4 October 2006

  Press Statement 

  NATURE OF INJURIES OF TORTURED ZCTU MEMBERS

  The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) states
that the /medically/ confirmed and documented pattern of injuries
sustained by the Harare and Chitungwiza ZCTU members who were
arrested on 13 September 2006 and detained in police custody until 15
September 2006 is consistent with the testimony given by the ZCTU
members themselves.

  This is, that these were injuries consistent with beatings with
blunt objects, heavy enough to cause fractures (9 fractures in 7
individuals) to hands and arms and severe and multiple soft tissue
injuries to the backs of the head, shoulders, arms, buttocks and
thighs (29 individuals).

  Soft tissue injuries to the soles of the feet (8 individuals), are
also consistent with beatings, and correspond to the torture method
called /Falanga,/ which can leave a torture victim having difficulty
with normal walking for the rest of his or her life.

  The Medical examinations of the arrested ZCTU members showed /NO/
skin abrasions. Abrasions would necessarily result from the shearing
forces associated with falling from a moving vehicle.
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Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
6th Floor, Beverly Court, 100 Nelson Mandela Ave
PO Box CY 2415, Causeway
Harare
Tel: 708118, 251468
Fax: 705641
Cell: 091260380/ 091221887