MP shots people

Published this picture journalist face false case

You see the picture. Someone is shooting at people. He is not a criminal or a cinema hero or villain. Giyous Uddin Ahamed a parliament member (MP) of ruling party Alwami League.

On 19 may 2012 people blocked his road for setting up police station, agitated people broken his car glass, he shoots on villagers, because earlier he committed to the villagers, he set a police station in Kandipara Bazar. But now he decided to set the station other place.

It happened near Kandipara Bazar, Goforgaon upzilla in Mymensing district 100 kilometers far from capital city Dhaka. Giyous Uddin files a case against 13 people in this incident.

On 20 May this news was published “The Daily Samakal”, with picture. That’s why Parliamentarian becomes angry on journalist, again he files a new case against 14 people with “The Daily Samakal local correspondent Abdullah Al Mamun Bilob who send the news to publish. MP claimed in FIR that journalist Abdullah Al Mamun Bilob also involved with villagers to attack on him. The case is non billable. After filing the case police try to catch Bilob with others.

On May 19, unidentified assailants hacked the right arm of a journalist on Government Edward College campus, Pabna district, allegedly for reporting an obscene dance performance on the campus. The victim, ABM Fazlur Rahman, 48, staff reporter of The Daily Samakal, has been undergoing treatment at Pabna Medical College Hospital.

On May 16, police baton charged a protest organized by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the capital city of Dhaka, injuring several participants and at least five journalists, All of the injured journalists were either reporters or camera-persons for news channels.

On May 14, the nephew of state minister home affairs Samsul Haque Tuku assaulted a journalist in the locality of Pabna district, allegedly in retaliation for stories published on his involvement in possible corruption”. Abdullah Al Mamun, the local correspondent for the Bangla daily Kaler Kontho, was admitted to Pabna Medical College Hospital with serious injuries.

The convention according to NDA official spokesman Chernor Alpha Bah will see an end to the 50 years political monopoly of the All Peoples Congress and the Sierra Leone Peoples Party.

“The convention will come out with a solid leadership that will allow us to move forward with our coalition arrangement,. The  convention which is the  biggest and   most contested will see four  members of the  party including its current leader Alhaji  Amadu  Jalloh  battle for the  flag-bearer of the party.

This was also confirmed to SALONE TIMES  by  the party’s spokesman. The four flag-bearer aspirants  include Dr. Fatmata Conteh, Abdulai Sheriff, Mohamed C. Bah and its current leader Alhaji Amadu Jalloh. “The four aspirants are all qualified and capable of leading the party to victory in the November 17 polls.”  He went on to say that a new programme will be developed at the convention in Kenema which the party will take to the elections on November 17 2012.

He pointed out that they will also look at the possibility of reviewing and amending their constitution. “National and  International observers will be at the convention to  ensure the entire process is transparent and the election of  leader and flag-bearer of the party is free, fair and transparent. Elections for district regional and national executive will also be conducted. We are looking forward to a proper convention,” he said.

(From Right) Councillor of ward 388 Aruna Kamara endorses Suffian Turay’s candidacy (Left)

In a well attended meeting in three communities in Ward 388, residents of  the communities have endorsed Tommy Suffian Turay as the next councilor that will represent them in that ward under the All Peoples Congress  (APC).

This came as a result of the rehabilitation work done by Mr. Tommy in these three communities in that ward. After a meeting in Brookfields, Red Pump and  part of Tengbeh Town, residents came out with no option but to endorse Suffian Turay’s candidacy.

One of the elders in that ward that introduced their aspirant to the press and the  general populace, Pa Amidu Musa Kargbo  said they thank God for the new breed in their community. He said they only experienced development in 1957 when late Hon. J. T. Kanu represented them in parliament. Since that time he is only seeing development in their community through Chernor Bah and Suffian Turay. “We thank God for now. We have our Honourable Chericoco who is working amicably with our aspirant Mr. Suffian Turay to bring development to our community.”

The community did not only endorse Suffian Turay but also presented a certificate of merit to him as a sign of appreciation for his timely intervention in that community.

Mamie Yabome Kamara described the work done by Suffian Turay as one that only God will reward him. She said Suffian’s work in that community can be traced ten years back. “He has been helping the women and children. There are some women in this community that Suffian has been paying house rents for over five years and now  he is helping children with their school and other community organizations.”

Madam Kamara pointed out that  in most cases when they are left out in that community, Suffian is the only person that comes to their aid.

While Mamie Kamara was addressing his audience there are other sorts of people who are full with joy chanting the good work done by Suffian.

In space of one year ward 388 has breathed a sigh of relief when Suffian stretched his hand. Currently the ward can boast of bridges, wells, stand pipes in the streets and a clean environment which is the   handiwork of the spirant.

In his brief address he thanked his people for trusting in him for him to serve them. He pointed out that after a wide research in the ward he said  health community centre is lacking in the three communities those things  plus a primary school for Red Pump community will soon be addressed when given the symbol.

“I promise I will not let you down with your support, we can take the country and our ward where we want it to be. Only us can make that change”, he said.

Tommy Suffian Turay is married and blessed with children.

This was made known when the Acting Mayor of Freetown Gibril Kanu took a move to monitor revenue officers in their drive to raise money to address issues in the city.

On his spot checking to various business outlets in the city the acting Mayor noticed that there is a syndicate going on. This was brought to light when the acting Mayor interrogated a particular business woman at Kroo Town Road to tell him to whom she paid income fees. unfortunately one of the revenue officers that is running the syndicate was among the team. The woman pointed at Mohamed Papani Kamara and immediately the acting Mayor ordered for him to be arrested.

When his bag was searched, a book of printed receipts and other fake documents were found. The arrest caused Revenue Department to be in disarray.

According to information gathered by SALONE TIMES some of the staff members have been in the syndicate for years now but this time their luck ran out. Papani, this press was made to understand is the head of the syndicate. Some of his colleagues are on the run whilst four have been arrested and are currently helping the police in their investigations. One of the prominent name who was serving as the star manager called Pastor is on the run.

Acting Mayor Gibril Kanu said Pastor used to sell the receipt books for one million leones per book to the syndicate officers. He went on to say that some of the revenue officers have a separate office outside Freetown City Council unbeknown to them.

“Some of them are already asking for leave for them to runaway while some are already on the run,” he said.

He pointed out that when he took over Council, he instituted all payment of bills and city rates to be done at the bank or Council office only. “A customer who was directed not to pay to Council but to their designated point reported to council,’ he said.

The acting Mayor denied that he has never sacked the Krios but what he did was to reshuffle staff from one department to another as some have been at one desk for over 15 years.

“Those that are saying other tribes should not have a sit in Council say they will make sure that I don’t succeed. The ongoing operation will go on till the end of the year,” the acting Mayor ended.

Aspirant Bishop Christian R.A. Cole

The latest aspirant that has made his intention known is Bishop Christian R.A. Cole. He is president of the Multi Religious Council for Peace and Justice.

Speaking to SALONE TIMES over the weekend Bishop Cole said as part of his manifesto his administration will deploy Sanitary Inspectors and Dog Police in addition to other functionaries that will monitor the cleaning process to prevent health hazards.

“My administration will arrest reckless expenditure, luxurious life style and will ensure probity in fiscal expenditure.”

He said he noticed that in the past years when council had matured and experienced leadership like the late Lucien Jannet, Dr. June Holst Roness up to the Late Akibo Betts there were major developments in Freetown City Council and the traditional ethos was maintained.

“Over the past decade, we have seen a rapid decline in the council administration due to indiscretion, arrogance and corruption. These maladies threaten to almost ground the City Council administration,” he said.

Bishop Cole went on to say that it is unfortunate that they are witnessing a political succession in the council whereby they ‘stage-manage and hijack the position of Mayor’. This he said deny the choice of the people.

“This does not make for competence. Through that most of them end up to fail or become corrupt.”

Bishop Cole a one time Member of Parliament and Commissioner for Oath said with his vast experience he will not sit down and allow Freetown to decay. Bishop Christian R.A. Cole also served as the student secretary in the Ministry of Education, District Officer of Bo among others.

“My rescue plans include: to ensure probity by making sure that there is financial accountability of all rates and taxes pay and that such money are spent deliciously. As I already started two years ago, I will intensify the cleaning of the city which is in a very bad state at the moment.”

He stated that in addition to prioritize education he will ensure that the bulk of the youths especially the girl child access basic education by providing a level playing field and offering scholarships where possible.

“I will dismantle the old age pursuit of education by connectocracy and replace it with merit. I will also support the infrastructural development of President Koroma by first ensuring an ultramodern city hall in an appropriate location, decked with a library, adult education auditorium and a youth centre.”

In the area of sports Bishop Cole said he will explore the possibility of creating three separate game parks; one in the east, central and west that will prevent the usual accident which normally occur by kids when playing.

“I intend to look into taxation more closely and critically in a manner that will not be a burden to the citizens but will also increase revenue,”

In the area of cemeteries and markets he said will take the appropriate steep to arrest all form of loitering in that sacred area. “I will personally engage in cleaning city market as that will be part of my priority when elected in to the office of the Mayor of Freetown.

UDM Leader Mohamed Bangura

The dispute between Charles Francis Margai the Leader of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) and the firebrand United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Mohamed Bangura is gathering momentum as both leaders continue to attack each other’s party at every given opportunity.

Mr. Bangura has responded strongly to certain remarks made by Mr. Margai.

In a telephone conversation with this Medium Mohamed Bangura reacted to Charles Margai recent attack stating that “Margai is not a leader of any political party”

According to Mr. Bangura he can only consider Mr. Margai as a leader when he would have held a convention for the PMDC where party members will choose their leader for the November elections.

“His term in the PMDC has expired. There is nothing he can tell us. Let him first hold his party’s convention before I will ever consider him as leader and start to talk to him,” he said.

The UDM leader went on to say that as far as he is concerned there are only three leaders in the country namely the All People’s Congress (APC) leader Ernest Bai Koroma, Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) leader Maada Bio and himself.”When elections time comes, the people will decide who to they will vote for.”

PMDC leader Charles Frances Margai in his recent press conference described the UND leader as a clandestine spokesman for the ruling APC party.

“I don’t consider UDM as a political party. When the elections come, we will only contest with APC and SLPP, UDM is not a party,” he had said.

from left Vice President and President of Sierra Leone

The minister said emphatically that the law would be passed into law this week.

The minister who represents the executive arm of government assurance met a serious resistance from the Legislative with no less a person than the majority leader of Parliament Honourable S.B.B Dumbuya.  Hon. Dumbuya on the 3^rd of May 2012 attacked members of the fourth estate and threatened that he will not help the head of Parliamentary Committee on Information and Communication Honourable Frank Kposowa to pass the FOI Bill.

The Bill which has been lying in Parliament for some two years SALONE TIMES learnt is still in a committee stage.

The minister’s assurance was made at an advocacy workshop on the country’s media laws, organised by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) with support from UNESCO, Mr Kargbo said he had spoken with the Speaker and Members of Parliament and that the bill would be brought before the House again this week for immediate passage.

He admitted that the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law of 1965 was bad but sounded noncommittal as to whether the law would be repealed as had been promised on several occasions by President Ernest BaiKoroma.

This is not the first time Government has committed itself to an immediate promulgation of the FOI Act. In the past the pledges were not respected. However, SLAJ President Umaru Fofana has lauded the statement by the minister regarding the promised enactment of the FOI Law next week, saying, “If it does happen as promised, it will be a watershed in the country’s history”. He however questioned the “lack of commitment on the part of government regarding a repeal of the obnoxious Criminal and Seditious Libel Law” for which SLAJ went to the Supreme Court in 2008.

At the workshop itself, 30 journalists drawn from across the country were told about what constitutes Criminal and Seditious Libel and when it can and cannot be used. They were also told about the Freedom of Information Law and what it would mean for the practice of journalism if it were passed into law

The head of the Parliamentary Committee of Information and Communication Honourable Frank Kposowa said that he will settle it with his colleagues.

Currently, the parties are worries what will happen if such Bill is not enacted more especially when the government has made several promises to the Press about the criminal lie bell law and the FOI law. The FOI law will pave the will for transparent and accountable governance if enacted.

Gov.Raji Fashola of Lagos State addressing workers at the last MayDay

Bimbola Oyesola
Nigerian workers in their usual characteristic way joined their counterparts from all over the world to celebrate this year’s May Day on Teusday, despite the overall security and other daunting challenges to the national growth. But the organised labour wants the government to act fast in tackling all these life threatening problems, as such the government may need to act fast or else.

OrganisedLabour may have decided to use the period of the Workers Day to send a clear warnings to the Federal Government that it would no longer tolerate the kid glove system the government has before now employed in handling the general insecurity in the country in spite of countless number of innocent Nigerians losing their lives daily.
With this year May Day themed “Right to work, food and education anacea to insecurity”, the workers, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decided to take the bull by the horns and raise the consciousness of the political leaders to put an end to the current carnage going on in the country.

NLC CHALLENGE
The President of the NLC, Comrade Abdul Wahed Omar said that though the Workers Day was a day to reflect on government several policies that had come up since the celebration of the last May Day in 2011, he stated that most of the policies were not favourable to the workers and need to be challenged.
“Generally, we want to use this period for reflection on how the workers have fared generally in the past one year, but there is no doubt that that the conditions have become more pathetic . Workers cannot be said to have fared very well.
“In fact the relieve we ought to have got with the approval and payment of the minimum wage has been eroded by the new pump price increase in January, even as some states like Enugu, Anambra have refused to pay the new wage, this is a gross violation to the law of the country by the leaders who are expected to be the custodian of our constitution. One can see the unbearable pain workers in those states are being subjected to by the leaders they elected to represent their interest, but now turn around to inflict pain on them.”
The labour leader lamented that the increase in the pump price has eaten into the wages of the workers and made lives very terrible for them, as workers now struggle to keep up with the new price regime fostered on them which was never taken into cognizance during the negotiation of the new minimum wage now rendered obsolete.
Comrade Omar noted that while the new price regime has equally swelled the figures of unemployment in the country, it also has further made Nigerians slaves in their country through the practice of outsourcing and contract job.
In his words; ‘’More jobs have been lost between January and now as a result of the increase in the pump price of the petroleum products. The employers in order to salvage their enterprises resulted to cut cost and anytime such avenue is considered workers rationalization has always been the first option.
‘’However, the most pathetic of it is that the employers not only sack our members but go behind to rob Peter to pay Paul as they would still turn around to engage casuals whom they would pay peanuts to do those jobs their permanent workers whom they sacked were doing. To us this is totally unacceptable and we made them realized all workers, be it casuals or permanent workers must be treated fairly and all have rights to belong to the union”, he said.
The labour President noted that the workers believed that the basic challenges to Nigeria as a Nation today is the issue of security and corruption.
On the security, the NLC President believed that the main cause has been unemployment, the main reason why the organized labour opined that if Nigerians, most especially the youths are gainfully employed, there would be little distractions to the crime, as an idle hands no doubt would be the devil’s workshop.
SUBSIDY PROBE
“Nigerians are tired of all these ineptitude and corruption at the highest order most especially in the places of authority. Everybody can see that the result of the subsidy probe has actually justified our protest in January on the issue.
“Based on this we believed that government should not think of any further deregulation of the petroleum sector which would further impoverish and inflict undue pains on Nigerians, should they try it as we are already having the feelers, we will not hesitate to resist the government. Nigerians are ready to take up government on this deregulation, because we are more enlightened now.
“We also commend the National Assembly who has been able to dig up all the corruption going on in the sector and would continue to support the law makers to ensure that justice is done and ensure that the probe do not die a natural death like others before it’’, he stressed.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) President General, Comrade Peter Esele reaffirmed that Labour at this May Day was challenging the government to rise up to its responsibility of proving enabling environment for Nigerians to live, but in terms of security and economic wellbeing.
“As usual we are going to make noise and let them know that the corruption in the country has been a wind that has never blown an average Nigerian any good wind left for those of them who are in the minority engaging in it’’, he said.
Esele added that the three tiers of governments know the right thing to do in creating an egalitarian society, but as they have often failed, labour through this year’s May Day theme thus decided to reecho that the panacea to the grave insecurity in the country, is for the government to provide jobs, food through agriculture and quality education for her citizens.

UNEMPLOYMENT
Foremost labour leader and the former President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Peace Obiajulu also while presenting a May Day lecture on ‘Right to Work, Food and Education: A Panacea to Insecurity’ at a seminar/interactive session at the weekend in Lagos attributed the crisis and insecurity in Nigeria to unemployment and lack of education among youths in the country.
“The crisis and insecurity in Nigeria is the fall out of the implications of high rate of unemployment and lack of education among youth in the country”, she said.
She noted that Nigeria Government was not serious at generating employment opportunities and catering for the education of the youths.
“Establishing 200 Universities would not solve the problem because our children are robbed of their right, and until this is done, we will not get it right because Nigeria has all resources that would create jobs for the people in which everybody can be self employed but the environment is not right”, she stated.
The labour leader lamented that unemployment increases everyday while youth unemployment hovers round 70 per cent margin, affirming that Nigeria was wholly dependent on imports of food which have journeyed in the high seas for upwards of 2months before getting to the country.
While proffering solutions to above problems, she however maintained that Nigerians must come together in a broad coalition to answer the national question. “Provision of jobs for the youth is very paramount and government should ensure that it invests in the people while all hands must be on deck to stop corruption in our society. We need responsible and responsive governance that would bring about strategy that would reduce social inequality in our society”, she stressed.

NUPENG ANGLE
Also speaking in the same vein on the great challenge posed to Nigerian workers on the issue of insecurity, most especially workers in the oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has charged the Federal Government to urgently address the increasing rate of insecurity and corruption in the sector, else members of the union will have no other option, than to withdraw their services.
The union which also condemned the recent bomb attacks in the country, with separate bomb blasts at the office of Thisday Newspapers in Abuja and those of Daily Sun, The Moment and Thisday in Kaduna, stressed that the Federal Government must rise up to the challenges by extending its security apparatus to all the media houses in the country, as the Boko Haram sect has now resulted to callous killings of innocent journalists.
NUPENG’s President, Comrade Achese Igwe in an interview with Workforce lamented that the high rate of kidnapping, insecurity and corruption in the oil and gas industry have affected the nation’s economy in the last two decades.
“We challenged the Federal Government to urgently address the increasing rate of insecurity and corruption in the oil and gas sector; else our union will have no other option, than to call our members to withdraw their services”, he warned.
He stated further: “While we insist that the high rate of insecurity to lives and property in the country, especially in Niger Delta is affecting the nation’s economy, we therefore warned that if the trend of kidnapping in Niger Delta goes unchecked, we will take action in our own way because we find it difficult to understand why the state governments in the region and security agencies fail to check the criminals”.
Igwe noted that the House of Representative probe panel on fuel subsidy did not take pain to visit the depots, refineries, Central Bank and other agencies to get more information and verify and access claims by these agencies on the alleged fraud committed.
“ NUPENG was vehement in the condemnation of the use of brief case carriers as allotees to the importation of petroleum products, and we make bold to say that the probe panel report has vindicated us on our past criticism raised against the fuel subsidy management”, he said
The labour leader maintained that the union in strong term “condemn the high level of corruption and rot in the system, and therefore, called on the Executive arm of government not to bury the report, but to conduct a thorough investigation without witch hunting anybody”.
On Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB), NUPENG’s President said that his union was disappointed that PIB was yet to be re-tabled before the National Assembly by the Committee set up to review all the versions, and so, was at a loss on the authentic version of the bill.
“While we are not comfortable with the committee set up by the Federal Government to fine-tune the report for presentation to the National Assembly as it is conducting its affairs in secrecy, we call for a stakeholders meeting in order to iron out the grey areas”, he added.
The NUPENG President, however maintained that government should do everything possible to make refineries work in order to reduce importation of refined products to barest level.

Speaking during the launch of the 2010 State of Human Rights report in Zambia dubbed ‘Human Rights and the Environment’ in Lusaka yesterday, Prof Luo said she was frightened with what was happening to the people of Kankoyo.

“There is need for the ZEMA Zambia Environment Management Agency to look at many activities to do with the environment with a bright eye. In the past, where we were not strict, today those communities are facing serious environmental problems. Emissions from Mopani are causing a lot problems to the community in Kankoyo,” she said.

“I am frightened with what is happening to the people of Kankoyo. We need to protect these people and Mopani should compensate these families because of the sufferings they are going through.”

MCM has acknowledged the historical pollution problems it inherited after privatisation and is keen to solve them through investment in gas capturing equipment. . Before privatisation, sulphur dioxide had been released into the atmosphere unchecked since the 1930s when the Mufulira mine was first constructed.
At present, over half of all sulphur dioxide emissions are captured and turned into sulphuric acid at the first acid plant, which was opened in 2006.
It is anticipated that on completion of the final phase of the project, around 97 percent of all sulphur dioxide emissions at Mufulira mine will be captured, a development the mine management describes as a world-class environmental performance.
MCM Chief Executive Officer Danny Callow is proud of the development: “We look forward to the day soon when sulphur dioxide emissions will be a thing of the past at Mufulira. I am pleased that we are now able to tell our neighbours that this day will be sooner than they expected.”
Mr Callow added; “We inherited the decades-old problem of sulphur dioxide emissions and have invested heavily to tackle it. Mufulira is one of only few smelters in the whole country, and as well as our own ore, it processes ore from other mines on a tolling basis.
We see our investment to clean up Mufulira as making much of Zambia’s copper industry more environmentally sustainable.”
MCM expects to complete its work to capture sulphur dioxide emissions at its Mufulira smelter by the end of next year, 18 months ahead of the Zambian government’s target of 2015 and the target in the environmental management planthe company established shortly after privatisation.
But until this feat is achieved, life will remain miserable for the 20,000 residents of this environmentally degraded and impoverished township whose history is tied to the building of the mine in 1932.

BNP call general strike (Hartal in Bengla) tomorrow for third consecutive day for getting back missing leader and his driver. They also vowed to continue their tough political movements until the two are found.  Last two days two bus driver killed set fire on bus by protester, two also killed clash with police.

People disappear in Bangladesh are not new. Last two and half year at least 100 people were missing in Bangladesh. After disappear police recover 22 dead body. But nobody knows what fate other people. According to human right group Odhikar, most victims are opposition political activist, but some are victims of criminal feuds or business rivalries.

Most of the time, relative of missing people alleged RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) behind on disappear and hidden killing. But RAB and other security forces have rejected accusation of involvement.