Renamo youth league demands release of former guerrillas

Maputo, 29 May (AIM) – The Youth League of Mozambique’s former rebel movement Renamo has demanded that the police release the demobilised Renamo guerrillas arrested on Wednesday when the UIR (Riot Police) drove them out of the Renamo national headquarters which they had occupied for the previous two days.

The former guerrillas had seized the headquarters to put pressure on Renamo leader Ossufo Momade to resign. They blame Momade for Renamo’s poor showing in last year’s general elections.

It is not clear whether the Renamo leadership asked the police to intervene and remove the former guerrillas, or whether the police acted on their own initiative.

At a Maputo press conference on Thursday morning, the chairperson of the Youth League, Ivan Mazanga, protested at the police action and claimed that the League “is opposed to all violence”.

“We are convinced that ceaseless dialogue should be the permanent path for overcoming our differences”, he declared.

Mazanga said the dispute between the demobilised fighters and the Renamo leadership could be solved by calling a meeting of the Renamo National Council, at which all the party’s problems could be discussed.

Mazanga said the Youth League does not agree with the occupation and closure of the Renamo headquarters and of its provincial delegations “and this must stop. But the major responsibility for the peaceful solution of disputes lies with the leadership”, he stressed.

The police have not yet commented on Wednesday’s events, nor have they said how many former guerrillas remain in custody.
(AIM)
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