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Ongoing Repression in Zimbabwe Demands a Clear Response
Oxfam Canada, Canadian Bar Association, Africafiles, Amnesty International Canada (English Speaking, Defence for Children International, Canadian Labour Congress
June 19, 2003

View the Background Summary that accompanies this letter

Hon. William Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pearson Building, Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario

Subject: Ongoing Repression in Zimbabwe Demands a Clear Response

Dear Mr Graham,

We the undersigned are writing to request a meeting with you to discuss the increasingly unstable and politically volatile situation in Zimbabwe.

We believe the Canadian government needs to take a more active stand to protect the fundamental rights of the citizens of Zimbabwe. As a leading member of the Commonwealth and a signatory to the Harare Declaration, Canada has an obligation to take a clear stand in defense of the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy.

To help Zimbabweans move towards a peaceful resolution of the current crisis, we respectfully suggest the Canadian government should:

• Appoint a Special Envoy to Zimbabwe, as it did with Sudan and Sierra Leone, to promote freedom of speech and assembly, a return to the rule of law, and ensure non-partisan distribution of critical humanitarian relief to civilians during the current food security crisis.
• Recognize and commend the peaceful democratic efforts of the Zimbabwean opposition which has worked hard to dissuade its supporters from the path of violence and retribution despite the government’s campaign of systematic repression and violence.
• Publicly hold the Zimbabwean government accountable for systematically resorting to a violent and illegal repression of the democratic opposition, civil society groups and whole communities.
• Take a leading role to mobilize the Commonwealth in defense of Zimbabwean democrats and their efforts to reinstate fundamental human rights in the country.
• Recognize, support and reinforce the key role played by African leaders, particularly South Africa, Nigeria and Malawi, to facilitate a national dialogue in Zimbabwe.
• Continue to work closely with other High Commissions and Embassies in maintaining an active and visible monitoring presence and to provide protection for human rights defenders under threat. This should include public statements that Canada will seek to ensure that all perpetrators of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe will be brought to justice.
• Increase support to civil society organizations in Zimbabwe, in order to clearly convey the message that Zimbabwe’s democratic civil society organizations are not alone in defending their fundamental human rights and their country’s democracy.

Given the critical situation in Zimbabwe (see attached Background Summary for more information), we urge you to make every effort to help stop Zimbabwe’s rapid decline into political and economic chaos and restore democratic governance and the just rule of law. It needs to be highlighted that this dire situation dramatically affects all Zimbabwean citizens, but particularly women and children.

We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you at the earliest opportunity to discuss this urgent matter further. We will be calling your office next week to hopefully arrange a meeting.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Cc Hon. Susan Whelan
Hon. Denis Paradis
Mr. Claude Laverdure
Mr. John Schram

For more information
Oxfam National Office
880 Wellington Street, Suite 400
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1R 6K7
613-237-5236; Fax 613-237-0524
www.oxfam.ca

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