| Oxfam appeals over detention of its staff | Send to a friend |
| Wednesday, 14 April 2010 22:32 |
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Oxfam has expressed its deep concern over detention of its staff member and local partners in Ngorongoro on Monday, calling the government to thoroughly investigate the incident. Mr Justin Morgan, Country Director for Oxfam GB in Tanzania, said the detention of Oxfam workers in Ngorongoro was against the right of citizens to have a voice, and for that voice to be heard, which was an integral part of democratic society. “Holding an urgent discussion with all key stakeholders in Ngorongoro may be one way towards understanding the full concerns that local residents have, and seeking constructive solutions,” said Mr Morgan. One Oxfam staff and at least two other people from the Ngorongoro NGO Network (NGONET) were arrested by Police in Loliondo on Monday, following protests by local women about alleged violations of land rights in the area. The three were detained and released the next day on bail. Oxfam has a long history of working to help eradicate poverty in the country, Mr Morgan said noting that they highly value the close cooperation from the government. “We also firmly believe in the rights of Tanzanian citizens, especially the poor and marginalised, to organise and raise their concerns about issues that affect their livelihoods and fundamental rights,” he said. He urged all parties to exercise restraint, respect human rights and find a peaceful resolution to the underlying issues that are causing the current tensions in Ngorongoro. “Oxfam calls on the authorities to hold an immediate investigation into the detentions and take steps to address the concerns of local communities amid growing tension in the area,” he noted. The detentions appear to be related to protests late last week by citizens concerned about their land rights. Last year, hundreds of families were evicted from the land they were using and now there are steps underway by the local government to change land demarcation. Local communities say this would further undermine their access to grazing and natural resources and threaten their livelihoods. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
