|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Not
possible to hold free and fair elections in Zimbabwe under present
circumstances
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
June 20, 2008
The Executive Committee
of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) met today in Geneva. It adopted
the following statement:
The PU Executive Committee
met today in Geneva to review several urgent issues. It held an
extensive discussion on the situation in Zimbabwe in the light of
the declaration issued at its recent Assembly in Cape Town.
On that occasion, the
world parliamentary community called on the Zimbabwe authorities
to release immediately all election results, lift all restrictions
on freedom of assembly and speech in Zimbabwe immediately, and exercise
restraint in maintaining peace. It also urged that the newly elected
parliament be convened as soon as possible so that the people of
Zimbabwe were not deprived of their rightful voice in the government
of their country.
The Executive Committee
is dismayed that no action has been taken to this end. On the contrary,
the newly elected parliament has still not been convened, freedom
of speech and assembly does not exist and growing violence mars
the current election campaign.
The IPU Executive Committee
condemns the widespread violence which includes the murder of opposition
members, as well as attacks against newly elected opposition parliamentarians
and their arrest and detention. It deplores the public intimidation
in general which seems to be directed almost exclusively against
the opposition.
The Committee expresses
serious concern at the public statements repeatedly made by the
current President of Zimbabwe, and many others in government, claiming
that they would not relinquish power regardless of the outcome of
the elections.
The Executive Committee
reminds the authorities of Zimbabwe that free and fair elections
can only take place in Zimbabwe - as indeed in any other country
- if each candidate is committed to respect the law, refrain from
acts of intimidation and violence, and accept the outcome of the
elections. The Committee recalls no one is above the law; indeed,
all are equal before the law.
The Executive Committee
expresses deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation
in the country. It reminds the Zimbabwean authorities of their obligation
as a Member State of the United Nations to guarantee all needy populations
unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance based on the principles
of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity. Humanitarian
assistance must under no circumstances be used for political ends
to influence the elections.
The Executive Committee
believes that it is not possible to hold free and fair elections
in Zimbabwe under the present circumstances and that any claim to
the contrary would not be in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe
or the international community. The Committee therefore makes an
urgent plea to the Zimbabwean authorities to work with the African
and international communities to restore respect for the rule of
law in order for free and fair elections to be held in the country.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
