Gambia-L members, A&E just aired this series of documentaries called Absolute
Power.  Idi Amin was the featured documentary yesterday.  We all know the
legacy of the brutal Amin but very rarely do we get the whole story of his
rapid rise to power from his days as an ill educated underling in the army to
a general who did Obote's dirty work, and, finally, to the crazy, brutal,
power drunk but charismatic Alhaji DR Field Marshall Idi Amin Dadda at his
full prime.

One thing that struck me in particular was how this man's life mirrored the
sequence of events our present leader's progression of power. Granted, The
Gambia is a much smaller country than Uganda.  Therefore, when a comparison
is made, events have to be viewed in relative terms.

 When Amin finally turned on his equally vicious master, everyone, including
the British, agreed that this ill educated man was woefully unfit to lead an
army not to talk about a whole state.  But everyone, especially the Ugandans,
welcomed the change as a breath of fresh air.  A change from the incompetent
administration that was Obote's.  He spouted the basic rhetoric that the
average impoverished Ugandan wanted to hear.  He promised new schools, new
roads, new hospitals, better and more competent administration of facilities
for Ugandans as whole.

Furthermore, Amin had a foolishness and clumsiness to his personality that
tended to mask his vicious ways.  He would occasionally go into the country
side and dance around and threaten horrified white diplomats, who would
cringe in horror, with spears.  His interviews were funny and filled with
contradictions and weird statements that somehow seemed funny. This, much to
the amusement of Ugandans, Africans and the rest of the World.  He was seen
as a harmless, funny, semi-illiterate African leader, not too bright, but
essentially a toothless lion.

Sadly, this was far from the truth.  He launched a campaign of terror against
his own people right from the start. Silently eliminating his political
rivals and those that spoke out against him.  It was a silent campaign of
terror.  People were disappearing but no one knew what was going on because
his initial campaign was so effective.  And, of course, the harmless joker
couldn't be behind this? No way! Then he bit the hand that fed him in
England.  He kicked out half a million Indians who ran the economy in Uganda.
 Then, in a puzzling about face, turned around and asked the British for
arms.  The Brits, not ones that were used to humiliation, especially from a
buffoon for a president in Africa, rejected his request.  Amin found an
unlikely bed fellow in Khaddafi.  He embraced Islam, supported the Mideast
cause and became an Alhaji because of his fear of isolation.

In a short while, he managed to run the economy into the ground.  But because
he was surrounded by yes men, who said what he wanted to hear, his position
was quite secure.  This coupled with his propensity for carrying out ominous
threats, it was extremely difficult to oust him.  He made the mistake of
tangling with the Israelis plus made the more horrific error of killing a
Roman Catholic Bishop.  The eyes of the World were finally opened to the
terrible atrocities in Uganda.  Even then, it took the brave Nyerere, RIP. to
oust him.  Disgraced, he flew away in a battered helicopter seconds away from
imminent capture.


Fast forward, to 1996.  A semi illiterate army Corporal, in a half bungled
ridiculous demonstration by the army against unpaid wages that somehow turned
into a coup d'etat, overthrows the waning incompetent Jawara regime.  Initiall
y, the Corporal is hailed by the people of The Gambia as a savior from
incredible poverty and a terrible infrastructure that was the trademark of
the country.  Again, he is considered a fresh breath of air, a welcome
change.  Most but all are fooled by his populist rhetoric.  We live in a
different time but the false promises are still the same.  New schools, new
roads, new hospitals, a more competent administration.  The Gambia to and for
Gambians !

Our new leader, cum savior, like Amin, has this incredibly silly demeanor. A
foolish deceiving, ear to ear smile and is manner of speech is almost comical
and almost child like.  He also travels to the countryside, where the
majority of the population lives, and relates on a basic level with the
citizens out there.  In the process, stressing his humble beginnings and his
Foni ancestry. These qualities, different from the stiff polished way of the
Western educated Sir Dawda Jawara, help to enamor him with the locals,
especially those in the provinces.

However, while this wonderful romancing of the people was going on, carnage,
given on a smaller but relatively equal level to that of Amin's, was being
carried out.  Let's see:
 Massacres and mass burials in barracks in Bakau, Yundum and Farafenni.
Political opponents were imprisoned, sometimes killed with no due process.
Untold amounts of people, particularly in the military, disappeared with no
word to the poor others and fathers who had worked so hard to save up their
well earned Bututs and Dalasis to put their children true school then the
army.  Untold amounts of brothers are still unaccounted for.

Our still beloved leader, also managed to insult the West through his bungled
and aimless speeches that appealed to the average anti-colonialist, a trait
that we understandably still have.  He thought this was funny but "they" were
taking note, again not liking the humiliation.  And, again, understandably
spurned by those he insulted, he fturned to Amin's old friend, Mummar
Khaddafi.  He takes up his "Kuros", turban, Boubou, institutes a fake
fundamentalist Imam in a fake state house mosque, and hides behind the cloak
of Islam.  A perfect masquerade to hide behind to woo these people of God.

  Meanwhile, the killing and abductions continue.  He is surrounded by yes
men and is not afraid to carry out or spout threats on television that s run
by one of his equaly incompetent sidekicks.  Soo, likeAmin, he is difficult
to remove.

Nevertheless, this fake sultan is on the verge of being disrobed and made
naked.  He is reponsible for the murder of over 20 school children.  Foday
Makalo was killed and buried somewhere in the bush.  Where is Dumo Saho? Has
anyone, including his wife, seen him yet?  Eerie feelings, perhaps a sense
that they are covering something that went horribly wrong with that
abduction?

The similarities are scary.  Amin was a foolish, cowardly, ugly, and wicked
ogre that lives as buffoon cum celebrity in Saudi Arabia, the supposed holy
land.  I would hate to compare any human being to him but the evidence speaks
for itself.  You decide!

Cheers

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