Date: 02/15/2004 1:39:36 PM Central Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Omowale Clay)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
File: chakapicatdemo.zip (1441918 bytes) DL Time (115200 bps): < 3 minutes
PRESS statement
Friends of Zimbabwe / December 12th Movement
456 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11216, Phone 718 â 398 1766 / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
February 15, 2004
The Friends of Zimbabwe and December 12th Movement recently held a demonstration at the headquarters of the New York Times to protest its media bias in reporting on the events taking place in Zimbabwe.
The most recent _expression_ of this blatant bias was demonstrated in the New York Times refusal to print a response to an Op Ed entitled <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Sham Trial in Zimbabwe, February 2, 2004, which was sent to the New York Times by B. G. Chidyausiku Lt. Col [retd], Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the United Nations (see attached).
Ambassador B. G. Chidyausiku stated in his opening remarks to the Editor of the New York Times, âNormally I would not confer dignity nor highlight a lie by challenging it with a counterclaim, but in the present circumstances, common decency demands of me to challenge the factual content, balance and objectivity of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Op Ed... The Ambassador goes on in his remarks to challenge the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times to tell the truth, in this particular, regarding the trial of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, President of the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
The protest demonstration at the New York Times, held on Monday, February 9, 2004 at 1:00 pm did what the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times refused to do, communicate the Ambassadorâs <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">âLetter to the Editorâ (passed out) to the public.
The New York Times which has historically claimed as its motto âAll the news that fit to printâ, has consistently demonstrated in reporting on Zimbabwe and the war in Iraq, a clear bias towards the interest of those who most benefit in demonizing the democratically elected government of Zimbabwe; and those who financial benefit in the war in Iraq.
During the pass year the Times has assigned correspondent Michael Wines to target Zimbabwe with stories and reports made up of half truths and blatant lies. And it is through Michael Winesâ articles that President Robert Mugabe and the majority party ZANU-PF has been condemned for every calamity in Zimbabwe, ranging from drought that grips all of Southern Africa; to killing the wildlife; and every rape or murder that takes place in a country of 13 million people.
Mr. Michael Wines has a dubious past with many questions raised about his possible intelligence agency connections following him through the years, from the positive spin he gave to the CIA sponsored murders in Indonesia in the 60âs, to his work has Moscow correspondent, and his consistent bias towards the even the most obvious corruption in the new Russian government, and negative reporting on the new opposition seeking to challenge that political and economic corruption.
The demonstration this past week pointed out to the public that the real issues the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times has with Zimbabwe are grounded in the fact the Zimbabwean Government has and continues to manage the largest land transfer in post colonial Africa to the indigenous peoples from who the land was stolen. It is this fact, which is only the tip of land question in Africa, that lies at root of the problem and crisis for Western financial and corporate interest who continue to see Africa as their colony.
Omowale Clay
