Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Disarmament Yes or No?
As everybody knows, after agreeing to everything in Acrra, Pres. Gbagbo and his FPI have reneged on almost all points that were linked to the disarmament. The President has even refused to address the issues before the Nation and Simone may well be calling the tune much as Nancy Reagan did once in the States. They just consult a pastor instead of a medium.
Too many people risk losing their source of income if the process went ahead -- and international sanctions do not seem to be pushing the extremists to any concessions for peace and reunification.
This behaviour is true to form. It is said that according to their custom, a Bété is not under obligation to keep his word if he is forced into a situation. And how many times has Gbagbo been constrained into an agreement, only to go back on his word afterwards?
Re disarmament, my guess is that it will not start on 15th October even though the soldiers seem to be more peacable than the politicians.
But a miracle is not impossible. There is talk of the National Assembly meeting again before 15th and Gbagbo may yet act on the Ado question. But he is now really threatened by the Bédié-ADO alliance.
The big question now is really what use Gbagbo directly or indirectly wishes to make of his youth militias and thugs/vandals and of the "mobilized" Fpi as a diversionary exercise -- in order once again to say to the international community that the people are on his side (at least some of those in the 40% of the country under government control).
Last time they smashed more than 30 UN vehicles. Now the Patriots, said to be being generously remunerated by the Presidence, have threatened the French peace-keeping troops -- yet once again.
In the North there are a lot of people who think that life there is now better than before and they also couldn't case less if the situation continues. They are now more worried about getting rid of their old format banknotes than anything else.
Isn't it a laugh that Gbagbo should say in Tunisia that there is now no reason the ADB should not come back to Abidjan? Is he really so deceptive or deluded or is he just hoping the problems will just go away?
As everybody knows, after agreeing to everything in Acrra, Pres. Gbagbo and his FPI have reneged on almost all points that were linked to the disarmament. The President has even refused to address the issues before the Nation and Simone may well be calling the tune much as Nancy Reagan did once in the States. They just consult a pastor instead of a medium.
Too many people risk losing their source of income if the process went ahead -- and international sanctions do not seem to be pushing the extremists to any concessions for peace and reunification.
This behaviour is true to form. It is said that according to their custom, a Bété is not under obligation to keep his word if he is forced into a situation. And how many times has Gbagbo been constrained into an agreement, only to go back on his word afterwards?
Re disarmament, my guess is that it will not start on 15th October even though the soldiers seem to be more peacable than the politicians.
But a miracle is not impossible. There is talk of the National Assembly meeting again before 15th and Gbagbo may yet act on the Ado question. But he is now really threatened by the Bédié-ADO alliance.
The big question now is really what use Gbagbo directly or indirectly wishes to make of his youth militias and thugs/vandals and of the "mobilized" Fpi as a diversionary exercise -- in order once again to say to the international community that the people are on his side (at least some of those in the 40% of the country under government control).
Last time they smashed more than 30 UN vehicles. Now the Patriots, said to be being generously remunerated by the Presidence, have threatened the French peace-keeping troops -- yet once again.
In the North there are a lot of people who think that life there is now better than before and they also couldn't case less if the situation continues. They are now more worried about getting rid of their old format banknotes than anything else.
Isn't it a laugh that Gbagbo should say in Tunisia that there is now no reason the ADB should not come back to Abidjan? Is he really so deceptive or deluded or is he just hoping the problems will just go away?
