Zanzibar: CUF leader and former presidential candidate visits the UNPO International Secretariat in
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.