At least four people in Harare were tortured in or near a medical office run by war veterans leader Chenjerai Hunzvi, who was a medical doctor, a team of medical experts that had been invited to Zimbabwe to investigate cases of state-sponsored torture said.
The team, however, said it was not going to discuss Hunzvi by name in its report but would discuss his involvement when they reported back to international medical organisations.
The team which examined four people in Harare and six in Bulawayo said they were able to confirm that all 10 were victims of physical and psychological torture.
But the perpetrators of the torture were not police or soldiers, but “regular people”, including women.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE3029, INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT “SYSTEMATIC” TORTURE
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5881
PAGE 01 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00
DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /010W
——————600067 071025Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6220
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003029
SIPDIS
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT “SYSTEMATIC” TORTURE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS
TOLD DIPLOMATS JUNE 5, FOLLOWING A FACT-FINDING MISSION, THAT
THEY HAD FOUND “CLEAR OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC
TORTURE” IN ZIMBABWE THAT IS ELECTION-RELATED. AFTER
EXAMINING TEN PURPORTED VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE BY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS, THE TEAM
DETERMINED THAT THEIR ALLEGATIONS WERE CREDIBLE. THEY SAID
THAT SOME VICTIMS HAD BEEN TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL
FACILITY OWNED BY WAR VETERAN LEADER CHENJERAI “HITLER”
HUNZVI, ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT PLAN TO NAME HUNZVI SPECIFICALLY
IN THEIR PUBLISHED REPORT. THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THESE CASES
AND OTHERS LIKE THEM, AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE SUCH
AS FORCED REPUDIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, CONTRIBUTE TO A
CLIMATE OF WIDESPREAD INTIMIDATION AND TRAUMA. THEY CALLED
ON THE GOZ TO ADHERE TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE,
ADOPT A POLICY OF REPARATION FOR VICTIMS AND APPOINT AN
INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF
TORTURE. THESE FINDINGS CERTAINLY TRACK WITH THE DISTURBING
INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING. END SUMMARY.
MANDATE OF FACT-FINDING TEAM
—————————-
¶2. (U) AT THE REQUEST OF THE AMANI TRUST, A LOCAL NGO THAT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z
ASSISTS VICTIMS OF HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TORTURE IN ZIMBABWE,
A TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS FROM THE COPENHAGEN-BASED
INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR TORTURE VICTIMS
CONDUCTED A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO EXAMINE ALLEGATIONS OF
WIDESPREAD STATE-SPONSORED TORTURE. MEMBERS OF THE
DELEGATION, WHICH WAS LED BY INGE GENEFKE, A WIDELY RESPECTED
DANISH NEUROLOGIST, WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT
ALLEGATIONS THAT DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS WERE IMPLICATED
IN THE ONGOING ACTS OF TORTURE, AND ABOUT THE REPORTED
DISRUPTION OF HEALTH CARE DUE TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION IN THE RUN-UP TO THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS. THE DELEGATION MET IN HARARE AND BULAWAYO WITH
VICTIMS, VICTIMS’ ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS OF
HEALTH WORKERS. DR. GENEFKE AND HER COLLEAGUES CONDUCTED AN
EU-HOSTED BRIEFING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS JUNE 5 ABOUT THE TEN-
DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION. THE DOCTORS PLAN TO ISSUE A REPORT IN
SEVERAL DAYS.
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE
—————————
¶3. (U) THE DOCTORS EXAMINED SIX VICTIMS OF TORTURE IN
BULAWAYO AND FOUR IN HARARE. THEY TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT,
USING RELIABLE SCIENTIFIC METHODS, THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO
CONFIRM THAT ALL TEN HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE. THE PERPETRATORS OF THE TORTURE,
ACCORDING THE TEAM, HAD NOT BEEN POLICE OR SOLDIERS, AS IS OFTEN
THE CASE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT RATHER “REGULAR PEOPLE,”
INCLUDING WOMEN, WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT (AND
ZANU-PF). PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS TEACHERS AND MEDICAL WORKERS
HAD, THEY SAID, BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR TORTURE, A COMMON TACTIC
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03029 01 OF 03 071024Z
WHEN PERPETRATORS ARE SETTING OUT TO DESTROY A COMMUNITY.
¶4. (U) THE DOCTORS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL ONE CASE IN WHICH TWENTY
MEN ATTACKED AN OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBER AT HIS HOME, BEATING
HIM UNCONSCIOUS IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
DAMAGE INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL WOUNDS, SUCH AS CIGARETTE
BURNS AND INJURIES FROM BEATINGS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
INCLUDING THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD’S HOSTILITY TO HIS FATHER
FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT — A COMMON, AND OFTEN LASTING,
REACTION BY CHILDREN WITNESSING THE TORTURE OF A PARENT.
ABUSES BY HUNZVI
—————-
¶5. (C) ACCORDING TO THE DOCTORS, THEY HAD RECEIVED “VERY CLEAR
INFORMATION” THAT THE FOUR VICTIMS IN HARARE HAD BEEN
TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL OFFICE RUN BY WAR VETERAN
LEADER CHENJERAI “HITLER” HUNZVI, WHO IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR. THEY
SAID THEY DO NOT PLAN TO DISCUSS HUNZVI BY NAME IN THE REPORT,
BUT WILL DISCUSS HIS INVOLVEMENT WHEN THEY REPORT BACK TO
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS. ANTONY REELER, DIRECTOR
OF AMANI TRUST, SAID THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED
IN “DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS” BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL
HEALTH GROUPS. HE NOTED THAT A SUPPORTER OF THE MOVEMENT FOR
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH OUTSIDE
HUNZVI’S MEDICAL OFFICE. THE OFFICE HAS REPORTEDLY SINCE BEEN
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5883
PAGE 01 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00
INL-01 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00
VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01
PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W
——————600078 071026Z /38
P 071028Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6221
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003029
SIPDIS
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT “SYSTEMATIC” TORTURE
CLOSED FOLLOWING PUBLIC PROTEST OF THE CRIMES BEING CONDUCTED
INSIDE.
MASS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE
————————–
¶6. (U) THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THEY HAD FOUND “CLEAR OBJECTIVE
EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC TORTURE,” WHICH INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL
TORTURE AND THREATS AND INTIMIDATION THAT CONSTITUTE “MASS
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE ON A VERY LARGE SCALE.” EXAMPLES OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE INCLUDE DEATH THREATS AND FORCING
PEOPLE TO WITNESS THE TORTURE OF THEIR RELATIVES AND LOVED
ONES. THE DOCTORS TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT INTIMIDATION SUCH AS
FORCED ATTENDANCE AT POLITICAL RALLIES AND FORCED
RENUNCIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS AND BELIEFS CAN LEAVE
EMOTIONAL SCARS AS DEEP AS, AND MORE WIDESPREAD THAN, THOSE
CAUSED BY PHYSICAL TORTURE. THEY ADDED THAT THEY HAVE
OBSERVED PHENOMENON OF “SELF-CENSORSHIP” WHEREBY VICTIMS ARE
UNWILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM FOR FEAR OF
RETALIATION. THIS SILENCING IS “EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE
COUNTRY.”
¶7. (U) THE PERPETRATORS OF THE VIOLENCE, THE DOCTORS SAID, HAD
TARGETED PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING
TEACHERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS. SINGLING OUT SUCH PEOPLE
FOR TORTURE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
BUT THE WHOLE SOCIETY. “TORTURE,” THEY CONTINUED, “IS THE MOST
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z
ATROCIOUS INSTRUMENT AGAINST DEMOCRACY.”
DISRUPTION OF HEALTH SERVICES
—————————–
¶8. (U) THE DOCTORS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE DISRUPTIVE
EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ON THE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSION. IN SOME CASES, HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN
PREVENTED FROM PROVIDING TREATMENT TO VICTIMS. WAR VETERANS
HAVE REPORTEDLY EXHIBITED THREATENING BEHAVIOR TOWARD
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING ASSAULTING AND RAPING
NURSES. TWO NURSES WERE ABDUCTED WHILE WORKING IN A
MATERNAL CARE WARD, DR. GENEFKE ASSERTED. SEVERAL VICTIMS OF
TORTURE HAD SWITCHED HOSPITALS AFTER ENCOUNTERING COLD AND
INDIFFERENT BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, THE DOCTORS
MAINTAINED, WAS THE RESULT OF INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN
INDIFFERENCE.
SCALE OF VIOLENCE
—————–
¶9. (U) ASKED TO ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF TORTURE VICTIMS, ANTONY
REELER OF AMANI TRUST SAID THAT NGO’S HAD IDENTIFIED ABOUT 100
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE SO FAR. HE NOTED THAT THE ONLY
VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN ABLE TO COME FORWARD WERE THOSE WHO
WERE BASED IN OR HAD MANAGED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO URBAN
AREAS. REELER BELIEVES THAT THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WILL
EVENTUALLY BE FOUND TO NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS.
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03029 02 OF 03 071024Z
—————
¶10. (U) THE GROUP PLANS TO ISSUE A REPORT IN WHICH IT WILL
RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT (GOZ):
— IMMEDIATELY ACCEDE TO THE U.N. CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE.
— APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
— IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF REPARATIONS, COMPENSATION, AND
REHABILITATION FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE.
ABUSES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS
—————————
¶11. (SBU) MEMBERS OF THE FACT-FINDING MISSION ASKED THE
DIPLOMATS FOR INFORMATION ON ABUSES OF THEIR NATIONALS. THE
DIPLOMATS RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS:
AMERICAN: AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN ZIMBABWE HAVE WITNESSED
SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING SOME COMMITTED BY
WAR VETERANS ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT HAVE NOT THEMSELVES BEEN
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5887
PAGE 01 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00
DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /010W
——————60009B 071026Z /38
P 071028Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6222
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003029
SIPDIS
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT “SYSTEMATIC” TORTURE
BRITISH: SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF BEATINGS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL
INTIMIDATION AMONG BRITAIN’S 25,000 STRONG COMMUNITY.
GERMAN: SEVERAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING TWO GERMANS (ORIGINALLY
REPORTED AS SOUTH AFRICANS) TIED UP AND BEATEN IN APRIL.
DUTCH: PSYCHOLOGICAL FEAR TACTICS AGAINST DUTCH FARMERS,
INCLUDING BEING FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR WORKERS TO ZANU-PF
RALLIES.
ITALY: MANY ITALIAN FARMERS HAVE WITNESSED BEATINGS. ONE WAS
FORCED TO LEAVE A MINING CONCERN HE OPERATED. SUSPECTED
GOVERNMENT AGENTS QUESTIONED ASSOCIATES OF AN ITALIAN DOCTOR
ABOUT HER POLITICAL ORIENTATION.
¶12. (C) COMMENT: THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL EXPERTS’ FINDINGS
TRACK WITH REPORTS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ON THE NATURE
AND SCALE OF VIOLENCE HERE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTION. THESE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN SEVERAL CABLES. IT IS, OF
COURSE, LIKELY THAT THE GOZ WILL IGNORE THE FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT. HOWEVER, THE OBJECTIVITY AND
STATURE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MISSION GIVES INCREASED
CREDIBILITY TO ALLEGATIONS OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
TORTURE, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE DAMAGING EFFECT OF SUCH ACTS NOT
ONLY ON INDIVIDUALS BUT ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. OBVIOUSLY,
THESE FINDINGS WILL HAVE VERY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE
UPCOMING ELECTIONS. END COMMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03029 03 OF 03 071024Z
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
(19 VIEWS)
