Discrimination turning into genocide in Niger!

By Uwe Paschen.

Moussa Kaka and Ibrahim Manzo both Journalist in Niger that have tried to report on the uprising of the Tuareg in the north of the Republic of Niger have now been in prisoned for almost a year. Wile the conflict is going on in the North especially in the Air Mountain Kaka and Manzo remain in prison without trial nor a Lawyer to represent them on charges of National treason for having conducted interviews with the so called Tuareg rebels trying to get the other site of the story. Two French Journalist where arrested for the same reason, however they where released after the French Government intervened on their behalf. Kaka and Manzo both being Niger Citizen are not so fortunate and remain in prison for now almost a Year. I meet Kaka my self some 20 Years ago and know that he is of the out most journalistic integrity.

The So called Democratic System in Niger excludes the Tuaregs, the Peuls and other Minorities. The Conflict may trigger is Political Justice and representation of all ethnical groups true out Niger.

France, the USA, Canada and China do have great common interest in Niger, this Country in the Heart of the Sahell Desert is the second largest mining operator in the World of Uranium. THe Uranium Mines are however in the North of Niger in the Heart of the Tuareg land, those demand more rights and a real democracy what is not in the Advantage of the Uranium Powers that continuously dispute the control over that Uranium by bribing the Government in the South run by the Houssa majority, every now and then the USA, Canada or France do finance a coup to put into power a new poppet Government if the old one no longer complies with their Ideas on how to Extract and sell the Uranium. Now that China is in the Game as well it is becoming a bid more complicated since the USA, Canada and France after Decades of revalery finally fund some sort of compromise. A new Power player has entered the Game, Changing the rules. Libya is supporting the Tuaregs quest for more rights, not so much out of spite, more due to the fact that Libya's Kadafi is of the same or at least related ethnical group the Berber. The Berber and the Tuaregs have been the masters of this area of Africa even before the Roman Empire and got there names from the Roman. 

Today the Tuaregs are being persecuted, emprisoned with out reasons nor due process! Children haven been beaten, emprisoned and interogated with the out most brutality by the Army from the South and Reports have leaked out that civilience had been shot at random in Iferouan, Agadez and Timia!

The Tuaregs are less interested in the Uranium then in their freedom and independence. Proud and free masters of the Dessert is what they want to remain and that does not go over to well with the Uranium Powers nor the Houssa government in the south of Niger, they would like the Tuaregs to disappear or at least to be subdued!

There is a petition for the release of Kaka Moussa and Manzo Ibrahim on the web page of the Republicain du Niger. It may help a little!                          http://www.republicain-niger.com/index.asp?affiche=Accueil.asp