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Zimbabwe: Rights under Siege
by Amnesty International
5:27pm 9th May, 2003
 
There has been an alarming escalation in politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe in the last three years. Officials and supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), independent media workers and members of Zimbabwe's civil society have been subjected to widespread human rights violations which include: harassment, arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, torture and denial of right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. The police, ruling party supporters, youth "militia" and other state agents remain the main perpetrators of the violence and intimidation. According to the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, there were over 1,046 reported cases of torture and at least 58 politically motivated deaths in 2002 alone.
  
Since 2001, the authorities have used new and amended legislation as a vehicle for suppressing dissent and placing the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly under siege. The police have used a number of provisions within this legislation to continually harass, arrest, ill-treat and torture with impunity those perceived to be against the government.
  
Amnesty International believes that the international community, in particular, African governments have a key role to play in using their influence to signal to the Zimbabwe authorities that the repression of fundamental rights is unacceptable.
  
Stanley Karombo a freelance journalist based in Mutare, Manicaland Province was arrested and charged on 19 March 2003 under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
  
Amani Trust a leading Zimbabwean human rights NGO which provides support to victims of torture has come under threat from state authorities who have used restrictive legislation such as the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act to silence individuals and organizations who oppose human rights violations.
  
Job Sikhala a Member of Parliament for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was arrested under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and tortured on 15 January 2003.
  
Geoff Nyarota, former editor of the independent Daily News, has been singled out and arrested six times for his reporting over the last two years. A warrant was issued for his arrest in February 2003. In October 2002 he was charged under POSA for allegedly publishing a "false" report.
  
Take Action!
  
Please send letters by airmail, fax or email to the Presidents of South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, calling on them to use their influence to encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to drastically repeal or amend legislation which violates internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
  
Dear President,
  
I am concerned about the spiralling human rights crisis in Zimbabwe. Officials and supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), independent media workers and members of Zimbabwe's civil society are being subjected to escalating harassment, arrest, ill-treatment and torture by the police, ruling party supporters and youth "militia" among others.
  
The Zimbabwean authorities have put into place restrictive legislation to suppress dissent such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Private and Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act. This legislation breaches regional and international guarantees of the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Police have used provisions of this legislation to carry out with impunity human rights violations against those they perceive to be supporters and members of the opposition.
  
The role of your government in engaging with the political situation in Zimbabwe is of vital importance. Please use your influence to bring all possible pressure to bear on the government of Zimbabwe to drastically amend or repeal all restrictive legislation and promote and respect the rights of Zimbabweans to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Your active engagement with the human rights situation in Zimbabwe is vital to protecting the fundamental human rights of Zimbabwe's citizens.
  
Yours sincerely
  
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