Comissão Política e chefe da brigada central da Frelimo de assistência à província de Manica, Esperança Bias
Maputo, 22 Feb (AIM) – The chairperson of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, Esperanca Bias, on Thursday declared that terrorism is one of the most heinous of crimes, which demands special attention.
Speaking at the opening of a sitting of the Assembly, Bias said “we are concerned at the actions of the terrorists, which have created panic among the population, preventing the normal circulation of people and goods, destroying public and private infrastructures, and looting property”.
“Terrorism is one of the most heinous crimes, which demands from us special attention and joint efforts”, she stressed.
She praised the Mozambican defence and security forces for their selfless fight against the terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, guaranteeing security, tranquility and the territorial integrity of the country.
“We urge our population to be vigilant and to pay attention to the new tactics used by the terrorists, and to interact with the relevant authorities”, insisted Bias.
She thanked Mozambique’s allies from Rwanda and from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). All Mozambicans, she said, should step up international cooperation in order to improve the training and logistics of the defence and security forces.
Terrorism, she added, is not a concern only for Mozambique, but also for the other countries of southern Africa and for the entire world.
“These radical groups who attack our country today, using religious extremism as their pretext, are the same as the groups who in the past attacked countries in Europe and America”, said Bias.
Without international cooperation, she warned, the global agenda of the fight against terrorism would not be successful.
Bias urged young Mozambicans who are in the ranks of the terrorist groups to surrender to the authorities, so that they could be reintegrated into society, and take part in development.
“We are urging our young people not to swap their lives for death, and not to seek to achieve any objective through violence, chaos and social disorder”, Bias declared. Those shadowy forces who were behind the current wave of terrorism “should leave us in peace, since we are a peace-loving people”, she added.
(AIM)
Mz/pf (359)
