JOHN O'SHEA,
Madam, - It is disgraceful that Robert Mugabe, the corrupt dictator who so recently rigged his own re-election to the presidency of Zimbabwe, the pariah who is supposed to be banned from travelling to Europe, is being wined and dined in Paris.
Six million Zimbabweans are facing starvation thanks to his "land reform" policies which have turned the former bread-basket of southern Africa into a dust bowl. And such is the level of his concern that he and his wife have no qualms about checking into €1,700-a-night suite in one of the better hotels in the French capital.
Unfortunately this visit is not unprecedented. Our own Government has played host to some fairly dodgy African leaders. A couple of years ago the red carpet was rolled out for the then president of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, who even then was widely known to be ripping off his people. He is currently standing trial having been accused of embezzling around $80 million during his 10 years in office, though many believe this is but the tip of the iceberg.
The red carpet at Dublin Castle was rolled out again in 2000 for President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, one of the most corrupt régimes in Africa. It has been criticised by the UN for its part in the illegal plunder of billions of dollars worth of minerals and other natural resources from its neighbour, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is a further disgrace that both these countries continue to receive vast millions of overseas aid from the Irish Government. Our dealings with corrupt governments leaves a stain on our reputation as a caring nation. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN O'SHEA, GOAL, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.