By Ashin Mettacara
Why couldn't the United Nations do anything for Burma?
I looked into the various sources on Mr. Gambari after failing to meet detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari was a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University. Later, he became Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in 1990.
Mr. Gambari is an intelligent man, but he uses his intelligence to defend a notorious Nigerian military leader, Sani Abacha. Sani Abacha is like Burma military leader, Than Shwe, who has continued suppression of the free press , and has overseen the detention of journalists and peaceful protesters who oppose his regime. In 1995, Sani Abacha's regime executed Ken Saro Wiwa by hanging. Ken Saro Wiwa was an author, environmentalist and Ogoni leader who led a peaceful demonstration.
Although the trial was widely criticized by human rights organizations, UN Representative Mr. Gambari told the CNN Abacha had not committed any offence and labeled Ken Saro Wiwa as "a common criminal." And he defended the military regime and said, "Nigeria doesn't need democracy because democracy is not food. It is not a priority now." Isn't that a remarkable word from the United Nations?
After the demise of Abacha, his soccer teams were charged with murder and corruption. Mr. Gambari was also first of eleven players of Abacha's soccer team, but he was not listed, because UN general secretary Kofi Annan elevated him to the position of Under-Secretary and Special Adviser on Africa at the UN. Gambari should be made to face trial because of his roles in the Ogoni affair and mass murders. Instead he has been elevated to the post of UN special envoy to Burma.
Reference sources:
click here http://www.onlinenigeria.com/articles/ad.asp?blurb=85 click here click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sani_Abacha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa
