Text 14201, 45 rader
Skriven 2005-10-05 13:17:07 av Roy Witt (1:1/22)
  Kommentar till text 14197 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: forever in debt
=======================
05 Oct 05 18:36, Michiel van der Vlist wrote to Roy Witt:


 >>>> That may not be such a bad thing.....

 MvdV>>> The fall of an empire is usually followed by a period of chaos. I
 MvdV>>> would not call that "good". :-(

 >> You guys have to get out of the stone age and take a look at
 >> the British Empire for a different outlook on empires who have
 >> fallen. GB isn't the great empire she once was and there wasn't
 >> any chaos in the process.

 MvdV> There wasn't?

There wasn't and isn't.

 MvdV> I wouldn't call what has been happening in Zimbabwe - formerly
 MvdV> known as Southern Rodesia - a smooth transition process....

Ahhh, but Zimbabwe is not part of the British Empire, they're independant
and have a dictator for a leader.

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A
1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the
government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not
recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black
African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a
guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence
(as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister,
has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has
dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic
land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white
farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of
basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the
2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. Opposition and labor
groups launched general strikes in 2003 to pressure MUGABE to retire
early; security forces continued their brutal repression of regime
opponents.


Roy

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