Maputo, Mozambique — Mozambican journalist Rui de Carvalho, who works for the independent daily newssheet "Mediafax" was savagely beaten by unknown assailants in the Maputo suburb of Hulene on Thursday night.
Carvalho's colleague, Raimundo Bras, told the Mozambican News Agency that Carvalho was taken to hospital after the attack and needed four stitches under one of his eyes.
His face is severely swollen and he is currently convalescing.
Bras said that Carvalho, in the company of his wife, was driving through Hulene, when the attackers stepped into the road and stopped the car.
They identified Carvalho, dragged him out of the vehicle, and beat him.
But they made no attempt to steal his car or any of the money he was carrying.
Nor did they harm his wife. After the attack, the only possessions of Carvalho that the attackers took with them were his identity documents.
The motive for the attack is unknown, but, in the absence of theft, it is reasonable to conclude that it was linked to Carvalho's journalistic activity.
Mediacoop, the journalists' co-operative that owns "Mediafax", has urged the police to investigate the assault speedily so that the attackers can be identified and brought to trial.
A Mediacoop press release stated that the police were promptly informed of the assault and "they promised that they would investigate the matter with a view to identifying the culprits".
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Mediacoop recalled that this wanton violence against journalists is nothing new.
"It is part of the same strategy of intimidating and threatening journalists, in a concerted effort aimed at silencing them", the release added.
"It is part of the same line of action of those who assassinated Carlos Cardoso, those who ordered that assassination, and those who day and night do not refrain from activities aimed at eliminating the democratic gains known as freedom of speech and of the press", Mediacoop said.
Mediacoop also called on the Mozambican Journalists' Union (SNJ), and the Supreme Mass Media Council (the constitutionally-enshrined watchdog body on press freedom), to take note of the assault and use their influence and responsibility to shed light in the case as soon as possible.
The co-operative promised to keep up pressure on the police so that the thugs are brought to justice.
