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Kiwis Tell China: Don't Send Aid Direct to Mugabe

Posted on: Friday, 22 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

NEW ZEALAND diplomats in Beijing hope to persuade China to channel aid to Zimbabwe through international agencies rather than giving it directly to President Robert Mugabe.

The New Zealand embassy has been instructed to raise concerns about human rights abuses in Zimbabwe with Chinese officials ahead of a state visit by Mr Mugabe this weekend.

China is one of Zimbabwe's main benefactors, and has supplied the regime with military equipment, including tanks, vehicles and radio jammers, and interest-free loans.

It has also shown support for policies -- including the controversial land reform programme in which thousands of farmers have been forced off their properties -- and refurbished his presidential palace.

Mr Mugabe is due in China tomorrow for a visit that democracy campaigners say will include a plea for cash to ease Zimbabwe's chronic fuel shortages. They fear any supplies will be used to further repress people who voted against him at the April elections.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the Beijing embassy would discuss New Zealand concerns with Chinese authorities, focusing on international efforts to pressure Zimbabwe.

"We will be saying to them that we're aware that China's got an extensive programme of assistance to Zimbabwe and, along with many other members of the international community, we're extremely concerned about what Mugabe's regime is up to.

"We will be saying . . . that direct support for the Mugabe government could be used by his regime to continue the repression against the people who most need help.

"We think it's important that international assistance for Zimbabwe is directed through multilateral programmes or other means that ensure that the people of Zimbabwe will benefit, but Mugabe can't divert the money away for his own ends. We'll be making our view on Zimbabwe clear to the Chinese and we'll be making clear to them the fact that we think the best way of reigning-in Mugabe will be through international pressure.

"There's not much we can do on our own, but what we can do is try to encourage multilateral bodies and bigger countries to share our concern on the matter to bring some pressure to bear."

New Zealand is also lobbying the United Nations Security Council - - of which China is a permanent member -- the G8 group of nations and the International Monetary Fund to act against Mr Mugabe.

Mr Goff's spokesman acknowledged New Zealand also had concerns about human rights abuses in China, but Zimbabwe was a more pressing issue.

"We do raise human rights issues with China, and we have done for a long time.

"But while we're not happy about the overall standard of human rights in some parts of China, they are making efforts to improve.

"Zimbabwe's going the other way, and that's the critical thing."

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Source: Dominion Post

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