HASH(0x86b98d4) **Updates IFEX alerts of 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** (MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 January 1999 MISA press release: CONTINUED DETENTION OF ZIMBABWEAN EDITOR MARK CHAVUNDUKA The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) deplores the continued detention of Mr. Mark Chavunduka, the editor of The Standard newspaper, […]
HASH(0x86b98d4)
**Updates IFEX alerts of 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January
1999**
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 January 1999 MISA press release:
CONTINUED DETENTION OF ZIMBABWEAN EDITOR MARK CHAVUNDUKA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) deplores the continued
detention of Mr. Mark Chavunduka, the editor of The Standard newspaper, by
the Zimbabwean Government. We are also shocked by the detention of a second
journalist of The Standard, Mr. Ray Choto. We condemn the Zimbabwean
Government for its ongoing contempt of:
a) Mr. Chavunduka’s basic human and legal rights;
b) the Zimbabwean High Court; and
c) the various international human rights treaties to which it is a
signatory.
We call on the international community, including governments, media
practitioners and human rights organisations, to use all legal means to help
secure the release of the two journalists and to restore their legal and
human rights.
Like many others, MISA is seriously concerned about the health and
well-being of the two journalists. Like many others, we also believe that
the two journalists are being detained for no other reason than using their
right to freedom of expression.
Mr. Chavunduka, 34, was reportedly yesterday handed over to the police for a
civil trial by the military who illegally detained him on January 12. But
even this cannot be confirmed because his lawyers and family have still not
been given access to him. Mr. Choto was lured by the police into presenting
himself to them yesterday on the basis of a now demonstrably false promise
that both journalists would be charged under the (civilian) Law and Order
Act, that they would have access to their lawers and families and that they
would be able to apply for bail.
The behaviour of the Zimbabwe Government is in the very least in violation
of Zimbabwe’s international legal obligations with regard to the right to
freedom of expression under Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights.
MISA will support the cause of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto and indeed The
Standard newspaper in this matter. We will further take up all their legal
costs through the regional defence fund as we step up every campaign to
isolate Zimbabwe internationally for continued human rights abuses.
