Call to halt repression

g the past week as the Zimbabwean government intensifies its brutal clampdown.
“The repression and restriction of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association which puts into serious doubt Zimbabwe’s commitment to the rule of law manifests in the wanton disregard of court orders by the police and the shocking rise in the number of arrests and detentions of student leaders, teachers politicians and human rights activists, among them women and minors.
“More than 200 people were arrested during the week beginning 13 February 2007 in blatant violations of basic human liberties guaranteed under Section 13 of the Zimbabwean Constitution notwithstanding the charters, conventions and declarations, notably the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, to which Zimbabwe is a state party.”
Some victims of police actions were detained for more than the stipulated 48-hour period in filthy police cells, as lawyers battled to gain access to the activists, it said.