Journalist Germano Daniel Adriano charged with violation of state secrecy – MISA

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Journalist Germano Daniel Adriano charged with violation of state secrecy – MISA

3:53 CAT | 27 Feb 2019

File photo: DW

Mozambican judicial authorities have charged journalist Germano Daniel Adriano with violating state secrecy and publicly instigating a crime, the executive director of the Southern African Social Communication Institute (MISA) in Mozambique Ernesto Nhanala has told Lusa.

The Mozambican Community Radio and Television of Macomia journalist was arrested on February 18 in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, apparently while covering the armed violence plaguing that part of the country.

“He already had his detention legalised by a criminal investigation judge and is still in custody,” Nhanala, whose NGO has mandated lawyers to pursue the case, told Lusa on Tuesday.

The charges against Germano Daniel Adriano are based on evidence allegedly found on the journalist’s computer equipment, Nhanala said, adding that the journalist was arrested without a court order.

The crimes with which Germano Daniel Adriano is charged are the same as those imputed to Amade Abubacar, also from Community Radio and Television of Macomia, who was arrested in Macomia while photographing refugee families fleeing villages attacked by armed groups, and has been in detention since January 5th.

Last December, three foreign journalists and one Mozambican were detained for 48 hours by the Mozambican army while on their way to Palma, in Cabo Delgado, despite being accredited by the authorities to work in the area.

Remote parts of Cabo Delgado, 2,000 kilometres from the capital in the extreme northeast of the country, have been the target of attacks by unidentified groups since October 2017. According to official figures, at least 140 people, including residents, alleged attackers and members of the security forces, have died since the wave of violence began.

Source: Lusa