We Condemn: Calling for A National Day of Mourning

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

There was no justification whatsoever of the brutal use of force against innocent and unarmed demonstrators in Arusha on January 5th, 2011 which lead to the killing reportedly of 2 civilians and injuring a score of other demonstrators. What happened in Arusha is inexcusable and indefensible.

We have to understand that you can not have a political opposition without actual opposition. It is like having a car but denied the right to drive it while others things are all constant. What the Tanzanian government shown through its police force yesterday is an ability and willingness to thwart any strong dissent when that is dissent is paired with other means of civil disobedience such as the demonstrations.

What I still don’t understand is the fact that if there was anytime the government could have used force was the time when people were waiting for results after the much contested elections last year. During that time the political situation in Tanzania was dramatically transformed and there was a credible fear that things could have gone out of hand. But the police and other security organs remained calm, composed and restrained. They did not use force in Arusha, Mwanza, or Mbeya and when they did in fact use force it was restrained and in a relative measure to the political opposition of the time.

That was not so in Arusha yesterday. The demonstrators wanted to demonstrated going to an open space area for a political rally. It was purely a political event charged with political rhetoric. I for one expected that the police force will be there to ensure a peaceful demonstrations and safety of other non-involved people. The demonstrations was well organized and there was nothing whatsoever that signaled trouble before the main event day. None whatsoever.

But abusing their authority the police force decided to cancel the demonstrations and by doing so assaulting the right of individuals to assemble and the right of citizens to air the political grievances. This was indeed an assault on democracy and the principles that govern it.

The deaths of the two individuals can not go unrecognized. Once again our country has seen blood in the hands of the State. We have seen this during the Mwembechai killings, we have seen it in Pemba and it has happened before elsewhere (in other incidents). The police force in Tanzania has this proclivity to use brutal force against citizens not just in such political settings but as we all know during civil issues. It looks like the police force is not well trained in understanding and dealing with the modern world of political plurality and the dynamism of political dissent.

I believe Mr. Said Mwema the current IGP has lost the credibility to lead this force at this juncture of our history. And so has Mr. Andengenye the current Regional Police Commander of Arusha. These two individual bear full responsibility for what happened in Arusha yesterday and they must be sacked immediately. The individual police officers who obeyed an illegal order knowing fully that obeying an illegal order is not a criminal defense they have to be brought to justice and pay the price of the illegal killings of Tanzanians.

As we continue to forge ahead with the cause of democracy and as we continue pushing for the new constitution before 2015 we stand together with all political activists in the country as well as the human rights activists who have come out to condemn the brutal attack on civilians who were protesting their government. I urge Chadema to call for A Day of Mourning to remember our comrades and to show solidarity with each other at this time.

We have to take a stand, for in the presence of evil there is no neutrality.

My friends, if we don’t stand together to oppose the rise of political tyranny in our country then we will surely see our country falling into tyranny. We can choose to stand together or they will find a way to silence us individually. Whatever they (the government, ruling party and their puppets) do we can not retreat or surrender for a brighter future for Tanzania under new people centered Constitution is possible. Yes, a new Tanzania without CCM at the helm of power is coming we just have to hasten it.

By. M. M. Mwanakijiji (BGM).

 

[Selemani]

We are a land of laws, rules, and regulations. This is an example of disgruntled politicians, using their rhetorical prowess to push the public to the limit and argue them to disobey the law.

Kama polisi walisema maandamano hakuna, kwanini muandamane?

Inalilahi waina lillah rajiun (Hakika sisi ni wa Allah, na kwake tutarejea)

 

[Ng'wanangwa]

Lazima sasa tufike mahali ukimuona tu, una-fire

 

[Gosbertgoodluck]

The blood of the innocent civilians will always follow them everywhere they go with jk taking the lead. May God continue blessing chadema until the entire country ,

 

[Ndahani]

We are a land of laws, rules, and regulations. This is an example of disgruntled politicians, using their rhetorical prowess to push the public to the limit and argue them to disobey the law.

Kama polisi walisema maandamano hakuna, kwanini muandamane?

Inalilahi waina lillah rajiun (Hakika sisi ni wa Allah, na kwake tutarejea)

Kwanini polisi wameanza tabia mbaya ya kukataa kila ombi la maandamano? Au mpaka tuandamane kuipongeza serikali kwa kilimo kwanza?
Serikali ili ikae salama lazima ijifunze kusimamia vema sheria. Udikteta hautasaidia sana specially now.

 

[Susuviri]

The individual police officers who obeyed an illegal order knowing fully that obeying an illegal order is not a criminal defense they have to be brought to justice and pay the price of the illegal killings of Tanzanians.

Asante sana mkuu kwa maneno yako ya busara. Mi ningependa kuzungumzia suala la illegal order. Suala hili ni muhimu sana kuelewa na ni lazima elimu itolewe kwa polisi ili waelewe uzito wa suala hili.
Kwa kifupi

An illegal order can be in contravention of general legality, such as orders to make improper use of facilities, go beyond the speed limit in a military vehicle. A manifestly or patently illegal order applies to the protection of persons (civilians, prisoners, medical personnel and clergy), medical facilities, places of prayer, monuments, etc. (this list is not exhaustive). The US distinguishes a patently illegal order as one which orders someone to commit a crime.
Anyone serving in the armed forces should be instructed on how to make such judgments and what the penalties are

Na tunaweza kuiangalia kwa mapana yake. Hii definition ya illegal order ilitumika pia wakati wa Nuremberg trials of Nazi criminals na ilizuia maaskari kutumia utetezi kuwa eti walipewa amri...
Ni muhimu waelewe hili wanajeshi na polisi wetu wa kitanzania.. nawasilisha

 

[Kagalala]

We are a land of laws, rules, and regulations. This is an example of disgruntled politicians, using their rhetorical prowess to push the public to the limit and argue them to disobey the law.

Kama polisi walisema maandamano hakuna, kwanini muandamane?

Inalilahi waina lillah rajiun (Hakika sisi ni wa Allah, na kwake tutarejea)

Seleman
Shame on you as you dont know what you are talking. You mentioned the land of law. Can you please tell us which law allows the police to bit somebody let alone killing??
Think before you write something. Looks you have problems in your thinking. Sorry for your wife and kids if you happened to have one.

 

[Selemani]

Seleman
Shame on you as you dont know what you are talking. You mentioned the land of law. Can you please tell us which law allows the police to bit somebody let alone killing??
Think before you write something. Looks you have problems in your thinking. Sorry for your wife and kids if you happened to have one.

Kwanini viongozi wa Chadema walishinikiza wananchi waandamane wakati dola ya nchi ilipiga marufuku? Hebu jiulize hilo kwanza. Chadema leadership is responsible kwa kushinikiza wananchi to be involved in an illegal act. Tukubaliane hilo kwanza.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

We are a land of laws, rules, and regulations. This is an example of disgruntled politicians, using their rhetorical prowess to push the public to the limit and argue them to disobey the law.

Kama polisi walisema maandamano hakuna, kwanini muandamane?

Inalilahi waina lillah rajiun (Hakika sisi ni wa Allah, na kwake tutarejea)

Katika nchi ya kidemokrasia neno la Polisi si la mwisho. Polisi hawawezi kutoa amri tu kwa vile ni polisi na wananchi watii tu kama is unreasonable and immoral. Polisi hawakuwa na sababu ya kusitisha maandamano hayo. Walisitisha kwa sababu wao "ni polisi" na si kwa sababu kulikuwa na sababu ya kuyasitisha. Mtu mwenye dhamira safi hakupaswa kutii maana tukikubali tu kuwa polisi wakiamuru chochote kwa vile wao wani polisi basi watu wakubali maana yake tunauza uhuru wetu na haki yetu ya kupinga.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

To show u that the Police went beyond their legal power Mr. Mwema and Andengenye will be prosecuted in their personal capacities to be a lesson to other public officials ambao wanafikiri wanauwezo na haki ya kuamuru lolote hata kama ni kinyume cha sheria.

 

[Selous]

To show u that the Police went beyond their legal power Mr. Mwema and Andengenye will be prosecuted in their personal capacities to be a lesson to other public officials ambao wanafikiri wanauwezo na haki ya kuamuru lolote hata kama ni kinyume cha sheria.

In TZ? JK and who? may be Ocampo.

Mwanakijiji - unajua zile taarifa za kitelejensia za Mwema zilitoka wapi? aliempelekea nae je?

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

In TZ? JK and who? may be Ocampo.

Mwanakijiji - unajua zile taarifa za kitelejensia za Mwema zilitoka wapi? aliempelekea nae je?

hakuna taarifa za kiinteligensia. NONE. Unafikiri kesho Chadema wakitangaza maandamano Mwema atazuia au atakubali.. I bet you atakubali kwa asilimia 100.

 

[Mtanganyika]

MM one more time you proved the credibility and your understanding toward important issue like this one. I strong support what you just put forward. I support one mile further including lawsuit against IGP and RPC to cover the punitive damage that people of Arusha faced. It's about time to change the history once and for all, Saidi should pay the medical expenses that all this individual has incurred due to poor judgments of his employees.

I strong join everyone who condemn this immoral and brutal activities that Tanzania Police Force conducted on the 5th of January 2011. Let the International Community and our friends knows that CCM and their allies are slaughtering civilian under the shadow of peace for all. Let the community know that this bloodshed won't go away easily this time. We will step the feet on the gas pedal and we will debate and fight for what we believe on, let CCM knows that Tanzania is not a corporation and it never been. It's country owned by the people of Tanzania, neither CCM nor IGP own this precious country.

Again with all the heart I condemn this brutal activity, and I hope all those who planned this massacre activities are going to have a special place in hell.

 

[Candid Scope]

Yafaa moja kufa kwa ajili ya wengi, je hamjasoma maandiko matakatifu? Amini usiamini damu wanyonge iliyomwagika Arusha nitangazo la uhuru kamili wa Watanganyika, tuvute subira matunda tutayaona.
Nini kilitokea msumbiji, Afrika kusini na kwingineko?

 

[Malunde-Malundi]

I concur with wises from MM and Mtanganyika, tuacheni blabla this is very serious we have to serious na kwa kuwa Mwema amekwepa kujibu maswali ya waandishi wa habari basi ajiuzulu mara moja kauli yake imeua, mwema ni muuaji to say.

 

[George Maige Nhigula Jr.]

Selemani, the best question should be why police force has been used by our government to supress opposition party to exercise their constitutional rights? a political party has the right to conduct peaceful demonstration like any party of the world, the government should never deny opposition party to operate, poolice are the ones who instigated violence after confronting unarmed civilians, This act is unacceptable

 

[Kagalala]

Mwema should face charges PERIOD.
I WISH I WERE A LAWYER.

 

[junior2008]

In TZ? JK and who? may be Ocampo.

Mwanakijiji - unajua zile taarifa za kitelejensia za Mwema zilitoka wapi? aliempelekea nae je?

Hakukuwa na taarifa zozote za Ki-intelijensia, ni amri tu ya mbayuwayu JK na uroboti wa Said Mwema

 

[zomba]

Katika nchi ya kidemokrasia neno la Polisi si la mwisho. Polisi hawawezi kutoa amri tu kwa vile ni polisi na wananchi watii tu kama is unreasonable and immoral. Polisi hawakuwa na sababu ya kusitisha maandamano hayo. Walisitisha kwa sababu wao "ni polisi" na si kwa sababu kulikuwa na sababu ya kuyasitisha. Mtu mwenye dhamira safi hakupaswa kutii maana tukikubali tu kuwa polisi wakiamuru chochote kwa vile wao wani polisi basi watu wakubali maana yake tunauza uhuru wetu na haki yetu ya kupinga.

Hakuna mahali demokrasi inapofundisha watu wavunj sheria. Demokrasi gani iliyokuwa hakuna Tanzania?

Wamevunja sheria viongozi wa Chadema na hawa Raia masikini ya Mungu wameuliwa kwa kufata mkumbo, leo hii hata Chadema wawe ndio wanaongoza nchi hii, watawasaidia nini hawa raia? au Chadema wana miujiza ipi ya kuwarudishia roho zao hawa raia wanao wadanganya?

Watu kama wewe ni hatari sana katika jamii,huwa mnaandika bila kujuwa wala kufikiri,mradi ukae kwenye keyboard ukandamize utumbo wowote unaokujia kichwani baada ya kupata majani.

 

[zomba]

Mawazo yako ni duni, hawa raia wameuliwa (Mungu awalaze apendapo), kwa kusikiliza maneno ya viongozi wao, hususan maneno ya Silaa.

Kumbuka hawajapatwa maafa wakigombania matakwa ya wengi (majority).

Chadema (viongozi) wamekiuka amri ya polisi iliyowata wasifanye maandamano, wao waka kaidi na kuanzisha maandamano. Halfu leo unalete utumbo wa kusema iwe mourning day ya Taifa? Taifa lipi hilo? wewe ungekuwa na uchungu sana na taifa hili usingekimbia shida na dhiki za hapa nyumbani kwenda Merekani halafu unatuma viujumbe vyako vya uchokozi kila siku. Nini kinachokufanya usikae hapa na kuingia kwenye maandamano kama hao mnaowarubuni?

Kama ni rahisi ungeishi hapa na si kutokomea huko merekani na kutuletea fitna zako kila kukicha.