August 14, 2001
Mr Kofi Annan
Secretary General
United Nations S-378
New York NY 10017, USA
Fax: +1 212 963 7055
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Mr Annan,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with President Mugabe, and that you publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be discussed at the next session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Hon Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House, Canberra 2600
Fax: 02 6273 4112
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Mr Downer,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General, to request that they publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Mr Jonathon Brown
Australian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe,
Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 253 679
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Mr Brown,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with Foreign Minister Downer, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General, to request that they publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Laurie Brereton, MHR
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Fax: 02 6277 8502
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Laurie,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with Foreign Minister Downer, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General, to request that they publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja
Leader of the Australian Democrats
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Fax: 08 8232 7601
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Senator Stott Despoja,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with Foreign Minister Downer, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General, to request that they publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Senator Bob Brown
Australian Greens
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Fax: 03 6234 1577
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Bob,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to raise these latest dangerous incidents in Zimbabwe with Foreign Minister Downer, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the UN Secretary-General, to request that they publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
August 14, 2001
Hon Donald McKinnon
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Marlborough House, Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
United Kingdom
Fax: +44 20 7930 1647
Protest at murder, and escalated attacks on farmers, MDC supporters
Dear Mr McKinnon,
During the last two weeks, there has been a shocking escalation of ZANU-PF attacks on white farmers, black farmworkers, as the Mugabe regime continues its totally illegal campaign to hold onto political power at any cost.
Ralph Corbett, aged 76, was trussed with wire and beaten in the head with an axe at his farm near the township of Kwekwe on August 3, and he died in hospital on August 7, 2001. His farm had been occupied for one year by the so-called war vets. Since only a gun was stolen in this attack by a group of ‘war vets’, the motive is one of political terror.
On August 6-7, a group of white farmers forced their way through a seige by war vets of farmer Tony Barklay, in the Chinhoyi district north-west of Harare, to find out if he was okay. The 22 farmers were arrested when they later reported to the Chinhoyi Police Station and charged with public violence and assault. None of the war vets were charged. When relatives of the farmers came to the police station, they were assaulted by a gang of ZANU-PF youth outside the station. At least six wives of the farmers were badly beaten, and an elderly Dr Flanagan was also very badly hurt, but the police apparently refused to assist them in any way. The ZANU-PF youth then assaulted several white women they found in various shops in Chinhoyi township, while President Mugabe publicly vilified white people and urged the invasions to be extended. Since then, many farming families have had to abandon their homes, which have been looted, including at least five farms in the nearby Mhangura / Doma area.
President Mugabe is now floating the idea of a State of Emergency, and a forced removal of 500,000 urban dwellers to rural areas, to ensure that he wins the coming Presidential elections. He wants a violent reaction from white farmers and black farmworkers will give him the excuse.
I request you to publicly condemn the calculated provocation and escalation of terror by the Mugabe government, and to call for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murphy
Secretary
