Suppression of protest The police have used their extensive powers under the Public Order and Security Act as a weapon against opposition political parties, as well civic activists.32 The police seldom interfere with rallies and protest marches by ZANU (PF) and war veterans. Indeed the police often provide police escorts for these, and in some instances they have failed to intervene when the participants have engaged in acts of violence. On the other hand, the police have very frequently barred political rallies by the MDC and demonstrations by groups perceived to be critical of government, such as the Women of Zimbabwe Arise Organisation [WOZA] and the National Constitutional Assembly [NCA]. When protesters have tried to go ahead with peaceful marches despite police bans, there has usually been a massive police and army presence to thwart them and increasingly brutal measures have been used against the protestors. Many protesters have been arrested and charged under the Public Order and Security Act. These protesters have often alleged that they were beaten when they were in police custody. A protest called by the ZCTU in September 2006 was prevented at the outset by the police. The police rounded up fifteen trade union leaders who were leading the demonstration and bundled them into the back of a pick-up truck with a canopy. They used batons to beat those who were the last to be loaded into the truck in order to force them into the confined space in the back of the truck. This beating was captured on film. The trade unionists were taken to Matapi Police Station where they were taken into a cell in pairs. The trade unionists allege that in this cell they were tortured for about 15 minutes by persons wearing police uniform. They were severely beaten with batons all over their bodies. Falanga was applied to some of them, that is, beating on the soles of their feet.33 They were also punched and kicked and some of them had their heads banged repeatedly against the wall. A number of them lost consciousness as a result of the beatings. During the beatings police allegedly accused them of “working with the whites,” and attempting to overthrow the government. The police initially denied the unionists access to their lawyers and to medical treatment. Eventually, almost 24 hours after their injuries were inflicted the unionists were taken to hospital. This was done only after their lawyers had obtained a court order that they must be given 32 See Solidarity Peace Trust, “Disturbing the peace”. An overview of civilian arrests in Zimbabwe: February 2003 – January 2004. July 2004. (2004 Zimbabwe and South Africa) 33 See Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Only bruises on the soles of their feet. The use of Falanga by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, December 2006, (in press) Who guards the guards? Violations by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, 2000 to 2006