It is no secret that yesterday 11 February 2011 marked the end of a 30-year-old oppressive dictatorial regime in Egypt; a regime that tortured thousands of Egyptians and claimed many lives. After 30 years in power, Hosni Mubarak was kicked out of the presidential palace in Cairo by peaceful protesters calling for democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Egypt. The ousting of Mubarak is good news, but it is not enough.
Hundreds of civilians lost their lives during the 18-day struggle for human rights that culminated in the ousting of Mubarak. Human Rights Watch estimates that about 302 protesters were killed during the peaceful uprising that met with brutal police crackdown.
Today, Egyptians and the rest of the world rightfully celebrate the historic fall of a strongman, but it should be noted that the ousting of an autocratic regime is not enough since it does not guarantee justice for the many victims of oppression and systematic police brutality under the regime.
The military which acted responsibly to an extent during the protests, should work in close collaboration with the Egyptian people and ensure a peaceful transition to a democratic civilian rule.
The government of Egypt after Hosni Mubarak should bring all perpetrators of torture and other forms of violations under the 30-year-old Mubarak regime to justice. Until then, the ousting of Hosni Mubarak is not enough.
Egypt is on the headlines and people worldwide have turned to the internet to read up about the country, perhaps in search of more information about the culture of repression and endemic impunity not covered by mainstream media. This explains why stories of oppression and police brutality in Egypt make up the list of top 5 most popular articles this week on this blog.
The top 5 most popular stories of oppression in Egypt on this blog as of today include the following (starting with the hottest):
Khaled Mohammed Said: Another Casualty of Egyptian police brutality. It is worth mentioning that "Khaled Mohammed Said" has been the most popular "keyword" and has sent the most traffic (predominantly from Google) to this blog since the story of the the young Egyptian brutalised to death by Egyptian police in Alexandria was posted in June 2010.
Ahmed Shaaban: Tortured to death by Egyptian police? This is the story of another young Egyptian allegedly beaten to death by police in Egypt in Alexandria barely 5 months after Khaled Mohammed Said met his end in the hands of plainclothes officers.
It is no coincidence that Egypt is the hottest topic online and offline this week, and that all the above articles are about the Arab Republic.
Thousands of people are out in the streets for 7 days now - defying boots, batons, water canons, teargas and a curfew imposed by a 30-year-old autocratic regime. Rights have been violated in full glare of the world, but the message of thousands of repressed Egyptians is still loud and unmistaken - they want an end to 23-years of "emergency rule" under a 30-years old regime.
The people have spoken. Democracy should take its course.
Egypt is in chaos as thousands of Egyptians have taken to the streets to demand political reform and an end to 30 years of repression under the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak. For the past five days, demonstrators have suffered in the hands of President Mubarak's so-called "no-nonsense" security agents who suppress the rights and demands of Egyptians - including the right to association, assembly and expression - with lethal force powered by live bullets, batons, boots, water canons and teargas reportedly made in the U.S.
The oppressive Mubarak regime is the second largest recipient of U.S. aid (largely military aid). This revelation has amplified calls for the U.S. to stop funding an undemocratic regime and respect the rights and demands of the Egyptian people.
It's interesting to note that according to Reuters, the U.S. has given Egypt an average of 2 billion dollars a year since 1979. In 2010 alone, Egypt received 1.3 billion dollars in military aid.
President Mubarak has been in power since October 1981 without the support of a majority of Egyptians. But he enjoys the support of the U.S. and considered a "key" U.S. ally. This is testament to the fact that the U.S. has religiously supported 30 years of oppression in Egypt. For more than 30 years, successive U.S. administrations have closely worked with a regime that cracks down on basic rights and freedoms of its citizens.
Egyptians have had enough and have taken to the streets to protest and voice concerns over 30 years of [U.S. funded] oppression.
Watching the demonstrations on a program titled "Egypt in Crisis" on CNN International this Sunday morning, an embattled demonstrator held up a slogan that caught my attention. The slogan which read: "USA Stop supporting Mubarak..." was hard to ignore. This is a genuine concern.
The U.S. should respect the rights and demands of oppressed Egyptians and stop supporting a government which is neither "by the people" or "for the people."
It was announced on the 3:00 pm newscast on CRTV that Nigeria's acting President - Goodluck Jonathan - on September 15, 2010 declared his candidacy for the 2011 presidential race on his Facebook page. This might be no news in the West - where many leaders have Facebook accounts, but it is breaking news in Africa - where in a bid to evade accountability, leaders distance themselves from social networking sites and from the people they lead.
You would agree that creating a Facebook page means Goodluck Jonathan is open to suggestions, criticism and is ready to listen to Nigerians on the social networking giant.
In a Facebook note entitled, "Declaration of Intent For The 2011 Presidential Race," Goodluck Jonathan reminded his "dear compatriots" that four months ago "providence" made him president following the death of his predecessor - Umaru Musa Yar'adua, and called on Nigerians to give him their "support" and "prayers."
I have read the declaration of intent and I was sincerely impressed by what the President said, amongst other things:
"Today, I confirm that after wide and thorough consultations spanning the six geo-political zones that make up Nigeria, with members of my family, my party, the opposition, civil society, the Private Sector, members of the Labour Unions, religious leaders, youths and student groups and our revered traditional institutions, I Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by the grace of God hereby offer myself and my services to the Nigerian people as a candidate for the office of President in the forth coming 2011 elections."
I noted that Goodluck Jonathan refrained from making many promises in his declaration of intent to run for president. Talking about promises, he simply said: "The only promise I make to you my friends, fellow citizens and Nigeria, is to promise LESS and deliver MORE if I am elected."
Pundits would term the creation of a Facebook page a "tactic" and an attempt to score political points, but without going into politics, permit me to reiterate that by creating a Facebook page, Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated skills of good governance, leadership, transparency and accountability.
It is worth mentioning that president Goodluck Jonathan joined Facebook on June 28, 2010 in fulfillment of a promise made to students at the University of Port Harcourt in May 2010. As of today, 211, 682 people like Goodluck Jonathan's Facebook page.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Goodluck Jonathan represents a new generation of African leadership? Besides inspiring hope on Facebook, would Goodluck Jonathan deliver democracy, peace , human rights and development in Nigeria - if elected in 2011?
By the way, on May 6, 2010, BBC stated that "as his name suggests, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has a habit of being in the right place at the right time."
The past weeks have been full of controversial parliamentary bills! In France, there is a proposed partial ban on veils; in Uganda, there is talk about "aggravated homosexuality" - a proposed legislation in the parliament that would impose harsh sanctions - including the death penalty, on homosexual behavior. How constitutional could this be? As you'd expect, unlike the controversial bill that bans veils in France, the proposed anti-gay bill in Uganda has come under fire from the international community and human rights activists.
The anti-gay bill in Uganda was introduced in October 2009, by David Bahati, a Member of Parliament (MP) of the ruling party - National Resistance Movement. The bill calls for the death penalty for those having gay sex with disabled people, under 18's or when the accused is HIV positive. It is worth mentioning that in Uganda, homosexual behavior is currently illegal - sanctioned with up to 14 years in prison. The proposed anti-gay bill would add a new dimension to the illegality of homosexuality in the East African country - in some cases, the death penalty for the accused and sanctions of up to 3 years in prison for those (including family members) who do not report the identity of a lesbian, gay or transgender person, within 24 hours.
The Ugandan parliament is expected to debate the bill in late Febuary or early March and according to BBC's correspondent in Kampala, the bill has a good chance of being passed. As a matter of fact, an Independent MP said the bill has a "99% chance" of being passed. This is the case because the bill would likely have the support of senior members of the ruling party. Keep in mind that the President of Uganda - Yoweri Museveni has made no secret of his anti-gay views.
The leader of the free world - Barack Obama has, no doubt, denounced the proposed anti-gay bill. He said, "we may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it's unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are."
The United Nations (UN), has not been silent - Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the bill is discriminatory and would harm Uganda's reputation on the international scene.
In my opinion, Ms. Pillay is absolutely right - in the eyes international human rights law. I therefore totally agree with Ms. Pillay and all those who have kicked against the proposed bill. It is unconstitutional and contrary to the fundamental principle of human rights - "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
What's your standpoint on this issue? Should people be sentenced to death by virtue of their sexual orientation?
According to gay rights groups, there're over 500,000 gay people in Uganda from a total population of 31 million people. All of them would be executed, if this "odious" anti-gay bill in Uganda is voted by the parliament.
Recently, I've been thinking about the wind of change, which is blowing across the world. Now that the U.S. elected the first black president - who now sits in the highest office in the world, how long would it take countries in Europe to follow suit? While the world expects the first black Head of government in Europe to emerge from a country (such as France, Britain and Germany) with a relatively long history of people with mixed European and African descent - sometimes referred to as Afro-Europeans, my attention is focused on Sweden, despite the recent increase in "White Power" groups and outright violation of civil rights in the Scandinavian country. This might come as a surprise to you because you probably think Sweden would be one of the last countries in Europe to have a person of African descent occupy the highest office in the land - Office of the Prime Minister.
There's a black woman who stands out in the blonde Swedish government - her name is Nyamko Sabuni (see picture above), she is Sweden's Minister of Intergration and Gender Equality and she makes no secret of her ambition to be Sweden's first black Prime Minister (Sveriges Statsminister).
Nyamko Ana Sabuni, 40 (as of today), is currently serving as a minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. She is a member of the Liberal People's Party and became Sweden's first black minister on October 2006. She was born in Bunjumbura, in Burundi, where her father lived in exile from Zaire (DR. Congo). Her family was granted political asylum in Sweden in 1981 (she was 12). Sabuni grew up in north of Stockholm and got married to a Swede. Some would argue that she is not "Swedish" enough, but her political career so far has been commendable.
Politically, Sabuni's position has earned her death threats and round-the-clock security, but she has refused to be silenced. She has called for a ban on veils for muslim girls under 15 years old and compulsory gynaecological checks to protect girls against genital mutilation (female circumcision). Needless to say, more than 50 muslim organizations have accused Sabuni of being islamphobic. Whether this is true or not, is not my point of interest.
Contrary to what many people think, statistics show that Sweden has a more generous approach to immigrants and asylum-seekers, compared to many countries in the European Union (EU), including the UK. Sweden has taken more Iraqi refugees than any other country in the EU - an acceptance rate of 90% compared to the UK's 12% (just for the record).
When Barack Obama claimed victory in November 2008, he said in no other country on earth is his story even possible. Could this be true? Is it impossible for a person of African descent to be in the realm of political power in a European country?
If there is to be a black Head of government in Europe in general and Sweden in particular, education, complete integration and positive action to promote equal opportunity would be key. As if this is not enough, the emergence of a large and powerful black middle class in the continent is premodial.
Do I expect to see a black Head of Government in Europe in my lifetime? Absolutely!!
Call me a dreamer, if you will, but remember - a great American once said, "... there has never been anything false about hope."
The wind of change is blowing across the globe - it is only a matter of time before it takes Europe by storm, whether we like it or not! The first black Prime Minister or Head of government in the continent could already be in the making.
Cameroon is home to almost 20 million people and has been ruled by one man since 1982. Paul Biya, 76 years old, is the only president many Cameroonians have known and he's determined to be president for life.
In April 2008, after 26 years in power, his government modified the Constitution by suppressing the two-term mandate limit for the office of the president, which means he can run for president until nature calls.
In 2006, Mr. Biya's government was applauded for creating an independent body - Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), to manage elections in the country. This move was welcomed with the believe that it would put an end to phony elections that have dogged Mr. Biya's regime for many years. As a matter of fact, the transfer of elections management from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) to ELECAM was a major step towards democratization.
Today, the situation in Cameroon is not looking good. Hopes of free and fair elections in 2011 have been shattered. In 2009, authorities appointed the 12 board members of ELECAM. To the disappointment of many Cameroonians, 11 of the board members are members of the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the ruling party - Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM). In other words, elections management was transferred from MINATD to the ruling party.
Is it possible to be both player and referee?
Note that the law creating the ELECAM clearly states that board members "shall be designated from the midst of independent personalities of Cameroonian nationality, reputed with their stature, moral uprightness, intellectual honesty, patriotism, neutrality and impartiality."
The appointment of members of the Political Bureau and Central Committee to the board of ELECAM has been criticized both in Cameroon and abroad. The head of the European Commission Delegation in Yaounde, Xavier Puyol, expressly condemned the move. Puyol said he understands Cameroonians' frustration with the electoral system and called on the authorities to do something to regain the peoples' confidence. He noted that if something is not done, fewer people would register to vote in 2011. In his own words, "it's sad that Cameroon which has a population of close to 20 million inhabitants has never succeeded to register up to 5 million on the voter list. This could be worst in the 2011 election and that is not good for the country."
Of course, as a Cameroonian, I'm worried about voter registration, and I'm determined to register and vote in 2011. However, my major worry is what would happen after the elections. I vividly remember the events that followed the controversial 1992 elections. Trust in the electoral system was down to zero, the ruling party emerged victorious, animosity flared and things went out of control. The human and material damage that ensued the violence was colossal.
With the 2011 presidential election around the corner, one question lingers in my mind - will history repeat itself?
I wish to warn family, friends and the public about scams and fraudulent schemes offering or soliciting money in my name. Anyone contacted purportedly by me or on my behalf in this regard should thoroughly verify theauthenticityof the message. The best way to do so is to contact me directly via this blog.
This blog is designed to tackle issues of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, politics, social trends and other global issues that would get you thinking and learning.
The blogeven adds another dimension as it inspires ordinary people to challenge the status quo - combat man's inhumanity to man and seek progress through social justice. I hope your time spent on the blog is time well spent. I'll see you when you see me! In the meantime, I invite you to follow me on Twitter.
Born and raised in a middle class family with strong Christian values in Cameroon, Central Africa, I learned quickly that all natural persons are born free and equal in rights. I graduated from the University of Buea with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree, and received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in International Human Rights Law and International Labour Rights from Lund University, Sweden. My passion is in promoting human rights and the rule of law. I'm a married proud daddy of two.
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