VZCZCXRO4637
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHTO #0410 0941450
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041450Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7101
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP  0185

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
AF/S FOR HTREGER 
MCC FOR SGAULL 
USAID FOR AFR/SA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MZ
SUBJECT: Detained Journalist Freed After Discreet Embassy 
Inquiries 
 
Ref: Maputo 394 
 
Maputo 349 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Mozambican police detained for several days 
journalist Celso Manguana of independent fax daily Canal 
de Mocambique, arguably the leading fax newspaper for 
investigative reporting.  Manguana was arrested March 31 
when he appeared at the police station where a dozen 
protestors had been detained in the wake of a 
demonstration outside the National Assembly earlier that 
day.  The demonstrators had been demanding the government 
dismiss Minister of Defense Dai, as a way of taking 
responsibility for the tragic explosions at a weapons 
depot in a Maputo suburb on March 22 that killed more 
than 100 people and injured more than 500 (reftel A). 
 
¶2. (SBU) Apparently, according to embassy sources, 
Manguana (who is known as particularly argumentative and 
outspoken in journalist circles) called the police 
"incompetent."  For his trouble, he was charged with 
drunkenness (comment - Manguana may, in fact, have been 
tipsy, according to our sources.  end comment) and hauled 
off to the central hospital for a breath test.  The 
breathalyzer was not working, however, so a blood sample 
was taken instead and Manguana, on his way back to jail, 
was told that the results would be "ready in a week." 
 
¶3. (SBU) Canal de Mocambique reported the journalist's 
arrest in its April 2, Monday, edition, and other papers 
started to pick up the story on Tuesday.  After learning 
that all others detained had been released except 
Manguana, we opted to make discreet inquiries, starting 
with the prominent local NGO, the League of Human Rights 
(LDH).  The League representative was surprised to learn 
of the journalist's detention -- LDH does not subscribe 
to Canal de Mocambique -- and he promptly informed his 
boss, Alice Mabote, LDH president.  She contacted the 
Mozambique Attorney General and went in person to the 
police station that afternoon; by late Tuesday, Manguana 
was let free.  Post also contacted the Media Institute of 
Southern Africa (MISA), which released a statement 
condemning the arrest of Manguana. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  It was gratifying to see LDH, 
Mozambique's human rights watchdog, so responsive.  The 
Attorney General, too, seems to have been genuinely 
helpful.  Gratifying, too, was such prompt reaction on 
the behalf of an outspoken journalist.  Manguana had, 
just days before, written an "open letter" to Minister 
Dai in Canal, calling for his resignation.  Weeks 
earlier, Manguana wrote an equally audacious article 
calling the Minister of Sports and Youth "a liar."  In a 
country where the independent media is still asserting 
itself, Manguana's reporting stands out -- and may have 
contributed to his arrest. 
 
Johnson