MAPUTO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Senior figures and politicians in Mozambique have made outraged and denouncing statements after the prominent journalist and human right activist Ericino de Salema was kidnapped, beaten up and left unconsciously lying on the Maputo Ring Road on Tuesday.
Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario said Wednesday morning in parliament that the government is outraged by the abduction and torture against the journalist and will do everything to find the criminals.
"We want to reiterate our full confidence in the police authorities to continue working hard and bring criminals to justice," he said.
"The government condemns all kinds of acts that violate freedom of expression," he added.
The spokesman for the ruling Frelimo Party Caifadine Manasse said that all Mozambican citizens have the right of life and other fundamental rights.
"We thought what happened was a bad act. We expect the authorities to do their job and find those responsible," he said.
Salema was a regular commentator for a Sunday night chat show on the country's main private television STV, on which he often boldly criticizes the policy of the government.
On last week's show Salema made denunciations of the improprieties by the son of the President of Mozambique, who has been making wealthy shows at several locations in the city of Maputo.
This is the second time in the southern African country that a political commentator on the same television program is abducted, tortured and abandoned in the same area.
The indignation was also expressed by journalists and members of the Renamo and MDM party.
Renamo party leader, Afonso Dhlakama, said that President Filipe Nyusi should do something to bring the responsible to justice.
"No doubt that the Frelimo party members are the perpetrators of such crimes. This is happening because in Mozambique there is no separation of powers, if it was there those criminals should have been caught," he said.
From the bush, Dhlakama told the press that these criminals are doing bad thing with police's help. "We have death squads here in the country linked to Frelimo party," he concluded.
Salema was hospitalized yesterday in a private hospital in Maputo and according to the doctors he is now out of danger of life.
