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Violent
dispersal of peaceful demonstration of health workers by the police
Front
Line
November 20, 2008
Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe,
Office of the President,
Munhumutapa Building,
Samora Machel Avenue,
Causeway,
Harare, Zimbabwe
Your Excellency,
Front Line is
seriously concerned by reports received of violent police repression
of a peaceful demonstration of health workers at Parirenyatwa Hospital
in Harare, on 18 November 2008. The march had been organised by
health workers from Harare Central and Parirenyatwa Hospitals to
protest against the collapse of the public health system. They had
planned to march to the offices of the Minister of Health and Child
Welfare to present a petition calling for urgent action to be taken
to restore accessible and affordable health care in Zimbabwe.
According to
reports received, on 18 November 2008, at approximately 8:00 am,
heavily armed riot police prevented the protesters from proceeding
with their march from where they had gathered on Leopold Takawira
Street outside Parirenyatwa Hospital. The group then held their
protest within the grounds of Parirenyatwa Hospital for four hours
before riot police entered the hospital grounds at 11:45 am and
forcibly dispersed them, assaulting several health workers in the
process.
According to
health officials, Zimbabwe's public health care system is alleged
to be in a state of crisis. It has been paralyzed by drug shortages,
insufficient medical supplies, the withdrawal of maternity services,
poor infrastructure, equipment breakdowns and a serious outbreak
of cholera.
The hospitals
Harare Central and Parirenyatwa, where the health personnel in the
demonstrations are employed, are virtually closed. These health
workers have reportedly continued to attempt to deliver health services
despite the extremely challenging conditions of the current health
care system.
These events
represent the last of a series of cases of violent dispersal of
peaceful demonstrations by the police. On 27 October 2008, two peaceful
demonstrations, organised by the Women's
Coalition of Zimbabwe (WcoZ) and the Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU), to protest against the delayed
conclusion of the peace talks between Zimbabwe's three major political
parties were also violently dispersed by the police with tear gas,
baton sticks and dogs, resulting in over 100 protesters injured.
Front Line believes
that the aforementioned health workers were attacked as a result
of their legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular
the right to health and access to health care. Front Line is deeply
concerned that this repression appears to form part of a trend of
systematic use of force by the security forces against peaceful
demonstrations in Zimbabwe.
Front Line urges
the Zimbabwean authorities to:
- Carry out
an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the excessive
use of force by the police to disperse peaceful demonstrations,
and publish the findings of this investigation with the aim of
bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international
standards;
- Take all
necessary measures to guarantee compliance by the police with
international standards governing the use of force by law enforcement
officials, in particular the United Nations Basic Principles on
the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and
the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials;
- Guarantee
in all circumstances respect for the right to freedom of assembly
and for the right of everyone to promote and protect human rights
and fundamental freedoms in Zimbabwe.
Front Line respectfully
reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and
Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote
and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December
1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
defenders, their right to freedom of assembly and to carry out their
activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw
attention to Article 5(a): "For the purpose of promoting and
protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the
right [...] to meet or assemble peacefully", and to Article
12 (1): " Everyone has the right, individually and in association
with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations
of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
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