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afrol News, 6 June - The Danish embassy yesterday warned state media against publishing blatant lies saying this could easily lead to further reductions in assistance to Zimbabwe, according to reports in the Daily News. The threat comes hard on the heels of a story published in The Sunday Mail saying Denmark was one of the countries and non-governmental organisations, which have stepped up efforts to support the MDC in its campaign for next year's presidential election. The story said most of the support was directed towards electioneering while some of it was meant to prepare what they believe is an MDC government-in-waiting. Denmark last year announced major reductions in aid to Zimbabwe due to lawlessness in the country. In annual terms the amount lost due to the drastic cut is Z$ 3 billion. Denmark has also suspended promised aid to a number of projects in Zimbabwe, citing the country's continued intervention in the Congo Kinshasa (DRC). The projects included the upgrading of eight domestic airports. Danish Ambassador Erik Fiil said, "The embassy wishes on this background to strongly refute any claims of clandestine Danish activities in Zimbabwe. Such claims are completely baseless and founded on mischievous and ill-conceived understanding of the Danish government's co-operation with the government of Zimbabwe as well as civic society of this country." He said the co-operation was above board and fully transparent. "The government-to-government co-operation has been scaled down due to the persistent and increasing lawlessness in the country but the resulting funds are not re-channelled to the training of MDC youth as stated in The Sunday Mail." The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been observed as one of the most outspoken and hostile towards the regime of President Mugabe since last year's violent elections. Also the Danish press has turned notably negative towards developments in Zimbabwe, especially after "war vets'" attacks on Danish industry in Harare. The Ministry in Copenhagen today was not ready to make a statement. Observers in Scandinavia however say there is a clear support of the MDC opposition in the foreign ministries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The three Scandinavian countries, having long traditions cooperating with Southern Africa, clearly are using economic means to undermine Mugabe's power "maybe not by financing the MDC but by promising a massive return when MDC policies are implemented." The countries further in fact do have traditions of "clandestine activities" in Southern Africa, seeking to achieve their policies. Only two years ago, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted it had secretly financed ANC activities during the fight against the apartheid regime of South Africa, without even asking how the money was spent (thus not excluding the buying of arms). A clandestine support to the MDC would not meet outrage in the Scandinavian public or press. Press follows Zim human rights - Its like a low intensive war, where war veterans and police militias are hunting on everything and anyone not in support of them, said Reeler at a press conference in Copenhagen. "From the beginning of this year, there has been an increase in the number of severe human rights abuses and torture. We further fear that it will worsen towards the presidential election next year because Mugabe and his supporters always have enhanced the violence when they were to achieve political goals," said Reeler, according to Jyllands-Posten.
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