News / International
Hague warns Mugabe and other dictators
23 Mar 2011 at 04:18hrs | Views
In a speech to business leaders in London, the Brtish Foreign Secretary said that the examples being set in north Africa and the Middle East will ultimately transform the relationship between governments and their populations.
"We are only in the early stages of what is happening in North Africa and the Middle East. It is already set to overtake the 2008 financial crisis and 9/11 as the most important development of the early 21st century," he said.
Repressive African regimes will face challenges from their populations and from the international community, the Foreign Secretary said: "Demands for freedom will spread, and that undemocratic governments elsewhere should take heed."
He added: "Governments that use violence to stop democratic development will not earn themselves respite forever. They will pay an increasingly high price for actions which they can no longer hide from the world with ease, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history."
"At a time of such hope and optimism in the Middle East, we cannot let the Libyan government violate every principle of international law and human rights with impunity," Mr Hague said, suggesting that other African leaders could also face international legal tribunals.
Mr Hague named African leaders including Mr Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980.
The Zimbabwean security forces "continue to act with impunity, ramping up intimidation in order to instil fear in its opponents and to prevent the people of Zimbabwe from expressing their democratic voice," Mr Hague said.
He also named Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire, who has refused to concede that he lost last year's presidential election, and is "sanctioning attacks on defenceless civilians in a desperate attempt to cling illegitimately to power".
Despite repression in some countries, Mr Hague said that Africa now stands at a "turning point" that could lead to economic growth and political reform benefiting millions of people.
"We are only in the early stages of what is happening in North Africa and the Middle East. It is already set to overtake the 2008 financial crisis and 9/11 as the most important development of the early 21st century," he said.
Repressive African regimes will face challenges from their populations and from the international community, the Foreign Secretary said: "Demands for freedom will spread, and that undemocratic governments elsewhere should take heed."
He added: "Governments that use violence to stop democratic development will not earn themselves respite forever. They will pay an increasingly high price for actions which they can no longer hide from the world with ease, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history."
"At a time of such hope and optimism in the Middle East, we cannot let the Libyan government violate every principle of international law and human rights with impunity," Mr Hague said, suggesting that other African leaders could also face international legal tribunals.
Mr Hague named African leaders including Mr Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980.
The Zimbabwean security forces "continue to act with impunity, ramping up intimidation in order to instil fear in its opponents and to prevent the people of Zimbabwe from expressing their democratic voice," Mr Hague said.
He also named Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire, who has refused to concede that he lost last year's presidential election, and is "sanctioning attacks on defenceless civilians in a desperate attempt to cling illegitimately to power".
Despite repression in some countries, Mr Hague said that Africa now stands at a "turning point" that could lead to economic growth and political reform benefiting millions of people.
Source - Byo24News
