Sat 5 Feb 2011 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Maryan Street Labour MP Maryan Street says the killing of Ugandan gay rights campaigner David Kato is a ghastly crime and the nation needs to know the eyes of the world are firmly fixed upon it. Kato was beaten to death with a hammer at his home, in a murder which has sparked global condemnation. The 46-year-old's death came after he started receiving death threats because his name, photograph and address were published by a newspaper last year as part of a call to "hang Uganda's top 100 homos". Police have arrested their main suspect in the killing Enock Nsubuga. They deny that Kato was killed because of his sexuality and say initial inquiries point to robbery. There are also claims Nsubuga confessed to killing Kato because he 'coerced him into sodomy'. Gay rights activists have told Reuters they fear police may try to cover up a motive of homophobia to protect the Western aid upon which the country relies. They say they wanted proof from police that Kato was not killed over his sexuality. "I wish these hate-motivated killings would stop," says Street, a Rainbow caucus member and Labour's Foreign Affairs spokeswoman. "I am appalled that in these days anywhere around the world, that it is still considered legitimate by some to take another person's life because they are gay. And I think the age-old defence of provocation needs to be shovelled right back in its age-old box," Street says where self-defence can be proven, provocation should be available, "but I'm of the view that these ghastly crimes are not a response to provocation, but a response to homophobia." The MP has spoken to Uganda's Deputy Speaker about a bill being promoted in the nation's Parliament, which proposes the death penalty for gay people who are "repeat offenders". Street questioned why time was being spent on such Archaic laws when many other things need to be dealt with in the country, such as getting fresh water and food to the people. "Her answers were completely unsatisfactory in my view," Street says. "Beyond that, Uganda does need to know that the world is watching. They will say that this is their own internal matter, but in the end if we are not a community of global citizens what are we? "And so I consider it to be my responsibility as much as anybody's to let them know what we think. Even if it's not what our Government thinks, to let them know at least what the Labour Party thinks of David Kato's death."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 5th February 2011 - 3:34pm