Mr. Michael Carmichael of the Oxford Centre for Public Affairs criticizes Pambazuka News (Issue 104), the western media and Amnesty International for failing to highlight as an example of political persecution the ongoing treason trial of MDC opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Amnesty International is concerned at the apparently politically motivated charges against Mr. Tsvangirai that have been roundly condemned by the international community, including Canada, and with insuring that he receives a fair trial. The lead work of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London is complemented by the campaigning activities of its various country sections worldwide. The Canadian Section (English Speaking) of Amnesty International has established a Zimbabwe Webpage (http://www.amnesty.ca/zimbabwe)containing press releases, reports and actions on Zimbabwe and has twinned a number of Canadian Members of Parliament with at-risk Zimbabwean Members of Parliament in a joint campaign with Oxfam Canada.

Mr. Bill Casey, one of the twinned Canadian Members of Parliament, called on the government of Canada to insure that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide Mr. Tsvangirai's lawyers with any information obtained in its investigation of Ari Ben Menashe, the lead prosecution witness against Mr. Tsvangirai who secretly recorded their meeting in Montreal, Canada in which Mr. Tsvangirai allegedly sought assistance in eliminating Mr. Mugabe. In reply, the Minister of Foreign Affairs assured Mr. Casey that all available information would be forwarded to Mr. Tsvangirai's lawyers via the Canadian High Commission ("Canada comes to MDC defence", Daily News, 5 March 2003).

The Secretary General of AI Canada testified before a Parliamentary Sub-Committee on March 26 and called on the Canadian government to step up its monitoring and condemnation of human rights violations in Zimbabwe, including by way of observation of the trials of Tsvangirai and other MDC leaders. The Canadian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe indicated that he has been observing the Tsvangirai trial.

The Canadian Section (English Speaking) is but one of hundreds of Amnesty International country sections around the world campaigning to address human rights violations wherever they occur. Mr. Carmichael may rest assured that Amnesty International is doing its best to address the plight of Morgan Tsvangirai and ordinary Zimbabweans who face political violence in seeking to exercise their democratic rights.