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ZIMBABWE: Political violence decreases

JOHANNESBURG, 23 May (IRIN) - Politically motivated violence appears to be
decreasing in Zimbabwe, according to the latest report by a local human
rights group.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum's (Human Rights Forum) latest report on
political violence, released on Thursday, indicates that the number of
incidents have decreased as tensions subside.

"Reported cases and instances of political violence have decreased in
comparison to the cases reported in the first four months of 2002. There has
been a decrease of 50 percent in the reported cases of torture, compared to
the month of April," the Human Rights Forum report stated.

However, the report noted that "notwithstanding this decline, it is
regrettable that two lives were reportedly lost in the first fortnight of
May". This brought to 57 the total number of politically-related deaths in
2002.

"The Human Rights Forum, in the midst of this lull, urges the Zimbabwean
government to take meaningful steps towards achieving an environment of
peaceful political competition. Further to this, of critical importance is
the restoration of the rule of law and the end to impunity enjoyed by
perpetrators of violence," the organisation said.

The Human Rights Forum is a consortium of NGOs working in the field of human
rights. One of its core members, the Amani Trust, which specialises in
documenting instances of torture and assisting victims, is to receive an
international award for its work.

The Centre for Victims of Torture (US) are presenting their annual Eclipse
Award to Amani chair Tony Reeler in recognition of his advocacy on behalf of
human rights in Zimbabwe and the work of Amani Trust in the care of victims
of torture.

The trust said the presentation would take place in Washington on 25 June in
observance of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of
Torture.

[ENDS]

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