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On 19 January 2009, at approximately 8.45 a.m., an unidentified man entered the Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights
(ZLHR) office in Bulawayo. He asked Tineyi Mukweka, the only person in the office at the time, about Kucaca Phulu. On discovering that Kucaca Phulu was not present, the man threatened
Tineyi Mukweka.
The man accused ZLHR of working to destabilise the government and representing
“criminals and bandits” from
the Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC), blaming ZLHR for the imposition
of targeted sanctions against
certain ZANU PF and government officials. He allegedly criticised ZLHR for working
to promote the rule
of law and receiving financial support from
hostile western governments. He then said “We are going to deal with you”, supposedly referring to
ZLHR, before leaving.
On the same day, following the man's visit to the ZLHR offices, Kucaca
Phulu received several phone calls at his home threatening to abduct him and Tineyi Mukweka that night and advising him to leave Bulawayo. Anonymous calls were also received by members of their family. The callers made clear to Kucaca Phulu that they were following him by referring to his movements during the day. ZLHR has since closed its office in
Bulawayo and its staff members
have moved to a safer
place.
Kucaca Phulu is
the lawyer representing
Ms Jenni Williams and Ms Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). Jenni Williams and Magodonga
Mahlangu were charged with disturbing peace, security or public order in
connection with a protest organised by WOZA
in October 2008. The first hearing
of the trial is scheduled
for 22 January. The timing of the attack against ZLHR suggests that it may also
be aimed at intimidating ZLHR and compromising the legal defence of Jenni Williams and Magodonga
Mahlangu.
ZLHR is a
non-profit human rights
organisation which aims
to promote a culture of human
rights in Zimbabwe and encourage the observance
of the rule of law. Kucaca Phulu is the regional manager and
Tineyi Mukweka is a paralegal of the ZLHR
office in Bulawayo.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW !
Copy and send the following letter:
Addresses:
- Dmitri Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation,
Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Faxes:+ 7 095 206 5173 / 230 2408, Email: president@gov.ru; ·
- Mr. Yuriy
Chaika, General Public Prosecutor of
Russian Federation, 125993, Moscow, GSP-3, 15a B. Dimitrovka str.
RUSSIA, Fax: +7 (495) 692-96-00 ·
- Ella Pamfilova,
Chairwoman of the Presidential Human Rights Commission of the
Russian Federation, 103132 g. Moskva, Staraya ploshchad, d
8/5,pod 3, Russian Federation, Fax:+70952064855;
- Vladimir Lukin, Russian Federal Ombudsman for Human
Rights, Fax: +7 495 607 3969 / +7 495 207-53-37;
- Minister of Internal
Affairs, Rashid Nurgaliev, ul. Zhitnaya, 16,
117049 Moscow, Russian Federation, Telegram: Rossiia,
117049, Moskva, Fax: + 7 095 237 49 25;
- Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl, 32/34, 121200 Moscow,
Russian Federation, Telegram: Fax:+ 7 095 244 2203
Letter:
[Your name here]
Your Excellency,
I am deeply concerned following
information received regarding
threats made against members of Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights
(ZLHR), particularly Mr Kucaca
Phulu and MrTineyi Mukweka, on 19 January
2009. ZLHR is a
non-profit human rights
organisation which aims
to promote a culture of human
rights in Zimbabwe and encourage the observance
of the rule of law. Kucaca Phulu is the regional manager and
Tineyi Mukweka is a paralegal of the ZLHR
office in Bulawayo.
On 19 January 2009, at approximately 8.45 a.m., an unidentified man entered
the ZLHR office in Bulawayo. He asked Tineyi Mukweka, the only person in the office at the time, about Kucaca Phulu. On discovering that Kucaca Phulu was not present, the man threatened
Tineyi Mukweka. The
man accused ZLHR of working
to destabilise the government
and representing “criminals
and bandits” from the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC), blaming ZLHR for the imposition of targeted sanctions against
certain ZANU PF and government officials. He allegedly criticised ZLHR for working
to promote the rule
of law and receiving financial support from
hostile western governments. He then said “We are going to deal with you”, supposedly referring to
ZLHR, before leaving.
On the same day, following the man's visit
to the ZLHR offices, Kucaca Phulu
received several
phone calls at his
home threatening to abduct
him and Tineyi Mukweka that night and advising him to leave Bulawayo. Anonymous
calls were also received by members of their family. The callers made clear to Kucaca Phulu that they were following him by referring to his movements during the day. ZLHR has since closed its office in Bulawayo and its
staff members have moved
to a safer place.
Kucaca
Phulu is the lawyer representing Ms
Jenni Williams and Ms Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). Jenni Williams and Magodonga
Mahlangu were charged with disturbing peace, security or public order in
connection with a protest organised by WOZA
in 1 October 2008. The first hearing of the trial is scheduled for 22 January.
The timing of the attack against
ZLHR suggests that it may also
be aimed at intimidating ZLHR and compromising the legal defence of Jenni Williams and Magodonga
Mahlangu.
I believe that ZLHR was targeted because of its peaceful and legitimate human rights work, in particular the legal assistance provided
to other human rights defenders. Front line is
deeply concerned at the ongoing pattern of harassment against human rights defenders in
Zimbabwe.
I urge the Zimbabwean authorities to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and
impartial investigation into the threats Kucaca Phulu and Tineyi Mukweka have received, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2. Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Kucaca Phulu and Tineyi Mukweka, as well as all other members of ZLHR;
3. Ensure full respect of fair
trial guarantees and the right to legal representation in
relation to the trial of Jenni Williams and Magodonga
Mahlangu, to which
the attack against
ZLHR may be linked;
4. Ensure that all human rights defenders in
Zimbabwe, carrying out their
legitimate work in
the defence of human rights, are able to operate
free of restrictions and reprisals.
Yours sincerely
,
[Your signature here]
TAKE
ACTION NOW !
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