
Policia dispersa manifestanes
Maputo, 21 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) has condemned the violence used on Monday morning by the defence and security forces against journalists who were trying to interview the independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane.
The police fired teargas and rubber bullets against a crowd that had gathered near the spot on Joaquim Chissano Avenue where Mondlane’s lawyer, Elvino Dias, had been murdered on Friday night.
The film of the incident, MISA noted, showed a riot police security cordon approaching the place where the journalists were speaking to Mondlane. As they did so, the police launched an intensive barrage of tear gas.
This interrupted Mondlane’s impromptu press conference, dispersing the reporters, some of whom were injured.
A MISA statement condemned the police behavior and urged the defence and security forces to behave professionally.
“Even while we recognize that the police activity may require the use of tear gas, this should not be done indiscriminately, and should not restrict the freedoms of expression and of the press”, said MISA. “Instead of making journalists their targets the police should recognise the importance of their work of reporting the chaotic events which are marking the post-election period, and guarantee their protection”.
MISA urged the authorities “to avoid the undue use of force, and respect the freedoms of assembly, expression and of the press”. It demanded an inquiry into these events to determine whether or not the police acted within the limits permitted.
MISA promised that “it will use its position as a defender of journalists to do all in its power to hold responsible those police offers who were behind this serious attack against journalists”.
MISA also advised journalists, when doing their job, “to comply with security protocols so that they do not become the targets for police or for demonstrators”.
(AIM)
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