Condemnation of Zimbabwean regime goes to European Parliament

12.00.00am GMT Wed 14th Mar 2001

Diana Wallis, Lib Dem Euro-MP for Yorkshire and the Humber, will condemn the Zimbabwean regime, under President Mugabe, in a Liberal Democrat motion to the European Parliament (Thursday 15th March).

Diana Wallis MEP, who met with Zimbabwe's Shadow Education Minister Mr Fideli Mhashu in Ripon last week, will second the motion calling for human rights to be respected in the country.

"Something must be done to stop the violence and oppression under which people are living in Zimbabwe at the moment," said Diana Wallis ahead of the debate.

"I heard some harrowing stories from Mr Mhashu about the conditions under which he and his fellow opposition colleagues have to try to hold the Mugabe Government to account.

"It is clear that democratic principles, human rights and the cause of justice are not being upheld in Zimbabwe under President Mugabe."

--------------------

Letter to the Editor of the Yorkshire Post:

Zimbabwe and the European Parliament

Dear Sir,

Whilst your editorial on Zimbabwe made some very pertinent comments about the dreadful activities of Robert Mugabe, I should like to make clear the position of the European Parliament in this matter.

Last week in Strasbourg all the political groups in the Parliament subscribed to an urgency resolution condemning the Mugabe regime. I spoke in the debate moved and inspired by the meetings I had with Zimbabwean MPs from the opposition Movement for Democracy both here in Yorkshire and in Strasbourg.

They desperately need our support - on their return home they expect to be killed. They speak of this openly, this should not be the fate of any democratically elected politician and the European Parliament was accordingly unequivocal in its condemnation.

As Parliamentarians we wait for Commission, Council and Commonwealth to follow our lead.

Yours sincerely,

Diana Wallis MEP