Saturday, May 15, 2010

What The Shag Band Colours Mean?

ck 16 - Congo, fifty years ago - Michael Hussey has not forgotten

Didier Lannoy
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This text * Michael Hussey should be especially dedicated to the Belgians ... who today deny the Congo, pronounce judgments, listen and hear more than themselves, give lessons, say they are "frustrated" ...
and profess not to have known, of failing memory, forgetting ...

* which tells me that we would not want Le Soir
- Too depressing? That would have spoiled the mood?
publish it in his "Letters to the Editor" ... on the occasion of celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of Independence of Congo.


ddl
alias Vié ba diamba


Congo, fifty years earlier

Michael Hussey, he has not forgotten


From: "Michel Husson" < michel.husson @ skynet.be >
Date: July 2, 2010 2:05:07 p.m. PDT (USA)
To:
Subject: Fw: Independence cha-cha


July 1955, I am a cadet at the Governor Galopin, a liner Joint CMB.
I am instructed to empty the water tanks of lifeboats and deliver fresh water (no, the boat will not sink, it goes below Dakar).
The canoes are on the promenade deck, the "old" teach the new ones that go to their first term.
I'm less than two meters from them but they do not see me.
- "Do not give them anything when they get" it ", they ask" it ".
I do not see the gesture that accompanies the hand but I guess that shows the wrist and shoulder.
I learn from the same time they are liars, lazy, thieves but unfortunately we can not do without the boy or the boy lavadère cook or gardener's boy, let alone one who serves at table and makes beds.
A word to salvation.
is the first time that I go to Congo, as many know.

end of 1958, I'm on the Armand Grisard, another steamer Joint CMB. We bring the soldiers of the Force Publique, their wives and children who made up the numbers at Expo 58.
They tell me the tissues of insults they have endured for the duration of exposure.
Bananas strained by charming toddler, peanuts made by their dads.
They are not out of the fairground, not having the financial means (they kept their balance of the Public Force and is well known, have few needs).

later on another boat that makes the East Coast of the USA, I am surprised not to see blacks on board as the boats that line the East Africa or West and I learn that Americans Belgian prohibit boats have onboard black sailors who are paid in rupees Starling then they do the same work that the sailors white.
These are obviously the unions of seafarers who impose these unjust laws that are losing so much money in the CMB.

1959, I'm at the counter of the Guest House of Boma.
between a "native" Sunday best, accompanied by his wife and young daughter in a dress of organza, two knots in their hair, their own person as they say ..
They sit in the middle of the terrace and try to call the boy who serves the drinks.
Unsuccessfully. It seems not to see them. It lasts longer.
The bar owner - former Police Commissioner Boma recycled lemonade - said with great humor:
"King (Baldwin) said they could now go to bars Europeans (following his trip to Congo), but - ah, ah, ah - he did not say that we were forced to serve them! "
And the counter that hiccups and rolls with laughter ...
The Congolese family retires under the jeers of customers.
No but ...
I understand that if we give them that ...

The same year, I'm about Moero, a freighter of the CMB. I am instructed to call the "helping hands" to cleanse the hold for 10 francs a day and a piece of banana leaf at noon (we makes the economy of the plate and spoon they would fly no doubt) on which there is a piece of dried fish and a ladle of cassava at noon (benefit in kind on which there is no withholding tax) .
bottle of Primus beer (local beer) costs 15 francs.
They are not likely to become alcoholics.
few "raids" are missing, I point "present." They must also eat ...
One day, I'm back straps with a representative of the CMB in Matadi who discovered an absent among those present:
"You realize what you do? You ridicule us! If any the world was like you, you realize what that would cost the company? "
I feel bad note which will accompany my application to the board.

I loathe more more settlers, their arrogance, their vulgarity.
Foremen who supervise the loading of ships are Antwerp dockers who became foremen by divine grace from the first day of their landing.
monthly wage at the time, 15,000 francs. A docker native earns 600 francs (but these people have very few needs).
Corporal career Army land of my family, becoming illiterate, went to the "colonies". There he promoted
illico Warrant (it has already been bought before boarding his stars).
The highest rank a "native" could hope to achieve was that of Sergeant Major. You can imagine
still not an adjutant gook that would give orders to a sergeant major Belgian!

I met Thomas Kanza and I subscribe to ABAKO Kasavubu's party, a supporter of the independence of the Congo, not the colonizer but that of the ancient kingdom of Congo, divided between French Congo, Congo Belgian Congo and Portuguese. Where we speak Kikongo.
I'm the second "white" member of the ABAKO. I never know who was the other.

June 1960, I'm about Jadotville (packet), en route to Matadi, we have five or six passengers instead of the usual 250 passengers.
A lady tells me her apprehension to be there for celebrations of independence.
I ask her where she goes. The military camp Thysville (where the public will rebel force in early July), her husband is military.
I said, 'Oh, but then you have nothing to fear. " I
've never reviewed.

We are docked at Matadi. Couple with Jadotville, river side, a minesweeper in the Navy.
We are between him and the dock.
The admiral commanding the fleet probably unaware Belgian (nobody is perfect) there is a high tide on the river at low tide, the mast of the minesweeper is the only thing that exceeds the level Wharf. It would
to roll drums on the dock, dropping them on the bridge to take the dredge to the collision. The dredger
still keeping the ability to fire its single gun but only below the dock level.

June 30, 1960. Nobody works. Calm. We were advised not to go into town.

July 1. Dockers come to work dressed in white (white is the color of mourning, they celebrate (?) Death of colonization).
They did not read this profound thought of General Janssens, the commander of the Force Publique:
"Before independence = after independence"
whole program.
I'm on the dock next to an army jeep Belgian which took place three mighty hunters Ardennes.
They are back to the wall of a shed, the machine gun mounted on the hood of their jeep, an ammunition belt engaged.
At their feet, machine guns and grenades Vigneron defensive.
Good humor reigns.
- Hey! the gooks! (Dockworkers who pass), you'll dirty your nice clothes! And laugh and laugh ... I
their notes they take quite a risk by challenging way. The answer
grave: "But that's what we want, we did our duty in Germany where we'd get shit. We were sent here! There is a risk premium and if it" farts " well, we can stay longer. "
With such logic, it remains for me to get back on board and ensure that the two sailors to guard the top of the cut still have two fire axes with whom they are supposed to defend the CMB (and the Belgian fleet).
Cornelis, the Governor General is on board since last night but remains cautiously invisible.

July 6. I see settlers (wan) who slide down the main street leading to the Matadi port, two suitcases in hand, with women and children, pursued by soldiers of the Force Publique.
I have a sudden urge make up the cut and leave them on the platform.
We leave without asking our rest, to Lobito, where we will load a cargo of women and children who may never return to Congo.

This leaves marks and you will not be surprised that I found myself (on another boat), the Mediterranean, in 1961, to ship copies of the clandestine newspaper El Mujahid "to the land discreetly Algiers.
And find me later to collect weapons from the U.S. World War II to transport them to France where they were supported by Algerians FLN.
Michel Husson



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