Bissau: Ramos-Horta elogia Kumba Ialá

Dear all, family, friends, fans and non-fans, I have been wanting to share this story for a while now. It was many moons ago before the rains started, when one Saturday I spent almost the whole day with this famous Bissau-Guinean, former President Kumba Yala. Mr. Yala was President of this unhappy country from September 2000 till 2003 when he was deposed in a largely bloodless coup. I was Timor-Leste’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and was sent to Guinea Bissau in August of 2003 the month before as the Special Envoy of the CPLP (Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Oficial Portuguesa) to defuse the very palpable prevailing political tensions and prevent a widely rumored military coup. I was not very successful in that coup-preventing mission! During the trip I had that sense that, given the almost general political malaise in the country toward Mr. Yala, the coup was close to inevitable. I was right. On 14 September 2003, just a few weeks after my first meeting with him, he was removed from office in a military coup. President Kumba Yala was born 15 March 1953, in a very humble, poor farming Balanta family. As a teenager, like most Bissau-Guineans, he joined the national liberation movement, the “African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde” (PAIGC). Many years later, disenchanted with the PAIGC leadership policies and their alleged exclusion of people of his Balanta tribe, Mr. Yala left the party in 1992 and founded a new one, the Party for Social Renewal. Yala says he studied Theology and Philosophy at the prestigious Catholic University of Lisbon. He is knowledgable on the writings of Ancient Greek philosophers. In conversation this politician-theologian-philosopher will quote you Aristotle a hundred times. Yala was raised and first educated in a Catholic school until age 17 when, as he told me, his father threw him out of the house to “go out, be a man, make a living”. Balantas cultivate a macho, warrior image, and young men are expected to be fighters. In 2008 Kumba Yala converted to Islam and took the name Mohamed Ialá Embaló. This conversion might not have been inspired by religious motives; as he told me, it may have been motivated more by criticism from the Bishop of Bissau and what Yala felt was the Bishop’s excessive involvement in politics. (The Bishop of Bissau since 1999, José Câmnate na Bissign, is also from the Balanta community, a lovely, charming, humble prelate, widely respected by everyone, including by his Protestant and Muslim colleagues.) This is not meant as political essay. It is just a short story about this charismatic, passionate, unpredictable political leader, emanating from an enigmatic ethnic community, the Balantas, a very horizontal society that discards hierarchy, unlike many other very hierarchical traditional societies. The Balanta fighting spirit and military cunning contributed decisively to the 1973 defeat of the Portuguese colonial army. Of course the then Soviet Union and Cuba provided military training and equipment, including portable anti-aircraft missiles, assistance that played no small part in clearing the skies of Portuguese air dominance. When not at war, the Balantas are pastoral, sedentary agriculturalists, enigmatic, deeply embedded in their own mystical beliefs system. They reject wealth and ostentation. They resent being looked down at and excluded by the country’s elites. Kumba Yala was and is still the eloquent voice of the Balantas. There has been no more effective spokesperson for the people. Today one is hard pressed to find a positive note in the international media about Bissau-Guineans. Among the small and conspicuous foreign community in Bissau, one hears comments like “the politicians are all corrupt” ; “the military are all involved in organized crime”. And of course there is a rising chorus echoing the refrain that Guinea-Bissau is the only “Narco-State” in the world. This is nonsense. Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and others have far bigger drug problems and have much greater resources to fight back organized crime. I have read few papers on the drug problem and most seem to be quoting from each other. From all that I have seen and read, perhaps I am utterly naive, but I am not persuaded that this is a “Narco-State”. It is a very fragile State, with extremely weak institutions. Corruption is pervasive at every level, undermining justice and democracy, good governance, pushing the country towards the abyss of a Failed State. But Guinea-Bissau does not produce illicit drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines and does not consume these drugs to any noticeable degree. Yes at times it is used as a transshipment point from Latin America to Europe with the active complicity of many. But this does not make a country deserving of the title “Narco-State”. The other rumors heard frequently on the wind among the tiny expatriate community include the gossip that leaders like Kumba Yala and Gen. Antonio Injai have become super rich off of the country — something else I have not seen borne out in fact. I have been here for six months now. I have been in many parts of this not very pretty city and in the rural areas. I engage many local people, students, academics, journalists, small or richer business people, politicians, military, police, etc. in many different settings. I am sharing with you some photos I took from my most recent visit with President Kumba Yala and his family. From left to right, President Kumba Yala, me and his older brother, in his mid 70′s, seen here wearing a worn-out shirt or jacket, maybe some 20 yrs old, never washed. The house belongs to Mr. Yala’s parents. José Ramos-Horta/United Brains Networks

De como a Alemanha domina a Europa

Domination over Europe 2013/11/05 BERLIN German government advisors support the establishment of new integrationist procedures to pre-empt future resistance to German predominance over the EU. "A major redistribution of power" is currently taking place in Europe, with France and Great Britain falling clearly behind Germany, according to a recent declaration of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). In Southern Europe, there are already massive protests against the German government's dictates. These have not yet had major consequences, but timely preventive measures should be taken to pre-empt the establishment of a "countervailing power." The SWP's suggestions support various initiatives from within Berlin's establishment aimed at consolidating German domination over the EU and pushing the next German government toward a more offensive global policy. The German president, for example, called in this year's National Holiday speech for a more offensive German approach to global politics, and the SWP pleads for Berlin to assume a more decisive "leadership." Whereas German predomination over the EU is today taken for granted, a shift is perceived in relations to the most important global rival - the United States. A Major Redistribution of Power As was reiterated in a recent declaration by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) "a major redistribution of power is currently taking place in the EU," in which Germany is becoming stronger: "Germany's relative clout is growing." At the same time, Germany's European rivals are losing ground: "France and the southern countries are being affected by the debt crisis to a growing extent and are thereby losing influence." Not only Paris, but even London, according to the SWP, is becoming structurally weaker: "through the process of sifting out into an Euro-core zone and a union periphery - to which Great Britain belongs - London's significance is also subsiding,"[1] writes the SWP author, adhering to, what has become, a widespread opinion on EU power relations.[2] A Global Offensive Before the next German government takes office - which in all probability, will be accompanied by a crushing parliamentary majority, and enjoy wide-ranging popular support - influential forces in the German capital are now pushing for a new global political offensive. More and more "voices inside and outside our country are demanding a stronger German commitment in international affairs," claimed German President Joachim Gauck in this year's National Holiday speech.[3] Today's Germany is "more powerful and influential" than "any democratic Germany in history," according to a new SWP strategy paper, penned with the collaboration of high-ranking politicians and ministry officials, including the head of the foreign ministry's Policy Planning Staff, and which is being aggressively debated. "Germany will have to lead more often and more resolutely in the future," contend the authors.[4] Even important partial demands, permitting Germany's more resolute global expansion, are currently being emphasized. For example, one influential Foreign Ministry advisor demands that the obligatory parliamentary consent for German military missions be restricted.[5] Influential CDU politicians, including Defense Minister, Thomas de Maizière, have now picked up this demand. A "Good Hegemon" In a recent declaration, the SWP now points out that Berlin's European power basis cannot be considered reliably consolidated. "For more than three years, there have been demonstrations against the austerity policy measures in the crisis countries of the Eurozone." The demonstrators part apparently from the premise "that the most important decisions are not being taken in Athens or Lisbon, but rather in Brussels and mainly in Berlin." They often recall "German aggressions during the first half of the last century." "The message" is transmitted "that the Germans today, are using economic means to achieve what they were militarily unable to - the domination over Europe." Until now, these protests have done little damage, "Germany is still being seen" - this judgment is evidently based on the local mainstream media and leading politicians - "as a relatively 'good hegemon'."[6] However, this situation is not at all stable. Indispensible German "Leadership" In fact, various EU member countries' politicians and major media organs are currently pledging allegiance to German leadership. For example, recently the "Irish Times" wrote that "the next Merkel-led administration will see its relative power grow in deciding matters in Europe." This is not only due to Germany's consolidated strength, but also the weakness of other EU powers. France’s economic fragility and its incapacity for reform have left it on the back foot. Italy has "to go cap-in-hand to Frankfurt for assistance. Rome now exercises less influence than ever in setting Europe’s agenda." With Britain outside the Euro zone and the probability increasing that it will exit the EU altogether, its voice in Brussels "has never been listened to less on matters of continental importance." Germany's "leadership" has become "indispensable." Merkel has not shown that "leadership." It is to be "hoped" that "her new coalition partners stiffen her spine and make her bolder in getting to grips with the continent’s many challenges."[7] The renowned Irish journal published this opinion column on September 1, 2013 - the 74th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, igniting World War II. Countervailing Power - a Possibility The author of the SWP declaration warns that the situation could change at any time. For example, "resistance to the growth of German power" will, more than likely, "develop, if the impression takes hold, that Berlin is increasingly taking decisions 'alone' for the rest of the EU." The author warns that growing resistance could become consolidated as a sort of "countervailing power." "To prevent the creation of such a countervailing power, means should be investigated, for counteracting the impression in the partner countries of wide-ranging subjugation." Such "misgivings about German hegemony" could be undermined by opening new possibilities for "cross-border participation." The author supports - not more explicitly defined - "transnational political procedures, aimed at cross-border participation:" political, insignificant integration tactics, aimed at transmitting to the southern Eurozone countries the illusion that they are helping to take decisions, thereby split future resistance. In the long term, this opens the possibility, the author advises, "of pre-empting the establishment of an anti-German block."[8] Relations to the USA Still unresolved is the question of how a global politically strengthened Germany should position itself in relationship to the USA. The SWP declaration only states that the United States is "relinquishing" "its stabilizer and mediator role" in Europe, "to concentrate its attention on Asia."[9] Apparently Germany will assume this role on the European continent, for which the author of the SWP declaration makes concrete suggestions. However, he takes no position on how the relationship between Berlin and Washington will develop in the future. german-foreign-policy.com

Moçambique: Autárquicas a 20 de Novembro

Maputo, 07 Nov (AIM) – Uma caravana do Movimento Democrático de Moçambique (MDM) , uma das duas forças políticas da oposição representadas no parlamento moçambicano, e outra da Frelimo, partido no poder em Moçambique, cruzaram-se hoje, em Maputo, e foi pretexto para uma festa conjunta, no âmbito da campanha para as eleições autárquicas para o pleito a ter lugar a 20 de Novembro corrente. O facto ocorreu no mercado Xiquelene, no distrito Municipal Ka Maxaquene, quando a caravana que acompanhava, Venâncio Mondlane, candidato à presidente do município de Maputo, pelo MDM, cruzou-se com a da Frelimo. Apesar da ausência de David Simango, candidato da Frelimo e que concorre para sua própria sucessão, as duas caravanas partilharam o mesmo espaço, dançaram e cantaram juntos. Contudo, em nenhum momento as caravanas deixaram de enaltecer os dotes do seu respectivo candidato. Cerca de 10 minutos foi o tempo que as duas caravanas partilharam o mesmo espaço, e depois desse tempo, cada um tomou o seu rumo tranquilamente. Caravanas da FRELIMO eMDM cruzam-se e fazem festa Nos anos anteriores, quando duas caravanas de partidos opostos se cruzavam, geralmente, acabava por se criar um ambiente potencialmente explosivo, o que não aconteceu hoje. Por isso, este é um bom sinal e um indicador de que Moçambique poderá estar a caminhar para uma nova era, onde, efectivamente, as eleições passam a ser um verdadeiro momento de festa. As últimas eleições autárquicas havidas em Moçambique foram em 2008. O MDM não concorreu porque apenas viria a ser formado em Março de 2009, na altura constituído por vários membros dissidentes da Renamo, o maior partido da oposição em Moçambique. Num contacto breve com a imprensa, Mondlane lembrou que os grandes desafios do seu partido estão ligados a criação de trabalho e melhoria de qualidade de vida para todos os munícipes da cidade de Maputo. “Faremos algo que este país tem em falta, que é a recuperação dos espaços desportivos”, disse a fonte, acrescentando em seguida que durante os três dias da campanha tem notado que o pedido do eleitorado está, em linha gerais, relacionado a pobreza, “ O custo de vida está muito elevado. O sector dos transportes é o mais problemático e vamos resolvê-lo".

Zimbabwe desmente intervenção em Moçambique

ZIMBABWE National Army Commander Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda has said Zimbabwe has not deployed troops in Mozambique and is not preparing to venture into that country. Lt Gen Sibanda was speaking at Prince Edward High School during the commemoration of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict yesterday. "We are not preparing to go to Mozambique and not at any time have we been instructed to go there," he said. "We are not happy about the situation in Mozambique, but at no time has anyone been instructed to prepare for war in Mozambique unlike what some reports have said. That is not true and I do not see us going to Mozambique in the near future." The Mozambique National Resistance Army (Renamo) which had been lying dormant since 1992 has rekindled its rebellion by attacking police and civilians. Despite reports that an estimated 58 people might have been already killed in the uprising, the rebel movement continues to spurn talks with the Frelimo government. Commenting on the impact that the war would have on the environment, Lt Gen Sibanda said Zimbabwe would not be responsible for any damage that might be made to the environment because of the situation in Mozambique. "If something happens, it will be among the Mozambicans themselves and we really cannot play a part in preserving that environment," he said. "It is their environment and they have to preserve it themselves. As Zimbabweans we cannot do anything to preserve that environment, it is their war and not ours." Sadc has since condemned Renamo's actions calling on the rebel group to stop its actions. At the height of the insurgency in 1990, some 1,7 million Mozambicans sought refuge in neighbouring countries with an estimated 150 000 coming into Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Major General Martin Chedondo has said that the army will continue to monitor and safeguard the country's borders and its key points against "retrogressive surrogates and puppets such as Dhlakama and Morgan Tsvangirai". The Herald, Harare

Bissau: O que é que conseguirá Ramos Horta?

Os neocolonialistas da CEDEAO que organizaram e deram luz verde para o golpe de estado, comprometeram-se a endireitar o País promovendo a reforma das forças de segurança e da trupalhada. Invadiram os quartéis com a sua tropa fandanga, liderados pelos ditadores nigerianos, nomearam o governador-geral Serifo Nhimi Adju e constituíram o governo mais incompetente de que há memória nesta terra. Agora virou-se o bico ao prego. A reverência de António Indjai passou a um combate sem tréguas em relação à Nigéria, fomentando o ataque à sua embaixada, criando um ódio popular (absolutamente justificado) aos chefes nigerianos e preparando-se para ações de guerrilha urbana contra eles. Os dois já não cabem na mesma caçarola. Ou a Nigéria, que está a obedecer a instruções dos Estados Unidos para capturar Indjai, ganha ou Indjai corre com eles daqui para fora. O problema maior de Indjai é que o trabalho de sapa feito pelos militares nigerianos e senegaleses dentro dos quartéis, está a conquistar apoiantes dispostos a correr, a bem ou a mal, com Indjai e capangas. Tudo indica que os militares guineenses que estão dispostos a acabar com a vida de Indjai, estão já muito perto e infiltrados no circulo restrito de "fiéis". A dúvida é a de saber quanto tempo ainda vai durar o reinado dos barrigudos, ávidos na usurpação do dinheiro proveniente de toda e qualquer repartição estatal. O mais incrível é que o descredibilizado do Ramos Horta apresenta o País como o melhor do mundo, a evoluir fantasticamente, farta-se de prometer fundos para o pós-eleições e apresenta peças de teatro trágico-cómicas de qualidade duvidosa, com o esclerosado e choroso do Xanana. Afinal o que quer o Horta com a sua estadia na Guiné-Bissau, para além das passeatas, viagens permanentes e chorudas ajudas de custo? PASMALU

Bissau: A ditadura do general António Indjai

Por decisão do Chefe de Estado Maior General das Forças Armadas, o General António Injai, a partir de amanhã, 6 de novembro, todas as instituições e repartições do Estado geradora de receitas passam a estar sob controlo de agentes das Forças Armadas e de Segurança mandatados pelo CEMGFA para o fim de controlar a recolha das mesmas e o seu encaminhamento para a instâncias do Estado Maior. Os ministérios das Finanças (Direcção Geral das Contribuições e Impostos, DGA); do Comércio, das Infraestruturas, das Pescas, da Agricultura, Caça e Florestas etc são os principais visados. Para os referidos ministérios foram destacados elementos fardados das Forças Armadas e/ou da Guarda Nacional, devidamente credenciados pelo CEMGFA a quem respondem e prestam contas diretamente. Essa "ordem" do General vem no seguimento das suas ameaças formuladas contra o Governo de Transição, o qual acusa de inoperância executiva, principalmente no tocante à incapacidade na recolha das receitas, desvios dos mesmos para fins pessoais enquanto as Forças Armadas e o sector de Segurança vivem na penúria. Prossegue assim, e sem partir um ovo, a tomada do poder absoluto pelo General. Publicada por António Aly Silva no Blog Ditadura do Consenso

Uma diatribe contra Armando Emílio Guebuza

Os jornalistas são, como é sabido, gente horrível. Eu próprio todos os dias me assusto, terrivelmente, ao olhar para o espelho da casa de banho e ver lá a cara de um jornalista. Mas, se alguém ainda tinha dúvidas sobre este facto, as clarividentes palavras do nosso Chefe de Estado, no Chimoio, fizeram, de certeza, desaparecer essas dúvidas. Ficou agora claro quem é que levou o país ao estado em que está: foram os jornalistas. Não tenho dúvidas de que foram jornalistas quem andou por aí, nos mercados de armamento, a comprar toneladas de canhões, metralhadoras, tanques e veículos blindados, para iniciar uma guerra que, todos os dias, afirmam não querer. Foram também jornalistas, decerto, quem deu ordens para o ataque, com armas pesadas, a Santundjira, em que foi morto um deputado da Renamo. O ataque a Marínguè foi, indubitavelmente, tramado em alguma redacção. O mesmo se passando, é claro, em relação à planificação dos sangrentos ataques nas estradas, seja quem for que, depois, os executou.

Terão, igualmente, sido jornalistas os que foram à Roménia comprar velhos aviões caça-bombardeiros Mig 21. Ou à França encomendar, às escondidas das estruturas competentes, três dezenas de embarcações de utilidade ainda pouco clara. Gente horrível, como digo, esses jornalistas... E não vamos esquecer que devem ter sido jornalistas todos os que andaram a saquear o Supremo Tribunal Administrativo ou se associaram aos madeireiros chineses para dar cabo das nossas riquezas naturais, entre madeiras preciosas, marfim e cornos de rinoceronte. Todos sabemos que os cidadãos de Tete, escorraçados para a localidade de Cateme, foram empurrados na ponta das esferográficas dos jornalistas. Os desmobilizados de guerra têm sido, regularmente, agredidos, nas ruas, com jactos de tinta de impressão dos jornais. Isto para não falar dos históricos libertadores da Pátria que, mais dia menos dia, vão ser obrigados a abandonar as suas bancas de venda de produtos recreativos, ali no Bairro Militar, para dar lugar a um Valentinustão. O lugar que lhes prometem, no Zimpeto, tem muito menor valor para os seus produtos... Sobre os malefícios dos jornalistas para os médicos e profissionais de saúde nem é bom falar. E o mesmo se passa com os professores e mesmo os polícias. Mas o que mais me choca é a aparente indiferença popular em relação a estes terríveis malefícios da classe dos jornalistas. Há dias estive numa manifestação que percorreu as avenidas, ruas e praças de Maputo. Ouvi muitas palavras de ordem, grande parte contra o Governo e, até, algumas claramente contra o nosso Chefe de Estado. No entanto, ninguém naquela multidão de muitos milhares de pessoas se manifestou contra os jornalistas! Porquê será?!!!! Machado da Graça, Correio da Manhã, Maputo