Is Togo heading for trouble?
Trip Start
Jun 30, 2004
1
18
Trip End
Sep 15, 2004
Leeds, United Kingdom
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
The country I had amazing experiences in this summer, Togo, appears to be in trouble. Few of you will know what has happened there I know, but basically the former corrupt President who has held power for 37 yrs died a while ago, this ignited hope within the population that they would see democracy for the first time in many peoples lifetimes, but this was darkened as the Military seized control and installed the former presidents son as Leader.
The international community, the UN. EU, France, The USA and many African stated including the African Union (AU) condemned this, threatened sanctions and the military backed down and rekindled that hope of democracy in many Togolease peoples hearts. The elections were held very quickly and election day was last Sunday. The Former presidents son appears to have learnt the art of election rigging from his father as they have been many reports of irregularities, problems with the voting lists, voting cards, election boxes being seized and many fake ballots being found in candidates houses. It's a common list, its easy stuff to do but its not funny. So many people had so many hopes about this election, and its just all gone wrong. The interior minister warned days before the election that it was too soon for an election, he implied that the people had had so long without democracy they needed time to get used to it and work out what they want, he suggested that an opposition leader should be installed president of a coalition government of national unity. With retrospect his idea sounds wonderful.
It's just a shame that he was fired for his suggestion. He is now in hiding in a neighbouring country.
The opposition party formed a coalition to contest the election and there leader will not concede defeat, speaking from a safe house in the capital he declared himself president, no one knows whether the message got out as the state is either in control of , or has shut down all private radio and TV stations, the French equivalent of the BBC World service has also been stopped from transmitting, in fact the only news getting into Togo is probably coming from the BBC world service or the web!
This is serious, people are dying for freedom and it just makes me think that when our news in the UK is dominated by the election, when people just don't care at all about it, it kind of makes me mad. Miles away people are actually dying because of a flawed election, and no one here knows about it, and I honestly believe very few people will care. Our world is a strange, wonderful and messed up thing and I feel so helpless sitting here getting emailed news reports of the situation getting worse and worse. The former president played on the ethnic make up of Togo for years to maintain his grip on power, there are 2 major groups who are total rivals, in peace times they lived side by side but most problems were blamed on the other group, this election has the power to blow these ethnic rivalries apart into a bitter conflict, there are already warning of Togo slipping into civil war, if it does the consequences could be terrifying.
I think the only thing that can stop this is the international community, led by the African Union and supported diplomatically and if needs be economically and with peace keeping troops from all over the world. In the twenty first century we simply cannot allow this to happen, we cant stand by and watch a country ruin itself. But what can we do?
We can only hope that things calm down, I'm not sure what is better for the people of Togo, living under a former dictators son (what's that phrase, like father like son!?) or to fight for freedom, and fighting for there democracy and right to a free and fair election is honourable but I guess they just have to decide that price they will pay for it
Johnny
