Skip to main content

Continuing unrest

On the third day of unrest (Wednesday, February 27, 2008), it remains unclear whether things will let up, stay the same, or get worse. Most of the day today was quiet—no vehicles on the road except for police and/or military, but no tires burning and no tear gas and/or concussion bombs—that is, none of the above until mid-afternoon. Up at the conference hall, we heard the unmistakable sound of an automatic rifle going off and shortly after that there were some tear gas/concussion bombs and another tire fire was lit just down the hill close to what used to be Nkwen market (the crowd burned it the first day).

From moment to moment things can change. I'm posting this now because I don't take for granted that power and internet will continue to be available. As I write this, I can hear crowds yelling and there were some cracks that may have been pistol shots on the road outside the compound. But so far, the trouble seems to only threaten those choosing to be involved, though of course, closed stores and lack of motorized transportation affects everyone.

The government did capitulate on the fuel prices side of things: 6 francs (500 CFA is approximately equal to $1). The issue is bigger than inflated prices on food and fuel—the government is proposing some changes to the constitution in the next few months which people are not happy about. So we remain cautious, aware that this has the potential to cause major upheaval.

Interesting story: yesterday, the crowd burned the taxation office. They looted it first, taking printers and photocopiers. I did not know this when I saw a police vehicle pull up at supper time, soldier get out, and retrieve a printer and a photocopier from the carpentry shop. Later, I discovered two facts that seemed to provide a very reasonable explanation for that strange phenomenon: the taxation office is just down the hill, and the looters were using the compound as a short-cut to elsewhere.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our pensions for ICE? Stop it now!

A campaign from LeadNow with a few spicy sentences from me. The CPP is funded by the wages of 22 million people across the country, LeadNow says, and the Investment Board has a responsibility to ensure those savings are not used in ways people fundamentally reject. Dear Mr. John Graham, CEO of CPPIB, and CPPIB board members, I am writing as a contributor to the Canada Pension Plan—one of millions of people whose wages fund this plan and whose future depends on it. This is our CPP, and it must answer to us. I am horrified that CPP investments include companies linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In effect, the people who pay into CPP are having their own money used to help fund Trump-era immigration enforcement and the harms associated with it. Canadians are appalled by the actions of ICE. What a betrayal you would use our own money to fund these bullies violating human rights.  CPP is not abstract capital—it is our deferred wages. Contributors should not ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop the bank

World Beyond War is leading a campaign endorsed by 32 other organizations including Mennonite Action Canada to oppose the Defense, Security and Resilience Bank.  Learn more about the campaign here Or use their template to send your own letter as I did (with tweaks) World Beyond War letter template I am calling for you – Mr Carney, M Champagne, Mr Long, Mr McGuinty – to reject the DSRB. (My MP I trust, is already opposing it.) The proposed war bank would provide a steady flow of public and private funds to weapons manufacturers to facilitate a rapid expansion of military production. Making money off death! The institution’s mandate – to raise public-private funding towards increasing the manufacturing and procurement of weapons – is fundamentally at odds with hopes for a peaceful world. Moreover, the DSRB will mark an escalation in public spending on weapons and militarism, drawing money away from critical spending.  The DSRB would redirect public money away from urgent social ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The anti-bike blog

OR I do not think [that word] means what you think it means It has become a weekly, almost daily occurrence. A how-to article or blog post will come across my path – usually in my facebook feed – touting the wonders of winter cycling. Not one to learn a lesson quickly, I keep clicking on them. Inevitably, I navigate away in frustration. It’s fun! It’s easy! Anyone can do it! You don’t need special gear; you can even look chic while you’re doing it. Oh, and get off your high horse – being a winter cyclist doesn’t make you special. This is the message of all these articles. Lies, I tell you. Now, far be it from me to dissuade people from cycling, but I think we may need different words for the varying circumstances that fall under the umbrella term “winter cycling.” Take Vancouver and Seattle, for example, where bicycle enthusiasts will talk about “winter” cycling. I’ll grant you that a bone-chilling, relentless, drenching rain is its own special brand of miserable to bi...
4 comments
Read more