Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 October 2005 — Page 44

Page 44 • The Muncie Times • October 20. 2005

AFRICAN BRIEFS

Darfur dissidents release 36 African peace monitors (GIN)—The African Union is accusing a breakaway Darfur rebel faction of kidnapping a 36-member team attempting to monitor a shaky ceasefire in the region. According to the AU, a faction of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement grabbed 36 observers and held them hostage in the western Sudanese region for about a day. "We want the AU to leave and we have warned them not to travel to our areas," said Mohamed Saleh, head of the dissident faction in an interview with Reuters. "We don’t know and don't care what is happening to the AU, they are part of the conflict now." All the hostages were freed last weekrj| The Cameroonian leader of the AU team confirmed that he and his Sudanese translator had been freed after a shootout between rival rebel groups. About 6,000 AU troops are deployed in Darfur to monitor the ceasefire but violence has escalated in recent weeks, prompting the African organization last week to voice its harshest public criticism of Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that U.N. aid to Darfur could be suspended after the "completely unacceptable" hostage-taking. On Saturday, the 53-nation AU suffered its first losses - five soldiers and civilian workers - in the monitoring expedition. A new round of peace talks that began Sept. 15 in Abuja, Nigeria, is said to be continuing. Non-Arab rebels took up arms in Darfur in early 2003 accusing the government of neglect and of monopolizing power and wealth. Tens of thousands have been killed and more than 2 million forced from their homes by the violence, which the United States calls genocide. Cell phones save African

migrants in Morocco (GIN)—Using their cell phones, a group of African immigrants kept in touch with human rights workers who were alarmed to learn last week that Spain had dumped up to 70 of the migrating Africans in a Moroccan desert, where they were left for dead. Cell phones helped aid organisations and the media find the abandoned men, women and children. "From the start, cell phones have been vital for our actions in Morocco," said Amanda Sanz, of Doctors without Borders, in a published interview. "Cell phones have been a revolution," allowing the immigrants to be found some 600 kilometers south of the border town of Oujda, she said. The Africans had been making their way to Europe via Morocco, which has a border with an African enclave belonging to Spain. Hundreds of African immigrants have tried to cross the borders into Spain's North Afrjcan enclaves Ceuta and Melilla on the Mediterranean coast. Morocco has recently stepped up efforts to stop them. On Sunday, a human rights group, the Moroccan Human Rights Association said that about 1,500 people had been left in the desert on Friday but that most had made their way back to the refugee camp by Saturday. A pregnant woman died from exhaustion during the journey, said Kabouri Seddik of the rights group, who said he had talked to groups of migrants in the camp. Moroccan officials were not available to comment, but on Friday the Moroccan communications minister, Nabil Benabdallah, responded to criticism of treatment of immigrants saying Morocco was committed to safeguarding human rights. White SA diamond traders unhappy about new bill (GIN)—South Africa’s proposed Diamond Amendment

Bill has caused grumbling international partners have among white diamond been pouring into the electraders there who say it toral process will result in a could lead to their demise. successful election that all "The Diamond Bill will Liberians can be proud of," have the effect of compro- Frances Johnson-Morris, the mising our trading compa- commission's head, told a ny’s future viability," said pre-election news conferAnglo American Pic, which ence. owns 45 percent of De Beers In a field of 22 presidenthe world's biggest diamond tial candidates, the two producer. front-runners were soccer The draft bill proposes a legend George Weah and restructuring of South former World Bank female Africa's diamond mining economist Ellen Johnsonsector, creating a state dia- Sirleaf, nicknamed Iron mond trader and imposing a Lady. 15 percent export levy. The 66-year-old Johnson-Black-owned companies, Sirleaf, the first African however, support the bill female head of state if electwhich they say will open ed, said she is more compethecutting and polishing tent for the job because she industry to their small com- has more experience and panics that have been was more educated. "I may excluded for decades. be advanced in age but I am "We wish to have this bill bringing young thoughts and implemented urgently, as would bring new ideas to the our members have been job," the Harvard-trained experiencing extreme diffi- economist told the Chinese culties over the past few news agency Xinhua, years in obtaining sufficient After Harvard, Johnsonquantities of rough dia- Sirleaf joined the governmonds," the United ment of William Tolbert and

Diamond Association South Africa said.

later, that of William Tubman. She did some time

The association, which in jail, twice accused of trearepresents 170 black dia- son for criticizing President mond dealers, cutters and Samuel Doe. She ran as a polishers, said the bill would presidential candidate in the help level the playing field 1997 elections, finishing in a sector still dominated by second in a field of 13. whites more than a decade Weah, a soccer millionaire after the end of apartheid. who is 39 , worked a.s a The government wants to goodwill ambassador for the open up the distribution of U.N. Children's Fund diamonds to stimulate more (UNICEF). He returned jewellery manufacturing and from the United States to gem cutting in South Africa, encourage child soldiers to the world's fourth-largest lay down their weapons dur-

diamond producer by value.

ing the U.N.-led disarma-

ment process. ,, . rb P

In a country where more than half of the elec torate is under 32, he drew tens of

(GIN) 5 - Mineral-rich thousands of young people Liberia held elections last to his rallies. Theyfsee him week, the first since the a as a rare success Story in the

country's turbulent history and someone who can offer

a fresh political start.

Both of* the candidates promised to restore electrici-

smoothly. ’ ty, running water and Ballot counting was con- schools, build roads, and tinuing as LibenlBPilirlea attract foreign investors durto find out who their new ing their campaign, president is going to be. Meanwhile, in Monrovia, "The National Elections the capital, most cars and Commission (NEC) is confi- buses were plastered with dent that the months of posters of presidential candiworkthat NEC staff and dates. People wearing

Peaceful Liberians vote for new leader

14-year civil war 2003, with about J.3 people of Liberia's 3-:

population going to

polls. The efiction

opposing party T-shirts can be spotted chatting and debating on street corners. Next to women, young people—many of whom are former fighters—represent the largest constituency of voters. The Prosecutor of the ICC opens investigation in Darfur The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis MorenoOcampo, has decided to open an investigation into the situation in Darfur, Sudan. Following the referral from the United Nations Security Council on 31 March 2005, the Prosecutor received the document archive of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur. In addition, the Office of the Prosecutor requested information from a variety of sources, leading to the collection of thousands of documents. The Office also interviewed over 50 independent experts. After thorough analysis the Prosecutor concluded that the statutory requirements for initiating an investigation were satisfied. The investigation will be impartial and independent, focusing on the individuals who bear the greatest criminal responsibility for crimes committed in Darfur. Prosecutor Luis MorenojOcampo said: “The investigation will require sustained cooperation from national and international authorities. It will form part of a collective effort, complementing African Union and other initiatives to end the violence in Darfur and to promote justice. Traditional African mechanisms can be an important tool to complement these efforts and achieve local reconciliation.” The Prosecutor calls on all partners to provide his Office with the information, evidence and practical support needed to carry out his mandate.