45 Zimbabweans charged (with treason) over Egypt revolt video (& face death penalty)

[Turborama]

Source: ABC (Australia)

By Ginny Stein in Johannesburg | Posted 7 hours 48 minutes ago

Authorities in Zimbabwe have arrested 45 people and charged them with treason because they watched a video about the uprising in Egypt.

Treason is an offence that carries the death penalty in Zimbabwe and a protest march has been called in support of the detainees.

The group of academics, activists and trade unionists were arrested after attending a political speech titled Revolt in Egypt and Tunisia: What Lessons can be learnt by Zimbabwe and Africa?

At least seven members of the group have reportedly been beaten by security agents while in custody.

Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/01/3152078.htm?section=justin

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Are they using withholding HIV treatment as a form of torture? The next sentence makes it seem like that. That's messed up beyond words.

[maddezmom]

1. from a post in E&O: Zimbabwe Activists May Have Been Tortured, Official Says

Zimbabwe Activists May Have Been Tortured, Official Says
Zimbabwe Activists May Have Been Tortured, Official SaysBy CELIA W. DUGGER
Published: February 28, 2011
A lawyer for the detainees told the investigator, Juan E. Méndez, that a dozen of the activists had been beaten with broomsticks, metal rods and blunt objects on their bodies and the soles of their feet. They were tortured to force them to testify for the state, and they have since been denied medical care for their injuries, the lawyer, Jared Genser, said.

“Among the same group, six detainees received a series of lashes, which were administered while they lay down on their stomachs,” said Mr. Genser, with the American nonprofit group, Freedom Now, which seeks the release of political prisoners.

Mr. Méndez, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, said in an e-mail that he had not yet heard back from the government of Zimbabwe and could make no further comment.


more:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/world/africa/01zimbab...

Magistrate Fails to Show Up in 'Egypt Protest' Activists Case
Lance Guma
28 February 2011

Munyaradzi Gwisai and the 44 activists arrested on the 19th February for watching video footage of protests in Egypt and Tunisia, will spend a 10th night in custody after the trial magistrate failed to turn up for a scheduled hearing on Monday.

Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama told SW Radio Africa that his clients went to the Harare Magistrates Court as scheduled, only to be told by the Public Prosecutor that Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi had failed to turn up, claiming he was attending a meeting somewhere else. It was left to a stand-in magistrate to postpone the matter to Tuesday 11:15am.

Gwisai, a former MP in Prime Minister Tsvangirai's MDC party, was arrested alongside 45 other student and trade union activists for holding a meeting at which footage of protests in the Middle East and North Africa was shown and later discussed. Last week Wednesday they were charged with treason or alternatively plotting to 'overthrow a constitutionally elected government.'

One of the activists arrested was released on Thursday after apparently 'defecting' and deciding to write an affidavit as a state witness. This meant the number of those charged went down from 46 to 45.

more: http://allafrica.com/stories/201103010073.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x590786

[Robb]

2. Mugabe didn't get the memo that Twitter is setting everyone free.

Clearly. Must not have checked his email.

[joshcryer]

3. No I'm pretty sure his dictator buddies who will go unnamed told him to nip any dissent in the bud.

And do it quick. We'll see if it actually works, though, because making a martyr of people is a bad move. Especially when you are living in extremely poor conditions.

[Robb]

4. As opposed to Mugabe's usual legendary temperance. nt

[Adsos Letter]

5. The blood of martyrs is seed...

or so I hear.

People want freedom; events in North Africa are giving hope to the oppressed. Tyrants fear hope.

And the free exchange of information.