The death of a Western-backed dictator who used his people's money to help the rich

By Dara Mac Neil

It always comes in threes. First there was the artist formerly known as HRH Princess Diana. Then it was an Albanian nun who traded under the moniker of Mother Theresa. And now, the legendary philanthropist Mobutu Sese Seko.

The former ruler of Zaire - now renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo - Mobutu Sese Seko came to power by way of a coup in November 1965. He was to remain in office until May of this year, when insurgents of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) forced him into exile. Mobutu, already dying of cancer, fled to Morocco, where he shuffled off this mortal coil on 7 September.

President Mobutu's 22 year reign was characterised by a remarkable, almost unprecedented, spirit of benevolence and generosity. Indeed, the late dictator's penchant for redistributing his country's enormous wealth is, by now, the stuff of legend.

Supported principally by the United States and France upon his accession to power in 1965, Mobutu was quick to repay his political sponsors. In an act of unheralded benevolence - and without a thought for the well-being of his people - Mobutu literally threw open his country's fabled reserves of precious stones and copper for exploitation by Western multinationals. They responded eagerly. As a result of Mobutu's unselfish act, a small number of Western corporations benefited handsomely from this transfer of wealth.

Always eager to please, Mobutu also turned over huge swathes of Zairian territory to US forces, to allow them prosecute their dirty war against Mozambique and Angola, to name but two of the victims. Again, the former dictator's unselfishness ensured that many thousands of CIA personnel and other cold warrior types were kept in gainful employment at a time when peace might have threatened their livelihoods.

But Mobutu's generosity did not stop there. Repeatedly during his reign he personally came to the rescue of the Swiss banking system, usually by the injection of huge wads of cash from his country's coffers into any one of a plethora of accounts he maintained in that country. In typically unassuming fashion, the great benefactor never drew attention to his remarkable selflessness with his country's resources. Perhaps as much as $40 billion worth of selflessness.

In addition, Mobutu contributed hugely to the real estate business in backwaters such as the French Riviera, where he purchased an unknown number of properties. His largesse helped put food on the table of many a French real estate executive.

Most radical, however, was his attempt to instil in the Zairian people a sense of self-reliance and entrepreneurship. An attempt also to wean them off their fatal dependence on extravagant and entirely superfluous social services, such as health and education. To this end Mobutu cleverly allowed the country to go to ruin. Roads, schools, hospitals, airports, railways, almost the entire infrastructure of the nation, virtually ceased to exist during his reign. Confronted with the challenge of a country slowly sinking into the abyss, Mobutu hoped to goad his people into taking up the challenge of learning to provide for themselves. Or, more radically, to learn to do without these unnecessary social services. His visionary exercise had the support of many Western bankers.

Unfortunately, the project was ahead of its time: the Progressive Democrats were not formed until the mid 1980s, and the destruction of Britain's welfare state was, as of yet, in its infancy. However, the people of Zaire showed themselves unready for this exercise in character-building, appearing to prefer the soft option of state spending on their welfare. In May, 1997, the bloody ingrates chased Mobutu from power.

Nonetheless, he will be fondly remembered by many of those whose lives he touched, some of whom were proud to be pictured by his side: Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, John Major, the staff and families of the CIA. And a small number of very rich corporate executives.

Bombs in Cuba part of economic war

A no-warning explosion in the lobby of a Havana Hotel has claimed the life of an Italian tourist.

The bomb exploded in the Copacabana Hotel around midday on Thursday 4 September, killing 32 year old Fabio Di Celmo. The bomb was one of three which have exploded in Havana hotels in recent days. This latest series of attacks brings to six the number of ``unexplained explosions'' in Havana since mid-July. All six bombs have exploded in tourist hotels in the Cuban capital. All have exploded without warning and no group has claimed responsibility.

It is clear that the bombing campaign is an attempt to reinforce the United States' illegal blockade of Cuba since, by targeting the country's fast growing tourist industry, the bombers obviously hope to destroy a crucial source of revenue for the island. The money earned from tourist revenue has, increasingly, helped Cuba offset the worst effects of the United States' ever stricter blockade.

The Cuban government has blamed the explosion on right-wing elements operating out of Miami. However, it would be rather implausible to suggest that the bombers are operating entirely alone. At the very least, a concerted campaign of this sort would require the knowledge - if not outright support - of US intelligence.

Irish soldiers honoured in Mexico

This Saturday 13 September a statue will be unveiled near Mexico City to mark the 150th anniversary of the `Battalio San Patricio' - St. Patrick's battalion. The battalion was composed primarily of Irish soldiers who, having enlisted in the US army, deserted to the Mexican side when the US invaded Mexico in 1847. Incidentally, it was this `invasion' which produced the puerile myth of the brave defenders of the Alamo in Texas. According to the fabricated version of history, it was Mexico who invaded the US. In reality, the invading forces travelled in the opposite direction.

At the war's conclusion, following the US capture of Mexico City, prominent members of the battalion were singled out by US forces for summary execution. They were hanged in full public view. Many, if not all of those who chose to fight for Mexico, had fled to the Americas to escape the Great Hunger at home.

In San Angel, Mexico City, there is an engraved stone memorial erected in honour of the men of San Patricio. The inscription reads: ``In memory of the Irish soldiers of the heroic St. Patrick's Battalion, martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of Mexico during the unjust North American invasion of 1847. With the gratitude of Mexico.''

Carved below are names such as Patrick Dalton, John Sheehan, John Daly, Patrick Casey, James Kelly. There are 71 names in total.

The statue will be unveiled by the Irish Consul to Mexico, Romulo O'Farrell