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Zimbabwe: What Will UN Attribute Blame For This Developing Crisis? Another African Drought.
Toogood Reports ^ | August 23, 2002 | Vin Suprynowicz

Posted on 08/23/2002 8:13:37 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen

It's been almost a year since the United States pulled out of the United Nations conference against "racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" in Durban, South Africa.

Dominated by such renowned champions of human rights as Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, and Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflicka, the conference demonstrated — for those who hadn't already caught on — that "The U.N. has, in effect, become a union shop for the Third World, most Islamic countries and the few remaining communist regimes," columnist Barbara Amiel noted at the time in London's Daily Telegraph.

In fact, the real two-part agenda of the conference was to condemn Israel for continuing to exist (which constitutes "racism" against the Arabs who have tried to conquer the tiny nation three times — or is it four, now — since 1948) and to demand reparations payable by Europe and America to the modern nations of Africa for the slave trade (which, of course, depended on the complicity of African sellers in the first place, and was ended by 19th century abolitionist movements based not in Africa, but in Europe and the United States.)

"It is ludicrous for countries that still practise xenophobic intolerance, from Zimbabwe to Syria, to condemn the West, which not only stopped such practices but provided the sole basis for the Third World's idea that these things are wrong," Ms. Amiel noted. "If the First World hadn't discovered that xenophobia was bad, would the Third World know it?"

But the crowning absurdity of the South African conference on "racism" had to be the stage it provided for Robert Mugabe, permanent thug-in-chief of the nation of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) to address the topic "landlessness as a form of racism."

Thoroughly in keeping with the underlying theme that only rich folks from the First World can be "racists" (there were no words of condemnation for African nations like Sudan — the only places in the world where chattel slavery is known to persist) what Mr. Mugabe clearly meant was that it was "racist" for farms in his country to continue under the ownership of white families whose ancestors settled and developed them more than a century ago, while the remedy for such "racism" was for Mr. Mugabe's thugs to seize them from the owners and "redistribute" them to his political cronies — who all happen to be black.

Well, Mr. Mugabe has now had a chance to put his widely applauded plan of racial justice into effect. How's it working out?

After more than two years of what is politely dubbed "political unrest," during which 186 Mugabe opponents (including 11 white farmers) were killed, the government finally targeted 95 percent of white-owned land for "redistribution," ordering 2,900 white farmers off their land in a first wave of mass evictions on Aug. 8.

About 60 percent refused to comply, and nearly 200 have been arrested in the past week, facing fines and up to two years in jail for contesting the legality of their eviction orders. Despite government promises, most farmers received no compensation.

Tuesday, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa urged black settlers allocated land on contested farms to move onto them, despite the court challenges.

That statement and bail terms that forbid many arrested farmers from living on their land while awaiting trial indicate the fix is in: the bail conditions are "a prejudgment of the validity" of the eviction orders, warns David Hasluck, director of the Commercial Farmers Union, who represents the white farmers.

Many now plan to leave the country.

"We tried to coexist and cooperate but it didn't work," Roy Fuller, 60, told Angus Shaw of The Associated Press, recalling threats and intimidation from ruling party militants who have already occupied parts of his land in the Selous district for the past two years.

Fuller is abandoning his 2,900 acre farm — he will move to neighboring South Africa to work on a vineyard. Sixty thousand dollars worth of tobacco in his fields will probably rot. His 130 head of beef and dairy cattle were moved to a neighbor's land, where "They will have to be sold or slaughtered; there isn't enough grazing for them." The farm's 70 black employees and their families will eventually have to leave, whereupon they face "a gloomy fate," reports The AP. "Local officials asked (Fuller) to pay them severance packages."

The land seizures have disrupted farm operations, causing widespread food shortages that relief groups say threaten half of Zimbabwe's 12.5 million people. Despite the shortage, white farmers are being forced to abandon crops — including irrigated wheat — that need constant attention, says Hasluck of the Farmers Union.

"By the time they go to court throughout September, the crops will be dead, exacerbating an already critical food situation."

Which will bring more calls for African aid from the First World, of course.

And to what will the United Nations attribute blame for this developing crisis? They've already let the cat out of the bag, actually:

"Drought."



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 08/23/2002 8:13:37 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
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To: Stand Watch Listen
I'd like an end to our aid of Africa. Africa wants self-rule, and Americans need more tax cuts.
2 posted on 08/23/2002 8:48:54 AM PDT by Razz Barry
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To: Stand Watch Listen
Despite government promises, most farmers received no compensation.

Liars and thugs! Slavery!!!!

3 posted on 08/23/2002 8:52:44 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Stand Watch Listen
nearly 200 have been arrested in the past week

Reminds me of Germany in the 1930's.....

4 posted on 08/23/2002 8:59:24 AM PDT by TeleStraightShooter
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To: Stand Watch Listen
What Will UN Attribute Blame For This Developing Crisis? Another African Drought.

They'll either vote to condemn Israel for it, or commission a blue ribbon panel of experts to write a report blaming the SUV's the USA for the problems in Africa.

5 posted on 08/23/2002 9:01:40 AM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: Stand Watch Listen
I wonder -WHY!

Why the leftist press is not demanding American Corporations to dis-invest in any black racist/criminal/marxist economy.?

Why our lefist University faculties are not leading our stupid students in protests against these racist/marxist crimes against WHITE humanity?

Why our leftists have not set up SANCTUARY ZONES within America cities for the White Farmers as they did for black, brown or yellow victims of white capitalism.

Can it be these stupid bastards haven't realized that most of the future suffering in these African nations will be blacks!

Ah yes, these times are revealing the plot and identifing all our enemies - clearly.
Semper Fi

6 posted on 08/23/2002 10:10:45 AM PDT by river rat
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To: river rat
I can answer that one. The Left's whole worldview is a product of their need to believe that they are morally superior to the rest of us.

But how does moral superiority manifest itself, normally? In respect for the rights of others and insistence on objective, unbiased justice. Clearly, that's too easy, They need something that will create a cleavage to separate them from the hoi polloi.

So they emphasize their sensitivity to the plight of the downtrodden.

That sounds easy, too, doesn't it? And it is -- if we're talking about the truly needy, genuine victim of chance or oppression. So they have to scout for mascots: people and groups to whom they can extend their sympathies and support, but who would repel those of us with normal moral sensibilities:

  1. Able-bodied welfare chiselers.
  2. Illegal immigrants who disdain to learn English and who demand the perquisites of citizenship despite being here illegally.
  3. AIDS carriers.
  4. The "homeless."
  5. Convicted murderers on Death Row.
  6. Socialist tyrants who claim the perennial famines in their country are caused by "drought" and attribute the grinding poverty of their victims to "American interference in our internal affairs."

What makes Mugabe irresistible to the Left is that no one else would dream of embracing him. He's a murderous thug who won't give up his total power over Zimbabwe until he's put into his grave. More than that, he talks the racist-socialist game: the false equation of capitalism with cruelty; the ranting about "colonialism" and "slavery;" the pious subscription to "equality of income;" the defiance of the "white devils" and their "sly attempts to re-subjugate us."

By making Mugabe into a pet and defending him against criticism from sane people, the Left can feel as if it has stepped up in defense of an underdog. It can congratulate itself yet again on its superior compassion. And if it bolsters him against removal or overthrow, it can perpetuate the miseries of Zimbabwe for several years more.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

7 posted on 08/23/2002 11:04:20 AM PDT by fporretto
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To: monkeyshine
.....commission a blue ribbon panel of experts to write a report blaming the SUV's the USA for the problems in Africa.

Hmmmmm....quite possible, as the prevailing winds are 'said' to be the cause of acid rain which is destroying their crops. The same blame is being utilized for Europe's problems also. They are also blaming the poison 'smog' over China on our nation.


8 posted on 08/23/2002 11:06:04 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
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To: fporretto
I do understand, and I agree in large measure with your comments...

But - I do NOT believe it is time to focus on "Peace", or to grant "understanding and tolerance" to all people and cultures....

As horrible as war can be, as costly as war can be, as immoral as war can be..... This is the time for war.

There is a lot of killing that needs to be done, before some places and people are ready to live in PEACE.

One should NOT negotiate with an angry, murderous, destitute, "religiously" motivated radical - until their total and complete defeat -- has them suing for UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

The ONLY offer we should extend to those that hate or attack us - is that they may elect to either Live or Rest in Peace.
Semper Fi

9 posted on 08/23/2002 12:27:03 PM PDT by river rat
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To: river rat

10 posted on 08/25/2002 2:22:35 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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