On February 9, 2001, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, Civic United Front Party leader and its presidential candidate during last year’s election in Zanzibar, paid a courtesy visit to UNPO in The Hague. Mr Hamad made reference to his meeting with Dutch Foreign Ministry officials about the political conflict and killings in Zanzibar. 'As from January 27, 2001, the police have been using brutal force against the Zanzibar population. Many innocent civilians were killed, wounded or tortured while many others drowned during their flight to Kenia, fearing repression'. Mr Hamad told UNPO staff that he had a good feeling about his discussions with the Dutch Foreign Ministry. This forms part of Mr Hamad’s attempts to convince European governments to condemn the human rights situation in Zanzibar and to exert pressure on the Tanzanian and Zanzibar governments (the Union of Tanzania) to accept a dialogue with the CUF.
'In order to create stability it is important to reform the constitution to make it more democratic, as well as to reform the Zanzibar Electoral Commission to make it more independent from government. In addition, there should be new elections enabling the people to reflect their true feelings and support'.
Mr Hamad expressed the hope that UNPO would influence international organizations and governments to intervene in order to create conditions of free political activity and human rights protection in Zanzibar.

Reference is made to the fact that UNPO has already dispatched a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, emphasizing the seriousness of the political conflict in Zanzibar and Pemba, which necessitates strong and concerted international intervention of some sort. Similar letters were send to the Embassy of Sweden in The Hague, as well as to the Director for Africa at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNPO has also issued a number of press releases on the subject.