US embassy cable - 00HARARE3029

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY 
 
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03029  01 OF 03  071024Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, EU, ZI 
SUBJECT:  INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY:  AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS 
TOLD DIPLOMATS JUNE 5, FOLLOWING A FACT-FINDING MISSION, THAT 
THEY HAD FOUND "CLEAR OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC 
TORTURE" IN ZIMBABWE THAT IS ELECTION-RELATED.  AFTER 
EXAMINING TEN PURPORTED VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE BY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS, THE TEAM 
DETERMINED THAT THEIR ALLEGATIONS WERE CREDIBLE.  THEY SAID 
THAT SOME VICTIMS HAD BEEN TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL 
FACILITY OWNED BY WAR VETERAN LEADER CHENJERAI "HITLER" 
HUNZVI, ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT PLAN TO NAME HUNZVI SPECIFICALLY 
IN THEIR PUBLISHED REPORT.  THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THESE CASES 
AND OTHERS LIKE THEM, AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE SUCH 
AS FORCED REPUDIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, CONTRIBUTE TO A 
CLIMATE OF WIDESPREAD INTIMIDATION AND TRAUMA.  THEY CALLED 
ON THE GOZ TO ADHERE TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE, 
ADOPT A POLICY OF REPARATION FOR VICTIMS AND APPOINT AN 
INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF 
TORTURE.  THESE FINDINGS CERTAINLY TRACK WITH THE DISTURBING 
INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MANDATE OF FACT-FINDING TEAM 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (U)  AT THE REQUEST OF THE AMANI TRUST, A LOCAL NGO THAT 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  03029  01 OF 03  071024Z 
ASSISTS VICTIMS OF HISTORICAL AND CURRENT TORTURE IN ZIMBABWE, 
A TEAM OF MEDICAL EXPERTS FROM THE COPENHAGEN-BASED 
INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR TORTURE VICTIMS 
CONDUCTED A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO EXAMINE ALLEGATIONS OF 
WIDESPREAD STATE-SPONSORED TORTURE.  MEMBERS OF THE 
DELEGATION, WHICH WAS LED BY INGE GENEFKE, A WIDELY RESPECTED 
DANISH NEUROLOGIST, WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT 
ALLEGATIONS THAT DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS WERE IMPLICATED 
IN THE ONGOING ACTS OF TORTURE, AND ABOUT THE REPORTED 
DISRUPTION OF HEALTH CARE DUE TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND 
INTIMIDATION IN THE RUN-UP TO THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY 
ELECTIONS.  THE DELEGATION MET IN HARARE AND BULAWAYO WITH 
VICTIMS, VICTIMS' ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS OF 
HEALTH WORKERS.  DR. GENEFKE AND HER COLLEAGUES CONDUCTED AN 
EU-HOSTED BRIEFING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS JUNE 5 ABOUT THE TEN- 
DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION.  THE DOCTORS PLAN TO ISSUE A REPORT IN 
SEVERAL DAYS. 
 
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE 
--------------------------- 
 
3. (U)  THE DOCTORS EXAMINED SIX VICTIMS OF TORTURE IN 
BULAWAYO AND FOUR IN HARARE.  THEY TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT, 
USING RELIABLE SCIENTIFIC METHODS, THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO 
CONFIRM THAT ALL TEN HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE.  THE PERPETRATORS OF THE TORTURE, 
ACCORDING THE TEAM, HAD NOT BEEN POLICE OR SOLDIERS, AS IS OFTEN 
THE CASE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT RATHER "REGULAR PEOPLE," 
INCLUDING WOMEN, WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT (AND 
ZANU-PF).  PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS TEACHERS AND MEDICAL WORKERS 
HAD, THEY SAID, BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR TORTURE, A COMMON TACTIC 
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PAGE 04        HARARE  03029  01 OF 03  071024Z 
WHEN PERPETRATORS ARE SETTING OUT TO DESTROY A COMMUNITY. 
 
4.  (U)  THE DOCTORS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL ONE CASE IN WHICH TWENTY 
MEN ATTACKED AN OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBER AT HIS HOME, BEATING 
HIM UNCONSCIOUS IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD. 
DAMAGE INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL WOUNDS, SUCH AS  CIGARETTE 
BURNS AND INJURIES FROM BEATINGS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA 
INCLUDING THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD'S HOSTILITY TO HIS FATHER 
FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT -- A COMMON, AND OFTEN LASTING, 
REACTION BY CHILDREN WITNESSING THE TORTURE OF A PARENT. 
 
ABUSES BY HUNZVI 
---------------- 
 
5.  (C)  ACCORDING TO THE DOCTORS, THEY HAD RECEIVED "VERY CLEAR 
INFORMATION" THAT THE FOUR VICTIMS IN HARARE HAD BEEN 
TORTURED IN OR NEAR A MEDICAL OFFICE RUN BY WAR VETERAN 
LEADER CHENJERAI "HITLER" HUNZVI, WHO IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR.  THEY 
SAID THEY DO NOT PLAN TO DISCUSS HUNZVI BY NAME IN THE REPORT, 
BUT WILL DISCUSS HIS INVOLVEMENT WHEN THEY REPORT BACK TO 
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS.  ANTONY REELER, DIRECTOR 
OF AMANI TRUST, SAID THAT THIS ISSUE IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED 
IN "DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS" BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL 
HEALTH GROUPS.  HE NOTED THAT A SUPPORTER OF THE MOVEMENT FOR 
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH OUTSIDE 
HUNZVI'S MEDICAL OFFICE.  THE OFFICE HAS REPORTEDLY SINCE BEEN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ5883 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03029  02 OF 03  071024Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-01  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00 
      INL-01   DODE-00  DOEE-00  ANHR-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00 
      VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01 
      PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00 
      TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /011W 
                  ------------------600078  071026Z /38 
P 071028Z JUN 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6221 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY 
 
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03029  02 OF 03  071024Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, EU, ZI 
SUBJECT:  INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE 
 
CLOSED FOLLOWING PUBLIC PROTEST OF THE CRIMES BEING CONDUCTED 
INSIDE. 
 
MASS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE 
-------------------------- 
 
6.  (U)  THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THEY HAD FOUND "CLEAR OBJECTIVE 
EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC TORTURE," WHICH INCLUDED BOTH PHYSICAL 
TORTURE AND THREATS AND INTIMIDATION THAT CONSTITUTE "MASS 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE ON A VERY LARGE SCALE."  EXAMPLES OF 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE INCLUDE DEATH THREATS AND FORCING 
PEOPLE TO WITNESS THE TORTURE OF THEIR RELATIVES AND LOVED 
ONES.  THE DOCTORS TOLD THE DIPLOMATS THAT INTIMIDATION SUCH AS 
FORCED ATTENDANCE AT POLITICAL RALLIES AND FORCED 
RENUNCIATION OF POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS AND BELIEFS CAN LEAVE 
EMOTIONAL SCARS AS DEEP AS, AND MORE WIDESPREAD THAN, THOSE 
CAUSED BY PHYSICAL TORTURE.  THEY ADDED THAT THEY HAVE 
OBSERVED PHENOMENON OF "SELF-CENSORSHIP" WHEREBY VICTIMS ARE 
UNWILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM FOR FEAR OF 
RETALIATION.  THIS SILENCING IS "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE 
COUNTRY." 
 
7.  (U)  THE PERPETRATORS OF THE VIOLENCE, THE DOCTORS SAID, HAD 
TARGETED PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING 
TEACHERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS.  SINGLING OUT SUCH PEOPLE 
FOR TORTURE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 
BUT THE WHOLE SOCIETY.  "TORTURE," THEY CONTINUED, "IS THE MOST 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  03029  02 OF 03  071024Z 
ATROCIOUS INSTRUMENT AGAINST DEMOCRACY." 
 
DISRUPTION OF HEALTH SERVICES 
----------------------------- 
 
8.  (U)  THE DOCTORS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE DISRUPTIVE 
EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ON THE HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSION.  IN SOME CASES, HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN 
PREVENTED FROM PROVIDING TREATMENT TO VICTIMS.  WAR VETERANS 
HAVE REPORTEDLY EXHIBITED THREATENING BEHAVIOR TOWARD 
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING ASSAULTING AND RAPING 
NURSES.  TWO NURSES WERE ABDUCTED WHILE WORKING IN A 
MATERNAL CARE WARD, DR. GENEFKE ASSERTED.  SEVERAL VICTIMS OF 
TORTURE HAD SWITCHED HOSPITALS AFTER ENCOUNTERING COLD AND 
INDIFFERENT BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, THE DOCTORS 
MAINTAINED, WAS THE RESULT OF INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN 
INDIFFERENCE. 
 
SCALE OF VIOLENCE 
----------------- 
 
9. (U)  ASKED TO ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF TORTURE VICTIMS, ANTONY 
REELER OF AMANI TRUST SAID THAT NGO'S HAD IDENTIFIED ABOUT 100 
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL TORTURE SO FAR.  HE NOTED THAT THE ONLY 
VICTIMS WHO HAD BEEN ABLE TO COME FORWARD WERE THOSE WHO 
WERE BASED IN OR HAD MANAGED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO URBAN 
AREAS.  REELER BELIEVES THAT THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WILL 
EVENTUALLY BE FOUND TO NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS. 
 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03029  02 OF 03  071024Z 
--------------- 
 
10.  (U)  THE GROUP PLANS TO ISSUE A REPORT IN WHICH IT WILL 
RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE 
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT (GOZ): 
 
-- IMMEDIATELY ACCEDE TO THE U.N. CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE. 
 
-- APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE 
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. 
 
-- IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF REPARATIONS, COMPENSATION, AND 
REHABILITATION FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE. 
 
ABUSES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS 
--------------------------- 
 
11. (SBU)  MEMBERS OF THE FACT-FINDING MISSION ASKED THE 
DIPLOMATS FOR INFORMATION ON ABUSES OF THEIR NATIONALS.  THE 
DIPLOMATS RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS: 
 
AMERICAN: AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN ZIMBABWE HAVE WITNESSED 
SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING SOME COMMITTED BY 
WAR VETERANS ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT HAVE NOT THEMSELVES BEEN 
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ5887 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03029  03 OF 03  071024Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-01  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  ANHR-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00 
      VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /010W 
                  ------------------60009B  071026Z /38 
P 071028Z JUN 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6222 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, C. GURNEY 
 
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03029  03 OF 03  071024Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/10 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, EU, ZI 
SUBJECT:  INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS REPORT "SYSTEMATIC" TORTURE 
 
BRITISH: SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF BEATINGS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL 
INTIMIDATION AMONG BRITAIN'S 25,000 STRONG COMMUNITY. 
 
GERMAN: SEVERAL INCIDENTS, INCLUDING TWO GERMANS (ORIGINALLY 
REPORTED AS SOUTH AFRICANS) TIED UP AND BEATEN IN APRIL. 
 
DUTCH:  PSYCHOLOGICAL FEAR TACTICS AGAINST DUTCH FARMERS, 
INCLUDING BEING FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR WORKERS TO ZANU-PF 
RALLIES. 
 
ITALY:  MANY ITALIAN FARMERS HAVE WITNESSED BEATINGS.  ONE WAS 
FORCED TO LEAVE A MINING CONCERN HE OPERATED.  SUSPECTED 
GOVERNMENT AGENTS QUESTIONED ASSOCIATES OF AN ITALIAN DOCTOR 
ABOUT HER POLITICAL ORIENTATION. 
 
12.  (C)  COMMENT:  THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL EXPERTS' FINDINGS 
TRACK WITH REPORTS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ON THE NATURE 
AND SCALE OF VIOLENCE HERE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY 
ELECTION.  THESE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN SEVERAL CABLES.  IT IS, OF 
COURSE, LIKELY THAT THE GOZ WILL IGNORE THE FINDINGS AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT.  HOWEVER, THE OBJECTIVITY AND 
STATURE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MISSION GIVES INCREASED 
CREDIBILITY TO ALLEGATIONS OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL 
TORTURE, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE DAMAGING EFFECT OF SUCH ACTS NOT 
ONLY ON INDIVIDUALS BUT ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.  OBVIOUSLY, 
THESE FINDINGS WILL HAVE VERY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ON THE 
UPCOMING ELECTIONS.  END COMMENT. 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  03029  03 OF 03  071024Z 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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