Mozambican police say they found no evidence of dumped bodies in Gorongosa

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Mozambican police say they found no evidence of dumped bodies in Gorongosa

12:53 CAT | 04 May 2016

Lusa / The photograph above has been altered from the Lusa original one not to shock, offend or upset more sensitive readers. The original Lusa photograph, documenting this report may be seen by following the link http://noticias.sapo.mz/lusa/artigo/20666169.html

The Mozambican Police said yesterday that they had found no evidence of the 15 or so bodies in Gorongosa in central Mozambique allegedly seen by a group of journalists

“One thing we want to emphasise is, let’s pay a little more attention and be careful when we give credence to some of the things we read on social networks,” said PRM spokesman Inácio Dina, suggesting that the images published by Lusa about the 15 bodies may have been manipulated.

At least 15 bodies are visible, supposedly near a mass grave found by local farmers, but the strong military presence in the area is inhibiting access.

Inacio Dina said that the police appreciated receiving information about the alleged mass grave and bodies and was investigating.

“The police are not discounting any information and a taskforce was immediately dispatched but, together with local leaders, it failed to substantiate the claims,” said Dina.

According to local farmers, the mass grave is located in ‘Zona 76’, between Muare and Tropa, in an area occupied by the military and police and marked by clashes between defence and security forces and the armed wing of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo).

“The taskforce went to the supposed site, Zona 76, but found no evidence, no mass grave, and could not identify the farmers who supposedly knew its location or could have made a statement,” Dina said.

Last Friday, before the publication of photographs of the bodies found in the vicinity by Lusa, local authorities denied the existence of any mass graves.

At least 15 bodies have been found near what is described as a mass grave discovered by local people in a heavily militarized part of Gorongosa, witnessed told Lusa .

Witnesses insisted. “It is true, we have seen the bodies,” one local farmer said, describing how his group of fellow workers had been alerted to the bodies by the strong smell of putrefaction they were giving off.

Despite official denials, the Mozambique Human Rights Commission also wants to ascertain the veracity of the reports, stating that, if confirmed, it is “a very worrying” case, urging prosecutors to investigate.

The leader of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, the third-largest party in parliament, has demanded the involvement of both the organs of justice and parliament in clarifying the discovery.

Yesterday, Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, demanded an international investigation.

Source: Lusa