US piled pressure on UN security council

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice piled pressure on the United Nations Security Council to intervene in Zimbabwe before the 27 June presidential elections runoff arguing that conditions were not right and the situation was getting worse because of escalating violence.

She said the United States was also gravely concerned by statements by President Robert Mugabe that he and his political party would not respect an opposition victory in the 27 June poll and instead promised greater violence against the people.

“This threat should be retracted and the Government of Zimbabwe made to pledge to the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and other observers that it will abide by electoral results counted in a transparent manner in the presence of electoral observers,” Rice said.

She also said the government of Zimbabwe should immediately lift its directive suspending the humanitarian operations of non-governmental organisations so that humanitarian aid could reach those in need regardless of their political views.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08STATE66451, GUIDANCE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON ZIMBABWE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

VZCZCXRO4284

OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN RUEHTRO

DE RUEHC #6451 1721308

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

O P 201308Z JUN 08

FM SECSTATE WASHDC

TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2249

INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 2643

UNCLAS STATE 066451

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU

SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON ZIMBABWE

¶1. This is an action request. USUN may draw from the

talking points in para 2 below during the UNSC formal meeting

on the situation in Zimbabwe. USUN should also draw on these

points in speaking to the press after the meeting.

¶2. Begin talking points:

— We appreciate (Under Secretary General Pascoe,s) briefing

on the worsening situation in Zimbabwe. We are appalled by

the downward spiral in the welfare of the Zimbabwean people

as a result of government-sanctioned violence against

opposition leaders and supporters and the government

restrictions on humanitarian operations. With that in mind,

I would like to make the following four points on the

situation in Zimbabwe:

— First, the Government of Zimbabwe must immediately end all

violence directed against opposition leaders and supporters

so that the June 27 election can truly represent the will of

the Zimbabwean people. The escalating violence and

intimidation is seriously jeopardizing any hope of free and

fair elections. Since the March 29 election, there have been

at least 3,000 attacks, 54 murders, 200 missing people, over

25,000 people displaced, and 3,000 injured victims who have

required medical treatment.

— We are deeply concerned that the government,s crackdown

is increasingly targeting opposition leadership. On June 12,

presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai was twice detained

by police while attempting to campaign, bringing to four his

total number of detentions in eight days. On June 12,

Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary General Tendai

Biti was arrested upon his return to Zimbabwe from South

Africa and charged with treason, in addition to the already

pending charges against him of communicating statements

prejudicial to the State. He continues to be held

incommunicado. We are greatly concerned about the poor

conditions of Mr. Biti,s detention and urge his immediate

release pending resolution of those charges.

— At least eight MDC Members of Parliament have been

arrested or detained in the aftermath of the March 29

national elections in which the combined opposition won a

majority of seats in parliament. Women, children, and the

elderly relatives of MDC officials have also been singled out

for beatings and even death in an ongoing attempt to

intimidate would-be MDC voters and shake the foundations of

the party’s infrastructure. Without an immediate, major

shift in the current environment, chances for a free and fair

June electoral contest are remote.

— We also note with grave concern statements by Robert

Mugabe that he and his political party would not respect an

opposition victory on June 27, instead promising even greater

violence against the Zimbabwean people. This threat should

be retracted and the Government of Zimbabwe made to pledge to

the Southern African Development Community,

the African Union, and other observers that it will abide by

electoral results counted in a transparent manner in the

presence of electoral observers.

— Second, the Government of Zimbabwe should immediately lift

its directive suspending the humanitarian operations of

non-governmental organizations so that humanitarian aid can

reach those in need regardless of their political views.

Several million people, including orphans, vulnerable people,

and those infected with HIV/AIDS, will suffer if emergency

food distribution is suspended.

— Third, the crisis in Zimbabwe affects not only the welfare

of the Zimbabwean people, but the well-being and stability of

Zimbabwe,s neighbors. The Zimbabwean government’s economic

and political decisions have caused an exodus of Zimbabweans

fleeing economic collapse and political unrest. People of

Mozambican and Malawian origins living and working in

Zimbabwe have in many cases been forced to return to their

countries.

— Fourth, we support the efforts of the Southern African

Development Community and African Union leaders, as well as

the UN Secretary General to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe

during this critical transition period and beyond. It will

take the political commitment of the entire international

community to help Zimbabwe,s people before and after the

June 27 election so that, while they can take pride in their

history, they can also begin to look forward to a better

future.

RICE

(77 VIEWS)