| By John O’Shea
Printed in the Irish Examiner, 22nd February 2005
Sometimes I get the impression that nobody is listening. For the
past twenty years I have been going on about the incredible amount
of corruption among some Third World regimes and though the evidence
to that effect is clear, governments, including our own, continue
to ply those regimes with immense amounts of money.
Certainly last year Bertie Ahern did take away €10 million
from the Museveni government in Uganda but they still get $36 million.
And that, disgracefully, is the pattern that is the dominant factor
as we strive to help the unfortunates. We are all aware of the work
and influence of such as Bono and Bob Geldof and many others but
the Great Powers of our world are failing to protect the aid that
is being so unselfishly raised. There is a mammoth turning the blind
eye to the gangsterism that is rampant in so many parts of Africa.
There are those in power in Africa who are highly amused at the
naivety of our leaders in this part of the world, as they siphon
off the contributions and become billionaires. The basic error we
make, the one that our governments make with our taxes, is that
they channel our aid money to governments. And our governments must
know – we’ve told them often enough and the evidence
is there – that we are simply bolstering corruption.
Just look at the situation in Kenya. What do we know and appreciate
about Kenya? We’ve been lost in admiration of their remarkable
runners, men like Kip Keino, who have placed their country at the
top of the athletics list. This from a country that was once a poor
colonial outpost.
But what now? Kenya’s top anti-corruption official, John
Gitongo, has resigned, confining his departure to a terse statement:
“I am no longer able to continue serving the government of
Kenya”. Sources say that he was utterly frustrated with the
failure of his government to take any action against corruption.
And the British high commissioner to Kenya, Edward Clay, had already,
in a statement without precedent by a foreign diplomat, denounced
what he termed “massive looting” of public funds.
The appalling fact is that Kenya is - among international organisations,
including UN bodies - considered among the world most corrupt countries.
Diplomats estimate that corruption has cost Kenya $1 billion dollars
in the past three years.
Then there was the recent death of the infamous president of Togo,
Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years. As one commentator put it last
week “Togo grew mysteriously and catastrophically poorer and
he – inexplicably – proportionately richer”. How
can this be explained rationally? He ruled like all dictators, murdering
opponents and making himself fabulously rich in a notably poor country.
Then there is the tragedy of Darfur, compounded by the disgraceful
failure of our powerful and rich world to come to the aid of the
appallingly oppressed people and the incredible failure to utilize
the International Criminal Court to bring the oppressors to justice.
And what are we to make of the United Nations pair of suspensions?
Last week the head of the UN Oil for Food Programme, Bennon Sevan,
who is in charge of the $64 billion humanitarian programme, and
Joseph Stephanides who is involved in the UN Security Council Affairs
Division, were both suspended for what the UN bigwigs termed “misconduct”.
Suspension, the UN announced, is the start of a disciplinary process.
And what is this all about, you might care to know. Apparently
the UN is a bit concerned that Mr Sevan “misconducted”
himself in soliciting oil deals from Iraq for a mate’s firm.
And the UN is wondering about the source of $160,000 in cash which
Mr Sevan said he received from an aunt in Cyprus. The UN is questioning
this, what it refers to as, “unexplained wealth.”
So the phrases waft about in the high rise building on the Hudson,
phrases like “misconduct” and “unexplained wealth”
and “grave conflict of interest”.
Some of us who have dedicated so much time and effort to helping
the unfortunate in the Third World and who have prompted so many
decent people to join in our movements, have every reason to feel
disgruntled. We have, over and over again, pointed to the absurdity
of our government dealing with certain deceitful governments in
dispensing aid. Not only our government, but most governments of
the West.
To a remarkable degree, our reservations have been brushed aside.
As I’ve said, I have been labouring the point for nearly a
quarter of a century to little or no avail.
But I’ve no intention of shutting up. Children are dying
every second because of international neglect and people like Pol
Pot, Idi Amin, Milton Obete, Radovan Karaditch, Mengistu, and Moy
and others of that ilk have never even been threatened mildly with
proper justice. Never mind actually being called to justice. International
Criminal court, my foot!
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