Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA has learnt.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing investigations into crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic during the 25 October 2002-15 March 15 2003 period, APA learns here on Monday.

The inquiry led ICC to issue an international arrest warrant under seal against Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean Pierre Bemba who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

Bemba, a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was arrested in a Brussels suburb (Belgium) to answer to four counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity committed in the CAR territory between 25 October 2002 and 15 March 2003.

At a press conference Sunday, analyst of the ICC prosecutor’s office in Bangui Emeric Rogier said arrest warrants will be issued against senior officials involved in the command mechanism at various levels of responsibility when the acts were committed.

Regarding crimes allegedly committed in 2005 in north-western CAR, Rogier said “we are analysing the situation, but we are not in a phase of investigation.”

Asked why “these alleged crimes are not prosecuted at national level,” he said the ICC operates on the principle of mutual assistance.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no

News Analysis by Leo Odera Omolo 

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Norwegian industrial concern Norsk Hydro, now pared down to mostly its metals business, seems to be on a roll, thanks to continued customer demand in China.

Eivind Reiten is looking for the right acquisition to expand Norsk Hydro. PHOTO: ERIK BERGLUND

 

Norsk Hydro, which has shed its oil and gas and its fertilizer businesses in recent years, now eyes aggressive expansion through acquisitions, reported news bureau Reuters on Monday.

Aluminium markets are stronger than expected, the company’s boss told Reuters, and prices are more likely to rise than fall.

Norsk Hydro’s chief executive, Eivind Reiten, said in an interview that strong Chinese demand more than offset the effects of a weak US economy, and he predicted global aluminium demand would rise 8-9 percent in 2008.

“We’ve got enough financial force to make a big move,” Reiten said. “If the right opportunity arises, we’ll have the muscle. And we intend to use that muscle to grow considerably.”

Reitan added that the market “looks better on the demand side than we anticipated just a few months ago.”

He also said there was “a greater chance that prices will rise than that they will fall when we look beyond short-term movements.”

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Maria Haukaas Storeng was welcomed back to Norway with flags and flowers after she sang her way to what’s widely considered a respectable result in the annual Eurovision Song Contest over the weekend: 5th place.

Maria Haukaas Storeng was welcomed back from the Eurovision Song Contest as a national heroine, with a 5th place showing. PHOTO: SVEIN ERIK FURULUND

There was a time when Norway failed to receive any points at all in the annual spectacle of song, dance and now even on-stage pyrotechnics. The Eurovision Song Contest, called “Melodi Grand Prix” in Norway, has always been popular, however, and once again it drew millions of television viewers all over the continent.

Hopes were high that Haukaas Storeng would score well and even win this year’s contest, with Mira Crag’s song Hold on, be strong. Her fifth place, however, was nothing to boo at, and she returned to Norway on Sunday amidst a blaze of flashbulbs, hugs and kisses.

“It’s all been just fantastic,” she gushed to reporters after landing at Oslo’s airport at Gardermoen. “I need some sleep now. We just had to party (Saturday night), so it was late to bed and then early up again.”

Norway’s fifth place left it with the best showing among all western European countries, in a contest that’s been increasingly dominated by eastern European nations that have joined the world scene in the past decade. Azerbaijan and Albania, for example, were among countries that scored well in the contest of new pop music.

Russia won the Eurovision competition with the song “Believe,” performed by Dima Bilan to the accompanient of a champion ice skater.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor had its reputation further tarnished over the weekend after reports emerged of more deaths of workers tied to Telenor’s overseas subsidiaries.

Telenor chief executive Jon Fredrik Baksaas faced more bad news over the weekend. PHOTO: SVEIN ERIK FURULUND

The first reports were linked to Telenor’s operations in Bangladesh, where workers are forced to put up with conditions at Telenor suppliers that would never be condoned in Norway. Telenor has claimed that it wasn’t aware that children were part of the workforce at a supplier to its GrameenPhone unit there, nor that workers operated in unsafe conditions. One young man was killed when he fell into a vat of acid.

Telenor itself unveiled two more workers’ deaths last week, at operations in Bangladesh and Hungary. Among them was a male worker at Telenor’s Pannon operation in Hungary, who died in a fall on the construction site of Telenor’s new headquarters for Pannon.

In other deaths, a 10-year-old girl was electrocuted on GrameenPhone property in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv also revealed two more deaths of GrameenPhone workers in Bangladesh: One died from an electric shock suffered on the job, while another fell from a mobile phone tower he was working on.

Telenor has said it is investigating all the cases, and promises that working conditions for its overseas employees will be improved. So far, however, the fatal accidents haven’t taken a toll on Telenor’s management, and chief executive Jon Fredrik Baksaas kept his job after an emergency board meeting last week.

Telenor is majority-owned by the state, prompting opposition politicians to demand that the government controlling Telenor’s board take punitive action against Telenor’s management. Many feel the Telenor labour scandal is hurting Norway’s reputation overseas.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Jailed Norwegians demand more legal aid

Three young Norwegian women caught in Bolivia with more than 22 kilos of cocaine in their luggage reportedly are seeking more legal aid from home. The three remain jailed on drug smuggling charges.

The Norwegian women face languishing in the Bolivian prison for a long time. PHOTO: ARILD VIK

Related stories:

Three young Norwegians jailed in Bolivia – 22.05.2008

The three women, aged 17 to 22, continue to claim they had no idea their luggage was stuffed with cocaine. Bolivian police not only found the drugs but also claim the suitcases were coated with a sort of coffee paste, often used by smugglers in an attempt to confuse dogs specially trained to sniff out narcotics.

Dogs at the airport in Cochabamba were nonetheless intrigued by the Norwegians’ luggage after the women checked in for a flight out of Bolivia early last week. The three Norwegians have been in prison there since, and face a long waiting period until their case comes up for trial.

They already have court-appointed defense counsel and a Norwegian defense attorney, Marius Dietrichson, but Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Monday morning that the women now want additional legal help from Norway. Dietrichson, meanwhile, believes the young women fell victim to professional narcotics dealers.

“Whether they knew it or not, someone is behind all this and used the girls,” Dietrichson told newspaper VG on Monday. “Either they were duped in Bolivia, or they knew before they left what they would be carrying home.”

Much of the concern over their case is the fate of the two-year-old daughter of one of the women. She had been brought along on the trip to Bolivia and was with the women when they were arrested.

The toddler has also been stuck in the Bolivian prison for the past week. Efforts continue to bring the toddler back to Norway.

VG also reported on Monday that one of the women had traveled to Bolivia before and described the trip in a text message to an acquaintance as a “business trip.” VG, which has transcripts of the message, reported that she’d written that she needed to find someone she could trust, “who can manage to keep quiet,” because the trip was risky.

One of the three now imprisoned has reportedly fallen ill. The toddler is said to be doing well, under the circumstances.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Three Norwegian women aged 17 to 22 have been arrested in Bolivia, charged with trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. One of the women has her two-year-old daughter with her.

The women are being held at this prison in Bolivia. PHOTO: FOTO: RABBLE/FLICKR.COM

The women were stopped after they’d checked in at the airport in Cochabamba. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that dogs trained at sniffing out narcotics became interested in their luggage.

Inspectors then found slightly more than 22 kilos of cocaine in the suitcases. Police reportedly said the drugs were found in suitcases belonging to all three women.

They deny they were trying to smuggle cocaine, which would have had a street value in Norway of around NOK 20 million (USD 4 million). They told NRK that they had been on holiday in Bolivia for three weeks, that they did a lot of shopping and needed to buy extra luggage to cart all their purchases home.

The cocaine, they claim, must have been stashed in the new bags that they bought, without their knowledge. One report in Bolivian newspaper La Razon said one suitcase had a double bottom.

The women and the two-year-old girl are being held in a women’s prison where conditions are difficult. Staff members from the Norwegian embassy in Argentina are trying to help the women, and make sure they receive food in the prison.

“For us, it’s been especially important to make sure the little girl is taken care of,” said Nils Haugstveit, Norway’s ambassador to Argentina, told Aftenposten.no. He has sent a representative to Cochabamba, and Norway’s consulate in Bolivia is also trying to assist the women.

The immediate fate of the child was unclear, with NRK reporting that efforts were being made to get the little girl out of the prison and back to Norway.

Two defense attorneys in Bolivia have been engaged to represent the women, who were ordered by a judge in Cochabamba to be held while the police investigate their case. They face long prison terms if found guilty.

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API

Publisher, korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.nation.ke

Top secrets: Gaddafi plotted to bomb Kenya

Story by KAMAU NGOTHO
Like with politics, espionage knows no permanent friends or enemies, only the convergence of interests. 

Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Photo/FILE

Said to be the second oldest profession, at times it appears to have even lesser morals than the first.

 

 

No surprise that when relationship between Nairobi and Washington were at the ice cold, it was still business as usual for legendary Kenyan spy chief James Kanyotu and the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States.

Early one morning in February 1991, Mr Kanyotu found himself with a difficult assignment. His friends in the CIA had called with an urgent and unusual request.

Dissidents

They had with them 600 Libyan dissidents they wanted sequestered in Kenya before they could be flown to a safe haven out of the reach of mercurial Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The dissidents had been spirited out of Libya in a daring secret move and first flown to the then Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo.

But the CIA was not confident that Zaire was a safe haven.

The country’s dictator, Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko was a US ally and had himself come to power in the 1960s as a CIA protégé.

But the Americans considered him unstable, unreliable and unpredictable.

His avarice and love of money was legendary, and it would not be beyond him to cut a deal with Col Gaddafi and turn over the dissidents in exchange for handsome sums wired to his numerous Swiss bank accounts.

The Americans wanted their charges out of Congo speedily, and Kenya seemed like the best choice.

But there was one problem. President Moi at that time had no time for the US.

Kenya was in the throes of the multi-party campaign and the US had come out strongly in favour of the push for democratisation.

Mr Moi was particularly irked by President George Bush’s ambassador in Kenya, the outspoken Smith Hempstone, who consorted openly with and supported the growing opposition of the day and had been dismissed as the Nyama Choma (roasted meat) ambassador.

An approach through Mr Hempstone would not work, for Moi would have loved nothing better than to tell the envoy to ‘shove it’.

A direct approach from Washington, either through the Secretary of State or the President himself, was also considered but none wanted to chance reaching Moi when in one of his foul moods and risk a humiliating rejection.

So the CIA turned to Mr Kanyotu to soften President Moi for them. It was a difficult assignment on two grounds. First of course was Mr Moi’s growing anger with the United States.

Then there was the security risk for Kenya in crossing Mr Gaddafi, who might find a soft target on which to hit back at the US.

The Libyan leader by then was on the American list of unfriendly regimes.

He was fiercely anti-American, and was accused of financing Middle Eastern terrorist groups that were increasingly aiming at targets in the West.

The Libyans at the time were also moving aggressively to position themselves in sub-saharan Africa, unlike many other North African countries, which viewed themselves primarily as members of the Arab world.

That was where  Mr Kanyottu found the chink in President Moi’s armour.

Libyan interests in the region had in the past few years been viewed suspiciously by Kenya, which was alarmed by the countries seeming support for dissident movements.

From the early 1980, the Libyan embassy on Loita Street had become a popular calling place for radial student activists from nearby University of Nairobi.

Usually it was to pick up freebies in the form of Mr Gaddafi’s writings, including his famous Green Book, and other literature and posters on Libyan and on the Palestinian cause.

Mr Kanyotu’s agents kept a close watch around the embassy, paying particular attention to student leaders whom they thought might be tempted into going beyond mere infatuation with Gaddafi and enlisting into something sinister.

Libya at the time already had a strong presence in neighbouring Uganda, which under President Yoweri Museveni had become the favoured transit point for Kenyan dissidents fleeing the country for exile in Europe.

By early 1991, Kenya had already severed diplomatic relations with Tripoli after accusing the northern African country of sponsoring anti-Moi elements.

Some student leaders at the University of Nairobi had also been arrested and charged with espionage for allegedly spying for Libya.

Even without the Libyan link, President Moi at time viewed President Museveni as a dangerous radical all too keen to spread his ideology across the region.

Kenya and Uganda had engaged in a brief shooting war across the common border only a few years previously, and still regarded each other with deep suspicion.

With all the information at his fingertips, Mr Kanyotu was able to convince President Moi that the real threat lay not in US support for the multi-party campaign in Kenya, but in Libyan support for dissidents who might want to forment a revolution via neighbouring Uganda.

Mr Kanyotu thought, Moi — even for ego purposes only — would relish the moment to show both Col Gaddafi and Mr Museveni who was boss in the region. Mr Moi gave his nod, and working under the strictest security, Mr Kanyotu’s men and the CIA hurriedly constructed a camp to hold the Libyans at a remote point off the Thika-Garissa highway. Within a week, a makeshift barracks was in place complete with a borehole and a fully-equipped dispensary.

To throw off-scent any nosy characters, signposts were erected purporting that American peace-corps were coming to help sink boreholes in the remote reaches of Mwingi District.
On D-Day, Mr Kanyotu joined the CIA team at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after midnight. Also present was Mr Hempstone.

As Nairobi slept, two US Air Force jets taxied at the far end of the apron. Unmarked buses from the Kenya Army were in place to transport the delicate human cargo.

Before dawn, the Libyan exiles were sound asleep in their new, but temporary, Kenyan home.

Mr Gaddafi, probably through Ugandan and Soviet intelligence sources in Nairobi, soon came to learn about the presence of Libyans dissidents in Kenya.

He was furious, and immediately set about planning how to retaliate.

Commando squad

A Libyan commando force assembled near the Entebbe Airport in Uganda, ready to strike once the exact location of the secret camp holding Libyan dissidents in Kenya was established.

Gaddafi’s first option was lightning air strike to bomb the camp and kill as many of the residents as possible.

The other was to bring in a commando squad by land, raid the place and capture some of the dissidents.

To keep him off-scent, Mr Kanyotu and the CIA put up several decoys that kept the Libyan intelligence operatives on a wild goose chase.

Meanwhile, the Americans found a permanent refuge for the dissidents, and before the Libyan forces could strike they were secretly flown out of Kenya under cover of darkness.

After ranting and raving for a period, Mr Gaddafi concluded the Kenyan leader was no pushover and offered to make peace.

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API