,
5 tweets,
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1. Reports indicate that the Government of Zimbabwe has ordered a shutdown of the Internet and Social Media. This means the outside world is unable to get first hand information in real time regarding what is happening there. Bad things happen in darkness #ZimbabweShutDown
2. The State can do a lot of bad things to citizens without the outside world getting a full picture as things happen. Back in August 2018 & yesterday, it was easier to follow events as they happened due to the glare of the media and social media. Now it’s dark & secretive.
3. Individual rights are among the casualties of repressive measures under the guise of law enforcement. The risk is the use of excessive & disproportionate force. In this case several rights are at risk: life, personal security, free speech, access to information & human dignity
4. As stated in the last #BSR the region, international community and civil society have to remain alert and vigilant to what’s going on under the cover of the Internet shutdown in Zimbabwe. Many bad things have happened before and bad things are very likely happening right now.
5. These are the extraordinary measures so far used by the regime:
* military deployment
* detention
* shootings, beatings, possibly torture - killings
* door-to-door search & seizure of individuals
* shutdown of the Internet and social media to prevent the flow of information
* military deployment
* detention
* shootings, beatings, possibly torture - killings
* door-to-door search & seizure of individuals
* shutdown of the Internet and social media to prevent the flow of information
