Speaker, what the President has said now is not substantiated by what our country did when we voted for and in support of countries that undermine human rights. The world was shocked when South Africa cast its first vote as a nonpermanent member of the council to block a resolution condemning Myanmar for flagrant human rights abuses.
Our country also voted against smart sanctions against Zimbabwe, in spite of the political violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Mugabe regime. As many hold the view - in spite of what the President has said - that South Africa has betrayed its own Constitution that upholds human rights, can the President assure this House that what he has just said about concerns for human rights will be substantiated by the way we vote in the UN Security Council? Can the President assure this House that, when issues of human rights and issues of countries that are undermining the rights of the citizens are raised - including Myanmar, Zimbabwe, North Korea and the others - South Africa would not side and vote with countries that are defending those that are undermining human rights? [Applause.]