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Mungiki boss: Why I want to talk to Raila

Story by BILLY MUIRURI and CASPER WAITHAKA

Jailed Mungiki leader Maina Njenga is now demanding direct talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga.�

Mungiki members demonstrate in Nairobi to press the Government to release their leader Maina Njenga from prison early this year. Photo/CHRIS OJOW

He dismisses as �a waste of time� the secret consultations he had previously been holding with alleged emissaries from the Office of the President and Mr Odinga.

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And to make sure the demands of Mungiki get the legal backing even as he serves his five-year jail term, Njenga has asked former Kabete MP Paul Muite to act for him.

Njenga spoke to the Nation last week at the Naivasha Maximum Prison, moments after he said he had hosted three people allegedly sent by the Government to begin talks with him on behalf of Mungiki.

Prison authorities ushered in the Nation team on Wednesday for an interview with the sect leader at 2pm.

�We are not seeing the face of the Government, and we feel we are not headed anywhere. That is why we urgently need the intervention of the Prime Minister,� Njenga said.

Retired provincial commissioner Cyrus Maina, Catholic priest Ndikaru wa Teresia, political activist Solomon Thande, and former Nairobi mayor Dick Waweru were at the time in the boardroom of the Prisons officer, the same venue where Njenga later took the Nation team for the interview.

The sect leader was informed of the presence of the Nation team at the main gate to the prison at 10am. He sent word that the meeting would be delayed because he already had other visitors.

Many friends

Pressed to disclose the identities of the visitors, he added: �They were Mr Cyrus Maina, Father Ndikaru wa Teresia and Mr Solomon Thande. You know, I have many friends; even Dick Waweru was here today to see me, and he brought to me some bathing soap.�

The Mungiki leader had told the Nation� on a previous visit that Mr Maina and Fr Ndikaru were �envoys� appointed by the Office of the President while Mr Thande was sent by Mr Odinga.

Mr� Thande is the chairman of the Lang�ata Constituency Development Fund committee and a close political ally of Mr odinga, while Mr Waweru was by the time angling for the Embakasi parliamentary by-election.

�Although a number of meetings have taken place between individuals appointed by the Government and myself, a meeting between the Prime Minister himself and a small number of our representatives is necessary for a consensus on the way forward to be reached,� Njenga said.

He added: �I don�t want any more private delegations as they are spoiling the original idea brought up by the Prime Minister. The many interested parties are not representing the Government.��

Njenga said his supporters were getting restless and needed to know the true position of the talks.

�Our issues are quite complex. Time is running out and remember I called for ceasefire to give dialogue a chance. There may come a time when the string that holds the restraint breaks off,� he added ominously.

The Mungiki now want to meet an official government team in talks composed of four representatives from each side.

Contacted on Saturday, Mr Muite confirmed that he had been� asked by Mungiki to provide legal counsel in their talks with the Government.� �Their leaders asked me to join them due to my stand on violation of human rights of their members. I will be in their team,� he said.

Njenga said he would also want Lands minister James Orengo, who he described as his friend and lawyer, to be in the team.

According to Mungiki spokesman Njuguna Gitau, the Government had so far met one condition; the withdrawal of� police officers who had occupied Njenga�s home in Kitengela since his arrest.

Gitau says police vandalised the house, and it would have to be renovated at a cost of Sh20 million ahead of Njenga�s release from prison. The sect is also planning a major cleansing ceremony at the palatial mansion next month.

Although Njenga�s claims over his links with the Government �emissaries� have neither been independently confirmed nor denied, Mr Odinga has called for negotiations with Mungiki members.

However, conflicting signals have since been sounded by Internal Security minister George Saitoti. He told Parliament early this month that the Government will uphold the rule of the law and protect the public against militia groups.

A number of leaders, including former Defence minister Njenga Karume, and former MPs Joseph Kamotho, Norman Nyagah, Jayne Kihara, and Macharia Mukiri have also rooted for the release of Njenga to kick-start negotiations with the sect members.

Police killings

They were united in condemning police killings of Mungiki suspects, saying the move would only make things worse.

However, leaders from other regions have suggested that negotiations with Mungiki, if they take place, should be extended to other militia groups in the country.

On Monday, Mr Odinga declined to comment on the matter. He described it as sensitive and beyond discussions through the media. His spokesman, Mr Salim Lone, sent a terse mobile phone text message to the Nation, indicating his boss was not keen on speaking on the issue.

Our efforts to get comments on the details of the meeting between Njenga, Fr Ndikaru, Mr Thande and Mr Waweru have not been successful.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.kbc.ke

Kibaki arrives in Japan

President Mwai Kibaki on Monday arrived in Yokohama, Japan for a four day official tour during which he will attend the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD).

During the visit President Kibaki will join other Heads of State and Government in the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD) that kicks off at Pacifico Yokohama Conference Centre, and also hold bilateral talks with Japanese officials.

TICAD seeks to strengthen recent positive trends in Africa in both political and economic areas and deliberations shall be centered on the theme “Towards a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity.”

Japan also seeks to support Africa in various sectors such as infrastructure targeting regional road networks and electric power, small and medium enterprises, tourism promotion, agriculture, health and education.

The President is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet Ministers Moses Wetangula, Wycliffe Oparanya, William Ruto, Kipkalia Kones, Amos Kimunya and Najib�Balala.

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no

��Mr Felicen Kabuga

The Kabuga saga may soon take a new turn now that the Rwandan authorities have shown interest by contacting API inquiring about the document from Mr F�licien Kabuga.

Speaking to API, the authorities confirm their readiness for talks with Kabuga, but insist that the man has no right to put forward any pre-conditions for the talks. They point out that they are�interested in Kabuga’s recent photograph and�a copy of the first�interview, if API has any audio copy.

Although the authorities are now showing interest in Kabuga’s planned surrender, Kabuga would not have liked to have his recent photograph delivered to the authorities before the start of the talks. The man may think the authorities are simply interested to know how he now looks after many years in hiding and will use the photo in their efforts to apprehend him.

The interest the government is now showing contradicts statements earlier made by some government officials who were quoted recently�by Rwandan Times newspaper saying the government will not negotiate with Mr Kabuga.

Now that there is a possibility for talks with the Government, the remaining question will be whether the authorities will insist on Kabuga attending the talks in person or if they will accept to deal with his appointed representatives.

We wrote yesterday that Kabuga would apply for asylum in Norway of the talks does not materialise between him and the Government of Rwanda. Now that the Government representative has taken the initiative to find out the details in Kabuga’s request, this serves as a sign of good will that talks may take place.

This will make it easy for Kabuga who is not enthusiastic to offer himself for�asylum�in Norway, owing to the fact that he gives a priority to live his last years in life in his home country.

Related stories:

• Mr F�licien Kabuga to apply for political asylum in Norway if the Government of Rwanda chooses not to�negotiate
• On Mr Kabuga: Letter to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, The Republic of�Rwanda
• Kabuga�s surrender: A test for the Rwandese�governmentFelicen Kabuga�s request to the Rwandese government will be channelled this�week
• Rwandese businessman hunted by ICTR requests API to deliver a massage to Rwandese Government. �I am ready to negotiate for a supervised surrender on agreeable terms�, says�Kabuga
• ready to talk: API would like to remind its readers that any person charged by any authority is presumed innocent until proven�guilty.
• The freezing of assets by a Kenyan judge causes Felicen Kabuga to ask for talks with Rwandese�government.
• Will Kabuga fight for his�wealth?
• Kabuga met with the Sudanese in Oslo on the 6th of�May.
• Rwandan government lauds Kenya for freezing of genocide fugitive�s�assets
• Sudan Donor Conference in Norway on 5-7 May: Rwandese Fugitive Felicen Kabuga got a private audience with two Sudanese�delegates
• Kabuga arrived in Norway on the 23rd of March this year after crossing the Swedish/Norway border in Svinesund by�car.

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African Press International – API

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

With many Burundi nationals who are asylum seekers in Norway, most of whom have been denied asylum in the country, the peace deal between the rebels and the government may now open the way for those who are denied asylum status to be returned to their home country. Most of them may find it difficult, however, to fit in if send back because they have stayed for many years outside their country.

Those who will face the problem are the ones who had used Burundi situation to apply for asylum and yet probably they do not come from there. If the Norwegian police decides to return them now that peace has been achieved in Burundi, they will have to give the correct information on where they actually come from in order to save themselves from being returned to a country they do not belong.

Burundi’s�government has signed a ceasefire agreement with�the National Liberation Forces (FLN), the country’s last remaining rebel group.

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The deal was reached on Monday, after almost six weeks of fighting that left more than 100 people dead and thousands displaced.�

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

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Mengistu, who ruled Ethiopia for 17 years, is living in exile in�Zimbabwe�[AFP]

Mengistu Haile Mariam, the former leader of Ethiopia, has been sentenced to death in absentia on genocide charges�by the country’s supreme court.

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Seventeen former officials from his government were also given death sentences on Monday, overturning a previous term of life imprisonment on appeal.�

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.aljazeera �

�Charges against Bemba specifically point to mass rapes allegedly�carried out by his forces [AP]

The charges against him specifically point to a campaign of killings and mass rapes of civilians allegedly carried out by his forces.

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Militia intervention

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Members of Bemba’s Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), who also fought in the DRC’s 1998-2003 war, intervened in Central African Republic in support of then�leader Ange Felix Patasse.

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The Central African Republic�president�was�battling opposition forces led by Francois Bozize, who subsequently toppled Patasse in a 2003 coup and is the current head of state.

Both Bemba, who had been in exile in Portugal, and Patasse, who lives in exile in Togo, deny the war-crimes accusations.��

There was no immediate reaction to Bemba’s arrest in�Brussels from the�DRC government, which has recalled its ambassador from�Belgium in a growing diplomatic dispute with its small former colonial ruler.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Karel De Gucht, the Belgian foreign minister, criticised Kabila’s government last month�over human rights, corruption and its dealings with China.

Pursuing suspects

Bemba is the first person arrested under an ICC investigation in the Central African Republic, which was opened by�Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the court’s chief prosecutor,�in May 2007.

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The ICC, which is based in The Hague and started work in 2002 as the world’s first permanent war crimes court, is also pursuing war crimes prosecutions against suspects in the DRC, Uganda and in Sudan, relating to its war-torn western Darfur region.

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The ICC says the�scars of abuse will�be hard
to�erase but�justice is possible�[EPA]

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He thanked Belgium for executing the ICC arrest warrant against Bemba.

Moreno-Ocampo visited�the Central African Republic�in February to hear testimony from victims of the sexual violence which accompanied the fighting in the capital Bangui in 2002-2003 between government troops and opposition fighters.

Rapes outnumbered other crimes, with young girls and old women being gang-raped in public places, the ICC said.

Warning to all

Moreno-Ocampo said Bemba’s arrest is a warning to all those who commit, encourage or tolerate sexual crimes.

“There are no excuses for hundreds of rapes. There are no excuses for the rape of a little girl, with her parents watching,” he said.

“There are no excuses for commanders ordering, authorising or acquiescing to the commission of rapes and looting by their forces.

“We have evidence that Mr Bemba committed crimes.

“I went to CAR, I met the victims, those who survived the violence, those who survived Aids. We cannot erase the scars.

“But we can give them justice … The victims will tell their stories in court.”

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API

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no

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

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Lebanese citizens now hope for a
stable future [AFP]

Michel Sleiman has called for unity in Lebanon after he was sworn in as the country’s new president.

The ex-army chief was�elected president on Sunday in a parliamentary session attended by foreign dignitaries including Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, who helped broker a deal to end�a�dispute between�rival factons.��

“Let us unite … and work towards a solid reconciliation,” Sleiman said in his inaugural speech.

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“I call upon all of you, politicians and citizens, to start a new phase called Lebanon and the Lebanese … in order to achieve the interests of the nation.”�

‘Path to salvation’

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“On this path to salvation, some valiant resistance and some courageous soldiers also offered their lives in order to defeat terrorism, Israeli aggression from south Lebanon to its north,” he said.

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“The achievements of the resistance should not be exploited in internal disputes.”�

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Fireworks exploded and�motorists hooted their car horns as crowds of people�waving Lebanese flags poured onto the streets of Beirut�and�Sleiman’s hometown of Amsheet to celebrate his inauguration.

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James Bays, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reporting from Lebanon,�said people were in a celebratory mood.

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‘Euphoria and celebration’

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“There is a feeling of euphoria and celebration among most of the people,” Bays said. “There is a really high sense of expectation for this new president.

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“Everyone from whatever background, from whatever political persuasion, whatever religious group has great expectations for this man. It might be hard for him to live up to them,” he said.

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Of those voting in Lebanon’s 127-member parlaiment, 118 voted in favour of Sleiman becoming president.

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Six of the ballots cast were blank, signifying a protest vote or reservations�over Sleiman’s election.

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Addressing the Lebanese parliament after the election, Al-Thani�said that Sleiman’s election was part of a process towards a lasting�peace in Lebanon.

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“The Lebanese [leadership], with its variety and diversity, acknowledged that there is no alternative but to reach an entente that will safeguard Lebanon’s security and interests,” he said.

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“All Arab nations will feel reassured that the dearest countires will be able to embark on a new era based on freedom.

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“Lebanon is the victor, Lebanon’s crisis is the vanquished.”

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‘Crucial selection’

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Rula Amin, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, said many Lebanese intellectuals said they would have preferred a civilian candidate, but many other observers believe the�selection of Sleiman was crucial in order to end the country’s political crisis.

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�She said: “It seems that for now both parties, both alliances have come to an agreement.

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“The question on many people’s mind is that is this a final settlement or just a truce?

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“There are still many issues that need to be resolved. For this moment in Lebanon’s history he is the best, fittest person to take the job.”

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The foreign ministers of Syria and Iran,�which back Hezbollah,�and European leaders were among the 200 dignitaries attending the parliamentary session.

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Sleiman’s election is part of a deal brokered on�Wednesday�in Doha, Qatar’s capital,�to end a political crisis that last month degenerated into violence.

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Sixty-five people were killed when armed supporters of the Hezbollah-led opposition took control of much of Beirut after the government moved to outlaw the group’s private communications network.

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The�clashes were the worst internal violence in Lebanon since the country’s 1975-1990 civil war.

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‘Reconciliation wedding’

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The Doha accord allows the opposition to�have veto power on key policy decisions in a new cabinet of national unity.

�The Qatari emir played an integral part in securing a compromise deal [AFP]

But while it brought the country back from the brink of civil war, it failed to address many key issues, including Hezbollah’s weapons stockpile.

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Fouad Siniora, Lebanon’s prime minister, said in an interview with the AFP news agency that he felt the deal was fair, especially in light of the latest violence that shook the country.

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“We all gave in [for the sake of] the country and at the same time we got something in return for the country,” he said.

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“One has to look at the Doha accord as a package. It is a recognition by everybody who signed … this agreement that weapons are in no way to be used against the Lebanese for political reasons.”

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‘Political will’

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Elias Hanna, a former chief of the Lebanese army, told Al Jazeera that Sleiman was a wise choice for the presidency.

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“I think Sleiman came as a solution for this country, that’s why we have this consensus,” he said.

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“There is a lot of criticism of the army and I do agree that there were a lot of deficiencies in the army. But [Sleiman's election] is a solution for Lebanon.”

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Earlier this week, Sleiman told Lebanese media that it would be impossible to “save the country on my own”.

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“This mission requires the efforts of all. Security is not achieved by force but joint political will.”

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The presidency has been vacant since November, when Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term with no elected successor because of political disputes.

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Nineteen previous parliamentary sessions to formally elect a new president failed due to boycotts by the opposition.

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Though many see Sleiman as pro-Syrian in outlook, in nearly 10 years as head of Lebanon’s armed forces, he has managed to avoid taking sides.

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As the new head of state, he will need to show he is a neutral figure if he is to reconcile the interests of the Western-backed parliamentary majority and the opposition.

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API

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