Angola, Congo Kinshasa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Human rights in Angola, Congo, Swaziland, Zimbabwe "need focus"

afrol News, 6 November - As the European Union (EU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meet in Maputo, there are demands to deepen the focus on the human rights situation in certain SADC countries. Not only should the Zimbabwean situation be addressed, but also systematic violations in Angola, Congo Kinshasa (DRC) and Swaziland.

- Safeguarding rights and responding robustly to the looming humanitarian disaster in southern Africa should top the agenda at this week's high level ministerial meeting between members of SADC and the EU, the US-based group Human Rights Watch said today. 

The group had highlighted crises in Congo Kinshasa, Zimbabwe, Angola and Swaziland that "should be addressed at the meeting," which will take place in Maputo, Mozambique.

- It is vital that the SADC take unambiguous and decisive actions on human rights issues, said Bronwen Manby, deputy director of the group's Africa Division. "Only then will the organization's stated commitments to human rights be taken seriously." 

Angola
In Angola, despite the ceasefire implemented this year and ongoing peace efforts, 1.7 million internally displaced people remained "at substantial risk of abuse by government officials as well as demobilised soldiers," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. 

Humanitarian agencies had repeatedly stressed the need for greater support for Angola's displaced, but both the UN and the EU had done little to ameliorate the situation. The group was "especially concerned by reports that some people have been forced to return to their areas of origin despite the ongoing danger in those regions," said Mr Manby. 

The dire conditions faced by Angola's displaced had been deteriorating steadily and were only further compromised by the substantial challenge of rehabilitating and reintegrating demobilised combatants into Angolan society. The EU has specifically pledged support for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. HRW called on the EU "to renew this commitment at the meeting in Maputo." 

Congo Kinshasa (DRC)
The group also called on meeting participants to address the crisis in the eastern Congo. The Congo is SADC's newest member and was "the site of the worst human rights violations." Although Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe have withdrawn government troops, they continued to "support warring Congolese rebel factions in the power struggles that have followed the withdrawal of foreign troops," HRW held. 

- Hundreds of civilians have died because of fighting in the provinces of South Kivu, Ituri and Orientale during the last few weeks alone, the group says. "Some two million people in the region have been displaced and most do not have access to humanitarian assistance." 

Swaziland
The human rights activists further pressed that the EU-SADC meeting should "pursue actions against Swaziland's highly oppressive monarchy." According to Mr Manby, "civil liberties are basically non-existent and civil society is severely restricted in Swaziland. The monarchy also maintains tight control over the media." 

A constitution has been in development since 1996 but it is widely believed that the monarchy will use it to permanently enshrine its absolute power and to prevent future political opposition. 

Chief Justices of the SADC region recently issued a statement concerning threats to the independence of the judiciary after senior officials of the Swaziland government (including members of the security forces) attempted to interfere with court proceedings on the alleged abduction of a young woman by emissaries of the Royal Household. 

Zimbabwe
Rights abuse had also continued in Zimbabwe, the group recalled. HRW urged SADC and the EU to speak out publicly and privately against the violence and harassment that had characterised Zimbabwean elections. In recent weeks, a parliamentary by-election in Matabeleland South was marred by allegations of intimidation of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate and supporters. 

There had also been reports of government forces harassing non-governmental organisations and the media. In October, Zimbabwean police allegedly tortured and "seriously injured" the leader of a teachers' trade union who called a strike, according to his lawyer. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum has reported 58 murders in political violence during 2002. 

Sources: Based on HRW and afrol archives

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