DRC: We Got the Envoy

http://blog.fallingwhistles.com/?utm_source=Falling+Whistles+Global+Coalition&utm_campaign=58898f223b-Feingold6_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f5f7230dc0-58898f223b-33676345&mc_cid=58898f223b&mc_eid=a45f02bd47

We Got the Envoy.

When JFK wanted to stave off the Cold War, he sent his brother Bobby to Moscow as a Special Envoy.

When the American revolutionaries needed more troops, they sent Benjamin Franklin to France as a Special Envoy.

Two years ago, 24,000 whistleblowers, 77 Congolese organizations, 35 Congressmen, and 16 Senators rallied together demanding that President Obama send a Special Envoy to Congo and make an explicit, all-out effort to settle this crisis.

WATCH: Free + Fair: The Power of a Petition

At the time, Congo's elections were fast-approaching, and every sign pointed to disaster. 

The State Department brushed off our demands and reassured the public thateverything would be A-OK. But it wasn't. In November 2011, President Joseph Kabila won a second term in office through rigged elections. Congo's democracy began to collapse, setting the stage for the M23 rebel movement.

In response, the State Department appointed Ambassador Barrie Walkley as a "Special Advisor" for Congo. We met with Walkley last summer at the start of the M23 rebellion, demanding that the U.S. cut funding to M23's backers in the Rwandan government,and that the leader of M23, Bosco Ntaganda, be arrested. Ten days later,the aid cuts began, eventually totaling over $400 million and forcing M23 to finally retreat from Goma and attend peace talks.

Two months later, Bosco Ntaganda, M23's leader, surrendered.

When M23 took up arms again, the UN appointed former Irish President Mary Robinson as the UN Special Envoy. She was immediately dispatched to the war region.

Last month, we told you about rumorsthat Russ Feingold would soon partner with Robinson and fill a U.S. Envoy spot.

Today we can finally celebrate, as former Senator Russ Feingold begins his first day as the U.S. Special Envoy to Congo and the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

Congo deserves diplomacy at the highest level, led by a talented statesman who will reverse the West's historic relationship with the Congolese people, moving from exploitation to partnership.

100,000 whistleblowers worldwide aredemanding it, and our government has responded.

Well done.

In celebration of five years of tireless work, we proudly re-introduce the Bronze Whistle available now for a limited time only.

Wear your protest. Get yours onStore.FallingWhistles.com.

Be a whistleblower for peace.

DRC: We Got the Envoy

http://blog.fallingwhistles.com/?utm_source=Falling+Whistles+Global+Coalition&utm_campaign=58898f223b-Feingold6_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f5f7230dc0-58898f223b-33676345&mc_cid=58898f223b&mc_eid=a45f02bd47

We Got the Envoy.

When JFK wanted to stave off the Cold War, he sent his brother Bobby to Moscow as a Special Envoy.

When the American revolutionaries needed more troops, they sent Benjamin Franklin to France as a Special Envoy.

Two years ago, 24,000 whistleblowers, 77 Congolese organizations, 35 Congressmen, and 16 Senators rallied together demanding that President Obama send a Special Envoy to Congo and make an explicit, all-out effort to settle this crisis.

WATCH: Free + Fair: The Power of a Petition

At the time, Congo's elections were fast-approaching, and every sign pointed to disaster. 

The State Department brushed off our demands and reassured the public thateverything would be A-OK. But it wasn't. In November 2011, President Joseph Kabila won a second term in office through rigged elections. Congo's democracy began to collapse, setting the stage for the M23 rebel movement.

In response, the State Department appointed Ambassador Barrie Walkley as a "Special Advisor" for Congo. We met with Walkley last summer at the start of the M23 rebellion, demanding that the U.S. cut funding to M23's backers in the Rwandan government,and that the leader of M23, Bosco Ntaganda, be arrested. Ten days later,the aid cuts began, eventually totaling over $400 million and forcing M23 to finally retreat from Goma and attend peace talks.

Two months later, Bosco Ntaganda, M23's leader, surrendered.

When M23 took up arms again, the UN appointed former Irish President Mary Robinson as the UN Special Envoy. She was immediately dispatched to the war region.

Last month, we told you about rumorsthat Russ Feingold would soon partner with Robinson and fill a U.S. Envoy spot.

Today we can finally celebrate, as former Senator Russ Feingold begins his first day as the U.S. Special Envoy to Congo and the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

Congo deserves diplomacy at the highest level, led by a talented statesman who will reverse the West's historic relationship with the Congolese people, moving from exploitation to partnership.

100,000 whistleblowers worldwide aredemanding it, and our government has responded.

Well done.

In celebration of five years of tireless work, we proudly re-introduce the Bronze Whistle available now for a limited time only.

Wear your protest. Get yours onStore.FallingWhistles.com.

Be a whistleblower for peace.

Russ Feingold: special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/06/18/russ-feingold-from-campaign-finance-reform-to-the-congo/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Tatler

Russ Feingold: From Campaign Finance Reform to the Congo

by
BRIDGET JOHNSON

Bio

June 18, 2013 - 10:18 am

 

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) old partner in campaign finance reform is being shipped off to the Congo.

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who lost re-election in 2010 to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs from 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2011.

Now, President Obama has appointed Feingold special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa — the tumultuous Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Last month the World Bank pledged $1 billion to the region contingent on parties in the region abiding by a peace deal. That hasn't been easy.

"America can and should be playing a stronger role in the international community's efforts to achieve peace in the Great Lakes region, stop the human rights violations being committed against Congolese civilians, and promote the establishment of a democratic, accountable government in the Democratic Republic of Congo," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), current chairman of the Africa subcommittee.

"Senator Feingold is a superb choice for the first U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region. Over the last decade, there was no more passionate advocate in the Senate for responsible and constructive U.S. engagement in sub-Saharan Africa."

Over the past year, more than 650,000 people have been displaced by fighting in North Kivu province.

Coons introduced a resolution last month calling on Obama to appoint a special envoy to "support and strengthen international effort to end conflict in the region; support accountability and justice for human rights violations; expand efforts to develop conflict-free and responsible mining practices; and strengthen the commitment by the DRC and regional actors to end the threat posed by armed groups in the region."

"The challenges to peace in the Great Lakes region are as complex as they are urgent," Coons continued. "Having a dedicated, high-level envoy to work with regional governments and the international community is essential to ending the violence and destruction plaguing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and continuing to confront the threat posed by the LRA."

"I have enormous confidence that Senator Feingold will make a real difference in this new role. I applaud the President's selection and look forward to working with Senator Feingold to help advance the prospect for peace in the region."

Bridget Johnson is a career journalist whose news articles and opinion columns have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe. Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor at The Hill, where she wrote The World from The Hill column on foreign policy. Previously she was an opinion writer and editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News. She has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator. Bridget is Washington Editor for PJ Media.

Russ Feingold: special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/06/18/russ-feingold-from-campaign-finance-reform-to-the-congo/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Tatler

Russ Feingold: From Campaign Finance Reform to the Congo

by
BRIDGET JOHNSON

Bio

June 18, 2013 - 10:18 am

 

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) old partner in campaign finance reform is being shipped off to the Congo.

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who lost re-election in 2010 to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs from 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2011.

Now, President Obama has appointed Feingold special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa — the tumultuous Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Last month the World Bank pledged $1 billion to the region contingent on parties in the region abiding by a peace deal. That hasn't been easy.

"America can and should be playing a stronger role in the international community's efforts to achieve peace in the Great Lakes region, stop the human rights violations being committed against Congolese civilians, and promote the establishment of a democratic, accountable government in the Democratic Republic of Congo," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), current chairman of the Africa subcommittee.

"Senator Feingold is a superb choice for the first U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region. Over the last decade, there was no more passionate advocate in the Senate for responsible and constructive U.S. engagement in sub-Saharan Africa."

Over the past year, more than 650,000 people have been displaced by fighting in North Kivu province.

Coons introduced a resolution last month calling on Obama to appoint a special envoy to "support and strengthen international effort to end conflict in the region; support accountability and justice for human rights violations; expand efforts to develop conflict-free and responsible mining practices; and strengthen the commitment by the DRC and regional actors to end the threat posed by armed groups in the region."

"The challenges to peace in the Great Lakes region are as complex as they are urgent," Coons continued. "Having a dedicated, high-level envoy to work with regional governments and the international community is essential to ending the violence and destruction plaguing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and continuing to confront the threat posed by the LRA."

"I have enormous confidence that Senator Feingold will make a real difference in this new role. I applaud the President's selection and look forward to working with Senator Feingold to help advance the prospect for peace in the region."

Bridget Johnson is a career journalist whose news articles and opinion columns have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe. Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor at The Hill, where she wrote The World from The Hill column on foreign policy. Previously she was an opinion writer and editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News. She has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator. Bridget is Washington Editor for PJ Media.

Rwanda Among Corruption-Ridden Countries | Deutsche Bahn.

http://m.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=151358

Deutsche Bahn to Suspend Operations in Corruption-Ridden Countries

World | June 18, 2013, Tuesday| 257 views

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk. Photo by EPA/BGNES

German railway company Deutsche Bahn, DB, is suspending operations in a number of countries with high levels of corruption.

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk.

The decision of the German railway giant was explained with findings of the prosecuting authority in Frankfurt that that DB International, a subsidiary of DB, had been paying bribes in a number of countries to secure contracts for consultancy and planning for railway projects.

According to the German daily, DB International paid EUR 315 000 in bribes to Greek officials to secure contracts for the construction of a metro line.

Gerd Becht, Member of the Management Board of DB responsible for Compliance, Privacy and Legal Affairs, made clear that the company had drawn their conclusions and decided to pull out of countries assessed to have high risk of corruption.

Over 30 officials of DBI were fired, including directors and project managers.

The company initiated lawsuits against 10 former officials of DBI.

The prosecuting authority in Frankfurt is investigating 37 people, almost all of them former DBI staff.