Chapo separates peaceful from violent demonstrations

Maputo, 25 Feb (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Tuesday drew a clear distinction between peaceful demonstrations, which are allowed under the Mozambican constitution and laws, and “violent demonstrations”, which are not.

Speaking at the opening of a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) held in Pemba, capital of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, he claimed that parts of the speech he had given at a rally the previous day had been distorted, “with the purpose of negatively influencing public opinion”.

He praised Mozambican journalists for their work, but said there were occasions “when words are taken out of their context”.

This had happened with his remarks about demonstrations at the Monday. To clear up any misunderstanding, Chapo stressed that he had been referring to “violent, illegal and criminal demonstrations that include looting, vandalism and destruction of public and private property”.

He differentiated these illegal acts from the peaceful demonstrations envisaged under the Constitution.

Chapo said that the illegal demonstrations had caused serious losses to Mozambican society. Because of this unrest, “many people are losing their jobs, are going without their wages and their families are suffering”.

Public security was at stake when medical stores were looted, or when police stations were attacked in order to steal guns. “These are not the sort of demonstrations mentioned in the Constitution or in the law on freedom of assembly”, Chapo stressed.

He reiterated the commitment of the Mozambican state to maintain public order and security, and called on the public to reject violence and opt for dialogue.

“I am urging people to stop taking part in violent, illegal and criminal demonstrations, and to coexist normally in society”, he declared.

Chapo praised journalists and urged them to continue their work with impartiality and responsibility.

At the root of the problem is that the government, the opposition parties and most of the media are using the same word – demonstrations (“manifestacoes” in Portuguese) – to describe both peaceful and violent forms of dissent.

Chapo explained that he had brought the Council of Ministers to Pemba as part of his promise to promote a form of governance closer to the public. He had started this type of decentralisation in Cabo Delgado in order to follow more closely the challenges the province faces, such as Islamist terrorism and the damage done recently by cyclone Chido.
(AIM)
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