The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute [IBAHRI] today called for the immediate end to the unlawful detention of Eric Matinenga, an eminent Advocate of the Zimbabwe High Court and opposition Member of Parliament. Mr Matinenga has been detained in police custody despite a ruling by the Zimbabwe High Court on 8 June ordering his release.The IBAHRI said it is alarmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions and Investigating Police Officers have refused to comply with the court order. Mr Matinenga’s continued detention is a violation of both Article 18 of the Zimbabwe Constitution and international standards concerning the treatment of uncharged prisoners. ‘Mr Matinenga is being punished for the sole reason of having campaigned against state-orchestrated political violence,’ said Mark Ellis , Executive Director of the International Bar Association. The IBAHRI further notes that conditions in which detainees are held in Zimbabwe are very poor and that Mr Matinenga ' s lawyers have been denied access to their client, in violation of international law.
The IBAHRI called for officials defying the court order to be investigated and held accountable for their actions. ‘The defiant disregard of a valid Zimbabwe High Court order by police officials is a flagrant violation of the rule of law,’ stated Mr Ellis. ‘The world is watching as people in Mugabe’s regime violate international law with impunity. We continue to support the efforts to ensure that those responsible for egregious human rights violations in Zimbabwe will be held accountable.’
Mr Matinenga’s attorneys have filed contempt proceedings against the police officials for failure to comply with the High Court’s rulings, and expect to have a hearing tomorrow.
Malaysian Bar
16/06/08
No comments:
Post a Comment