Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Freedom Defenders Under Attack In Zimbabwe


By Charles W. Corey
USINFO Staff Writer

Freedom Defenders Under Attack in Zimbabwe, United States Warns

As International Human Rights Day approaches on December 10, the world must be concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe -- where defenders of freedom are under attack and where the human rights situation is becoming worse every day, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs warns.

In Zimbabwe, under the government of President Robert Mugabe, "the attacks, arrests and abductions continue unabated with more than 500 instances of human rights abuses reported each month, Jendayi Frazer told USINFO November 30. "In fact," she added, "the number of victims requiring medial treatment this year alone was 3,463 -- nearly triple that of 2006. So ... the defenders of freedom in Zimbabwe are under attack."

Frazer noted that there have been more than 6,000 instances of human rights abuses reported by Zimbabwean nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) since January. "The world must focus on the crisis in Zimbabwe," she said.

Asked what should be done, Frazer said that "it is extremely important for the international community to put pressure on this [Mugabe] regime to accept freedom of expression rather than beating people down -- to prepare for free and fair elections.

"I think that the neighboring countries -- the Southern African Development Community countries -- certainly support the efforts of President [Thabo] Mbeki to negotiate an agreement between the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the [Mugabe] government, but we think that most important to signing an agreement is actually implementing an agreement."

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

However, Frazer said, "We have not seen that will being carried out by this [Mugabe] government, so we are a little bit concerned that even if an agreement is signed, it won't be implemented."

Looking ahead to the December 8-9 European Union-African Union Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Frazer said, "We are certainly concerned that the issue of Zimbabwe became a sticking point [in planning the conference]. We feel that Zimbabwe should not be invited to the EU conference but the fact that Zimbabwe will be discussed at the conference is extremely important in our effort to try to change the human rights abuses which are taking place there."

Frazer added, "It is interesting that African countries would seem to come to the defense of a government that is so counter to all of the principles that they put forward -- the New Partnership for Africa's Development, good governance, peer review -- clearly they are not reviewing this peer of theirs by pushing for his attendance at the summit."

Frazer spoke to USINFO prior to a scheduled appearance December 3 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on a program examining the ongoing human rights crisis in Zimbabwe.

Frazer called that CSIS program an "important forum for exchange to again look at how we can collectively work to see Zimbabwe return to democracy, return to its former strong economy [and] end the human rights abuses -- the ongoing crisis that is taking place there. .... I definitely think this is an opportunity to bring world attention to try to end President Mugabe's reign of terror on his population," she said.

"There are many in Africa who look at President Mugabe and the ZANU-PF legacy as advocates of liberation against the Rhodesian government and that certainly is a legacy that ... should be held up for commendation, but President Mugabe at the time opened schools for children," Frazer said.

"Now that they are adults and free thinking people, he is beating them down. So he really has gone back on that legacy. He has actually failed the people of Zimbabwe and he has failed the aspirations of liberation of the region as a whole -- so I do believe that again, hopefully the SADC mediation will help to end this crisis" and that the international community will continue to focus on improving the situation there.

"Freedom loving ... Zimbabweans that are trying to return their country to democracy deserve our support and our assistance and we certainly will provide it," she said.

ENDS

More: Latest World News | Top World News | World Digest | Archives

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.