Interview...
RAMADJI.com
Interview with Mr.
Laona Raoul Gong, spokesperson for the United Front for
Democratic Change.
Remarks
collected by Armel Ramadji Doumnande, August 1st,
2006, ©Lalé | laleonline.com,
“Political struggle has never been a long quiet rive.” Mr. Laona
Raoul Gong.
Mr. Laona Raoul Gong, in your capacity of
spokesperson for the FUC, can you tell us how the
movement is going today?
In any case, pruned of its dead branches,
the movement is doing much better today; gaining
confidence by drawing from these lessons of its short
but intense experiences.
What significance should one give to the
announcement of the formation of the National Executive
Bureau (BEN – Bureau Executif National) of the FUC? Is
this to silence all those who castigated the absence of
a clearly defined structure at the level of the FUC? Is
this aimed at a rebirth after all the sudden jumpstarts
which took place recently?
We should not overlook the difficulties with
which the FUC was confronted since its birth and which
sometimes gave the impression of wavering at the top. We
must constantly remember that the FUC is a regrouping of
several political forces with goals not always
compatible which we’ve had to gradually synchronize in a
consensual manner. All those who know about such
endeavors know how hard the character of the game is. We
took note of all criticisms and corrected our aim
several times. The formation of the BEN is thus a sign
of maturation for the movement and especially of its
willingness to resolutely put itself in the order of
battle for bright victories.
One notes with the announcement of the
creation of the new structure the absence of Colonel
Al-Jinedi and Dr. Albissaty which were respectively the
Vice-president and the spokesperson for the movement not
too long ago. How do you explain this situation?
You know we are cautious to avoid any
useless controversy but should nonetheless point out
some obvious points. We simply took note of the decision
of Hassane Salah Al Gadam and Albissaty who took the
occasion of the rupture to go as far as announcing
without any authority, the dissolution of the FUC. Can
one reasonably remain member of an organization one
dissolved?
More seriously, the political struggle has
never been a long quiet river. No one can be forced to
remain within an organization of which it does not share
the objectives. It is as simple as that.
What is the cause of the rupture between
your group and that of Al-Jinedi and how many FUC exist
today?
El Djinédi made the decision to rupture
unilaterally. He is the only one able to explain his
reasoning. About the FUC, I only know one: that in whose
name I speak. There were certainly departures but no
resignation carries with it the dissolution of an
organization. When the group of December 8th
momentarily left the FUC, they simply made a statement.
Today we are once again together.
Many of those who had the chance of
getting to know the Captain Mahamat Nour describe him as
authoritative, brutal, not very fond of intellectuals
and surrounded by an impressive security force very
difficult to access. You are from now on his
spokesperson, how do you answer to this?
I noticed just like you this conspiracy
against the leader of the FUC. It is true that one
cannot know a man in a few days or a few hours but I
wish that you would have the opportunity to make his
acquaintance and make your own opinion instead of
trusting the hateful propaganda produced by those who
swore to destroy the FUC.
Not being myself an intellectual, it goes
without saying that I could thus not be counted in the
number of those he is supposed to hate. But what are we
speaking about when we refer to his impressive security
forces? Mahamat Nour is not a tourist and Eastern Chad
despite its potential is not yet the Lake Léman or the
“Cote d’Azur”. He is there as a war chief and what is
then abnormal about his forces ensuring his safety?
I read in your columns outrageous,
borderline delirious, remarks against Mahamat Nour. As
all that is excessive it is quite simply insignificant,
I will make no comment on it. If that is our alleged
intellectuals, let God keep us from them. To be an
intellectual or simply in a management position, is
first and foremost having a sense of balance,
level-headedness, and also subtlety. Some of your
interviews revealed to us individuals without any
culture or instruction, all the opposite of
intellectuals. But let’s get to the point. In politics,
it comes and goes. Let us not insult the future. In any
case, Mahamat Nour is not what people say he is and
certainly not of the same ilk of those mediocre
individuals that peddle worthless gossip.
Certain sources which come to us give us
a report of the displacement of FUC forces towards Dar
Tama. Do you confirm this information? Why this
movement?
Mobility is a guiding principle of our
operational units. Our forces move all the time and in
the nature of their mission. I’m not confirming or
denying these reports.
How is the morale of FUC troops at the
present time?
Military action is a tributary of political
action. The FUC is now equipped with coherent and
consequential political direction. The morale of our
forces is commensurate with this new dynamic.
Certain information emanating from those
close to the FUC gave a report of treason during the
failed attack of April 13. According to you, who
actually betrayed who?
The former spokesperson after his defection
made in your columns I believe, this extremely serious
charge, whereas in actuality during that time he had
said absolutely nothing. We led a heroic action which
did not have all the anticipated results. Let us not
play the coward like those who try to clear themselves
of their responsibility by constantly seeking
scapegoats. Mahamat Issa is an important officer and a
man of honor. Let us have respect for his memory and his
family. Let us leave him out of our petty trades and our
political orchestrations. Mahamat Nour never brought any
charges against this valuable companion who gave his
life for his homeland.
The Chadian electronic media made mention
recently of negotiations between the regime of General
Deby Itno and the Captain Mahamat Nour. Do you confirm
this information? What are you negotiating with Deby’s
regime?
I am not informed of such negotiations. I
would like however to say that we are not opposed to any
such initiative that goes in this direction. It is
precisely the refusal of such political dialogue in the
country which led us to the perilous choice of bearing
arms. On the question, our position is clear: a dialogue
under international supervision and opened to all
political and social forces of the country to define a
consensual transition leading to competitive, free and
transparent elections.
Can the FUC drop its weapons today and
make peace with the N’Djamena regime if the regime
accepts a global dialogue, non-exclusive, considering
all the Chadian political sensitivities?
If in a consensual manner, Chadians define a
transition through a true National dialogue, the
continuation of military actions would have neither
purpose nor significance.
What are the conditions for the FUC to go
to a dialogue with the regime of Deby?
The only conditions are those which we
mentioned earlier. It is not about a dialogue with the
regime of Déby but a dialogue with all implicated forces
of the country.
What is the political program of the FUC?
Let us be precise. The FUC is not a
political party. It acts as a regrouping of all those
who, faced with the obstruction of political life and
the digression from democracy want to once again give
hope to the Chadian people by resuming the democratic
process. That pre-supposes the removal of the principal
culprit that is Déby, bringing together Chadians around
a national forum to define the terms of a social
contract for Chad and to organize true elections in our
country. Such is schematically our ambition for Chad.
For more precise details we forwarded to you our Program
document.
How can you reassure
Chadian men and women that the FUC will not usurp power
like Idriss Deby Itno did in spite of his “neither gold,
nor money but freedom and democracy”? What will be the
duration of the transition and how will it be managed?
The only assurance
is first of all the mobilization of the Chadian people
themselves at the center of the National Resistance so
that its victory is that of the collective nation. We
unilaterally took the engagement in our foundational
document, after the departure of Déby, to go without
delay to the national forum. Before that, we are
presently ready to discuss with those organized for the
after Deby scheme. It is therefore for this reason that
our document is entitled “elements of a platform” to
reinforce that this is only a proposal to be discussed
with the other actors of the national political life. In
this scenario, it does not fall on the FUC to determine
the duration of the transition or its content and even
less still the people in charge of its management.
Everything is determined inside the forum. It goes
without saying that we will receive proposals at that
time.
What are your relationships with the
other polical-military movements like the RaFD, the
MPRD, TELSSI, MDJT…?
FUC has only been in existence for seven
months and has gone though some internal crises out of
which we are just coming. In parallel, we’ve had to face
multiple military operations. All of that has not
enabled us to consolidate the relations we had already
established with other organizations. Today being at
peace, believe us, we will make a priority of it
and will devote to it the days to come. Our objective is
precisely the formation of a broad coalition inclusive
of all the movements. We hope to be able to transcend
the occasion and the differences of opinions in as much
as they exist.
There are reports that circulate accusing
the leader of the FUC of having carried out summary
executions this past weekend. Among the people executed
this past weekend appeared two senior officers, Mahamat
Abdelchakour and his brother Yahya Abdelchakour. What do
you know?
On the subject of the death of the
Abdelchakour brothers, the FUC expressed itself through
an official statement of which we gave you a copy.
Can one say that the captain will be
another ATT if the FUC overthrows Idriss Deby Itno?
I have no reason to doubt this but for us,
the question does not arise in terms of individuals. It
is a group dynamic and thus of organizations. Our
project, such as we designed it will incontestably make
any one of us who will carry it, an ATT.
What are your relations with the
democratic opposition of the interior and the Chadian
civil society?
Our relations are even better since we have
a total convergence of viewpoints on the solutions to
exit the crisis in our country as demonstrates the
stance of each one.
A large conference of the opposition will
take place in September in Europe. Will the FUC be at
the meeting?
We are naturally supportive of any
initiative in this direction and will take our rightful
place with the hope of widening the base of the
political consensus we call with all our heart and also
to achieve the unity of action of all those who work for
the advent of a true democracy in our country.
Do you sincerely believe in a true
constructive dialogue to solve once and for all the
Chadian problem with IDI?
Déby is a major obstacle not only for the
dialogue but also for peace and the development of Chad.
We are not making ourselves any illusions on his account
but say that with him or without him, Chadians cannot
avoid a great national dialogue otherwise taking the
risk of disappearing as a people.
What comments do you make of the attitude
of the French government in the Chadian conflict?
Chadians hardly lack in political
intelligence and know that the only interest that
determines their actions is that of the States. But
there is no true and durable interest between States if
it is not founded on the safeguard of the necessary
solidarity between people. Is this the current concern
of the French government? I doubt it. We waited, as a
consideration for the long friendship which binds our
two people, that France decidedly engages itself in a
role of mediator to help the Chadian people reconcile
and safeguard for peace. Our disappointment is great but
we’re maintaining hope because France is not just its
government and in a sense we are pleased with the
reaction of solidarity and sympathy of the organizations
part of the French civil society which widely condemned
the ill-considered engagement of their army at the side
of Déby.
It is regrettable but France in spite of its
assets has remained fixated on old stereotypes and
struggles enormously to capture the socio-political
evolution of Africa and even further to adapt its
analytical instruments and thus co-operate. She swims
against the current and history is merciless towards
those who blindly oppose themselves to its natural and
inescapable course.
Deby accuses Sudan of launching
mercenaries and Jandjawids against Chad. What do you
answer him?
The designation of scapegoats is a quasi
natural attitude for cowardly people who want to have
others carry the weight of their irresponsibility.
Should we wait for a recurrence of
military actions in the light of the reorganization of
the commandment of the FUC?
I will indicate neither date nor itinerary
to you but will say this that as long as Déby is not
committed to a true political dialogue, he does not
leave us any other choice but to resume hostilities. And
quite naturally, after the reorganization, we are more
than ever capable of assuming our objectives.
Idriss Deby Itno has just signed a
panoply of decrees raising several officers to superior
ranks. What is your interpretation of these waves of
decrees? Does IDI seek to go raise his troops’ morale?
It is not a new phenomenon. This
distribution of ranks has taken place for the past
sixteen years. Soon cows, camels, baobab and mango trees
will receive theirs. If the objective is to ridicule the
army and therefore the Chadian State, Déby could not
have done a better job and incontestably succeeded at
his task. It is public knowledge that there is no longer
an army in Chad and those promoted, who often have never
seen an instructional center, are the first to be
humiliated and literally remain in the shadows of walls
or quite simply do not carry their ranks.
One also speaks of a return to normalcy
between Khartoum and N’Djamena in the days or weeks to
come. Don't you fear that that this could play against
the Chadian rebellion who will find itself deprived from
a corridor on Sudanese territory?
The FUC is not the product of a rupture of
the diplomatic relations between Chad and Sudan. The
internal political crisis of Chad alone interests
us even if we deplore Deby’s mercenary use of our army
to destabilize Africa from Rwanda to Central Africa,
passing through both Congo and today Sudan.
We are not concerned and will always find a
means to our ambitions.
What is the exact position of the
Khartoum regime towards the Chadian conflict?
It does not rest with us to define the
position of Khartoum as it pertains to the Chadian
conflict. This question will have to be raised with the
authorities of this neighborly and brotherly country.
Do you think that the armed rebellion
would be able to one day unite under the same banner and
for the supreme interest of the nation?
Such is our wish and we will work in that
direction.
Which is your ultimate objective today?
Our ultimate objective is peace and progress
in Chad that only democracy can guarantee.
What are your dreams for Chad? Are you
optimistic?
Like all Chadians, I dream of a Republic of
free, equal and united citizens. I am even more
optimistic in as much as I know that everywhere in the
world true republics are born out of pain and tears. The
advent of a new Chad is no longer far away and to
precipitate its arrival, no sacrifice is too big. It is
this dream and this hope that is at the foundation of my
resistance and multiplies tenfold my energy.
Information speaking of the re-entry of
Youssouf Saleh Abbas at the side of Deby is circulating.
What are your comments?
Under what claim could I allow myself to
comment on the sovereign choice of an adult citizen who
decides after years of exile to return home? Even if I
do not share his choice, I respect it.
What message does the FUC have today for
the millions of Chadians who believed in its capacity to
dislodge IDI but apparently no longer understand the
tearing that characterizes both messages?
I understand the disappointment
of the Chadian people. But I reassure them; crises are
in the nature of organizations and even often a sign of
vitality. The essential is to know how to make of them a
rational management to be able to evolve.
Your final words…?
Chadians, your demanding confidence and
support are invaluable for us.
Laleonline thanks you for our
availability!
Remarks collected by Armel Ramadji
Doumnande, August 1st, 2006.
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