(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 1 November 2001, Jose Arlindo, a cameraman with Mozambican Television (TVM), was beaten up by armed security officers of the main opposition party in Mozambique, the Resistencia National Mocambicana (Renamo), in the northern city of Nampula. The incident occured while Renamo was holding its congress. One policeman and two unidentified civilians […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 1 November 2001, Jose Arlindo, a cameraman with Mozambican Television (TVM), was beaten up by armed security officers of the main opposition party in Mozambique, the Resistencia National Mocambicana (Renamo), in the northern city of Nampula. The incident occured while Renamo was holding its congress.
One policeman and two unidentified civilians were also beaten up and three others were taken captive. According to MISA sources in Mozambique, Renamo is still holding them as hostages.
MISA sources in Mozambique explained that the incident took place while a group of former Renamo guerrillas were holding a “peaceful” demonstration in front of the congress venue.
Renamo’s parliamentary chief Ossufo Quitine, who was at the scene at the time, prohibited the TVM cameraman from taking photographs. Arlindo disregarded the order and was summarily beaten up by the Renamo armed security officers on Quitine’s instructions. They also attempted to confiscate his camera.
Speaking to “Noticias” newspaper, Quitine accused the broadcaster and Mozambican police of organising the demonstration. However, he could not produce evidence to substantiate his claim.
TVM chief editor Simao Anguilaze told “Noticias” that his institution would use the “formal mechanisms [to] protest against this aggression.”
Meanwhile, the Mozambican Journalists Union (SNJ) issued a statement condemning the attack on the TVM cameraman. It also condemned threats of aggression against another cameraman of the Portuguese Radio Television (RDP) who was photographing the Renamo leader’s private security as they were beating up demonstrators in front of the congress venue.
“Renamo’s attitude and [that of] its members shows once more that they want to silence the truth and disregard the right of the citizens to be informed. This is the right of each citizen, as stipulated in the country’s constitution… We will continue to fight for fair information in Mozambique,” the SNJ statement read.
Meanwhile, Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama said he would investigate the reasons behind his private security’s behaviour. He said that journalists must freely do their jobs even in war situations or other conflicts.
