zimbabwe: CREDO calls on Zimbabwean government to return passport and resident permit of Guardian journalist
CREDO for Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights has called on the Zimbabwean government to return the confiscated passport and resident permit of Andrew Meldrum, the Zimbabwe correspondent of the widely respected UK based Guardian Newspapers. Mr Meldrum is an American citizen and has lived legally in Zimbabwe for 22 years. The Zimbabwean immigration authorities seized the documents following recent failed attempts to arrest Mr Meldrum at night with a view to enforcing a surprise deportation. His lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, has also been threatened with detention after she handed in a letter protesting confiscation of the said documents.
PRESS STATEMENT: May 15 2003
Zimbabwe Update: CREDO calls on Zimbabwean government to return passport and resident permit of Guardian journalist.
CREDO for Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights has called on the Zimbabwean government to return the confiscated passport and resident permit of Andrew Meldrum, the Zimbabwe correspondent of the widely respected UK based Guardian Newspapers. Mr Meldrum is an American citizen and has lived legally in Zimbabwe for 22 years. The Zimbabwean immigration authorities seized the documents following recent failed attempts to arrest Mr Meldrum at night with a view to enforcing a surprise deportation. His lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, has also been threatened with detention after she handed in a letter protesting confiscation of the said documents.
Reacting to the latest development in the running attempt to illegally deport Mr Meldrum Rotimi Sankore the organisations Coordinator noted, “the Zimbabwean government cannot exercise sovereignty outside the boundaries of international law and international human rights standards. Mr Meldrum has not committed any offence. On the contrary he was acquitted last year by a Zimbabwean court of allegations that he reported false information about the country. The documents should be returned without delay”
“The new accusation that conditions of his permit only allow him to report on economics and tourism and not politics is false. Even if that were true, no competent journalist can report on the Zimbabwean economy and tourist industry without reflecting the political climate that has led to their collapse.”
CREDO fears that the renewed and desperate attempts to deport Mr Meldrum may be a prelude to increased suppression of media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights in general.
“The Mugabe led government must realise that repression and intimidation have never been able to sustain a government in power indefinitely. Zimbabwe cannot be an exception” Said Mr Sankore. “The only way forward for the country is for the government to immediately begin democratisation by ending the attacks on press freedom and freedom of expression and repeal all anti media and anti human rights legislation in the country.”
If the Zimbabwean authorities succeed in illegally deporting Mr Meldrum and other journalists and steps up repression, it will be a slap in the face of African leaders especially President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa who have pursued a softly softly approach to the worsening political situation in Zimbabwe.
ENDS
For further information, contact our International Office:
Centre for Research Education & Development Of
- [CREDO]- Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights.
73-75 Newington Causeway
London SE1 6BD, UK
Tel: + 44 20 77875501
Fax:+ 44 20 77875502
E-mail: Media – [email protected] , General – [email protected]
CREDO is an International human rights organisation based in Senegal and London and focusing on work in Africa. CREDO believes that freedom of expression and other strongly associated rights, are major platforms on which all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights stand. CREDO further believes that “without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status” everyone is entitled to these rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, The African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights and other similar documents.
While freedom of expression remains an inalienable right, it is often overlooked that it is in reality, not a stand alone right but is also a ‘gateway’ right to these other strongly associated rights, which are no less important and demand equal attention. These rights include the rights to opinion, assembly, association and so forth. An attack on any of these rights, is more often than not an indicator that other associated rights are not fully assured.
Collectively these rights are infinitely more important than they are individually. Their intertwined nature means that they are best defended and promoted collectively and not in isolation from each other.
While maintaining an international perspective, CREDO’s work focuses on themes in Africa related to: freedom of expression, media freedom, rights/access to information and information resources; freedom of opinion, association, assembly and related rights; and anti-discrimination issues e.g. discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, political persuasion etc.