Capt. Camara                        Photo courtesy

In its efforts to return the genie back into the bottle, EU has decided to stand up and be counted. EU’s development Chief, Karel de Gucht heroically stated  that Guinea head of Military junta, Cpt. Moussa Dadis Camara who took power on the wake of the death of Guinea’s dictator, Lasane Konte be arraigned in court in connection with crimes against humanity.  

The world still remembers horrendous killings of innocent 157 protestors in the streets of Conakry on September 28. Camara goes down annals of history as an erratic leader and an accident in the office of the president. The EU’s intervention should therefore not be erroneously seen as interfering with internal affairs; colonialism or tutoring of Africa’s potentates. 

Gucht did not languish in diplomatic jargon. He termed the bone-chilling killings as an act of brutality never seen before. "This is a crime against humanity. It is a crime against the citizens of Guinea," he remarked. This overture is a litmus test on the seriousness of the international community.  

By arraigning Camara, justice will be served and a clear signal dispatched to all winos dreaming about abusing power and plundering their countries. How can the international community, for example, squeeze Kenyan authority to bring the perpetrators of post-poll killings to book but turn a blind eye to this barbarism? 

When he took power,  Camara told the world that he’d pave the way for democracy. He said: “We are patriots, not hungry for power. We don’t intend to stay in power forever.”  

As days went by, contrary to his cross-gained vows of returning Guinea to democratic path, he was quoted as saying: "I have nothing more to say, except that I might or might not stand. No-one can stop me." His true face was revealed and people’s power tried to stop him. The results were surreal. Hundreds were butchered. He allegedly said that if he is not allowed to stand for presidency, another dam honcho will take over!   

To jump a smoking gun, Camara contradicted himself by saying that he was a prisoner of his own army especially those that ordered the shooting when by all implications, he is the one that ordered the killings. How can the head of the junta become a prisoner of his own army!  

Knowing his tricks, France was the first country to propose that he be arraigned. Now that EU has stepped in, the genie may be returned to the bottle. If he is not ‘bottled,’ Camara is likely to become suicidal and commit graver crimes against humanity. All maniacs Africa has witnessed in Idd Amin,Mobutu Sese seko, Sani Abacha, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor, Robert Mugabe, Yahya Jammeh, Fodday Saybana Sankor, Jonas Savimbi, and what not started this way.  

The best gift-cum-aid the international community could offer Guinea is pressurize this tyrant and his cabal of killers to step down so that democratically elected government can come in. Why was it possible to disarm and thwart Charles Taylor who was a bit smarter than this stinking yokel? Good news is that ICC has already zeroed in to see if charges can be laid against him. 

Human Rights activists wherever they are must stand together and support this bold move by EU with regards to prosecuting Camara and his cabal of killers in uniform.