arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Following news comes from the London-based Gayrights-activistgroup Outrage. At bbc.co.uk there is also a brief article with pictures.

MUGABE THUGS BASH TATCHELL
AS HE ATTEMPTS TO ARREST ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT

BBC TV REPORTER GRABBED AROUND THROAT

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was beaten up and briefly knocked
unconscious as he attempted to stage a citizen's arrest of the Zimbabwean
President, Robert Mugabe, in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel in Brussels
today, Monday 5 March 2001.

As Mr Tatchell tried to arrest the President on charges of torture under
the 1984 UN Convention Against Torture, he was punched and kicked by
Mugabe's bodyguards, who knocked him to the ground three times.

Belgian secret service agents stepped aside and gave the President's
security men free rein to beat Tatchell until he blacked out and fell into
the gutter outside the Hilton Hotel.

Two Zimbabwean agents, believed to be members of Mugabe's Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO), threatened to have Tatchell traced and killed:

"You are dead", said one. "We will find you and kill you", said the other.

"The assaults on me by the President's bodyguards highlight the brutal
nature of the Mugabe regime", said Mr Tatchell.

"This protest was an attempt to remind Mugabe that sooner or later he will
be arrested and put on trial for torture and other human rights abuses,
such as the massacres in Matabeleland and the terrorisation of the
judiciary and political opponents".

"I am lucky to escape with a beating. If any Zimbabwean had staged this
protest in Harare, they would have been shot", added Mr Tatchell.

Belgium has incorporated the 1984 UN Convention into its domestic
legislation. According to Belgian law, the authorities are under a legal
obligation to arrest any person, present in Belgian territory, who has
committed or authorised acts of torture anywhere in the world.

As President Mugabe was walking through the lobby of the Hilton Hotel,
after a meeting the EU Commissioner, Poul Nielson, Mr Tatchell slipped
between his bodyguards and tried to effect a citizen's arrest. He
approached the President saying:

"President Mugabe, you are under arrest on charges of torture. Torture is a
crime under the United Nations Convention Against Torture 1984. You
authorised the toture of Ray Choto and Mark Chavunduka".

Mr Tatchell was unable to say anything more, as he was grabbed around the
throat by four of the President's bodyguards who pushed him into a corner
of the hotel lobby, punching and kicking him to the ground even though the
President had by this time passed, and despite Tatchell offering no
resistance and posing no threat to the President. Journalists and
photographers were also manhandled.

With President Mugabe momentarily stuck in the hotel's revolving door, Mr
Tatchell ran through the emergency exit to confront him outside on the
pavement. But he was grabbed around the neck by two Belgian secret service
agents who pushed him backwards and slammed his head against the plate
glass window of the Hilton Hotel.

While these agents were holding him, two members of President Mugabe's
entourage came up to Tatchell. They threatened to track down and kill him.
One went to punch Mr Tatchell in the face, but seeing the Belgian agents
desisted. The Belgian secret service men then let go of Tatchell and walked
away, giving the two Zimbabweans a free had to punch Mr Tatchell around the
head and body, knocking him to the ground.

The Zimbabweans then turned their wrath on the journalists, pushing and
shoving them out of the way. The BBC reporter was grabbed by the throat.

While the President's bodyguards sought to get him into his limousine, Mr
Tatchell ran around behind the melee, and stood in front of the limousine
as it attempted to leave - forcing the President's car to halt.

Within seconds, one of the President's bodyguards got out of his vehicle
and punched Mr Tatchell in the side of the head, knocking him unconscious
and into the gutter.

The Presidential motorcade then sped off for Mugabe's meeting with the
Belgium Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt.

After recovering, Mr Tatchell went to the Prime Minister's office in Rue
Lambermont, determined to confront Mugabe again.

While waiting outside, he was filmed by the Zimbabwean Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO). "For our records", they told him.

As Mugabe was about to leave the Prime Minister's office, his bodyguards
and CIO agents came out into the street. The Zimbabwean agent who had
punched Tatchell in the face outside the Hilton Hotel and threatened to
kill him, pointed out Tatchell to his colleagues. He then started to walk
straight towards Tatchell, reaching under under jacket, as if he had a gun.

The Belgian uniformed police on duty made no attempt to stop the menacing
response of the Zimbabwean agents.

"At that moment, I was in fear of my life. I thought the Zimbabwean agent
might have a gun and might shoot me", said Tatchell, who backed away.

As Mugabe left, Tatchell shouted: "Mugabe, Murderer! Mugabe, Torturer!"

Further information: Peter Tatchell 00 44 20 7403 1790

Probably Peter Tatchell is right, there will be some huge problems with gay people in Zimbawe. And I underdstand that something need to be done. But why tkake Mugabe ??

Mugabe is unders strong attack of most Western gouvernments. Since the moment did not order his soldiers to attack landless farmers who are occupying the land of some verry rich "white" landlords. Zimbabwe and therfor also Mugabe have been under strong attack by the World Bank, IMF, Brittish gouvernment,...
The only thing we can understan out of Peter Tatchell is that want more prssure to be put on Zimbabwe.

I would have no problem with that would I not know Peter Tatchell a litle better.
How come Peter Tatchell does not campaign against Q8, Saoudi Arabia, Quatar, Vatican city, ... Where the situation for Gay people is even worse than in Zimbabwe.
No Peter Tatchell in stead of campaigning against those gouvernments who have a lot of support of the Brittisch Gouvernmet,Peter Tatchell campaigns against Cuba and Zimbabwe.

I have a lot of respect for Peter Tatchell but I think he hits the wrong target. It to easie, and for me Peter Tatchell is playing the game of those in power.