China and the Central African Republic

China and the Central African Republic I-Introduction Central African Republic is a landlocked country bordered in the south by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, in the north by Chad, Sudan in the east and Cameroon in the west. It gained its independence in August 13th 1960 and Bangui is the capital. The two official languages are French and Sango. Francois is Yangonvouda-Bozize current the President took the power during a coup in March 2003 [The Economist US (2005)]. Since its independence, the Central African Republic has been destabilized and further impoverished due to a cycle of political-military uprisings and violence [HAC, (2011); UNICEF, (2008); The Economist, (2008)]. Constitutional order was restored in 2005[UNICEF, (2008)]; however, the overall situation until now in the country remains volatile, marked by tensions among and within political parties, a precarious socio-economic situation, deteriorating humanitarian conditions and insecurity in the north of the country due to activities of rebel and criminal groups [UNICEF, (2008)]. The United Nations implemented a Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), in an attempt to promote peace and stability in the country and reduce cross-border insecurity [UNICEF, (2008)]; This was carried out to encourage national dialogue and reconciliation and furthermore to help the Central African Republic enact military reforms, implement human rights policies, train civilian police, and disarm, demobilize and reintegrate former fighters. Besides that, the CAR is surrounded by countries like Chad, Sudan and DRC, which have been destabilized for a long time by civil wars. These lead many refugees to seek for shelter in CAR [The Economist, (2005)].All those characteristics create a volatile political situation and an uncertain climate for foreign investment. The CAR is blessed with many natural resources such as diamonds, timber, uranium, oil, iron, gold and hydropower [Africa.com, (2008)].However, it is still rated among the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is disadvantaged due to its landlocked position, which isolates it from foreign suppliers and markets and contributes to high import prices. It has the potential to become a major agricultural product exporter. It also has hydroelectric potential that could be developed for export to neighboring countries that have power shortages. The relations between China and the CAR have evolved saw tooth since the early 60s. On several occasions, the CAR broke and re-established its ties with the People Republic of China. Since the arrival in power of President Bozize, it seems that the CAR and China are enjoying steady and smooth relations. Yet the country is still facing to challenges regarding to its socio-economic situation. Nothing is so much said nor written about China and the Central African Republic. What is really going on between the two countries? China has invested in it, especially in terms of infrastructure. Does the government gain from it? What about the population? Is CAR really benefited from that relation? In what extent China can help the CAR to come out from the cycle of poverty? II-Central African Republic (C.A.R): 2.1Facts and figures According to the United Nations Human Development Index, the CAR now ranks 172 out of 177 least developed countries in the world [UNDP,(2006)]. Two-thirds of the population live under the line of poverty, less than half are literate, and the average life expectancy hovers around 40 years, resulting in a very young population with almost fifty percent under the age of 18, and only four percent aged 60 and over[UNDP, (2006)]. The CAR is really affected by AIDS that is why the life expectancy is constantly falling and dropped below 40 according to the UNDP Report on Human Development 2006. Per capita income is USD 456. POPULATION 4,422,000 SIZE 622,984 km ² CAPITAL CITY Bangui LANGUAGES French and Sango (officials languages);TRIBAL LANGUAGES LARGEST CITIES Bangui and Bimbo RELIGION 35% Tribal beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Catholic, 15% Muslim MONETARY UNIT Franc NATURAL RESOURCES Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, hydropower AGRICULTURE Cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava, yams, millet, corn, banana; timber EXPORT COMMODITIES diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco IMPORT COMMODITIES food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals INDUSTRY Gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles 2.2 Political and economic situations The CAR is blessed with natural resources to use and develop in order to come out of its cycle of poverty. However, three decades of mismanagement, from the 60s when it gained its independence until 1993 which seen the organization democratic elections for the first time, most of the time under military rule and one decade of chronic unrest and political fights (1993- 2003) led the country to bankruptcy [International Crisis Group, (2007)]. Francois Bozize gained the power in March 2003 by a coup and overthrown Ange-Felix Patasse [International Crisis Group, (2007)]. Due to the chronic instability since 10 years this makes very difficult for CARs governments to follow-up a long term economic development strategy that is why the country is currently facing a lack of modern transportation network which represents the chokepoint for the development of its economy. For instance, the length to reach Bangui the capital city is about 12 to 14 days of river transportation [CAR, (2009)]. Why is CARs economy always under threat of strangulation? Geographically, the CAR is trapped in an unstable triangle and surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Chad that which are destroyed by many years of civil wars [IMF, (2010); The Economist, (2008); UNHCR, (2000)]. Furthermore, shipment arrivals are often delayed or canceled because of rebels attacks [HAC, (2011)] that are causing so much trouble in the region. The nation of CAR is principally agrarian [International Crisis Group, (2007)]. In 2003, agriculture accounted for 60.8% of the countrys GDP [UNCTAD, (2005)]; crops primarily including cotton, food crops such as cassava, yams, bananas, maize; coffee and tobacco. In 2004, the agricultural labour force accounted for 69% [UNCTAD, (2005)]. The population of CAR is engaged in subsistence farming with 56% attributed to the agricultural sector in 2006. In 2002, timber accounted for about 30% of export earnings. The CAR is blessed with a huge unexploited natural resources in the form of uranium, gold, diamonds and others minerals [Investment Climate Report, (1995)]. In 2010, its main exports were diamonds, cotton, timber, coffee and tobacco. Diamonds are the main natural resources being currently developed [Investment Climate Report, (1995)]: in 2002, the CAR was able to export 50% of its diamonds earnings [Crisis Group Africa, (2010)]. In 2003 and 2006, industry contributed for respectively 24.9% and 15% for the latter of the countrys GDP; breweries, diamond mining and sawmill represent the bulk of the sector. Due to the oversized government bureaucracy and its landlocked position, services accounted only for 29% of GDP in 2006. The same year, its main importer of goods was France and represented for 17.6% and they mainly exports goods toward Belgium (40.4%) [Investment Climate Report, (1995); UNCTD. (2005)]. In 2000, the percentage of population with access to electricity accounted for 5% only [UNCTAD, (2005)]. The CAR really lack of electricity supply. The main and only hydroelectric plants are based in Boali. Mostly, fuel supplies are transported in via the Ubangui River or trucked through Cameroon, resulting in frequent shortages of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. The countrys transportation and communication network is limited; it does not possess a railroad, however it has only 650 kilometers of paved road. It does not possess any domestic air service, except charters, so very limited internationally. Furthermore, commercial traffic on the Ubangui River is very rough even impossible from December to May or June, due to ongoing conflicts in the region that sometimes prevented shipments from moving between Kinshasa (capital of DRC) and Bangui. The telephone system functions, albeit imperfectly. The CAR possesses only one television station that has been built since the independence, an d four radio stationsare currently operating in the country. Numerous newspapers and pamphlets are published on a regular basis, and at least one company has begun providing Internet service. In terms of economic, the C.A.R. has made slow progress; its budget and external trade are deficiency due to many constraints like the poor infrastructure that it is facing, economic mismanagement and scarce private investment, as well as a limited tax base and adverse external conditions have led the country to a desperate situation. Its debt burden is considerable, as well as its per capita gross national product (GNP). The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have implemented some structural and interest-free credits as well to support investments in the agriculture, livestock, and transportation sectors, unfortunately these have had limited impact. The World Bank and IMF are now encouraging the government to concentrate exclusively on implementing much-needed economic reforms to jumpstart the economy and defining its fundamental priorities with the aim of alleviating poverty. As a result, many of the state-owned business entities have been privatized and limited e fforts have been made to standardize and simplify labor and investment codes and to address problems of corruption. The C.A.R. Government has adopted the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Charter of Investment, and is in the process of adopting a new labor code. Furthermore the CAR received debt relief in June 2009 by the World Bank and the IMF [IMF, (2010)].It reached the final completion-point stage of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative [IMF, (2010)]. Since its independence, the CAR has been unstable and endured several coups; David Dacko ended the Bokassa era in a coup in 1979 [International Crisis Group, (2007)]. David Dacko was overthrown by a coup led by the General Andre Kolingba two years later. For the first time, he allowed multi-party presidential elections in 1993 and was defeated in the first round by his successor Ange-Felix Patasse. However, 1997 the discontent of unpaid soldiers resulted in a successive wave of strikes and uprisings from the latter [International Crisis Group, (2007)]. . The same year the French troop pulled out and Paris financed a group of French-speaking African countries to create a peacekeeping force. This leads to the creation of the UN Mission to the Central African Republic, or Minurca [International Crisis Group, (2008)]. In 1999 Ange-Felix Patasse won the elections a second time however there were allegations of electoral fraud. He went into exile in Togo after being overthrown in a coup in 2003 by General Bozize the current president of the CAR. The legacy of years of unrest has generated an illegal weapons proliferation across the CAR. Rebels armed groups are active in the volatile north. The unrest has displaced tens of thousands of Central Africans; many of them have crossed the border into Chad. Under Bozize era, some progress towards ending the conflict was made in 2008, when peace talks led to an agreement committing two of the main rebel groups to disarm [IMF,(2010)]. The process culminated with the creation of a national unity government incorporating two rebel leaders in early 2009. 2.3 A Modest recovery Since 2004 the Central African Republic has been able to achieve a modest economic growth [IMF, (2010)]; firstly, it gained full debt relief from the IMF and the World Bank in June 2009. Secondly it concluded a current Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility programme in June 2010. This successfully led to the achievement of a three-year programme with the IMF especially after the success of the Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance Programs. Furthermore, the CARs government implemented a macroeconomic management policies and necessary structural reforms that led to a modest recovery from the economic shock in 2009. The government worked hard to further strengthen the credibility of public financial management, enhance public infrastructure, and intensify foreign donors and the private sector investment climate [US department, (2010)] as well. Since President Bozize leads the CAR some encouraging result has been noticed by the Internationals institutions like IMF or World Bank. The CARs government understood that it was its priority to restore security and peace in the country. The government established what it called the â€Å"inclusive political dialogue† that gathered the political opposition and the government together to seek for security and peace for the country. That initiative was successful in the extent that it was part of the demobilization, the disarmament and reintegration program which led to the smooth conduct of the elections in 2010 [IMF, (2010)]. In terms of building infrastructure and climate investment the CARs government has a lot to do in order to unlock the countrys economic situation. The government has no other choice than on the one hand relying on foreign partners and on the other hand must engage coherent and filmy policies over the long term to come out of its cycle of poverty [IMF, (2010)]. III- Chinese engagement with the CAR 3.1- The political relations AT many occasions the CAR cut off and resumed its diplomatic relations with the PRC and Taiwan. The diplomatic ties between China and the Central African Republic experienced ups and downs: In 1962, the CAR recognized Taiwan as part of Chinas territory and established for the first time diplomatic ties with the island. Two years later, it broke off its diplomatic link with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China. The CAR resumed diplomatic ties Taiwan third times. Leaders of both side exchanged high levelcontacts. These underline the importance a state attaches to its relations with another. 3.2 Trade and Economic Relations In November 2000, China and Central Africa Republic signed an agreement on trade, economic and technical cooperation [Chinese Foreign Ministry, (2006)]. In August 2004, both countries signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in fields such as energy, infrastructure and agriculture[Holslag, (2006)]. Today, China is an important commercial partner for the CAR.In 2002, trade volume between both nations accounted for US$ 1.944 million with US$ 0.687 stemming from Chinas export and US$ 1.257 million from the Chinas import. The CAR mainly exports timber and cotton to China and imports principally footwear, textiles and electrical and mechanical products from China [Chinese Foreign Ministry, (2006)]. China has been an active investor in the Central African Republic, especially in construction, and has been involved in a number of joint cooperative ventures with the government, covering health, agriculture, stock-breeding, communications and trade .It undertook numerous projects in CAR and built for instance the Boali agricultural technological station, a training center for straw-bamboo weaving handcrafts, the new stadium, a clinic in the presidential house, the Bangui hospital and agricultural project, the extension work of the Pingpo Radio Transmitting Station, etc[Chinese Foreign Ministry, (2006)]. During his visit in China in 2009, President Francois Bozize called on China to invest in its country 3.3 Exchanges in other fields After signing a joint communiquà © in August 20th, China and the CAR signed in November 1976 an agreement on sending Chinese medical teams to Central Africa Republic. In June 1980 both countries signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and renewed it in June 1998 look for the number of students in China. Since 1997, China has begun to accept Central African students for study and on the job training. Today both parties acknowledge the necessity for the CAR to enhance its self-development ability as well as its local Human Resources training IV- China- CAR: Why the slow progress? One wonders what is happening in Central African Republic as the country is blessed with natural resources but still ranking as one the poorest in the world. International news portrays it as a â€Å"phantom state† [African report, (2007)]. Since the resuming of bilateral cooperation with China in 1998, the relation is experiencing smoothly and slowly evolution. In 2009, during a high level visit to China President Francois Bozize spoke to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and expressly called for Chinese investment in its country [BBC, (2009); AFP, (2009); China consulate, (2011)]. China is now an important economic partner for the CAR [BBC, (2009)]. However in an article published in 2009, the BBC wrote that the â€Å"CAR is a much less valuable economic partner to China†. Considering that statement one wonders whether China really considers the CAR as a less valuable partner. How the Chinese governments perceive the CAR? How does the CAR perceive the Chinese involvement in the country? The CARs government welcomes the Chinese aid in spite the political instability in the country, especially in the north [African Report, (2007)].However, China doesnt deter to invest in it by building the new 20.000 seats-stadium, schools, hospitals, etc. Regarding to that assistance, can it be stated that the CAR is â€Å"a much less valuable† for China? The CARs situation is peculiar and really needs from the scholars, journalist, central African leaders, the civil society, all the stakeholders as well, further attention.

Entrepreneur vs Manager

The top 15 qualities needed to be an entrepreneur and the top 10 qualities needed to be a manager is listed as follows. This is a summary of the results yielded by the most popular search engine, Google. Not surprisingly most of the qualities needed for an entrepreneur and for a manager matched. This fundamentally shows that in a way, the manager of today needs to be an entrepreneur. It is evident that the degree or extent to which an entrepreneur needs the aforementioned quality may be different. An entrepreneur may need greater depth in certain qualities as compared to a manager. Let us take the example of a quality like confidence, an entrepreneur must have the confidence to support the entire business venture he is planning to undertake and also support all the needs of all his staff while a manager can get away with confidence enough to manage the staff and situations. Apart from this an entrepreneur needs to have certain qualities and certain qualities in certain amounts, the absence of which fails to make an entrepreneur. For example an entrepreneur cannot be born if he is not able to take and handle risks, while a manager can be successful even if he is risk averse to an extent. An entrepreneur would not find switching to a managers role difficult as he would have almost all the important qualities a manager needs. The only issues may be in the operational aspect with respect to the degree of freedom an entrepreneur exercises as compared to that of a manager. The manager today needs to have the skills of an entrepreneur. This is easy to say as mentioned earlier the qualities almost completely overlap. At the same time the manager has also got to know to what degree he must possess an entreprenuer’s skills and to what extent he must exercise them. For example there is a greater degree of security for a manager as compared to an entrepreneur and there is no need to destabilize or jeopardize the situation with excessive risk taking. This may also make employees who works under the manager feel insecure. This degree of risk may be unwarranted for the organization as they would have a calculated risk approach. So the manager must be cautious. But this pays off at the higher levels. As the manager inches toward the top levels of management the set of entrepreneurial qualities like risk taking pays well and in fact makes all the difference with respect to performance. Hence the skill set of an entrepreneur applies to a manager in a phased manner. Some of the best managers along and their entrepreneur skills are listed as under. There are numerous such examples of managers achieving enormous success because of their entrepreneurial skills. In fact these skills are what made the difference. They have literally created a turn-around in the state of the organization. For example, Anne Mulcahy joined Xerox in August 2001. At that time the company was reeling under tremendous pressure with charges from Securities & Exchange Commission over accounting practices. The biggest problem faced by the company was in $14 billion in debt. However she made sharp staff and business cuts and brought new chief financial officer and stabilized the company and put down debt to around $9. 8 billion. She achieved this with her leadership and sense of confidence. Skills needed for both entrepreneurs and leaders alike. The skills prominent in an entrepreneur, the skills which sets apart an entrepreneur when possessed by a manager is what saves the manager from a crisis or a tough situation. It helps the manager steer clear of problems in an effective manner. Managing problems and changes is an integral part of problems for the role of a manager. The more the entrepreneurial qualities embedded in a manager the more effective he is in dealing with tough situations and problems of a kind. It is what pushes them up the ladder, makes them different from the rest of the crowd and has them endlessly and effortlessly facing challenges thrown up. Such managers are highly prized in the industry and make a critical difference especially at the top rung of the ladder. It is not just confined to the top rung of the ladder. It is essentially what moves the manager up the ladder and initially what sets him apart to be chosen as a manager. In short, the manager of today needs to be at least a MINI entrepreneur at the start of his career and blossom as a MEGA entrepreneur at the pinnacle of their career of the manager.

Valuable Tips for College Board Essay Samples Ap Literature That You Can Begin to Use Immediately

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The JonBenet Ramsey Murder Investigation

On Dec. 26, 1996, JonBenet Ramseys 6-year-old body was found in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado home after a ransom note was found demanding money for her return. Family members came under suspicion in the investigation, although a strangers DNA was found on the girls clothing. No one has ever been officially charged with a crime in the case, which remains unsolved. Here are the latest developments in the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation: Chief: Cops Botched JonBenet Crime Scene Feb. 25, 2015 - A former Boulder, Colorado police chief says his officers should have done a better job of securing the crime scene at the home where JonBenet Ramsey was found killed. Mark Beckner said a lack of manpower due to the Christmas holiday was partly to blame for the confusion at the scene. In an online question and answer session, Beckner said detectives should have separated the parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and taken full statements from each of them on day one. Instead, when the couple lawyered up they were released and allowed to go home and were not formally interviewed again until five months later. Beckner called that decision a big mistake. During the online session, Beckner also criticized the Boulder district attorneys office for getting too involved in the investigation. Beckner said that he believes the DNA found on the 6-year-olds clothing is the key to finding a suspect in the case, but he also said he does not think anyone will ever be convicted of the 1996 murder, due mainly to mistakes his department made that first day. Previous Developments Jury Indicted JonBenets Parents, But D.A. Balked in 1999Jan. 28, 2013The grand jury investigating the death of JonBenet Ramsey indicted both her parents in 1999, but the district attorney refused to sign the indictment and prosecute the case. District Attorney Alex Hunter did not believe he had enough evidence to convict John and Patsy Ramsey for child abuse resulting in a death, according to an investigative report by a Boulder newspaper. Police Plan Interviews in JonBenet CaseOct. 4, 2010Investigators have planned a new series of interviews in the unsolved JonBenet Ramsey case, but it may not be new evidence that has prompted the activity. An advisory committee, made up of investigators from several state and federal agencies, recommended the new round of interviews after meeting in 2009. JonBenet Ramsey Case Returned to Boulder PoliceFeb. 3, 2009Saying they will use new technology, expertise, and an advisory task force to try to solve the crime, the Boulder Police Department has taken the reins again in the investigation of the JonBenet Ramsey murder. For the past six years, the investigation has been handled by the district attorneys office. Ramseys Cleared in JonBenet Murder CaseJuly 9, 2008The Boulder, Colorado district attorney has released a letter officially clearing members of the Ramsey family of any involvement in the December 1996 death of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey after newly discovered DNA evidence points to a male perpetrator not associated with the family or law enforcement. The DNA evidence, found on another piece of JonBenets clothing, matches previous evidence found on her panties in 1997. John Mark Karr Arrested in Domestic DisputeJuly 7, 2007The man who gained the national spotlight by confessing to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey has been arrested and jailed following a domestic dispute at his fathers house in Sandy Springs, Georgia, near Atlanta. Police said they arrested Karr after they received a 9-1-1 call reporting an argument between Karr, his girlfriend, and his father. John Mark Karr Now Free to RoamOct. 5, 2006John Mark Karr, the substitute elementary school teacher who falsely confessed to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey to get out of Thailand, is now a free man after child pornography charges were dismissed against him in California after prosecutors admitted they did not have enough evidence to go to trial. Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau ordered Karr released immediately. Karr Turns Down Pornography Plea DealSept. 22, 2006John Mark Karr, who gave a false confession in the JonBenet Ramsey case, has rejected a plea deal from California prosecutors that would have allowed him to walk out of jail and serve a probation sentence on child pornography charges. His lawyer said Karr maintains his innocence and refuses to plead guilty to a crime that he did not commit. Charges Dropped in JonBenet Ramsey CaseAug. 28, 2006Colorado prosecutors have decided not to charge John Mark Karr with the murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey on December 26, 1996, after DNA tests failed to link the suspect to the crime scene evidence. The warrant on Mr. Karr has been dropped by the district attorney, public defender Seth Temin said. They are not proceeding with the case. Arrest of JonBenet Suspect Raises Many QuestionsAug. 17, 2006The arrest of 41-year-old John Mark Karr in Bangkok, Thailand for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey in 1996 and his statements to investigators have raised concerns about the validity of his confession. A news conference by Boulder, Colorado District Attorney Mary Lacy today revealed no insight into the investigation, as she refused to make any comments on evidence in the case. Teacher Arrested in JonBenet Ramsey CaseAug. 16, 2006A man currently being held in Thailand on unrelated sexual charges has been arrested in connection with the murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in her Boulder, Colorado home almost ten years ago. The suspect, who authorities say has confessed to the murder, will be returned to the United States within the next week. JonBenet Ramsey Investigator Changes AgainMarch 20, 2006The lead investigator for the JonBenet Ramsey murder case is about to change again, but the new detective is one who once worked exclusively on the Christmas 1996 death of the six-year-old daughter of John and Patsy Ramsey. Tom Bennett, a retired detective from the Arvada Police Department, joined the Boulders prosecutors office in 2003 working exclusively on the Ramsey case, working 20 to 30 hours a week. JonBenets Killer Linked to Another Rape?Dec. 20, 2004Investigators in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case believe the intruder who killed the six-year-old may have struck again nine months later, sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl, who was in the same dance class with JonBenet, in her Boulder, Colorado bedroom. A CBS 48 Hours Mystery report also says DNA evidence in the JonBenet case points to a male not associated with the Ramsey family. For most of the eight years since the murder, the investigation was focused almost exclusively on members of the Ramsey family. The JonBenet Ramsey Murder Investigation Around 5:30 a.m. the morning after Christmas Day, 1996, Patsy Ramsey found a ransom note on the familys back staircase demanding $118,000 for her six-year-old daughter, JonBenet, and called 911. Later that day, John Ramsey discovered JonBenets body in a spare room in the basement. She had been strangled with a garrote, and her mouth had been bound with duct tape. John Ramsey removed the duct tape and carried her body upstairs. The Early Investigation From the very beginning, the investigation into the death of JonBenet Ramsey focused on members of the family. Boulder, Colorado investigators went to the Atlanta home of the Ramseys to search for a clue and served a search warrant on their summer home in Michigan. Police took hair and blood samples from members of the Ramsey family. The Ramseys tell the press there is a killer on the loose, but Boulder officials downplay the prospect that a killer is threatening city residents. The Ransom Note The investigation into the murder of JonBenet Ramsey focused on the three-page ransom note, which was apparently written on a notepad found in the house. Handwriting samples were taken from the Ramseys, and John Ramsey was ruled out as the author of the note, but police could not eliminate Patsy Ramsey as the writer. District Attorney Alex Hunter tells the media that the parents are obviously the focus of the investigation. Expert Prosecution Task Force District attorney Hunter forms an Expert Prosecution Task Force, including forensic expert Henry Lee and DNA expert Barry Scheck. In March 1997 retired homicide detective Lou Smit, who solved the Heather Dawn Church murder in Colorado Spring, is hired to head the investigation team. Smits investigation would eventually point to an intruder as the perpetrator, which conflicted with the DAs theory that someone in the family was responsible for JonBenets death. Conflicting Theories From the beginning of the case, there was a disagreement between investigators and the DAs office about the focus of the investigation. In August 1997, Detective Steve Thomas resigns, saying the DAs office is thoroughly compromised. In September, Lou Smit also resigns saying he, cannot in good conscience be a part of the persecution of innocent people. Lawrence Schillers book, Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, describes the feud between police and prosecutors. Burke Ramsey After 15 months of investigation, the Boulder police decide the best way to solve the murder is a grand-jury investigation. In March 1998, police interview John and Patsy Ramsey a second time and do an extensive interview with their 11-year-old son Burke, who was reported as a possible suspect by some in the press. A leak to the news media indicates that Burkes voice could be heard in the background of the 911 call Patsy made, although she said he was asleep until after police arrived. Grand Jury Convenes On Sept. 16, 1998, five months after they were chosen, Boulder County grand jurors began their investigation. They heard forensic evidence, analysis of handwriting, DNA evidence, and hair and fiber evidence. They visited the Ramseys former Boulder home in October 1998. In December of 1998, the grand jury recesses for four months while DNA evidence from other members of the Ramsey family, who were not suspects, can be compared to that found at the scene. Hunter and Smit Clash In February 1999, District Attorney Alex Hunter demanded that detective Lou Smit return evidence that he collected while he worked on the case, including crime scene photographs. Smit refuses even if I have to go to jail because he believed the evidence would be destroyed if returned because it supported the intruder theory. Hunter filed a restraining order and got a court injunction demanding the evidence. Hunter also refused to allow Smit to testify before the grand jury. Smit Seeks Court Order Detective Lou Smit filed a motion asking Judge Roxanne Bailin to allow him to address the grand jury. It is not clear if Judge Bailin granted his motion, but on March 11, 1999, Smit testified before the jury. Later that same month, district attorney Alex Hunter signed an agreement allowing Smit to keep the evidence he had collected in the case but prohibited Smit from relaying prior conversations with Ramsey prosecutors and not interfere with the on-going investigation. No Indictments Returned After a year-long grand jury investigation, DS Alex Hunter announces that no charges will be filed and no one will be indicted for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. At the time, several media reports suggested that it was Smits testimony that swayed the grand jury to not return an indictment. The Suspicions Continue In spite of the grand jury decision, members of the Ramsey family continued to remain under suspicion in the media. The Ramseys adamantly proclaimed their innocence from the very beginning. John Ramsey said he thought that someone in the family could be responsible for JonBenets murder was nauseating beyond belief. But those denials did not keep the press from speculating that either Patsy, Burke or John himself were involved. Burke Not a Suspect In May 1999, Burke Ramsey was secretly questioned by the grand jury. The following day, authorities finally said that Burke was not a suspect, only a witness. As the grand jury began to wind down its investigation, John and Patsy Ramsey are forced to move from their Atlanta-area home avoid the onslaught of media attention. Ramseys Fight Back In March 2002, the Ramseys released their book, The Death of Innocence, about the battle they have fought to reclaim their innocence. The Ramseys filed a series of libel lawsuits against media outlets, including the Star, the New York Post, Time Warner, the Globe and the publishers of the book A Little Girls Dream? A JonBenet Ramsey Story. Federal Judge Clears Ramseys In May 2003, an Atlanta federal judge dismissed a civil lawsuit against John and Patsy Ramsey saying there was no evidence showing the parents killed JonBenet and abundant evidence that an intruder killed the child. The judge criticized the police and the FBI for creating a media campaign designed to make the family look guilty.