One Man Election in Zimbabwe

Mugabe and Pak Lah - The Blues Brothers

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Widespread voter intimidation and low turnout marked Zimbabwe’s one-candidate presidential runoff Friday, further damaging the vote designed to bolster longtime President Robert Mugabe’s credibility.

Residents said they were forced to vote, threatened by violence, arson or roving bands of government supporters searching for those without an ink-stained finger.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who withdrew from the runoff citing a campaign of state-sponsored violence, said the results would “reflect only the fear of the people.”

“What is happening today is not an election. It is an exercise in mass intimidation,” he said at a news conference.

Dozens of opposition supporters have been killed and thousands of people injured prior to Friday’s vote, which is expected only to deepen the nation’s political and economic crisis.

Fear and intimidation contrasted with the excitement and hope for change that marked the first round of voting in March. Reporters and independent observers saw low turnout Friday. As polls closed at 7 p.m., officials at one Harare station said they hadn’t seen a voter for several hours.

Voting to be safe

Paramilitary police in riot gear deployed in a central Harare park, then began patrolling the city. Militant Mugabe supporters roamed the streets, singing revolutionary songs, heckling people and asking why they were not voting.

“I’ve got no option but to go and vote so that I can be safe,” explained a young woman selling tomatoes.

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Jake Mugabe

Elwood Badawi

The whole world is eying on Zimbabwe’s one man election day where as it seem to be a deadly poll for the people. “We have to vote to be safe” said a voter. The democracy policy was raped as Mugabe used intimidation to warn his opposition. Last few weeks, he told the people that there might be civil war if opposition leaders continue their campaign. What makes Mugabe that strong? Mugabe is supported by regime as it is normal political scenario in Africa. In fact, during the Congo civil war, Mugabe has sent his troop to support the regime.

Mugabe was blamed for Zimbabwe's participation in the Second Congo War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At a time when the Zimbabwean economy was struggling, Zimbabwe responded to a call by the Southern African Development Community to help the struggling regime in Kinshasa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had been invaded by Rwanda and Uganda, both of which claimed that their civilians, and regional stability, were under constant threat of attack by various terrorist groups based in the Congo.However, the Congolese government, as well as international commentators, charged that the motive for the invasion was to grab the rich mineral resources of eastern Congo.The war raised accusations of corruption, with officials alleged to be plundering the Congo's mineral reserves. Mugabe's defence minister Moven Mahachi said, "Instead of our army in the DRC burdening the treasury for more resources, which are not available, it embarks on viable projects for the sake of generating the necessary revenue". More references here…

The way democracy is practice in Malaysia and Zimbabwe is similar. There are two way to get support from the people. One is through intimidation, and another one is through money or any form of persuasion. As for Mugabe, gun is used in his political campaign but Malaysia uses money and title to get in the politic arena. Last few weeks, SAPP was intimidated with disciplinary action towards Yong Teck Lee and his clans. It was said that he was offered a “senator” post to get him in the Barisan Nasional dacing in order to make it balance. This few days we see the “government” is doing general cleaning in Sabah regarding on the illegal immigrant issue. Why only now? I believe that UMNO has enough support from “Project IC” which was launched legally by the “government”. “Now everybody can stay” is the best idiom to those who have IMM13 document though they are making money as a refugee.

Pak Lah should accept the no-confidence vote from SAPP as a motivation to lead Malaysia as whole. Hence, he should react by resigning from his post since Barisan Nasional has lost 5 states during the political tsunami. He failed to ensure the economic stability of the country. That is why we should never ask an art graduate to do accounting because money will go to somewhere else. The re-structure of oil subsidy is just to reduce the small group of diesel smuggler instead of to help the people with RM 150.00 fuel rebate per year. Fortunately, this is an under control country where there is no permit to be given for peace assembly or else some may get wet with by chemical water canon.

Pick of The Week

" This is not wisdom after the event. I had actually told a Government Minister not to float the Ringgit three years ago. But of course I am not an expert, certainly I know little about the international financial regimes."

Oil Price

Taken From dr-chedet blog

The price of crude oil has increased by 400 percent in the last three years. It follows that the price of products must increase, sooner or later. In other countries petrol prices had already increased. In the United Kingdom one litre of petrol sells for more than one pound sterling or RM7. In the United States it is about RM5.
That the price in neighbouring countries has gone up is shown by the rush to fill up by Thai and to a lesser extent Singapore vehicles.
The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.
I may be mistaken but there seems to be less vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.
The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.
Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.
The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.

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Thought for the Day

If you were given the chance or had the opportunity to defend your love and relationship, do not hesitate to pursue it. Otherwise, you may never have the same opportunity ever again. Love never gives up nor gives in. It should not be. Be strong and firm.. Surely God will bless you.

Baket Ngayon Kalang?

DBNA has been unfairly blamed’
By Churchill Edward, The Borneo Post Press ( Wednesday, 25th June 2008)

KUCHING: The Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) has been unfairly blamed for not being strong enough in getting Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki to remain in the federal cabinet, an official of the association said yesterday.

Its vice-president Jameson Ahip Nawie told The Borneo Post this when asked to elaborate on a certain statement contained in a DBNA press release issued here yesterday.

“The community has blamed us (DBNA) for not being strong enough to support Dr Tiki. But how can we say much on the appointment when we are just volunteers (NGO)?” he said when contacted.

(Appointment of members of the federal cabinet is the prerogative of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following recommendations by political parties forming the government.)

Ahip clarified that the press statement did not suggest what he personally thought of Dr Tiki but disclosed what the Bidayuh community had thought about DBNA over the community’s non-representation in the federal cabinet.

He also rejected the suggestion that Abdullah was annoyed with DBNA to the extent that he dropped Dr Tiki from his cabinet.

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DBNA should work fully as non-political and non-government organization. Mawan must have a very right and reasonable answers of Tiki’s dismiss since Tiki blindly joined this “party”. I may say that Tiki’s action to join SPDP as a stupid political career as he should know that SPDP has noting to do with the Bidayuh future. Baya, the State Secretary is just one of the Barisan Nasiional Political gimmick to draw the Bidayuh attention.

Why must DBNA to be blamed on this issue? Well, as we may know, DBNA has lost it vision to be the non-political movement. In fact, DBNA has been made to be the proxy for PBB and other “parties” since many years. I believe that Bidayuh could ever accept DBNA because they are helpless economically and politically. Most of the MP’s had risen up from the DBNA maybe was a secretary or president. They are many examples and the readers should know it better.

DBNA also was use to separate the Bidayuh into group of parties since they are scattered by various political party. Tanyuh for example, was a DBNA someone but now has to let the “organization” in suffer because he was or he is with SUPP (bisina). Most of the DBNA members now are PBB members and this is a very good sign to win the Bidayuh vote on the next State Election.

I was told by two CM cronies (both are Bidayuh) that the only way to support party is with money. Last few years, CM gave these two guys timbers license and contracts to support PBB. Well, why should we be in DBNA if it does not help us? In fact, DBNA and PBB are two same entities. DBNA cannot work with SPDP because DBNA is own by PBB. Somehow, financially, this “non-political” association is supported by PBB in order to run it better and not by SUPP or PRS or SPDP. The organization interest seems to be as “pengampu” to the CM and to work for the Bidayuh’s interest.

DBNA should work as the Bidayuh hope and dream and not as the political supporters. If DBNA wishes to be a political entity, it must be the only political party for the Bidayuh as what UMNO, MCA and MIC did. Now, I am ready to get blasted by the DBNA members.

SPDP and PRS “Mutaah” Marriage?

SUPP welcomes merger: Sim
By Lim How Pim

The Borneo Post Press ( Monday, 23th June 2008)

SPDP-PRS entity expected to enhance cooperation among BN component parties

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) welcomes the merger of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) although the enlarged entity will certainly dislodge it (SUPP) from its position as the second largest party in the state.

“Whether SUPP is No. 2 or No.3 is not that important. In the Barisan Nasional the equal rights of every component party is what matters most,” SUPP secretary-general Senator Datuk Sim Kheng Hui told reporters here yesterday.

Sim asserted that BN component parties must be “friendly” and respect each other since each (party) represented its own people or racial group.

“I don’t think being No. 2 is that important. Moreover, such status cannot last long. It has taken some time for SPDP and PRS to discuss the merger, which SUPP views with an open mind.”

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Khairy Jamaludin describe Pakatan Rakyat as “mutaah” marriage when DAP, Keadilan Rakyat and PAS intended to work as an opposition team on the last pre-election. Well, its proven that political “mutaah” was really worked and Kahiry could no resist it. Even the Prime Minister constituency is felled down to opposition. Barisan Nasional has been a “bad husband” to UMNO and let all those kids playing at the ground until the dark. Whenever the child cry for food or water, the parent (BN and UMNO) will react like a lovely father. Somehow, the family has never live in such a harmony way because the father has all the properties and did dot inherit them to his children equally. MCA and MIC is two big brothers in Barisan Nasional while Gerakan and PPP are adopted brothers. GERAKAN is a running puppy under MCA and so to PPP.

In Sabah, UMNO was made by Tun Mustapha to be a bad father to the state. The downfall of Berjaya and other aborigines parties in Sabah has opened a wide door to bandits from Peninsular to rule in Sabah like a Pirate of South East Chinese Sea. That was the time when PBS was called “opposition”. Sabah lives under struggle though the CM is alternate according to race. The only different is that Musa Aman who is from UMNO has not step down yet. UMNO made Sabahan as “slave on their very own mother land. They are landless and have no identity as Malay (Muslim) is spreading tremendously. Nevertheless, these UMNO “legitimate son” has been threat as the force labor under minimum wages. It is like the old labor where they were paid RM 5 to RM 7 per day. PBS, UPKO, SAPP and UMNO were working under disputes where distribution of power is unequal to those parties. Will those non UMNO merge to form a strong party?

Sarawak has shown its serial of several downfalls from their merging party. The strongest coalition of tribes is PBB under Pehin Sri. What is the quality of this party actually? Should it be the quality of leadership or other matter? To me, it is the effectiveness of leadership approached practices by the president. “Dictatorship democracy” seems to be effective to rule the divided clans in Sarawak. What is the best so called merged SDPD and PRS can do for the Dayak in general? Will this be the political awakening to the Dayak after SNAP and PBDS have proven us failure? Should we expect separation in few years to come? Let say for 2 or three terms? Hope to see that the Dayak is united under one political party since the multi-racial parties had failed us.