PUBLICAI Index: AFR 56/14/00

EXTRA 82/00Fear for safety/fear of torture3 November 2000

TANZANIAAyube Bakari]Civic United Front (CUF)

Ismail Jusab]officials

Salum Dimani]

Police have beaten up three officials of Zanzibar’s opposition party the Civic United Front (CUF), as the island prepares for a re-run of elections on 5 November in several constitutencies where there were serious irregularities. Without immediate action to address police brutality and torture, opposition activists, journalists and others in Zanzibar are likely to face further police violence and torture.

The three CUF members named above were attacked by the police anti-

smuggling unit Kikosi Maalum Cha Kuzuia Magendo (KMMA) as they left the party’s offices in Zanzibar town on the evening of 1 November. Salum Dimani was beaten and kicked so badly that he has been hospitalised.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held throughout Tanzania (including Zanzibar island) on 29 October. Observers from the Commonwealth among others said that the elections on Zanzibar were unfair and should be re-run. However, the Electoral Commission, appointed by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Party of the Revolution (CCM), has agreed to hold new elections in only 16 of the island’s 50 constituencies. Zanzibar opposition activists who challenged this decision and called for new elections in all constituencies have been beaten and arbitrarily arrested, as have journalists monitoring the elections.

On 30 October, when demonstrators, including CUF supporters, protested against the irregularities in the elections, police in riot gear opened fire with live ammunition, tear-gas and rubber bullets. Scores of people, including bystanders not involved in the protest, were reportedly injured, at least one seriously. Thirty-two people were arrested and charged with "causing a breach of the peace". More than 100 people have reportedly been arrested since the election.

The CUF say they will not accept the new elections unless they are seen to be free and fair, and are calling for a rerun of elections for the Zanzibar presidency and parliament. The authorities are apparently targeting the opposition officials (who witness proceedings at polling stations as representatives of their party) to ensure that all the parties are represented in the new elections on Sunday.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The presidential and parliamentary elections were held on mainland Tanzania and on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar. The elections on the mainland passed with little harassment. However the situation in Zanzibar, as noted above, is a cause for concern.

When Zanzibar last held elections in 1995, opposition activists who challenged the result were beaten, tortured, arrested and imprisoned. The authorities appear to be following the same pattern this time too. Since the last election they have attempted to stifle political opposition on the island. Eighteen CUF activists have been jailed as prisoners of conscience for the past three years, charged with treason. If convicted they face a mandatory death sentence.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in English or your own language:

- expressing concern that police officers attacked and beat the three CUF election officials named above;

- expressing concern that police used excessive and potentially lethal force against peaceful demonstrators after the Zanzibar Presidential and Parliamentary elections;

- expressing concern that police have also beaten and arbitrarily arrested CUF supporters, journalists and others;

- urging the Tanzanian and Zanzibar authorities to stop the police from ill-treating peaceful protesters, and to ensure that they exercise restraint;

- calling on the police authorities to issue clear instructions reminding all their officers that they may use lethal force or firearms only in exceptional circumstances in accordance with relevant international standards, notably the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials;

- urging the authorities to carry out a full investigation into the alleged police and KMMA brutality and torture;

- urging the government to immediately release any prisoners not charged with a recognisably criminal offence.

APPEALS TO:

President Salmin Amour

Office of the President of Zanzibar

P O Box 2422

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Telegrams:President Salmin Amour, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Faxes:+ 25554 233722

Salutation:Your Excellency

President Benjamin Mkapa

President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Office of the President

P O Box 9120

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Telegrams:President Mkapa, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

Faxes:+ 25551 113425

Salutation:Your Excellency

Police Commissioner Khalid

Zanzibar Police Headquarters

P O Box 4220

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Telegrams:Police Commissioner, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Faxes:+ 25554 233722 (c/o the Presidents’ Office)

Salutation: Dear Commissioner

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Tanzania accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 December 2000.