Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Arsonists Strike at Mozambique Newspaper

Amancio Vilanculos

   MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE - Staff at a weekly Mozambique newspaper are
   refusing to let an arson attack stop them from reporting. Canal de
   Moçambique published its regular Wednesday edition, just three days
   after the newsroom was firebombed.

   Speaking in front of the newspaper's office Monday, Matias Guente,
   executive editor of Canal de Moçambique, said he believed Sunday's
   attack was retaliation for the paper's reporting and described the
   arson as a "terror attack on freedom of expression and against press
   freedom."

   The paper's editorial line "will not bow before the fire,"'¯Guente
   said. The office was attacked with petrol bombs, and a container of
   gasoline was found at the site, [1]the Associated Press reported.

   Police are investigating the blaze'¯in Mozambique's
   capital'¯Maputo,'¯which damaged the publication's newsroom and
   equipment.

   The'¯paper, owned by'¯the media group Canal I, prints about 10,000
   copies weekly'¯and has about 50,000 subscribers to its daily news
   website, CanalMoz.'¯

   "This attack represents a serious blow to the freedom of the press,
   [2]one of the foundations of democracy," the local civil society
   organization Center for Democracy Mozambique said in a report Monday.

   Canal de Mozambique'¯is known for its critical coverage of the
   government, including authorities' responses to attacks by Islamist
   militants, as well as corruption and scandals such as the[3] "tuna
   bonds" case. In January 2019, Mozambique indicted 18 individuals on
   charges including abuse of office and embezzlement after some funds
   from loans to bolster the country's state fishery were allegedly
   diverted, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
   Project.

   Guente, the editor, has also been previously harassed and in December,
   attackers attempted to abduct him, VOA Portuguese [4]reported at the
   time.

   Attack on democracy

   President Filipe Nyusi condemned the arson attack and ordered
   authorities to investigate.

   "Freedom of the press is a pillar of democracy achieved by'¯Mozambicans
   and must be protected," said Nyusi in a statement posted to his
   Facebook page.

   A tent was erected after the attack so the paper's journalists could
   work because "everything was left in ash,"'¯said Guente. The paper has
   around 17 staff in the capital, as well as reporters in most of
   Mozambique's 10 other provinces.

   Mediacoop, the publisher of Savana and Mediafax, also invited Canal to
   use its premises and facilities to ensure it can continue publishing,
   the Associated Press reported.

References

   1. https://apnews.com/ff51c93eaf74fc4968bbce9ae22fc189
   2. https://cddmoz.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ATTACK-ON-THE-FREEDOM-OF-THE-PRESS-Criminals-use-homemade-bomb-and-set-fire-to-the-facilities-of-Canal-de-Mo%C3%A7ambique.pdf
   3. https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/9090-mozambique-charges-18-in-tuna-bonds-scandal#:~:text=Mozambique%20announced%20on%20Monday%20the,worst%20financial%20crisis%20since%20independence.&text=The%20loans%20funded%20maritime%20projects%20including%20a%20state%2Downed%20tuna%20fishery
   4. https://www.voaportugues.com/a/jornalista-mo%C3%A7ambicano-escapa-de-tentativa-de-rapto-mas-fica-ferido/5226733.html

.