Oslo’s crime rate out of control, causes outcry

*”Oslo’s police department is having a hard time coping with a rising crime rate. Only one in five reported cases is currently being resolved, police seem as frustrated as crime victims, and commentators worry that citizens are having to rely on private security firms to ensure their safety.

Repeated calls are made for more visible police patrols on the streets of Oslo, but resources don’t allow it at present. PHOTO: HANS O. TORGERSEN Norway’s Justice Minister Knut Storberget, who’s ultimately in charge of the police in Norway, insists there’s no crisis. PHOTO: Olsen OlavÂ

The numbers, reported in newspaper Aftenposten, speak for themselves: No country has fewer police per capita than Norway, as many as 70 percent of so-called petty crimes are never followed up, and while the police force has increased 150 percent since 1960, the crime rate has increased 700 percent.

With so few crimes being investigated and solved, observers worry that Norwegians are losing confidence in whether the police will even come when called. Seven of 10 Norwegians have no faith that they’ll get any help if someone breaks into their home, notes Aftenposten..

Justice Minister Knut Storberget, confronted with the challenges facing the police, has denied there’s any crisis and points out that the Oslo Police District alone has received NOK 400 million in additional funding since 2000. He was harshly criticized, though, when he asked the public which cases the police should rank further down their lists when setting priorities, instead of addressing how the police could be equipped to do a better job.

Police resources have been strained by their growing need to tackle organized crime, gang crime, some spectacular cases like the NOKAS and Munch robberies, and heightened security demands, not least for public figures, local embassies and members of the royal family.

No less than six patrol cars, for example, were deemed necessary to lead a convoy of royals in Oslo over the weekend to celebrate King Harald’s birthday, while a police helicopter hovered overhead. Oslo police are also obliged to constantly be on duty at several embassies in Oslo that are seen as terrorist targets.

This comes at a time when the 190,000 residents of Oslo’s Østensjø, Nordstrand and Søndre Nordstrand districts often have just one police patrol on duty, which itself often gets sent downtown on weekends to control violent drunks.

Privatizing police services
Concerns are rising that all this will lead Norwegians to take the law into their own hands. Many already are investing in personal alarms, pepper spray and private security firms. Homeowner associations, for example, are feeling forced to employ such firms to patrol apartment complexes at night and perform such tasks as telling partymakers to be quiet, because the police don’t come when called.

There currently are 8,250 police officers in Norway today, reports newspaper Aftenposten, but more than 10,000 private security guards spread over 250 different companies.

This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be in a social welfare state like Norway, where law and order should be enforced for everyone and not just those wealthy enough to afford private security firms.

“Today, the problems with the police are leading to new class differences,” wrote Knut Olav Ã…mÃ¥s, in charge of public debate and commentary at Aftenposten over the weekend. “So this is all about what kind of society Norway should be.”*

By Nina Berglund

*”/”*Lifted and published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525. source.aftenpostenENG

New premier in Chad

 

N’djamena (Chad) President Idriss Deby Itno Monday appointed Nouradine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye as new Prime Minister of Chad, to replace Pascal Yoadimnadji who succumbed to a cerebral haemorrhage in the early hours of 23 February in Paris, where he was admitted two days before, following a heart attack.

Kassire once headed the government from 1993 to 1995. An old boy of the national administration school (ENA) of Paris (France), this 62 year old Muslim was born in Laï, Tandjile (southern Chad). A lawyer, the new head of the government is a member of the opposition.

He is the president of the Rassemblement national pour la democratie et le progress (VIVA/RNDP), an ally of the ruling party and which has been part of the different governments of President Deby since 1990.

 

 

Published by Korir

African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525. source.apa

Suspected rapist on the loose

*”Three women reported attempted rapes in Oslo over the weekend, and a man who tried to help one of the women ended up being stabbed himself. It’s the latest in a string of rape cases since December.

One of the attempted rapes occurred here, in Kirkegårds Gate near Sofienberg Park. PHOTO: ROLF ØHMAN

All three women were attacked in Oslo’s popular Grünerløkka district late Saturday night while on their way home. As in earlier cases, one of the women was attacked as she unlocked the entry door to her apartment building on Trondheimsveien.

Her assailant, described by police as an “aggressive” man in his mid-20s, believed to be Somalian, drew a knife and forced her into the apartment she shared with several roommates.

One of them was home, and he woke up after hearing her screams. He rushed to her aid and was stabbed in the neck by the assailant, who then fled. Both the woman and her roommate were taken to hospital for treatment, where his stab wounds were not determined to be life-threatening.

The two other attempted rapes occurred nearby, on Jens Bjelkes Gate and Kirkegårds Gate, and police believe the same man was involved in at least one of them. Both victims escaped.

Oslo’s main emergency clinic, Legevakten, has handled 43 rape victims so far this year and police are warning women against walking alone late at night. They’re advising women to talk, or at least pretend they’re talking, in a mobile phone if they do walk alone. If they’ve taken a taxi home, police advise women to ask their drivers to wait until they’re inside their building before driving off.”*

By Nina Berglund 

lifted and Published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 932 99 739, +47 6300 2525 source.aftenpostenENG

The tracking of a serial rapist

Oslo police released this drawing Tuesday of a man believed to have attacked three women over the weekend. Investigators think they may have a serial rapist on their hands.

<Here is the police drawing of the man believed to have attacked three women over the weekend.

PHOTO: POLITIET

The drawing is based on discriptions of a man provided by three women who were attacked late Saturday night in Oslo’s Grünerløkka district.

Police believe the same man was behind all three attacks, and that he’s also behind earlier attacks in Oslo.

Police have received about 50 tips in the attempted rape cases and are working with videotapes from surveillance cameras in the area.

“We have concrete tips on identified persons, but they need more investigation,” said police inspector Terje Kristiansen at a press conference arranged by the Oslo Police District Tuesday afternoon.

Some of the tips come from women who have reported similar attacks elsewhere in Oslo. There’s been a rash of rape and attempted rape cases in the capital since last summer.

Most of the attacks have occurred as women are unlocking the entrance doors of their apartment buildings when coming home late at night.

The prime suspect is believed to be in his 20s, of African descent. He is slim, speaks heavily accented Norwegian and is about 180 centimeters tall.

He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark jacket when he attempted to rape three women late Saturday night. He also stabbed a man who came to the aid of one of the women.

Police have been going door-to-door in the Grünerløkka area seeking information the past two days.

They also are appealing for another man who came to the aid of another of the victims, on Lakkegata, to contact police and share any descriptions or clues he might have. Police are describing him as a hero, because he probably prevented the rape by hitting the attacker in the face. The attacker ultimately fled.

By Anders Nordstoga and Nina Berglund

 

Lifted and published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.aftenpostenENG

What is Character assassination?

Let us look at what is considered to be  character assassination. 

False statements that are damaging to a person’s reputation in written form or oral are considered to be slander.   This is exactly what Gerry Middenyo and George Mengo have done to our enterprising brother Mr. Clay Onyango. 

Shame on them!  They should be held accountable for name defamation period. 

These guys have made it a habit……

I do not understand the likes of Gerry Middenyo and George Mengo whose sick minds conceive the false, malicious “make-believe” about  innocent people.

Middenyo is well known, I believe not only in Stockholm, but back at home.. where he actually sits down with no facts at hand and actually formulates stories about anybody, anywhere, event that which he has never set his eyes on. 

Believe you me, this guy is amazing!! I wonder actually why he has not made a career out of it!!! He should, since the guy is constantly broke!!

These walking fully furnished venomed with malice, gossip should be called to a Kamukunji and their tabia mbaya put to a stop for once and for all. 

Thanks to APN that these men are now known to many.  My advice to you … have nothing do with them at all.  See them and run!!!  I am sure many have fallen victim to them. 

These are people after screwing you bask, in the afterglow - “ati nilmwambia… nahakusikiliza”…

There are respectful ways to express differences of opinions and resorting to personal attacks suggests that one is either frustrated, depressed, or a loser. 

I believe the two subjects have families…. teenage children for crying out loud… don’t they have a responsibility to show good taste and set examples.  What are they doing???  This is simply agitating…  Stop this grief..

Actually, the truth is that my opinion is not supposed to have any weight on the subjects. I just thought it important to air my views on this very disturbing matter. 

There is no provision in their personality, or an ounce of respect left in them… Moreover, adverse comments have been published and made public.

Isn’t this unfair? In addition, I don’t think they are  concerned or care with what exactly comes out their mouths  it is just but rather more of a bigger picture of verbal diarrohea, more of a senseful  way of getting considerations or favours from society they think.

In this case, it’s just divine intervention and the suitability of sentence, distance yourself from them.

Mr. Onyango you have a family and business to take care of… Move on…

By Randa

Published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525

Tanzanian hardliners in the Tanzanian organization in Norway are against the East African Community

The Tanzanian president’s visit to Norway this week has made some Tanzanian organization members in Oslo to show their true colours.

Last night, some officials of the Tanzanian organization visited many bars in Oslo to alert citizens from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi that they will not be welcome to attend President Jakaya Kikwete’s open meeting in Grand Hotel tomorrow.

The officials told the residents of the four East African Community countries that they did not want to share their president with anybody.

Forgetting that the President is a man who is for the success of the East African Community, the lead Oslo Tanzanian organization members has shown the hate that they have against their neighbours.

This is sad news for many observers who conclude that the organization in Oslo is starting to dismantle the East African Community due to selfishness.

The members who are against development in the direction of unity, may not be focused because they do not know the problems back home on the ground and the need to have an open market that all 5 countries in the community look forward to enjoy.

Some of the leaders with education have refused to go back home and be part of the development and yet the country needs people with education in different sectors in the country.

Like many other Africans in Europe who do not want to return and work at home after getting education, the few Tanzanians who do not want to see East African Community succeeding and are now fighting the unity of East Africa would rather take low paid jobs in Europe than return home and use their knowlegdge for the benefit of the country.

The president, however, may decide otherwise and allow the citizens from the East African Community countries into the meeting despite the arrogance shown by those against the union of the East African countries.

By Korir,

Pubished by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525

The new President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, on his first visit to Scandinavian countries

   

The President of Tanzania, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (<left photo) is Africa’s new progmatic leader and has shown that he has qualities of a good leader after being in office for a short time.

He took over the presidency from former president Benjamin Mkapa after winning a popular vote from his people.

The president has visited a number of countries in an effort to attract more investors to his country and ensure that Tanzania gets to the top economically in Africa.

Former president Mr Mkapa (right photo>) stepped down from power after a two term period in office.

Tanzania is known to have popular leaders. The late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was a popular leader. Former president Mkapa became also popular and now the country is blessed with their new president who has grown popular in the region.  

When Mr Nyerere resigned in 1985, Ali Hassan Mwinyi succeeded him.

On taking over the presidency, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, tried to attract foreign investors by dismantling the control of the economy by the government, with an intention to raise productivity.

The same policy was continued when Mkapa took office. He was elected in 1995

Tanzania’s economy has grown, but not without strains, due to reforms that has been necessitated by need to achieve valued productivity which is conditioned by the World bank.

Tanzania’s good management in tourism industry has lifted the country economically. The country earns well in revenue because of the attraction, being a country with Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and national parks rich in wildlife, like the Serengeti.

Zanzibar which is part of the mainland has its own President and parliament.

For long Tanzania was spared from conflicts politically, but last year the country had issues to deal with when a group in Zanzibar started thinking of a new path towards a new freedom. The step the group wanted to take, if it was not attended to, would have caused a split in the union.

However, Tanzania though being one of the poorest countries in the world, having many of its people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank rating, has achieved a high profile in getting investors and international donors to view the country as one important market in East Africa.

The country assumed its present form when a merger was achieved between the mainland Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar in 1964. 

While on his visit to Norway this week, the President is expected to enter into bilateral deals with Norway.

The President is an open person and has ensured that his schedule enables him to meet Tanzanians living in Norway. It is expected that the president will encourage them to invest at home and become part of the people uplifting the country economically.

The president’s love for development and Africa as a united continent, will also be pleased to see people from the other 4 countries in the East African Community, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi attend the meeting with the Tanzanians in Grand Hotel, Oslo tomorrow.

 

By Korir,

Published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 932 99 739, +47 6300 2525