What
the heck neo-colonial France wants from us?
?
By Armel Ramadji Doumnande, published on
April 13, 2006 on
http://lale-online.com
04/20/06 8:27 AM PT
Dear Sir / Madam,
Thank you for your feedback following my
protest email sent to the French Embassy this morning, Thursday,
April 13, 2006. I appreciated that. Unfortunately your answer didn't
really answer my concerns and questions.
In fact, I was protesting against the
implications of French troops of the 'Operation Epervier' in
the fighting opposing the rebels of the United Front for Democratic
Change who are fighting to kick out General Idriss Deby Itno, the
protégé of your government. At the same time, I wanted to urge your
government to immediately stop its military interference in the
Chadian crisis.
Despite the fact France clearly claims to
support democracy and freedom in the world, it seems to be a bunch
non-sense and a big baloney. Why? Because your government has sided
with the wrong people in what you call your 'pre carre' (your area of
influence) in the former French colonies. You are protecting
dictatorships against the real aspirations of the African people. It
clearly transpires one more time that France does not really care
for the well-being of the populations of its former colonies. The
examples are numerous and I will save us time from listing all your
crazy adventures. Your government only cares for your selfish
interests and the only thing that counts for you other French is the
strategic positioning of your country and the well-being of your
populations via the looting and the stealing of our numerous natural
and mineral resources. As long as France and French people live in
peace and happy, it doesn't matter if others like Chadians are
suffering, dying and longing for the same Freedom, Democracy and
Happiness you so very much cherish. Why are you so ill-intentioned,
greedy and egoistic?
Your bad African Foreign Policy will definitely
make you lose Africa. The sign are clear: Ivory Coast, Chad... A new
generation of African leaders is on its way and no matter how huge
your support to the dictators is, there will be an end to your
presence in Africa one day. It has got to stop. Africa will have a
lot to gain by doing business with other people less selfish and
greedy than France.
By bombing rebel positions in Chad and
preventing them from taking the capital city, Ndjamena this April
13, 2006, you have clearly chosen your side. Gathering intelligence
for Deby?s militia, bombing the United Front for Change (FUC)
positions are clearly interference in Chadian affairs. Instead of
getting involved in another nasty situation, your government will
have a lot to gain by trying to deal with the mess it has created in
Cote d?Ivoire. Additionally, Jacques Chirac and his gang of
neo-colonialists will gain a lot by handling the numerous social
problems they have in France instead of trying to play the
mercenaries and protectors of a vicious dictator like General Idriss
Deby Itno.
Because of the implications of your
neo-colonial troops stationed in Chad, from now on, it will be
legitimate for the forces of the FUC and any other Chadian rebel
group to start dealing with French soldiers appropriately in the
future fightings. It is clear that France is not neutral in this
situation. It's clear that France is also the enemy of the Chadian
people. Therefore, they should be dealt with consequently. One
spokesperson of the French Ministry of Defense says that your
government is against military coup d'Etats. Do not fool us and do
not pretend to be smarter. You have been supporting coup d'Etats in
Africa since 1963 when the first putsch took place in Togo, haven't
you? And then, in Chad, you have supported Habre by helping him
seize power by force in 1982. You did the same thing, helping Deby
to capture power in 1990. What constitutional legality is the French
government talking about? Deby has never been elected by the
Chadian people. He is ruling the country by force and because France
has decided so. Worse, despite the fact the constitution forbids a
third term for the presidency, you French have advised General
Idriss Deby Itno to modify the constitution to run for a third term
and remain life President against the will of an overwhelming
majority of Chadians. That?s the real coup d?Etat.
The funny and sad thing in this ordeal is that
I haven?t heard the so called folks of the international community
raise their voices to protest and condemn that clear violation of
the Chadian constitution. Kofi Anan who is condemning the attacks
launched by the courageous forces of the United Front for Change
(FUC) today must wise up and avoid rushing in condemning people who
are fighting to free themselves. I thought the United Nations is
meant to support people who are fighting for their freedom? The same
Kofi Anan stated in 2004 that it was shameful and not normal for
African leaders to go around changing constitutions and remain life
Presidents against the will of their populations. Unfortunately,
when Deby change the constitution, I never heard someone named Kofi
Anan protest or condemn Deby?s move. Isn?t that unfair? Isn?t it
ridiculous? Instead of rushing to vote a resolution condemning the
Chadian rebels, the United Nations Security council would better
condemn France and Deby for their very negative role in the Chadian
crisis. Mr. Anan is waiting to see a situation like what happened in
Rwanda under his responsibility occurred before he wakes up and goes
around presenting excuses. Chad is moving toward a "somalization"
phase and those who rush today to condemn the actions of the UFC
will share the responsibility.
Sadly, the European Union seems to not get the
point. The E.U claims to be against coup d?Etats but when Deby
tweaked the Chadian constitution, they didn?t do anything. They shut
their big mouth and cowardly displayed a low profile and admitted
the fact. How fair is that? How serious are the U.N and the E.U in
helping oppressed African people gain their freedom from those rogue
dictators? I don?t see it coming soon.
The only encouraging note came from the United
States with a statement from the U.S. Department urging Chadians to
engage in a dialogue. As always, the U.S made the difference by
distancing itself from the irresponsible condemnations of the U.N
Security Council, the E.U and France. I don?t want to list the
condemnations of the African Union because it doesn?t mean zip to me
and to many other Chadians. We know those who are in charge at the
African Union so, there is no surprise.
That said, it?s easy for those who rush in
condemning the forces of the United Front for Change to sit in
air-conditioned offices in New York, Brussels, Paris?and pump
communiqu? expressing their condemnation of the attacks of the
rebels forces in Chad, which attacks were fully justified. Those
U.N, E.U. A.U and French officials will never understand what the
majority of Chadians are talking about because of their bureaucracy
which already led to the cold bloodily murder of almost 1 millions
Rwandese during the genocide in 1994. Let shame be on France and the
rest of the Security Council, the E.U and all those irresponsible
who clearly do not care about the sufferings of the Chadian people.
You people will never get it, will you? When will you start to
understand that Africans also deserve to freely, democratically and
transparently elect their leaders? What will it take for your
selfish government to understand that Africans also deserve to live
in peace, enjoy life, and see their children grow?? You really won't
get it, will you?
France MUST revise its African Foreign Policy or definitely lose
Africa for the benefit of better partners who care for our
aspirations and desires. Either you are with the African people who
is longing for Freedom, Peace, Democracy and Development or you are
with evil dictators and you will be considered enemies of the
African people.
As far your government working side by side
with the United States to fight terror, it sounds great and I hope
it to be true unfortunately, except Afghanistan, France ducked away
when it came to removing Saddam Hussein, one of the worse dictators
the world has known. Why do you always happen to be on the wrong
side of history? You can argue that the reasons for going to war
against Iraq were false and there were no WMD. It?s fine. But how
about the gruesome crimes of Saddam Hussein against the Kurds,
Shia... Aren't you supposed to be the "Human Rights lessons givers
and champions"? Shame on you! Apparently, France decided to not go
after Saddam because France had big contracts and interests with the
Saddam regime, hadn't it? The Oil for Food Program investigation
uncovered the real reasons France refused to join the U.S in the war
against Saddam. It's very embarrassing and shameful for your
government believe it or not. It shows that your policy is solely
guided by your egoistic, greedy and selfish interests.
Dear Sir or Madam, I appreciate your lecturing
me on the Friendship between the U.S and France but it doesn't
connect to the reality and it's not the point of my message to your
service. The truth is that France has always been on the wrong side
and it's still happening in Chad right now. I urge you to stop
backing dictators who are ruining Africa and killing the hope of
Africans who strives to enjoy freedom and democracy and happiness
the same way you other French people do. Probably your President,
Jacques Chirac will claim that Africans are not ready for democracy.
How can people Africans be ready for democracy when France is
sponsoring dictators, encouraging them to tweak constitutions to
remain life presidents, and do evil like it is the case in Chad? How
possible do you want Africans to be ready for democracy when France
always goes against the will of the people in Africa? It's
scandalous and totally ridiculous.
Dear Sir or Madam, I'm afraid France will lose
big time in Chad as it is the case in Ivory Coast because you
haven't gotten it yet apparently. Why have you helped the U.S in the
removal of the Taliban dictatorship in Afghanistan and cannot do it
now to put an end to the sufferings of the Chadian people? Is it
because you really don't care for Chadians? Is it because Deby
better protects your colonial, egoistic and selfish interests?
Your government has a history of fueling
conflicts in Africa to make profit out of it by selling weapons,
troops to show off and prove that France is also a big power. The
implications of the French government in the genocide in Rwanda make
no doubt. The negative role played by France in the deadly war in
Congo -Brazzaville is another example. And Ivory Coast is another
recent example of your failed Foreign Policy in your former
colonies. You better get your things together and get it once for
all. STOP ACTING THE WAY YOU DO IN AFRICA!
No matter what, you can't kill the will and the
determination of Africans who desperately need change. Times are
changing and your colonialism and paternalism MUST STOP or the
course of events will prove you wrong!
I will really appreciate if you can transmit my
words in extenso to whoever is in charge here at your embassy in the
United States or in France at the Quay d'Orsay. Your government
really needs to wise up otherwise the new generation of Africans
will stand up against your neo-colonialism, selfish and
imperialistic ambitions.
AFRICA IS NEITHER YOUR PRIVATE ZOO NOR YOUR
PRIVATE GARDEN! Let it be crystal clear!
Yours sincerely,
--
Ramadji Doumnande, Armel,
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