IN ZIMBABWE today, there are more than 10,000 political prisoners, many of whom fave little chance of seeing the light of day before the "free elections" are held next month. Meanwhile the security forces continue to use the state of emergency martial law « inst renewed by british Groverthose in prison on political grounds.
These are some of the damning facts to emerge from a recent visit to Zimbabwe by a representative highly-respected concerned with the fate of political prisoners.
he Amnesty permission to visit political prisoners, but he did have lengthy talks with officials of the British administration. He found an appalling degree of ignorance and lack of concern with the fate of those who had suffered under the old administration.
The views of Soames' officials were almost entirely based upon what they had been told by Rhodesian government officials. made no efforts to themselves, Rhodesians for implementing their policies.
example. wean political dissidents have been executed in secret under martial law. of those rounded-up by the security forces don't know whether they are alive or dead. Amnesty found that the British had no details on this situation and officials refused to take steps LU Make available.
under British rule, but by and Amnesty International, organisation fat law They had ascertain the facts for and continued to rely upon the Soames since 1975 many ZimbabThe families of many publicly Similarly, the thousands prisoners are having their cases "reviewed officials of the old Rhodesian ministration! And it has been reported that the behaviour of political prisoners custody is being taken into account in deciding Amnesty points out that, under martial. law, powers of arrest were very widespread + for example, white farmers mobilised to assist could often arrest suspected of sympathising with the guerillas. It is therefore difficult to be certain how many people are being held without trial under marOfficial figures (and these estimates , clalm o‚ow, but amnesty lninks H could well be more. Similarly, the number of those who have been convicted of political crimes — often by martial law kangaroo courts is not clear, but Amnesty puts it betweeni 3,000 and 6,000.
For the most determined fighters of Rhodesian racism, those who have suffered the most trom the struggle (some of them have been in prison for more than 10 years), the Lancaster House agreement is thus no more than a piece of paper. Their scandalous - who undoubtedly does not want such 'dangerous' people roaming free while he is having his election -reactionary role of the British government.
Britain should get out of Zimbabwe and stop hindering the Zimbabwean people in their struggle to destroy talisill. free from the atrocities of the past, and build a new hife for themselves.
of political adwhile in anyone they are only treatment merely underlines the themselves ABEL MUZOREWA imprisoned thousands, who are still in jail to support their fellow workers in our country. At the moment the very minimum we need is publicity aboul the real situation and the continuity of the military regime. More information from: Nicaraguan Coordinating Committee, 20 Comp Terrace, London Latin American Bureau, 1 Cambridge Terrace, London N1.