Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...:-)))

onemohm <MohmJ@aol.com> wrote:

Bra Melbourne:

 

Thank you for coming to the aid of our recently disappeared friend Aki the POWer (I like your attempt to introduce power to POW).

 

Interestingly, I think Aki may have used that same expression before, perhaps when he claimed that the SL Network logo's lion was a copy of the POW lion in the Prince of Wales school's logo! That case is now at the Supreme Court, I understand! [laugh] In any case, now that I have finally succeeded in bringing Aki out of his recent self-imposed exile, I humbly suggest that the case against this one POWer be considered closed.

 

Since this is POW's month, my fellow alumni of The Great St. Edward's would undoubtedly join me in warmly wishing the merely great POW a wonderful celebration!

 

In Stitches,

 

Moh'm

 

 

--- In SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "magarber59" <magarber59@...> wrote:
>
> Brother Moh'm,
>
> Now that I have awoken from my passivity in this discussion, I will
> give Bra Aki a break and step in to say you are treading on the
> slippery Kingtom stones by making allusions to that most POWerful of
> schools in that vicinity. There are a lot of us around and April is
> our month. So just be careful, we will defend it it with POWer.
>
> Humbly :-)
>
> Melbourne
>
> --- In SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "onemohm" MohmJ@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > Bra Cecil:
> >
> > I am honored to receive such an endorsement of my humble efforts
> from
> > one of the sharpest authorities on the practice and principles of
> > governance in Africa. I am additionally honored to note that you
> share
> > with me an Old Edwardian heritage of dedication to the truth.
> >
> > That, of course, is consistent with the motto of our alma mater, St.
> > Edward's Secondary School in Freetown: Dirige nos in veritate. For
> the
> > benefit of our non-Edwardian friends, that translates from the
> Latin as:
> > Lead us in truth.
> >
> > BTW, Aki Faulkner, please do not misconstrue my statement of fact
> about
> > our school above as an invitation to post rumors of the alleged
> > excellence of that other school across the street from St. Edward's
> in
> > Kingtom!
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Moh'm
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, CECILBLAKE@ wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear Brother Moh'm:
> > >
> > > Your reply to my questions is excellent and instructive. I could
> not
> > have wished for more. Thanks for the lucid clarification and for
> your
> > take on maximum participation by all citizens able to do so, in
> > performing our duties as we seek to enhance the quality of life in
> > African nations.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Cecil Blake
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: MohmJ@
> > > To: SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 7:17 AM
> > > Subject: [SALONEDiscussion] Re: A Step Backward for Democracy in
> > Africa
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 4/9/2007 11:32:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> > CECILBLAKE@ writes:
> > >
> > > Happy Easter! Two quick and short questions regarding the title
> of the
> > subject line of the posting below: (1) Is the content in the subject
> > line a priority for Africa among its numerous structural and social
> > problems? (2) Is the key issue in Zimbabwe one that is dealing a
> blow to
> > "democracy," or one that is involved with the leadership quagmire in
> > Africa as the struggle for organizing national and continental
> > priorities is marred by misplaced interests?
> > >
> > > Bra Cecil:
> > >
> > > Thank you for your reply and for your best wishes. Happy Easter
> to you
> > in return. With your kind indulgence, I would like to answer your
> > somewhat loaded "quick and short questions" in inverse order in
> order to
> > ensure a seamless progression in my response.
> > >
> > > At the outset, I would like to offer a necessary clarification in
> view
> > of your insertion of quotation marks around my use of the word
> > democracy:
> > >
> > > First, I did not use the term democracy in the subject heading of
> my
> > posting yesterday in the same context as U.S. President George W.
> Bush
> > has been using it to attempt to mask the fact that he has run out of
> > fraudulent excuses for illegally invading Iraq in violation of a
> U.N.
> > resolution prohibiting military action against that country pending
> the
> > conclusion of the then intense search for its alleged weapons of
> mass
> > destruction.
> > >
> > > Second, my use of the term democracy is not synonymous with its
> use by
> > British Prime Minister Tony Blair to attempt to conceal his racist
> > motive for calling for the ouster of Zimbabwe's President Robert
> Mugabe
> > for alleged abuses of power that are dwarfed by the far more
> egregious
> > and dangerous abuses of power by President Bush whose lawful removal
> > from power Mr. Blair has carefully avoided advocating.
> > >
> > > Now to your questions, in inverse order: To the extent that the
> > development of Zimbabwe is most enhanced by the participation of the
> > greatest number of its citizens in all aspects of such development,
> > including the political process, any action that limits that
> > participation poses a danger to Zimbabwe's development. It is in
> this
> > particular sense that I used the term democracy yesterday -- to
> refer to
> > the free and fair participation by each and every Zimbabwean who
> choose
> > to do so in the political process that forms a key component of the
> > general development process. It is that development process which
> holds
> > the greatest promise for leading Zimbabweans to a free and
> prosperous
> > society.
> > >
> > > Accordingly, in direct answer to your second question, the issue
> of
> > democracy as defined above is key to Zimbabwe's bright future. Even
> > though it has been complicated by the meticulously concealed,
> > self-serving interests of mainly Western entities, as you correctly
> > noted and as I alluded above, that does not diminish its crucial
> > importance over the transient current leadership struggle between
> > President Mugabe and his opponents.
> > >
> > > Which leads me, finally, to your initial question ("Is the
> content in
> > the subject line a priority for Africa among its numerous
> structural and
> > social problems?") . As I opine above, the development of Zimbabwe
> (as
> > is true for that of any country) is most enhanced when all of its
> > citizens -- not just a chosen few beholden to the ruling political
> party
> > on the basis of tribe, greed, etc. -- are given the opportunity to
> > participate in the political and other processes which constitute
> its
> > overall development process. Therefore, directly answering your
> > question, there can be no higher priority for Zimbabwe than to
> promote
> > the participation of all its citizens in its development, including
> its
> > political process.
> > >
> > > That is a lesson which holds just as true for our own country. I
> > particular, the more SL's characteristically clueless politicians
> engage
> > in undemocratic governance by precluding the maximum participation
> of
> > our people in our development process, including the political
> process
> > -- especially the imminent presidential election -- the more they
> > diminish our country's chances of development.
> > >
> > > I hope the above information adequately addresses your fair
> questions.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Moh'm
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com, CECILBLAKE@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dear Brother Moh'm:
> > > >
> > > > Happy Easter! Two quick and short questions regarding the title
> of
> > the subject line of the posting below: (1) Is the content in the
> subject
> > line a priority for Africa among its numerous structural and social
> > problems? (2) Is the key issue in Zimbabwe one that is dealing a
> blow to
> > "democracy," or one that is involved with the leadership quagmire in
> > Africa as the struggle for organizing national and continental
> > priorities is marred by misplaced interests?
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Cecil Blake
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: MohmJ@
> > > > To: SALONEDiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Sent: Mon, 9 Apr 2007 5:16 AM
> > > > Subject: [SALONEDiscussion] A Step Backward for Democracy in
> Africa
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > April 8, 2007
> > > >
> > > > In Zimbabwe, Mugabe Critics Face Beatings
> > > > By MICHAEL WINES
> > > >
> > > > HARARE, April 5 â€" Keith Charumbira had just stepped off a
> > minivan taxi in southwest Harare three weeks ago, fresh from a
> Friday
> > evening gathering of civic advocates in Zimbabwe's capital city,
> when he
> > saw the knot of policemen walking toward him. It was too late to
> flee.
> > > > "They started asking questions," he said. " `Why are you active
> in
> > an opposition party that is against the needs of the government?
> Don't
> > you know you are part of a leadership that is leading to
> violence?' "
> > The officers rifled his pockets, he said, and took his cash,
> amounting
> > to about $60. Then, for the next 20 minutes, they beat him.
> > > > "They used batons," he said. "My head, my chest, on my legs. I
> had a
> > head injury." When the officers tried to tie him up with his own
> shirt,
> > Mr. Charumbira said, he managed to slip out and run away, fleeing
> first
> > to a relative's home, then to a Harare hospital. He spent six days
> there
> > recovering.
> > > > There is nothing subtle about the reaction of President Robert
> G.
> > Mugabe's government to the latest surge of political unrest in
> Zimbabwe.
> > By the scores â€" by the hundreds, some opposition figures say
> > â€" people critical of Mr. Mugabe's rule are being cornered on
> > sidewalks, hauled to jails or simply abducted from their homes in
> early
> > morning raids, and then savagely beaten.
> > > > The main faction of the leading opposition group, the Movement
> for
> > Democratic Change, says that at least 500 of its members have been
> > attacked in the last month. The numbers of attacks on civic
> advocates
> > and other opposition figures is less clear but appears substantial.
> > > > Some of those attacked are left with fractured skulls or broken
> > limbs. A few have been shot. At least one has been killed: a week
> ago, a
> > 65-year-old former cameraman for the state-controlled Zimbabwe
> > Broadcasting Corporation was found bludgeoned to death in a field 50
> > miles from his home in Glenview, a south Harare slum that is a
> locus of
> > antigovernment sentiment.
> > > > [On Friday, a police spokesman in Harare said a murder
> investigation
> > had been opened in the case.]
> > > > The cameraman, Edward Chikombo, was rumored to have sold to
> foreign
> > broadcasters videotape of a March 11 police assault on
> antigovernment
> > protesters that sent 50 activists to Harare hospitals. He was
> abducted
> > from his home on March 29 by a group of armed men driving a 4x4
> vehicle,
> > according to the Media Institute of Southern Africa, a regional
> > journalist-rights organization.
> > > > That March 11 assault, which seriously injured leaders of the
> > Movement for Democratic Change and other top civic figures, drew
> > worldwide condemnation. Mr. Mugabe's government appears to have
> > responded with a crackdown that strikes some here as an act of
> paranoia,
> > if not desperation.
> > > > Mr. Mugabe was widely quoted last month as saying that "the
> police
> > have a right to bash" protesters who resist them, and added that the
> > main leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan
> Tsvangirai,
> > deserved the beating he got on March 11 â€" leaving him
> > hospitalized with a head wound and possible skull fracture.
> > > > An international furor erupted this week after The Herald, a
> > government-controlled newspaper that frequently speaks for
> officials in
> > power, suggested that one British diplomat that it accused of aiding
> > opposition figures might return to London "in a body bag, like some
> of
> > her colleagues from Iraq and Afghanistan."
> > > > "This is not a regime that is ensconced in the affections of the
> > people," Iden Wetherell, an editor of the weekly Zimbabwe
> Independent,
> > said in his downtown offices this week. "There's a real fear of
> popular
> > mobilization. Look at the pattern of beating people up, of declaring
> > Harare a zone where no demonstrations can be held, of breaking up
> news
> > conferences. It's clearly an attempt to prevent the leadership of
> the
> > opposition from communicating with its members."
> > > > Civic advocates, opposition figures and human-rights advocates
> call
> > this a low-intensity war on Mr. Mugabe's critics that represents a
> new
> > chapter in the government's years-long effort to stifle dissent.
> > > > "These abductions cannot happen without the knowledge of senior
> > military chiefs, senior police chiefs and senior intelligence
> chiefs,"
> > Selvan Chetty, the deputy director of the South Africa-based
> Solidarity
> > Peace Trust, a human-rights group, said in an interview. "They have
> to
> > be sanctioned somewhere."
> > > > Precisely who is behind the attacks is often unclear. Some,
> like Mr.
> > Charumbira, have been attacked by uniformed police officers, and
> > frequently have been imprisoned as well. At least 25 victims of
> attacks
> > have faced charges in Harare courts in the last week alone, Tafadzwa
> > Mugabe, a lawyer for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said in an
> > interview. "Most of these guys are picked up at midnight or the
> early
> > hours of the morning," he said. "They're terribly beaten, and then
> > they're put in jail."
> > > > But many more beatings and abductions, like that of the
> cameraman
> > Mr. Chikombo, are anonymous, carried out by men in plainclothes
> driving
> > unmarked vehicles.
> > > > Nelson Chamisa, a member of Zimbabwe's Parliament and a top
> official
> > of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, was
> walking
> > into Harare's airport terminal on a Sunday morning two weeks ago,
> bound
> > for a meeting with European Union officials, when he found himself
> > surrounded by eight men in civilian clothes.
> > > > "Before I realized what was happening, one of them produced a
> metal
> > object and hit me in the face," he said. "I fell to the ground. I
> was
> > hit with metal objects in my face, my neck, my head, my back. All I
> can
> > remember is that there was this guy with his foot on my neck. I was
> > bleeding profusely."
> > > > Mr. Chamisa said he was assaulted for at least five minutes as
> the
> > airport's police officers stood idly by. The attackers took his
> carry-on
> > bag, containing a laptop, documents and some $2,000. When a crowd
> > gathered, the men raced to two new Nissan sedans without license
> plates,
> > fired shots in the air to scatter onlookers, and sped away.
> > > > The police have yet to interview him or begin an inquiry into
> the
> > attack, Mr. Chamisa said. Nor has the government said anything
> about the
> > incident, which sent him to a hospital with severe head injuries.
> > > > Some opposition figures and civic advocates say they believe
> that
> > the government's tactics will backfire, drawing more international
> > condemnation and leaching away the support from neighboring
> governments
> > that is seen as critical to Mr. Mugabe's government. And in fact,
> Mr.
> > Mugabe's threat to "bash" dissidents drew a mild rebuke this week
> from
> > South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, who told The Financial Times
> that
> > African leaders were dismayed by photographs of bloodied and beaten
> > protesters.
> > > > For the present, however, the effect of the attacks has been to
> > terrorize the government's critics, some of whom have gone into
> hiding,
> > changed their mobile telephone numbers or simply fallen silent.
> > > > "The regime does not any longer believe that there is a civil
> > society that should participate in politics," said Tungamirai
> Madzokere,
> > a ward leader for the Combined Harare Residents Association in
> Glenview.
> > "They're now after everyone."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________
> __
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> >
>

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