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International Bar Association condemns police action against peaceful protesters in Zimbabwe
International Bar Association
April 01, 2005

The International Bar Association's (IBA) Human Rights Institute condemns the arrest of 257 peaceful women protesters, in Harare on 31 March. The women had gathered to pray for a peaceful end to Zimbabwe's elections, but were prevented from doing so by the police.

Lawyers representing the women told the IBA that during the arrests police used unnecessary force and violence, resulting in 30 of the women sustaining serious injuries. Included in those arrested, were children under the age of one year and women over the age of 70 years. All were held overnight without access to food, to their lawyers, or to their families. All the detainees have been charged with committing an offence under the regime's Miscellaneous Offences Act; a law which has often been used to obstruct freedom of association and assembly within Zimbabwe.

Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the IBA commented: 'This is yet another example of the vast chasm between the promise of the Southern African Development Community Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections and the reality of abuse which the people of Zimbabwe continue to endure. It is all the more extraordinary that this crackdown should be happening at a time when the regime is hoping to obtain international endorsement of this election. Zimbabwe presents the first real test to the SADC's determination to ensure that democratic standards are upheld within the region. The endorsement of a fundamentally flawed election will lead to a severe setback in the development of democracy in the SADC region.'

For further information and comment, please contact:

Gugulethu Moyo
Media Relations Adviser for Southern Africa
Mobile: +44 (0)7834 487326
E-mail: gugu.moyo@int-bar.org

Romana St Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
Mobile: +44 (0)7803 598284
E-mail: romana.daniel@int-bar.org

International Bar Association
10th Floor, 1 Stephen Street
London W1T 1AT, United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7691 6868
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7691 6544
Website: www.ibanet.org

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