TANZANIA: Cautious welcome for release of opposition activists
NAIROBI, 13 November (IRIN) - International organisations and
personalities have given a cautious welcome to last week's release of 18
opposition activists in Zanzibar, ordered by the islands' new president
Amani Karume.The London-based human rights organisation, Amnesty International, which
has been actively campaigning for their release, said the move was a
"welcome development", but expressed ongoing concern over the current
situation in Zanzibar. "We urge the new president to follow his
obligations with regard to human rights," a researcher on East Africa told
IRIN. She added that the organisation would be closely watching the
evolution of the situation in Zanzibar.Shortly after Karume was sworn in last week, the state declared it had no
further interest in the case of the 18 opposition Civic United Front (CUF)
supporters who had been held for three years without trial on treason
charges. Their immediate release was ordered, and analysts told IRIN the
detention of the 18 had been an issue between the outgoing Zanzibari
president, Salmin Amour, and the CUF. With Amour unable to run for a third
term as president, the new leader had no interest in keeping them in jail.The secretary-general of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), Salmin
Amour - himself a Zanzibari - described Karume's move as a "good beginning
for the new government". "This is a most welcome decision," he said,
according to the Tanzanian 'Guardian' daily. Norway's ambassador to
Tanzania, Nils-Johann Jorgensen, added that the release was "long
overdue".Another opposition leader, Alec Che Mponda of the Tanzania People's Party,
commented that the decision gave the impression "that the new leader aims
at forging national unity". "It is a challenge to CUF members who must
reciprocate in a manner that will guarantee peace, security and harmony,"
he said.Presidential and parliamentary elections last month were marred by
violence and voting irregularities, forcing a re-run in 16 of the islands'
50 constituencies. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party finally won
the polls, prompting the CUF to cry foul and demand fresh elections. Over
the weekend, it gave a four-month ultimatum for holding new polls, warning
that otherwise there would never be peace in the islands of Zanzibar.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
