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| Europe |
| Mugabe orders room service while in Paris |
| 2003-02-20 |
| Robert Mugabe arrived in Paris yesterday for a two-day Franco-African summit, sparking strong protests across the city and reviving a bitter diplomatic row about France's right to invite him. The Zimbabwean president, who stands accused of systematic brutality against his opponents and is theoretically banned from visiting the European Union, said nothing as he ducked into the five-star Plaza Athenée hotel where he is staying. "Marvelous room service. The escargot are magnificent!" Outside, protesters waved banners saying "Arrest Mugabe for torture" and "Mugabe, murderer". Others, led by the gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, staged a brief protest in front of the French justice ministry, and yet more pelted the Zimbabwean embassy with red paint. "The wines, of course, are superb, far better than anything on my continent." Police moved quickly to break up the demonstrations by force, in some cases dragging protesters away by their ankles, and the French government defended its invitation to Mr Mugabe, which had infuriated Britain and other EU countries. "The French police are almost as efficient as my Green Brigades. Now then, it's time for the crepes." Paris insisted it was permissible under EU sanctions against Mr Mugabe's regime, and said the summit would be a platform to engage the Zimbabwean leader on human rights concerns and his country's crisis. "When you have things to say, you should say them to each other face to face," said the overseas cooperation minister, Pierre-André Wiltzer, adding that France did not believe in "a policy of silence, boycott and embargo". "The speech was in French. of course I didn't understand a word he said except for the 'let's eat'." The EU imposed travel restrictions a year ago to punish the Mugabe regime for human rights violations and policies that have sent the country lurching towards economic and political meltdown. The sanctions, which included blocking development aid and freezing Zimbabwe's assets in Europe, were renewed last week, reportedly under a secret deal in which Paris promised to vote in their favour, provided London raised no objections to Mr Mugabe's summit visit. The French president, Jacques Chirac, on a diplomatic roll, plainly hopes the conference will cement his reputation as a key player across Africa and not just in France's former, mainly west African, colonies. "Mr. Chirac is an inspiration to me!" He has made much of a "new partnership" between Europe and Africa, but critics say France should stop playing host to leaders who in some cases are under investigation by European and international courts for crimes including torture and genocide. "The Vichyssoise was wonderful. Tell me again how it got its name?" The Federation of Human Rights Leagues said the summit could achieve little while Paris turned a blind eye to widespread human rights and democratic abuses in countries such as Zimbabwe, Mauritania, Tunisia, Congo and the Central African Republic. "I suppose the lunches and dinners will give these leaders an opportunity to drink to the health of populations that are being massacred," said the group's president, Patrick Baudoin. Another activist, Dobian Assingar, said France "must stop laying out the red carpet for criminals". "No, my room is on the top floor. I didn't hear a thing. Somebody say something?" Mr Mugabe apparently felt no need to emerge from his hotel yesterday, and is not due to join the 51 other African leaders until the opening ceremony this morning. He will also attend tonight's state banquet for all visiting dignitaries. "Ah, another meal! A man like me has to keep up appearances, you know." The renovated and much-chandeliered Plaza Athenée is one of Paris's top hotels. Rooms cost from £350 a night, and more luxurious suites up to £1,750; the Zimbabwean delegation has booked 23 rooms on the third floor. "A trifle. Truffle?" |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 There have been some demonstrations about 23 human rights serial-offenders among the 52 countries invited, nothing massive, but real nonetheless. I'd like to mention that this summit is an attempt at pulling back theses african countries in France's orbite, and it has ties to the powerplay against the US ' policy, if only about Nigeria, Gabon, Congo,... 's oil. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-02-20 11:25:05 |
| #2 I saw the demo on the news and there were all of six protesters present.Since it's not the Americans or the Jews doing the killing,who cares? |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-02-20 09:07:04 |
| #1 "Outside, protesters waved banners..." How many, I wonder? Were the cheesey monkeys filling the streets for miles, marching past waving banners, shouting "Stop the killing, Freedom for Zimbabwe!" No. One Brit and a gay group, the Pink Panthers, are just about all those who find this objectionable. " |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-20 09:00:59 |