What Illing And Lukyamuzi Have Done Is Indefensible!
Mar 05, 2004
<small><b>Letter Of The Day</small></b> <br><br>SIR— The attempt in the editorial of a certain newspaper and Rubaga South MP John Ken Lukyamuzi to vindicate the leader of EU in Uganda was, to say the least, unpatriotic. <br><br><br><br>
SIR— The attempt in the editorial of a certain newspaper and Rubaga South MP John Ken Lukyamuzi to vindicate the leader of EU in Uganda was, to say the least, unpatriotic. Neither does the newspaper have to be unpatriotic to prove its “independence.†Nor does Lukyamuzi have to defend foreign envoys who are with impunity interfering in our internal affairs to remain popular with his constituents. The country has to be positively vigilant because after Zimbabwe, the neo-colonial imperialists seem to be zeroing in on our country.
Regardless of the nature of the message contained in a secret letter written by Ambassador Sigurd Illing found on the body of a slain rebel secret communication with the LRA was in breach of the established rules and procedures that regulate the activities of diplomats. Giving a copy to the area MP, Norbert Mao, was a pragmatic move, but it was imprudent for the ambassador not to have the courtesy of availing another copy(in confidence, of course) to the minister of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for overseeing all diplomatic activities. The Chief of Protocol, should summon the ambassador because since the omission was unfortunate and quite undiplomatic, it requires an explanation.
By the same token, encouraging agitation for the northern part of the country to be declared a “disaster area†is tantamount to joining our domestic politics, which is a further contravention of the diplomatic rules set by the Vienna Convention.
As if that was not enough, the ambassador has chosen to conduct diplomacy through press conferences instead of the established diplomatic channels as provided under international law. Diplomacy is conducted in accordance with distinctive rules that regulate the activities of representatives and envoys. Illing is of such senior rank that he could not be ignorant of them.
Whereas there is a European presumption that the African governments should conform to normative rules, it is equally important that European diplomats do not violate our sovereignty or engage in secret activities that undermine it. The excuse that Salim Saleh asked Illing to write to Kony is ridiculous, and puts a question mark on the judgement of the envoy. Salim Saleh may be the brother of the President, but he is not the Government. Even if it were to be true
that he did ask him to write the letter, it was incumbent
on him as an accredited
diplomat to bring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into
the picture, to avoid the flak that he is now taking.
Samuel H Baligidde
Kampala
Regardless of the nature of the message contained in a secret letter written by Ambassador Sigurd Illing found on the body of a slain rebel secret communication with the LRA was in breach of the established rules and procedures that regulate the activities of diplomats. Giving a copy to the area MP, Norbert Mao, was a pragmatic move, but it was imprudent for the ambassador not to have the courtesy of availing another copy(in confidence, of course) to the minister of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for overseeing all diplomatic activities. The Chief of Protocol, should summon the ambassador because since the omission was unfortunate and quite undiplomatic, it requires an explanation.
By the same token, encouraging agitation for the northern part of the country to be declared a “disaster area†is tantamount to joining our domestic politics, which is a further contravention of the diplomatic rules set by the Vienna Convention.
As if that was not enough, the ambassador has chosen to conduct diplomacy through press conferences instead of the established diplomatic channels as provided under international law. Diplomacy is conducted in accordance with distinctive rules that regulate the activities of representatives and envoys. Illing is of such senior rank that he could not be ignorant of them.
Whereas there is a European presumption that the African governments should conform to normative rules, it is equally important that European diplomats do not violate our sovereignty or engage in secret activities that undermine it. The excuse that Salim Saleh asked Illing to write to Kony is ridiculous, and puts a question mark on the judgement of the envoy. Salim Saleh may be the brother of the President, but he is not the Government. Even if it were to be true
that he did ask him to write the letter, it was incumbent
on him as an accredited
diplomat to bring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into
the picture, to avoid the flak that he is now taking.
Samuel H Baligidde
Kampala