Does the practices of intervention entail an important paradox?

EAPI argues that despite notable significance and the emergence of the so-called “humanitarian intervention”, the logical responsibility to protect human life tends sometimes to dominate many debates on what can be done to stop the occurrence and the replica of atrocities among communities. This is to say that rebuilding political, economic and social order in the aftermath of an intervention is occasionally fraught with difficulty.

In “humanitarian intervention”, underlie international law and international relations being the dynamics of sovereignty and the inevitable question of selectivity during intervention. This triggers the question are external influences, authoritarian institutions, political cultures, propaganda proxy wars and the politics of hard sovereignty has something to do with the root causes of conflicts being witnessed in many East African Communities in the 21 century?

That, that is embedded in the so-called ‘international rescue’ from outside, sometimes neglects the role that local communities can play in protecting themselves in case of any eventuality. It’s therefore arguable that, a better understanding of the implications of the international intervention paradigm, and the proper scrutinization of the actual and the legitimate role played by international community; when assisting people help themselves in the face of massive violence, prompts some digging.

Moreover, the practices of intervention can be viewed to encapsulate an important paradox. Presumably, intervention at some point violates and reaffirms state sovereignty. For example, the 1994 Rwanda genocide and Somalia intervention after the fall of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 is arguably that three strategies — genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of human rights — function to legitimize intervention and serve as imperatives for action.

However, this asserts that intervention does not necessarily take place at the expense of state sovereignty. Rather, legitimization of intervention concurrently and convincingly combines as well as gives valuable  meaning to human sovereignty and state sovereignty.

Therefore Revisiting “humanitarian intervention” in this context, underpins that it forms no foundational building block for structural problems in the aftermath of the ‘outside intervention’ as it arguably fall outside the parameters of conventional wisdom. I mean, why? From a personal point of view, i think “humanitarian intervention” offers a mirror of global politics as they actually exist, and how the world is being manipulatively run in the name of “humanitarian intervention”.

For example, after President Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime was overthrown in 1991, in 1992, the US Marines arrived ahead of UN peacekeepers in an attempt to restore order in preparation for the humanitarian aid grounds to reach to the suffering-population in Somalia due to the famine that ravaged the country after the fall of Barre.

On the contrary, the “humanitarian intervention” ended disastrously when two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. After the US marines helicopter was short down, the Somalia warlords celebrated the death of 19 American soldiers who were in the helicopter. As a result, the US withdrew their “humanitarian intervention”. Did this withdrawal leave the so much touted US policies in ruins as well as Somalia in chaos up to date? Well, i guess so.

Therefore, what makes peace in Somalia so elusive up to date? After the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, Rwanda under the leadership of the current President Paul Kagame, managed fundamental restructuring of state-society relations.

To justify the argument mentioned above, if you visit Kigali-the capital city of Rwanda today, you will be amazed to find out that it’s one of the most cleanest city in Africa. May be Somalia needs to emulate Rwanda in that context, and restore law and order. Well, that is my say, what is your say?

The author of the article is Lesiamito Malino John, from Oslo, Norway. The author is a postgraduate student in Information Systems and Computing, and can be reached on Lesiamito@gmail.com

Certainly not service to their people or the country. If it were so we would have less of fraud committed on the Kenyan economy and the devolved funds which effectively devolved corruption. Moreover signs are that the devolved governments to counties as encapsulated by the new constitution will devolve kleptocracy, corruption and inevitably tribalism and nepotism coupled with inefficiency and discrimination. Kenyan politics is shameless. Yesterday reformists are today anti-reformists and oppressors.

What is certainly loosing focus are the huge economic challenges facing the country. No doubt the economy is growing and there have been significant reforms to spur growth and the numerous collapsed industries so revived is a great step in the right direction. Moreover considering the magnitude of the woes afflicting the Kenyan economy this has barely scratched the surface.

The massive poverty crippling the majority of Kenyan  is a harbinger for future instability. With or without a good constitution political stability is dependent on several other factors and amongst them the social wellbeing of the people. As the World Bank rightly states, some nations may look politically stable on the surface but deep underneath they are fragile and unstable due to the poor social economic status. This is the unfortunate circumstance in most of the African states Kenya included.

The problem in Kenya is not that there is lack of resources to be tapped. Indeed in terms of endowment Kenya simply lacks the lucrative mineral resources such as oil (for now) and the inadequacy of the others. Moreover in terms of many others where Kenya could draw huge strengths it is not lacking.  For instance to potential for tourism and business processes outsourcing is quite immense. Add this to agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing and education and you would get a picture of a sleeping giant. Moreover Kenya has a well-educated human resource base a great catalyst for development world all over. Japan, Switzerland and Singapore do not have any semblance of natural resources that Kenya does. Yet these are economic giants due to the tapping of the brain power of their people. Kenya’s problem? Politics.

The kind of politics practiced by her leaders it’s quite backward. Right now the greatest pre-occupation by a large segment of politicians is how to get or position their favourite tribal captain to propel him to state house with the exit of the incumbent president Mwai Kibaki. Indeed there is a lot of pretence, hypocrisy and shameless politics currently going on.

The agenda on leadership for some of the proposed or majority of those angling for presidency is not known. What looks almost certain is that it will quite difficult to find a good economic manager and reformer in most of them. After President Kibaki Kenya needs a very strong character, reformer, a strict and very focused economic manager. Kibaki kick started a very organized economic reform agenda which is slowly yielding fruits and the next president cannot afford to a be a  populist and the tribal type, the brand that is currently being marketed. The fixation with tribes and tribal groupings in Kenya is quite sickening. Methinks that the relatively well-educated youths should just forget about their tribes and starting focusing on looking for a leader who will revolutionise the politics and economy in the next regime.

To drive my point further, were it not that American got a very aggressive president Theodore Roosevelt at the beginning of the 19^th century it is probable the American industry, innovativeness and supremacy in global affairs would probably not have taken shape.  Theodore invented a quite aggressive, reformist and future focused style. Incidentally his own cousin  Fredrick Delano Roosevelt pushed the American to control global affairs and set another paradigm in power shift in favour of America. America was a bit lucky as  some of their previous presidents such Abraham Lincoln,  Thomas Jefferson, George Washington had  progressively placed America on a strong  foundation of  an open society, democratic and veered it to gaining internal strengths while encouraging  more individual freedoms and innovation. The American society has hardly looked back since then. This is the type of leader that Kenya’s deserve to inherit from Mwai Kibaki. It would be very unfortunate if the next occupant in statehouse would be the kind of opportunists, tribalists and myopic types that seem to exploit the gullibility of Kenyans top satisfy their own thirst and self-importance in occupying the coveted seat.

This nation is suffering from many maladies and the economic disparities and limited economic opportunities for the majority is a harbinger for instability in future. The passage of a new constitution was just  a start of another journey. It will not be successful without adequately addressing the serious economic woes that afflict the populace. Without giving opportunities to people to steer their lives comfortably and confidently there is nothing much of a country to talk about. In Kenya what we have is just absence of war. The crippling poverty evident all over the country poses a huge risk. But there is an opportunity to address all this in quite a revolutionary and peaceful manner. I throw the gauntlet to the massive number of youths who are quite a  knowledgeable based on the many interactions I have had with them. The battle lies with them to peacefully transform Kenya. Simply forget about the tribal politics perpetuated by the tribal charlatans.

By Harrison  Mwirigi  Ikunda, Nairobi-Kenya.

The writer is a Consultant and Researcher working for a Not for Profit Organisation in Kenya.

“Following Mr Gbagbo’s fall this week, it is crucial that Mr Ouattara now takes responsibility for putting an end to all violence and reprisals against Mr Gbagbo’s supporters and for protecting the civilian population against looting and abuse,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

On Monday, the former president of Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, was arrested and turned over to Alassane Ouattara, who won the Ivorian presidential election in November. There have been reports of violence and reprisals against Mr Gbagbo’s supporters in Abidjan since Monday due to the large number of armed groups still operating in the city, in many cases beyond the control of the parties to the conflict.

“We are pleased that the president elect can now take office. His most important tasks will be to foster reconciliation and get the wheels turning again in the country,” said Foreign Minister Støre.

The humanitarian situation that has arisen during the more than four months of conflict in the country is extremely serious.

Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim commented: “Mr Ouattara is facing a daunting task. I will travel to Côte d’Ivoire as soon as possible to discuss with the new president how Norway can contribute.”

Mr Ouattara won the presidential election in November last year, receiving 54% of the votes. Mr Gbagbo, who received 46% of the votes, has refused to step down, and has not acknowledged his defeat in the election.

By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Duty Press Officer:Date:   April 13 2011

- I note with great satisfaction the World Bank suggestion that the Palestinian Authority’s delivery of public services and implementation of reforms now compare favourably with those of many middle income countries, said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his capacity as Chair of the AHLC.

Meeting in Brussels today, the international donor group in support of the Palestinians (AHLC) welcomed reports that the Palestinian Authority has crossed the threshold for a functioning state in terms of its successful institution building. This was the assessment of the Palestinian Authority’s performance in key sectors studied by the World Bank, the IMF, and the UN.

- Moreover, according to the IMF, the Palestinian reforms have come so far that not only is the public financial management system ready to support the functions of a state; it has even become a model for other developing countries, said Støre.

The three-party cooperation between the Palestinian Authority, Israel and international donors within the AHLC framework has greatly contributed to the success of Palestinian state-building efforts.

The AHLC also reported sustained economic growth in the Palestinian Territory, which in 2010 reached an impressive growth rate of 9 %.

However, many donors noted that the lack of political progress leaves the negotiating track out of sync with the far advanced state-building efforts of the Palestinian Authority.

- This is why all parties concerned must stand firm behind the stated goal of negotiating a framework agreement on permanent status and a subsequent comprehensive peace treaty by the agreed target date in September, said Støre.

Støre also recalled the underlying mission of the AHLC, which is to work jointly towards the objective of bringing the peace process to its rightful end by backing up a two-state solution.

The AHLC welcomed the planned donor conference to be held in Paris in June 2011 in support of the Palestinian national development plan for 2011-2013.

Today’s AHLC meeting in Brussels was hosted by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and brought together Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli officials with representatives of key donor countries and Quartet Representative Tony Blair.

By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Duty Press Officer:Date:   April 13 2011

CHAD: Children conscripted by poverty

Photo: Madjiasra Nako/IRIN

The legal minimum age for voluntary recruitment is 18, with compulsory conscription at 20

NAIROBI, 12 April 2011 (IRIN) – “My father is old. At home we did not have enough for everyone, so I wanted to better our situation and join the army to help my family and my mother… After one year with the armed group FSR [Front for the Salvation of the Republic], I became commander of a group of 50 fighters. Maybe I was made the commander because I am literate; I could write and read. Then I had to join the government forces when our commander… decided to join the Chadian government.”

Mahamane, 13, was among dozens of minors interviewed by Amnesty International for a new report, who had joined the Chadian army and armed opposition groups in the east. The report found that 80 percent of the estimated 7,000-10,000 child soldiers recruited in Chad are associated with armed groups, while the remaining 20 percent are involved with the country’s armed forces. These UN estimates also indicate that they may have been used as combatants.

The legal minimum age for voluntary recruitment is 18, with compulsory conscription at 20.

“Some have been abducted and forcibly recruited. Others have joined up to avenge the death of family members or the pillage of cattle, or simply to escape poverty and the lack of education or job opportunities,” states the report. According to Amnesty, children are paid a one-off 10,000-250,000 CFA francs (US$20-$500) by recruiters. In refugee and displaced people’s camps, unemployed teenagers just out of primary school are most at risk, while in villages, children from poor backgrounds or whose family members are in the army or armed groups are likely to be recruited. In some cases, recruiters send children already in their ranks with cigarettes, money or nice clothes to camps to lure other children into joining.

The main reasons for children to join up are poverty and a lack of educational opportunities. The report identifies eastern Chad as one of the most impoverished regions of the country, “largely because of its harsh environment, decades of neglect by the authorities and now widespread insecurity”. Chadian law requires that both primary and secondary education be free of charge for all children (and mandatory to age 14), but the scarcity of schools and teachers in the region leaves most children without many options.

Recruitment is also a way for children to escape attacks on their villages by armed militia groups. Army commanders have been reportedly calling on the Dadjo community living in Chad’s Dar Sila region to send their children to the army as a way of protecting the community, states Amnesty.

Christian Mukosa, a researcher for Amnesty International’s Africa Programme, told IRIN that recruitment of children was not something new, but little had changed in recent years. “In 2007, UNICEF [UN Children’s Fund] evaluated that between 7,000 and 10,000 children were associated with armed groups, but by 2010, less than 900 were released from these forces and groups. This suggests that thousands of children remain in the hands of their recruiters. It was reported by the UN that 13 percent of children released from the armed forces and groups in 2007 and 2008 came from Chad’s National Army [ANT].”

A highly volatile political situation in the east of the country near the Sudanese border and the recent withdrawal of UN forces under the Chadian government’s directive in 2010 may have exacerbated the problem.

Photo: Anne Isabelle Leclercq/IRIN

At least 80 percent of the estimated 7,000-10,000 child soldiers recruited in Chad are associated with armed groups, while the remaining 20 percent are involved with the country’s armed forces, according to Amnesty International

Failure to implement laws

In October 2007, the Chadian government adopted a national programme for the release, transitional support and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups, but efforts to implement the plan have faced difficulties. The country is also party to international agreements, including the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that countries must take steps to ensure than children under the age of 15 do not take part in hostilities.

According to Amnesty, the main obstacles to implementing these commitments are “a lack of will by political and military officials to engage in the process”. There have been no prosecutions for child recruitment. Instead, says the report, “many of those suspected of recruiting children have been offered senior government posts, perpetuating impunity at the highest levels of government”. In 2006, the government signed a peace accord with the rebel group FUC (United Front for Democratic Change), extending an amnesty to all combatants and appointing some of its members to government.

Dingemadji Carlos, director of studies, legislation and litigation within the Ministry for Human Rights and the Promotion of Liberties, told IRIN that “the amnesty accorded to ex-rebels is the price we must pay for reconciliation and it is necessary for bringing about peace and stability”. He said the country became a theatre of civil war and external aggressions right after independence, and conflict continued to the present day.

Since 2003, eastern Chad has been involved with Sudan’s conflict in Darfur and militia groups from Sudan linked to rebel forces in the east have orchestrated attacks on civilian populations within Chad’s borders. A five-year proxy war between Chad and Sudan ended in January 2010 with a rapprochement, but the Chadian government continued to clash with rebel forces in the east.

IRIN In-Depth

Child soldiers Too small to be fighting in anyone’s war View In-depth

Carlos remains adamant that continuing insecurity in the east will not hamper government efforts to abide by its commitments. “We must wait from now until June for the next legislation to be enacted in order for the implementation of the code of protection for children to start again. The government has already submitted the bill to the Supreme Court for a judicial review.” He added that the government was elaborating a plan of action with the UN to help re-integrate children that have been demobilized from the ranks of armed groups and provide increased access to education.

“The government has launched an ambitious training programme for teachers of basic education as part of its policy on education in Chad. Twenty percent of the budget has been set aside for education,” he said.

So far, demobilized children remain vulnerable to re-recruitment even after they return home. While long-term efforts such as increasing stability in the east and implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child are imperative, Amnesty’s Mukosa suggests that resources be allocated to short-term measures. “There are things that the government can do in a short time such as building schools, appointing teachers, and creating youth and training centres,” he said.

zm/mw

source http://www.irinnews.org

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban rue ambulance attack

Photo: Akmal Dawi/IRIN

Use of ambulance by Taliban attackers was “perfidy” – ICRC

KABUL, 12 April 2011 (IRIN) – The use of an ambulance by Taliban suicide attackers in a raid on a police training centre in the southern province of Kandahar on 7 April has been acknowledged as a violation of war laws and the insurgents have promised investigations.

“This will not happen again,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told IRIN.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemned the use of a clearly-marked ambulance by the attackers.

“Using an ambulance for the purpose of deceiving the adversary in carrying out an attack constitutes perfidy. This is strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law and is totally unacceptable,” said Jacques de Maio, the ICRC’s head of operations for South Asia, in a 7 April press statement.

Several people, almost all of them security forces, were killed and wounded in the attack, according to provincial officials.

“By violating the neutrality of health care services, such acts of deception endanger medical personnel engaged in caring for the injured and sick in hospitals, clinics and rural health posts,” said the ICRC statement.

ICRC vehicle

Acknowledging the violation, the Taliban spokesman said the sanctity of health workers and facilities must also be equally respected by pro-government Afghan and foreign forces.

The ICRC said its emblem was a protective device intended to ensure respect for medical facilities and transport.

“The ICRC is not aware of such an incident but condemns any abuse of the emblem of the Red Cross or Red Crescent, when it occurs. No matter where, or how, abuse of the emblem occurs, it endangers ordinary people’s access to medical care and services,” Jessica Bary, an ICRC spokeswoman, told IRIN.

Taliban warning over “clinic”

In March the government upgraded the Badbakh area of the eastern province of Laghman to a district.

As there was no other government building to accommodate the newly-appointed district governor, he established his office in a clinic.

“We’ve called on the UN and the ICRC to get the district governor and his armed men out of the clinic otherwise we will attack it and we won’t be held responsible for any harm to civilians,” the Taliban warned in a statement on 1 April.

On 10 April, provincial officials told IRIN the district governor had been ordered to leave the clinic immediately. “There are no armed people and government offices in the clinic any more,” said Abdul Latif Qayumi, Laghman’s public health director.

However, Taliban spokesman Mujahid alleged that the district governor was using the clinic at night.

Health facilities and workers have often been attacked in the past few years resulting in diminished access to health in large parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Of the 28 NGO workers (20 Afghans and eight foreigners) known to have been killed last year, armed opposition groups were deemed to have been responsible for 22, the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office said.

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source http://www.irinnews.org

THAILAND-MYANMAR: Concern over refugee camp closure plans

Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN

Burmese have long fled to Thailand to escape conflict

BANGKOK, 12 April 2011 (IRIN) – Aid agencies in Thailand are concerned about a government plan to close a string of Burmese refugee camps along its western border.

According to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), a group of INGOs operating along the 1,800km-long border, about 142,000 Burmese refugees live in nine government-run camps.

“Any plans to close the camps at this point would be premature,” Jack Dunford, executive director of the TBBC, which provides food and shelter in the camps, told IRIN on 11 April.

“We all want the camps to close and for the people to return. But that can only happen when things in Burma change, allowing people to return in safety and dignity.”

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which has officially registered about 100,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand, agrees.

“It’s logical that the camps close in the future; however, the conditions need to be right on the other side,” said Kitty McKinsey, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Their comments follow media reports on 10 April that Bangkok planned to close the camps following the recent handover of power to a new government in Myanmar.

“They [the Burmese refugees] have been in Thailand for more than 20 years and it became our burden to take care of them,” National Security Council chief Tawin Pleansri reportedly said.

“I cannot say when we will close down the camps but we intend to do it,” he said, speaking after a meeting of the government security body chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

“We are now in the process of discussion with the Myanmar government.”

According to UNHCR, there are about 100,000 registered refugees in Thailand, and some 9,000 asylum-seekers in Thailand.

Most refugees are ethnic minorities from Myanmar, mainly Karen and Karenni. The bulk of assistance at the camps is provided by NGOs, while UNHCR focuses on protection activities and programmes to ensure they are safe in the camps.

The agency also advocates that the refugees be given greater liberty to come and go from the camps, particularly to work in Thailand’s labour-short economy.

Since the launch of a third-country resettlement programme in 2005, more than 58,000 Burmese refugees have been resettled from the camps, mostly to the United States, Canada and Australia.

Resettlement features prominently in UNHCR’s strategic plan for assisting Burmese refugees in Thailand.

ds/mw

source http://www.irinnews.org

- Joining the WTO as an observer would contribute to fostering the Palestinian Authority’s capacity to build up a framework for export-led economic growth, said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his capacity as Chair of the AHLC.

Meeting in Brussels today, the international donor group in support of the Palestinians (AHLC) recommended that the Palestinian Authority seek observer status in the WTO.

International donors also called on the Palestinian Authority to develop long-term strategies and advance trade-related institution building.

Today’s AHLC meeting in Brussels was hosted by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and brought together Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli officials with representatives of key donor countries and Quartet Representative Tony Blair.

By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Duty Press Officer:Date:   April 13 2011