Commonwealth Secretary-General expresses concern over detention of former Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda

I am most concerned that Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia, should have been detained on Christmas day without any accompanying statement setting out the charges which have been laid against him or the grounds for his detention.

The Commonwealth is fully committed to the rule of law, which forms an important part of the statement of Commonwealth principles set out in the Harare Declaration of 1991. Of course, no citizen - in Zambia or anywhere else - can expect to be above the law and, clearly, the responsibility in this case for enforcing the law lies with the democratically elected government of Zambia. At the same time, however, I believe that Zambia's future stability and the continuing sustenance of its democracy requires full transparency in dealing with opposition-party leaders, including most particularly one who is not only a former elected head of government but also an acknowledged father of the nation.

I know that my concern is shared by a number of the leaders in the region to whom I have spoken.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division,
Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
Britain.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

97/65 26 December 1997