Guinean Capt. Camara, the coup leader along with a bodyguard. The massacre of 157 civilians has sparked outrage inside and outside the West African state.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Guinean leader attacks France over minister's comments
THE head of Guinea's ruling military junta has attacked former colonial power, France, for saying it could no longer deal with him following last week's bloody crackdown on protesters.
"Guinea is not a district of France. When the French foreign minister says something like that, this is a way of denigrating the people of Africa," Captain Moussa Dadis Camara told news broadcaster, France24.
French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, said on Sunday France could no longer work with the firebrand former soldier, and called for international intervention to quell the rising tension in the world's No. 1 bauxite supplier.
Kouchner's comments were the latest international condemnation of Camara for a lethal crackdown on protesters in Conakry on September 28 that a local human rights group said killed 157 people and injured hundreds more.
The African Union has given Camara until mid-October to confirm that he will stay clear of the January 31 elections, warning of sanctions if he misses the deadline.
Camara, who seized power in the wake of a coup last December, has raised the hackles of his opposition by refusing to opt out of presidential elections set for January.
The soldier-turned leader, who received military training in Germany and wears a German paratrooper badge on his trademark red beret, has denied responsibility for the bloodshed and said he is being pressured by the Guinean army to keep a grip on the presidency.
The crisis in Guinea has triggered a round of mediation talks led by Burkina Faso President Baise Campaore. Discussions between Camara's government and opposition in Conakry on Monday ended with little progress.
Campaore has invited the junta and the opposition to continue discussions in Burkina Faso.
Rio Tinto, a top miner of aluminum ore bauxite in Guinea, said last week that operations were continuing normally.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
The struggle for democracy in Guinea
THE global condemnation of the official violence unleashed on the people of Guinea, who had embarked on a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration is justified in every sense. There can be no excuse for the Guinean military authorities to open fire on defenceless people who were only asserting their rights to choose how they wish to be governed. Guinea's military Head of State, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara should be told in unmistakable terms that his arm-twisting tactic is no longer in vogue.
If anything, the general condemnation of the massacre of over 150 pro-democracy protesters last week, is a clear pointer to the fact that leaders who break faith with their people deserve no respect. While they have a right to contest for their country's leadership position, they can only exercise that right in a civilised manner, not through brute force. Obviously Camara who had forced himself into office last December following the death of President Lassane Conte, has no intention of subjecting himself to a democratic process. After declaring himself Head of State contrary to the country's Constitution, he promised to guide the country to democratic rule. Specifically, he named himself President of the National Council for Democracy, which he called a transitional body that would oversee the country's democratic elections.
Suddenly, a few weeks ago, he changed his mind about not standing for election and declared that he has a right to contest. That was enough to raise the people's suspicion that his original plan is to manipulate the Presidential election scheduled for next January 31, and possibly perpetuate himself in power. Concerned Guineans were right to have embarked on a peaceful protest against Camara's anti-democratic plot, which they did in a stadium near the capital, Conakry.
Guinean security forces subsequently opened fire on thousands of defenceless Guineans. This is unacceptable. Local rights groups reckon that about 157 persons were killed. Quoting hospital sources in the capital, which suggested the casualties' figure would be higher, the Guinean Human Rights Organisation estimated that more than 1,250 people were injured in the violence. Camara's explanation has been unconvincing, it only confirms that the attack on defenceless people was premeditated,
First, he blamed the shootings on "uncontrollable elements" in the military who allegedly responded to provocation by the people. Then the government said most of the victims were crushed in the stampede at the stadium. However, the same government later blamed certain political leaders for staging the demonstration in alleged disregard of prior warning against the protest. Government further accused the leaders of causing the stampede, violence and looting of two police stations. And that the demonstrators let prisoners out of jail and stole weapons.
Nevertheless, the international community has rightly condemned the violence. The United Nations Security Council expressed "utmost concern" about reports that troops fired on people attending political rally and that women were raped. Similarly, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Human Rights Watch (HRW), the United States, African Union, European Union, and France (which has suspended military cooperation with the country) have all condemned the unprovoked violence on defenceless citizens.
The least that Camara can do is to end the repression, identify and punish those responsible for the killings, set political detainees free and allow a return to democratic rule in Guinea. In particular, Camara needs to reaffirm his earlier declaration that he would not stand in the way of a free and fair election. Attempting to do otherwise is a clear signal that democratic principles would be negated. It should also be clear to the him that Guineans are not prepared to compromise true democracy, tired as they are already of autocratic rule.
Since 1958 when Guinea gained independence from France, the country has had only two presidents - Lansane Conte who came to power in 1984 when the military seized power after the death of the first president, Sekou Toure. Camara seized power in December 2008 when Conte died. Captain Camara's tactics are indecent. He and the Guinean military are dragging Africa backward. They should allow a level playing field and respect the people's right to choose their own leaders. In the meantime, all the trigger-happy state agents who opened fire on innocent citizens, should be charged for murder and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
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