European Green Party calls for a democratic and peaceful solution to the current crisis in Zimbabwe:
The European Green Party today called on the South African Development Community (SADC), the African Union(AU) and the UN to do everything in their power to facilitate a speedy and peaceful transition to democracy in Zimbabwe.
European Green Party Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said:
"The EGP condemns the brutal regime of Robert Mugabe for the government-sponsored campaign of violence against the main opposition party and their supporters ahead of the run-off of the presidential election in Zimbabwe, scheduled for 27 June, which has resulted in the murders ofopposition activists and supporters, including human rights activists. Constant threats, intimidation and violence have made a free and fair run-off of the presidential election in Zimbabwe impossible and have meant that the opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of the contest. We welcome the statements from several present and former African leaders condemning President Mugabe's intimidation of the Movement for Democratic Change and its supporters and we encourage those leaders to actively engage in finding a democratic political solution for the current crisis in Zimbabwe.
It is unfortunately clear that the so-called "quiet diplomacy" of the current mediation process led by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa has failed and there is an urgent need for fresh mediation, based on a principled stance, which respects the democratic rights and freedoms of the Zimbabwean population and the political opposition . In this context it is up to the UN Security Council, the SADC and the African Union to accept their respective responsibilities in bringing about a peaceful and truly democratic solution."
Philippe Lamberts concluded: "We European Greens call for:
- A negotiated and comprehensive democratic solution for the current crisis under the auspices of the United Nations, the SADC and the African Union.
- The establishment of a national reconciliation process with a truth and justice component to pave the way for a genuine and viable democratic process, which respects the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwean people.
-The UN to launch an independent investigation into the human rights violations committed by President Mugabe and his ZANU-PF Party and their supporters in the pre-election period. This process must ensure that those responsible are brought before a competent and impartial tribunal."
