The Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) met today in Geneva. It adopted the following statement:
The PU Executive Committee met today in Geneva to review several urgent issues. It held an extensive discussion on the situation in Zimbabwe in the light of the declaration issued at its recent Assembly in Cape Town.
On that occasion, the world parliamentary community called on the Zimbabwe authorities to release immediately all election results, lift all restrictions on freedom of assembly and speech in Zimbabwe immediately, and exercise restraint in maintaining peace. It also urged that the newly elected parliament be convened as soon as possible so that the people of Zimbabwe were not deprived of their rightful voice in the government of their country.
The Executive Committee is dismayed that no action has been taken to this end. On the contrary, the newly elected parliament has still not been convened, freedom of speech and assembly does not exist and growing violence mars the current election campaign.
The IPU Executive Committee condemns the widespread violence which includes the murder of opposition members, as well as attacks against newly elected opposition parliamentarians and their arrest and detention. It deplores the public intimidation in general which seems to be directed almost exclusively against the opposition.
The Committee expresses serious concern at the public statements repeatedly made by the current President of Zimbabwe, and many others in government, claiming that they would not relinquish power regardless of the outcome of the elections.
The Executive Committee reminds the authorities of Zimbabwe that free and fair elections can only take place in Zimbabwe - as indeed in any other country - if each candidate is committed to respect the law, refrain from acts of intimidation and violence, and accept the outcome of the elections. The Committee recalls no one is above the law; indeed, all are equal before the law.
The Executive Committee expresses deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country. It reminds the Zimbabwean authorities of their obligation as a Member State of the United Nations to guarantee all needy populations unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance based on the principles of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity. Humanitarian assistance must under no circumstances be used for political ends to influence the elections.
The Executive Committee believes that it is not possible to hold free and fair elections in Zimbabwe under the present circumstances and that any claim to the contrary would not be in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe or the international community. The Committee therefore makes an urgent plea to the Zimbabwean authorities to work with the African and international communities to restore respect for the rule of law in order for free and fair elections to be held in the country.
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