INTERNATIONAL YOUNG
DEMOCRAT UNION (IYDU)
TANZANIA GOVERNMENT
SHOULD FORM JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE THE KILLINGS AND
TORTURES OF INNOCENT CITIZENS IN TANZANIA
Dear Members of the Tanzania press,
On behalf of the International Democrat Union (IYDU), the
global alliance of over 120 centre right political youth organizations from
over 80 countries, its members and board I would like to thank you for taking
the time to attend this extremely important press conference.
Over the last couple of years the IYDU has become extremely
concerned about the recent developments in Tanzanian politics. We have become
increasingly concerned about attempts by the ruling party in Tanzania to
silence and suppress the press and political opposition.
In 2012 we issued a declaration on the killing of Daud
Mwangosi, a journalist who was reporting on the activities of CHADEMA, the
kidnap of a Dr Stephen Ulimboka and the numerous attempts to silence CHADEMA
through police force and brutality.
The IYDU called for the Tanzanian Government to address both
matters however no investigation into the killing has taken place, and CHADEMA
has continued to face increasing interference from the government in exercising
its democratic right to hold political rallies and for its members and
supporters to freely assemble without fear of threat, violence or arrest.
The IYDU has never held an event in Sub-Saharan Africa
before. However our concerns over the deteriorating situation in Tanzania in
the lead up to the 2015 Tanzanian elections and a desire to give attention and
a voice to our Member BAVICHA, their mother party CHADEMA and our other African
members, resulted in the board deciding to come to Tanzania.
During our visit to Tanzania IYDU delegates have met with a
number of high profiled speakers from the Tanzanian political, press and legal
communities. With these speakers we have discussed the Tanzanian political and
socio-economic situation at length, openly and candidly in a number of seminars
and panel discussions.
In the board meeting, our member BAVICHA presented a country
report which showed the extent of human rights violations in Tanzania. The
report detailed a number of atrocities which have recently taken place in
Tanzania including political killings, torture and harassment.
The IYDU is deeply worried by this report. The killings of
innocent citizens, torture or any sort of humiliation is not acceptable under
any circumstances.
The IYDU has also been informed that a number of activists
have been kidnapped and that a bomb attack recently took place. In both cases
the government has remained silent and failed to have these acts investigated.
On a personal level the IYDU is also extremely worried about
that an increasing number of members of our member organization BAVICHA who
have been imprisoned and investigated on false charges for their political
involvement.
The IYDU strongly supports BAVICHA and strongly condemns the
behavior of the Tanzanian government. We stand with CHADEMA and insist that the
government of this country allow judicial inquiries and investigations to be
held in respect of these matters and for those behind them to be held
accountable.
The IYDU will ensure that what we have learnt about the
situation in Tanzania is reported to our members and will strongly encourage
our members to report on these activities to their senior parties many of whom
are currently in power in their respective countries, and call on them to place
pressure on the Tanzanian government to be accountable and respect democracy.
The IYDU believes that true democracy only exists when people
are empowered to have a voice and allowed to freely elect who should govern
them without fear of repercussions or violence.
The IYDU would like to thank BAVICHA for organizing the event
and for their commitment to promoting the IYDU’s core values of Democracy,
Human Rights, Free Market and Free Trade in Tanzania. BAVICHA Chairman John
Heche and Secretary General Deogratias Munishi have worked tirelessly to put
together an exceptional programme with an aim of giving the international youth
community greater insights in to the plight of political opposition, press and
people of Tanzania.
The IYDU would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to
BAVICHA’s mother party, CHADEMA for the kindness, openness and respect they
have showed us during our time in Tanzania. We are especially grateful to
CHADEMA’s Secretary General Dr Slaa and Chairman, Hon Freeman Mbowe (MP) who
took the time to meet with us.
Following this conference I request that you all return to
your respective publications and media outlets and convey the IYDU’s message to
the people of Tanzania and the international community at large.
In closing the IYDU calls on the ruling party in Tanzania to
respect the rights of CHADEMA, BAVICHA, the press and people of Tanzania
Aris Kalafatis,
IYDU Chairman
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