Human Rights Commission urges no violence in potential demonstrations

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Human Rights Commission urges no violence in potential demonstrations

4:37 CAT | 29 Apr 2016

Police armoured vehicles yesterday in Maputo

The National Human Rights Commission () yesterday called on the Mozambican police and the public to refrain from violence in any demonstrations against undisclosed debts.

“The commission urges the PRM [Police of the Republic of Mozambique] not to use firearms against citizens,” a CNDH statement released today on the body’s Facebook page reads, pointing out that the right to assemble and demonstrate is fundamental whose exercise in Mozambique does not depend on any authorization.

With the recent discovery of large debts incurred without the knowledge of Parliament, anonymous messages calling for demonstrations starting this Friday April 29 have been appearing on social networks.

One calls on Mozambicans to “paralyze the country”, between the 3rd and 7th May, to coincide with the visit of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal to Mozambique.

Following these messages, the Mozambican police said on Tuesday that they would suppress any “illegal march” as an act of “individuals in bad faith” seeking to feed rumours and create public disorder.

A noticeable strengthening of police presence in some parts of Maputo yesterday morning itself made the subject of demonstrations a dominant issue in the city, leading some vendors in the capital’s main markets to close their establishments.

In the document released yesterday, the CNDH called on rally organizers to “exercise their fundamental right” while preventing situations that might lead to violence.

“The commission calls upon all Mozambican citizens, given the political and economic situation the country is facing, to remain calm and trust in national institutions,” the statement said.

The Government yesterday confirmed the existence of state-guaranteed debts of US$622 million in favor of Proindicus and US$535 million dollars in favour of the Mozambique Asset Management Company, allegedly to protect the coast and gas reserves in northern Mozambique.

In addition to these charges, the Government has recognized the existence of a US$221.1 million dollars bilateral debt contracted between 2009 and 2014 “in the context of strengthening [its] capacity to ensure public order and security”.

In total, about US1.4 billion of debt was excluded from public accounts, leading the IMF to suspend a planned mission to Maputo and the disbursement of the second installment of a loan to Mozambique.

Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario, who went to Washington last week to clarify the situation with the IMF and World Bank, has now said that Mozambique’s public debt stands at US$11.66 billion, of which US$9890 million is external. This represents over 70 percent of GDP, an increase of 42 percent since 2012.

The undisclosed debts have generated a wave of indignation in the parliamentary opposition and civil society, and sparked demands for a public explanation from the executive and investigations into possible criminal liability.

Source: Lusa