Jalil Dabdoub | Jamaica’s failure to support anti-colonial and human rights movements

At a lecture on March 21 at The University of the West Indies on connecting the African diaspora with CARICOM, Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, spoke about Jamaica’s contribution to the liberation of South Africans from apartheid.

The Jamaicans present, including members of government, must have felt an immense sense of pride when Jamaica’s influence was acknowledged. Jamaica’s strong voice in the international community against apartheid and actions including boycotts and sanctions, together with our cultural influences expressed through the lyrics of artistes such as Peter Tosh, are credited with bringing awareness to and dismantling the apartheid regime of South Africa. Without a doubt, the message was clear, ‘we likkle but we Tallawah!”

Pandor also addressed the pressing human rights issue of today, Palestine. She expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. She explained that, given South Africa’s own pain and struggles against racism and oppression under apartheid, the people of South Africans fully support the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination. She also acknowledged the support the Palestinian people gave in the struggle against apartheid. She reminded us of Nelson Mandela’s words “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Not many remember that Israel was extremely supportive of apartheid in white South Africa. Not only did Israel give them political support, but they provided the arms used to kill and maim many innocent black South Africans.

MOST UNCOMFORTABLE

Given Jamaica’s current position on Palestine and Haiti, it must have been most uncomfortable for Jamaica’s minister of foreign affairs to sit beside the humanitarian giant Minister Pandor while she spoke of South Africa’s support for Palestine and the oppressed people there.

Minister Pandor’s lecture was set against the current situation in Haiti where more than 1,500 people were killed by gang violence this year, with weapons pouring in, according to the UN.

An initiative supported by CARICOM to send a foreign intervention force is contemplated, the justification being that armed groups are creating a state of anarchy. But, where do these groups get their arms? Historian Everaldo de Oliveira Andrade, author of the book Haiti: Two Centuries of History, says “an intervention is to rebuild the instruments of imperial dominance, especially the United States, which treats Haiti as a third-class colony, always subordinate.”

The acceptance and participation in an intervention force by Jamaica and CARICOM is support for the oppression, colonisation and occupation of Haiti. It is unacceptable that Haiti, the world’s first free black republic which freed themselves from slavery, were unjustly forced to pay their oppressors compensation for two centuries, and could now see their brothers in CARICOM join with modern-day imperialists to occupy and oppress them.

SAVAGERY CONTINUES

Meanwhile, Israel’s savagery and brutality against Palestinians continues. The systematic deprivation of food has left Palestinians in Gaza in a famine. Over 32,000 Palestinians have been killed, almost 75,000 wounded, and thousands taken hostage. Palestinian society and civil infrastructure are decimated.

These Israeli atrocities continue despite a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire, the ICJ ordering “unhindered” aid to Gaza “and further orders to prevent genocide”. There have been countless instances of war crimes of rape, murder, and extrajudicial executions, inclusive of women and children.

Israel’s ally the United States has seen unprecedented mass resignations from the administration, in protest. Anne Sheline, foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, was one of many to have publicly resigned. “People are shocked & appalled by what the US is doing.” “I speak for many people in the department”, she stated.

Jamaica’s past pronouncements on the Palestinian issue, international law and its usual historic defence of human rights and anti-imperialist positions, stands in stark contrast to its actions today.

Gone are the days when Jamaica’s position and actions were as enunciated in 2011 at the UNGA by Dr Ken Baugh, the then foreign minister:

“Jamaica remains unwavering in its support for a just, lasting and comprehensive agreement that recognizes the Palestinian State ... .”

This administration continues its frolic with Israel in questionable circumstances. The Israeli Pegasus software allegedly used in Jamaica is surrounded by international controversy. In 2021, the USA blacklisted the owners of Pegasus Spyware NSO (‘Biden administration blacklists NSO Group over Pegasus spyware’ Washington Post, November 3, 2021). Last month, they sanctioned Tal Dilian who was previously associated with NSO Group, creator of the notorious spyware Pegasus (‘US sanctions spyware firm, Israeli founder for tech targeting journalists, officials’ The Times of Israel, March 5). Why is Jamaica engaging with an entity and its citizens who are sanctioned by the US? ‘

It is time this government takes a cold hard look at its immoral position. The same actions taken in leading the anti-apartheid struggle should be implemented against Israel, actions to include boycott and sanctions movement, the cutting of diplomatic ties with this racist settler colonial project, and the recognition of the state of Palestine. Nothing less is expected given our emergence from colonialism, slavery and a historical record on human rights struggles. Other countries are taking these actions, including white, former colonising European nations.

Haiti’s situation, the genocide in Palestine, and Jamaica’s “tun” a blind eye approach, brings to mind Bob Marley’s stirring words of reflection:

“Old pirates, yes, they rob I

Sold I to the merchant ships

Minutes after they took I

From the bottomless pit

But my hand was made strong

By my hand of the almighty

We forward in this generation

Triumphantly … .

Won’t you help me sing

These songs of freedom …

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery … “

This administration needs to emancipate itself from mental slavery and stop selling oppressed people to the merchant ships; and instead help them sing their songs of freedom. By doing so they will sing their own well-needed redemption song.

Jalil S. Dabdoub is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.