The opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) in
the northern city of Nampula on Saturday accused the police of illegally
detaining seven of its members in night raids on their homes.According to MDM
parliamentary candidate Fernando Bismarque, the police lacked the necessary
arrest warrants signed by a judge. Furthermore, the law forbids arrests at
night except when people are caught in the act of committing a crime.The seven
were supposedly picked up at their homes at around 21.00 on Friday night.
Bismarque said that on Saturday the police refused to allow access to the
detainees to the Nampula provincial attorney’s office.
It is assumed that the arrests are connected with the Thursday clashes when MDM members brought a mock coffin bearing pictures of Filipe Nyusi, the presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, to the solemn ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of the armed struggle for Mozambican independence. When the police moved to seize the mock coffin, fighting broke out, MDM members hurled stones at the police, and the police used tear gas against them.The police say that three MDM members were arrested on the spot, but have made no comment so far about the allegations of illegal night arrests.The MDM mayor of Nampula Mamudo Amurrane told reporters that the party has arranged defence lawyers for its detained members. But as of Saturday morning, according to MDM Nampula election officer Antonio Goncalves, the police had not allowed the MDM lawyers access to the detainees. Meanwhile, the head of the Frelimo election brigade in the city, Labour Minister Helena Taipo, on Saturday advised Frelimo members not to react to provocation. Provocation, she said, was a sure sign that the adversary knew it was facing defeat.
It is assumed that the arrests are connected with the Thursday clashes when MDM members brought a mock coffin bearing pictures of Filipe Nyusi, the presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, to the solemn ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of the armed struggle for Mozambican independence. When the police moved to seize the mock coffin, fighting broke out, MDM members hurled stones at the police, and the police used tear gas against them.The police say that three MDM members were arrested on the spot, but have made no comment so far about the allegations of illegal night arrests.The MDM mayor of Nampula Mamudo Amurrane told reporters that the party has arranged defence lawyers for its detained members. But as of Saturday morning, according to MDM Nampula election officer Antonio Goncalves, the police had not allowed the MDM lawyers access to the detainees. Meanwhile, the head of the Frelimo election brigade in the city, Labour Minister Helena Taipo, on Saturday advised Frelimo members not to react to provocation. Provocation, she said, was a sure sign that the adversary knew it was facing defeat.
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