Breaking: Soldiers detain Estacio Valoi and two foreign journalists

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Breaking: Soldiers detain Estacio Valoi and two foreign journalists

2:20 CAT | 18 Dec 2018

In file CoM

MISA in Mozambique has called for the immediate release of two foreign journalists and one Mozambican detained on Monday by the Defense Forces of Mozambique.

The journalists and driver were detained at 09:00am on Monday by the soldiers “when they were on their way to Palma from Chitolo, Mocímboa da Praia, where they have been working”.

In a statement released on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, MISA stated that the reporters, among them the Mozambique’s Estácios Valoi, are detained in the District Command of Palma.

“MISA Moçambique is concerned about the situation and asks the authorities to release the reporters and return the seized equipment with the respective contents collected during the investigation that was done with the endorsement of the competent authorities,” asks press freedom body, recalling that journalists reported having had “authorisation from local and provincial commanders to work in those areas”.

“We finished the job (in Chitolo). On the way to Palma, a group of soldiers told us to stop. They told us that they were following the orders of those who authorized us to work here. They took our cameras. We’ve been waiting 45 minutes. Nothing is said to us,” reads one of the messages sent by reporters and quoted by MISA.

There is no immediate comment from the authorities.

Source: VOA Portugues and Twitter