Eviction, Brutality and Displacement of Ogiek
Motive of the attack
It is politically motivated. The area member of parliament hails from the Pok ethnic group. He's behind the clashes with intention of evicting the Ogiek so that he can settle members of his tribe i.e. the Pok. The area at Chepyuk had been given to Ogiek by the previous government, but the land ended up being grabbed by members from the powerful and dominant group - the Pok. In 1999 the Ogiek filed a case to evict the grabbers but the case didn't take off due to financial constraints and corruption in the courts.
Chepyuk is a prime land along Mount Elgon on the Kenyan side.
Grounds of arrest
The Pok have the political protection. The burning of Ogiek houses forced the Ogiek youth to stand up and protect the heritage. They had to defend the land of their ancestors. This forced the area MP to meet the DC and Police resulting in arresting members of the Ogiek community.
There's no member of Pok arrested despite the fact that they are the ones who started burning Ogiek houses and property.
Involvement
The area member of Parliament Hon. John Bomet Serut is supporting members of his community - the attacking Pok, a Sabaot people. Besides, the Police and provincial administration are biased because they have so far arrested Ogiek only.
Next Move
The instigators of the clashes are planning that after the eviction of the Ogiek in Chepyuk the action will be taken to Chepkitale where the other members of Ogiek are living.
Request
The members of Ogiek community in Mount Elgon are requesting for publicity of the situation they are currently living in. Besides, we request the government of Kenya to recognise, respect and protect Ogiek territories and land rights.
We shall be grateful for your support
Yours faithfully,
Yator Kiptum
Chairman
Hunter-Gatherers Forum
For more information, please see: http://www.ogiek.org
and
ECOTERRA - FIRST PEOPLES & NATURE FIRST !
FREEDOM & FUTURE for PEOPLE & NATURE
24 h EMERGENCY RESPONSE: +254-733-633-000
http://www.ecoterra.org.uk
http://www.ecoterra.net
http://www.ecoterra.de
http://www.ecoterra.info
N.B.: YOUR HELP COUNTS - contact tari@ecoterra.net
* RELATED INFORMATION
"Slovakia, like many Central and Eastern European countries, has serious and longstanding problems with its weapons trade controls. It has been a source of arms supplies to regions of conflict marked by gross human rights abuses, such as the Great Lakes region of Africa, and to armed forces with a record of serious violations of international humanitarian law (“the laws of war”), such as Angola and Uganda. Slovakia also has been linked to illegal arms deals that violate international embargoes." (Ed. Note. Emphasis added.)
Ripe for Reform:
Stemming Slovakia’s Arms Trade with Human Rights Abusers
http://hrw.org/reports/2004/slovakia0204/
Motive of the attack
It is politically motivated. The area member of parliament hails from the Pok ethnic group. He's behind the clashes with intention of evicting the Ogiek so that he can settle members of his tribe i.e. the Pok. The area at Chepyuk had been given to Ogiek by the previous government, but the land ended up being grabbed by members from the powerful and dominant group - the Pok. In 1999 the Ogiek filed a case to evict the grabbers but the case didn't take off due to financial constraints and corruption in the courts.
Chepyuk is a prime land along Mount Elgon on the Kenyan side.
Grounds of arrest
The Pok have the political protection. The burning of Ogiek houses forced the Ogiek youth to stand up and protect the heritage. They had to defend the land of their ancestors. This forced the area MP to meet the DC and Police resulting in arresting members of the Ogiek community.
There's no member of Pok arrested despite the fact that they are the ones who started burning Ogiek houses and property.
Involvement
The area member of Parliament Hon. John Bomet Serut is supporting members of his community - the attacking Pok, a Sabaot people. Besides, the Police and provincial administration are biased because they have so far arrested Ogiek only.
Next Move
The instigators of the clashes are planning that after the eviction of the Ogiek in Chepyuk the action will be taken to Chepkitale where the other members of Ogiek are living.
Request
The members of Ogiek community in Mount Elgon are requesting for publicity of the situation they are currently living in. Besides, we request the government of Kenya to recognise, respect and protect Ogiek territories and land rights.
We shall be grateful for your support
Yours faithfully,
Yator Kiptum
Chairman
Hunter-Gatherers Forum
For more information, please see: http://www.ogiek.org
and
ECOTERRA - FIRST PEOPLES & NATURE FIRST !
FREEDOM & FUTURE for PEOPLE & NATURE
24 h EMERGENCY RESPONSE: +254-733-633-000
http://www.ecoterra.org.uk
http://www.ecoterra.net
http://www.ecoterra.de
http://www.ecoterra.info
N.B.: YOUR HELP COUNTS - contact tari@ecoterra.net
* RELATED INFORMATION
"Slovakia, like many Central and Eastern European countries, has serious and longstanding problems with its weapons trade controls. It has been a source of arms supplies to regions of conflict marked by gross human rights abuses, such as the Great Lakes region of Africa, and to armed forces with a record of serious violations of international humanitarian law (“the laws of war”), such as Angola and Uganda. Slovakia also has been linked to illegal arms deals that violate international embargoes." (Ed. Note. Emphasis added.)
Ripe for Reform:
Stemming Slovakia’s Arms Trade with Human Rights Abusers
http://hrw.org/reports/2004/slovakia0204/