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Mozambique: Joaquim Chissano defends military actions against Renamo
5:45 CAT | 08 Apr 2016
Lusa (File photo) / Joaquim Chissano
Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano advocated today that the Government should continue its military actions against Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, for as long as the movement keeps focusing on armed struggle as a political tool.
“If there is no other way [to halt the armed actions of Renamo]. If Renamo stopped shooting the people, there would be no need to protect the population, because there would be no fire,” Chissano said in interview released on the issue of today’s weekly Savana.
The former Head of State of Mozambique, who ruled the country for 18 years, recalled that his executive negotiated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 1992 while the country was at war.
“The 1990-1992 dialogue was made in the middle of fire. The fight did not stop because the government was aware that it had a duty to defend the population and could not retreat just like that. We did what we could and we saved as much as we could “, said Chissano.
About the conditions set by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) for the resumption of negotiations with the government to end the political and military crisis, Chissano believes that the apparent reluctance of the executive to accept this requirement may be related to the fact that the main opposition party is likely to move on to new demands as soon as the above are met.
“We need a perspective. Will Renamo, if this is accepted, not require anything else? Because we have seen demands of this and that. Therefore, in-depth knowledge ion how to act around the proposals that are on the table is necessary, after a decision is taken,” said the former president.
Joaquim Chissano mentioned specifically Renamo’s demand that any negotiating process should involve the European Union (EU), noting that this organization brings together several states.
“For example, the EU is not a state, it’s several states. (…) I do not know what would make the EU, who is the EU? I do not know if Renamo wants to turn this dialogue between two into an international issue,” noted Chissano.
Stressing that one day political stability will return to the country, the former President of the Republic called on the persistence of the people in demanding peace, pointing out that Mozambicans demand stability with increasing strength.
Mozambique is experiencing a political and military crisis characterized by reported clashes between the defence and security forces and the armed wing of Renamo and attacks on civilian and military vehicles attributed by the executive to the opposition movement.
Renamo does not recognize the results of the 2014 general elections and demands to rule in the six provinces where it claims election victory.
Source: Lusa
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