Chapo promises to equip Defense and Security Forces

CHAPO PROMISES TO EQUIP DEFENCE AND SECURITY FORCES

Maputo, 28 Feb (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Thursday announced that his government is committed to equipping the defence and security forces with resources to guarantee national sovereignty, and to protect the Mozambican people.

Speaking in Pemba, capital of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, shortly after visiting the Pemba Naval Base of the Mozambican navy, Chapo stressed the importance of continually strengthening the defence forces, and the government’s commitment to modernising the armed forces (FADM).

His visit to the naval base was one of a range of actions seeking to assess the capacity of the FADM at a time, he said, when national security is at the top of the government’s priorities.

Chapo stressed the need for coordination between the various security forces operating in Cabo Delgado, in the fight against islamist terrorism, in order “to guarantee stability and progress”.

Chapo also visited the district of Mueda where he met with the “local force”, a militia formed by volunteers, including veterans of the war for independence and their dependents, and who have played an important role in supporting the FADM.

He praised the dedication of the local force and of the FADM troops stationed in the Northern Operational Theatre.

Chapo said his visit to Mueda was intended to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the troops. He could not leave Cabo Delgado without paying homage “to those who are on the front line in the struggle against terrorism”.

He declared that national defence is essential for maintaining the country’s independence. “Our presence here is to show you once again that we are together”, he said. “The mission we have is to continue to defend our motherland”.

Once again, Chapo listed the main threats facing Mozambique, putting in first place the islamist terrorism in Cabo Delgado. “This terrorism is one more destabilisation of our economy and of our country”, he declared. “You, as children of this country, and all of us, must continue to defend this motherland, regardless of how much it costs”.

Chapo rejected the frequently heard arguments that terrorism has appeared because of unemployment, or because of religious questions. Instead, he regarded the jihadist raids as part of a plan to weaken the country.

“They began by saying that it (terrorism) was because of unemployment, but there’s unemployment in many places, and there’s no terrorism there”, he said. “Then they said it was religion, but Islam is a religion of love and peace”.

The other threats, said Chapo, include groups destroying public property and promoting violence under various pretexts. “They take advantage of free elections to allege fraud, and then they do the same things they did during the 16 year war (between the government and the apartheid-backed Renamo rebels)”.

Chapo warned that peace and security are fundamental to guarantee sustainable development.

“Without security, there is no progress”, he said. “We need the public to feel that the government is present and committed to ensuring stability, so that everybody can continue their lives normally”.

At a press conference in Pemba, closing his three day visit to Cabo Delgado, Chapo accused former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane of behaving in a “dictatorial” manner towards his own followers.

He noted that Mondlane had ordered protesters to bang drums or blow whistles at specified days and times, and had told them what type of clothes to wear (usually black).

“In a democratic country, there can’t be dictatorship where we oblige people to dress in black every day, and order people to bang on pots and pans every day”, he said. “That’s not freedom – it’s dictatorship”. (Though it should be said that this form of protest has died away in recent weeks).

Chapo called for an end to “violent, illegal and criminal” protests which “are destroying the country”.

He also regarded as “dictatorial” the attempt by protesters to force a reduction in prices, since they had no idea how much shopkeepers had paid for the goods on their shelves in the first place.

The rioters had destroyed public property such as schools, health units and medical stores. They had damaged roads by burning tyres on top of them, said Chapo, “and the next day, they want to protest again complaining that the road has potholes, forgetting that they were burning tyres on the roads”.

One new development has been a journalistic investigation by the independent television station, STV, which showed that there was nothing random about the riots in Gaza province. Instead there is a network of provincial and district coordinators who organise the unrest (although they disown acts of violence).

Although there is no evidence that Mondlane personally controls the riots, the coordinators used to work in the networks set up last year to run his election campaign.

The coordinators spoke openly to STV, and allowed themselves to be filmed, as if unaware that they were admitting participation in serious crimes.
(AIM)
Pf/ (818)