World News Summary - 151008

The Southern African Forum meeting was to coincide with King Mwasti III's appointment of a new prime minister after parliamentary elections last month, which some argued were undemocratic. The civil society groups were to deliberate demands for King Mswati III to introduce democratic reforms.  But a government official said the meeting would compromise the peace, security and stability of the kingdom and will not be in the national interest. Swaziland outlawed political parties in 1973.

 

Nigeria: oil giant to return land
A Nigerian high court has ordered the oil giant, Shell, to return land housing an oil and gas terminal to its original owners. Shell Nigeria agreed to rent the land on which it built Nigeria's largest oil export terminal in 1958 from the residents of Bonny in Rivers state. But the customary land owners took Shell to court after accusing the company of obtaining a certificate of occupancy from the state government in 1998 without their consent. The presiding judge said the oil company's action smacked of greed, was unlawful, and that the land still belonged to the people of Bonny.

Call for Kenya violence tribunal
An inquiry into the post-election violence that ripped through Kenya has recommended setting up an international tribunal to try those implicated in the clashes.  The commission found that in some areas the violence was organised with the support of politicians and businessmen. More than 1,500 people were killed and some 300,000 more fled their homes when violence erupted after the disputed poll in December 2007. The commission's report has been presented to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and will be made public immediately. The two leaders signed a power-sharing deal in February, forming a coalition government. Human rights observers say that in the past, the government has tended to ignore the findings of similar inquiries.

Alarm over dengue cash cuts
Health workers in Vietnam fear the closure of a national dengue fever prevention programme will have a disastrous effect on attempts to control the disease. Over 50,000 people contracted dengue fever in the first nine months of this year, with 50 deaths. Health experts are campaigning for the programme, which costs around one million US dollars a year, to be reinstated. Vietnam's nine-year prevention programme was initiated in 1999 after one of the worst outbreaks in the country's history, when some 300,000 people were infected and 400 died. Patients suffering from dengue fever experience severe headaches, joint pain and potentially life-threatening fevers. There is no vaccine.

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