Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) UN human rights chief arrives in Zimbabwe

COMMENT - There is something very disturbing and selective about enforcing human rights in Zimbabwe, but among the West's temporary allies, including Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt - remember that these were all countries 'Al-Qaeda suspects' were renditioned to.

UN human rights chief arrives in Zimbabwe
This article was written by Our reporter on 20 May, at 20 : 15 PM

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay arrived Sunday in Zimbabwe on the first mission to the southern African nation by the world rights chief. Officials said Pillay’s weeklong trip is at the invitation of three-year inclusive Government formed in 2009.

“I am here to assess the human rights situation,” Pillay told reporters at the Harare airport late Sunday.

She will meet with President Mugabe, political leaders and rights groups, said justice minister Patrick Chinamasa.

In 2009, chief U.N. torture investigator Manfred Nowak was barred entry at the Harare airport after he arrived without official clearance for the visit.

In 2005, another special envoy of the U.N. secretary-general angered President Mugabe by criticizing a slum clearance programme that had become an eyesore in the capital city.

Chinamasa said Pillay was first invited to Zimbabwe last year but could not make that trip.

“We showed our commitment by extending another invitation in February and we are happy she has accepted,” he said.

He said he was not concerned by submissions Pillay is expected to receive from rights activists and non-governmental organizations.

“We are happy we will be able to host her because we have nothing to hide in terms of human rights issues. We are not worried about what our detractors will say,” he said.

Pillay is scheduled to hold talks with President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, defense and service chiefs, judges, lawmakers and leaders of rights groups.


She will hear reports of alleged human rights abuses at Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe.

Pillay, who served as a judge in South Africa, has been at the forefront of the documentation of reported killings in Syria during uprisings against the government.

She was also a former judge at the International Criminal Court and head of the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

Pillay ends her Zimbabwe visit on Friday.

AP/TZG

Labels: HUMAN RIGHTS, UN

posted by MrK @ 5:32 PM