Mozambique Elections: Over 2000 demonstrators already assisted by Bar Association

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Mozambique Elections: Over 2000 demonstrators already assisted by Bar Association

12:13 CAT | 15 Nov 2024

File photo: O País

The Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) has provided legal, judicial and extrajudicial assistance to 2,700 citizens arrested during the demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane to protest against the allegedly fraudulent results of the 9 October general elections.

According to Ferosa Zacarias, President of the Bar Association Human Rights Commission, cited in Thursday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, of the 2,700 cases assisted from 21 October to 4 November, some culminated in restoration to freedom through an Identity and Residence Permit (TIR).

The largest number of arrests took place in the suburban neighborhoods of the southern city of Matola.

“At the moment, we don’t have any more up-to-date data because arrests continue to be made and some people are still awaiting trial, others are still in prison. Even with the start of the fourth phase of the demonstrations, we have already received information that there are several detainees who need legal assistance”, Zacarias said.

Wednesday was the first day of “phase four” of demonstrations against the allegedly fraudulent results of the 9 October general elections, which aimed at concentrating demonstrators on the provincial capitals and the ports.

According to Zacarias, in a large number of the cases assisted, it was found that the arrests were illegal, because the legal criteria were not observed. “They arrested minors, and people who were clearly not taking part in the public demonstration,” she said.

“In some cases, citizens were questioned for simply travelling on the public highway and others were approached inside their homes, with a greater focus on suburban areas. In various cases we were able to assist through a phone call and in others we went all the way to trial”, she said.

In the meantime, the OAM says it has witnessed, with great concern, the unnecessary and unjustified use of tear gas, firearms with live bullets and deadly shots against defenceless people, and the prohibition of the free movement of people and goods, without any legal criteria.

In addition to the arrests, the OAM said that the police have been seizing people’s property, especially mobile phones, which are often seized without the right to recover them on release. Sometime the police have demanded bribes to set detainees free.

Source: AIM