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Church of Scotland in joint call for Zimbabwe action
The Moderator of the General Assembly,
the Right Reverend David
Lunan, has joined with senior Christian
figures from across the UK and Ireland in calling
for firm action to ensure that the second round
of the Zimbabwean presidential elections, scheduled
for 27 June, take place in a safe and secure environment
that will allow freedom of democratic expression.
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The Church representatives have addressed their written
appeal to Levy Mwanawasa, the president of Zambia, in
his role as president of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC). The SADC has an important role in
providing election observers in Zimbabwe for the forthcoming
elections.
This joint call is supported by the Right Reverend
David Lunan, the Anglican
Bishops of Southwark, Woolwich, Croydon, Kingston and
Rochester, as well as the Archbishop of York. Other
signatories include the RC Bishop of Portsmouth, the
President of Methodist Conference, the Moderator of
the United Reformed Church, the President of the Baptist
Union and the President of the Evangelical Alliance.
The Moderator, the Right Reverend David
Lunan, said:
"All credible reports
indicate that there is a deliberate campaign being perpetrated
by militia groups aligned to the ruling party against
suspected opposition party supporters and those who
worked as [opposition] election observers or election
officials on polling day. We are concerned that there
have also been attacks perpetrated inside churches.
"We are looking for
the SADC to ensure that the numbers of election observers
are scaled up considerably and for them to be present
now to monitor the pre-election environment and to stay
on until the election results have been released."
Note to News Desks:
For further information, contact
Grant McLennan, senior media relations officer,
in the first instance. Tel: 0131 240 2268 or email gmclennan@cofscotland.org.uk
The text of the joint letter from the faith leaders
to President Mwanawasa is reproduced below:
Dear President Mwanawasa
As church leaders, we are writing to you in your capacity
as the President of SADC. We are also addressing this
to SADC diplomatic representatives in the UK and Ireland.
We note the various political initiatives of leaders
in southern Africa to assist Zimbabweans to solve the
political, economic and social crisis in their country
thus far. We write to express our grave concerns about
the deteriorating situation there.
We do so mindful of the statement issued in April by
our partners, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe,
the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Zimbabwe
Council of Churches. They state that following the elections
in March "Organised violence perpetrated against
individuals, families and communities who are accused
of campaigning or voting for the 'wrong' political party
has been unleashed throughout the country ... Abduction,
torture and humiliation [are] commonplace for those
in the country accused of voting for the 'wrong' candidate".
All credible reports indicate that this is a deliberate
campaign being perpetrated by militia groups aligned
to the ruling party against suspected opposition party
supporters and those who worked as election observers
or election officials on polling day. We are concerned
that there have also been attacks perpetrated inside
churches.
Human rights groups have reported that dozens of people
have been killed since the elections in March and hundreds
injured and thousands displaced. This has significant
consequences for the possibility of a free and fair
vote in the run off of the presidential election to
be held on the 27 June 2008. The Zimbabwe government
has instructed humanitarian agencies to suspend all
aid operations. This includes feeding programmes for
children and support for vulnerable groups such as orphans,
disabled people, those with HIV and AIDS and the elderly.
We respectfully request SADC to redouble its efforts
to assist Zimbabweans to end the violence and intimidation
and ensure that Zimbabwe abides by the SADC principles
and guidelines governing democratic elections. This
should include ensuring freedom of access by all parties
to all areas of the country, equal access to the media,
peaceful campaigning - all essential to providing a
level electoral playing field. There will be a need
for election results to be posted outside polling stations
again, for the permits to be granted to domestic election
observers to be issued immediately, and for the police
and army to be banned from entering polling stations
for any reason other than to vote. We also urge you
to ensure that the numbers of SADC election observers
are scaled up considerably and for them to be present
now to monitor the pre-election environment and to stay
on until the election results have been released.
We take no position on whom Zimbabweans elect to positions
of authority, since this is their democratic prerogative.
However, our partners insist that Zimbabweans should
have the right to make that choice in an atmosphere
free of violence and intimidation where the human and
democratic rights of all are respected and upheld.
We look forward to your response on these matters.
nr/46/06/08
Thursday 19, June 2008
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