Press releases : Mr Michael Gahler MEP on situation in Zimbabwe
This email, from Michael Gahler MEP arrived today, in response to the email I sent to several MEPs meeting in Brussels yesterday and today. See this post here for the context.
Dear Ladies and Gentleman,
following your mails regarding the shocking developments in Zimbabwe, please find attached the press releases of Mr Michael Gahler MEP on the current situation in Zimbabwe as well as the Declaration of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Bureau from 21 March 2007 on the issue.
Here’s the release:
Brussels, 20 March 2007
ZIMBABWE: CURRENT WAVE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITION MUST COME TO AN END – MUGABE REGIME IS MORALLY DEAD
Today, the Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Michael Gahler (EPP-ED) sharply condemned the continuing violence against the opposition in Zimbabwe. After last week’s assaults on leader of the opposition, Tsanvgirai (MDC party), Member of Parliament Nelson Chamisa (MDC) was beaten up severely on Saturday night in Harare on his way to this week’s committee meetings of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the EU in Brussels.
Gahler, First Vice-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ACP-EU said: “The events of the recent days are shocking. The wave of violence has to end, immediately. True Europeans stand by the oppressed in Zimbabwe, today.”
Moreover, Mr Gahler demands from the German Council Presidency to take all necessary steps to prevent further participation of representatives of the regime in all EU events: “Reprisals as a diplomatic instrument telling the other side that we do not accept such behaviour are the appropriate means.”
“Mugabe and his accomplices of the ruling party ZANU (PF) must stop to make politics with iron rods. Besides the economic and political crackdown, the Mugabe regime is morally dead”, Michael Gahler commented.
The African country is economically in a severe crisis with staple food supplies being scarce. Average life expectancy of 37 for men and 34 for women is, according to the World Health Organisation WHO, the lowest in the world. Also, annual inflation of 1600% marks a negative world record.
“The Mugabe regime fears international attention. Obviously, we will bring up the issue of Zimbabwe during the meetings this week, again”, Michael Gahler concluded.
I objected strongly to Mugabe’s men being present at the meeting, but according to The Telegraph, they were permitted to attend. I’m not happy about that at all.
In the meanwhile, our efficient law-abiding police (Not!) are apparently fully investigating this mysterious attack on Nelson Chamisa:
POLICE have intensified investigations into the mysterious daylight attack on MDC legislator for Kuwadzana Mr Nelson Chamisa, who underwent an eye operation at a private hospital in Harare yesterday.
Mr Chamisa was reportedly set upon by unknown assailants on Sunday morning as he disembarked from his vehicle at the Harare International Airport parking lot. He was on his way to catch a flight to Brussels to attend the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly. (via The Herald on ALLAfrica.com)
I wonder if they started their ‘full’ investigations by knocking on the door of State House….?
The lies and pretence is completely nauseating.
