Had some fun being a voyeur from my verandah yesterday…

The neighbors were cutting the top off a big coconut tree which was fun to click snaps of…

before:

after:

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 265th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 10 March 2011, adopted the following decision on the situation in Libya:

Council:

1. Takes note of the statements made by the Chairperson of the Commission, as well as by the representative of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya;

2. Recalls communiqué PSC/PR/COMM(CCLXI) adopted at its 261st meeting, held on 23 February 2011, and the statement issued, the same day, by the Chairperson of the Commission;

3. Expresses AU’s deep concern at the prevailing situation in Libya, which poses a serious threat to peace and security in that country and in the region as a whole, as well as to the safety and dignity of Libyans and of the migrant workers, notably the African ones, living in Libya. Council is equally deeply concerned with the resulting humanitarian situation;

4. Expresses AU’s solidarity with Libya, and underscores the legitimacy of the aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy, political reform, justice, peace and security, as well as for socio‐economic development, and the need to ensure that these aspirations are fulfilled in a peaceful and democratic manner; in this context, Council takes note of the stated commitment of the Libyan authorities to embark upon the path of reforms;

5. Reiterates AU’s strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate use of force and lethal weapons, whoever it comes from, resulting in the loss of life, both civilian and military, and the transformation of pacific demonstrations into an armed rebellion; Council deeply deplores the loss of human life, conveys its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes early recovery to those who have been injured;

6. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the respect of the unity and territorial integrity of Libya, as well as its rejection of any foreign military intervention, whatever its form;

7. Expresses its conviction that the current situation in Libya calls for an urgent African action for: (i) the immediate cessation of all hostilities, (ii) the cooperation of the competent Libyan authorities to facilitate the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy populations, (iii) the protection of foreign nationals, including the African migrants living in Libya, and (iv) the adoption and implementation of the political reforms necessary for the elimination of the causes of the current crisis;

8. Decides to establish an AU ad‐hoc High‐Level Committee on Libya comprising five Heads of State and Government, as well as the Chairperson of the Commission; Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to finalize the consultations undertaken in this respect and to announce the composition of the Committee as soon as possible. Council further decides that the Committee is mandated to:

(i) engage with all parties in Libya and continuously assess the evolution of the situation on the ground,

(ii) facilitate an inclusive dialogue among the Libyan parties on the appropriate reforms,

(iii) engage AU’s partners, in particular the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Union and the United Nations, to facilitate coordination of efforts and seek their support for the early resolution of the crisis ;

9. Further decides that the AU ad‐hoc High‐Level Committee on Libya be supported by a team comprising the Ministers of Foreign Affairs/External Relations and/or other relevant Ministers of the countries concerned, as well as the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security;

10. Requests all AU Member States to provide logistical and humanitarian support to all African migrant workers wishing to leave Libya, as well as to those neighboring countries forced to bear a disproportionate burden and to the countries of origin to facilitate the socio‐economic reinsertion of these migrant workers. In this respect, Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to take the necessary steps to coordinate such an effort, including the convening of a conference to facilitate the mobilization of the required resources and other related measures;

11. Recalls the provisions of the OAU Convention on the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa; Council requests the Commission to gather information on the reported presence of mercenaries in Libya and their actions, to enable it, should these reports be confirmed, to take the required measures in line with the Convention;

12. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to transmit this decision to the United Nations Security Council, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Union and other concerned AU partners, for their action as appropriate;

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

“We are ready for this decision (a ceasefire) but we require an interlocutor to discuss how to implement it,” Mr Kaaim told a news conference shortly after the UN Security Council voted to permit “all necessary measures” to impose a no-fly zone, protect civilian areas and impose a ceasefire.

“We discussed last night with the UN envoy (for Libya, Jordan’s Abdul Ilah Khatib) and asked legitimate questions on the application of a ceasefire,” he said.

Mr Kaaim indicated that Libya would “react positively to the UN resolution, and we will prove this willingness while guaranteeing protection to civilians.”

The Security Council authorised air strikes to halt Mr Gaddafi’s offensive against embattled rebel forces in the North African country, with the first bombing raids possible within hours.

American broadcaster CNN also reports Mr Gaddafi has changed tact with “a humanitarian gesture”, deciding to hold off on plans to send the army in to Benghazi and mercilessly crush all resistance, as had been promised.

“I just took a phone call from one of Gaddafi’s sons, Seif (al-Islam). This is the message from the leadership,” the CNN correspondent in Tripoli said.

“He said they’re going to change the tactics around Benghazi, that the army is not going to go into Benghazi.

“It’s going to take up positions around the stronghold.

“The reason is they expect a humanitarian exodus.”

WASHINGTON — The prospect of a deadly siege of the rebel stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, has produced a striking shift in tone from the Obama administration, which is now pushing for the United Nations to authorize aerial bombing of Libyan tanks and heavy artillery to try to halt the advance of forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

Tsunami panic kills

POLICE in Buala, Isabel province confirmed that an elderly man died when he tried to escape during the tsunami warning last week Friday.

The tsunami alert was issued around the Pacific when a giant earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale hit Honsu in Japan last Friday.

Isabel provincial police commander Gabriel Manelusi said the deceased panicked and allegedly collapsed when he tried to escape to higher ground.

Mr Manelusi confirmed the deceased age 70 years old was from Kolapakisa village in Kia.

“He didn’t die because of the waves but because he panicked when villagers rushed to move to higher ground,” he said.

Mr Manelusi said the death resulted in negligence by people during the warning.

Reports also revealed that a woman patient at the Buala hospital also died on Friday during.

Details of how she died was unavailable.

Meanwhile Mr Manelusi said he was not impressed how people in Isabel reacted to the tsunami warning.

“We have received reports from various villages that some people didn’t take the warning last Friday seriously.

“They only tried to escape when the wave arrived which was very dangerous,” he said.

Mr Manelusi said that should not be the way to behave during any tsunami warning because if the waves were bigger people would have been injured or killed.

Three two metre waves swept through the township of Buala and other coastal villages last Friday night, destroying thousands of dollars worth of properties.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Mr Manelusi confirmed that in Buala, the waves have washed up into some shops in the area damaging goods worth thousands of dollars.

Other coastal villages around the province were also battered and filled with debris and sand.

An assessment team including the Provincial Disaster Council, police and other volunteers would be heading out to visit the affected areas today.

Mr Manelusi said three groups would be dispatched to cover different areas.

The first group will be visiting villages from Buala to Kaivanga.

The second group will be visiting villages from Hapadagi to Kia and the third group will be visiting villages from Narabu to Goveo.

The assessment team will be headed by Mr Manelusi

Life in de isles is gud, mon…

I am happy to be back home. Have some meetings this coming week, then a flight west and later in the month a fishing trip with Dok Filardi.

Saturday is a great day in our house. Friday night is usually late and fun here. Last night, slept in front of the tube with the kid. Zai is recovering from a prolonged flu bout so she got the bed to her self. The kid and I got the front room.

Years ago when we bought furniture for the house we chose pieces that are more than comfortable to pass-out in… and not wake up debilitated.

So we set the aircon on 22c ( about 70 f) Dozer wrapped up in a nice down-comforter. I grabbed a grandma-made afghan. Turned the TV off at about midnight. The kid slept through until well after 6am. I dozed and watched and dreamt until after 9.

Combination of playing and working all day long. It is right on 6pm and the day has not had many fallow moments.

A combination of overcast with showers makes the day cool. Jumped in the pool but it was too dern cold for me. Dozer frolicked for a while but gave up after he realised I was not coming back in.

Played some cards and then have been surfing the yahoo kids web with the kid.

Music for today…

08 mozambique

… lite islands sound… though the irony is thick.

Insects getting nasty… need some nuclear repellant… A roller-applicator of “RID”. The stuff pregnant women and small children wither under.

Just thinking….

02 mr tambourine man

I am sitting on the second story verandah of our house in Honiara.  We’re a-ways above the “city” and back onto the botanical gardens. We’re in the old section of town that has quarter-hectare lots. The neighbors are not too near. It’s a backwater area above and behind the old part of Honiara.

From where I sit I see little other than dense green foliage. A few iron clad roofs peep through the greenery.

Grace has developed her garden so that you are well hidden/ protected wherever you are here. By the pool, in the laundry, back in the cook-house. It is a nice haven of green in the city of dust and slow traffic.

Though the road is just a few meters below me and I hear it clearly ,my vision is protected by a tangle of guava, frangipani, mango, palm, rubber and nut trees.

Kinda cool, as the world spins on…

We have Gadaffi becoming more maniacal. How long can this go on?

Japan has been honored by receiving one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history.

I laughed how one newscaster said “this is the biggest earth quake in 300 years”…  I know, no laughing matter but what is the claim here… how long has mankind been recording earthquake information 300 years ago… 1711…  Yea, a very sustainable fact.

I think this is what Hunter S. Thompson was referring to when he dubbed “the generation of swine” so aptly.

The sun is going to fail soon. Chewy snores lightly in the other cushioned chair. Insects still making their attacks. Tattoo still itches like hell.

And life if guud…

11 Moonflower (Carlos Santana)

09 ring them bells

In Honiara so this is a false rider’s log. Will be on a bike in Gizo but I don’t even like driving a car in Honiara. The air is so dirty that riding a bike would be very hard on your health. Gizo is different.

In Gizo the roads are so bad that a dirt bike makes heaps of sense. We have a couple small 125 cc machines plus a couple nice 400 cc bikes. They are all a hoot.

Busy at home today; catch up on business affairs through the day, give all 4 dogs a bath about 3 pm, fix the faulty pool pump, then, after playing in the rain, convince Mendozza to have a shower without too much argument, and now I’m being accosted by flies as the day ends, the birds chatter and Chewy snores in the chair beside me.

Over cast with nice showers throughout the day.

Tattoos itch like crazy. Connie is getting supper ready and it smells great. Steve will come over for a yarn. The dogs are happy and the kids can use the pool tomorrow.

Sorta sounds like a country n western song…

Life is gud…

Always good to get back to the tropical heat,

The LDC airport that works, almost, but is filled with friendly people…

The milling crowds and too friendly taxi drivers that accost you as you pry your way through the throng of bodies at the exit from Immigration,

The developing world traffic, and roads and the scenic (cynic) beauty one finds on the Prince Philip highway…

The grand kid who has experienced so, so much in the few weeks I was travelling and can’t wait to tell it all,

The dogs who treat me like a stranger for about 8 nanoseconds then proceed to jump and play,

The house staff that are genuinely happy to see me, if for no other reason than they have a complaint to make about another employee…

Always good to get back home.

Weather still spotty. Fly back to HIR tomorrow. Managed to get a nice ride into Maroochydore on the 1200. Both bikes now shined up and resting until I can get back.

Sure hope the weather is better…

But the traditional global powers really need to sort their forward game plan out… picking up the pieces after revolutions in western supported totalitarian states simply do not make sense…

Western efforts should focus on building relationships with opposition leaders in Beghazi, where this anti-Gaddafi protester is seen waving a flag during Friday prayers. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP

More ink done today. I must say that inking the region around the nipple is not a lot of fun…

Off early to Brisbane on the 1200. Traffic was pretty good. Got a bit of rain both coming and going.

An hour and a half to coffee with Capt Kirton and his Mrs. A visit with KH then back to Palmwoods by about 2pm.

Fly back to Honiara on Thursday so both bikes well cleaned and ready for a rest.

Doing some more Ta Moko tomorrow…

03 By the Sea

… who said, after the French Revolution, “…the hardest thing after a succesful reolution is disarming the rabble…”

Libyan rebels celebrate securing an area west of the captured oil town of Ras Lanuf.

After capturing at the weekend the coastal oil port of Ras Lanuf, anti-Gaddafi forces were planning a push along Libya’s central coast towards Tripoli.

This would set up a major confrontation with the bulk of Gaddafi’s forces who are determined to keep the rebels from advancing towards Tripoli.

After the rebels forced government soldiers from Ras Lanuf, fighting intensified as forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi sought to retake Zawiya, only 50km west of Tripoli.

Tanks surrounded the city and pounded it yesterday.

Zawiya has now become the most important battle – the Gaddafi forces want to repel rebels from the city as it is seen as a possible launching pad for an assault on Tripoli, Gaddafi’s headquarters.

The shelling appeared to be indiscriminate as tanks surrounded a group of rebels cornered in one part of the city.

“Gaddafi has no sanctity for hospitals or residential areas or anything,” an opposition spokesman told The Australian.

Reports were unclear but it appeared that scores of rebels were killed in the weekend shelling of Zawiya.

Airforce jets bombed Ras Lanuf but were unable to dislodge the rebels.

But the regime appeared to have re-taken the town of Misrata.

Ras Lanuf was the latest to fall after some rebel troops unilaterally decided to make a push on it without the approval of the rebels’ military command.

Rebels stormed Colonel Gaddafi’s seaside home in Ras Lanuf.

At least 17 rebels were killed in an explosion at a military depot in Al Rajma, near Benghazi.

The airforce had been attempting to bomb the facility for several days and it was not known whether the explosion was due to sabotage by Gaddafi supporters or by accident.

Meanwhile, Libya’s former Minister for Justice Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who resigned recently in protest at Gaddafi’s attacks on protesters, yesterday unveiled at a news conference the new “interim national council.”

Although it will have 30 members, only nine were prepared to be identified yesterday – an indication of the fear that still operates in Libya.

• Friday: Events and reaction
• Rebels on the run?
• Tuaregs ‘join mercenaries’
• Tripoli simmers

Libyan rebels have been locked in fierce battles with pro-Gaddafi forces on two fronts.

Rebel-held Zawiya, just 50km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, was the subject of a fierce government assault. Both sides later claimed to be in control.

Heavy casualties were reported there and in other key cities, including the eastern port of Ras Lanuf.

Dozens of people were also killed and hurt in apparently accidental blasts at an arms dump in rebel-held Benghazi.

Hospital sources in the city, Libya’s second-largest, said they believed the two explosions were not triggered by an air strike.

Reports said at least 17 people had been killed in the blasts.

Earlier in the day, clashes briefly erupted after Friday prayers in the capital, Tripoli, but protesters dispersed after security forces fired tear gas and baton rounds.

‘Pockets of resistance’

Reports from Zawiya said the most senior rebel commander in the city was among those killed there.

One resident told BBC Arabic TV that many people had died when a peaceful demonstration came under fire.

Another told Reuters news agency up to 50 people could have been killed.

A second Reuters witness said he had just come from the hospital and many people were lying dead and injured.

“We have counted 30 dead civilians,” he said. “The hospital was full. They could not find space for the casualties.”

Libyan state television said the town had been retaken by pro-Gaddafi forces, although later government reports spoke of “pockets of resistance”.

After nightfall, some unconfirmed reports said electricity had been cut and there were fears of further government attacks.

Fierce fighting was also reported outside Ras Lanuf, with the sound of multiple explosions and heavy artillery being heard after opposition fighters advanced on the city. Pro-Gaddafi forces withdrew to Ras Lanuf two days ago after a battle.

Rebels at Ras Lanuf later told news agencies they had taken complete control of the town, but there was no independent confirmation.

There were also conflicting reports about the situation in Brega. Some government sources said the town was in rebel hands, while others insisted it was not.

In other developments:

• A Libyan warplane bombed the rebel-held Mediterranean port town of Ajdabiya, narrowly missing a munitions dump
• Several hundred mercenaries from the Tuareg community in the north African country of Mali have just joined government forces, a senior Malian official told the BBC
• Interpol issued an “orange alert” relating to Col Gaddafi and 15 other Libyans, saying it would help member states enforce sanctions against them

In Benghazi, the leader of the opposition National Libyan Council reportedly told cheering crowds in the city they would not give up.

“We are people who fight, we don’t surrender,” former Libyan Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who went over to the opposition last month, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

“Victory or death. We will not stop till we liberate all this country.”

Refugee fears

The UN refugee agency UNHCR has expressed new concerns that people trying to flee into Tunisia may be finding their way blocked by armed pro-government forces, after a sudden drop in the numbers crossing the border.

At least 10,000 people a day were crossing the border earlier in the week, but the number suddenly fell to fewer than 2,000 on Thursday, the agency says.

“Many of those who have crossed the border appear to be frightened and are unwilling to speak,” said UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming.

“We believe that has implications – that they may have been intimidated in some way.”

Tens of thousands of people, most of them migrant workers, have streamed to the border since the unrest began, sparking a humanitarian crisis.

The European Union’s humanitarian aid commissioner has demanded that Libya allow help into the country, citing increasing concerns over the situation of refugees in border areas, AFP reported.