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Amnesty International reported Monday that the Tanzanian government has shut down internet access and electric power, suppressing attempts to gather information about nationwide unrest following its October 29 elections.
Vongai Chikwanda, deputy regional director for Amnesty, said, “Amnesty…is particularly alarmed by reports that amidst the blackouts, security forces have used excessive force to suppress and disperse ongoing post-election protests, resulting in the deaths and injuries of protesters.”
President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged that there have been deaths, but blamed foreigners, saying that “it was not a surprise that those arrested were from other countries.”
Observers from the Southern African Development Community said that the election did not rise to free and fair standards and in October, Amnesty reported that Suluhu Hassan and government officials used voter-suppression tactics leading up to the election. The process also notably excluded Hassan’s two main opponents, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema Party and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo.
Tundu Lissu is currently in prison on treason charges that he claims to be politically motivated and his party, Chadema, said that the election results “have no basis in reality.” Police arrested John Heche, deputy leader of Chadema, at Lissu’s trial.
Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo lost a constitutional challenge to his disqualification last month. Tanzania’s electoral commission acted on a procedural complaint from another member of ACT-Wazalendo, citing party policy that a presidential candidate must be a party member for at least seven months. Mpina, a former government minister, left ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi to join ACT-Wazalendo.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Tanzania police and military have used tear gas and firearms to disperse protestors and that at least 10 people have died. However, Charles Kitima, the secretary general of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, claimed that “hundreds” have died, adding, “The president has been sworn in and we hope justice will be served to those who lost their loved ones and that protesters are not targeted.”
On October 31, the US State Department added an “unrest” risk indicator to its travel advisory for Tanzania, saying, “Violent crime is common. It includes assault, sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking. Local police have limited resources to respond effectively to serious crime. There is risk of terrorist violence.”
The US Embassy to Tanzania similarly warned, “There are reports of country-wide demonstrations resulting in outbreaks of violence and roadblocks. Travel by road poses significant risk.”
The post Amnesty International addresses ongoing killings and rights violations in Tanzania appeared first on JURIST - News.
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Vongai Chikwanda, deputy regional director for Amnesty, said, “Amnesty…is particularly alarmed by reports that amidst the blackouts, security forces have used excessive force to suppress and disperse ongoing post-election protests, resulting in the deaths and injuries of protesters.”
President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged that there have been deaths, but blamed foreigners, saying that “it was not a surprise that those arrested were from other countries.”
Observers from the Southern African Development Community said that the election did not rise to free and fair standards and in October, Amnesty reported that Suluhu Hassan and government officials used voter-suppression tactics leading up to the election. The process also notably excluded Hassan’s two main opponents, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema Party and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo.
Tundu Lissu is currently in prison on treason charges that he claims to be politically motivated and his party, Chadema, said that the election results “have no basis in reality.” Police arrested John Heche, deputy leader of Chadema, at Lissu’s trial.
Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo lost a constitutional challenge to his disqualification last month. Tanzania’s electoral commission acted on a procedural complaint from another member of ACT-Wazalendo, citing party policy that a presidential candidate must be a party member for at least seven months. Mpina, a former government minister, left ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi to join ACT-Wazalendo.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Tanzania police and military have used tear gas and firearms to disperse protestors and that at least 10 people have died. However, Charles Kitima, the secretary general of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, claimed that “hundreds” have died, adding, “The president has been sworn in and we hope justice will be served to those who lost their loved ones and that protesters are not targeted.”
On October 31, the US State Department added an “unrest” risk indicator to its travel advisory for Tanzania, saying, “Violent crime is common. It includes assault, sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking. Local police have limited resources to respond effectively to serious crime. There is risk of terrorist violence.”
The US Embassy to Tanzania similarly warned, “There are reports of country-wide demonstrations resulting in outbreaks of violence and roadblocks. Travel by road poses significant risk.”
The post Amnesty International addresses ongoing killings and rights violations in Tanzania appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.