[AU-Monitor] Fwd: Zimbabwe-Jenni Williams arrested again

[Firoze Manji]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Abderrahim Sabir" <sabir at partnersforhr.org>
> Date: 30 November 2006 06:49:39 pm GMT
> To: "CERDH Centre for Human Rights" <cerdh_info at yahoo.fr>
> Cc: ba at trustafrica.org, breyten.breytenbach at goreeinstitute.org,  
> ebrima.sall at codesria.sn, ared at enda.sn, feedback at panapress.com,  
> ntanko at osiwa.org, fas-ong at sentoo.sn, raddho at telecomplus.sn,  
> buringuriza at trustafrica.org, klane at usaid.gov, lfranchett at usaid.gov,  
> waripnet at sentoo.sn, sniass at yahoo.fr, agnesmarcelle at yahoo.com,  
> cerdh at best.cd, kaari at iconnect.co.ke, isis at starcom.co.ug,  
> jabril at crdsomalia.org, safcdasudan at yahoo.com,  
> adebajo at ccr.uct.ac.za, palmartins at saferafrica.org, rally at mott.org,  
> nkiwatct at unisa.ac.za, sesayamadu at yahoo.com, firoze at fahamu.org,  
> ja at justiceafrica.org, ghirmazion at hbfha.com,  
> djingarey at afribone.net.ml, abdelfataumusah at yahoo.co.uk,  
> sabir at partnersforhr.org, advocacy at femnet.or.ke,  
> musarose_ng at yahoo.com, teakon.williams at undp.org,  
> aidoo at trustafrica.org, elone at trustafrica.org
> Subject: Zimbabwe-Jenni Williams arrested again
> Reply-To: sabir at partnersforhr.org
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> Jenni Williams, one of the founders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, is  
> one of
> the world's most courageous and effective nonviolent activists,
> campaigning over the last several years for human rights in  
> Zimbabwe.  She
> has been arrested again, in the context of physical assaults by  
> police on
> women nonviolent demonstrators.  Below you will find two updates,  
> along
> with information about how to phone protests to the Bulawayo Central
> Police Station.  We urge you to call them and demand her  
> unconditional,
> immediate release, and to tell them that the world is watching  
> their every
> move.  Please also forward this alert to others who you believe  
> will be
> interested.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Abderrahim
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ----------
>
> From: Woza Zimbabwe [mailto:wozazimbabwe at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Thu 11/30/2006 7:32 AM
> To: wozazimbabwe at yahoo.com
> Subject: URGENT APPEAL - THREAT TO JENNI WILLIAMS
>
> WOZA Update
> 4.30pm Thursday
>
>
>
> Six mothers and babies have been released from Bulawayo Central Police
> Station whilst the other 30 members remain in custody. The group  
> has been
> charged under two separate sections of the Criminal Law  
> (Codification and
> Reform) Act: Chapter 46 section 2
>
> (v) - ‘employing any means whatsoever which are likely materially to
> intefere with the ordinary comfort, convinience, peace or quiet of the
> public, or does any act which is likely create a nuisance or  
> obstruction’
> and Chapter 37 – ‘participating in a public gathering with the  
> intent to
> cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry’. If found  
> guilty, the
> members could be fined or imprisoned for a period not exceeding six  
> months
> or both. It is hoped that they will appear in court tomorrow but it is
> unclear at this stage when that will take place.
>
>
>
> It has also emerged that another group of 10 young female members were
> taken to the starting point of the demonstration yesterday after being
> arrested and were assaulted whilst being made to pick up flyers. There
> were then released. This brings the number to 51 of members that were
> arrested, assaulted and then released.
>
>
>
> Those that were beaten yesterday continued to receive medical  
> treatment,
> mostly for injuries caused by beating. The woman whose leg was  
> broken was
> treated by an orthopaedic surgeon and it is likely that her ankle is
> permanently damaged. It also appears that the baby injured  
> yesterday has
> broken her leg. Another woman needed urgent treatment after collapsing
> outside the police station yesterday – she had been kicked in the  
> chest by
> a booted police officer whilst lying on the ground.
>
>
>
> Advocate Dube, who had been threatened with arrest earlier today,  
> managed
> to see the group this afternoon and reports that morale remains high
> despite the grave situation that they are in. Jenni Williams  
> remains with
> the rest of the group and it does not appear that the threats  
> against her
> have been carried out.
>
>
>
> More details will be given when they emerge.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ----------
>
> Woza Update
> 2pm Thursday 30th
>
> URGENT APPEAL – THREAT TO JENNI WILLIAMS
>
> The 36 WOZA/ MOZA members arrested yesterday remain in police  
> custody. It
> has emerged that there have been threats to separate Jenni Williams  
> from
> the rest of the group in order to severely beat her or worse.
> WOZA’s lawyer has also been threatened with arrest, for  
> “interfering with
> the course of justice” whilst trying to attend to her clients.
>
> You are requested to call Bulawayo Central Police Station and let them
> know that the world is watching and will not tolerate further  
> assaults on
> WOZA members. Their numbers are +263 9 72515, 61706, 63061,
> 69860.
>
>
>
> -------
> Abderrahim sabir
> Executive Director
> Partners for Human Rights
> Tel: +(202)701-7654
> Fax: +(202)274-0783
> www.partnersforhr.org
>