Message au Vice-Président américain, Al Gore |
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Manyongo wa Selemani |
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From: Manyongo wa Selemani
Member of the Congolese Community of Windsor
Ontario, Canada
January 16, 2000
To: Your Excellency, Al Gore, Vice -President of the United States of America
Object: Memorandum about persisting conflicts in the Great Lakes region of Africa, as the UN Security Council, together with the USA and the OAU, is determined to restore peace for all.
Your Excellency, the Vice-President of the United States of America,
We have the obligation to thank you, together with all the American people and their leaders, for your determination to help the Great Lakes region of Africa, particularly the DRCongo, to end their conflicts. Thus, we think that it is very important to bring to your attention some of our views, as the UN Security Council is to meet with leaders from countries involved in the Congo-Kinshasa war, in New York.
Your Excellency,
I just read what Ed. Marek posted, quoting President Museveni of Uganda about his troops' withdraw from DR Congo. The following is President Museveni's statement about his withdraw from DR Congo:
"Uganda's Museveni tells journalists that "(DR Congo's Kabila) is in Kinshasa because of our intervention in the DRC. If we had not, Kabila would not be in that position," reaffirming that Museveni played a major role in selecting Kabila to lead the ADFL rebellion. In response to questions about Kabila demanding Uganda withdraw from the Congo, Museveni said; "Kabila is joking. He is not serious," confirming Uganda has no immediate intention to withdraw --- and no motivation to do so." (Ed. Marek, NCN, Washington, January 15, 2000).
My understanding from such a statement is that each and everyone may not be prepared to be a Looser in New York. But, I believe it is in the interest of the Great Lakes region of Africa if the Security Council and the United States' endeavours to bring peace cannot be distracted by anybody with less consideration for the people of that region.
My concern, as a human being (despite the fact that I am Congolese) is that of hearing such words from MEN (Leaders) who are "believed to be able" to bring PEACE for all africans. It should be ashamed for us, africans, if this is the style of governing we are going to abide with for the millenium.
Museveni, like all other dictators, came to power with the help of other countries. Tanzania being one of those that played a major role in the COUP (Museveni's), one could wonder why Tanzanians, with a man like J. Nyerere, never say words such as those of president Museveni? We never saw Tanzania keeping its forces in Uganda for a so long time. We never had Nyerere saying; "Museveni is in Kampala because of our intervention…". Was it because things have always come up smelling of roses in Uganda since president Museveni took power? Also, Museveni brought Kagame to power in Kigali, but his forces went back to Uganda. Did he withdraw his troops because peace was restored in Rwanda? If so, why is he keeping quiet since the people he brought to power are now believed to be committing genocide acts in Rwanda?
It should be noted, Your Excellency, that the aims must have been not the same in these situations above. We may be tempted to come to a conclusion (with no proof, but acceptable) that Nyerere wanted a Uganda with someone of his interests, but who could, at the same time, be able to do something for Ugandans. However, it looks like in the DRCongo case, all must be for those who came to "liberate Congolese" with Kabila, but nothing for the "so-liberated people". Evidences are clear now if we can just consider TRAFFICS OF ALL KINDS IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS OF CONGO-KINSHASA. The economy is shot down in these areas; all for the rebels and their allies (both accusing Kabila to be a bad leader for Congolese) while our people are struggling to survive.
This is what the UN and the USA should be carefully watching while trying to address the Congo-Kinshasa case. Game playing position will have, we believe, major and serious consequences in that region of Africa. What our people want is, ofcourse, to elect their own Leaders, but they also need peace so that they can start thinking about their future.
Your Excellency,
With all respects and so many regards to yourself and to the Americans, I kindly recommend that you remember this saying, and you know this better; " St-Paul and St-Pierre are all the same, because they all are SAINTS". It seems, regrettably, that all these leaders are dictators. Accordingly, is Uganda, and others, trying to convince the International community, especially the United States of America, that a Good health for Congolese should come from our neighbours? If this is true, let us question these facts;
 How is the economy of the DR Congo occupied areas doing? Who decides about trading and who takes advantage of it? Who will be accountable for the mismanagement of this economy when the war ends?
 Why did Ngoma leave the RCD "Liberating force for Congo",
 Where is this man (Ngoma) and how come the International community never gave him an open place to explain to the world what caused his defection (if Congolese are in the interest of those who want peace from inside Congo)?,
 Why did Wamba dia Wamba defect (he says there was a COUP against him)?. I believe this would have been a good thing if PEACE MARKERS had taken a few time to understand Wamba's defection,
 Who are Mai-Mai in reality and why are they fighting their "liberators"?
 If democracy is not only in Congo-Kinshasa, how are rebels movements taking a big space in the media in Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda? Is it true that Kabila is supporting all these rebels?,
 Are Ugandan rebels in Equateur using Kabila's land to fight Kampala? Isn't there any Ugandan rebel using Rwanda's land to launch attacks against Uganda? If there is at least one who can do so, is Uganda aware? If yes, did the government of Uganda send any troops in Rwanda to fight Kagame?
 How can the UN and the United States of America tolerate killings of civilians, mostly Women and children, in rebels and their allies occupied areas? This way (watching without saying a word) would finally be understood as supporting Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi claiming to have their rebels in DRCongo? While these (women and children) have a great value in the western and in the North American countries, one should question why are their fellows dying for no reason and no serious attention from the International community is seen?
For example, in the case of GONZALES ( that young Cuban who was rescued from the waters in Miami, USA), we are watching how the Media and the American politicians are taking this case seriously in order to defend this young boy's rights. In this particular case, we will recall that American Senator John McCain said that the young boy should not return to Cuba because his mother died in the water in order to rescue his life from the atrocities in that country (Cuba). Are the US and UN autthorities aware that this congolese social group (women and children) is the most vulnerable and victim of what is known, and seems to be unfortunately accepted to justify killings of our people, as a "retaliation against Hutu genocidaires hidden in Congo"?
Considering the above case, I wander if those children dying in the occupied areas in DRCongo should not deserve protection by the International community. The International community may say that they are protecting those women and children (among others) dying in that side of the country. But, there is still a big concern; "Are food and medication properly reaching those people"? And, even though they receive this help, is it a DURABLE SOLUTION to their problem? How will it stop KILLINGS (when many of these innocent people are buried ALIVE)?
Your Excellency,
Should I be allowed to use this french saying, "Deux poids, deux mesures", which would be "two weights, two measures" about the international community's policy towards the problem in the Great Lakes region of Africa. On November 3, 1999 at 3:30 in Ontario, the French channel known as TV5 broadcasted views from Switzerland and Austrians Ambassadors (called by the KNUSSET) about the question "Semitism". Here are, in French, the words of one of the Swiss participants: "La Suisse n'a pas à se justifier. Israël doit agir comme un Etat normal. La question du Sémitisme ne doit pas revenir à tout moment qu'il y a des questions à résoudre en Suisse…".
I believe, Your Excellency, that there is something in common between this question and that of the genocide in Rwanda in1994. So far, nobody has denied that a genocide did take place in Rwanda. That is why Arusha/Tanzania is trying to determine every single responsability in those massacres in order to repress their actors. Why are innocent people then being killed in response to this same genocide? How are Congolese associated to this genocide so they can daily be slaughtered like goats? Were the people killed in Kasika, Burhale, Bunyakiri, Makobola, Ituri, Kalemie, Moba, Wimbi, Baraka, Fizi, Mboko, Butembo, Kisangani, Manono, Kabinda, Kindu, Mwenga, Bwegera, Mulongwe, and elsewhere in DRCongo, Rwandese? All these places being under rebels and their allies, we will need to know how these killed people participated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
This same policy of "Deux poids, deux mesures" applies in the case of Russia fighting Tchetchenie. So far, the international community blames Russia. We saw, among other blames, the French Minister of Defense, Mr. Alain Richard, saying;"Une pression sera faite sur la Russie pour qu'elle cesse avec ses frappes" (TV5, November 10, 1999, 7:50, local time in Ontario). One would wonder why did this same blame not apply to countries invading Congo-Kinshasa. What can be recalled is that nobody from the international community is ready to admit that there was an INVASION about this country by Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. How will leaders be able to recognize their mistakes if they cannot be blamed for open unpleasant acts such as those of these three countries in Congo.
Hoping the UN Security Council will bring about a meaningful solution in the Great Lakes region, and in the DRC in particular; hoping the OAU Secretary General (according to his interview with the BBC's Swahili Service of December 1999) will reinforce his commitment to bring PEACE in DRCongo by defending its INTEGRITY (which is the big legitimate right of our nation) and by implementing the program of the WITHDRAW of foreign troops from this country, I wish the New York meeting will bring a LASTING PEACE FOR CONGOLESE AND FOR ALL THE GREAT LAKES REGION NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.
Let each of countries in the Great Lakes region have a minimum of independence and respect so it can welcome, in cooperation with its neighbours and the world, foreign investments in order to create jobs for its people,
Let developed countries, who have been donating for decades, feel like they can rest (unless they are determined, for some reason, to be DONORS FOR GOOD) so that our people can learn to help themselves,
Let these investors deal with each country, talk to local people about their needs in order to know how they (in cooperation with the authorities of that country) can invest,
Let foreign investors operate in peace and secure their business (by talking to the RIGHT INTERLOCUTOR).
All for peace, and peace for all,
Manyongo wa Selemani
Member of the Congolese community of
Windsor, Ontario/Canada
Copies to:
- Honor Richard Holbrooke, President of the UN Security Council
- Senator John McCain of the Arizona State
- Senator Bill Frist of the State of Tennessee
- President Jacques Chirac of la République de France
- President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
- President Laurent Désiré Kabila of the DRC
- President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
- President Benjamin Mukapa of Tanzania
- Governor George Bush of the Texas State, USA
- Ed. Marek, New Congo Net |
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