Zimbabwe: Human rights organisations to observe 'Voice of the People' Radio trial

Zimbabwe: Human rights organisations to observe 'Voice of the People' Radio trial

Geneva/Paris, 15 June 2006 -- The trial of the six trustees of the independent radio station "Voice of the People" (VOP), begins today at the Magistrates' Court, Rotten Row, Harare. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OBSERVATORY), a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), have sent a trial observer to monitor whether the proceedings comply with international standards for fair trial and whether the charges comply with international human rights law.

The trial takes place against a background of alleged irregularities in the handling of the case by the investigating police. These include reports that investigating police assaulted an employee of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), an organisation chaired by one of the VOP Trustees, Mr. Arnold Tsunga, and arbitrarily detained employees of two of the VOP trustees in order to compel those trustees to present themselves to the police for arrest. Mr. Arnold Tsunga, who was a co-recipient of the 2006 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders*, is also Chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights). Zimrights was recently informed of a serious threat to Mr. Arnold Tsunga's life.

The ICJ and the OBSERVATORY have mandated Mr. Ronald Selvan SC, a distinguished South African lawyer and acting Judge, to attend the hearing and monitor whether or not the accused receive a fair trial, before an independent and impartial tribunal, as required by international human rights law. The ICJ and the OBSERVATORY call on the Zimbabwean Government to ensure that international observers are able to attend the trial without any hindrances.

Background

On 25 January 2006, six VOP trustees, Mr. David Masunda, Mr. Arnold Tsunga, Mr. Lawrence Chibwe, Mr. Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Mr. Millicent Phiri and Ms. Isabella Matambanadzo, were arrested and charged with broadcasting without a license, a charge carrying a penalty of up to two years imprisonment. The accused are currently free on bail. A preliminary hearing was held on 28 February 2006, at which a Magistrate decided not to accept the defence's submission that there was insufficient evidence to send the case to full trial.

For further information, please contact:
- Gerald Staberock, Director of the Global Security and Rule of Law Programme of the International Commission of Jurists, +41(0) 22 979 3800
- Catherine François, Program Director of the Observatory at FIDH, + 33 (0)1 43 55 25 81
- Delphine Reculeau, Programme Director of the Observatory at OMCT, + 41 22 809 43 39.