[R-G] Peter Hain Says Cut Power to Zimbabwe

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

Now, cutting off electricity actually has the chance of achieving the
stated goal -- ending Mugabe's rule -- of its advocates, unlike the
kind of sanctions being implemented or contemplated, but few even
among the supporters of sanctions, Western or African, appear ready to
press for that, for they probably fear the disintegration of Zimbabwe
into total chaos. -- Yoshie

<http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKL2421754220080624>
Peter Hain says cut power to Zimbabwe
Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:47am BST

LONDON (Reuters) - A former British minister for Africa said on
Tuesday that South Africa should cut power supplies to Zimbabwe, and
African peacekeepers backed by the EU and United Nations should be
ready to go in and restore order.

Peter Hain, a noted anti-apartheid campaigner who served as Africa
minister under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said it would also be
essential to give Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe immunity from
prosecution.

Hain told Sky News that Mugabe would never respond to "diplomatic
niceties", so firm action was needed, starting with sanctions against
the whole of his elite.

"Electricity supplies from South Africa, which have been going in for
many years now, should be cut off. And that would hit the regime more
than anything else because the people can hardly suffer any more than
they have been already," he said.

"And then we can see the beginnings of a strategy with, if necessary,
African peacekeepers supported by the United Nations and the European
Union going in to restore order and to make sure that there is not
genocide," Hain said.

He said a government of national unity should then be formed under
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, which could include members of
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

In the 1970s, Hain was named "South Africa's Public Enemy Number One"
for his anti-apartheid protests.

Hain said giving Mugabe and members of his elite immunity from
prosecution was necessary to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy
in Zimbabwe.

"That's unpalatable, but it's probably essential to give them a safe
passage or guarantees, or whatever they require to get them out of
this bloodstained arena and make sure that a transition to a peaceful
democratic society could be possible."

(Reporting by David Clarke, editing by Kate Kelland and Richard Balmforth)