User:Book/BlogEntry: 2008 January 26 13:21:04 EAT
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== ALA resolutions on the situation in Kenya == | == ALA resolutions on the situation in Kenya == | ||
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of the American Library Association joins with the Association of | of the American Library Association joins with the Association of | ||
Concerned Africa Scholars in calling for an end to the violence in | Concerned Africa Scholars in calling for an end to the violence in | ||
| + | Kenya, a return to press and broadcasting freedom, and the right to | ||
peacefully assemble for the people of Kenya. | peacefully assemble for the people of Kenya. | ||
Latest revision as of 10:51, 26 January 2008
ALA resolutions on the situation in Kenya
At the Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association in Philadelphia last week, the ALA Council passed the following resolution on the situation in Kenya. Below that you will also find the resolution passed by the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the ALA which represents the position of the round table, not ALA. - Thanks to Al Kagan, African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration at the University of Illinois Library (USA), who sent these documents via a Yahoo Group for progressive librarians.
Resolution on the Crisis in Kenya
WHEREAS, hundreds of people have been killed and injured, and thousands have been displaced by the current violence in Kenya generated by the controversy surrounding the December election results;
WHEREAS, the Kenyan government has recently curtailed freedom of the press and broadcasting and the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and non-violently;
WHEREAS, the American Library Association has endorsed Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (policy 58.4) which covers freedom of the press and freedom of expression - rights which the Kenyan government is now denying its citizens;
WHEREAS, the American Library Association opposes any governmental prerogatives that lead to the intimidation of individuals or groups and encourages resistance to such abuse of governmental power (Policy 53.4);
WHEREAS, the American Library Association recognizes the vital importance of free and open elections;
WHEREAS, the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars has issued a call for an end to (1) the widespread violence by the principal Kenyan political actors, (2) restrictions of the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and non-violently, and (3) recently declared restrictions on press freedoms;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Library Association calls for an end to the violence in Kenya, a return to press and broadcasting freedom, and the right to peacefully assemble for the people of Kenya.
SRRT Resolution on the Crisis in Kenya
WHEREAS, hundreds of people have been killed and injured, and thousands have been displaced by the current violence in Kenya generated by the controversy surrounding the December election results;
WHEREAS, the U.S. media plays up the ethnic or "tribal" aspects of the current crisis at the expense of the deep political and class aspects of the conflict;
WHEREAS, the Kenyan government has recently curtailed freedom of the press and broadcasting and the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and non-violently;
WHEREAS, the U.S. government has a close military relationship with the Kibaki Government, and has played a central role in building up Kenya's military and internal security organizations;
WHEREAS, the American Library Association has endorsed Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (policy 58.4) which covers freedom of the press and freedom of expression - rights which the Kenyan government is now denying its citizens;
WHEREAS, the American Library Association opposes any governmental prerogatives that lead to the intimidation of individuals or groups and encourages resistance to such abuse of governmental power (Policy 53.4);
WHEREAS, the American Library Association recognizes the vital importance of free and open elections;
WHEREAS, the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars has issued a call for an end to (1) the widespread violence by the principal Kenyan political actors, (2) restrictions of the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and non-violently, and (3) recently declared restrictions on press freedoms;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association joins with the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars in calling for an end to the violence in Kenya, a return to press and broadcasting freedom, and the right to peacefully assemble for the people of Kenya.
