Commonwealth and the Drama in Uganda

President Yoweri Musevini (right), First Lady Janet Museveni (center), and Queen Elizabeth (left)


Drama ensued during the Commonwealth Summit on Friday as police used batons to beat protestors trying to demonstrate against human rights abuses in Uganda. Protestors complained that police using excessive force against citizens was commonplace. Police said they were acting within the law and the protesters were aware they were not allowed to march out of a suburb where the demonstration was authorized.
Commonwealth’s participants ( Presidents and Prime Ministers of Britain and its former colonies) planned to discuss human rights, democracy, rule of law, climate change, education and trade.
The protesters said the Commonwealth, which began a three-day summit on Friday, had ignored human rights abuses by the government of President Yoweri Museveni. Demonstrators also protested against Queen Elizabeth’s presence at the summit, one waved a banner that said “Queen, you are the head of our problems.”

President Yoweri Museveni has been President of Uganda since 1986 after leading a successful 5 year liberation struggle. He and 26 other young men organized the National Resistance Movement and National Resistance Army (NRM/NRA) to oppose the tyranny of previous regimes. Museveni was one of the leaders involved in the fall of Idi Amin’s regime.

His presidency has been marred, however, by involvement in civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other Great Lakes region conflicts. Rebellion in the north of Uganda continues to be one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies. Recent developments, including unlimited Presidential terms before the 2006 elections and the harassment of democratic opposition, have attracted concern from the domestic and international community.

France's Rama Yade Stands up for Burmese People @ EU-ASEAN Summit

Mrs. Rama Yade
(Photo : F. de la Mure /MAEE)

Rama Yade visiting monks at the Burmese Buddhist Temple of Singapore.


French Foreign Minister Rama Yade shares responsibility in Foreign Affairs and Human Rights. On November, 22, Mrs. Yade represented France at the EU-ASEAN summit in Singapore, commemorating the 30th anniversary of relations between the two organizations.
Mrs. Yade made it very clear what France's position was at the EU-ASEAN summit during her speech. She pointed out that ASEAN has achieved many successes, such as adopting the Charter, which reflects many principles of human rights. Yade continues "But we are now at a moment of ASEAN's history, where we have to look towards the future, to the challenges presented to ASEAN towards Myanmar,in particular. Because in the midst of this fruitful process of regional construction, it is regrettable to see that some countries are lagging behind. It is high time that a real process of national and reform takes place in Burma, through dialogue between the Burmese leaders and an opposition enjoying the freedom of speech and movement...
France rallied in favour of the reinforcement of European sanctions. The Union saw to it that these measures send a firm message to the Burmese leaders without affecting the Burmese people. It has moreover indicated its readiness towards reviewing or even lifting sanctions if real progress is made. Other paths could be considered, for example, the creation of a fiduciary fund to help development projects."
After her speech, Mrs. Yade spoke with Mr Ibrahim Gambari, UN Special Envoy for Burma. Yade also visited the the Burmese Buddhist Temple of Singapore, where she and other foriegn ministers met and spoke with temple monks.

To read Yade's complete speech on Burma
click here