Brave men....
Thursday 20 August 2009By EU Reporter Correspondents
There are some brave people in politics. Its always easy to identify the individuals, people like Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai for example. He fought a very dangerous battle against the Mugabe regime, and many observers might feel that he is lucky to be alive today. In fact, just weeks after being sworn in as Prime Minister of his country on February 11th 2009, he was involved in a car crash that took the life of his wife of 31 years, Susan, and left him seriously injured. Despite being hampered in his job by Mugabe's supporters in both the government and the security services, Tsvangirai works tirelessly and fearlessly for his people.
Last week he was with President Obama in the US, and this week will see him in European capitals, ending up here in Brussels. Activists from his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have suffered in their fight for democratic rights and freedoms. Having achieved power, albeit limited, they need the rest of the free world, and that includes the European nations with their long shared histories with the African people, to stand alongside them. Mugabe may still be clinging to the Presidency, but he represents Zimbabwe's past, and Africa's past. The MDC represents the future.
Equally brave are the countless men and women who, in desperation and frustration, are taking to the streets in the towns and cities of Iran. Since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected amid accusations of intimidation and vote rigging, Iranians have been subject to a clampdown that has seen his opponents arrested, media shut down, and internet sites blocked. Defying a government ban, tens of thousands have taken to the streets, and once again the world is sickened by scenes of security forces attacking and taking away pro-democracy protestors.
The world is not as nice as it appears from the window of an office in London or Brussels, something that the incoming European Parliament needs to get a grip on fast. Obama presses for change, Russia seeks increased political power, and China drives its economy forwards relentlessly. If the EP is to serve its constituents well, it must not become a talking shop like the 2004-9 parliament. Europe deserves better.