Peace and Love (a partial conclusion)

At this stage, I'm going to make a brake just to summarize all what I have said through this blog. Before everything I say that my happiness is so great to have my own blog and to express my feelings. It was a dream what David helped me to realise a thursday evening. Yes, before that day I got any ideas about a blog! But now I'm proud of what I was able to do here. For a beginning, my satisfaction is big, in any case. It was a great experience to have shared this moment with some formidable students, and to have been some times corrected by David. And finally, I recognize that my subject was important and that it interested everybody. Because the futur of children soldiers concerns the whole humanity. I also recognize that some of my images were shocking, but very often it necessary to ''hurt'' souls, so that things change. My philosophy is that we shouldn't continue to hide wounds of the world, otherwise they are never going to be cured!If life is not a simple game, don't let our children feed themseves with hatred before the beginning of their life, it always returns to a suicide! Thus, sensibilization has to continue, that is also why this blog must be maintained. I find it as a duty. Besides, I even dream to create another blog in french. But beyond the importance of the subject, I aimed the improvement of the level of my english. In that way a large progress has been realised, thus, I have no interest to stop here.
God is great, and He is also Peace and Love.
Thanks to everybody for all, and see you soon!.
Amidou

HATING HUMAN BEING

Terrible to be seen!
This is the last image I have from Sierra leone about crimes against children in this small country, in west africa. He's name is SHEKU, he was about 11 years old when tribal war entered in his country. Captured for some reasons that I dont know, and that Sheku himself can't explain exactly, but the small boy should exchange his life against his hands. As in a tale, for nothing at all, this is the main reason, that he lost his hands. These type of sins took place millions of times in Sierra leone. Behind a singular ''entretainment'', politics seemed to be satisfied with it, unfortunatly! God, when I know that these crimes are never going to be punished! Unfortunatly, my friend SHEKU is condamned to live as you se him here...as a piece of wood
(amidou)

CHANGING HANDS AGAINST LIFE

We are in Sierra leone in 1995, exactly at Fonday Sankoh's time. The singular philosophy at this time was that, if unfortunetly you have been captured by your ennemies camp, you had to choose between dying or having your hands cut. A very bad choice at all, but no one was going to accept being killed, the second solution. That's why thousands of people are handless in Sierra leone nowadays. This boy is a typical example, at the place of his hands, he has now something like hands, hands of steel. It means that he will never use his genuine hands for any necessity. Mutilated for ever, he will never forgive his ennemies.
Photo: Reuters (amidou)

CHILDREN'S FREEDOM: a natural right !!!!!

Freedom is one of human's right, so it's our duty to provide children this natural right. We have nowhere to hide it to them. All the mater is a question of good conscious. Their socities shouldn't be hells against them. Therfore, have a look on this beautifull picture, do you think that it is not normal to admire these inocent creatures playing on the ground? So wake up and write something down against children illtreaters all over the world. Tell them, for example, that they are wizards and that God is waiting for them. Children's freedom is not nogociable.
(amidou)

DENYING HER SEX

She is an Liberian girl. She is young and prety. But it came a day when she decided to join rebel's organization. It was surelly her choice because she has reached her majority. But I'm not so sure that her choice save her for the rest. Now in Liberia it is question to be intellectual before getting a suitable place in the new society. But has she been to school? Has she any other qualfication?
(amidou)

LIKE LOCAL GOD !!!

LAURENT NKUNDA, rebels's leader in the frontier between Congo (RDC) and Rwanda.
He thought he was a god in his forest, but he has been arrested as a simple criminel. Now all that we're waiting for is his trial. I know that the time has come for him to prouve his inocence, if not we still consider him guilty against childhood in general in Africa. Beccause it has been prouved that he used hundred children, boys and girls, as soldiers, the first protectors of his land. But we hope through his futur trial, not to make grow up again another NKUNDA in Africa for ever.
(amidou)

CHILDREN'S SAGA IN GAZA

In Gaza, children are in the middle of the war against Israel. Some of them are even ready to be used as kamikaze, cause of the name of Allah. But do they know that they are doing? I don't think so. They are not so conscious to analyse the danger against them. In that case, the real criminals are those who tell them that after their bombing God is going to welcome them in his paradise. Telling such a lie to a child, is not responsible. A child doesn't know what is doing, and what is better to be done, but their active participation to the wars means that violence in these regions is forever. Stop, I say, don't use my friends as soldiers against their dreams!
(amidou)

A BLOODY GADGET !!!!

Ah! it is inoncent this look. But what he is going to do with that has in his hands? I would like to see him with another gadget, less heavy and less bloody. I won't say that he is under influence of TV or movies, because he is a villager. Surely they are educating him as soldier. That is the common crime in some areas where tribal wars are considered as the only way to justify human's savage forces.
amidou

AS THE ARRIVAL OF THE GLORY

Children soldiers at this age, but they are neither affraid nor ashamed of their new military clothes. They look as if they are conscious of their new duties. It must not be easy, but they seem to know it right now. May be they have taken exemple on TV. Therefore, should we close our tv set in order to save the rest of our children? that is my question this morning.

(amidou)

A FIRE BIRD !!!!!

Life is a chance, we use to say. If some (children) are obliged to accept their pains, but most of them freely choose their own ways, their own style. It seems to be the typical exemple here. Through his position and his look, this child (Tchad) shows all his happiness. He considers his ''job'' too seriously. But I beg you to forgive him, he doesn't know that he is walking under a dark sun. Let's go to help him! let's go to help them get out of the darkness!

(amidou)

LIKE MY CHILDHOOD IN THE SAVANA

BORN TOO POOR, BUT TOO FREE IN THE LIFE!

Through this photo, I remember my own childhood in the savana. It wasn't a great moment, full of richest, but it was very wonderfull, very sweet. We were so free and so happy! At that time, we didn't know even the simply name of any kind of weapon. Our great occupation was the capture of rats in the savana. No one could tell us not to deal with it. It was our favorit game first, but after the animals were killed and eaten as a fiesta!
But nowadays, children have no time to play in Africa, they have enherited wars, blood, and violences...
Do you still remember your childhood? Tell me enough.

(amidou)

COMING OUT OF THE HELL

There is some thing mysterious in this look. This child is deeply endamaged, but his eyes shines like moons. It means that coming from the Hell we change the mood, that is again more important than dying. He suffers very seriouly, but suffuring is better than dying for nothing at all.

What do you think about it? Is it a regard of a good futur? I'm not so sure!

amidou

The real face of a childwood

I couldn't forget this picture for you. As flowers, childwood has it's genuine colours. I'm so glad behind such a mingling of the nature. It means that, howere they are black, white, yellow, green or red, all our duty is to secure them and to provide them the pleasure of living. Oh! may God bless the author of this picture. What do think about it?

amidou

INOCENCE MURDERED

What a pity! The child is receiving here his latest benedictions under bombs, because the departure is ready. I'm not gainst the Hamas's policy, but really speaking, what this boy is going to change in their difficult situations? At the same time, I'm deeply affraid, because children's participation to the war means that violence has much more road behind to be fulfiled. ALLAHOU-ACKBAR, God is one! But He can't be at the same time love and violence, no!

amidou

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

Do the children desire an other thing much more important than a book? I don't think so. If you agree with me, write a poetry for them, by now! Because, later will be too late to save them. The only ultimate strugle that we should do, is to make them reach schools.

amidou

BEGINNING IN THE DARKNESS

I don't know if you see the save thing like me! Inimaginable, I can say! At the left we have a myanmar child sordier. Now he has lost one of his legs. The small one at the right is from Rwanda, he seems to be happy with his weapon. But is it his choice to handle that arm at this age? No, I say, because near him there are some adults, even his own father, admiring the miracle.

amidou

AS HYENA'S MARKET

He is from Kosovo. He is an handsome teenager. He was on front during kosovo's civil war, as in hyena's market. The face that he has here, is not for a school boys. Has he lost his soul in this market? I don't...but I'm not so optimist.
amidou

A singular trial

Johnny Mad-Dog. The film was done in Monrovia (Liberia). Johnny is a bad child soldier. How many people has he murdered during liberia civil war? He couldn't answer to such a question. But at the last, Johnny has been betrayed by his friends. His trial is no more long, he is going to be killed.

EYES OF THE DEAF

Here we are in Birmania. Boys and girls are mingled at the same area with the same staut: chldren soldiers. No, they are not playing, because weapons are not as nounous with what they use to play. They are being preparing for fighting in the national army. Their childhood is away! they are the new protctors of Birmania. (amidou)

WITNESSES OF OUR HISTORIES

They are russians childs.

during the second world war

they were presents, officialy

encouraged by the

governement.

He is from USA, he has taken part to the

US civil war. In his face, it is written that

children are the first witnesses of alla our

war.

amidou

A SELFISH LOOK

Do you think that this boy is happy? Surely he is obliged. But is the new regard of children from Darfour.

WHEN CHILDHOOD STOPPED AT ITS FIRST SIDE

What was his name? It not important anymore, because...of that his face shows. But I know that he was from Srilanka...that all.

The young and handsome boy has just lost his young soul, as a flower in the fire, dead as a child soldier with a weapon in his hands. But who is going to take care of such an unknown deaf? A child soldier at his deaf place, is considered as an animal on the street. Here he is at the end of the beginning of his adventure, because life is an wonderfull adventure, but to see that it is delicious we should be alive.

amidou

ANOTHER LOOK OF A CHILDOOD

Very original of being young. Even if it can be frightening enough, but I love them in that mood, because they show clearly that they are alive; and also, the nature and its marvellous coulors appear on their innocent faces. Children soldiers are no time to play...peace and love!
amidou

WEAPON'S SAUCISSE !!!!

ADJID is from Brimania. But is it immaginable that he should be seen in such position? Look at him very carefully, it seems that he is looking at his soul going away in the atmosphere. Here he is going to die surely, because firstable, he can't carry his weapon.

FLOWERS ARE DYING

It is happening somewhere in the globe, such handsome flowers are dying! Look at them, they are so ugly!

IT APPEARS AS A COMMON BEHAVIOUR

THE COUNTRIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE STILL IN DANGER.
Afghanistan - Armed factionsBurAundi - (FAB) Burundi national Forces - National Forces concil for Defense of Democraty,(CNDD/FDD) a) Pierre Nkurunzizaa’s faction b) Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiyea’s faction - Hutu Liberation Party a) Agaton Rwasa’s faction b) Alain Mugabarabona’s faction
Côte d’Ivoire - Natioanal Armed Forces (FANCI) - Mouvement for Justice and Peace (MPJ) - Popular Mouvement for the Great West (MPIGO) - patriotic Mouvement of Côte d’Ivoire (MPCI)
République démocratique du Congo - Forces armées congolaises (FAC) - Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie – Goma (RCD/G)- Forces de défense locale liées au RCD/G - Mouvement national de libération du Congo (MLC) - Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie – Kisangani/Mouvement de libération (RCD-K/ML) - Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie – National (RCD-N) - Milices hema : a) Union des patriotes congolais (UPC) b) Parti pour l’unité et la sauvegarde du Congo (PUSIC) - Milices lendu/ngiti : a) Front nationaliste et intégrationaliste (FNI) (Lendu) b) Front populaire pour la réconciliation de l’Ituri (FPRI) (Ngiti) - Forces armées populaires congolaises (FAPC) - Maï-Maï - Mudundu-40a - Forces de Masunzu - Ex-Forces armées rwandaises (ex-FAR) et Interahamwe
Libéria - Liberian Armed Forces (AFL) - Lierians United for Reconciliation and Democratie (LURD) - Mouvement for Democratie in Liberia (MODEL)
Somalia - Governement of transition - Union of Djouba region - Reconciliation and Progres in Somalia - Armée de résistance Rahanwein (ARR)
Républic of Tchetchenie - Tchetcheni revolted Groupes
Colombie - Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) - Autodefensas Unidas del Sur del Casanare (AUSC) - Autodefensas Campesinas de Córdoba y Uraba (ACCU) - Autodefensas de Magdalena Medio (ACMM) - Autodefensas del Metaa - Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) - Ejercito de Liberación Nacional (ELN)
Myanmar (Birmanie) - Tatmadaw Kyi ( gouvernemental Army) -National Union of Karens (UNK) - National Liberation Army karenni (ALNK)
Népal - Nepalese Communist Party (PCN – maoïst tendancy)
Irlande du Nord - Paramilitary Groupes
Philippines New Popular Army (NPA) - Front de libération Islamic Front of Liberation of Moro (MILF) - Front de libération National Front of Liberation of Moro (MNLF) - Abou Sayyaf’ front
Sri Lanka - Tigres de libération de l’Eelam tamoul (LTTE)
Soudan - South Soudanese Mouvement of Liberation– milices in alliance with the Governement(MUSS) - Pular Army of Liberation of Soudan (MPLS/APLS)Ouganda - Ouganda Popular Army of Defense (FDPU)
- Seigneur’s Army of resistance (LRA)Other countries where we find children soldiers : Algérie, Azerbaïdjan, Bangladesh, Cambodge, Érythrée, Éthiopie, Îles Salomon, Inde (Andhra Pradesh, Cachemire), Iran, Irak, Israël et Territoires occupés, Liban, Liberia, Mexique, Ouzbékistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée, Paraguay, Pérou, Rwanda, Tadjikistan, Tchad, Timor oriental, Turquie. (sources : Amnesty International, ONU and www.child-soldiers.org)

GOD ABANDONED AFRICAN CHILDREN

I have published this fiction last year. It is about the back ground of a child soldier named BIRAHIMA. Back from Liberia and Sierra leone, where I has taken part to the wars, he was living quietly in his village in Côte d'Ivoire when a tribal war began in september 2002. He would like to participate to the strugle in his own country, but his heart told him that it was too late. Fanta, a beautiful girl, that he loved too much, was opposed to his returning back in the children soldiers' s cercle. But love is stronger than every thing else....

(amidou)

OUR SHAMFUL STORY

Is God right everywhere and at any time? I still doubt. If so, why does He sind such a danger to guide a republic? But this one was said to be democraticaly elected in his country. There is our democraty on its head! But now his victims are crying, all their hope is to see him definitivly condamned.

amidou

CHARLES TAYLOR, from LIBERIA

PAYING FOR THEIR CRIMES

Agence France-PresseLa Haye
The trial of the former war chief, Thomas Lubanga (RDC), is the first at CPI (Cour Pénale Internationale). The great accusation against this rebel concerns his crimes of war and the recruitment of children as soldiers. ‘’It’s the first trial of such accusation, but it will be a good example to make the dealers disappointed all over the world'', said Héloïse Ruaudel, journalist specialised of Grands Lacs.

THOMAS LUBANGA

Milician chief in Bunia

(RDC)

WHAT I AM DOING HERE ???

SIERRA LEONE 1996, THE REBELS GUIDED BY FODAY SANKOH ARE PURCHASING TEJAN KABBAH, THE PRESIDENT DEMOCRATICALY ELECTED. AT BOTH SIDE, CHILDREN ARE DESIRED AS A GREAT HELP. BUT THOUSANDS OF THEM WILL ABANDONNE THEIR LIFE HERE, IN THE FOREST.

Disapointed, the child asks himself about his futur.

Commentaire: amidou

Photo: UNICEF

BROKEN DREAMS

He is too young, very handsome, Rodrigo is a colombian child. But even not a teenager yet, he has been kidnaped by some FARC elements and taken to yhe jungle. At his arrival, they gave him a gun, and now he is a worrior. What a pity! To encourage him, they gave him drugs for his smokings, and told him that he was called in the jungle to liberate his country from its anti democratic system. But, at this time, Rodrigo's friends are going to school.

Commentaire: amidou
Photo:UNICEF

THIS POETRY OF THE LIFE !!!

THIS BLACK CHILD DOESN'T NEED A KALACH AT THAT AGE, PLEASE!!! (amidou)

A HORRIBLE WORLD!!!

THIS IS THE REAL RED FACE OF OUR WORLD ABOUT CHILDREN. ALL OVER THE WORLD, CHILDREN ARE BURNING. IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE THE GENUINE PROTECTORS OF OUR LIFE. IF NOT, HOW TO EXPLAIN SUCH A PHENOMENON?

(amidou)

PHOTO, (AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL)

BORN IN THE VIOLENCE

Here we are in RDC (République Démocratique du Congo).
They are too young, about only 3, 4 years, not more. But very early every morning, they wake up and get out with they wooden ''kalach''. They find their occupation too normal, because they use to seen they fathers, brothers and sisters strugling and killing in the road. They are the marvelous heros. Then it appears normal to imitate the heros. But imagine their life at their teenager's days. That is their first meeting in the violnce.
SOURCE: HCR -RDC.

BORN BETWEEN REBELS AND GOVERMENT

Born between Charles Taylor and his rebels, John, a liberian child, becomed a soldier only at his 6 years. One morning, he and his friends were playing on the grund, when rebels arrived, killed their parents and took them away. Since this day, he comed a child soldier. In the army, his duty was to get first in the danger before their chefs inter. This maner was just to see if there weren't any danger in.
(Commentaire, amidou)
(Source, photo, unesco)

AS A DREAM

As a dream, but it is true! He has only 6 years, and his senior brother is 8 years old. They are from a same mother and father, they live in Bucavu (RDC). They have been taken together in order to protect their father's land. At this age they are conscious that it is their responsability to defend their republic. Soldiers at this stage of their life! But after the strugle, what will be their place in their big Congo.

(Amidou),

NB: photos are from UNICEF

BORN FOR GUNS AND FIRE !!!

They are somme 300 000 children-soldiers all over the world. But than 120 000 of them are from Africa (Burundi, République démocratique du Congo, Liberia, Soudan, Sierra Leone, Somalie, Angola, Rwanda, Ouganda, Côte d'Ivoire). Tuesday, the 1th june, Arte TV has an exceptionnel Thema on this subject, named « Children of road, children of wars». The occasion was so great to see the execellent film of François Margolin, a french realisator: ''Small soldiers'' sponsored by Unicef during its propaganda in Liberia from october 2003 to january 2004. The film resumes 14 years of war in this country in witch children had been involved as soldiers. They were from two important rebel organisations against Charles Taylor, the président: Lurd in the west and the Model, at east.
(Source: UNICEF, 2003)

BUT, WHY OUR CHILDREN ???

Coming in the life is not a child's responsability. Born free, they are welcomed in fire!!!!
Peace and love.
Amidou