On Ivory Coast: Atta Mills says Dzi wo fie Asem

The statement Dzi wo fie asem has recently become a controversy with the

Neo-Colonial BBC using it to mock Atta Mills views on Ivory Coast. In my view,

the statement does literally means mind your own business and, this falls in

line with Atta Mills statement about protecting the countries territorial

integrity. Inherent in this is looking out for Ghana’s interest! It is in

Ghana’s interest for Ivory coast to be peaceful thus, for the Neo-Colonial BBC

to attempt to present it as meaning that Ghana would turn it’s back as Ivory

Coast burns is simply disgraceful. If anything is certain is the fact that “Dzi

wo fie Asem” and protecting our territorial integrity cannot happen if full

scale war breaks out in the Ivory Coast.







The war in essence would have to be sanctioned by the UN and paid for by the

UN, French and other world “powers”. In fact, it seems ECOWAS countries who seek

to use troops to oust Gbagbo are going around the globe seeking support from the

UN and other world powers to do the job.







Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MCOI-8DFEBX?OpenDocument





This is pretty funny considering the fact that many of these countries have

never had a single clean election and, some have leaders who have been in power

longer than Gbagbo yet; they consider it a duty to do re-install democracy in

Ivory Coast! Specifically, they consider it their duty to wage a war on a

sovereign state to “bring democracy back”. Thus, this comical game being played

by Neo-Colonial forces using these Jokers to try to promote a war is quite funny

and, looking at how this is playing out it is self evident that outside forces

may be calling the shots or, many of these leaders are hoping to gain fame at

the expense of Ivory Coast.





It will be interesting to see, how the people who were quick to Proclaim

Ouatarra the winner and rubbish Ivory Coasts constitution as worthless will

react. The Ivorian Constitution says the Constitutional Council has the final

say and, The Council is saying Gbagbo won thus, what is the real issue? Did he

throw out legitimate votes? Where is the evidence that those votes were

legitimate? Is it legal to overlook Ivory Coasts Constitution and pick a winner

for the country? Constitutionally Gbagbo is the president but, the international

community has recognized Ouatarra.







In the year 2000 the supreme court of the United States awarded the US

presidency to George Bush, Gore got more popular votes than Bush and, there was

controversy in the state of Florida were Bush’s brother was governor. The

Supreme Court being the most superior body declared Bush the winner and, he

became the president.





Thus, what is the real problem here? Even if Gbagbo rigged the election he did

it intelligently and through the law of his state thus, he has legitimate claims

in saying he should be named president. The US Supreme court like the Ivorian

Constitutional Council is an institution that is affected by political bias

thus, the cries that Ivory Coast has a problem with its instructions is a

Neo-colonial mechanisms. Namely, it is the same rules being applied differently

to different Countries!





Ghana’s interest is in solving the issue peacefully and, not starting a war

which can escalate into a bigger war. If a war happens in Ivory Coast our

territorial integrity would cease to exist because, we would want to protect

people fleeing death as we have done for decades by hosting them. Wanting to

protect territorial integrity does not mean we don’t want foreigners in our

country, what it means is we want to know who is in our country. This along with

"Dzi wo fie asem" is not the biggest issue , the biggest issue is the fact that

the Military option is a bad idea.







The Military option is thus a bad idea because, the likelihood of it failing is

certain. That is, the Military of Ivory Coast is supporting Gbagbo as we speak

thus, will they be removed also? How can one install a president who the

Military does not recognize? Is Ouatarra going to rule over a country without a

Military? What is he going to do to those who supported Gbagbo? Is Ouatarra

simply going to use the Rebels in the Northern part of the country as the new

Military? How will the others in the country feel about this?







The Military Option will not work and, Gbagbo is the ONLY source to peace. If

Gbagbo does not recognize Ouattarra then, Ouatarra can never be president.



These are the real issues that should be discussed instead of the nonsensical

neo-colonial BBC getting into semantic debates with Foreign minister Mumuni

about what Dzi wo fie Asem means. These are the points we expect Mumuni to be

saying rather than this cat and mouse game and, maybe Atta-Mills needs to speak

out on his own behalf and, ask these questions in public. ECOWAS may not like

it but, these are the real issues that must be discussed and these seem to be

some of his concerns.







In the Ivorian case, Dzi wo fie asem is very relevant because, the only way to

solve the problem is through peaceful means and, not through invading Ivory

Coast. If one invades Ivory Coast we are entering their house with Guns and

Tanks. Even if they are our brothers no country has the right to do that to

another state while knowing the full consequences; this especially true because,

failure in the mission is basically a certainty. Gbagbo and his military are he

only source of peace. If he is removed and the Military don’t support his

removal the country will break out into a war. This is not debatable but, a

fact because, THE MILITARY SUPPORTS HIM! The Military supports him because;

the Constitutional Council said he is the winner so, they are defending their

constituion. If ECOWAS is a means for countries to invade others and install

leaders outside of a countries constitution then, it is a Neo-Colonial

organization and Ghana must re-evaluate our relationship with it or at least

clarify that it cannot interfere in our affairs and be above our laws.





Penname: Transient Justice