MEDIA REACTION ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY BILL; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 002361 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY BILL; HARARE ¶1. UNDER HEADLINE "U. S. DEMOCRACY BILL DRACONIAN: IN WHOSE INTEREST IS THE LEGISLATION?," THE AUGUST 7 EDITION UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 02361 091342Z OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY 'THE HERALD' CARRIED A LENGTHY FEATURE ARTICLE THAT WAS CRITICAL OF THE BILL. EXCERPTS FOLLOW: ¶2. ". . .IN WHOSE INTEREST WAS THE BILL PASSED. . .? IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BILL HAS COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF PRESIDENT MUGABE'S UNCOMPROMISING STANCE ON THE LAND ISSUE, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS SAID, INCLUDING PERCEIVED VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND LACK OF RULE OF LAW, IS JUST A SMOKE-SCREEN TO COVER THE REAL PURPOSE OF THE BILL. THE CONTROVERSIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS MEANT TO PUNISH ZIMBABWE FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR ITS PEOPLE - REDISTRIBUTING LAND EQUALLY AMONG ALL CITIZENS IRRESPECTIVE OF COLOR, RELIGION OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. . . ." HOOKS UNCLASSIFIED >