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Zimbabwe: Call for More Sanctions Inhuman

Published by the government of Zimbabwe


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The Herald (Harare)

OPINION
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008

Itayi Garande

THE opening sentence of the Preamble of the United Nations Charter says: "To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." Given the blizzard of attacks and charges on the Zimbabwe Government by the MDC, it would make sense to go to the UN Security Council to seek solutions. Maybe not, if we examine how the system works and who it really serves.

Saving future generations from the scourge of war, for 63 years, has only been the theory, the gargantuan wish, but in fact since then there have been 250 plus wars not put down.

The only wars put down were started by those who then put them down -- in Iraq, and Afghanistan, for instance.

Many wars have been undertaken in the name (or guise) of "international security".

As I bridle my rude instincts I ponder, "How could the protectors be the perpetrators?"

But then again, how could I let this ruffle my mind?

The UN Security Council bestows legality -- under Article VII of the Charter of the United Nations -- on an invasion of another state.

So it renders the Charter useless by violating the first sentence in the Charter of the UN -- "protection from the scourge of war".

This has happened in Iraq. The Security Council could not stop Nato in finding new killing fields in the Middle East. The Security Council didn't question the illegality after.

So on whom should we bestow power to prevent an act of war -- the power to prevent the scourge of war? The UN Security Council? Emphatic "No"! Abolish it! Strengthen the General Assembly! Isn't that international democracy --the will of the majority?

And the mighty maze! International law stipulates that the invasion of another state is deemed to be legal if the UN Security Council, under Chapter VII, deems that the necessary conditions required for a war to be "legal" have been met. Legal? Who tests the legality?

So the UN Security Council allows the invasion of another state? Implication? Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations contravenes the purpose of the Charter: to prevent the scourge of war.

Please fill me in. . . So in a sense, every war approved by the Security Council is illegal; or violates the original purpose of the UN. So disband the Security Council.

And how can the MDC-T call on this organisation to help in an internal situation -- where there is internal violence, not the "the scourge of war"?

The MDC-T psyche

In a relentless effort to include Zimbabwe on the Security Council -- akin to "squaring a circle" -- the MDC-T employs techniques and semantic contortions that are grossly irresponsible. They employ cacophonous ramblings of student politics. University of Zimbabwe catechisms should remain there. This is the real world.

Unstoppable -- the MDC-T's media do-and-pony show continues calling the violence in Zimbabwe "genocidal".

It is a clear casus belli if it were true, but it's not. How could it be true? Who's the target? MDC-T? There's no "deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".

So to MDC-T I say: When you rote and repeat your call for Security Council intervention, what seek ye? We know: Military Intervention or Sanctions. They are the only possible scenarios, or threats used by the UN.

Military intervention violates the Charter as protection from "the scourge of war" is not guaranteed.

Sanctions hurt the population and strangle the economy. The MDC-T have already used them in the past and they have made the "economy scream". Remember Chester Crocker?

And when you really think of it, MDC-T calls for external intervention in Zimbabwe are calls of sorts. They have always done that? Nothing is homegrown.

How does one look?

So tell me? How does one look when they are supported by someone who violates the law they create?

Relevant Links

Southern Africa
Europe and Africa
United States, Canada and Africa
Zimbabwe

America has "unsigned" the Rome Statute that founded the International Criminal Court. Yet the MDC wants President Mugabe tried under that law -- by America -- who unsigned the same law. How illogical!

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