On the back pages of your newspaper, somewhere after the celebrity diets and TV listings, you may have seen this.

FRANCE ADMITS AIR RAIDS ON DARFUR NEIGHBOURS

December 15, 2006 (Independent) - In the past two weeks, with minimal publicity, [French] Mirage F1 jets have attacked and scattered a rebellion in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). But reports from the ground say the operation has had a devastating impact on civilians.

A French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action - which included regular Mirage sorties in neighbouring Chad where tens of thousands of refugees from Darfur are living - was in line with international calls to stabilise the region.

We just can't recall any international calls to bomb civilian refugees, the novel French solution to the cross-border refugee problem.

... According to the UFDR [Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement, the rebel group attacked by France on behalf of CAR], the raids over several days at the start of December included an attack on Birao with six Mirage F1 fighters and four helicopter gunships. It claims the attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards Darfur and southern Chad.

A French armed forces spokesman yesterday refused to give details of whether bombs, missiles or machinegun-fire had been used by the jets.

Humanitarian groups have not yet succeeded in reaching Birao but in phone calls to residents they have heard reports of executions and rapes by the CAR army.

... Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League, said France's intervention on the side of the CAR army had been out of all proportion and may have increased the risk of a Darfur-style ethnic conflict. "They have just delayed the problem and worsened it. The opposition wants dialogue with Bozizé, that's all."

[Hat tip ¡No Pasarán!]

To its credit France 24 ran this story at the top of the month,* reported on charges of press silence, and then, not to its credit, dropped the story.

EN CENTRAFRIQUE, DES VOIX SE LÈVENT CONTRE L'INTERVENTION ARMÉE FRANÇAISE
[IN CENTRAL AFRICA, VOICES DECRY INTERVENTION BY THE FRENCH ARMY]

BANGUI, 7 déc 2006 (France 24/AFP) - Déplorant "cette intrusion française dans un conflit centrafricano-centrafricain", l'Union des forces vives de la Nation (UFVN) a affirmé qu'il y avait eu des "massacres" de civils "occasionnés par les bombardements" des Mirage, même si aucun bilan de ces combats n'est encore disponible.

... Mais l'opposition n'est pas la seule à critiquer le rôle de la France face aux rebelles...la presse privée a elle aussi consacré ses manchettes à ce débat.

"SILENCE! LA FRANCE TUE DANS LA RÉGION NORD-EST", dénonce à la "Une" le quotidien Le Citoyen, notant que cette "énième intervention militaire disproportionnée" se déroule "en plein brousse, loin des regards indiscrets de la presse et des organisations humanitaires".

... [Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, président de la Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l'Homme (LCDH):] "La France, patrie des droits de l'Homme, devrait pousser le pouvoir au dialogue, mais au lieu de cela elle l'accompagne dans l'option militaire", regrette-t-il.

Ce "dialogue" incluant les rebelles est réclamé par l'opposition, la presse privée et une partie de la société civile. Tous invoquent les propos du Premier ministre français Dominique de Villepin, qui a déclaré la semaine dernière qu'en Afrique, Paris défendait "des valeurs" et non des "régimes".

"Bozizé s'obstine dans la logique de guerre et a réussi à entraîner la France dans son sillage", relève le quotidien privé Centrafrique Matin. "Une preuve tangible que la France défend des régimes et non des valeurs démocratiques".

Deploring "this French intrusion in a centrafricano-Central African Republic conflict", the Union of Active Forces of the Nation (UFVN) affirmed that there had been "massacres" of civilians "caused by the bombardments" of the Mirage, though the death toll from these engagements is not yet available.

... But the opposition is not the only one to criticize the role of France against the rebels...the private press also devoted its headlines to this debate.

"SILENCE! FRANCE KILLS IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION", denounces the front page of daily Le Citoyen, noting that this "umpteenth disproportionate military intervention" takes place "in bush country, far from the inquisitive eyes of the press and the humane organizations".

[Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, president of the Central African Human Rights League (LCDH):] "France, country of human rights [sic], should push the power of dialogue, but instead she joins in the military option."

This "dialogue" including the rebels is demanded by the opposition, the private press and a part of the civil society. All invoke the remarks of French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who declared last week that in Africa, Paris defended "values" and not "regimes".

"Bozizé is stuck in the logic of war and succeeded in dragging France in its wake," comments the private daily newspaper Central Africa Matin. "Tangible proof that France defends the regimes and not democratic values."

Though she is not up to her own counsels, silentious France continues to counsel inclusive dialogue for everyone else.

* Though only in French. Not a word of this in English. Does France 24 not want us to have that special French perspective on bombing civilians?

PFFT (What is this?): International calls to bomb refugees 0 | Rayonnement français 0

Bonjour,

Si seulement en Irak , il ne se levait que des "voix" ....

Baker ! Baker ! Baker !

Candle Stick Maker! Candle Stick Maker! Candle Stick Maker!

(The butcher sends his regards in not being able to make it.)