Here are two letters written by Padre Ze, as he is known in Suzana, reflecting on the recent resumption of fighting in Bissau. Padre Ze has lived at the Catholic Mission of Suzana in Guinea-Bissau since 1968. Special thanks to Arthur Bell for translating these letters into English. (Click HERE for the original letters in Portuguese.)
Letter of 2/1/99, in Suzanna.
Once again. . .
The radio again began to report war in Guinea-Bissau, and there will certainly be more news to follow. The call by the Prime Minister is directed to both sides; he states that all parties involved have signed [the accord calling for] complete withdrawal of the foreign troops present in Guinea-Bissau by the 7th, and the beginning of activities by the Government of National Unity by the 14th, and that, consequently, all parties should respect the agreement, and that ECOMOG will fulfill its role. Once again the CEDEAO responded before the ultimatum, given by the Junta, had come to pass, so that this ultimatum fell by the wayside as the previous one had - [supposedly] as a sign of respect for the formation of the Government of National Unity. Nonetheless, the other side thought it wise to attack, proclaiming left and right that the Junta had attacked [first], that they had in fact gone through with the ultimatum. This trap was even able to ensnare the "Radio Portuguesa" correspondent, so it seems.
The Junta radio station yesterday reported an attack by Senegalese and French forces on its positions, against which it [the Junta] had to defend itself. Two deaths are reported confirmed in Bissau, as of noon [today], and some wounded who were taken to the hospital in Canchungo. Things are evolving at this exact moment - it is currently 11:58 p.m. on January 31st - with heavy artillery being shot from Bissau at Bra and Cumura. The Junta asks to leave Bissauzinho or to find refuge. They [the Junta] say that shortly they will respond in a "strong and ugly" attack, and that they won't turn back [stop] until they no longer see the faces of those on the advancing enemy lines.
The news last night spoke of 50 dead on the front line, as well as several dozen civilians in Bissau. We don't know to what extent this corresponds to reality. There is a feeling that this time things are going all the way to the end, and MANY PEOPLE AGREE, because they see that, each time that a cease-fire was called or a treaty signed, it only benefited Nino and his allies in their effort to buy time, and to give room to the Senegalese to realize their goals (goals which began in Abidjan, when they wanted to place thousands of soldiers here at the border, in Guinean territory, naturally! ) and to augment the suffering of the people of Guinea-Bissau.
A small analysis, if you will permit. At this point, who would be interested in stalling the peace process? Who would this benefit? The people of Guinea-Bissau have already criticized the excessive passivity (sic) of the Junta, and even the ingenuity (sic) of always giving in, of believing in the good faith of Nino and his associates. I dare to say this to everyone, and with anger: The person who benefits from all this is Nino, or better yet Abdou Diouff, who has Nino dancing like a marionette in his hands. . . Is it necessary for someone to say that "the king has no clothes" for others to finally be able to say it? Alright, if it must be said, then I will say it and I will assume the responsibility. Don't try to tell me that Abdou Diouff doesn't know that Nino and his Defense Minister (the former president of the Cacheu Region with many ties to the other side of the border) were the ones selling arms to the rebels. I have personally witnessed, in the past, Guinean military trucks unloading rice in Kassolol, just eight kilometers from here, with rebels receiving it. I never stopped to ask what they were doing, but I was later told what it was all about. Accepting the version that Ansumane Mane was responsible for this traffic, Senegal is able to make it seem that it is defending constitutional authority and democratic institutions, instead of taking a free shot at resolving their problems in the Cassamance through [conflict with] Guinea-Bissau.
All of this is happening with the blessings of France, who needs to remind all of Europe of its (presumed) influence in Africa, to counterbalance the weight of other EU member states such as Germany. And in the game of African influence, Senegal is the champion of democracy, which France brags of having built on this continent. Of course, in all of this, the enemy guerillas in Casamance, and the extreme level of repression by the army, each represent a great stain which must be removed, no matter the cost (to others). Don't tell me that this is science-fiction. If so, then what are the French doing here with guns in their hands? What can explain this? Can we speak here of good intentions and altruism?
I'll say it again: it would suffice for France to tell Senegal to stop, so that this process can get back on track - they [the Senegalese] have always been attentive students. Instead, they [France] do the contrary and give them [Senegal] ground support.
The European Union has its own part in all of this as well. For their part, having declared their "neutrality" on June 18, 1998, they've entrenched themselves in a complicit silence. Yet how can such behavior on the part of a union member be tolerated? . . . I must say that the Department of Humanitarian Aid has been involved, despite all of the obstacles, even those put in place by Senegal. But small amounts of humanitarian aid will not suffice to soothe the conscience: Europe has much work to do in terms of justice, with respect to this people, to not be among those who have turned a deaf ear.
P.S.
Meanwhile we are waiting for word from the Episcopal Tribunal that the Bishop
of Bissau will only be officially entered after the arrival of peace, for which
he gave his life, with the government in place and the foreign troops gone.
Father Guiseppe Fumagalli
Missionary in Suzanna
Suzana, 2/3/99,
I've been told that Mr. Chirac reacted to my remarks concerning France's position in the ongoing conflict in G.B. and the presence of French troops, who are here supporting President Nino Vieira. For my part, I have heard the denials of the French Foreign Minister and the French Ambassador in Bissau. -- no great surprise, these denials; I was expecting them. We have grown accustomed to denials from politicians, in both past and recent history, always more heart-felt and emotive the more they are caught red-handed. And they continue to deny; they have the right. Until of course they are able to bring together intelligence and honesty to resolve these problems in a different manner. . . .and the French troops were seen, despite the denials. Let us hope that they don't continue to afflict this continent, as in the similar cases of Idi Amin Dada, Bokassa, Mobutu, etc., to then speak only of past "exploits."
Most sincerely yours,
Father Guiseppe Fumagalli
Missionary in Suzanna
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