Police guilty of Zanzibar abuses

Human rights violations by an ill-equipped and under-trained police force, as well as inflammatory speeches and articles in the press, were some of the causes of last year's political violence in Zanzibar, a presidential commission of inquiry has concluded. The commission, set up by President Benjamin Mkapa and chaired by Brig-Gen Hashim Mbita, also proposes a joint declaration between the parties involved - the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic Untied Front (CUF) - in order to promote reconciliation and the development of multiparty politics in Tanzania. The release of the report, which looks at the events of 26 and 27 January 2001, during which 31 civilians were killed by police in election-related violence, has long been awaited in Tanzania and also by international human rights organisations. In line with its terms of reference, the commission sought to establish the facts of the killings and to recommend ways of preventing future violence, rather than identifying those responsible and seeking to punish them. Last year's violence erupted between police and CUF supporters on the Zanzibari island of Pemba. CUF supporters were demonstrating against the results of the October 2000 elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging and intimidation. According to the commission's report, 31 people were killed, 294 people injured and several thousand forced to flee to neighbouring Kenya. The 180-page document suggests that while there were violations committed by the police, a better equipped and trained police force would not have used live ammunition to disperse the crowds. This would have meant the number of deaths and the overall effects of the riots would have been significantly decreased. In the report, politicians and media alike are also warned against using unnecessarily inflammatory language when they should be helping to develop democracy and practising responsible journalism. Mbita's commission recommends that, in the future, such political disputes be resolved by a council of elders, religious leaders, academics and retired public servants, and that the CCM and the CUF sign a joint declaration apologising for the damage caused. "The commission considers that such a statement, if supported by the government, will be of greater value to the victims than any consolation money," the report stated. However, the commission also suggests that the government should compensate those who sustained serious injuries in the clashes, as far as the government believes is necessary. While they claim not to have had time to read the report in depth, CUF leaders appear to be satisfied, at least with the publication of such a report in Dar es Salaam. "It is a positive development that the government publicised the report, because the tradition here is usually that these reports are not publicised. This time they have made good their word," CUF Secretary-General Seif Sharif Hamad told IRIN on Monday. However, Hamad warned that the commission's report might be met with mixed reactions on the Zanzibari archipelago. "I think there will be varied feelings on Zanzibar. There will be those who will want those responsible to be dealt with, and I think others will think that the recommendations meet their expectations." Likewise, diplomats in Dar es Salaam noted that the report, or at least a summary of it, should also be made available in English, as well as the original Kiswahili version, as there was much international interest in the commission's findings.