Click here to read the full story on the Telegraph
How many guest speakers at the Conservative Party conference have been accused of helping an indicted war criminal to lay waste to a swathe of Africa? Step forward President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, a plausible and ruthless autocrat, who was favoured with a special invitation to address the party faithful in 2007. Even at the time, this was an odd decision. Mr Kagame’s subsequent behaviour casts doubt over whether he is fit to have any kind of relationship with Britain.
Telegraph View: Andrew Mitchell, the Development Secretary, must cancel aid to Rwanda's president Paul Kagame immediately.
How many guest speakers at the Conservative Party conference have been accused of helping an indicted war criminal to lay waste to a swathe of Africa? Step forward President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, a plausible and ruthless autocrat, who was favoured with a special invitation to address the party faithful in 2007. Even at the time, this was an odd decision. Mr Kagame’s subsequent behaviour casts doubt over whether he is fit to have any kind of relationship with Britain.
According to United Nations investigators, Rwanda
has supplied weapons and volunteers to rebels in the Democratic Republic of
Congo who have inflicted yet more bloodshed on that benighted
country and driven 470,000 people from their homes. The man behind the
uprising is Bosco Ntaganda, a renegade general popularly known as the
“terminator”, who appears supremely unconcerned about his indictment by the
International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. If the UN is right and
Rwanda has been helping this warlord, then Mr Kagame’s behaviour is
unconscionable. America clearly believes the UN: Washington has ended
military aid for Rwanda.
And Britain? We are Rwanda’s largest bilateral aid donor, with a programme
worth £75 million this year. Unusually, Britain gives Mr Kagame “general
budgetary support”, meaning that £37 million goes straight into his coffers.
Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, has “delayed” a payment of £16 million. Given the gravity of the charges, this inadequate response suggests that Britain is still inhibited by loyalty to the despot and embarrassment over having favoured him for so long. The idea that any leader who promotes murder and plunder should receive funding is abhorrent. Mr Mitchell should cancel aid to Rwanda's government immediately...
Click here to read the full story on the Telegraph
Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, has “delayed” a payment of £16 million. Given the gravity of the charges, this inadequate response suggests that Britain is still inhibited by loyalty to the despot and embarrassment over having favoured him for so long. The idea that any leader who promotes murder and plunder should receive funding is abhorrent. Mr Mitchell should cancel aid to Rwanda's government immediately...
Click here to read the full story on the Telegraph
No comments:
Post a Comment