NEWS RELEASES

November 11, 2005 (3:15 p.m. EST)
No. 213

MINISTER PETTIGREW CALLS FOR RELEASE OF ZIMBABWEAN TRADE UNION MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today expressed deep concern about the arrest and detention of leaders and members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions as well as representatives of other civil society organizations. They were arrested for participating in peaceful demonstrations in Harare and other Zimbabwean cities over the past week.

“I urge the Government of Zimbabwe to respect the right of Zimbabweans to freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of association, and the ‘right to personal liberty’ as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Pettigrew. “I call on the Government of Zimbabwe to release immediately all persons detained in recent days for their participation in peaceful demonstrations.”

Canada has conveyed its concern about the arrest of these persons to the Chargé d’affaires of Zimbabwe to Canada and to senior officials of the Government of Zimbabwe in Harare.

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