Pure Greens hypocrisy on cricket tour

Stephen Franks
Thursday, 14 July 2005
Press Releases - Foreign Affairs

Today’s Beehive briefing of political parties asked to vote against the cricket tour went sadly awry for the Greens and the Government’s use of the issue for election purposes, ACT Sport, Leisure and Recreation spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

“I asked Henry Olonga what assessments had been made comparing the one day wonder impact of a tour cancellation with the daily embarrassment that our cricketers could generate for Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

“To the obvious chagrin of Rod Donald the honest Mr Olonga explained that there were very mixed feelings in Zimbabwe. Some opposition MDC MPs in Zimbabwe, for example, hope the tour goes ahead because it will mean journalists must be allowed entry to cover it and even the tightest security will make news itself. The outcome could be continual world attention that at present can’t happen.

“The Greens tried to end the discussions early and hustled Mr Olonga away before all the possibilities could be more embarrassingly explored.

“The whole episode confirmed ACT’s conclusion that the cricketers are the victims of an attempt to whip up election hysteria. It confirms that it is no accident that there has been a complete absence of any disciplined Government assessment of the best way to bring pressure to bear on Mugabe. Mr Goff confirmed that the key is South African support for Mugabe. Any honest resolution by Parliament should focus on South Africa and the ANC politicians who are keeping Mugabe in power.

“ACT will not commit to vote either way until we know whether the resolution is sincere. If it is, it must draw attention to the tyrants propping each other up throughout the region,” Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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