Yet another demonstration of double standards! WHITE farmers! Yes, they
matter. Got nothing to do with democracy or human rights.

Regards,

Kabir.


SOUTHERN REGION NEWS

African diplomats fail to stop US sanctions Bill on Zimbabwe

HARARE, December 06 -- African diplomats accredited to the US
unsuccessfully petitioned the House of Representatives Tuesday, against
passing a proposed law that imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe for alleged
violation of human rights and suppression of the opposition.

Under the proposed Zimbabwe Democracy Bill, the US will impose a range of
mainly political sanctions against Zimbabwe, including a travel ban on
President Robert Mugabe to the US, ifhis country does not improve its human
rights record and ensure a free and fair presidential election next year.

African diplomats representing the African Union (AU), said they were
alarmed the US was ignoring diplomatic moves on the continent, led by
Nigeria, to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, sparked by Harare's
controversial land reforms.

Zimbabwe denies US charges, saying the proposed sanctions are part of a
plot by the big powers to thwart the land reforms, under which Harare is
taking over idle farms from white farmers to resettle landless peasants.

"We wish to add that Africa's opposition to any form of sanctions against
Zimbabwe was repeated at the OAU (AU) 37th Ordinary Summit in Lusaka,
Zambia in July 2001, and at the SADC Summit of Heads of State and
Government in Blantyre, Malawi in August 2001," the African diplomats said
in Tuesday's petition.

They argued that US sanctions on Zimbabwe would complicate an agreement
struck in September between the Southern African country and its former
colonial power Britain, under which London pledged to mobilise
international financial support for the land reforms in exchange for an end
to seizure of white-owned farms.

Despite the plea, the US House of Representatives went ahead to pass the
Bill. - Pana

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