somebody tweeted during the midterm elections in the United States

幾週前，

that Election Day should be made a holiday.

在美國中期選舉期間, 有人用推特發文，

And I retweeted, saying,

說選舉日應該要放假。

\"Well, you're welcome to come to my country and vote.

我回推，說：

You'll get the whole week off to allow the military to count it.\"

「歡迎你來我的國家投票。

I come from Togo, by the way.

你可以放一整週的假， 讓軍隊來計票。」

It is a beautiful country located in West Africa.

順便一提，我來自多哥。

There are some cool, interesting facts about my country.

它是個美麗的國家，位在西非。

Togo has been ruled by the same family for 51 years,

我的國家有一些很酷 且很有趣的狀況。

making us the oldest autocracy in Africa.

多哥已經被同一個家族 統治了五十一年，

That's a record.

這表示我們是非洲 最長的獨裁統治國家。

We have a second-coolest record:

那是一項記錄。

we have been ranked three times as the unhappiest country on earth.

我們還有一項第二酷的記錄：

You are all invited.

我們有三次被評為： 地球上最不快樂的國家。

(Laughter)

歡迎各位來我的國家。

So just to let you know,

（笑聲）

it's not very cool to live under an autocracy.

只是想告訴各位，

But the interesting thing is that I have met, throughout the course of my activism,

在獨裁統治之下生活 不是件很酷的事。

so many people from different countries,

但有趣的是，在我參與 激進主義的過程中，

and when I tell them about Togo, their reaction is always,

我見到好多來自不同國家的人，

\"How can you guys allow the same people to terrorize you for 51 years?

我跟他們提到多哥時， 他們的反應總是：

You know, like, you Togolese, you must be very patient.\"

「你們怎麼能夠允許同一批人， 對你們進行恐怖統治五十一年？

That's their diplomatic way of saying \"stupid.\"

你們多哥人是很有耐心 還是怎樣？」

(Laughter)

他們是在用圓滑的方式說「愚蠢」。

And when you live in a free country,

（笑聲）

there's this tendency of assuming that those who are oppressed

當你生活在一個自由國家，

tolerate their oppression or are comfortable with it,

通常會假設那些被壓迫的人

and democracy is projected as a progressive form of governance

可以容忍那些壓迫， 或是已經適應了，

in such a way that those people who don't live under democratic countries

而民主被推斷為 一種先進的治理形式，

are seen as people who are not intellectually or maybe morally

彷彿那些住在非民主國家的人

as advanced as others.

會被視為是在智力上或道德上

But it's not the case.

不如其他人先進。

The reason why people have that perception

但並不是這樣的。

has to do with the way stories are covered about dictatorships.

大家會有那樣的感受 ，

In the course of my activism,

是受到關於獨裁主義的故事所影響。

I have had to interview with so many news outlets out there,

在我參與激進主義的過程中，

and usually it would always start with, \"What got you started?

我和許多新聞媒體做過訪談，

What inspired you?\"

通常訪談總是這樣開頭： 「是什麼讓你開始的？

And I reply, \"I wasn't inspired. I was triggered.\"

是什麼鼓舞了你？」

And it goes on. \"Well, what triggered you?\"

我會回：「我沒有受到鼓舞。 我是被觸發的。」

And I go on about how my father was arrested when I was 13, and tortured,

對話會繼續下去。 「是什麼觸發了你？」

all the history ... I don't want to get into details now,

我會接著說我十三歲時 父親被逮捕、嚴刑逼供的事情，

because you'll start sleeping.

還有所有的歷史…… 我現在不想說細節，

But the thing is, at the end of the day, what interests them the most is:

因為你們會開始睡覺。

How was he tortured?

但，重點是，到頭來， 他們最感興趣的是：

For how many days? How many people died?

他是怎麼被嚴刑？

They are interested in the abuse, in the killing,

持續了多少天？有多少人喪命？

because they believe that will gain attention and sympathy.

他們感興趣的是虐待，是殺戮，

But in reality, it serves the purpose of the dictator.

因為他們相信那些題材 能吸引到注意力和同情心。

It helps them advertise their cruelty.

然而現實上，

In 2011, I cofounded a movement I call \"Faure Must Go,\"

這正順應了獨裁者的目的。

because Faure is the first name of our president.

那麼做便宣揚了他們的殘酷。

Togo is a French-speaking country, by the way,

2011 年，我合夥創立了一個運動， 我稱之為「福雷下台」，

but I chose English because I had my issues with France as well.

因為福雷是我們總統的名字。

But then --

順道一提，多哥是說法語的國家，

(Laughter)

但我選擇英文， 因為我對法國也有些意見。

But then, when I started Faure Must Go,

但，接著——

I made a video, and I came on camera,

（笑聲）

and I said, \"Well, Faure Gnassingbé, I give you 60 days to resign as president,

但當我開始「福雷下台」行動時，

because if you don't,

我做了一支影片，我站到攝影機前，

we the youth in Togo will organize and we will bring you down,

我說：「福雷納辛貝， 我給你六十天辭去總統職務，

because you have killed over 500 of our countrymen

因為，如果你不辭，

to seize power when your father died.

我們多哥的年輕人 會組織起來，把你拉下台，

We have not chosen you.

因為你已經殺害了 至少五百名我們的同胞，

You are an imposter, and we will remove you.\"

以在你父親過世時取得權力。

But I was the only known face of the movement.

我們沒有選擇你。

Why? Because I was the only stupid one.

你是冒名頂替，我們會趕走你。」

(Laughter)

但在那項運動中， 我是唯一公開的面孔，

And the backlashes followed.

為什麼？因為我是唯一的笨蛋。

My family started receiving threats.

（笑聲）

My siblings called me one morning.

接著就造成強烈的反對。

They said, \"You know what?

我的家人開始受到各種威脅。

When they come here to kill you, we don't want to die with you,

有一天，我的手足打電話給我。

so move out.\"

他們說：「你知道嗎？

So yes, I moved out.

如果他們來這裡殺你， 我們不想跟你一起死，

And I'm so angry at them, so I haven't talked to them in five years.

所以，搬出去吧。」

Anyway, moving forward ...

所以，是的，我搬出去了。

For the past nine years, I have been working with countries

我對他們很生氣， 五年都不跟他們說話。

to raise awareness of Togo,

總之，繼續下去……

to help the people of Togo overcome their fear

過去九年間，

so they, too, can come and say they want change.

我和許多國家合作，

I have received a lot of persecution

提升大家對於多哥的意識，

that I cannot disclose,

來協助多哥人民克服他們的恐懼，

a lot of threats, a lot of abuse,

這樣他們才能夠也站出來 說他們想要改變。

psychologically.

我已經受到了很多

But I don't like talking about them,

我無法公開的迫害，

because I know that my job as an activist is to mobilize,

各種威脅，各種虐待，

is to organize,

精神上的。

is to help every single Togolese citizen understand that, as citizens,

但我不想要談它們，

we hold the power,

因為我知道，身為激進分子， 我的工作是要動員，

we are the boss and we decide.

是要組織，

And the punishment that the dictators are using to intimidate them

是要協助每一位多哥公民了解，

must not prevent us from getting what we want.

身為公民，我們持有權力，

That is why I said it is very important to cover the stories of activists

我們是老闆，我們能做決定。

in the way that it helps mobilize people,

獨裁者用來脅迫他們的手段

not in the way that it helps deter their action

不應該阻止我們得到想要的。

and force even more their subjugation to the oppressive system.

那就是為什麼我推崇： 在報導激進分子的故事時，

During these years that I've been an activist,

要用能動員大家的方式來報導，

there are days that I felt like quitting because I couldn't take it.

而不是以威嚇他們行動的方式，

Well then, what kept me going?

迫使他們更屈從於壓迫的體制。

The one thing that kept me going:

在我身為激進分子的這些年間，

I remember the story of my grandfather,

有些時候我也好想放棄， 因為我無法承受了。

and how he used to walk 465 miles from his village to the city,

那，是什麼讓我繼續下去？

just to protest for independence.

讓我繼續下去的其中一項動力：

Then I remember the sacrifice of my father,

我記得我祖父的故事，

who was tortured so many times

也記得他曾經走了 465 英里路 從他的村落到城市，

for daring to protest against the regime.

只是為了獨立而抗議。

Back in the '70s, they would write pamphlets

我還想起我父親的犧牲，

to raise awareness on the dictatorship,

因為他敢於對政權抗爭，

and because they couldn't afford to make copies,

所以他被拷問了好多次。

they would reproduce the same pamphlet 500 times each

回到 70 年代，他們會寫小冊子，

and distribute them.

增加大家對獨裁統治的意識，

It got to a point where the military knew their handwriting,

因為他們沒錢去印製，

so as soon as they stumbled upon one, they'd go and get them.

他們便重複抄寫 500 次，

But I look at that and I'm like, you know, today you have a blog.

然後拿去分發。

I don't have to copy the same thing 500 times.

以至於軍隊也認得他們的筆跡。

I blog and thousands of people read it.

所以只要他們發現這些傳單， 就會去抓他們。

By the way, in Togo, they like calling me the WhatsApp girl,

但，對於這個狀況， 我心想，現今有博客了。

because I am always on WhatsApp attacking the government.

我不用複製五百份。

(Laughter)

我撰寫博客，就會有數千人閱讀。

So it's much easier.

順便一提，在多哥， 他們稱為我 WhatsApp 女孩，

When I'm angry at the government, I just make an angry note,

因為我總是在 WhatsApp 上攻擊政府。

and I send it out and thousands of people share it.

（笑聲）

I'm rarely this composed. I'm always angry, by the way.

所以，現在簡單多了。

(Laughter)

當我對政府很生氣時， 我就寫下憤怒的文字，

(Applause)

我會把它發出去，便有數千人分享。

So I was talking about the necessity to showcase our stories,

我很少這麼鎮定，我總是很生氣。

because when I think about the sacrifices that were made for us,

（笑聲）

it helped me keep going.

（掌聲）

One of the very first actions of our Faure Must Go movement

我要說的是，我們要把 我們的故事展現出來，

was to come up with a petition, asking citizens to sign

因為當我談到別人 為我們所做出的犧牲時，

so that we can demand new elections, as the constitution allows.

那能夠協助我堅持下去。

People were scared to put their names

我們的「福雷下台」 最初的行動之一，

because, they said, they don't want to get in trouble.

是提出一項請願，請公民來簽署，

Even in the diaspora, people were scared.

讓我們可以依憲法規定 來要求新的選舉。

They were like, \"We have family at home.\"

大家都很怕寫下自己的名字，

But there was this woman who was in her 60s.

因為，他們說，他們不想惹麻煩。

When she heard about it, she took the petition,

即使是在海外的人，他們也會怕。

and she went home,

他們說：「我們在家鄉還有家人。」

and by herself she collected over 1,000 [signatures].

但，有一位六十多歲的女子。

That inspired me so much, and I was like,

她聽說這件事時，她帶走了請願書，

if a 60-year-old that has nothing more to gain in this regime

她回到家後，

can do this for us, the young ones,

靠她自己就收集到了 超過一千個簽署。

then why should I quit?

那對我是好大的鼓勵，我心想，

It is the stories of resistance, the stories of defiance,

如果一個六十歲，已經無法 從這個政體中獲得什麼的人，

the stories of resilience,

還願意為我們年輕人這樣做，

that inspire people to get involved,

那我怎能放棄？

not the stories of abuse and killings and hurt,

正是那些抵抗、反抗、

because as humans, it's only natural for us to be scared.

堅毅不拔的故事，

I would like to share with you a few characteristics of dictatorships

鼓舞大家參與，

so that you can assess your own country

而非虐待、殺戮和傷害的故事，

and see if you are also at risk of joining us.

因為害怕是人性的弱點。

(Laughter and cheers)

我想要和各位分享 獨裁統治的幾項特性，

(Applause)

讓你們可以評估你們自己的國家，

Number one thing to look at: concentration of power.

看看你是否有可能會加入我們。

Is the power in your country concentrated in the hands of a few, an elite?

（笑聲和歡呼）

It can be a political elite, ideological elite.

（掌聲）

And you have a strongman,

首先要看的事：權力集中。

because we always have one guy who is presented as the messiah

你的國家的權力是否集中在 少數人或一位菁英的手中？

who will save us from the world.

可能是政治菁英、思想領袖。

The second point is propaganda.

且你們有一個鐵腕人物，

Dictators feed on propaganda.

因為總是會有個傢伙， 以救世主之姿出現，

They like giving the impression that they are the saviors,

要將我們從世界拯救出來。

and without them, the country will fall apart.

第二點是宣傳。

And they are always fighting some foreign forces, you know?

獨裁者要靠宣傳來維生。

The Christians, the Jewish, the Muslims,

他們喜歡製造他們是救星的印象，

the voodoo priests are coming for you.

若沒有他們，國家就會四分五裂。

The Communists, when they get here, we'll all be broke.

他們總是在對抗著某些外來的力量。

These kinds of things.

基督徒、猶太人、穆斯林、

And our president, in particular, he fights pirates.

要來抓你的巫毒祭師。

(Laughter)

共產黨，當他們到來時， 我們都會完蛋。

I am very serious.

這類事物。

Last year, he bought a boat that's 13 million dollars to fight pirates,

而我們的總統很特別， 他對抗的是海盜。

and 60 percent of our people are starving.

（笑聲）

So they are always protecting us from some foreign forces.

我是說真的。

And this leads to point three: militarization.

去年，他花了一千三百萬美金 買了一艘船來對抗海盜，

Dictators survive by instigating fear,

而六成的人民沒飯吃。

and they use the military to suppress dissident voices,

所以，他們總是在保護我們 不受外來勢力的侵犯。

even though they try to give the impression

這就帶出了第三點：軍事化。

that the military is to protect the nation.

獨裁者的生存方式是煽動恐懼，

And they suppress institutions and destroy them

他們用軍隊來壓迫意見不同的聲音，

so that they don't have to be held accountable.

不過他們試圖製造的印象

So do you have a heavily militarized country?

是軍隊在保護國家。

And this leads to point four, what I call human cruelty.

他們會打壓和摧毀制度，

You know when we talk about animals,

這樣他們就不用負責。

we say animal cruelty when animals are abused,

你們的國家是重度武裝的國家嗎？

because there's no charter acknowledged by the UN

這就帶出第四點， 我稱之為人類虐待。

saying animal rights charter.

當我們談論動物時，

Point one: all animals are created equal. So you don't have that.

當動物被傷害， 我們會說動物虐待，

So whenever animals are abused, we say animal cruelty.

因為聯合國沒有，

But when it comes to humans, we say human rights abuses,

任何認可動物權利憲章。

because we assume that all humans have rights.

第一點：動物生而平等。 而你們並沒有這一點。

But some of us are actually still fighting for our right to have rights.

所以，當動物被傷害時， 我們會說動物虐待。

So in that condition, I don't talk about human rights abuse or violation.

但就人類的情況來說， 我們會說人權侵害，

When you live in a country and you have an issue with the president

因為我們假設所有人類都有權利。

and the worst thing that can happen is he bans you from the presidency,

但有些人仍然在為 「擁有權利」的權利而戰。

you are lucky.

所以，在那樣的情況下， 我不會談侵害或違反人權。

When you come to my country and have an issue with the president,

當你生活的國家 擁有與你不同意見的總統，

you just run, disappear; you vanish from the universe,

而最糟糕的狀況是 在他任期內不讓你出來選總統，

because they can still find you in Turkey.

那你很幸運。

So people like myself, we don't get to live in Togo anymore.

在我的國家，若對總統有意見，

And people like myself,

你就得逃跑、消失；從人間蒸發，

we don't get to live in the same place for more than a month,

因為他們仍然會在土耳其找到你。

because we don't want to be traced.

所以，像我這樣的人， 我們不能再住在多哥。

The way they abuse people,

像我這樣的人，

the type of cruelty that happens in all impunity under dictatorships

不能在同一個地方住超過一個月，

are beyond human imagination.

因為我們不想要被追蹤。

The stories of some of the activists that were killed,

他們傷害人民的方式，

their bodies dumped in the sea,

在獨裁統治下，那種可以 不受懲罰的情況下而進行的虐待，

that were tortured

是超乎人類想像的。

to the point where they lost their hearing or their sight --

有些被殺害的激進分子，

those stories still haunt me.

他們的屍體被丟入海中，

And sometimes, as an activist,

他們被用刑，

I am less concerned about dying than how it will happen.

而導致失明或失聰——

Sometimes I just sit down and I imagine all scenarios.

那些故事在我心頭揮之不去。

What are they going to do? Are they going to cut my ears first?

有時，身為激進分子，

Or are they going to cut my tongue because I'm always insulting them?

比起死亡會如何發生， 我比較不在乎死亡本身。

It sounds cruel, but it is the reality.

有時，我會坐下來，想像各種情境。

We live in a very cruel world.

他們會怎麼做？他們會 先把我的耳朵割下來嗎？

Dictators are cruel monsters,

或者他們會割掉我的舌頭， 因為我總是在侮辱他們？

and I am not saying it to be nice.

聽起來很殘酷，但那是現實。

So yes, that is the final characteristic.

我們生活在一個殘酷的世界中。

The list goes on,

獨裁者是殘酷的禽獸，

but that's the final thing that I want to share about autocracies,

我不是為了扮演好人才這麼說的。

so that you look at your country and see if there are risks there.

所以，是的，那是最後一項特性。

It is important that you acknowledge the gains of freedom that you have today,

這份清單還很長，

because some people had to give their lives for you to have it.

但那是我想與各位分享的 最後一項獨裁政治特性，

So don't take this for granted.

所以，看看你的國家， 找找有沒有風險存在。

But then at the same time, you also need to know

很重要的是，你要感謝 你現今擁有的自由，

that no country is actually destined to be oppressed,

因為有些人犧牲了生命 才讓你擁有自由。

while at the same time,

不要把它視為理所當然。

no country or no people are immune to oppression and dictatorship.

但，同時，你也需要知道，

Thank you.

沒有任何國家註定要被壓迫，

(Applause)

同時，