Posted on 06/21/2002 6:02:42 AM PDT by Clive
WITH only 10 days before the permanent International Criminal Court comes into force, Zimbabwean exiles in the United Kingdom have formed an association to support relatives of the victims of President Robert Mugabe's rule and push for his prosecution.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent from London, a former student activist, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the Association of the Zimbabwean Relatives of Disappeared or Executed Political Activists was formed in the British capital last weekend.
"I can confirm that such an organisation has been formed but I can't disclose everything about it because we are yet to register," he said.
The association is seeking to register as a charitable organisation in the UK where it will seek funding to assist its members to campaign for Mugabe and his inner circle's prosecution. Members include the victims of government crackdown on civilians during the two periods between 1982- 1987 and from February 2000.
The new association, soon to extend to Zimbabwe, is modelled on the Chilean Association of Relatives of Disappeared Political Prisoners and the Association of Relatives of Executed Political Prisoners, two organisations that have championed the human rights cause for 26 years in that country.
"Going to the Hague is obviously an unfortunate option for us but we are forced to if the situation continues like this in Zimbabwe. With the formation of the ICC we will be able to deal with lawlessness," the activist said.
"Even if President Mugabe is not prosecuted, our main concern is that he stops what he is doing and the families of the affected get help."
However, the court's jurisdiction will not be retroactive. Human rights lawyer Brian Kagoro of the Crisis in Zimbabwe group said there were still grounds for Mugabe's prosecution because official crime was ongoing.
"When you have known criminals remaining on the loose," said Kagoro, "killing of innocent farmers continuing, seizing of properties escalating with little or no action taking place, then you should know that international intervention is justifiable."
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