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Post-election Turmoil in Kenya (3/2)
By Lily Ostrer
Following the presidential election on December 27th, violence erupted throughout Kenya. Long labeled as one of the most
stable African nations, tribal differences have now divided and crippled this East African country. Incumbent president Mwai
Kibaki was declared winner of the election, but there is widespread evidence of ballot rigging. Kibaki was running for reelection
against Raila Odinga, a member of an opposing party. Kibaki and Odinga also come from opposing ethnic groups; Kibaki comes
from the Kikuyu tribe and Odinga from the Luo. Odinga won much of his campaign support by attacking the Kikuyus and claiming
they had disproportionate influence in the country's government. However, Kibaki was a popular president during his first
term, which began in 2002.
When the election results were announced on December 30th, Kibaki had himself sworn into office within minutes. The country
immediately erupted into violence, with demonstrations around the country, but particularly centered in the Rift Valley.
However, the violence has its roots in conflicts that started long before the elections. It is the result of political marginalization,
disputed land ownership, and the failure of past governments to enact comprehensive constitutional reform. The violence against
Kikuyus has been so extensive that some have ventured to call it ethnic cleansing. However, others claim that this misrepresents
the situation considering there has been violence from all sides. As of early February, the death toll was over 1,000 people
and more than 300,000 had been forced from their homes. The country has suffered enormously; the stock market has fallen
more than 25 percent, the country has lost several billion dollars, agriculture, one of the country's main exports, has suffered,
and the huge tourist business in Kenya has come to a halt. Among those killed were two of Kenya's top Olympic runners, two
top lawyers, and a member of parliament who potentially could have helped solve the country's crisis.
After two months of crippling violence and unwillingness to effectively negotiate, Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing
agreement on February 28th. Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations, led peace talks between the two Kenyan
leaders; Annan and Jakaya Kikwete, the president of Tanzania and chairman of the African Union, also signed the peace agreement.
Annan has now left the country and Oluyemi Adeniji, Nigeria's former foreign minister, has resumed day-to-day negotiations.
Following the peace deal, Kenya's schilling started to recover, but its tourism industry has not. Also, much of the country
needs rebuilding after the violence.
While the peace deal is a huge step forward, there are still many conflicts left to resolve. It is unclear how the two
parties are going to reconcile the issue of cabinet positions as Kibaki has already pledged many positions to members of his
party. Additionally, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered to hold a conference for aid donors interested in rebuilding
Kenya, but there is disagreement within Kenya about how much it can rely on international aid. While Kenya does need to maintain
its sovereignty and decide where to channel post-violence aid to rehabilitate the country, diplomatic support from the global
community is vital.
Genocide Olympics (2/13)
By Esther Shoenfeld
In 1936, Nazi Germany had the honor of hosting the Olympics. Hitler seized this opportunity to boost the Nazi image, and
took charge of all of the details, from designing the stadium to excluding Jews from the competition. The result of this situation
was the world wide glorification of the "Aryan" race and Nazi ideals, merely three years before one of the worst
atrocities in human history was committed in their name.
This summer, China is scheduled to host the Olympics. Clearly, the actions of the current Chinese leadership aren't comparable
to the Holocaust. (The actions of Mao Tse-Tung are another matter entirely.) But China is currently funding genocide in Sudan,
supporting a brutal regime in Burma, suppressing independence in Tibet, persecuting peaceful spiritual movements within its
own borders, and upholding one of the strictest censorship policies in the world. In the run-up to the Olympics, dissidents
are being arrested right and left, to make the regime appear to enjoy more support than it actually does.
The Olympics are going forward. George W. Bush is attending.
The world evidently did not learn from its mistake in 1936.
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