This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7803421.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Good old days' under Bokassa? | 'Good old days' under Bokassa? |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Mike Thomson BBC News, Central African Republic | By Mike Thomson BBC News, Central African Republic |
| For more than three decades his name has been synonymous with the worst excesses of the sort of dictators who have bedevilled post-colonial Africa. | For more than three decades his name has been synonymous with the worst excesses of the sort of dictators who have bedevilled post-colonial Africa. |
| History largely remembers Jean Bedel Bokassa - or Emperor Bokassa I as he crowned himself in 1977 - as one of the continent's most colourful yet bloodthirsty monsters. | History largely remembers Jean Bedel Bokassa - or Emperor Bokassa I as he crowned himself in 1977 - as one of the continent's most colourful yet bloodthirsty monsters. |
| He was a demagogue as ruthless as Mobutu and more flamboyant than Amin. | |
| When Bokassa was overthrown in 1979, jubilant crowds vented their hatred on a giant statue of the tyrant who for almost 14 years ran the Central African Republic (or the Central African Empire as Bokassa had renamed it) like a modern-day Nero. | When Bokassa was overthrown in 1979, jubilant crowds vented their hatred on a giant statue of the tyrant who for almost 14 years ran the Central African Republic (or the Central African Empire as Bokassa had renamed it) like a modern-day Nero. |
| There is a saying here that when you don't like your dog you declare that it's got rabies Bokassa's son, Jean Serge But for Jean Serge Bokassa - one of the emperor's several dozen children - history and the mob have got it wrong. | There is a saying here that when you don't like your dog you declare that it's got rabies Bokassa's son, Jean Serge But for Jean Serge Bokassa - one of the emperor's several dozen children - history and the mob have got it wrong. |
| He argues that his father was "a patriot" who served his country well and who has been smeared by those who wanted to topple him. | He argues that his father was "a patriot" who served his country well and who has been smeared by those who wanted to topple him. |
| Jean Serge was only seven when he was hastily withdrawn from his Swiss boarding school after the French intervened to overthrow Bokassa's regime while he was away on a state visit to Libya. | Jean Serge was only seven when he was hastily withdrawn from his Swiss boarding school after the French intervened to overthrow Bokassa's regime while he was away on a state visit to Libya. |
| It was not until Jean Serge and other family members were flown to exile in Gabon that they begin to understand the reason for the interruption to their privileged existence. | It was not until Jean Serge and other family members were flown to exile in Gabon that they begin to understand the reason for the interruption to their privileged existence. |
| "We started to see reports and newspapers saying our father was no longer in power in the Central African Republic," Jean Serge says. | "We started to see reports and newspapers saying our father was no longer in power in the Central African Republic," Jean Serge says. |
| "There was a character assassination by media. They called him a cannibal and a criminal who massacred children." | "There was a character assassination by media. They called him a cannibal and a criminal who massacred children." |
| He adds: "There is a saying here that when you don't like your dog, you declare that it's got rabies." | He adds: "There is a saying here that when you don't like your dog, you declare that it's got rabies." |
| There are indeed many lurid stories about Bokassa. | There are indeed many lurid stories about Bokassa. |
| Ears cut off | Ears cut off |
| He was variously accused of being a cannibal who ate body parts from those opponents who he did not feed to the lions and crocodiles in his personal zoo. | He was variously accused of being a cannibal who ate body parts from those opponents who he did not feed to the lions and crocodiles in his personal zoo. |
| It was a dictatorship but there was also order and stability. There is no civic responsibility any more Michel YambeteActing governor, Houam Pendi region | It was a dictatorship but there was also order and stability. There is no civic responsibility any more Michel YambeteActing governor, Houam Pendi region |
| Even if these allegations were entirely untrue, there is plenty of evidence of the extreme brutality of Bokassa's rule that cannot easily be dismissed as French disinformation. | Even if these allegations were entirely untrue, there is plenty of evidence of the extreme brutality of Bokassa's rule that cannot easily be dismissed as French disinformation. |
| Political rivals were murdered or tortured. | Political rivals were murdered or tortured. |
| Thieves were punished by having their ears cut off. | Thieves were punished by having their ears cut off. |
| For most of his rule Bokassa enjoyed the support of the former colonial power France, in whose army he served for more than 20 years. | For most of his rule Bokassa enjoyed the support of the former colonial power France, in whose army he served for more than 20 years. |
| In 1966, Bokassa, then commander-in-chief of the Central African armed forces, took power in a coup unseating President David Dacko, who was later reinstalled by the French. | In 1966, Bokassa, then commander-in-chief of the Central African armed forces, took power in a coup unseating President David Dacko, who was later reinstalled by the French. |
| Ebbing support | Ebbing support |
| Bokassa enjoyed particularly close relations with the French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. | Bokassa enjoyed particularly close relations with the French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. |
| Bokassa made himself emperor when "president for life" no longer sufficed | Bokassa made himself emperor when "president for life" no longer sufficed |
| The latter even went so far as to declare that he regarded Bokassa as a "friend and family member". | The latter even went so far as to declare that he regarded Bokassa as a "friend and family member". |
| But by 1979 French support was ebbing away from Bokassa. | But by 1979 French support was ebbing away from Bokassa. |
| The final straw may well have been a massacre in which about 100 children and teenagers were killed for protesting against Bokassa's proclamation that they would have to wear expensive uniforms that were only sold by a company that belonged to one of his 17 wives. | The final straw may well have been a massacre in which about 100 children and teenagers were killed for protesting against Bokassa's proclamation that they would have to wear expensive uniforms that were only sold by a company that belonged to one of his 17 wives. |
| According to Amnesty International's report, Bokassa was personally involved with some of the killings. | According to Amnesty International's report, Bokassa was personally involved with some of the killings. |
| However, this is all at odds with Jean Serge's recollections of his father in private life. | However, this is all at odds with Jean Serge's recollections of his father in private life. |
| Monstrous extravagance | Monstrous extravagance |
| "As a son, I have many warm memories," he says. | "As a son, I have many warm memories," he says. |
| "He was very affectionate. He loved children. He loved children a lot. And for that reason that he had about 50 kids." | "He was very affectionate. He loved children. He loved children a lot. And for that reason that he had about 50 kids." |
| Bokassa had several dozen children by many different wives | Bokassa had several dozen children by many different wives |
| Another allegation against Bokassa which is hard to contest is the monstrous extravagance which was a hallmark of his rule. | Another allegation against Bokassa which is hard to contest is the monstrous extravagance which was a hallmark of his rule. |
| When the title President for Life was no longer sufficient, he decided to make himself emperor. | When the title President for Life was no longer sufficient, he decided to make himself emperor. |
| Bokassa spent tens of millions of dollars of public money staging a lavish and ludicrous coronation for himself in the capital Bangui. | Bokassa spent tens of millions of dollars of public money staging a lavish and ludicrous coronation for himself in the capital Bangui. |
| Wearing costumes styled on Napoleon, he rode in a carriage flanked by soldiers dressed as 19th Century French cavalrymen. | Wearing costumes styled on Napoleon, he rode in a carriage flanked by soldiers dressed as 19th Century French cavalrymen. |
| Prison sentence | Prison sentence |
| After he was deposed, Bokassa and several of his children were allowed to enjoy a comfy exile in a chateau in a Paris suburb. | After he was deposed, Bokassa and several of his children were allowed to enjoy a comfy exile in a chateau in a Paris suburb. |
| But in 1986 he decided to return home even though a Central African court had sentenced him to death in his absence. | But in 1986 he decided to return home even though a Central African court had sentenced him to death in his absence. |
| That sentence was upheld by a retrial but later commuted to a prison sentence. | That sentence was upheld by a retrial but later commuted to a prison sentence. |
| Bokassa was eventually released in 1993. He died three years later from a heart attack aged 75. | Bokassa was eventually released in 1993. He died three years later from a heart attack aged 75. |
| Astonishingly, some older Central Africans now look back on the Bokassa years - or at the least the early part of his rule - as a sort of good old days. | Astonishingly, some older Central Africans now look back on the Bokassa years - or at the least the early part of his rule - as a sort of good old days. |
| Much of the CAR's crumbling infrastructure dates from that time. | Much of the CAR's crumbling infrastructure dates from that time. |
| 'Great things' | 'Great things' |
| It is perhaps a mark of how bad things have got in the CAR that more than one government official that I spoke to there talked about Bokassa in admiring tones. | It is perhaps a mark of how bad things have got in the CAR that more than one government official that I spoke to there talked about Bokassa in admiring tones. |
| Read more special reports from Central African Republic | Read more special reports from Central African Republic |
| Michel Yambete, acting governor of the Houam Pendi region, told me: "It was a dictatorship but there was also order and stability. There is no civic responsibility any more. There is no patriotism either. This is what has brought all these wars and hatred. | Michel Yambete, acting governor of the Houam Pendi region, told me: "It was a dictatorship but there was also order and stability. There is no civic responsibility any more. There is no patriotism either. This is what has brought all these wars and hatred. |
| "Looking back the time of Bokassa was something to admire. That man did great things." | "Looking back the time of Bokassa was something to admire. That man did great things." |
| This sort of selective nostalgia is reminiscent of those Russians of a certain age who speak of the stability that Stalin brought to their country. | This sort of selective nostalgia is reminiscent of those Russians of a certain age who speak of the stability that Stalin brought to their country. |
| Bokassa enjoyed a comfy exile in a chateau in a Paris suburb | Bokassa enjoyed a comfy exile in a chateau in a Paris suburb |
| But it doesn't surprise Jean Serge Bokassa who is now himself an elected member of the Central African parliament. | But it doesn't surprise Jean Serge Bokassa who is now himself an elected member of the Central African parliament. |
| After years of political instability and transitions of power through coups rather than electoral means - a trend begun by Bokassa senior - there is now a slim hope for peace. | After years of political instability and transitions of power through coups rather than electoral means - a trend begun by Bokassa senior - there is now a slim hope for peace. |
| Talks between the government and rebel groups has produced a tentative agreement that they should work towards forming a government of national unity to rule until elections scheduled for 2010. | Talks between the government and rebel groups has produced a tentative agreement that they should work towards forming a government of national unity to rule until elections scheduled for 2010. |
| "We have to stop the cycle of troubles, military and political crisis. We have to restore a political and economic stability like other nations," Jean Serge told me, speaking before the breakthrough in the peace talks. | "We have to stop the cycle of troubles, military and political crisis. We have to restore a political and economic stability like other nations," Jean Serge told me, speaking before the breakthrough in the peace talks. |
| But what if democratic politics fails to provide the stability that Central Africans yearn for? Does Jean Serge harbour any ambition to step into his father's ermine-lined slippers and become Emperor Bokassa II? | But what if democratic politics fails to provide the stability that Central Africans yearn for? Does Jean Serge harbour any ambition to step into his father's ermine-lined slippers and become Emperor Bokassa II? |
| "No I don't think so," he says. | "No I don't think so," he says. |
| "I'm not nostalgic for the monarchy or empire. It was a period in our history and we have to accept that it's part of our history. But do I defend the monarchy? No I don't. | "I'm not nostalgic for the monarchy or empire. It was a period in our history and we have to accept that it's part of our history. But do I defend the monarchy? No I don't. |
| "Actually I think its indefensible." | "Actually I think its indefensible." |
Previous version
1
Next version