China and corruption again

China keeps on popping up on the corruption stakes, but here’s an interesting wrinkle on the fight against corruption. I quote:

Chinese government censors have launched a sweeping campaign to purge any mention of a corruption investigation in Namibia from the internet because it involves a company formerly run by the son of China’s president. The government’s Central Propaganda Department has ordered all Chinese search engines to block any searches related to the case and has also shut down popular social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The crackdown came after African media reported three people had been charged with corruption in connection with a lucrative contract for Nuctech, the airport scanner company controlled by Hu Haifeng, the 38-year-old son of President Hu Jintao.

China is fighting against corruption, very laudable indeed. And frequently shoots or hangs people it finds as corrupt. Again, a bit heavy handed, but that I suppose is that. Here’s the thing which puzzles me. Corruption thrives under darkness, when things are hushed up, when the press isnt free, when the perps are hidden away. By stopping people from discussing things, from publishing aspects of corruption, from debating cleanliness in public service and removing nepotism, how on earth does China think it will control corruption?

This is seriously stupid but they forget that corruption in China is the cause of very many social explosions. Oh! by the way, it was also corruption which brought down the last Chinese Empire.

Thieves supporting a Thug

Here we go, typical of Africa that the various assorted thieves are supporting their own brother, Robert Mugabe. As if they care about the common people. ESPOHOKS!

 

The presidents of Namibia and Angola have called on Western countries to lift sanctions imposed against neighbouring Zimbabwe, calling them "illegal" and unfair.

"The sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are illegal and unjustifiable," Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his Angolan counterpart Jose Eduardo dos Santos said in a joint press statement.

"These sanctions cause hardship to the Zimbabwean people," said the statement, released during a ceremony to mark the departure of Dos Santos after a two-day state visit to Namibia.

Namibia is a reasonably good 57th rank while Angola is 147 on the corruption index of Transparency International. Yes Sir, very good Sir.

Technorati Tags: Corruption , Zimbabwe , Namibia , Angola

How old does a crime need to be before you skip punishment?

The Germans killed 65,000 Hereros in Namibia in 1904, and very many more were cleansed from their lands. See here.

Generally, the colonial powers have escaped paying any kind of compensation to their imperial victims. Because Italy, Germany and Japan were on the receiving end, they were called as bad boys and forced to pony up. But the other colonial powers such as USSR, USA, France, UK, etc. escaped paying compensation or being really held to account. Or even now.

Pretty tragic, no? But here's a prediction, the noose is becoming tighter and tighter around the necks of interventionist powers. Over the next decade or so, it will become progressively more difficult for them to reach out and intervene without legal cover. Otherwise one can really tie up a country in legal difficulties. And do not think it is just USA and UK, you can add China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and a host of other countries to that list.

Interesting days ahead.

All this to be taken with a grain of piquant salt!!!