The rubber quota

(ES)

Women raped in the DRC face several problems to access justice. The 43 year old woman raped in Kamina, in Katanga province says: "I cherish the clothes I wore when I was raped and used it to prove rape in front of the court. I've been asked to pay Fc 7000, 3000 Fc for typing and another 50 sheets of paper for printing. I also had to carry the costs of all medical expenses and still forced to live in Kamina. The rapists are now free, and I was asked to pay $ 20 for the complaint and withdraw the decision to appeal. I lost hope.
© Gwenn Dubourthoumieu/IRIN

Cries and suffers in silence. No one should know.
It hurts, but can not complain.
It's unfair, but it is useless to denounce.
Cries out but no way. Nobody listens.
Why? They ask.
Feels anger.
Feels guilty.
It is useless, feels helpless.
Be scared.
Feel shame.
What can they do? Nobody helps them.
Feel they die.
Why are they doing this?

THE HERITAGE: After the Berlin conference of 1884, the European powers divided the African continent. The Congo Free State became the private property of King Leopold II of Belgium, which gave trade concessions for the exploitation of rubber and ivory to companies like Anglo-Belgian India Rubber and Exploration Company (A.B.I.R.) or Societe du Commerce Anversoise au Congo from which Leopold himself was a shareholder. The binomial formed by the State and the concessionary companies of rubber farms became the Congo Free State in something like a huge concentration camp dedicated to the exhaustive exploitation of natural resources.

Each village had to meet weekly or biweekly provision of rubber and food to different stations of the state concessionary companies in return for ridiculous compensation compared to the benefits that these companies obtained from the rubber industry. In turn, the natives had to work for the State to build roads or maintenance of telegraph installation. Slave labor that forced many natives to leave their villages and seek refuge in neighboring villages in the French Congo.

Subject to conditions of forced labor, forced to abandon farming from which they had been living prior to colonization, living in miserable conditions that favored the emergence of fatal diseases, the story of the horrors suffered is enough to understand that during the Belgian rule, million of indigenous inhabitants died. Not only were victims of work in conditions of slavery or of diseases. When a man or a village could not collect the amount of rubber or foods that were imposed, they suffered all kinds of corporal punishment by the soldiers of the concessionary companies, or were kept in prisons far from their homes until their village paid a totally arbitrary fine for release them. The murder with impunity of offenders was also common practice, and to demonstrate to administrators of the concessionary companies that the bullet had been used to kill a man, soldiers should give the mutilated hand, foot or the genitals of the victim. As was often the bullets were used for hunting, soldiers used to mutilate men and children alive as punishment for not having collected the quota of rubber. Another way to ensure the collection was taken hostage the village women that would not be released until the men of the village managed to collect the allocated quota. In filthy prisons, women and their children starved, since they didn't receive food from their captors. The story of the horrors after more than a quarter century of Belgian colonization can not leave unmoved today's society, although there was a premeditated attempt to hide them from public opinion.

The militias that control the natural resources of the current DR Congo, State corruption, impunity of crimes, mass rapes, forced recruitment of child soldiers, abduction of girls as sex slaves, the uprooting, corrupt Justice, commercial interests are, 137 years later, the legacy of colonialism. A greedy colonialism that imposed an oppressive system based on a wild soldiery, under the control of commercial companies, which controlled a vast territory in the absence or in connivance with corrupt State administration.

I also feel ashamed, like the Congolese women.
I am ashamed of the curse the white man meant for the African continent.
I am ashamed of their infinite greed.
I am ashamed of the lack of historical memory of European people.

And I cry with Congolese women that has seen the death of their sons and daughters. Who has been raped savagely. That suffers in silence so as not to be repudiated. That is taking care of their own. That will not be able to conceive more children. Living in solitude, the solitude of shame and injustice.
And I shout for her, and for children mutilated. For those killed, for the enslaved, for those who have been orphaned.
And I also feel anger. For millions of murders and rapes with impunity.
And I feel guilty. For so many years of looking the other way, for so many years of not hearing his desperate cries.

I do not feel helpless, but rather hopeful. Fearless and committed to the cause of Congolese women, strong and resilient, like most African women.

A young girl raped in Bamenda, in the Katanga province, says: "before getting raped, I was betrothed. But the marriage was of course canceled. Now my father has to repay the dowry. The family of the rapist has promised to pay for it, but since then, they did nothing. As I got pregnant, the most urgent thing to do was to free the rapist so that he could support me during the pregnancy. It was inconceivable that he goes to jail. It is better that he remains free to meet my needs and those of the baby. But it is also important for him to marry me now because nobody wants me anymore.
© Gwenn Dubourthoumieu/IRIN

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The hope of returning home

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The movement of 15-M was born in Spain under the slogan "REAL DEMOCRACY NOW. We are not goods in the hands of politicians and bankers" has now more than 400,000 followers in social networks. Derived from this movement, many outraged citizens took the squares of their cities and decided to camp there.

After several weeks, the campers themselves are deliberating about convenience of the eviction from the camps, seeking more efficient alternative to ensure continuity and credibility to the movement that was born on 15-M. The political and business pressures are increasing, citing insanitary problems in the camps, as well as economic losses from shops around the places where outraged people are encamped.

Since that date, May 15, the media make an exhaustive follow up of all that has to do with this movement, its present and future.

A settlement for IDP's in North Galkayo, Somalia

© Kate Holt/IRIN

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) the number of people displaced within their own country is about 26 million IDPs, of whom UNHCR assists about 15 million of them. To this figure must be added 10 million refugees, stateless 6 million, 1 million asylum seekers and 400 thousand people requiring assistance from UNHCR.

Almost 44 million people live in refugee camps worldwide. People fleeing violence and living in tents away from their homes, in conditions that UNHCR and many NGOs try to make it as dignified as possible. Refugee camps in which several generations have been born and grew up, always with the hope of returning home.

44 million human beings have "taken the secluded squares of a globalized world", not to claim, but to escape certain death. They more than anyone are goods in the hands of politicians and large corporations. However, the unhealthiness of their camps and evicting them does not seem to be a priority of our rulers, nor capture the attention of the media. And is that in the squares occupied by the refugees there are no residents or traders to be disturbed, and if those refugees try to take some of ours in Europe, borders are closed to them, or are detained until they can be returned to the fleeing countries.

So Europe's message is: "Dear refugees, stay in your camps in the middle of nowhere, do not cross our borders, that here we have already many outraged citizens to be evicted from our squares."

Only hope can change the world. The hope of the outraged people, the hope of displaced people, the hope of those who believe that a better world is possible.


IDP's: Internally Displaced People.

The wind and the light

A girl does her homework in Kandahar, Afghanistan
© Sayed Sarwar Amani/IRIN

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Just as the wind surrounds a mountain, and in every onslaught erodes it during millions of years until it disappears, the same happens with scientific-technological progress against the customs barrier.

Progress speed ahead, while the customs are adamant, rooted in society, remaining outside, and even opposite, to many of the achievements of recent decades.

Technological advances have changed and shall continue changing our world, but by themselves will not be able to address threats and challenges that we face.

Understanding others, managing change and conflict, motivating, respecting, reinforcing, trusting and accompanying are the way to true social progress. This will build a more egalitarian world respecting the customs and traditions of different peoples.

The progress of a society we have seen in recent years is not imposed or by military force, nor by force of law. If we really want to erode the mountain of customs, we need a stronger wind that will be able to change its shape in a few generations, but not make it disappear. And this is the wind of social progress, which depends on each and every one of us, because we are the only answer to the inequality that exists in this world and that is a source of endless conflict.

It is not erase customs and traditions of different peoples to adopt that of the Western world. This would be a serious mistake generating greater tensions. But rather, embrace diversity and strive to eradicate those practices that help maintain the privileged status quo of some at the expense of other sectors of society. Customs that undermine the dignity of human beings and animals that inhabit this planet.

Progress in science requires financial and human resources for its development, while social progress is fed with the courage of people. Brave men and women who face the traditions, prejudices, ignorance, clichés, lack of culture, superstitions, their own fears, despair, injustice or abuse of power, with the conviction of one who knows that we will never be truly free, nor have a decent life, as long as a single human being does not have the same opportunities as the rest. And all this with the most powerful and feared weapon of all human history: the thought.



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Looking through a prism.

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The way we look around determines the reaction of our surroundings.

We look at the sub-Saharan Africa with a mixture of pity and paternalism, result of post-colonial heritage. And Africa look at West with the anger and despair which feels someone that has been abandoned to their fate, which has been stripped of their dignity and no longer able to stand up and fight for their future, because without further opportunities is resigned to survive with the help they are given.

We look at the East with distrust and fear, and even with the arrogance of the West that humiliates and despises muslim people. And the East looks at the West with the rage of someone who feels humiliated, defeated a thousand times and unable to react. Remembers its past glory because the West prevented from building their future in peace.

We look at India, China and Brazil with admiration for its miraculous economic growth, but with contempt of traditional economic powers that refuse to lose its legitimacy in the capitalist world against those who consider "new rich". And the emerging powers are revealed, asking for step, and making their way into the free market by imposing their economic power, knowing that this escalation of unstoppable growth is not sustainable.

We saw in U.S. the advocate of democracy and freedom against the excesses of communism. And the United States reaffirm its role, even now that communism is nothing more than a mere memory in the history of the World. And in that role, according to its geostrategic interests, takes part with no control far and wide of the geography of the planet, causing the fracture of the countries in which deploys its military power.

We look at the state of Israel with incomprehension and anger because of the violence unleashed against the Palestinian people and the distrust that make us those who feel different for being the self-proclaimed people chosen by God. And Israel, to the historical mistrust, builds walls around, real and intangible, based on their economic and military power, and the legitimacy given by their allies.

The prism that we are imposed by our government is based on clichés that transmit media. And that is the prism of fear, mistrust, arrogance, paternalism, rage, contempt through which West look around.

We can tell our leaders that enough is enough of abuse and humiliation, and to the people who have suffered them, is necesary to tell them that their victims will not be forgotten, and that crimes against them will not remain unpunished. So human is the feeling of love as of hatred, but many of us love, and have the ability and responsibility to extend a conciliatory and generous hand to humiliated and oppressed peoples, while we will rise an open palm up as a sign of "Enough is enough".

Someone must take a step in this peaceful revolution on behalf of the underprivileged. Let us be the first.


Photo:© IRIN.

Is regrettable, but not surprising.

(ES)

According to 2010 data from the IMF, GDP (PPP) in millions of international dollars of EU was 15,150,667, compared to that of Liberia that was 1709. Since this is an indicator of living standards, we can conclude that living in EU is 8,865 times better than living in Liberia. Is regrettable, but not surprising.

According to UNHCR, May 3, 2011, in Liberia there are still 160,000 refugees from Cote d'Ivoire who fled the recent violence that took place in the country after the presidential election in November 2010. And still arriving at a rate of 250 refugees a day.
In Duekoue, west of Cote d'Ivoire, 27,000 people are crowded into a Catholic church. In 15 other locations west of the country also, thousands of refugees living with host families begin to run out of resources, and remain with only one meal a day.

In the words of the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, "Liberia is in a very difficult situation and has opened its borders to refugees. On a recent visit, I saw Liberians giving rice seeds to refugees. Liberia is in a complex situation of transition from war to peace and democracy and once again we see generosity. "

According to UNHCR, since the conflict began in Libya, have fled the violence more than 740,000 people, mainly to Tunisia (356 000) and Egypt (270,000).

To the shores of Italy and Malta have reached 12,360 refugees from Libya, less than half of those who crowded into a Catholic church in Duekoue.

The EU response is a proposal to amend the Schengen Treaty, strengthening the external borders and restricting the free movement between European States in exceptional circumstances.

The journey of those who flee violence is never without its dangers. Thousands die in the attempt, mostly women and children, the most vulnerable in any conflict. When NATO and the EU are accused for refusing aid and the terrible conditions in which it gives shelter to migrants from North Africa, I can only think that from the EU, the message they want to give African countries is very clear:
"We are only interested in your natural resources, which are the source of our wealth. We do not want you on our soil and we will do everything possible to dissuade you, although bombed your homes."

Liberia receives 4.5 times more refugees from Cote d'Ivoire than the EU from North Africa, but is 8,865 times poorer. An example of generosity and solidarity.

In the words of Guterres:

"One aspect of migrations that is often overlooked is the contribution of the nations that share borders with countries in conflict."
"Often these countries are already in poverty, insecurity and risk of further instability. They need international assistance to help them support the refugees and displaced populations. "
"The world has to show to Tunisia, Egypt and Liberia the same solidarity that these countries have shown toward the refugees."
"Is the answer to the most lucid Western world's interest, that revolutions succeed and affirm democratic societies."

I've never been a supporter of figures, because they reduce human life to a simple number. And no life, and no death, deserve to be remembered as one more number of a conflict.
If I had to summarize the feeling I get from European action in conflicts in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire, I can only think of two words: shame and indignation.

Here's another reason for outrage, and as Stéphane Hessel would say: Indignez-vous!


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