It's abhorrent to demonstrate in support of Gaddafi

Published by Daily Monitor on Monday 28, March 2011

 Some Pan-African Club members supported by a military General are set to meet at the Pan-African Freedom Square near the Clock Tower  tomorrow, Tuesday to demonstrate in support of Col. Muammar Gaddafi and to show their disenchantment with France, America and Britain over “uncalled for meddling” in African affairs.

According to the organisers of the planned “pan-African” demonstration, the motivation for Western powers to attack Gaddafi is exploiting the Libyan oil wealth. I have heard some of the organisers of planned demonstration raise flimsy issues such as the Gaddafi Mosque in Old Kampala and the renovation of the royal palace in Tooro. But are these things worth the blood of even a single person? Of course, people have the right to demonstrate but they cannot invoke the non-intervention principle where Gaddafi is violating peremptory norms.

As a human rights defender, I’m enraged by the high-handedness that Gaddafi has used to exterminate the Libyan people. And I strongly believe that he should have no legroom for impunity. In fact, I’m convinced that the intervention by the Western powers came too late. Have my fellow pan-Africanists forgotten that the people killed by Gaddafi are also Africans? What did African governments do to stop the gruesome murder of civilians by the autocratic leader? And by the way, where does Gaddafi derive the legitimacy to rule the Libyans for all those years [42 years ] unchallenged when he has never organised and held any elections to allow Libyans the opportunity? Of course, I am mindful of the fact that elections per se are no guarantee for democracy.

I have been accused of being pro-western democracy by some of the Pan-African Club members because I said I wouldn’t participate in a demonstration whose aim is to prop up tyranny and impunity. On the contrary, I have consistently advocated the indivisibility of human rights and stressed the need to emphasise socio-economic rights, which the West and our governments have often relegated.

Most importantly, I know that America has never ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which is a UN core covenant. Thus, America’s human rights credentials are also wanting. But that doesn’t mean we should oppose America in whatever it does. As a pan-Africanist, I cherish socio-democratic ideals which aim at social justice, social welfare and equitable access to opportunities. These can be realised through provision for socio-economic rights which include: the right to education, the right to health, employment opportunities, and social security, among others.

Going by President Museveni’s missive in the papers last week, Gaddafi has scored highly on provision for these rights. Nonetheless, we must emphasise the indivisibility of human rights. That Gaddafi has performed well on the provision of socio-economic rights doesn’t warrant him to violate civil and political rights with impunity. Neither does it make the Libyan State House his permanent residence. Accordingly, I would find it impossible to demonstrate in favour of a person who believes that revolutionaries shouldn’t subject themselves to expiry as though they are drugs. Indeed, I find it abhorrent to show solidarity with a person who has disdain for constitutionalism and rule of law.

The foremost raison d’être for the pan-African Movement was to liberate Africa from the yoke of colonialism but surely, post-independence African leaders have become traitors to the extent that Africans need liberation from them. While the argument that African leaders should solve African problems sounds academic, in reality, African leaders are incapable of solving the Libya problem. What have they done in Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, and Kenya? How many African leaders have the moral authority to reign in their counterparts who have overstayed in power? President Museveni was not a fool when he said the problem of Africa are leaders who overstay.

Mr Nuwagaba is a human rights defender
vnuwagaba@gmail.com