Liberation movements, progressive governments, left parties, peace and anti-war organizations, solidarity coalitions and social justice groups must continue their support and alliances with the Palestinian people, the resistance forces and the progressive states throughout the Middle-East

The workers’ tragedy in Dhaka provides a peek into the landscape of globalization that is mimicked in factories along the US-Mexico border, in Haiti, in Sri Lanka, and in other places that opened their doors to the global garment industry’s savvy use of the new manufacturing and trade order of the 1990s

Freedom of the press and the existence of political parties do not exist in Africa’s only kingdom of Mswati III of Swaziland. The fine imposed on the publisher of the Nation magazine by the Swazi High Court continues the suffocation of the Swazi press and journalists.

The decision by the Jonathan administration to grant amnesty to Boko Haram does not inspire much hope, given that similar steps have not solved the problem of militant groups in the past. A national congress on the future of Nigeria is needed

How can the German Federal Cultural Foundation believe that 2 million Euros will promote cultural relations with the whole continent of Africa (and not even involve the Africans in the process)?

The bombers may have dreamt of finding the final solution to the domination of their chosen sports by people of African descent

How can ties of solidarity be strengthened between continental Africans and black movements in Brazil? To start with, a deep appreciation of a shared of heritage of the two peoples is necessary

Despite legislation of 2005 and 2012 to ensure the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans are upheld, the World Bank continues to systematically discriminate against Blacks in general and African Americans in particular.

Multinational used transfer mispricing to avoid paying the government of Kenya nearly US$11 million (EUR8 million) in corporate income tax

New European rules move the world closer to a global standard on transparency. Now other regions and countries must follow this example.

On April 14, 2013 at around 17.00hrs, a police officer by the name Martin Kiteu alias 'Kin'gei' attached to Kasarani Police Station, Nairobi, confronted one Kenneth Mwangi, a footballer with Mathare United FC, over an alleged theft of a mobile phone at the Githurai stage. The officer pushed Mr. Mwangi to the ground and shot him fatally and at point blank range three or four times on the jaw, throat and head. This incident was witnessed by several people who were at the scene.

Rights Promotion and Protection Centre (RPP) is deeply disturbed by the level of impunity exhibited by the police and in particular the continuation of the activities of death squads within the Kenya Police. While great strides have been made in creating the necessary legislation to reform the police, there is little reflection of this on the ground and police continue to engage in unlawful killings.

Kasarani Police Station, in particular remains, a major host of the police death squads. The police station also plays host to another policeman known by the nickname ‘Denno’. RPP believes Denno was involved in unlawful shootings in the Kondele area in Kisumu during the 2007/8 post election violence. Other members of this death squad , known by their single names are:- Marel, Maiyo, Fielo and Mutisya.

RPP calls upon all concerned to send a petition to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate this incident and the continuing operations of death squads in Kasarani and other areas.

CONTACT

Odhiambo Oyoko
Executive Coordinator Rights Promotion and Protection Centre (RPP) Upperhill Gardens, Block D-14, Third Ngong Avenue off Ngong Avenue. P.O Box 4636-00200 Nairobi. Tel: 020 2692071 Cell: 0717 431 738 E-mail: [email][email protected]/[email protected] Website: www.rpprights.org

The struggle for freedom from colonialism in Kenya was based on the wish to recover lands that had been forcibly acquired by the colonial settlers. After independence, freedom fighters were not given back their land. It remains a crying shame

The question of rape has not received adequate attention in Nigeria. It must be emphasized that women have a right to their own bodies and sexualities

Massive human rights violations are taking place in the US and contradict American efforts to project itself as a champion of human rights, even as it subverts governments around the world, engages in high-tech terrorism and kills its own citizens

South African activists are pressing charges against the South African Jewish Community Security Organization (CSO), the South African Zionist Federation and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) for the recent violent assault of two young women Palestine solidarity protesters (including the daughter of a senior member from South Africa's largest trade union federation, COSATU) . One Palestine solidarity protester was left in a state of concussion due to the assault injuries.

The EU’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 contradicts the fact that its member countries are the biggest exporters of war and arms to the developing world and they are implementing harsh immigration and asylum polices. Protests by asylum seekers and refugees in Germany exposes these realities.

The UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter exposed the ‘appallingly poor’ record of the Canadian government on the abuse of the rights of Canada’s indigenous peoples. In a vengeful and contemptuous response the Canadian government withdrew from a United Nations convention that fights droughts and desertification.

France has over the decades been a key player in the violent drama of Central African Republic politics. But there are other interested parties involved. CAR is a case study of how neo-colonial greed can destroy a country

President Zuma’s speech seemed to equate criticism of the government with disloyalty. The path to national glory has been laid out and no one should ask any questions

Lamnyam’s book of poems is a tribute to penmanship. She contends that poets are not dead wood, and attributes much leverage to the weight of her pen

There is likely to be a crackdown on NGOs and movements ahead of the election. Political parties are illegal in Swaziland

We are concerned that the state continues to vilify our kind and actively violates and harasses our kin. As a result our community lives in fear of violence and abuse

Dear editor,

I enjoyed reading the article 'What’s at stake in the Central African Republic?'. Since it was published in January, no other contribution has been published ever since, which is very frustrating.

I think it's sad for this country forgotten by most African and world media. In spite of your article, I can't help wondering if the CAR is considered a geopolitical issue at all. I've been trying to grasp why this country has been so unstable since it took independence from France in 1960. The CAR gave birth to one of the few panafricanists from the colonial era : Barthélémy Boganda, who died under dubious circumstances. Since his death, the CAR has gone to the dogs. Why? Why has the CAR remained one of the few African states epitomizing instability with its many coups? I would be very grateful if you would contribute an article about the issue.

Jeanne Nyock

'I won’t tire of repeating that we are one people. We are obliged to find one another, going beyond formality and discourse, in the same feeling of our unity.'

‘The death of Chávez is a great tragedy that saddens the Venezuelan people and all those who are fighting around the world for the same cause as what inspired the Bolivarian revolution'

He was probably the most demonized democratically elected president in the world because of his bold opposition to US imperialism, denouncing and exposing the predatory capitalist system which is inflicting mass poverty globally

After four decades of repressive political rule, the legacy of Chavez’s government in terms of huge socio-economic benefits to the majority of Venezuelans are remarkable. The forthcoming national elections will decide whether this legacy is upheld and consolidated or defeated by an oligarchic elite aligned to the interests of the US.

There are genuine concerns that the United Nations Security Council should be reformed to increase African presence and influence. But power intrigues within and outside Africa suggest that the process of inclusion of African nations in the UNSC could have grave consequences for continental unity

Sit-in of Algerian citizens in London to oppose the exploitation of shale gas without a national debate

Hugo Chávez’s implementation of the Bolivarian revolution inspired African American people as well as other oppressed people around the globe. They expressed their opposition to ‘the unconscionable low-intensity war that is being waged against the people and national sovereignty of Venezuela since the inception of the Chávez Frias administration.’

Since the removal of the dictator Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian people envisioned a new socio-political and economic order only to see a reconfigured neo-colonial order with the Muslim Brotherhood at its helm. Consequently ordinary people have met state violence with the necessity of revolutionary violence on the street.

A better world for all is possible. The disgusting opulence of a few people amidst mass suffering is not the natural order of things. But true change will only happen after the spirit of resistance is awakened among the oppressed people. That is the legacy of Hugo Chavez, Chris Hani and Martin Luther King

The situation in the country is tense. The government has closed all avenues of dialogue with the main opposition party, which now appears to be contemplating a return to war.

Many prisoners, including women and children, are still held in custody most of them without charge.

Achebe was certainly a great writer. But not all his works are masterpieces; and the idea that he is the ‘father of African fiction’ is romantic and naïve.

Contrary to some media reports, Haiti is far from being on the road to recovery. The situation of women’s access to healthcare is particularly terrifying