but building on what we have already supported. Thus, there
is a general feeling it is necessary to expand the suggested list.
Concern was also expressed that a set of "priorities" by definition
should be a short list, very concise and based on essential
principles, rather than ranging over all issues of concern to all
groups in more detailed manner. The initial goal was getting the vast
majority of ADNA member groups to endorse a brief (2 page
maximum) document which could speak in the name of ADNA on
basic priorities for preliminary meetings with Congressional and
Administration staff.
Failing this, a draft document will be circulated to be signed onto by
specific organizations, but would prohibit speaking in the name of
the full ADNA network.
Regarding detailed discussion of the draft circulated, those in
attendance proposed the following edits:
Peacebuilding changes to Peace and Security: 1) support African
peace initiatives, 2) end sources of conflict, 3) support campaigns
on specifics - landmines, child soldiers, conflict diamonds
Economic Justice: Add Development assistance
(budget/appropriations increases; architecture of the foreign aid
bureaucracy; impoverishment of women and children).
Democracy and Human Rights: Add good governance and
corruption; aid civil society organizations in process of democracy
building as was done in former Yugoslavia, drop the country focus
on Nigeria and Kenya only.
Health: Develop the text further.
Suggestions received by e-mail or fax will also be incorporated and
a further draft will be circulated once again for member review.
11) GUINEA/SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE SITUATION
Xaverian Missionary Fr. Jim Tully outlined the situation of refugees
in Guinea, where he has been working until a few weeks ago. Reps.
Frank Wolf and Tony Hall visited refugees in Guinea, as well as
personnel of Human Rights Watch, Medecins sans Frontieres-
Netherlands, and Refugees International. All NGO's fled the area in
September, and refugees are without services. Guinean rebels are
not a unified force but are at least four groups. Tension is high as
refugees are under attack both by rebels and by Guinean civilians
who blame the refugees for the unrest. UNHCR has been inept in
Guinea—it never gave identity cards to many refugees. Many do
not receive their staple food and died fish, and UNHCR has simply
stopped serving some areas. Many refugees are also imprisoned
wrongly when they are accused by their enemies of being rebels.
Three items are key:
1) The U.S. has a large financial stake in the area; Guinea has the
largest USAID program in West Africa. The U.S. also has a military
training agreement to train the Guinean army. So the U.S. could
have influence on policy in Guinea, to urge the country to reinstate
its policy of welcoming and protecting refugees.
(2) The US provides 30% of UNHCR budget in West Africa. So it
can urge UNHCR to change its ways of dealing with refugees.
(3) The needs of Sierra Leonean refugees returned to Freetown by
UNHCR must be met. They are returned to a country that is in
ruins. UN says 40,000 refugees have come back, and they return
at the rate of 350 per day. But there is no assistance to them as
internally displaced persons in SL. The poverty breeds discontent
and unrest. The Sierra Leone Government has no vision, and half
the country is under rebel control. Assistance is needed to
coordinate the 520 local and international NGO's trying to help.
Fr. Tully's wish list for SL:
(a) Forcible surrender of rebels to military;
(b) a consensus government (it is too soon fo hold elections);
(c ) address the costs of schooling in Freetown;
(d) employ youths;
(e) complete the major hydopower dam with international aid;
(f) support an international trusteeship to control diamonds.
12) NEXT MEETING: 9:30-12:30, Tuesday, March 6, 2001, at the
Mott House on Maryland Avenue, N.E.
***
This message from the DC area ADNA meeting participants of Feb
2001 is distributed through the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA).
Vicki Lynn Ferguson
Advocacy Network for Africa
Communications Facilitator
c/o Africa Policy Information Center
110 Maryland Ave, NE #509
Washington, DC 20002
Ph: 202-546-7961
Fax: 202-546-1545
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.africapolicy.org/adna
Our next meeting is Wednesday, Feb 28, Safeco Center, E Main and 23rd, Seattle
7:00 PM WSAN business meeting
8:00 PM Program: Sara Musa El Saeed, Rural Development/Gender Specialist / Sudan
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