The Order denounces “physical attacks and death threats” by the police against the president of the Niassa provincial council, Celso Mendonça Diogo, and admitted having acted criminally against the agents.
The Mozambique Bar Association (OAM) condemned this Friday the “physical attacks and death threats” by police agents against the president of the Niassa provincial council, Celso Mendonça Diogo, and admitted having acted criminally against the agents.
“This macabre and inhuman act represents a flagrant violation of fundamental rights, as well as a direct affront to the free and independent exercise of law, an essential pillar for the maintenance of the rule of law and justice in society,” states the note signed by the vice president of the Niassa provincial council of the Mozambique Bar Association, Elísio Verniz Dauce.
By condemning the “act of brutality” that occurred on Thursday, the provincial council demanded “with the utmost urgency” that the Public Ministry and the Ministry of the Interior “take the necessary measures for the rigorous investigation of this case, guaranteeing the punishment of those responsible.” .
“The OAM will take measures to ensure the criminal liability of the agents involved, as well as the civil liability of the State for the damage caused to those offended as a consequence of the acts carried out by criminals, in reality employees of the State,” the organization added. .
According to the note, the “very serious” incident occurred when Celso Mendonça Diogo was carrying out his professional activities in the district of Mecanhelas, something that the council recalled not only puts the physical integrity of the target at risk, “but also violates the rights of the citizens it represents.”
The Niassa provincial council of the OAM demanded that preventive measures be taken in the name of the safety and respect of Mozambican lawyers, guaranteeing that “acts of violence will not be tolerated.”
The incident reported by the Niassa OAM provincial council follows the injuries suffered by five people last Saturday in Mecanhelas, in the province of Niassa, central Mozambique, after police fired shots to disperse protesters pro-Venâncio Mondlane, who were approaching a demonstration with Frelimo Supporters.
According to Angelina Cuaela, spokesperson for the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) in Niassa, the riots occurred after 10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. in Lisbon) that day, when “supporters of the Podemos party,” which supports the presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, “went out to the streets to demonstrate.”
The official added that they even set tires on fire on a bridge and that, “then, they went to the place where the Frelimo party was holding its demonstration and threw fire at tires,” which prompted police intervention.
“In this intervention, five people were hit by stray bullets,” said Angelina Cuaela, and continued: “The police were on the ground providing protection.”
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Mozambique announced on Thursday the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by Frelimo (party in power since 1975) in the elections for President of the Republic held on October 9, with 70.67% of the votes.
Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique ( Podemos, extra-parliamentary), came in second place, with 20.32%, but claims not to recognize these results, which have yet to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council. .
In addition to Mondlane, the president of the National Resistance of Mozambique (Renamo, the current largest opposition party), Ossufo Momade, one of the four presidential candidates, said that he did not recognize the electoral results announced by the CNE and called for the vote to be annulled.
On Thursday, presidential candidate Lutero Simango, supported by the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), also rejected the results, considering that they were “forged in the secretariat,” and promised “political and legal actions” to restore the “popular will.” “.
The announcement of the results by the CNE once again triggered violent protests and clashes with the police in Mozambique, especially in Maputo.
Source: Observadora
