PRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ACTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 033284

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: UNHCR PHUM PREL ZI
SUBJECT: PRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ACTIVE
OBSERVERS TO TAKE URGENT ACTION IN RESPONSE TO EVENTS IN
ZIMBABWE

REF: GENEVA 633 (NOTAL)

Classified By: DRL DAS Erica Barks-Ruggles. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: The United States believes the UN Human
Rights Council (HRC) must respond to the extremely brutal
attacks -- which resulted in at least one death -- by
Zimbabwean authorities against opposition members during and
after a peaceful prayer meeting on March 11. Posts are
instructed to demarche host governments at political director
or equivalent level, in support of a response to these abuses
by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). In addition, posts are
requested to deploy as soon as possible a robust public
diplomacy strategy, to encourage local media to run pieces on
the situation in Zimbabwe and the Human Rights Council's role
in addressing it (but without associating these pieces with
the U.S. efforts). Summary.

Background
--------------


2. (U) Democratic opponents of the Mugabe regime gathered
peacefully in a Harare suburb for a prayer meeting on March
11, and were brutally attacked by government security forces.
At least one person was killed, and others - including
children - were wounded. Over a hundred people were
arrested. Among others, Morgan Tsvangirai - a leader of the
Movement for Democratic Change - was severely beaten after
being detained. The full extent of Tsvangirai's injuries has
not been confirmed, but he suffered serious injuries,
including a skull fracture, for which he is now being treated
in intensive care. Many of those who were arrested and
assaulted by the police on March 11 remain in the hospital.
The High Court ordered medical attention for those who had
been beaten while in custody of Zimbabwe's authorities only
after the High Court ordered they be brought before the court
on March 13.


3. (U) The funeral for the slain opposition activist Gift
Tandare will be held on Monday, March 19. Morgan Tsvangirai
said he intends to participate in the event if he is
physically able to do so. The U.S. has called on the
Government of Zimbabwe to exercise restraint at the funeral
and to respect the democratic rights of the people of
Zimbabwe to assemble and express their views peacefully.


4. (U) The United States has strongly condemned the
disgraceful abuse and mistreatment the detainees received at
the hands of the police and has called on the Government of
Zimbabwe to investigate and prosecute those responsible for
this outrage. Secretary-General Ban, UK Foreign Secretary
Beckett, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Arbour, EU
officials and others have joined in this international call
for the respect of human rights in Zimbabwe. U.S. officials
continue to monitor the situation carefully and will work to
insist that the victims receive proper medical treatment and
legal counsel.


5. (U) The USG believes strongly that the Human Rights
Council (HRC),the UN's premier human rights body, has a
responsibility to act when confronted by egregious human
rights violations, notably as gross violations are emerging.
The Council is currently in session in Geneva, which
facilitates its taking action on Zimbabwe now. Individual
HRC members (e.g., the UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia)
have issued individual statements on the situation in
Zimbabwe already, but a response from the HRC as a whole is
warranted. British Foreign Secretary Beckett, in particular,
has also called on the HRC to "look into the situation in
Zimbabwe urgently" as has Australia.


6. (C) There are several alternatives for HRC action on
Zimbabwe. These include: a statement by the President of the
Council (which would require the consensus of all 47
members),a Special Session (which would require 16 sponsors
on the HRC),and a resolution (24 needed to pass). The U.S.
and UK Delegations in Geneva have coordinated closely and
believe that a resolution is the best option for action,
since the unanimity required for a Presidential Statement
would likely water it down beyond use. However, posts should
not/not share with host government at this time the ultimate
objective of a resolution by the HRC on Zimbabwe (exception
is Canberra, which already knows and is working to support
the strategy). It's important not to mention the possibility
of a resolution now because we want to avoid any potential
for a backlash to this sensitive proposal. Our mission in
Geneva is also working to build support for a nearly
concurrent resolution on Sudan, opposed by several Africa
Group members. Early ann
ouncement of our hope for a resolution could damage prospects
for a Sudan resolution given Africa Group politics. Instead,
we seek to consult and build consensus over coming days with
key partners, including democracies either on the HRC or
engaged as active observers there. Once we have laid the
groundwork with demarches, outreach in Geneva, and strategic
calls from Washington as needed, the UK - working with our
delegation -- plans to unveil a draft resolution in Geneva
on/about March 22, as the tabling deadline for draft
resolutions is March 23.


7. (U) (Note: The United States chose not to run for
membership on the Human Rights Council in its initial year,
2006-7, due to concerns that the body and its membership
would not represent enough of an improvement over the deeply
discredited body it replaced, the Commission on Human Rights.
The HRC's record in its first year has been a major
disappointment, with the body issuing eight resolutions
condemning Israel, taking only weak action on Sudan, and
addressing no other country-specific issues. For these
reasons, the U.S. recently announced we will not run for
membership in the HRC's second year, 2007-8, either, but has
committed publicly to remaining as an active observer there.
End Note) End Background.

Objectives
--------------


8. (U) Posts should:
-- Express serious concern about the brutality of the
attacks, noting
that we are not seeking to pillory the government of Zimbabwe
but that threats, physical beatings and arbitrary detention
of citizens engaging in peaceful activities must stop.
-- Raise the seriousness of the security situation in
Zimbabwe, emphasizing that further instability or violence in
Zimbabwe has the potential to spill over to neighboring
countries.
-- Urge host governments that have not already done so to
condemn the barbaric events in Zimbabwe.
-- Indicate that the Human Rights Council was created
specifically to address urgent situations such as this on
behalf of the international community as a whole, and that it
has a responsibility to address this matter in the face of
such atrocities.
-- Note that a failure by the HRC to address this urgent and
pressing human rights matter would raise further doubts about
the body's credibility, particularly when viewed with its
deeply disappointing record to date. The Council must take
action on Zimbabwe - both to protect the rights of the people
of Zimbabwe and to protect its own future.
-- Solicit host country views on the human rights violations
in Zimbabwe and on possible action that the UN through the
Human Rights Council could take.
-- Ask host government to send instructions to their missions
in Geneva to support some sort of HRC action to address this
situation during the current HRC session (which runs through
March 30). Their delegations should be instructed to
coordinate closely with the U.S. delegation in Geneva to
coordinate strategy.

REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------


9. Embassy should report results of efforts by cable to
DRL/MLGA Julieta Noyes and IO/RHS Doug Rohn by OOB Wednesday,
March 21.
RICE