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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Statement
on the arrest and detention of 44 GALZ members
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
August 12, 2012
GALZ deplores
the arrest of 44 members of GALZ who had attended the launch of
the GALZ
Violations Report and a briefing on the Second
Draft of the Zimbabwe Constitution on 11 August 2012 at the
GALZ offices.
Four police
officers attempted to gain entry into the premises before calling
for back up where about fifteen riot squad members descended on
the office and effected arrest. Thirty one men and thirteen women
members were detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station
on 11 August 2012. Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted
most of the members using baton sticks, open hands and clenched
fists before detaining them without charge.
Such use of
force is in direct contradiction to the Global
Political Agreement. Denying Zimbabweans the right to participate
in processes that compliment National efforts is an infringement
of the right to freedom of assembly and association.
It is the constitutional
obligation of state agencies to uphold all the rights of citizens
under the Declaration of Rights. GALZ calls on the state to immediately
refrain from the use of any form of organised violence and to refrain
from utilising violence of any sort in the pursuit of their political
interests.
GALZ does not condone
violence and we are not a threat. Those who cause violence are a
threat to public safety and security and we ask that they stay away
from our premises.
Visit the GALZ
fact
sheet
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