Elian deserves what is best for him. Deployed by Mugabe, they hurled stones and beat protestors, mostly whites, in an overwhelmingly black crowd. In recent weeks, in addition, black squatters have occupied more than 800 white-owned farms. The country's High Court ordered the police to evict them. Indeed, that has happened, for at least three farmers have been killed.
Land distribution is a legitimate issue in Zimbabwe, a legacy of British colonial rule.
But, the way to remedy this is not through violence and illegal squatting. Furthermore, more than a million acres acquired from whites for redistribution to landless peasants have instead been given to just 400 people, many of them Mugabe's cronies. The people of Zimbabwe are bracing for the most competitive parliamentary election since 1980. They recently rejected a referendum that would have increased Mugabe's powers. This vote demonstrated the widespread disaffection with corruption, fuel shortages, high inflation, and unemployment, as well as military intervention in Congo which is sapping the treasury of needed dollars.