Categories

Arrests in Zimbabwe – Mugabe thanks Gaddaffi

WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.

Original Post Date: 2002-04-07 Time: 21:30:45  Posted By: Jan

Source: yahoo.com (124)| April 7, 2002 (124)| Angus Shaw

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Sixty-four people arrested after police broke up protests against disputed presidential elections remained in custody Sunday and were denied access to their attorneys, a lawyer said.

Alec Machadehama, a lawyer for the umbrella organization of civic groups that organized Saturday’s protests, said he was denied access to the group’s leader Lovemore Madhuku and 29 others being held at the main Harare police station.

“They are still being detained. I am yet to see them,” he said.

Douglas Mwonzura, a spokesman for the National Constitutional Assembly, said 34 other demonstrators were being held in the provincial capitals of Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, also without access to legal advice.

Witnesses said many of those detained were beaten by baton-wielding police during their arrests.

Several were herded into the Harare police station with bruises and cuts and blood spattered on their clothes from baton blows, witnesses said.

In a crackdown on dissent against President Robert Mugabe, police blockaded strategic locations in the main towns to stop the demonstrations called by civic groups demanding democratic reforms.

Police spokesman Tarwireyi Tirivavi confirmed those arrested were accused of violating the Public Order and Security Act under which the protests were forbidden.

Under new sweeping security laws political gatherings of more than three people need to be authorized. Organizers of banned protests face up to two years in jail.

“We are trying to make arrangements so they can be brought to court” on Monday, Machadehama said.

Madhuku tried to coordinate protests from a taxi cab driving around Harare and was arrested while attempting to evade police, Tirivavi said.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has rejected Mugabe’s victory over its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in March 9-11 elections as rigged and tainted by political violence and have called for new elections.

Several independent observer groups said the elections were deeply flawed. The United States condemned the vote and the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies suspended Zimbabwe for a year.

Mugabe has rejected calls for another election.

The state Sunday Mail newspaper said ruling party loyalists were opposed to talks with the opposition being brokered by Nigerian and South African mediators in hopes of ending the nation’s political stalemate over the poll.

State radio said Sunday Mugabe traveled to Libya on Saturday for talks with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhaffi in which Mugabe thanked Libya for its support of his party.