1. (C) SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE ANTHONY GUBBAY TOLD
USAID HARARE DIRECTOR DEPP THAT AT 11:00 AM NOVEMBER 24
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION WAR VETERANS
ASSOCIATION BROKE INTO THE SUPREME COURT'S HEARING
CHAMBER AND STAGED AN UNRULY DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE
COURT. THE JUSTICES WERE SCHEDULED TO RENDER A
JUDGMENT, OSTENSIBLY ON THE CONTINUING ILLEGAL LAND
OCCUPATIONS, THAT MORNING. THE VETERANS KNOCKED DOWN A
SECURITY OFFICER AND SENT A WOMAN EMPLOYEE OF THE COURT
FLYING AS THEY FOUGHT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CHAMBER. WE
LEARNED FROM MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE ADVISOR CLIVE
PUZEY THAT SENIOR COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION OFFICIAL DAVID
HASLUCK WAS FORCED TO FLEE THE SCENE THROUGH A KITCHEN
WINDOW.



2. (C) THE SUPREME COURT JUDGES WERE IN THE ROBING
CHAMBER AT THE TIME THE DISTURBANCE BEGAN. HAD THE
DEMONSTRATORS WAITED A FEW MORE MINUTES THEY WOULD HAVE
FOUND THE JUDGES SEATED AND HEARING ARGUMENTS. IT TOOK
FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR POLICE TO ARRIVE AND DISPERSE THE
DEMONSTRATORS, ACCORDING TO GUBBAY. NONE OF THE JUSTICES
WERE HARMED AND THE SESSION WAS IMMEDIATELY CANCELED. THE
COURT CLOSED ITS DOORS AND A TENSE CALM PREVAILED AROUND
THE COURTHOUSE AT MID-AFTERNOON. CHIEF JUSTICE GUBBAY,
DETERMINED NOT TO YIELD TO INTIMIDATION, APPEARED ON TIME
FOR A 2:00 PM SPEECH OUTSIDE THE COURT, WHICH HE DELIVERED
SEEMINGLY UNRUFFLED.
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