Mozambique: Terrorists driven out of Quissanga district - Cabo Delgado governor
Eleven Mozambican civil society organisations have announced their intention to hold a peaceful march through the streets of central Maputo on Saturday, 18 June, in protest against the current political and military situation in the country.
The organizers say that the march, under the theme “For the right to hope” is being held because of “the situation the country is going through, particularly in the politico-military sphere, with a generalized impact on the circulation of people and goods throughout our territory, damaging the living conditions of the population”.
Added to this, the civil society bodies say, “is the economic situation of the country and the constant intimidation against defenders of human rights”. They give no examples, but the most recent case of brutal intimidation was the shooting and maiming, by unknown assailants, on 23 May, of the political analyst and commentator Jose Jaime Macuane, outside his central Maputo home.
Demonstrations and marches do not require authorization. But the legislation governing the freedom of assembly says that the organizers must give the local authorities and the police written notice at least 72 hours in advance, specifying the route of the march. Some previous demonstrations have been deemed illegal because they did not comply with these formalities.
The letter from civil society bodies seems to meet all the legal requirements. It is dated 8 June, and a stamp from Maputo City Council acknowledges receipt on 9 June. The letter also specifies the route the march will take, and requests the presence of the police “to guarantee order and security against any attempt to deviate from the objectives of this peaceful march”. The organizers sent copies of the letter to the Maputo City Police Command, the Attorney-General, the Maputo City Attorney’s office, and to the chairperson of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic (Veronica Macamo).
The civil society bodies organizing the march include the Women’s Forum (a coalition of NGOs active on women’s rights), the Human Rights League (LDH), and the think tank IESE (Institute of Economic and Social Studies).
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