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(Reuters) - Six Baltimore police officers will face criminal charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter, in the death of a black man who was arrested and suffered a fatal neck injury while riding in a moving police van, the city's chief prosecutor said on Friday.

Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby said Freddie Gray, who died a week after his April 12 arrest, was in handcuffs but otherwise was not restrained inside the van. The officers failed to provide medical attention to Gray even though he asked for help on at least two occasions.

Gray's death has become the latest flashpoint in a national outcry over the treatment of African-Americans and other minority groups by U.S. law enforcement.

After a night of rioting in Baltimore on Monday, protests spread to other major cities in a reprise of demonstrations last year set off by police killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri, New York and elsewhere.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the officers charged, Mosby said at a dramatic news conference in front of a city office building across from Baltimore City Hall. In addition to murder and manslaughter, charges include assault, misconduct and false imprisonment.

Representatives for the police union and Gray's family were not immediately available for comment.

"We put all our resources to make sure we were pursuing and leading where the facts took us in this case, which was to pursue justice," Mosby said, a day after the Baltimore Police Department turned over findings from its internal investigation.

Mosby said the Maryland chief medical examiner ruled Gray's death a homicide. The 25-year-old Gray was no longer breathing when he was finally removed from the van, Mosby said.

 

 

 

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Ngwa Bertrand

01.May.2015

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For President Barack Obama, the riots in Baltimore marked the return of a recurring nightmare that continues to bedevil him: How to stop deadly encounters between police and African-Americans and the resulting race-related violence.

The first African-American president has declared again and again that Americans have more work to do to bridge the racial divide and carry on the civil rights struggle of Martin Luther King Jr.

And Tuesday was no different. A day after riots in Baltimore over Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died April 19 of a broken spine in police custody, Obama gave a thoughtful diagnosis of the problem but announced no new initiatives and declared there is a limit to what he can do.

“I think there are police departments that have to do some soul searching. I think there’s some communities that have to do some soul searching. But I think we as a country have to do some soul searching. This is not new. It’s been going on for decades," Obama said.

Obama has been struggling with the issue since protests erupted last year over the death of Michael Brown, a black teenager who was shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. A grand jury decided not to indict the police officer, Darren Wilson.

A task force ordered by the president recommended a series of measures in March aimed at building confidence between police departments and the minority neighborhoods they patrol.

The recommendations, which included having police shootings investigated by independent prosecutors, have yet to be put in place and there are questions about how to pay for them, with the Democrat Obama facing a Republican Congress in no mood to approve much new spending.

Obama's proposal for $263 million to help purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for police and pay for expanded training has stalled in Congress.

With rioting against police and arson and looting erupting in Baltimore, Obama found himself again offering condolences to the families of victims and sympathy to injured police officers.

But he made a point of bemoaning Americans' tendency to focus on violence while it rages on their TV screens but pay little attention to helping find ways to help lift up impoverished communities.

"If our society really wanted to solve the problem, we could. It's just it would require everybody saying this is important, this is significant, and that we don't just pay attention to these communities when a CVS burns and ...when a young man gets shot or has his spine snapped," said Obama.

Obama, at a joint news conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said it was important for police departments to recognize that some of them have a problem in how they deal with criminal suspects of color.

"There are some police who aren't doing the right thing," he said. Rather than close ranks, he said, some police chiefs have recognized "they've got to get their arms" around the problem.

The Baltimore riots have caused ripples among the Republicans who are jockeying for the party's 2016 presidential nomination.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a leading contender, said there needs to be a commitment to "the rule of law and to law enforcement" but that whatever happened should be investigated quickly to give people confidence in the system.

 

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Ngwa Bertrand

29.Apr.2015

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The International Criminal Court has decided to probe the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa, following a petition from Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

This development was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni.

SERAP had in a petition, dated 23 April 2015 and sent to the Court requested the Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, to use her “good offices and position to investigate allegations of hate speech by the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, which has resulted in killing, violence and discrimination against Nigerians and other African citizens living in South Africa, as well as the complicity/negligence of the country’s law enforcement agencies to prevent these crimes against civilian population.”

In response, the ICC in a letter dated 28 April 2015, and signed by M.P. Dillon, Head of Information & Evidence Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor said, “The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents. This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”

The organisation in its petition had urged Bensouda to “bring to justice anyone who is responsible for these international crimes prohibited under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

SERAP also said that it “considers the use of speech by the Zulu King to promote hatred and/or incite violence against non-nationals such as Nigerians, particularly in the media as a clear violation of the provisions of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court.

“Grave statements by political leaders/prominent people that express discrimination and cause violence against non-nationals cannot be justified under any law. This hate speech generated fear and hatred that created the conditions for violence and discrimination against Nigerians and other African citizens. SERAP believes that this has given rise to individual criminal responsibility under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” the organisation said.

The organisation also said that, “The statement by the Zulu King has contributed to a climate of fear, demonization and dehumanization of Nigerians and other African citizens, thus violating their human dignity through humiliation and expulsion from the human community. SERAP is seriously concerned that hate speech by the Zulu King amounts to crime against humanity of persecution and has directly contributed to an infringement of the right to life, equality and non-discrimination of Nigerians and other African citizens.”

“SERAP considers the statement by the Zulu King and the apparent complicity/negligence by the country’s law enforcement agencies to prevent the violence and discrimination as amounting to active encouragement of South African citizens to develop feelings of contempt for Nigerians and other African citizens.

The Zulu King has since denied making the hate speech. He has called for calm in areas affected by the xenophobic attacks.

More than 7 people have been killed in the latest wave of attack on Foreigners in South Africa.

However, there have been no deaths of Nigerians.

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Ngwa Bertrand

29.Apr.2015

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Martin Anderson

Anderson was sentenced to death in 2004 after being found guilty of possessing about 50g (1.8oz) of heroin. The 50-year-old travelled to Indonesia on a false passport and was thought to be Ghanian, but is in fact – like three of his fellow prisoners – from Nigeria.

He was reportedly shot in the leg during his arrest. His lawyer told the media that he has been in poor spirits since being moved to Nusa Kambangan to face execution.

 

Raheem Agbaje Salami (also known as Jamiu Owolabi Abashin)

Abashin, 50, has said he was homeless in Bangkok when a new “friend” offered him $400 to take some clothes to Indonesia. He was arrested in Surabaya with 5.5kg (12lb) of heroin and originally sentenced, in 1999, to life in prison.

The sentence was changed to one of death in 2006. In an appeal for presidential clemency, Abashin admitted he had known he was carrying the drugs. His appeal was unsuccessful.

Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise

Nwolise, 47, was convicted in 2002 of smuggling just over a kilogram of heroin into Indonesia. He was sentenced to death.

His wife said he believed he was carrying tablets – which he swallowed – containing goat horn powder for some Nigerian friends in Pakistan. She also said he had no translator during his trial, and there are allegations that a bribe was sought to spare him a death sentence.

Okwuduli Oyatanze

Oyatanze, 41, was sentenced to death in 2002, found guilty of attempting to bring 2.5kg of heroin through Jakarta in capsules inside his stomach.

Charles Burrows, a Catholic priest who has counselled Oyatanze in prison, says that the Nigerian man, following the collapse of his clothing company, had thought being a drugs mule would be “easy money”.

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Ngwa Bertrand

29.Apr.2015

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(Reuters) - An Indonesian firing squad executed eight convicted drug-traffickers from several countries on Wednesday including  2 Nigerians and 1 Ghanaian, prompting Australia to recall its envoy to Jakarta and bringing an angry reaction from Brazil.

 The condemned included seven foreigners whose governments had repeatedly appealed for mercy

Shortly after midnight local time on Wednesday (1900 UTC Tuesday), Indonesia executed eight accused drug traffickers, seven of them foreign citizens - from Nigeria, Australia and Brazil. Indonesian media reported that the Filipina Mary Jane Veloso won temporary reprieve.

Families of the accused had until 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday to say their final goodbyes after Indonesia rejected international pleas for clemency and ordered their executions to proceed.

"There's no reason to cancel the executions," Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said hours before the eight people were put to death.

Late Tuesday, Australia, the European Union and France issued a joint plea for President Joko Widodo to stop the executions, urging him to "reflect upon the impact on Indonesia's position in the world and its international reputation." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also appealed to Widodo to no avail.

Indonesia generally uses a 12-man firing squad, tying the condemned to a post and letting them choose to sit, stand or kneel.

'Tearful goodbyes'

Rights activists had mounted an Internet campaign to save Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who said a friend had duped into her into smuggling 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin into Indonesia in 2010. She denied knowing that the recruiter had sewn the heroin into the lining of her suitcase.

On Tuesday, the alleged recruiter turned herself over to police, apparently fearing for her life after receiving death threats, police said. However, the potential new evidence brought no hope for Veloso, and even in person over the weekend Philippines President Benigno Aquino could not convince his Indonesian counterpart to spare the young mother's life until the country's last-minute reversal.

Hours before her scheduled execution, the 30-year-old Veloso heard Mass and ate lunch with her father, mother, sister, and 6- and 12-year-old sons, before "tearful goodbyes," according to the Philippine Foreign Ministry. "The family, while hoping for a miracle, seems resigned," the ministry had reported. "Mary Jane was even talking to them regarding wanting a simple makeup and simple dress" - for her funeral.

As police attempted to shield the convicts' relatives on Tuesday, screams of "Mercy!" were heard from some family members. In the afternoon, ambulances carrying white coffins were driven onto the ferry to Nusakambangan Island, where Indonesia carries out executions.

After lobbying by French officials, Serge Atlaoui won temporary reprieve pending a last-ditch legal challenge. Brazil's government had tried to win the release of a citizen believed to have paranoid schizophrenia, but Indonesian officials refused.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had repeatedly tried to intervene on the behalf of two citizens without success.

 

 

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Apr.2015

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The recent happenings in the Mediterranean Sea where about 800 illegal immigrants from mostly Africa drowned and hundreds others rescued was at the centre of debate last Saturday April 25, 2015, on the radio programme “Policam” over Radio Tiemenie Siantou (RTS 90.5 FM). As soon as the topics under focus were announced by the presenter, Eric Boniface Tchoukeu, the guests who came from diverse backgrounds identified unhealthy political systems, unemployment, academics, quest for a better life amongst others as the reasons behind the massive influx of Africans to Europe and America.

Unhealthy Political Environment

One of the reasons that were evoked by almost all the panellists was the political system of most African countries as being the major push cause in favour of clandestine immigration. Hubert Kangang, President of African Population Union (UPA) posited that the political systems do not permit values such as good governance and democracy to thrive. He argued that a handful of African leaders have taken the continent hostage plunging their State resources for the benefit of themselves and their families. If equal opportunities and facilities were provided, he argued, no person would go to another man’s country in search of a better life.  While Hebert Kangang argued that in the wake of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, no African government has made a statement condemning the incident, not even African Union, Tobie Ndi, former CPDM municipal councillor of Ngomedzap Council, countered that President Paul Biya addressed a condolence message to his counterpart of Kenya during the recent attacks in Kenya. He stated that African governments cannot be condoning with illegal immigrants by showing concern to them like the case of what happened in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tobie Ndi stated that institutions put in place by the international community are there to serve the interest of the West, citing how France under President Sarcozy fuelled the crisis in Libya that led to the destabilisation of that oil-rich country hence leading to immigration. Hubert Kangang disagreed with Tobie who described the West as capitalist with facilities attracting Africans to say that the West are still practicing neo-colonialism where African governments are made to sign and ratify accords with their ‘godfathers’ which has held Africans economies backward. He used the Franc zone as an example of neo-colonialism by France.

Excruciating Unemployment

The alarming rate of unemployment in most African countries where graduates roam the streets was another push factor for illegal immigration in Africa. Isac Bissala, President of the National Syndicate of Workers Trade Union, stated that African countries are not industrialised accusing the capitalist West for the situation so that African will continue to serve as their market. Bissala further likened the immigration to rural exodus where people leave the villages because of the absence of jobs and other social facilities to a better life in the cities. Kangang on his part, said, youths have lost hope in their countries where institutions like the Senate are created with a good chunk of state funds allocated to it whereas the masses suffer in abject poverty and unemployment.

Educational Opportunities

Isac Bissala as well as other panellists also identified ill-adapted academic facilities in African colleges and universities that do not permit for further studies. Thus youth in search of educational opportunities abroad especially in some Western countries that offer free education would want to use any means to travel without the necessary travelling documents. No matter, the case, Bisala argued that every citizen has to be protected stating that attempts to prevent them from travelling will be looked at as violation of human rights.

While Tobie Ndi called for more sensitisation of African Youth on the fact that they can make it in Africa without travelling to Europe or America, Huber Kangang said African leaders should denounce conventions and accords signed so as to become independent and united with the panafrican spirit. Bissala proposed that African should be more organised and borrow from the Chinese example.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Apr.2015

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