Civil society activists denounce police claims

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Civil society activists denounce police claims

11:08 CAT | 23 Mar 2023

FILE PHOTO - For illustration purposes only

Prominent activists from Mozambican civil society have accused the police of “inventing facts” about last Saturday’s demonstrations in honour of the country’s top rap artist, Edson da Luz (better known by his stage name, Azagaia), who died on 9 March.

On Tuesday, the Deputy General Commander of the police, Fernando Tsucana, claimed that the demonstrations were violent. The clashes that occurred, he said, were because the marchers had disobeyed police instructions not to hold the marches.

He claimed the marchers had thrown objects at the police, and had even tried to seize police guns.

But the Maputo demonstration was filmed, notably by two independent television stations (STV and TV Sucesso), as well as by many citizens with cell phones. What the TV stations showed, in real time, bore no relation to Tsucana’s claims.

There was no sign of any attempt by marchers to attack the police or grab their guns. On the contrary, it was the police who attacked the marchers, repeatedly firing tear gas canisters at them. So indiscriminate was the police action that at least one tear gas canister was filmed landing on the steps of the Maputo catholic cathedral.

Tsucana failed to mention that the demonstrations had been authorized by the Maputo, Beira and Nampula Municipal Councils. He also ignored the one place where the police behaved in a legal manner, and simply escorted a peaceful march: this was the central city of Quelimane, where marchers, led by the local mayor, Manuel de Araujo, made no attempt to riot, and did not throw anything at the police.

Tsucana said that on social media messages were published convening the Saturday march “supposedly in tribute to the musician. The organisers and promoters of these events were not musicians but individuals linked to political parties and civil society organisations”.

This was the first time that anyone had suggested that the only people entitled to mourn a dead musician are other musicians.

He picked out by name activists such as journalist Fatima Mimbire, and opposition party leaders, such as Venancio Mondlane, the rapporteur of the Renamo parliamentary group, and Augusto Pelembe, of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM). He also mentioned Manuel de Araujo, even though he must have known that Araujo was in Quelimane, heading an entirely peaceful march.

Tsucana said marchers had used the slogan “Povo no Poder” (“the People in Power”) and claimed this was contrary to “the principle of the democratic rule of law which advocates the election of the President of the Republic by universal suffrage”.

In fact, “Povo no Poder” is the title of Azagaia’s best-known song, and slogans about “People’s Power” have been the common currency of liberation movements for decades.

Tsucana added that 36 people were detained on Saturday (20 in Maputo, seven in Chimoio, six in Beira and three in Nampula). 14 people were injured, one of whom remains hospitalized. He did not mention that one young man lost an eye (apparently to a rubber bullet fired at close range).

Reacting to Tsucana’s claims, Fatima Mimbire, cited in the independent daily “O Pais”, said she had hoped he would apologise, and admit there had been “an excess of zeal” on the part of the police, or even that a commission of inquiry would be set up to investigate Saturday’s events.

Quiteria Guirengane, whom Tsucana had also named as a leader of the demonstrations, told reporters “we thought we were dealing with the police, but we understand we were dealing with a criminal association, because only a criminal association can invent facts and report them without consuming drugs or alcohol”.

Activist Cidia Chitsungo said she had not expected violence from the police.

“The fans of Azagaia know very well that one of the things he was fighting for was the right to demonstrate”, she said. “I don’t understand why people cannot demonstrate freely in Mozambique”.

The Mayor of Beira, Albano Carige, said “As a Mozambican, I am completely ashamed, because my country is chairing the United Nations Security Council, but it has emerged as a great violator of the right to security of its own nation”.

Source: AIM