Please join us on 16/12/2011 at Martin place for fair election in DRCongo. People are subdued with anger in order to accept the most corruptible man in the planet, forced by the international community.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Support for Sydney Congo Protest
Please join us on 16/12/2011 at Martin place for fair election in DRCongo. People are subdued with anger in order to accept the most corruptible man in the planet, forced by the international community.
The Independence of Congo: is it a Celebration or a Mourning?
The abuse of human rights, corruption, lack of security and development for the Congolese has been going on since before and after independence could really mean that it has resulted that in a situation of mourning rather than one of celebration. The Article 2 of the Declaration of Human Rights says “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration”. In Article 3, “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” (United Nations 2010). In this topic, the issue of whether the independence of Congo is a celebration or mourning will be examined, by bringing to light human rights which are the foundation of durable development. The subject will cover the following: ethics, map of Congo’s empires in Africa, history of Congo till gaining independence, positive and negative effects from independence, the result, the responsibility and the conclusion.
The goodwill of cooperation and cohabitation was reflected in the intersections of two tribes living together and marrying together, as extending their boundaries was the hope of unity and securing an independent and prosperous Congo, as well as uniting Africa into one nation with one common goal. Unfortunately, the unity of Africa was destroyed by the Berlin conference which lasted from 1884 to 1885 as during that time, the western powers and the United States discussed how Africa should be divided. Finally Africa was divided into 50 countries (Exploring Africa 2007).
Congo was officially given to Belgium as a colony and remained so until 30 June 1960 when Congo became independent (De Blij & Muller 2003). The truth is though, since the Westerners invaded Congo, nothing much has changed to free the country (Loadman 2007). The abuse of human rights has been widespread in Congo since its colonisation by King Leopold II of Belgium, according to Loadman (2007). During the Berlin Conference in 1884-85, the European powers and the United States discussed the further exploitation of Africa by dividing it into 50 states.
After many failed governments, the country is still ravaged by war and corruption and the lack of security is crucial in the once prosperous region, as European countries and the United States still find ways of exploiting the region for their own selfish agendas (O’Connell 2007). The outcome will reflect the incompatible relation between words and actions that the actors were using in particular circumstances during particular periods of time which will determine the meaning of the real independence, celebration or mourning (Walter 2006).
People celebrate Congo’s independence for different reasons. They celebrate by commemorating their own heroes who gave their lives through advocating the restoration of an independent state. Metallurgical and mining industries were established, infrastructure and communication was developed, cooperation with other countries was possible and education for the elite was successful. However, as discussed from the reflection of pre-colonisation till now, discourses have changed but the situation, the methods and strategies by the colonisers have not. Changing words and local actors, ignoring the human rights abuse and the Declaration of Human Rights, has been the agenda in order to keep the people at bay with false promises and false hopes. Unfortunately, the exploitation of resources and the greed of Westerners through the multinational corporations have led to the essence of revolution and violence. The findings of these discourses reveal the need for restoration as a keyword from the former leaders of Congo, where independence is not in its practical form but only verbal and documentary.
Anybody who has stood up against the vested interests of colonial powers in Congo has been killed. Nationalists and human rights defenders were asking for independence and the restoration of Africa and Congo, but western and Americans allies killed them whether they were black, white, local or foreign. Congolese have been imposed on them despite their level of education (Be Their Messenger 2008).
Human rights abuse statistics show a negative aspect of development and suggest a day of mourning. Before and during the colonisation, Edmond Morel was killed with his allies, when they asked for Leopold II to stop the abuse of Congolese. The mistreatment of the people in the heart of Africa continues to this day. A few months later, after independence, Patrice Lumumba and other freedom campaigners were killed by Belgium and the USA in order to protect their interests. Freedom fighters like the Mayi Mayis who were safeguarding their own land for identity purposes and others were killed by (former President) Mobutu and the current President Kabila, with the support of the USA and other western powers. After the genocide of Rwanda, they brought Kabila and used Kagame to kill Hutus and Congolese in the presence of UN peace keepers. Even the UN peace keepers are using sex slaves and are raping young women and children (Brennan 2010). When they discovered the nationalism of Kabila Laurent, they decided to assassinate him.
Be their Messenger (2008) lists some statistics.
People dying on a daily basis to this date: 1250 persons/day
Deaths since the outbreak of war (1997-2002): 6 Million
• Total (since 2002 -2010): 3,504,000 deaths
• Total casualties: 8.9 M since 2002
• Internally displaced people: more than 2 million
• Rape of women by rebels and the Rwandan Army is common AIDS as a weapon of mass destruction is a strategy in order to obliterate the people of Congo (ABC News 2003). The Average life expectancy of a Congolese- 48 years (Australian 81.3 years) (World Bank 2010).
The elite of the country were turned to political, military and business networks to nozzle the Congo’s resources rather than apply the knowledge acquisition for a durable development by securing the human rights of their own country. Leopold II used the same demoniac strategies before colonisation and till now it is being applied by the economic powers.
Most countries around the world have formed and maintained stable governments on acquiring independence. However, the Congo is still considered a failed state as violence is still predominant in the region and human rights abuse is at its peak to a point that the situation is worse than it was 150 years ago because of the economic and social exploitation by western countries. As stated earlier, the abuse of human rights is the blockage of development and the exploitation of Congolese people with its resources. It would be fair to say that this is the essence of violent upheavals. As a result, multinational corporations created elite networks, supporting the use of that violence in order to loot the resources of Congo in exchange for guns and ammunition (Oxfam International, 2006).
The ontology leads us to understand that civilisation, infrastructures and technology (Human right & Development) brought to Africa in particular to Congo by the West is costing a lot and its disadvantages far outweigh its advantages. The occupation by the imperialist Leopold II’s institution is still reflected by the presence of UN, USA, and other influential countries of the world in Congo. The imposition of the Congolese leaders by the westerners is against the sovereignty of Congo and it is the evidence of an occupied country. Consequently super powers maintain war and abuse of human rights in Congo to justify their presence; Congo is declared a failed state due to the lack of law, order, human rights, infrastructures, security and development. Certainly independent Congo is a case of more mourning rather than celebration. It is not only for Congolese but for all citizens of the world to take action and not allow this phenomenal happening in our planet in this millennium. This case is not only in Congo but most of Africa, Asia, South and Central America.
Written by Patrice Nyembo
Reference List
ABC News 2003, Congo Civil War Fuels AIDS Spread, viewed 29 October 2011, http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=129599
Brennan, P 2010. UN Peacekeepers just as guilty of Child Rape as everyone else in Africa and the
Caribbean. Roma Online. Retrieved on 17 November 2011 from
Bay View 2009, Patrice Lumumba’s Independence Day Speech, June 30th 1960, viewed 29 October 2011, http://sfbayview.com/2009/patrice-lumumba%E2%80%99s-independence-day-speech- june-30-1960/
Be Their Messenger 2008, Congo Be Their Messenger, viewed 29 October 2011, http://www.betheirmessenger.org/congo.html
De Blij, H. J. & Muller, P. O 2003, the Scramble for Africa: Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 to Divide Africa. Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts, viewed 29 October 2011
Exploring Africa 2007,’ African Kingdoms and Empires’ viewed 29 October 2011 http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/images/africa_kingdoms.jpg
Loadman, J 2007, ’ Leopold II,ED Morel and the Congo’ Bouncing Balls viewed 29 October 2010 http://www.bouncing-balls.com/index2.htm
Oxfam International 2006,’ Bullets from Greece, China, Russia and United States found in rebel hands in Democratic Republic of Congo’ viewed 29 October 2011
The New York Times Company 2010, ‘Central African Independence African History’ viewed 29 October 2011
United Nations 2010, ’The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ viewed 29 October 2011 http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a3
Walter, M 1995, Social Research Method, Oxford University press, Victoria.
World Bank 2010,’ Life Expectancy. World Bank, World Development Indicator’ viewed 29th Oct 2011 http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-
51 Years of US Occupation in the Congo
51 Years of Occupation of USA in Congo and still the US continues to impose our leaders. We ask President Obama to stop it and to let the Congolese lead their own country so we can put an end to the human rights abuses, after more than 9.5million of our people have been killed. We ask the world; please, don't turn away. We have to fight this capitalist system. It will never stop if we don't put our efforts together, as grassroots who have the same goal and interests to make this world a better place to live.
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