Britain called on Tuesday for a “very robust international response” against the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government for its brutal crackdown on the opposition.
“The situation is appalling. I condemn last Sunday’s beatings and arrest of opposition leaders,” junior Foreign Office Minister David Triesman said in the House of Lords, Britain’s unelected upper house of Parliament.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of supporters were arrested during a bid to hold an anti-government rally in Harare on Sunday despite a police ban.
Tsvangirai defiantly vowed on Tuesday his push to topple Mugabe would go on as he headed to treatment in a police van for a beating that he received in custody.
“What is needed now is negotiation between government and opposition, on new democratic constitutional agreements, and an economic recovery programme, to lift Zimbabwe out of the disaster resulting from Mugabe’s policies,” Triesman said.
“Instead, Mugabe has resorted to further violence and intimidation, clinging to power as Zimbabwe crumbles around him.”
When asked about taking the problem to the United Nations, Triesman replied: “If we can secure enough faces in the Security Council for a good discussion, without it being blocked, that would be very valuable.
“Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai appeared in court this morning [Tuesday] plainly very seriously injured, and has been returned, as others have, to prison,” he said.
“These are circumstances which do call for a very robust international response,” he said.
The main opposition Conservative Party in the House of Lords asked why it would not be right to invade Zimbabwe to remove a tyrant like Mugabe when it was right to invade Iraq in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.
“I don’t think there is a prospect of the invasion of Zimbabwe and I don’t want to encourage the thought,” Triesman replied.
“The circumstances of the people of Zimbabwe require of us a very high measure of aid and a possibility of reconstruction. The prospects of being able to do it, and do it successfully, are bound to be part of what’s taken into account.”
In Washington, the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of those being held, and said the US held Mugabe responsible for the safety and well-being of those in custody.
“The world community again has been shown that the regime of Robert Mugabe is ruthless and repressive and creates only suffering for the people of Zimbabwe,” Rice said.
In a significant shift, the South African government also criticised Mugabe’s government on Tuesday. “South Africa urges the Zimbabwean government to ensure that the rule of law including the respect for rights of all Zimbabweans and leaders of various political parties is respected,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad.
South Africa has previously maintained a policy of “quiet diplomacy” towards Mugabe, arguing that public confrontation with him over allegations of human rights abuses and economic mismanagement could be counterproductive.
Among the seriously injured in court on Tuesday were Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, who had a broken wrist and head injuries, and opposition activist Grace Kwinjeh, who suffered head wounds that nearly severed her right ear, according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Police said the activists were injured because they had been in an anti-government riot. But their lawyers said all were arrested at roadblocks long before they arrived at the site of the prayer meeting.
In a further crackdown on Tuesday, police raided the offices of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and seized material promoting the national strike called for two days next month. “Staff were harassed, threatened, some were slapped and beaten up. All offices were searched and flyers, files and some video tapes were seized,” said Zimbabwe’s largest labour body in a statement. One official was taken away by police.
Two opposition supporters were also injured by police who attempted to break up a wake being held for Gift Tandare, who was shot dead on Sunday by police dispersing stone-throwing youths. – Guardian Unlimited Â