[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Zim petition

[Patrick Bond]

(I gather sign-ons for this are being accepted by 4pm today, to 
nicolef at osisa.org)

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT, THE FUTURE OF ZIMBABWE IS AT STAKE


Zimbabweans fight while SADC Watches in Silence: A Call to Action
 
We represent the many people within SADC who believe in lasting and 
democratic solutions to the crisis in Zimbabwe.  We issue this open 
letter to all citizens of this region, and in particular to our heads of 
state and government, members of parliament in the respective countries 
and senior leaders within the SADC and African Union Secretariats to 
take urgent action to end the crisis in Zimbabwe.
 
We learned with shock and dismay of the Zimbabwe state¹s attack on its 
citizens on Sunday 11 March 2007 which resulted in the death of Gift 
Tandare.  We are horrified to learn of the arrest and detention of 
dozens of civil society, church and opposition parties leaders at a 
peaceful prayer meeting that took place the same day.  Their subsequent 
detention without access to legal counsel and appropriate medical 
attention is cause for great concern.
 
We are outraged that not a single state within SADC and the AU has 
issued a statement decrying the situation and calling for the 
restoration of, and respect for, human rights in Zimbabwe.
 
For almost a decade the people of Zimbabwe have suffered under the 
unjust regime of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party.   Freedom of 
expression and assembly have been severely curtailed, virtually all 
independent media outlets have been shut down, and thousands of people 
have been dispossessed by an increasingly desperate party and its ruler.
 
For many years Zimbabwean activists have mounted protest actions and 
demonstrations, and have made it clear to the world that they aspire to 
live under a democratic dispensation.  Using non-violent means, the 
people of Zimbabwe have used all legitimate structures at their 
disposal: the courts, their parliament and the media, with little or no 
effect.
 
Today, in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, we, the people of this 
region, must say that enough is enough.  Our governments cannot continue 
to ignore this situation.  Millions of Zimbabweans are displaced and are 
no longer able to live in their once prosperous nation.  Millions more 
within Zimbabwe are hungry, sick and unable to access basic services.
 
If action is not taken now at the highest levels, there will be blood on 
the hands of all those states whose silence has aided and abetted 
Mugabe¹s regime.  The time for a softly-softly approach ¬ if there ever 
was one ¬ is over. 
 
Those who defend Mugabe imply that his opponents seek to overthrow the 
Mugabe regime.  This is simply untrue.  We firmly believe that the 
future of Zimbabwe lies in the hands of Zimbabweans themselves.  The 
future of Zimbabwe lies in national constitutional talks, in free and 
fair elections and in a return to the respect of human rights 
principles.  The role of the regional and continental community is to 
facilitate this process.
 
We therefore demand regional and continental intervention to ensure:
1.     Freedom of assembly, expression, opinion and association are 
respected;
2.     The media are allowed to operate freely;
3.     That the looming humanitarian crisis that prevents Zimbabweans 
from accessing basic     social services including food security, health 
care, water and sanitation, be averted.
 
We therefore urgently call upon all heads of state and government in 
SADC to ensure the following:
1.     An independent investigation into the death of Gift Tandare on 11 
March 2007 following     the police shooting in Highfield;
2.     The release of all political detainees in custody since the 
prayer meeting on 11 March     2007;
3.     Provision of quality medical attention to all those in custody;
4.     Access to legal counsel by all those in custody;
5.     Speedy resolution of this situation by the courts and compliance 
with court orders by the     police.
 
Furthermore, we insist that African governments use bilateral and 
multilateral means such as the SADC, African Union and the United 
Nations to urgently appoint and dispatch a high-level team of eminent 
persons to:
 
1.     Assess the situation on the ground in order to prevent more 
shootings and harm to the     general public,
2.     Develop a sustainable and inclusive diplomatic solution to the 
crisis;
3.    The holding of all-party inclusive talks.
 
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT, THE FUTURE OF ZIMBABWE IS AT STAKE
 
THE PEOPLE OF SADC

This initiative is supported by the following civil society orgnaisations:

1.         The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
2.         Legal Assistance Centre (Namibia)
3.    Namibia NGO Forum
4.    The Southern Africa Litigation Centre