VOA News: Africa: African Union: Strengthening Democracy Beyond Mali

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

African Union: Strengthening Democracy Beyond Mali Apr 10th 2012, 05:01 The African Union Commission peace and security director said the AU's stance against Mali's coup leaders is part of a continuing effort to strengthen the continental body's capacity against unlawful leadership changes in Africa. El Ghassim Wane told VOA in an interview this week the AU is making "continuous efforts" to "strengthen its capacity to deal with all kinds of unconstitutional changes to governments". Wane said democratization "is a process that African countries have embarked upon for two decades now, and we have made a lot of progress." But he acknowledged there have been setbacks along the way. Mali's recent coup was a relatively clear cut example of an illicit power grab, prompting a swift and severe response from the AU and regional bloc ECOWAS. Some situations are more ambiguous. In the Gambia, opposition parties have protested the results of last month's legislative election in which President Yahyeh Jammeh's party earned an overwhelming victory.  The main opposition parties had boycotted the poll, saying manipulations and intimidation by the ruling party and the military made a fair vote impossible. The preliminary report from the AU observer mission said the vote was generally peaceful and lawful. But it also cited serious irregularities, including the opposition boycott, as well as cases of intimidation, a gross imbalance in the financial means of the incumbent and his challengers, and the uneven allocation of public funds. But the AU has not called for repercussions against the Gambia or refused to recognize the results. In contrast, the AU suspended Ivory Coast and imposed sanctions against  the West African country after President Laurent Gbagbo claimed victory in a presidential election that many international observers said had been won by his opponent,  Alassane Ouattara. Mr. Ouattara was sworn in as president after Ivorian forces, with support from the French military and United Nations peacekeepers, ousted Mr. Gbagbo. The AU commission's Wane stressed that democratization is a process that is conducted at national levels. He declined to comment specifically about the AU's response to the Gambian polls. Wane said the AU does monitor the conduct of elections across the continent. And he said, "globally, we see that a lot of progress has been made, and the commitment by the AU and African countries to deepening the democratization process is really clear." Wane continued, "commitments have been made in the context of the AU and the challenge of course for all concerned is to make sure that those commitments are implemented" as Africa pursues its democratization agenda." Media files: Reut_MaliConflict_4apr12-resizedpx300.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) reuters_mali_soldiers_230_30march2012.jpg butty-au-democracy-beyond-mali-wane-10april12.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: USA: Two Arrested for Shootings of Black Residents in Tulsa

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Two Arrested for Shootings of Black Residents in Tulsa Apr 10th 2012, 01:57 Authorities in the central U.S. plains city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, have charged two men with murder in connection with shootings Friday that left three black people dead and two others wounded. Bail for the two suspects was set at $9.1 million. Police arrested the two suspects without incident early Sunday morning, putting an end to two days of anxiety in Tulsa's black community. The two suspects are 19-year-old Jake England and 32-year-old Alvin Watts. Tulsa police spokesman Jason Willingham tells VOA that the arrest of the two suspects has brought relief to a city where black residents in particular were worried about more violence. "Obviously there is still a lot of investigation to do, there are still a lot of questions that we are looking for, so we are not done; but having these two guys in custody really helps," he said. On Sunday, ministers from African-American churches gathered with ministers and representatives of other communities in a service to commemorate the shooting victims. The Reverend Warren Blakney said such incidents are a threat not only to blacks, but to the entire city. "When one person is lost in our community, it diminishes all of us. We are affected by the death. We are affected by the shooting. We are affected by what happened," he said. The shootings in Tulsa's black neighborhoods came at a time when questions were being raised about the shooting of a black teenager in Florida by a Hispanic man who was part of a neighborhood watch group. Although Tulsa has not had any major racial problems in recent years, the city does have a stain in its history from a 1921 riot, in which mobs of white men attacked blacks, who fought back. Unofficial tallies of the dead run as high as 300, with blacks making up the majority of victims. But Jason Willingham says the legacy of that tragedy has spurred the community to promote racial harmony and to act quickly to deal with incidents like last week's shooting spree. "Certainly the 1921 race riot is something that, obviously, we are not proud of; however, because those events occurred, we are a better community today. I would not even come close to describing Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a hotbed for racial tension. While we have our problems, just like any community, I would say it is a peaceful community and racial tension is minimal," he said. Although both suspects appear to be white, an acquaintance of Jake England describes him as being of Cherokee Indian descent. A large percentage of people in eastern Oklahoma have Native American blood because the area was used for relocation of eastern tribes in the 19th century before Oklahoma became a state. England's father died two years ago after being shot by a black man, and police say revenge may have been a motive in this case. Friends of the 19-year-old suspect also say he was emotionally distraught by the suicide of his fiance in January. In postings England reportedly made on Facebook last week, he used a racial slur in referring to the man who killed his father. African-American community leaders say they believe the shooters were motivated by racial prejudice, given the fact that all the victims were black, but they praise the police for having responded quickly to stop further violence. Media files: tulsa.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) tulsa300.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Kenya Launches Inquiry into PM Assassination Plot

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Kenya Launches Inquiry into PM Assassination Plot Apr 10th 2012, 01:46 Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) says police will begin investigations Tuesday into an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga ahead of next year's general elections. Keriako Tobiko pledged justice would be served, if the allegations prove true. "These are very serious allegations indeed, particularly at this time when the country is just about to get started in preparing itself for the next general elections," said Tobiko. "[If] it does turn out that there is evidence to support the allegations, then all those who are involved or implicated [will] face the full force of the law." But Tobiko said the member of parliament who made the allegation, Jakoyo Midiwo, needs evidence to support his claims. "I hope that the honorable member of parliament - when he speaks about these very extremely grave allegations - that he has evidence to support the allegations." said Tobiko. Kenya's new constitution grants the DPP power to request a prompt police inquiry into the assassination plot. Tobiko said he consulted with police commissioner Mathew Iteere before officially ordering the investigation. The east African nation is scheduled to hold presidential, parliamentary and local elections on March 4, 2013. These will be the country's first elections since the 2007 to 2008 post-election violence. The unrest left at least 1300 dead and displaced more than 300,000 others. Tobiko said the post-election violence is still fresh in the minds of citizens. "In my office, we are not yet through with the episode of 2007 and 2008, and we can ill-afford as a country a repeat of what happened. We need to be accommodative of each other's political opinion and political affiliations," said Tobiko. Analysts have expressed concerns the plot accusation could heighten ethnic tensions, which they said could plunge the country into another round of violence ahead of the vote. Tobiko said his office would not take a false accusation lightly. "We cannot afford in this country to entertain reckless utterances…if it turns out that the honorable MP is simply trying to incite or excite the public - inflame the ground for political motivation - then there is a law that will be applied irrespective of the political affiliations that anyone of those parties belong to." Some Kenyans say the politically connected often get away with impunity, despite being accused of crimes. But Tobiko insisted any proven perpetrators will be punished, regardless of their political connections. Media files: AP Kenya PM Raila Odinga file photo 17Jan11 480.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) AP110103116874_TEASE_Kenya_Odinga_03JAN11.jpg clottey-kenya-pm-assassination-inquiry-tobiko-10april2012.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Africa: African Musicians Forced to Cancel Concerts After US Visa Hurdles

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

African Musicians Forced to Cancel Concerts After US Visa Hurdles Apr 10th 2012, 00:35 Two members of popular Ghanaian hip-hop group Fokn Bois, artists Wanlov the Kubolor and Mensa, were invited to play shows in New York City this year. After performing at venues throughout Europe and South Africa, they said a trip to the U.S. to visit another side of their worldwide audience should have been a routine matter. But the duo was forced to cancel the concerts when U.S. officials denied Wanlov a visa. "I applied in Accra, and I was denied a visa," he said. "They are telling me the reason they are denying me a visa is because I have a son and a wife that are American and live in Los Angeles, and because I've never applied for a green card. So the only way I can come to America is if I apply for a green card." Wanlov had applied for a performance visa.  A green card is an immigrant visa for applicants intending to live in the US. But Wanlov said he has no intention of moving and just wants to play shows for his American fans. The Ghanaian group is not the only act from West Africa that has been forced to cancel U.S. concerts because of visa difficulties. Sierra Leonean musician Sorie Kondi was invited to play at the popular South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas earlier this year. Though Kondi was not denied a visa, he was not granted one in time either. He submitted his paperwork at the U.S. embassy in Freetown with what he was told was sufficient time for processing before his trip. But as the concert dates approached with no word about his visa application, Kondi was forced to cancel for fear he would not get the visa in time. "A week before the proposed trip, they actually approved the visa, but by that time it was kind of off the table," said Boima Tucker, a New York-based DJ who was collaborating to help Tucker make it to the US. "We had cancelled all the gig plans and the airline flight would have been way too expensive at the last second. And plus Sorie needs to travel with a caretaker and so all the costs are double, because he's blind." Wanlov said problems like these make it hard for popular African musicians to play in the U.S., no matter what level of success they enjoy. "We do shows all the time all around the world," he said. "For me it's a very silly situation that I've been put in. I was just invited to come there for a week, financially I'm stable. I've seen over 20 countries in the past three years, from the music and from touring and stuff and yet there's this whole notion that I want to move to the United States." Wanlov said U.S. consular officials told him his only options were to apply for a green card or get a divorce, so he does not foresee future U.S. tour dates. But bandmate Mensa said the group is hopeful they will manage to get to the U.S. one day. Tucker said Kondie is hoping to schedule new performances for later this year. He will have to reapply for a new visa. Media files: us_visa_480x300_photoscom.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) Visa_teaser_photos.jpg SHRYOCK-04-10-2012-GHANA-MUSIC-DBA-SHRYOCK-WANLOV.Mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Africa: Ethiopian UN Security Official On Trial for Terrorism

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Ethiopian UN Security Official On Trial for Terrorism Apr 10th 2012, 00:27 An Ethiopian national working for the United Nations in the restive Ogaden region is being tried on terrorism charges for allegedly having links with an outlawed rebel group. The defendant was arrested last year after helping to negotiate the release of two kidnapped U.N. aid workers. U.N. security officer Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan appeared briefly in an Addis Ababa courtroom Monday. His case was continued until May 15. Hassan was arrested last July under Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law. A charge sheet seen by VOA accuses him of intent to forcefully overthrow Ethiopia's government as a leader of the banned Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Weeks before his arrest, Hassan had been involved in negotiations to free two employees of the U.N. World Food Program. The pair had been kidnapped and held for more than six weeks by unknown gunmen after their vehicles were ambushed during a mission to monitor food aid distribution in Ethiopia's drought-stricken Ogaden region. One of their WFP colleagues was killed in the ambush and another was badly wounded. The government accused the ONLF of carrying out that attack. But the ONLF strongly condemned the incident, calling it "cowardly and cold-blooded." A statement emailed to journalists alleged that government forces had attacked the WFP vehicles after the humanitarian workers stumbled upon evidence of mass murders by government troops. A government spokesman called the allegations "preposterous." The competing claims could not be verified because Ethiopia sharply limits access to the Ogaden region, where a counterinsurgency operation is under way. Sources close to the case say that as a senior U.N. security officer in the region, and a Somali speaker, Hassan played a crucial role in communicating with whoever kidnapped the WFP workers. But the government has presented as evidence transcripts of telephone conversations suggesting he had been taking orders from an exiled senior ONLF official. In a telephone interview, the U.N. country representative for Ethiopia, Eugene Owusu, cautioned not to make too strong a connection between the case of the abducted workers and Hassan's arrest. "The premise of your point is that any difficulties he has have to do with his role in the incident that took place," said Owusu. "I think that is not quite correct. The issue is, one has to be careful and not misinterpret this to mean that it is totally and directly linked to that incident." Owusu said U.N. agencies have been in close touch with the Ethiopian government to ensure Hassan's rights are protected. "This is something we've been working with the government intensively to ensure that the proper privileges and immunities are respected, and there is open sharing of information between the government and ourselves on this issue," he said. The anti-terrorism law under which Hassan is charged has been sharply criticized by human rights and media freedom groups, who say it can be used to suppress political dissent. Government spokesmen reject that charge, arguing that the law is based on similar statutes in other countries. The ONLF has been fighting since 1984 for autonomy of the Ogaden region, which borders Somalia. The rebel group was among five organizations outlawed as terrorists last year, shortly before Hassan's arrest. Media files: Ethiopia_Curious_Map.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Obamas Host Annual White House Easter Egg Roll

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Obamas Host Annual White House Easter Egg Roll Apr 9th 2012, 23:46 President Barack Obama joined thousands of children and their parents Monday for an American springtime tradition - the White House Easter Egg roll. Special guests at this year's lawn party included the Easter Bunny and U.S. Olympic champions. And as always, the highlight was the age-old sport of the Easter Egg roll, where youngers were egged on by the president to cross the finish line first. Joined by the first lady, Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, Mr. Obama read from the classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are. He also took part in a basketball shootout contest with the Harlem Globetrotters. The theme of this year's Easter Egg Roll was "Let's Go, Let's Play, Let's Move," as part of Mrs. Obama's fight against childhood obesity. President Rutherford B. Hayes hosted the first White House Easter Egg Roll in 1878. Media files: easter49-300.jpg WHITE_HOUSE_EASTER_EGG_ROLL__550990.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Middle East: Turkey Denounces Cross-Border Attack on Syrian Refugees

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

Turkey Denounces Cross-Border Attack on Syrian Refugees Apr 10th 2012, 00:05 Ankara has reacted angrily to an incident Monday in which Syrians were shot while seeking refuge in Turkey, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman warning that "necessary steps" will be taken if such incidents are repeated. The incident comes as Syrian forces intensify their crackdown on the opposition ahead of Tuesday's United Nations cease-fire deadline. The Turkish government strongly condemned Monday's incident, accusing the Syrian military of firing on Syrian refugees after they crossed over into Turkey. The incident occurred at the Kilis refugee camp on the Syrian border. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal says it was an unprovoked attack. "Some Syrian civilians were trying to enter the Turkish border, [when] some of them were wounded and shots were fired at them. Two of those injured have died after entering Turkey. And two of the Syrian nationals who were inhabitants of the camp in Kilis were wounded. One police offer and a Turkish female translator working in the camp were also slightly injured," Unal said. The Syrian charge d'affaires was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry to receive a formal complaint. Ankara is becoming increasingly alarmed over the deepening Syrian conflict and the growing numbers of Syrian refugees fleeing into Turkey. Observers expect Monday's shootings to add to that sense of alarm. Foreign Ministry spokesman Unal says Damascus has been warned there can be no repeat of such events. "All the Syrian nationals or who've escaped from the persecution from Syria are under Turkey's full protection, and if these affairs are repeated, we will take necessary measures," Unal said. Unal refused to say what those necessary measures might be. But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned last month that if the crisis in Syria continues, his government is considering creating a safe haven in Syria for refugees from the conflict. Unal said that option remains on the table. "No announcement has been released on that issue so far. That is one of the options we have been considering," Unal said. Last week, Prime Minister Erdogan warned his country is prepared to take steps against Damascus if the current United Nations efforts to resolve the conflict fail. According to Turkish observers, that seems increasingly likely. Instead of winding down their operations in compliance with Tuesday's U.N. cease-fire deadline, Syrian security forces have escalated their crackdown. Damascus has also made last-minute demands for the Syrian rebels to lay down their weapons before Syrian security forces withdraw. The rebels have rejected that demand. Media files: reuters_turkey_kilis_refugee_camp_syria_480_09feb2012.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) Gold-Sysria-Turkey-Kilis-300.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: New Submarine Cables Set to Revolutionize West African Internet

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

New Submarine Cables Set to Revolutionize West African Internet Apr 9th 2012, 21:36 Slow downloads and faulty Internet connections could soon become distant memories in West Africa. Two underwater fiber-optic cables stretching from Europe down the western coast of Africa are set to go online in mid-2012. The cables will bring faster, and likely cheaper, broadband Internet to nearly every country in the region. Patricia Oben runs an international trade and consultancy firm in Douala, Cameroon. She pays nearly $100 each month for the best Internet connection available, which she describes as one step up from "snail speed."   "I try to send sometimes 60 pages. That might take you anything up to 18, 20 hours, which means that sometimes at night you set it up and you keep your fingers crossed that sometime in the middle of the night it will not just stop working. Sometimes it takes more time to use the Internet than to use DHL. I sent a CD to India. The CD got there before we could finish uploading. Three days. It's incredibly frustrating. A lot of time wasting and money wasting," she said. Oben says her firm has lost sales because she could not access catalogues or information in time. But that could all change in just a few months as two extensive submarine fiber-optic cables are to set to bring faster and more reliable broadband Internet to Cameroon and 18 other countries along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Seven of those countries, including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, will get broadband access for the first time after years of relying on slower and more expensive satellite links. Paul Brodsky is a senior analyst at the Washington-based market research firm, Telegeography. Broadband Internet, he says, is actually a vast global "plumbing" of fiber-optic cables. "It is quite literally strands of glass that are no thicker than a human hair through which pulses of light, laser light, get shot through. These very high frequencies of laser light carry the information, the data, between computers in West Africa and Europe, North America and the rest of the world," he said. The strands of glass are twisted in pairs, encased in protective layers of steel and rubber and then run along the ocean floor from global network hubs in Europe. Eight West African countries, including Cameroon, are already connected via the older and slower SAT-3 cable and the Nigeria-based MainOne cable, which came online in mid-2010. Brodsky says the two new cables will each have potential capacities of 5.12 terabits a second - more than the region may likely ever need. "Those benefits should translate to lower pricing for consumers and businesses who need access to the Internet, as well as improved bandwidth," he said. However, he said telecom monopolies in some countries could keep consumer prices high, at least in the short term, though overlaps in coverage could also foster competition. National governments and private telecoms, like MTN and France Telecom, are footing the more than $600-million bills for each cable. The Africa Coast to Europe, or ACE, cable will stretch 17,000 kilometers and land in 20 countries on its way from France to South Africa. The West Africa Cable system, or WACS, will measure 14,000 kilometers and hit 13 countries between London and South Africa. Hundreds of millions of dollars of terrestrial cables must also be built to connect rural areas and landlocked countries, like Mali and Niger, to the submarine network.    The economic impact could be huge. The World Bank says every 10-percent increase in broadband connection boosts economic growth by 1.38 percent. The WACS cable alone is expected to increase connectivity by more than 20 percent. Eastern and Southern Africa are a few years ahead of West Africa. A second underwater cable, SEACOM, went online on that side of the continent in July 2009. Harvard University professor and telecommunications expert, Calestous Juma, says he has already seen the results in his native Kenya. "We are starting to see the emergence of small enterprises that rely on high-speed Internet or broadband access. For example, small start-up companies in Kenya that are working on animation for Hollywood. Animators can get contracts from Hollywood, do the work in Kenya and ship the product back to Hollywood," he said. High speed Internet, he says, creates jobs, increases productivity and levels the playing field between businesses in developed countries and those in emerging economies. "Think of it as the equivalent of roads. When you build a road somewhere, you open up not just new possibilities, but it is a signal of hope to the people that there is actually a future. For the first time, they can think about being able to reach the rest of the world," he said. Analysts also expect better broadband connectivity to boost the already booming market for wireless 3G devices in Africa. Media files: fiber_optic_cable_photos_300x300.jpg

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VOA News: Asia: US Urges China to Convince N. Korea to Scrap Missile Launch

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

US Urges China to Convince N. Korea to Scrap Missile Launch Apr 9th 2012, 21:14 The Obama administration is urging China to help convince North Korea to abandon its planned ballistic missile launch. There are new concerns that North Korea may also be planning another nuclear test. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States continues to urge all countries that may have influence on North Korea - most notably China - to use that influence to make clear that they also disapprove of the planned missile launch and believe it will further isolate Pyongyang. As for Washington's message about the launch, Nuland said it is simple: Don't do it. "North Korea's launch of a missile would be highly provocative. It would pose a threat to regional security," said Nuland. "And it will be inconsistent with its recent undertakings to refrain from any kind of long-range missile launches." The most recent of those undertakings was a February agreement with the United States to resume nuclear inspections in exchange for food aid. That deal was broken by Pyongyang's announcement that it will launch a weather satellite in the next few days aboard an Unha-3 rocket. South Korean intelligence photos, obtained by VOA, also show what appear to be preparations for a third North Korean nuclear test. While she would not confirm that intelligence information, Nuland said another nuclear test "would be equally bad if not worse" than the missile launch. North Korea says launching a weather satellite is a purely civilian operation. But Nuland says U.S. negotiators made clear that any ballistic missile use would be a deal breaker. "They can't launch the thing without using ballistic missile technology, which is precluded by U.N. Security Council resolution 1874. So regardless of what they say about it, it's still a violation," Nuland said. U.S. officials hoped for more from this first deal negotiated with North Korea's new president, Kim Jong Un, who took power following his father's death in December. Victor Cha is the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. While North Korea's new president is thought to be assisted by top generals and an uncle, Cha says it would be a mistake to conclude that this decision came from anyone but the president himself. "The political culture of this place is such that any decision of national significance has always been taken by one person, and that is the direct descendant of the Kim Il Sung line," said Cha. "And so I think while he [may] have people around him who are helping him, in the end decisions are being made by this 28-year-old." Cha says the decision to break the February deal must be seen in light of North Korea's long pursuit of nuclear weapons. "Even though this may look like puzzling behavior, we have to think of it as part of a systematic program really that is decades-old to try to get to the point where they can deliver nuclear-tipped missiles anywhere in the world and basically try to achieve, in their own minds, the ultimate security umbrella," Cha added. With North Korea's determination to press ahead with its nuclear program, Cha says the resumption of six-party talks to resolve the dispute appears a long way off. "I don't think we are going to see any sort of return to the negotiations any time soon," Cha said. "If anything, I think the situation could get worse from here." Talks between North Korea, the United States, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan broke down in 2009, when Pyongyang expelled international inspectors before conducting its second nuclear test. Stemming North Korea's nuclear ambitions will be part of talks in Washington Wednesday and Thursday, when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosts foreign ministers from the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations. Media files: AP12040905829_Korea_Launch_09APR12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) AP12040905829_TEASE_Korea_Launch_09APR12.jpg

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VOA News: Asia: Analysts: New Burmese Parliament to Look Closely at China Relations

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

Analysts: New Burmese Parliament to Look Closely at China Relations Apr 9th 2012, 21:33 Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy secured a landslide victory in Burma's recent elections, and the opposition party will make its parliamentary debut in two weeks. Among the many questions the election results are raising is the possible impact they could have on Burma's relations with its biggest investor - China. China has long been a key ally of the Burmese government and, according to official estimates, has already pumped at least $15 billion in investments into Burma.   But, as Burma - which is also known as Myanmar - has begun to enact reforms over the past year, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, holding talks with ethnic minority rebels, and easing censorship, it also appears to be trying to lessen China's influence on its economy. "The China relationship was clearly a factor in the military government's decision to move toward democracy, but with Aung San Suu Kyi and sort of an opposition group in parliament, I suspect you'll see a lot more discussion about issues like that," Bower said. Ernest Bower is the director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "We know from interviews with Myanmar leaders and the business community that there was a feeling of claustrophobia in the country related to China's dominance," Bower said. Analysts say President Thein Sein's decision last year to call off the construction of a major Chinese hydropower project in northern Burma because of local opposition was in part an example of the desire to ease China's influence. Originally, the Myitsone Dam was slated for completion in 2017 and was expected to provide energy-hungry cities in China with power to meet their ever-growing demands. Now, the fate of the project remains uncertain. David Steinberg, a Burma expert at Georgetown University, says he expects China will continue to play a very important role in Burma's economy, but the Burmese president's Myitsone Dam decision shows there are limits. "I think it's in China's interest to play its cards very, very carefully. They didn't on the Myitsone Dam, but they may have learned a lesson. They really didn't believe that there was public opinion that could change the government in Myanmar, the government's position. And they have found out that there was in fact that," Steinberg said. China should also be concerned, Steinberg says, about the impact too much investment in Burma could have on Burmese national sentiment. He says there have been anti-China riots in the past, and foreign control of the economy has long been a sensitive issue there. "If they [the Burmese people] feel that the economy is once again under Chinese control, there could be a nationalist reaction. Already there is anti-Chinese sentiment growing in the country, and China recognizes the problem and must be careful," Steinberg said. Meanwhile, Burma is looking elsewhere for investment. In recent weeks, Burma has taken steps to loosen regulations for foreign investors in the country. This, Bower says, will not only increase investment opportunities, but will give Burma more options.   "Clearly one of the objectives of the government in opening was to enact economic reforms that would follow the political opening so that countries could bring new technology and capital into the country," Bower said. Analysts say Burma is very interested in making sure the United States and Europe are involved in that process and that the participation of ASEAN countries, Japan and Europe is broadened as well. But getting the investment into Burma from the U.S., as well as other countries, remains problematic because of sanctions. Media files: AP_burma_suu_kyi_9apr12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) AP_burma-230.jpg

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VOA News: Europe: Georgia's Stalin Museum to Focus on Dictator's Crimes

VOA News: Europe Europe Voice of America

Georgia's Stalin Museum to Focus on Dictator's Crimes Apr 9th 2012, 21:05 The museum in Josef Stalin's hometown in Georgia is changing its focus to highlight the atrocities that were committed during the Soviet dictator's rule. Georgian Culture Minister Nika Rurua said Monday the museum in Gori is incompatible with modern-day Georgia, which became independent in 1991. The museum was built in 1937 and includes the small house where Stalin was born. Stalin was born Iosif Dzhugashvili in Gori in 1878. He ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist from the early 1920s until his death in 1953. Historians say that during Stalin's rule, millions of people were executed, died in prison camps, or starved to death in famines caused by the forced collectivization of agriculture. But many older Russians revere Stalin as the man who defeated the Nazis in World War II and turned the Soviet Union into a superpower. Media files: ap_stalin_museum_480_eng_08apr12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) ap_stalin_museum_230_eng_08apr12.jpg

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VOA News: Middle East: UN: Syria Must Stop Assault by Tuesday

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

UN: Syria Must Stop Assault by Tuesday Apr 9th 2012, 20:37 The United Nations has reiterated its call for the Syrian government to comply with a Tuesday deadline for ceasing military action against civilian areas. But an escalation of violence fed withering hopes that the government would honor its commitments. With just hours to go before the Syrian army is to withdraw from towns and cities and cease using heavy weapons as the first step of a six-point peace plan brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, that plan looked in jeopardy as government tanks and helicopters reportedly attacked several cities, including the flashpoint towns of Homs, Hama, and Dara'a. Violence also spilled over Syria's frontiers Monday, when a Lebanese cameraman was shot and killed on the Lebanese side of the border by gunfire coming from inside Syria. Meanwhile, officials in Turkey said Syrian forces fired across their border at a refugee camp for Syrians, injuring several people. But despite the escalation, United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky remained adamant that the violence must cease by Tuesday. "That deadline has not shifted, nor has responsibility for the Syrian authorities to cease all military actions against the Syrian people, in line with the promises that they have made," he said. "They need to implement the promises and the commitments that they have entered into fully and unconditionally. That is something that has not changed and will not change - the deadline is as set out already." On Sunday, Damascus said it wanted written guarantees that the armed opposition would stop fighting before it pulls back its military under the terms of the Annan plan. It also demanded written assurances from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the three countries Syria accuses of funding and arming the rebels. Meanwhile, U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said based on Monday's violence, Washington is "not hopeful" Tuesday's cessation of hostilities would go forward. But she did not give up hope on Kofi Annan's efforts. "[Annan] is a highly respected diplomat. He put forward something that was accepted by the entire international community - which was not the state that we were in before he joined this effort - and that was accepted by Assad," she said. "The fact that it has not worked yet does not change the fact that having the international community increasingly united and increasingly willing to pressure Assad will not [sic] eventually bring him down. He will go down." Annan is traveling this week to Turkey and Iran to continue his mediation efforts via countries that have influence with both the Syrian government and the opposition. He said Sunday that the escalation of violence is "unacceptable" and urged the government to implement its commitments as the April 10 deadline draws near. Russia and China, which have until recently protected Syria from action in the U.N. Security Council, are also trying to keep the mediation efforts alive. Syria's foreign minister is due in Moscow for talks Tuesday with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov. China's foreign ministry spokesman has urged the government and rebels to honor their truce commitments. The United Nations estimates that more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the army began cracking down on anti-government protesters 13 months ago. Media files: Reuters_turkey-syria_4809march12-resizedpx480q100dpi96shp8.JPG (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) AFP_syria_turkey_camp_eng_230_9apr12.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Malians Organize Aid Despite Odds

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Malians Organize Aid Despite Odds Apr 9th 2012, 19:24 In Bamako on Sunday, scores of people gathered at a monument where youths held up signs with information about where Malians can drop donations. Led by Almahady Cissé, the group is preparing to send food, clothing, medicines and other supplies as part of a so-called "solidarity chain" of support for fellow Malians in the north. They're talking with local transport companies and NGOs about logistics for a humanitarian caravan that would pick up contributions in cities along the way, and Cisse says they plan to continue their sit-in until the first load is sent. But they know it won't be easy. Last week, Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants swept into northern Mali's three major cities - Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu - looting hospitals, markets, shops, NGO warehouses and even private homes along the way. Gao, reportedly the hardest hit by looting, has been the logistical hub for aid agencies serving the north. While many northerners were able to flee by truck, bus and pirogue, the situation remains dire for those left behind. Insecurity still an obstacle For Bamako-based benefactors as well as international NGOs, insecurity remains a big constraint on planned aid shipments. "The [Northern] territory is now controlled by Tuareg rebels and other armed groups," said former Timbuktu resident Abdoulaye Soumaïla Maïga, explaining that the situation may remain too risky to send an aid convoy. "We will not force things, but we must appeal to these groups so that aid can reach the people." It is critical, he says, that initial aid shipments are delivered by fellow citizens. "We want to show to the entire world that Malians can count on Malians for help," said Maïga. "Before any other assistance, the first must come from us. And we want our brothers and sisters in the north to know that the independence of a separate state announced by Tuareg rebels is not the reality - we remain a united Mali." ECOWAS mulls troop deployments Although the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is discussing possible troop deployments in northern Mali, Abdourahamane Touré, part of an association of northern natives, says that even if such a force could provide some stability for aid corridors, help must start moving now. "For now it's the responsibility of the armed groups occupying the north to create safe corridors for aid to get in," he said. "The time it will take for any international force to mobilize, many in the north would not survive the wait." But Michel-Olivier Lacharité, Mali program manager for Doctors Without Borders, one of the aid agencies still present in the north, points to two other primary obstacles. "It's very difficult to go everywhere we want and ensure a good space of work," said Lacharité. "And the second one is the accessibility to the population because they are scattered, or a lot of them moved out of the country." Unrest has severely disrupted economic activities in the north, he says, and these new difficulties come at the beginning of the lean season. According to Olivier Vandecasteele of Doctors of the World-Belgium in Mali, one of the few medical aid groups remaining in the north, some primary health care and nutrition screening is being provided. But, Vandecasteele warns, aid isn't arriving quickly enough. "It's really too little and currently too late," he said. "In the capital, basically everybody is reshuffling their cards and seeing how they can avoid such security incidents and try to regain some access, but this takes a long time once you've lost your operational capacity. I believe it will be still quite late, seeing the really difficult [current] isolation of populations of north Mali." Some transit lines running For those clamoring to flee northern cities despite the security risk, some Bamako transport companies are sending buses. Dramane Traoré, commercial director with Bani Transport - one of the bus companies with regular lines between Bamako and Gao - service was briefly interrupted after the attacks. "People in the north are suffering so we decided to take the chance to resume buses to Gao," he said. "We cannot abandon the population - this is our country, these are our people. There are no passengers for Bamako to Gao, but we fill up the tanks [and] make the trip to help those who want to get out." Media files: Reuters_mali_480_9april12.JPG (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) Mali Curious Map.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Thousands Of South Sudanese Marooned In Sudan

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Thousands Of South Sudanese Marooned In Sudan Apr 9th 2012, 19:29 One day after Sudan's April 8TH deadline expired, the government began registering Southern Sudanese as foreigners. Majority of them have been stripped of their identity cards and other documents, and most of them don't have the money to pay the hefty registration fees. Several months ago, after South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan,  Sudanese authorities issued an ultimatum to South Sudanese to either become Sudanese citizens, register as foreigners, or leave the country. The director of foreigners' registration in Sudan said today only ten South Sudanese arrived at the center yesterday and registered as foreigners. A Brigadier General, who has been instructed not to speak to reporters, said he doesn't not expect more southerners to show up because registration requires a valid South Sudan passport and a visa, two things most South Sudanese citizens do not own. Sudanese Information Minister Abdallah Masar said South Sudanese citizens are now considered foreigners. "From today, all South Sudanese are foreigners and they must regularize their status as happens to every foreigner, and we are working on this now, our registration centers are going on'' he said. South Sudan has asked Sudan to extend the deadline, but the government has refused.  The spokesperson in the  Sudanese Ministry of Information Sana Hamad said South Sudanese wwere given enough time to put their papers in good order. "We will not push the date because we gave them nine months which was enough to reconcile their status, but the government of South Sudan was not serious; all we asked the South Sudanese government to do was to give them necessary documents, now all their Sudanese passports and identity  cards are no longer valid''. The Interior Ministry has asked police stations to register Southerners in various neighborhoods, but scores of police stations told  VOA they have never received such orders. Most of the South Sudanese living in Sudan view the registration process as a major obstacle, with little money for passports or traveling back home.  Sana said the government has opened a national registration center for Abyei citizens, who live along the border of the two Sudans. Meantime, international organizations said they are trying to fly elderly and sick people back to South Sudan who have no chance of making home alone. <!--AV--> Media files: Sudan-SouthSudan-caps.png (image/png, 0.1 MB) Reut_SouthSudan_3apr12-300.jpg AHMED_-_REGISTRATION_OF_SOUTHERNERS_4-9-12.Mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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