Australia boycotts Mugabe speech

The Australian ^ | 18 Oct 2005

[Fair Go]

Australia boycotts Mugabe speech

18oct05

AUSTRALIA was the only country whose representative to a UN meeting boycotted a "disgraceful" speech by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Mr Mugabe used the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) anniversary meeting in Rome overnight to launch a withering denunciation of US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Zimbabwe President described them as "the two unholy men of our millennium", comparing them with Hitler and Mussolini.

Mr Downer today said Australia's representative at the meeting had walked out prior to the speech.

"I thought his speech was absolutely disgraceful," the Foreign Minister said on ABC radio.

"Australia, I am proud to say, was the only country whose representative walked out before President Mugabe's speech.

"We boycotted his speech. I thought it was quite inappropriate for him to make a speech like that, and ironical and inappropriate for him to turn up at the meeting at all."

Mr Downer said it would have been difficult not to invite Mr Mugabe to the FAO anniversary as Zimbabwe was a member of the United Nations.

However, he said Mr Mugabe had made "an enormous mistake" in accepting the invitation and then making a political speech.

"But he has also highlighted the simple point about Zimbabwe – that this is a country that used to be the ... food bowl of Africa, a major exporter of food, and under his regime he has simply decimated agriculture and they are begging now for food from the international community," Mr Downer said.

Mr Downer said Mr Mugabe had destroyed the economy of Zimbabwe, and half the country was now suffering from a lack of sufficient nutrition.

[Fair Go]

Why was Australia the only nation to boycott the Mugabe speech? Where was everyone else? I refer in particular to other members of the Commonwealth of Nations who have had plenty of exposure to Mugabe before. What were the likes of New Zealand and Canada doing?

[cake_crumb]

The Zimbabwe President described them as "the two unholy men of our millennium", comparing them with Hitler and Mussolini

Now THAT'S a piece of unintentional humor so dark it's appropriate for Halloween...

[G.Mason]

"Why was Australia the only nation to boycott the Mugabe speech? Where was everyone else? I refer in particular to other members of the Commonwealth of Nations who have had plenty of exposure to Mugabe before. What were the likes of New Zealand and Canada doing?"

I have no idea, but it seems obvious that Mugabe will be like Arafat, Castro, Chavez, etc. etc.. They will be allowed to spew their bile and treat all humanity within their reach with contempt and devisiveness.

Some people just need killing.

[AmericaUnite]

Ping

[Frenetic]

""But he has also highlighted the simple point about Zimbabwe – that this is a country that used to be the ... food bowl of Africa, a major exporter of food, and under his regime he has simply decimated agriculture and they are begging now for food from the international community," Mr Downer said."

- You go Downer!

[libs_kma]

Good job Aussies. The US shouldn't have been there either.

Forget decorum, it's too much like political correctness in most cases and should not be adhered to under situations like these.

We have to start calling a spade a spade and a murderous dictator a murderous dictator.

[seppel]

"But he has also highlighted the simple point about Zimbabwe – that this is a country that used to be the ... food bowl of Africa, a major exporter of food, and under his regime he has simply decimated agriculture and they are begging now for food from the international community," Mr Downer said.


Good move on Australia's part, but too little too late. Aussies are hypocrites. Back in the days of Ian Smith and Apartheid, the Aussies were staunch anti-white types, mainly because they were competing against Rhodesia and South Africa on the international mineral market (coal, gold, platinum, uranium).

They wholeheartedly supported sanctions against both countries, but didn't complain taking in the best of their academics, businesspeople and sports stars once these started leaving those nations under siege from the UN, the West, the USSR, China and the Third World. That's why their objections will not be taken seriously by most white Rhodesians and South Africans.

[chilepepper]

what, and walk away from all the pate, caviar and champagne being served? get serious... we're talking about the UN here fercrisakes...

[shezza]

...to launch a withering denunciation of US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Zimbabwe President described them as "the two unholy men of our millennium", comparing them with Hitler and Mussolini.

Oh, that's rich: Mr. Rape and Pillage denouncing Bush and Blair as unholy.

"Australia, I am proud to say, was the only country whose representative walked out before President Mugabe's speech.

Well, I'm not proud that they are the ONLY ones who walked out on Mugabe, but I'm sure proud of them for doing it.

"We boycotted his speech. I thought it was quite inappropriate for him to make a speech like that, and ironical and inappropriate for him to turn up at the meeting at all."

That's what the UN excels at: the ironic, the inappropriate and the ludicrous. Mugabe sees himself as the next liberal darling in the vein of Arafat, no doubt.

[sgtbono2002]

If I ever decide to leave the USA it will be to go to Australia. It seems the only place left in the world that has good sense.

[N8VTXNinWV]

It's a Be-au-ti-ful place! Huh, shez!? I'm partial to Mt. Kosiousku and Snowy Mountains, myself! :o)

[Fair Go]

Ian Smith was hardly a paragon of virtue. Opposition to Mugabe should not be equated with being pro-white and anti-black. There are many black people suffering under Mugabe. Opposition to Mugabe should be seen as being pro-humanity, irrespective of race or colour.

[BFPRufus]

"What were the likes of New Zealand and Canada doing?"

Probably the same thing representatives from the Us and UK were doing.