CHOGM: Sun slowly setting on British Empire

Following the winning of independence by the former British colonies in 
Asia, Africa and the Pacific, the Commonwealth was established and with it 
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It was to be the 
means by which Britain retained its political and economic domination of 
its former colonies.

In many respects, Britain was able to continue to impose its economic and 
political will, but gradually the situation changed as the former colonies 
began to assert their independence. They now resent the interference of 
Britain in their sovereign affairs.

It is this situation that has come to a head at the Coolum (Queensland) 
meeting of CHOGM. The sticking point is the attempt of Britain, backed by 
Australia, New Zealand and Canada — the Anglo-Saxon members of the 
Commonwealth and the four more industrially developed countries — to expel 
Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth because of alleged electoral irregularities.

The real reason for the virulent anti-Mugabe campaign has nothing to do 
with electoral practices but the fact that the Mugabe Government is 
implementing a program of land reform which will deprive white settlers 
(who seized the land in the first place) and return it to the people of 
Zimbabwe who originally owned and worked the land.

Faced with the almost certain defeat of their attempt to expel Zimbabwe 
from the Commonwealth some, from among the defeated governments, are now 
calling into question the continued relevance of CHOGM. It is a simple case 
of being defeated and refusing to abide by the decision of the majority.

While some compromise resolution may be adopted, the obvious defeat of 
those governments which continue to dream of the re-establishment of their 
colonialist regimes has led the leaders of the "pink-nosed" countries to 
vent their venom against Zimbabwe and the majority nations that refused to 
be brow-beaten.

"African leaders ... chose to protect a regional thug rather than defending 
the democratic values of the 1981 Harare declaration, which notionally 
binds all Commonwealth nations to basic standards of governance" wrote 
Geoffrey Barker in the Australian Financial Review.

"There is this whole notion of Africans protecting themselves against 
criticism of countries outside", declared a petulant Alexander Downer.

However, the aim to turn the African (and all other) nations into compliant 
capitalist states is apparent in other details emerging from CHOGM.

A $300 million Commonwealth fund was established to help finance private-
sector activities.

An initiative submitted by the Commonwealth Business Council was adopted. 
It aimed at improving the investment climate in member States particularly 
in developing countries. "The 16-point action program for investment is 
designed to improve corporate governance ...", reported the FR.

The program aims to fight corruption "which is seen as a significant 
barrier to investment in developing countries", which suggests that 
corruption is only found in developing countries.

Illustrating the contempt and irresponsible attitude of the Australian 
Government to fellow members of the Commonwealth, John Howard summarily 
dismissed the plea by the Foreign Minister of Tuvalu regarding the possible 
submergence of the island nation as a result of global warming.

Howard dismissed the concerns of Tuvalu by asserting that Australia is "a 
net exporter of energy" clearly implying that Australia is not prepared to 
do anything to limit Australia's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions 
and the consequent global warming.

The Government of Tuvalu is considering suing Australia over the global 
warming issue.