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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Strikes and Protests 2007- Save Zimbabwe Campaign
Canada
condemns Zimbabwe government's use of violence against protestors
and detention of opposition
Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada
March 14, 2007
View Save Zimbabwe
Campaign index
of images and articles
The Honourable Peter MacKay,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency, today made the following statement concerning
the violence that the Zimbabwean police force used against participants
in the gathering organized by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign on March
11 in Harare:
"Canada condemns the
Government of Zimbabwe’s continued disregard for democratic principles
and fundamental freedoms, such as the right to assembly, and its
increasingly violent repression of its citizens.
The use of ammunition against innocent and unarmed people is an
unacceptable response to the current economic crisis and the suffering
of Zimbabweans. I deplore the brutal police crackdown that led to
the death of a Movement for Democratic Change supporter and injured
several others. I extend my condolences to the families of the victims.
"Canada calls for the
immediate release of opposition Movement for Democratic Change party
leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, senior party officials
and National Constitutional
Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku, as well as all Zimbabweans
arrested during this police operation. I urge the Government of
Zimbabwe to provide immediate access to appropriate medical treatment
and to live up to its responsibilities for the safety of the detainees.
Canada denounces the brutal arrest, detention and alleged torture
in custody of these peaceful protestors. We also call for the revocation
of the three-month ban on rallies and demonstrations.
"We urge the Government
of Zimbabwe to abide by the Harare Principles and respect the rule
of law, the independence of the judiciary and the human rights of
the people of Zimbabwe. The crisis of governance in Zimbabwe can
only be overcome through dialogue, with the broad participation
of Zimbabwean society."
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