BULLETIN------Fall 1993 ISSN Nos
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ASSOCIATION OF CONCERNED AFRICA SCHOLARS BULLETIN------------ Fall 1993 ISSN Nos. 40-41 Conflicts in Africa: Prospects for Reconciliation Liberia, Land in Conflict. ......................................................................................... p. 1 Merging Humanitarian Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution in Sudan ..................... p. 6 Southern African Drought Management. ................................................................. p. 8 Platform of Guiding Principles For Foreign Investors in SouthAfrica ....................... p. 10 ApartheidandKleptocracyin the 'New' SouthAfrica ................................................. p. 11 The Mozambique Peace Process Slowed by Renamo Demands ................................ p. 14 House Foreign Affairs Committee- Survey of Activities ........................................... p. 17 From the Executive Secretary.................................................................................. .p. 24 ACAS letter to President on Somalia .......................... ............................................ p. 26 Boren Bill Petition and Update ................................................................................. p. 28 ACAS letter published in the New York Times on Angola ...................................... p. 29 Recognition of Angola .............................................................................................. p. 30 Developing Country Debt. ........................................................................................p. 31 The United States Anti-Apartheid Movement, 1977-1993: A Guide to Resources .. p. 33 Announcements (including new ACAS Nigeria Info Package) ................................ p. 36 Membership/Renewal Form ................................................................................... p. 38 Smuggling 'U' researchers negatively represented this institution Jeffrey Wllliams, an MSU microbiology bow strongly disagreed with Williams, say professor, said MSU faculty and students ing it is "ridiculous and unfair" to claim that smuggled tens of thousands of U.S. dollars most researchers in Africa smuggle money into Sudan to conduct research without hav and engage in black market exchanges and ing to exchange · the federal funds at bribes. Denbow underscored the importance Sudanese banks. of Williams' allegations and the responsibil Nonnally, local banks used by the Univer ity of MSU researchers, stating "the integri sity would wire the funds to an authorized ty of all we can do is at stake." overseas bank that would convert the money This is honor MSU stands to lose should according to standard exchange rates. these allegations be proven true. The Uni Instead, Williams said University staff versity already has lost credibility from the members carried the money - withdrawn recurring scandals that have made national directly from various research accounts - news - and this will mark the second time into Sudan in money belts, where it was MSU's scientific integrity has been called exchanged on the black market for nearly 10 into question. times its official worth in Sudanese funds. Irresponsible, illegal actions such as those This procedure is in violation of Sudanese described by Williams must be eliminated at law - punishable by expulsion from the the faculty and student levels and within the country and even death by hanging - as entire MSU community - particularly well as U.S. law if sums of more than within the scientific sector. $10,000 were involved. It also may violate Although MSU claims to have had no MSU's federal research grant contract with knowledge of the smuggling, Williams testi the National Institutes of Health. In addi fied under oath that at least two other pro tion, Williams admitted that some of the fessors and a number of graduate students funds wete used to bribe Sudanese officials, took part in the activities. He also admitted who granted the researchers favors. falsifying receipts and vouchers to hide the Williams said, however, that all of these black market transactions. But nevertheless, . practices were essential to conduct research MSU officials had knowledge of them for at in Sudan, all the money was used for legiti least 10 years. mate reasons and the funds did not end up in If the University truly did not detect these the pockets of the researchers. Also, illegal actions, then administrators should Williams stated that all of the procedures, re-evaluate their procedures for monitoring although technically illegal, were "accepted research practices. The MSU administration standard practices in almost every country must take deliberate action to ensure the in Africa." University is not the subject of further However, MSU Spokesperson Terry Den- embarrassing, discrediting scandals. Liberia, Land in Conflict by Betty Lamb, OP and Ezekiel Pajibo Africa Faith and Justice Network Picture the continent ofAfrica: a headless giant with hands on hips; greatest land mass above the waist above the equator. With that image in mind; Somalia is the elbow on the East, and Liberia is below the other elbow;part ofthe Western forearm on the Atlantic Ocean. Two terribly suffering parts ofthe body ofAfrica. And sadly enough it is suffering that usually puts Africa in the headlines. What Does it Take Earlier Attempts We are fully aware of Somalia's tragedy; the famine This American effort of colonization by sending blacks and human suffering. Pathetic staring eyes and swollen to Africa was not the first venture of its kind. As early as bellies of the children. The internecine conflict that keeps 1787 a group of black repatriates known as "Creolles", food from the people and gives power to the warlords. sponsored by British abolitionists, were settled in Sierra These images capture our TV screens night after night. But Leone. This was the port that refused the ACS pilgrims what about the plight of that country on the other side of the entry. When many American settlers (black and white) died continent? What does it take to bring the suffering of the on Shebro Island of a virulent fever, the survivors were per Liberian people to the consciousness of the United States? mitted to join the colony at Sierra Leone. Recently, it was the brutal slaying of five American In 1822, another group arrived at Providence Island nuns. near what is today Monrovia, the Capital of Liberia. The Even then, the furor subsided all too quickly. It took the Captain of the USS Alligator, retrieved the earlier survivors discovery of the Sisters bodies, and return of their remains and all the settlers were moved to the Liberian mainland. In for burial, to acknowledge again there was suffering in time they were joined by other free blacks relocated by the Liberia. Then silence once more. ACS and "recaptured" Africans -- slaves from the Congo Liberia and her people with such strong ties to our Basin, Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, who were country deserve better. liberated from slave ships by American and British naval vessels. They came to be called "Congoes," and tended to Liberia, an American Creation settle along the St. Paul River, away from the American group. During the late 1700's the institution of slavery came under severe questioning with more slaves gaining their A Mixed Welcome freedom and the anti-slavery/abolitionist movement gain ing respectability. In 1816, Robert Finley, a Presbyterian The presence of these new arrivals in the area met with minister, founded the American Colonization Society (ACS). mixed reactions from the Africans. Some groups welcomed Finley proposed to resettle freed slaves in Africa. He was them, yet others did not and resented the presence of the supported by humanitarians who deemed slavery to be newcomers. From their dealing with Europeans, who came immoral; and by some southern politicians -- slave owners to trade but did not put down roots, the Africans assumed among them --who saw the presence of free slaves as a threat these newcomers would move on, however, they stayed! to the continued existence of slavery. Many of the free They stayed despite the hardship and sickness, and slaves however refused to leave the United States. They saw were joined from time to time by other resettled blacks from "repatriation" as a means to deny them their rights as the States. They probably could not leave even if they citizens of the United States. A few thousand free slaves wanted to, for lack of means. Few who wanted to return and agreed to leave; other slaves were freed on condition that could afford the cost did return to the United States. they would be "repatriated." Among some of those free slaves who agreed to return to Africa was the belief that only Establishing a Nation in Africa would their full humanity be achieved. The ACS asked the U.S. government to approve a By 1847, no less than 24 companies of settlers had resettlement venture in 1820. Congress gave a grant of arrived. Even before that, the ACS found itself in financial $100,000, and President Monroe offered a ship with provi difficulties and in conflict with various settlements. In sions for the journey and a U.S. Navy escort. (Monrovia, the 1841, they proclaimed that existing foundations be self capital of Liberia, is named in President James Monroe's governing and the Pennsylvania, New York and Mississippi honor.) Eighty-eight emigrants left the States in 1820 and communities united as the Commonwealth of Liberia. after being refused landing at Sierra Leone, debarked on the Shebro Island off the coast