The Observer - Anti-gay law: Museveni, Kadaga face travel bans
The Brussels-based European Parliament has backed a resolution
imposing travel and visa bans against "key individuals responsible for
drafting and adopting" the anti-homosexuality laws in Nigeria and
Uganda.
During its sitting on March 13, the members unanimously criticised the
laws passed in both countries and said they were a "grave menace" to
human rights. The members approved the non-binding resolution by a
large majority which said the two countries violated the Cotonou
accord on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.
This means that individual countries will choose whether to effect the
bans or not. Uganda's Parliament in a unanimous vote controversially
passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill on December 20, 2013, and on
February 24, President Museveni signed it into law.
The anti-gay law calls for "repeat homosexuals" to be jailed for life,
outlaws any promotion of homosexuality and requires people to report
homosexuals. Earlier in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan had
signed the anti-gay law in January though it had been passed in
November 2013.
In addition to the travel and visa ban; it was also suggested that
there should be a review of EU's "development aid strategy with Uganda
and Nigeria, with a view to redirecting aid to civil society and other
organisations rather than suspending it", according to the EU
parliamentary statement.
Targeting key individuals responsible for drafting and adopting the
law casts a wide net on many individuals. The law's key promoter and
originator David Bahati (MP for Ndorwa West) could be targeted for
drafting the law.
Both President Museveni who signed it into law, and Parliament Speaker
Rebecca Kadaga, who presided at the voting and MPs who voted
overwhelmingly for the law's passage, could be targeted for leading
the charge for the law's adoption, among others. A senior official in
the ministry of Foreign Affairs who requested to remain anonymous,
said last week that the EU resolution was highhanded.
"In diplomatic practice, there is respect for sovereignty and culture.
One country cannot seek to impose its cultures on other people," the
official said.
Bahati's initial bill had proposed a death penalty for " aggravated
homosexuality". But the death penalty was dropped in the face of
fierce pressure from human rights activists and the West. It was,
instead, replaced by a life sentence.
Uganda's anti-gay law has already triggered aid cuts from some donor
countries and agencies. So far, at least Shs 262 billion worth of
donor aid has been withheld. Leading the way was the World Bank which
announced last month that it had postponed a $90m (Shs 220bn) loan to
Uganda over the law.
In addition, Norway and Denmark withheld aid of $8m and $9m
respectively. EU Budget Gommissioner Janusz Lewandowski, representing
the Commission, told European MPs that they had already had "very
frank discussions" with the two countries, with more talks planned.
"The outcome of these contacts will be very important in determining
how our relations with Nigeria and Uganda develop under the Cotonou
accord," Lewandowski said.
The resolution on travel and visa bans came days after activists in
London including Peter Tatchell, the director of the Peter Tatchell
Foundation, urged governments around the world to impose stringent
punishments on the key movers of the new homophobic legislation.
Mr Tatchell said while he did not support aid cuts to Uganda, he
favoured travel sanctions against President Museveni, Bahati, the
minister for Ethics Simon Lokodo and pastors Martin Sempa, Solomon
Male and Scott Lively for their vocal support of Uganda's anti-gay
law.
"They are implicated in stirring homophobic hatred, which has
coincided with an escalation of threats and mob violence against
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Ugandans," Mr Tatchell
said.
"These people are modern-day ideological inheritors of Dr Goebbels'
hateful propaganda methods, with their vile slurs equating
homosexuality with child molestation, rape and bestiality."
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SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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