Uganda worries cloud C’wealth summit

Published November 26, 2005

VALLETTA, Nov 25: Concerns about Uganda overshadowed the start to the Commonwealth summit on Friday as leaders of the 53 nations raised questions about democracy there.

The heads of government expressed concern about a Ugandan opposition leader who faces trial for treason ahead of an election where President Yoweri Museveni aims to extend his 20-year rule.

The diplomatic pressure and international media attention forced Mr Museveni to hold a news conference to reject accusations that the arrest of Kizza Besigye was politically motivated and said he would not stop him standing in March’s poll.

“The greatest contribution to the human rights issue in Africa has been the ascension to power of our political organisation,” said Mr Museveni, formerly feted by the West as an example of good governance.

“Nobody is going to stop Besigye standing for election but there’s also the question of the wrong actions he is alleged to be involved in,” he told reporters.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was one of the basic principles of the Commonwealth that members should respect democracy and ensure it functioned properly.

“What has been happening with the opposition leader has cause us a great deal of concern.

“I have no doubt that in the next couple of days I will be talking to the president about that,” said Blair, who sits next to Museveni during the closed-door conference.

EMBARRASSMENT: The issue is particularly sensitive as leaders are due to formally approve a decision to hold the Commonwealth’s next summit, in 2007, in Uganda — a choice of venue that could embarrass the group which is supposed to uphold good governance.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, who talked to Mr Museveni for an hour about the concerns of the world community, said member nations still supported Uganda hosting the biennial meeting, but that could change.

“It’s still two years away, and as many people say, 24 hours is a long time in politics,” he said.

In recent years two countries have been pushed out of the organization for failing to live up to its principles on governance. Pakistan was suspended in 1999 after Gen Pervez Musharraf took power in a coup. It was reinstated in May last year.

Zimbabwe quit the club in 2003 after being suspended.

TRADE TALKS: Leaders want to use the summit to give a push to next month’s faltering world trade talks aimed at reducing poverty.

Mr McKinnon said the body’s credibility depended on pushing for a good deal for the poor at December’s World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong and that a deal leading to greater prosperity in developing countries would boost democracy.

“If we can give the WTO the shot in the arm it requires, then our organisation will have shown again its global worth,” said Mr McKinnon.

The Commonwealth represents 1.8 billion people and a fifth of global trade, but has no formal decision-making powers. —Reuters

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