Media Release
Attention: Chief of Staff
International Writer
June 2, 2003,
Mugabe warned not to use violence
Australian supporters of the democratic movement in Zimbabwe today warned President Robert Mugabe against use of militia or military violence against the peaceful protest rallies organised today and through this week by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"We know that the army has been deployed in large numbers to townships through Zimbabwe over the weekend, and that the Mugabe regime has also armed so-called war veterans to attack the demonstrations," said Dr Meredith Burgmann, MLC, who is the President of the Zimbabwe Information Centre in Sydney.
"The regime has also printed false MDC t-shirts to be used by its own people to provoke violent situations as a pretext for the army to shoot demonstrators. MDC has therefore directed all its supporters not to wear MDC paraphenalia," she said.
"This week’s general strike and protest marches are expected to be a major challenge to President Mugabe to enter into genuine negotiations with MDC about the transition to a legitimate government for the country, based on new elections conducted fairly under intenrational supervision," said Dr Burgmann.
"The spark for this week’s events is the disappearance of currency from the banking system. The people have borne the desperate economic conditions and the repression in Zimbabwe for over three years, and this appears to be the breaking point. Inflation is now somewhere over 260%.
"We call on the Australian government, the Commonwealth and the United Nations Security Council to tell President Mugabe that violence this week against his people will not be tolerated," concluded Dr Burgmann.
For further comment: Dr Meredith Burgmann 02 9230 2300
Peter Murphy 0418 312 301
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