CRY FREETOWN
I watched a documentry on the civil war in Sierral Leone by a film maker Sorious Samura on CNN, and it was the most graphic, harrowing, spell-bounding and haunting documentry I have ever seen. It was journalism at real work- getting the exact story and telling the whole world as it is.
I keep wondering what degenerates a society to this level of hard-heartedness, ruthlessness and savagery. But then, part of the answer is self-explanatory. If governments" by a handful, of a handful and for a handful" continue to oppress the majority ordinary masses and thus forcing them to the receiving end of extreme suffering and poverty, then the documentry I`ve seen is inevitable. Sierra Leone once a beautiful country with renown institutions like Fourah Bay, Njala and The Milton Margai Teachers Training College has been completly raped of everything! The chopping off of limbs(short-sleeves or long-sleeves), the summary executions, the abuse of women and children when "Operation annihilate every living thing" struck Freetown portrays how gruesome human beings could be. This operation left the city completly fallen apart.
Could the carnage have been averted? The UN and the West is being blamed for looking the other way, by exercising the "famous" wait and see policy. Well, they waited and looked too long and things got out of hand. ECOMOG, largely dominated by Nigerian forces came in and at some point found themselves drawn into the violence and even took part in the executions. It was amazing to see ECOMOG soldiers been complelty demoralized during the shooting in Freetown and the sad fact was that a 13 year old boy "Moses", who is mentally handicapped was made a scapegoat. They almost sent him to his grave, until he was saved by the Information minister who appeared at the scene. Now the perpetrators are being offered a blanket amnesty which in a way gives them immunity from being tried. I can`t help to wonder why? We`re seeing similar trials in Rwanda, Habre is being tried and the West was impatiently anticipating the arrest of late Arkan. Why this double standard? I thought what was good for the goose was good for the gander. It might be for the good sake of healing and reconciliation, but I would want to believe that this goes hand in hand with ensuring that justice prevails. As long as these people commit these atrocities, and took pleasure in carrying it out, they knew very well what they were doing, and they have perfected the art of their wickedness and going to the extreme of showing elation for merely being filmed. And they lacked every qualm and had the audacity to ask for copies. You still have them running around the streets of Freetown. Do they deserve amnesty after all the evils they`ve commited? Amazing isn`t it?
Much respect to Mr Samura and all African journalist who have dedicated their lives in giving the stroies as they are, and never succumbing to the bad guys of this beloved continent.
God save this hotbed continent. We`ve got to pray.
Regards,
Omar.
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Omar Drammeh <[log in to unmask]>
Til: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Dato: 2. februar 2000 20:13
Emne: SV: Re: Will Senegal hold on??
Coach, Yus, OB, Joe and all the football fans, "Happy African Nations Cup". Enjoy.
Ous Bojang, if you could afford to watch just one ninety minutes, I`ll send you a tape from one of the matches. Then may-be you might join the football vous again. You`re most welcome bro.
Regards,
Omar.
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
Til: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Dato: 2. februar 2000 17:23
Emne: Re: Will Senegal hold on??
>Baboucarr Sillah,
>
>Sorry for not replying your e-mail earlier, owing to a very tied schedule.
>Anyway, I am glad that Yusupha Jow was quick in posting the result of the
>Senegal-Zambia soccer match to the L.
>
>Yus, keep it up; and yes, I concur with you observations/thoughts on this
>particular match. Baboucarr Sillah, you better tell Fox News/Sportsworld, or
>its owner Rupert Murdock, to behave well for you definitely need to see the
>matches. (Laugh!)
>
>Yes, the turn-out in some of the matches, as mentioned by Madiba, is very
>low, but we can find consolation in the fact some of the football is
>certainly good and entertaining.
>
>And those of us in England are lucky to be seeing the matches via the "Euro
>Sports" channel; and, so far, the technical problems encountered were very
>minor.
>
>I, personally, am so glad that the "Euro Sports" Channel was able to acquire
>the services of one of Britain's most objective soccer analysts, Gerry
>Armstrong, who is also the Sky Sports (also owned by Rupert Murdock) Spanish
>soccer expert.
>
>Gerry is covering the African cup of Nations for Euro Sports, and I am
>certainly enjoying listening to his objective commentaries/analyses.
>
>In fact, just the other day he, Gerry Armstrong, had some good things to say
>about African football and the impact the African players are making in
>Europe in particular.
>
>By the way, Sillah, Yus and others, who do you think would win the Nations
>Cup?
>
>Ebrima Ceesay
>
>
>>From: "B. Sillah" <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Will Senegal hold on??
>>Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 12:19:33 EST
>>
>>Ebrima:
>>I am awaiting the result of the much anticipated match between Senegal and
>>Zambia for the right to go on to the 2nd round. What are your thoughts?
>>Will
>>the Lions go through? I really hope they go on as Kalusha Bwalya (Zambian
>>Captain) already promised victory.
>>
>>I am yet to see any of the games as FoxSportsWorld (Satelite provider)are
>>reportedly having "technical difficulties" since last week. It's very
>>disappointing even for tape delayed broadcast!
>>
>>But, based on what I have read so far on the net(thank God), it may come
>>down to these trio: South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria. Nigeria only because
>>they're co-host and if they can over-come their "political football." For
>>the other co-host; Ghana, it will be tough to bounce back after the Ivorian
>>defeat, then narrowly qualifying on a tie-breaker. I have always thought
>>very highly of Ghana but for some reasons they never show-up for the big
>>games in the senior level.
>>
>>This is my take, what are yours? After the dust is settled for the 2nd
>>round
>>I'll give my predictions. Take care and stay warm.
>>
>>Regards
>>Baboucarr Sillah
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
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