RFI - Nigeria's Mend rebels, French identity, Africa and France, Corus and Eurotunnel

Nigeria's Mend rebels, French identity, Africa and France, Corus and Eurotunnel

by Tony Cross

Article published on the 2010-01-01 Latest update 2010-01-05 15:34 TU

Islamophobe? French Immigration and National Identity Minister Eric Besson
(Photo: Reuters)

Did we get it right about Nigeria's Mend rebels' attacks on pipelines? Is France's national identity debate Islamophobe? Should Africans be wary of ex-colonial power France? Should Britian's Corus invest here? And a tale of travel woe during the Eurotunnel's December deep-freeze debacle.

There was criticism of our story on the Nigerian rebel group Mend’s claim to have resumed attacks on oil pipelines from Khadijah Abdullah.

“It would appear important to crosscheck these stories before they are published lest RFI becomes the mouthpiece of cheap propaganda seekers,” she comments. “Reading through stories of the purpoted attack, the main target, Shell Petroleum said none of its installations had been attacked. The Nigerian Government also said no village had been attacked. Could he story therefore be simply propaganda?”

At the time our story, based on news agency reports, was posted, Shell had not commented. Newspapers have since reported that Shell and the Rivers state have denied such an attack took place.

We certainly should have followed our initial article with a further report of the denials, although our initial article reflected all the information available at the time. It seemed important to mention the Mend claim because it appeared to be a sign that the ceasefire with the government was breaking down.

The French government’s attempts to start a debate on national identity angers “Francais AOC [Arab d’origine controlee]”, now resident in London.

“I have to live in UK to be seen as a french, but in France i am a ‘musllim’, she writes. “Before we were les arabes, les robeux les immigres, NOW ALL Muslims..even you don t beleive, muslim is like a country a dangerous country for half of french society and the rest of the world.

“Being muslim is not being from a country...we are from Africa etc..in Africa there are christians etc.”

A “concerned employee” of British steelmaker Corus is angered by the company’s decision to invest in France.

“Corus investing 35 million pounds in Hyange France – rail,” she writes. “Could you ask why they did this when we can produde the exact material at our Scunthorpe site in the UK. This is another blow to the Steel industry.”

US citizen Wayne Lusk wants to organise a presidential exchange with France.

“We (USA) give you Obama and [Vice-President Joe] Biden for Sarkozy,” he offers, adding “What a deal!!!!”

But Etienne Byaruhanga is not so impressed by the French President, whom he suspects of trying to whitewash France’s role as a former coloniser of Africa.

“Everyone welcomes the French initiative [the France-Africa summit] but African please stay aware of the french background,” he writes. “From history to history, French governement should first respond to all trouble happening in Africa. We have enhited poverty, war, ethnism, corruption and poor leadership/governance from this guys, and we now need to stand firm for our own bright future as nations.”

And Liz Aitken recounts a painful experience when the Eurotunnel was disastrously disrupted just before Christmas.

“We understood the BBC TV news to say, at 2255hrs, that the tunnel was closed, in view of all this we told our son. Travelling towards Calais; with 2 young children; with temperatures of -16 and the prospect of being stranded in the cold ?hrs/days waiting for the tunnel to open for cars etc, they decided wisest to go home and contact Eurotunnel once home … I tried 7-8 times to call Eurotunnel by phone to get advice but never got through. Now it appears Eurotunnel are not refunding car travellers who took the news bulletins advice and avoided Calais/Folkestone etc. Can you please tell me what advice Eurotunnel gave to French car travellers and when did Eurotunnel close to cars? Christmas was well and truely spolit and people are financially disadvantaged by cicumstances beyond their control.”

Joe in the US wants to draw out attention to a website which, he feels, has bearing on a court case inolving the heiress to the fortune of the L'Oréal perfume makers.

"Reference the 1.4 billion exploitation of Liliane Bettencourt reported yesterday, you may find this helpful reporting on subject," his email says.

And, finally, happy New Year and have a good decade from all of us at RFI's English-language service.

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