Feingold, Isakson Condemn Mugabe Government in Zimbabwe

Press Release

Bipartisan Resolution Rejects Recent Election and Encourages Peaceful Resolution

U.S. Senators Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs respectively, introduced a resolution today condemning the recent flawed election and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and called for robust efforts by regional and international actors to achieve a peaceful solution to Zimbabwe's current crisis. Along with strongly criticizing the continued violence by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF against the people of Zimbabwe, the resolution urges members of the United N ations Security Council to pass a proposed resolution th at would impose an intern ational arms embargo and tighten sanctions against top Zimbabwean officials. In the run-up to the presidential election and in the months th at have followed, brutal violence has displaced thousands from their homes and claimed the lives of many Zimbabweans.

"We must support African efforts to peacefully resolve the election crisis in Zimbabwe and stand up for the democratic process," Feingold said. "I urge my Senate colleagues to support this resolution that calls on the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and African leaders to encourage a truly representative government in Zimbabwe. I applaud the Bush administration's efforts so far and urge them to continue to play an active role and to seek the expansion of sanctions on those responsible for violations of human and political rights in Zimbabwe."

"I'm pleased to join with Senator Feingold on this resolution and strongly urge my colleagues to support it," Isakson said. "It is imperative that we respond to the terrible abuses of human and political rights in Zimbabwe and encourage the international community to work toward establishing stability and restoring democracy."

The Feingold and Isakson Zimbabwe Resolution:

* Supports the people of Zimbabwe faced with widespread violence;
* Condemns the Mugabe government for its manipul ation of the election;
* Rejects the results of the presidential runoff election;
* Applauds the Bush administr ation's effort to expand sanctions on those responsible;
* Applauds African governments' condemn ation of the election;
* Encourages UN Security Council members to pass a proposed resolution that would support negotiations, impose an international arms embargo and expand financial penalties for those involved in the recent violence;
* Encourages the African Union to deploy a protection force;
* Urges African leaders to play a more constructive role in building leverage to achieve a political resolution; and
* Calls on the United States and the international community to assemble an economic and political recovery package for Zimbabwe if a truly democratic government is formed.

The resolution is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators including Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., Saxby Chambliss. R-Ga., Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Tom Harkin D-Iowa, James Inhofe, R-Okla., John Kerry, D-Mass., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, John Sununu, R-N.H., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

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