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Le 2 mai 2008,
Dzimbabwe Chimbga venait de passer les contrôles de sécurité de
l’aéroport de Harare et allait embarquer dans un vol pour le Swaziland
pour se rendre à la 42ème Session ordinaire de la Commission Africaine
des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples (ACHPR), lorsqu’il a été arrêté par
des agents de sécurité au poste de contrôle des services d’immigration.
Les agents ont saisi neuf séries de documents qui contenaient des
informations sur les violations des droits de l'homme et qui devaient
être utilisées par le ZLHR dans des affaires contre le gouvernement du
Zimbabwe. Actuellement, il se trouve toujours au Swaziland, à la Session
de la Commission Africaine.
Dzimbabwe Chimbga travaille pour Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights (ZLHR), une organisation non gouvernementale qui vise à encourager
le respect de l'état de droit, la gestion sans entrave de la justice, des
élections libres et équitables, la libre circulation des informations,
ainsi que la protection des libertés et des droits constitutionnels au Zimbabwe.
Agissez en faveur de l’avocat et défenseur des droits de
l'homme Dzimbabwe Chimbga au Zimbabwe.
COPIEZ LA LETTRE CI-DESSOUS ET ENVOYEZ-LA A L’ADRESSE
SUIVANTE.
ADRESSES:
Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Office of the President,
Munhumutapa Building, Samora Machel Avenue, Causeway, Harare Zimbabwe
Modèle de lettre :
Your
Excellency,
I am
deeply concerned following reports that documents carried by human rights
lawyer Dzimbabwe Chimbga were confiscated by security agents at Harare
International Airport on 2 May 2008. Dzimbabwe Chimbga works with
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), a non-governmental organisation
committed to upholding respect for the rule of law and the unimpeded
administration of justice, free and fair elections, the free flow of
information and the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms in
Zimbabwe.
On 2 May
2008, Dzimbabwe Chimbga had gone through airport security at Harare
International Airport and was on his way to Swaziland for the 42nd
Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
(ACHPR) when he was stopped at the immigration check-point by security
agents who seized nine confidential sets of documents containing
information of human rights violations which was to be used by ZLHR in cases
against the Government of Zimbabwe. Copies of election reports were also
taken. Dzimbabwe Chimbga's details were taken down and he was told by the
security agents that they would “deal with him when he returns to
Zimbabwe”. He is currently still in Swaziland attending the Session of
the African Commission.
I believe
that Dzimbabwe Chimbga has been targeted because of his legitimate work
as a human rights defender, in particular his work to defend victims of
human rights violations in Zimbabwe. I am concerned for the physical and
psychological integrity of Dzimbabwe Chimbga and of all members of
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
I urge the
authorities in Zimbabwe to:
1. Carry
out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the
confiscation of the documents from Dzimbabwe Chimbga, and immediately
return all documents which were confiscated from him;
2.
Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of
Dzimbabwe Chimbga and of all members of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights;
3. Ensure
that all human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, including lawyers, carrying
out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to
operate free of restrictions and reprisals.
I
respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right
and Responsibility of Individuals Groups and Organs of Society to Promote
and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,
adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998,
recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders,
their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities
without fear of reprisals.
I would
particularly draw your attention to Article 11: “Everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of
his or her occupation or profession (...),” and to Article 12 (2): “The
State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the
competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with
others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure
adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to
in the present Declaration.”
Yours
sincerely,
MERCI D'INTERVENIR IMMÉDIATEMENT.
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