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Establish Inquiry into "Green Bombers"
or Expel Zimbabwe,
Catholic Bishops Tell SA Government
Thursday, 6 February 2003
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The Zimbabwean
crisis requires urgent and direct intervention by the South African
government, in the same way that the government has played a leading
role in the resolution of other political conflicts on the African
continent, the SACBC said in a statement at the conclusion of their
plenary meeting in Pretoria today.
"There are deeply disturbing signs that Zimbabwe is on the
brink of total breakdown into civil war with massive food and fuel
shortages, and increasing levels of organised state terror,"
said Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, SACBC spokesperson. However, the
South African government has consistently snubbed calls on it to
play a more active role in exposing the abuses that now characterise
Zimbabwe's political life and to take action to avert a further
catastrophe in our neighbouring country.
The greatest concern must be over the role of the youth militia
known as the 'green bombers'. Increasing numbers of young men are
undergoing rigorous training and political orientation programmes
under the auspices of national service. The trainers
are generally drawn from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the War
Veterans Association. Whilst the youths are not fully trained soldiers,
they receive basic military training, turning them into potential
instruments of greater terror.
Over the past months, youth militia groups have already been responsible
for the abduction and torture of several opposition party and civil
society leaders.
The South African government, given its own history of struggle
against repression and for human rights, should use its strong position
to ensure:
* The immediate disbanding of all militia, especially the 'green
bombers';and
* The establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry under
international supervision, into the role of the militia groups;
or failing that
* The expulsion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth for inaction on
state-
sanctioned human rights abuses.
We are also deeply concerned about 'loyalty tests' applied to the
distribution of food relief to innocent victims of political turmoil
and drought in Zimbabwe.
Independent reports show that those who do not demonstrate allegiance
to ZANU-PF are excluded from food relief. Such practices are morally
repulsive. The South African government has a moral responsibility
to act in the name of South Africa's citizens to end such abuses.
The SACBC demands that the South African government urgently use
its influence to facilitate a just and peacefully negotiated settlement
of the Zimbabwean crisis for the people of that country and the
whole Southern African region. We cannot wait to be invited to intervene
while millions of our neighbours suffer. |
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