Marchers urge Minister to seek EU action

IRELAND:ABOUT 200 people marched to the Dáil at the weekend in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and to hand in a letter to Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

The letter calls on the Minister to seek action from the EU on the humanitarian and political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Organised by a number of African people living here and supported by Amnesty International, the march featured placards with such slogans as "Less Talk, More Action", "Stop the Terror In Zimbabwe" and "Zimbabwe: Human Rights Under Siege".

Addressing those taking part, outside Leinster House, Fianna Fáil TD Barry Andrews said there was a particular irony that the protest was taking place outside the Dáil as an open family day was taking place inside. "Women and children are being terrorised and starved by their government in Zimbabwe," he said. He was confident the Irish Government would be "to the fore in bringing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe to the top of the EU agenda".

Wendy Phillips, of the Matilda Project which supports and cares for orphan children in Zimbabwe, addressed the crowd and said the world "must act now to stop what is happening in Zimbabwe".

Nchedo Obi-Igweilo, of Amnesty International, thanked people for taking part. "It shows we are all human. We are here because we care about the people of Zimbabwe and are here in a spirit of solidarity."

He also thanked the Irish Government for condemning the human rights atrocities in Zimbabwe. "This is not only for Zimbabwe but for every human being in the world."

The protest ended with a mock ballot in which people marked ballot papers and placed them in a ballot box. Mr Obi-Igweilo explained this was to underline the lack of opportunity Zimbabweans have to vote freely.

An African and culture evening will take place on Saturday in the Gresham hotel in Dublin with all funds raised going to the Zimbabwe Humanitarian Assistance Project. Admission €20 and details available at www.lifelineafricafoundation.com