On the coup d'État in Côte d'Ivoire
Here is a letter I sent US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright regarding
the American governement's suspension of aide to Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
in the wake of the military's seizure of power of 24 Dec. '99. I sent a
similiar letter to Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy.
Thursday, 30 Dec. '99
Dear Madame Secretary,
I am writing in regard to the decision by the United
States to suspend aid to Ivory Coast. I feel that this
decision is wrong and short-sighted. While the idea of
condemning military coups d'État is a good one in
general, one also has to take the time to look at
specific cases. The military did not overthrow
democracy in Ivory Coast, it deposed an
increasingly authoritarian monarchy, acting in the
guise of a republic (as one Senegalese newspaper put
it).
The government in Ivory Coast was a one party state
for 30 years. In the last decade, it has tolerated
opposition but only just. In the early 90s, one main
opposition leader was jailed for having a protest
march. A few months ago, nearly all of the top
leadership of the other main opposition party was
imprisoned for three years... also for having a
protest march. The government was doing everything
possible, legal and otherwise, to prevent one main
opposition candidate for standing in the 2000
presidential elections. There were arbitrary arrests
and rights guaranteed by the Ivorian constitution were
only applicable if one was a member of the ruling
party. Effectively, the rule of law was applied only
when convenient.
Essentially, this was democracy in form but not in
substance. The institutions existed but did not
function in a democratic way. Remember, IN FORM, East
Germany, the Soviet Union and China were democracies.
They had a legislature and courts and nicely worded
constitutions. They never had a military coup since
the arrival of communism. Did that make them real
democracies?
If the USA wants to promote democracy, it must condemn
ALL assaults on democracy. Military coups are one
assault on democracy, but not the only one. Yet it
seems the only one to be regularly condemned by the
USA and the rest of the international community. The
peoples of these countries understand this better than
western governments, however well-intentioned the
latter may be.
The United States must react to all attacks on
democracy, not just military ones. Democracy was in
serious peril by the Bédié governement, who was
leading the country toward the path of civil war with
its xenophobic rhetoric and politico-judicial
machinations designed to stiffle all peaceful attempts at
opposition. This was an attack on democracy too,
probably more serious and dangerous than the coup
d'État, but did not result in sanctions by the USA.
This dichotomy must be analyzed by our nation's
foreign policy deciders.
The people of Ivory Coast have reacted as though the
military coup is the beginning of real democracy, not
the end. I strongly urge you, Madame Secretary, and
the administration to ask yourselves why this is so
and reconcile this reality with the current position
of the administration.
Most respectfully yours,
Brian Farenell
Glens Falls, NY
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Page last updated: 31 Dec. '99, 2340 EST
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