Four

Zaro was routinely tortured in prison, put in leg-irons, and denied access to family, friends, a lawyer and medication. His closest friend Taro deserted him despite calls and letters. He had joined the others to pursue this interest which was the matter that kept his friend behind bars. They chose to maintain their cozy relationship with the military dictatorship to secure oil profits, post in the supreme military regime and the promise of a post in a promised civilian government in view rather than condemn the brutal and unjust arrest and later sentencing of non-violent regional self-rule campaigners. How ridiculous! 

Their trial by military tribunal lasted for less than three hours by no set time. It was private and was influenced, under a blanket of secrecy. Brigadier  Zaro had been fingered a traitor to the then government of General Sule. A coup thereafter was planned and said to be carried out as many report said. The manner of the trial was different and entirely new to the military system. Because the military proceedings never bothered to ascertain in any meaningful way what the wishes and desires of the people, the accused and the people involved in the matter were, rather, military mentality and … the decision was reprehensible and anti-humanity …. a total negation of human rights …. human rights being the basis of modern human consciousness, but was totally ignored, completely ignored. It was based on reported matters and no findings were carried out afterward. The inconsistency was attributed to the wrong intentions and grudges of the executors that if these ones were not wasted away, there could be a hindrance for the general implementation of the land law in many regions. Now for other resourceful region, the environmental hazard which the pollution was causing was truly damaging. As for Brig. Zaro, his only crime was his success in bringing his cause to international attention. This was a hidden fact while they painted the outside with a different story. These five were the mirror of the time for their region- the treasure base of the country. They were always in frontline to speak and to condemn the government. They were the people who understood military life and system. They also understood civilian system to a sizeable extent; African democratic and autocratic system of government. They knew what was best after all. They were learned and seasoned and vast with the principle of human right. As for the Zaki, the Mr. Council of the military tribunal who read the ruling, his reaction at first was not favorable. He did not know what to do with the ringleaders who had been arrested, because he had their details at his fingertips.  He did not know whether to treat them as heroes of the revolution or send them before a court martial as mutineers and murderers. He was always in a change of mind, sorting out details and seeking for facts and issues to amend in the case. He had his conscience, but was under a pressure. He had wanted to free them or at least ease them the load. It finally did not work. How sad!

It was Tuesday, everyone remembered, ten o'clock, the sad news made headline in the air.

"…The military court finds you Brigadier Zaro and your men guilty as charged. You have in many slightest opportunity sought to endanger the security of this nation by furthering the aim of a revolutionary group which had for sometime gone in hiding and plotting coup – overthrowing the government of this nation…it is in the power, interests and supremacy of the law to decide your fate and I stand by the law to...…. As to your counsel who lacks the willpower to pronounce the weight of law I still stand to tell him to visit his conscience and professional ethics to keep you his clients in line. I therefore quote him "It is my view that the breaches of fundamental rights are so serious as to arouse grave concern that any trial before this tribunal will be fundamentally flawed and unfair. This could be right, only if he is right"

That was all. The military tribunal did not give the innocent full able-bodied men time to prove their innocence in what they were accused of. That was African way of interpreting law. Of course it had been influenced by a higher hand. Time had been wasted in order to delay their justice and even now that it arrived, it was of no use.

After this ruling, a shout of uproar broke out. Time was waiting for this moment. Old wound got torched. War had been declared in most hearts, feud that the many generations will read in the history book and continue. Old words, once put to other use flew through the air.