U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop in Congo today—the latest in an “11-day journey through Africa to promote development and good governance and underscore the Obama administration's commitment to the world's poorest continent.” But in addition, Clinton had some more sobering news to spread to Congolese youth. She has called upon the youth of the Congo to lead nationwide protests against massive corruption and rampant sexual violence in the country’s violence-torn east.
According to the U.N., at least 200,000 cases of sexual violence have been documented in eastern Congo since conflict erupted in 1996 when rebel forces backed by foreign continental powers overthrew then President Mobutu Seko. Last year alone, 7,703 cases of sexual violence by the army were reported. Here, the armed forces and rebels use sexual violence as a tool of warfare—a particularly gruesome, degenerating, and horrible offense.
But Secretary of State Clinton is certainly attempting to curb such brutalities with the power of the empowered, so to speak. She spoke to the students of a university in Kinshasa, urging them to “prod the government into action.” She stressed, “You are the ones who have to speak out…. Speak out to end the corruption, the violence, the conflict that for too long have eroded the opportunities across this country. Together, you can write a new chapter in Congolese history.”
I was never a Hillary fan. But, her appointment to U.S. Secretary of State has pulled me off the fence and a little closer to the Hillary side. I appreciate what she is doing as Sec. of State—particularly so in eastern Congo. Her words to the students in Kinshasa are uplifting and sincere; in an area where violence, poverty, corruption, and deceit are plagues of everyday life, Clinton has made herself (and by association, America) known as a champion to end all of those plagues. The data are intimidating, and words seem meager in comparison with the violence in eastern Congo, but Clinton’s visit today may have done some good. Clinton realizes government officials in the Congo can only do so much with her prodding (as corruption is just as rampant as sexual brutality), and that it is up to the Congolese that endure violence every day to spur the government into action. It’s a tall and dangerous order, but hopefully with the support of other U.N. nations, the Congolese might end corruption, sexual assault, abuse, and other gender-based violence. Because, as Clinton says, the situation in the Congo is “truly one of mankind’s greatest atrocities.”
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I was never a fan of Hillary Clinton’s either… and I am still not! Wasn’t she tasked with “fixing” healthcare when her husband was President of the United States?
ReplyDeleteHow soon we forget.
As for her encouraging university students in the Congo to protest against the violence of their country’s rebel forces as well as their country’s own military for crimes committed against their own people could cause repercussions that could make Tiananmen Square look like a school yard spat. I hope she does not have to wish that she had not said the things she did. But like most politicians, it is my opinion that she has the ability to let guilt for anything she might have done roll off her back like water off a duck.
Yes, the violence against innocent people in the Congo is tragic. Yes it would be nice if the United States could solve all of the world’s problems, but we cannot. We are currently involved in a fight with Islamist extremist that was forced upon us. As a result our economy is suffering and as a consequence of our economy suffering so goes the economies of most of the rest of the world.
How soon we forget.
Secretary of State Clinton’s statement that the situation in the Congo is “truly one of mankind’s greatest atrocities.”???
How soon we forget!
It is sad that even our learned Senator, Candidate for President of the United States, and Secretary of State did not learn her history. How dare she compare the plight of the people of the Congo to the Holocaust victims of World War II, or the victims of Japanese brutality inflicted upon the people of China, Korea, The Philippine Islands, and her countrymen who fought to defend the way of life she now enjoys.
If more of our country’s leaders were students of history maybe we would not be in the mess we are now in. I challenge anyone reading this to try and find out what commodity was the source for the disagreements between nations that lead to World War II!
How soon we forget!!!
I think it's wonderful that Secretary of state Hillary Clinton encouraged the Congolese students and youth to take responsibility in the direction their country is heading. Even before her senator days, Secretary Clinton has been an avid supporter of human rights and she has always been outspoken on the matter of corruption. She can be kind, simpathetic, and observant.. but when needed she proves herself every bit as capable as the 'men' officials. She is confident in her abilities to bring a change to the world. Secretary Clinton and former president Clinton, whos tireless and selfless philanthropy is saving millions lives around the world, never give up, and never tire away... it does not matter on which the scale of how many people died in the Congo, the point is that it was a genocide no the least, and for anyone to say it's not like the holocaust or japanese brutality, is absurd. Secretary CLinton wasn't speaking about NUMBERS, she was speaking about treatment of the innocent that were being mistreated. Would anyone say thay the Gassing of tens of thousands of Iraqi's under the leadership and orders of Saddam Hussein wasn't a genocide just because it wasn't on the scale of the Holocaust? Or how about the genocide in Rwanda? .. Secretary Clinton was simply encouraging the students and letting them know there is no easy way to freedom, but they need a vision to give them the stregnth to get there. It's like our great president JFK once said, " we might not get to where we want to be fast, but lets start today." She told the students pretty much no country that is democratic got to where it was without years of struggle and hardships, but it was the visionaries who got us to where we are, and the Congolese can also get the Congo that they deserve by further educating this young generation and working admently towards securing freedom.
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