Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HARARE74
2006-01-24 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS LATEST GOZ TARGET
how-toVZCZCXRO0094 RR RUEHMR DE RUEHSB #0074/01 0241143 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 241143Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9483 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1043 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0876 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1059 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0317 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0680 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1113 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3438 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0876 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1507 RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1258
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000074
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS T. WOODS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS LATEST GOZ TARGET
REF: A. KHARTOUM 166 (NOTAL)
B. STATE 8496
Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz, for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000074
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS T. WOODS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS LATEST GOZ TARGET
REF: A. KHARTOUM 166 (NOTAL)
B. STATE 8496
Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz, for reasons 1.
5 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The GOZ has stepped up its pressure against the
prominent local NGO Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
Police attempted to arrest the NGO,s Executive Director and
reportedly are still searching for him and another lawyer
involved with the independent radio station Voice of the
People (VOP). ZLHR has long been a thorn in the GOZ,s side.
Its most recent major effort was in pushing for the African
Commission on Human and People,s Rights resolution
condemning the GOZ. The increased pressure is likely a
result of the NGO,s efforts. End summary.
--------------
Manhunt for ZLHR Lawyers
--------------
2. (C) On January 23, Otto Saki from Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights (ZLHR) told poloff that on January 21, police
had visited the home of ZLHR Executive Director Arnold Tsunga
in order to arrest him as a trustee of Voice of the People.
Voice of the People is an independent radio station broadcast
from outside the country. In December, police raided its
Zimbabwe offices and subsequently arrested its director, John
Masuku, who was charged with illegally operating a radio
station. When police did not find Tsunga at home, they
arrested a ZLHR driver and a caretaker at his home for
obstructing justice. Police had said they would hold the
staff until Tsunga turned himself in. However, according to
a January 22 ZLHR press release, Tsunga's staff had been
released without charges when ZLHR lawyers intervened.
3. (C) Saki said that, as of early on January 23, Tsunga,s
lawyers were negotiating with the Attorney General,s office
for Tsunga to turn himself in. Because they feared a lengthy
detention if he turned himself in to police, they were trying
to arrange an immediate court appearance instead. Police had
also visited the home of another VOP trustee, Nhlanhla
Ngwenya, who was also absent from home when the police
arrived. ZLHR also reported that police had indicated they
would soon arrest another ZLHR lawyer, Tafadzwa Mugabe, who
works in ZLHR,s public interest litigation unit and has been
representing VOP, for failing to reveal the whereabouts of
the station,s trustees.
--------------
A Thorn in the GOZ,s Side
--------------
4. (SBU) ZLHR is one of the leading NGOs in raising awareness
of and combating human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
Domestically, ZLHR provides legal support to human rights
activists who have been detained, arrested, or abused by
police or other government agents. The organization conducts
human rights education workshops around the country. ZLHR
also pursues legal cases against the OZ for human rights
abuses, both in the domesticcourts and internationally when
domestic optionshave been exhausted. For example, ZLHR
pursued several cases against the government for itsactions
n Operation Restore Order.
5. (C) ZLR widely publicizes the regime,s human rights
vilations, both domestically and in regional and
iternational fora. ZLHR lawyers were instrumental i
HARARE 00000074 002 OF 002
crafting and lobbying for the African Commission on Human and
People,s Rights (ACHPR) resolution condemning the GOZ,s
human rights abuses. Most recently, a ZLHR lawyer was
participating in the civil society meetings held in Sudan in
the run-up to the AU meeting (ref A). On January 19, before
his attempted arrest, Tsunga had told poloff that as a result
of the ACHPR resolution, ZLHR was bracing for increased
government harassment.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOZ had previously refrained from direct attacks
on ZLHR, its staff, or its members. It is likely that
ZLHR,s involvement in VOP and with the ACHR resolution has
raised their profile enough to make them a target, joining
other leading civil society organizations, such as the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the National
Constitutional Assembly. The regime,s assault on civil
society seems likely to continue, and perhaps even intensify,
as the economy continues its meltdown and the regime grows
ever more desperate.
DELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF FOR DAS T. WOODS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS LATEST GOZ TARGET
REF: A. KHARTOUM 166 (NOTAL)
B. STATE 8496
Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz, for reasons 1.
5 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The GOZ has stepped up its pressure against the
prominent local NGO Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
Police attempted to arrest the NGO,s Executive Director and
reportedly are still searching for him and another lawyer
involved with the independent radio station Voice of the
People (VOP). ZLHR has long been a thorn in the GOZ,s side.
Its most recent major effort was in pushing for the African
Commission on Human and People,s Rights resolution
condemning the GOZ. The increased pressure is likely a
result of the NGO,s efforts. End summary.
--------------
Manhunt for ZLHR Lawyers
--------------
2. (C) On January 23, Otto Saki from Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights (ZLHR) told poloff that on January 21, police
had visited the home of ZLHR Executive Director Arnold Tsunga
in order to arrest him as a trustee of Voice of the People.
Voice of the People is an independent radio station broadcast
from outside the country. In December, police raided its
Zimbabwe offices and subsequently arrested its director, John
Masuku, who was charged with illegally operating a radio
station. When police did not find Tsunga at home, they
arrested a ZLHR driver and a caretaker at his home for
obstructing justice. Police had said they would hold the
staff until Tsunga turned himself in. However, according to
a January 22 ZLHR press release, Tsunga's staff had been
released without charges when ZLHR lawyers intervened.
3. (C) Saki said that, as of early on January 23, Tsunga,s
lawyers were negotiating with the Attorney General,s office
for Tsunga to turn himself in. Because they feared a lengthy
detention if he turned himself in to police, they were trying
to arrange an immediate court appearance instead. Police had
also visited the home of another VOP trustee, Nhlanhla
Ngwenya, who was also absent from home when the police
arrived. ZLHR also reported that police had indicated they
would soon arrest another ZLHR lawyer, Tafadzwa Mugabe, who
works in ZLHR,s public interest litigation unit and has been
representing VOP, for failing to reveal the whereabouts of
the station,s trustees.
--------------
A Thorn in the GOZ,s Side
--------------
4. (SBU) ZLHR is one of the leading NGOs in raising awareness
of and combating human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
Domestically, ZLHR provides legal support to human rights
activists who have been detained, arrested, or abused by
police or other government agents. The organization conducts
human rights education workshops around the country. ZLHR
also pursues legal cases against the OZ for human rights
abuses, both in the domesticcourts and internationally when
domestic optionshave been exhausted. For example, ZLHR
pursued several cases against the government for itsactions
n Operation Restore Order.
5. (C) ZLR widely publicizes the regime,s human rights
vilations, both domestically and in regional and
iternational fora. ZLHR lawyers were instrumental i
HARARE 00000074 002 OF 002
crafting and lobbying for the African Commission on Human and
People,s Rights (ACHPR) resolution condemning the GOZ,s
human rights abuses. Most recently, a ZLHR lawyer was
participating in the civil society meetings held in Sudan in
the run-up to the AU meeting (ref A). On January 19, before
his attempted arrest, Tsunga had told poloff that as a result
of the ACHPR resolution, ZLHR was bracing for increased
government harassment.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOZ had previously refrained from direct attacks
on ZLHR, its staff, or its members. It is likely that
ZLHR,s involvement in VOP and with the ACHR resolution has
raised their profile enough to make them a target, joining
other leading civil society organizations, such as the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the National
Constitutional Assembly. The regime,s assault on civil
society seems likely to continue, and perhaps even intensify,
as the economy continues its meltdown and the regime grows
ever more desperate.
DELL