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Time to intervene
Veronique Aubert
March 28, 2007

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/veronique_aubert/2007/03/recently_we_have_seen_some.html

Recently we have seen some shocking human rights abuses being inflicted on hundreds of people in Zimbabwe, including the beating of Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition, the killing of political activist, Gift Tandare, and the arrest and unlawful detention of dozens of peaceful demonstrators, some of whom were badly beaten while being held.

Over the past few years thousands of Zimbabweans have experienced similar brutalities under the regime of systematic repression of all those who speak in opposition to the country's President, Robert Mugabe and his government. However for most of these people, the attacks against them have taken place far away from the media spotlight.

Conditions in Zimbabwe have increasingly worsened where, as well as the deterioration in economic and social conditions, the police have continued to operate in a politically biased manner. The government's introduction of the Public Security and Order Act (POSA) in 2002 has resulted in hundreds of opposition supporters, independent media workers and human rights defenders being arbitrarily arrested and in some cases beaten while in detention.

Amnesty International has documented incidents when this law has been misused to prevent civil society groups from holding public meetings. In September last year more than 100 women activists involved in Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested before a planned peaceful sit-in at Town House in Harare. Held in horrendous conditions at various police stations for two days, many of these women were denied access to lawyers, adequate food and medical care. Five babies were also detained with their mothers. Away from the media spotlight - the international community did not notice.

Now the world's media has been able to get footage of the brutal repressive regime of Zimbabwe's government in action, and attention is focused. Surely the African Union (AU) must now respond?

The United Nations secretary general and the UN high commissioner for human rights have urged Zimbabwe to respect human rights and US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice sent a powerful signal condemning the actions of President Mugabe's government.

Although international condemnation. has freely flowed, little action has followed.

For once, the AU has spoken out against the actions of President Mugabe, calling for human rights "to be respected". But this is far too weak a response when one considers the deteriorating human rights crisis currently unfolding in Zimbabwe. At best it amounts to little more than finger-wagging chastisement.

Accountability for human rights violations is central to the AU 's own Constitutive Act, and that body needs to show that it has the political will to hold the government of Zimbabwe to account for these atrocities.

The AU has a real opportunity to demonstrate that it has the necessary political will to do this. Otherwise, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the AU after all may not be entirely different from the defunct state-centred Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

As for South Africa's response, they have described the beatings of Morgan Tsvangirai to be "unacceptable". However the South African government's spokesman, Mr Maseko made it clear that South Africa has no intention of changing its approach to Zimbabwe's crisis, and that they will maintain their practice of "quiet diplomacy".

Surely last week's events were evidence enough that such behind-the-scenes negotiations are clearly not working?

Appropriate, strong action to stop these human rights abuses must be taken by all African Union member states immediately. Amnesty International is urging the AU to organise an extraordinary session of its Assembly to discuss this worsening situation in Zimbabwe and agree on an effective integrated response.

The people of Zimbabwe know that the African Union are aware of the brutal regime under which they exist, they are now desperate to hear from them.

* Veronique Aubert is Amnesty International's Africa Programme deputy director and covers issues affecting Zimbabwe.

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