written by Staff
Saturday May 11, 2013
An elephant lies maimed and dead by a pool of its own blood, one of at least 26 of the majestic creatures slaughtered for their ivory in Central African Republic.
Four calves were among the victims of the massacre, which was carried out by 17 members of the 'transitional government forces' armed with Kalashnikov rifles in Dzanga Bai, a World Heritage site known as the 'Village of Elephants'.
After their tusks were ripped from their carcasses, locals began hacking meat from the bones.
Charity workers described the area, at which between 50-200 of the animals gather every day to drink nutrients present in sands, as an 'elephant mortuary'.
'The killing has started,' Jim Leape, WWF's international director general, said in a statement. 'The Central African Republic must act immediately to secure this unique World Heritage site.
'The brutal violence we are witnessing in Dzanga Bai threatens to destroy one of the world's great natural treasures, and to jeopardize the future of the people who live there.'
The 17 killers have now left the area, but the WWF fear the slaughter could continue.
The Central African Republic has been rocked by violence and chaos since the beginning of the year, and WWF and other conservation organisations left the field office next to the Bai in April for security reasons.
Mr Leape said international governments needed to help. 'The international community must also act to assist the Central African Republic to restore peace and order in this country to safeguard its population and its natural heritage.
'WWF also asks Cameroon and the Republic of Congo to assist the Central African Republic in preserving this World Heritage Site, which not only encompasses the Bai, but also includes large neighbouring areas of these two countries.
'The events in Dzanga Bai are a vivid reminder of the existential threat faced by forest elephants in Central Africa. Populations of this species have plummeted 62 per cent over the past ten years.
'The unfolding tragedy in Dzanga Bai must also spur the governments of China and Thailand to act on their commitments to shut down the ivory markets in their countries that are fueling this illicit trade.'
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Rebel forces known as Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR (Séléka means "union" in the Sango language) captured many major towns in the central and eastern regions of the country. The alliance comprises two major groups based in north-eastern CAR, the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), as well as the lesser known Patriotic Convention for Saving the Country (CPSK). Two other groups announced their support to the coalition as well, the FDPC as well as the Chadian group FPR, both of which are based in northern CAR. With the exception of the FPR and the CPSK, all factions were signatory to peace agreements and a disarmament process.
Chad, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, South Africa and Republic of Congo sent troops to help the Bozizé government hold back a potential rebel advance on the capital, Bangui.
On 11 January 2013, a ceasefire agreement was signed in Libreville, Gabon. The rebels dropped their demand for President François Bozizé to resign, but he had to appoint a new prime minister from the opposition party by 18 January 2013. On 13 January, Bozizé signed a decree that removed Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadéra from power, as part of the agreement with the rebel coalition. On 17 January, Nicolas Tiangaye was appointed Prime Minister.
On 23 January 2013, the ceasefire was broken, with the government blaming Seleka for breaking the ceasefire and Seleka blaming the government for allegedly failing to honor the terms of the power-sharing agreement. By 21 March, the rebels had advanced to Bouca, 300 km from the capital Bangui. On 22 March, the fighting reached the town of Damara, 75 km from the capital, with conflicting reports as to which side was in control of the town. Rebels overtook the checkpoint at Damara and advanced toward Bangui, but were stopped with an aerial assault from an attack helicopter. The next day, however, the rebels entered Bangui, heading for the Presidential Palace. On 24 March, François Bozizé fled the country after rebels took the presidential palace. Rebel leader Michel Djotodia declared himself president later the same day. [source: wikipedia]
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Worldwide Conflicts
On April 18th 2013 a group called FLISM (Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha-Mbaéré), made up from Bantu and Pygmy, made a statement (see below) in Central African media in which it declares that it has been created to stand up against “foreign” occupation of the Sangha-Mbaéré region, which is located in south-western Central African Republic (bordering Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC), and will fight for the creation of the Republic of Sangha-Mbaéré. They’ve taken up arms to expel the “foreign invaders” and do not want to live under Muslim rule. In the same statement FLISM announced that it will “destroy Seleka” (Coalition). The group states it will start it’s operations with the liberation of Nola (the capital of the prefecture), Bayanga and Lidjombo and other villages in the Sangha-Mbaéré area. The statement was made from Lidjombo, so it is likely FLISM has it’s headquarters in that village.
In a second announcement (see below), dated April 24th 2013, the group declared war on the Seleka Coalition, which they call “Sudanian and Chadian Islamist poachers, killing all animals in the area”. They announce that they’ve already liberated Lidjombo, Tomori and Adoumandjali and are heading for Bayanga. FLISM has also called for the people of Sangha-Mbaéré to join the fight and protect the region from foreign militias.
At this moment little is known about this group, but when there is more information available, this profile will be updated.
The Sangha-Mbaéré prefecture is located in south western Central African Republic and neighbours the prefectures of Haute-Sangha and Lobaye and borders the countries of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The river Sangha cuts the prefecture in half and runs through Nola, the capital of the prefecture, which is located in the centre of the region and next to the RN10 highway (Yokadouma (CMR) – Berbérati (CAR)). Most of Sangha-Mbaéré is covered by jungle woods.
Translation of both statements:
Communiqué No. 01
FLISM – Creating the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM)
We Bantu and Pygmy populations who live in the Prefecture Sangha Mbaéré, now a prefecture of the Central African Republic in the south west of this fictional country, met and we decided to create the Front for the Liberation and independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) because our people do not want to live in poverty, but wants to live free.
We Bantus and Pygmies from Sangha Mbaéré, created the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM), because we do not want to live in the Central African Dictatorship.
We were victims of many Central African dictatorships, eg Gbaya dictatorship or the dictatorship of Yakoma, which now wants to impose foreign criminals Roungas, Goulas Arabs and Muslims. But we, the people of the Sangha Mbaéré, we do not want to be Muslims, we want to live free, we will create our country, we will create the Republic of Sangha Mbaéré.
In this region of Africa we only listen to the people with arms. We will take up arms and go to war against foreign invaders to liberate the people of the Sangha Mbaéré.
In the war of national liberation of Mbaéré Sangha, the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) will take Nola, Bayanga, Lidjombo and other villages in the Sangha Mbaéré.
We are ready to die to defend and liberate our country against foreign invaders.
The Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) will destroy Seleka.
Vive la Sangha Mbaéré. Long live the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM).
Written statement by the spokesman of the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM)
April 18, 2013 at Lidjombo
Communiqué No. 02
The Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) started the war against Islamist Seleka
Sudanese and Chadian Seleka Islamist poachers slaughter all animals near Bayanga. The Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) can not accept that our country is destroyed by Muslim barbarians like Roungas, Goulas, Arabs and their Zaghawa brothers.
Bantus and Pygmies of the Sangha Mbaéré began the fight against the wild Seleka.
The Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) already controls Lidjombo, Tomori and Adoumandjali and we started walking towards Bayanga Nola and villages.
The Seleka will be destroyed and the Sangha Mbaéré soon released. To help us appeal to people of all the villages that form of self-defense in the same style as the people of Kivu in the DRC have formed the Mai-Mai militia to protect against invasion militias foreigners.
The victory of the Front for the Liberation and Independence of the Sangha Mbaéré (FLISM) is coming soon and the Sangha Mbaéré released.
The Spokesman FLISM to Lidjombo Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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