VENEZUELA RECALLS CARACAZO EVENT VICTIMS

CARACAS, Feb 28 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Venezuelans are recalling on Saturday the victims of the Caracazo incidents, with songs and paintings at the country”s squares and avenues, exactly at those sites where the most bloody repression took place 21 years ago.

Caracas’ artists and people draw inspiration from those who died during the rebellion, while thousands of voices will join a great cantata to pay them tribute.

A political-cultural ceremony will close the homage to the victims of the protest from February 27-28, 1989, suppressed by police forces and the army, under the government of then President Carlos Andres Perez.

Known as “El Caracazo,” this great riot was performed to repudiate the statesman’s neoliberal measures.

The Venezuelan Public Ministry is still investigating over 300 cases of deceased, wounded, tortured and missing people, although it still ignores the exact number of victims. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

TANZANIA: MIRERANI TANZANITE DEPOSITS ‘ARE FOREVER’, SAYS GEOLOGISTS

DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — NAMING a new mining quarry after a dog may not sound like a good idea but Tanzanite-One Limited management believe it is a “symbol of continuity,” just like their faithful hound ‘Kossack.’

The Tanzanite-One General Manager, Nick Hughes, recently dismissed speculations that the precious blue minerals of Mirerani were about to disappear. He said that “only a small fraction of the mining hills was being mined” at the moment.

His geologists also believe that there are more unexplored deposits of the rare gemstones deposits than the amount that is currently being produced in the Mirerani Hills of Simanjiro District in Manyara region.

“We are at the moment sinking a new mining shaft in addition to the four currently in operation,” stated Mr Nick Hughes, the general manager for the giant mining company operating in the Northern Zone.

“Most miners are not exploring for the future. They are simply mining for the present. Our company employs geologists and other experts for studying the mining trend. That is why we are now drilling a new quarry which is the exploration shaft,” added Mr Hughes.

He, however, admitted that eventually the deposits will diminish though not anytime soon. Tanzanite mining area has expanded from the initial eight sq km to the current 20 sq km. divided into four blocks (A, B, C and D). The hilly area could cover 50 sq km.

Only Tanzanite-One’s Block C has been explored by geologist. The mineral reserves detected in there are estimated to weigh 2.2 million tonnes but ongoing studies are likely to discover even more deposits.

“While it is not possible to find tanzanite elsewhere in Tanzania, the geological composition at Mirerani indicates abundant reserve of the rare blue gemstones, it is just a matter of exploring more,” Mr Hughes said.

That is why his company has just started to excavate a new quarry at their Block ‘C’ plot. The new mining shaft Christened ‘Kossack’ is named after a dog, the giant hound which has been a ‘faithful guard’ at the company’s base for close to ten years now.

Tanzanite, discovered at Mirerani in 1962, is only found and mined in Tanzania. According to Hughes, however, there is no possibility of finding the gemstones elsewhere in the country.

Between 2007 and 2009 a number of small-scale miners were calling it quits and started leaving the area claiming that the minerals were disappearing.

“The speculations that tanzanite minerals are about to disappear are unfounded. With proper exploration miners will be in business for many years to come,” stated Mr Hughes.

Tanzanite-One, which is officially the largest mining firm in Mirerani doubles as exporter. The company reported recently that gemstone production exceeded its target and that it made steady progress towards profitability.

The company produced 1.91 million carats and recorded sales of US $12.2 million last year. “A single carat weighs five grams making the total mineral harvest of last year to be 9.5 tonnes,” explained Mr Hughes. — NNN-DAILYNEWS

GUATEMALAN WORLD COFFEE CONFERENCE STARTS

GUATEMALA, Feb 28 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — A broad agenda on the future of coffee and the current problems of its marketing is being debated on Saturday in Guatemala during the third World Coffee Conference.

Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (OIC) Nestor Osorio said that the conclusions the specialists will arrive at will be decisive to accomplish a sustainable production of the bean, which needs to have its own balance in the industry.

The main topic of this meeting is entitled Coffee for the Future: Towards a Coffee Sustainable Sector, and its expert conference sessions will deal with economic, environmental and social issues.

The first session will last the whole Saturday and will deal with the analysis on changes and trends in the world coffee production, its costs and limitations, as well as that entitled Development of Markets for a Different Coffee.

This event, which will conclude on Sunday, is being attended by the 77 OIC member nations, who are responsible for 97 percent of the coffee production and more than 80 percent of its consumption worldwide.

The results of these debates will be immediately discussed at the heart of this group, since it will hold its 104th session from Monday to Thursday. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

TANZANIA: DAILY NEWS WINS MCT PRAISE FOR ETHICAL REPORTING

DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE ‘Daily News’, Tanzania’s most authoritative newspaper, has been credited for demonstrating high ethical conduct and professionalism.

In a print media monitoring report by the Media Council of Tanzania launched in Dar es Salaam, ‘Daily News’ topped the list of English newspapers in terms of accuracy, balanced and well researched news stories.

The report covered the period of April-June last year. The Monitoring report which was launched in Dar es Salaam indicates that ?Daily News? was leading in the first overall position among the English daily newspapers by publishing 20 stories related to albino killings, ranging from hard news, features, photographs, cartoons, poems and short stories.

Other English newspapers monitored are: ‘The Guardian’, ‘The Citizen’, ‘The African’, ‘The Guardian on Sunday’ and the ‘Sunday Citizen’.

Speaking at the launch of three publications: Scribes, Monitoring Report and Media Gender Code of Ethics Friday, the Dean of School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Bernadeta Killian, said that the monitoring report has showed high level of integrity.

Dr Killian said the report has opened a new chapter in the country?s media industry, saying the trend should be sustained. But she was quick to remark that it was yet to be established why the English newspapers? performance was above the Kiswahili newspapers in terms of adhering to ethical and professional standards.

The report on Kiswahili newspapers indicates that many stories on victims of sexual offences and general crimes saw the light of the day. The report further reveals the failure by Kiswahili newspapers to abide by ethical considerations, such as the identity of victims was often revealed.

?The publications are opening a new chapter in Tanzania media where the degree of research that was carried out in the stories that appear in the Scribes publication shows high standard of research,? said the Dean.

She cited the story of ?Language factor in community radios? which points out that no vernaculars; no interest to listen was a new challenge for the media. She said the dialogue ought to be continued and sustained in order to reach out to the rural communities as one of the major challenges the media was facing mainly by focusing on urban reporting.

She said the Scribes will set a precedent for other local publication to deviate from news generated by press releases and conferences and rather strive to promote investigative or developmental news reporting.

MCT Executive Secretary, Mr Kajubi Mukajanga said contributors to the maiden edition of Scribes were local journalists and media researchers devoted to the cause of advancing high standard journalism in Tanzania.

He said that the monitoring report covers newspapers’ ethical performance and developments related to freedom of expression in Tanzania. He added that print media monitoring was one of the core activities of MCT.

The third publication is a flier on Gender code of ethics whose contents were prepared by professionals and eventually adopted by stakeholders during MCT National General Convention in June, last year.

MCT Publication, Research and Documentation Manager, Mr John Mireny told a press conference earlier yesterday that the maiden journal- Scribes was for advancement of journalism in the country. He said Scribes mission is to encourage and stimulate excellence in journalism in the service of a free society.

?It is both a watchdog and a friend of the press in all its forms, from newspapers to magazines to radio, television and the Web site. He also said it was the first of its kind in Tanzania where Scribes examine day-to-day press performance and real media issues as well as the forces that affect media performance.

The magazine is published two times a year and offers a mix of reporting, analysis, media research, criticisms and commentary. He described the journal?s name to have been chosen with great insight, as it tells a lot more about the nature and character of the publication.

From ancient Latin times, a scribe was a professional copyist of manuscripts and documents, later taking on the general meaning of skilled writers. — NNN-DAILYNEWS

THAILAND: POLICE TIGHTEN SECURITY AFTER BOMBINGS AT FOUR BRANCHES OF BANGKOK BANK

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (NNN-TNA) — Police tightened security in the capital after bombs exploded at the Bangkok Bank branches in Silom and in Phra Pradaeng early Sunday, while bombs at two other bank branches failed to function.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the bombings at four Bangkok Bank offices were not beyond expectation, explaining that he believed the attacks were intended to create turmoil.

Expressing his concerns over the political impact on the country?s economic recovery, the prime minister said he had ordered security to be stepped up and for more police checkpoints in the capital, while calling for the public to help notifying the police regarding suspicious or unusual incidents.

The incidents came within earlier expectations after nine Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions judges on Friday ordered the confiscation of a predominant portion of the frozen assets of fugitive, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite tighter security at the homes of the nine judges and at sensitive locations in the capital, the first bombing took place Saturday night at Bangkok Bank?s Silom Road headquarters. The bomb damaged glass doors and windows at the entrance of the bank building.

Another grenade was found shortly after at Bangkok Bank’s Rama II branch in outer Bangkok. Police believe that the bombers wanted to create unrest in the country and that were explosives experts who could set charges to alarm the public without causing much actual damage.

The third and fourth bombings took place at Bangkok Bank?s Phra Pradaeng branch in neighbouring Samut Prakan province, where a bomb shattered glass and the bank’s ceiling, while the fourth bomb was at the bank’s Srinakarind branch in eastern Bangkok, but it failed to detonate.

The fifth and last reported incident occurred before dawn Sunday near a Buddhist temple in Bangkok?s Taling Chan district where a small bomb exploded with causing significant damage.

No casualties were reported in any of the five incidents.

Anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have charged repeatedly that Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda was behind a bloodless coup in September 2006 which toppled the elected government of Mr Thaksin. Gen Prem, a former prime minister, is now also an honorary adviser of Bangkok Bank, Thailand?s largest commercial bank.

Ten days ago, on February 19, the UDD rallied at Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road. — NNN-TNA

THAILAND: EX-AEC MEMBER SATISFIED WITH COURT RULING ON THAKSIN ASSETS SEIZURE CASE

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (NNN-TNA) — A member of the now disbanded Assets Examination Committee (AEC) said he is satisfied with the ruling of the Supreme Court?s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions which ordered seizing assets valued at Bt46 billion (US$1.4 billion) from ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra from the entire Bt76.6 billion ($2.3 billion) in his frozen assets.

Sak Korsaengruang, former AEC spokesman, said he viewed that the verdict as clear and covering all the points, and urged all parties to respect and retain faith in the judgment.

When asked if the AEC?s work was considered complete when the assets of the convicted former prime minister were confiscated, Mr Sak said he considered the mission of the committee finished since it had worked hard to gather evidence and finally filed the case, clear with facts and findings according to the law, to the court. Therefore, how much the Supreme Court seized Mr Thaksin?s assets was its judgment anon which the AEC should not make a comment.

Mr Thaksin had previously claimed that a reward of 25 per cent of the seized assets would go to the committee, Mr Sak affirmed that it was not true, and that the AEC did not have any nominee for such a reward.

He said the AEC had collected the evidence itself, no one provided any traces or hints of Mr Thaksin?s cases during the court?s hearing process,therefore there was no anyone entitled for the reward that would give to anyone who could provide traces or evidence related to the case.

Mr Sak said the members of the now disbanded AEC would meet Tuesday to discuss cases pending to be sent to the Attorney General’s Office for further legal action.– NNN-TNA

SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA FOR PERMANENT FORUM OFFICE IN MARCH

CARACAS, Feb 28 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The permanent office for the South America-Africa Forum (ASA) will be installed on March 10 in Margarita Island, Venezuela, said Venezuelan Foreign Vice Minister Reinaldo Bolivar.

Bolivar made statements to Prensa Latina Friday and stated the institution was created by the 2nd ASA Summit in Margarita Island last year, as a part of the institutional progress of the entity.

This office subordinated to the Strategic Presidential Table of ASA for cooperation agreements will be formed by eight committees corresponding to the identified collaboration areas.

The magnitude of cooperation covers: economy, trade, public health, education, culture, tourism, investments, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, water resources, science, technology and mining among others.

Bolivar highlighted the relevance of the mechanism with the perspective of becoming a space for exchange and cooperation.

Areas such as agriculture, culture, energy, science, environment, public health and education were identified in the 1st Summit.

He said that far from being an obstacle, the crisis should be a vehicle to foster cooperation in areas such as agriculture, since Africa and South America have both potential to feed their respective populations and export food to other regions of the world.

Energy is another aspect with priority, not only talking about oil and gas but also other sources. Mining is another one, with Africa as the first mining continent in the world.

As regional coordinators, Nigeria, Libya and the African Union were selected. Brazil, Venezuela and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) were chosen for South America. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

UGANDA: ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO REMAIN – INFORMATION MINISTER

KAMPALA, Feb 28 (NNN-NEW VISION) — THE Electoral Commission will not be disbanded as demanded by the opposition, Uganda information minister, Kabakumba Masiko, has said.

?The commission is appointed legally. Parliament approved those names and it will serve its term for seven years as stated in the law,? she told journalists.

Kabakumba explained that the election amendment bills are a result of the Government?s commitment to reform electoral laws.

Donors, the opposition and civil society have argued that without meaningful electoral reforms, politics will always favour the ruling party.

The opposition last month described the Government?s submission to Parliament on amendments to electoral laws as ?unsatisfactory? and vowed to push for their own reforms.

?There is no need for the opposition to think of boycotting the electoral activities,? Kabakumba said.

Commenting on the demonstration that was staged at Parliament by Women for Peace on Wednesday, Kabakumba said: ?The Electoral Commission needs to be and must be supported by all well-intentioned Ugandans. The negative attitude that is being propagated by some sections of the opposition regarding the commission must be condemned.? — NNN-NEW VISION

THAILAND: POLL: OVER HALF OF RESPONDENTS WANT THAKSIN TO ACCEPT COURT RULING ON ASSETS SEIZURE

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (NNN-TNA) — Over half the respondents in the latest ABAC public opinion poll said that Thailand’s fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra should accept Friday?s Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ruling which ordered the seizure of Bt46.37 billion in frozen assets held by him and his family.

The poll was conducted Saturday on 1,308 persons aged above 18, in 17 provinces nationwide found that 56.7 per cent of the respondents agreed that Mr Thaksin should accept the court?s verdict as the decision made by the nine judges was fair and just.

Accepting the verdict would bring peace to Thailand, according to the poll.

However, one in three– 32.6 per cent– thought that Mr Thaksin should appeal if he believes himself to be innocent and that he should ?continue fighting.?

The court has ordered the seizure of Bt46.37 billion of the Bt76.6 billion in frozen assets and ruled that the remaining Bt30.2 billion would be returned to him and his family as they were acquired before he became prime minister in 2001.

Mr Thaksin?s lawyers plan to appeal the verdict and have 30 days from hearing the ruling to lodge an appeal on condition that they come up with new evidence.

The survey by ABAC Poll also found that 51.7 per cent of respondents were worried about disorder which might occur following the court?s ruling, while 48.3 per cent still have hope that peace and order will prevail. ? NNN-TNA

GIANT FULL MOON TO LIGHT UP CHINA’S LANTERN FESTIVAL: ASTRONOMER

NANJING, China Feb 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — The biggest full moon of the year will light up China’s Lantern Festival on the weekend, assuming favorable weather.

“The full moon on Sunday, which coincides with the Lantern Festival, will look 10 percent bigger than its normal size,” said Wang Sichao, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Purple Mountain Observatory based in east China’s Nanjing City.

He said the moon will pass the area around the perigee at 6:00 a.m. Sunday. However, the brightest and roundest moon will be observed on Monday, March 1.

The Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is an occasion for family reunion. It marks the formal end of lunar New Year festivities.

According to Chinese tradition, people go outside and enjoy the colorful lanterns on the streets and in parks the night of the festival. They also eat yuanxiao, small dumplings made of glutinous rice flour usually with a sweet filling.

The Beijing city government on Friday sent text messages to mobile phone users to remind all that fireworks are not permitted in the city after the Lantern Festival.

Many big Chinese cities like Beijing impose fireworks bans, only allowing fireworks celebrations during the lunar New Year festival period.

The Beijing fire department said fireworks caused 106 fires since Feb. 13, the first day of China’s Spring Festival holiday, but that there were no cases of big fires yet. — NNN-Xinhua