Feingold's Statement on Zimbabwe

July 15, 7:27 PMProgressive Politics ExaminerJay McDonough

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Senator Russ Feingold is chairing Zimbabwe hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations African Affairs Subcommittee today.  From Feingold's opening statement:

“I respect those who have been involved in genuine efforts to mediate a peaceful settlement in Zimbabwe.  But open-ended dialogue has largely been manipulated by Mugabe and his inner circle.  Any serious negotiations between Mugabe and the opposition party will require a more robust mediation effort, backed by united international support and leverage.  I believe the current mediation team must be expanded beyond South Africa to include representation from regional and international bodies, and I call on the administration to press strongly for this expansion.

“The unwillingness of a few key regional leaders to criticize the regime for its abuses or consider punitive measures against those responsible has been deeply disappointing.  This has led some to speak of a divide between the West and the rest: an unhelpful divide that Mugabe exploits through his rhetoric.  China and Russia’s veto last Friday of a robust UN Security Council resolution imposing an international arms embargo and multilateral sanctions exposed the poisonous nature of this divide.  I am deeply disappointed by their veto, especially considering China’s increasing role on the continent.  I also find it discouraging that this veto was one of the new Russian President’s first actions in Africa. Until we have comprehensive, coordinated action by both regional and international leaders, including a combination of incentives and punitive measures, I fear the situation will only continue to get worse.

“I welcome the efforts of the Bush administration thus far but think more has to be done to overcome this divide as we press for tighter sanctions on those individuals responsible for this crisis.  Now is the time to scale up, not give up on global action.  We must not allow Zimbabwe to fall out of the international spotlight as it has many times before. (Link)

The worst thing that could happen is that Zimbabwe slip from view and settle into continued repression and barbarity.  Props to Senator Feingold for keeping the issue alive.