Rogue Democracy

The term 'rogue democracy' was coined by journalist Michael Gerson in an article for the Washington Post in which he details the ANC governments active support for Mugabe as well as almost every other oppressive and despotic regime in existence.

He mentions that South Africa under the ANC:

“...has actively blocked United Nations discussions about human rights abuses in Zimbabwe -- and in Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Uzbekistan. South Africa was the only real democracy to vote against a resolution demanding that the Burmese junta stop ethnic cleansing and free jailed dissident Aung San Suu Kyi. 

When Iranian nuclear proliferation was debated in the Security Council, South Africa dragged out discussions and demanded watered-down language in the resolution. 

South Africa opposed a resolution condemning rape and attacks on civilians in Darfur -- and rolled out the red carpet for a visit from Sudan's genocidal leader. In the General Assembly, South Africa fought against a resolution condemning the use of rape as a weapon of war because the resolution was not sufficiently anti-American.”

He then provides the definition of a rogue democracy:

“Whatever the reasons, South Africa increasingly requires a new foreign policy category: the rogue democracy.

Along with China and Russia, South Africa makes the United Nations impotent. Along with Saudi Arabia and Sudan, it undermines the global human rights movement. South Africa remains an example of freedom -- while devaluing and undermining the freedom of others. It is the product of a conscience it does not display.”

And then nears the conclusion of his argument with an interesting question:

“Did revolutionary parties in the region fight for liberation or for liberty?”

The answer to this question since the article was written in 2008 has become even clearer.

Since then, even with a new government under Zuma, the ANC still support and protect Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe. While elements of the ANC as well as the ANC Youth League openly speak of implementing 'land reform' on the model used in Zimbabwe.

The ANC has also still refused to recognise the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya. Even though the Gaddafi regime has been ousted, they still support and recognise the deposed dictator.

There is also evidence that the South African government indirectly helped members of the Gaddafi family escape to Tunisia by using South African mercenaries.

Documents were also discovered showing that the SA government were planning on providing military training and weapons to help the Gaddafi regime quell the rebel uprising.  

These plans had however fallen through due to the rapid loss of control to the rebels coupled with UN and NATO support and recognition of the rebels.

Then when the NTC had control over the vast majority of the country including the capital, South Africa vetoed a vote in the UN to allow seized assets from Gadaffi to be released to the NTC so they could pay the salaries for the new government and civil servants in order to get the country running again.

The ANC with the backing of the African Union refused to recognise the NTC as the legitimate government and refused to vote in favour of releasing the funds.

However, they finally relented under pressure from the USA but the signal was clear enough.

And most recently the ANC has blocked the Dalai Lama from entering South Africa by not granting him a visa. This action has been condemned by human rights groups and left much of the democratic world shaking their heads.

Some commentators and journalists are speculating that this was because of a request from the Chinese government with whom South Africa has several trade agreements and that they are merely pandering to the will of the Chinese.

This would be a naïve assumption.

Since joining BRICS, South Africa has further consolidated it's position in taking an anti-Western stance. Whenever the choice has been available, they have voluntarily chosen to support those taking a stand against the West. As a a party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology, who openly speak of nationalisation and whose biggest partner in the Tripartite Alliance is the Communist Party, it would seem natural that the ANC would gravitate towards them instead of the free-market Western world.

The behaviour of the ANC tends to come across as that of a naughty child who as a matter of principle will always choose the option that will frustrate and show defiance, no matter the issue at stake or how many people have to endure suffering as a result.

As a 'revolutionary' party the ANC seems intent to create an image of itself as not being a 'lapdog' to the West and 'neo-imperialism' and of showing continued resistance to the West.

Though this is ironic since they continue to receive a great deal of financial aid from them and their past sanctions and boycotts on the Apartheid government helped the ANC.

A further example of South Africa being a rogue democracy under the ANC is their hypocrisy in supporting China's occupation of Tibet and yet when South Africa occupied South West Africa (Namibia) the ANC appealed to the UN that it was a 'crime against humanity' and demanded it's independence.

But unlike Namibia which was handed over by the UN to South Africa to administer, China invaded Tibet with it's military and still occupy it against the will of the local population and under a system which doesn't even believe in the concept of democracy.

This really comes as no surprise though since actions speak louder than words, and the ANC has repeatedly proven it is morally bankrupt with even Desmond Tut now saying the ANC is 'worse than Apartheid'.

South Africa is a  Rogue Democracy -- 'a country that devalues and undermines the freedom of others' while creating a facade of democracy for itself to serve its interests when necessary.