Faustino warns Renamo: Attacks on war veterans will not be tolerated

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Faustino warns Renamo: Attacks on war veterans will not be tolerated

3:40 CAT | 06 Sep 2016

Noticias / Fernando Faustino

The Secretary General of the Association of Combatants of the National Liberation Struggle (ACLLN), Fernando Faustino, warned Renamo yesterday that directing armed attacks to attain unreasonable political ambitions may have serious consequences for the party.

Faustino issued his warning after armed Renamo men attacked a former combatant in Morrumbala district, in Zambezia province, while he was carrying out his regular daily activities. Previously, gunmen mounted a similar deadly attack on a national liberation struggle fighter who headed an administrative post in Tete province.

According to the secretary general of ACLLN, fighters never allow attacks on fellow members, and warned that if such attacks do not stop immediately, veterans may act in self-defense.

“We have the right to self-defense. We call on all fighters to remain calm, but warn Renamo that we can act in self-defence. And the consequences could be fatal to Renamo,” Faustino said, calling for Renamo to pursue its political objectives in obedience to the Constitution and other laws.

Faustino said that national liberation struggle fighters do not want any confrontation with Renamo but are prepared to defend themselves against aggression, saying that, as in the past, those who won the fight against Portuguese colonialism could see off those who attack them now.

Faustino asked for the utmost respect for all life, particularly that of combatants, noting that they gave their youth for the country to be free of foreign domination. He recalled that after the proclamation of independence the same group continued to struggle in defence of the country and indicated that at present the group maintains its readiness to continue to protect the country from any aggression, as is happening now with Renamo.

He said that, all over the world, freedom fighters enjoy esteem and consideration, saying that it is not conceivable to allow, as is the case in Mozambique, a political party such as Renamo to harass and murder for no good reason. Faustino reiterated calls for Renamo to cease military hostilities immediately and to pursue only open and constructive dialogue for the solution to its problems.

“Dialogue between the government and Renamo continues at the level of the Joint Committee. Why does Renamo continue to kill?” the war veteran asked.

Faustino asked those supporting Renamo to stop perpetuating the suffering of Mozambicans and help Renamo become an honest political party committed to the national cause: peace, national unity and development.

Source: Noticias