LOOKIN’ INSIDE FROM OUTSIDE – Calls For the Trial of Laurent Gbagbo

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo was on Monday, April 11 arrested at his official residence in Abidjan, putting an end to the political still-mate which engulfed Cote d’Ivoire for five months President Gbagbo, his wife and son were reported to have been arrested by fighters loyal to Alassane Ouattara even though initial reports indicated that it was French troops.

The former Ivorian President, along with his wife and son, was taken to the Golf hotel headquarters and turned over to the man who fought against him for the top job. Since the attack on the former Ivorian President and his arrest, reactions as to what to be done with him have been coming from several political quarters, including the West. Those from the West keep calling for his prosecution, probably by the International Criminal Court for the atrocities committed by his soldiers and militias in Abidjan and west of the country.

There are also concerns by a few less powerful individuals and institutions about the mayhem and massacres conducted by fighters loyal to the man backed by the West, Mr. Alassane Ouattara in the west of la Cote d’Ivoire close to the Liberian border. If the former is something that must be taken into serious consideration, the latter must also be considered.

That goes to say that if former President Gbagbo must be tried for crimes against humanity that he did not commit as an individual, but a leader, why shouldn’t President-elect Ouattara be tried also for crimes against humanity committed by his fighters? This may be the current argument in some quarters, but the fact that the United Nations, United States, Britain and France to side in the Ivorian political conflict in favor of Ouattara, everything is being done to keep him on the positive side.

The direct intervention of the Un and France, backed by the United states and Britain leave many observers to further question their neutrality. Even if we differ with the political nature of former President Gbagbo, as it relates to last November’s electoral process, the attitude of the United Nations was very partial and must be seen as very threatening to African government and politics.

It must be understand that this does not go to demonize the United nations Mission In Cote d’Ivoire, but to speak to the fact that all sides in that country committed heinous crimes, and to single out an individual for prosecution is unfair.