Uproar over Katiba forum violence

[RUCCI]

"Our beloved country is regrettably in the same state of convulsion and uncertainty…" Former Ambassador Juma Mwapachu

Tanzanians from all walks of life yesterday expressed disgust toward the disruption of the Katiba forum on Sunday, calling the incident a threat to freedom of expression.

Speaking to The Citizen in separate interviews, they said the backward, chaotic scene has no space in the country and called upon authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring to book all the perpetrators of the madness that was televised live.

The much-awaited Symposium organised by the Julius Nyerere Foundation which started peacefully, turned chaotic after youth, believed to have been hired and coached, interrupted the former chairman of the now disbanded Constitutional Review Commission, Mr Joseph Warioba, as he was addressing the gathering.

As Mr Warioba was touching on key issues that the Constitutional Review Commission he chaired proposed that were later scrapped by the Constituent Assembly, a group of youth began to protesting with placards and chants. Angered participants confronted the group all of a sudden as chairs were flying in the air.

Reacting to what transpired renowned former ambassador Juma Mwapachu put it this way, "Our beloved country is regrettably in the same state of convulsion and uncertainty…this (yesterday) afternoon's event which in a democratic state should be a simple celebration of civilised clash of ideas saw, instead, a poor state of political thuggery and hooliganism which Mwalimu Nyerere would have shed tears for."

Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition released a statement condemning what it termed a shameful act "perpetrated by a group of people driven by their party interests."

The statement signed by the coalition's national coordinator Mr Onesmo Olengurmwa said the act endangered the lives of defenders of human rights, journalists and other attendees.

"The coalition condemns in the strongest term, the roughing up of speakers including judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba," the statement reads: "The act humiliated not only the speakers at the event but all Tanzanians and infringed their freedom of expression and association."

Constitution Forum chairman Mr Deus Kibamba termed the incident puzzling and a clear sign of regression in Tanzania's efforts to widen its democratic space.

"We can't claim that we are a democracy in this situation. I think where we are heading is dangerous," he said. He also took issue with security and intelligence organs, alluding that organs either failed to detect and foil the plot or just relaxed to let it happen.

Reacting to alleged lapses in security the Kinondoni Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Camillius Wambura, said the police have taken note of the challenge and promised to heighten security especially through the gathering of intelligence.

Chadema youth wing (Bavicha) Chairperson Mr Patrobas Katambi also condemned the attack on Judge Warioba, saying it is not a crime for someone to believe in what he or she thinks is right.

"That was a very shameful act, an attack against freedom of speech, an attack against a former prime minister and an elder, we are very much disappointed," he said.

From Arusha, former central bank governor Edwin Mtei, however, urged the Chairman of the defunct Constitutional Review Commission (RC), Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba, not to give up.

Mr Mtei said what had befallen Judge Warioba and former CRC commissioners was a curse inflicting on youth in the country, for it was unbecoming for them to assault eminent persons like Judge Warioba.

"It is shocking to see youth insulting and assaulting an elder who was educating the people. All what they could do, if they disagreed with him, was to adhere to laid down procedures," he said.

High Court advocate Mr Method Kimomogoro, said what happened was a criminal offence, calling on state organs to investigate, arrest and prosecute the culprits in the incident for them to serve as a lesson to other thugs.

"Intruding into an event held in a conference hall is tantamount to trespassing one's private home," said the lawyer, explaining that the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, which had organised the symposium, had invited some people.

CCM National Executive Committee member Paul Makonda who was accused of orchestrating the chaos yesterday called a press conference and denied the claims and added that he did not attack Mr Warioba as reported in sections of the media.

"I don't know the youth who caused chaos. If I organised and sent them, they would have come to my rescue when I was being assaulted," he said.

Source:The Citizen

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Up...0392/2509860/-/item/0/-/127jv14z/-/index.html