The unfailing generosity of Mobutu Sese Seko
The death of a Western-backed dictator
who used his people's
money to help the rich
By Dara Mac Neil
It always comes in threes. First there was the artist formerly
known as HRH Princess Diana. Then it was an Albanian nun who
traded under the moniker of Mother Theresa. And now, the
legendary philanthropist Mobutu Sese Seko.
The former ruler of Zaire - now renamed the Democratic Republic
of Congo - Mobutu Sese Seko came to power by way of a coup in
November 1965. He was to remain in office until May of this year,
when insurgents of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) forced him into exile. Mobutu,
already dying of cancer, fled to Morocco, where he shuffled off
this mortal coil on 7 September.
President Mobutu's 22 year reign was characterised by a
remarkable, almost unprecedented, spirit of benevolence and
generosity. Indeed, the late dictator's penchant for
redistributing his country's enormous wealth is, by now, the
stuff of legend.
Supported principally by the United States and France upon his
accession to power in 1965, Mobutu was quick to repay his
political sponsors. In an act of unheralded benevolence - and
without a thought for the well-being of his people - Mobutu
literally threw open his country's fabled reserves of precious
stones and copper for exploitation by Western multinationals.
They responded eagerly. As a result of Mobutu's unselfish act, a
small number of Western corporations benefited handsomely from
this transfer of wealth.
Always eager to please, Mobutu also turned over huge swathes of
Zairian territory to US forces, to allow them prosecute their
dirty war against Mozambique and Angola, to name but two of the
victims. Again, the former dictator's unselfishness ensured that
many thousands of CIA personnel and other cold warrior types were
kept in gainful employment at a time when peace might have
threatened their livelihoods.
But Mobutu's generosity did not stop there. Repeatedly during his
reign he personally came to the rescue of the Swiss banking
system, usually by the injection of huge wads of cash from his
country's coffers into any one of a plethora of accounts he
maintained in that country. In typically unassuming fashion, the
great benefactor never drew attention to his remarkable
selflessness with his country's resources. Perhaps as much as $40
billion worth of selflessness.
In addition, Mobutu contributed hugely to the real estate
business in backwaters such as the French Riviera, where he
purchased an unknown number of properties. His largesse helped
put food on the table of many a French real estate executive.
Most radical, however, was his attempt to instil in the Zairian
people a sense of self-reliance and entrepreneurship. An attempt
also to wean them off their fatal dependence on extravagant and
entirely superfluous social services, such as health and
education. To this end Mobutu cleverly allowed the country to go
to ruin. Roads, schools, hospitals, airports, railways, almost
the entire infrastructure of the nation, virtually ceased to
exist during his reign. Confronted with the challenge of a
country slowly sinking into the abyss, Mobutu hoped to goad his
people into taking up the challenge of learning to provide for
themselves. Or, more radically, to learn to do without these
unnecessary social services. His visionary exercise had the
support of many Western bankers.
Unfortunately, the project was ahead of its time: the Progressive
Democrats were not formed until the mid 1980s, and the
destruction of Britain's welfare state was, as of yet, in its
infancy. However, the people of Zaire showed themselves unready
for this exercise in character-building, appearing to prefer the
soft option of state spending on their welfare. In May, 1997, the
bloody ingrates chased Mobutu from power.
Nonetheless, he will be fondly remembered by many of those whose
lives he touched, some of whom were proud to be pictured by his
side: Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, John Major,
the staff and families of the CIA. And a small number of very
rich corporate executives.
Bombs in Cuba part of economic war
A no-warning explosion in the lobby of a Havana Hotel has claimed
the life of an Italian tourist.
The bomb exploded in the Copacabana Hotel around midday on
Thursday 4 September, killing 32 year old Fabio Di Celmo. The
bomb was one of three which have exploded in Havana hotels in
recent days. This latest series of attacks brings to six the
number of ``unexplained explosions'' in Havana since mid-July. All
six bombs have exploded in tourist hotels in the Cuban capital.
All have exploded without warning and no group has claimed
responsibility.
It is clear that the bombing campaign is an attempt to reinforce
the United States' illegal blockade of Cuba since, by targeting
the country's fast growing tourist industry, the bombers
obviously hope to destroy a crucial source of revenue for the
island. The money earned from tourist revenue has, increasingly,
helped Cuba offset the worst effects of the United States' ever
stricter blockade.
The Cuban government has blamed the explosion on right-wing
elements operating out of Miami. However, it would be rather
implausible to suggest that the bombers are operating entirely
alone. At the very least, a concerted campaign of this sort would
require the knowledge - if not outright support - of US
intelligence.
Irish soldiers honoured in Mexico
This Saturday 13 September a statue will be unveiled near Mexico
City to mark the 150th anniversary of the `Battalio San Patricio'
- St. Patrick's battalion. The battalion was composed primarily
of Irish soldiers who, having enlisted in the US army, deserted
to the Mexican side when the US invaded Mexico in 1847.
Incidentally, it was this `invasion' which produced the puerile
myth of the brave defenders of the Alamo in Texas. According to
the fabricated version of history, it was Mexico who invaded the
US. In reality, the invading forces travelled in the opposite
direction.
At the war's conclusion, following the US capture of Mexico City,
prominent members of the battalion were singled out by US forces
for summary execution. They were hanged in full public view.
Many, if not all of those who chose to fight for Mexico, had fled
to the Americas to escape the Great Hunger at home.
In San Angel, Mexico City, there is an engraved stone memorial
erected in honour of the men of San Patricio. The inscription
reads: ``In memory of the Irish soldiers of the heroic St.
Patrick's Battalion, martyrs who gave their lives for the cause
of Mexico during the unjust North American invasion of 1847. With
the gratitude of Mexico.''
Carved below are names such as Patrick Dalton, John Sheehan, John
Daly, Patrick Casey, James Kelly. There are 71 names in total.
The statue will be unveiled by the Irish Consul to Mexico, Romulo
O'Farrell