Letter from IFJ President Chris Warren to :
His Excellency Robert Mugabe, President, Republic of Zimbabwe
Your Excellency
On behalf of the International Federation of Journalists, I write to you to seek your urgent intervention to release Zimbabwean journalist Basildon Peta who is being held under the newly enacted Public Order and Security Act.
I know him and I know how committed he is to the principles of journalism. I am personally distressed at this attack both on him and on press freedom in Zimbabwe.
We understand that he is currently being held in the central police station in Harare and is expected to appear in court later today Zimbabwe time.
It has been reported that he has been charged with failing to notify the authorities about a demonstration last Wednesday by the journalists' union against the very legislation under which he has been arrested.
We believe that his arrest is unjustified and it is causing immense concern to his friends and supporters of press freedom around the world.
We urge you to act immediately on this important issue.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Warren
President, International Federation of Journalists
Letter from IFJ President Chris Warren to :
The Hon Alexander Downer MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon Don McKinnon, Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations
Her Excellency Mrs Florence Lubalendlu Chitauro, High Commissioner for Zimbabwe
Kevin Rudd MP, Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs
Sharan Burrows, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
I write to you to seek your urgent intervention to protest at the arrest of Zimbabwean journalist Basildon Peta under the newly enacted Public Order and Security Act.
I am writing both as federal secretary of the Australian journalists' union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and as president of the International Federation of Journalists.
Peta, a Zimbabwean national, is the correspondent for the London Independent Newspaper as well as Secretary General of the Zimbabwean Union of Journalists.
I know him and I know how committed he is to the principles of journalism. I am personally distressed at this attack both on him and on press freedom in Zimbabwe.
We understand that he is currently being held in the central police station in Harare and is expected to appear in court later today Zimbabwe time.
It has been reported that he has been charged with failing to notify the authorities about a demonstration last Wednesday by the journalists' union against the very legislation under which he has been arrested.
He faces jail for two years under the charges.
I know the Australian Government shares the concerns of journalists about the situation in Zimbabwe and we seek your early protests.
With the impending meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government next month, we believe Australia, as the host nation, needs to make it clear to the President of Zimbabwe that this arrest is unacceptable.
We believe the Commonwealth of Nations also needs to act, if necessary by withdrawing the invitation to the Zimbabwe Government to participate in CHOGM while our colleague is under arrest.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Warren
Secretary, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
President, International Federation of Journalists
