Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
4 March 2008
Maputo — The Catholic Church has expressed distress over recent violence in parts of the country, said to be the worst since the end of the civil war in 1992.
On February 5, a popular protest broke out due to the rising prices of city transport. Following intense demonstrations, the government decided to nullify the increase on taxes, but the disturbances continued to other parts of the country, Fides reported. At least three people died and about a hundred were wounded. Some 2,000 cars and hundreds of public and private buildings were vandalized.
"We are extremely worried about the country's situation, due to the continued protests in Maputo, Chowke, Chibuto, Mandjlakazi, Jangamo, and Chimoio," said a statement issued by the Bishops' Conference of Mozambique on Feb. 20.
The bishops lamented the loss of human lives and the vandalism, and expressed their condolences to the victims' families.
They noted the increased cost of living that has not been compensated by a raise in salaries. "This situation is a consequence of the widespread corruption, especially in the public sector. What is most worrisome for the citizens is to witness the fact that the fight against corruption is not carried out with determination," the bishops said.
"The people are tired of seeing the ever-growing economic prosperity of a mysteriously rich elite, while the majority of the population lacks basic living necessities. If politics is not capable of changing this intolerable economic situation, we are afraid that the violence in the country will spread."
The situation of severe social injustice, the bishops said, does not "permit the use of violence by anyone. We, the bishops, do not approve of this path." While they would not excuse violence, they said, "we do not ignore the fact that intense suffering can ignite anger and become interference in the right use of reason."
The prelates criticised the police use of excessive force. "Using live ammunition to break up demonstrators is incomprehensible and unacceptable because it is a threat to people's lives."
The bishops called for a renewed fight against poverty. "It is urgently necessary that we once again take up the fight against poverty. It is also necessary that citizens be better informed on the actions of the government, so that they do not feel like mere objects in government dealings, but rather as active subjects in the fight against the causes of poverty."
See full text of bishops' message, in Portuguese: http://www.fides.org/por/documents/comunicado____22.02.2008.doc
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