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Rwanda and Commonwealth revival



I dropped by a lunch held by Rwanda’s envoy to India today and was struck when a Rwandan diplomat said, “Last year we were the embassy of Rwanda. Today we welcome you as the high commission of Rwanda.” In other words, this bloodied African country had joined the Commonwealth. For those who don’t know, because they originally shared a head of state commonwealth countries have high commissions rather than embassies with each other.

This was passing strange. The Rwandans greeted each other with “bonjours” and I was pretty sure that never in Britain’s chequered imperial history did it ever rule Rwanda. (Britain ruled, for short periods of time, places like Sumatra, Somalia and many other bits of the planet.) They definitely don’t play cricket.

But given that Mozambique, a Portuguese colonial product, joined some years ago, perhaps there was a precedent. There are no formal requirements about joining the Commonwealth other than being an elected government and winning the support of other members.

Rwanda, I gather, joined because its present rulers lived much of their early lives in exile in English speaking Uganda. They overthrew the earlier Hutu regime responsible for the infamous massacres. Because they believe France is complicit in those massacres, joining the Commonwealth was also a way of distancing themselves from “Francophonie.” Today Americans and Britons represent the two largest non-African numbers of visitors.

But the Commonwealth, because it is the only multilateral organisation that insists its members must be democracies, also provides a badge of legitimacy for countries that are opening their account with the world.

This is happening, ironically, at a time the British, Canadians and Australians are disinterested and apathetic about the Commonwealth. A survey showed that some two-thirds of the public in these countries say they could care less if the Commonwealth dissolved.

What is required to revive the Brit Band? I have an idea. Invite the United States to join. It’s a former British colony, a democracy and it has a growing number of cricket players (kind of).

But just think: the High Commission of the United States of America to India. That will take some getting used to.

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Posted by Pramit Pal Chaudhuri on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 10:30 pm 
Filed under World · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

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  • Vineet

    Ya all this seems to be a big anachronism. – commonwealth. What advantages does it have for India anyway. Just a waste of time and money in empty pomp

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  • http://hindustantimes nanda

    Not to be nit-picky but the blogger should look up “disinterested” and “uninterested”.

    Good for Rwanda. Hope for preferred trade deals, scholarships, and an economy that can support the people, instead of depending on the UN.

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  • Loonerspacecraft

    Great article, so many favorites on here!! I think you got that bit about Annie Clark wrong though–she’s from Houston, and Marry Me was released in 2007

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  • Peter Hunt

    I would like to ask just a couple of questions. Reading the story spun out by the victim’s friends-they saw a white person emerge from nowhere, came to face one of the 9members in the group- this poor victim, asked the time and shot him. Why did he not pick others?Why there was no abuses hurled at the victim, which happens in a racist situation. Sounds too neat to me. Wait until the Jury panel hears the arguments, and examine the evident. I suspect a prior incidence before.

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  • satnam johal

    apart from the issues raised by Mr De sarkar, one thing that is neglected here is the part played by the Indian foreign office or the complete lack of it in the first few days. The family of Anuj had to write an open letter to the Foreign Minister for help . the foreign office of India and its cosulate staff in U.K. has let down not only their duty but also all the NRI’s. It has shown again that rather than look after their own citizen’s, they are too busy looking after themselves. Shame on them.

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    Peter Hunt Reply:
    January 2nd, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    The Indian Consulate I guess was closed as the Indian establishments enjoy public holidays of both countries! Lucky people! Strangely, the students’ Indian friends-they were a close knit team were of no help in terms of communication etc.. Not sure what help was asked for as it was a murder and the process of law has to be observed.

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  • Anonymous

    One thought that INDIANS HAVE BECOME A CITIZEN OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION, AND SLAVERY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED, not if you read the above GARBAGE dished out by a complete dick head who is paid by HT to write such puerile trash.Take his lines
    “And, in fairness, it should be noted that more Britons are murdered and/or raped in India than the other way round”
    Really , perhaps he would like to furnish some statistics.
    DOES THE DICKANKAR , know about a certain STEPHEN LAWRENCE.
    Bloggers just type the name in google as see what it throws up.
    I have lived in Britain , for far too long and being a surgeon interact and know far far far more than this DICKHANKER.
    The fact of the matter is , there is a DARK UNDERBELLY OF BRITAIN.
    People see London and think rest of UK is like that . No it aint . The whole of NORTH , part of wales , THERE IS A HUGE UNDERCLASS. Their life is worse than a beggar in INDIA. AND THERE IS MASSIVE RACISM IN EVERY FACET OF BRITISH SOCIETY, and more the economic downturn , more pronounced it becomes , flamed by the tory party.
    In india you may be killed or robbed , BUT COLOUR OF SKIN PLAYS NO ROLE
    IN BRITAIN COLOUR OF SKIN PLAYS A BIG BIG ROLE , DECIDING THE ODDS WHEN COMING ACROSS A WHITE TRASH.
    As for Peter Hunt’s inspector Morse like analysis , let me say having killed one the Psycho fled , why Anup Bidhwa was victim BECAUSE HE WAS DARKEST presumably , the same question Peter Hunt may like to ask WHY STEPHEN LAWRENCE WAS MURDERED WHILE WAITING FOR A BUS IN ELTHAM AND NOT HIS FRIEND, DYWANNE BROOKS STANDING BESIDE HIM

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  • rhvankar VANKAR

    In the name of majority,the water of Ganges,praised by all a lives,TO USE THE EVERY DROP OF WATER GENTLY!DO NOT THROW THE DUST IN EVERY STORAGE WATER.save the banks of sea too,save fish and sea world,mark our human limits too for happy future!

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  • Rajeev Krishnamoorthy

    Excellent choice of first name. The man clearly has good taste.

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