I read an interesting article in the Guardian today, which brought up a point related to what I wrote about in my last post.
[Kenneth] Roth [Executive Director of Human Rights Watch] said the current violence in Kenya, prompted by the seemingly rigged election on December 27 which returned President Mwai Kibaki to power, could be traced back to overseas reluctance to challenge a similarly flawed poll in Nigeria 10 months earlier. "Nigeria's leader came to power in a violent and fraudulent vote, yet he's been accepted on the international stage," he said. He said it led Kenya to believe fraud would be tolerated in the presidential election.
Source: Peter Walker, "UK and US accused of hypocrisy over despots", Guardian Unlimited, Feb. 1, 2008
I think it is an interesting point to consider. I remember being both relieved and disappointed that the rigged elections in Nigeria didn't result in civil unrest. Relieved because I didn't want my friends and Nigerians in general to be exposed to harm and violence (although it is worth noting that Nigerians are exposed to harm and violence every single day) should civil unrest occur after the elections. Disappointed because Nigerians had every reason and right to be angry and express their disgust with the 2006 elections. Of course, protests were planned and people did speak out against the election results, but almost a year has passed and the PDP is still in power. I've seen some articles here and there about state election results being annulled by tribunals, but I wonder how much has changed and what is being done to address injustice. I thoroughly support efforts to bring about change through jurisprudence, legal action, and non-violent means, but it is a slow process. I suppose all one can do is support those who are working for good governance at all levels of government.
[Kenneth] Roth [Executive Director of Human Rights Watch] said the current violence in Kenya, prompted by the seemingly rigged election on December 27 which returned President Mwai Kibaki to power, could be traced back to overseas reluctance to challenge a similarly flawed poll in Nigeria 10 months earlier. "Nigeria's leader came to power in a violent and fraudulent vote, yet he's been accepted on the international stage," he said. He said it led Kenya to believe fraud would be tolerated in the presidential election.
Source: Peter Walker, "UK and US accused of hypocrisy over despots", Guardian Unlimited, Feb. 1, 2008
I think it is an interesting point to consider. I remember being both relieved and disappointed that the rigged elections in Nigeria didn't result in civil unrest. Relieved because I didn't want my friends and Nigerians in general to be exposed to harm and violence (although it is worth noting that Nigerians are exposed to harm and violence every single day) should civil unrest occur after the elections. Disappointed because Nigerians had every reason and right to be angry and express their disgust with the 2006 elections. Of course, protests were planned and people did speak out against the election results, but almost a year has passed and the PDP is still in power. I've seen some articles here and there about state election results being annulled by tribunals, but I wonder how much has changed and what is being done to address injustice. I thoroughly support efforts to bring about change through jurisprudence, legal action, and non-violent means, but it is a slow process. I suppose all one can do is support those who are working for good governance at all levels of government.
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