Maputo, 28 Mar (AIM) – The Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) has backed the country’s opposition parties in their hostility to the extradition treaty between Mozambique and Rwanda.
The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, held the final vote on ratifying the treaty on Wednesday. The ruling Frelimo Party used its absolute majority in the Assembly to approve the bill on ratification, while both opposition parties, Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), voted against.
The ratification passed with 168 Frelimo votes in favour and 42 opposition votes against. Giving the Frelimo “declaration of vote”, deputy Afonso Nipero said “we voted in favour because we believe that the extradition treaty will complement the legal framework for the fight against terrorism and money laundering”.
But for Renamo, Antonio Muchanga said his party voted against the bill because of the “persecution and elimination” of opponents of the Rwandan government.
Silverio Ronguane, of the MDM, said the treaty would betray Rwandan refugees living in Mozambique, who might be handed over to the Kagame regime.
OAM chairperson, Carlos Martins, speaking at a Maputo press conference on Wednesday, described the position taken by the Renamo and MDM parliamentary groups as “legitimate”.
Cited in Thursday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, Martins said “Naturally, the opposition have raised their fears about the agreement and we think they are legitimate”.
The OAM, he promised, would follow closely the implementation of the treaty, “because what the opposition says is that this agreement will facilitate political persecution, the persecution of people who are opposed to a regime”.
He recognized, however, that the Mozambican government rejects this interpretation, and argues that the purpose of the agreement is only to hunt down criminals.
On 29 February, Mozambique also ratified an agreement with Rwanda for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. This too was contested by the opposition.
“The fears are justified”, stressed Martins, “but only time will really respond to these concerns”.
The OAM press conference announced the beginning of celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the association. The celebrations start in April and will last until the end of the year, under the motto “For an ethical, high quality and modern advocacy at the service of society”.
(AIM)
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