Friday, June 17, 2005
Mugabe marches on
Things go from bad to worse in Zimbabwe, yet the world continues to stand by and let "President" Mugabe get away with pretty much anything he likes. Which, to be fair to the rest of the world, is at least better than South Africa's stance, which involves condoning the stealing of elections and generally saying "Hey, that Mugabe? He's a nice guy you know."
Mugabe is a dictator. A dictator who has done everything he can to hold on to power and clearly intends to consolidate his position after his "victory" in recent "elections" (elections declared "free and fair" by South Africa, but condemned by pretty much everyone else.) Anyone who disagrees with him or opposes him risks their lives, while he still receives the support of President Thabo Mbeki. Any local media who are critical of him are silenced, while any foreign journalist risks being arrested simply for being there.
What can be done about this? The UN has done little except appoint Zimbabwe to its Human Rights Commission. The UK has made the right noises but has taken no action (and could take no action without a UN Security Council resolution or violating international law). It seems to be a situation that must be dealt with by Africa itself. However, there appears to be little appetite for attacking Mugabe, as demonstrated by the stance of South Africa.
While the world watches and wringes its hands, the people of Zimbabwe continue to suffer under the oppressive rule of a dictator. President Mbeki must rethink his position and condemn Mugabe's regime.
It seems that other countries are coming around to the UK's point of view on the EU budget: Europe turns on France as Britain wins new allies. Chirac and Schroeder are politically weak and increasingly isolated. Tony Blair has achieved what must have been his main aim for this summit (at least once the rebate was brought up by France), which was to get the CAP onto the agenda. It is being openly questioned by many, including the likely winner of Germany's elections in the Autumn, Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democratic Union.
An interesting analysis article on the European "situation" by Anatole Kaletsky in The Times: Both Blair and Chirac need the battle over the rebate as a diversion for home consumption
Mugabe is a dictator. A dictator who has done everything he can to hold on to power and clearly intends to consolidate his position after his "victory" in recent "elections" (elections declared "free and fair" by South Africa, but condemned by pretty much everyone else.) Anyone who disagrees with him or opposes him risks their lives, while he still receives the support of President Thabo Mbeki. Any local media who are critical of him are silenced, while any foreign journalist risks being arrested simply for being there.
What can be done about this? The UN has done little except appoint Zimbabwe to its Human Rights Commission. The UK has made the right noises but has taken no action (and could take no action without a UN Security Council resolution or violating international law). It seems to be a situation that must be dealt with by Africa itself. However, there appears to be little appetite for attacking Mugabe, as demonstrated by the stance of South Africa.
While the world watches and wringes its hands, the people of Zimbabwe continue to suffer under the oppressive rule of a dictator. President Mbeki must rethink his position and condemn Mugabe's regime.
It seems that other countries are coming around to the UK's point of view on the EU budget: Europe turns on France as Britain wins new allies. Chirac and Schroeder are politically weak and increasingly isolated. Tony Blair has achieved what must have been his main aim for this summit (at least once the rebate was brought up by France), which was to get the CAP onto the agenda. It is being openly questioned by many, including the likely winner of Germany's elections in the Autumn, Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democratic Union.
An interesting analysis article on the European "situation" by Anatole Kaletsky in The Times: Both Blair and Chirac need the battle over the rebate as a diversion for home consumption
# posted by GrecianEd @ 1:00 am 
