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Post by Onyango Oloo on Apr 5, 2012 14:28:49 GMT 3
STATEMENT BY RIFT VALLEY LEADERS ON TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT JUSTICE AND GENERAL ELECTIONS Today Rift Valley is living in one of the most challenging times of its history necessitating that we come together, as we have,to share personal experiences, appreciate and help each other, recognize special opportunities, bear witness and seek to be understood. This way we get to confront our challenges, seek opportunities and chart devises for solutions for the region and the country at large. We do this with the sharp conscientiousness that Rift Valley is richer than most parts of the country from the wealth of its diverse people and cultures. This meeting was convened by our leaders in various fields namely political, commercial and social spheres. It has the good foundation in the words of our Nation’s Constitution which provides that we be “proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.” Rift Valley like other parts of our country faces a myriad of issues that necessitate consultations. Today we have discussed three issues touching on transitional justice, international criminal court process and the next general elections. 1. The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) The Rift Valley has suffered immense historical injustices significant of which relate to land. The community also suffered immense loss of lives and property as a result of successive violence including the Post elections violence of 2007/2008. As the Rift Valley we are very concerned about the ongoing process at TJRC because of lack of representation of the interests of Rift Valley region and the community at large. Both the Constitution of Kenya and the TJRC Act emphasises the need for regional balance in the composition of the Commission. We are perturbed by the manner in which the TJRC Commissioners have orchestrated the exclusion of Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat from the process and the report writing thus denying the people of Rift Valley a voice and representation in the commission. Indeed, by posing as though they are the appointing authority, the commission and commissioners have abrogated themselves powers only preserved for Parliament and the Executive, and even in disregard of court’s unequivocal observations. Going by the manner in which Amb. Kiplagat is treated, the Rift Valley has been placed in a situation of justified fear that the commission does not mean well for its people. Many of the persons summoned are from the Kalenjin community yet adequate time was not allocated to hearing their complaints. We in Rift Valley maintain a demand that Amb. Kiplagat be reinstated unconditionally to any outstanding proceedings and be involved in the process of writing the Commission’s report. 2.International Criminal Court’s Process and the Cases against William Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang as members of Rift Valley Community (i) As a community we would like to reiterate our firm support for any process that is geared towards justice and truth. We genuinely believe that an International Criminal Court’s (ICC) process conducted in good faith in accordance with the Rome Statute would achieve the ends of ustice. (ii) Rift Valley remains disappointed that the proceedings conducted at ICC so far have culminated in a decision to confirm charges against persons from the Kalenjin community in the Rift Valley, despite strong evidence otherwise. It is noted from ICC public documents especially the document containing charges see paragraphs 24,page 8, paragraph 25,page 8,paragraph 44,page 13,paragraph 56,page 15,paragraph 96,page 24,paragraph 105 and 106 ,page 26 and 27 and paragraph 123, page 32, the ruling giving permission to Prosecutor to investigate Kenya see paragraph 87,page 48,paragraph 16,page 9, paragaraph 32,page 17, paragraph 40,page 22, parargraph 42,page 23,paragraph 43 and 44 page 25,paragraph 46, page 25-26,and paragraph 47,48 and 49,page 26, the ruling summoning Kenyans to ICC, the ruling confirming charges against Kenyans see paragraph 120,121,122 and 128 pages 44,45,46 and 69 paragraph 184,page 70 and paragraph 33 page 124 to 125, and all other documents from the court itself and from the prosecution, that the counts, charges and particulars are all formatted to hold out the position that Kalenjins are by nature pre-disposed to war, and that all and every Kalenjin elder and youth, athletes and business people,its cultural,political and religious leaders, its traditions,customs and structures are condemned as being criminal.We are also surprised that its honoured members who testified were treated with intense suspicion. (iii) Many people remain persuaded that the ICC case was framed.Rift Valley is very concerned that there is an attempt within and outside Kenya to use the Hague proceedings to criminalize some communities one being Kalenjin. The Community feels maligned considering that Kalenjin Professionals, Kalenjin athletes, Kalenjin elders have been deemed murderers, and prosecutors, within Kalenjin religious leaders being treated as having presided over oathing ceremonies, administering dog-blood and other sacrileges to facilitate zeal to violence by community members. The Hague process has been marketed as a fair process yet there is justified fear that it is targeting all structures of governance of the community. Rift Valley supports efforts towards justice but wants to urge that the structures being targeted is an insult. Rift Valley is proud of its elders, athletes, business people, professionals and religious, cultural and political leaders. Rift Valley condemns any effort to try and malign them. (iv) We remain interested in justice and pray that the judges and even the prosecutor will see the truth and justice in the whole case. (v) The people of Rift Valley will do all it can to support any process that honestly craves for justice including supplying oral and documentary evidence. (vi) In the meantime, and given that attempts have been made in some quarters within and outside Kenya to use the ICC process to define Kenyan politics, we in Rift Valley hereby resolve to instruct our members of Parliament as our representatives to move a motion in Parliament, and to lobby and mobilise Kenyans towards a resolve by the legislature ,to ask the executive to present Petition to Security Council asking that Kenyan ICC cases be suspended for twelve (12) months so as to allow for free conduct of elections in an environment that is and fair. Considering that the region bore the brand of the 2007/2008 violence the resolve to petition the government of Kenya to apply to the Security Council under Article 16 of the Rome Statute and Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter is understandable. The Petition will assist extinguish any perception that the ICC process is being used to eliminate or hamper some candidates from participating in the contest of local and national leadership. 3. The Rift Valley Involvement in the next general elections Clearly the challenges facing the Rift Valley are rooted in political machinations and designs. It is therefore necessary for Rift Valley to endeavour for a political solution. In the last general elections Rift Valley supported a political party which although promised to be in the forefront in fighting communities interest has unfortunately been acting in the complete inverse, and very least on other issues in disregard of its pledges to the people. As part of Kenyan Community we in Rift Valley wish to be part of progressive and people centered political groupings. We would like to be part of a political movement that has the best interest of the whole nation and the Kenyan people at heart. We would like to take our democratic duties seriously and participate in future leadership instead of sitting back only to complain later. We also claim our unqualified right to freedom of association. We have therefore resolved to unite and support a political party which accommodates all Kenyans regardless of race, ethnic and gender affiliations with a vision for social and economic prosperity for all, including the youth, the old, the women and the disabled. We have decided as Rift Valley to support the United Republican Party (URP) as the best party to address the concerns of all Kenyans and to foster the cause of the party with a view to obtaining a nationwide appeal and support. We also ask our leaders in the URP, under the captainship of Hon. W. Ruto to be available for consultation and to build alliance with other likeminded parties that mean well for Kenyans, and always within the law. Attachments:
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 5, 2012 15:04:38 GMT 3
Mazee Oloo, ...I'm just waking up and I must say I didn't like this thing immediately I put my eyes on it. I hope this doesnt mess up my day. Before I go outside to take out the garbage lemmie put a few things out there. ....Kwanza kabisa what is this thing called ' Our Community....' when it comes to the Rift valley? Je hawa wendawazimu wanajua kua there is nothing called the Rift Valley anymore...(at least according to the New Constitution and thanks to kina Ruto during the Naivasha retreat)..? Do they even realise the demographics of this region before they open their mouths and start talking about 'our people'? Where is Kibunja to start doing some work? Do they realise they are making other communities that reside in that region uneasy? Thats exactly what jolted Kibaki out of his sleep yesterday to try and reign in on these tribal groupings?... www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000055624&cid=4&Within this region there are Kikuyus, Luhyas, Luos...and all sorts of other ethnic communities which do not necessarily align themselves to this KAMATUSA thing. Sasa where do you place these peoples? Are these the rumblings of a thunder from a distance? Iko kitu mnapanga na hamuambii watu? Their take on the TJRC is laughable to say the least...eti sijui... Going by the manner in which Amb. Kiplagat is treated, the Rift Valley has been placed in a situation of justified fear that the commission does not mean well for its people. ....(Kwani were atrocities only committed in the Rift valley? Huyo Kiplagat twamtaka aseme ukweli kuhusu The Wagalla Massacre na pia uwizi wa mashamba na bwana Moi...yeye ndiye aliyekua kibaraka wa Moi katika kipindi hicho.)...then We in Rift Valley maintain a demand that Amb. Kiplagat be reinstated unconditionally to any outstanding proceedings and be involved in the process of writing the Commission’s report.....A clear motive (or is it invisible hand) can be seen here. What is there for the Rift Valley to fear?...or is an individual now The Rift Valley? The reasons for the commisioners rejecting Kiplagat have nothing to do with his tribe!!!!!..... That same mentality is also seen in there reference to the matters at the ICC. Kwani is it the Rift Valley on the dock? Sample this: ..... Rift Valley remains disappointed that the proceedings conducted at ICC so far have culminated in a decision to confirm charges against persons from the Kalenjin community in the Rift Valley, despite strong evidence otherwise. (....Please I beg, Please...take that strong evidence to Ocampo so that people can get their justice.).....Many people remain persuaded that the ICC case was framed. Rift Valley is very concerned that there is an attempt within and outside Kenya to use the Hague proceedings to criminalize some communities one being Kalenjin....... ;D ;D ;D ...We have decided as Rift Valley to support the United Republican Party (URP) as the best party to address the concerns of all Kenyans...... ;D ;D ;D...This thing called Rift Valley has decided for Kenyans that the party to deliver them from their trials and tribulations is URP...Halloooo...the last time this thing called Rift Valley decided for us, we had a monolithic governement for over 2 decades that murdered, pillaged and raped any innocence that the woman called Kenya ever had. We are not going back there. No way!! Wake up all ye so called Rift Valley leaders!...That ish ain't no more. Get out of your sleep and slumber for the train has left the station. Jakaswanga,...how I wish for Victorian days where I could sleep soundly in those four poster beds with the exotic linen to boot!.. ;D PS. If I could, I would take this post and throw it out with my garbage!
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Post by jakaswanga on Apr 5, 2012 21:00:38 GMT 3
Mazee Oloo, ...I'm just waking up and I must say I didn't like this thing immediately I put my eyes on it. I hope this doesnt mess up my day. Before I go outside to take out the garbage lemmie put a few things out there. Jakaswanga,...how I wish for Victorian days where I could sleep soundly in those four poster beds with the exotic linen to boot!.. ;D Titchaz,I am not sleeping well either. There is a chilling undertone to all this. GEMA, KAMATUSA, WESTERN ALLIANCE, MOMBASA REPUBLICAN SECESSIONISTS, 'WE MUSLIMS', 'WE CHRISTIANS' ... This is a chorus of segregation. But let me muse short about this KAMATUSA today. KAMATUSA! From private conversations and a bit of research, I gathered the circumstances of its adoption by the Moi-Kanu court of old, had more to do with a desperate political situation than anything else. But just like KALENJIN was a creation of ideologues and found popular acceptance, and is now ingrained in all political discourse, KAMATUSA, methinks, is on the way up because the ground is fertile and there is no powerful alternative discourse. The shapers of opinion and the leading political personalities in the republic are dangerously parochial, and are indeed fanning those flames the more. A man like former president Kibaki calling them to order lacks the moral authority and is ineffectual, since his regime personified ethnic conciousness to a level some allege surpassed his predecessor. Two things: 1. The general crisis in the Rift Valley which revolves around land, and which is the underlying rationale for the ethnic cleansing during the 2007/8 PEV, remains intact and is awaiting resolution one way or another. Therefore Kalenjin nationalism in the search for a solution will intertain even a more radicalised, forceful leadership in the absence of realistic progressive options. Even if offering only illusions --like Religion. Wiliam Ruto, the young pretender, is too ideologically bankrupt to articulate a modern way out of that crisis, so he must re-invent himself retrogressively to stay relevant to internal Kalenjin dynamics, smarting from a wholesale criminilisation in PEV literature, and disgruntled in the recognition the current dispensation is not serious about tackling their grievances. This creates a vacuum for the ascendancy of the forces which precipitated the mayhem for which he, Ruto, is indicted by the HAGUE. The forces he had opportunistically sought to manipulate to rise to power then abandon, he now has no option but to embrace them for real. Where else can he hide from an international arrest warrant? He must prepare to be an ethnic warlord, and that needs total mobilization. There can be no total mobilization without rabid radicalization. And I think I detected a rabid tone in the Rift Valley declaration. 2. The discovery of OIl in Turkana. This will, in the beginning, subconciously start to infest mentality. Oil is a powerful manipulator and a psychological boost, and will slowly grease Kametusa conciousness toward wrecklessness. It creates the notion --real or imagined, that KAMATUSA can go it alone, that is secede from Kenya and not be the looser for it. But this needs a coherent ideological plane to unify all the desperate groups in the Rift into a conciousness of a community. A kind of nation building! And pinpointing the outsider, the invader, the other as the enemy is a time-tested method. Therefore I am sure when they speak our community, every other mwananchi catches the code: it is a warning of the possibility of an ethnic purge... that, if you are not Kametusa, you are a visitor, or, see the last elections for the other possible colourful terms the Kalenjin used! [some of which are responsible for Sang's current sorrows]. PS: Take a look at that demand, that Kiplagat of TJRC be restated. Effectively law or no law they do not care! It is a demand with the undertone of an ultimatum! do it or else. And everybody understands very well, that when that report comes without the participation of Kiplagat, KAMATUSA will disown it. The report will be valid in Kenya minus Kametusaland! Or rift valley. Ah, how we need lone voices of dissent from everywhere around the unitary republic!
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 5, 2012 22:24:36 GMT 3
Ah, how we need lone voices of dissent from everywhere around the unitary republic! ======================================================== The presence of Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir of Eldoret at the Kamatusa meeting convened by Eldoret North MP William Ruto on Tuesdaysurprised many people. Safina secretary general Cyprian Nyamwamu is one such person. "I was shocked, disappointed and disappointed that a man of no less stature than Bishop Korir attended the meeting." But Gideon Moi, the former Baringo Central MP thinks the meeting was a URP not Kamatusa meeting since among other people who attended were Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and Chirau Mwakere who are definitely not members of Kamatusa!===========================================================
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 5, 2012 23:26:23 GMT 3
This Kibor guy is a very interesting character. Ruto take note!
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Post by mzee on Apr 5, 2012 23:30:13 GMT 3
It looks to me as if this is a warning to the kikuyu by the kalenjin. I say kalenjin because it was their idea. I say kikuyu because they are the largest community in the former rift valley apart from the kalles. William ruto is slowly turning himself into à Charles Taylor. He is threatening the kikuyus in the diaspora to support him or else. Thats how Taylor became president, people voted for him out of fear than love. My question is this, are we going to allow this Hague bound criminal to threaten us into submission? Is the kikuyu diaspora ok with such threats? Me think that ruto has another thing coming.
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Post by nok on Apr 6, 2012 12:41:39 GMT 3
The greatest threat to peace and development in Kalenjin land is Ruto. The greatest threat to peace and development in Kikuyu land is Uhuru.
Plain and simple.
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Post by kamalet on Apr 6, 2012 12:55:46 GMT 3
Two things: 1. The general crisis in the Rift Valley which revolves around land, and which is the underlying rationale for the ethnic cleansing during the 2007/8 PEV, remains intact and is awaiting resolution one way or another. Jakaswanga Pardon my selective picking of your post....but did you just change the reason for PEV from stolen votes to land?
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Post by mzee on Apr 6, 2012 13:04:29 GMT 3
This Kibor guy is a very interesting character. Ruto take note! ! Kweli kabisa Titchaz. The kibor guy is something else. Was he not the one Ruto gave thousands of bags of maize during the so called maize scandal? I thought they were friends.
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Post by Titchaz on Apr 6, 2012 16:10:08 GMT 3
This Kibor guy is a very interesting character. Ruto take note! ! Kweli kabisa Titchaz. The kibor guy is something else. Was he not the one Ruto gave thousands of bags of maize during the so called maize scandal? I thought they were friends. He is addressing Ruto in a way to suggest ...."Mazee wewe deal na hio mzigo imekukuta huko ICC. Mimi niko poa tu hapa." He is laughing as he says his comments!!! I don't know how RAO twisted Kibaki's arm in cutting this guy lose after they had arrested him for PEV. Angepotea tu kama wale vijana wengine ambao tumesikia story zao. He must be a man with the proverbial nine lives so to speak.
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Post by mzee on Apr 6, 2012 16:52:46 GMT 3
People such as kibor are hard to bribe and push around like children. It looks as if the Hague thing is Rutos to deal with. No amount of intimidation will help his Hague status. At this rate expect a major slaughter between kalenjins and kikuyus come elections. It's sad but unfortunately true.
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major
Junior Member
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Post by major on Apr 6, 2012 17:16:18 GMT 3
WHY the PRESENCE OF Bishop Cornelius Korir at the KAMATUSA meeting?
From the grapevine source, it is believed that a prominent political elite came to his rescue at a certain time. It is believed that the loan was taken for personal farming while using Mother of
Apostles Seminary land as loan guarantee. The loan went into private farming and was not
paid back. When things got murkier, a political figure in R.V. came to his rescue but with some
exchange. No. 1. Politics and No. 2. A big building termed soon to be the tallest building in
Eldoret and right adjacent to the Church is now owned by the same political figure. Go figure
this out.
The question is, have we sold our souls for pesa nane?
Some years ago, you must have read this: "Church to render unto Caesar"www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/479040/-/tkyked/-/index.html
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Post by jakaswanga on Apr 6, 2012 23:15:12 GMT 3
Two things: 1. The general crisis in the Rift Valley which revolves around land, and which is the underlying rationale for the ethnic cleansing during the 2007/8 PEV, remains intact and is awaiting resolution one way or another. Jakaswanga Pardon my selective picking of your post....but did you just change the reason for PEV from stolen votes to land? Kamale, be my guest ndugu yangu! Nitasubstantiate some more. Even as it remains a complex mish-mash, social strife in a country. Ethnic cleansing, like genocide, is a method of depopulation. In an agricultural enviroment under relative stagnation but increasing population, this lessens the pressure on land, the chief resource. Protesting the rigging was merely a trigger; and logically the violence immidiately evolved toward the chief pre-occupation of the perpetrators --land, to try to solve, albeit in a barbaric way, the overriding crisis which the community felt, even if wrongfully, would be attended to by the man of their stolen victory. Did you munch this qualification: underlying rationale...
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Post by senoir on Apr 7, 2012 1:27:33 GMT 3
The single accomplishment of these tribal groupings has been to convince millions of weak minded individuals that it is their communities on trial. But what realy gets into my mind is some of the individuals that have been thought of as some of the brightest minds are also falling for these nonesense, then the question becomes are they falling for the stupidity or what do they stand to gain after all is said and done. O know it is all for political milage but then what do you tell the vicitims?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2012 2:23:05 GMT 3
Not one to start new threads just because I can, I'm posting this link here. It is relevant to the concerns people have raised about the increased war drums being driven by the likes of Uhuru and Ruto;who are manipulating their communities into closing ranks against the rest of the populace. Kenyans, we can learn from other people experiences and maybe heed their warnings. This is an excellent audio documentary brought to us by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The program is IDEAS. It features several people including a grandaughter of Tito named Svetlana Broz who speaks clearly about the dangers of ethno-nationalism and religious chauvinism which led in large part to the war and Break up of the formally great country of Yugoslavia. Listen up!!! Here's the podcast "TITO'S CHILDREN, BURYING THE DEAD"www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2012/04/05/burying-the-dead/
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emali
Full Member
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Post by emali on Apr 8, 2012 13:13:01 GMT 3
Ruto is still trying to perfect his Josep Goebbels impersonation there are many reasons why he will fail the only sobering one is that he may not be as familiar with a pistol as his hero was...and his bunker will be more cosy surrounded by windmills rather than blood thirsty Russians...
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Post by akinyi2005 on Apr 29, 2012 18:17:44 GMT 3
Who says wazees don't change their minds? (drag the timer to ~31mins)
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Post by Daktari wa makazi on Apr 29, 2012 19:18:24 GMT 3
Could we have the statement from Luo Nyanza Leaders to compare and contrast.
I am sure Riaga Omollo and his outfit - Luo Council of Elders - has some statement issued on the subject matter.
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Post by mzee on Apr 29, 2012 20:36:22 GMT 3
Could we have the statement from Luo Nyanza Leaders to compare and contrast. I am sure Riaga Omollo and his outfit - Luo Council of Elders - has some statement issued on the subject matter. Sadik, Riaga Omollo is no longer The Ker. Do your homework.
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Post by Daktari wa makazi on Apr 29, 2012 22:47:35 GMT 3
Could we have the statement from Luo Nyanza Leaders to compare and contrast. I am sure Riaga Omollo and his outfit - Luo Council of Elders - has some statement issued on the subject matter. Sadik, Riaga Omollo is no longer The Ker. Do your homework. Mzee At least I know there is a Ker of a tribe which is not mine. I usually pick up my information when glossing over the papers. It may not therefore reflect the most topical updates. But, what does that make you? A follower, not a mere spectator like myself. Your actual knowledge of the situation of the Ker must mean you are truly a believer. A true Luo-Nyanza adherent. Shame that you wouldn't know the corresponding person in other tribes.
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Post by akinyi2005 on Apr 30, 2012 0:41:53 GMT 3
iThere must be a full moon out there - i see our resident loony is back.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2012 1:05:55 GMT 3
iThere must be a full moon out there - i see our resident loony is back. akinyiNo full moon. Regardless of what they say, the moon's for us if you catch my drift! I know because unlike the sun the moon is full for everyone on this spaceship earth at the same time regardless of our geographical locations.
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Post by mzee on Apr 30, 2012 1:38:51 GMT 3
iThere must be a full moon out there - i see our resident loony is back. He is back and swinging at everything and everyone
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Post by Daktari wa makazi on Apr 30, 2012 11:02:00 GMT 3
iThere must be a full moon out there - i see our resident loony is back. This is a bit unladylike, but never mind, my jaluo friends are never known to act like ladies anyway!
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Post by tnk on Apr 30, 2012 11:06:45 GMT 3
iThere must be a full moon out there - i see our resident loony is back. This is a bit unladylike, but never mind, my jaluo friends are never acted like ladies anyway! 'acha utoto
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