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Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative calls on Nigerian President not to invite Zimbabwe to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
November 25, 2003

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), an international NGO dedicated to the practical realisation of human rights in the Commonwealth, supports the decision of the host nation, Nigeria, not to invite Zimbabwe to this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). CHRI commends President Obasanjo for making it clear by his actions that the respect for human rights is of fundamental importance to the Commonwealth.

Following a visit by Nigerian President Obasanjo to Zimbabwe last week, rumours were circulating that the President might exercise the host's prerogative to decide the final CHOGM invitation list and include Zimbabwe's President Mugabe, despite the fact that Zimbabwe is currently suspended from the Commonwealth.

CHRI believes that it is a very positive development - for the people of Zimbabwe and the Commonwealth as an institution - that President Obasanjo has not allowed himself to be drawn into the often racially-charged debate around Zimbabwe's exclusion from CHOGM, but has instead demonstrated that human rights are a universal concern, valued by all responsible leaders throughout the world, no matter their colour or heritage.

To blame Zimbabwe's exclusion from the Commonwealth on racism is unworthy and grossly devalues the current suffering being endured by Zimbabweans of all colour as a result of President's Mugabe's actions.

President Obasanjo's decision not to invite President Mugabe to CHOGM - the decision of the leader of one of Africa's most influential nations - provides an endorsement of the fact that Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth for a singular reason: the Zimbabwean Government's flagrant disregard for the Commonwealth's foundation principles of good governance, democracy and respect for the fundamental human rights. These are explicitly laid out in the Commonwealth's Harare Declaration, to which all Commonwealth members are party.

The fact is, that while other multilateral organisations talk of censure, it is the Commonwealth that has consistently demonstrated its willingness to exclude democratic defaulters, like Nigeria itself in 1995, and more recently Fiji, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. President Obasanjo has sent a clear message that countries which do not respect the dignity and human rights of their people cannot be accepted as participating, respected members of the international community.

The Commonwealth is as much an association of people as of states. It is important to note in this regard that by excluding President Mugabe, the Commonwealth is not also excluding the people of Zimbabwe. Rather, this action is intended as a way of expressing solidarity for the plight of Zimbabweans and demonstrating the international community's refusal to countenance the steady deprivation of their civil liberties and their dwindling economic development.

For more information, please contact:
Clare Doube (Nigeria)
Email: clare@humanrightsinitiative.org
Charmaine Rodrigues (India)
Ph: (91) 9818 455 964
Email: charmaine@humanrightsinitiative.org

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