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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Statement
on upsurge in cases of organized violence and torture
Zimbabwe
Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
April 15, 2008
Since the election
on March 29th, up to the end of April 14th, members of the Zimbabwe
Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) have seen and treated
157 cases of injury resulting from organised violence and torture.
As of midday today April 15th, 30 of these patients remain in hospital.
One third of
the patients are women, including a 15 year old girl who was abducted
with her mother from her home, made to lie on her front and beaten
on her buttocks. Her mother, who is pregnant, was similarly beaten.
Both mother and daughter required hospital admission.
The provinces
where the injuries were sustained include Manicaland, Mashonaland
East and West, and Masvingo. Of the 30 hospitalized patients, 15
are from Mudzi.
The commonest
injury observed was extensive soft tissue injury of the buttocks.
This results from prolonged beating with a hard blunt object. The
obvious visible sign is extensive bruising but there is often substantial
damage to tissues under the skin including muscle. Muscle destruction
of this nature can result in severe kidney problems.
Nine patients
sustained fractures (broken bones), almost all of the arms (ulna
and/or radius) and/or the hands (metacarpals and/or phalanges).
One man, who also had multiple abrasions of his back, had fractures
of both right and left radius, left ulna, and the 3rd and 4th metacarpals
of his right hand. These fractures are typical of "defense
injuries", resulting from the victim raising his or her hands
and arms to protect the face and upper body from assault. One patient
had a compound fracture of the left lower leg (tibia) resulting
from assault hard blunt object, directed at all parts of his body.
"Compound" means that broken bone is protruding through
the skin.
ZADHR condemns
the upsurge in violence recorded in the two weeks post the March
2008 Elections which has impacted severely on the individuals affected.
Some of the individuals sustained injuries that can lead to severe
permanent disability. We call upon:
- All political
parties to cease the use of intimidation, violence and torture
as a form of retribution or victimization
- All health
professionals to provide injured persons with the highest possible
standard of care regardless of their political affiliation.
- The Zimbabwe
Republic Police to take urgent measures to prevent further acts
of violence occurring.
- SADC, the
AU and the UN to engage with all stakeholders in Zimbabwe with
a view to bringing the current escalation in the crisis to an
end.
Visit the ZADHR
fact
sheet
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