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world news Diamars 26 Januari 2021

Judge orders Uganda’s Bobi Wine freed from house arrest

(AP) — A judge ruled on Despite failing in his bid to
Monday that Ugandan unseat Museveni, the 38-year-
security forces cannot old Wine has emerged as the
detain presidential chal- country’s most powerful op-
lenger Bobi Wine inside position figure. He is set to
his home, rebuking au- name the official leader of the
thorities for holding the opposition in the National
candidate under house ar- Assembly after his National
rest following a disputed Unity Platform party won at
election. least 56 seats, the most of any
opposition group in the leg-
Wine, whose real name is Ky- islative body. That number
agulanyi Ssentamu, has been could rise to 61 when final
unable to leave his home results are announced.
since Jan. 14, when Ugandans Museveni’s National Resis-
voted in an election in which tance Movement party has
the singer-turned-politician more than 300 seats, an abso-
was the main challenger to lute majority that allows it to
President Yoweri Museveni. move ahead with his agenda
Ugandan authorities have without negotiating with the
said Wine can only leave his opposition.
home on the outskirts of the Museveni, 76, has dismissed
capital, Kampala, under mili- allegations of vote-rigging,
tary escort because they fear calling the election “the most
his presence in public could Wine’s associates welcomed rounded his home, “blocking tions. cheating-free” since indepen-
incite rioting. the courtroom victory, but it access to all.” Wine has accused Musev- dence from Britain in 1962.
But the judge said in his rul- remains to be seen if authori- “Perhaps (as always) waiting eni of staging a “coup” in last Uganda’s election was
ing that Wine’s home is not a ties will respect the judge’s for Gen. Museveni’s orders week’s election and is urg- marred by violence ahead
proper detention facility and order in this East African on the next course of ac- ing his supporters to protest of polling day as well as an
noted that authorities should country where similar orders tion,” he tweeted. his loss through nonviolent internet shutdown that re-
criminally charge him if he have been ignored in many Museveni won the election means. But he suggested in mained in force until four
threatens public order. cases. with 58% of the vote while a statement Friday he might days after the election. Social
The U.S. Embassy in a Twit- Ugandan police told report- Wine had 34%, according to not go to court to challenge media sites remain restricted.
ter post said the judge’s rul- ers on Monday that they official results. Wine insists the official results because of Uganda has never witnessed
ing “underscores the role of would pull away from Wine’s he won and has said he can concerns a possible loss there a peaceful transfer of power
an impartial judiciary,” add- residence but keep surveil- prove that the military was would validate Museveni’s — one reason why even some
ing that Washington “calls on ling the area. But Wine said stuffing ballot boxes, casting win. He said he would an- within Museveni’s party urge
security forces to honor the hours after the court’s deci- ballots for people and chasing nounce a decision “in a few him to preside over an order-
decision.” sion that soldiers still sur- voters away from polling sta- days.” ly transition.

Polish president backs lockdown despite business frustration

(AP) — Poland’s president ever, that the regulations dangering the health and life
on Monday expressed un- “have to be enforced.” of those gathered and of their
derstanding for the “de- He appealed “to all for en- families at home.
spair” of people who are durance and common sense.” Business owners point to two
opening their businesses The government has warned recent court rulings waiving
in defiance of the anti- those planning to or breaking fines against businesses that
COVID-19 lockdown, the lockdown that they will operated during the previ-
but said they still must be cut from the financial aid ous lockdown, in the spring
be punished for breaking and exemptions from various of 2020. The courts said that
government-ordered re- dues it is offering if they go temporary government regu-
strictions. ahead with their action. Sani- lations then were void and
tary authorities are also fining against Poland’s Constitu-
In comments published unlocked businesses. tion.
Monday, Andrzej Duda was But business owners say the
reacting to the swelling na- government help falls far Some nightclub owners have
tionwide #OtwieraMY (We short of their needs. already sued the government
Are Opening) movement of The #OtwieraMY move- for damages. said. their businesses, while 75%
thousands of business own- ment describes itself as being Michal Maciag, who owns People in mountainous of people support the open-
ers opening their restaurants, an answer to a “crisis pro- the Piw Paw pub in Warsaw, southern Poland are planning ing of ski lifts. But only 24%
hotels, ski lifts, fitness cen- voked by politicians” that it said he has had to close three a protest action Feb. 1 that feel the same about night
ters and similar businesses says is much more dangerous other locations due to the includes opening hostels, ac- clubs.
to avoid going under as a re- than the pandemic. lockdowns and dismissed all commodation centers and ski The survey Jan. 19 on 1,100
sult of the prolonged social Social media is filling with but two of his 39 employees. lifts, their chief livelihoods adult respondents had a mar-
distancing and lockdown, videos and images from The remaining pub holds le- that remained idled during gin of error of plus or minus
recently extended through across Poland of crowded gal, small-scale educational the recent winter school va- 3 percentage points.
January. parties at clubs and bars. In meetings and courses for cation. In Germany, a similar initia-
“I can understand the im- some of them, reportedly beer lovers, but never parties, Poland, a nation with a popu- tive called #wirmachenauf
patience and often even the from last weekend, people Maciag told The Associated lation of around 38 million, (“We’re opening up”) called
despair of people, who see are chanting anti-govern- Press. has registered almost 1.5 mil- for businesses to open ear-
the work of their entire lives ment slogans. The gatherings He said the police frequently lion coronavirus infections lier this month in defiance of
falling apart,” Duda said in an exceed by far the limit of five patrol outside the pub. and more than 35,000 deaths. the country’s lockdown. The
interview for the conserva- people per meeting. “The situation is extremely A recent opinion poll by the campaign appears to have
tive weekly “Sieci.” Expert on viruses, Tomasz difficult, we have no means IBRiS polling center shows fizzled, however. Polls in
“Punishing people who are Dzieciatkowski, said such to continue, to serve our cli- that 70% of people support Germany still point to wide-
desperate is a terrible must,” disrespect for COVID-19 ents, but we have to pay our hotels and restaurants break- spread support for coronavi-
Duda said, but added, how- regulations amounts to en- high utility bills,” Maciag ing the lockdown to save rus restrictions.