INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003029 SIPDIS AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY LONDON FOR PFLAUMER PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EU ZI SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS TOLD DIPLOMATS JUNE 5, FOLLOWING A FACT-FINDING MISSION, THAT THEY HAD FOUND "CLEAR OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC TORTURE" IN ZIMBABWE THAT IS ELECTION-RELATED. AFTER EXAMINING TEN PURPORTED VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE BY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS, THE TEAM DETERMINED THAT THEIR ALLEGATIONS WERE CREDIBLE. THEY SAID THAT SOME VICTIMS HAD BEEN TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL FACILITY OWNED BY WAR VETERAN LEADER CHENJERAI "HITLER" HUNZVI, ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT PLAN TO NAME HUNZVI SPECIFICALLY IN THEIR PUBLISHED REPORT. THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THESE CASES AND OTHERS LIKE THEM, AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE SUCH AS FORCED REPUDIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, CONTRIBUTE TO A CLIMATE OF WIDESPREAD INTIMIDATION AND TRAUMA. THEY CALLED ON THE GOZ TO ADHERE TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE, ADOPT A POLICY OF REPARATION FOR VICTIMS AND APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF TORTURE. THESE FINDINGS CERTAINLY TRACK WITH THE DISTURBING INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING. END SUMMARY. MANDATE OF FACT-FINDING TEAM -------------- ¶2. (U) AT THE REQUEST OF THE AMANI TRUST, A LOCAL NGO THAT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z ASSISTS VICTIMS OF HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TORTURE IN ZIMBABWE, A TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS FROM THE COPENHAGEN-BASED INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR TORTURE VICTIMS CONDUCTED A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO EXAMINE ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD STATE-SPONSORED TORTURE. MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION, WHICH WAS LED BY INGE GENEFKE, A WIDELY RESPECTED DANISH NEUROLOGIST, WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS WERE IMPLICATED IN THE ONGOING ACTS OF TORTURE, AND ABOUT THE REPORTED DISRUPTION OF HEALTH CARE DUE TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION IN THE RUN-UP TO THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE DELEGATION MET IN HARARE AND BULAWAYO WITH VICTIMS, VICTIMS' ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS OF HEALTH WORKERS. DR. GENEFKE AND HER COLLEAGUES CONDUCTED AN EU-HOSTED BRIEFING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS JUNE 5 ABOUT THE TEN- DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION. THE DOCTORS PLAN TO ISSUE A REPORT IN SEVERAL DAYS. VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE -------------- ¶3. (U) THE DOCTORS EXAMINED SIX VICTIMS OF TORTURE IN BULAWAYO AND FOUR IN HARARE. THEY TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT, USING RELIABLE SCIENTIFIC METHODS, THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT ALL TEN HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE. THE PERPETRATORS OF THE TORTURE, ACCORDING THE TEAM, HAD NOT BEEN POLICE OR SOLDIERS, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT RATHER "REGULAR PEOPLE," INCLUDING WOMEN, WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT (AND ZANU-PF). PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS TEACHERS AND MEDICAL WORKERS HAD, THEY SAID, BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR TORTURE, A COMMON TACTIC CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z WHEN PERPETRATORS ARE SETTING OUT TO DESTROY A COMMUNITY. ¶4. (U) THE DOCTORS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL ONE CASE IN WHICH TWENTY MEN ATTACKED AN OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBER AT HIS HOME, BEATING HIM UNCONSCIOUS IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD. DAMAGE INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL WOUNDS, SUCH AS CIGARETTE BURNS AND INJURIES FROM BEATINGS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA INCLUDING THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD'S HOSTILITY TO HIS FATHER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT -- A COMMON, AND OFTEN LASTING, REACTION BY CHILDREN WITNESSING THE TORTURE OF A PARENT. ABUSES BY HUNZVI -------------- ¶5. (C) ACCORDING TO THE DOCTORS, THEY HAD RECEIVED "VERY CLEAR INFORMATION" THAT THE FOUR VICTIMS IN HARARE HAD BEEN TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL OFFICE RUN BY WAR VETERAN LEADER CHENJERAI "HITLER" HUNZVI, WHO IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT PLAN TO DISCUSS HUNZVI BY NAME IN THE REPORT, BUT WILL DISCUSS HIS INVOLVEMENT WHEN THEY REPORT BACK TO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS. ANTONY REELER, DIRECTOR OF AMANI TRUST, SAID THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED IN "DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS" BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL HEALTH GROUPS. HE NOTED THAT A SUPPORTER OF THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH OUTSIDE HUNZVI'S MEDICAL OFFICE. THE OFFICE HAS REPORTEDLY SINCE BEEN CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5883 PAGE 01 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W -------------- 600078 071026Z /38 P 071028Z JUN 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6221 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003029 SIPDIS AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY LONDON FOR PFLAUMER PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EU ZI SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE CLOSED FOLLOWING PUBLIC PROTEST OF THE CRIMES BEING CONDUCTED INSIDE. MASS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE -------------- ¶6. (U) THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THEY HAD FOUND "CLEAR OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC TORTURE," WHICH INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL TORTURE AND THREATS AND INTIMIDATION THAT CONSTITUTE "MASS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE ON A VERY LARGE SCALE." EXAMPLES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE INCLUDE DEATH THREATS AND FORCING PEOPLE TO WITNESS THE TORTURE OF THEIR RELATIVES AND LOVED ONES. THE DOCTORS TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT INTIMIDATION SUCH AS FORCED ATTENDANCE AT POLITICAL RALLIES AND FORCED RENUNCIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS AND BELIEFS CAN LEAVE EMOTIONAL SCARS AS DEEP AS, AND MORE WIDESPREAD THAN, THOSE CAUSED BY PHYSICAL TORTURE. THEY ADDED THAT THEY HAVE OBSERVED PHENOMENON OF "SELF-CENSORSHIP" WHEREBY VICTIMS ARE UNWILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION. THIS SILENCING IS "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE COUNTRY." ¶7. (U) THE PERPETRATORS OF THE VIOLENCE, THE DOCTORS SAID, HAD TARGETED PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS. SINGLING OUT SUCH PEOPLE FOR TORTURE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT THE WHOLE SOCIETY. "TORTURE," THEY CONTINUED, "IS THE MOST CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z ATROCIOUS INSTRUMENT AGAINST DEMOCRACY." DISRUPTION OF HEALTH SERVICES -------------- ¶8. (U) THE DOCTORS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ON THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSION. IN SOME CASES, HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM PROVIDING TREATMENT TO VICTIMS. WAR VETERANS HAVE REPORTEDLY EXHIBITED THREATENING BEHAVIOR TOWARD HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING ASSAULTING AND RAPING NURSES. TWO NURSES WERE ABDUCTED WHILE WORKING IN A MATERNAL CARE WARD, DR. GENEFKE ASSERTED. SEVERAL VICTIMS OF TORTURE HAD SWITCHED HOSPITALS AFTER ENCOUNTERING COLD AND INDIFFERENT BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, THE DOCTORS MAINTAINED, WAS THE RESULT OF INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN INDIFFERENCE. SCALE OF VIOLENCE -------------- ¶9. (U) ASKED TO ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF TORTURE VICTIMS, ANTONY REELER OF AMANI TRUST SAID THAT NGO'S HAD IDENTIFIED ABOUT 100 VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE SO FAR. HE NOTED THAT THE ONLY VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN ABLE TO COME FORWARD WERE THOSE WHO WERE BASED IN OR HAD MANAGED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO URBAN AREAS. REELER BELIEVES THAT THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOUND TO NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS. RECOMMENDATIONS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z -------------- ¶10. (U) THE GROUP PLANS TO ISSUE A REPORT IN WHICH IT WILL RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT (GOZ): -- IMMEDIATELY ACCEDE TO THE U.N. CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE. -- APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. -- IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF REPARATIONS, COMPENSATION, AND REHABILITATION FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE. ABUSES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) MEMBERS OF THE FACT-FINDING MISSION ASKED THE DIPLOMATS FOR INFORMATION ON ABUSES OF THEIR NATIONALS. THE DIPLOMATS RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS: AMERICAN: AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN ZIMBABWE HAVE WITNESSED SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING SOME COMMITTED BY WAR VETERANS ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT HAVE NOT THEMSELVES BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5887 PAGE 01 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 60009B 071026Z /38 P 071028Z JUN 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6222 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003029 SIPDIS AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY LONDON FOR PFLAUMER PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EU ZI SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE BRITISH: SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF BEATINGS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INTIMIDATION AMONG BRITAIN'S 25,000 STRONG COMMUNITY. GERMAN: SEVERAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING TWO GERMANS (ORIGINALLY REPORTED AS SOUTH AFRICANS) TIED UP AND BEATEN IN APRIL. DUTCH: PSYCHOLOGICAL FEAR TACTICS AGAINST DUTCH FARMERS, INCLUDING BEING FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR WORKERS TO ZANU-PF RALLIES. ITALY: MANY ITALIAN FARMERS HAVE WITNESSED BEATINGS. ONE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE A MINING CONCERN HE OPERATED. SUSPECTED GOVERNMENT AGENTS QUESTIONED ASSOCIATES OF AN ITALIAN DOCTOR ABOUT HER POLITICAL ORIENTATION. ¶12. (C) COMMENT: THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL EXPERTS' FINDINGS TRACK WITH REPORTS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ON THE NATURE AND SCALE OF VIOLENCE HERE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. THESE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN SEVERAL CABLES. IT IS, OF COURSE, LIKELY THAT THE GOZ WILL IGNORE THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT. HOWEVER, THE OBJECTIVITY AND STATURE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MISSION GIVES INCREASED CREDIBILITY TO ALLEGATIONS OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE DAMAGING EFFECT OF SUCH ACTS NOT ONLY ON INDIVIDUALS BUT ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. OBVIOUSLY, THESE FINDINGS WILL HAVE VERY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. END COMMENT. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >