LAWYER'S MARCH ENDS IN VIOLENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000394

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
USAID FOR E. LOKEN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: LAWYER'S MARCH ENDS IN VIOLENCE

REF: HARARE 00383

Classified By: Charge Eric T. Schultz under Section 1.4 b/d

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (U) A May 8 march organized by the Law Society of Zimbabwe
to protest the arrest of two human rights lawyers, Alec
Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni (reftel),ended with violence
as riot police used batons to disperse and beat a crowd of
approximately 40. Police temporarily detained several of the
marchers, but they were released and there appear to have
been no arrests. The extent of any injuries remained
unknown. Post has provided recommended press guidance in
paragraph 6. End Summary.

--------------
Lawyer's Protest March Violently Disbursed
--------------


2. (U) Law Society President Beatrice Mtetwa called for the
march to deliver to Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa,
Attorney General Sobuza Gula-Ndebele and Police Commissioner
Augustine Chihuri a petition protesting the government's
arrest of Muchadehama and Makoni as a "direct attack" on the
independence of the legal profession.


3. (U) More than 40 lawyers gathered in judicial robes in
front of the High Court to start the march. Western
diplomats, including Embassy personnel, were present as
observers. As the start time of the march approached, the
officer in charge of the 20 or so riot police present ordered
the crowd to disperse or they would be beaten. When the
lawyers did not disperse he ordered his men to move in.
Initially the police made only a half-hearted effort to get
the lawyers to disperse. However, the officer in charge then
chased after the group shouting "I said charge them, I said
charge them." The police then began beating the lawyers with
batons.


4. (SBU) Law Society President Mtetwa told us that as the
initial beatings took place she and two other lawyers
attempted to proceed to the Ministry of Justice to deliver
the petition. Several police officers approached them, beat
them, and then forced them into a car. The police drove them
to the outskirts of town, had them get out of the car and lie
on their stomachs, and beat them on their backs. After
police left, Mtetwa and the two other sought medical
attention.


5. (U) Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) lawyers told
us after the march that several lawyers had been briefly
detained but that none were arrested. They did not yet have
information on the extent of the injuries suffered by the
marchers.

--------------
Comment and Recommended Press Guidance
--------------


6. (C) To our knowledge, this is the first time that
Zimbabwean lawyers have ever been publicly beaten by police.
As noted reftel, the government is crossing new lines in its

HARARE 00000394 002 OF 002


efforts to suppress all opposition. In order to draw
international attention to the government's continuing
abuses, we recommend the Department release a press statement
along the following lines:

&We deplore the Government of Zimbabwe's attack today on
lawyers protesting the detention this weekend of two human
rights lawyers. The government's assault on the legal
profession and the rule of law is part of its continuing
effort to suppress all opposition in advance of next year's
election. These actions are not conducive to the free and
fair election Zimbabwe needs to bring an end to its crisis.
We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to respect the rights
of all Zimbabweans, to respect the rule of law, and to allow
the legal profession to serve its important role unmolested.8
SCHULTZ