| Tribal Killings recur in Africa? | |
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| Feb 13, 2008 01:45 |   |
 | The slaughter of Tutsis in Rwanda hasn't faded away from the memory yet.Another tribal killings are escalating. In Kenya tribal killings that began after a disputed presidential election on Dec. 27 are continuing to rage. Newsweek broadcasted the news. The 1994 Rwanda Genocide has tarnished Kofi Annan's reputation as Head of the UN. Now, after leaving offices, Annan is working to halt Kenya's slow tragedy. As a peacemaker, Annan is engaging talks with all parties concerned in Kenya. Will Kofi Annan reversed his tarnished reputation (his failure in Rwandan crisis)? |
| Feb 13, 2008 01:59 | #1 |
| NEWSWEEK's Scott Johnson interviewed Kofi Annan, the former head of UN. Here are some excerpts: (Source: Newsweek) Johnson: WHERE do the Kenya talks stand? Annan: We're now at the critical item of resolving the political crisis. The two sides have stated their cases. The government side feels they won [the election] fair and square. The opposition thinks the government stole it fair and square. My problem is to bridge that difference. J:How much do Rwanda and Bosnia weigh on you personally? A:We are racing against the clock. The longer this goes on, the more killings go on, the more revenge killings you're going to see in reaction. If you're not careful you could have serious problems on your hands. We need to come up with a proposal to ensure we don't come back to this every five years. J:Once again you ' re dealing with the maelstrom of ethnic cleansing. A:Whether it's genocide or ethnic cleansing, it always starts with the humiliation of one individual. Some were very quick to blame me for Rwanda. [That] was rather painful and odd for most of us at the Secretariat because the member states knew more about what was going on in Rwanda than we did. But quite apart from that blame, as a human being it weighs on you. It sits on your conscience … Not on your conscience because you … you … you couldn't stop it as an individual, you couldn't. But yes, [the conflicts] molded me. Some crimes are so shameful that we cannot stand back. We should ask, what can each one of us do? J:You ' ve said in the past that fratricidal wars are destroying Africa. Now it ' s happening here in Kenya.So what is it with Africa? A:Yeah. I posed this question in Rwanda after the genocide: what is it in our society that makes us periodically turn on each other? Not only do we turn on each other, but then we blame the outside. I say this is a cancer from within that we need to fix. J:And you were criticized for it. A:I was criticized for it. But it is a fact. It's good to have the support of the international community and all that. But the root of the problem is here. We know what the problem is; we know what needs to be done. |
| Feb 14, 2008 20:51 | #2 |
| Rwanda Genocide was the darkest page in the current history of Africa. UN was so incapable in handling the crisis. Poor Annan was powerless in face of the mutual killings of their African fellows. I cherich no hope for Annan. |
| Feb 17, 2008 09:34 | #3 |
| I consider it most unfair to blame Kofi Annan, the lack of action stems from the membershiop not wanting to take action. Remember that most nations will not interfere in what are other nation's 'internal affairs'. We can speculate why and many of us would come to the same conclusion. Unfortunately, I believe Africa is a 'basket case' - nothing much can be done for it (unless the rest of the world unites to help, which is a snowballs in hell situation - no chance. The only time other nations consider getting involved if they see something in it for them, oil, land or whatever. I foresee increased warfare in Africa: in due course foreign countries short of land will again colonise the weaker areas. look at East Timor and Irian Jaya as examples in equatorial Asia. |
| Feb 17, 2008 20:42 | #4 |
| Unfortunately.."War is Good for Business" as numerous books from the past and some in the present have attested to. Having undeveloped countries rich in natural resources plus arms dealers selling to the devil definitely does not help the situation. |
| Feb 18, 2008 20:52 | #5 |
| GUEST315 | What's going on in Kenya? Tribal cleansing? Is Kenya a nation consisting of multiple ethnical groups. My geography was not good. |
| Feb 19, 2008 20:31 | #6 |
| Over a decade ago, the blue helmets headed by Koffi Annan failed to halt the massacre in Srebenica and the slaughter of Tutsis in Rwanda. It is hard to evaluate Annan's record as the head of UN. After two terms, now he has retired, he was asked to mediate in Kenya. Annan has no choice but to involve in the troublesome land-- Africa where he root in. Melancholy Annan  |
| Feb 24, 2008 22:12 | #7 |
| "I consider it most unfair to blame Kofi Annan, the lack of action stems from the membershiop not wanting to take action. Remember that most nations will not interfere in what are other nation's 'internal affairs'. We can speculate why and many of us would come to the same conclusion." Being head of UN, Koffi Annan did not do enough in his term in solving the crisis. His leadship was in question. Annan didn't have enough gifts in lobbying the members of the big family. |
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