Open letter to Salim Lone, ODM
Dear Salim
First of all congratulations once again on the role you are playing in the ODM. We heard you on BBC last night. We are sure that the ODM has probably thought this through but think that we should chip in with our thoughts for whatever its worth so here goes. While we hope for a positive outcome it is very likely that nothing will come out of the meeting on Friday. Kibaki is simply window dressing the occasion to show the world that he is for dialogue.
By inviting the clergy it is evident that he wants to hold a meeting with the Opposition to pray for an unprincipled peace and try and pull wool over the eyes of Kenyans - he won’t succeed. The middle and upper classes are of course terrified of change and are pressurising the Government to a return to the state of ‘business as usual’. The ODM must negotiate from a position of strength. The ODM also needs to explore ways to have mass non-violent rallies to continue holding the trump card.
We feel at the bare minimum the talks should take the following aspects into account:
First of all there should be exploration around ‘talks about talks’ i.e
1) What are we talking and creating dialogue about - is it to legitimise Kibaki’s regime or seek a fresh start towards a democratic, just and peaceful Kenya? If it is to rubber stamp the last election then there is nothing to talk about and the agitation must go on. It is interesting to note that the US seems to want Kenya to accept Kibaki’s election but then work for the next 5 years towards ‘reforming institutions’. We just don’t trust them.
Should Kibaki agree to have principled talks then the minimum demands should be:
- Postponing the naming of the cabinet and opening of Parliament.
- Stopping the state sponsored terrorism by disbanding the gangs and warlords. Ensuring the immediate end to the fear of climate and guaranteeing the safe return of the people to their homes in Kenya. The insecurity and mayhem in the urban slums is very much under reported.
- Ensuring the safe return and settlement of Kenyan refugees from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania.
- Resignation of Attorney General Amos Wako. He as the chief legal adviser to the Government is a real thorn.
- Resignation of Samuel Kivuitu and reconstitution of the ECK. The recomposition of the ECK would be on the agenda of the talks.
- Lifting the ban on live reporting by the media and an immediate end to intimidation of the media by the Minister for Internal Security.
- Assuring the international community of the good will of the talks and putting some measure of confidence back into the Tourism Industry.
- That while the International community and particulary the African Union can remain the ‘guarantors’ of the mediation, there should be no inteference by any outsiders in the negotiation process and that the process should be Kenyan controlled.
- That there be unity of purpose and that no members of either the PNU or ODM make public pronouncements that are in contradiction to the spirit of the talks.
We are working with civil society in our small ways to ensure a truly democratic Kenya. Pls let us know if we can contribute in any other way.
In Solidarity
Zahid and Zarina
Awaaz Magazine
P O Box 32843 - 00600
Nairobi, Kenya
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