Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
179 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the detention of a person (details supplied) in Zimbabwe; if he will raise this matter with the Government of Zimbabwe and at the GAERC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33222/04]
View answerI am aware of the decision of the Zimbabwean Parliament on 28 October 2004 to impose a sentence of 12 months imprisonment with labour on Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, Member of Parliament for Chimanimani constituency. While not condoning the action for which Mr. Bennett was sentenced, the sentence imposed is clearly disproportionate to the offence committed. This, I understand, would normally attract a maximum fine of approximately €12, had it been tried in an ordinary Zimbabwean court. The severe sentence imposed on Mr. Bennett, which results from an action by the Zimbabwean Parliament rather than the Government, forms part of an overall pattern of harassment, intimidation and violence which opposition politicians and supporters have faced in Zimbabwe for some years now. Regrettably, the overall human rights situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, with arbitrary arrests and political violence continuing while legislation has just been enacted by the Zimbabwean Parliament which will impose serious restrictions on the activities of human rights NGOs operating in Zimbabwe. Ireland and its EU partners continue to take the lead in highlighting the serious human rights situation in Zimbabwe, including through tabling a resolution on the issue at the recent session of the UN General Assembly. The EU will continue to press for the repeal of repressive legislation and an end to attacks on basic freedoms by the Zimbabwean authorities. Such political reforms are crucial if there is to be any prospect of free and fair parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe next March, carried out in accordance with the principles and guidelines on democratic elections adopted by the SADC, Southern African Development Community, summit in Mauritius last August and with which the Zimbabwean Government has said it will comply.
