Manifestacao pos-eleicoes na Cidade de Maputo. Foto de Ferhat Momade
Maputo, 10 Mar (AIM) – The Mozambican Minister of Justice, Mateus Saize, has declared that the use of live ammunition by the Police in order to contain protesters during mass demonstrations “is not normal.”
The minister’s remarks follow the deaths of over 300 people during the demonstrations that took place over the last four months across the country called by the former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane in order to protest against the fraudulent results of the elections held on 9 October.
The demonstrations started peacefully but then degenerated into rioting and looting. Right now the focus of the demonstrations, in many parts of the country, has moved away from the elections to the cost of living.
According to the “Decide” Electoral Platform, since the post-election demonstrations began in October, at least 303 people have been shot dead by police while 619 others were injured by gunshots. During the demonstrations, 4,228 people were also detained by the authorities.
According to the minister – who was speaking on Sunday on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the fiftieth Episcopal anniversary of the Bishop Emeritus of Pemba, Mgr Januário Nhangumbe – in the event of disorderly situations, “the government advises the use of rubber bullets and tear gas, not live ammunition.”
Yet the use of real bullets has become normal procedure, particularly for the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR, the Mozambican equivalent of the riot police).
(AIM)
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