Norway: Why mistreat Africans?

Last Sunday evening I went to a local grocery store owned by one Muslim man in Grorud to get by groceries and a Calling card because I wanted to call Overseas to hear how my sick mother was doing.

In front of me at the store, stood a man, and my judgement tells me he was Asian, probably from Pakistan. He requested for a “calling card” and paid 85 kroner for it.

He spoke what sounded like Arabic, thanking the store owner. When it came to my turn, I asked for the same card and was given. When I gave the store owner 85 Kroner, he refused and demanded 100 kroners.

I was shocked and surprised for having been charged a different price. When I complained, telling him that I had noticed the man who was before me paying 85 kroner, he got angry and yelled at me, shouting that I should leave his shop I did not want to pay the price he meant was right for me.

This is a crime forbidden in this country, a situation where somebody creates prices for those he knows and other prices for those he does not know.

I have discovered over the years Muslim businessmen seem to have different prices for non-muslim customers.

I have also noticed the same treatment in restaurant and shops.

This is something I believe state consumer control agency, ”Forbrukerådet”, should take up immediately. The media should also be engaged in uncovering the kind of businesses that discriminate customers.

The treatment I was given still hurts and will continue to do so .

If you have experienced the same things, you may send us your thoughts and together we can push the authorities to take up the matter.

Hidden cameras should be used to capture the scenes like I expirienced.

We are in the 21st century, a century when people should not entertain discrimination.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Norway: The police break custody rules!

The media has reported that Olso police has, so far this year, broken custody rules 274 times. The police’s use of custody cells has been heavily criticised after it was discovered that the police are breaking the rules on a daily basis.

The rules state clearly that no person ordered by the court to be in remand awaiting trial, sentencing, or one already sentenced, but waiting for a place to serve his or her sentence, should be held in the cells for more than 48.

The police agree that the rules have been broken.

According to the head of prosecution section Hanne Kristin Rohde, such treatment of prisoners is inhuman and degrading, no matter what offence they may have committed.

The police agrees that what is happening is not good, adding that their department is not happy about it as well.

The Police in Oslo are the  one with many cases of this kind. The problem arises due to shortage of places where those in custody are to be placed.

In average, those we have stay in custody cells have been held there for four to six days. The worst situation the police has experienced this year is when they had to keep one person in their cells for nine days.

This does not only violate human rights principles, but also the international laws.

The treatment causes psychological problems for the prisoner.

The police must think modern and practice fairness when dealing with prisoners in their custody. If they do not have places to remand people, they should give them police bail until such places are at their disposal.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

source.ANB

Kenya: Police tear-gassed ODM rally in Nairobi.

The police had warned the ODM leaders not to go ahead with today’s rally.

The leaders and their followers chose to ignore police orders and when they were about to start the rally that was meant to support the ousted embattled former KANU boss Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, the police in top gear stepped in to disperse the growd.

The police used tear-gas chassing the growd away from Uhuru park.

It is reported that, “some 500 opposition supporters, including 20 MPs, were protesting about a government decision to recognise a breakaway faction of the Kanu party.”

The rally was to be held in Uhuru Park, to show for the recently ousted Kanu leader Uhuru Kenyatta.

The police said the rally was illegal because they were not informed of it in advance.

After the registration of Mr Biwott’s take over of KANU last week by the registrar of societies, Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s founding president, Jomo Kenyatta, ceased to be KANU boss and official leader of the opposition in parliament.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

source.bbc

India: Former minister faces murder charges!

A  former Indian minister Shibu Soren has been released on  bail. He is charged in connection with murder of ten people in a rally 29 years ago.

BBC reports that, “the high court judge in the northern Jharkhand state said Mr Soren could be released after paying a bond of 150,000 rupees ($3,240). Mr Soren was told to leave his passport with the court.”

He has been directed to appear regularly, “before the lower court where the trial of the case is going on.” The former minister who is considered a local tribal leader, says he did not incite a mob which “killed 11 settlers during a campaign to carve out the tribal-dominated state of Jharkhand.”

When he was charged, and faced with pressure from opposition members of parliament, he vacated his ministerail post. He was coal minister in the present central government.

He is also accused of involvement in a 1974 murder.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

source.bbc.

Kenya: Protest against Biwott’s registration as KANU boss outlawed by Police!

The Standard has reported that, “the stage is set for a showdown in Nairobi after Police outlawed an ODM-Kenya rally and march to protest against the registration of Mr Nicholas Biwott’s Kanu faction.”

Recently, the registrar had promised the ODM people that Mr Nicholas Biwott’s take over registration would be cancelled, to pave way for Mr Uhuru Kenyatta’s come back as KANU boss.

“The terse edict outlawing the rally and march was released on Monday night, but ODM-Kenya leaders insisted the protest would go on Tuesday morning.”

The ODM people feel short-changed by the government who had promised them to deregister Biwott’s Kanu. After the police outlawed the rally, “the Registrar of Societies wrote a letter to ousted Kanu secretary general Mr William Ruto, saying she would not deregister the Biwott faction as demanded.”

It now remains to be seen whether the ODM leaders will defy the police and hold a rally today. “In a statement signed on his behalf by Police Spokesman Mr Gideon Kibunja, Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali said the planned rally and march were illegal,” adding that, “”The Kenya Police have not been notified of any planned demonstration or procession by any group or party in Nairobi scheduled for Tuesday.”

Emphasising the seriousness of the matter the police says,”anyone who organises or participates in one will be in violation of the law and will therefore be apprehended and arraigned before a court of law.”

Many ODM-K rallies, marches, and demonstrations held in Kenya has been done when Mr Raila Odinga is out of the country. Raila seems to plan his trips abroad the same time he knows a march or demonstration will be held. When things are hot, he leaves the responsibility to his colleagues, later come and takes credit if all goes well. It is amazing that the other leaders are unable to see this. Now he is reported to be abroad receiving an award.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.standard.ke