War Resisters' International Executive statement on the harassment of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)

War Resisters' International (WRI), the international network of pacifist organisations with more than 80 affiliates in more than 40 countries, calls for an end to the harassment of our affiliate Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) and to the physical attacks on members of GALZ. Furthermore, WRI strongly condemns the violation of basic human rights of the members of GALZ, such as freedom of association, freedom from arbitrary arrest, and freedom from torture and degrading treatment.

On 11 August 2012, GALZ launched its report on violations of LGBTI rights in Zimbabwe with a press conference at the GALZ office in Harare. Following the press conference, GALZ members celebrated the successful launch with a party, which was then raided by police, who detained the 44 members of GALZ present - 31 men and 13 women. All were subjected to beatings and abuse while in detention, but released the following morning without charge.

A few days later, the police started a hunt for those detained on 11 August, detaining three who they encountered at home for questioning, and ordering those who they did not find to report to their local police station. While those detained have been released, this hunt again serves as intimidation - a clear attempt to make GALZ's work impossible. Subsequently, on 20 August, police raided the office of GALZ and seized computers and literature.

The present harassment of GALZ and its members follows earlier attempts at intimidation. In May 2010, police raided the office of GALZ and arrested two members of staff. A few days later the police also raided the home of the director of GALZ, who was not at home at the time. Both staff who had been arrested were released after a few days, and acquitted a few months later, but items seized during the raid have not yet been returned.

Established in 1990, GALZ has been affiliated with WRI since 2001, taking an active role in our activities and currently helping us prepare our 2014 international conference in South Africa provisionally titled "Resisting the continuums of violence". We are fully aware of the extent of Zimbabwe state violence against its own citizens. Whether fuelled by greed, the lust for power or homophobia, these forms of violence are connected. The violation of any human right weakens respect for human rights themselves. Above all, the harassment of human right defenders - such as GALZ, who have prepared a serious report on Zimbabwe's violations of lesbians, gays and trans-sexuals - is a warning to all those who oppose the abuse of state power.

War Resisters' International Executive, 28 August 2012

Howard Clark
on behalf of the Executive Committee
http://wri-irg.org/node/20291

--   Javier Garate at War Resisters' International  Nonviolence Programme Worker  5 Caledonian Road - London N1 9DX - Britain  tel +44-20-7278 4040  - fax +44-20-7278 0444  Skype warresisters  Twitter: @warresistersint  email javier@wri-irg.org  http://wri-irg.org  Use encryption! More information at http://wri-irg.org/node/11496    Support War Resisters' International! Donate today!  Online: http://wri-irg.org/en/donate-en.htm  

GALZ Alert, 24 August 2012

GALZ ALERT

24 August 2012

The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Thursday 23 August 2012 charged The Co Chairperson of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) for running an "unregistered" organisation after a week of high drama in which State security agents twice raided the offices.

Detectives at the Law and Order Section at the Harare Central Police Station on Thursday 23 August 2012 charged GALZ that was represented by Martha Tholanah, the organisation's co-chairperson with running an "unregistered" organisation in contravention of Section 6 (iii) of the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Act. Although the police indicated that they had not found anything pornorgraphic or insulting the Zimbabwean president in the documents, pamphlets and computers, as had been specified in the search warrant, they advised that they would not release the property until the case was over.

The police, who alleged that GALZ had commenced operations in Zimbabwe without registering its operations under the PVO Act, released Tholanah, who had since Tuesday been a regular guest at Harare Central Police Station in the company of GALZ Programme Manager, Samuel Matsikure, and her lawyers Dzimbabwe Chimbga, Tonderai Bhatasara, Marufu Mandevere and Jeremiah Bamu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and advised the GALZ co-chairperson that they would proceed by way of summons. Tholanah and Matsikure were profiled, had fingerprints taken and mug shots taken for police records.

GALZ Security reported that, unidentified members of the Zimbabwe National Army on Tuesday 21 August 2012 raided the premises of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ). A soldier, who was dressed in military attire and was in the company of two plain- clothed people visited the GALZ offices on Tuesday afternoon and patrolled the organisation's premises. After failing to find anything of interest to them they went through the caretaker's occurrence book and recorded details of people who had visited the GALZ premises in the past few months, presumably to trail them in future. One of them inadvertently left his mobile phone number, which was recorded by the caretaker.

Meanwhile, some of the members who were among the 44 arrested on the 11 th of August and released the following morning without charge report that the police in their localities continue to follow them up and questioning them. // Ends

--   Javier Garate at War Resisters' International  Nonviolence Programme Worker  5 Caledonian Road - London N1 9DX - Britain  tel +44-20-7278 4040  - fax +44-20-7278 0444  Skype warresisters  Twitter: @warresistersint  email javier@wri-irg.org  http://wri-irg.org  Use encryption! More information at http://wri-irg.org/node/11496    Support War Resisters' International! Donate today!  Online: http://wri-irg.org/en/donate-en.htm  

GALZ Statement on the raid of its offices on 20 August 2012

GALZ Statement on the raid of its offices on 20 August 2012

21 August 2012

GALZ is disturbed by the continued harrassment and the unjust Police raids that are severely compromising its efforts to reach out to it's lesbian,gay,bisexual and
transgender community.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has carried out two raids in two weeks, arresting, harrassing and assaulting members of GALZ. The raid of the 20th of August is unjust and signifies the contnued, sustained attempts by the state to clampdown on organisations that are playing an important role of empowering citizens to be more informed to seek and demand justice.

The seizure of computers and GALZ publications is another attempt to derail GALZ efforts. It is ironic that some of the machines seized are the same machines that were recently returned to GALZ from the raid of the GALZ offices in May 2010.

State sponsored violence and homophobia sways public opinion in a negative way. It also exposes LGBTI people to public violence. State Sponsored Homophobia has the potential to escalate violence and vulnerability of LGBTI people in public and private spheres of their lives.

We reiterate our call to the Police to end the unjustified harrasment of GALZ and its community. Every Person in Zimbabwe is entitled to hold opinions and impart ideas without interference. Zimbabweans have a right to assemble freely associate with other persons and to belong to an association that protects their interests.

GALZ remains resolute in its quest to represent and protect the rights and interests of all LGBTI citizens despite such unprecedented challenges on its human rights defenders.We continue to work towards contributing to a just society that protects the human rights of all LGBTI people as equal citizens in Zimbabwe.// ENDS

GALZ Statement on the raid of its offices on 20 August 2012

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GALZ Statement on the raid of its offices on 20 August 2012

21 August 2012

GALZ is disturbed by the continued harrassment and the unjust Police raids that are severely compromising its efforts to reach out to it's lesbian,gay,bisexual and
transgender community.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has carried out two raids in two weeks, arresting, harrassing and assaulting members of GALZ. The raid of the 20th of August is unjust and signifies the contnued, sustained attempts by the state to clampdown on organisations that are playing an important role of empowering citizens to be more informed to seek and demand justice.

The seizure of computers and GALZ publications is another attempt to derail GALZ efforts. It is ironic that some of the machines seized are the same machines that were recently returned to GALZ from the raid of the GALZ offices in May 2010.

State sponsored violence and homophobia sways public opinion in a negative way. It also exposes LGBTI people to public violence. State Sponsored Homophobia has the potential to escalate violence and vulnerability of LGBTI people in public and private spheres of their lives.

We reiterate our call to the Police to end the unjustified harrasment of GALZ and its community. Every Person in Zimbabwe is entitled to hold opinions and impart ideas without interference. Zimbabweans have a right to assemble freely associate with other persons and to belong to an association that protects their interests.

GALZ remains resolute in its quest to represent and protect the rights and interests of all LGBTI citizens despite such unprecedented challenges on its human rights defenders.We continue to work towards contributing to a just society that protects the human rights of all LGBTI people as equal citizens in Zimbabwe.// ENDS

FW: [wri-internal-en] [wri-internal-es] HARARE POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT FOR GALZ MEMBERS

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* wri-internal-es for posts in Spanish

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Force Blair to testify; withdraw invite

Dear All

Not sure what we can do about it but as you know Blair is expected to attend the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit 30 August. In attached article (forgive bad cutting and pasting but couldn’t find the article on the net) is asking the Seriti Commission to subpoena him to give evidence on Britain’s involvement.

In M&G Fatima Asmal-Motala “Anger grows over invite to Blair” says that  SA Muslim Network has written to the discovery group urging that the invite to Blair be withdrawn saying they do not believe he is fit to lecture on leadership.  They are also looking at the possibility of a citizens’ arrest (arrestblair.org gives more info apparently).

Should Ceasefire be doing something? Anyone want to write a letter to Discovery Invest Leadership? Rob perhaps people you are in touch with on the disinvestment campaign know more about possible protests?

Best wishes, Laura

44 GALZ members detained and released without charges

Statement on the arrest and detention of 44 GALZ members
12 August 2012

GALZ deplores the arrest of 44 members of GALZ who had attended the launch of the GALZ Violations Report and a briefing on the Second Draft of the Zimbabwe Constitution on 11 August 2012 at the GALZ offices.

Four police officers attempted to gain entry into the premises before calling for back up where about fifteen riot squad members descended on the office and effected arrest.Thirty one men and thirteen women members were detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station on 11 August 2012. Police, some of them visibly drunk, assaulted most of the members using baton sticks, open hands and clenched fists before detaining them without charge.

Such use of force is in direct contradiction to the Global Political Agreement. Denying Zimbabweans the right to participate in processes that compliment National efforts is an infringement of the right to freedom of assembly and association.

It is the constitutional obligation of state agencies to uphold all the rights of citizens under the Declaration of Rights. GALZ calls on the state to immediately refrain from the use of any form of organised violence and to refrain from utilising violence of any sort in the pursuit of their political interests.

GALZ does not condone violence and we are not a threat. Those who cause violence are a threat to public safety and security and we ask that they stay away from our premises.


http://www.galz.co.zw/

Arms to Rwanda?

 

 

SA must place arms embargo on Rwanda - David Maynier

David Maynier

02 August 2012

(Source: Politicsweb described as a website focused on the news and politics of Southern Africa.  It aims to provide its readers with breaking news, informed comment and opinion, and easy access to key online resources. It also intends to provide a forum for reasoned debate, and so welcomes comments and contributions)

 

DA MP says govt must act over revelations in UN report

South Africa must place an immediate arms embargo on Rwanda

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that Jeff Radebe, Chairperson of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), must stop all conventional arms sales to Rwanda.

The United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently published a report that found evidence of arms embargo and sanctions regime violations by Rwanda.

The report found violations by Rwanda included the provision of material and financial support to armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1807 (2008).

The arms embargo and sanctions regime violations related principally to an armed group called M23 which is reportedly responsible for the worst outbreak of violence in several years in the DRC.

Specifically, arms embargo and sanctions regime violations by Rwanda were found to include the "provision of weapons and ammunition to M23" as well as "direct Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) interventions into Congolese territory to reinforce M23".

The fact that Rwanda has been found to be providing weapons and ammunition to M23 should be of concern because South Africa exported more than R100 million worth of conventional arms to Rwanda.

We do not know what types of conventional arms were exported to Rwanda. But we do know what categories of conventional arms were exported to Rwanda.

South Africa exported R103.4 million worth of conventional arms to Rwanda between 2003 and 2012 including:

• R72.6 million worth of "Category A" conventional arms which are defined as "sensitive conventional implements of war that could cause heavy personnel casualties and major damage or destruction"; and
• R23.6 million worth of "Category C" conventional arms which are defined as "support equipment usually employed in the direct support of combat operations that have no inherent capability to kill or destruct".

Moreover, between 1996 and 2006 at least 38 Armoured Personnel Carriers were exported to Rwanda.

The last reported consignment of conventional arms exported from South Africa to Rwanda took place in early 2012 and comprised of R2.4 million worth of "Category C" conventional arms.

The United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo report did not find any evidence that conventional weapons, exported from South Africa, found their way to M23 or were being used by the RDF to support M23.

However, we cannot be sure that conventional weapons, exported from South Africa, have not found their way to M23 or are not being used by the RDF to support M23. 

Moreover, we cannot be sure that conventional weapons, exported from South Africa, may not find their way to M23 or may not be used by the RDF to support M23 in the future.

The Rwandan government has contested the findings in the report of the United Nations Group of Experts. However, the findings of the report have been taken very seriously by the international community and have had major repercussions for Rwanda. The United States, for example, immediately froze US$200 000 of military aid to Rwanda.

We cannot take the risk that conventional arms, exported from South Africa, may be used by M23 or the RDF to destabilize the DRC.

I will, therefore, write to NCACC chairperson Jeff Radebe requesting that: 

• All conventional arms sales from South Africa to Rwanda be stopped immediately;
• All conventional arms, from countries other than South Africa, which may be transported through South Africa , be stopped immediately; and
• That the NCACC's inspectorate conducts an investigation in order to verify whether the conditions of the export permits and/or end-user certificates of conventional arms sold by South Africa have been complied with by Rwanda.

Conventional arms exports from South African to Rwanda 
2003 - 2012

Table 1: Conventional Arms Exports from South Africa to Rwanda between 2003 and 2012

Category	Value
A	R72 599 821
B	-
C	R23 634 852
D	R1 854 788
E	-
G	R5 356 643.00
Total	R103 446 104

Source: NCACC Annual/Quarterly Reports between 2003 and 2012

Table 2: Definitions of categories of conventional arms used in NCACC annual reports between 2003 and 2012 

Category	Definition
A	"...sensitive major conventional implements of war that could cause heavy personnel casualties and/or destruction to materiel, structures, objects and facilities."
B	"...all types of handheld and portable assault weapons of a caliber smaller than 12.7mm."
C	"...all support equipment usually employed in the direct support of combat operations that have no inherent capability to kill or destruct."
D	"...all purposely designed de-mining, mine clearing and mine detection equipment and all non-lethal pyrotechnical and riot control products."
E	"...all armaments and related products that are not allowed to be sold."
G	"...all purposely built armaments manufacturing equipment, plants, facilities and test ranges for the manufacture, development, maintenance, test, upgrade and refurbishment of armaments products."

Source: NCACC briefing to Joint Standing Committee on Defence on 15 March 2012

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, August 2 2012

 

Women's month, story and editorial

SA Time: 03 August 2012 11:31:24 AM

Lesbian says she was attacked over kiss

July 30 2012 at 09:11am
By Kristen van Schie

Comment on this story

---

INLSA

Khanyisa Ndoda, left, and Bonisiwe Mtshali talk of their harrowing ordeal after being attacked by security guards at the Carlton Centre in Joburg. Picture: Antoine de Ras

A local lesbian is standing her ground after allegedly being assaulted by a group of security guards at the Carlton Centre, allegedly because of her sexual orientation.

The attack comes after a Kuruman man was beheaded last month for being gay and at a time when crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community are increasing.

Bonisiwe Mtshali, 29, who works at the Carlton Centre in the Joburg CBD, was beaten to the point of unconsciousness after kissing her girlfriend goodbye on June 13.

“I accompany her to work every morning,” said Khanyisa Ndoda, 21. “And every morning I give her a goodbye kiss.

“But as we kissed that day, we heard these guys saying ‘Some people will never reach heaven’ and shouting ‘Voertsek’.”

Mtshali confronted the three men, who were security guards from Hlanganani Protection Services, the contracted security provider of the Carlton Centre.

“I asked ‘What did we do wrong? Why are you talking to us like that?” she said. “Then they started pulling my hair and beating me.”

For the minutes that followed she was kicked, hit and pushed to the ground. Ndoda watched horrified: “I was traumatised, I didn’t know what to do.”

Though the shopping centre was crowded, nobody stepped in to stop the assault.

“Then they took her (Mtshali) outside, onto the pavement,” alleged Ndoda.

“One of the guys said they couldn’t do everything they wanted to do inside the mall because there were cameras.”

She pleaded for her girlfriend to be left alone, saying that if they had done something wrong, they just be detained or fined.

The couple were taken to the security offices.

“They were so rude,” said Ndoda. “They said (Mtshali) acted like she was a man, that the mall was not the place to kiss my girlfriend, that we should get a room.”

As the security guards berated the pair - “two girls kissing was public indecency”, they were allegedly told, “like urinating in the street” - Mtshali collapsed and began foaming at the mouth.

The guards refused to let Ndoda or their friends take her to hospital and it was allegedly an hour before they called an ambulance. Mtshali regained consciousness three hours later.

When they went to the Johannesburg Central police station,

“the police advised us to drop the charges,” said Ndoda, as “it wasn’t a big case and would be expensive”.

The Star was unable to contact anybody at Hlanganani willing to comment.

Meanwhile, Mtshali has been threatened with counter-charges by Hlanganani - she scratched one of the men while defending herself. But she’s sticking to her guns.

Two of her alleged attackers will appear in court next week.

LGBTI rights group Forum for the Empowerment of Women (Few) is helping Mtshali with her legal fees - but says it’s just one attack in a rising trend.

“In the past few months there have been about eight to 10 murders across the country,” said Few programmes co-ordinator Phindi Malaza.

A government task team was created last year to investigate hate crimes against LGBTI individuals, but with no results.

Two NGOs have since pulled out of the team because of a lack of progress.

In May, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa called for the removal of LGBTI rights from the constitution and for the Civil Union Act, which legalised same-sex marriages, to be scrapped.

Malaza thinks the recent attacks are directly linked to this.

“The government really isn’t doing much,” said Malaza. “They’re keeping quiet.”

Ndoda saw the attack as their chance to act. “At the end of the day, our voices must be heard. We must be respected for who we are,” she said.

Some attacks against the lesbian community:

2012: Hendrietta Thapelo Morifi is found dead in her Limpopo home, stabbed in the neck with a fork, her throat slit. In the same month, Soweto resident Sanna Supa and Khayelitsha resident Phumeza Nkolonzi are shot and killed.

2011: Noxolo Nogwaza, member of gay rights group Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee, is stoned to death in Kwa-Thema, Springs.

2008: Banyana Banyana footballer Eudy Simelane is gang-raped, beaten and stabbed 25 times in Kwa-Thema. One of her attackers is serving 32 years in jail.

2007: Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa are raped, tortured and killed in Soweto. The case has been closed.

2006: Zoliswa Nkonyana is murdered by a mob of men in Khayelitsha. Nine men are arrested and charged. The trial was postponed more than 40 times before judgment last October. - The Star

 

Worldwide International Day of Non-Violence

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Non-Violence is a global observance that promotes non-violence through education and public awareness. It is annually held on October 2 to coincide with renowned Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.