For a Better Future

This was a clear-cut decision,
defying the universal
character of the
freedom of speech. It
appears that Mr.
Chirac, who then
usually leaves his
guests while they are
interviewed by the
press, in this case
deliberately sided by
Mr. Biya whose
"trouble" with the
press after the
reception was
foreseeable.

Such an incident
might seem trivial. Yet,
it is a perfect and
unique illustration of
the protection of
dictators and other
perpetrators of human
rights violations by the
world’s leading
powers.
True, major progress
has been made over
the last fifty years in
translating the spirit
and words of the
Universal Declaration
into reality. Yet, much remains to be done to fulfil the
good intentions which constitute the framework of this
instrument which ever since December 10th, 1948 has
been the foundation for the fight against totalitarianism
and arbitrary rule by countless nations.

We welcome the recent adoption of the statute of the
International Criminal Court, despite some
inadequacies which might make it less effective. We
are very pleased that the two international criminal
tribunals responsible for prosecuting the perpetrators
of crime in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda are
fully effective. We must heartily commend the adoption
of the Declaration of the Protection of Human Rights
Defenders by the UN General Assembly; yet we must
not lose sight of certain truths exposing the weakness
of what can be perceived as achievments and which,
more than ever, demands the vigilance of all those
who have made a commitment to work for the
protection and defence of these instruments.
Human rights, democratic freedoms, both collective
and individual, will heavily depend on the interests of
our governments. We can clearly see the way in which
China continues to use its political prisoners to raise
the stake in commercial transactions with the West,
the way in which Milosevic continues to scoff at the
world in the war-torn
former Yugoslavia or
the way in which the
French governemnt
rolls out the red carpet
to welcome
unrepentant dictators
who launch their
forces remorselessly
against their own
people, only a few
days before the
celebrations to
commemorate the
50th anniversary of
the Universal
Declaration of Human
Rights. What a blemish
for France, the country
where this famous
Declaration was
proclaimed on
December 10th 1948.

Nonetheless, there is
still hope! The recent
adoption of the
Declaration on the
Protection of Human
Rights Defenders is
one important reason
for hope.

More than ever, we must welcome the initiatives of
NGOs who filled this 50th anniversary with meaning
and significance and have allowed us to harbour a
spirit of freedom...for a better future.

Pius Njawé

"Messager"’s Director (Cameroon)