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Apologists veto Zimbabwe sanctions
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Story.
Disgraceful.
South Africans should be utterly ashamed of their government: what kind of 'democracy' sides with dictatorships like Zimbabwe, supported by single-party dictatorships - China, Libya, Vietnam (and might as well include Russia too).
Disgraceful.
UN SANCTIONS VOTE
FOR
Belgium
Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
Croatia
France
Italy
Panama
UK
United States
AGAINST
China
Libya
Russia
South Africa
Vietnam
ABSTAINED
Indonesia
South Africans should be utterly ashamed of their government: what kind of 'democracy' sides with dictatorships like Zimbabwe, supported by single-party dictatorships - China, Libya, Vietnam (and might as well include Russia too).
0
Comments
Very disappointing vote though. Although the only one that really matters on that list is South Africa.
Obviously they're worried they could be next. Heaven forbid some foreigner should try to tell you you cannot butcher people at will... :rolleyes:
History has shown time and time again the more pressure you put on a dictator the more they will just increase their deathgrip on their own people. It's a sad but true reality. I don't know the best way out of the situation really.
I think they've crippled some in the past. In fact, I think South Africa was the last place they worked effectively, and contributed greatly towards the ending of apartheid. I'm only repeating what I heard somewhere though, so I wouldn't trust that. But let's be honest, it can't get any worse for the people of Zimbabwe. The fact is that any trade with Zimbabwe will just be going straight to those in power. If sanctions work, then they will only affect those in power, because everyone else has nothing anyway.
Mbeki hasnt got a liberation leg to stand on, he's a cold economic statistician - compared to Mugabe he's pretty much white.
And of course you have the immigration issue, the last thing South Africa wants is a further break down in Zimbabwe it would lead to even more people coming across the border. South Africa is not a rich country and they can not deal with a million or more Zimbabwians.
I think what would be appropriate with zimbabwe
- an arms embargo forbidding foreign nations to trade weapons or munitions with zimbabwe
- some kind of talks between mugabe and tsavangari (cant spell his name) mediated by south africa
- immediate international aid to help those in zimbabwe (and now south africa) with shelter, healthcare and food
Mugabe is a dictator and I believe his country would be better off without him but I don't believe there is an easy way to remove him without doing more harm than good. So we should support the people of Zimbabwe however the international community is able to. I think ultimately any change should be homegrown and I hope that it can happen without bloodshed although.. looking at the events leading up to the run off I'm not sure if this is possible.
But imagine if a country deposed mugabe and held 'democratic' elections, how could the new government ever be legitimate? It would just cause a civil war. Bear in mind a lot if not all of the african political countries are actually consisting of two or three other nations (from tribal origins) that spread over the boundaries and there is often a conflict between the state government and the local / tribal governance.
It is such a complex situation and there is no easy fix, its going to be about developing tolerance and understanding -again- just like in Israel and in Northern Ireland. So I think the best thing we can do is stop giving them weapons, and start giving them food and shelter.
It had less impact than you might imagine. The country became virtually self-sufficient in everything, except the production of oil in large enough quantities.
Only because the ANC government are f**king up big time. It has enormous natural wealth.
Very few countries with large mineral wealth have managed to share it out to the people.
But you are right, the ANC are hugely corrupt and have managed to make South Africa and even more divided country than during the 70's. Having one party dominate a country for so long is really bad for democracy and the country.
The very substance all Governments rely on, paper, is being denied.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-money14-2008jul14,0,3947241.story
Gotta love the pic
Because Zimbabwe isnt threatening the countries next to it - not that Iraq was but that was the reason given for invading.
We are not invading because there is nothing we can gain from it, the Iraq war gives us oil and a nice and expensive mess to help fund the arms industry and other civil contractors who have donated a lot of money to the US government.
hm thats what i thought nothing in it for us so fuck the people of zimbabwe ! so thats what the UN and all the other bullshit is about
That they are black and poor doesnt help their case.
He signed a deal in good faith with the British to return the land back, which was stolen by the white colonialists. I know that doesn't justify oppressing his opponents though, but nonetheless I can see where he was coming from initially.
A) Two wrongs dont make a right.
C) In doing so he's managed to completely destroy one of the most productive countries in Africa.
So all in all, although I can sympathise with the idea that White farmers shouldnt own all the good land, his methods ment that everyone suffered.