GREEK PROTESTS SPREAD ACROSS EUROPE

Demonstrations against the killing were seen in cities across the continent with left-wing radicals and other sympathisers taking to the streets.

In Spain, 11 protesters were arrested and several police officers injured when clashes took place in Madrid and Barcelona.

In Copenhagen, 32 people were arrested when their protest in support of the Greek protests turned violent.

In neighbouring Turkey, about a dozen left-wing protesters daubed red paint over the front of the Greek consulate in Istanbul.

Around 150 people belonging to a Danish underground movement took to the streets, throwing bottles and paint bombs at buildings, police cars and officers. In Moscow and Rome, protesters threw petrol bombs at Greece's embassies.

Journalists came under attack for the first time in the riots, with a Russian news crew assaulted by a mob of about 50 youths, some of them reportedly drunk.

A correspondent and a cameraman for Russian television channel NTV were injured in the confrontation, which happened while they filmed clashes in Exarchia, a crucible of student radicalism.

In Athens, around 40 youths threw stones at riot police near university buildings in the volatile Exarchia district where 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos was shot dead on Saturday.They were met with volleys of tear gas and three arrests were made, police said. Overnight, students hurling petrol bombs and stones again battled riot police in Athens, in a continuation of the worst riots to have hit Greece in more than 30 years.

There were similar clashes in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where more than 80 shops and 14 banks were damaged, with students continuing to occupy university campuses.Despite the turmoil that has rocked Greece since Grigoropoulos was killed, embattled Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said he would fly to Brussels to attend a European Union summit. His conservative government has a parliamentary majority of just one seat.

Corruption scandals and attempts at economic reform have made Mr Karamanlis' administration deeply unpopular, but he has so far resisted calls to resign and call early elections.Epaminondas Korkoneas, 37, the police officer accused of shooting the teenager, has been charged with voluntary homicide and "illegal use" of his service weapon. He was ordered to remain in custody by an Athens magistrate.

His partner, Vassilios Saraliotis, 31, was charged with being an accomplice and will also remain in custody. The pair have been held since Sunday.Under questioning by a magistrate, Mr Korkoneas said he had acted out of self defence when a group of youths began throwing firebombs and other objects while threatening to kill him and his partner.His lawyer said the bullet which killed Grigoropoulos showed signs of having bounced off a hard surface, indicating that the boy was killed as a result of an accidental ricochet.

Greece has a history of clashes between the police and left-wing, anarchist groups.A student uprising in 1973 helped bring an end to the country's military dictatorship a year later.But the scale of this week's violence has left the country in deep shock as Greeks count the cost of the destruction.

The Athens Chamber of Commerce said 435 businesses had been hit during the violence, with 37 completely gutted, estimating the damage at GBP 44 million (50 million euros).Under the headline "Greece in self-destruct mode" the conservative daily newspaper Kathimerini said in an editorial: "This is a country with a state that is in a shambles, a police force in disarray, mediocre universities that serve as hotbeds of rage instead of knowledge and a shattered health care system. It is also on the brink of financial ruin."

SOURCE: The Telegraph

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SALAMU KUTOKA GAZETI LA MWANAHALISI

SALAAM ZA MWAKA MPYA

 

Uongozi na wafanyakazi wa

MwanaHALISI,

hata ndani ya kifungo cha

siku 90 cha gazeti hili,

tunayo furaha kukutakia

heri katika sherehe za msimu huu

zinazoambatana na

kuaga mwaka huu na kukaribisha

Mwaka Mpya.

Tumetambua na kuthamini

upendo na ujasiri wako katika kutetea

uhuru wa mawazo na uhuru wa

habari; na tunaahidi

 kuendelea kutenda kwa mujibu wa

uhuru, haki na wajibu

mara baada ya kurejea ulingoni. 

Heri ya Mwaka Mpya – 2009

Saed Kubenea

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji

Hali Halisi Publishers

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NAPE: MAKAMBA ANAKUMBATIA MAFISADI

Na Simon Mhina

Kada machachari wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Nape Nnauye, amesema kauli ya Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho, Yusuf Makamba, kwamba mjadala juu ya mafisadi wa Akauti ya Malipo ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) katika Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT) ufungwe, inaashiria kuwakumbatia mafisadi. 

Mwanasiasa huyo chipukizi ambaye yupo katika kipindi cha mapambano na makada wenzake ndani ya Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UVCCM), kutokana na kuvuliwa uanachama kwa kupinga mradi wa Jengo Jipya la Umoja huo, alisema hatua ya Makamba kuweka mizengwe mapambano dhidi ya ufisadi inawavunja moyo watendaji wa serikali ambao wapo mstari wa mbele kushughulikia tatizo hilo. 

Nape ambaye bado ni Mjumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu ya Taifa ya CCM (NEC), alisema kauli ya Makamba ni sawa na ya mtu anayeogopa kivuli chake. 

Hata hivyo, Nape katika mazungumzo na Nipashe jijini Dar es Salaam jana, alisema kimsingi Makamba hana uwezo wala madaraka ya kuzuia mjadala juu ya mafisadi. 

Nape alisema ingawa hana uhusiano wowote na watu wanaopiga makelele juu ya ufisadi, lakini anafikiri wanafanya hivyo kutokana na machungu makubwa ya umasikini wanayopata Watanzania kutokana na mafisadi. 

Alihoji: ``Hivi Mzee Makamba mafisadi wakisemwa vibaya yeye anakerwa na nini? 

Hivi kinachomkera ni kipi, mafisadi waliopora fedha za wavuja jasho au wavuja jasho wanaopiga makelele juu ya mafisadi kuwaibia?`` 

Alisisitiza kuwa katika hali ya kawaida, hakuna Mtanzania ambaye atanyamazia ufisadi kutokana na uzito wake. 

Nape alihoji tena: ``Ina maana Mzee Makamba anajua idadi ya mafisadi wote nchini?`` 

Akifafanua, alisema kazi ya kuwashughulikia wahalifu hao ipo chini ya serikali na vyombo vyake vya dola na sio jambo la kisiasa. 

Wakati huo huo, Mbunge wa Moshi Mjini kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Philimon Ndesamburo, amesema chama chake `kitafunga mdomo` kuhusu ufisadi, iwapo Rais wa Awamu ya Tatu, Benjamin Mkapa, atakamatwa na kufikishwa mahakamani. 

Alisema Mkapa ni hazina kubwa ya mafisadi nchini na siku akifikishwa kortini janga hilo litakuwa limefikia tamati. 

``Chadema hatutaacha kupiga kelele juu ya ufisadi kama anavyosema Makamba hadi hapo Mkapa ambaye ni hazina ya mafisadi atakapopelekwa kortini, mambo yote yaliyofanyika yalikuwa chini ya utawala wake na alikuwa anayajua na alishiriki, lazima akamatwe,``alisema Ndesamburo. 

Mbunge huyo alisema mafisadi ndani ya CCM na serikali yake, hawajamalizika hivyo lazima waendelee kusakwa. 

Alisema asilimia 10 tu ya mafisadi wote nchini ndio wamekamatwa, lakini asilimia 90 akiwemo `baba lao` bado wapo mitaani. 

Ndesamburo alisema japokuwa Makamba amelenga kuwasaidia baadhi ya mafisadi, lakini kwa hili anatakiwa aone aibu. 

``Yaani wakati huu ambao Rais Jakaya Kikwete ameridhia watu waliokuwa mawaziri wafikishwe Mahakamani yeye anasimama kutetea ufisadi, namuomba angalau aone aibu, hata kama amelambishwa asali,`` alisema. 

Kuhusu Operesheni Sangara, Ndesamburo alisema itaendelea kwa nguvu zote licha ya Makamba kuibeza, kwa vile inalenga kuwafumbua macho Watanzania. 

Alisema operesheni hiyo si uchochezi wala nguvu ya soda, bali Makamba ametoa shutuma hizo, baada ya kushindwa kujibu hoja zinazotolewa na Chadema. 

Makamba alinukuliwa katika vyombo vya habari jana akisema kwamba mjadala wa EPA kwa sasa umefungwa kwa kuwa watuhumiwa wote wamefikishwa kortini. 

Hata hivyo, ukweli ni kwamba bado watuhumiwa wengine wakiwamo wamiliki wa Kagoda Agriculture Ltd hawajafikishwa kortini. 

CHANZO: Nipashe

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HOPES RAISED ON HIV IMMUNE BOOST

Scientists believe successful tests in monkeys could prove a step towards a new type of drug to combat HIV.

The journal Nature reports infected animals survived almost twice as long after a single treatment to raise immune response to the virus.

An independent expert said multiple doses were possible, and might eliminate the virus.

Current antiretroviral drugs must be taken for life, giving HIV the opportunity to build up resistance.

Although millions of people without HIV cannot currently receive them, modern antiretroviral drugs have transformed the life expectancy of people with the infection.

However, scientists are constantly looking for alternative ways to keep the virus in check.

One option is being tested in the US on macaque monkeys infected with "simian immunodeficiency virus" - their equivalent of HIV.

One of the features of HIV is its ability to shut down or impede the body's own methods for clearing viral infections.

In particular, it manages to activate a signalling system in the body's immune cells - which then actually holds back the body's immune response.

The latest treatment works by blocking that signalling system, which has the effect of boosting the function of "killer" immune cells.

The blocking antibody was injected once into nine animals who had developed AIDS after SIV infection, all of whom lived on average almost twice as long as other monkeys who did not receive the treatment.

The treated monkeys had clear signs of more active immune systems and reduction of the amount of virus circulating in their blood, both signs that they were tackling the disease more efficiently.

While the virus was not fully controlled in any of the monkeys, the scientists said that more than one dose was possible, and that it could be used in combination with antiretroviral drugs.

Long wait

Dr Rama Amara, who led the research, said: "It is important to note that this therapy was effective without antiretroviral drugs and in monkeys with severe AIDS.

"It is critical to induce protective immune responses targeting the mutated virus for developing a successful immune therapy to control HIV infection."

Another of the researchers said that the treatment also offered potential against other chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis C and TB.

Professor Thomas Lehner, an immunologist from King's College London, said that the findings were "very interesting", and that the drug showed potential for human treatment.

He said: "It's possible that multiple doses could eliminate the virus, although the present experiment has not shown that.

"It's my understanding that some groups are already working to test this in humans, and although the safety of the drug is a concern, I see no reason why that should be a problem.

"It's most likely that we will see it used alongside antiretroviral therapy."

Dr Ade Fakoya, from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, said that the research was "an important avenue" to pursue, particularly as it had managed to extend the lifespan of the monkeys.

However, he said: "There's a long process of many years before this basic research is translated into actual research with the HIV virus in humans and then identifying a way to be able to actively block this on a large enough scale for it to be another useful tool in HIV treatments."

SOURCE: BBC

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DADA SOPHIA AKAMATA MSc YAKE ABERDEEN

Pichani juu ni dada SOPHIA RWANGA mara baada ya kukamata nondo yake ya  MSc in Geospatial Information Systems hapo University of Aberdeen.Picha zifuatazo hapo chini ni shamrashamra za mahafali hayo katika chuo hiki kilichoanzishwa mwaka 1495,the third oldest in Scotland,and the fifth oldest in the UK.

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TIME'S TOP 10 EVERYTHING OF 2008

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE LIST

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AP: CRACKS APPEAR IN OBAMA FOREIGN POLICY TEAM

WASHINGTON — The first sign of cracks in President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy team of rivals emerged on Monday as his choices for secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations visited the State Department.

As Secretary of State-pick Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.N. envoy-choice Susan Rice separately visited the diplomatic agency's headquarters in Washington's Foggy Bottom neighborhood, persons familiar with the transition said that Rice wants to install her own transition team inside the department.

Such a move by an incoming U.N. ambassador is rare, if not unprecedented, because the job is based at the United Nations in New York, where Rice already has a small transition staff, the sources familiar with the incoming administration.

The push by Rice, an early Obama supporter whose position the President-elect wants to elevate to a cabinet post, is also a signal that she intends to use her influence with the new president to play a more significant role than previous U.N. envoys, they said. The transition sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Officials with Clinton's transition team declined to comment on the matter, and aides to Rice could not immediately be reached. State Department officials declined to comment on issues related to the transition.

It was not clear if Clinton and Rice _ who had strained relations during the Democratic primaries because of Rice's steadfast backing of Obama _ saw each other at the State Department as Clinton left the building shortly after Rice arrived.

During the presidential campaign, some Clinton aides saw Rice's early decision to back Obama as a betrayal because of her previous role as a high State Department official during President Bill Clinton's administration. Rice's desire to place her own team in Washington could fuel speculation that those tensions will carry into the new administration.

The officials could not say if Clinton's team had formally objected to Rice's plan, or even if Rice would be able to install a separate transition team inside the State Department. But they noted that dueling transition teams could complicate the handover by blurring lines of authority.

Technically, the job of U.N. envoy falls under the authority of the secretary of state, although some previous U.N. ambassadors have held cabinet rank. The last U.N. ambassador to be part of the president's cabinet was Richard Holbrooke, who had a famously icy relationship with then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during the Clinton administration.

Albright, who was President Clinton's first ambassador to the United Nations, was a mentor to Rice. But the two had a falling out when Albright, America's first female secretary of state, lined up behind Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination and Rice backed Obama.

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, was to dine Monday evening with the nation's current and second female secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, at Rice's apartment in the exclusive Watergate complex. The two Rices are not related and Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday that she thought Clinton would do a great job.

Also Monday, Clinton was to meet privately with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. and the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to a Democratic official. Kerry, once a contender for the secretary of state job, will oversee Clinton's confirmation. Kerry has pledged to hold "swift and fair" confirmation hearings.

SOURCE: Huffington Post

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MEMBE: CCM HATARINI KUSAMBARATIKA

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bernard Membe, ameonya kuwa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), kinaweza kusambaratika ikiwa uadui uliopo ndani yake unaoendelezwa na makundi hautadhibitiwa. 

Membe alisema uadui huo unasababishwa na vitendo kama vile hujuma za kuangushana katika kuwania nafasi mbalimbali za uongozi katika chama hicho. 

Waziri huyo alitoa kauli hiyo jana wakati akifungua Mkutano Mkuu wa Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UVCCM) Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam. 

Membe, ambaye pia ni Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu (CC) ya CCM, alisema ni dhana potofu kuamini kuwa uadui wa aina hiyo unasababishwa na vyama vya upinzani. 

``Maadui wapo ndani, ni wenzetu sisi wenyewe, tunakaa nao lakini wanashiriki kupanga kuangushana, majungu yamekithiri hiyo ni kielelezo cha ugonjwa wa chama kusambaratika,`` alionya Membe ambaye pia ni Katibu wa Idara ya Mambo ya Nje ya CCM. 

Membe, alisema uzoefu ywa miaka miwili aliopata tangu ateuliwe kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, umemuonyesha kuwa vyama vingi vilivyotawala kwa muda mrefu vinaweza kuondoka madarakani kutokana na udhaifu uliopo, na si nguvu ya upinzani. 

``Mara nyingi sana vyama tawala vinajiua vyenyewe, si kwa sababu ya upinzani,`` alisema Mbunge huyo wa Mtama,. 

`` Tunapotafunana, kutoaminiana, kama CCM na jumuiya zake hatushikamani, tukagawanyika, hatuwezi kuwa chama imara, tutameguka,`` alisema. 

Membe alisema machafuko yanayotokea baada ya chaguzi barani Afrika, yanachochewa na kasumba ya kutokukubali matokeo. 

Alisema hali hiyo inawafanya watu wengine kuingia msituni ama kufikia hatua ya kufanya mapinduzi ya kijeshi. 

Alitoa mfano kuwa katika kipindi cha takribani miaka 50, viongozi 32 barani Afrika, waliuawa kutokana na mapinduzi ya kijeshi yaliyofanywa katika nchi zao na kwamba vyama vilivyopo madarakani, vina fursa nyingi za kufanikisha kubaki katika uongozi. 

Kwa mujibu wa Membe, baadhi ya fursa hizo ni kueleweka kwa sera zake, uwepo wa viongozi bora na jumuiya imara. 

Wakati Membe akitoa tahadhari hiyo, baadhi ya wajumbe wa mkutano huo nusura wapigane hadharani, kutokana na tofauti za kuwaunga mkono wagombea katika nafasi mbalimbali za UVCCM Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam. 

Hali hiyo ilijitokeza jana asubuhi, kabla ya Membe kuwasili kufungua mkutano huo. 

Taarifa za ndani zilidai kuwa kundi linalomuunga mkono mmoja wa wagombea wa uenyekiti, lilipanga njama za kuhujumu uchaguzi huo ili kutoa fursa kwa `mtu wao` kushinda. 

Miongoni mwa hujuma hizo, ni kusimamishwa kwa wajumbe zaidi ya 10, ili wasishiriki kupiga kura. 

Hata hivyo, baada ya kugundulika, baadhi ya vijana kutoka wilaya za Kinondoni, Ilala na Temeke, waligoma kuingia ukumbini. 

``Hatuingii ukumbini kama wenzetu waliosimamishwa hawatapewa vitambulisho, hatukubali kuburuzwa,`` walisikika baadhi yao wakisema. 

Hakuna kiongozi yeyote wa UVCCM Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam, aliyekuwa tayari kuzungumzia suala hilo, isipokuwa wanachama wengine wa umoja huo walisikika wakilalamikia kundi walilodai kwamba liliongozwa na mmoja wao. 

Baadaye, taarifa zilieleza kuwa vijana waliozuiwa kupiga kura, waliruhusiwa na kupewa vitambulisho.

CHANZO: Nipashe

WAKITAHARIDHISHANA WENYEWE INAKUWA SALAMA,MAANA KAZI HIYO IKIFANYWA NA WACHAMBUZI WA SIASA WANAISHIA KUNYOOSHEWA VIDOLE WAKITUHUMIWA KWA UCHOCHEZI.

JAPO MEMBE ANASTAHILI PONGEZI KWA KUJITOA MHANGA KUSEMA HAYO ALOSEMA NDANI YA CHAMA KILICHOZOWEA KUSIFIWA TU HUKU CRITICISM YA AINA YOYOTE IKITAFSIRIWA KUWA NI MITHILI YA UHAINI,ALIPASWA PIA KUONGELEA NAMNA CCM INAVYOJIMALIZA KWA KUKUMBATIA MFUMO  USIO RASMI AMBAPO ASIYE NA FEDHA HAWEZI KUSHINDA CHAGUZI YOYOTE YA CHAMA HICHO.RUSHWA IMEKITHIRI MNO NDANI YA CHAMA HICHO KIKONGWE.

MADHARA YA MUDA MFUPI (IMMEDIATE) YA RUSHWA KATIKA CHAGUZI HIZO NI NI PAMOJA NA UWEZEKANO WA KUPATA VIONGOZI WASIO NA SIFA STAHILI NA AMBAO WANAWEZA KUTOWAJIBIKA IPASAVYO KWA VILE WANAJIONA KAMA WAMENUNUA UONGOZI NA WANA HAKI YA KUFANYA MAMBO WAPENDAVYO.MADHARA YA MUDA MREFU (LONG TERM) NI REPRODUCTION YA MAFISADI.CCM NDIO CHANZO KIKUBWA CHA VIONGOZI WA NGAZI MBALIMBALI NCHINI.KWA MAANA HIYO,CHAMA HICHO KIKIZEMBEA KAMA SASA NA KUACHIA VIONGOZI WAPATIKANE KWA NJIA YA RUSHWA BASI TAIFA NALO LITAENDELEA KUPATA SUPPLY KUBWA YA VIONGOZI WALIONUNUA CHAGUZI AMBAO HAWATASHINDWA KULIFISADI TAIFA.

HABARI MBAYA NI KWAMBA HAKUNA DALILI YA CCM KUPAMBANA NA RUSHWA KATIKA CHAGUZI ZA CHAMA HICHO.NA KIKWAZO KIKUBWA CHA JITIHADA HIZO NI HIZI SIASA MUFILISI ZA MITANDAO.KWAMBA,UKIJITAHIDI KUSIMAMIA HAKI UTALIPULIWA NA WALE WANAOJUA UMEFIKAJE HAPO ULIPO.NDIO MAANA WANASIASA MAKINI HUJITAHIDI SANA KUEPUKA MAKUNDI YA KUSAIDIA USHINDI KWA VILE KUJIHUSISHA NAYO HUMGEUZA MWANASIASA HUSIKA KUWA MTUMWA WA MAKUNDI YA AINA HIYO.

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2 YRS NEEDED TO DEAL DECISIVELY WITH ALBINO KILLINGS!!?

The Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) is now set to conduct an indepth study on the causes behind the spate of killings of albinos and people with other related skin disorders, the Commission’s Chairman, Judge Amir Manento, has announced. 

Judge Manento told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the killings were an ugly blot on the country’s image, and it was important that all stakeholders joined in to fight the vice, but that a thorough investigation on the motives behind the killings needs to be done to facilitate its elimination. 

The Commission, he said, takes the albino killings seriously, and that it was high time a lasting solution was found soon. The Acting CHRAGG Executive Secretary, Ms Mary Massay, told reporters that the Commission was currently raising funds for the countrywide study. 

“We are serious about this … the commission will soon carry out a special investigation on the killings and their impact on society … in the next two years we will hopefully be in a position to deal decisively with this national shame,” Ms Massay said. On the state of human rights in the country, Judge Manento said that available statistics show that Dar es Salaam Region was leading with many acts of abuse being recorded. Though small geographically, the region is home to the country’s largest concentration of people in comparison to other urban settings in the country. He cited the increasing number of street children, rapes, criminal killings among many other examples of human rights abuses. He commended the government for addressing the issue with the seriousness it deserved, but said there were still many areas in which people feel still need more action taken to curb abuses of individual rights and freedoms. 

Judge Manento said many of the complaints the Commission had received so far were levelled against the police and prisons departments, old age and related retirement benefits and the job market. Beginning this year (on December 10), Tanzanians will for the first time celebrate - and consecrate the day – as an annual anniversary. This year’s theme is ‘Justice and Dignity for us all’

SOURCE: Daily News

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE?LEAVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS STUFF ASIDE,WHAT'S THE COMMISSION DONE SO FAR IN FIGHTING UFISADI?ISN'T THAT PART AND PARCEL OF GOOD GOVERNANCE?OK,MAY BE IT'S CONDUCTING A 10-YEAR STUDY ON THAT BEFORE IT COULD DEAL DECISIVELY WITH THAT MATTER.

DOES IT REALLY MAKE ANYSENSE WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THE COMMISSION IS NOW SET TO CONDUCT AN INDEPTH STUDY ON THE CAUSES OF THE KILLINGS OF ALBINOS,AS IF THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO!THESE GUYS COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD TO SAY WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN THEY ARE BUSY SOLICITING FUNDS FOR THE STUDY OR DURING THE 2 YEAR TIME WHEN THE STUDY IS BEING CARRIED OUT,IF IT WILL AT ALL!

THE KILLINGS NOT ONLY VIOLATE THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS,WHICH THE COMMISSION WAS CREATED TO OVERSEE,BUT ALSO INDICATE THAT THOSE ASSIGNED WITH THE TASK OF PROTECTING CITIZENS HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER,WHICH TRANSLATES INTO POOR GOVERNANCE.

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CARGO SHIP OUTRUNS PIRATES OFF TANZANIA

A Dutch-operated container ship outran pirates off the coast of Tanzania this weekend, an official with the International Maritime Bureau said Sunday.

The incident took place "very far out to sea," showing that Somali-based pirates are extending their reach further and further, Noel Choong of the IMB's Piracy Reporting Center told CNN.

"Earlier attacks were on ships off the coast of Somalia, then off the coast of Kenya, and now this was 450 nautical miles off Dar es Salaam," he said, tracing the southward expansion of the pirates' area of operations.

The ship, which Choong declined to name, came under attack from rocket-propelled grenades, starting a fire on board, he said. The crew was able to put out the fire and escape by increasing speed.

The ship and crew are now out of danger, he said, following the incident at 11:42 GMT Saturday.

Piracy has become increasingly common in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean this year. So far, pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off Somalia's coast and successfully hijacked nearly 40, according to the center.

Those hijacked vessels include an enormous oil tanker, a chemical tanker, and a ship laden with Soviet-era arms including tanks. The pirates normally hold the ships for ransom.

A luxury cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 passengers and crew successfully outran pirates off the coast of Yemen last weekend.

The IMB has tracked at least 11 incidents of actual or attempted piracy near the Tanzanian coast this year.

A multinational fleet, including vessels from the U.S., NATO member states, Russia and India, has been patrolling the Indian Ocean waters near the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Around 20,000 oil tankers, freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year. Watch anti-piracy vessels patrol the region. »

In a recent interview provided to CNN, a pirate leader claimed attacks on shipping would continue as long as life in Somalia remained desperate.

"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, identified by only one name, Boyah. "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."

SOURCE: CNN

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