ACTU Statement On Zimbabwe

Date: 06 February 2003

The ACTU is strongly opposed to the Australian Cricket Team playing in Zimbabwe and condemns the action of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) in going ahead with the matches.

Zimbabwe is ruled by a dictator who continues to brutally attack unions and other movements for democracy. State sponsored terror and violence have led to a breakdown of the rule of law and vast numbers of Zimbabweans face starvation and death.

The voices of democracy in Zimbabwe do not want the tour to go ahead, Zimbabwean cricketers have grave doubts, other Zimbabwean sports people oppose the tour (golfer Tony Johnstone, "I think it's a chronic error on the part of the ICC to insist they go there"), the English Cricket Board is formally requesting a transfer, the Australian Government believes that the Team should not go, and many of the players do not wish to go.

There is a fear on the part of the teams and the ICC that the corporate sponsor, Global Cricket Corporation, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, will require compensation if the games are transferred. The ACTU has written to Mr. Murdoch urging him not to pursue such claims if the games are transferred. Such a move by him would send a clear message of News Corporation's abhorrence of the brutality of the Mugabe regime.

The ACTU believes that the Howard Government should continue its sanction regime, including discouraging sporting contacts, but as a further step should now strongly advise against all travel to Zimbabwe and especially warn all travellers of the continuing deteriorating situation specifically in Harare and Bulawayo and the difficulty Australia would have in providing protection.

For further information

Contact:	Jeremy Vermeesch
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	0396635655
Contact Mobile:	0408 513 849
Fax:	03 9663 8220
Email:	jvermeesch@actu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

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