Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HARARE533
2007-06-15 11:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
STATE CASE IN PETROL BOMB ATTACKS CONTINUES TO
how-toVZCZCXRO6375 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0533/01 1661101 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151101Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1602 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1630 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1497 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1634 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0900 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1262 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1690 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4102 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1459 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2120 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0759 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1851 RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7// RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/DOB/DOI// RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000533
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: STATE CASE IN PETROL BOMB ATTACKS CONTINUES TO
CRUMBLE
REF: HARARE 241
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000533
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: STATE CASE IN PETROL BOMB ATTACKS CONTINUES TO
CRUMBLE
REF: HARARE 241
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The GOZ's case against 32 MDC activists accused of
carrying out March 13 petrol bomb attacks continued to
crumble last week as the state withdrew the charges against
thirteen of the accused. MDC Election Coordinator Ian
Makone, along with six others, was released on June 7 after
spending more than 60 days behind bars. Twenty further
activists accused in the case remain in state custody.
According to the defense, the arrestees were beaten in
custody and denied medical attention. End Summary
--------------
Court Frees Makone and Six Others
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 7, lower court Magistrate Gloria Takundwa
ordered the release of Makone, Luke Tamborinyika and 11 other
MDC activists who had been accused of carrying out petrol
bomb attacks in Harare, Gweru, Mutare and Chitungwiza on
March 13 (reftel). Magistrate Takundwa found that the GOZ
had failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the
charges. Of the thirteen, seven were immediately released.
The other six face additional charges and remain in
detention. Among them is MDC MP for Glen View Paul Madzore,
accused of receiving &training as a bandit, saboteur,
terrorist or insurgent8 in South Africa. Lawyers for these
six and 14 other remaining detainees have filed several court
applications for their release. (Five other detainees had
already been released quietly in past weeks.) Judgments on
these applications are expected on June 18, 2007.
--------------
Physical Well-Being ) Ongoing Concern
--------------
3. (SBU) Lawyers for the accused told pol assistant that all
of the detainees had been beaten by state agents while in
custody. All had subsequently requested medical attention,
but only MDC deputy national organizing secretary Morgan
Komichi was provided treatment; he was admitted to a private
hospital where he is still being held under close prison
guard.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) The GOZ,s "fishing expedition" is beginning to work
against it. The failure to present incriminating evidence
indicates that the Government never had a case to begin with.
It also lends credence to the defense's contention that the
state itself carried out the attacks and then used them as a
cover to harass and intimidate key opposition officials.
There is some uncertainty about the exact number of detainees
HARARE 00000533 002 OF 002
and charges, as the case has been shrouded in confusion and
uncertainty from the start. Nevertheless, local human rights
attorneys are fairly confident that it will collapse in the
Government's face.
DELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: STATE CASE IN PETROL BOMB ATTACKS CONTINUES TO
CRUMBLE
REF: HARARE 241
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The GOZ's case against 32 MDC activists accused of
carrying out March 13 petrol bomb attacks continued to
crumble last week as the state withdrew the charges against
thirteen of the accused. MDC Election Coordinator Ian
Makone, along with six others, was released on June 7 after
spending more than 60 days behind bars. Twenty further
activists accused in the case remain in state custody.
According to the defense, the arrestees were beaten in
custody and denied medical attention. End Summary
--------------
Court Frees Makone and Six Others
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 7, lower court Magistrate Gloria Takundwa
ordered the release of Makone, Luke Tamborinyika and 11 other
MDC activists who had been accused of carrying out petrol
bomb attacks in Harare, Gweru, Mutare and Chitungwiza on
March 13 (reftel). Magistrate Takundwa found that the GOZ
had failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the
charges. Of the thirteen, seven were immediately released.
The other six face additional charges and remain in
detention. Among them is MDC MP for Glen View Paul Madzore,
accused of receiving &training as a bandit, saboteur,
terrorist or insurgent8 in South Africa. Lawyers for these
six and 14 other remaining detainees have filed several court
applications for their release. (Five other detainees had
already been released quietly in past weeks.) Judgments on
these applications are expected on June 18, 2007.
--------------
Physical Well-Being ) Ongoing Concern
--------------
3. (SBU) Lawyers for the accused told pol assistant that all
of the detainees had been beaten by state agents while in
custody. All had subsequently requested medical attention,
but only MDC deputy national organizing secretary Morgan
Komichi was provided treatment; he was admitted to a private
hospital where he is still being held under close prison
guard.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) The GOZ,s "fishing expedition" is beginning to work
against it. The failure to present incriminating evidence
indicates that the Government never had a case to begin with.
It also lends credence to the defense's contention that the
state itself carried out the attacks and then used them as a
cover to harass and intimidate key opposition officials.
There is some uncertainty about the exact number of detainees
HARARE 00000533 002 OF 002
and charges, as the case has been shrouded in confusion and
uncertainty from the start. Nevertheless, local human rights
attorneys are fairly confident that it will collapse in the
Government's face.
DELL