Thousand protesting Tandja's hold on power in Niger.

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NIGER SLAVERY 01 09

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By, Uwe Paschen.

Thousand have taken to the Streets of Niamey on Valentines day to Protest against their Government and in particular against their President Tandja Mamadou . This one has fired the constitutional courts Judges, and most of his ministers last July, which resulted in a suspension of all aid funds coming from the E.U. (European Union ) as well as pressure being emersed by the O.U.A.(Organization de l'unité africaine ) on the Government in Niger .

Tandja has lead Niger into a devastating civil war by outlawing the M.N.J. (Niger Movement for Justice ) and their political opposition party demanding transparency, equality, Justice and democratisation for all off Niger’s citizen including the minorities, further they demand the end of slavery wish is still uphold and practiced in Niger today and this in spite of the United Nations Agreements on Human Rights, to which Niger is a signatory.

The protesters demand from Tandja the unilateral restitution of the countries democratic constitution and his resignation from power, allowing elections to be held and reinstating the original judges of the constitutional court as well as the Parliament.

Even though this is not the first protest and in spite of an armed resistance by the M.N.J. in the Uranium rich North of Niger. This Government seems determined to keep its course and this with massive assistance from the U.S. which supplies weapons as well as training and mercenaries to Niger,  Canada which has invested in the mining of gold, silver and Uranium in the country is as well indirectly supporting Tandja. Further, there is China's supports for Tandja as well after all it just financed a new refinery in the country and pays Tandja an impressive royalty allowing him to buy more UH-60 Black Hawk  helicopters to fight his opposition. There is also India that invested heavily in Niger’s Uranium mining operation and pays royalties to the Government in Niamey as well. Finally, France has its iron in this uranium and fossil fuel rich country as well and this with a massive mining operations in the Aïr Mountains , Generating 80% of Frances electricity supply.

To make matters worth, thanks to the meddling of the supper powers and the Industrialized powers, Al-Qaeda has shown up of the radar screen since the kidnapping of the Canadian U.N. Envoy Robert Fowler. Al-Qaeda seems to works in favour of the supper powers. Wherever it shows up the U.S. and Co have massive interest at stake, usually Natural resources and maintaining a corrupt and oppressive government. This, the Supper Powers can not uphold in light of massive popular resistance to those governments. Their hold and control over countries like Niger can only be kept with the pretext of a terrorist threat such as Al-Qaeda. This is now giving justification to bomb civilian towns, causing massive civilian causalities, maintaining Tandja in power and all in the name of fighting terrorism. Allowing the supper powers to rob the country of all its natural resource while not only leaving its people in despair, but further more trowing them back to the stone ages. Polluting their homeland with radioactive waste as well as dangerous toxic waste and by products. Making agriculture and life not only difficult but even hazardous and next to impossible.

Niger’s people do not stand a chance and all hopes for justice, equality and freedom seem to be solely attainable for those that call them self the Industrialised world sending their freedom fighters to maintain their powers and control of the worlds resources and this on the back of their fellow men in the so called third world. It certainly makes one wonder, who are the real terrorist?

P.S. The videos are well worth watching for they complement the article.

 http://my.nowpublic.com/world/niger-crisis-escalating-after-eu-suspends-all-aid-country

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/civil-war-unfolding-niger-update-3

http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22690

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61D1PI20100214