To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), [email protected]

Address:5th Floor,
Argon House,
87 Juta Street,
Braamfontein,
Johannesburg
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Braamfontein 2017
South Africa
TEL: (27-11) 403-8403/4
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E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://fxi.org.za/
12 February, 2003

Action alert

Re: FXI condemns the Zimbabwe Cricket Union

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) yesterday 12 February 2003 issued a
press statement condemning the action taken by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU)
to discipline two of their players who protested against the ongoing human
rights violations in the country. According to media reports, the ZCU suspended
Henry Olonga and referred Andy Flower to the disciplinary committee for wearing
black armbands during a world cup cricket match between Zimbabwe and Namibia in
Harare on Monday February 10 2002. The black armbands are a sign of protest
against the 'death of democracy' in Zimbabwe.

The FXI stated that wearing black armbands or making specific gestures in
international sporting events as a sign of protest against dictatorial regimes
or oppression is not a new phenomenon. It observed that in the 1968 Olympic
Games in Mexico City, American Gold medallists John Carlos and Tommie Smith
attracted international attention to the problem of racial oppression in the
United States by raising their black, gloved fists. In South Africa, nine times
Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce and others ran wearing black armbands to
denounce the race's then traditional association with the apartheid government's
Republic Day and the exclusion of Black athletes.

Furthermore, the FXI noted that human rights and fundamental freedoms continue
to be violated with impunity by the government of President Robert Mugabe, a
situation that has become even more disturbing following the widely rigged elect
ions of March 2002. The FXI decried the censorious action of the ZCU as "a sad
reminder of how badly human rights continue to be treated in many countries of
the SADC region."

The FXI strongly urged the cricket body to rescind its decision and refrain from
taking any disciplinary action against the players. It also called on the ZCU to
respect the players' right to express themselves against the deplorable human
rights condition in Zimbabwe. In addition, the FXI urged the International
Cricket Council to come to the defence of the two players or any other player
wishing to express their feelings about Zimbabwe. It stated that allowing the
World Cup Cricket games to take place in Zimbabwe should not be equated with an
endorsement of the practices of the Zanu-PF government. Finally the FXI
cautioned the ZCU against allowing itself to become a willing executioner of
President Robert Mugabe's policy of repression either inside or outside the
borders of Zimbabwe.

Issued by Simon Kimani Ndung'u