Aus wants Bennett freed
10/12/2004 14:11  - (SA)  

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Sydney - Australia called on Friday for the release of a Zimbabwean opposition politician jailed for manhandling a government minister, saying the case showed President Robert Mugabe's "flagrant disregard for democratic principles".

Foreign minister Alexander Downer said the incarceration of opposition MP Roy Bennett, for pushing Zimbabwe's justice minister during a heated parliamentary debate last May, was part of a persecution campaign against the outspoken white lawmaker.

Downer said Bennett's offence should have attracted a maximum penalty equivalent to $22 under Zimbabwean law but instead he was imprisoned for 12 months by a government-dominated parliamentary committee.

"This incident follows four years of relentless political persecution of Mr Bennett," Downer said in a statement. "During this time, he has been arrested, assaulted and evicted from his home.

"His wife has been held hostage, two men who worked for Mr Bennett have been murdered by members of the security forces and two young female workers have been raped."

Downer said Mugabe had publicly threatened Bennett and encouraged supporters of his ruling Zanu-PF party to force him from his constituency.

"Mugabe's flagrant disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law has brought only hardship and suffering to the people of Zimbabwe," Downer said.

"The Australian government demands the immediate release of Mr Bennett and an end to all further persecution against him, his family, friends, workers and colleagues."

Zimbabwe was suspended from the 54-nation Commonwealth in March 2002 after Mugabe was re-elected in polls widely condemned as fraudulent.

- AFP

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