Kikwete
Right now, we seem to have this dogged determination to avoid doing
anything that would render us guilty of making sense, and we keep stumbling
from one nonsensical episode to another with surprising abandon.
The favourite issue nowadays is the International Criminal Court, the ICC,
which has come under attack from various African rulers who accuse it of
targeting Africa and its, er, rulers. It is said that whereas there are
Western rulers who have committed atrocities and crimes against humanity, the
ICC only sees African offenders.
Inevitably, that kind of refrain will mention George W and his crony, Tony
Blair, over the Iraq war and other crimes that the Western powers have
committed against the peoples of the world.
These sentiments are well founded as they speak to the impunity that some
powers have enjoyed even when their crimes have been so egregious that their
nefarious effects are still with us to point an accusing finger and prove
their guilt.We may never, for instance, understand why the US is the loudest in the
chorus calling for Iran to stop its nuclear programme, when we all know —
except the Americans, that is — that their country is the only one to have
ever used a nuclear bomb on another country.
Even when Iran’s new leader seems to be offering an olive branch of sorts,
Israel, which has its own nuclear arsenal intact, is the loudest to talk
about the hypocrisy of Tehran, calling on America not to believe what it is
hearing.
That Binyamin Netanyahu can even utter the word “hypocrisy” without referring
to himself and his country is honestly staggering.
I know, and I accept, the truth of the hypocrisy inhering in the US talking
about Bashar al Assad’s use of chemical weapons when the records of its use
of napalm, Agent Orange and other chemical substances can raise neither doubt
nor argument.
All that I know, and I also know that the world is a rough neighbourhood and
the law of the jungle all too often punishes the innocent and rewards the
guilty.
But give me a break. I am not about to accept that if we have the chance to
prosecute and punish Charles Taylor, we should pass it up unless we can also
prosecute George W, Blair, Ronald Reagan, Bob McNamara etc, albeit
posthumously for some of them.
I trust that some of these villains will get their comeuppance one day, even
if it only means their memory being appropriately vilified, but I believe
those we can bring to book now we should bring to book now.
Consequently, I find it rather strange that my president should plead with
the ICC to heed Africa’s concerns over the trials of the two Kenyan leaders
indicted at the Hague, suggesting that if the tribunal does not do what
pleases African rulers the African continent will not support it.
Stated otherwise, without necessarily doing violence to the logic, African
rulers will support the ICC if the latter stops pursuing African rulers for
crimes they are supposed to have committed. In other words, if you stop doing
your job, we will give you our unflinching support.
It is the schizophrenic stances that we adopt so readily that really trump
me. You are either in or out; you either signed up to the Rome Statute or you
didn’t. You cannot have it both ways. (As a by the way, the same
schizophrenia is evident when it comes to other commitments we undertake,
such as the ones concerning regional integration, where we seem intent on
being half pregnant).
Targeting Africa? I’m sorry, but Africa has not been indicted at the Hague,
only suspected wrongdoers, who happen to be African. We may also want to
remember that a couple of Serbs and Cambodians have made their appearances
before the appropriate tribunals.
But also, let’s face it, Africa is where impunity is king, and the place most
in need of a remedy.
*Jenerali Ulimwengu is chairman of the board of the Raia Mwema
newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam.
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Source: Africa News Update
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