Amani Trust doctor arrested

A doctor from Zimbabwe's Amani Trust, which helps victims of torture, was arrested on Thursday and charged under the controversial Public Order and Safety Act. Frances Lovemore's lawyer, Irene Tetras, told IRIN that her client was charged under Section 15 of the act which relates to making false statements which could undermine public confidence and adversely affect Zimbabwe. Last weekend the British newspaper, The Telegraph, published an article based on interviews with women who alleged they were raped by ruling party members for having links to the opposition. The article included quotes from Lovemore. A police spokesman told IRIN on Tuesday that it was difficult to confirm the allegations, as there was not enough detail to track down the women in the story. He alleged the Amani Trust and other NGOs did not verify the information provided to the media, and denied the incidence of politically motivated rape in Zimbabwe. Most countries prohibit identifying victims of rape in the media, unless the victim gives consent. But Lovemore said she would provide the police with docket numbers if they wanted to check the allegations. A staff member at the Harare-based Amani Trust said about six plain clothes policemen searched their offices and removed documents, then took Lovemore away. When contacted on her cellphone, Lovemore told IRIN: "I'm not doing so well." Tetras said Lovemore had been fingerprinted, and was about to receive a "warned and cautioned" statement from the police. The police were in possession of internet printouts of news reports while they questioned Lovemore, she said. Munyaradzi Bidi, director of the human rights group ZimRights, condemned Lovemore's arrest. He said the Public Order and Safety Act, and the equally controversial Access to Information Act, prevented the right to impart information freely. "We condemn such deplorable acts and they are a deliberate attempt to create fear," he said. Meanwhile, AFP reported that Denmark had slashed funding by 25 percent for nine torture support units throughout the world. The Amani Trust in Harare said its Bulawayo office normally received Danish funding. For more details on the rape allegations