Briton dedicates PhD to anti Museveni activists
By Norman Miwambo
21st Nov 2011:
Right: Peter Tatchell at the award ceremony
A British human rights campaigner and a Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation (PTF), has dedicated his Honorary Doctorate of Laws award to human rights campaigners in Uganda. Mr. Tatchell was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Laws by London South Bank University on November 16th at a colourful ceremony held at Southwark Cathedral.
Peter Tatchell’s award was in recognition of his tireless human rights campaigns. “…I dedicate my this award to the heroic democracy, human rights, LGBTI and social justice activists in Uganda who are campaigning against the corrupt and authoritarian regime of President Yoweri Museveni. Many of them have been arrested, beaten, tortured and jailed. I walk in their shadow and salute their extraordinary courage.” Mr. Tatchell said after the award ceremony.
A serial human rights campaigner, Mr Tatchell shot to prominence on 30th October 1999 when he tried to carry out a citizen’s arrest against the ailing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in London. He tried to do the same thing in Brussels-Belgium but the Zimbabwean leader was rescued by his large number of bodyguards. He also attempted to secure an arrest warrant for former US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger on allegations of war crimes related to the indiscriminate carpet-bombing of Cambodia.
In all these cases, Peter Tatchell was attempting to use Section 134 of British Criminal Justice Act 1988 which authorises the prosecution of any person who commits an act of torture anywhere in the world, as defined in the UN Convention against Torture 1984, which Britain ratified and pledged to enforce.
“…I suspect this is the first time anyone has been given an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in tribute to an attempted citizen’s arrest of a President and an attempted indictment of a former US Secretary of State. I am honoured and most grateful.” Mr. Tatchell added in his acceptance speech. Speaking on behalf of the trustees of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, the foundation’s acting Chairperson Gill Butler said:
“…Peter Tatchell received this honour for his work as a human rights advocate and for his promotion of UK and international human rights law. For 44 years, Peter has worked tirelessly as an advocate for human rights, both in the UK and internationally. Often putting himself at great personal risk, many times he has been arrested and beaten. This award is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary, unswerving humanitarian commitment…he intends to continue campaigning for another 30 years.”
South Bank University, Vice Chancellor, Prof Martin Earwicker said Peter Tatchell remains a driving force for change. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
