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Republic of Botswana
July 24,
2003
Summary: The Botswana Congress
Party, who support full representation (proportional
representation), are critical of a deal that the ruling party has
made, which exempts US nationals from provisions of the
International Criminal Court. July 24, 2003. Republic of Botswana, Botswana
Koosaletse criticises govt pact with US
July 24, 2003
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader Otlaadisa Koosaletse has
slammed the government for agreeing to exempt US nationals from the
provisions of the International Criminal Court. Giving a keynote
address at his party’Äôs fourth annual conference in Mahalapye,
Koosaletse said the recent agreement signed by the two countries
made "Botswana a haven of lawlessness and exposes the hypocrisy of
the United States government". "The US calls for international
coalition against terrorism and on the other hand it seeks to exempt
its citizens from being tried for a similar crime." Koosaletse
appealed to the government to rescind the agreement immediately
because it "renders Botswana to be in cohort with the US in
undermining international law". The BCP leader also appealed to the
United Nations (UN) to take charge of world affairs, because word
peace and harmony were under serious threat. In addition, the BCP
condemned the military coup in Sao Tome and Principe, and called for
the reinstatement of the toppled civilian government. It, further,
regretted the developments in Liberia, Somalia, Western Sahara, DRC,
Sudan and Zimbabwe. Koosaletse added: "It is imperative that the
African Union should evolve defence and security structures to deal
with the problems that beset the African continent." On the local
front, Koosaletse called for an electoral system that "combines the
best of first past the post system and proportional representation",
as well as enhancing the independence of the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC). This is because: "as long as the operations of
the IEC are subject to the control and sanction of the Office of the
President and the president, the IEC can not be claimed to be
independent." Koosaletse also called for popular election of the
state president and devolution of state powers to other democratic
structures like Parliament and local councils. He also called for
entrenchment of press freedom in the Constitution, setting of a
permanent gender commission to advise government on gender issues
and citizen economic empowerment initiatives. Both Koosaletse and
BCP national chairperson Batisani Maswibilili criticised Vice
President Seretse Khama Ian Kahama for continuing to fly the BDF
helicopters despite the advice by the Ombudsman to desist from the
practice. BOPA |
