URGENT ACTION

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER HELD IN ZIMBABWE

Human rights defender Farai Maguwu was arrested on 3 June after passing on information about human rights abuses to an independent monitor of the diamond trade. Farai Maguwu is being held in Harare Central Remand Prison, where he has been denied access to medication. He is a prisoner of conscience, held for carrying out his human rights work.

On 27 May, both the office and home of Farai Maguwu, director of the Zimbabwean NGO, the Centre for Research and Development (CRD), was raided by armed Zimbabwean security agents. The agents confiscated his car, computer, passport and other documents. His nephew Lisbern Maguwu was arrested in the raid. However, Farai Maguwu escaped through a window.

The CRD has investigated human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields, in the east of the country. The organization is involved in the Kimberly Process, an international coalition of governments, industry and civil society organizations which aims to break the links between the diamond trade and the funding of violence. On 26 May, a day before the raid, Farai Maguwu had spoken to the monitor for the Kimberley Process in Zimbabwe about human rights abuses in the diamond fields.

Since the raid, other members of Farai Maguwu’s family have been beaten and interrogated by police. Fearing for their safety, Farai Maguwu and other CRD staff went into hiding. Lisbern Maguwu was allegedly beaten in custody, and lawyers attempting to see him were threatened by police. Lisbern Maguwu was released on bail after being charged with violence the security agents allege occurred during the raid. He is awaiting trial. Farai Maguwu handed himself in to police on 3 June, and was immediately arrested. On 7 June, he was charged with communicating information which was prejudicial to the State. He has been denied bail, and has been denied access to medication he was taking for a chest and throat infection. A court has now ordered that he receive this medication.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:

• Calling on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Farai Maguwu, as he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely because of his human rights work;

• Urging the authorities to end the harassment of members of his family; to investigate the beating of his relatives, and to bring those responsible to justice;

• While Farai Maguwu is in custody, calling for guarantees that he will be given immediate and regular access to his relatives, lawyers and any medical treatment and medication he may need;

• Calling on the Attorney General to investigate alleged human rights violations by security forces in the Marange diamond fields and hold those responsible accountable;

• Urging the authorities to end harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders reporting on human rights violations in the Marange diamond fields by state security agents.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 23 JULY 2010 TO: