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World watches Kenya
Published on January 13, 2008, 12:00 am
EA STANDARD
BY Sunday Standard Team and Agencies
African Union’s (AU) mediator between President Kibaki and Mr
Raila Odinga has asked political leaders not to take any further
steps that would compromise the search for peace.
The US declared support for the latest peace initiative, with a
raft of demands on ODM and the Government.
"Although we welcome the fact that both sides have indicated their
commitment to dialogue and to ending violence, we are deeply
disappointed that they have not been able to reach an agreement on
the modalities for direct discussions."
The UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-Moon said, "The death toll
stands at an appallingly high figure of more than 500 people, with
more than 300,000 Kenyans displaced".
He called for a quick resolution to the crisis.
"In the face of the deeply troubling situation in Kenya, the
Secretary-General calls once again on the political leadership of
Kenya to find – urgently – an acceptable solution through dialogue
so that the political crisis is resolved and the country returns
to its peaceful and democratic path. The Secretary-General wishes
to express his continued support for the various efforts being
made by regional and international actors to help Kenyans arrive
at a lasting solution,’’ read a statement from United Nations
Information Centre, Nairobi.
He added: "Many of them are living in fear. That much of the
violence appears to have been directed at specific communities is
all the more worrisome. The killings must stop, alleged human
rights violations should be investigated and those found
responsible for crimes should be held accountable for their
actions. The potential for further bloodshed remains high unless
the political crisis is quickly resolved."
President Kibaki called for reconciliation a day after ODM called
for mass action. He said there was no need to harbour grudges
against each other.
"Let’s all forget the past and preach peace and reconciliation,"
he said.
Annan, a former United Nations secretary general, also asked them
"not to create facts on the ground that would make it difficult
for the Panel of Eminent African Personalities, which both sides
to the election dispute had agreed to work with, to find viable
and lasting solution."
The 2001 Nobel Peace laureate spoke as the US Government once
again called for direct talks between Kibaki and Raila on the
post-election violence that has claimed 300 lives and displaced
300,000.
"In our view, it is imperative for President Kibaki and Raila
Odinga to sit together directly and without preconditions to
discuss how to end the post-election crisis in a way that reflects
the will of the Kenyan people,’’ said the Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs Dr Jendayi Frazer.
The US called for respect for the rule of law and the peoples’
right to assemble, as well as media freedom.
Serious flaws in the vote tallying
"We favoured no side during the electoral contest. We supported
efforts to carry out transparent and fair elections. The generally
peaceful and orderly voting process, and the record voter turnout,
was a triumph for the Kenyan people, but the serious flaws in the
vote tallying damaged the credibility of the process,’’ said the
superpower.
The three statements came a day after ODM gave notice of three-day
mass action rallies across the country beginning Wednesday.
It also came as government ban on live television coverage
remained in force.
Frazer emphasised the fact that Kenyans believed the deadlock
could be unlocked through a power-sharing arrangement.
Frazer added: "Both should acknowledge serious irregularities in
the vote tallying, which made it impossible to determine with
certainty the final result, and both must take forthright steps to
end violence and ensure respect for the rule of law, consistent
with respect for human rights."
The statement whose tone appear to harden compared to previous
ones issued went on: "This particularly includes restoration of
media freedom and freedom of peaceful assembly. We believe the
Kenyan people have made clear that the way forward must embrace
equitable power-sharing, an end to violence, reconciliation, and
agreement on a specific agenda for constitutional and electoral
reform."
Annan, who arrives in the country this week, to carry on from
where AU chairman and Ghanaian President John Kufuor left, called
on the Government and opposition to consider the interests of
Kenyans and to show goodwill, leadership and maturity.
Annan said they were going to put together a secretariat to enable
the panel work as expeditiously as possible to resolve many of the
issues and to restore the East African country to normalcy.
Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and South Africa’s
former First Lady Mrs Graca Machel will assist him.
Referring to the AU chairman’s trip to Kenya, he said it was
essential and it had made a difference.
News agencies reported Annan would have more time to spend in
Kenya than Kufuor, who stayed for just two days. Kufuor did bring
Raila and Kibaki to the negotiating table for direct talks on poll
dispute and subsequent post-election violence.
Annan spoke in Ghana and his statement was relayed by the national
news agency there. He formally accepted the invitation from
President Kufuor to head the panel.
President Kufuor, whose visit to Kenya was at the invitation of
the two feuding parties, said he came with a programme, to get
them to agree to immediate cessation of violence, to accept to use
dialogue to settle their differences and to agree to talk under
the aegis of the Panel of Eminent African leaders.
His visit coincided with the arrival of four former African
presidents – Mkapa, Mr Joachim Chisano, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and Sir
Ketumile Masire – and Frazer’s.
Kofour on Saturday said during the two days, he won the support of
both the Government and the opposition parties to abide by these.
Called for Kenyan solution
The US, however, insisted, "the post-electoral crisis can only be
resolved through a Kenyan solution."
"In the meantime, the United States cannot conduct business as
usual in Kenya. The Kenyan people recognise that the
post-electoral crisis has revealed longstanding problems that must
not be ignored. As a close friend and partner of Kenya, the United
States will remain intensively engaged to help encourage
resolution of the post-electoral crisis. We are convinced that
Kenyans will achieve this, and that the country will emerge out of
this crisis a stronger and more just democratic society,’’ the
statement ran.
"Political negotiation is not an event, it is a process that can
take a very long time, or a short time, all depends on the
co-operation of the leaders," Annan said in Accra after meeting
Kufuor.
"I regard it as a great responsibility and we’ll take it seriously
to restore stability and quickly end the humanitarian crisis in
that country," Annan added.
"We are not going to impose solutions but work together with (with
both parties) to arrive at viable and long-lasting solutions to
the problem," Annan said.
Addressing a press conference at Teleposta Towers accompanied by
Defence minister Mr Yusuf Haji and Government Spokesman Dr Alfred
Mutua and Information Minister Samuel Poghisio termed the
agreement advertised by ODM as the one the President was to sign a
fallacy.
"Kibaki never sent any emissary nor did he mandate anyone to hold
discussions with ODM leaders through any intermediary on his
behalf," said Poghisio.
Church leaders added their voice to the need to return to
negotiations, which they cited as the only way out of the crisis.
The Catholic Church opposed the proposed mass action by ODM next
week and called for dialogue.
Archbishop John Cardinal Njue said following the many deaths and
massive destruction of property, dialogue was the best option.
"The country is undergoing a very difficult situation at the
moment and calling for mass action next week would only add fuel
to the already existing problem,’’ Njue said.
In Nairobi, 33 Anglican Church of Kenya bishops told Kibaki and
Raila to submit to mediated negotiations.
"People should resort to mediated dialogue. A lot of suffering has
taken place. Mass action will worsen the situation, as they will
lead to looting. This will cause loss of life," warned Archbishop
Benjamin Nzimbi.
"We are calling for mediated settlement between the two so that a
solution can be found. Both parties should submit themselves to
dialogue," he added.
Religious leaders from the Kalenjin community supported mediation
and called for prayers among Kenyans while encouraging peaceful
co-existence.
The religious leaders, under the umbrella of Emo Community
Development Society said in a statement: "We are encouraged by the
numerous mediation efforts from world leaders and locals and
prayers from many people all over the world who would wish to see
Kenyans live peacefully and progressively as before."
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