Posted on 05/11/2003 9:10:51 AM PDT by Clive
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned the appointment of Augustine Chihuri, Zimbabwe's police chief, as an honorary vice president of International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), saying the organisation should stay clear of politics.
"Interpol is being dragged into politics by the ill-advised and ill-judged honour bestowed on Zimbabwe's Police Commissioner, Mr Augustine Chihuri," Douglas Gibson, the party's chief whip, said.
"Interpol should remain above politics and serve the cause of justice in the international community." Gibson said, adding that South Africa should make use of its membership of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) to call for the reversal of the decision.
The party says it will also be in contact with the Interpol bureau in South Africa to convey its objection to the appointment. Interpol's regional bureau is based in Harare, Zimbabwe and Chiefs of Police of SARPCCO member countries enjoy a direct input into the activities of the Harare Interpol bureau.
"A policeman like Mr Chihuri, who is on the list of people targeted by EU (European Union) and US sanctions, is a wildly unsuitable choice for recognition and honouring by Interpol," he said.
Chihuri is a close associate of Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, whose government has been blamed for a serious economic crisis and human rights abuses in that country. - Sapa
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