Politics: Only for the brave

Politics is not for sissies.

Well, if you are from certain countries that is. From Burundi for instance, or neighbouring Rwanda. Or Eritrea, Sri Lanka, and Colombia. Or Burma, Ecuador and Zimbabwe.

These and other nations can’t exactly be classified as airy-fairy political fun fairs. Here, belonging to the opposition, being too vocal, too controversial, too liberal, too outspoken and too this or too that are guarantees for being kidnapped, harassed, assaulted or ending up in jail, or in the intensive-care unit of your local hospital. Or pushing daisies underneath the ol’ oak/palm/banana tree.

A new report released by the Inter-Parliamentarian Union — a global network of parliaments that aims to strengthen democracy around the world — leaves nothing to the imagination, and tells the tales of politicians worldwide who have been assaulted, tortured, beaten up, threatened, and even killed in cold blood.

* Between 1994 and 1999, six Burundian parliamentarians were killed because they belonged to the wrong party. Another MP from Burundi was the target of two attempts on his life. The Burundian government has done little to solve the cases, despite the many promises.

* Leonard Hitimana from the Rwandan Parliament went missing in 2003. There is a strong suspicion that Mr Hitimana was abducted by the Rwandan intelligence forces. The Rwandan authorities say he has fled to a neighbouring country. Meanwhile, Hitimana’s father was arrested in 2007 and held in jail for a few months where he was beaten to pulp. He is still in jail.

* In 2001, 11 Eritrean MPs were arrested after having openly criticised the policy of the president. Being accused of conspiracy to overthrow the government, the eleven politicians have been in incommunicado detention (detained without being allowed to have contact with the outside world, not even a lawyer) ever since. No one knows where they are being held, how they are doing and if they are still alive.

* The IPU report counts over 15 open cases that deal with Colombia. Here, various parliamentarians have been killed and disappeared without a trace over the past years. Hernan Motta was one of them. After being on the hit list of some paramilitary group he went in exile in 1997. In 2004 he fell off the face of the earth. No one has seen him since.

* With two assassinations, six MPs dying in custody, 17 being arrested during the massive crackdown on mass protests in 2007 and 13 being in jail after being arrested during other events, Burma scores high on the IPU’s risk list.

* Ecuador is no fun either for those with political ambitions. In 2007, 56 congress members were debarred for one year from participating in political life. Several MPs were murdered.

* Last, but definitely not least, we have Zimbabwe. Here MPs were beaten, assaulted, harassed and threatened. On several occasions.

What do I want to say or prove with this post? Nothing much, actually. I mean, what can you say about this? I simply think that it is damn sad that joining the political system in some countries is a dangerous and sometimes fatal affair. Therefore, I’d like to express my greatest respect to all these and other people who — despite the constant risk — decide to step into and remain in their country’s political arena. Bravo!

PS: The report can be found here.