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Labour activists, students and Mr. Mugabe’s political rivals face brutal consequences for thinking.
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Ottawa (1 March 2011) - President James Clancy for the Nation Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has written Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Canada to condemn the arrest and torture of 50 Zimbabwean student and trade union activists.
The arrests occurred after students and union activists gathered to protest and watch television footage of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
Alec Muchadehama, the activists' defence lawyer stated, “The matter has been characterized by delays right from the start... the matter has not been heard, adding to the delays by the police and the prosecutors.” He said his clients had been severely tortured, but the longer the matter takes to be heard, the more time for the medical evidence of torture to disappear as the wounds healed.
In the days following the arrests, Zimbabweans attempted to take to the streets to protest the treatment of those arrested but were fragmented and intimidated by police and army.
Human rights groups and Mr. Mugabe’s political rivals in the Movement for Democratic Change, which is part of a power-sharing government with him and his party, Zanu-PF, say the harsh treatment of the detainees is part of a broader escalation of violence, harassment and trumped up charges against Mr. Mugabe’s critics and political opponents before elections Zanu-PF wants to hold this year.
To support the free speech of Zimbabewan's activist community please print out and sign the letter below.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More Information:
Facebook Page - Calling for the release of Zimbabwean Activists
The NGO Network Alliance Project - an online community for Zimbabwean activists
Letter to President Robert Mugabe on the 45 arrested students and trade unionists - download pdf