Amnesty International (AI) this Sunday condemned the actions of Mozambican police during a march in Maputo in honor of social intervention rapper Azagaia, deeming it a violation of the right to freedom of assembly and an “outrageous” act.
“The muscular response of the Mozambican police to these peaceful demonstrations, including the beating of demonstrators with batons, injuring them, is an outrageous act by police against defenseless demonstrators.” said the deputy director of AI for East and South Africa, Emerlynn Gil, in a statement to the editors.
Amnesty International denounces the “arbitrary arrests”, as well as the use of tear gas and attacks on demonstrators, confirmed in the police response with the intent to “belittle Azagaia’s legacy”, constitute “a violation of the right to freedom of assembly”.
“There is no doubt that the police intended to suppress the demonstrations, with the intention of belittling Azagaia’s legacy,” Considers that the actions of the police forces, which can be seen in the beating of demonstrators in the “several videos sent to Amnesty International and shared on various social networks, represent a disturbing pattern of reckless and illegal tactics against people” during protests.
Emerlynn Gil further argues that police should refrain from attacking demonstrators and avoid violence at peaceful demonstrations.
In this context, the AI argues that authorities should “immediately” investigate the officers who detained and beat the protesters and ensure they are held accountable for violating their rights and international law.
This Saturday, police blocked participants in the march in the city of Beira halfway through, despite assurances on Friday that it had permission to proceed.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists that orders had been received to cancel the march.
In the face of the blockade, Tempers flared and there were confrontations with physical attacks, without shooting, which resulted in the arrest of at least three participants, according to an organization source.
The other groups that would join the march no longer left the meeting point, at the Munhava intersection, at the entrance to Beira, from where they would descend to Praça 03 de Fevereiro, in Ponta Gea, a prime area of the city.
beyond the bordermarches were planned to other cities in honor of the artist called “rapper of the people”: Inhambane, Xai-Xai, Quelimane and Nampula.
The funeral in Maputo brought together thousands of people on Tuesday, but the procession was blocked by armored vehicles and heavily armed police at a point along the route that would pass the official residence of the president of the republic.
There were moments of tension and tear gas was even fired to disperse the crowd, who had to resort to an alternative route.
With more than 20 years of careerthe ‘rapper’ became famous for his public criticism of Mozambique’s governance and for voicing the problems of the population, so much so that in 2008 he was even questioned by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR).
The rhymes were not broadcast on public radio and television, and deputies from the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), in power since independence, appointed him as the opposition interpreter.
Azagaia, the artistic name of Edson da Luz, died at his home on Thursday at the age of 38 after suffering an epileptic seizure, according to the artist’s family.
Source: DN
