CCD Issues Second Action Request on Zimbabwe

CCD has issued a follow up action request to its International Associates, NGO Colleagues, Leadership of the ADF and the International Steering Committee in regards to the violent oppression of government opposition in Zimbabwe. You can view the original request here. Below you will find the second letter with suggestions from CCD member of the Board and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Hank Cohen.
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Dear U.S Associates and NGO Colleagues:

To supplement our “Action Alert” concerning the situation in Zimbabwe, CCD Board member Hank Cohen has suggested further action by civil society.  Below you will find these suggestions (as Mr. Cohen has worded it), and CCD asks that our Associates and others consider follow through on these action requests. 

ACTION: “I believe that our asking the African Union to implement their own charter provisions on democracy is an excellent idea. They have to start somewhere, and Zimbabwe would be the best country. If the AU speaks out, then the police and army of Zimbabwe may be encouraged to stop carrying out the orders to bash people who protest. They could also stand aside when the demonstrations start.

There is an African Union representative in Washington now. She is Ambassador Amina Salum Ali. She is officially accredited.  Her telephone number is (202) 429-7138.  Her e-mail is: amina_s@mail2tanzania.com.  The address is 1875  I  Street  NW,  Suite 571, Washington DC 20006.

She has a Liberian-American senior political officer named Louise Sharene Bailey (202) 429-7135.  The fax is (202) 429-7129

I would suggest that she be inundated with petitions, letters, e-mails from American NGOs and individuals, calling attention to the AU charter provisions.”

CCD will be sending a similar alert to ADF leadership, African CCD Associates and the International Steering Committee urging them to do the same with their African Union contacts. 

Contact: Josh Silva, Assistant Program Officer, Council for a Community of Democracies, silva@ccd21.org, 27 March 2007