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Zimbabwe: Torture/Ill-treatment/fear of excessive use of force
Amnesty International
AI Index: AFR 46/019/2006
September 22, 2006

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460192006?open&of=ENG-2AF

Amnesty International is gravely concerned by an emerging pattern of human rights violations, including alleged torture and arbitrary detention, being perpetrated by police against hundreds of human rights defenders involved in peaceful demonstrations in recent days.

Demonstrations took place across the country on 11 September, 13 September and 20 September, led by civil society groups including Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA). On each occasion Amnesty International has received alarming reports that people have been arrested and detained as a consequence of exercising their right to peaceful demonstration. Some people have allegedly been severely beaten while in police custody, sustaining broken bones and head injuries.

As well as allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, Amnesty International has also received reports that detainees have been denied access to their lawyers and adequate food and medical care while in police custody. Some have been held in deplorable conditions, including overcrowded cells, for prolonged periods.

On 20 September, more than 15 NCA members were reportedly ill-treated, including being beaten with sticks, while in police custody after being arrested during peaceful demonstrations in the city of Mutare. The police reportedly did not provide any food for these detainees. In total, approximately 170 NCA members were reportedly arrested and detained following peaceful demonstrations in the urban centres of Mutare, Harare, Gweru and Masvingo.

Also on 20 September four NCA members were allegedly abducted about two hours before planned demonstrations by supporters of the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), as they were passing ZANU-PF offices. All four were allegedly beaten on the soles of their feet and held captive in ZANU-PF offices during the demonstrations before being released later that day.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On 14 September Amnesty International received credible reports that members of the ZCTU were severely beaten at Matapi Police Station in Harare following peaceful demonstrations. Hundreds of members of the ZCTU and WOZA were reported to be detained in Harare and other urban centres in Zimbabwe. Many were denied access to lawyers, adequate food and medical care.

On 11 September, over 100 WOZA members were reportedly arrested ahead of a planned peaceful sit-in at Town House in Harare, to protest against deteriorating services in Harare. Among those arrested and detained were allegedly five babies and their mothers, who were WOZA members, and a pregnant woman, who reportedly became unwell while in police custody. Many were detained for a prolonged period often in deplorable conditions. Amnesty International expressed serious concerns for the health and safety of all those detained (see UA 247/06, AFR 46/017/2006, 14 September 2006).

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