Comandante-Geral da PRM, Bernardino Rafael, discursa na cerimónia de patenteamento de membros da PRM- recentemente promovidos a diversas categorias e lançamento do Plano Operativo Planeta V. Foto de Santos Vilanculos
Maputo, 23 Aug (AIM) – The General Commander of the Mozambican Police Force (PRM), Bernadino Rafael, has promised that the police will protect the general elections scheduled for 9 October – with or without sufficient logistical support.
Speaking in Maputo on Thursday, during the launch of the police plan for covering all phases of the elections, Rafael said “we shall protect, and guarantee the security of the voters. We shall guarantee the entire process without any pre-conditions. With or without sufficient logistics, we shall guarantee the elections”.
Earlier in the month, Rafael had complained that the police does not have sufficient funds to ensure coverage of the elections. But now he is singing quite a different tune.
“This country is ours”, he said. “This is the real country, and these are the difficulties that exist. But we, the Mozambique Republic Police, we shall protect the elections throughout the national territory. We shall guarantee the transport of the voting material. We shall guarantee protection of the polling station staff, and of the election campaigns of all the political parties we have in our country”.
He pledged that the police will guarantee the physical safety of all the candidates, and denied that the police intend to assassinate any politician.
“At no time has the police thought about attempts against the life of any candidate, or any member or supporter of any political party”, Rafael said.
He was clearly referring to the claim made last week by the independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, that a plain clothes police officer had been infiltrated into one of his marches in order to assassinate him.
Rafael recognized that there is a lack of trust between the police and opposition political parties. He called for “permanent communication” between the parties and the police, and the construction of an environment of greater security and calm.
“Often it’s a question of trust”, he said. “Trust in us, and we shall trust in you”.
He stressed that there is nothing sinister about plain clothes police officers. “We may be dressed like civilians, but we know that our goal is protection”, said Rafael. “What is essential is that you should contact us”.
He urged the media “to transmit the culture of peace, and peaceful co-existence”. He claimed that the police trust journalists “because your words travel a long way. So make sure that your educational information arrives transparently, for the good of public order and safety”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (410)
