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afrol News, 2 November - The Congress of Mozambican opposition party Renamo closed in violence yesterday, as party leader Afonso Dhlakama's security guards beat up a policeman, two civilians and a cameraman with the Mozambican Television (TVM). The Congress was to define the party's political programme. Cameraman Jose Arlindo, with the Mozambican Television (TVM), 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 yesterday while covering Renamo's IV Congress. One policeman and two unidentified civilians were also beaten up and three others were taken captive. According to sources quoted by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Mozambique, Renamo is still holding the hostages. MISA's sources in Mozambique claim 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. Also 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, the SNJ statement reads. "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" 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. The Renamo Congress shortly before had re-elected Dhlakama as the party's leader. Afonso Dhlakama had rejected anti-democratic claims and assured the Congress Renamo his "continuing struggle for democracy." Discussions were marked by the diverging pro-democracy and militant camps within the party. Renamo ex-guerrillas had been protesting in the streets of Nampula during most of the Congress, demanding the election of Raul Domingos as new party leader. Domingos was however not among the three nominated candidates. Sources: Based on MISA, RDP and afrol archives
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