Black Looks

Flavia Nambi is a Rape survivor detained in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre and facing removal today Tuesday 20 January, at 7pm.

Please phone or write to:

1. Phil Woolas MP, Immigration Minister, Home Office Minister of State for borders and immigration, UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk

2. Jacqui Smith MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office Fax 020 8760 3132 Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

3. European Court of Human Rights, Fax: +33 (0) 3 88 41 27 30, Tel: +33 (0) 3 88 41 20 18

4. Kenya Airways Flight KQ101 Telephone 01784 888 222

Ms Flavia Nambi has been in Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre since Wednesday 14 January. She has been given Removal Directions for this evening. She is at risk of taking her own life and is on suicide watch.

Ms Nambi could not survive if sent back. Ms Nambi lives in the UK with her Aunt who is her sole surviving relative from the terrible conflict in Uganda. She has no-one to whom she could turn for help and expert testimony confirms that women in Ms Nambi’s vulnerable state could not survive if sent back.

This is the THIRD time Ms Nambi has been detained. Last time she was so traumatised, she lost her memory, became profoundly depressed and was close to taking her own life. After her release, despite her own ill health, Ms Nambi has been dedicated to helping other women in detention who share her experiences.

Evidence of rape submitted to the Home Office. A fresh claim lodged in December included compelling expert evidence from WAR and psychiatrists corroborating her account of brutal gang rape by Lord’s Resistance Army soldiers. As a result, the Home Office have for the first time accepted Ms Nambi is a rape survivor but are still insisting she should be sent back.

“Half-baked software” or not Ushahidi makes a timely deployment to map the conflict in the DRC

The mobile number to send SMS reports to is +243992592111.

For more on the “fight for DRC resources” see this piece by Mandisi Majavu

It is reported that the cutback on tin production, which has forced tin buyers to rely on the metal from the DRC, is likely to remain in effect until the rest of the year. According to Reuters, the renewed fighting in the DRC has had a ‘disproportionately large effect on tin prices as international buyers increasing rely on the relatively small producer’ – the DRC as major producer Indonesia cuts output. “Benchmark tin prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) closed at $15,225 per tonne on Wednesday, up 31 percent since Oct. 27, the day after heavily-armed rebel troops began marching toward major eastern city and tin trading centre Goma” says Reuters.

AFP reports that what prevented Laurent Nkunda and his men from completely taking over Goma was the UN peacekeeping forces, which used helicopter gunships to stall the rebel advance. The idea of Laurent Nkunda capturing the city of Goma makes global capitalists anxious to say the least Continued………………. .

TAGS:
DRC
Ushahidi

Jonathon Elendu is Free and receiving medical attention. Nigerian Curiosity received the news from his family and he is now receiving medical treatment. This is excellent news for Elendu, his family and friends but there are still many questions to be answered by the Nigerian government not least of all the continued summary arrest and detention of journalists.

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Nigeria
Jonathon Elendu

Nigerian Curiosity is maintaining regular contact with Jonathon Elendu’s family and is publishing regular updates on his detention. The reports are reminiscent of the ugly days of Abacha when disappearance, detention and torture of journalists, activists, politicians, writers, and just about anyone who dared to dissent, where regular occurrences. This latest update reports that Elendu is no longer in SSS custody but has been transferred to the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is responsible for corruption. As NG asks, how do you go from being charged with sedition and money laundering to corruption in one week?

Meanwhile the Nigeria’s Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) write that Elendu has been tortured whilst in custody.

According to Nigeria’s Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), detained Nigerian blogger, Jonathan Elendu has been “tortured to either disclose the sources of the several embarrassing news reports on prominent political leaders in Nigeria” and is on a hunger strike because he is afraid that he will be poisoned in jail. HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Mr. Onwubike also said that Elendu “was also being reportedly pressured into framing up some others.”

FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER – FREE JONATHON ELENDU DAY

Tags:

Nigeria
Jonathon Elendu

Via Committee to Protect Bloggers and Nigerian Curiosity

Nigeria’s State Security Service or SSS, the same intelligence agency that shut down Channels TV for legally broadcasting incorrect information about President Yar’Adua, is at it again.

Jonathan Elendu, the writer at Elendu Reports, was arrested by Nigeria’s SSS on Saturday evening upon arrival in Nigeria from the United States. Elendu was reportedly arrested to answer questions because his ‘activities’ have allegedly generated some national security issues. One publication specifically reported that Elendu was arrested for “sponsoring a guerilla news agency.”

He was held for over 24 hours before he was interrogated. A spokesperson for the SSS told the Nigerian media that the “rule of law” would be followed and that Elendu wold be given an opportunity to defend himself, saying,

“Mr. Jonathan Elendu was invited today to answer questions on matters concerning national security which has to do wtih his reports. [sic] We are following the rule of law in whatever we are doing. After the question and answer, we can now establish the facts why he was invited.”

It is not clear whether Elendu has been released or whether he will be held indefinitely. What is clear is that “other on-line publishers who are abroad run the risk of being arrested on their return to Nigeria.” Continue reading

Update
The arrest of Jonathan Elendu is one in a long line of attacks against freedom of the press in Nigeria (arrests, harassments and murder of anyone critical of the government) and one which is particularly characteristic of military dictatorships the remnants of which continue to remain active in the country.

Tags:
Jonathan Elendu
Nigeria
Elendu Reports
Nigerian Bloggers
Nigeria SSS

Whatever you call it, it’s the same and it is devastating whole populations the world over. The Occident hasn’t been spared. I live in Europe and I run into begging hands wherever I go. The developing world is experiencing the full brunt of it.

I have decided to list five blogposts taking part in today’s blog action against poverty. There is a lot of sense and advice in these posts, and I thank their writers. Apart from these five, the rest are here: Other Participants

1. Problogger
2. Chrisg.com
3. Crafty Green Poet
4. The Allen Family
5. Airy Persiflage

Rep. Maxine Waters has called for $300 million in emergency assistance for Haiti. She is not asking for grassroots support for the bill at the time, but we will issue an alert if appropriate.

There is more durable good news- for nationals of Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. TPS was extended for those three countries on September 26, on the basis of the devastation caused in 1999 in Honduras and Nicaragua by Hurricane Mitch, and in 2001 in El Salvador by earthquakes. Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen the Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the extension “continues the United States’ long tradition of providing relief to our visitors who, for reasons beyond their control, can’t return to their homes.” Why do visitors from those countries continue to receive TPS status for natural disasters from seven and nine years ago, while Haitians are denied the protection for four storms that hit in the last six weeks? Because their friends, family and supporters speak up for them! Voters tell the Administration and Congress that TPS for those countries is important, so the government makes it a priority.

This week’s action: Speak up for non-resident Haitians in the United States: tell Acting Director Scharfen that justice demands that Haitians who can’t return to their homes should benefit from the United States’ long tradition of providing relief to our visitors. You’ll be in good company, joining members of the House of Representatives, the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, religious leaders, Haiti’s President and the Organization of American States. A model letter is below. Feel free to personalize it. If you don’t have time for a letter, click here and leave a comment on Mr. Scharfen’s article on the USCIS Leadership Journal blog.
Read more…

On 28th April Eudy Simelane was brutally murdered in yet another in the growing number of attacks – rapes, murder, beatings, targeted against Black lesbians in South Africa including those of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Moosa, in Johannesburg July 2007, and that of Zoliswa Nkonyane in February 2006 in Cape Town.

Five men have been charged with the murder of Eudy Simelane however the police investigation and trial have been repeatedly delayed

On several occasions at the Springs Magistrate Court many of us sat only to be told that the docket was still with the investigating officer and therefore the hearing could not proceed.

The delays at ensuring that the investigation is thoroughly concluded causes suffering to family, friends and activists. We have been attending more than ten court hearings since Eudy’s murder only to hear that either the defense lawyers use delay tactics or that the SAPS’ investigation is incomplete and lacks merit for trial.

The investigation and prosecution surrounding the murder of Eudy Simelane has gained international and national attention. These delays are not only undermining that justice is served for Eudy, but they also undermine the South African Justice System and the work of the South African Police Services in the eyes of the national and international community.

On the 10th September, members of Eudy’s family including her mother, friends and activists joined together in a march to protest against the continued delays in processing the investigation and case. The route of the march passed through the district of Highlands which is a place many lesbians fear, and the place where Eudy’s body was found. Here Eudy’s mother spoke along with ANC Local Government MP Lindiwe Lasindwa who was one of the first to discover her body.

Photos from the march on 10th September 2008

The five accused are now due to appear at Springs Magistrate Court court on the 7th October.

Source: Lesbian and Gay Equality Project.

Tags:
Eudy Simelane
South Africa
LGBTI

Mr Ayodeji Omotade has been charged with threatening, abusive, insulting, disorderly behavior towards British Airways (BA) crew, as a result of intervening in the violent deportation of a fellow Nigerian.

The man, who was thought to be about 30, was being held down in his seat by four or five police officers as the other passengers filed on board, and was crying out in broken English that he was afraid he would die if he were sent back to Nigeria……………….The officers took him off the plane, then returned and arrested Ayodeji Omotade, one of the passengers who had complained vociferously about his treatment. When others on board protested noisily about Mr Omotade’s detention, the captain ordered them all off the flight.

British Airways need to answer to the question why they are prepared to collaborate with the violent removal of a distraught asylum seeker? Why has the peaceful protest by passengers against the inhumane treatment of a deportee been treated as a criminal act? Other airlines, including Virgin Nigeria have refused to fly victims of ill-treatment from escorts, and those who fear for their lives. .

Mr Omotade is being punished for acting humanely towards someone in distress. This is not an extraordinary act. It is something most of us would do when witnessing brutality. It is a situation that any one of us could find ourselves at any time.

“What would you do if someone on your flight was distressed and crying out for help? Would you stay silent or would you speak? I spoke and BA didn’t like it. This type of corporate tyranny must be challenged and stopped.” Ayo Omotode

PRESS RELEASE

September 14th, 2008RESPECT NIGERIANS COALITION (RNC) TO HOLD A PEACEFUL PROTEST AT THE BRITISH AIRWAYS CORPORATE HEADQUATERS, HARMONDSWORTH ON WEDNESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER, 2008

Fellow Nigerians and well-wishers of Nigeria, This is to inform you of our intention to hold a peaceful demonstration at the Waterside Corporate Headquarters of British Airway Plc at Harmondsworth, London following the airlines persistent refusal to do what is right by Ayodeji Omotade and the Nigerian passengers whom its officials treated in a disrespectful, discriminatory, dehumanizing and racist manner on March 27, 2008 aboard Flight BA 075 from London Heathrow to Lagos, Nigeria [Full details here]

Despite repeated attempts to engage with BA – holding a peaceful protest at their Lagos HQ; discussing with their executives in Nigeria; writing to shareholders and meeting with some of them at the AGM, the company has persistently ignored our demands. Even several attempts by the Nigerian President, Umaru YarAdua and government ministers have been stonewalled.

We are now taking our protest to BA headquarters in London with the hope that the BA Board and senior management will address our demands.

ACTIONS
We are now calling on all those who believe in justice to join us in supporting Mr Ayodeji Omotade at the following two events in London:

Read more…

TAKE ACTION!
Completely Abolish U.S. HIV Travel Ban: Please write your Representative now!

Dear Friend,

Recently we celebrated the passage into law of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (PL 110-293), which reauthorized the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to a tune of $48 billion over the next five years. In passing this legislation Congress lifted the 1987 ban on non-U.S. citizens living with HIV/AIDS from entering the United States, whether as visitors or immigrants. Africa Action had long campaigned against this shameful ban that did nothing to fight HIV in the U.S. but only reflected deplorable ignorance at the highest level of U.S. policy makers on how HIV is transmitted. In fact with this ban on, HIV/AIDS in the U.S. ballooned from being a localized problem to being the national crisis it is today.

Not only was the ban a terrible public health policy, it also seriously violated the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS globally. It is because of this ban that no major international HIV/AIDS conference has ever been held in the U.S. Congress’s decision to lift this ban constitutes a major victory on the part of advocates and activists campaigning against HIV/AIDS internationally.

However the struggle is still on as HIV still appears on the list of “communicable diseases of public health significance” that automatically restricts entry into the United States. Please join Africa Action Board member and Congresswoman Barbara Lee in urging Congressional representatives to co-sign a letter urging the White House to completely abolish the discriminatory travel ban.

Write your Representative now asking them to co-sign the Lee/Waxman/Berman letter to remove HIV from the list of diseases that automatically bar entry to the United States

TAKE ACTION NOW!

For more information about Africa Action campaign to end HIV/AIDS in Africa, visit www.africaaction.org

Sincerely,

Staff @ Africa Action

Immigration
HIV/AIDS
United States
Africa
Health
Discrimination
Travel