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To: IFEX Auto List (other news of interest)
From: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), [email protected]
Subject: Weekly Report
Date: Friday, November 02, 2001

Cameraman assaulted, threatened, civilians beaten up, captured

A cameraman with the Mozambican Television (TVM), Jose Arlindo, was
seriously beaten up by armed security of the main opposition party in
Mozambique, the Resistencia National Mocambicana (Renamo), in the northern
city of Nampula on Thursday, November 1. Renamo was holding its IV 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 the hostages.

According to MISA sources in Mozambique this happened when a group of
ex-Renamo guerrillas were holding a "peaceful" demonstration in front of the
congress venue.

Renamo's parliamentary chief, Ossufo Quitine, who was on the scene at the
time, prohibited the TVM cameraman from taking photographs. Jose Arlindo
disregarded the order and was summarily beaten up by the Renamo armed
security at the instruction of Quitine. The security officers also attempted
to confiscate the camera.

Speaking to "Noticias" newspaper Quitine accused the broadcaster and the
Mozambican Police of organising the demonstration. He could however not
produce evidence to substantiate his claim.

Speaking to "Noticias" the chief editor of TVM, Simao Anguilaze, said his
institution would use the "formal mechanisms of protest against this
aggression".

Meanwhile the Mozambican Journalists Union (SNJ) issued a statement
condemning the aggression of 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 its members show 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 (to be informed) 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 the attitude of his private security. He said that
journalists must freely do their job even in war situations or other
conflicts.