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Bodies Of Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala Exhumed in Killings Tied to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
300px Winnie Mandela00 Bodies Of Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala Exhumed in Killings Tied to Winnie Madikizela Mandela

Bodies Of Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala Exhumed in Killings Tied to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela   (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, is in the news again, after forensic scientists exhumed the bodies believed to belong to two young activists,  Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala, who were last seen 24 years ago at her home.  A new police investigation has been launched into the fate of the two young men, when Madikizela-Mandela was accused of killing people she accused of spying for the apartheid government.

South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the late 1990s found that Madikizela-Mandela was responsible for the disappearances of 21-year-old Lolo Sono and his friend Sibuniso Tshabalala, 19. They were messengers for the armed wing of the African National Congress and wanted to become freedom fighters.

Madikizela-Mandela has denied all knowledge of the two. But her chief bodyguard, Jerry Richardson, told the commission that he and a colleague had killed the two on her orders. Richardson was head of the Mandela United Football Club, a crowd of young men who acted as Madikizela-Mandela’s bodyguards and also as vigilantes who, some charge, she used to get rid of enemies. Source

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. South Africa has been in the news a lot lately for violence, with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp by paralympian Oscar Pistorius, and the dragging and beating death of Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia at the hands of police officers. Maybe this exhumation will bring closure to the families of Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala, as well as bring to justice whoever is responsible for their deaths.

Bodies Of Lolo Sono and Sibuniso Tshabalala Exhumed in Killings Tied to Winnie Madikizela Mandela
Filed Under: African News, Crime News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mido Macia, Taxi Driver Dragged Behind Police Van in South Africa, Laid to Rest in Mozambique

March 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

POLICE BRUTALITY:  Mido Macia, the taxi driver who was killed after being dragged behind a police van in Daveyton, South Africa, was buried in his native Mozambique. He was laid to rest in Matola, near capital city Maputo. Video footage of Mido Macia being dragged behind the van sparked widespread outrage last month. On Friday, nine South African police officers were charged with his murder.

The hearing for the nine policemen accused of murder had been postponed from Monday to allow time for state witnesses to confirm the identities of the suspect, BBC News reports. The court was told that Mido Macia suffered extensive injuries, ending in hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen supply to the body, which caused his death.

 

Filed Under: African News, Murder Charges Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Uhuru Kenyatta Confirmed Winner in Kenya Presidential Elections

March 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Uhuru Kenyatta UNDP 2009 Uhuru Kenyatta Confirmed Winner in Kenya Presidential Elections

Uhuru Kenyatta Confirmed Winner in Kenya Presidential Elections. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kenya’s Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has been confirmed the winner of the presidential election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Kenyatta won 50.07 percent of the vote on a turnout of 86 percent, IEBC said. He won 6,173,433 votes out of a total of 12,330,028.

Supporters of Kenyatta’s rival Prime Minister Raila Odinga have indicated he would file a legal challenge after alleging voting irregularities. The turnout in this election was the largest ever, IEBC said. Salim Lone, one of Raila Odinga’s aides, told the Daily Nation: “The level of the failures in the system makes it very difficult to believe it was a credible result.”

Uhuru Kenyatta faces charges in the International Criminal Court in The Hague in July for crimes against humanity. He is accused of fueling communal violence after the 2007 election that led to the deaths of more than 1,000 and 600,000 forced from their homes. He will face difficult relations with Western nations as result of these criminal charges. Kenyatta’s running mate, William Ruto, also faces similar charges.

 

Uhuru Kenyatta Confirmed Winner in Kenya Presidential Elections
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Oscar Pistorius’ Dad, Henke Pistorius, Blames ANC for ‘White Levels of Crime’ in South Africa

March 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
300px Oscar Pistorius%281%29 2. Memoria%C5%82 Kamili Skolimowskiej Warszawa%2C 2011 09 20 Oscar Pistorius Dad, Henke Pistorius, Blames ANC for White Levels of Crime in South Africa

Oscar Pistorius’ Dad, Henke Pistorius, Blames ANC for ‘White Levels of Crime’ in South Africa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The family of Oscar Pistorius is distancing itself from a racist comment made by the paralympian’s father,  Henke Pistorius, who was quoted by the Telegraph, saying the f family owns hand-guns for self-defense and suggesting that the ruling ANC party shares the blame for “white levels of crime.” The ANC has called the comments racist. In other words, Henke Pistorius believes the ruling ANC government is not protecting white South Africans adequately.

Arnold Pistorius, the athlete’s uncle, has issued a statement saying that the family is “deeply concerned about the comments made by Oscar’s father, Henke Pistorius, to the Telegraph about the family using its weapons to defend themselves against crime in South Africa, and especially about his comments that the ANC government is not willing to protect white South Africans.” The statement was released through the family’s public relations machine. 

The Pistorius family owned 55 guns, the local Beeld newspaper reports. ”Some of the guns are for hunting and some are for protection, the hand guns. It speaks to the ANC government, look at white crime levels [sic], why protection is so poor in this country, it’s an aspect of our society,” The Telegraph quotes Henke Pistorius as saying.

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the party “rejects with contempt” Henke Pistorius’s claim that the government was not willing to protect white people.

“Not only is this statement devoid of truth, it is also racist. It is sad that he has chosen to politicize a tragic incident that is still fresh in the minds of those affected and the public,” he said. Source

Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, February 14, claiming he thought she was an intruder.  Was it “white levels of crime” that prompted Oscar Pistorius to discharge his gun in a restaurant?

Old habits die hard. The truth always rears its ugly head. Henke Pistorius seems to harbor racist views that white are the only victims of crimes, presumably at the hands of blacks in South Africa and should get special treatment. Wasn’t Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia murdered recently in Daveyton. Was the due to “white levels of crime?” It would seem statistics don’t bolster Henke Pistorius’ claims, since blacks bear the brunt of the crime committed in South Africa. Well, so much for his “white levels of crime” theory. Shameful and yes, racist.

Oscar Pistorius Dad, Henke Pistorius, Blames ANC for White Levels of Crime in South Africa
Filed Under: African News, Murder Charges, Oscar Pistorius Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Police Brutality: Taxi Driver Mido Macia Dragged Behind Police Vehicle, Beaten to Death in South Africa

February 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
mido macia beaten to death south africa 300x210 Police Brutality: Taxi Driver Mido Macia Dragged Behind Police Vehicle, Beaten to Death in South Africa

Police Brutality: Taxi Driver Mido Macia Dragged Behind Police Vehicle, Beaten to Death in South Africa

POLICE BRUTALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA:  South Africa is in the news again for all the wrong reasons. An amateur video aired Thursday shows Mido Macia, a 27 year old taxi driver from Mozambique, tied to the back of a South African Police Service vehicle and dragged down the street. The Daily Sun reports police “took him to the cop shop” where he was beaten. He was found dead in a cell in Daveyton.

The Mail & Guardian reports, a dispute arose between Mido Macia and the police about parking his taxi. The video shows the 27-year-old man being assaulted. He was tied with his back to the vehicle and was then dragged behind the van.

A spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said in a statement that during the argument, Macia allegedly assaulted the constable and took his firearm.  The warrant officer overpowered the taxi driver and gave  the firearm back to his colleague.

“The policemen put the resisting suspect into the back of the police van and took him to the station where he was detained. The taxi driver was found dead at [9.15pm],” the paper reported.

A spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said in a statement that during the argument, Macia allegedly assaulted the constable and took his firearm. The warrant officer overpowered the taxi driver and gave the firearm back to his colleague.

“The policemen put the resisting suspect into the back of the police van and took him to the station where he was detained. The taxi driver was found dead at [9.15pm],” the paper reported.

An inquest into Macia’s death was opened. A post mortem revealed Macia’s death was caused by head injuries with internal bleeding.

There seems to be a very disturbing culture of violence in South Africa, stemming from the apartheid years to present-day. It is a sad commentary that police brutality continues to rear its ugly head. The Daveyton police officers involved should be charged with a crime and fired immediately. This is an international disgrace.

Here are some tweets on Mido Macia’s dragging and beating death:

Watch the video (graphic):

Filed Under: African News, Breaking News, Police Brutality Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

15 Year Old Alleged Rape Victim ‘to be Flogged’ for Premarital Sex in Maldives

February 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

A 15 year old girl is facing lashing in the Maldives after she admitted to having premarital sex. The girl was allegedly raped by her stepfather, who is facing 25 years in prison if convicted. He is also accused of killing a baby which resulted from the alleged rape of the teen.

AFP:  ”A Maldives court has sentenced a 15-year-old alleged rape victim to 100 lashes and eight months under house arrest after she admitted having had premarital sex in a separate incident, an official said Wednesday.”

“During a police probe into allegations that the girl had been raped by her stepfather, investigators uncovered evidence that she had had consensual sex with another man.”

“Though she has been sentenced she will be lashed once she turns 18,” the court official, who asked not to be named, told AFP. “But the sentence will be enforced immediately if she wants it to be carried out now.”

Premarital sex is illegal under the Indian Ocean nation’s strict Islamic law.”

It is a sad commentary that President Mohamed Waheed’s spokesman Masood Imad sought to denigrate the victim by telling AFP that the teenager should “feel the shame” for her offence, though she should be treated as a victim for the alleged rape.

Filed Under: African News, Criminal Charges Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Reeva Steenkamp’s ‘Joburg Dad’ Cecil Myers: Oscar Pistorius Was “Hasty, Impatient and Very Moody”

February 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Reeva Steenkamps Joburg Dad Cecil Myers: Oscar Pistorius Was Hasty, Impatient and Very Moody

Reeva Steenkamp’s ‘Joburg Dad’ Cecil Myers: Oscar Pistorius Was “Hasty, Impatient and Very Moody” (Photo credit: Twitter)

REEVA STEENKAMP’S ‘JOBURG DAD’ SPEAKS:  The murder of Reeva Steenkamp continues to weigh heavily on my mind. Why did this young woman have to die? Why do many women fall victim to domestic violence and domestic violence murders? We may never know if Reeva Steenkamp was the victim of domestic violence, but some people who were close to her are painting an unflattering picture of Oscar Pistorius. The Daily Mail is the only outlet reporting that the family of Reeva Steenkamp was told by police that her skull was crushed, possibly with a cricket bat that was found bloodied in the bathroom. The family reportedly viewed her body and saw extensive injuries, in addition to the gun shot wounds.

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius crushed his girlfriend’s skull with a cricket bat before shooting her dead, police have told her family.

Details of the post-mortem examination of South African model Reeva Steenkamp were withheld from last week’s bail application hearing.

But grieving relatives who saw her body before Tuesday’s cremation in Port Elizabeth described horrific injuries from the cricket bat, and entry wounds from 9mm bullets fired by Pistorius.

They were also briefed about the model’s death by police and lawyers from the state prosecutor’s office. Source

That bloodied bat will play a crucial role in the trial and it will be interesting to hear what the forensics have uncovered. Oscar Pistorius’ defense was forced to detail its case in order for him to get bail. He said he used the cricket bat to break down the bathroom door. The prosecution didn’t have to reveal everything they discovered. It should be noted that the forensics haven’t come in and Oscar Pistorius could be in a jam if his account of what transpired doesn’t match the forensics. The fact that Reeva Steenkamp locked the bathroom door raising some red flags and when he screamed at the door, why didn’t she answer to say it’s me.

Cecil Myers, affectionately called her “Joburg dad” had the grim task of identifying her body. He was interviewed by the City Press and said, “The way she looked . . . that will remain with me forever.” Myers echoes the same sentiment as Reeva Steenkamp’s father, Barry Steenkamp, who said Oscar Pistorius will have to live with his conscience, whether he is telling the truth or not. Cecil Myers said, “she was my little girl, and he shot her four times from behind a closed door. One shot may have been a mistake – but four times?” That’s the position many are taking. One shot may be a mistake, but four, sound like some level of premeditation. He said his last contact with Reeva Steenkamp, hours before her murder, was in the form of a text message, saying  ”hi guys, I’m too tired. It’s too far to drive. I’m sleeping at Oscar’s tonight. See you tomorrow.”

Reeva Steenkamp’s best friend’s dad is painting a troubling picture of Oscar Pistorius — a dark side. Cecil Myers characterized Oscar Pistorius as “moody” and that he was very nice and charming when he and Reeva started dating but once they actually started going steady, that charm started to dissipate. Classic signs of an abuser. How many victims of domestic violence can look back and say, yes, that’s how my abuser reeled me in and got me comfy. Myers said, Pistorius stopped coming inside their home to say hello. ”He just dropped her and picked her up. That’s not right. I call it respect. If you’re in a relationship and you pick up the ‘daughter’ in the house, at least come in and say hello.”

“She went with Oscar to a sports-awards evening. And after that he wouldn’t leave her alone. He kept pestering her, phoning and phoning and phoning her.“Oscar was hasty and impatient and very moody – that’s my impression of him.“She told me he pushed her a bit into a corner. She felt caged in. I told her I would talk to him. I told him not to force himself on her. Back off. He agreed, but his face showed me what he was thinking: ‘Oh, this guy is talking nonsense.’ He did cool down a bit. Then they started going out steadily, and she was more at his home.“I once talked to her about Oscar’s moodiness. She didn’t answer me.”

He takes Oscar’s testimony that he and Reeva were madly in love with a pinch of salt. “I think she loved him, but it was no massive love affair.”Was he ever worried about Reeva and Oscar? “My answer to that is ‘no comment’, and that’s probably enough of an answer. There’s a dark side to him. And all we’re left with now is a huge emptiness.” Source

Some may think Oscar Pistorius is walking free at this juncture. But he isn’t. He will never be free nor will ever be looked at the same way again. Whether he is acquitted of premeditated murder and given a lesser charge, he will have to live with the blood of Reeva Steenkamp on his head and his hands. Too many women are losing their lives at the hands of their significant-others.  Oscar Pistorius, the South African hero, inspirational role model who overcame adversity and the international celebrity, is now a murderer. Whether it was accidental or the result of domestic violence, he will never go back to life as usual and he shouldn’t. It’s funny that Oscar Pistorius is reportedly about to accept delivery of a pricey supercar — a 204 mph 3.8 liter McLaren MP4-12C Spider that he ordered last year. He has reportedly vowed not to drive it because of the image it would portray. He has the car but the Steenkamps and Myers don’t have Reeva.

Here’s a graphic of what the police found in Oscar Pistorius’ home (City Press):

Filed Under: African News, Murder Charges, Oscar Pistorius Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oscar Pistorius Granted Bail by Magistrate Desmond Nair

February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Oscar Pistorius bail decision:  Magistrate Desmond Nair is in the process of making a decision about granting Oscar Pistorius bail in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. He said “bail can only be granted if he is convinced the defendant meets three criteria – he will not flee the jurisdiction; he will not try to intimidate witnesses; he is not himself a dangerous person,” BBC reports.

OSCAR PISTORIUS GRANTED BAIL BY MAGISTRATE DESMOND NAIR

I don’t think anyone expected Oscar Pistorius not to be granted bail, considering that the state did not prove its case why he should be kept behind bars. This is a throwback to the O.J. Simpson case in which Mark Fuhrman and others bungled the investigation.

After four days of combative hearings, a South African magistrate on Friday granted bail for Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star accused of murdering his girlfriend, in a case that has horrified and fascinated the nation and much of the world.

The magistrate said Mr. Pistorius did not represent a flight risk and was not likely to interfere with state witnesses. “The accused has made a case to be released on bail,” he concluded, while the prosecution had not established a case for detaining him. Pistorius family members in the packed courtroom shouted, “Yes!”

Magistrate Nair set bail at 1 million rand, about $112,000, and ordered a series of conditions before the case was adjourned to June 4. Mr. Pistorius was told to relinquish firearms and passports and to avoid his upscale home in a gated community where he shot to death his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in what he has called an accident and prosecutors have called premeditated murder. The home is now a crime scene.

The unusually tight restrictions on Mr. Pistorius also included a prohibition on making contact with witnesses. The athlete was further told that he could not leave the Pretoria area without official permission and could not use drugs or alcohol while the trial is pending. He was instructed to report to a police station twice a week. Source

The only thing I found disturbing was the celebrating in the court by members of Oscar Pistorius’ family. Reeva Steenkamp was murdered and there is nothing to celebrate. That was in poor taste and insensitive on their part. He may be free now, but there is a court case looming and no matter what the outcome, Oscar Pistorius will always be remembered as the man who killed Reeva Steenkamp. That’s a sentence he isn’t likely to escape, no matter how the magistrate rules in the trial.

Filed Under: African News, Murder Charges, Oscar Pistorius Tagged With: , ,

Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo Named New Investigator in Oscar Pistorius Murder Case

February 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
300px Oscar Pistorius Daegu 2011 Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo Named New Investigator in Oscar Pistorius Murder Case

Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo Named New Investigator in Oscar Pistorius Murder Case (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Oscar Pistorius murder trial is taking an ugly turn in the tradition of the O. J. Simpson trial, thanks to the the missteps of the prosecution. I have never heard of a law enforcement officer who is charged with attempted murder to be allowed on the job, much less being a lead investigator in a murder case. Shouldn’t Hilton Botha have been suspended pending the outcome of his case when the charges were reinstated? Why wasn’t the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, apprised of the situation with the lead investigator? As it stands right now, they judge might as well grant Oscar Pistorius bail, since it’s obvious the prosecution is falling apart.

The charges against Hilton Botha were reinstated February 4. Reeva Steenkamp was killed February 14. There is no excuse why he was not removed from the case at that juncture.  Riah Phiyega, the National Commissioner, said Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation.

It seems like there is a trigger-happy mentality in South Africa where guns are concerned. Hilton Botha and two other officers were charged with allegedly shooting at a minibus in 2011.

Shades of the O.J. Simpson:

… lead investigator Botha conceded Wednesday that police had left a 9 mm slug in the toilet where Steenkamp died, had lost track of illegal ammunition found in the home and that Botha himself had walked through the scene without protective shoe covers, possibly contaminating the area. Source

The whole world is watching this train wreck called the Oscar Pistorius investigation and upcoming trial unfold with a great deal of ineptitude. Reeva Steenkamp deserves better than this. Thanks to Botha, the defense was able to poke holes into his weak testimony. I am not sure how Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo can clean this mess up. The bail hearing has been postponed until Friday.

Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo Named New Investigator in Oscar Pistorius Murder Case
Filed Under: African News, Crime News, Oscar Pistorius Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Oscar Pistorius Bail Hearing: “I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva”

February 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
300px Oscar Pistorius 2 Daegu 2011 Oscar Pistorius Bail Hearing: I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva

Oscar Pistorius:  ”I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

OSCAR PISTORIUS BAIL HEARING:  Oscar Pistorius’ bail hearing was adjourned until Wednesday and Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled he faces premeditation in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. Oscar Pistorius faces the prospect of spending months in jail as bail will be highly unlikely on such a charge. Magistrate Desmond Nair made the ruling after saying he could not exclude the possibility of planning in the death.

Oscar Pistorius denied murdering his girlfriend in an affidavit read out in the Pretoria Magistrate Court Tuesday. In his affidavit he told his lawyer:  ”I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder because I had no intention to kill. I had no intention to kill my girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.”"I have been informed I have been accused of murder – I deny the accusation. Nothing can be further from the truth that I planned the murder of my girlfriend.”

He also said in the affidavit, “We were deeply in love and I could not be happier. I know she felt the same way.”

Pistorius said in his affidavit, he and Steenkamp got into bed and they fell asleep. He kept a 9mm firearm under his bed. “I have received death threats before,” the affidavit continued.

He said intruders were in the toilet. He heard a noise and was “filled with horror and fear”. He heard someone in the bathroom saying, “it was pitch dark in the bathroom”. “As I didn’t have my prosthetic legs on I was vulnerable,” the affidavit continued.

“I fired a shot at the toilet door and shouted to Reeva to call the police,” he said. “I felt extremely vulnerable as I didn’t have my prosthetic legs on and knew I had to protect myself and Reeva,” the affidavit continued.

“When I reached the bed, I realised Reeva wasn’t in the bed.” He said he tried to open the bathroom door, but it was locked, and went to the balcony to scream for help.

He put “on” his legs, and broke the door open with a cricket bat, got a key and opened it. “Reeva was slumped over but alive.” He carried her downstairs to take her to hospital and a doctor in the complex arrived. “She died in my arms.” Source

Here’s what prosecutor Gerrie Nel, had to say about Oscar Pistorius’ actions that night:

oscar pistorius city press 2 300x158 Oscar Pistorius Bail Hearing: I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva

Adam Steenkamp Calling on Oscar Pistorius to “Tell the Truth” in Reeva Steenkamp’s Murder

He told the court that Miss Steenkamp went into the bathroom after the couple had been arguing.

‘The applicant armed himself, attached his prosthesis, walked seven meters to the bathroom and shot the deceased while she was in the toilet. He shot four times…There’s no possible explanation to support his report that he thought it was a burglar,’ he said.

‘If I arm myself, walk a distance and murder a person, that is premeditated,’ he said. ‘The door is closed. There is no doubt. I walk seven meters and I kill.’ ’The motive is ‘I want to kill’. That’s it,’ he added. ‘This deceased was in a 1.4 by 1.14 meter little room. She could go nowhere.’

Mr Nel said the killing was premeditated because Pistorius had planned to say that he thought he was shooting an intruder. ’It was all part of the pre-planning. Why would a burglar lock himself inside the bathroom?’ Mr Nel said.

‘She locked that door for a purpose. We’ll get to that purpose,’ Mr Nel said.

‘That is where she was when those shots were fired. She couldn’t go anywhere. It must have been horrific.’ Source:  Daily Mail

I am pretty sure the prosecutor will poke holes into that excuse. If he and Reeva Steenkamp were the only people in the house, why would she lock the bathroom door? Further, if he was screaming at the bathroom door because he thought an intruder had entered the premises, why didn’t she respond saying it was her in the bathroom? Besides, weren’t the police called to the home hours earlier after neighbors reported shouting coming from the home? The problem is Reeva Steenkamp isn’t here to tell her version of the events that transpired.

Oscar Pistorius Bail Hearing: I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva
pixel Oscar Pistorius Bail Hearing: I was Vulnerable, I Had to Protect Myself and Reeva
Filed Under: African News, Murder Charges, Oscar Pistorius Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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