Why Africa should commemorate the 50th anniversary of the defeat of the U.S forces by Cuba, at the Bay of Pigs

On the 17^th April 1961, at 1:15am, under the authorization of President J.F. Kennedy and the C.I.A, about 1,500 U.S trained Mercenaries landed on Cuban Soil, at the Bay of Pigs on five Landing Crafts (LCVPs, similar to those used at the WWII Normandy landings) with one clear intention: To overthrow Fidel Castro’s revolutionary regime, which was barely two years old.

Two days before the Bay of Pigs invasion, American B-26 Bombers painted in Cuban Air Force colours struck Cuba’s three military airbases where almost half of Cuba’s then small air force was destroyed, and several Cuban Nationals killed. (it was at the funeral of the killed Cubans that Fidel announced the Socialist Characteristic of the Revolution.)

Fidel Castro Inside a Tank at the Bay of Pigs

As the mercenaries landed, they were met by local people (Campesinos) who defended their motherland armed only with Czech M-52 rifles, until the first battalion of cadet troops arrived in the area. As the War raged on, Castro went and set up a command centre at a nearby sugar mill, from where he was directing the Cuban attacks. Fidel showed remarkable control of events, including when he himself engaged in combat when he had to get into Cuban Military tanks. As more Cuban reinforcements arrived, the rest of the Island was also put on alert, with Raul Castro commanding the Eastern side, Juan Almeida Commanding the Centre, and Che Guevara would be in charge of the Occidental parts.

Fidel Castro, Raul Castro and Che Guevara at the Bay of pigs

The invaders (from the 2506^th Brigade) were escorted by aircraft Carrier USS Essex, five destroyers and six freighters, all which moved with radio silence.  On standby were U.S marines, who were waiting for the Mercenaries to succeed and set up a provisional government which would “invite” them over to the “Free” Cuban state.

The B-26 Bombers continued causing havoc, until four of them were shot down by the Cuban fighters. In the meantime, two American supply ships containing ammunition and communications equipments (the Houston and Rio Escondido) were sunk by the Cuban fighter jets, forcing two other ships to flee back to the U.S, and by 20^th of April (only two days later) the American destroyers picked up the few mercenaries who had made it to the Sea and fled back to the U.S, signaling the end of an invasion which had been planned for over one year. (the planning began during President Eisenhower’s leadership)

Over 1, 200 Captured U.S Mercenaries

Fidel, Raul and the Cuban Combatants Celebrate the Victory at the Bay of Pigs

Cuba lost 161 fighters, while the U.S lost 114 men. Over 1, 200 American Combatants were taken prisoner, all of whom Fidel gave back to the U.S administration, in exchange for medical supplies for children and Agricultural equipment, which, were more of Moral punishments than anything else.

After the Americans were humiliated by this unimaginable defeat, they resorted to using terrorist tactics such as bombing Cuban trade ships, sending terrorists to bomb Cuban passenger planes and tourist hotels, assassinations and above all, imposing the murderous blockade which to date is still in effect, despite persistent U.N condemnation (every year all the countries in the U.N, except Israel and the U.S, vote against the blockade at the U.N general assembly)

It was after the triumph at the Bay of Pigs that Cuba’s first brotherly assistance to Africa came about.

Cuba in Africa-Algeria

In 1961, the African continent was violently rising up against the Colonialists, and one of the bloodiest anti-colonial wars was fought in Algeria, under the leadership of the National Liberation Front (FLN) against the French. Ahmed Ben Bella, who was one of the FLN leaders called for Cuba’s support. Cuba did not hesitate and it sent a ship load of Weapons and tens of doctors to the freedom fighters, the ship then returned to Cuba with over a hundred Algerian children who had been wounded and orphaned by the French forces. One year later, the Algerian people won their independence from France.

In 1963, Morocco, through its Monarchy claimed a large mineral-rich Algerian territory, and decided to take it by force, in a war now known as the Sand War. At this time, the Moroccan Army received logistical aid from the U.S, and arms from France, while Algeria’s rebel army was still recuperating from its long and unequal war with the French Colonialists. After some period of fighting(Deep inside Algerian territory), the Algerian government again called for help from Cuba, and again Cuba did not hesitate, in fact, it sent a battalion of state of the art tanks, together with over seven hundred internationalist soldiers. After the arrival of the Cuban troops, the war did not last for long, and the Moroccans had to retreat from the Algerian-Cuban forces, and finally a peace deal was negotiated by the O.A.U.

Saharawi

It is very important to note here that Morocco, under it Monarch, has been occupying the Western Sahara republic since the departure of their Spanish colonialists.

After meeting stiff resistance from the Saharawi people under the Polisario Front, Spain did not allow for Saharawi independence but instead divided its territory between Mauritania and Morocco in 1975, while it (Spain) controlled Saharawi’s maritime resources. The Saharawi continued with their war against their new Colonizers, and in 1979, they managed to defeat the French backed Mauritania forces. It was after this victory that the O.A.U officially recognized Western Sahara Republic, and because of this, Morocco quit the O.A.U. Since then, the Saharawi have been fighting for independence from Morocco, which receives support from Spain, France, the U.S. and even indirectly from the U.N through the U.N.S.C.

It is quite clear that if the Cubans had not intervened for Algeria in 1963, then probably we could have had two colonies in Africa today.

Cuba in Africa-Congo

In 1964, at the U.N general assembly, Ernesto Che Guevara admonished the U.S and Belgian aggressions against the Congo (DRC) where he said that “every free man in the world must be ready to avenge for the crimes committed against Congo.” Shortly after his speech, the Congolese rebellion was crushed by the Belgian Paratroopers, Rhodesian and South African mercenaries, and the U.S transport planes.

Che Guevara alias Tatu, with Congolese Fighters in Eastern Congo

In 1965, Che Guevara first arrived in Congo with two handpicked Cuban Battalions (all, except four soldiers were black) through Tanzania. Unfortunately, as Ben Bella would later say, the intervention in Congo arrived too late, and several months later, the mission had to be terminated.

Cuba in Africa-Portuguese Colonies

In 1965, after withdrawing from Congo, Che Guevara met other African leaders, and in Algiers he met movement leaders of countries which were still under Portuguese Colonialism, leaders of MPLA (Aghostinho Neto), PAIGC (Amilcar Cabral) and FRELIMO (Samora Machel). A relationship between these movements and Cuba thus began, and the Cubans began preparing fighting units, sending instructors and financial assistance. Finally Guinea-Bissau won its independence in 1974, under the leadership of the revolutionary and visionary leader, Amilcar Cabral(who by that time had been assassinated by the Portuguese).
By then Cuba had over 600 internationalists, among them tens of doctors, all who had stayed in Guinea-Bissau for close to ten years. The rest of the Portuguese colonies(Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique) would fall in 1975.

Fidel Castro and Samora Machel-First President of Mozambique and leader of FRELIMO

Fidel Castro and Agostinho Neto-First President of Angola and leader of MPLA

Fidel Castro and Amilcar Cabral-leader of PAIGC
"The Cuban combatants are ready to sacrifice their lives to free our countries, and in exchange to that aid to our freedom and the progress of our peoples, the only thing that they will take away with them are the Cuban combatants that fell in the fight for freedom"-Amilcar Cabral

Cuba in Africa-Ethiopia

In 1977, over 15, 000 Cuban combatants participated in the defense of Ethiopia, against the Somali invasion for the annexation of Ethiopia’s Ogaden region. In three years, the Derg(Military Council), under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Miriam had overthrown Emperor Haile Selasie, and Ethiopia had fallen into instability, where internal wrangles had risen, political unrests erupted and secessionist groups emerged from many regions of the country. One of these regions was Ogaden, whose secessionist uprising was supported by Somalia (under Said Barre). Then in 1977, the Somali Army, which had far much superior military and air force strength (after receiving a lot of assistance over the years from the U.S.S.R and Egypt) invaded Ethiopia. Due to superior military hardware (now coming from the U.S and the U.S.S.R), the Somalis managed to seize the Ogaden region in one month, and were still on the offensive. The U.S.S.R then changed sides and began giving military hardware to Ethiopia, and it was at this moment that the Cuban troops landed and began fighting alongside the Ethiopian Soldiers. Strategies were developed and eventually Ethiopia managed to regain her territory in 1978. Again, many of the orphaned and wounded children were taken to Cuba, where they were educated and taken care of until they were old enough to go back and serve their mother country.

Raul, Fidel and Mengistu in Ethiopia

 Cuba in Africa-Angola

But it is the 1975 and later 1987 interventions in Angola and Southern Africa that witnessed the most massive combat involvements by Cuba in Africa.

In the period when Angola was in the process of gaining its independence in 1975, there were around five hundred Cuban Military instructors in Angola.

Of all the Portuguese colonies, Angola was the biggest and the richest, so as the Portuguese colonialism was being kicked out, the American Imperialism was forcing its way in (as was the case in whole of Africa), and America hatched a plan to divide Angola and own it via proxy of Zaire (under Mobutu) and South Africa (under the S.A Fascists.) The two countries were to simultaneously invade Angola before it proclaimed its independence, and the attacks would come from the North (Zaire) and from the South, and in no time, the first battle was waged in Benguela. It was here that Agostinho Neto, leader of MPLA asked for support from Cuba. Over the next few days, Cuba sent over 36, 000 FARs (Revolutionary Armed Forces), complete with the air cover of MiG-17s, MiG-21s and MiG 23s. With these soldiers plus the Angolan Compatriots, the Cubans launched “Operation Carlota” (Named after a woman slave who in 1843 led an uprising against Slavery, and died in the struggle.) In addition to it being the most powerful country on the continent, South Africa also had nuclear bombs, which were delivered to them by the U.S after the Cubans made their presence there.

This notwithstanding, the Cuban-Angolan forces managed to push the South African Forces      1, 000 kilometers, up to the Namibian border. The two countries held some peace talks, but Cuba refused to withdraw its forces, unless Namibia was granted its independence. After some push from the U.S and U.S.S.R, Cuban finally agreed to leave in a timetabled manner, and it, together with the U.S.S.R agreed to train and arm the Angolan Army.

Small intermittent aggressions continued from the South Africans, but that was until 1987, when the SADF(South African Defense Forces) decided to launch a full attack (the last) on Angola.

In 1987, the U.S and South Africa launched a major attack using Jonas Savimbi (leader of UNITA) as a front, and Angola, now under Eduardo Dos Santos called for help from Cuba.

 This time round, Cuba was reluctant to send any support, since their advisers in Angola had always warned the MPLA against attacking the Savimbi outposts in the far South, something that was unnecessary, and dangerous, but the MPLA didn’t take the advice, hence the moment that they attacked Savimbi in the South, the South Africans counter attacked and killed very many Angolan soldiers, destroyed brand new equipments and they continued to surge forward towards the capital. The Angolans had taken the bait.

After more distress calls from the brother nation, Cuba agreed to take the risk and help Angola, but they (the Cubans) had decided that they would fight hard, and end the South African aggressions in Southern Africa, once and for all.

Over 55, 000 soldiers were sent to Angola and the positioned themselves at two fronts, one in the South Western regions of Angola, and another behind the Cuito and Canavale Rivers. The South Western attack included 40, 000 Cuban soldiers, 30, 000 Angolan troops and 3, 000 Namibian guerilla fighters from SWAPO, who were under the leadership of Sam Nujoma (Since 1975, Angola had training bases for Namibia, Zimbabwe and South African freedom fighters). They were covered above by the MiG-23s, and they had over 1, 000 anti-air artillery and around 600 tanks. This, together with the famous thunderous defeat at Cuito Canavale, made the South Africans flee deep into their territory.

A meeting of old Comrades-Fidel and Mandela

Fidel Castro and Sam Nujoma-First President of Namibia and leader of SWAPO

Cuban-Angolan Fighters in Angola

Cuba in Africa-Namibia, South Africa

This time round, the Cubans vowed not to stop the war, until South West Africa, Now Namibia was given its independence. Peace talks were then initiated by the U.N, where South Africans sat on one side, and Cubans and the Angolans on the other side. Ironically, the U.S was acting as the mediator. Namibia finally won its independence in 1990, where Sam Nujoma was elected as the first President of that Nation. South Africa became free four years later.

In the whole involvement in Angola since 1974, over 300, 000 volunteer Cuban internationalists had participated in the Angolan struggle. 2, 077 Cubans had lost their lives. Unlike the U.S, France, Britain and the whole NATO alliance who intervene in other countries because of their selfish interests, Cuba agreed to intervene in all these countries out of fraternal love.

How Cuba is working with Africa Today

Last year, I had the privilege of attending the 3^rd African Meeting of Solidarity Networks with Cuba, which was held in Luanda, Angola and had been organised by Government of Angola, Angolan League of Friendship and Solidarity with the people (LAASP), Association for Angola-Cuba Friendship (ASAC) and the Cuban Institute of friendship with the Peoples (ICAP and was attended by delegations from over 14 African countries.

While Sam Nujoma(81), first president of Namibia remembered how they used to be happy when they, as Guerilla Freedom Fighters used to see the Cuban MiG-23s flying above them; a Ghanaian delegate in his mid 20s told the meeting of how Cuban volunteer doctors are offering medical service in remote regions of Ghana, regions where even Ghanaian doctors avoid to tread.

This trend is not only seen in Ghana, but it is there in many African countries, and other countries in the world. When Fidel was taking over in 1959, Cuba had a total of 6, 000 doctors half of whom were lured over to the U.S after the triumph of the revolution. Since then, Cuba, under the great leadership of Fidel Castro has managed to train over 80, 000 Cuban doctors, and has trained an equivalent number of doctors from other countries.

In a span of less than 10 years, over 30 Kenyan students have studied medicine in Cuba for free, and are now practicing in Kenya, while another 30 have had full University scholarships in other disciplines.

Henry Reeve Contingent

Cuban Doctors Put on stand by to help after Hurricane Catrina-U.S rejected the offer, and many lives were lost

Some Cuban Doctors in Haiti after the devastating Earthquake

Cuba has the Henry Reeve Contingent, which is an army of doctors who largely deal with disasters situations and disease epidemics in all corners of the world. They have intervened in Guatemala during Hurricane Mitch, they were there during the Pakistani earthquake, there were there before, during and after the Haiti earthquake. Even in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Cuba offered 1, 600 doctors, but the American pride could not allow them to accept the offer. As a result, many people (mainly blacks) had to die of salvageable conditions. Fidel Castro while speaking about the U.S reactions to the Haiti earthquake disaster said that Cuba does not send Soldiers, it sends doctors: The Cuban doctors who were in Haiti saved many lives, while the U.S army used the disaster to occupy Haiti militarily. They also prevented many deaths, and saved many during the Cholera outbreak later in that country.

The Cuban doctors have solved millions of medical cases in Africa alone, and all this they do out of the internationalist spirit of love.

Africa in Cuba

Out of all this, Africa has also reciprocated this love through small but firm deeds, for instance, after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, Cubans went through a very difficult period (Special Period). A period of hunger, a period of intensified terrorist attacks and a period of blurred future. But Africans stood and stuck with them, giving them moral physical support in the form of food aids and other materials.

Since the mid 1990s, Africa has always voted for the abolishment of the murderous U.S Blockade on Cuba, without fearing reprisals from the U.S. Despite this resolution being passed by over 180 countries at the U.N every year, the U.S continues ignoring these calls and even President Obama, whose father was an African and in whom we earlier had a lot of faith in has continued with these unjustified killing of innocent Cuban people.

African people have also being at the forefront of pushing for the release of the Five Cuban Antiterrorist heroes, who are unfairly held in the U.S jails because of unearthing terrorism in the U.S.A.

These kind acts are so many and they include last year’s Cuban debt cancellation (1$ Billion) by South Africa, which was followed by awarding another loan to Cuba.


Not Enough

Though Africa’s reciprocation has been seen, it is clearly not enough. Whereas Cuba went to great lengths, including risking sending its Army thousands of miles away when it always had an imminent aggression from its neighbor just 100 miles away;

Whereas Cuban internationalists lost their lives in the process of fighting for freedom in Africa;

Whereas Cuba has had to face more difficult times because of the costs involved in these interventions;

Whereas Cuba has always told off imperialism and imperialist advances from this great continent of ours;

Whereas we can never forget what Cuba under the leadership of Comrade Fidel Castro has done and is doing o this continent;

We must also ask ourselves as Africans what we are doing to develop conditions; A Socialist environment, which allowed and is allowing Cuba to have the heart of being in solidarity with us.

We must question, challenge and expose the African leadership that was still in leadership when Cuba’s internationalism was at its peak, but who today have are not walking the progressive and revolutionary talk that they had back in the days.

We must work harder amongst our people, inform them of the Cuban Blockade, the Cuban 5, Guantanamo bay and other Cuban struggles (which in most cases receive no media coverage) so that together we may fight against these injustices in a louder voice, and in stronger action.

In as much as the African countries vote with Cuba on the issue of the blockade every year, in my view this is not enough. We need visible and militant action from our leaders in these U.N meetings, and directly with Cuba that will end this madness once and for all.

Even though our Cuban brothers did and continue doing the positives in Africa out of Socialist internationalism and out of love, Africans must reciprocate this love in equal and even in higher measure.

Cuba, just like all the African countries is a developing nation, but it has managed to build a literacy rate of 99.8% (whereas the U.S has over 40 million illiterate adults), it has managed to become the medical superpower of the world, it has a life expectancy of 79 years (in fact, the oldest person alive is a Cuban, she is 126 years old!), among many other major achievements.

It has made these serious strides in human development due to their patriotism to their country, fostering true friendship with other nations, practicing Socialism, opposing imperialism, revolutionary visionary leadership, and goodwill from the rest of the world.

It is from these, and many other Africa-Cuba relationship that Africa should celebrate with Cuba, as they mark the 50^th Anniversary of the defeat of the U.S forces at the Bay of Pigs: No one knows where the world would be, if victory was never to be.

Viva Cuba!

Viva Africa!

Benedict Wachira

Secretary, Kenya-Cuba Friendship Society

6^th May 2011

04:10am

Recommended book: My Life-Fidel Castro and Ignacio Ramonet Penguin Books, 2007

Simone Gbagbo: Beaten, Tortured and probably sexually harassed by Ouattara soldiers

Simone Gbagbo-Forced to look at the Camera after Humiliation, Brutal Beating and Torture

The first time I came across a photo of Simone Gbagbo was in January this year, at a West African news site that I occasionally follow (allwestafrica.com). She was at a rally in support of her husband, Laurent Gbagbo. The husband was not present at the rally. The site then posted some other pictures in mid march, where she had attended a prayer rally for peace in Ivory Coast. Again, her husband was not there. That was when I developed some interest and googled her name, and I was really stunned to read a little about her. The next time I saw her photo, at the same site, was a day after 4/11, and the above photo was one of them. Since then, these 4/11 photos have been written about and distributed around with words like “Gbagbo deserved this,” “Gbagbo and wife caught in a bunker!” “African dictators should learn from this,” “Kudos to the French, now we go to Zimbabwe, hope Grace is watching,” “Did Gbagbo have to put his family through this?” and many other sickening comments.

Successful African women

There have been many attempts to destroy the fame, character and public perception of Female African Revolutionaries, Female African freedom fighters and Successful Female African Politicians (especially those politicians who are independent of the west.)

In some earlier article, I wrote about Field Marshal Muthoni, a Kenyan guerrilla Independence war heroine, who rose to the rank of a Mau Mau General, but has had a total blackout by the former and current governments and from other institutions such as the media, yet she is still alive and strong. Stories about Winnie Mandela are always focused on her alternative love life and little about her role in the anti-apartheid struggle. And there are many other strong women who have been given the same treatment. Even heroines from the past, heroines such as Mekatilili wa Menza and Wanje wa Mwadorikola who led men in the coast in resisting the British Colonialists, a hero like Muthoni Nyanjiru, who led women in probably the first nonviolent protest recorded in Colonial Kenya, a Heroine like Taitu Betul-the decisive Ethiopian empress who led the resounding defeat of the Italian Colonialists in the battle of Adowa, and many other female heroines.

It is this treatment of our past women heroines, coupled with religious chauvinism that has undermined the rise of women into decision making positions, and has also brainwashed most Africans, both Male and Female, into not entrusting leading roles to women.

Africa was a continent which produced powerful queens and natural female leaders, who were accepted and accorded respect by the communities that they led. Historians tell us that when it was the woman leading, the community became stronger and developed faster. Karl Marx once wrote that “Everyone who knows anything of history also knows that great social revolutions are impossible without the feminine ferment. Social progress may be measured precisely by the social position of the fair sex”, Mao Zedong also, in his quest to liberate the Chinese women once told the people to “Unleash women’s fury as a real force for the revolution.”
There are countries where women heroes are encouraged, celebrated and accorded the respect they deserve. In a country like Cuba, Celia Sanchez, Vilma Espin, Haydee Santamaria, Tete Puebla and many other women leaders are given the recognition that they earned. Strong women like Rosa Luxemburg, Harriet Tubman, Kim Jong Suk and many others are still remembered by the societies that they represented, and beyond.

Of course, just as it is in the case of men, it is not just any woman who can lead. That is why the story of Simone-Ehivet Gbagbo inspires me, in the same extent as some of the pictures that I have posted here (below) bring me to tears.

Who is Simone Gbagbo?

“We will never get tired of saying that more women should get into decision making positions” -Simone Gbagbo

Dr. Simone was born on 20^th June 1949, in the village of Mossou in Ivory Coast to Ehivet Jean, a Policeman and Marie Djaha, who died after giving birth to her. She excelled in her academics, through to the University of Abidjan, where she pursued a degree in Oral Literature and linguistics. She furthered her education in numerous institutions, including the University of Villentaneuse and the University of Dakar. She has also participated in many academic forums all over the world.

In her early life, she aspired to be a teacher, and she became one, where she taught in Secondary school, and later in the University.

Since her childhood days, she was an active member of several youth groups, both in the Community and in the church. As a secondary school teacher, although she never held any position in the teachers Union, she was a very committed member of that union, and used to participate and mobilize other teachers in their activities.

She later shifted to lecturing at the University of Abidjan, where she got deeply involved in the powerful Lecturers’ trade Union (S.Y.N.A.R.E.S) which she headed.

All this time, just like in most African Countries in that era, Ivory Coast was headed by a brutal dictator called Houphouet Boigny, who served as a puppet of the French, a supporter of apartheid in South Africa, a good friend of Jonas Savimbi, and a fervent opponent of Pan Africanism. It was her opposition to the activities of this dictator that landed her to prison on several occasions.

Still at the University, she, together with other Lecturers and Students, joined an underground political organisation, which held clandestine political study circles within the university. It was in one of the study circle cells that she met Laurent Gbagbo, in 1973. Gbagbo was just fresh from Jail (Gbagbo too was used to the prison gates as a political prisoner.)

It was from this underground organizing that Gbagbo, Simone and others formed the FPI (Ivorian Popular Front) which still operated from the underground, since it was illegal to have any other party in Ivory Coast.

Fast forward to the 90’s: Due to the pressure that the underground was putting on Houphouet, the dictator allowed for multipartism, where Gbagbo was his only challenger. Simone on her part vied for the municipal elections in Abobo district. They both lost the elections. After the elections they were both imprisoned again, this was after she was brutally beaten up by soldiers before their arrest. After her release, she and other party members began building the FPI, where she became the National Secretary in charge of Political education and Agriculture. Five years later, she vied for the position of Member of Parliament, representing the Abobo district, where she comfortably won. She was then elected as the Vice President of the Ivorian parliament by the MPs.

In the year 2000, Laurent Gbagbo was sworn in as the President, and she became the First Lady of Ivory Coast. (Unlike other African first ladies who wear expensive clothes and do expensive shopping abroad, Simone, dresses in the ordinary Ivorian clothes, and leads a modest lifestyle.)The parliamentary elections were then held in 2002, and people from Abobo district asked that she represents them again in parliament. She accepted to vie. Some of her party members were opposed to this, and her rivals in other parties began their smear campaigns, where they called her greedy, telling the voters that if they voted for her, she would abandon them and go back to the presidential palace.

The elections were held, and she emerged the winner among the four candidates, garnering over 39, 000 votes, which was 56% of the total votes, while the other three shared the rest amongst themselves. 

Events continued to happen within Ivory Coast, when the Ouattara rebels, aided by France and Blaise Compaore (the French puppet president of Burkina Faso) and wrecked lots of havoc in I.C. During that civil war, the French annihilated Gbagbo’s Air force after the air force bombed some French soldiers who, without the knowledge of the government were secretly training the Ouattara Rebels.

As peace talks were being held, she stood her ground, and insisted that the talks should continue within the contexts of I.C’s constitution. By saying this, she was considered by many to be a hardliner: But one should ask, if people cannot respect constitutions, law and order, then how can countries be governed? Most European countries are stable because people stick to their constitutions. Even African dictators to some extent respect this fact. They always change their constitutions before increasing their term limits; They do not extend their terms then change their constitutions.

At the peace talks (which were held in France), it was agreed that Ouattara would vie in the next elections. It was also agreed that the rebels would be included in Gbagbo’s government. It was also agreed that Ouattara’s rebels would be disarmed, before the elections could be held. Instead of disarming his rebels, Ouattara increased the size of his rebel army, with massive support from the French. This led to the postponement of the election by four years. All this time, Simone would speak her mind. She would speak and stick to the truth and condemn all these developments, especially the French involvement. At one moment during the peace talks, Kofi Anan suggested that because of her strong stand and influence on the populace of I.C, she could be included into the peace talks!

Simone-Dances at a rally in support of her Husband Gbagbo(Jan 2011)

The Jovial African Woman!

Simone Shaking Hands with Charles Ble Goude-Leader of the Young Patriots

 Unfortunately, a lot of international pressure was exacted on Gbagbo, and the elections were held without the disarmament of the rebels. What followed was what was earlier feared. Massive rigging in the rebel held territories, voter intimidation, voting under the barrel of the gun among many other mal practices, especially in the second round voting.

It is highly probable that all this would not have happened, if Simone was the president of I.C. She would have nipped it in the bud.

Speaking of if she was the president, most Ivorians felt that she could vie for presidency after her husband’s term ended. She was termed by the people as the “Hillary Clinton of Africa.”

Many allegations and cases have been brought against her, but she has overcome all of them. The French even accused her of murder, but she won the case, after which Laurent Gbagbo sued the double agent who had presented the false creations to the French.

In my opinion, Simone’s main weakness is her deep religious belief. But believers would consider this as a strong point.

Simone has been at the forefront of many initiatives targeting women and girls.

On her arrival at a Peace Prayer Rally in Abidjan-Always jovial (March 2011)

At the Prayer Rally-Deep in Thought

 The French/U.N led illegal arrest

But it was how she was mistreated after the “Capture” that saddens me most. It made me ask myself very many questions. Very bitter questions.

It is a known fact that one of Gbagbo’s ministers who was with them during the capture was brutally beaten up, and shot dead in head. Ouattara’s men then claimed that he had tried to kill himself (by beating himself up?)

Looking at Simone’s photos at the capture, it is clear that she was beaten up, tortured, and probably sexually assaulted. Ever since these pictures and their videos were made public, nobody has come out to condemn these dehumanizing acts on Simone. No word from the so called civil societies, no word from those who defend universal rights, and surprisingly, no word from any African first lady or politician.

Humiliated-Simone faces down-Gbagbo trying to put up a straight face

It appears as if she is ordered to look at the Camera.Gbagbo sits calmly

The Humiliation Continues,they both appear to protest

 It is clear that the tortures were ordered directly by Ouattara himself, since the rebel soldiers who entered the palace and later took Gbagbo and his family to the Gulf Hotel were not the simple rank and files. His top soldiers were present at capture and at the hotel, and it is clear that they were receiving direct orders from him. Even before the illegal arrests were made, Ouattara had said that he had given his soldiers direct orders not to harm Gbagbo. It is then possible that he had given them direct orders to harm Simone.

But why did Ouattara do this? Why did the soldiers take the orders? Was it Gbagbo that they had a problem with or was it Simone? These photos are just so sad. Furthermore, if this is how the best Ouattara soldiers would treat the first lady and an elected leader in I.C in front of the cameras, then how did they treat the ordinary women that they met in the villages? Even the staunchest Ouattara defenders would now find it hard to refute the torture, the rape cases and the genocidal killings that they are reported to have, and still are committing.

Taken Outside and Forced by Ouattara Rebels to lie on the Floor

French backed-Ouattara Rebels forcefully pose for a photo with her lying down

 This is something that has probably never been witnessed in the world before. Idi Amin was toppled out of power, but the wives were not touched. Samuel Doe was killed and his naked body paraded in the streets of Liberia, but the same was not meted on the wife. Haile Selasie was buried in a latrine, but this treatment was not extended to his wife. In as much as we cannot even slightly compare the above mentioned people with Gbagbo, we see that the rebels and mutineers in these places had some sense of humanity in them.

In these pictures, we see Gbagbo for some reason being made to change clothes three times in one day; hence I would not be surprised to learn to hear that these men sexually harassed or even raped Simone that day, as some sites suggest.

Gbagbo being taken out-He is in his pajamas

Gbagbo without a shirt, wiping tears off his face

Gbagbo in a Green Summer shirt

Gbagbo in a Brown Shirt

 For me, it is clear that Ouattara and the French first wanted their revenge on Simone, and secondly, they fear Simone more than they fear anybody else, and they know that if they do not deal with her once and for all, then she would be back to haunt them, as she has done in the past.

It will be sad if they kill her and claim that she killed herself, but it will not be an unexpected move.

Is this how Ouattara and the French trained their men to handle women prisoners?

How Ouattara's best forces handled the 1st Lady

Young Ouattara Soldiers manhandling the 62 year old African Woman....on Camera

 It is expected that wives of heads of state influence some of the decisions that their husbands make. In most cases, we also see their wives being involved in their campaigns, where they address public meetings and television shows. But does that warrant this kind of treatment? I would feel really sad and angered if some Al Qaeda fellows captured Bush and his family, and then subjected Laura to any bad treatment. How would Obama feel if this was done to Mitchell by one of his many enemies? How would Kenyans have felt if either Lucy Kibaki or Ida Odinga underwent such treatment, because they performed their roles as their husband’s wives?

Laurent Gbagbo's Wife

George Bush's Wife

Barrack Obama's Wife

  

Mwai Kibaki's Wife

Raila Odinga's Wife-Raila was an AU mediator who
openly Supported Ouattara, immediately he was
appointed as a mediator

 Even Gbagbo did not think of doing such to General Guei or his wife in 2000. How would Ouattara, his supporters, and humanity in general feel, if the tables were to turn today, and Ouattara is arrested by Gbagbo’s forces, then his French wife’s hair is torn from her scalp, when she is beaten up, and treated as they have treated Simone?

Ouattara's Wife-Dominique Nouvian Folloroux

Ouattara and Dominique at a public funtion

 Inspiration, rather than demoralization

Whether her husband won or lost the elections, Simone did/does not deserve this kind of treatment.

If they did this so as to depict her image to the public as weak and hopeless, then what they have done has given Africans Strength and hope, to fight the Imperialists and their local representatives. If by torturing her they think that people will fear and run away, then they should know that they have given people the strength, and that people will run towards them with ideas, arms and all that they have. I hope, that if their intention was to curtail the rise of women into decision making positions, then African women will be inspired and take their rightful role in the society in large numbers.

In this last photo below, Simone seems to be looking straight into our hearts, telling us that she has so far played her role, and it is up to us to join hands with her, and continue with the struggle against Imperialism and the attempted re-colonization.

Ouattara rebels-Some pulling her hair, she is holding her cheek as if she has just been slapped, the is holding a piece of torn cloth, her dress and Bra sleeves have been pulled up, she has been forced to sit on the floor of a basement room.

She gives us the look

The look that gives us the Anger

 The Anger that gives us the Hope

The Hope that gives us the Strength

the Strength that will defeat the Imperialists

The Imperialists and their local Representatives

Long Live Ivory Coast

Long Live Africa

Let us join hands. Alluta Continua!

Benedict Wachira

21^st April 2011

11:57 pm

Some important links

Simone Gbagbo’s official Website: http://www.simonegbagbo.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Gbagbo

http://www.allwestafrica.com/110420118925.html

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/LIN10126lavraobgabg0/?art_cle=LIN10126lavraobgabg0

http://myafrica.allafrica.com/view/people/main/id/06eagrpoT7m49fIp.html

Celebrations after capture?  http://www.allwestafrica.com/120420118940.html

Simone on Stage: http://www.allwestafrica.com/160120118224.html

Laurent Gbagbo in thought: http://www.allwestafrica.com/120120118179.html

During the crisis: http://www.allwestafrica.com/110120118141.html

Libya- Breaking the Silence

Muammar Gaddafi is facing a messy time right now. Never in his almost 42 year rule has he been shaken like he now is.

The North African Revolts

When the North African uprisings began in Tunisia, I followed it closely, step by step, day by day, right from December 2010 till today. An uprising was coming and all the progressives and Socialists were excited, and many Marxists, using scientific methods, had predicted the fall of Ben Ali as early as late December (the U.S and France realized that Ben Ali was going just three days before he left!)

As the regimes kept falling, Socialists all over the world had asked where the women of Tunisia were, and most importantly, where the workers were. Soon after, photos began circulating in the internet showing women leading in songs, and many of them participating in the demonstrations. Then we all knew that it was done when the workers from the mine fields, in the factories, the nurses, those in transportation, the street cleaners, the teachers, the doctors, the lawyers, the journalists and many other workers joined in. Ben Ali was ready to kill the unemployed youths, he had already killed many students but he couldn’t stop the combined force of the Unemployed Youths, University Students and the workers. He had to run, run very fast.

As this was happening in Tunisia, Youths across North Africa were now awakened, huge tensions were reported from Morocco to Algeria, from Sudan to Egypt, and small disturbances were also reported in Libya. Tensions also erupted in the Middle East, from Jordan to Syria, from Saudi to Kuwait, from Lebanon to Iran. I was so excited, excited that I was living in these historic times, (I actually wondered if this is how those who were alive in the mid 50s to the mid 60s felt: They witnessed the anti-colonial uprisings in Africa, they saw how each colonial state fell giving rise to liberated states, they witnessed the Cuban Revolution and its derivatives, the saw how the oppressed Black people in the U.S fearlessly organized and challenged the racist regimes, they witnessed how the revolutionary Vietnamese people rose against the most powerful country in the world and many other important events) I was also excited since I knew that these waves of change would soon blow Southwards, in a short time to come. The Tunisians had just written history (and they still are, they have the people’s committees, government officials are forced to resign by the day), history that will be studied and written about for years, and probably centuries to come. Tunisian reference will always be made with respect to the falling of the Kingdoms of the Middle East, Bahrain and Morocco. As we speak about Egypt, we will have to mention Tunisia. Tunisia will replace France as a reference point with respect to people’s uprisings.

But Gaddafi was a sad man, he was sad that his long time friend was being kicked out of power. He had even opened Libya’s borders so that unemployed Youths from Tunisia would go into Libya and get some jobs to do. When this failed, and it was clear that Ben Ali was going, it is believed that he was flown out of Tunisia aboard Libyan jets, into Saudi Arabia (after being denied access in Italy and France, where Ben Ali’s best friends, Nicholas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi run things.) Gaddafi then went ahead to mourn Ben Ali’s departure on Libyan state television, telling Tunisians that they had “lost the best president that they could ever have.” So when Africans and progressives were drinking to the people’s victory, Gaddafi was sad.

The martyrs and the revolutionary people of Tunisia had given hope to all the oppressed people in the world, and had instilled fear into all the oppressors and exploiters, and hence immediately after January 14^th, all eyes shifted to Morocco and the Middle East. Many people didn’t see any feasibility in Egypt, since Hosni Mubarak (Ben Ali’s look-a-like) headed one of the most repressive police states in Africa, and probably in the world. It was also reasoned that the U.S would not allow Egypt to fall, since it is of highest strategic importance with respect to the Fascist State of Israel, but the courageous people of Egypt were to prove the world wrong, and on January 25^th, all roads were leading to Tahrir Square.

In the meantime, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the whole U.S administration were unequivocally and unambiguously expressing support and solidarity to their long time puppet, just like they had earlier done in Tunisia. The Egyptian Police (totaling 300,000) was busy rounding up all the tweeps and facebook organizers, and killing many of them and torturing thousands. They were beating up the ground mobilisers, and arresting the Socialist organizers on the ground. And just like in Tunisia, the reactionary Workers’ Trade Union leadership supported Mubarak, even the usually militant Muslim Brotherhood distanced itself away from the uprising. But the people of Egypt, Young and Old, Men and Women (and children too) students and workers stood their ground, and vowed to fight on to the last man. It was at this point that Mubarak replaced the police with the Military (also over 300, 000 strong) in full combat gear, complete with tanks and jet fighters in order to beat (or kill?) the masses into submission. This too, failed, even after killing over 300 people, and thousands of people disappearing. All of us, the progressives, were in full solidarity with the Egyptian people, and encouraged them through the Social Networking sites, through articles in the internet, through prayers (for those who believe.)Fidel Castro was among the first people to conclusively predict the fall Mubarak, and by doing that, he pumped up the morale of the Egyptian people.

Mubarak, an Air Chief Marshal in the Egyptian Air force, and a President who had garnered 89% of the total votes cast in the last elections, was not to be budged by two million people in some liberation square,,,,so he came out on state television, and gave those protesting Egyptians a heavy tongue lash, and asked his supporters “to go out in their millions and defend the country.” The next thing we saw were plain clothed policemen on Camel backs whipping the civilians in Tahrir square, raping the women and causing utmost terror to the demonstrators. In the meantime, MuBarack Obama was quite proud of his guy, and was continuously urging him on. At was at this point that it was reported that the MB came and fought the police and their camels off (then tried to Islamize the revolt by shouting ‘Allah Akbar!’ chants, but they were overshadowed by chants of ‘Muslims, Christians, we are all Egyptians!’)

The Egyptian workers then stage a general strike, circumventing their union, and this marked the final blow to Mubarak. The country was losing money, the military was losing business and everything was at a standstill (except in Tahrir Square, where it was business as usual)

Then came 10^th February, when concerned people from all over the world were glued to their TVs and the internet, waiting for Mubarak to resign, he kept us waiting (past mid night, here in Kenya) and then appeared on TV, with a lot of anti-interference(anti-imperialist)talk, thinking that that would sway the African people to his side and giving the people his last lecture on how he still intended to buried in Egypt (he was so out of touch with the ground, that he seemingly didn’t realize that millions of Egyptians were actually ready to bury him…….in Egypt, or wherever else he wanted!)

And finally, Mubarak fell the following day. Mubarak’s fall was good not just for the Egyptians, but for the rest of Africans and for the colonized and occupied Palestinian people.

Revolts in Sub-Saharan Africa

We then went to square one again, wondering which country would be next. In the meantime, reactionaries in Kenya began saying that the upheavals in North Africa could not happen in sub-Saharan Africa, due tribalism. They further stated that the Islam religion is very strong, and it was what gave the North Africans the courage against threats of death. They had forgotten that just four weeks before the Egyptian uprising, there were fatal tensions between the Muslims and the Coptics, where churches were burnt, demonstrations held and curfews imposed: but during the uprising, they sang and chanted together, and even the Christians watched over their Muslim brothers as they did their Friday prayers. These reactionaries had also forgotten that the Muslims in Tunisia, Egypt and the Middle East have always been Muslims for the many years that Ben Ali, Mubarak and the Kings oppressed them.

What most people do not understand, is that we have revolutionary events, and revolutions. Revolutionary events are not brought about by tribes or religious beliefs. Revolutions do not respect borders, neither do they respect the Sahara. Sooner or later, they will happen throughout Africa, as long as oppression and exploitation continue to exist. Before the current revolts took place, there were several uprisings in both countries. Workers in Tunisian mines had on several occasions gone on system shaking strikes. The Tunisian jails were filled with members of the Tunisian Workers Communist Party, human rights activists and people from other progressive parties, who were a constant threat to the Ben Ali regime, and who were constantly organizing against the regime. Many Socialists and pro-people activists were either exiled, under close surveillance, in prisons or six feet under. In Egypt, there were big solidarity demos in support of the second Intifada, the same treatment used against the Socialists and anti government workers in Tunisia was used against them in Egypt, in the April 6^th of 2008, Egyptian had tried to remove the rotten system through the April 6^th movement, and again in the 6^th of April the following year, and small revolts continued throughout 2010, with severe consequences for the organizers. We have had intifadas in Bahrain, in Iraq and in Morocco. When people are under pressure, it always reaches a point where they have to blow out.

After 11^th April, It appeared as if the wave would jump into Algeria, Jordan, Bahrain or Iran. Then the shocker came. Libya was next.

Libya and Gaddafi

Gaddafi has been quite a controversial person. Taking over power at 27 is not a joke. Staying in power for over 40 years is serious stuff.

He has done some negative things, some which have made the people angry, and others which one just laughs off.

It was bad when he lectured Tunisians for overthrowing Ben Ali. His threats for a civil war (and saying that Libya, unlike Egypt, is made up of tribes) were very irresponsible comments coming from a leader. When he said that Nigeria should be divided along religious lines, I was saddened. When he thinks that the best way to bring African unity is by creating some Kings, and him becoming their king, I question his strategy. When he makes a deal with the Italians, to arrest Africans and prevent them from entering Italy illegally, I am disappointed (Not that those Africans should be allowed to go to Italy, but it should be Italy’s business to stop them from entering Italy, not Libya working harder to prevent them from leaving Libya.….. but I have never understood why some Africans risk their lives so much, to get  European citizenships)

He is also suspected of having trained Charles Taylor in the late 80s. Taylor ended up making a bloody battle in Liberia, and he is now in the ICC for war crime charges in Sierra Leone. But the propagandists who bring this story up, never tell us that in the 80s, Samuel Doe was a brutal Liberian dictator, and any idea of removing him would pass as noble. They also ‘forget’ to tell us that the current Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was one of the main funders of Taylor’s war (NPFL), and she raised most of the money in the U.S. Ellen Sirleaf, at the TRC, said that she  “apologized for being fooled into supporting Taylor.” I agree with her, many people were fooled into supporting Taylor, against Samuel Doe, the only difference is that unlike Gaddafi and the rest, Johnson was fooled several years into the bloody war, even when she was well aware that child soldiers were being used.

Assuming that the late John Garang became a brutal dictator of Southern Sudan, would we blame Gaddafi for supporting him? When Yoweri Museveni misrules Uganda, do we blame Gaddafi for supporting him? If Gaddafi supported a leader to liberate the people of Saharawi or Palestine, and then that leader fucks up, would we blame Gaddafi?

Unlike the U.S and France, who support rebels in Africa countries to topple good African leaders (when they do not succeed in assassinating them), Gaddafi’s support to Taylor was different. It was to topple a murderous dictator, by a seemingly good Liberian.

Some claim that Gaddafi is bad, since Libya was secretly developing Weapons of Mass Destruction, which Gaddafi abandoned in 2003. We all agree, that Nuclear weapons, and all these other weapons used to kill people are bad, but who said that the U.S, Russia, France and a handful of other countries(Including Israel) have the unquestionable right to own these weapons?

On the more positive side, Libya under Gaddafi, has the highest Human Development Index in Africa, and ranks highly in the world. This means that in Africa, Libyans have the highest quality of life. This is how COSATU, while condemning the Libyan government, said of Libyan living standards:

“COSATU appreciates that Libya…….has a far better record in promoting prosperity among its 6.6 million people than other North African countries where there have been popular revolts.

It has the lowest infant mortality rate in Africa -- 18 per thousand, compared to South Africa's 44 per thousand, and the highest life expectancy in Africa -- 74 years compared to South Africa's 49 years. The literacy rate is 90%. Less than 5% of the population is undernourished, and in response to the rising food prices around the world, the government of Libya abolished all taxes on food on January 12, 2011.

Libya has the highest gross domestic product at purchasing power parity per capita of all of African countries -- around US$13,000 relative to South Africa's $10,000. A lower percentage of people (7%) live below the poverty line than in the Netherlands. The South African figure is about 50%......”

This high literacy rate was not achieved through some magic, it was due to deliberate efforts by the Libyan leadership, by building schools, training teachers and making education free, upto the university level. These Libyans are not only literate, but have schooled to tertiary levels. The U.S, which is the richest country in the world, and the world’s superpower, has over 40 million totally illiterate adults, people who cannot decipher words written on a piece of paper. It has another 50 million adults who have basic literacy. I have to add here something that I always say: These oppressed Americans need global solidarity in order to liberate themselves from the control of greedy capital. The American people are always kept in ignorance, especially through their powerful media, so that they may not rise against this oppressive Capitalist system. We have seen in the past that once the ordinary American gets the right information, they will always fight for the oppressed. They rose against slavery, they rose against the Vietnam War, they rose against the Iraqi invasion and they should be helped to rise against their system, after which most of the problems in the world will be solved.

When it comes to health, Libya has well equipped hospitals, and all health care is free. Food is cheap, and most of it is grown by the Libyan state. Libya has invested a lot in pumping water from the sea, to irrigate some of these farms.

Unemployment is low, and that’s why when the uprisings erupted in Tunisia, he went ahead to open up the borders so that Tunisian Youths could be employed in Libya.

Planting trees and taking care of the environment is one task that Gaddafi has ensured throughout his rule in this desert climate country.

Gaddafi has surely made Libya to be one of the best countries in Africa, and one of the best in the world.

Some people say that Gaddafi has done nothing, and the Oil has done everything. But the question I pose to them is, if Oil is everything, why don’t we have the same HDI in Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Sudan or Egypt? If they argue that Libya has a small population of 6.5million, what about Equatorial Guinea, with a population of 0.5million and is on Africa’s top seven Oil producer list? Hasn’t oil and other resources always brought misery and war in many African regions? Had a leader like Gaddafi taken over the DR Congo in 1969, would it be in the condition that it is in today? Wouldn’t Congo be a developed country in the world?

Gaddafi has also been a courageous world leader, and he was among the first (and few) leaders to say that Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq. He has courageously pushed for a one state solution in Palestine. He has openly criticized Obama for getting it wrong on the Palestinian question.

Gaddafi, despite living in a country where the most of the citizenry live in good houses, he resides in a tent, something that the western media depicts as shady, absurd and backwards. Gaddafi, despite being a Muslim, a religion that segregates women to second class citizens, has always had female body guards in a male dominated field.

African Unity

But for me, the greatest respect that I have for Gaddafi lies in his push for African Unity. From my days in primary school, it is Gaddafi’s sole voice that has been calling for the Unity of Africa. Those of my generation might not know of great and vocal pan-Africanist leaders like Kwame Nkurmah, Sekou Toure, Julius Nyerere, Abdel Nasser and the rest, but they surely know, and identify African Unity with Muammar Gaddafi.

It was Gaddafi who inspired the formation of the African Union, which is a great improvement from the O.A.U. Gaddafi /Libya is one of the biggest funders of the A.U, and also heavily funds the ADB and many other A.U functions.

Libya as a government has invested heavily, without conditionalities, across all of Africa, and has always offers aid to disaster stricken countries throughout Africa. Libya’s Nasser University is an international institution dedicated to poor African students, so they may get the knowledge and the skills they need to transform their countries. Most students in this institution are on full scholarships.

Should Africa lose Gaddafi today (through the uprising, assassination or natural death), won’t it be a big blow to African Unity?

I would expect the A.U to vehemently and militantly oppose foreign attack on African soil, but instead, they are doing what they like to do best, dilly-dallying. I would also expect our government to come out clearly, and support Libya against the Imperialist Invasion. I expected the many people who have been praising Gaddafi, and receiving goodies from him, to come out and make a clear statement. Where is Raila Odinga? Where is Mwai Kibaki? Where is Kalonzo Musyoka? Where is Njuri Njeke? Where is the Luo council of elders? Where are the students who’ve benefited from Libya? Where are all these Libyan beneficiaries? Other people can sit back and watch, but these people have to make a stand, in favor, or out of favor with Gaddafi. They cannot sit on the fence.

Hugo Chavez’s Proposal

They could have at least support Hugo Chavez’s idea, which forms the best way forward, in averting the imminent invasion. Chavez even proposed that former U.S president jimmy Carter could chair the talks! Why are they quiet? This just shows the hypocrisy of our Kenyan leaders and the parasitic nature of the Africans beneficiaries.

Many people have done the analysis, and I have also written about the implications of African Unity to the African people, and to humanity at large, from ending of poverty, to ending of food problems, to the use and exportation of cheap and very clean energy, to the ending of wars and misery among many things which I won’t point out here. Once Africa unites, then it will be much easier to fight oppression and exploitation. In fact, this problem of having leaders for life would come to an end, since African will be one, with common systems and structures. Africa would become extremely powerful, and she shall export African values of hospitality, generosity, and free nature to the rest of the world.

Rebel Flag-A return of the Monarchy?

The first question that came up during the start of the uprising was why the rebels were using some other flag, rather than the green Libyan flag/  In Tunisia, the masses were proud of their beautiful Red flag. In Egypt, the masses carried their country’s flag, and also carried the Tunisian flag with them. But why were the Libyans not carrying their flag with them?

Libya has had three flags in the recent past, one of the Monarch (used by King Idris Al-Sanusi from 1951), another used after the overthrow of the monarch in September 1969, and the current green one used since 1977. The flag that the rebels are carrying around is the monarchy flag. Some people have been calling them revolutionaries, but since when did a revolution take a society back to the Kings? The people in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other countries are struggling to remove monarchies, yet the Libyans are using the King’s flag! If they hated Gaddafi’s flags, they should have created a new flag, or better still, use the Tunisian and Egyptian flags!

In a book called ‘Libya and Gaddafi’ written by Don Lawson (who is very anti Gaddafi,) he states:

“Today (1987) there are some 50,000 Libyans living outside the country. Among these Libyan expatriates are many former business and political associates of King Idris whom Gaddafi deposed. Many of these exiles in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Great Britain still have close ties with friends in Libya. Although these exiled members of the former elite could scarcely hope for a return of the monarchy, it is quite conceivable that they may support a military coup that would enable them to return to Libya under a new regime”

The fact that these rebels are using this flag leaves one suspecting that the above analysis is actually taking place in Libya today.

Ministers turn into “revolutionaries” overnight

The other extremely disturbing thing is the leadership of the uprising. In Tunisia, no government official would dare near the revolutionaries. They could not do so in Egypt. In Tunisia, they are still telling the RCD remnants to leave. Same in Egypt. But in Libya, it is the same old fellows who have now become “Revolutionaries” and want to overthrow the “Bad” dictator. Which moral ground does Mustafa Abdul Jalil have, for him to head the National Transitional Council? For heaven’s sake, the fellow resigned from the government just a few days ago!

Misconception-All killings are made by Gaddafi forces

Less than one week into the uprising, it was reported that Gaddafi’s Military Jets were bombing civilians and that two pilots flew their jets to Malta and defected. Within this time, the rebels had taken over several cities in the east, including Benghazi. It was then reported that Gaddafi had killed around 1000 civilians. What these media report assumed was that all the people who died were killed by Gaddafi. Does it mean that these rebels, who were armed with guns, took all these cities peacefully? How many Gaddafi soldiers have been killed by these rebels? How many civilians have fallen to the rebel bullet? How many? Though I may not know a lot about Jets throwing bombs in civilian populated areas, i think bombs dropped at civilian populations would have killed more than a thousand people, unless those pilots decided to voluntarily miss their targets. It is because of this that I believed Gaddafi when in the first instance he said that no bomb had been thrown at civilians. The Russians confirmed that no bombs were dropped at that first instance. These monarchists, together with the international media were just taking advantage of Gaddafi’s son threat of a civil war, and a fight to the last man.

In Tunisia and in Egypt, the civilians were unarmed. It had reached a point where the police and the military could not kill any other protester, since their conscious was haunting them, and the whole world was watching. In Libya, the rebels attacked police stations and armed themselves. The defecting soldiers came with more weapons, experience and tactics. They even have anti-air artillery. With these weapons, they are taking one town after another. This to me is war. For us who love peace, we can only hope that it somehow ends, but as long as it continues, let us stop blaming one side, for killing the other side in a war. We can at best blame both sides or keep quite.

The International Criminal Court

The ICC is constantly losing any goodwill that it currently has in Africa. It is being perceived as an imperialist tool at a very fast rate. People have not forgotten that Bush and Blair should be seated somewhere in The Hague listening to their cases, but that is not the issue here. The issue here is, why is Moreno Ocampo threatening Gaddafi with arrests when he did not do the same for Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak? Why is he not taking action on the Bahrain King who is butchering people by the hour, including sick people in the hospitals? Why Gaddafi? Don’t we have foreign armies in Bahrain killing innocent unarmed civilians unabated? Are the lives of Bahrain people not as important as those of the Libyans? Why is the ICC condemning what the Imperialists have condemned, and keeping quite where the imperialists have remained mum?

Xenophobia and “Where are the workers?” Question

In the Tunisian and the Egyptian analysis, we had seen the active participation of women and workers, and hence the success in these two countries. In Libya, I have no idea on where the women are, but I surely know where the workers are.

Of the 6.5 million people living in Libya, 1.5 million are immigrant workers, with the majority coming from other African countries, notably Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Cameroon, Guinea Chad and Sudan. Unlike the Tunisian and the Egyptian revolts which were inspired by love, love for human life, love for all people, the Libyan revolt is inspired by hate, hate for Africans from other countries, hate for “darker” people. Some people will claim that these xenophobic acts came about after Gaddafi hired some Black mercenaries. This is an absolute lie. As I noted earlier, it is the tensions that simmer from below that blow up. Cases of selected xenophobia (selected since it only affects Blacks, not Brown, not white)have been reported on several occasions in the past, and I will quote the one that happened in October 2000, where it was alleged that a football match “sparked” wide spread violence against black immigrants. Human rights organisations reported that 500 immigrants were killed in the skirmishes, but the official reports gave 50-100 as the number. Many immigrants fled to their countries of origin and reported of the harrowing experiences that they had, which include the slaughters, beatings, robbery and burning down of their homes.

A Ghanain Worker-Victim of Xenophibia

With this kind of background, it is obvious that those rebels hate Gaddafi because of opening Libya up for other Africans. It is not true that they attacked the Blacks because of the mercenary story. In the Libyan army, some of the officials are pretty dark. And even If it was true, then they would have attacked Italians and Serbians too (whites,) this is because it was reported that alongside those mercenaries from other African countries (just call them blacks, we won’t be offended) there were white ones, probably Italians. It was also reported that some of the pilots who were bombing civilians were Serbians. Furthermore, why would anyone burn houses belonging to black immigrants, just because Black mercenaries are in town? Are these the people that “progressives” are supporting? Is the removal of Gaddafi so important, that nobody minds when “a few” black people are killed? I say SHAME on any progressive who has had the stupidity to call say that pointing out to these killings is “a diversionary tactic by supporters of Gaddafi.”

Some analysts are busy saying that the reason as to why the “revolution” in Libya may not succeed is because the working class is not organised, due to Gaddafi’s repressiveness. This is a very narrow minded view. They must know that the working class was the first to be attacked by the monarchists, and that those refugee camps are filled with working class, and not just African working class, but working people from all over the southern hemisphere.

Imperialist invasion, Africom and Isreal

Unlike in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain where the U.S said that everything was okay, and continued changing their foreign policies by the hour until when they said that ‘the people’s will should be followed,’ the U.S did not waste time in Libya, no sooner had the monarchists arisen, than the USS Ponce and USS Kearsage (which are nuclear carrying battleships) were sent to the Mediterranean. Britain even sent its elite military personnel to “evacuate” its citizens (and they telling us about mercenaries!)The enthusiasm with which our former colonialists, France and Britain are supporting this no-fly zone shit cannot go unquestioned. Even the usually quite Canada and Germany were pushing for an attack.

Arab Union has finally gotten the chance to settle their score with Gaddafi. In their statement, they said that they opposed any foreign intervention, and then said that a no-fly zone should be put in place……this just proves how these Arab Kings are empty headed! It is as if a no-fly zone is a non-foreign intervention! No wonder our comrades in the Middle East want these buggers out! These same suckers have invaded Bahrain, and they are having a killing orgy in that country. Last week, the Saudi royal family announced that anybody who dares raise a finger against the monarch, the finger will be cut off, (which can be extended to mean that any head raised, will also be chopped off)and here they are, saying that Gaddafi is killing the armed rebels.

The U.S has for a long time wanted to set up AFRICOM posts in strategic corners of this continent, but the idea has been strongly opposed by the African people. They have now think that they have found the perfect occasion to set it up. After losing their puppets in Tunisia and especially in Egypt, fascist Israel has been exposed, Bahrain will not stay for long, it will definitely fall and probably the U.S 5^th fleet will have to move to another base, imperialism will have to be taken to another level. The U.S government takes people for fools. Gaddafi was very clear, in his speech tonight, that an attack to Libya, which is a sovereign state, will mean a full scale war. There will be no peace in the Mediterranean. I would like to state here that I fully support this statement.  Just because Libya is an African country does not mean that her sovereignty should be played around with. The imperialist plan is to attack Libya from the air, just like they did in Iraq and in Afghanistan, then find some other excuse for a full scale invasion.

What we must not forget is that Moroccans will also rise, and so will Algeria, and in these uprisings, just like in Tunisia and Egypt, blood will be shed, the question is: What will prevent Colonialist France, Colonialist Britain and the U.S from imposing the no-fly zones, and eventually invading and occupying these African countries? And since the revolts will move downwards, what will stop these imperialist dogs from coming southwards too?

We will not sit back!

What everyone must not forget, what our fathers and grandmothers have not forgotten, is the terror that these colonialists caused unto this great continent in the last five centuries. Millions of innocent lives were lost due to Slavery, forced hard labor, random killings, group rapes and unspeakable torture. Millions more lost their lives defending mother Africa, fighting for land and freedom. Just because we do not speak about these things does not mean that we have forgotten them. Just because we are quite does not mean that we will just sit back and watch them attack our continent. A few hours from now, the UN Security Council will vote on the invasion. Russia and China will oppose it, but the allied forces will just do what it did in Iraq. But this is not Iraq, this is not Afghanistan: This is Africa. Gaddafi does not need to pay Africans to fight for Africa, no, this was a duty passed down to us by our forefathers, it will be a duty that I have to do for my grandchildren.

The spirit of Kimathi Waciuri and the MauMau will cry, the moment those imperialists set foot in Africa. The spirit of Che Guevara will be with those who are ready to defend our motherland. Frantz Fanon will urge us forward, Amilcar Cabral will be will us, Oliver Tambo will show us the way, Thomas Sankara will be with us and Julius Nyerere will be our guiding wisdom. So let us meet, and organise.

Down with the Monarchists!

Down with the Arab Union!!

Down with the imminent invasion!!!

Long live Africa!!!!

Benedict Wachira

18^th March 2011

01:55am

Chairperson, Bureau of Young Social Democrats

Secretary, Kenya Cuba friendship Society

Member, Revolutionary Committees Movement