By Fr. Franco Cellana Regional Superior, Kenya
In its issue No. 126 (Friday, December 10, 2010), CISA carried a “Response to Fr. Bertaina’s case” and from it, the reader may be led to believe that the Consolata Missionaries rejoice at the prospect of a death penalty being carried out. We only recognise the verdict of the High Court of Nairobi delivered by Lady Justice Jessie Lessite against those who were charged with murdering our late missionary Fr. Giuseppe Bertaina IMC, appreciating the course and the steps that the High Court of Nairobi has taken in such a short time to solve the case. We, the Consolata Missionaries in Kenya would, thus, wish to make widely known our position as it was expressed by our General Superior, Fr. Aquiléo Fiorentini and his Council only a few days after the conclusion of the case in the High Court of Kenya.
Official Communiqué from the General Direction of The Consolata Missionary Institute
As regards the press releases concerning the death sentence pronounced against the two persons considered guilty of the murder of Fr. Giuseppe Bertaina IMC in Nairobi (Kenya) on January 19, 2009, the Consolata Missionaries consider it appropriate to make some clarifications.
1. We consider it a positive step that the High Court has taken into consideration and solved this case, contrary to what happened in similar cases never solved like the murders of Fr. Michele Stallone IMC killed at Loyangallani in 1965, Fr. Luigi Graiff IMC killed at Parkati (Baragoi) in 1981, Fr. Luigi Andeni IMC killed at Archer’s Post in 1998 and Bishop Luigi Locati IMC of Isiolo killed in 2005, just to name a few.
2. The Superior General, however, has already sent for filing, in the High Court of Nairobi, a letter in which he requests that the death sentence pronounced by the court against the two persons considered guilty of the murder of our confrere, Fr. Giuseppe Bertaina should not be carried out but rather commuted at most to life imprisonment. As Christians, and even more as missionaries, we are totally against the death penalty, as we are also against every feeling and act of violence.
3. We also consider that, if the death sentence were to be carried out, this would be a great offence to the memory of Fr. Giuseppe Bertaina, who spent all his existence for the life and promotion of the people of Kenya, working with passion and generosity for the formation of several generations of students. It is because of this commitment for life that he met his death and he could not desire anything else but redemption and life.
Fr. Aquileo Fiorentini, General Superior of The Consolata Missionaries Rome, October 28, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ivory Coast must not be allowed to slip Back into Chaos
Recent political developments in Ivory Coast are very worrying and alarming. They are creating a very dangerous and explosive situation in which our brothers and sisters in this country could easily lose their lives and property. This calls therefore for a quick and rapid action from the African Union and the International community to prevent Ivory Coast from sliding back into chaos and bloodshed. Action must be taken now.
A brief political history of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) demonstrates how explosive the situation in which this country finds itself right now is.
In 1960 Ivory Coast got its independence from its colonial power France. And while the north of the country is predominantly Muslim and the south predominantly Christian, under the powerful and wise leadership of Houphouet-Boigny who ruled the country from 1960 until his death in 1993, Ivory Coast remained united, stable and economically very prosperous.
In 1990 in an effort to democratize the country, Houphouet-Boigny legalized political opposition parties. In his first contested election Houphouet-Boigny won, beating out Laurent Gbagbo the candidate from Ivorian Popular Front (IPF.)
When Houphouet-Boigny died in 1993 he was succeeded by Henri Konan Bedei. And the political problems we have in Ivory Coast now could be traced back to this man! The reason being that before the 1995 presidential elections he placed restrictions on opposition party candidates forcing the opposition parties to boycott! And as it usually happens in Africa he «won» the elections!
The next presidential elections were to take place in 2000; unfortunately before they did the country experienced its first military coup! General Guei on 25 December, 1999 ousted Bedie! With Guei in power the political problems and tensions increased in the country. He promised to hold elections late in 2000. But he established through the Supreme Court which he controlled the criteria that all candidates had to have two Ivorian parents and have never held a nationality of another country.
Mr. Alassane Ouattara who was Prime Minister under Houphouet-Boigny was the candidate of the party: Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR.) The Supreme Court controlled by Guei disqualified him when it announced that his mother was from Burkina Faso! His party boycotted and the race remained between Guei and Laurent Gbagbo of (FIP.) But when according to the initial results Guei sensed that Laurent Gbagbo was winning, he stopped the whole process, disbanded the Electoral Commission and declared himself the winner!
Within hours, just as it happened in Kenya in 2007, a bloody fight broke out. Crowds of Gbagbo’s supporters took to the streets and attacked the guards protecting the presidential palace. Many soldiers joined the crowds to fight the Junta government forcing Guei to flee! And Gbagbo was declared President.
But having been excluded from the elections, crowds ot Ouattara’s supporters also took to the streets calling for fresh elections. Unfortunately hundreds of them were killed by forces loyal to the new government of Gbagbo and FIP youth who attacked them! Ouattara who did not want to see more bloodshed called for peace and recognized the Gbagbo presidency.
On 19 September, 2002 while President Gbagbo was in Italy civil war that divided the country into two (North and South) broke out! Troops who were to be demobilised mutinied, launching attacks in a number of cities. The government lost control of the north to the rebel forces who made their strong hold in the northern city of Bouake. To save his life Ouattara took refuge in the French embassy. France sent in its troops to prevent the rebels from capturing Abidjan!
In January 2003, Gbagbo and the rebel leaders agreed to form a government of national unity. And on 28 November 2010 presidential elections were held. The Independent Electoral Commission declared Ouattara winner. The International Observers also confirmed that Ouattara was the winner. But Gbagbo contested the result! And the Constitution Council which is controlled by him, declared him winner! Both Gbagbo and Ouattara have been inaugurated as president. So right now Ivory Coast has two Presidents! This creates a very dangerous and deadly situation for all our brothers and sisters in that country.
But the European Union, the United Nations and many countries have recognized Ouattara as the winner. US President Obama also recognizes Ouattara as the winner and he sent him congratulations. But the Ivory Coast military leaders are backing Gbagbo, which militarily makes him a very dangerous man!
The African Union appointed former South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between Gbagbo and Ouattara. And on 5 December he arrived in Abidjan.
While it is good and commendable that AU has already sent in Mbeki to mediate, given the history of this country and that Gbagbo has the backing of the army, mere political nagotions will not force him to step down. And he should. Because the Independent Electoral Commission which alone has the power to declare the winner, declared Ouattara the winner and not him. And the more the situation goes on like this without a solution the more dangerous it becomes.
Since the United Nations, the European Union, The United States of America and many other nations have already recognized Ouattara as the new President of Ivory Coast, we must no longer sit back waiting to see what is going to happen. It is clear what is going to happen is bloodshed and already several people have been killed!
For the 1994 genocide in Rwanda the whole world stands condemned, because we waited for so long while the situation was getting out of control by the hour. By the time the world woke up, nearly a million people had been slaughtered and lost their lives. This must not be allowed to happen again.
So the African Union should already be mobilising well trained troops and amassing them with sophisticated weaponry in the neighbouring countries of Ghana, Liberia and Guinea. From here if need be, they can swiftly enter into the country to stop bloodshed and carnage. And their presence nearby would put pressure on Gbagbo to step down.
African Armies should be there to protect the lives of Africans and not just be kept by their respective governments in their barracks. According to available reports : Nigeria has approximately 167,000 military and paramilitary personnel, South Africa has approximately 34,000 military and paramilitary personnel, Ghana has a very small army of about 7,000 personnel but one of the most professional up date armies in West Africa, Cameroon has approximately 38,000 military personnel, Kenya has approximately 100,000 military and paramilitary personnel. So the African Union cannot claim that it has no soldiers to send to protect the people in Ivory Coast from senseless death.
Ugandan and Burundian soldiers are doing a very good job in Somalia for the sake of all Africans and in fact for the sake of the whole world in trying to contain Al shaabab. So other African nations should provide troops to contain Gbagbo.
Apart from the African Union, I appeal to USA and the European Union to send some of their war ships near the Ivorian coast, to send a clear sign to Gbagbo that he should put jokes away and step down. He should not joke with the lives of the people of Ivory Coast putting them in danger of death. I also appeal to all nations to cut their diplomatic ties with the Gbagbo government. I believe all this pressure will force him to step down.
Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo
Monastery Val Notre-Dame, Canada.
Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
A brief political history of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) demonstrates how explosive the situation in which this country finds itself right now is.
In 1960 Ivory Coast got its independence from its colonial power France. And while the north of the country is predominantly Muslim and the south predominantly Christian, under the powerful and wise leadership of Houphouet-Boigny who ruled the country from 1960 until his death in 1993, Ivory Coast remained united, stable and economically very prosperous.
In 1990 in an effort to democratize the country, Houphouet-Boigny legalized political opposition parties. In his first contested election Houphouet-Boigny won, beating out Laurent Gbagbo the candidate from Ivorian Popular Front (IPF.)
When Houphouet-Boigny died in 1993 he was succeeded by Henri Konan Bedei. And the political problems we have in Ivory Coast now could be traced back to this man! The reason being that before the 1995 presidential elections he placed restrictions on opposition party candidates forcing the opposition parties to boycott! And as it usually happens in Africa he «won» the elections!
The next presidential elections were to take place in 2000; unfortunately before they did the country experienced its first military coup! General Guei on 25 December, 1999 ousted Bedie! With Guei in power the political problems and tensions increased in the country. He promised to hold elections late in 2000. But he established through the Supreme Court which he controlled the criteria that all candidates had to have two Ivorian parents and have never held a nationality of another country.
Mr. Alassane Ouattara who was Prime Minister under Houphouet-Boigny was the candidate of the party: Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR.) The Supreme Court controlled by Guei disqualified him when it announced that his mother was from Burkina Faso! His party boycotted and the race remained between Guei and Laurent Gbagbo of (FIP.) But when according to the initial results Guei sensed that Laurent Gbagbo was winning, he stopped the whole process, disbanded the Electoral Commission and declared himself the winner!
Within hours, just as it happened in Kenya in 2007, a bloody fight broke out. Crowds of Gbagbo’s supporters took to the streets and attacked the guards protecting the presidential palace. Many soldiers joined the crowds to fight the Junta government forcing Guei to flee! And Gbagbo was declared President.
But having been excluded from the elections, crowds ot Ouattara’s supporters also took to the streets calling for fresh elections. Unfortunately hundreds of them were killed by forces loyal to the new government of Gbagbo and FIP youth who attacked them! Ouattara who did not want to see more bloodshed called for peace and recognized the Gbagbo presidency.
On 19 September, 2002 while President Gbagbo was in Italy civil war that divided the country into two (North and South) broke out! Troops who were to be demobilised mutinied, launching attacks in a number of cities. The government lost control of the north to the rebel forces who made their strong hold in the northern city of Bouake. To save his life Ouattara took refuge in the French embassy. France sent in its troops to prevent the rebels from capturing Abidjan!
In January 2003, Gbagbo and the rebel leaders agreed to form a government of national unity. And on 28 November 2010 presidential elections were held. The Independent Electoral Commission declared Ouattara winner. The International Observers also confirmed that Ouattara was the winner. But Gbagbo contested the result! And the Constitution Council which is controlled by him, declared him winner! Both Gbagbo and Ouattara have been inaugurated as president. So right now Ivory Coast has two Presidents! This creates a very dangerous and deadly situation for all our brothers and sisters in that country.
But the European Union, the United Nations and many countries have recognized Ouattara as the winner. US President Obama also recognizes Ouattara as the winner and he sent him congratulations. But the Ivory Coast military leaders are backing Gbagbo, which militarily makes him a very dangerous man!
The African Union appointed former South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between Gbagbo and Ouattara. And on 5 December he arrived in Abidjan.
While it is good and commendable that AU has already sent in Mbeki to mediate, given the history of this country and that Gbagbo has the backing of the army, mere political nagotions will not force him to step down. And he should. Because the Independent Electoral Commission which alone has the power to declare the winner, declared Ouattara the winner and not him. And the more the situation goes on like this without a solution the more dangerous it becomes.
Since the United Nations, the European Union, The United States of America and many other nations have already recognized Ouattara as the new President of Ivory Coast, we must no longer sit back waiting to see what is going to happen. It is clear what is going to happen is bloodshed and already several people have been killed!
For the 1994 genocide in Rwanda the whole world stands condemned, because we waited for so long while the situation was getting out of control by the hour. By the time the world woke up, nearly a million people had been slaughtered and lost their lives. This must not be allowed to happen again.
So the African Union should already be mobilising well trained troops and amassing them with sophisticated weaponry in the neighbouring countries of Ghana, Liberia and Guinea. From here if need be, they can swiftly enter into the country to stop bloodshed and carnage. And their presence nearby would put pressure on Gbagbo to step down.
African Armies should be there to protect the lives of Africans and not just be kept by their respective governments in their barracks. According to available reports : Nigeria has approximately 167,000 military and paramilitary personnel, South Africa has approximately 34,000 military and paramilitary personnel, Ghana has a very small army of about 7,000 personnel but one of the most professional up date armies in West Africa, Cameroon has approximately 38,000 military personnel, Kenya has approximately 100,000 military and paramilitary personnel. So the African Union cannot claim that it has no soldiers to send to protect the people in Ivory Coast from senseless death.
Ugandan and Burundian soldiers are doing a very good job in Somalia for the sake of all Africans and in fact for the sake of the whole world in trying to contain Al shaabab. So other African nations should provide troops to contain Gbagbo.
Apart from the African Union, I appeal to USA and the European Union to send some of their war ships near the Ivorian coast, to send a clear sign to Gbagbo that he should put jokes away and step down. He should not joke with the lives of the people of Ivory Coast putting them in danger of death. I also appeal to all nations to cut their diplomatic ties with the Gbagbo government. I believe all this pressure will force him to step down.
Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo
Monastery Val Notre-Dame, Canada.
Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
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