Police Chief Kjell Ese who was reportedly drunk while at work has now been fined 30 000 kroner for the offence allegedly committed in May this year.

It has been reported that he lied about the incident saying he was not drunk while performing his duties.

According to the special unit that investigates police officers in Norway when they are involved in a crime winded up their investigation Friday and concluded that Ese is to be fined for not upholding the dignity of the police force because he perfomed his police duties while he was under the influence of alcohol.

The incident happened when Ese was aleggedly drunk when he got a request to perform police duties on Friday night the 26th of May this year.

And while under the influence of alcohol he approved arrest of a person.

Two days later, the officer who has until recently been the Police boss in Sogn and Fjordane Police district lied to one other police officer, that he had not drunk when he gave the arrest order.

It has now been reported that, earlier this week, he resigned from the job.Media reports confirms that the former boss does not wish to give any comment to the press.

Police officers who get drunk at work jeopardises the security and rights of the people they are supposed to protect.

When they get drunk and use their power to arrest people they suspect have committed a crime, it tantamount to disrepect to the service while destroying the trust people should have towards the police force.

It is good that he has realised that his continued stay in the force would have damaged the integrity of police office.

Recently, we wrote a story about a police office from Oslo immigration police who abused a women by having unconsented sex while deporting he was in-charge of her deportation after the woman failed to acquire asylum in the country.

It is believed that the officer in Oslo has not been suspended yet. This kind of crimes does not go down well with the profession.

We believe that his case is still under investigation. The problem with the Oslo case is that the man is still working and he might interfere with the investigations because he is a senior man. APN has been told that those who are willing to give information about the abuse, are afraid to speak as long as the man is in the job still works with them. 

The police chief in Oslo should follow the example of his colleague and resign from the police.

For the story we carried earlier on the Oslo poilce officer, click the link below:

Deported woman reported sexually violated by a Senior Norwegian policeman!

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.(ANB)

01.12.2006 19:28:23

Mr Thomas Wanjohi of Kenyan origin, now Norwegian citizen, is the new elected leader to head the Immigrant National Umbrella Organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. He took over the position on the 1st of April this year.

With his vast experience in organization work, the understanding of government structure and the Norwegian society, he is the right man for the job, a job that will uplift the immigrants in Norway.

Important in this job is the fact that the organization has to deal with the Norwegian government in policy matters that concern immigrants and immigrant organizations. The organization is important as a consulting body utilised by government institutions whenever there is a new policy being introduced that will touch on immigrants welfare in the country. The organization serves as an adviser and comes with proposals on policies that government institutions are working on, in case of plans to change regulations.

The organization will benefit from Mr Wanjohi’s experience due to the fact that he knows how a government body operates. He has experience from UDI – the Directorate of Immigration handling matters affecting immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the country. He now simply transfers the knowledge he has gained on policy matters to his leadership role in the organization.

INLO is an umbrella organization that looks into policy matters for the benefit of the minority in the Norwegian society.

Difficult times: 

INLO experienced a lot of problems some years back, when it was led by a Nigerian born man who managed to run the organization almost into a ditch economically. During his leadership, the organization was single-handedly managed in ways that almost amounted to dictatorialism, especially when it came to decission making. Reliable sources has told APN that the former leader managed, in most cases that he dealt with, to overpower the committee members, forcing them to take decissions favourable to him. It was rare, during his leadership, for the committee members to refuse his proposals to solutions on agendas he brought up for discussion.

What is INLO, Innvandrernes Landsorganisasjon?

In English language: The Immigrant National Organization in Norway is a National organ comprising of immigrant umbrella organizations working for genuine equality between immigrants and the Norwegians independent of gender, ethnicity, religion or political belonging.

In Norwegian language:Innvandrernes Landsorganisasjon i Norge er en sammenslutning
av innvandrernes paraplyorganisasjoner som arbeider for reell likestilling mellom innvandrere og nordmenn, uavhengig av kjønn, etnisitet, religion eller politisk overbevisning.

1. Thomas Wanjohi, leder  Head of the organization

2. Anna Lopez, Nestleder (Deputy head of the Organization.)

3. Angela Folåsen, Committee member

4. Hayiri Kilinc, committe member

5. Samir Mehmedovik, committee member

6. Michael Malaker, committee member,

7. Admir Zulic, committee member

8. Hasmukh S. Mistry, committee member

9. Vipul Karia, committee member in waiting.

10. Bonny Okpe, committee member in waiting.

11. Tambo Muana, committee member in waiting. 

12. Faramars Human, committee member in waiting.

13. Aleksandra Fladås, committee member in waiting.

14. Lola Awoyemi, committee member in waiting.

15. Nduaninn, committee member in waiting.

16. Tereza Nagy Nordmark, committee member in waiting.

The committee members run the organizations affairs and in cases of dialogue with the government for the benefit of the immigrant population on policy matters, the organization is represented by their leader.

Being a National organization it should take the responsibility to ensure that member organizations use the funds given by government in the right way and according to rules that regulate such funding. Some immigrant organizations that get funding end up misusing the funds, creating a bad image on the immigrants.

Immigrant organizations would benefit in a big way if all of them understood the need to work together as a team and much more important, under one legitimate umbrella like INLO, especially now that the organization has got a strong leadership.

The Norwegian authorities that give organizations funding should be in the front line to encourage all immigrant organizations to be under one strong umbrella.

If one looks at Oslo alone, there are over 300 small organizations, that almost amount to ethnic creation in the centre of Oslo. Most of them are not managed properly and yet the authorities keep funding them to exist without results.

Sources African Press has spoken to have now confirmed that immigrants would be better served if they joint an umbrella organization and put all their efforts to focus on the promotion of their rights and welfare in Norway.

When you look at LO, the Norwegian National Workers Organisation, they have almost all Norwegian workers organizations under them and serves them well. The government listens to them and even when the government is being formed after every election period, LO is consulted and given one  ministerial position.

There is no reason why INLO cannot achieve the same status, the status to be consulted on job appointments in government, if managed in a proper manner.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

“COMMENTARY” 

To: Vincent Onditi

Surely,
Why don’t we in Kenya just have “presidents” for each ethnic group.

Or we could have “presidents for each tribe, and among them we choose one to “preside” over the country and name him or her the national “president”, but with a capital “P” while those “presidents” with smaller “p’s” run there ethnical groupings.

Every 4 years we change by rotation getting a new “President” from among the small ethnic ones. In that way, every ethnic group gets a chance to rule the country.

Do I remember right?…. I think that happened in the former Yugoslavia during President Tito! It is only when some leaders got hungry for power that Yugoslavia crumbled into ethicity leadership.

This kind of system I am talking about will be like the old days when chiefs in Kenya had total power in their communities.

Does that sound reasonable and acceptable?

Let us not forget that the rest of the world has moved on to “global”  in thoughts and ideas while we the Kenyan people “wanainchi” still dwell on “tribes” and “kingmaking.

I will vote for the one who comes closest to convincing me he intends to “Preside” over the country and all our people.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Reacting to commentary from Vincent Onditi defending Raila:

Vincent Onditi defends Raila Odinga!

According to the United Nations Programme on Aids (UNAids) and World Health Organization (WHO), HIV has not left any country untouched. It has struck every part of the world, from poor nations to rich nations, from poor men/women to rich men/women in every continent.

The virus is travelling like it wants to travel faster than sound. And it is maiming, disabling, and destroys to the bitter end by killing those who come its way!

The only way to escape it when it nears you is to protect yourself by using a condom if you must have sex. By having sex without condom anyhowly, you are inviting the virus to visit and take you on a forced ride!

Study the crucial reality in figures below, region by region, then you will see the impact it has on the population!

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 25.8m

• % of world’s HIV cases: 64%

• New cases: 3.2m

• Aids deaths: 2.4m

 ASIA

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 8.3m

• % of world’s HIV cases: 20.6%

• New cases: 1.1m

• Aids deaths: 521,000

HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 1.9m

• % of world’s HIV cases: 4.7%

• New cases: 65,000

• Aids deaths: 30,000

LATIN AMERICA

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 1.8m

• % of world’s HIV cases: 4.5%

• New cases: 200,000

• Aids deaths: 66,000

EASTERN EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 1.6m

• % of world’s HIV cases: 4%

• New cases: 270,000

• Aids deaths: 62,000

 AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND PACIFIC ISLANDS

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 74,000

• % of world’s HIV cases: 0.18%

• New cases: 8,200

• Aids deaths: 3,600

NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 510,000

• % of world’s HIV cases: 1.2%

• New cases: 67,000

• Aids deaths: 58,000

CARIBBEAN

• 2005 REGIONAL FIGURES

• People with HIV: 300,000

• % of world’s HIV cases: 0.7%

• New cases: 30,000

• Aids deaths: 24,000

Now that you have seen the figures, protect yourself from this killer disease. If you have it already do the right things and save others from infection by protecting yourself.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

Laura Perez Ottonello, comes from ontevideo in Uruguay. She confirms to have lived with HIV for 15 years. She says, “when I found out I was HIV-positive it was a great shock. I got it through sexual contact with my husband, due to his infidelity. I had to learn to live with HIV, initially without treatment and in silence to avoid social discrimination, and most of all to protect my little daughter, who was in school at the time.”

Discrimination is the hardest thing one can deal with at the same time with the burden of the disease. Secrecy eats one from inside. Telling people, one ends up being pushed out of the community. That makes many aids and HIV patients to hide the truth, even from their own loved ones.

She says, “then the hard times came. I got married again to an HIV-positive man and I lived with him for seven years. Then he got a neurological disease, because of Aids. I looked after him until he died. I was with him when he took his last breath of life, holding his hand. I still carry him inside me and always will.”

For a sick person to loose a sick partned is a big blow. The two has given each other support needed because of the isolation that comes with the disease. She says, “I have been on antiretroviral treatment for six years. And I am still here. My daughter is now 22 and I have a three-year-old granddaughter. I now help others with HIV as the president of the Uruguay Network of People Living with HIV.”

By going public it helps if one gets people to understand and give you the support you need. She says, “we have lost many, but I fight every day against this disease along with other HIV-positive survivors.”

And in her guidance to others she has  a message to all during this day we are marking aids day. “My message to everyone is to go ahead leading your life always, despite everything.”

Many in Norway with HIV/Aids are still keeping the infection secret fearing persecution, stigmatisation and the discrimination that follows. Others still infect others at will.

Give us your comments on this subject!

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

Sandra Zambrano, comes from a village of  Tegucigalpa in Honduras. She does not have HIV or Aids. Her family, however has suffered from it heavily.

<Sandra Zambrano helps people with the disease in her country!

“She is  a manager of Casa Renacer, a centre for people with HIV/Aids.” 

Managing a place where people have the disease, you also get psychologically affected by what you see everyday: The suffering that they go through and there is little you can do to cure them.

Zambrano says, “there have been five cases of HIV in my family: two of my brothers, my nephew and two cousins. Three of them have already passed away, including my brother. Another of my brothers, Jose Zambrano, is a gay activist. Since the beginning of the 1990s, he has worked with people living with HIV/Aids in Honduras, and I have joined the cause.”

Having close family members die this way pains a great deal. She has to live with te pain she goes through on their behalf whener she sees them suffering and going through the pain on a daily basis. She says, “now we manage a temporary asylum centre for people living with HIV/Aids and we work on political lobbying in this country and advocating human rights for HIV positive people.”

People with Aids have their human rights in most cases violated. They are stigmatised. They are disrespected. They are called names. Their days becomes longer and longer as many people discover that they are infected. The days get longer and lonely as they get isolated. The society does want to understand that these people need support and care. They are sick, yes, but they are human beings and deserve respect.

She says, “it is not easy because there is not much support, but we believe the situation will change with the backing of the new government, given our new First Lady’s commitment to the fight against the epidemic.”

Many developing countries struggle to fund the needed drugs for HIV and Aids patients. She says, “Honduras has the highest number of cases in Central America. We pray to God to enable us to live many years, so we can support our comrades in having a better quality of life. The epidemic has made us stronger and we will fight on until one day a vaccination is found, which will change the lives of millions of people around the world and create a HIV-free Honduras.”

This is one of those painful stories yet there are many we do not hear about. It is important that we take this as an education that we can pass on to others as we continue to look for cure.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

This days we mark aids day. According to BBC, “Justa Suazo comes  from Trujillo, Honduras. She was diagnosed with the disease five years ago.

Justa Suazo, 36, on getting the news that she had the disease, crippled with shock and fear to be lonely, she did not know what to do. Reacting she says, “when I was told I had HIV I felt that my life was finished, along with my dreams, hopes and plans. It took me two years to be able to accept my condition. Once I got over it, I became involved in a support group, the Association of People Living with HIV/Aids, and that helped me a lot.”

This is a situation and time one feels alone in the world when given such news. You start thinking it is the end of your life. And in shock, many ar unable to talk about it with their friends and closest relatives. It it the fear of their reaction. It is the fear of the questions they will ask. It is the suspiscion in their eyes as they look at you after telling them. The suspiscion directed to you silently suspecting you and how you got it. 

Suazo says, “Now I am a leader of this group in my country. Being an infected person has allowed me to do many things I would not otherwise have done, like participating in public debates to defend the rights of my comrades who are discriminated against because of their HIV status.”

Being active in helping others she is giving aids a infected people a face. She proudly says, “I am involved in rallies, meetings and forums to educate the general population about the reality of HIV and Aids. I feel proud of the work I do. But I am still also a mother, a friend, a sister and a woman with rights and duties.”

Of course, there are limitations when one is an infected person. One gets sick abruptly at times, must attend to medicine time at all times. The respeonsibility is enormous and the infected person needs a good social network. Suazo says, “As an infected person I have many challenges, like trying to ensure that my children and members of my family don’t get infected, that youngsters in my country get to know the risks involved, and that the government puts in place policies to rise awareness and prevent the disease from spreading.”

On this way we mark the Aids day. We remember many suffering this day having to deal with alot of challenges. The fear of dying and living children behind without  anybody to cater for. Suazo has faced and still faces challenges on a daily basis and now this International aids day she says, “My message for World Aids day is for people to be unified in this fight against HIV/Aids, and that nobody waits to be positive to raise his voice.”

We apploud her for coming out publicly and helping others by educating them on how to manage life with the disease. Those who come out help others learn what to do incase they get the disease.

Earlier on this site, we have written stories on a group of people spreading the disease in Norwegain bars intentionally to infect others. 

When confronted, they get defensive saying they do not see the need to use condoms when they are already sick. When asked why they infect others intentionally, they simply say they are angry and they do not want to die alone.

It is sad to have people who think that way. That is why we think people who come out publicly must be applouded.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc.

Recently, we raised a policy issues touching on employment and promotions in NORAD, the Norwegian Agency for International Development.

On our chart that gauges how interested our readers are in a story, we can now confirm that the NORAD story was the most read by our readers. It was in the lead on the chart for 6 days consecutively.

This confirms to us that it was necessary to question NORAD’s policies so that the public may understand whether it is discriminatory to the minority while favouring relatives and wives/husbands of NORAD employees.

We are pleased that NORAD has taken the questions we are raising seriously and proposed a meeting to discus the issues raised by us.

This means, we will soon bring factual information to our readers on how NORAD looks at the issues raised.

We are pleased that NORAD has seen the need to take up a discussion on the issues because they use tax-payers money to support projects abroad and public funds used in managing projects that take time to complete because those who are send out to manage them have no knowledge about the people they are going to help when they go to those countries as expatriates. 

Therefore, we appeal to our readers who may have something at heart that they want us to include in our agenda for discussions with NORAD in the next few days.

To refresh your memory on the stories in question please get to the links below:

1. NORAD – Is the directorate’s employment policy breeding racistic ideologies?

2. NORAD, what is the right qualification to get a job there?

3. “Norad was not created to help Africans alleviate their unemployment problems!

 By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no