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  • Réaction de la présidence à l’ultimatum lancé pour le 15 août : IBK demande à rencontrer la Plateforme « Antè A Bana » dans un bref délai

    IBK demande à rencontrer la Plateforme « Antè A Bana » dans un bref délai

    Hier, jeudi 10 août 2017, la Plateforme « Antè A Bana : Touche pas à ma constitution » a organisé une assemblée générale couplée d’une conférence de presse à la Pyramide du Souvenir de Bamako pour partager avec la presse le contenu de leur lettre ouverte adressée au président de la République, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (IBK). Dans cette lettre ouverte, la Plateforme exige du président IBK le retrait pur et simple du projet de révision constitutionnelle (Loi n°2017-031/AN-RM du 2 juin 2017 portant révision de la Constitution du 25 février 1992) au plus tard le mardi 15 août 2017 à minuit. Passé ce délai, la Plateforme « Antè A Bana : Touche pas à ma constitution » se réserve le droit d’user de tous les moyens que lui offrent la Constitution du 25 février 1992 et les lois de la République afin de faire aboutir ses revendications. A l’échéance de l’ultimatum du 15 août prochain lancé au président IBK, la Plateforme menace même de mener la désobéissance civile. Ayant pris au sérieux de cet ultimatum, le président IBK a demandé à rencontrer la plateforme. Ladite rencontre doit se tenir la semaine prochaine. «Dès que notre ultimatum est tombé, deux heures après, le président a demandé à rencontrer la Plateforme », a indiqué Djiguiba Keïta (PPR), l’un des responsables de la Plateforme.

    Cette conférence de presse était animée par le vice-président de la Plateforme « Antè A Bana : Touche pas à ma constitution », l’honorable Amadou Thiam, en présence de Tiébilé Dramé et de Diguiba Keïta alias PPR du Parena, de Mamadou Hawa Gassama Diaby de l’URD, du Chroniqueur Ras Bath, de l’artiste Master Soumi, du juriste Bréhima Fomba, du Syndicaliste Kalapo et de Mme Kadidia Fofana de ladite Plateforme. Les travaux ont débuté par l’exécution de l’hymne national du Mali et l’observation d’une minute de silence en la mémoire des disparus. Dans son speech, l’honorable Amadou Thiam a fait savoir qu’après la tenue de 4 grandes activités (marche du 15 juin 2017, meeting du 1er juillet 2017, marche du 15 juillet 2017, meeting du 03 août dernier), la Plateforme a été surprise par le « mépris du président IBK ». « C’est pourquoi nous avons décidé à l’unanimité de lancer un ultimatum au président de la République. Nous avons décidé à l’unanimité lors de notre Assemblée générale du 07 Août 2017 d’exiger du Président de la République, SE Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, le retrait pur et simple de son projet de révision constitutionnelle au plus tard le mardi 15 août 2017 à minuit. Cet ultimatum a déjà fait son effet. Le président IBK (à travers la correspondance du secrétaire général à la présidence, Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga mercredi dans l’après midi) demande à rencontrer la Plateforme. La dite rencontre doit se tenir la semaine prochaine. Nous lui avons demandé de nous adressées une lettre. Et cette correspondance sera analyser par le directoire, mais notre position reste inchangée à savoir le retrait pur et simple du projet de révision constitutionnelle. A l’expiration de cet ultimatum, nous utiliserons tous les moyens constitutionnels pour faire prévaloir nos revendications », a-t-il dit. Après cette brève déclaration, la lettre ouverte adressée au président IBK a été lue par Mme Kadidia Fofana de la Plateforme. L’objet de cette lettre ouverte en date du 7 août 2017 est le retrait pur et simple du projet de révision constitutionnelle (Loi n°2017-031/AN-RM du 2 juin 2017 portant révision de la Constitution du 25 février 1992). « Nous, Plateforme « Antè A Bana » : touche pas à ma constitution » avons décidé à l’unanimité lors de notre Assemblée générale du 07 Août 2017 d’exiger du Président IBK, le retrait pur et simple de son projet de révision constitutionnelle au plus tard le mardi 15 août 2017 à minuit. Nous avons également décidé lors de cette Assemblée générale de signifier au Président de la République qu’à défaut d’une réponse favorable dans ce délai imparti, la Plateforme qui assimilerait ce refus à une atteinte grave à la Constitution du Mali, se réserve le droit d’user de tous les moyens que lui offrent la Constitution du 25 février 1992 et les lois de la République afin de faire aboutir ses revendications légitimes», ressort en substance la lettre ouverte lue par Mme Kadidia Fofana de la Plateforme. Le syndicalisme Kalapo est revenu sur cette lettre ouverte en langue bambara. « Nous nous battons pour que le président IBK retire son projet de révision », a-t-il dit.

    La Plateforme menace de mener la désobéissance civile

    En réponse aux questions des journalistes, l’honorable Thiam  a rassuré que la plateforme est unie et engagée. « Nous avions eu des discussions avec l’ambassade de France et à d’autres chancelleries. Nous allons continuer à faire comprendre à la communauté internationale que ce projet n’est pas bon pour le Mali », a-t-il dit. Par ailleurs, il dira que le MOC (Mécanisme opérationnel de coordination) n’est pas opérationnel, la conférence d’entente nationale n’a pas pu trouvée une solution au problème de l’Azawad. Pour preuve, dit-il, après ladite conférence d’entente nationale, le MNLA (Mouvement national pour la libération de l’Azawad) a fêté l’indépendance à Kidal. « Tenir le referendum dans ces conditions serait de trahir l’accord de paix et le peuple malien… Si nous allons au referendum des ces conditions, Youwarou, Kidal et d’autres localités qui n’ont pas d’administration ne pourront pas voter. Le président de la République allait les priver de leur droit de vote. Voila pourquoi la plateforme s’insurge contre le référendum afin que toutes les conditions soient réunies pour que tout le monde puisse voter… L’objectif, c’est le retrait, et nous allons vers le retrait », a-t-il martelé. A l’en croire, lors du tête- à-tête entre le chef de file de l’opposition, l’honorable Soumaïla Cissé et le président IBK dans un passé récent, l’honorable Cissé a demandé au président IBK de rencontrer l’opposition et la Plateforme « Antè A Bana : Touche pas à ma constitution ». A la suite de Thiam, le juriste Bréhima Fomba a rappelé que le peuple est détenteur du pouvoir. Concrètement quel est le moyen constitutionnel que la Plateforme va mener pour la satisfaction de ses revendications ? Répondant à cette question, le juriste Fomba dit ceci : « Nous sommes des stratèges, nous n’allons pas étaler toutes nos stratégies. Nous allons utiliser tous les moyens que la constitution nous offre. La gamme supérieure est la désobéissance civile (article 121 de la constitution de 1992). L’Etat de droit est le respect de la constitution, et on révise cette constitution en violation de l’article 118 », a-t-il martelé. Selon lui, la cour constitutionnelle s’est mise dans une situation intenable. « Nous invitons le président IBK à surseoir à cette révision constitutionnelle. Nous invitons le président IBK d’avoir la sagesse telle que Alpha Oumar Konaré avait eu en 2001 en retirant son projet de révision constitutionnelle », a-t-il déclaré. Pour l’artiste Master Soumi, le seul mot est le retrait du texte. Avant de signaler que les maliens ont beaucoup de défis à relever dont le développement économique. Quant à Djiguiba Keïta alias PPR, il a demandé aux militants de faire confiance à la Plateforme. « Dès que notre ultimatum est tombé, deux heures après, le président a demandé à rencontrer la Plateforme. Il a compris le message. Seule la lutte paye. Surtout que nous sommes adossés au peuple », a-t-il dit. Pour sa part, le chroniqueur Ras Bath, a souligné que le retrait de ce texte sera salutaire. Aux dires de Ras Bath, la constitution élaborée par Me Celcalldi de la France est différente de celle détenue par le gouvernement malien. « Me Cecalldi a dit que IBK est otage de la communauté internationale. Me Cecalldi a dit que le Mali n’a pas les moyens financiers pour supporter le coût de la décentralisation inclues dans cette révision constitutionnelle. IBK s’est engagée devant la communauté internationale à réviser la constitution avant le 31 octobre. Il est dans le déni de démocratie », a martelé Ras Bath.

    Aguibou Sogodogo

     
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  • E.U. united on African migration curbs, divided over hosting refugees

    European Union leaders will discuss how to further curb immigration from across the Mediterranean over dinner on Thursday, but are as divided as ever on how to take care of refugees who still make it to Europe.

    Their chairman, Donald Tusk, proposed creating a new financing tool in the bloc’s next multi-year budget from 2021 to “stem illegal migration”, replacing the ad hoc calls for money that EU states have seen since arrivals peaked in 2015.

    Despite heavy criticism by human rights groups that it is aggravating the suffering of refugees and migrants on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, the EU is sticking to its policy of providing various kinds of assistance to the governments and U.N. agencies in the Middle East and Africa in order to prevent people making the trek north.

    While implementing these plans in some places, notably the lawless Libya, is proving difficult, all EU states and institutions in Brussels agree on the approach.

    However, the question of how to handle refugees who have made it to the EU is as divisive now as it was two years ago.

    Italy, Greece and other frontline states on the Mediterranean, as well as the rich destination countries such as Germany, want all member states to be obliged to take in a set allocation of asylum-seekers.

    But several eastern ex-communist EU members reject mandatory quotas, saying accepting Muslim refugees would undermine their sovereignty and security, and the homogeneous makeup of their societies.

    They want to help instead with money, equipment and personnel for controlling the bloc’s frontiers.

    The Commission is already suing Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic for failing to take in their allotment of asylum-seekers from the peak of the EU’s migrant crisis in 2015.

    DIVISIONS

    Recent proposals for future solutions go in opposite directions, giving little hope of a deal by the target date of June.

    The bloc’s current chair Estonia suggested sticking to the obligatory scheme when immigration is extremely high, but adding some flexibility by legislating that the receiving and sending states must agree on any relocation.

    That plan has been quickly dismissed as a non-starter by diplomats from several EU states.

    The bloc’s executive, the European Commission, proposed that the bloc approve compulsory and automatic relocation for times of mass immigration, but rely on voluntary help in normal circumstances. The European Parliament wants mandatory relocation at all times, regardless of migratory pressures.

    But now Tusk himself has also come out against quotas, telling EU leaders in a note that they had proven “highly divisive” and “ineffective”.

    The Commission’s migration chief, Dimitris Avramopoulos, told a news conference on Tuesday that Tusk’s paper was “undermining one of the main pillars of the European project – the principle of solidarity”.

    For now, immigration figures remain so low compared to the peak of 2015-2016 that the public pressure on EU leaders to come up with a quick fix has eased.

    That could yet change, however, with Italy’s parliamentary election next spring, coinciding with the start of a new migration season.

    Germany, currently consumed with trying to form a new government, has long suggested that if no consensus can be reached, an asylum reform could be passed by majority vote – something that would inevitably deepen the divisions and mistrust between member states.

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  • Trump defends Asia trip, vows 'maximum pressure' on N.Korea

    US President Donald Trump hit back at critics of his recent Asia trip and vowed a global campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea Wednesday, warning Pyongyang will not subject the world to "nuclear blackmail."

    Defending an almost two week trip to Asia that was long on pomp but -- critics say -- short on achievements, Trump said he had successfully galvanized opposition to North Korean proliferation.

    "I made clear that we will not allow this twisted dictatorship to hold the world hostage to nuclear blackmail," Trump said in a televised statement a day after returning from the marathon trip.

    During a 25 minute address, Trump repeatedly reached for a bottle of water and appeared worn by the long journey that took in Hawaii, South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

    Always keen to garner praise and lift up examples of others showing him respect, Trump said the red carpet rolled out for him in Asia showed that "America is back."

    "Everywhere we went, our foreign hosts greeted the American delegation and myself included with incredible warmth and hospitality and most importantly respect," he said.

    Trump and his supporters are fighting a rearguard action against suggestions that the trip was a failure.

    They are pointing to a series of Asian investments in the United States and the release of three US basketball players on Chinese shoplifting charges, after presidential intervention, as evidence it was a success.

    Adding to that, Trump himself said that he had won a commitment from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to use Beijing's economic leverage to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

    It was not clear if that went beyond Chinese implementation of existing UN Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang.

    Trump also suggested that Xi -- who will send a special envoy to Pyongyang later this week -- had ditched a proposal to freeze US military maneuvers in exchange for a freeze in North Korean proliferation.

    "President Xi recognizes that a nuclear North Korea is a grave threat to China," Trump said. "And we agreed that we would not accept a so-called 'freeze for freeze' agreement like those that have consistently failed in the past."

    There was no immediate confirmation of what would be a significant shift in Chinese policy from Beijing's embassy in Washington.

    - Welcome home -

    Democratic Senator Edward Markey summed up the sentiment of many in his camp in saying that Trump failed to "make meaningful progress" on "critical economic and security issues during his trip to East Asia."

    "Rather than building on the messages in Japan and South Korea on the importance of trilateral unity in the face of the North Korean threat, President Trump tweeted about how hard he has tried to be North Korea's friend and called Kim Jong Un 'short and fat,'" he said.

    Aside the furor over Trump tweets, his visit also saw 11 Asia-Pacific allies announce they would press ahead with a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

    That was seen as a diplomatic slap in the face and evidence that the world was looking beyond America's mercurial and nationalistic current leadership.

    "The US is out of the game," said Nate Olson of the Stimson Center. "While the US posture alternates between defensive and scorched-earth, other countries are actively fighting to reshape the trade landscape in their favor."

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  • Trump may find kindred spirit in India's Modi, another tough-talking nationalist

    NEW DELHI — One man came from privileged beginnings and went to all the right schools, the other was the son of a tea-seller.

    Yet both India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald J. Trump rose to power as populist outsiders willing to disrupt entrenched power systems in their respective capitals.

    The two men men spoke Tuesday, their first interaction since a brief congratulatory phone call after Trump’s election in November. In a summary of the call, the White House said Trump called India a “true friend and partner” and the two had discussed the economy, defense and the fight against global terror. Trump said he looked forward to hosting Modi in a visit later this year, and Modi returned the favor after the “warm conversation” in a tweet Wednesday morning.

    The change of power in Washington comes at a time when the relationship between the world’s two largest democracies has gained momentum in recent years, with growing investment and military ties.

    “We believe they mean well by us and we mean well by them,” said Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign secretary. “We are quite confident we’ll get off to a good relationship, so there is no anxiety here at all.”

    Yet some Indian leaders have expressed concerns privately about Trump’s unpredictability and tendency to lash out.

    On the campaign trail, Trump occasionally praised India in speeches — “I am a big fan of Hindu, and I am a big fan of India,” he said at a fundraiser in October and said India was a “natural ally.”

    But he also mimicked the accent of India’s call center workers, vowed to keep American jobs in the United States and criticized the H-1B high-skilled worker visa program, worrying the Indian tech industry. The Trump Organization is also involved in at least four real estate projects here, valued at an estimated $1.5 billion.

    “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the air,” said Milan Vaishnav, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the author of a recent book on politics in India. “Nobody really knows beyond some vague outlines what Trump foreign policy looks like. He hasn’t said a lot about India and what he has said is very vague. So India’s objective is to figure out where he stands.”

    The two men are likely to find common ground going forward on terror and security, particularly in regard to the terror threat from neighboring Pakistan, experts said. Judging from Tuesday's telephone call, “clearly terrorism was front and center,” Vaishnav said.

    In his inaugural address, Trump pledged to stamp out Islamic terrorism around the world. But he earlier engaged in a chummy telephone call with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif — calling him a “terrific guy” who does “amazing work” — which also troubled Indian officials.

    Modi, 66, has long been associated with the Hindu nationalist movement, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and for a time was denied a U.S. visa for failing to stop anti-Muslim riots while serving as a state chief minister.

    Hewent only after his party’s victory in 2014. He and President Obama developed a rapport, and the next year he asked Obama to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade. By the end of that visit, he was calling the president “Barack.”

    Like Trump, Modi has a brash side and communicates largely on Twitter, with an innate distrust for the mainstream media. One of his first acts as prime minister was to do away with a traveling press pool on foreign trips.

    His supporters in the Hindu right have stoked nationalistic fervor in the country — at times with violent results — and last year India became immersed in a debate over patriotism and free speech after protests on college campuses. Most recently, the Supreme Court mandated that movie-goers must stand as the national anthem plays before films.

    Modi remains a popular figure, however, despite a recent move to ban large-denomination currency notes to combat tax cheats that left the economy reeling. Indians have suffered job losses and waits in long bank lines throughout the more than two-month crisis, but Modi has repeatedly played on nationalist sentiment, exhorting Indians to have patience for the long-term good of the country.

     

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  • Family of DR Congo leader Kabila built fortune:

     

    President Joseph Kabila and his family in the Democratic Republic of Congo have created a personal economic empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the Bloomberg News agency reported Thursday.

    "Together the Kabilas have built a network of businesses that reaches into every corner of Congo's economy and has brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the family," the US news agency said five days before Kabila's mandate to rule expires.

    "The sprawling network may help explain why the president is ignoring pleas by the (United States), the European Union and a majority of the Congolese people to hand over power next week."

    Bloomberg News stated that the report was based on a year-long investigation by three journalists into the Kabila family's business network in and beyond the mineral-rich yet dirt-poor central African country.

    Backed by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the journalists carried out dozens of interviews in DR Congo, where Kabila came to power in wartime in 2001 after the assassination of his father by a bodyguard.

    The young soldier was later elected twice, but his constitutional mandate expires on December 20, and the results of the last poll in 2011 were rejected by the opposition, while observers decried massive fraud.

    Bloomberg News said the journalists had amassed "hundreds of thousands of pages of corporate documents that show that (Kabila's) wife, two children and eight of his siblings control more than 120 permits to dig gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and other minerals."

    The DRC was swept by two successive wars between 1996 and 2003, hard on the heels of three decades of kleptocratic dictatorship by Mobutu Sese Seko, who was long supported by the West as a regional ally.

    - Family with a finger in every pie -

    The vast country, about two-thirds the size of Western Europe, is known for tremendous wealth in minerals, yet 90 percent of the population lives on less than $1.5 (1.4 euros) a day, according to UN figures.

    Though Kabila's final five-year term runs out next Tuesday, no date has been set for the next election and a contested ruling by the Constitutional Court allows him to stay in power until polls take place.

    Dozens of people have been killed this year during opposition protests against the prolongation of Kabila's rule.

    Since 2003, the Kabila family has established an international business network stretching across at least 70 companies operating in the United States, Panama, Tanzania and the tax haven of Nuie island in the South Pacific as well as in the DRC, according to Bloomberg News.

    Apart from mining interests, "family members also have stakes in banks, farms, fuel distributors, airline operators, a road builder, hotels, a pharmaceutical supplier, travel agencies, boutiques and nightclubs," the report said.

    Asked by AFP to comment on the report, Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende said "You can't stop one of the president's relatives from being ambitious or owning property, let alone from doing business."

    He said the report was yet another instance of the West's campaign to undermine his country.

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