TANZANIA: Zanzibar opposition figures face treason trial and death sen
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* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
News Service 012/00
AI INDEX: AFR 56/04/00
27 January 2000
Tanzania
Zanzibar opposition figures face treason trial and death sentences
The charges of treason being brought by the Zanzibar government against
18 members of the Zanzibar opposition party, the Civic United Front
(CUF), illustrate the disturbing absence of human rights protection in
the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, Amnesty International said in a
new report issued today.
"The treason charges against the members of the CUF are politically
motivated. There is no substance to the allegations of a violent
conspiracy by the defendants to overthrow the Zanzibar government. The
proceedings are merely an attempt by the government to intimidate and
suppress its opponents," Amnesty International said.
Today's release of the report coincides with a High Court hearing in
Zanzibar, adjourned from last week, which may set a trial date. At last
week's hearing, police tear-gassed and beat CUF supporters outside the
court, injuring several and arresting about 15. Two policemen were also
injured.
In the report, Amnesty International documents the lengthy proceedings
-- which contravene international fair trial standards -- against the 18
members of the CUF. It places the case in the context of a pattern of
human rights violations against CUF activists in Zanzibar following the
1995 elections, which were widely seen as rigged to keep Zanzibar
President Salmin Amour in power.
The first arrests in the treason case were made at the end of November
1997 on the eve of an important by-election on Zanzibar, which CUF
nevertheless won. Fourteen CUF members and supporters were initially
arrested and charged with sedition, but the next month the charge was
changed to conspiracy to commit treason, which is a non-bailable offence
and carries a mandatory death sentence.
Over the following months a further four CUF members were later charged
with the same offence, including Juma Duni Haji, the winner of the
November 1997 by-election and a former opposition candidate for the
Tanzanian vice-presidency. In all, four members of the House of
Representatives have been arrested, including Hamad Rashid Mohamed, a
former Tanzanian deputy finance minister.
Treason charges were drafted in early 1999 against a further ten senior
CUF members, who might also be arrested and tried with the other 18
defendants.
Amnesty International believes that the numerous delaying tactics of the
Zanzibar government, the weak state of the judiciary and the defendants'
treatment in court so far, make it extremely unlikely that the accused
could receive a fair trial according to recognized international
standards, in particular the right to be tried by an independent and
competent court. The trial could be further delayed so as to weaken
opposition campaigning for the next elections in October 2000.
"The eighteen individuals are prisoners of conscience who are imprisoned
solely on account of their non-violent opinions and peaceful political
activities," the organization declared. "The Zanzibar government must
set them free and withdraw the charges against them."
Amnesty International is concerned about the ill-health of a number of
the defendants, including two women, as a result of the poor prison
conditions in Zanzibar Central Prison and the denial of adequate medical
treatment.
The organization urges the Tanzanian government of President Benjamin
Mkapa to acknowledge its constitutional responsibilities under the terms
of the Union with Zanzibar, as well as its obligations under
international law, to protect the human rights of all its citizens
--including Zanzibaris and these treason trial prisoners.
"The Tanzanian government should take all the necessary measures to
ensure that Zanzibaris enjoy the same basic rights and freedoms as those
prevailing throughout the rest of the United Republic of Tanzania," the
organization concluded.
Background
During the Zanzibar elections in 1995 there was widespread intimidation
and violences against CUF supporters, particularly by the youth wing of
the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, Party of the Revolution), the ruling party
in both Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. In response the CUF protested by
instructing its elected MPs to boycott parliamentary proceedings.
Between the elections and 1998, numerous CUF supporters were arrested on
trumped-up criminal charges, tortured in police custody and imprisoned.
Hundreds of CUF supporters were dismissed from their jobs, their homes
were demolished, their children were refused education, and many fled to
the mainland for their own safety.
Following lengthy attempts by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth
and the United Nations Secretary General to settle the political crisis
in Zanzibar, an agreement was finally reached between CCM and CUF in
April 1999. Far-reaching reforms for democratisation, human rights and
fair elections were set out in the Commonwealth Agreement, but few have
yet been implemented. Although the CUF is allowed to operate more
freely, the Zanzibar government continues to press ahead with the trial,
intent on convictions and death sentences.
Tanzania retains the death penalty, although there have been no
executions since 1994.
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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