The Legal Team Representing Henry Banda Has Filed Two
Letters With Several United Nations Special Rapporteurs Requesting Urgent
Appeals Be Addressed To The Government Of Zambia Regarding What It Has Called
As Politically Motivated Accusations Against Henry And Harassment And Threats
Against His Legal Counsel, Robert Amsterdam.
The Henry Band Legal Team Says The Documents Are The First
Of Many Appeals It Is Preparing Before International Bodies To Expose What It
Says Is The Unlawful Conduct Of The Zambian Government In The Matter, And
Highlight The Ongoing Abuses Of Power By The Ruling Party To Attack And Weaken
The Political Opposition,
Henry Banda’s Lawyer Robert Amsterdam Says The Allegations
Reported In The Media Against Mr. Banda Are Completely Without Grounds, And The
Fact That The Government Has Publicly Lied Concerning His Whereabouts And Has Refused
To Respond To Our Questions Should Raise Obvious Concerns.
Mr Armsterdam Says The Request For Urgent Appeals Concerning
What He Says Is Zambia’s Unlawful Treatment Of Mr. Banda Was Addressed To The
Un Special Rapporteur On Freedom Of Peaceful Assembly And Association, The
Special Rapporteur On Freedom Of Opinion And Expression, And The
Chair-Rapporteur Of The Working Group On Arbitrary Detentions.
He Says A Separate Request For Urgent Appeals Was Also Sent
To The Special Rapporteur On The Situation Of Human Rights Defenders And The
Special Rapporteur On The Independence Of Judges And Lawyers On Behalf Of Mr.
Amsterdam In Response To Various Threats, Harassment, And Defamation By
Government And Party Officials In The Media, Which Is Alleged As A Violation Of
Mr. Banda’s Right To Counsel.
According To The Letter, “Mr. Banda’s Imminently Threatened
Detention, Extradition And Prosecution Would Accordingly Violate His Rights
Under Article 9.1 (Right To Liberty And Freedom From Arbitrary Detention),
Article 19 (Freedom Of Opinion And Expression), Article 22 (Freedom Of
Association) And Article 25 (A) (Right To Take Part In The Conduct Of Public
Affairs) Of The International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights, To Which
Zambia Has Been A State Party Since 1984, Among Other International Instruments
Guaranteeing These Rights.
The Letter Continues, That Tthe Threats And Intimidation
Against His Lawyer And Human Rights Defender, Robert Amsterdam, Violate
Principle 16 Of The Basic Principles On The Role Of Lawyers, And Articles
9.3(C) And 12.2 Of The United Nations Declaration On The Right And
Responsibility Of Individuals, Groups And Organs Of Society To Promote And
Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights And Fundamental Freedoms
No comments:
Post a Comment