Serving Eastern North Carolina SinceFebruary 8 - February 15 2002Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Kenya'Is RealNAIROBI, Kenya (PANA)-Theycome in droves, arriving inNairobi as early as 6:30 p.m. andStrategically position themselvesalong major city thoroughfares,ready for busienss.They are all dressed to kill, andthoifgh barely 12 years old. theyknow their act and their customersvery well.Others, like Jane. who willcelebrate her ninth birthday in~ January. comes in town very earlyin the morning in the company ofa woman she simply refers to asoAuntie? and whose business isbegging in the central businessdistrict.She sits a few meters from herAuntie. chatting endlessly withother girls. When an opportunetime comes, it only takes a nodfrom Auntie who had a hurriedconversation with a man minutesearlier, and the young girl and theman go off to an undisclosesdestination.A good number of them are alsohoused inT NairobiTs upmarkethousing estates by their oemploy -ers.? mostly the rich Kenyans andforeigners alike. where they sevetheir clienteles for a fee.Down at the coastal tourist resortcity of Mombasa. the situation isno different. as beach bovs andgirls are slowly turning them-selves into sex slaves. transform-ing the once beautiful touristdestination and a family get awayresort center, into a commercialSes center.Welcome to the world of childsexual exploitation in Kenya, atopic Which government officialsin the country concede Is vet to beadequately addressed.Officials of the ChildrenTsDepartment describe it as the useHERITAGE HONORED BY_EVENTSBy Jana ClanceyThe Daily ReflectorEast Carolina University hasslated events throughout Februaryto commemorate Black HistoryMonth and African-Americanfirsts.The Ledonia Wright CulturalCenter on the ECU campus issponsoring the events in conjunc-tion with student organizations,university departments and theGreenville Museum of Art.oThe reason we do this is topromote awareness of the richnessof the African-American cultureand heritage,? Nell Lewis, culturalcenter director, said.? And tocelebrate the contributions ofAfrican-Americans to our soci-ety.?Events begin on Monday with anopening reception at the CulturalCenter and end Feb. 28 with acandlelight vigil at the steps ofJoyner Library.Each year, major events areplanned to highlight the uniqueTexperiences and traditions of di-verse populations on campus,officials said. The cultural centerand ECU's Diversity Cross-Cultural CommunicationsCommittee sponsor and observeuniversity groups, such as the deafpopulation by having Deafof children for sexual purposes inexchange for cash or in kind orfavors between a customer oragent who benefit or profit fromthe trade in children.oThe use of a child for sexualpurposes or child prostitution isreal and attaining alarming pro-portions in Kenya, but manypeople shun away from this topicand wish it away.? AdelaideNgaru. a senior childrenTs officerin the ministry of home affairstold PANA.Ngaru conceded that the cases ofchild exploitation in Kenya wererampant. explaining that theyWere rampant, explaining thatthey were not limited to onlysexual intercourse but could alsobe viewed against backdrops ofchild labor, child marriages andfemale genital mutilation. orPMG.Ngaru also singles out the childsexual exploitation menace at theKenvan coastT where well-runcartels operate.She says the cartel, whichOperates with expert precision,has a string of clients both localand foreign who top their holidaywith what is referred to as sextourism.The well-organized group con-sisting of pimps of both sexes alsoparticipate in child pornographyand vigorously market it abroad.A good number of tourists, mostlyfrom central Europe, have timeand again fallen for the ploy andalways book the next flight toKenya.Negaru says the root causes ofthis evil in Kenya are illiteracy.abjectT poverty. HIWTAIDs andretrogressive cultural practicessuch as FMG and gender discrimi-nation.Heritage Week.In support of all cultures. thecenter and the committee con-ducted a Multicultural HolidayOpen House in December. Thecommittee also plans to focus onwomenTs health issues as part ofWomenTs History Month.African-American firsts waschosen as the theme for BlackHistory Month. An appearance byHerman Boone. whose experi-ences as a Virginia football coachprovided inspiration for the filmoRemember The Titians.? is thesignaiure event to highlight andrecognize black achievement inthe United States.Boone is known for uniting theT.C. Williams High School foot-ball team. The team was devel-oped when three schools wereintegrated. Boone was hired ashead coach for the Titans and waschosen above a coach from asuccessful all-white school. Hepreviously coached at the all-black E.J. Hayes High School inWilliamston.Racial tension provided obsta-cles, but Boone led the team to a13-0 record and the state champi-onship title in 1971. AcademyAward-winner Denzel Washingtonportrayed Boone in the film.Though retired, Boone travelsnationwide for speeches and pres-entations.oBoone is our signature eventbecause of what he did to bringtogether the Titans football teamand community,? Lewis said. oHewould be one to understand whatit is like to break barriers in orderto reach a common goal.o| wanted someone who canrelate to being a first (in blackhistory),? she said. oHe is thekind of motivated person that caninfluence young people to keep asteady spirit...no matter what theodds.?Boone will be on campusSaturday. He is the special guestfor a dinner in the MendenhallStudent Center and will speak at8:15p.m. in the Hendrix Theater.Tickets for the dinner cost $20:admittance to the speech is $5,Judge Janice Cole Campaigns For Eva ClaytonTs Old SeatShown above from left to right is long-time resident. D.D. Garrett. a Juvenile Court Juge. Judge Janice Cole and the Paster of AMTZion Church. Judge Janice Cole is the Federal Judge of the Eastern District.Not Qur ChildrenClergy, congregation fight forrights over children, religionBy: Eric Ture MuhammadThe return of a 14-count indict-ment on Jan. 18, against Rev.Arthur Allen, Jr. and 10 membersof his northwest Atlanta House of.Praver Church has laid thegroundwork for a landmark courtcase that will debate the use ofcorpora! punishment on children,parental rights, abuse of powerand religious authority.Fulton County DistrictAttorney Paul Howard. who an-nounced the indictments. calledthe congregation's alleged punish-ment of their children severe andextreme. "This is not normalwhipping.? he said. "These aresevere and extreme beatings. Wethink that is a clear sign ofdemarcation." Mr. Howard said.The indictment charges the mem-bers of the church with aggra-vated assault and cruelty tochildren. If convicted, they canserve a maximum of 20 years inprison. Rev. Allen says hiscongregation is innocent of theDA's charges and the facts of thecase have been grossly exagger-ated. Like any loving parent.parishioners want only the bestfor their children, said Rev. Allen."The saga began in February2001, when a White teachercalled the state Division of Familyand Children Services (DFACS),reporting she found "thin redmarks" on two children in herclassroom. It is unclear whetherthe teacher spoke with otherschool officials before making thecall to DFACS; however, theincident escalated into possiblythe largest one-time seizure ofchildren in state history. A totalof 49 children --- all Black ----were removed from schools,homes and church grounds. Theywere placed in Atlanta-area deten-tion centers pending hearings.Rev. Allen and some churchmembers were arrested the fol-lowing month and charged withconspiring to commit cruelty tochildren. Those charges weredropped as children were sentback home to their parents.According to the accountantsof the children, shared exclusivelywith The Final Call, they wereharrassed, brutalized, and threat-ened by DCFAS workers, AtlantaPolice, and male detention centersupervisors. oThey pulled me offthe couch and threw me to thefloor," recalled 14-year old DianaFrazier. She along with herbrother Quentin, were removedfrom their home by DCFAS andAtlanta police in a fashion com-pared to a nighttime military raid."They twisted my arms around myback. put handcuffs on me andplaced their knees in my tace andmy baek," she said. recalling howher face was banged into theground as she pleaded for helpfrom her parents. Her brother.handled in a = similar fashion.received a busted lip and bruisedto his torehead.Both alleged constant use ofabusive language by officers han-dling them. while in the squad carand in the detention center. Theysaid they asked the officers torefrain from the foul language,saving their parents did not usesuch language around them. Theofficers became more abusive.directing their insults at the par-ents, said Diana and Quentin.In recent months, DFACS hascome under fire for their handlingof the children. resulting " indisciplinary action against case-workers. Calls placed to DFACSspokesman Andy Boisseau by TheFinal Call were not returned.Some of the children. who re-ceived similar treatment as offi-cers removed them from homesand schools, were charged withassaults against police. resistingarrest and one was charged withtrespassing after he was pulledfrom his own home.The children spoke of horribleconditions in the Metro-Atlantadetention center for youth.Roaches and rodents werethroughout the facility, they said.Bugs were frequently found infood and as they showered. thechildren charged. male supervi-sors would come in and watch."They would not let us talk toour parents, so my brother wouldsneak out to call them and tellthem how we wanted to comehome. We know we come fromgood homes," Diana Frazier."In some cases, DFACS isneeded, " said Sharon Duncan,who along with her husbandDavid, is named in the indictment."Some children are in abusivesituations, but not our children.Our children are in two-parenthomes. Homes that are loving,clean and where the children arekept fed," she said. "These arehappy, well mannered, well ad-justed children who did not needrescuing by DFACS. They needto be rescued from DFACS," shesaid. The couple will appear injuvenile court later this month,fighting to maintain custody oftheir children, some of whomremain in state custody.In an appearance betore thejuvenile court. parents were toldthey could have their childrenback. if they Would agree to onlyhand-spank the children. Thepastor was also asked to ceaseperforming marriages of couplesas young as id-years old.pastor and parents retused all theproposals. They look forward totheir dav in court."When the DFACS workers andAtlanta police came out to arrestour children. why did thes slamthem to the floor. twist their armsaround their backs and brutalizethem?" asked Rev. Allen. oWhydidn't they just hand-spank them,like the judges said and tell themto get into the van. If that is themethod he wants us to use. whydid not be instruct them to use it??he said.The pastor. and many in thecommuity, see the move on thepastor and congregation as racistand politically motivated. Arecent poll conducted by anAtlanta-based CBS-television af-filiate found 74 percent of thosepolled favored the pastor's actionsTh.PheELIZABETH CITY STATEUNIVERSITY ALUMNIElaine Hopkins, Class of °68 ofElizabeth City University. is busywith the recruitment efforts toreunite the 60's class. As amember of the 60°s DecadePlanning Committee, Elaine. spe-cifically. is helping to co-chair theplans of bringing together theclass of °68 by Homecoming2002.While enjoving early retirement.Elaine frequently travels to thecampus of her alma mater fornumerous alumni affairs.In addtion to serving as co-chairfor the 60Ts Decade Reunion, shewas recently appointed to theBoard of Directors of the GeneralAlumni Association. She is alongtime member of the GeneralAlumni Awards Banquet and theHomecomingCommittee.oPOWER OF URBAN RADIO SYNPOSIUM?Photo by Jim Rotiseand believed the parents havebeen misrepresented.Corporal punishment. the beatingof childredn. ts not MHegal 7mGeorgia aS a disciplinary toot.Since integration. said Rey. Allen,it has been discouraged in theschool system hecause Whites didnot want Bit achers beatingtheir children. He alse satdchurch beatings of children werenot only extremely rare. but wereused as a last resort. Armed withbiblical references. ine congreza-tion defends the right to disciplineits children. referring to corporalpunishment as an act or love."It our children were so abusedin the homes. why were they seenthroughout national " televisionwhile being grabbed and snatenedby, DFACS workers and policepleading to stay home? If theswere abused they'd be happy toleave.? said indicted parent DavidWilson. The case has receivednational and international aften-tion, as well as support. fromclergies around the country."Faith is not our strength.? hesaid. "Our strength is found in thepower of God."Locally. she is serving as record-ing secretary of the Eva J. LewisAlumni Chapter of ECSU. Someof her community involvementinclude being a member of theMillinnium Committee " (sub-committee of the City Council)and a member of her sorority.Most importantly is the liteElaine shares with neighboringfriends and especially family andher church family at CornerstoneMissionary Baptist Church.Elaine feels that being a formereducator tends to qualify one to bea lifetime teacher: Therefore. sheexpects to retrun to the classroomagain this year as a tutor for theend of grade testing.Meanwhile, she continues avived search for ECSU alums whowill commit to the tremondoustask on the campus of her almamater.Shown above is M'TBula Rouse, Vice-President of WOOW RadioStation/Minority Voice Newspaper, She is posing for the MT Voicecamera along with oInspirations Across America? host Walt oBaby?Love.