The Lady On Trial

Democracy activist and opposition politician in Burma Aung San Suu kyi is facing a trial that must be seen as ruling junta’s position and determination to keep her behind bars even to a long time victim of one of Asia´s most repressive regimes.

Confined to her home for most of the past two decades, Suu Kyi allegedly accepted a nighttime visit from uninvited American who swam unbidden to her lakeside residence May 3, 2009. While the Nobel Peace Laureate reportedly urged the American to leave, she is charged with violating the terms of her detention and faces up to five years in prison.

An observer at her trial noted that Aung San Suu Kyi trial is a story where the conclusion is already scripted, to continue detaining her or imprisoning her thus denying her the democratic rights to participate in the coming election.

Onyango Okeyo

Politics: Immigrant Women in Politics

The last week in May 2009, I traveled around the country and was humbled to attend   multicultural conference in Caisa. There I met groups of immigrant women who had gathered at Helsinki city’s international cultural centre, Caisa, to hear more about Finnish political life, there I met Oge Eneh and we had a little discussion of what lies ahead for immigrants Women.

Political parties are beginning to appreciate immigrant candidates, now is the time to for immigrant women to get involved in Finnish politics, immigrant women are still struggling to find a public voice and remain a rare sight on the Finnish political scene, says Oge Eneh.

Nigerian-born Oge Eneh, who has lived in Finland for over 20 years, is standing for election in the European Parliament Elections in June 2009 on the Swedish People’s Party ticket (SFP).

Oge Eneh´s background is in multiculturalism and culture competence. She designs courses around topics as: culture diversity, cross-cultural team building and communication skills. She has facilitated programs around these themes for companies and organizations such as Borealis-Neste, Nokia, Finnish Ministry of foreign affairs, and the cultural competence training for the Finnish Police.

She wants to transform integration to a democratic value both in EU and in Finland.

Immigrants have contributed to numerous achievements in Finland. We need to work together to find these persons and recognize their achievements as role models in a multicultural Finland and in a European Finland as a member of the Global Village.

She concludes our conversation by saying “I was asked to run in the elections, and I accepted. I have worked with immigrant integration issues for many years,” says Eneh.

Onyango Okeyo.