ZNet’s Africa Watch has recently been updated. ZNet’s Africa coverage has recently gotten far better. First, on account of Mandisi Majavu’s blog and writing. And second, on account of the ongoing work of Lansana Gberie, who has written a number of pieces on the West African conflicts exclusively for ZNet. His most recent piece is about the ‘Special War Crimes Tribunal’ in Sierra Leone.
Whenever the ‘Free World’ makes a pompous claim about universal justice, or about a helping hand to the poor, or a genuine interest in development, or hell, even ‘humanitarian intervention’, Africa always gives the lie to the claim. A helping hand to the poor? A genuine interest in development? How about not denying the dying generic drugs that could save millions of lives (check out CP Pandya’s blog today on the topic)? How about wiping out a debt that has been paid many times over and is as lethal as any bomb? How about not propping up dictatorships, training and arming militaries that slaughter civilians?
Gberie’s piece takes on the West’s pompous claims of justice. You see, the West did a humanitarian intervention in Sierra Leone, and is now bringing the criminals to justice. Or so the story goes. Read Gberie’s work — this piece and others in the West Africa section of ZNet — and you’ll have a better idea what is really happening.
