Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) has said
that it will write a protest letter to the governments of Tanzania and
China and United Nations (UN) on the engagement of the Chinese
Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing in political activities of Chama
Cha Mapinduzi.
Speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam at a news conference Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shadow Minister Ezekiah Wenje (Nyamagana’s MP) said the participation by the Ambassador was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 which came into force on April 1964.
According to Chadema Ambassador Youqing participated in the CCM rally held at Kishapu in Shinyanga this month by wearing the party’s cap.
“We’ve agreed to write a complaint letter to the government of China to ask if it sent its Ambassador to publicise CCM.” We don’t believe that the government of China supports what the Ambassador did during the recent tour of CCM in the region,” said Wenje.
He said in the letter to be addressed to the UN Chadema wants to know its stance on this matter since it is the steering body of the Vienna convention. And the government of Tanzania should also clarify if what the Ambassador did was allowed according to the agreement.
According to the Vienna Convention, article 31: a diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state.
He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of: (a) a real action relating to private immovable property situated in the territory of the receiving state, unless he holds it on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission.
Article 41: 1. States without prejudice to their privileges and immunities; it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.
However, according to a statement sent to the Guardian and signed by the minister’s private assistant Togolani Mavura, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Bernard Membe, it is not proper for an Ambassador to participate in political rallies and wear uniforms, caps with the logo of a given political party.
“The ministry would like to say that what was done by the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania was improper according to the Vienna Convention Article 41: 1, of 1961, of which Tanzania is signatory.”
It said the ministry would take take relevant diplomatic measures to ensure such a situation does not happen again.
Speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam at a news conference Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation shadow Minister Ezekiah Wenje (Nyamagana’s MP) said the participation by the Ambassador was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 which came into force on April 1964.
According to Chadema Ambassador Youqing participated in the CCM rally held at Kishapu in Shinyanga this month by wearing the party’s cap.
“We’ve agreed to write a complaint letter to the government of China to ask if it sent its Ambassador to publicise CCM.” We don’t believe that the government of China supports what the Ambassador did during the recent tour of CCM in the region,” said Wenje.
He said in the letter to be addressed to the UN Chadema wants to know its stance on this matter since it is the steering body of the Vienna convention. And the government of Tanzania should also clarify if what the Ambassador did was allowed according to the agreement.
According to the Vienna Convention, article 31: a diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state.
He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of: (a) a real action relating to private immovable property situated in the territory of the receiving state, unless he holds it on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission.
Article 41: 1. States without prejudice to their privileges and immunities; it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.
However, according to a statement sent to the Guardian and signed by the minister’s private assistant Togolani Mavura, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Bernard Membe, it is not proper for an Ambassador to participate in political rallies and wear uniforms, caps with the logo of a given political party.
“The ministry would like to say that what was done by the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania was improper according to the Vienna Convention Article 41: 1, of 1961, of which Tanzania is signatory.”
It said the ministry would take take relevant diplomatic measures to ensure such a situation does not happen again.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
