Mali: a opinião dos comunistas

A intervenção militar em curso no Mali, protagonizada pela França e envolvendo outras potências imperialistas, é indissociável da deriva militarista e intervencionista da NATO, da União Europeia e das suas principais potências que, num quadro de aprofundamento da crise do capitalismo e na sequência de vários processos de incremento da ingerência externa, de militarização do continente – de que se destaca o Comando Militar norteamericano para África AFRICOM – e de desestabilização de vários países, visam acentuar o domínio económico, político e geo-estratégico do imperialismo neste continente e pôr em causa a soberania e integridade territorial de vários dos seus Estados. A intervenção militar no Mali, desencadeada mais uma vez sobre o pretexto do “combate aos terroristas islâmicos”, nomeadamente a grupos que como é público colaboraram activamente na agressão e invasão imperialistas da Líbia, é indissociável dos planos de várias potências imperialistas, nomeadamente a França, de reconstruir a sua teia de domínio colonial destruída por décadas de luta dos povos africanos, controlar e explorar os abundantes recursos naturais da região, e em particular do Mali, nomeadamente o petróleo e outra riquezas do subsolo como o Urânio. A situação interna no Mali é, à semelhança de outras situações, quer no continente africano quer noutras regiões do globo, o resultado concreto da estratégia imperialista de instigação de conflitos sectários, religiosos e étnicos que, servindo de pretexto para a agressão e ocupação militares imperialistas, é em si mesma a origem do fortalecimento dos radicalismos religiosos e do terrorismo. É à luz deste contexto que deve ser lido o conflito interno no Mali. Um conflito que por via da intervenção estrangeira poderá estender-se a outros países da região nomeadamente a Argélia. A situação interna do Mali só terá solução no quadro do respeito pela soberania e integridade territorial do País, livre de ingerências e intervenções militares externas. O PCP deplora a posição do Governo português que invocando a defesa da estabilidade e integridade territorial do Mali, bem como a paz e seguranças regionais, apoia uma intervenção militar que apenas servirá para introduzir maiores elementos de instabilidade naquele País e na região. 17.01.2013 O Gabinete de Imprensa do PCP

Líbia: Satisfação da Freedom House

Libya under Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi ranked among the world’s worst tyrannies for decades. However, it recorded major gains in 2012, especially on political rights indicators, and is now ranked as Partly Free. Despite predictions of chaos and failure, the country held successful elections in July for a General National Congress that included candidates from a range of regional and political backgrounds. Meanwhile, free expression and civic activity continued to expand, with a proliferation of media outlets and a broad range of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating. However, Libya continues to suffer from insecurity and a lack of clear government control over many parts of its territory, a problem that is compounded by the actions of autonomous local militias and radical Islamists. Freedom House

Bissau: Considerado um país sem liberdade

Guinea-Bissau, already a weak state dominated by the military, dropped from Partly Free to Not Free as a result of an April coup. The interim president was removed, the national legislature was suspended, a presidential run-off vote was canceled, and repression of civil liberties increased, including harassment and arrests of regime opponents. Powerful elements of the military are under the influence of Latin American drug traffickers. Freedom House 2013 report ---- Os países da África subsariana que mais liberdade perderam no ano passado, segundo este relatório, foram precisamente o Mali e a Guiné-Bissau.

Mali: a grande cruzada patrocinada pela França

West African leaders have been told they must "pick up the baton" in the military offensive to drive Islamist insurgents out of Mali. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France had been obliged to send in troops "very, very rapidly otherwise there would be no more Mali". But he has told a meeting in the Ivory Coast that the deployment of African soldiers is now a priority. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara also called for more support for Mali. He said "the hour has come for a broader commitment by the major powers and more countries and organisations... to show greater solidarity with France and Africa in the total and multi-faceted war against terrorism in Mali". France's Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Saturday that 2,000 troops were now on the ground in Mali, and the final total could top the 2,500 originally pledged. The troops will stay in Mali for as long as necessary "to defeat terrorism" in West Africa, President Francois Hollande has said. BBC

Mali: Reino Unido apoia a intervenção francesa

An RAF C-17 cargo plane is set to leave the UK on Sunday to help French efforts to contain rebels in Mali, Ministry of Defence sources say. The first of two planes will leave RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire later and load up with equipment in Paris before flying to Mali on Monday. France has attacked militants in Mali to support the Malian government in recent days. Downing Street said no UK troops would be deployed in a combat role. The Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, indicated British personnel could play a role in training the Malian army through the European Union. He said the UK was providing "only very limited strategic tactical support" in the form of the two C-17 transport planes, in response to a French request. "There are no plans to extend the UK's military at the moment," Mr Simmonds told the BBC News Channel. Justifying the government's decision to help, he told Sky News there was a "thoroughly unpleasant regime" in the north of the country with "raping and sexual violence taking place" and children being forced into the military. BBC

Bissau: Nada de novo sobre os assassínios

There were no developments in the cases of the 2009 killings of former president Vieira and former armed forces chief of staff General Jose Batista Tagme Na Waie. In March 2009, Na Waie was killed by a bomb outside his office in military headquarters. Following Na Waie's assassination, soldiers under the command of Colonel Antonio Indjai tortured and then hacked Vieira to death with machetes in what was widely considered retaliation for the killing of Na Waie. Observers noted that the longstanding tension between Vieira and Na Waie had increased due to Na Waie's 2008 accusation that Vieira was involved in the drug trade. It was unclear whether the killings were linked to the growing cocaine trade through West Africa, but Vieira and senior military officers had been accused of profiting from it. The national commission of inquiry, established in 2009 to investigate the killings, did not identify or charge anyone during the year. There were no developments in the case of former national assembly deputy Helder Proenca, whom military personnel beat, shot, and killed, along with his bodyguard and driver, in June 2009 on the outskirts of Bissau. Proenca, who had been accused of plotting to overthrow the government on June 5 by Colonel Samba Djalo, chief of the Military Information and Security Service, reportedly was killed while resisting arrest. In November 2009 the state attorney general filed a criminal complaint against Djalo; however, the case remained pending at year's end. No perpetrators had been identified or punished by year's end for the June 2009 death of former presidential candidate and assemblyman Baciro Dabo. Soldiers shot and killed Dabo after accusing him of plotting with Proenca to overthrow the government. There were no developments in the 2008 killing of a judicial police officer by security forces. During the year Alexandre Tchama Yala, the suspected leader of a 2008 coup attempt in which two presidential guards were killed, remained at large following his 2009 escape from detention. Departamento de Estado, Washington, 8 de Abril de 2011 Note-se como, neste documento de há quase dois anos, os EUA afirmavam claramente terem sido soldados sob o comando de António Indjai quem matou o presidente Nino Vieira

República Centro-Africana perante o impasse

Un accord au terme des cruciaux pourparlers centrafricains de Libreville semblait mercredi soir loin d'être acquis, les rebelles continuant d'exiger le départ du président François Bozizé et sa traduction devant la Cour pénale internationale (CPI). "Il n'y a pas d'autre alternative, rien que le départ de Bozizé. L'unique mal des Centrafricains, c'est Bozizé, c'est tout", a déclaré un porte-parole du Séléka Florian Ndjadder, après 12 heures de discussions entre les délégations du pouvoir, de la rébellion et de l'opposition, sous l'égide de la Communauté économique des Etats d'Afrique centrale (CEEAC). Les représentants du Séléka ont quitté la séance vers minuit, mais doivent revenir jeudi matin. "Il y a blocage ce soir, mais les rebelles reviendront jeudi", a indiqué une source au ministère gabonais des Affaires étrangères. Dans un mémorandum présenté mercredi aux participants en début de séance, la coalition rebelle du Séléka exige "qu'une procédure soit engagée devant la CPI de la Haye contre François Bozizé". La rébellion accuse le président centrafricain de "faits de crimes de guerre et crimes contre l'humanité", en lui reprochant "arrestations, détentions et séquestrations arbitraires, enlèvements, disparitions, assassinats et exécutions sommaires". Après une conquête éclair de la majeure partie du pays depuis le 10 décembre, les rebelles se trouvant désormais aux portes de Bangui, demandent "la reconnaissance" par François Bozizé "et son régime de leur défaite militaire et leur abdication dans l'intérêt du peuple" Slate Afrique/AFP