[Marxism] Zimbabwe arrests - solidarity needed

[glparramatta <glparramatta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Ashley Fataar
Sent: 09 November 2005 08:28 AM
Subject: Zimbabwean arrests

Comrades,

This is an update following yesterdays arrests.

115 demonstrators have been arrested and 3 of them are ISO members. They are
still detained at Harare Central Police Station and no charges have been
brought against them.Some of them were moved to another police station last
night. We are trying to find out where - one of three police stations
south-east of Harare.

Some of those arrested include:

Lovemore Matombo - ZCTU President
Wellington Chibhebhe - ZCTU Secretary General
Netsai Dzinoreva - NOC Member Zimbabwe Social Forum
John Bomba - National Co-ordinator ISO
Aaron Dhliwayo - Harare Branch Co-Ordinator ISO
Munyaradzi Gwisai - National Co-Ordinator ISO
Canwell Muchadya - President ZGAWU (Printing Union)
Regis Mututu - Chairperson Zimbabwe Social Forum
Rita Nyamupinga - NOC member Zimbabwe Social Forum.

You can make protest calls to Harare Central Police Station. The numbers are
+263-4-777777, +263-4-721212, +263-4-736931, +263-4-725803. Fax
+263-4-771420.

We are also asking comrades to stage protests outside Zimbabwean embassies,
where possible, in your area.

We will update you as we get more information.

Ashley Fataar

**********************************************

Subject: ZCTU Update
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2005 11:11:31 -0800

The  120-ZCTU activists including Wellington Chibebe and Lovemore Matombo
the ZCTU President are still in Police custody but have all been transfered
to Chitungwiza 25 Kilometres outside Harare. Reports we have received but
not yet verified indicate that Wellington Chibebe and a few others were
tortured last night. The Police have not given any reasons for transferering
the activists to Chitungwiza.

Among the people arrested are about 20 people living with HIV/AIDS who can
not assess treatment at the moment and five women with babies and other
disabled people. This situation is particularly worrying as we now fear that
there might be some fatalities because of the conditions these people are
in.

Regards

*******************

ICFTU ONLINE...
     Mass arrests of Trade Unionists in Zimbabwe 9/11/2005

     Brussels, 8 November 2005 (ICFTU OnLine): The ICFTU has condemned the
actions of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe following the arrests today of
hundreds of workers, including leaders of the ICFTU-affiliated Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and of ZCTU member organisations. Large
numbers of police have swamped the streets of Harare, reacting to mass
public demonstrations against poverty and hunger caused by the government's
catastrophic policies. At least three other trade union leaders are reported
to have been arrested in the city of Bulawayo on Monday evening.

     "Zimbabwean workers have been forced once again to take to the streets
to protest at the Mugabe government's policies, which have led to a dramatic
deterioration of living standards and widespread hunger. The heavy-handed
response of the authorities, coupled with their ongoing violations of
fundamental workers' rights, show once again a blatant disregard for working
people and their families", said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder. "We call
upon the government to immediately release all those detained, and to
respect the rights of working people as enshrined in international law" he
added.

     Today's arrests are the latest in a catalogue of anti-union repression
in Zimbabwe, amidst a worsening economic crisis and growing unrest amongst
the many victims of the government's policies. The ICFTU and its Global
Unions partners are closely monitoring the situation, and will keep up the
pressure for the full recognition of workers' rights at the International
Labour Organisation and in other international bodies.

     The ICFTU represents 145 million workers through its 234 affiliated
organisations in 154 countries and territories â www.icftu.org

     The ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions:
http://www.global-unions.org

     For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32
2 224 0210.


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     International Confederation of Free Trade Unions(ICFTU)
     Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, B1, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium. For more
information please contact ICFTU Press on: +32 (2) 224 0232 -
press@xxxxxxxxx






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