Tanzania: NGOs Bow to Police, Call Off Demo

Dar es Salaam. — The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and allied NGOs yesterday gave in and called off a mass demonstration that was scheduled for today to protest against payment of Sh111 billion to Dowans. A press statement issued yesterday by the LHRC Executive Director, Mr Francis Kiwanga, said the decision was made to comply with a police order barring the demo.

"While finalising preparations for the demo on October 27, we received a letter which said the police had banned it, citing the likelihood of an attack by Al-Shaabab and the pending case number 8/2011 in the Court of Appeal," he said.Mr Kiwanga said that although section 18 of the constitution provides for the freedom of expression and assembly, LHRC and the allied rights organisations had decided to comply with the police order after considering the alleged security threat.

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