Africa Unscrambled: Celebrities and dictators
Mia Farrow, unlike many of the prominent Darfur activists, cannot be accused of not spending time in the field (when was your last visit, Matt Damon?). She has visited Darfur and Chad on countless occasions and has even made two trips to Central African Republic (CAR), a country few people even know exists, let alone decide to spend a few days in.
But in her attempt to bring some much-needed attention to CAR she has chosen an odd ally. Farrow has been named as an ambassador of CAR by President Francois Bozize and, according to a fascinating piece in the New Yorker, is introducing him to New York's hoipolloi at fancy cocktail parties held in exclusive members' clubs:
"In the plush cool of Doubles, President Bozize greeted Ambassador Farrow warmly. "She knows the country better than the President himself!” he announced to the assembled guests."
At the New York soiree she told assorted guests, including the state's governor, David Paterson, that the people of CAR are the "most abandoned" in the world. "CAR is being torn apart by crosscurrents of violent armed groups," she said.
What she failed to mention was that one of those "violent armed groups" belonged to the man standing next to her with the vol-au-vent. Bozize's presidential guard has been accused of kidnapping children, burning villages and killing innocent civilians. The man himself took power following a coup in 2003.
Perhaps she should read this press release from Human Rights Watch. Its title, "Central African Republic: Government Forces Kill Hundreds" says it all.
Daly has taken on the screen from every angle. As an actor, he’ s morphed his leading man image from frightening cult leader David Koresh in In The Line of Duty: Ambush at Waco to legendary astronaut Jim Lovell in HBO’ s From the Earth to the Moon to struggling sports reporter in Paramount’ s Against the Ropes to the voice of iconic superhero Superman in the animated series and animated feature.
Posted by: www.americola.com | Thursday, 09 October 2008 at 09:06 PM