|
Act on Zim rights abuses - HRW
14/08/2007 22:33 - (SA)
Lusaka - Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged southern African leaders to send monitors to Zimbabwe to investigate the clampdown on the pro-democracy movement and the spiral of violence and intimidation against activists.
The message came ahead of the Southern African Development Community summit, taking place in Zambia on Thursday and Friday. Leaders at the summit were expected to discuss the worsening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
South African President Thabo Mbeki is due to report on his efforts to mediate between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Human Rights Watch said that southern African leaders should "insist on tangible improvements in Zimbabwe" and incorporate human rights concerns in the mediation talks.
'Western pawns'
It said the dispatch of monitors would be an "essential first step in protecting Zimbabweans from state brutality."
"The political and human rights crisis in Zimbabwe, which threatens to destabilise the whole region, is crying out for urgent and effective leadership," the report said.
Mugabe's government has used methods against critics that range from intimidation, threats and harassment to physical attacks and torture. Hundreds of activists have been arbitrarily arrested and beaten by police and other security agents, it said.
The report cited the example of the arrest and assault in police custody of more than 200 activists from the National Constitutional Assembly on July 25. This follows the arrest and torture of pro-democracy activists in March.
Attempts to reach Zimbabwean officials on Tuesday, a national holiday in Zimbabwe, were not immediately successful. However President Robert Mugabe has repeatedly said the use of force against opposition activists is justified, saying they are Western pawns intent on destabilising the country.
Human Rights Watch said southern African leaders should "send a clear, visible and unambiguous message" rejecting Zimbabwean government's policy of political repression and the unaccountability of its police, army and security forces.
It criticised the lack of action by the 14-member community in the past.
"Only by addressing the human rights violations in Zimbabwe can SADC hope to nurture a political and economic revival in the country," it said.
- AP
|
News
Zimbabwe Special Report
