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The Metro, 25th July 2007
The proceedings against Indonesia's gluttonous Suharto are to be welcomed, and they should have come a lot earlier. The claims that Suharto robbed his countrymen of anything up to $35bn are frightening – the money would have gone a long way towards the development of that nation. But what of the other corrupt dictators that either still rule their countries or while away their days in exile, living off the fruits of their own brutality? Many, such as Ethiopia's vile ex-President, Mengistu Haile Mariam, live on in splendour – he as a guest of the equally despicable Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe – while their people struggle to recover from their apocalyptic reigns.
Even more still inhabit the lush presidential palaces that are found in every African capital: from Africa's last absolute monarch King Mswati 111 in Swaziland to President-for-Life of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, and the facilitator of the Darfur genocide, Omar A1-Bashir in Khartoum.
It is always welcome when corrupt and callous leaders are brought to bear for the misery they rain upon their people. But, in bringing one to the courtroom, we must not forget the many more who, for the sake of the world, must also face justice John O'Shea GOAL
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