Posted on 03/17/2002 2:26:16 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
VIENNA, March 15 - European leaders stepped up their denunciations of the recent Zimbabwe election today, with Germany following the lead of Canada by vowing to cut off aid to the government of President Robert Mugabe.
After three days of voting, during which many people waited in long lines only to see the polls close before they could cast their ballots, Mr. Mugabe claimed to have won re- election with 56 percent of votes cast.
But opposition leaders and many foreign observers say that the government made it difficult for people to vote, particularly in areas where Mr. Mugabe's opponents had an advantage, and that the police and army created an intimidating presence at many polling places.
In Washington, President Bush has said the United States will not recognize the validity of Mr. Mugabe's re- election. The United States has not announced any decision about cutting off aid.
But Germany announced today that it would stop all aid to the Zimbabwe government, and it called on the European Union to follow suit.
"We will not work with the Mugabe government in any form in terms of development cooperation, and we will urge the E.U. to put further pressure and sanctions" on Zimbabwe, Heidemarie Wieczorek- Zeul, Germany's minister in charge of development aid, told Parliament today.
Germany will continue providing aid to private organizations, some of which are helping to combat hunger in parts of the country. Germany has provided about $4.6 million in aid to Zimbabwe in the last two years.
Canada announced the same measure on Thursday, after Prime Minister Jean Chrétien met with President Bush in Washington. Though Mr. Chrétien was reticent at first about the Zimbabwe election, he changed his mind after seeing a preliminary report by observers from the Commonwealth, a 54-nation group of mainly former British colonies, that described a climate of fear surrounding the voting. "It looked pretty bad," Mr. Chrétien remarked.
Despite the protests and the potential loss of aid money, Mr. Mugabe appears set to be inaugurated on Sunday for another six-year term.
The European Union will take up the issue this weekend, when leaders from the 15 members hold a summit meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Though it is unclear whether European leaders will agree on a cut in aid or other sanctions, European diplomats said the leaders were certain to issue a "strong statement" condemning the action.
The leader of Europe's observer delegation, Pierre Schori of Sweden, was expelled from Zimbabwe before the election on the ground that he had violated the terms of his tourist visa. Today Mr. Schori declared that the election had been unfair and distorted.
Goran Persson, Sweden's prime minister, today added his voice to the growing chorus of criticism of Mr. Mugabe. "It is a danger for the development of all of southern Africa that those countries which were liberated do not seem to be able to handle the next phase, which is securing democracy," Mr. Persson said. "It is a dangerous situation, and we are all gravely concerned."
Jack Straw, Britain's foreign secretary, said Mr. Mugabe had indulged in blatant cheating and been caught in the act.
Zimbabwe's African neighbors remain reluctant to criticize the election. The observer group from Commonwealth countries, led by South Africa, Nigeria and Australia, appears to be divided. Deputy President Jacob Zuma of South African went to Harare on Thursday to congratulate Mr. Mugabe and pronounced the election free and fair.
The Commonwealth countries are to meet on Tuesday to discuss the observers' report on Zimbabwe, but the group seems unlikely to enact any concrete measures.
Mugabe Signs Restraint on Press
HARARE, Zimbabwe, March 15 - President Mugabe today signed into law sharp limitations on local and international news organizations operating in Zimbabwe.
The law, which creates a media licensing commission with considerable disciplinary powers, was passed by Parliament earlier this year.
But the timing of the signing was unexpected, coming only two days after Mr. Mugabe was declared the winner of an election that had been widely criticized by Western governments and some international organizations.
Hell, the democrats said the same thing about President Bush in Florida. Those Europeans are sooo blunt and forceful in their use of language.
Zimbabwe -- Big Three to judge Mugabe fate--[Excerpt] General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the former Nigerian President who headed the Commonwealth observers' mission to Zimbabwe, said the possibility of the Commonwealth overseeing new elections in Zimbabwe was one of a range of options. 'We are looking for ways the Commonwealth can assist Zimbabwe to resolve its crisis. There are many complex issues to be addressed, including the land issue, the economy, and the political situation,' said General Abubakar, whose condemnation of the Zimbabwean election will be the basis of the troika meeting.
Abubakar guided the 42 observers in drafting the report, which describes how the elections were compromised by state-sponsored violence, unfair application of the rule of law, repressive legislation, restrictions on civic groups, the disenfranchisement of substantial numbers of voters and the blatant bias of the state media.
According to Commonwealth observers who met until late Friday night to draft the full report, there was emphatic agreement over the findings. Only one of the 42 Commonwealth observers, the Namibian delegate, was unhappy with the report, and other African members firmly supported it.
An eerie, uneasy vacuum has settled over Harare, as Mugabe has not uttered a public word since he was declared the election victor on Wednesday. But his signing into law of the repressive new media bill signalled his intention to silence the critical independent press. [End Excerpt]
That will probably never happen.
At the moment I'd like to have them mention he's creating a Marxist state.
But I don't think they're going to do that either.
What the hell are they good for anyway?
Mugabe has too much invested in the rigged election to back off after he has "won". The other nations can't let him stay. Mugabe will be forced out. The only question is; Who will replace him? There will be blood in the streets before this is over.
The Indian population has suddenly realized that they are next. Their shops are now being targeted.
We're sending this thug-controlled country aid? Talk about a waste of money. For once, Germany her more sense than we do.
And afterwards another tyrant will take over. Africa is truly hopeless.
Don't worry, Bono will save them all.
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