MEDIA REACTION RAMSEY CLARK AND ZIMBABWE; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 002400 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: PREL PHUM ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION RAMSEY CLARK AND ZIMBABWE; HARARE ¶1. THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE" DEDICATED ITS AUGUST 9 EDITORIAL TO SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPOSED FREEDOM UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 02400 141301Z OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY BILL. THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL COULD BECOME LAW BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. UNDER HEADLINE "MOYO'S FUTILE WAR," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶2. "PERHAPS RAMSEY CLARK, A FORMER AMERICAN ATTORNEY-GENERAL, CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS MORE THAN MOST OF TODAY'S SCHOLARS WHEN, IN 1977, HE STATED: 'A RIGHT IS NOT WHAT SOMEONE GIVES YOU; IT IS WHAT NO ONE CAN TAKE FROM YOU-' AS ZIMBABWE FACES UP TO ITS MOST DEFINING MOMENT POLITICALLY, CLARK'S WORDS MUST SURELY TROUBLE ALL GOOD MEN AND WOMEN IN THE LAND AS A DESPERATE GOVERNMENT DECLARES A TOTAL ONSLAUGHT ON THEIR BASIC RIGHTS JUST TO CLING TO POWER. JONATHAN MOYO, ONCE THE GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF FOE AND NOW ITS MOST LOYAL PROPAGANDIST, IS LEADING WHAT HAS BECOME THE MOST VICIOUS CAMPAIGN EVER TO SILENCE ALL DIVERGENT VOICES, CRUCIALLY ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENT MEDIA, AHEAD OF A LANDMARK PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT THAT THREATENS TO BURY HIM AND HIS AGING (SIC) MASTERS. . MOYO HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE THROUGH HIS HIGH-HANDEDNESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE UTTERANCES ALL THAT IS WRONG AND BAD WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS UTTERLY FAILED ITS CITIZENS . . . NOW, AFTER WHIPPING UP A FRENZY OF EMOTIONS AGAINST ALL WHO WISH AND WANT TO SEE ZIMBABWE PROSPER AND BECOME PART OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD, HE IS RACING TO ENACT A LAW AGAINST THE MEDIA WHICH HE KNOWS RUNS COUNTER TO THE NATION'S BASIC FREEDOMS . . . LET IT BE KNOWN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S UNFETTERED RIGHT TO RECEIVE AND IMPART INFORMATION, WHICH HE IS SEEKING TO CURTAIL, IS A CARDINAL PLANK OF ANY DEMOCRACY AND CIVILIZED GOVERNANCE AND THAT ZIMBABWEANS DESERVE NO LESS AND NO MORE. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 02400 141301Z ¶3. "MOYO'S ATTEMPT TO GAG THE MEDIA AND TO PREVENT IT FROM DOING ITS NATIONAL DUTY OF HIGHLIGHTING ZIMBABWE'S GLARING INJUSTICES, LAWLESSNESS AND VIOLENCE, CORRUPTION AND OTHER ILLS WILL FAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO BASIS IN LAW. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ENTRENCHED RIGHTS (THAT) HE WANTS TO TRAMPLE UPON ARE GOD-GIVEN AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN SO. THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION . . . WILL BE FATALLY FLAWED IF THE NEW ANTI-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATION IS APPROVED . . . AS AMERICA'S INCOMING AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE, JOSEPH SULLIVAN, BLUNTLY TOLD THE GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK: I . . . WE CANNOT HAVE GOOD RELATIONS (WITH ZIMBABWE) UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT ACTS TO END VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION AND RESTORES THE RULE OF LAW AND RESPECTS THE FREEDOM TO OPERATE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING AN INDEPENDENT MEDIA, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE JUDICIARY . . .THERE YOU ARE MOYO. ALL ZIMBABWEANS AND THEIR TRUE FRIENDS AROUND THE GLOBE WANT THE SIMPLE BUT CRUCIAL THINGS TO BE DONE BUT YOUR GOVERNMENT COULD CARE LESS." WHITEHEAD UNCLASSIFIED >