Zimbabwe
New Zealand Cricket team should in my view immediately call of it's planned tour of Zimbabwe.
Foreign Minister Phil Goff today did the right thing by stating that the Zimbabwe cricket team would not be welcome to tour New Zealand over the summer. While the government can do this by simply refusing visa's to the visitng team, there is of course no way that the government can stop our team from visiting Zimbabwe.
That decision needs to be made by New Zealand Cricket. While it is a difficult matter owing to the fine that the International Cricket Council (ICC) may impose for a refusal to tour, there comes a time when you just have to do the right thing. Robert Mugabe's regime has descended to new lows with it's recent clearance of urban areas housing people likely to support the opposition, and it is up to those in prominent positions to protest.
Mugabe is the patron of Zimbabwe cricket, and a refusal to tour on ethical grounds would be a very strong international signal that his behaviour is unacceptable. New Zealand has led the way in condemning Mugabe's government within the Commonwealth, and it would be wrong for one of our leading national sports teams to now turn a blind eye to his abuses.
From a cricket lover this is hard, but some things are far more important than sport.
11 comments:
Another faintly hagiographic link to a Labour Minister. Make your own statements Mikey, those guys are yesterday's men; soon to be forgotten. Your message is spoiled by an inadequate understanding of when to use it's or its. You got 0/2 Michael.
I blogged on this last night and equivocated. Either they don't go or they go and leave the field and sit on the boundary if Mugabe and or his goons turn up, until they leave the ground. At least that will create international interest. Mugabe only understands a full frontal direct assault. As a mass murderer he has the hide of a rhino.
I do wonder if the Left is prepared to move Mugabe from the 'freedom fighter' category to 'terrorist'. What does he have to do.
What's the Right doing about Mugabe?
More than the Left.
Or do you ask what is Too Right doing - me I'm ignoring the prick. I have always thought he was a thug. Just very very sad for all those displaced Zimbabwean's it took so long for his long time adulators to catch up.
The same sort of stuff is going on in Darfur. That useless agency the UN is stuffing around there. The UN (and its traveling companion the EU) is too busy agitating about the US (who is getting on a "providing the environment where deomcratic can happen") than getting on sorting out shameful dictators and other assorted thugs.
What did the EU do when Mugabe turned up at the Pope's funeral - despite a Europe wide travel ban. Sat him next to the Prince of Wales. That's what. Yep, the world is a safer place with these sorts of institutions looking after our collective security.
I doubt very much that the EU organised the seating plan at the Pope's funeral TR. Get with the programme, not everything is a conspiracy.
Too Right, this is an open blog so feel free to carry on with the personal jobes. Other readers may however be more interested in hearing what you actually think about the issues at hand.
Do you for instance support the government stance to refuse visas to the visiting team, and what do you think of Nationals refusal to give a smiliar commitment, given your strongly held view that the right is 'tougher' on these sorts of international issues?
Michael - If you go look at my blog you'll see my views on many things - including the cricket Tour of Zimbabwe.
As regards span(ner) in the works - I am with the program - you're the one dancing on your own. My point on Mugabe and travel is this - either the EU ban Mugabe from traveling to their teritory or they don't...to have a ban that he flagrantly flouts makes the EU look like fools. No conspiracy there - just rank incompetence and a lack of intestinal fortitude. (Non)action just encourages him.
Today's relevation that many African countries have been systematically disembowelled by their leadership since independence should be instructive. Nigeria's rulers have nicked $222Billion - eyewatering stuff - no wonder they need aid....
Does this mean the EU has shown all the hallmark incompetence of a capitalist club...
Well done Too Right, that's 2 plugs for your blog you've managed to fit into your comments recently!
Spooks, while you are of course right in saying that the Zimbabwe cricketers are not personally responsible for Mugabe's crimes, I still can't agree with your conclusion that we should simply stand back and ignore the apalling situation in Zimbabwe.
The government is doing it's bit by trying to isolate Mugabe dimplomatically and attempting to deal with the obstinant ICC, but it is now time for NZ Cricket actually take a stand as a number of international players have, by refusing to tour Zimbabwe.
Gee that really hurt, spooks....
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