Kenya: Recent Documents, Part 1

Africa Policy E-Journal

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Kenya: Recent Documents, Part 1
Date Distributed (ymd): 950802
Following the meeting on July 24 of the Paris group of major
Western donors to Kenya, Britain has announced suspension of
new aid commitments until there are improvements in the
political situation.  Aid already committed will continue to
flow, however.  The Paris meeting expressed concern about
human rights abuses, but did not announce any formal linkage
of aid with addressing these abuses.
Recent documents addressing these issues include a press
release from the New Kenya Network (below) and a newly
released report from Human Rights Watch/Africa (summary in
next posting).
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA RELEASE
NEW KENYA NETWORK EXPRESSES CONCERN AT WESTERN INACTION
Toronto-July 28, 1995
The New Kenya Network, an international grouping of Kenyan
human rights and social justice activists has criticised the
governments of the United States, Canada, Britain and other
members of the Paris Club for treating the Moi regime with
kid gloves when it comes to human rights.
In a statement issued in Toronto today(July 28) the New
Kenya Network observes that the Paris Club nations seem to
be more preoccupied with the speed of economic
liberalisation even if it comes at the expense of political
reform.
New Kenya Network contends that the major beneficiaries of
privatisation, cutbacks on public spending and other IMF
inspired austerity measures are the very same elite whose
interests are served and protected by the Moi regime.
Rising unemployment, lack of access to medical services and
new barriers to higher education for women and poor people
in Kenya are the direct result of the so called "economic
reforms" so often applauded by Western governments.
New Kenya Network believes that by supporting these
draconian measures, the Paris Club in effect agrees to
bankroll the growing erosion of economic, social and
cultural rights of the vast majority of the Kenyan people
who remain poor, marginalized and disempowered.
It is therefore hypocritical, the organization argues, for
the Western powers to shed crocodile tears about the
deplorable human rights record of the Moi-KANU regime.
New Kenya Network is convinced that the only consistent
approach to defending human rights in Kenya is by taking a
comprehensive view about fundamental rights and freedoms.
Civil and political rights can not and must not be seen in
isolation from economic, social and cultural rights.
New Kenya Network applauds and supports the efforts of
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, African Rights,
Article 19, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Release Political
Prisoners and all other bodies and individuals which have
been at the forefront in exposing the inhuman policies of
the Kenyan authorities.
New Kenya Network calls on the United States, Canada and the
United Kingdom in particular to take a stronger stand in
defence of human rights in Kenya.
These governments should link all future assistance to the
Moi regime to an improvement in the democratic and social
climate in Kenya.
These governments must back away from the inhuman economic
reforms which have left more and more Kenyans destitute and
are among the leading factors behind growing infant
mortality, teenage pregnancy, urban crime, homelessness and
nationwide unemployment in Kenya.
New Kenya Network calls on all progressive citizens,
nationals and residents of the United States, Canada and the
United Kingdom to put pressure on their respective
governments to link aid, trade and human rights and the
right to development in terms of foreign policies and
relations with Kenya.
New Kenya Network calls on the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom and all countries to protect the rights of Kenyan
asylum seekers and investigate the many allegations of
racism, brutality and discrimination that Kenyan refugee
claimants and exiles have levelled against immigration
authorities in North America and Western Europe.
New Kenya Network calls on all Kenyan freedom lovers to
defend and support all Kenyan political prisoners,
opposition critics and human rights activists fighting for
more democracy, justice and equality in Kenya.
Signed
Onyango Oloo
Coordinator
New Kenya Network
For further information you can contact us by writing to the
following address:
New Kenya Network 275 King Street East Suite 91 Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5A 1K2
Or you can call: Tel: (416) 861-0919.
Our internet address is: newkenya@web.apc.org

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