ICC Judges sentence Charles Taylor to 50 years
PaanLuel Wel.
ICC and Africa: Acrimonious Relationship
What will Africans make of this 50-year jail term sentence handed down on the Former Liberian President, and an ex-CIA agent, Mr. Charles Taylor? Is it fair, too much, too lenient or just inconsequential? How about other war/atrocities-indicted personalities such as the current Sudanese president Beshir, the remnants of Ghadhafi, Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast and the Ocampo-4 in Kenya, plus the rest; any message for them from this seemingly stiff sentencing?
Most importantly, is the ICC targeting African leaders who may just be as evil as their counterparts in other parts of the world? If so, is that still a favor from the international community (only) bestow on Africa, since, by riding Africa of bad leaders, it is blessing in disguise for Africans and Africa to be free from these monsters anyway? Isn’t that what they want, that every free thinking human beings crave for?
Are Africans dishonest then when they cry foul of double standard instead of being appreciative and supportive of the whole ICC process–International community paying and doing Africa dirty work for the sake of Africa? Why would anyone care so much and so far about and for Africa–any ulterior motive or just purely humanitarian, altruistic?
Who represents the African voice–assume there is one–the leaders or the common folks? Are leaders the leaders of the common folks or of themselves? How do Pan-Africanists view the whole ICC issue? Humiliating or liberating?
AP story
NYtimes story
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