3 others were sentenced to prison all can appeal the verdicts the trials of the accused were carried out near total secrecy although a handful of diplomats as well as members of the showcase family were allowed to attend in all 11 people were on trial for his death this body has never been found mad small Washington with talks between the United States and North Korea at a stalemate North Korea has been warning about an upcoming Christmas gift a p correspondent Shelley out there that so-called Christmas gift says Heritage Foundation's Asia expert Bruce Kling there could be an intercontinental ballistic missile tests they could jump right to that were a nuclear test but it's also possible they may sort of goes more incrementally up the escalation ladder by doing medium range pass you know immediate range missile test a space launch vehicle which is sort of a civilian version of an i.c.b.m. Before they jump to the i.c.b.m. And it may not be on Christmas we're looking to the annual New Year's Day speech by the North Korean leader for further clues so I think there may be an over fixation on the phrase Christmas present I think it was more rhetorical than shelling out there Washington rising space power China has attacked the newly created u.s. Space Force calling it a direct threat to outer space peace and security correspondent various Shaklee reports China's foreign minister says his country is deeply concerned about it and resolutely opposed to it it says a move that violates an international consensus on peaceful use of outer space would undermine stability and the global security balance China's space program has advanced rapidly since his 1st crude mission in 2003 in a report last February the Pentagon said China and Russia have embarked on a major effort is to develop technologies that could allow them to disrupt or destroy American and allied satellites in a crisis or conflict I'm sorry a Shaklee an American tourist burned in a volcanic explosion on New Zealand's white. Has Died raising the death toll to 19 a.b.c. News reports saying died Sunday night in an Auckland Hospital. Pratap Singh remains hospitalized there were 47 people on White Island when the volcano erupted December 9th it killed 13 people initially and left more than 2 dozen others hospitalized with severe burns the bodies of 2 victims have not been recovered and authorities say they were likely washed out at sea and may never be found. Good morning. Welcome to daybreak Africa from the Voice of America I'm Paul Alexander in Washington sitting in for Jane somebody who is on vacation today is Tuesday December 24th and here are some of the stories we're covering Algeria's long time military chief has suffered a fatal heart attack raising questions about the country's future amid ongoing protests for change I don't expect. But. One that gave a lot of close political ally. Highly boycotted the election that was well. Professor of political science at George Washington University Uganda's main opposition party says it will proceed with plans to meet with members in towns and villages despite a police ordered and other activist in Uganda have really launched a campaign against corruption in. Plans to hear a petition beginning today they have once police to return property that was seized from political activists who were detained for questioning last week. And that was only leader of the opposition Swazi Democratic Party will also have a 2nd in our 5 part series on China's growing presence in Africa coming up on Daybreak Africa. This. Button death of Algeria's long time military chief lieutenant general Achmad Gade Salah is the latest shark this year to an entrenched political system that is trying to hold on to power while providing enough change to satisfy a very persistent protest movement the protest helped bring down longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and he parole guy. Who died yesterday from a heart attack essentially guided the country toward an election that brought a member of the established leadership to power while allowing the protests to continue now the country is essentially holding its breath to see which path they will take I talked with William Laurance professor of political science at George Washington University about the possibilities for the future well it will probably call me again for some period is 3 days of national mourning and a week of our new morning following the death of Algeria 'd strongman and you know both sides keep their powder dry and respect a certain period of. Respect for the dead it's one of the reasons why Algeria took so long to turn the page after the tweekers to do it in a heart attack you know out of respect for you know just the statesman of the of another time but I don't expect him past the overall trends on the regime side or the protest side because we've just had a lection where one has silence the closest political allies to Boone was elected president in the highly boycotted 'd election so what about the new guy is clearly going to be seen as part of the old guard in that's what the protesters have been trying to get rid of yeah now we have a new army chief who's from the east and is not really connected to. But say the corrupt ways of the army so be interesting to see whether the new army chief has a little bit of a honeymoon honeymoon period sort of a strategy guy and. I'm not really connected to let's say the arms for another x. Of the military which tend to provoke the protestors that the new president hasn't really captured the imagination of the of of the general if you're in public or the protesting crowds he. Has an opportunity to make good with protesters for example he could receive. All the leaders that have been arrested in recent months or lift other controls of freedom of expression or freedom to protest but so far the gestures made by the new press and been fairly symbolic for example he's asking the population to call him Mr President rather than your excellent see as if that was a major concession to the protesting crowd what are they. Looking at when most of the analysis tends to point the fact that we've had millions of Algerians in the street for 10 months which is true except that there have been ebbs and flows in the protesting and the largest protests have occurred around national anniversaries or international events again National Women's Day when you get those larger protests it's if you sort of want to take temperature of what's going on you look at say over the next 23 months of any sort of major national anniversaries and if you're still getting a 1000000 people on the streets of the very city is 2000000 people that means the protest movement still has a lot of legs but if that starts to wane if the crackdown seems to be working the protests crowds are smaller then we're probably seeing the beginning of that and a vis round of protests do you think that there is a point this can. The regime might say take stronger action Yeah I think it's just a question of what concessions they're willing to make so far we've had good flickers presidency and. And we've had arrests of a number of close allies to potentially for corruption but not all of the people that could have been arrested for corruption and former intelligence chiefs and prime ministers and others but it wasn't sort of a systemic systematic crackdown it was more of a selective crackdown. Looks To outsiders a little bit like certain parts of the regime settling scores with other parts of the regime I think the one that's the most likely if we have sustained protests would be bringing back some of the ministers and government officials who provided who presided over Algeria 1st democratic opening in 89 to 91 figures like have little other ministers that work for him who so far have been staying out of the political discussion could be returned if Algeria is going to take us. A 2nd try serious. That was William Laurance professor of political science at George Washington University and yes what a High Court in the capital and Bonnie plans to hear a petition beginning today it seeks to compel the police to return all property that was seized from political activist including cell phones tablets computers flash drives and documents belonging to the political parties assembly in Swaziland known as the p.p.a. Citing an investigation into issues of national security police detained in question political activist civil society leaders and leaders from the Trade Union Congress of Swazi land for hours last week critics say the move was aimed to intimidate harass and thwart demands for democratic reforms Jan said holy leader of the opposition Swazi Democratic Party says all trade union groups banned political parties and civil society organizations have been invited to the court to show solidarity details we always Peter Clottey that arbitrary arrest were illegal in contravene the kingdom's Constitution today we have already seeing government because we've seen this is an attack to our press and the voices of the people because they have selected only been leadership of all political parties that in a political assembly who have been assigned in mandate by the general population from different political divides to demand for a dialogue with the monarchy so that they can deal with the issue of chemical diversion in the land by the police say the reason why the court order a few in for questioning was because they were investigating issues of national security why are you displeased with what we believe that. It is true but then when I need to this particular attack an onslaught on the rights of the people particularly the voice of the voiceless which I believe it's an Ok straighted systemic and designed to silence the voices of dissent because all of us citizens of this country would be nice here for as long as we were born why is the bed on one particular day on a 5 in the morning similar tenuously in our house this time and dispose of our properties that include information banking information for no apparent reason and in fact there is a lot of unprecedented way this particular thread to what and has been and read can cause it doesn't matter whether you have a political leader or a Labor leader it was just one fight speech all in everything that was required and did not even. What they want to say how to do is just a broad issue that will grant it clandestinely because we were not allowed to that they had gone to court because we were resisting any the courts were not given a lead to understand one of the reasons why you went to court to ensure that the court orders the police all this a greedy agencies to hand over your seized property do you foresee this happening since this is a model of national security when I believe that we if we have said just then we believe the suit we actually intend dictating this and demanding that our properties. Jack. Santoli is the leader of the opposition Swazi Democratic Party he spoke with always Peter Clottey from the capital and Bonnie and Uganda's main opposition party the forum for Democratic Change the f.t.c. Says it will go ahead with plans to meet with its members in towns and villages despite a police ordered not to end a letter to the opposition the police reminded party leaders that meetings with members should be held in an enclosed building in accordance with public management order the letter further caution the party not to hold any public gatherings but the opposition says the letter is yet another attempt by the government to use state institutions to thwart its efforts to mobilize and meet its members in the run up to the next general election supporters of the governing party the national resistance movement or n r m backed the police for carrying out their constitutionally mandated duty to enforce the laws and maintain law and order they said the opposition party's defiance could plunge the country into chaos and violence Patrick Oh boy Maria is the leader of the Ugandan main opposition party for Democratic Change He spoke with Deo ways Peter Clottey from the commercial capital Kampala we. Decided not. To. Give people. The right from the grass but this is no. One we wrote for me by the way under the law we have. To. Build. Whatever. We are not required. For the police force to sit you are not going to. Like actually but you will not. Any activity taking place what is your party going to do about this directive from the police since you said it restricts your ability to mobilize your members for party political activities in the run up to the next general election one thing that needs to be understood is that fuck every little political space we engaged today in the country that. Has been pulled for it had been given to us on this platform and then a full week yes we will go ahead we always out the clearance from the police because we do not believe in a creator and even if these restrictions are there we think that we carry out an activity see if your party goes ahead with this from yours onto going to pool your members who will attend these meetings in jeopardy or in harm's way if the police decide to enforce them all when a number of all members. And all the confines of the little. We have educated them in if you are in Florida when the opportunity of provides and so on feel that it is I want you to feel calm to want to call it such done we are going to do the. Well known stand alone so to get in their local communities to say to them we. Will Not if the police violating our rights we try to go to schools done for so we're going to encourage him to decide he wants the police see. We are just hopeful that they are to my short list a cartridge to come out of their homes to do they need food what do you say to supporters of the n r a m Well the opinion that they are operating under the same rules and your decision to defy the police is there mark off responsibility which could plunge the country . To chaos your response to that not at all because you see. We do this peacefully armed if the police like. The. You know go. Free but what we have said to them is that the overall quality we Patrick Oh boy Maria is the leader of the Ugandan main opposition party forum for Democratic Change He spoke with Leo ways Peter Clottey from the commercial capital Kampala and days after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni participated in a demonstration to fight corruption activists to Uganda have read launched a campaign that they say will meet that goal called Black Monday it is designed to sensitize citizens to shun corrupt officials reporter McGrew me Davis rubber Kareen the files this report from Camp Paula in this campaign activists I think citizens to have looked at this as a sign of the fight against corruption they also want to because of businesses and the press is owned by corrupt government officials joy works for Action Aid Uganda one of the in this campaign he says to detect government officials from prospering from corruption who will. Who enjoy listening and who want to. Round all will little to just listen even. When they come to the last place will be. Involved in. The campaign also of course and those who know about corruption tell at least 5 people the dangers associated with it a.j. Says they also name and shame corrupt officials we profiled all 3. 1000000 mothers. That privilege of course citizen and so on the phone. But also. According to Transparency International Group there assesses levels of corruption globally Uganda is right that $149.00 out of $180.00 countries and 30 East Africa after round it which runs at $170.00. Is ranked that 178 and is the most corrupt East African country Randa at 48 is the list corrupt is difficult country sick a governor is the head of a corruption question Uganda another engine in the fight against corruption she says the campaign is timely as the country heads toward the 2 different one election campaigns Remember we're waiting for elections and there's a lot of commercialization a political. One Not by then what. Indian . Men think the. Activist. Agrees says the government should punish corrupt officials there minister there that they have been getting money and they have it on everything and they are still in the office said they should be removed from those officers as soon as possible then the president would have now shown us that he is serious ready to fight corruption activists say Uganda cannot achieve its potential if there is to run but corruption for news I am a good defense work and example are Uganda China has cemented his position is most African countries biggest economic and political partner but it is a complex and nuanced relationship this week we are broadcasting a series of reports by video ways dear interior in Johannesburg today you look at how Chinese technology and funding is helping Africa to broaden its access to the Internet in Ethiopia for example China is offered the largest loan in the his. Telecommunications in Africa more than $3000000000.00 But critics say China's communist rulers are exploiting a system to suppress dissent and control what people see online in 2008 is in your god we are doing that was talking with a telecommunications official in ideas about when we were. Walking around and there was a 1st. Opening a couple of doors I noticed that the vast majority of people in his office were not working engineers but there were Chinese Internet that led the Media Studies academic at Johannesburg's bits university to investigate China's growing involvement in Africa's information technology sector has studied the often heard view that China enters Africa with the ideas and the technology and implements them as it sees fit is actually not the case and seen a lot of leverage on the side of mostly African governments to develop a very specific information that emerged from the local context here don't explains that in countries where systems have less democratic rights China provides the authorities what's needed to restrict the internet however should countries where citizens enjoy more freedom want an unrestricted internet China's experts install exactly that. China has shown a great ability in the pink to the specific technical social political structure that are found in each individual country but an analyst at the international media freedom group Reporters Without Borders or s.f. Cedric obviously thinks Beijing is trying to export what he calls its oppressive Internet model they are traumatizing what they call suffering tea over Internet which is a concept that allows a country's government to have any rights they want to have over the Internet in their country this in China the government censors the Internet and blocks Western social media sites it monitors citizens activity online and is wired much of the country to a facial recognition and public monitoring system it says the system prevents crime and terrorism but critics say it's used to track dissidents Chinese authorities say they manage communication to ensure stability and development. He says the Chinese Communist Party's Internet policy at home is to shut down criticism gov year Donna has spent years studying Beijing's Internet blueprint if we look at the content of the policy is simply saying that it's countries should decide for itself about which type of Internet is the best for its population for its ideas of development and support for it doesn't say China should be the example but obviously it could be South African media studies professor had among Vassar mun says it's not that Beijing has provided Internet surveillance technology to some African states media investigations have for example exposed how technicians from. As we were a corporation allegedly helped Ugandan and Zambian security forces intercept the communications of government opponents. Since this raid that has been noted where signal blocking equipment