International Center for Transitional Justice (New York)
24 June 2008
press release
Cape Town — African political leaders should no longer recognize Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe and should help Zimbabwe end his reign of violence, the International Center for Transitional Justice said Monday.
"Mr. Mugabe's government has become illegitimate," said Juan E. Méndez, president of the ICTJ. "Leaders should not recognize a government that has made fair elections impossible."
If the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, had not withdrawn from the presidential run-off election scheduled for June 27, he would have given legitimacy to a fraudulent process, the ICTJ said. His action also may stop, at least temporarily, the carnage and brutal reprisals by Mr. Mugabe's militia against MDC supporters.
The ICTJ calls for:
"What matters most right now is halting the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe," said Comfort Ero, director of the ICTJ's South Africa office. "African leaders need to deal with dictators who hold their citizens hostage."
Africa has the institutions in place, such as the African Court for Human Rights, to deal with such situations, the ICTJ said.
About the ICTJ
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse. The Center works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved.
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