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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Strikes and Protests 2007- Save Zimbabwe Campaign
Zimbabwe
statement at the commencement of the 4th session of the United Nations
Human Rights Council
Ambassador C Chipaziwa, Government of Zimbabwe
March
15, 2007
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Campaign index
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Mr. President,
We are concerned
by the change of tone for the worse as we join others at the commencement
of this session of the Human Rights Council. We do, however, welcome
the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report in which among other
noteworthy points, she indicates the appointment of a Human Rights
Officer within the United Nations structures in our country. We
have nothing to hide and will work cooperatively with that officer
should a professional disposition be evident.
Some members of
this august body yesterday took it upon themselves to pass judgement
on the developments around the attempt to hold an illegal political
rally on 11 March 2007 in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital. The facts,
simply put, are that the leaders of the main opposition grouping,
the MDC, led their riotous devotees in a march to disrupt peace
and prove to their foreign sponsors that they were a force to be
reckoned with. The mob overpowered a small police outpost and reinforcements
were called in. There ensured physically violent exchanges and many,
including some police officers, were hurt and subsequently hospitalized.
The opposition leaders, Messrs Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai,
were among those injured. Regrettably one demonstrator lost his
life. In any event, the matter is now sub judice.
We witness in
Zimbabwe the re-emergence of "undertaker diplomacy" wherein
some Western envoys pay Africans to turn on one another and this
then allows them to shout "see how savage these Africans are".
The people of Zimbabwe will not allow paid mobs to substitute the
ballot box. No one will be allowed to be above the law.
While the opposition
called their sponsored street thuggery and mayhem, a "prayer
meeting", a real prayer meeting did take place in another part
of Harare without incident.
Mr. President,
We look forward
to full engagement in the work of the Human Rights Council. Just
to reach-out to my United Kingdom colleague who characterized as
"extraordinary" my Minister’s statement, what I find extraordinary
is that he is not aware of the "extraordinary deeds of his
government’s agents in my country" and elsewhere … Disingenuous?
Thank you
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