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Zimbabwe: Liberian Leader Backs Targeted UN Sanctions
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SW Radio Africa (London)
10 July 2008
Posted to the web 10 July 2008
Lance Guma
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.
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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.
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.
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... [Read Full Text]
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... [Read Full Text]
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!!
If President Sirleaf is the Devil, that makes Taylor what? We are talking about the same Taylor right, the one that brought war to Liberia? You must be affected by the sanctions; please leave your personal issues aside, this is public matters and goes far beyond you....
As the first African female president, she is not a puppet of the west. Mugabe is a tyrant and dictator who hijack power. He is not the only educated Zimbabwean.Therefore, he must adhere to democratic principles by stepping down.
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