Thursday, 6 December 2012

The American New World system and its Bogus elites: Former United States Under-Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer questions the credibility of a report by a group of UN experts accusing Rwanda and Uganda of backing a rebellion in DRC:



 Prof. Jendayi Frazer

First Read and watch

JENDAYI FRAZER AND CONGO BLOOD MONEY - PAID LOBBYIST FOR MUSEVENI AND KAGAME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyGA7jgi43Q

Journalists who have been trained and paid to defend US proxies: Seeing through the hypocrisy of American New world order neo-liberal elites: Andrew Mwenda and his simplistic analysis of the DR Congo Crisis: Andrew Mwenda’s hypocritical defence of Dictator Paul Kagame.



Obama, the US and 5 Million Deaths in The Congo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHduddO7ZaU

Congo: Chaos By Design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiJ0JC3LzEo

 

The Untold Stories: Is Jendayi Frazer Lacking or UN Report Against Rwanda Lacking?

http://www.inyenyerinews.org/amahanga-2/the-untold-stories-is-jendayi-frazer-lacking-or-un-report-against-rwanda-lacking/  

December 5, 2012 By Rwema IT Webmaster

The former United States Under-Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, while appearing on the Aljazeera TV on Sunday questioned the credibility of a report by a group of UN experts accusing Rwanda and Uganda of backing a rebellion in DRC.

Is she trying to convince the whole World that when the United States did not display the body of Osama Bin Laden to the whole World, he is still alive? What more evidence does she want as substantial to clear what she calls the cloud?

The former Senior American diplomat in the George Bush Administration said “I don’t even know who these experts are…there is this cloud of anonymity about who these experts are and what agenda they are pushing.” Is she aware that her country has already acknowledged the UN Expert Report as credible with overwhelming evidence?

It is unfortunate that the former American Diplomat is behaving in the manner that is likely to cost more human lives in Congo. This vast nation has lost so far 6 Million people in the war since 1996. It is on record that no single day has the Rwandan government accepted responsibility; it has on a number of occasions denied repeatedly that it has invaded her neighbor. Is Madam Frazer denying that Rwanda has not been in Congo because no single person came to point a finger to Kagame and his government?

Is Madam Frazer saying that the British government and of course her own government acted out of blue to freeze the Rwandan aid? The basis for the British government’s decision to freeze 21 million pounds (about Rwf21 billion) in aid to Rwanda, was the UN Expert Report. Frazer now a professor at Carnegie Mellon University argued that the donor community should instead continue pump in the taxpayer’s money to Rwanda and support the efforts by the 12-nation member International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), to help end endemic conflicts that have dogged DRC for decades.

Madam Frazer is deliberately closing her eyes on the causes of the conflict in Congo. The creation of M23 by the Kagame regime is a long plan that cannot be solved by what she calls the 12 member nation conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Frazer should appreciate that the biggest part of the aid is channeled to M23 and other crimes by Kagame to eliminate those people he perceives to be political enemies.

Is Madam Frazer forgetting the speech of her colleague Susan Rice when she was in Rwanda where she said that, many people in Rwanda are harassed , receive anonymous calls, murdered on daily basis? Is she aware of our country men and women who are languishing in jail simply because they have announced that they have different political views with Kagame?

She further argues that US has not done much in terms of donating money to Rwanda “We (the United States) have not done much for most of that region and the majority of it (support) is in health. You want us to stop providing (even the little) assistance to the population of Rwanda addressing AIDS, women mortality from childbirth; is that the prescription for solving the crisis in Congo?” she questioned the journalist. But Madam Frazer should also acknowledge that many children and women in Congo have the same needs as Rwandans. Any human life is invaluable whether it’s Congolese, any other person on the Continent, black, white or Asian, in a nut shell, regardless of any description.

While Rwanda praises the UN and other world powers when they label the FDLR, as a terrorist organisation, but when the same UN Report appears to implicate Rwanda in any conflict they start to question the credibility of the report, what a paradox of events? FDLR on Sunday launched an attack in Musanze District, killing a game ranger, following another attack early on two villages in Rubavu District last week in which one civilian died and three others injured, according to the Rwandan officials, why then Frazer doesn’t advise the Rwandan government to talk to these groups so that they stop fighting?

Frazer and Tony Blair both have personal friendship with president Kagame, the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said “the proper thing is to sort out that issue (Congo crisis) through the ICGLR and the international community, and to continue to support the progress of Rwanda in the lives of the people,” the statement released by the Blair Office reads in part. For those who don’t know Blair, he is one of the advisors of president Kagame who can close his eyes even when the Congolese children are recruited in the ranks of M23 rebels and women are raped on the daily basis by the proxies of Kagame since 1996.
The so called friends of Rwanda are in fact friends of Kagame who just help the Rwandan dictator to consolidate power by killing and intimidating all his opponents, extend his brutality to his neighbors, therefore, the friends of Rwanda should advise Kagame to open the political space in Rwanda, stop the war against his neighbors, otherwise the so called development that some people mistakenly confuse with political stability is not sustainable.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels.



All-out war, the deadliest war on the planet, in Congo



November 28, 2008

by Ann Garrison

I just received a status update from my Congolese friend, civil engineering student Kambale Musavuli, expressing stress, exasperation and disappointment at the U.S. State Department’s Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer’s response to the escalation of the imperial resource war in Eastern Congo.


Prof. Jendayi Frazer



He said that the State Department had invited him, the student coordinator for Friends of the Congo, and members of other NGOs to the State Department for an off record briefing on Friday, Nov. 19, where Frazer said, in so many words, that there’d be no change in U.S. policy in Congo or Rwanda.
 

This means, though our Assistant Secretary Frazer would never acknowledge this, that the U.S. will:

1) Keep arming puppet Rwandan “President” a.k.a. dictator Paul Kagame’s Rwandan army to wage unacknowledged war by shelling and firing across the Rwandan-Congolese border and, by stealth, in Eastern Congo.

2) Keep arming U.S. and Rwandan tool, terrorist Gen. Laurent Nkunda, in support of U.S. imperial interests and those of its Anglo allies, Britain, Canada and Australia, and its French-speaking ally, Belgium.

3) Maintain a large U.S. military base in Kigali, Rwanda, often staffed by African-American military personnel, for the sake of appearances, just as the U.S. State Department and its Department of African Affairs is staffed by African-American women Condoleezza Rice and Jendayi Frazer, for appearances.

(Imagine how much worse it would look if a white male had summoned Kambale and other Congo advocates to this press conference, just to tell them all to get used to the ongoing African holocaust.)

4) Keep writing sweetheart trade agreements between the U.S. and Rwanda, which are essentially sweetheart trade agreements between U.S. military industrial and corporate interests and Rwanda’s puppet elites.

5) Make the people of both Rwanda and Congo continue to suffer for the sake of Congolese minerals smuggled out of Congo to supply U.S. corporations, including the U.S. military-industrial machine, with “geostrategic” minerals.

I know how maddening and infuriating this press conference must have been for Kambale but, considering how much is at stake in Congo – the security of the U.S. military industrial machine itself and that of other U.S. corporations dependent on Congo’s mineral wealth, especially the electronics industries – it’s hardly surprising.

The U.S. military and the U.S. military-industrial machine are the largest and most lethal state-corporate force in the history of the world. Will they give up their hold on Congo’s geostrategic mineral wealth, more important even than petroleum, without a huge battle, a battle I really can’t even quite imagine? This seems to me like a far larger battle than ending apartheid in South Africa.

Consider cobalt


Consider cobalt, a mineral richly abundant in Congo and very few other parts of the world. Consider Congo’s cobalt riches alone.

Cobalt is used to make steel; it is absolutely essential to the manufacture of most U.S. weaponry I can think of, short of biological and chemical weaponry, and including jet engines, missiles and tanks.

Cobalt is also essential to the construction of natural gas power plants and automobile engines.

Consider the U.S. Congressional Budget document about cobalt, produced way back when the Democratic Republic of Congo was still Zaire. This document, “Cobalt: Policy Options for a Strategic Material,”  stated that:

1) The richest, most plentiful cobalt deposits in the world are in Zaire – now called Congo-Kinshasa or the DRC – in the Katanga Copper Belt running through Congo-Kinshasa’s Katanga Province and across one of its southeast borders into Zambia.

2) Some of the only other known deposits are in Russia, then the Soviet Union.

3) Cobalt deposits in the U.S. are so sparce that mining and refining them would be very difficult and unprofitable, but that the U.S. government has considered subsidizing domestic cobalt mining and refining of our very scant and poor cobalt ore because cobalt is so essential to U.S. manufacture in time of war.

4) The U.S. must be prepared to go to war to secure geostrategic minerals, including cobalt, which are essential to war production and to the U.S. economy.

This Congressional Budget Office, document produced in 1982, cites “the possible need to wage a war in the absence of foreign supplies of cobalt.”

This is what the U.S. has done, gone to war in Congo. This is a U.S. proxy war; the U.S. uses Kagame, the Rwandan army and terrorist Gen. Laurent Nkunda as their African proxy force in Congo, but this is war. It has been the deadliest, though barely reported, war on the planet for years.

Again, I totally understand Kambale’s fury at having wasted last Friday afternoon being blown off in a briefing with the likes of Jendayi Frazer.

Kambale is a civil engineering student at North Carolina State Agriculture and Technical College. He hopes to be able to return to Congo one day to build infrastructure, desperately needed roads, hospitals, schools, clean water and electricity delivery infrastructure to enable the Congolese people to live.

This makes me want to scream too. How dare Jendayi Frazer waste Kambale’s time spouting imperial propaganda?

However, any of us calling for an end to savage imperial exploitation in Congo have to keep in mind that we’re advocating for the end of the deadliest war on the planet now. The death toll is between 5 and 6 million since 1997 alone; the International Rescue Commission estimated 5.4 million last year, excluding the first year of what many call the African World War.

And the death toll continues to rise at a rate of 45,000 a month. The numbers of internally displaced people are now estimated at 1 million in North Kivu Province alone, including another 250,000 displaced since August, when Gen. Nkunda, the U.S. and Rwanda’s psychopathic tool in Congo, began his latest rampage, took control of North Kivu Province and began threatening to overthrow all Congo-Kinshasa, the DRC.

This is the deadliest war on the planet, waged by the largest, most lethal military force in the history of the world, the United States of America, even though with an African proxy army.

                                                   Rice meets Joseph Kabila in 2007


I think we have to keep trying to tell more Americans and more of the world outside the U.S. State Department that the war in Congo is not only all-out war but also the deadliest war on the planet, that, though barely reported, it has been the deadliest war on the planet for many year now.

Barack Obama is about to be handed responsibility for an ongoing African holocaust in Congo that is not of his making. The Congressional Budget Office document I cited, stating that the U.S. must be prepared to go to war for Congo’s geostrategic minerals, essential to U.S. military industrial production, was drawn up in 1982.

The state-corporate military industrial apparatus launched the U.S. imperial war on Congo many years ago when it conspired with that of Belgium, Congo’s former colonial oppressor, to assassinate Patrice Lumumba in 1961.

There are so many layers of state, corporate and military institutional bureaucracy and literal force behind the U.S. imperial war for Congo’s resources, the task of making it known is so enormous and overwhelming that all I can do myself, without gasping helplessly, is to think about how we might act locally here, in my community, the San Francisco Bay Area, and through wider networks like Kambale’s, like Friends of the Congo, Stop Africom and even the fledgling international Facebook group which Kambale and I started here several weeks ago, “Break the Silence on the U.S.-backed Rwandan Invasion of Congo.”

I have a few thoughts about how we might act locally or in wider solidarity, even in the face of so much. But first, I think we have to keep pointing out that Congo’s war is an imperial resource war, in which the U.S., using Rwanda to control Congo, is by far the most lethal, highly armed and savage aggressor.

Then, perhaps, we can ask ourselves how we might act locally and even how we might pressure the Obama administration, daunting as all this is, about as daunting as it could possibly be.

I don’t believe that Barack Obama or those who backed him – in many cases, idealistically – want to see the ongoing African holocaust in Congo become the first African-American U.S. president’s legacy.




 

Like father like son: Rwanda government as hypocritical as its god father the US  

 

DRC Crisis: Rwanda’s rebuttal was ignored

 Minister Rwangombwa.





The Government of Rwanda is concerned that the United Nations and development partners have paid little or no attention to its exhaustive rebuttal to the allegations that it is backing a rebellion in the neighbouring DRC, a senior official has said.


John Rwangombwa, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, faulted development partners who have either suspended or frozen aid to the country based on the conclusions of a highly contentious UN experts report, saying such punitive measures were based on politically motivated allegations.


He was speaking yesterday during a panel discussion on the first day of the East Africa Economists summit in Kigali.


The two-day forum, organised by Economist Conferences – part of The Economist


Group –, attracted international business leaders and policymakers to engage in frank and open debates on East Africa’s economic prospects.


“We have submitted our rebuttal but our concern is that we haven’t got any response on our rebuttal,” Rwangombwa said, adding that donors’ unilateral decision to withhold development aid to Rwanda based on a contested report does not only contradict the principle of fairness but also goes against the spirit of donor-recipient relations.


“This is completely in violation of the principles of aid effectiveness and partnership between the donors and the recipient countries,” said Rwangombwa.


Responding to questions from the moderator Daniel Howden, Correspondent of the Economist Magazine, the minister expressed frustration about the way several development partners have taken decisions against Rwanda, without examining the country’s response to the allegations.


The UN Group of Experts on DRC first accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels in an addendum to an interim report to the UN Sanctions Committee on June 21, 2012, after which Rwanda presented its rebuttal to the UN Sanctions Committee.


“Within our principles of Development Cooperation and rules of engagement with our development partners, if the donors are concerned with our behaviour, we engage each other through dialogue but whatever happens shouldn’t affect our ongoing fiscal year plans,” Rwangombwa explained.


However, in light of recent developments, he noted.


“It’s now only the donor taking decisions over the recipient. And that’s against the principle of aid effectiveness.”


Rwangombwa conceded that the aid cuts will slowdown the country’s ambition of achieving Vision 2020, even as he said the country was considering cutting its reliance on aid.


He said aid dependence was “very risky” considering the unpredictability of donors.


The Finance minister pointed out that out of US$362 million in aid that was expected in form of budget support, only US$122 million had been received.



He added that of the remaining $240 million, there is $125 million expected from the World Bank and $40 million from the African Development Bank, which the government is still convinced will be released by the two multinational bodies.


Nearly half of the country’s budget is funded by donors.


With donor support, the government has lifted more than a million citizens out of poverty over the last five years.


The aid freeze has forced the Finance ministry to downgrade growth forecasts by 1 per cent. A recent study, commissioned by the British government – one of the donors who have frozen aid – named Rwanda among top effective users of aid, with the country maintaining its enviable status among the small club of least corrupt countries.


The summit, held under the theme, “Infrastructure and Growth: Government and Business in Dialogue”, will also tackle trade barriers; youth and employment; and opportunities in ICT, technology, mining, transport and agriculture.


Participants will also discuss future trading prospects for East Africa in a globalised economy, including examining markets which will perform strongest in the coming years; the most compelling opportunities for investors; and the practical steps governments should take to ensure the region maximises its economic potential.


Tanzania’s Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda called on East African countries to create an enabling environment for the private sector to grow to help wean themselves off aid.


“Developing infrastructure, promoting ICT development, regional integration and combating of corruption should be put at the forefront of the EAC (East African Community) economies,” he said.


Stephane Paquier, President of Dow Chemical Africa, while observing that East Africa was the fastest growing region on the continent, underscored the great potential that exists in the EAC bloc which can be exploited to the benefit of the East Africans.


“We want to have a huge presence in the EAC countries because we see a lot of potential in the region’s growth”.


Dow Chemical Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity.


Economist Conferences is the leading provider of international forums for senior executives seeking new insights into strategic issues. These meetings include industry conferences, management events and government roundtables held around the world. The Economist Group is the publisher of

The Economist magazine.





Rwanda’s aid cuts – A blessing in disguise?


 Diana Mpyisi

One of my favourite modules during my post-grad studies was scenario planning. The concept of envisioning the most radical and unforeseen changes in the future, and planning for such situations seemed like a fun game rather than an academic exercise.


In a nutshell, scenario planning builds on identifying, and reacting to, key forces both known and unknown, that are outside the control of one’s organisation or community. Originally a military concept, scenario planning has gone on to be adopted by corporate organisations, and various think tanks on a national level. 


Some of the scenarios we’d plan for as students included a world where air became a valuable commodity. Or a future where books were made obsolete by new advents in technology. We would form multiple futures, and imagination and creativity were key in this process, challenging various assumptions and values. A key feature in scenario planning is asking “what if?” and then identifying what it takes to be successful in each of the futures identified. What it is really, is thinking the unthinkable in a methodical way so as not to be taken aback and left paralyzed by an unforeseen event.


That is why, for certain scenario planners in Rwanda, having observed the politicization of aid by Western powers to aid-recipient states, the recent £21 million aid-cut to Rwanda last week Friday hasn’t come as a surprise. The UK’s on-and-off switching of its aid tap to Rwanda, simply illustrates aid’s arbitrary nature.  It brings to the fore the widely-held view that aid is often a means of reward and punishment, a sort of carrot-and-stick for aid recipient states that comply (or don’t) to various donor interests.


As Rwandans, we shouldn’t regard this so much as a slap in the face, but rather – a case of the wool being lifted over our eyes. That our exhaustive rebuttals to a super dubious, highly contested report by an anonymous Group of Experts alleging Rwanda’s involvement in the DRC influenced this particular aid cut; speaks volumes. It speaks volumes on the concept of “development partners” and how perhaps there was never real mutual interest between various donors and Rwanda, with regard to the development of this country, or for that matter the DRC. It speaks volumes on the significance of Rwanda’s voice in this saga, which is constantly ignored in favour of lazy Western journalism, or propagated untruths by various self-serving individuals. It doesn’t even make logical sense that cutting aid to Rwanda will solve the issues in the DRC. Those issues are multiple in nature, and the abrupt un-negotiable aid-cut from the UK to Rwanda in light of all this clearly shows the supremely volatile nature of aid in an increa
singly uncertain world.


Really, we shouldn’t be shell-shocked by all this.


Rather, what should come as a real surprise would be the concerted effort by Rwandans to expedite the process of self-sustenance, in light of this aid-cut. We already begun with the Agaciro Development Fund, but we should be embarking on making real a future scenario of a self-sustained Rwanda, and the different implications this will have not only in the country but the region.


One can only imagine the strides, if Rwandan leaders applied the same level of energy and commitment they have for the Kigali Master Plan towards a long-term Aid-Free Rwanda Plan. Or something to that effect.


This aid cut at this particular time could very well be a blessing in disguise for all we know, one that expedites commonly held views of a country that should no longer rely on other people’s taxes. There’s no harm in seeking solutions in unconventional ways, in unusual places. After all, we’re known quite well for that. We could also learn from others, who faced with similar challenges on a national level, “scenario-thought” their way out of them and successfully achieved a particular vision. The Mont Fleur Scenarios are one such example, which tells the story of how scenario planning was used to build shared vision and action in post-apartheid South Africa.


A lot of research is needed, a lot of planning is needed, new financial behaviours need to be adopted in this process, but when it’s all said and done –  it seems we may have just been given an incentive to start.

The author is a social critic based in Kigali.




Uganda’s Deputy Minister of Lands Ida Nantaba sued by a Dutch Coffee firm for halting the eviction of 43 poor families



 State Minister for Lands Nantaba  

FIRST READ:

Germany Investor Evicts over 400 poor Ugandan families  - Mubende: Evictees struggle to get access to justice and land

http://www.fian.org/cases/cases2/mubende-uganda-coffee-plantation-by-neumann

 

Stealing The Land Of The Poor Ugandans For The Sake Of Neo-Liberalism: Oxfam And Uganda Land Alliance Face Deregistration Over Exposing Museveni’s Land Grab Schemes



How The World Bank Destroys the Local Economy: REPORT UNCOVERS WORLD BANK FUNDED LAND GRAB IN UGANDA

 http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-world-bank-destroys-local-economy.html


The depravity of Rich Elites in Uganda: Gold in Mubende: 270 families evicted





Minister Nantaba halts eviction of 43 families


Publish Date: Nov 26, 2012

By Henry Nsubuga

Lands State Minister Idah Nantaba has blocked eviction of over 40 families in Buleega village, Najja sub-county in Buikwe District.

The families had been evicted by a Dutch citizen, Triwe Riis Jewsew, who is also a proprietor of Riis Coffee Company Limited.

Riis had fenced off the over 100 acres of land which the families are occupying. She had claimed that she bought the land from Edward Galabuzi and that she possessed the land title before ordering the residents to vacate.

The eviction forced Buikwe South Member of Parliament, Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga to petition Nantaba to intervene. On Friday, Nantaba stormed Buikwe to resolve the land wrangle.

During the visit, she toured the land in question together with the victims and the Dutch’s farm manager, Joseph Male.

Earlier on Tuesday, residents clashed with the Dutch’s private security operatives trying to remove the fence. Chaos ensued as security operatives fired live bullets, injuring some of the residents.

The victims reported to Nantaba that the Dutch also used Police to harass them and that whoever was seen on the fenced land was thoroughly beaten.

 John Bosco Ssekamatte, one of the residents who was shot on the leg, is now nursing wounds

We had fled from our houses just to save our lives and family members. Our land was fenced off minus any compensation. The Dutch first influenced the local leaders who just kept a deaf ear as we were being harassed,” said Bosco Nameda, one of the victims.

After the tour, Nantaba held an open meeting of the residents and Riis in which she asked her to present the title showing that she possessed the land.

But Riis failed to present the title forcing Nantaba to direct the residents to uproot the fence. She also ordered residents to reoccupy their land with immediate effect.



Nantaba ordered Buikwe District Police Commander, Caroline Akoth to arrest the security operatives whom the residents accused of shooting at them.

“We want and we are ready to protect investors but only those who follow and respect the law,” Nantaba said.

“I am disappointed with the Police’s act of arresting the residents who were evicted and shot by security operatives. How come the Police just arrested the residents and the security operatives were let free?” she wondered.

 Idah Nantaba inspecting the disputed land

Nantaba sued for Shs120m over land

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Nantaba-sued-for-Shs120m-over-land/-/688334/1637398/-/6wj56nz/-/index.html

By JOHN NJOROGE

Posted  Thursday, December 6  2012 at  02:00

Kampala
RIIS Coffee Limited has now sued State Minister for Lands Ida Nantaba, accusing her of trespass, looting, vandalism and destruction of private property.

The company which has been involved in a running battle with squatters said to be backed by Ms Nantaba over a large tract of land in Buikwe District wants court to order the recently-appointed junior minister to pay more than Shs100 million in compensation.

Court documents obtained by this newspaper indicate that Ms Nantaba is accused of allegedly handing out portions of the coffee farm and leading a riotous mob of squatters to invade the property. Ms Nantaba is also said to have overseen the destruction and theft of the farm’s property between November 19 and 20.

When contacted for comment, Ms Nantaba, who expressed dissatisfaction at this newspaper, said she was only doing her job, defending the voiceless. “How would you feel if a 90-year-old is deprived of her land? You are not being fair. We, who are defending the voiceless, are being treated like thieves,” Ms Nantaba said yesterday. “We, the young people, have come to restore sanity to the NRM government. Do not destroy our morale,” she added.

Four Danish investors Trine Riis Jensen, Svend Kaare Jensen, Kristen Hoiler and Per Michael Hoiler, who jointly own RIIS Coffee, however, accuse the junior minister of various misdeeds and want court to compel her to pay more than Shs123 million in damages and costs of the suit.

MB Gimara Advocates, the firm’s counsel, has also filed for a restraining order prohibiting Ms Nantaba, her agents, employees or any person under her control from entering RIIS Coffee Limited property located at Buleega in Buikwe District.

Remaining time

Ms Nantaba now has 15 days, from December 3, to file her defence to the Jinja High Court, having been sued in her own capacity. It is not yet clear whether the suit will affect the Lands Ministry. Claiming villagers had been cheated by the Danish investors, the minister reportedly dished out farmland to between 10 and 12 tenant households who have been at loggerheads with the company management.

The company attests it has signed contracts with the squatters who were compensated to vacate the property but have since returned under the influence of a local politician. Documents obtained by this newspaper indicate the squatters were paid between Shs700,000 and Shs7 million, depending on the expanse of land they were using. The minister had earlier halted their eviction only to later dish out the property.

Minisita Nantaba ku ddyo ng'akunya maneja wa Riis Coffee Joseph Male agambibwa okulagira ne bakuba mu bantu amasasi. Ekif: Henry Nsubuga

 

Nantaba alemesezza yinvesita okutwala ettaka ly'ab'e Buikwe


Nov 26, 2012

Buikwe
Bya Henry Nsubuga, November 26, 2012. 
Abatuuze ku kyalo Buleega mu ggombolola y’e Najja mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe baasambidde waggulu nga jjanzi oluvannyuma lwa minisita omubeezi ow’eby’ettaka, Idah Nantaba okulagira badde mu bibanja byabwe gye babadde baagobwa omuzungu Triwe Riis Jewsew nnannyini kkampuni ya Riis Coffee Company Limited nga yeekobaanye ne nnannyiyini ttaka okugobaganya ab'ebibanja.

Nantaba era yalagidde abatuuze okukuula ebikondo n’okusala ssengenge Omuzungu gwe yalagira asibibwe ku bibanja byabwe ku yiika ezikunuukkiriza mu 100 okuli ebibanja by’abatuuze abasoba mu 40.

Ku Lwokuna lwa wiiki ewedde, Nantaba yawalirizibwa okugenda e Buikwe oluvannyuma lw’omubaka wa Buikwe South mu Palamenti Dr. Micheal Lulume Bayiga okumuwadiikira ng’amusaba ayingire mu nsonga y’okugobaganya abatuuze okuva ku bibanja byabwe eyali etandise n’okuvaamu okuyiwa omusaayi.

Lulume yategeeza nti abatuuze baali basula ku ttale n’abamu ng’aky’okulya bawamma kiwamme olw’okukuba ebibanja byabwe okuli ennimiro kwe baali balimira emmere byali bisibiddwako ssengenge ne bagaanibwa okugendayo nga ne lwe baali bawalazizza empaka ne basala ssengenge baabakubamu amasasi abamu ku bbo ne bagendera ku bisago.

Nantaba yalambula ettaka erivaako emberebezi, oluvannyuma n’akuba olukiiko olwetabibwamu abatuuze, abakulembeze ku mitendera egy’enjawulo n’Omuzungu kanaaluzaala.

Yasinziira mu lukiiko luno n’asaba Omuzungu Riis okulaga ekyapa ku ttaka lye yali ayita erirye ng’agamba nti yaligula ku Edward Galabuzi, bwe yalemwa okuleeta ekyapa n’amutegeeza nga bwe yali agoba abantu mu bukyamu era n’alagira abantu badde ku ttaka lyabwe.

Yaddayo enkeera ku Lwokutaano n’abaawo ng’abantu bakuula ebikodo ku bibanja byabwe n’okusala ssengenge olwo abantu ne bazina amazina nga bamwebaza okubataasa ku Muzungu ono abadde yeefudde nnantagambwako ng’asibiddeyo emmere yaabwe n’amayumba gaabwe.

“Omuzungu yagulirira Poliisi, RDC n’abakulembeze abalala okuviira ddala ku kyalo nga buli gye tubadde twekubira enduulu tubadde tetusobola kufuna buyambi. Tubadde tusula bweru nga n’emmere tutandise kusaka mu byalo abaali baalima emmere yaffe ne batugoba n’evundira mu muddo”, bwatyo Bosco Nameda omu ku batuuze ababadde baagobwa bwe yategeezezza.

Yagasseeko nti abasirikale abakuuma faamu y’Omuzungu abaabakubamu amasasi n’abamu ku bannaabwe ne balumizibwa bbo balya butaala ate ng’abatuuze abaali balwanirira ebibanja byabwe poliisi be yakwata.

Minisita Nantaba yalagidde DPC w’e Buikwe okukwata mangu abasirikale abaakuba mu bantu amasasi bavunaanibwe.

Yategeezezza nti wadde Uganda eyagala era essaamu ekitiibwa mu ba yinvesita, ssi nneetegefu kukkiriza abo abamenya amateeka omuli n’okubba ettaka ly’abantu okulya obutaala.

   Aidah Nantaba minisita omubeezi ow''ebyettaka


Nantaba ayimirizza Omuzungu agobaganya ab'ebibanja

http://www.bukedde.co.ug/news/68352-nantaba-ayimirizza-omuzungu-agobaganya-ab-ebibanja.html
Nov 23, 2012

Bya Henry Nsubuga, November 23, 2012. 

Olutalo ku ttaka e Buleega olwabadde wakati w’ab’ebibanja n’abasirikale b’Omuzungu abantu ne babakubamu n’amasasi lusitudde minisita omubeezi ow’eby’ettaka Aidah Nataba.

Omuzungu Triwe Riis Jewsew nnannyini kkampuni y’emmwanyi eya Riis Coffee kigambibwa nti yeekobaana ne nnannyini ttaka n’asiba ssengenge ku bibanja by’abantu abasoba mu 40 n’abagaana okuddamu okusula mu mayumba gaabwe, okusima mu bibanja bino emmere wadde okulinnyayo.

Ku Lwokubiri abatuuze abaasangibwa mu ggombolola y’e Najja mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe nga bakulemberwa ssentebe wa disitulikiti owa NRM Harriet Nankabirwa baavudde mu mbeera ne batandika okutemaatema ssengenge ekintu ekyajja abasirikale mu mbeera olwo ne batandika okubakubamu amasasi okukkakana ng’abamu gabakutte ne baddusibwa mu ddwaliro nga biwalattaka.

Nantaba abatuuze baamwanirizza mu ssanyu abasajja ne bafukamira ne bamwebaza okubawonya okuliira ku nsiko olw’ensonga nti Omuzungu abadde yabagoba mu mayumba nga n'amayumba gaabwe tabaganya kugasulamu.

“Bannaffe abangi baatukubye emiggo okubula okututta obussi. Baalabye eby’emiggo tubigumidde kwe kutandika okukozesa amasasi. Babadde baasiba ennimiro zaffe ng’okugenda mu nnimiro okusimayo emmere omala kusaba lukusa okuva ew’Omuzungu n’akukkiriza olwo n’akuwa omusirikale n’akukuuma okumala eddakiika eziba zikuweereddwa. Eyo ye mbeera ey’obulumi gye tubadde tuyitamu ebbanga eriweredde ddala kumpi lya mwaka mulamba!”, bwatyo Friday Ssenyange omu ku b'ebibanja bwe yategeezezza nga n’abiyengeyenge bimuyitamu.

Minisita baamulambuzza ebibanja byabwe byonna ebyassibwako ssengenge, emmere yaabwe eyasendebwa ssaako okuloopa abakungu ab’enjawulo mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe okuva ku poliisi, RDC Abas Sseguya n’abakola mu bitongole ebikessi okwekobaana n’Omuzungu eyabagulirira ne babatulugunya.

Baategeezezza nti Poliisi mu kifo ky’okukwata ate abasirikale b’ekitongole ky’obwannanyini abaabakubamu amasasi nga bagendera ku biragiro bya maneja wa Riis Coffee Joseph Male, eyalagira babakube amasasi ate ne bakwatamu batuuze ne babaggalira ku poliisi e Buikwe songa abasirikale balya butaala.

 Minisita ng'alambuzibwa ebibanja by'abantu ebyasibiddwaako ssengenge gattako okugaana bannyini byo okuddamu okulimirako. Ekif: Henry Nsubuga

Minisita Nantaba mu kwanukula yalagidde Omuzungu okukomya eky’okugoba abantu ku bibanja byabwe n’agamba nti yabadde akizudde nti Riis Coffee terina na kyapa kw’esinziira kugobaganya bantu.

Yabalagidde badde mangu ku bibanja, n’alagira ne poliisi okuyimbula abatuuze be yakwata n'okukwata abaabakuba amasasi mu bantu ne balumya abamu.

Nantaba yavumiridde nnyo eky’okukozesa emmundu okutulugunya abantu nga n’abakulembeze ne poliisi batunula butunuzi n’asuubiza okutuusa ensonga zino ewa pulezidenti abeeko ky’akolawo.

ABATUUZE BYE BOOGERA:

Aidah Nantaba minisita omubeezi ow'ebyettaka:
Etteeka ly'ettaka likugira bannanyini ttaka okutamala gagobaganya baabibanja era kino ekikolebwa wano okusiba ku bibanja by'abantu ssengenge n'amayumba gaabwe ne bagatwaliramu kikyamu kye sigenda kukkiriza kugenda mu maaso.

Gavumenti ya NRM emmundu ezikozesa kukuuma bantu sso si kubatulugunya era abo ababadde beenyigira mu kikolwa kino bagenda kukolebwako ng'amateeka bwe galagira.

Ruth Malinga ow'ekibanja:

Ekibanja kyange okwali n'emmere bakisenda ne basibako ssengenge nga tebalina kye bampadde. Bwe twagezaako okwekubira enduulu ne batutiisatiisa nga bwe bajja okutusiba ne n'okutulabula twagala emirembe tuve ku bibanja tugende.

Bosco Nameda wa kibanja:

Baasiba ku kibanja kyange ssengenge okuli ennyumba yange n'ennimiro omuli ebikajjo bye nnalima nga nkozesa ssente ze nneewola kati singa babisaawa eky'okukola sikimanyi kuba bbanka etuuse okunkwata ensibe anti sirina walala wennyinza kujja ssente.









The Heresy of Chrislam: California Church to Become Site of Islamist Convention: Tri-faith vision becomes reality in Omaha



 

FIRST READ: California Church to Become Site of Islamist Convention

Chrislam? Christian Palestinianism??

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/chrislam-christian-palestinianism-0

Open Letter to Dave Hunt

http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/davehunt.htm

 

California Church to Become Site of Islamist Convention

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/ryan-mauro/california-church-to-become-site-of-islamist-convention/  

November 30, 2012 By Ryan Maur

The Muslim Public Affairs Council’s choice of location for its 12th Annual Convention on December 15 is telling: The All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, California. The group, founded by Muslim Brotherhood followers, says this is the “next step in its mission by crossing the interfaith line.” Yet again, the Islamists are taking advantage of naïve Christians with a desire to show off their tolerance.

The All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena started an Interfaith Study Group in 2007 with the Pasadena Jewish Temple and the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), from which MPAC originated. The organization was founded as a branch of ICSC in 1986 and then became independent in 1988, though the two remain intertwined. The ICSC is proud of its interfaith successes. For example, the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica is allowing the ICSC to hold Friday prayers there every week.

The story of MPAC begins with Hassan and Maher Hathout, the former of whom died in 2009. The brothers became active with the Muslim Brotherhood at an early age, with Hassan Hathout saying that its founder, Hassan al-Banna, is “the person who most influenced my life” and that “centuries might roll over before a similar personality is produced.” Maher Hathout was arrested in Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood was banned, and released in 1968. Three years later, they moved to Buffalo, New York and went to California to establish the ICSC in 1978.

Hassan Hathout says they sought to begin the “Islamic Movement” in the U.S., a term the Brotherhood uses to describe its ideology. In 1997, he predicted its success because “America needs Islam. If you look objectively you will see that this current civilization harbors in its body the seeds of its own destruction.” The language is very similar to that of a 1991 U.S. Muslim Brotherhood strategy document where it defines its “work in America as a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within.” Another U.S. Muslim Brotherhood document from 1989 from its Financial Committee refers to a person with the last name of Hathout as someone “in the field.”

Maher Hathout has served as a senior adviser to MPAC since its beginning at the ICSC in 1986 and is still a spokesman for the mosque. The ICSC recommends the work of Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, a senior Brotherhood cleric that supports terrorism, Hamas and preaches a strategy of “gradualism” towards implementing Sharia Law. It also suggests a book on Islamic law called Fiqh-us-Sunnah authored by Brotherhood member Sayyid Saabiq under the guidance of Hassan al-Banna.

In 1998, Maher Hathout defended Hezbollah as “legitimate,” saying they are “fighting to liberate their land.” He also entertains 9/11 conspiracy theories suggesting that the U.S. government is lying about the identities of the hijackers. The current President of MPAC, Salam al-Marayati, likewise said in 1999 that Hezbollah engages in “legitimate resistance.” His immediate response to the 9/11 attacks were to point his finger at Israel.

MPAC’s former Political Director, Mahdi Bray, used to lead the Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation. The Muslim American Society is a Brotherhood front. He spoke in support of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2007 during a visit to Egypt. In March 2004, he condemned the killing of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as “state-sponsored terrorism.” In 2000, he stood on stage as Abdurrahman Alamoudi, who later was convicted on terrorism-related charges, publicly praised Hamas and Hezbollah. He joined the crowd in their displays of approval.

MPAC’s Policy and Programming Director, Edina Lekovic, was the editor of a Muslim student magazine in the 1990s called Al-Talib. In July 1999, it told Muslims to defend Osama Bin Laden when he’s called a “terrorist” because he’s a “freedom fighter.” By that time, Al-Qaeda had already declared war on the U.S. and bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Al-Talib management also told readers to reject the “twentieth-century version of Islam in the West,” an Islamist theme. Lekovic’s name also appears on an issue from May 1999 alleging that the Holocaust was exaggerated.

In 2003, MPAC stood against the labeling of Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations. In March 2009, demonstrators at an MPAC-sponsored rally chanted in support of Hamas and the elimination of Israel. A policy paper from 2010 titled Building Bridges to Strengthen America treats the Muslim Brotherhood favorably, calling it a “conservative” group that can help the U.S. combat terrorism.

MPAC’s initial reaction to the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas was to accuse Israel of “assassination of Palestinian leaders, destruction of Gazan infrastructure and the gross killings of Palestinian civilians, including women and children.” The statement did not condemn Hamas. Instead, it legitimized the terrorist group by saying Israel is guilty of the “greatest act of violence” and is responsible for the ongoing conflict.

On November 24, MPAC changed its tune a bit in a joint statement with the Abrahamic Faiths Peacemaking Initiative that called on both Israel and Hamas to end their attacks. It said, “There is no excuse for the indiscriminate firing of rockets onto civilians, nor terrorism.”

MPAC explains that the holding of its convention at the All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena is a reflection of its focus on winning allies among other faiths. It boasts of establishing partnerships with the National Association of Evangelicals, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Catholic Archdiocese, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Union of Reform Judaism and other faith groups. MPAC and similar groups like the Islamic Society of North America have created an interfaith bloc willing to defend them against Rep. Michele Bachmann and other opponents.

If MPAC’s convention is like past ones, Islamists will again be given a platform to rally Muslims to their cause, but this time, it won’t be in a mosque or a hotel conference room. It’ll be from a church pulpit.
This article was sponsored by the Institute on Religion and Democracy.

 

Tri-faith vision becomes reality in Omaha

http://www.ketv.com/news/local-news/Tri-faith-vision-becomes-reality-in-Omaha/-/9674510/17602272/-/5j704p/-/index.html#ixzz2EMCNQGAA

Jewish temple, Islamic center, Episcopalian church to exist on 1 property

OMAHA, Neb.
A unique vision for religious unity in Omaha is quickly becoming reality.

The concept is to build a Jewish temple, Islamic center, and Episcopalian church all on one property and connected by walkways that meet at a tri-faith center meant to encourage education and understanding.

A recent drawing shows the buildings organizers hope to construct near 132nd and Pacific streets.

As workers put the finishing touches on the new Temple Israel, they're also laying ground for its neighbor: a two-story, 20,000-square-foot Islamic center.

"When they're looking out, they'll be facing the other two faith buildings and the tri-faith building," said Patrick Morgan, of Slaggie Architects, the company designing the Islamic center. "It's going to be so much more than just a place of prayer, which is a mosque."

Morgan is one of three architects transforming the old Ironwood golf course into one campus of three faiths.

The task is a challenge for the architects, because the goal behind the Tri-Faith initiative is big and the plan is unique.

"There is no place in the world where all three faiths purposely said, 'Let's build together so that we can educate people,'" Morgan said.
The buildings, made with similar materials, will face each other and welcome lots of light. The three places of worship will be connected by walkways and a tri-faith center for learning.

"You will have a sense as you come into the neighborhood that the buildings have something in common," said Bob Freeman, the chairman of the board of the Tri-Faith Initiative.

Chrislam? Christian Palestinianism??

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/chrislam-christian-palestinianism-0

Whenever we, as biblical Christians, think that things couldn’t possibly become more preposterous in Christendom, we need to call to mind the Scriptures that tell us that the time will come when Christians will not endure sound doctrine, and many will corrupt the Word of God (2 Timothy:4:3; 2 Corinthian 2:17; 2 Peter:3:16). The Apostle Paul further declares to Timothy that those who bring such doctrines shall turn people away from the truth to fables, that is, myths, of their own invention (2 Timothy:4:4; Titus:1:14). Today, such teachings and practices are increasing at a staggering rate—practices that range from the patently absurd to the insidious, even menacingly dangerous, both spiritually and physically.

Chrislam ? That attempt to combine Christianity and Islam in a common worship service would be a bad joke if it were a joking matter, but it’s far from it. As I understand it, this teaching began as a way to help stop the genocide and bring peace between Muslims and Christians in Africa. Sincere in its concern, no doubt, yet sincerely wrong. Muslims who truly follow the Qur’an, and Christians who believe what the Bible presents, regard Chrislam as a blasphemous contradiction of their beliefs.

Why? The differences, which are very apparent, cannot be reconciled. Allah is a false god of man’s making and is nothing like the God of the Bible, who sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the full penalty for the sins of the world (John:3:16). Allah has no son and condemns all those who believe that he does (Surah 18:4-6; 23:91). Allah is a singular entity (Surah 4:171); the God of the Bible is a Triune God: one God—three Persons. Isa (Jesus) of the Qur’an is not God; he is simply a prophet of Allah (4:171). The biblical Jesus is God who became a Man (John:1:1-4


; John:10:33). Allah denigrates Jews (Surah 5:59-60); God refers to the children of Israelas the “apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy:32:9-10


). The Hadith (the sayings of Muhammad allegedly received from Allah) declares that the Judgment Day of Allah won’t come until the rocks and trees cry out to Muslims to kill the Jews that are hiding behind them (Sahih Muslim Book 041, Number 6981-4). That is anti-Semitism at its worst.

The fundamental teachings of Islam and Christianity allow no compromise. Anyone can certainly believe or make up whatever he wants to about Islam or Christianity, but no one can make them compatible with each other on the basis of either one’s sacred texts. Nevertheless, that obstacle is not holding back the multitudes who are letting their desires rush ahead of reason. Furthermore, such irrationality is being exploited by those who have as their agenda: “Faith Shared.”

It seems that the apostasy (the undermining of biblical faith to prepare the way for the religion of the Antichrist) is developing at an exponential rate, and contributions are being made through a diversity of unbiblical agendas (see TBC 4/86, 5/90, 8/90, 1/95, 2/00, 2/05, 3/05, 9/08, 4/09, 2/08, 3/10). One that is particularly aggressive as well as vicious in its attack on biblical Christianity is referred to as “Christian Palestinianism” (CP). The term was coined by Paul Wilkinson in his book, For Zion’s Sake , which presents the biblical reasons why Christians need to support the restoration of the modern state of Israel, an endeavor known as “Christian Zionism.” The enemy of that effort is Christian Palestinianism, which includes far more than a concern over the plight of the so-called Palestinian people (see Dave Hunt, Judgment Day , Resource Pages).

Here are quotes from three anti -Christian Zionism sources that characterize the movement:

It is…a total misunderstanding of the story of salvation and a perversion of God’s plan for a Christian to want to re-establish a Jewish nation as a political entity….The Christian conscience should always discern what is the authentic vocation of the Jewish people and what is the other side of the coin, that is, the racist State of Israel. (The Institute for Palestine Studies, 1970)

We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as a false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation….With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building. (“The Jewish Declaration on Christian Zionism,” 2006)

The Christian Zionist worldview has cataclysmic consequences for a religiously integrated and lasting peace in Palestine/Israel.” (General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 2007)

“Now, alas, we see apartheid in Israel.” This last quote in support of the Palestinian cause is from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who likens the condition to regimes of “Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Pinochet, Milosevic, and Idi Amin…” (Tutu, Foreword, Speaking the Truth , Michael Prior, ed., 2005).

In a booklet we offer titled Prophets Who Prophesy Lies in My Name—Christian Palestinianism and the Anti-Israel Crusade, Paul Wilkinson begins by quoting what the Lord spoke to Jeremiah regarding those who prophesied that which was contrary to His Word: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD….I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied….Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies” (Jeremiah:23:16-32


).
 The most shocking aspect of what Wilkinson writes is not just the fact that these modern-day “prophets” are teaching “that God has rejected Israel and replaced her with the Church” or that they are attempting to marshal forces through the church against Israel politically, economically, and theologically; it is that many are highly esteemed Christian leaders who profess to be evangelicals, i.e., Bible-believing Christians!

For the most part, these false “prophets” present a veneer of biblical teachings but are rarely challenged when they go off track because today’s evangelical Christianity has been nearly stripped of biblical discernment, thanks (or rather, no thanks) to decades of conditioning through seeker-sensitive, church-growth marketing tactics. That approach to drawing the “unchurched” and the unsaved into the church moved Bible teaching to the back burner, if it was implemented at all. Conviction of sin and other biblical teachings that might put off the new attendees was replaced with “positive messages” and entertainment for young and old alike. The pervasive dumbing down of biblical discernment was the result, and the body of Christ is reaping the tragic consequences today.

 For example, Wilkinson presents a litany of biblical errors taught by those promoting Christian Palestinianism that should be recognized easily and rejected by all believers: “All the basic elements of a Christian Zionist eschatology are reversed, so that the Bible is seen to be Christian, not Jewish, the land of the Bible is Palestine not Israel, the Son of God is a Palestinian not a Jew, the Holocaust is resented not remembered, 1948 is a catastrophe not a miracle, the Jewish people are illegal occupiers not rightful owners, and Biblical prophecy is a moral manifesto and not a signpost to the Second Coming” (Wilkinson, Prophets , p. 51).

Not every one of the Christian leaders who supports Christian Palestinianism would hold to all the beliefs mentioned above, but they all promote it in general and in opposition to what the Bible declares prophetically. The unofficial ringleader in this movement is an Anglican priest named Stephen Sizer, whose church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and the Willow Creek Association of Churches (Lynne Hybels, the wife of Willow Creek Community Church’s pastor, is a supporter of Sizer. She rejects the modern state of Israelas a fulfillment of prophecy). Sizer’s first book, Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon? , received numerous endorsements from evangelical leaders. Wilkinson notes that reviewers praised it as the “most important and most comprehensive on the subject to date,” and the “scholarly treatment to counteract the rabid prophecy pack” (italics added), condemning Christian Zionism as “pernicious,” a “totally unbiblical menace,” “a powerful force that encourages the destruction of millions of people,” and “one of the most dangerous and heretical movements in the world which fuels the Arab-Israeli conflict” ( Prophets, p. 10).

Sizer summarizes his beliefs presented in Christian Zionism : “There has only ever been one people of God through history—‘the Church’; All biblical covenants are subsumed under one covenant of grace; The Jewish people, as an ethnic nation, have fulfilled their role in history, which was to prepare the way for the Church/Christianity; The Church is the new Israel, enlarged through Christ to embrace all peoples.” Sizer’s second book, Zion’s Christian Soldiers?, contains a sermon by evangelical scholar John Stott, who characterizes Christian Zionism as “biblically anathema to the Christian faith.”

Although Sizer’s books are just a few among the proliferating titles that are in opposition to Israel, Zionism, and Christian Zionism, they are a signpost revealing the beliefs of those highly influential evangelicals who have endorsed his position and his writings. Who might they be? Hank Hanegraaff is known to thousands of evangelicals as the head of the biblical apologetics ministry Christian Research Institute and host of the national radio program, the Bible Answer Man .He writes, “Sizer’s Christian Zionism dramatically demonstrates how a politicized religious movement with a dubious pedigree is a prescription for disaster. From caricaturing Arabs to catalyzing Armageddon, Christian Zionist beliefs and behaviors are the antithesis of biblical Christianity” ( Prophets, p. 11).

Hanegraaff’s perspective is hardly recent. He formerly was associated with D. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Its seminary’s eschatology was clearly showing in 2002 when the faculty, along with its founder, chancellor, president, and Professor of Evangelism (Kennedy), issued “An Open Letter to Evangelicals and Other Interested Parties: The People of God, the Landof Israel, and the Impartiality of the Gospel.” This statement denied that the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (i.e., the Jews) have any special blessings or place in prophecy, much less any claim upon the landof Israel. It was initially signed by 71 evangelical leaders, among them R. C. Sproul and Michael S. Horton. This document declares:

Section VI: The inheritance promises that God gave Abraham…do not apply to any particular ethnic group, but to the church of Jesus Christ, the true Israel.... Section IX : The entitlement of any one ethnic or religious group to territory in the Middle East called the “Holy Land” cannot be supported by Scripture. In fact, the land promises specific to Israel[meaning the Church] in the Old Testament were fulfilled under Joshua.

Gilbert Bilezikian was one of the founders (with Bill Hybels) of WillowCreekCommunityChurch. This is his endorsement of Sizer’s book: “Some theologies, that make Israelcentral to the purposes of God and to the processes of history, reduce the Church to the status of concubine while Israelbecomes the Bride. Sizer’s work provides a timely reminder that, according to the New Testament, God’s people is to be identified on the basis of grace, not of race” ( Prophets , p.11).

Tony Campolo is a well-known Baptist pastor, evangelical youth conference speaker, and sociology professor at EasternUniversityin Pennsylvania. He lauds Sizer’s book as “A comprehensive survey describing how Christians have embraced a theological perspective that has encouraged justice for Jews but has also led to the oppression of Palestinian people and extreme hostility between Christians and Muslims worldwide” ( Prophets , p. 11). In another place, he writes, “The most serious threats to the well-being of the Palestinians in general, and to the Christian Palestinians in particular, come not from the Jews, but from Christian Zionists here in the United States. With this theology, called ‘Dispensationalism,’ they argue that according to their interpretation of Genesis:15:18-21


, the Holy Landshould belong exclusively to the Jews. They contend that all of this land is what was promised to the seed of Abraham….”

Brian McLaren, the most influential writer of the Emerging Church Movement, whose background is Plymouth Brethren, has obviously abandoned the faith of his early days, as he declares “the need to confront the terrible, deadly, distorted, yet popular theologies associated with Christian Zionism and deterministic dispensationalism,” which “use a bogus end-of-the-world scenario to create a kind of death-wish for World War III, which—unless it is confronted more robustly by the rest of us—could too easily create a self-fulfilling prophecy” ( Prophets , p. 42).

Former president Jimmy Carter may seem out of place among the evangelical theologians presented here who support Christian Palestinianism, but that’s not the case. His book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid , embodies all that the others mentioned above stand for in their opposition to Israeland the Word of God—and then some. Furthermore, he will have the opportunity to spread his spurious beliefs among even more evangelicals, since he recently signed a three-book deal with the evangelical publisher Zondervan.

These false teachings are neither obscure nor new. Men such as Augustine (AD 354-430), Martin Luther (1483-1546), and John Calvin (1509-1564) have made substantial contributions to such unbiblical beliefs. What is new is the incredible rate at which they are being received. When Jesus was asked by His disciples about the days prior to His return, He characterized it as a time of great deception (Matthew 24). We are seeing just that in our day, and we therefore need to heed His words. Paul’s warning to the Ephesian elders (Acts:20:28-31

) also applies: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” The chief preventive measure against being caught up in the increasing deception of our day is a disciplined life of studying and living out the Word of God. Lord, help us to that end.       TBC



Christianity or Christian Capitalism: T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest expected to be largest Dallas convention in 2013



T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest expected to be largest Dallas convention in 2013

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/t-d-jakes-megafest-expected-to-be-largest-dallas-convention-in-2013.html/  




An estimated 100,000 convention goers are expected to make MegaFest — the religious, entertainment and family-themed gathering hosted by T.D. Jakes Ministries — the best attended Dallas convention of 2013, city and tourism officials said Tuesday.

The three-day event, scheduled for August, will bring in an estimated $41 million in direct spending at hotels, restaurants and other venues in North Texas, according to the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The agency lobbied for years to bring MegaFest “home” to Dallas, which also is home to Jakes’ Potter’s House mega-church.

It will be the first time the event has been held in Dallas, following stints in Atlanta and South Africa.

At least 10 percent of the attendees come from outside of the continental U.S., Jakes told a news conference for the official announcement. Convention bureau officials had announced the convention in October.

Of the estimated $41.06 million in spending, about $13.46 million is expected in food and drink sales, with another $11.58 million expected to be spent on entertainment and shopping.

Spending for transportation, 22,000 hotel rooms and other items make up the balance.
The event, which includes programs for men, women, children and a possible film festival, is expected to use all of the Dallas Convention Center and the American Airlines Center.

The Dallas convention bureau will chip in $600,000 to help offset the estimated $10 million cost of hosting the event.

 


Wednesday, 5 December 2012

When The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Irene Mulyagonja removed all doubts about being a true NRM cadre: When activists ridiculously insinuate that Museveni is not corrupt like his cadres.



 Ms Matembe speaks at the second National Anti- Corruption Convention at Hotel Africana in Kampala yesterday. The meeting was aimed at urging Mr Museveni to punish corrupt officials. PHOTO BY REBECCA VASSIE. 

Anti-graft meet puts Museveni on the spot

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Anti-graft-meet-puts-Museveni-on-the-spot/-/688334/1635796/-/2aw3hu/-/index.html

By DEAR JEANNE

Posted  Tuesday, December 4  2012 at  02:00

In Summary

No politics. As IGG Mulyagonja advises activists not to politicise the fight against corruption.

KAMPALA

President Museveni cannot lead the fight against corruption because many of the suspects are his relatives and cronies, anti-corruption activists charged yesterday.

Speaking at the second National Anti-Corruption Convention in Kampala, at which they launched the Black Mondays to mourn corruption in the country, the crusaders called for a review of the Constitution to limit the powers of the President.

“How can you tell President Museveni to act against his nieces and nephews?” thundered Miria Matembe, a former minister-turned good governance activist. “It is impossible; there is no way he is going to take actions that will affect his own.”

Several politicians and civil society activists attended the function and shared diverse views about how corruption, which has gained currency in recent weeks after donors cut aid following widespread graft in the Office of the Prime Minister, can be addressed.

Call for review

Ms Beti Kamya, the president of Uganda Federo Alliance party, called for a constitutional review to separate the powers of the different arms of government. “The seed of corruption was planted at the time when the Constitution of Uganda was enacted,” she said. “How can you tell me that one person appoints the Judiciary, police leadership, the head of the Treasury, ministers who are part of parliamentarians, Inspector General of Government, who is supposed to be independent and all other key people in this fight. So if he is the root of the problem, who will act?”

Former Attorney General and Supreme Court judge Justice George Kanyeihamba said the country has good laws against graft but little will to enforce them. “We need to find out who is responsible for the lack of implementation of the laws, because we have practically the best laws. Look at our IGG Act. It is the best,” Mr Kanyeihamba said.

The IGG, Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja, who officiated at the convention, warned civil society organisations against politicising the fight against corruption. “Corruption has no colour,” she said. “You are seated here and throwing stones at the government; stop politicising corruption in terms of colour and parties. You may not know what green and blue would do if they were on the forefront, to call it a vice of the yellow.”

Yellow is the colour of the ruling NRM party while opposition parties DP and FDC use green and blue respectively. “Yes the vice has become worse and we need to become aggressive. It is through the public, which has information, and our aggressiveness that these vice can be fought. We have corruption because it is something entrenched in our society.”

 Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja

IGG accused of protecting corrupt officials


Publish Date: Dec 04, 2012
By Pascal Kwesiga

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Irene Mulyagonja, has cautioned anti-corruption activists against politicising the fight against graft by heaping blame on the Government for the current corruption trends.


“You are throwing stones at the Government in power but, you may equally become corrupt if you are put in such positions,” she said, during the second National Anti-corruption Convention at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Monday.


Mulyagonja said corruption is so pervasive in society that even the activists are likely to behave the same way as corrupt government officials if they are employed in the public service.


“Corruption is not blue, red or yellow. You may continue to see the same situation even if you change colours,” she added.


The IGG noted that the fight against corruption cannot be won if it is restricted to the anti-corruption agencies of government, saying the biggest watchdog was a vigilant public.


She noted that grand corruption in the public service began to show its ugly face, during the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting that Uganda hosted in 2007, adding that it has continued to rise.


Mulyagonja, who was the chief guest, underscored the importance of concerted efforts in dealing with the vice.


But the former ethics and integrity minister, Miria Matembe ,who had earlier shed tears as she recalled the ordeal that some families in northern Uganda are going through as a result of corruption, approached Mulyagonja after delivering her speech and said:“ You are here protecting the thieves yet you know them and have the evidence against them.”


Mulyagonja replied: “I don’t have the evidence until I get it. We shall talk, we shall find a solution.”


The anti-corruption activists resolved to isolate all politicians and public officials who have been implicated in various corruption scams in which billions meant for the public have been lost.


The activists also resolved to stop extending invitations to the corrupt officials to attend their parties and funerals.


They argued that the people who had been named in corruption scandals should not be allowed to preside over functions or speak to the poor people they are stealing from.


A recent report by the Auditor General revealed that billions of money meant for pensioners and reconstruction of northern Uganda was diverted by government officials.


Uganda’s Civil Society organizations’ foolish support of the bogus circumcision crusade : Government accused of ‘relaxed’ opinions on circumcision



First Read:

President Museveni challenges the Bogus circumcision crusade, tells youth to embrace abstinence


http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/12/president-museveni-challenges-bogus.html

 

THE REPORT USAID DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SEE: A 2009 USAID study -- quickly swept under the rug -- showed that circumcised men were just as likely or more to have HIV vs. uncircumcised (intact) men.



‘Circumcision doesn’t reduce HIV spread’: Gregory Boyle and George Hill challenge Uganda’s Bogus Circumcision Crusade

 http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/03/circumcision-doesnt-reduce-hiv-spread.html


Don’t teach sex in schools: President Museveni challenges Neo-liberal corporate interests behind the HIV/AIDS crusade




‘Circumcision doesn’t reduce HIV spread’: Gregory Boyle and George Hill challenge Uganda’s Bogus Circumcision Crusade



President Museveni makes another attack on Uganda’s Bogus Circumcision Crusade





 

Government accused of ‘relaxed’ opinions on circumcision

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Government-accused-of--relaxed--opinions-on-circumcision/-/688334/1635178/-/80q99n/-/index.html

By Fredric Musisi

Posted  Monday, December 3  2012 at  02:00

Kampala

Civil society organisations have accused the government of not doing enough to encourage male circumcision in the fight against HIV.


Mr Richard Hasunira, an HIV/Aids adviser at HEPS-Uganda, a health rights organisation that advocates increased access to affordable essential medicines, said the Health ministry was “relaxed” about safe male circumcision (SMC) despite its benefits in reducing the risk of HIV infection.


Less than half of the 1.2 million men targeted for circumcision in 2012 will be cut, a report by civil society organisations shows.


The SMC policy was launched at the end of 2010 after a four-year research indicated that medically performed male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection in men by an average of 60 per cent. “The biggest problem to this failing by the ministry is the lack of a policy strategic plan which is essential for any big campaign.”


The National HIV and Aids strategic plan 2007-2012 includes SMC as one of the prevention measures.