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地元NGO プレスステイトメントを発表！！（2001.1.7)   AFRICA WATER NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP SONDU-MIRIU COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP PRESS STATEMENT Harrassment and Intimidation In Sondu Miriu
We, the undersigned, wish to protest a Government attempt to muzzle the voice of the communities in Nyanza at the Sondu-Miriu Hydro power project through the arrest of journalist Argwings Odera and the intimidation of environmental activists Pireh Otieno and Duncan Odima. This is a ploy to ensure that members of the community affected by the project in Nyanza do not get to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister during his scheduled visit to Kenya and JICA assisted project from January 10. Hate callers to our offices have warned us that men in Nyakach and Kabondo constituencies will be thrashed and their women raped if they dare say anything negative about the project during the scheduled visit. We have been warned that our families will suffer our “hard-headedness” if we do not behave. This move to shut up the community was clearly illustrated on December 26 during the arrest, torture, incerceration and subsequent arraignment in court with political charges of journalist Argwings Odera who has been involved in investigating this project for the last two years. Police shot at members of the community who were witnessing the nine-hour arrest of the journalist. The Nyando District Criminal Investigating Officer, a Mr Otieno, and the Deputy OCPD, a Mr Kola, are detaining our project vehicle at Ahero Police Station unless we pay Kshs20,000 for the 100 bullets “wasted” when police shot at the community members and Mr Odera on December 26. Special Branch officers have been visiting our offices and the homes of the two activists demanding to know their whereabouts. The activists have subsequently been rendered ineffective in preparing the community for this meeting with the Prime Minister who was coming ostensibly to bring funds for the Sondu-Miriu project and another funding for an AIDS project. Funding for the second phase of the dam project was put on hold December 9 after the Japanese Parliament came to learn of the gross human rights abuse of community members and employees at the dam project and incidences of high level corruption. We call upon the government to cease immediately this harassment and intimidation of the Nyakach and Kabondo communities and desist from harassment and torture of people involved in the project. We were assured no no future harassment or arrest in Sondu during a meeting on December 12 at meeting with the project funders, JBIC-Japan, proof of which we submit to you. The bank requested us to prepare the community for the meeting. Many days later, this is what befalls us! Let the truth about the project be told to the Prime Minister by the affected community members and the employees.
Signed:
Pireh Otieno Africa Water Network
Duncan Odima Sondu-Miriu Community Advocacy
Argwings Odera AWN Associate
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