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 Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:37 pm
Post subject: Discussion of Lado |
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Ronald Lulua is a senior official of the government of Lado in exile in Denmark. He has given us a very interesting history of Lado, which I believe is accurate and is two threads below this one.
His history of Lado is a bit lengthy, but it takes some real work to write the history of a country that is totally unknown to most readers. I very much appreciate his effort and highly recommend it to all of my readers.
I am still digesting what Ronald has told us and doing some more research on the subject. Some of what he has to say will sound very strange to western readers, who may have some doubts about it. People who have suffered through the imperial colonial experience are much more likely to accept the accuracy of this history. I think that it is a typical example of the worst abuses of the imperial period.
I was not familure with the Lado state before Ronald brought it to my attention. But I have read about the Egyptian province of Equatoria, which was the land of Lado in the first half of the 19th century. The passage that I remember reading said that when the first European explorers arrived there in the middle of the 19th century, it was a peaceful, civilized, well governed state. Immediately after those explorers blazed a trail to the area, they were followed by slave raiders, thieves, scoundrals, and imperialists who descended on the helpless inhabitants and destroyed there peaceful society.
I will have more comments after further study. |
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:48 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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Lado, i believe is suffering the same faith like Turkey
which disappeared from the map of Europe during the first
or second world war.This is why Turkey was referred to by
historians as the "sickman of Europe".However,today Tuerkey
is a great nation because all it's lost territories were
seized from the great powers such as Russia,Autria ...etc
and handed back to Turkey.
The people of Lado should be given their independence
because they deserve it.They are a sovereign people and
should not be treated like refugees in their
motherland.Get-up the Union for Africa,the U.N.O and give
attention to these people crying in the wilderness. TABI
Ziporah
Cameroon |
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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I have met several representatives of the Ladoan Democracy and Self Determination Movement while at a human rights conference in Helsinki several years ago.
Their big man was not that impressive, but at 80+ you could not expect much... His younger colleagues instead struck me as world-wise, determined, and strategically very flexible.
They told me they basically had a flowchart-type set of contingency plans for several possible outcomes of the next few steps in their struggle - something along the lines
of:
"if we get administrative self-determination, here's the list of foreign-educated Ladoan economists for the ministries, of the potential teachers who know the Ladoan language well enough to start a basic literacy curriculum..."
or
"if independence gets closer, here's our shadow representation to the UN, the one to the OAU, and the one (cough..) to the Arab League - of course we do not consider ourselves Arab, but they do think we are,so why not, and by the by, they already live in the corresponding areas of the world".
Impressive indeed! |
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:03 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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By Haje (phaje@sympatico.ca)
Dear Ronald and all,
This is an excellent lesson of "Divide and Rule Policy " which is still in the process and destroying the continent of Africa.
A good example of the current disasters in dafur in Sudan where religion is still dominating this "divide and rule " divide and rule policy",was used by "Governor- General Sir Maffey who kept fighting between the Hindi and the Moslism populations, which finally ended with the formation of the state of pakistan in 1947,which was later split into two states with the birth of Bangladesh in 1972".
You understand that in reality that fighting is still going on in Kashmir just as it is still going on in dafur in Sudan.
Kashmir as the case of Lado is an ideal strategic location for the full control of Asia and its surrounding countries., Lado by then was called "Central Africa", but Central Africa today is a nation by itself in Africa and the best description would be now "Sub-Sahara Africa".
So Lado in terms of "Central Africa "today is a misleading term and we must correct the term so that readers are not confused.
I am sure it was not your intention to mislead NEPAD readers. If you can read "The White Nile and Blue Nile by Alan Moorehead", you will understand the conflict you are talking about Lado and its people.
Arab brutal slave trade played a major role in destroying the people of Lado and divide and rule slave trade policy was in the process during their struggle.
Who is to blame?
Haje
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Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:14 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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News | April 28, 2006
UN suspects Uganda is fighting in Congo
FRANK NYAKAIRU & AGENCIES
UNITED Nations peacekeepers are investigating reports that Ugandan soldiers crossed into neighbouring Congo in pursuit of rebels on Wednesday and clashed with Congolese troops, a U.N. spokesman said on Thursday.
Security sources in Kinshasa said Ugandan soldiers clashed with the Congolese army near the town of Aba, in the remote northeastern frontier with Uganda and Sudan - after crossing the border to hunt down the Joseph Kony-led Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels hiding there.
"The Ugandans crossed the border apparently to hunt the LRA and they started fighting with our men. This fighting definitely happened," said one security source in Kinshasa.
"We have received reports from the Congolese army that there was a contact between them and the Ugandan army south of Aba yesterday," Hans-Jakob Reichen, the military spokesman for U.N. forces in eastern Congo, told Reuters by telephone.
"We are unable to confirm or deny this but we have the firm intention of verifying this information. Because of the potential problems we will look into it," he said.
The Ugandan army has roundly denied the claims.
Reports of UPDF fighting come a week after Uganda's Defence Minister Amama Mbabazi proposed to the UN Security Council last Wednesday that his troops be allowed to enter Congo to pursue the rebels who were regrouping there and kidnapping, raping and recruiting children.
Mr Mbabazi told the Security Council he knew the LRA was operating in the Garambe National Park of the DR Congo and in Sudan between Juba and Yei, their original base.
President Yoweri Museveni said last month Uganda would not hesitate to send troops into Congo if it was attacked by the LRA rebels based there. The U.N. and Congo's government have turned down several Ugandan offers to chase the LRA over the border.
A diplomat in Kinshasa told Reuters yesterday that there were reports that one Ugandan soldier had been killed and another captured in Wednesday's fighting, but it was not possible to get immediate confirmation of any casualties or prisoners.
"If Ugandan forces came in and went out again it will be almost impossible to verify, but if it was a search and destroy operation, that will be more difficult to brush under the carpet," the diplomat said.
The UPDF, however, denied reports of the said clash in theCongo. The Defence and Army Spokesman, Maj. Felix Kulayigye, said the UN could have mistaken a Sudanese militia group for UPDF.
Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the commander of the Land Forces, during a meeting with MPs from the war-torn northern Uganda at Kabira County Club said, “95 percent of the LRA rebels are in DRC. The protocol we signed with Sudan was successful and Kony has run to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The rebels don’t have a central command. I am looking at the day the UN will help us get Kony. We are ready to make jonit operation in Congo.”
Kulayigye said, "A group of Congolese went to Lasu (in southern Sudan) and abducted some people and a Sudanese armed group followed them in hot pursuit and clashed with Congolese commandos".
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Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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http://www.gesi.org/docs/FFI%20Coltan%20report.pdf
Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources
and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo
3.5. Ongoing conflict in the east
Despite the encouraging signs of progress on the political front, the situation in eastern DRC remains bleak. Ongoing local and regional conflicts continue to destabilize national efforts to attain peace. The war has been based on ‘predator economics’ – conflict and resource control have been inextricably linked and long-term resolution therefore requires that such
issues are acknowledged and addressed in peace negotiations.
The withdrawal of the Rwandan and Ugandan armies left a political vacuum in eastern DRC. The rebel authorities are holding onto power, mainly in towns, airstrips and mining areas, resulting in even further social and political fragmentation. New rebel movements have emerged, sometimes in order to reap the benefits of the natural resources, all of which adds to an already complicated picture. Recently, there has been an escalation in fighting in South Kivu, especially around the towns of Uvira and Walungu. It is also alleged that the Rwandan and Ugandan armies have
not fully withdrawn from the east.
The worst of the conflict since the signing of the 2002 bilateral agreements and the subsequent withdrawal of foreign troops has been in the northern part of North Kivu, in a newly declared province called Ituri (where there are said to be deposits of coltan and other minerals). Fighting between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups has led to the deaths of over 55,000 people and the displacement of over 500,000 people (APPG, 2003).
MONUC, the UN force, has largely been powerless to prevent the conflict. All sides, both national and international, have been variously accused of supporting, and even arming, different factions. The recent intervention of a multinational force in June 2003, comprising French and British troops, was therefore essential.
3.6. The humanitarian crisis
It is estimated that over three million people have died as a direct or indirect result of the war in the Congo since 1998 (IRC, 2003).The vast majority of these deaths, 90%, have occurred in the eastern part of the country, and are attributed to malnutrition or disease due to the displacement of people fleeing violence. Over 200,000 people have died at the hands of soldiers from all factions involved in the conflict (World Bank, 2002). An estimated 2.7 million people, up to 5% of the total population, have been displaced as a result of fighting; most are located in the east of the country (OCHA, 2003). An estimated 18 million have no access to services of any kind, with about 20 million regarded as vulnerable populations (APPG, 2002).
3.7. The economy
Historically, mining of copper, cobalt, diamonds, gold, zinc and petroleum accounted for about 75% of total export revenues and about 25% of the country’s GDP (World Bank, 2002). However, the economy has been in decline since the 1970s, exacerbated by the conflict in the 1990s and into this century, culminating in the virtual collapse of the formal economy.
The stabilization measures launched by the government in May 2001 have been successful in breaking the spiral of hyperinflation from 630% in the second half of 2000 to 8.8% one year later. Currency depreciation has also been addressed and the exchange rate stabilized. It is hoped that the downward trajectory of the Congolese economy will make a credible and sustainable upward turn in 2003.
The significant progress achieved by the government has prompted important financial commitments by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A USD450m Economic Recovery Credit was approved in mid 2002 to support economic reforms, with a further USD454m Emergency Multi-Sector Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project (EMRRP) also approved.
The EMRRP is part of a broader USD1.74bn priority program supported by a wide range of donors to develop transportation, energy, water, agriculture, health, education and social services (World Bank, 2002). Loans, however valuable, add to the country’s massive debt burden, so debt relief will be a key component of economic recovery. The International Development Association (IDA) has released a USD44m grant (Ford, 2002).
The de facto partitioning of the country and the impact of open warfare effectively halted domestic trade between provinces. The Congo River will play a critical role in its revival, in terms of trading routes, water supplies and hydroelectric power generation. The importance of good environmental management of the river system cannot be overstated.
Oil extraction is now in the hands of independent oil firm, Perenco, and exploration licenses have been granted to other companies, including Heritage Oil, to prospect for resources in north-eastern DRC, in the Ituri region. Although there have been no major oil finds as yet, there are concerns about exploration occurring in important protected areas as well as the role played by different armed factions in the region, resulting in further killings and population displacements.
The importance of breaking the cycle of poverty and conflict is recognized by the World Bank and encapsulated by the Bank’s DRC Country Director, Emmanuel Mbi: “The early provision of peace dividends, in the form of concrete actions that reach the population, is critical to sustain the momentum for peace” (Ford, 2002).
From the start of the current war, foreign businesses reduced their operations or pulled out entirely due to instability, government harassment and restrictions. Poor infrastructure (of 145,000 km of roads, only 2,500 km are asphalt), an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a complete lack of transparency in government policy and operations made investment and growth impossible.
Attracting responsible
investment to the country constitutes a considerable challenge and is most likely to focus on the three sectors in which the DRC has, or could have, important comparative advantages: mining, export agriculture and forestry. The new World Bank Codes for mining, forestry and investment are of fundamental importance to this process.
The scale of the economic crisis is hard to comprehend. In much of the country, especially in the east, the conflict has led to the destruction or plundering of small businesses, farms, crops and livestock. People have resorted to their last asset – labour. Many men and women work in transient mineral mines, often as forced labour in extremely hazardous conditions, or work as porters for soldiers, or enter into prostitution.
Agricultural development has received little government attention and even less investment even though it is the main economic activity for the majority of the population. Any projects that have been undertaken have been with the financial assistance of international organizations and NGOs but their success has been severely constrained by socio-political circumstances. Displacements have resulted in abandoned farms, overcrowding on marginal land andthe reversion of productive land to bush (FAO/GIEWS, 2001). Large areas that used to grow food crops, such as Ituri and the Kivus, are now uncultivated.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) reports that food supply to the population has collapsed (2001). Oxfam estimate that more than 16m people have critical food needs. In Kinshasa, an increasing proportion of the population eat only once every two or three days. In the eastern rebel-held areas and refugee camps, the situation is even worse, with the severe malnutrition rate among children under five reaching 30% (2001).
3.8. Humanitarian concerns and
human rights
As people’s livelihoods have changed, and become more restricted, the social structure of communities has changed. In the east especially, population displacements have had seriously negative effects, with a breakdown in the extended family unit tearing at the very fabric of society.
The conflict has resulted in a decline in the health and education status of the population, with rural health services and schools being looted or abandoned. Many of these were already under-resourced through the lack of state funding, having to rely instead on churches, large companies, and non-governmental organizations. The occupying armies and rebel authorities have aggravated the situation by imposing crippling taxes with no related investment in social support or infrastructure.
There have been serious human rights violations in the country, especially in the eastern provinces. The conflict has seen the recruitment of child soldiers, by both the regular armies and the militias. It has also seen a disturbing escalation in sexual violence ,with reports
of rape and killing of women by all sides of the conflict in eastern DRC. Appalling cases of widespread and systematic sex slavery, gang rape, genital mutilation and murder of women and girls as young as five years old have been clearly documented.
As with other social systems, the judiciary has collapsed, with the result that such crimes, perpetrated on a daily basis, remain unpunished. The maternal mortality rate is not only associated with lack of healthcare; statistics indicate that pregnant women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer a violent death than are other women, indicating selective killing of expectant mothers (IRC, 2001; UN IRIN, 2001.b).
Sexual violence has compounded an already growing HIV/AIDS crisis in the country. It is estimated that 10% of the population are living with HIV or AIDS, and up to one million children have been orphaned by AIDS (Oxfam et al, 2001).
The absence of routine vaccination programs has contributed to the re-emergence of preventable diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and bubonic plague, while malaria continues to be the main killer. With access to clean drinking water limited in the best areas to half the population and, in the worst, to a tiny minority, water-related diseases such as cholera and sleeping sickness are increasing. The World Bank estimates that clean water and sanitation do not become a government priority until national per capita income exceeds USD2,000
DRC has a long way to go (O’Neill, 1999).At least 18.5m people (over 30% of the population) cannot obtain health care as hospitals have deteriorated through lack of maintenance, medication and staff, or were destroyed in the war. There are 2,056 doctors for a population of almost 50 million; of these, 930 are in Kinshasa (Oxfam, 2001).
Beyond the immediate suffering and social disintegration, there are severe long-term implications for the DRC’s future development – as bluntly stated by the IRC: ‘There is a dearth of children’ as 60% die before their fifth birthday. There are many thousands of children on the streets at risk of sexual exploitation. 40% of children cannot attend school, so that even if they survive these hazards and crises, they will constitute an unskilled, illiterate workforce (IRC, 2001; Oxfam, 2001).
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 4:01 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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Dear Ronald,
I agree that there has been many ancient African Kingdoms with a history that is older than that of European Kingdoms, yet African Kingdoms have been torn apart by the Africans themslves who allowed colonialists to "divide and rule"them.
Look at the Kingdom of Rwanda which goes on from 1081-1961' WHEN they Belgian colonial government caused all the current problems you have talked about.
Look at "The Monarchy of the last 800 years (1081-19610
http://www/king-kigeli.com/misc/m_monarchy.htm
I am positive that you would like to share this African Kingdom history with your history discussion.
It was the Belgian colonail government which created the genocide in Rwanda and which created the destruction of Congo and the current problems you have talked about.
Then the British colonial government seeking for cotton produces as they could not compette with USA after American revolotion and civil war decided to confuse Egypt and Lado.
Look at how former IDI Amin dictactor of Uganda and former President Obote I and II murderd each others tribes, yet you purport they represent Lado people and they are of lado decent.if they were of Lado and they knew they were given that unique chance to claim Lado why did they decide to murder each other?
I do not support Africans killing fellow innocent Africans.I do not support violance to achieve one's goal and objective, but i do support full democratic process and justice for all.
We need to focus on uniting the entire continent of Africa as one nation and go away with tribelism and petty dictactorship.
We need to focus on educating African massess, villages and communities in order to benefit every African anywhere in the world.
I support your" frredom of speech and freedom of association and press"which the leaders of Lado (Obote I and II and Idi Amin Dada denied their people and caused terrible deaths in Uganda's history.
Best wishes.
Haje
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 12:50 pm
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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7. ( LADO ) - ITURI mineral wealth as coveted as ever
Inter Press Service (Africa), by Eva Weymuller
January 4, 2006
Mongbwalu, North-Eastern DRC ( ITURI -REGION - LADO ) - A ragged gold miner dives into a
chocolate-coloured pool of sludge, resurfacing minutes later with a handful of
stones containing slivers of gold ore.
He and others like him earn about 150 dollars a month selling the gold
dust that they get by smashing the rocks, to middlemen in the
north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The precious metal is then
guarded by militiamen and ferried across Lake Edward to merchants in
Uganda, according to gold traders in Bunia -- the capital of Ituri
province, where Mongbwalu is situated.
In a report issued last year, the New York-based non-governmental
organisation Human Rights Watch noted that Uganda exports 60 million dollars
worth of gold annually, even though the country only produces some
25,000 dollars worth of the metal and records no legal imports. The balance
of Uganda's exports, according to 'The Curse of Gold', is mined by
impoverished Congolese villagers.
"We know that our country's gold goes to Uganda, but why should we
care? Our government does not care about us," says Floriment Lonema, 33, in
Mongbwalu.
The illegal exploitation of the DRC's gold resources is of pressing
concern on the political front, however, as it jeopardises efforts to
bring lasting peace to eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. Various
groups here are loathe to give up control of and access to the rich
Congolese mineral deposits that were fought over during a five-year civil war
in eastern DRC that ended in 2002, although the area remains unstable.
United Nations officials first sought to highlight this matter several
years ago, accusing various states (including Uganda and neighbouring
Rwanda) of widespread looting of the DRC's mineral wealth.
In addition to deploying troops in the DRC during its five-year
conflict, Uganda and Rwanda also backed various ethnic, Congolese factions.
Both countries used security concerns to justify their actions in the DRC
-- Rwanda saying its stability was threatened by the presence of
genocide suspects in eastern Congo.
A number of Hutu militants who
helped carry out Rwanda's 1994 genocide
fled to the then Zaire as Tutsi rebels took control of Rwanda in that
year. This laid the ground for Rwanda's first invasion of the Congo in
1996, which led to the downfall of Zairean leader Mobutu Sese Seko.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul
Kagame, were "on the verge of becoming godfathers of illegal exploitation
of natural resources" observed a report by a U.N. panel of experts in
2001.
As 2006 gets underway, the illicit trade in gold, tin, timber,
diamonds, coltan and other resources continues, fueled by demand from European
and south-east Asian firms that import the resources from Uganda and
Rwanda.
"Our gold is a curse. I lost my family when militias fought for it,"
says Pascal Kalabo, 36, a miner who dives into 18-metre deep holes to
fish out gold ore. "And now I have to dig it up so I can live."
An Indian gold trader in Mongbwalu, David Dhal, says gold supply chains
in Ituri are highly organised, and controlled by wealthy businessmen
abroad who make use of local agents.
The 2001 U.N. report listed over 30 companies and individuals in Europe
and Asia that imported the DRC's minerals via Rwanda -- and the world
body again pointed the finger at these firms and persons in a later
report, issued 2003. The accused entities swiftly denied the U.N.'s
allegations, however.
"Though you will not find a single company working in Ituri, there are
hundreds of independent agents on the ground working for a single
patron," says Dhal, adding that pay-offs to customs and border officials
facilitate the illegal export of gold.
Dhal claims that foreign mineral firms prefer to commission agents in
Congo than bring costly mining equipment to a country where ethnic
tensions are always on the verge of exploding into violence. This is despite
the fact that the current way of doing business is said to feed
regional instability (about four million people are believed to have died in
the 1998/2002 war).
"Nobody is willing to invest in such an unstable country," he says.
"Using agents is a business model that has worked."
The 2001 U.N. report recommended a temporary embargo on exports of
minerals from Rwanda and Uganda and suspending international aid to the two
countries.
But, governments in the developed world appear reluctant to take any
such action against the two countries. Despite their alleged conduct in
the DRC, Museveni and Kagame have been hailed as forming part of a new
generation of African leaders who are helping the continent make a break
with its unhappy past.
The 2001 U.N. report alleged that mineral exploitation in Congo had
enriched Ugandan army officers and close relatives of President Museveni.
In Rwanda, the mineral exports financed the army, the document said.
Last year's study by Human Rights Watch claimed that neither Uganda nor
Rwanda had taken steps to ensure the legality of their mineral imports,
even after the U.N. allegations.
According to certain observers in the DRC, there will be little
pressure on the international community to cease importing the country's
illegally-mined resources until the Congo's own politicians -- some of whom
are also accused of profiting from illicit resource exploitation --
take action.
The DRC is currently governed by a transitional administration under
the leadership of Joseph Kabila. Elections -- the country's first in 45
years -- are due before June.
On a more optimistic note, however, the International Court of Justice
in The Hague ruled towards the end of last year that Uganda's invasion
of Congo had been unlawful, and ordered Kampala to pay reparations for
illegally exploiting the DRC's mineral wealth and killing thousands of
civilians. A similar case against Rwanda's invasions of Congo is still
pending.
Twenty-nine year old Pascal Busha also sees a brighter future than some
of his fellow miners at Mongbwalu.
"We are exploited, but Congo is a rich country," he says, squatting
beside a red bucket, full of rocks waiting to be smashed. "The rebels have
gone and the elections are coming. This country belongs to the people
now."
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:44 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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The issue of Self-Determination of LADO STATE is not a weak or flimsy ethnic identity as stated by many observers. Today it makes a perfect sense to read around the world that countries that once seemed permanently tied to the Central Authority States are itching to be free. Look at the examples of Welsh, the Scotland, the Northern Ireland and the Padania of the Northern League of Italy and the Falklands Islanders, for whom Britain went to war with Argentina over several years ago are looking for greater self-government.
The common phrase refering to Lado's case "Secession is not even fashionable", is to my point of view aired by completely biased people. The world is in the gap of two opposing forces: Globalization and Fragmentation(fusion and fission). While Globalization is creating a world that is increasingly interconnected in which national boundries are less important and at the same time it is generating both possibilities and problems than there are forces of Fragmentation....
The rising lack of protection, security, justice, gratification and services lead people to seek refuge in smaller groups and that is why the highest alleggiance of the citizen usually belongs to the State that affords that type of political organisation called Nations. But we very much know that, Fragmentation can also breed fanaticism, isolation separation and the proliferation of civil conflicts, however not to the extend of the Globalization, largely an economic phenomenon which has so far excluded so many people to obtain access to the prosperity it offers. The market economy that is the engine of globalization is, by it's very logic, driving large numbers of people in developing. transitional and developed countries alike-into deeper poverty and despair
By
Silas Mundua Lulua
Coordinator/Economic Affairs
Foreign Office State of Lado |
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:52 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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Honorable Ronald,
What you wrote is not fantasy but real facts. Can you please tour LADOLAND as a whole explaining the hard researches you have reached to? Even publishing your thesis is not a bad idea. I look forward to be in touch.
Fellow Lado nomad
John Oryem
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:36 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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Depending on how serious he is, what he is doing is fairly admirable, yes. This is the first I've heard of Lado, and if their grievances are as desccribed they deserve redress -- and need to force the world to recognize their plight.
The only reason I'm pulling back from saying "arm yourselves and fight NOW!" is because Africa has already seen enough violence in the last two decades to last the world a lifetime -- as you should know better than I. That and the fact that I never support war as the first option.
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Lado Replies --
Yes , George ,
Lado is very serious in redressing her Statehood . In fact since from 1947 , the diplomatic machinary has been kept on till todate within the UN . The price is amounting high for Lado but certainly within the diplomatic channels the name is comimg up now on lips of the common people and within UN circles which all a long has been too difficult to bring out . At this very moment , however some key members of the Security council , U S A and Britain sustain that the name Lado should not appear but be known as a New country to be created as Southern Sudan State . A last tentative for U S A and Britain to succumb Lado . The Lado people have fully rejected that in the petition issued to this effect to the UN - Security council in year 2000 / 2001 .
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Lado, the UN and the US will brush your Country under the table, and try to stop the name of *Lado* from crossing any one's lips. During the civil war in Liberia we stayed out on the Coast, and watched as many (hundreds of thousands) people got slaughtered. Our Marines were sick over this. As we denied them any aid, we under the table were sending arms in by Minnesota National Guards plane. Yes, we saw this with our own eyes, and to be sure we even went over to talk to the MN guardsmen. It sounds like the AU is like the ACMOG OR ACAWAS of your area. *IF* you could get together and get any kind of Media attention, that may wake up a few that would be willing to step up to the plate, and help your people out. I love the African Nation, and brother I wish you all God's speed. Africa is not an easy Country to live in at times, and many obstacles are in the way, such as malnutrition, famine diseases, and lack of good medical care. That's just to name a few, and on top of that you have a Nation that is so corrupt and jealous of it's own people, that nothing gets done. I will pray for you, and your Country.
Lado, knowing you are an African, I please beg that you will forgive the rudeness shown in this forum. You keep trying to get the word out to all those you can. You made us very aware of your Country, and it is a very typical problem, and one with great sorrow.
Sorry, but the black Americans could care less. They can call themselves Africans all they want, but they will never be an African. As a white person I'm more African then the wanna-bees that live in this Country, you know the ones that take on an African name and dress in African dress.
By making the message more marketable and putting it in front of a larger target audience.
It's pretty tough for anybody to comment on what's going on in Africa without actually having been there. The religions, culture, politics, legal systems, etc are so foreign to most Americans and Europeans that comment from these quarters is usually meaningless.
I have lived in Africa for nearly 20 years and have personally seen the type thing going on in Lado. In most cases it eventually degenerates into a bloodbath. That's why I recommend the arming of the general population. Most people are good, but with no means to defend themselves, the masses become victims of a small but depraved minority. Many times this minority is the govt.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:29 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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duster
LNF Representative
Lado,
I Googled Lado. Found that there is quite a UN presence there. If you want real independence for your country, you need to get the UN out. See to it that the general population is armed and knows how to use weapons. Only then will your people be able to determine their own destiny.
This may not fit the current thinking but, I know of no country on Earth that has ever gained independence because somebody gave it to them. If freedom is what you want, you have to take it yourself, by whatever means necessary.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 5:18 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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True stories that you will find
Hard to believe
A journalist said to the other:
“I just heard that all foreign help organisations have been thrown out of Africa...”
The other journalist said:
“And how will these foreign organisations now earn their living?"
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Interview with John Bart Agami 30/4/2006
Chairman of Lado Political Council/Agofe of Lado
Ph.D, J.D
COLONIZSATION AND RECOLONIZATION
PART I
By: Joseph F. Agami and Mandla Mkulu for Lado Youth Council (LYC) in association with Organisation of Young Africans (OYA) and Odidia Contact address: mindrevolution@hotmail.com or PObox 5, Kokkedal 2980, Denmark
Q: Today a lot of young Africans who have grown up after the period of colonization, do not quite clearly understand what colonisation was, how it was carried out for whom and why. So my first question to you Mr.Agami is, could you explain your understanding of the background and nature of colonization ?
Ans: The question of colonisation is not an easy one to answer. However, it is an issue in relation to the people of Africa. The backbone of colonisation started with slave trade and slavery in Africa. To be exact it starts from 1440 AD, it went up 1840 AD.
In short, 400 years of slavery in Africa. Where the Black people were taken to go and work in America, Europe and the Middle East. That is the background of colonization.
Then from 1850, started the true colonisation, where the people of Africa were colonised by Europe. The objects were three, one was the so – called Civilization of the Africans, the second was Christianization, to make Africans Christian, the third was the Commerce, the trade. So if you are Civilized and Christian, then you have you have trade. This was called the three C`and was the background of colonization.
The reason was simple. The Africans fought hard against slave trade. It wasn’t an easy issue, simply picking the Africans. It involved war, destroying villages, catching the victims or selling them, taking them to the coast and later taking them by ship to America.
So many died, out of 10 slaves caught, nine of them died on the continent of Africa. And out of all on the boat taken to America in particular, from West Africa, half of them died at sea, because the conditions were bad. Therefore slave trade was found uneconomic, around about 1815, so the pretext that slave trade was a bad thing started and this had to be replaced by enslaving the black people on their continent.
Thus the idea of colonization was developed, which was termed in the meeting in Paris 1875, called the terra nullius resolution dated 3rd August 1875.Whereby the European powers said, the Land of Africa is empty and it does not belong to the people of Africa, the black people, so it has to be taken over.
That is the meaning in Latin, Terra nullius, nullius means nothing. So they were not taking Land from a people, we did not exist. By the philosophy that, black people had been enslaved to them, the Europeans for 400 years, the continent Africa did not belong to anybody, not even the blacks.
This Paris resolution of 3rd August 1875 set the base for colonization and to establish the laws, how to divide the African land among the European powers, a conference which came to be known as the conference of Berlin was designed. It took place in Berlin, in Germany. It started on 15th November 1884 up to 25th febuary 1885.
What was called the General Acts of Berlin or the Treaty of Berlin was signed on the 26th of February 1885. This is the law, the charter that granted the power to the European powers to take any land in Africa and divide it among themselves. Colonisation was born 1885 and continued up to approximately, we can say, 1960, where the philosophy of decolonisation started after the Second World War 1945.
So in brief we should say how do we define colonization? Colonisation is depriving a people of their basic human rights, their political rights, taking away their freedom and enslaving and oppressing them to work, even without pay.
Taking away all their rights and depriving them even of their culture, their language and all that humanity can think of. Coming to the question of Civilization, it means the African way of life is considered primitive; therefore it doesn’t deserve to be retained.
Thus Europeans gave power to themselves, to destroy African culture, to destroy African existing governments. Chiefs were taken executed, deported and everything was set, so that the new future African Blacks are Black Europeans. Behave like white Europeans, eat like them, do everything like them and speak their language. So, this is what is called the colonization of Africa.
I will answer all other questions, after this particular issue which is a brief definition of, What is colonisation ? Which meant in brief, taking all what Africa possessed and administering it by the Europeans.
Q: Which countries were represented at the Berlin Conference and how did they stand to benefit? What were their interests in colonization? What did they wish to gain from this process of colonizing the continent of Africa?
You could say, if you take at that time, we say there were 14 countries roughly, because the other three countries were ruling another three other countries as part of them, as vassal states.
But otherwise you could say 17 countries took part. If I can remember them quickly by heart, some of them, starting with the country where the conference took place: GERMANY, Germany was co-chairman with BELGIUM and Germany’s leader was Bismarck, Otto von Bismarck who was the Chancellor of Germany and for Belgium, the kingdom of Belgium, was king Leopold II
So we say GERMANY, BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, AND LUXEMBURG, FRANCE, ITALY, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, BRITAIN, SWEDEN AND NORWAY because that time Sweden was ruling Norway, DENMARK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RUSSIA, TURKEY/OTTOMAN EMPIRE it was known as the Ottoman Empire, but today it is known as Turkey, and AUSTRIA
Austria was together with Austria-Hungary and I am sure, if I haven’t forgotten any there should be 17 countries. These were the countries which were present at the Berlin Conference.
Now the question is: what did they hope to gain ? This is an interesting question, part of which I have answered, when I was trying to give the background, which is: the Land of Africa had to be taken by Europeans, becoming European property. It does not belong to the Africans, Terra Nullius, in Latin. So, the African Land does not belong to Africans, but it belongs to Europe, this is the first objective.
The second objective was trade. The Africans had to be enslaved to produce raw materials on their own Land and that was sent to be transformed by Europe’s Industries, to develop European Industries and then the finished product had to be sent back, to be sold.
So Africa became a market for finished products but the producer of raw materials for European Industries. And another aim was, to transform the African societies to be appendages to the Europeans, it meant that missionaries were brought and the Africans had to be taught European languages and African culture, African Governmental systems were to be destroyed because they are primitive, backward and not fit.
But the aim was to take the African continent. Just like the Europeans who went to America, killed the Indians took their land and became United States of America. So, it was the same thing. But in the case of Africa, the Africans fought hard, shed their blood, up to today they are still shedding the blood to defend themselves despite of the defeat.
So, what was expected was the land, which serves for production, that’s a factor of production, the people which provided labour,
that’s a factor of economic production and then the trade to sell this ( the finished products ) to the same people, which provided the capital and profit. That was what was expected. And of course more of this will be added as we go along.
Q: My next question is, as you have described in the historical developments, considering the amount of energy and resources Western Europe expended, in attempting to transform Africa into a new United States of America or Australia (as well as a massive slave plantation.) and viewing the failure of this due to the African resistance and revolutions , did these powers give up their plan or did it merely just change shape with the original idea put on hold or on pause until it was more expedient ?
Ans: Yes, this question is one of the deepest questions to be dealt with. It might even need a complete study and research to find out really what the proper answer is, but we can’t leave this to fate. We have to start to deal with it until we get the proper answer.
However the so –called independence given to the Africans, is to me what I call political independence whereby you raise the flag, there is a black man called president or prime minister or a king but the power remains with the Europeans. Up to today, as I am speaking. This is my belief, understanding and knowledge of it.
So, the decolonization of Africa from 1945 to 1960 which most Africans were given ( Ghana was the first black African country to get it, which was on the 5th march 1957 ) started from 1960 – 2000 except the state of Lado, which is not independent, Western Sahara, and St.Helena which are the three countries remaining.
But otherwise 53 African countries are politically independent but they don’t have sovereignty. The Characteristic of a state is that it has a people, it has land, defined land, you can see the border. The population is the people, territory is the land. But the territory is the political name, population is the political name. Then the third characteristic of a state is the organ.
Just as the heart is the organ that drives the body, a state is driven by an organ which we call government. The term government comes from greek kubernan which means to steer. So to call it government today, it is converted into Latin governor, that’s where the word government comes from and then the fourth characteristic for a state to exist is the human being to reflect or represent the country. It can be a King or Queen, it can be a President, it can be a Pope.
When you don’t have that sovereign representation, the sovereignty of your country goes to the country to whom you are placed under. If you take commonwealth countries, they are all placed under the King or Queen of Britain. Therefore sovereignty, external sovereignty is with the British.
You simply remain independent within commonwealth, which is like a province in a country. All decisions in external affairs, negotiated with other sovereigns, is done above you. So, if I come to conclusion on whether Europeans have given up power over Africa, I simply say No.
Of course very many people will shout and argue with me, that’s all right. But the truth is No. Technically No, Politically No, legally No. The second part of the question, are the Europeans continuing to hold on to that power, so as to control, to rule Africa as a continent, my answer is Yes, they are.
The latest evidence is in 1999, when they proposed the pretext to destroy African Unity which was giving African people a leeway to true independence, politically, economically and socially. They concocted the African Union based on the European Union and created something called NEPAD ( New Partnership for African development), which officially is supposed to be a partnership between Africa and Europeans. To me I call that domination.
Since the Africans did not understand, politically they are not mature and even if some are mature they only care for their stomachs, they went for it. So we are actually now in a period of recolonization.
The little bit of independence which came to African countries in the 60`s has now been taken but there are some people who think it is in the interest of Africa, No it is in the interest of Europe.
So I conclude, that is why I say we have to study this issue very much. Another example, right now, if you can allow me is the fact that there is no educational institution right now at the tertiary level ( University ) which is in an African language.
From south to North, East to West all higher education is either in French, in English, in Portuguese, in Spanish, or in Arabic. I haven’t known an African Language being used for the educational development of their young ones in African in higher institutions of learning.
That’s another typical example that Europeans want to keep the power over Africa. Perhaps even take the continent and plant non-Africans on the African continent. That is what some people say, the idea of AIDS was developed to destroy black Africans so that the land is left empty for non blacks in the long run.
But these are all debateable issues; I may not be very far from the truth when we find the truth. So, that is my view on that question.
To be continued
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:59 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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referendum for lado
Zasinka - Uganda
Those who want a lado state should call for a referendum in Sudan and in Uganda.
I am think the south of uganda will vote yes just like the north.
i.e. people believe in divorce these days. If it will save the kids & adults from abuse.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:20 am
Post subject: Re: Discussion of Lado |
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I think creating a new State in Sudan - Central Africa doesn't serve to end conflicts there . Religious differences of Islamic North and Christian South of the peole of Sudan are invented matters by some politicians in hiding the root crisis of that vast region Sudan - Central Africa .
The new name they are giving as Southern Sudan State is so intentionally being done on an old existing STATE ( KINGDOM OF LADO ) which the western world removed / cancelled in 1913 - 1914 . This is the root crisis of the wars in this part of Africa . Unless this is talked of , wars over there will continue . This is the Major fear .
All African Leaders are scared stiff to talk of Lado even amongest themselves . They have been well informed of the position of Lado of being a State by the international convention of the 28th September 1892 and being different from the State of Uganda by the status quo convention of 1st April 1894 and Sudan State by the convention treaty of Anglo - Egyptian Sudan 1899 . You can see Lado State is senior to these two States which have received their independences . But Lado still remains in the york of occupation . The peace to reach in this region depends on recognising the international Statehood personality of Lado using the methods and procedures of the presented Articles 2 ,3 ,7 and also to the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights , 21st June 1981 , Article 20 . This in line must also follow the Articles and resolutions of the U N . Lado is constantly following these procedures till to date , especially in avoiding Article 51 of U N which may or can simply step in as a last resort in the search to defend herself from foreign aggresSive interventions .
Such incredible views undertaken by some of the countries in an orchestrated Peace Agreements going on in Juba ( Juba is rightly in Ladoland ) betwwen Uganda and Sudan is distructing the political thought / thinking of finding a lasting solution in this part of Africa . People need a proper historical and political information about these three States : Uganda , Lado and Sudan State , inculding D R Congo in this part of Africa and the world over for their future co - existence in harmorny .
NOTE ISSUE ABOVE IS ABOUT THE NEW COMING STATE TO BE CALLED THE SOUTHERN SUDAN STATE : LADO IS FORCEFULLY FOR THE THIRD TIME BEING CHANGED NAME . YOU CAN NOT CHANGE IDENTITY . LADO WILL REMAIN LADO
BY - RONALD OKUONZI LULUA
GOVERNMENT OFFICER OF LADO |
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