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Protestors arrested during peaceful demonstration in Zimbabwe
Robert F. Kennedy
Center for Justice and Human Rights
September 13, 2012
http://rfkcenter.org/protestors-arrested-during-peaceful-demonstration-in-zimbabwe?lang=en
The Robert F.
Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights condemns the September
12 arrest and arbitrary detention of members of Women
and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) during a peaceful demonstration
in Bulawayo and strongly denounces the continued crackdown on freedom
of assembly and other basic human rights by the Zimbabwe Republic
Police Force (ZRP). The RFK Center views the continued harassment
of human rights defenders as a foreboding trend in Zimbabwe and
calls upon the Inclusive
Government to respect fundamental rights as enshrined in its
constitution and international law.
The demonstration, which took place outside the state-owned Chronicle
Newspaper, demanded a resumption of the country's stalled
constitutional reform process. Police arrested ten women -- and
later released each of them without charge -- including Programs
Coordinator Magodonga Mahlungu and National Coordinator Jenni Williams.
The demonstration came on the heels of earlier public activities
in the capital Harare, where WOZA members petitioned parliament
to take the country's draft constitution to the general public
and to set a date for a national referendum.
"The continued harassment of civil society in Zimbabwe is an
unacceptable violation of fundamental human rights, including freedom
of speech and assembly. The RFK Center is also gravely concerned
about increasing reports of torture by the police and the selective
use of violence against civil society actors," said Santiago
A. Canton, director of RFK Partners for Human Rights. "We
call upon relevant authorities to halt the continued persecution
of WOZA and other civic groups that represent key voices during
this critical time in Zimbabwe's history."
WOZA members have demonstrated peacefully against social injustice
for over a decade in Zimbabwe, focusing most recently on constitutional
reforms, including issues of gender equality and free education.
While WOZA has been a frequent target of authorities in Zimbabwe,
increasing numbers of other civil society groups have been facing
similar attacks. Most recently, police raided
the headquarters of the Gay
and Lesbian Alliance of Zimbabwe (GALZ), brutally assaulted
activists, and began procedures to shut down its operations altogether.
Also this week, a life skills workshop organized by the National
Youth Development Trust (NYDT) was barred from taking place
without legitimate reason.
The RFK Center urges Zimbabwe's Inclusive Government to act
immediately to halt the closing of democratic space in the country
and to investigate the blatantly unprofessional and partisan conduct
of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force. The RFK Center stands in
solidarity with WOZA and with all Zimbabweans who are actively and
bravely working to safeguard Zimbabwe's democratic transition.
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