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17.02.03 Zimbabwefund.org ICC slammed for
criticism of Zimbabwe stars Founders of the Aegis Zimbabwe Fund last night slammed the ICC for its criticism of Zimbabwe cricket stars Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, over their daring protest against the human rights abuses of the Mugabe regime. "The ICC should be thanking Olonga and Flower for restoring a little dignity to the game, not hammering more nails into the coffin of Zimbabean democracy by calling for the removal of their armbands," stated Dr James Smith, the genocide scholar who initiated the Aegis Trust's Zimbabwe Fund. "The ICC committee's arrogant treatment of these brave men is a disgrace." Following a call from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union for it to discipline Olonga and Flower for bringing the game into disrepute, the ICC's tournament technical committee decided not to charge the two. It criticised their actions, however, commenting, 'There are enough people outside the sport seeking to achieve political ends through cricket for their own purposes, without the sport's participants contributing to this matter … the players have blurred the lines between political issues and the sporting arena.' It also said that it would ask them to stop wearing their black armbands, donned before the match on 10 February to 'mourn the death of democracy' in Zimbabwe. "In the words of politician Michael Ancram, 'this is beyond politics, this is about humanity'," stated Aegis Director Dr Stephen Smith. "There is no arena of life which can or should be separated from or take precedence over the cause of humanity, be it sport, politics, business or personal interest. By denying what Olonga, Flower and the world's media have already recognised - that silence on the pitch would have had a negative impact equal to the positive impact of speaking out - the ICC is effectively aiding Mugabe. "They may think that by not charging the pair they are being even-handed, but when millions of people's lives are at stake, you are either for life or against it. Flower and Olonga have chosen not to remain bystanders, unlike the ICC. The line between conscience and the sporting arena cannot be blurred, because it does not exist." For more information
contact Aegis Trust press officer, David Brown
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The Aegis Trust, Charity No. 1082856
