Big Daddy, At It Again
Zimbabwe just continues to fester; the value of its economy continues to plummet, the value of human lives degraded beyond belief. And the African Union may privately deplore the mad egotistical dictator that rules the country but they have undertaken no meaningful solutions, indicated no outright disapproval or disavowal of its president, taken no actions to demonstrate any kind of collective responsibility. Solidarity with one of their own.Where is shame? Where is support for the people of Zimbabwe? Where is compassion? All quiet on the African front.
Brave Zimbabweans determined to see a new constitution in Zimbabwe, desperate to have Robert Mugabe removed, had the courage to plan to march in a demonstration to illustrate their resolve, knowing well they were placing themselves in danger, but little realizing, despite that, just how much danger their lives would be placed in, how much they would be made to suffer for their determination.
One hundred sixty people were arrested by government forces at the offices of the National Constitutional Assembly, an organization whose purpose is to seek constitutional reform. These were among the people who attempted to hold their demonstration. Six nursing mothers among the would-be demonstrators were hauled off to Harare central police station, and along with others arrested were beaten for hours.
As the unmerciful beatings commenced, the infants of the nursing mothers screamed as they watched police beating their mothers and the other adults without let-up for hours, using long heavy rubber truncheons. "We were half men, half women. There were six women with children. There were grandmummies", according to a 35-year-old woman in hospital with a broken shoulder.
"We were made to lie down on our stomachs in rows of five or 10 with our hands stretched out in front. All were beaten. From about 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. they were beating us, non-stop, going up and down the rows, one after another, one after another. When one group of police got tired, another would take over. They trampled on our bodies with their boots. One of them hit me on my ear with his hand. Now I cannot hear. They said we wanted to have the country recolonized by Bush and Blair."
There were too many victims to be accommodated without additional beds being set up on the floors of two private hospitals. Many were still lining up for medical attention, including elderly women. The injuries included more than 30 skull, hand, arm and rib fractures, and nearly all the victims sustained deep soft-tissue injuries. "This is so perverse, it makes me want to vomit", said one of the examining doctors.
One woman explained they had been warned beforehand that they could expect violence to be directed against them if they were caught, that they could be beaten. "I was scared. I had a fear. But I made myself strong. I told myself if anything happens to me, it will happen to all of us", she said.
And she was right.
Labels: Justice, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, July 29, 2007
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