Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on violence against peaceful protestors in Harare This dreadful violence perpetrated upon defenceless, peaceful people must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all people who believe in the peace, order and the rule of law. It is shocking in the extreme that such violence upon innocent people could be perpetrated in the middle of Harare. At the time this statement was issued no government official has publicly condemned this violent attack. Unfortunately this violence was not unexpected. Government itself has created a climate of violence and a climate in which government supporters who commit violent acts against opposition members and whites believe that they will be given impunity. The head of Government, the President, has in recent weeks made various statements that can only be construed as encouraging violent acts against members of the opposition and white farmers. For instance, in one statement the President is quoted as saying: "Those who cause disunity among our people must watch out because death will befall them." Numerous statements have been made by government officials aimed at causing hatred towards members of the white community. Furthermore ZANU (PF) has publicly admitted to using the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) to assist them in the forthcoming elections. Members of the ZNLWVA have made public statements threatening violence and in one case even threatening war if ZANU(PF) were to lose the election. Our country is now on the verge of anarchy. To bring us back from the brink, the government and every opposition party must renounce all forms of violence, intimidation and racism. The police must take vigorous action steps to prevent any repetition of the sort of horrible violence by thugs that took place on Saturday. The police must also arrest and bring before the courts any persons inciting or perpetrating violence. The government and the various law enforcement agencies must also give an irrevocable undertaking to abide by all court decisions. The rule of law must be restored and rule by violent thugs must be stamped out. The government should immediately constitute an independent commission of inquiry into the events of Saturday. Amani calls on all peace loving Zimbabweans to do all in their power to bring about the restoration of peace and justice in our country. No 2 – Statement by Legal Resources Foundation of Zimbabwe The trustees of the Legal Resources Foundation are shocked at the unprovoked violence, which occurred in Harare on 1 April 2000 when members of civic groups and the public exercised their constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully by holding a procession in downtown Harare. Vicious attacks were made on defenceless people, innocent by-standers included, by a substantial group of people who were seen moving from the ZANU (PF) Headquarters in Rotten Row and carrying various weapons. In some cases even those who were helping the elderly and disabled were savagely attacked. Eye witnesses confirm that the initial attack took place without police intervention and that the armed assailants ran past several riot police without being restrained. The police reacted, using teargas, only after the assailants had attacked the peaceful demonstrators. According to press reports, the police ultimately disarmed the assailants without charging them, alleging that there were too many. Nevertheless, earlier in the day, the police had arrested five of the demonstrators for allegedly disobeying an order to disperse. The LRF trustees condemn this intolerable, despicable behaviour in the strongest possible terms. The conduct of the attackers, the slow reaction of the riot police and their selective use of their powers of arrest are yet further examples of the breakdown of the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Nor has there been any condemnation of the violence by the President, the Government or the Minister of Home Affairs in particular. - 26 -