SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
10 July 2008
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Thursday broke ranks with fellow African leaders by backing targeted sanctions against members of Mugabe's regime.
Speaking in South Africa Johnson-Sirleaf told reporters that the move would send a strong message of disapproval at what is happening in Zimbabwe. While most African leaders campaigned against targeted sanctions, claiming dialogue is taking place between the MDC and Zanu PF, the Liberian leader saw the need for maintaining the pressure. She also called for SADC to appoint a second mediator in the crisis, adding this had to be someone, 'recognized' and a 'high-profile personality.' Johnson-Sirleaf was in South Africa for the 6th Nelson Mandela annual lecture at Walter Sisulu square in Kliptown, Soweto.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote either Thursday or Friday on a US draft resolution calling for an arms embargo, travel restrictions and an asset freeze on members of Mugabe's inner-circle responsible for the violence. The US believes it already has the necessary 9 votes out of the 15 member UN Security Council, provided none of the 5 permanent members exercise their veto power. This leaves Russia and China as the only countries that could realistically scuttle the resolution. Ongoing discussions at the UN seem to indicate substantial support for the resolution, despite objections from the Russians about what they termed 'excessive' proposals in parts of the draft.
Diplomats at the UN told Newsreel that Russia does not want to set a precedent where the world body takes on the role of certifying elections around the world. Given previous 'dodgy' elections there it might be a case of 'look, who's talking,' the diplomat said of Russia. Admore Tshuma, an expert in Transitional Justice, believes the resolution will go through. He does not think China will want to risk bringing attention to itself, given the upcoming Olympics. Tshuma also said Russia is playing a power-game with the Americans over their plans to set up a US radar base in the Czech Republic, and Zimbabwe might just be a pawn in negotiations.
Meanwhile the G8 summit in Japan this week resolved not to recognize Mugabe's government following the sham one-man presidential run-off on June 27. The group also called for a UN special envoy to be dispatched to Zimbabwe to compile reports on the humanitarian, human rights and security situation, while also assisting in the mediation effort. This was seen as a direct criticism of Mbeki's mediation efforts, because of his perceived bias towards Mugabe.
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What Ellen fail to realize is thatby backing targeted sanctions against members of Mugabe's regime by western power it is not Mugabe that the sanction is harming but the ordinay Zimbabwean people that are suffering. Zimbabwe alrady has the worst inflation in the world but Mugabe regime is still there but the masses are dying day and night. Dialogue is the solution to the political conflict in Zimbawean.
How will stopping mugabe and regime traveling outside the country cause a problem to the good people of Zimbabwe? How will freezing personal accounts of mugabe and regime affect the good people of Zimbabwe?
I cant for the life of me see how it will hurt the good starving Zimbabwe people.
O Great and learned SELT...please explain to us lesser mortals how targetted santions preventing zanu thugs from travelling abroad is going to harm zimbabwe??? We are too stupid to make the connection.
I'm baffled by the cynicism towards this lady, Mrs. President. Let's not just criticise this lady, let's lay out what we think should be done with the situation in Zimbabwe. First of all, let's point out whether Zimbabwe is in crisis or not. Secondly, who is responsible for the crisis? Thirdly, how can we best resolve this crisis? Can the resolution method be universally applied?
President Sirleaf certainly got an opinion on how to resolve the issue and I should respect that. I also respect your opinion on her opinion but I vehemently disagree with the scorn and disrespect piled on her. Should we reward Mugabe or punish him for what he is doing in Zimbabwe? If punish, then are sanctions the best tool? If not sanctions, then what else can we do to restore normalcy in Zimbabwe? There shouldn't be a doubt that there is a problem in Zimbabwe and there are chief perpetrators there.
If we don't want to confront the orchestrators of the crisis in Zimbabwe, then we're cool with what's going on there and the status quo should remain.
Let's learn to accept responsibility for our sins and not just look the other way for scapegoats. Let's learn to point the finger back at ourselves before pointing it the other way. Let's not let our past stop us from being objective. There is no doubt that colonialism was a heinous crime and no excuse for it but guys, let's move away from this and build our nations. The chances are non of those we are venting our angers at are immediately culpable of colonial sins. Let's bury the hatchett and work together for the betterment of ourselves.
I detest COLONIALISM, I detest IMPERIALISM. I detest what Mugabe is doing in defense of a fight against colonialism and imperialism. Don't kill your own people, you will need them to defend you. Muroyi royera kure, vehama vazokununura!
Thank you for that Peter, I have been saying the same thing on other threads for quite a while. Staying obsessed with the past only prevents someone from seeing the way forward.
I fail to understand your justification for calling her dump. Do you understand what sanction means? Did she sit with you to discuss this? Sanction could mean anything from freezing bank account to travel restrictions.
Her dirty work, thankfully, to help bring some sanity back into our lives. Africans justify these barbaric activities by blaming imperialist and their "puppets". Get over it and stop putting the blame in the wrong places.
You have a senile, old man who will do anything to stay in power. He is killing his own people. If he is so mad with the imperialist, go kill the imperialist.
You are worried about sanctions hurting his people. Well, maybe you are right. The Machetes will hurt them less than sanction
Ellen is very vindictive for those who don't know the type of person she is. She is calling on senctions against members of Mugabe's regime inorder to justify the unnecessary sections on the Taylor regime. Ellen is a DEVIL!!
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IS THE SOW CALL IRON LADY OF LIBERIA, ANOTHER DUMP PUPPET OF THE WESTERN WORLD? sanctions WILL ONLY MAKE THE SATUATION BAD. THE WEST IS USING HER TO CARRY ON THEIR DIRTY WORKS. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR LIBERIA SO MUCH. BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU JUMP INTO QUICK DECISION.