Ban on Amin urged

Press, 14 March 1977, Page 1

Ban on Amin urged

PA Timaru New Zealand should take the initiative in suggesting to all Commonwealth countries that the President of Uganda. Idi Amin, be banned from attending the Commonwealth Conference which will be held in London in June, according to the chairman of the Parliamentary select committee on foreign affairs. Mr R. L. G. Talbot. “The participation of this unbalanced madman from Uganda would make a complete farce of any Commonwealth discussion,” said Mr Talbot, who is also the member of Parliament for South Canterbury. “All Commonwealth countries should make it clear that Uganda will have no place in Commonwealth councils until Idi Amin is removed from power.” he said.

“This is a matter of principle on which all Commonwealth countries should be able to speak with one voice.

“On Commonwealth Day, March 14, New Zealand has the opportunity to declare that Uganda’s participation will not be tolerated until

it restores basic human civil rights,” Mr Talbot said.

tn Ottawa, the British Prime Minister (Mr Callaghan) said that President Amin wanted to attend the conference for publicity purposes, but Britain had no power to bar him. Mr Callaghan has had talks in Ottawa with the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Trudeau) at the weekend which concentrated on Commonwealth matters.

“Public opinion in Britain is highly indignant at what has taken place in Uganda, and condemns it completely. That attitude I reflect.” Mr Callaghan said.

However, invitations to the conference were issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat and not by Britain, he said. “It is going to be a great pity if we make President Amin the centre of the conference. It’s just what he wants.’’

Mr Callaghan said that it might be made clear to President Amin that he would not be welcome to celebrations marking the Queen’s twenty-fifth anniversary as Monarch.

It had previously been suggested bv the Canadian External Affairs Minister (Mr Donald Jamieson) that Canada might not attend the Commonwealth conference if Uganda were present.

Mr Callaghan arrived from Washington, where he had two days of talks with United States officials. He had talks with President Carter, including discussions on Rhodesia and the situation in Southern Africa. In Cairo. President Amin has announced that he will lead a 250-strong delegation to the forthcoming Commonwealth conference in London to point out the weaknesses of Britain.

“I will go whether the British Government likes it or not,” he said in the conference hall of the Arab League. President Amin, in Cairo for the Afro-Arab summit talks, thumped the table in front of him as he stressed his determination to attend the London conference in June.

Asked to elaborate on the British weaknesses he would point out in London, the Ugandan President said. “I will not tell vou before going.”