Posted on 04/07/2002 7:59:04 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
HARARE, Zimbabwe - Sixty-four people arrested after police broke up protests against disputed presidential elections remained in custody Sunday and were denied access to their attorneys, a lawyer said.
Alec Machadehama, a lawyer for the umbrella organization of civic groups that organized Saturday's protests, said he was denied access to the group's leader Lovemore Madhuku and 29 others being held at the main Harare police station.
"They are still being detained. I am yet to see them," he said.
Douglas Mwonzura, a spokesman for the National Constitutional Assembly, said 34 other demonstrators were being held in the provincial capitals of Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, also without access to legal advice.
Witnesses said many of those detained were beaten by baton-wielding police during their arrests.
Several were herded into the Harare police station with bruises and cuts and blood spattered on their clothes from baton blows, witnesses said.
In a crackdown on dissent against President Robert Mugabe, police blockaded strategic locations in the main towns to stop the demonstrations called by civic groups demanding democratic reforms.
Police spokesman Tarwireyi Tirivavi confirmed those arrested were accused of violating the Public Order and Security Act under which the protests were forbidden.
Under new sweeping security laws political gatherings of more than three people need to be authorized. Organizers of banned protests face up to two years in jail.
"We are trying to make arrangements so they can be brought to court" on Monday, Machadehama said.
Madhuku tried to coordinate protests from a taxi cab driving around Harare and was arrested while attempting to evade police, Tirivavi said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has rejected Mugabe's victory over its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in March 9-11 elections as rigged and tainted by political violence and have called for new elections.
Several independent observer groups said the elections were deeply flawed. The United States condemned the vote and the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies suspended Zimbabwe for a year.
Mugabe has rejected calls for another election.
The state Sunday Mail newspaper said ruling party loyalists were opposed to talks with the opposition being brokered by Nigerian and South African mediators in hopes of ending the nation's political stalemate over the poll.
State radio said Sunday Mugabe traveled to Libya on Saturday for talks with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhaffi in which Mugabe thanked Libya for its support of his party.
Relations between Mugabe and Gadaafi have been warm for some time but it is only in the last year, as Zimbabwe's shortage of foreign exchange has caused repeated fuel cut-offs that Mugabe has several times flown to Tripoli to plead with Gadaafi for deliveries on credit. Gadaafi, who has despaired of his efforts to play a leadership role in the Arab world, has begun to use his financial muscle to make interventions right across black Africa where he has made Zimbabwe a special case, advancing Mugabe a loan of $100 million. [End Excerpt]
Mugabe arrests 354 women and children meeting in church
Police block civic protests in Zimbabwe - Thousands arrested
"When you sup with the devil, use a very long spoon."
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