Petition Tag - diaspora

The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs on 27 November 2012 informed Parliament that the Cabinet had decided that Kenyans living in the Diaspora will not be voting in the 2013 General Elections.

This was in spite of the chairman of IEBC having travelled and consulted widely over the last two years with the Kenyan Diaspora and repeatedly assuring them that they will be voting in the next elections.

H.E. the President himself during the visit to the UK in August reiterated that voting will be a reality.

The logistical, financial and time constraints that have been given as the main reason for this unfortunate occurrence are insufficient and incommensurate to the infringement of the democratic rights of Diaspora Kenyans.

We have been informed by chairman of IEBC that there are only 129,000 Kenyans registered with the Embassies and High Commissions outside of Kenya.

We now urge all Diaspora Kenyans to sign this petition to demand our right to vote and also demonstrate that there are more Kenyans in the Diaspora who are disillusioned with the Government of Kenya hence have never found the need to register with the foreign missions.

We need at least 1 million signatures.

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Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA) is a national voluntary, nonpartisan, and membership-based empowerment organization whose mission is to “Serve the Nation and empower the in and out of school youth with skills and know-how as well as teach and engage them in creativity, innovation, volunteerism and civic education in the areas of democracy, human rights, entrepreneurship, independence, peace and non-violent conflict resolution, and to combat negative ethnicity in rural-urban Kenya’’.

Under the Kenya Democracy Project(KDP),a program Promoting Peace, Community Service, Interdependence & Non-violent Conflict Resolutions, KeNYA and partners are implementing a Civic and Voter Education Project /Every VOTE Count Project (GOTV Campaign) with an overarching and overriding goal of educating the youth about the Constitution, Voter Registration, and Voting Rights. We believe that for Kenya to avoid violence, the votes of every voter must be counted, and that the process must be free and fair.

Furthermore, the citizenry including the Kenyan Diaspora, must be fully educated about the elections, and the electoral laws and rules that will govern the Electoral Process for Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Parliamentary, and Women/County Representative seats.

Effectively, KeNYA has embarked on the 12 Month (January 1-December 31 2012 Period) Every VOTE Count Project 2012 (GOTV Campaign), where we shall educate everyone about the electoral process, without bias, partisanship, or inclination, beginning with a Petition:

‘We, the Undersigned members of Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA), partners, and the stakeholders, call upon the free and patriotic citizens of the Republic of Kenya, the Government, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to conduct a FREE and FAIR Elections in 2012 General Elections, free of violence, with sufficient CIVIC EDUCATION, and where EVERY VOTE will be COUNTED, including that of the YOUTH, WOMEN, DISABLED, and most important, that of the Kenya Diaspora, in the eyes of the Civil Society, Local and International OBSERVERS’’

For partnership, membership, or volunteerism, contact:

Executive Director/Coordinator
Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA)
P. O. Box 5956-00200, Nairobi-KENYA

Tel. + 254 722 233 234
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KenyaNationalYouthAssociation
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Kenya_1Flag
E-Mail: or
Skype: Kenya_1Flag
<<<>>Pamoja Tutashinda!>>>>

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Per the New Kenyan Constitution
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Section 82(1): Parliament shall enact legislation to provide for—(e): the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya, and the progressive realization of their right to vote.
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Kenya’s newly elected Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission board recently visited Kenya Diasporans in the USA. In the various cities they visited, the Chief Electoral Officer ( CEO ) James Oswago, repeatedly pointed out that the purpose of their trip was to pick Diaspora minds on how to move forward with the voting process for the Diaspora since the new constitution gave Kenyan citizens outside the country the right to vote. The ironic thing is that he would then be followed on the podium by chairman Isaack Hassan, who would sing a totally different song and instead of trying to pick Diaspora minds, would go right into declaring what they felt was the best way for Diaspora Kenyans to vote.

He ruled out online voting and several other methods and seemed firmly set on stating that they would recommend Diaspora Kenyans travel to vote at the Embassy and consulates in Los Angeles and New York. He also mentioned that the Embassy officials would act as voting agents. He also said diasporans would only be able to vote for the presidential race and not any other races. If implemented, this process will hinder free and fair elections by Kenyans in the Diaspora for several reasons, two main ones are mentioned below:

*In the USA, the average cost of travelling to any of the said cities, along with accommodation will be upwards of USD $500. This process will have to be done twice: For voter registration and for voting. This in essence prevents any Kenyan citizen without approximately $1000 USD to spare from voting, which means the election is NOT free. Outside the USA, there are several other large countries with large Kenyan populations that will face the same dilemma e.g. Canada, India, Australia, e.t.c.

*Ambassadors to the Kenyan Embassy and missions are political appointees. Having them serve as voting agents would be a conflict of interest and this does not promise a FAIR election process

Per the constitution:

Section 82 (2): Legislation required by clause (1) (d) shall ensure that voting
at every election is—
(a) simple;
(b) transparent; and
(c) takes into account the special needs of—
(i) persons with disabilities; and
(ii) other persons or groups with special needs.

All the above would be violated if they proposed a measure to require Kenyans to fly to the 3 states to register and vote.

When these concerns were brought up, the IEBC board then resorted to using different tools of manipulation by playing with the word “Progressive” which is used in the constitution clause. In essence, the word progressive was now being used as a weapon, as he said that the term progressive gave them the power to rule out any process they felt could not be implemented within the time frame they have.

What this means is that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission can wake up tomorrow and give the minimal effort to enable diasporans to vote, and say that it will be a progressive progress, as long as at least a small bunch can vote in 2012. Their words seem to hint at them planning to do just that, hence the ridiculous suggestions that hundreds of thousands of Kenyans converge on a tiny embassy or consulate on a single day to cast a vote in an election overlooked by a political appointee.

We REJECT this attempt at manipulation of the constitution to deny us our right to freely and wilfully vote.

We demand that the Kenyan Government explore all options available to ensure the most convenient voting process is set up, preferably online voting. If online voting cannot be implemented and we have to resort to specified Diaspora polling stations, there should be a process in place to ensure that polling stations are conveniently spread out in accessible locales where Kenyan citizens living abroad can travel to vote without incurring any expenses. For the USA, some of these cities (which have large populations) include:
Dallas, Tx
Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA
Kansas City, MO
Colombus, OH
Seattle, WA
Other diaspora cities across the world TBD

The Kenya govt can swear in voting officers from the hundreds of thousands of diaspora abroad if need be. Do not deny us our right to vote

=====================================
ENDORSING GROUPS & ENTITIES:
=====================================

-Kenya Diaspora Vote- Facebook group
-aKtive: Kenyan American Advocacy Group
-Kenyans 4 Change
-Kenya Diaspora Alliance

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GNU’s 3 years of failure: we Demand an end, because we have Economic stagnation, poor service delivery, political tension and uncertainty as well as sustained massive looting of national coffers. These remain the topical issues assailing Zimbabweans as the controversial Global Political Agreement (GPA) marked three years on the 15th September 2011.

When the GPA was signed by Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe and the two MDC Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara now Ncube representing the Zimbabweans have seen nothing tangible in terms of issues the scandalous coalition government was supposed to work on achieving.

Three years after the signing of the agreement, the reformation agenda has been failing to get the required impetus due to the hypocrisy, selfishness and arrogance of all the parties involved in the Government of National Unity (GNU). Much time has been spent on squabbling and fighting for positions by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara, at the expense of working on extricating the nation from the abyss of mismanagement, looting and corruption.

Contrary to stupid, false claims by members of the GNU, the country’s economy remains subdued and affected by low productivity, liquidity crisis and the terrible effects of power cuts on the manufacturing sector. There is no substance to the claims that there has been ‘revival’ of the economy by the GNU failures. Unemployment in Zimbabwe remains at unacceptable levels of over 80% and the few that are working continuously grapple with the effects of very low incomes. Water and power problems are just the tip of the iceberg that is more aptly embodied by the long-standing malaise at Air Zimbabwe as well as other institutions at the mercy of the greedy GNU looters to prove the huge failure to improve the macro-economic fundamentals.

If anyone still believed the hullabaloo and lies about the so-called ‘national healing and reconciliation’ programme, the recurrence of political violence involving the same parties in the GNU rubbishes this charade. Recent violent clashes involving Mugabe and Tsvangira’s thugs at parliament merely exposed the reality of how Zimbabwe has remained haunted by the demon of political uncertainty and tension, which as we all know, works in favour of violent, blood-thirsty dictators.

Zimbabwe’s rural areas are still gripped by state-sponsored terrorism that makes poor peasants lose their dignity and humanity. Finally, it is only instructive that all three years down the line, the GNU charlatans still up to now waste time on ‘negotiations’, thereby showing this has been a huge failure.

GNU must come to an end and we are about to embark on a national programme of mobilizing Zimbabweans to protest peacefully in demand of an end to the circus of Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Mutambara.

Our position is this:

1-constitutional process to end by November 2011

2-election date must be set by end of November 2011

3-diaspora vote: diaspora must be allowed to vote

SEE SOME OF THE LINKS http://www.sokwanele.com/taxonomy/term/150

keywords: Global Political Agreement (GPA) Zimbabwe Inclusive Government (ZIG)

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This petition is hosted by the 'Save the Africa Centre' Campaign. It has been relaunched due to popular demand amongst the Diaspora to put their names to this call for public consultation on the proposed sale of 38 King Street.

The ‘Save the Africa Centre’ campaign has re-opened this petition to allow those that missed the opportunity to sign up to the first petition - which secured over 500 signatures within 5 days of opening - a chance to formally include their names and share their contact details with us. Through this we can also ensure that supporters will be updated on developments going forward.

If you have signed the previous petition, please do not sign again - we have your signatures, and thank you for your support.

To find out more about the Save the Africa Centre Campaign - please visit: http://ww.savetheafricacentre.wordpress.com

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Kingston, Jamaica, has been overshadowed recently with a spade of violence caused from a number of political and social blunders. This has a devastating impact on the already torn economy. In fact, Jamaica has lost millions of dollars in the last few weeks as a result of the mayhem.

Jamaicans in the UK and all across the world are saddened by the turmoil. We all love Jamaica dearly and we would like to see a massive transformation in the politics and the social situation in Jamaica.

We are therefore appealing to the good nature of all Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica at home and abroad to intervene and give your support and raise your voices so that Jamaica will one day overcome this adversity and reclaim its rightful position as the PEARL OF THE CARIBBEAN.

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JOIN US in the commitment to unite for justice…

The Case

In 2007, several men were charged with violating the Neutrality Act, which prohibits Americans from interfering with foreign governments. This included the long-revered General Vang Pao, former Army Lt. Col. Harrison Jack, Lo Cha Thao, Lo Thao, Youa True Vang, Hue Vang, Chong Vang Thao, Seng Vue, Chue Lo, and Nhia Kao Vang. They also are charged with conspiring to export the machine guns and other weapons without a license from the U.S. State Department, and conspiring to kill and maim people and damage property in a foreign country.

Although we rejoiced when hearing the prosecution has dropped charges against General Vang Pao, due to insufficient evidence against him, charges still remain for the other men. Two more men, Jerry Yang and Thomas Yang were added to the list. Former CIA Chief William Colby has also criticized the charges by stating the government should have taken more time to evaluate the evidences before taking action that a threat was imminent.

The superseding indictment says the 12 defendants plotted to buy nearly $10 million in weapons from an undercover agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive to equip a mercenary force intent on overthrowing the communist government of Laos.

Why you should sign the petition?

Evidence demonstrates that government agents in this case made false statements and material omissions in their sworn affidavits, which have fundamentally mischaracterized the defendants’ alleged conduct – the Prosecution repeated many of those misstatements, even while they held clear and irrefutable evidence. This violates the due process clause—requiring this Case be DISMISSED!

1. MISCONDUCT: Agents fabricated supposedly incriminating exchanges between the undercover ATF agent and General Vang Pao which appear nowhere on the tape recording of the single occasion on which they met and they (Agents/Prosecutors) failed to mention that the General assailed the idea of an insurgency in Laos, forbade anyone to participate in such a plan, and forbid more violence in Laos.
REALITY: On 9/18/09, the Prosecution dropped all charges against General Vang Pao due to lack of evidence.

2. MISCONDUCT: In sworn affidavits, Prosecution repeated the case started when one defendant contacted a “defense contractor” and tried to purchase weapons.
REALITY: Evidence shows the man contacted was an “acquaintance” NOT a “defense contractor.” This man was NOT involved in arms sales in any way. He was an inventor of “kinetically charged” water.

3. MISCONDUCT: Government Agent claimed defendants created plans to overthrow Lao Government.
REALITY: The Government Agent encouraged and orchestrated an Offensive Action in Laos. Defendants demonstrated an inability to concoct even a rudimentary plan…so the Government Agent directed the “scheme” himself.

Contact Information:
United Hmong Stand for Justice
Pam Xiong (651) 260-8915
ChuPheng Lee (651) 210-8800

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The need for The Mandaean Spiritual Council, for the Mandaean Ganzibree and Tarmidee, to unite and lead the Mandaeans in exile, is urgent.

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