Ethnic conflict

Ethnic conflict is not new or rare. Amy Chua lists Rwanda, Indonesia, The Philippians and Yugoslavia as just a few countries that have suffered from this struggle over the last 20 years. Often time the hostility is surfaced by differences in social standing and economic wealth. In Indonesia while Chinese Indonesians comprise of only 3% of the population they make up for 70% of the wealth. This breeds tension and leads to ethnic conflict. In many African countries ethnic struggling has been ongoing because of the motley tribes in each area. But the ethnically torn Yugoslavia in the 90’s was not always that way.


Joe Sacco, an American journalist published a historical cartoon, Safe Area Gorazde, about his experience amidst the turmoil in Yugoslavia. Under Tito, the Muslims, Serbs, and Croats lived peacefully together. But after the death of Tito, Milosevic usurped power and fought for Serbian Nationalism. Sacco documents the breakdown of normal suburban lifestyle which evolved into brutal killings, bombings and pillaging of the Muslim people. Sacco not only presents the gruesome truths of the conflict with words the cartoons that accompany the captions add another dimension to the chaos present in the country. Edin, one of the main characters in Sacco’s story, describes life before the war when everyone was friendly, celebrated together and thought nothing of their ethnic differences until Milsosevic came to power. Sacco describes who burnt down Edin’s home, “It was our neighbors… We used to play football together. We used to go out at night” (Sacco 87). Another sad truth Sacco shows is in Gorazde, a U.N. designated “safe area,” was far from safe. After the ’94 offensive, the amount of deaths was exaggerated to “shame the world into doing something,” (187). The U.N. was virtually useless in the conflict.


The fighting in Yugoslavia was only stopped after NATO carried out a two week bombing against the Bosnian Serbs. The U.N. often receives criticism for not being proactive enough, but it is hard for an organization that represents each country around the world to take action in a war between ethnicities in a different country with great momentum and speed. Because of the U.N.’s procedure and rules in court while interacting between countries, little gets accomplished. So while the idea of the U.N. is good, incorporating the opinions of each nation, it is unrealistic to expect swift action. NATO took its first military actions after the cold war in Yugoslavia. NATO while still had 28 members was able to intervene with enough force to end the conflict and establish peace, which was agreed with a peace treaty in Dayton, Ohio in 1995.


Sacco’s cartoon not a typical superman crime fighting piece, it was a historical piece, much like other pieces of journalism from the time, with a visual aspect. The cartoons illustrate handicapped limbs, bodies shot, and mass graves which are far more powerful than any words. As cliché as it is, for Joe Sacco’s writing, a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

The Hard Facts of Loliondo Conflict

As I already mentioned in previous blog postings, foreign countries are investigating human rights violations to the Maasai in the Loliondo region. An online site was created called "Loliondo is Burning" by The Intercontinental Cry Organization.

In Loliondo:

Over 200 Bomas were burned to the ground

Fields of crop were burned

Women were raped and beaten

3,ooo Maasai were left homeless and with out food

Over 24 Maasai have been imprisoned

The explanation was "it was necessary to conserve the area from environmental degradation", so the police disregarded the Maasai's legal right to live in the area.

Linked is an interesting interview with Moringe ole Parkipuny, the former MP for the Ngorongoro District, who has been fighting for the rights of the unheard Tanzanians for years. Because of his vocal disagreements about land disputes, Maasai treatment, and the Otterlo Business Corporation, he has been subjected to years or targeting by the government. About ten years ago, there was an assassination attempt.

Below are some of the interview questions I found most interesting:

Q: How did the Otterlo Business Corporation of the United Arab Emirates get the infamous hunting permit in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area in 1992?

A: Theoretically it was OK. The Otterlo Business Corporation (OBC) is a bona fide enterprise, and hunting is allowed in Tanzania by law. The Loliondo Game Controlled Area is one of many hunting blocks in the country. An American could have taken it. A European could have taken it. A Tanzanian could have taken it. An Arab took it. So what is wrong about that? That it was Arabs who got the hunting permit?

What is wrong is the strong suspicion that corruption was involved in securing the permit. It is the corruption which is bad. By corruption I mean the "Loliondogate Scandal". It is well documented.

Q: There are allegations that the police in Loliondo have been shooting people. That some have even died. How far are these true?

A: It is true that there is a ridiculous situation here in Loliondo. A couple of people have been gunned down by the police and the government has done nothing against the culprits. Of course the police will not admit that they have committed a crime. This being a typical rural community, the relatives of the victims have not dared to come out and make claims against the police. They are scared. They cannot confront the police and ask: "Why did you shoot my son or my brother?" This is a fact. It is a very serious problem here.

I am a survivor myself of one such outrageous incident. On 2 May 1993, at 8.30pm, I was driving home from Loliondo town. About 300 metres to the Loliondo police station, which is just on the side of the main road, my car was fired at from the back. The bullet, luckily, did not hit me. It broke the glass of the rear door. It went between my shoulder and ear, and smashed the windscreen.

The policeman who shot at me was known. The police force knew who he was. He got his orders to shoot from the officer commanding the district. No action was taken against him either. I personally conducted investigations into the case and went to the High Court of Tanzania to sue the government. The judge ruled that it was definitely a politically-motivated assassination attempt.

Q: Why would anyone want to assassinate you?

A: In the language of the state, I am a trouble maker. If you don't conform, if you speak your mind, if you stand up against the misdeeds of corrupt officials, if you defend the rights of the marginalised, then they label you as a troublemaker. I have been working for my people for decades. That is why they want to eliminate me.