As we mourn with China

Year 1998: My dear mum's leg is blown into tatters by a land mine made in they know wheres and planted by bedeviling agent supreme Mr. Joseph Kony.

Year 2008 and today while an amputee proper, Ms. Margaret Orech is today one of many many others who advocates that land mines should be banned from planet earth. And so should be in Dublin, Ireland.

The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions to negotiate a new instrument of international humanitarian law banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians will take place from 19-30 May 2008.
- Micheál Martin T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs

We need them land mines and cluster munitions and other unexploded ordinances banned from the surface of the world and here is the problem ... Mr. Brown is a Prime Minister of the United States of America.

Britain has been accused of being the main barrier to an international treaty that would ban cluster bombs, weapons responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.

British soldiers fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq would face criminal prosecution if the government goes ahead with plans to sign a treaty limiting the use of cluster bombs ... (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)

No brown lining expected even as we hopeless show solidarity with China's victims of the earthquake in Beichuan, Sichuan Province, China Monday morning, May 19, 2008.and so send condolences Salam Taki.

The earthquake was well beyond us and the banning of the cluster munitions, made by us - well them, we can ban cluster munitions if we so wish but the cluster munition nuisances are not in London, are not wrecking havoc in New York so two gentle nations' policy will not see the reason for banning them anyway. This is selfishness on the part of firstly, the United States of America, and secondly and potentially, Great Britain and allies.

Shame on you all who perpetuate havoc, abet terrorism of a kind and make the world a hell for thousand of others in Africa, Middle East, Asia and South America.

CheMarleyMahatMandelAungSanSuuKyi Rights

It seems the State, the governments, corporations and man made systems have connived against the citizen in the twenty first century. Phone and communication system eavesdropping /tapping, censorships and arrests in Uganda, in the Sudan as it is in Burma and world over is nothing but systematic rape, grander act of terrorism against the citizens today.

But look, the heart of governments, states, technology and corporations are fellow citizens and what do I do in the end? I censor and rape my own conscience.
Aung San Kyi:

Fear is not the natural state of civilised people.

Mahatma Ghandi:

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.

Citizens are terrorising others and themselves for merely positions, and the pay.

Che:

If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade ...

We can free ourselves. Something is possible as I listen to Bob Marley's redemption Song redone by Cassandra Wilson. Play and feel or read the lyrics below as we reflect.

Redemption Song - Bob Marley
Old pirates, yes, they rob i;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took i
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the and of the almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? ooh!
Some say its just a part of it:
Weve got to fulfil de book.

Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! have no fear for atomic energy,
cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say its just a part of it:
Weve got to fulfil de book.
Wont you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom

Salam Taki SPLM convention, Khartoum attack, Yes New Sudan

Salam Taki: It is absurd that this site hasn't been updated through out the month of April year 2008! But let it be said. Salam Taki was being blogged using Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) internet resource but as of now as it was three weeks ago, the entire GoSS ministries have had not internet! It is an e-blackout! The blackout coupled with remote travels made it impossible for Salam Taki to be updated. Salam Taki goes now ...

An e-blackout? A government without internet connection must be dark in there and it is a mockery of a government that GoSS is. How can an entire government in the information age lack internet communication? How are they coordinating business? Imagine the US government without internet? Imagine a Rwanda without the internet. Add India, Malaysia and NASA without 21st century communication systems. Horrible stuff really. Lets look into the manner the second Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention is being organised.

The very first SPLM convention after the demise of Dr. John Garang, the more critical convention for the hope of a people, the only second SPLM Convention of all times, how would they organise and mobilise for it? How many delegates expected? Over 1,500. key stakeholder? A people so improvised by decades of war and yearning. Where? in Juba, Sudan. Where exactly? A cultural centre near a filthy customs area. Rate the convention organisation and mobilisation out of ten: 1.7 out of ten! 10.7%. Pun it and it is still alright, somebody should be fired, posters were seen being pinned on the d-day.

In the midst of the 2nd SPLM below par organisation, coordination and mobilisation, the Interim National Council (INC) meet which precedents the grand convention had to be postponed and so did the grander meet. That some delegates had not arrived yet. On a Saturday, when and near the venue where the INC meet was to take place, bulldozers were still seen demolishing Ugandans' market place structures at customs in the name of making a healthier environment out of filth. Hell dust raising, cholera in the neighbourhood, women rescuing their belonging, a man wonders and what does one later hear over BBC? Talk about taking Darfur to Khartoum. Khartoum, the fore safest city in Africa was under mortar attack.

So the INC meet was postponed and so did the grand strategy meeting of the people. The INC meet today 12th May 2008 and somewhere else home and away. The slogan? No for war yes for New Sudan. Beautiful slogan it isn't. Yes New Sudan. A New Sudan would heal the wounds of Sudan so goes the wish as one laments the tragedy that befell GoSS leadership in air crash.

Rocking the boat

I think ICT for Development is hocus pocus. Treachery of the highest order. Period. ICT in development seems better. The ICT industry is the most lucrative man made industry on planet earth. Has an African country or African private sector created one? Why haven't we?

Hi Malaysia and Singapore, how did you accomplish it? You embedded it I quess. This business of spending hoplessly on information systems whose failures are so obvious is a waste of African opportunities to have ICT in development.

Information Systems designed in New York, partially financed by the bank, and implemented in one of Africa's rural areas for reasons because but not local, is nothing but pathetic. Oh yes, the Consultant who came from abroad, show me your systems analysis report. Are there ICT projects that was ever cancelled midway in Africa and the foreign consultant took credit.

I think I hate presidential elections in Africa. What Africa needs is leadershipand just not a popular fellow to preside over a system so rotten as most African states are. Something is wrong with African democratisation processes.

Look at Zimbabwe. Some body not will soon be the president but certainly not a leader for that hopeless economy. This business of creating H.Es i.e. Horrible Excellencies who presdie over Africa's demise should stop. Hi Mwai. Hi. I have no tribe, I am Sudanese! I like that blogger! A Sudanese.

I long for that day the phrase I have no tribe will be a mantra in Africa and similar place with tribes. No tribes please. Tribalism in Africa is divisive and so are the religions. I have no religion, I belong to God. Ruhanga in Rukiga, Obanga in Luo, Rabuna in Southern Sudan, Allah in Arabic, Jah for the Ras, ... whatever name you call that suprema, I hate religion and love God.

Those who like me are like me, and I like them pun that. We are similar and true we eventaully become friendly to each other. And those who love me? I love you too. I have no tribe. I have no religion. I am from Africa. Am I in denial? Information systems should be local in its demand, and design. Africa with African solutions.

Broken news: Governance in Southern Sudan

SPLA's General Salva kiir Mayardit has met with the governors of the ten states that make up Southern Sudan. The speakers of the respective states parliaments are also meeting. The premises of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly is a no go zone to many. Not invited!

Notably at the governors forum is the first female (not woman!) governor of Western Equatoria State. She also happens to be the first female governor in Southern Sudan! Her Excellency, Jemma Nunu Kumba. Congratulations! What a women's field day it must have been! But to those 'men' in Southern Sudan who think their manhood could have disappeared, one would advise them nor to panic. You are still males and she is the governor! Give her due respect! R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Respect.

I don't know the definition of a man nor that of a woman. I am gender aware. Thanks to WOUGET. I still have that certificate! And I still recall, when after the Gender and ICT policy workshop break in Hotel Africa, Mr. Aramanzan Madanda asked all of us spell the words "Man and Woman" using our waists! It was an exercise indeed - males and females spelling with their waist! Anyway, I have the cert. and its in my Cv! Oh yes, the sterotyping is giving way! It is a new reality.

Back to Southern Sudan. Of all those governors Gen. Salva met, I will point out the governor of Jonglei State! Lt. Gen. Eng. Kuol Manyang Juuk! Let me quote from the Sudan Tribune Website:

Women in Jonglei state will enjoy 50% reduction on charges related to business and maximum protection from women rights violation, ....

... Governor Kuol declared outlining that this will help women to feed their children, educate them, maintain good health status but not for alcohol.

... also assured women of maximum protection against early - forced - expensive marriages, oppression, domestics work loads and assaults ...

Oh yes, there is somebody who gets things moving in Jonglei State, in Southern Sudan! No child shall be seen herding cattle in Jonglei State. All must go school! No more tribal skirmishes state.
Anybody well conversant with Southern Sudan knows that this one general means what he says!

Your excellency, I support you many a times! Down with tribalism. Down with corruption. Down with nepotism. To the health of a nation, and a people, keep up the good fight. Salva, the people's are entrusted with you.

Hey! I am not a public relations executive for anybody in Southern Sudan! Nor is Pernille the Marketing Executive for Tanzania! even if Louder than Swahili! We express ourselves!

Let me quote Gurtong.com

Manyang also warned Bor’s population that any intimidation of town surveyors by armed men would not go unpunished.

On separate development, religious leaders of Bor-Murle joined hands in Bor town in calling peace between two communities.

Bor (a place and home to some Dinkas and the late Cdr. Garang) and the Murle people are in Jonglei State.

There is leadership in Southern Sudan. To the newly appointed governor of Western Equatorial State, I say you have to cause development where others failed! You have to bring an end to tribalism which is otherwise ruining the former golf courses of the colonialists in Maridi, and Western Equatorial State.